forestofclarity

There are a lot of views, that's for sure. I've learned a number of MCO methods from different schools. Some say their method/teachings/results is the one true method, some don't. I've never found such views convincing personally, but that's just my opinion. I ran into the same thing with Christian churches and Buddhist schools--- it just seems like propaganda to me. Benebell has cited her sources about halfway through here, some of which are inaccessible to me because they are in Chinese. One of her sources, Huang Yuanji uses the terms differently for different levels IIRC. I find her version interesting because, like the Ge Guolong book translated by Mathias Daly (also a Huang Yuanji teaching), she picks up on certain things that many Daoists have not that correlate to Buddhist Tantra. https://benebellwen.com/2025/09/07/a-taoist-secret-to-cultivating-personal-power/

My initial impression is that she seems to be coming from a Western Magical Tradition POV (which is confirmed by her background), but I found this to be an interesting presentation. Curious about other's thoughts if anyone has familiarity.

Sorry to hear that and thanks for sharing.

Resources related to Mahamudra and Dzogchen. Feel free to recommend your own resources to be added. The resources here are made by members in their individual capacity and is not an endorsement by TheDaoBums. ForestofClarity: Dzogchen and Mahamudra is best learned in person from a teacher of a lineage. Here are some lineaged teachers I have found valuable. Feel free to share others. Mingyur Rinpoche holds lineages in both Mahamudra and Dzogchen, generally teaching Mahamudra first. He makes everything simple and easy. https://vajrayana.tergar.org Tsoknyi Rinpoche is a very precise, down to earth teacher. Pointing out must be taken live. Familiar with Mahamudra, but mostly teaches Dzogchen. https://tsoknyirinpoche.org Lama Lena is traditionally trained, but very modern. Very popular. Mostly Dzogchen. https://lamalenateachings.com/start-here/ James Low teaches from a more modern, psychological angle and is based in Europe. Dzogchen. https://simplybeing.co.uk I haven't met Tenzin Wangyal, but he has a good reputation. Bon presentation: https://ligmincha.org/tenzin-wangyal-rinpoche/ Books (if you must): http://www.rangjung.com Dzogchen: it is usually best not the read about Dzogchen, but very commonly recommended: Crystal and the Way of Light Mahamudra: Anything by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche Clarifying the Natural State: a classic practical guide to Mahamudra Crystal Clear: commentary by KTR Anything by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness Anything by the Khenpo Rinpoches: https://www.padmasambhava.org/category/books-by-the-khenpo-rinpoches idiot_stimpy: Lama Dawai Gocha, a Nyingma Dzogchen Yogi from New Mexico USA.Host free online Dzogchen sessions twice daily. Link to online sessions - https://www.meditationonline.org/https://www.youtube.com/@JoinMeditationOnline

It is an interesting question. My initial experiences with the subtle body had no priming at all and it wasn't until later I discovered it fit along with traditional (Shaivite) Tantric descriptions. With dan tians, I had some basic priming but I was shocked at how real they've felt when I received a boost from a tai chi master. As with all things, it is probably a mixture. Physical reality, in the traditions I follow, is like a collective or shared dream. So I think the basic structures and probably the three dan tians are a part of the consensual dream. So it is not like a personal dream and it is not the independent, physical world modern Westerners take it to be. However, this shared dream is also impacted and shaped by our "own" minds. In Tibetan Buddhism, different chakras have different associations with the colors and elements depending on the tradition, like Wallis says --- I think these are somewhat installed. But working with the Bon model, I worked with it for a while, suspended it, and then started it again after unrelated meditative work and I was surprised at how well my current experiences fit the model --- especially when I had doubts and didn't fully agree with it. But who knows? I like to keep the conceptual net loose to see what can develop.

- Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Vajra Heart Revisited

Like this thread, but open to all traditions. Self Liberation Through Seeing with Naked Awareness, trans John Myrdhin Reynolds As for this sparkling awareness, which is called "mind," Even though one says that it exists, it does not actually exist. (On the other hand) as a source, it is the origin of the diversity of all the bliss of Nirvana and all of the sorrow of Samsara. And as for it’s being something desirable; it is cherished alike in the Eleven Vehicles. With respect to its having a name, the various names that are applied to it are inconceivable (in their numbers). Some call it "the nature of the mind" or "mind itself." Some Tirthikas call it by the name Atman or "the Self." The Sravakas call it the doctrine of Anatman or "the absence of a self." The Chittamatrins call it by the name Chitta or "the Mind." Some call it the Prajnaparamita or "the Perfection of Wisdom." Some call it the name Tathagata-garbha or "the embryo of Buddhahood." Some call it by the name Mahamudra or "the Great Symbol." Some call it by the name "the Unique Sphere." Some call it by the name Dharmadhatu or "the dimension of Reality." Some call it by the name Alaya or "the basis of everything." And some simply call it by the name "ordinary awareness."

Mod Note: Chakra/Dan Tian discussion split off into new topic

Interesting conversation. I actually tend to agree with how Christopher Wallis put it in his article. Chakras are not necessarily inherent IME, although the three main ones and the channels do seem to more universalized. The reason I say that is because practicing different chakra systems reveal different chakras, but some things appeared without priming. This makes sense in Buddhist/Tantric contexts and other models that assert the primacy of consciousness rather than matter. I would say that the energy in Buddhist Tantric systems feels different than the Daoist models so far. I think his statement about priming is key. Even the so-called "don't do anything" approaches use priming. They will say, "Well, the relaxed mind ought to settle into the dan tian, but don't make it happen." Well, why bother even mentioning it then? It is because the seed is being implanted, but they don't want the acquired mind messing with it since it often produces false experiences or facsimiles as opposed to the deeper, reality shaping "elements." https://medium.com/@hareesh_59037/the-real-story-on-the-chakras-b321fd662daa

Thoughts? Most teachers I've dealt with start out with Wuji.

In his Inside Zhan Zhuang book, Mark Cohen says 20-40 minutes for health, at least 60 for martial arts, and more for spirituality. I think people miss the boat focusing on length over quality, personally. My person experience. But things may have changed, this was a few years ago.

This may be how it is online, but not how he taught in person. I have learned Wuji from at least a half a dozen or so lineage matters, some of them famous, some not. None of them would agree with your statement. Proper Wuji introduces alignment, relaxation, posture, and a palpable sense of qi. Also none of them taught standing post to mean standing on a plank as you've claimed. According to Damo, he is referring to static postures involving lifting the arms.

I appreciate the concern. Just for clarification, I've been recommended the specific ZZ posture and the book by my local instructors. I would say that every taiji teacher I've ever had has started with static standing postures, usually Wuji. A few have stated that if they could, they would have everyone practice nothing but Wuji for some months, but they don't think anyone in the U.S. would want to learn in such a way. In retrospect, I don't see how one develops any sort of internal structure WITHOUT a lot of Wuji. I wish I had followed the advice earlier on practicing this more some time ago.

Mod Note: Let's stay on point and not try to bait members with meme posting.

Yes.

I've been off again, on again with Taiji and Qigong. I've taken up Taiji again over the past year after a bit of a hiatus. I'm surprised at how foundational wuji seems to be, and also at how many people tend to put it off or ignore it. I can say that, after softening up internally and opening some stuff up, standing has gotten far easier. One issue I had generally was too much tension (and also mental clinging), and both meditation and qigong teachers in my view fail to teach how to deal with it. There is sometimes a subtle pressure to "grin and bear it" which I think locks tension into the body/subtle body. I actually had to undo a lot of this tension that I picked up from initial Vipassana practice. So in this regard, it makes sense to focus on Wuji before ZZ since it is a bit simpler. I've just ordered the book a few days ago on the recommendation of my local Taiji friends, so I haven't seen it yet but I've watched some of his videos and was reviewing them just today. Doesn't he start with Wuji? He does in the videos.

As I suspected, Mark Cohen states a higher stance for healing, lower stance for martial power.

I don't think most people agree on what the Golden Elixir is-- at least, as far as I've been exposed. Do you have a definition you use?

Welcome!

Resources related to Theravada and Early Buddhist Texts. Feel free to recommend your own resources to be added. The resources here are made by members in their individual capacity and is not an endorsement by TheDaoBums. Krenx: Great resource by the late Dhamavuddho. Dhamma talks as well as verbal readings and comments of the entire 5 Nikayas suttas. Audio & Video Dhamma Talks https://share.google/z9ggFGXF5arrWTuqV Mark Foote: I would recommend the Pali Text Society translations of the Nikayas (the sermons). They can be found online, though not by the Pali Text Society. Folks can PM me if they can't find the link. There are also translations by modern, Western Theravadin monks, for example on the suttacentral.org site: https://suttacentral.net/pitaka/sutta?lang=en I have collected the best of my writing, here: A Natural Mindfulness That's also the first eighteen pages of my website, here: The Mudra of Zen

Resources related to Mahayana and Zen Buddhism. Feel free to recommend your own resources to be added. The resources here are made by members in their individual capacity and is not an endorsement by TheDaoBums. bradley: The Diamond Sutra was the first thing Buddhist I ever read (maybe six or seven years ago), and it instantly changed my perspective on everything. Also, I think I have read that Hui neng was, and continues to be, somewhat controversial... Link I also learned a lot reading through the prajñā­pāramitā sutras. Here is a translation of the 10,000 line one that I liked: https://84000.co/translation/toh11 Finally, one sutra that I continually go back to, and think about a lot, is a short Heap of Jewels sutra: https://84000.co/translation/toh118 The following interchange has stuck in my mind:

So is this a technique you made up?

According to who?

Yes-- there are similar experiences that can occur in Christian, Buddhist, and Shavite contexts. Probably more. Swami Tadatmananda looked at traditional sources: Transcript: https://advaitaprakarana.com/swami-tadatmananda-kundalini-yoga/

I can give you a list of questions people have asked here in the past: What is kundalini? Should I raise it? How do I raise it? What is the most effective method to raise it? What are the dangers? Can I do this on my own without a teacher? How does one find a teacher? What are the benefits? Are there are dangers or drawbacks? I had an experience, is this kundalini or not? I heard that person X raised their kundalini and suffered mental illness, what is this all about?