RobB

Might also be worth mentioning that some things may not be openly explained because there is value in the individual discovering them for themselves. This can also prevent projection or imagination getting in the way.

I suppose the answer is 'by some people'. I've been very lucky to have encountered a couple of people who have been very experienced and very open. So that does happen - even to terrible students, like myself. As others have said - it's all out there these days. As one of my teachers said - and he may have been quoting one of his teachers - 'the secrets protect themselves'.

Sounds cool. My sitting practice has certainly led to some deep relaxations/releases in areas when I was absolutely blind to the tension or holding. It's not what I'm trying to do though so one of my challenges is not following those processes - which seems to be sort of the opposite you are talking about here. I can see that it could have value though - and could be fascinating. If only there was more time...

Yup. Portugal currently 37th on the deaths/million pop charts. UK is 10th but still holding strong against the USA at number 11.

What? The Worldometer that puts Sweden in the no 25 position for COVID-19 deaths per million inhabitants? That's 25th out of 220 countries. I'm not sure those stats mean what you think they mean. Also - that other post you made, earlier - that's not a picture of the Danish health minister. Merry Xmas though - you do you!

I'm married to a Swede and we did a runner to Sweden (from the UK) for 7 weeks (late June though to beginning of August) earlier this year. The Swedes are subject to their own beliefs - that they are exceptional and shouldn't have to put up with any incovenience or discomfort. Turns out nature doesn't care about their beliefs.

https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-sweden-hospitals/we-need-help-says-stockholm-healthcare-chief-as-covid-fills-intensive-care-wards-idUKKBN28J256

Is this an imperative? Sort of like a reverse 'Avengers Assemble'?

Yeah, I am about 18 months into a 'proper' daily practice and, although I don't share your specific tingly experiences, the more general 'positive' effects sound familiar. It's transformed the normal for the better.

Hi @Taomeow - just wanted to say thanks for sharing this - I've not had a chance to study any of this material as yet but, for me, this knowledge seems to be where the Daoists shine - the OG village wisdom. Thanks again!

This is a good listen:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seeking-the-luminous-in-an-age-of-manufactured-light/id1465445746?i=1000498666046

I would also note that some people will seek 'alternative' approaches because the conventional approaches point to truths, or remedies, they'd rather avoid. Not that this is necessarily the case here.

Hi Alex, As we have you here...:-) Many of the Daobums may not know of your long years of researching and publishing works on cultivation and martial arts. Labours of love and the inspiration for many - like Gerard and myself. Deep immersion in meditation practices as well as Chinese internal martial arts and much more. You mention 'martial cultivation' - potentially paradoxical. Serge Augier has talked about martial arts being a 'Royal road' to cultivation. What does martial cultivation mean to you? How can the pursuit of martial skill contribute to the cultivation of the human being? Cheers Rob

Hi Alex, Hello from Cambridge! Any news on the Seasonal Neigong book? Cheers Rob

May, or may not, be of interest to BKF afficionados... https://www.facebook.com/lineofintent/photos/a.360630964444212/985615958612373/

Eight Principles for Happiness is the most recent in the ‘Written Transmissions of Da Xuan Daoism’ penned by Serge Augier and published by Line of Intent, Alex Kozma’s imprint. It promises to set us on the path to happiness! Of the four books published so far, this one is the most clearly structured, with eight core chapters each containing eight exercises. The subjects will be familiar territory to many readers here: Alignment, Non-Resistance, Balance, and Natural Cycles being the first four. The content is where the particular flavour of Serge’s tradition emerges. Every lesson is couched in the language and environment of the everyday. Everything can be done by anyone - right now, tomorrow, or next week. The exercises, which range from the purely intellectual through to the directly physical, ask you to reconsider how you stand, how you see, and how you think. They offer practical challenges to the obstacles which we may believe lie between us and a more satisfying, happier, life. Conversational rather than a highly-structured esoteric exposition, the voice is recognisable to anyone who has heard Serge teach but, if you haven’t, it’s worth reading as a listener. In a recent episode of Alex’s Flying Monk video series, Serge noted that, coming from an oral tradition, he didn’t much enjoy writing books! An upshot of this is that this book, like the previous volumes in the series, benefits from multiple readings to allow the layers and links in the material to emerge. The Daxuan way seems to be to lead the student to the profound via the ordinary. You’ll finish the book both with practical ways of ‘kicking your tyres’ to see where your own personal situation could be improved and an understanding as to how these methods arise from Daoist principles. The final section ‘Dialogue with the Master’ is in Q&A format with Serge answering questions on Daoist standards including Life, Death, the Bagua and the Eight Immortals and more… Finally, you can tell that the publisher loves books! This is no print-on-demand conveyor-belt book and the materials used clearly reflect the publisher’s care over the content. Will it make you happier? Who knows – if you read it, and practise – it might! https://lineofintent.com/ Disclaimer: I have known Alex for several years and he’s asked me to post reviews from time to time and I’ve always failed to get it together. This time he didn’t ask me and here we are – maximum yin turning into yang perhaps 😊 I’m also in my first year as a distance student of Serge’s Daxuan tradition so think of that what you will. This book is chock-full of good stuff and Line of Intent books don’t hang around forever.

Interesting blog, thanks @Vajra Fist

You're the only people I know who are into this stuff. You're a bit odd, but I like you.

The Daoists I've come across haven't been vegetarian and haven't talked much about compassion either.

I was having a bit of a reorganise the other day and found an unopened jar of garlic cloves fermenting in honey (raw - I used to keep bees). They've been sitting in there since 2016 - I'm actually a bit scared to open it.

Can anyone join this argument ? Yes? Excellent. I'd just like to point out that, as a low-contributing freeloading lurker, I find the board now, under the tender care of the current Mod Team, to be a much nicer, more interesting, and infinitely more auspicious place to hang out than it has been for many years. Thank you all. May your orbits be ever clear and your chakras fruitfully aligned. Have a great weekend. Out. Edit: stupid punctuation.

View over a lake (no, I dont know why either, that was just my fisrt response...)

Thanks for the recommendation. Just popped over to Dharmawheel for a quick look. Holy Moley Buddhism is complicated!

So, Cthulhu is the Dao? Excellent!

Fixed that for you