dwai

My 2 cents worth -- I haven't been taught to do anything like that with condensing breathing. We condense into the marrow and that is by itself "closing" because it's like charging the batteries. Albeit after all chi work we do pump residual chi into the Lower Dan Tian. We never physically touch the skin because touching tends to dissipate the Qi. We're taught to keep an 'as close to the skin as possible without physically touching' distance from the surface for maximum retention of the Chi.

Who Am I?

My teacher tells us that there are 3 levels of practice, Physical, Mental and Spiritual. When we work with the physical levels we are adjusting alignments, postures, getting the sequence of the forms right. This works on external aspects of health, such as posture, balance (and issues related to that). When we go to mental level practice, we have become aware of the qi flow in the body and use the mind to guide the qi (dissolve blockages, circulate the qi both with small and large circulations, moving the qi to areas deficient, draining from areas with excess). At the spiritual level, we are no longer guiding the Qi but flowing with the Qi (so where it moves, we move, we go from form to formless to form again). Just doing a 24-form or a n-form Taiji Quan practice will get you some benefits, but to get deeper benefits you need to learn from someone who teaches the real deal. It takes years of practice and dedication (and love for the art). Bio-mechanics is the tip of the iceberg. It lets you balance properly and relax in the right places. Once this is done, the Qi will flow smoothly and that's where the main practice begins, imho. It doesn't take too long to get the bio-mechanics right...it takes a long time to get the mental aspect right. We encounter subconscious "demons" that we need to work with...and resolve. Energetic blockages that manifest as physical discomfort, destructive repetitive behaviours, etc. The Theory is important and it is meant to be learnt as we go along so we can corroborate that what we are practicing actually works. As practice deepens, intuition will start opening up...and things start becoming clear on their own (about every aspect of life). The key is to not force anything...to be the Watercourse way...let nature take its course...we follow along. It is absurd that people claim that Taiji Quan is not Qi Gong. In fact Taiji Quan IS Nei Gong. It has everything in its fold that allows for internal alchemy naturally. We just have to find the right teacher to show us how. As far as the martial aspect goes...it is natural but a limited aspect of Taiji Quan -- consider it to be the middle-school level stuff. As the student grows and goes to high-school, they learn healing. As the go to University they start practicing internal alchemy... Look at this book to get a glimpse of how "advanced taiji quan practice" looks/feels like -- http://books.google.com/books?id=9CDSu89LQXMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Try this first -- http://organicjar.com/2011/2933/ We (Indians) use it all the time, especially for diets and before and after fasts (also as staple during illness). It is very nourishing, calming and detoxing. Make it with Brown rice and it's even healthier.

I've had that happen to me a few times. I avoid meditating/practicing in hotels, hospitals etc like the plague.

Well then first go to India and let go of your western notion of how life ought to be. When you have done so, you will find it easier to find a real teacher. In fact a teacher will find you even, if you are sincere in your quest. Also perhaps wanting to pack in too many things at once might not give you durable learning...its kind of like walking into a buffet and eating too many things at once. Its likely going to give you an upset stomach... I'd suggest contacting pattabhi jois' yoga school in mysore. His grandson teaches there now...albeit the classes might not come cheap...but they will be worth the difficulty. http://kpjayi.org/

Indeed...would it be too wrong to say that the fullness that stays full is emptiness too?

Your response was to a vitriolic statement of affairs wrt emptiness i have no interest in engaging in more emptiness madness here

We don't need to...it is infinitely potent

Potentially emptying out his fullness to create emptiness with potential of fullness?

that's because it's emptiness that is full of potentiality (also discovered how one zero can be zero'er than another)

Oh boy...here we go again!

Read the discussion on this forum -- http://www.medhajournal.com/forum/5-share-this/910-meditation-and-form-worship.html The difference between Dharana and Dhyana is provided there in. Specifically from here -- http://www.medhajournal.com/forum/5-share-this/910-meditation-and-form-worship.html?limit=6&start=24

Start at the end and work our way to the beginning In any case there's really no end and beginning in a circle right?

imho, enlightenment is the dawning of direct intuitive understanding, in spite of the rational faculties. It is the realization that you know something (whatever that thing might be) without having to prop up a mental dialog to support that realization. I think that's why "Eastern Masters" don't try to explain Enlightenment...because it is pointless to explain it. It has to experienced and then you know. It's like being in the dark and then suddenly there is light. But there is no light switch, no electricity, no bulb, etc (if you get the drift of where I'm going with this). It is mystical because it is mysterious (in that no amount of rational inquiry or investigation will lead you closer to understanding than the understanding by itself can). And like someone else pointed out, it can happen in small jumps or one giant leap. Depends on your constitution (ie psycho-spiritual characteristics).

KS is a nondual system and its primary premise is that the absolute reality is consciousness, being, bliss. This absolute consciousness is in a state of ecstacy and all creation manifests from the spontaneous vibrations (spanda) that are emanated from this dynamic absolute consciousness. KS calls this Shiva. And the tantra of KS is based on the seeking of immersion into Shiva. A good starting point?

Thats a gret place to start...i wasnt looking for school details etc...i am more interested in personal perspectives and undstanding...

At the end of the day it is our respective limited eperiences that guide us, supported by teachers in person or proxy ( literature). I ave not practiced KS but have studied it to a certain degree and find many open questions from advaita vedanta being answered there in and viceversa. May i request that you share your experiences and understanding of this tradition here?

Lakshman Joo was a great exponent of Kashmir Shaivism. Would it be of interest to discuss ks and concepts of abhinavagupta, etc here? I am greatly interested.

Fear of fear is usually what we mistake for fear. Its painful to get punched in the nose, but it the pain caused by the thought of getting punched in the nose that makes us flinch more than getting punched itself. Similarly with fear...its the mental amplification of the disomfort caused by fear that is scarier than ctually being afraid.

Isnt that your onditioned consciousness? Or do you not gree tht consiousness can be unconditioned?

submerge meaning "sink" right? Or is it floating? Isn't floating with the current another form of surrender?

By being wu wei are you not "surrendering" to Dao? Isn't the priary nature of wter also surrender?

Most of my conversations with atheists seems to hinge on thier definition of "god". You point out quite accurately that pantheistic or panentheistic societies dont have poblems of absolutism ir exclusivist positions because they are open to infinite posibilities. Indeed the "Gods" are reference models at various levels, intellectual, ethical, energetic. I consder them as gateways to the inifinity, especially for those who arent naturally inclined for difficult practices such as jnana yoga (the way of knowledge). To each his/her own...

If people really understood that nondual, there would be no room to create gods. Since tat understanding would mean thereis no rel separation between us and that...we are that. gods are necessary till one gets there for some, for some others its no gods. Some of the wisest and most astute practitioners of these systems i've met love their preffered deity...who am i to judge. I was deeply devoted at a certain stage...that kind of devotion is out of love, not fear of judgement. To be able to love without selfishness...simply surrender. That opens up many closed doors...