dwai

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Posts posted by dwai

  1. Posted

    I've been noticing two types of different flows that occur above the crown  - i.e. from top of the crown to about 18-20" above it. One is a spiraling (a double helical pattern) which turns slowly (frequency about 3-6 cycles per second). The other is a little sphere of energy in that area (usually notice it when I'm chanting a mantra) - which is like a double torus (donut) whose surface is flowing continuously.

     

    Any thoughts?

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  2. Posted · Edited by dwai

    5 hours ago, Nungali said:

    Not only is that silly , I have never heard that  before  ( not  even on Daobums ! )

    There some very interesting theories about it, right here on daobums. 😆

     

     

    • Like 1

  4. Posted

    I would categorize practices in two broad groups, predicated on the objective. For me, spiritual practices are for liberation or Self-realization. So, towards that objective the groups are -

     

    Direct Path

    Gradual Path 

     

    The direct path takes us to the goal directly. Right here, Right now! But not many can handle it. For those there are preparatory practices like stabilizing the body (physical and energetic), stilling the mind, and so on. 
     

    The indirect path is an evolutionary one, spanning multiple lifetimes. It involves proper rituals, right conduct, and so on. 

  6. Posted

    8 hours ago, S:C said:

    How is that interpreting possible? 
     

    What do you mean with „in real terms“?


    Funny, why is it cool for many and hot for others? Electric or fluid? What influences minds interpretation?

    Think about it this way - energetic flow is unlike anything else. One can’t directly access it with their normal sensory apparatuses. So when it is experienced, the mind interprets it to be something it is familiar with. 

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  7. Posted · Edited by dwai

    21 hours ago, blue eyed snake said:

    I wonder,

     

    he describes how "water" goes up the spine and then turns a corner and fills up a flat disc shaped cushion  at the height of the nipples, and then he wonders whether that was a kundalinilike occurrence. 

     

     

    I remember well how I experienced  the opening of the MCO as cool water, rushing through the channels as water filling up a dry riverbed. I've always thought that kundalini energy is hot energy, not cool and water like. 

     

    anybody more information on this?

    It depends on the blockages one may or may not have. If there are blockages, there is friction - which causes heat like sensation. In real terms, energetic flows aren’t hot or cold, electric or magnetic, etc . The mind interprets them that way. For me, it always feels cool. Like a mentholated sensation flowing through my channels, even rising in the spinal column. 

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  9. Posted

    9 hours ago, Taomeow said:

     

    I don't think you're getting my drift.  If you were to look into how language is acquired (as I did, cognitive neuroscience used to be a huge hobby) you would hold off with that "false" label.  And it's not an equivalence, it's an analogy.

    Maybe, can you elaborate on  your theory of how language is acquired? 

    9 hours ago, Taomeow said:

      

    Also, I was talking about dantiens, not "lifeforce," whatever that means to you.  What does "lifeforce" mean to you?  To me it means to bring a taoist conversation to the lowest common denominator.  

    Life force is that which animates the living being. At its core it is awareness/consciousness. At different frequencies of vibration is it known differently as Jing, qi, shen in the context of a biological entity. 
     

    BTW i think the lowest common denominator is the best place to start a discussion. :) 

    9 hours ago, Taomeow said:

     

    Again, we are talking about the dantiens, a particular and specific way the system can process qi if it is fully operational.  Not about qi.  And certainly not about "lifeforce."  Just dantiens.   

    And how is a discussion of dantien complete without dicussing qi?

     

  10. Posted

    1 hour ago, Taomeow said:

     

    What about your native tongue?  When you are born, does it already exist in you or is it created in you?  

    That seems like a false equivalence to me :)

    Language is an acquired skill. Lifeforce is not. We either have it, or we are dead :P 

    1 hour ago, Taomeow said:

     

    A dantien, as a very knowledgeable practitioner explained to me (then a beginner) a long time ago, is a product of co-creation between your innate potential and your exposures and practices.  In that sense it is no different from being able to acquire a native tongue -- I don't speak yours and you don't speak mine, but we were each both born with the ability to develop either one of them, it's exposures and practices that made it happen -- and being different, they resulted in different languages.  "They already exist" -- well, as a potential.  But exposures and practices is what turns them on.  Or not.  Does everybody (barring any kind of damage that might interfere) have machinery to acquire language?  Yes.  Is everybody born speaking it?  Nope.  And if you're raised by animals from an early enough age and miss the window of opportunity that is open only up to a certain age, you will never speak -- real-life stories of this nature are well known.  Real-life stories of inactive dantiens are not as obvious, but then, neither are stories of active ones.  It's subtle phenomena, but they are phenomena of co-creation, like many other things about us humans.

    I disagree. It doesn't exist merely as a potential - it exists simply by being alive (qi, if I may call it that). What might happen, IMHO, is that one's exposure and practices refine it/enhance it. 

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  11. Posted

    On 12/25/2023 at 12:58 PM, Taomeow said:

     

    Or, by another name, the "yellow sprouts court." 

     

    What's the dantien for?  It's like any other potential that you can develop and use for whatever you're aiming to accomplish.  In this sense it's no different from the ability to acquire language, to read and write, to ride a bicycle, to juggle a dozen tennis balls, to form an emotional relationship with a human or animal or even a device. (Song in the background: "I'm In Love With My Car.")  You are born with the potential; you may learn to use this potential spontaneously upon exposure to whatever tools help it actualize, or (more often) via a particular set of practices that develop it.  

     

    What do we develop the dantien for?  It's like asking what our writing ability is for.  Once you got it, how you refine and use it is your choice.  Become Shakespeare or get into arguments with strangers online.  Or both.  :D 

    I was thinking more along the lines of “what is the heart for” or “liver for” and so on. Dantiens are NOT created, they already exist. 

  13. Posted

    12 hours ago, Sahaja said:

    Having been on the receiving end of both (joint locking and using internal energy to uproot someone), they are very different. Joint locking involves pretty straightforward physical techniques using your physical leverage and muscular strength to attack weak points to subdue and control the opponent where as the various uprooting techniques (which there are a number)  in internal martial arts are much more subtle involving interaction of mind body and qi. They require control of your own physical and energetic  response to being in contact with the other person so you can go inside to influence their reaction (essentially make them lose their balance or root  with your qi and a very small amount of force to trigger it).  There are also some partially external physical  partially internal subtle techniques such as rebounding that will “give serious air to someone”. To me these subtle internal methods are much more about learning how to develop and control your mind, body and qi interaction than they are about learning practical self defense. 

    There are practical self-defense applications, too, but getting there takes a long time. Those applications are a side effect of the cultivation - not the goal. 

    • Like 1

  15. Posted

    My friends and I made a video going over how we approach sticking power (na Jin). Thought I’d share in case people are interested in it. Also will be happy to discuss details if there is interest on the topic. 
     

    In our system we approach it differently from other schools.

     

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  16. Posted

    I appreciate all that contribute in the spirit of growing together, be it in collaboration or in opposition (of perspectives). 
     

    I also echo Steve’s thoughts, and hope that we can become a truly multi-tradition, diverse group of seekers who want to keep growing, support each other, and be genuinely kind to each other.

    • Like 4

  18. Posted

    To understand karma one has to understand the layers of existence in the transactional reality. The physical body (called the sthula sharira) is just a tiny part of the whole. There is a subtle body (called linga sharira) which is rooted in a causal body (karana sharira). All karmic effects come from this karana sharira. Think of it as a seed state which stores all the consequences of our karma (actions). 
     

    When we come into the transactional realm, a part of those karma phala (consequences of our past actions) are brought with us. It is easily understood in the form of certain traits or predilections we might have from a very young age. Some are activated at other key points in our lives (eg when we turn 23-25). These affect how we live and act/react in the world. 

  19. Posted

    3 hours ago, stirling said:

     

    It seems that I am unlikely to write posts that you find satisfactory. It is honestly OK to block me if something about my posts seems to upset you, Bob.

    Mostly I’ve noticed that those who react in such a manner are the ones in need of introspection. The way I see it, it boils down to one of two options -

     

    1. Is their conviction about some other contrary point of view so weak that a post (or even several) will provoke them to react ?

     

    2. Is it possible that the words that provoke them are causing some kind of cognitive dissonance that they have to protest against? “A case of, me doth think that thou dost protesteth too much…” 

  23. Posted

    3 hours ago, Nuralshamal said:

    I got curious about the qi circle! Sounds very interesting.

    Which lineage and which sifu practice the standing qi circle method you mentioned?

    I do believe that cultivators can do great things together if they combine their energy, however these synergistic methods are not that often taught or used openly from what I've seen so far.

    I practice Temple style Tai Chi which is a Daoist system - it focuses heavily on neigong/dagong.


    The circle meditation has a few variations; at the most basic level, it involves a group of up to 8 people standing in a circle and building up a vortex of energy in the center of the circle - think of each member connecting to the vortex/pillar of energy with their 3 dantiens. With our collective intent, we make the vortex stronger and it will engulf us and expand into the space surrounding us. It helps boost the practitioners - acting like an amplifier. 

     

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  24. Posted

    The best way to "build" qi is to still the mind.

    There are two potential problems with stilling the mind  -

    • The mind is scattered (too many thoughts, in too many directions)
    • The mind is polluted (very self-centered, greedy, grasping)

    The remedy for a scattered mind is to do practices that make the mind one-pointed. Mantra mediation, breath watching, breathwork will help with that. In fact, any repetitive task can be used to do this by being watching and observing the mind continuously through the practice.

    The remedy for a polluted mind is to do selfless service - volunteer at a soup kitchen, hospital etc. As we do more service, the mind gets purified.

     

    After that, real mediation can start. And stillness realized.

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