steve

I would urge extreme caution mixing and using ayahuasca without supervision. Like you've said repeatedly, it is not a drug to be used recreationally, it is more akin to a medication to be used for psychic/spiritual manipulation. Similarly, it should be used under experienced supervision for best and safest results. The effects can be very similar to a psychotic break and can be harmful, even fatal in extreme cases. Please be careful. Until recently, it was available in the Netherlands in Smart Shops. Things are changing there regarding non-cannabis hallucinogens and I don't know where it stands right now. A friend of mine is on his way to Chile for two weeks and hopes to find a shaman there that will expose him to some of their methods. There is a fascinating theory that man's exposure to this or similar entheogens may have been what precipitated the evolution of our "higher" intelligence. Check out the work of Graham Hancock on the subject for an interesting perspective.

If you look closely, you can see him fighting to keep himself upright - he starts to swing ever so slightly, like balancing himself. If one could lift their body off the ground by magic, I doubt there would be much concern for losing balance. If he can defy gravity, why stay in one place? Do it out in the open, away from trees, during the day? Why not fly around, do a few flips, have fun with it... , but what do I know about levitation...? What is it that drives us to believe in something beyond what is right inside of us and in front of our eyes? Isn't all of creation and experience magical enough?

In the majority of martial arts systems (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean), mabu training is primarily used to strengthen the legs through physically demanding, isometric contraction. Throughout all stages of training mabu, fatigue and lactic acidosis of the quadriceps is characteristic due to prolonged muscle contraction (and quite uncomfortable). Mabu is utilized very widely in "external" styles and relatively little in internal styles. A primary purpose of zhang zhuang is to develop song, a relaxed structure that keeps the body in a given posture utilizing a minimum of muscular tension. Lactic acidosis in the thigh muscles is much less pronounced and it is generally acceptable, and often encouraged, to move around a bit to relieve tension and discomfort during standing, unlike mabu. It is relatively easy (physically) to practice basic zhan zhuang for 30 minutes within a few weeks of beginning practice. How many people can stand in mabu for 30 minutes? Mabu training emphasizes muscle tension in the quads. Zhan zhuang usually does not employ as much overt muscle contraction - most postures are closer to natural standing. The way I experience it, mabu maximizes thigh muscle contraction whereas most zhan zhuang postures minimize it. Clearly there are exceptions (santi shi is a good example yet most of us who practice mabu and santi would probably agree there are substantial differences - I routinely stand in santi for 30 minutes on each side - I can't imagine 30 minutes of good mabu). I would agree that it is reasonable to make a distinction between the goals and benefits of mabu training versus zhan zhuang, in general. Certainly there is overlap between the two but there is real difference as well.

It's part of the Dao

Fake

I have his book T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Meditation and find it interesting. It covers a nice range of topics relating to taijiquan and cultivation. I don't know anything about him beyond his books.

I loved it but haven't heard the commentary yet. Great film from a great director. His previous two films were also excellent - Chronos and The Devil's Backbone. Very different but well worth watching (although Devil's Backbone's a bit slow and atmospheric).

There are specific neigong methods that involve standing combined with a variety of yi/qi guiding and manipulating exercises. These involve more than cultivating fang. I agree that basic standing is about developing fang and song.

I agree - if I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have believed it...

Nice clip. Alex Grey's work is phenomenal. For those who don't know his work, check it out: http://www.alexgrey.com/

That's a great exercise. Even doing walking drills blindfolded is challenging. Definitely worth the time and effort now and then.

To be...

Mine is very simple. I would like to figure out who is trying to make a resolution. That could take all year...

It sounds like maybe Thaddeus was referring to yiquan in an earlier post (?) It's also used in taijiquan literature but less frequently. PS Another very important exercise for experiencing and cultivating this coiling/spiraling strength is the combination of sitting and standing meditation. Daoist methods of sitting develop the yi/qi interaction and the standing really allows one to feel the energy throughout the torso and limbs and further refine it's control. I'm not sure it's possible to really understand and cultivate this energy to it's maximum potential without the meditation part, even if you practice silk reeling exercises and pushing hands. My teacher tells us there are certain skills or levels one doesn't achieve without including meditation practice in taijiquan training. From my experience personally and observing my students, this is one. I would go as far as saying that this is why we see the importance of standing meditation (and circle walking) in xingyiquan, baguazhang, taijiquan, and yiquan. This central role of standing meditation to develop an awareness of, connection with, and control of body energy (of which chan su jing is one) seems to be what separates internal from external practice more than anything else, in my experience with both.

Speaking of profound things and challenging people's belief systems (even passively or unintentionally) is one of the most certain ways of creating conflict. Understanding Dao requires one to let go of all belief systems and is therefore a potentially sensitive subject for discussion. It is better left to personal experience rather than discussion or explanation. That's my interpretation of the sentiment.

That's probably it - 螺 (luo) means spiral like in a fingerprint or snail shell. 旋 (xuan) is to circle or spin. Together they generally mean spiral or helix, also screw. 勁 (jin) of course is energy, strength, or force. Literally, I'd translate it as spiraling energy. I guess it could also be translated as screwing energy... gotta love those xingyi/bagua guys...

Are these the characters you're referring to 螺 旋 勁 ? Thanks, Steve

After studying for about a year, I started doing the mirror image of the form on my own without any recommendation to do so by my teacher. It took a while but I got the hang of it. When I mentioned it to my teacher, he looked at me like I was stupid and said "Of course you should practice everything on both sides! I shouldn't have to tell you that!" He's kind of "old school" when it comes to certain things like that... IMO, practicing each and every technique from the form on both sides with a partner in the form of application drills is more important than doing the form on both sides. Nevertheless, practicing the form on both sides is a very good mental, in addition to physical, exercise. Interesting side note - I've run into a group of Chen stylists who are superb at push hands - on one side only! When they have to push standing with the opposite foot forward in restricted step competition, they fall apart. When moving, if you catch them on their weak side, it's all over. I questioned them about it and they told me that their shifu has them train push hands on one side only for a very long time before allowing them (if ever) to switch. I found it a very interesting approach, although one I probably would not favor.

Without nei gong, I would not call it taijiquan. The very name, tai ji quan, implies the application of nei gong to utilize the principles of tai ji (separation of wu ji into yin and yang) for combative purposes or, as was later developed, for mental, spiritual, and physical development. Without nei gong you simply have a dance. I'll have to agree with Oolong here - I don't think it's possible to learn taijiquan without a teacher. You might be able to ape the movements of the form from a video, but it ain't taijiquan. Once you've learned proper principles from a teacher and learn to self correct, THEN the form will teach a lot but it's not enough. You also need dedicated partners to train with to learn how to make it work. I know several martial arts teachers who've tried to capitalize on the popularity of taijiquan by making up a slow form from their style and teaching it as Tai Chi. It's bullshit. Unless you understand the principles of sensitivity, neutralization, distinguishing full from empty and so on, it's not taijiquan.

How long were you in the tub? If it was a relatively long time in very hot water it was likely due to the changes your body makes to accomodate to the higher temperature to keep the core (ie brain) temperature in the safe range. When you're in very hot water for a long time the body uses the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system to shunt heat to the extremities (skin, hands, feet, bowels) in any way it can to get rid of heat and keep the brain cool. This involves increasing blood flow to these other areas and away from the brain and other temperature sensitive vital organs. If you exceed it's capacity to do that, you'll feel everything you felt. This is why in the US, no spas, hot tubs... can exceed 104F by law and there are warnings about time spent in a hot tub. Other things could be contributing but this is the most likely explanation.

I don't think Ron has a shot at the nomination but he's currently my first choice outside the Green Party. He's the only person with the balls to speak the truth about our country's responsibility for international exploitation on the presidential campaign trail.

My experience is that taijiquan forms are a qigong exercise with the body movement created by linking together martial postures. The movement (ie activity) of taijiquan (in the form) is created by using the yi to guide the qi to move the body. This along with breath coordination is nothing more or less than qigong. There is no difference to me between taiji forms and qigong. That said, my shiye also teaches of qigong forms of several different types. Eight Brocades, Shi Ba Luo Han Gong, Tai Ji Qi Gong, and others for health and martial development. Some involve body movement, others only yi/qi movement (in other words, standing and sitting neigong). I sort of look at taijiquan as a martial art that uses qigong principles to bring a different dimension to martial training. It is exactly the development of the yi/qi/shen connection that makes the internal styles different, IMO. There is more to taijiquan than qigong and there is more to qigong than taijiquan, but they certainly overlap quite a bit. Interesting simile Lin! I think it applies to all martial arts. The difference between internal and external styles is bascially the way qigong is applied. My shiye teaches the Shi Ba Luo Han Gong both ways - with quiet/relaxed, "taiji" type breathing/movement using the yi to guide the qi; or dynamic muscle tension/hard "external" type breathing, depending on desired results. The "internal" guys mostly do the relaxed qigong and the "external" guys do the stuff that looks more, well, external

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate - health, peace, and happiness be yours! I LOVE King Missle. Jesus Was Way Cool is one of my favorites, along with The Sandbox, I Love You More, well, the entire Mystical Shit album actually. I thought I was their only fan - nice post Mal!

It definitely helps to have personal instruction. If you're just starting mabu it will feel very awkward and you won't be able to achieve a deep stance without losing proper posture. Here are some recommendations and observations: 1. I think the guy in the photo above has his feet much too wide. The feet should be under the knees, more or less. 2. Start in natural stance. Feet at shoulder width, facing forward and parallel. Crown of head is directly over the middle of the pelvis - more or less between the genitals and anus. 3. Little by little, widen your stance without losing vertical alignment of head over center of pelvis. Tilt chin slightly in, extend neck, extend lower back. Coccyx slightly tucks under. 4. As the feet get further apart, so do the knees. Always comfortable. Waist and hips relaxed. 5. Eventually you'll get wider and deeper but remember not to let the feet much wider than the knees. It will take a long time to get a deep stance without losing proper posture, be patient.