Gerard

The REAL YOU is not even here, so why bother with all the complex talk about nirvana, suffering, cause and effect, sunyata (emptiness), dependent origination, etc. Same goes with Taoism. Tao ---> yin & yang and the creative action of the five forces. That's it. Stop there and don't make things more complicated. Really: We for once are only spiritual beings having a human experience now and as long as you have tentacles left you will carry on with the vital experience. Once the tentacles are all gone you remain in a state of Tao/nirvana as you have always been from the VERY BEGINNING.

Another insightful reddit discussion on the topic of Wudang: Take this whole thing with a pinch of salt. Your learn more Taoism in your local park/mountain and learning an art from a teacher who focuses on "gong fu" (hard work) not fairy tales and voodoo BS. Let's me include this old story and practical approach to training since it's a favourite of mine: "...the majority of Ma Gui's leg training was not done through walking at such an extremely low level, but rather was cultivated by countless hours of his system's "bear walking:" slow concentrated circle-walking in a horse stance that dramatically transforms the large tendon lines from neck to feet and strengthens the entire body. Ma Gui had a reputation for being an extremely conservative teacher who demanded the very best of his students. As a busy lumber merchant he did not have to teach professionally and he was therefore able to maintain extremely high standards in training. Fiercely dedicated to the traditional way he had been taught Bagua by Yin Fu and Dong Haichuan, he refused to modify his teachings to make them easier and felt that "anyone who felt the skill was too difficult to learn should not be taught in the first place." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Gui_(martial_artist)

Those Five Forces are very real; from their subtlety they are the power manifestations of the yin & yang. Rise...Water Expand...Wood Flare up...Fire Sink...Metal Balance & Harmony...Earth Or if you like the analogy of the rotating ball (yin & yang interplay): 1. Ball gathers energy (water). 2. Ball is thrown and starts generating energy (wood). 3. Ball reaches its peak (fire) 4. Ball starts a phase of integrity and harmony of the entire system (earth), which is the ball itself 5. Ball then starts decelerating (metal) before retuning to its negative peak (water) Then the cycle starts all over again and so forth, infinitely.

i had to check if quantum mechanics reached a similar conclusion based on my own experience. Yes they have: If this quantum theory of consciousness tied to microtubules turns out to be correct, it could revolutionize our understanding of consciousness and even strengthen the trailblazing theory that, on a quantum level, consciousness is capable of being in all places at the same time. https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a62373322/quantum-theory-of-consciousness/ This means we are all living our reincarnations/life cycles all at once! It makes sense to me. The real, ultimate experience is in the infinite and ever lasting state of Tao, which we are all part of.

Certainly there are. For example: Herbs that clear heat and eliminate toxins But you don't want to automedicate yourself. Go see a qualified TCM herbalist

100% accurate. I already discussed this above yet some people here are too stubborn to understand this. I guess they have to travel to Wudang and realise by themselves. My own teacher (Xingyi & BGZ) went to Wudang and wasn't impressed. He actually found Beijing a better place to find quality and legit instruction. Alex Kozma, a renowned author, traveller and IMA practitioner warned me about Wudang by email back in 2010. He said that place is a circus set up to milk Westerners' money. Do not waste your time there. Taiwan is much better than the mainland to find the good old guard IMA teachers.

Good stuff. This shows the connection between TJQ and its military background. Anyone interested can read more about it here (as mentioned in the last post): General Qi Jiguang: On fighting pirates and his connection to Taijiquan "While I love the article, I’m puzzled by the inclusion of the rise of Taijiquan as a reasoning device for the inclusion of the chapter on kung fu, since 1560 was three hundred years before anybody had even heard of Taijiquan." And the Shaolin connection via the 1,500 year old form "Jin Gang Quan."

Is this something you were born with? Q: 1. Where do you live exactly? Eg. Ontario, Canada. 2. What is your background? Eg.work in an office. Then I can give you some recommendations. Btw, "static" grounding depending on what you answer above would make things worse rather than fixing the problem, especially if it's chronic like in your case.

Pretty much what they discuss here and by first accounts from someone I know of who has visited the area several times starting from the mid 80s. https://www.reddit.com/r/taijiquan/comments/1kplxxz/tai_chi_school_in_wudang_mountains/ Basically a "circus" set up by the Chinese Gov. to attract naive and/or beginning foreigners. The link of TJQ to ZS has no historical basis let alone finding quality TJQ in Wudang.

It's a myth. The reality is the following: Some traditionalists claim that tai chi is a purely Chinese art that comes from ancient Taoism and Confucianism. These schools believe that tai chi theory and practice were formulated by Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng in the 12th century. A research project conducted by the China Sports Commission determined as much, and Wu Tunan also examined Zhang Sanfeng’s contribution to Tai Chi in his book “A Study of Tai Chi”. These stories are often filled with legendary and hagiographical content and lack historical support. In March 2007, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles recognized Chenjiagou in Wen County, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province as the birthplace of Chinese Tai Chi. In August 2007, after further detailed investigation and verification of various opinions in society, the national martial arts department recognized Chenjiagou in Wen County as the "birthplace of Chinese martial arts Tai Chi." Modern historians point out that the earliest reference indicating a connection between Zhang Sanfeng and martial arts is actually a 17th-century piece called Epitaph for Wang Zhengnan (1669), composed by Huang Zongxi (1610–1695). Aside from this single source, the other claims of connections between tai chi and Zhang Sanfeng appeared no earlier than the 19th century. According to Douglas Wile, "there is no record of a Zhang Sanfeng in the Song Dynasty (960–1279), and there is no mention in the Ming (1368–1644) histories or hagiographies of Zhang Sanfeng of any connection between the immortal and the martial arts." Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi Chen Village is the bithhplace of Tai Chi Chuan.

The golden rule when it comes to teachers: "The quality of instruction is inversely proportional to the amount of material released by the teacher." The same principle can be applied by how well-known is the teacher. This in regards to depth and personal accomplishment.

It's the whole planet now not only Westerners. Mobile phone tech being the main culprit. People walking around looking at the phones constantly, eating while using them, etc. It's only the tip of the iceberg though. Let's see how far this ungrounded behaviour can sustain itself. You can get a free Ba Zi reading here for example: https://www.geomancy.net/content/products-services/ba-zi-analysis/about-ba-zi/free-ba-zi Keeping the yin & the yang in balance is also a must. And for that one needs to really fine tune their practice before this can be felt within. Same goes with the Five Spirits (Water-Wood-Fire-Earth & Metal) which have an identity of their own and rule specific times of the 24h clock. The clock is amazingly accurate. I forgot to add this in one of the previous posts. 3-5pm...bladder (water yang) 5-7pm....kidney (water yin) 7-9pm...pericardium (fire yin) 11am-1pm...heart (fire yang) Then before each time is up an extra hour runs with the departing element gathering sudden strength before vanishing completely; eg. 1 to 2pm ruled by the heart even though it falls under the small intestine period (fu organ - yang fire) which runs from 1 to 3pm.

What Ba Gua Zhang has deleted from my system in recent times: 1. Arguing with others ---> Who really cares, everyone has their own opinion. 2. Resentment. No time for that. If someone disrespects you, that's their problem. 3. Lust. I don't touch females, I don't want to sleep with them. Deleted but the Yin runs deep and in my dreams sometimes females approach me with interest which means it is still an issue that needs to be cleared completely. 4. Anger. Gone for good. It is a tough one to beat but not as difficult as no. 3 To be removed: #Material possession The magic of walking the circle which slowly deletes everything until nothing is left. The sky is the limit of what circle walking really is and does to the practitioner.

Good you are applying yourself. That's how it works for each of us individual species each with their own characteristics. I can see that you have substantial Water and possibly Metal in your Ba Zi, maybe being a "Water Dog"? For me: 1. Hard work 2. Daily consistency 3. Perfect Form (learnt that from my teacher and grateful I did) 4. Grounding work as a daily chore like brushing your teeth This is how you get the gong fu; the rest follows suit: Tao, spirit, etc. without forgetting that after all the chop wood, carry water is a reminder that physical life must continue its course like for everyone else on this planet, awakened or not, Buddha or a thug. Enjoy the circle walking, the circle of LIFE!

Do you practice BGZ as well? Thanks for your kind words.

My insight on this highly complex subject: The Shen (mind, spirit) is the root force. The rest is a dynamic change resulting from interaction of Yin & Yang forces which are merely a projection of the Shen. Taoism doesn't care about reincarnation. You are always present, materially now, in non-physical form later, constantly evolving.

Try here: https://rumsoakedfist.org/viewforum.php?f=4&sid=b14356b6a60debe14041836b86c71abc Personally I advise against ONLINE teachers. *Master to apprentice is, has always been and will be the best and correct way to learn internal arts & meditation. Buddhist meditation requires retreat and a teacher will be assigned to you. I have posted about it in various thread in the past. Good luck! *Edit: Oral transmission that is.

This is in anticipation of the changes that the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse will bring on Earth: https://www.newsonair.gov.in/russia-raises-aviation-alert-to-red-as-klyuchevskoy-volcano-eruption-intensifies-in-kamchatka/

Thanks and it all comes down to this basic principle: "Grounding, grounding and more grounding to prevent and correct deviations." For example:

Unless you are a Rat (Yang Water) in which case no matter what there is always conflict as both animals are completely incompatible (mortal enemies). One of the worst combinations of the Taoist Zodiac.

I tried to use italics under the "General Discussion Thread" but when selecting "I" it didn't work so had to use the code instead: text Just to let you know about this forum glitch.

Basically another iteration of "my kung fu is better than yours." Ignore them all but embrace this philosophy: "Many paths lead to the top of the mountain."

Yes. Videos I like out of the fodder you will find in YT: My teacher:

I agree with your comments about Snake & Horse nature but a Fire Horse is the peak of Yang and there is a lot of Yang build up on the planet already I see 2026 as a liberating year of what has been building up since 1966. It will be good for some not so good for most. Transformative indeed like the Snake but the Horse is stomping force rather than moulting.

Save your time and money and head to Beijing instead to learn either Ba Gua Zhang or Xingyi Quan (of both). Location: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Bamboo_Park Good teachers there but you need to do a lot of hard work to benefit from these incredible energetic arts. You have Liver & Gallbladder blockages. Ba Gua Z. will resolve those due to its twisty, coiling nature based on constant change. It's a never ending moving art that clears EVERYTHING. Nothing is left untouched. Good luck!