JohnC

There hasn't been much talk on the taobums around kunlun's current version. A lot of what you are reading is probably about the previous iteration of kunlun which was yigong level 1 through 3 and some other practices that Max incorporated. To speak to your questions about what WAS kunlun, I would definitely call yi gong level 1 vipassana-ish in a very powerful way. The main focus of it is yi training aka mind/insight training. I practiced it for 3 years and developed some awakening through it. I am a big fan of the system and Jenny Lamb. You can read what I thought of it in 2012 here: http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/23214-my-kunlun-practice-journal-friendly-comments-welcomed/?p=332883 I do think it would fit in with Chan. As to the current version of kunlun, I've never practiced it. John

Work on opening you kua with practices like this:

http://www.robertpeng.com/jieqi/jieqi.php?id=16

As a note in support, Yi gong works even when you aren't spontaneously moving, you just may not be aware of it. The boring experience is what yi gong works on. It's main focus is intent/awareness(yi) training. Also you could try out holosync audio tracks, to support left/right hemisphere integration. That is one of their main focuses. John

It is interesting to me that you say this.... this may be part of why Mopai is powerful, and why the vast majority of previous students leave with injuries. That they attempt to forgo safety to increase pressure and power? So any student that doesn't have a naturally strong foundation will have energetic or physical injuries while practicing. John

Yo guys, I was wondering if anyone knows about internal alchemy, or as I understand it the conversion of jing to qi to shen, and the relationship of this to the microcosmic orbit? Does the MCO sublimate jing to shen? Straight up the back into the head? Focusing on circulation? While internal alchemy goes internally up, and is about storage and then conversion to the next substance? John

As to all systems can't be right, I respect what you believe what you know from your experience. Personally I've seen too much far out stuff to say what is valid what is not. Although I have that debate with myself at times. The lineage that I know of as the most prominent that focuses on developing the whole body as a dantien is zhineng qigong. https://qifieldtherapy.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/interview-with-dr-ming-pang-founder-of-zhineng-qigong/ Supposedly the whole body becoming a dantien is part of the end result of a number of systems including the mco. Based on a number of accounts. Likewise. John

Hmm, so the mco activates alchemy? Do you think that alchemy could happen independent of the mco? I feel like Drew would know this kind of question from taoist yoga. John

I know every one of those systems I listed can demonstrate qi on people regardless of belief in qi. You might find this interesting on the experience of someone going through longmen pai: https://longmenpai.blogspot.com/ Likewise, I know of some lineage's in China that actively avoid focus on developing the mco. The focus on developing the whole body as a dantien. Regardless, I appreciate the time you took to respond. John

小梦想, Thanks for your reply. I do agree the LDT needs to be activated to begin storing, according to lineages that I've been a part of. That said, according to some lineages it will activate and develop as you practice. Difference in lineage perhaps. I don't think the MCO is necessary for your ldt to develop or to start developing chi, per many lineages that don't focus on that. Namely stillness movement, yi gong, as a few. In fact according to stillness movement, it's the opposite. You develop the LDT which then opens the MCO naturally. What has you say that? I do know that some lineages focus on moving energy through the mco, or have your body start circulating energy via the MCO, namely SFQ and other wudang lineages. As I understand it, fully opening the MCO is a major accomplishment that requires years and years of work, or the focused help of a master. According to Wang li ping of the Dragon Gate lineage this is a rare accomplishment. John

I THINK stillness movement and spring forest qigong have similar roots. Stillness movement eventually opens up the MCO, and the MCO is the main focus of SFQ. Back when Yi gong was my main practice, I would practice SFQ in the morning and the at night before yi gong. They felt completely compatible and I developed some realization doing it. Likewise I think Zhan Zhuang is an awesome complimentary practice, and compatible with EVERY system. John

On to the next journey. Condolences on your loss.

Keep practicing, keep practicing. It does sound like you are making progress. That said, I wouldn't sweat making it mean things or trying to interpret it. Just practice homey. Once you touch base with a quality master you will be lead right, and Chunyi lin seems to be a very solid master. John

Adding info to contribute to understanding and study. Interestingly, Stillness Movement Nei Gong connects you to and brings in light. Also a number of moves in Gift of the Tao interact with bringing in light or going up to light. This has the aim of developing your energetic body quickly. As an addition, my experience with Stillness Movement is I practiced for around a month as the energy built in my system and I assume my energy body developed before practice felt strongly palpable. I had spent around 3 years practicing Yi Gong before, and it was interesting to go from what seems like a yin system to a yang system. This is speculation on my part. Yi gong seemed to develop so much awareness and insight, and then going to stillness movement which emphasized the lower dantien and allowing the energy from there to overflow and permeate. John

With the lineage's I've worked with, the video is a placeholder to connect with their vibration and that transmission in time. Kind of like your awareness tuning into a specific radio/tv station.

Start with Zhan zhuang, then as you feel drawn move into other systems. This will give you a fantastic foundation to work with any system. http://www.alquimiainterna.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ZHAN-ZHUANG-IMAGEN-OK.jpg These postures, for 30 minutes to an hour. It will be difficult at first, and as you get tired just drop your hands then move them back up into the posture. Namely, posture 5 into 2 into 3, at 30 minutes to an hour each. Pay attention to the benefits and effects of each posture. You can do this while watching a movie, tv, whatever... although in focused awareness is better. And practicing is better than not practicing. John

As I understand it, Goenka didn't say don't do reiki, but don't do reiki while on the 10 day or on any Vipassana retreat. The main reason for this is to fully get and understand the technique and see what it does without external influence. I think, and I think he would agree, that they are compatible and fine techniques to practice in different situations. ...I can even hear it in his voice. ------------------- From the Taoist perspective, what I think vipassana works on is Xing, or your mind. While qigong/energy work works on Ming or your body. I do know that as you do the dissolving of vipassana that is interacting with yourself on an energetic level, but it is aimed at awareness and insight, vs developing/refining the energy body. I think it is more a letting go of all the hooks that inhibit clear awareness. So there is some cross over. From a Buddhist perspective the only thing you need to work on is xing. You will reach stillness and find your original nature. From a Taoist perspective, this is not enough... you need to develop and refine the energy of your body as well as refining your mind. To find your original nature and.... develop your soul, as I understand it. All that said I'm not the biggest expert on these two, as xing and ming are HUGE topics in Taoism. John

Let me summarize that for Drew: "It's a great and powerful system, that has had a huge impact on my life, the life of others, and that I stay involved in to this day!" John

Being in the Tao is a practice of removal. Of finding what you really are. Of meditation, cultivation, and letting go. Letting go of what you think you are, want and need, to find what you actually are. Taoism can be a philosophical approach.... although it is extremely rare for a philosopher to ever even touch the experience of the tao. Get into qigong, get into meditation, get into nei gong, get into internal alchemy. The tao will move through you. It isn't something you 'do'. Check out this: http://www.newreligion.eu/2013/03/chinese-religion-and-syncretism.html http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/37468-why-daoism-over-buddhism/ John

A very solid system with an accomplished master. I think this system can take you to enlightenment and beyond. Drew Hempel should show up with some amazing stories. John

Yes, These postures: http://www.alquimiainterna.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ZHAN-ZHUANG-IMAGEN-OK.jpg Specifically figure 2, then into figure 3. For 30 minutes to an hour each. Should set you straight . John

Wow, sad news. I hope her journey onward is filled with adventure and peace.

Nope, your fine. Just pay attention to what your body tells you and needs. John

Worth repeating. John