al.

For further reading, I highly recommend this book: Francis Fukuyama - The Origins of Political Order https://www.amazon.co.uk/Origins-Political-Order-Prehuman-Revolution/dp/1846682576 If we do not have an understanding of the political situation of ancient China, or of any other era, it is difficult to fully comprehend gender roles. (Unless we are only dealing with the realm of ideals and recluses living outside of society) As mentioned in the above post, the laws surrounding land ownership and marriage are key to looking at how men and women balance power in their community. There has been much reference to the Yi Jing and Yin-Yang in this thread. Although these things are part of Daoism, they are also the foundation of Confucianism too, which has probably in general had a greater impact on the structuring of traditional Chinese society and therefore on gender roles too.

Check out these articles for very informative and technical tips on traditional gong-fu tea: http://www.kyarazen.com/chaozhou-gongfu-tea/ Whilst it's good to honour tradition, it's also important to keep cultural and geographical perspective too- as SillyBears post above describes there is always innovation in tea culture- so finding the most suitable way to adapt gong-fu tea to your lifestyle and needs should take precedent over rigidly conforming to set rules.... unless perhaps you are practicing Japanese tea ceremony

Hi Oneironaut, The answer depends on what the goal of the Taoist 6 healing sounds is thought to be... From my experience many of the qigong sound practices are you for either clearing out sick qi or purification and transformation. What I gather about Kototama is that the sound practice is more about direct resonance with the Primal 5E, so more intent on harmonization.. Similar purposes in either case though. A

Drumming qigong is really wonderful! Practicing qigong and then playing drums will be a game changer. Also, start playing the drums as if it's a woodwind instrument- start by exhaling through a fill or tricky phrase. A

Does anyone have any tips for developing internal vision and remote viewing? From what I've gathered, through meditation, once one can sustain a clear mind, and can fix unwavering concentration on a single part of the body, there arises a capacity to not just feel every detail, but to actually see inside the body. I assume this same capacity can be used to do what's called 'remote viewing'. Any tips or ideas?

Of course! Some of the top martial artists were good acupuncturists, most certainly know the points and theory..

There are people throughout history who have used acupuncture as an adjunct to enlightenment/immortality. OF course, the concept of enlightenment or immortality needs to be clear. Acupuncture, like all traditional Chinese culture, is deeply rooted in Daoism, Yi Jing, Dao De Jing, but also went on to be influenced by Buddhism went it was introduced. (And Confucianism to make up the trinity) Different physicians who have different belief systems and practices and this would inform how they treat people. In any case, if you are trying to 'hasten your enlightenment', it seems you are aiming towards what the Buddha realised- Nibanna... quite different in some regards from Daoism. So, perhaps start working with a Buddhist acupuncturist you respect. There are quite amazing histories of Buddhist acupuncture used in this way coming from the temples of Mao Shan. Also if you are working with alchemy and Daoism a great tradition traces back from Ge Hong, using gold and silver needles, quite beautiful really. Of course, finding people who can help in this way a far and few between. There are many styles of acupuncture, some with more focus on Spirit than others. You might find useful what is called Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture. It might well bring your life into a better position towards goal. A

"When the shoe fits, the foot is forgotten. When the belt fits, the belly is forgotten." Please share your thoughts on the effects of wearing hats and qigong. A strange question perhaps, but I feel there is something interesting about the energetics of clothing the head.... In monastic Daoism a major indicator of accomplishment/rank is the type of hat worn. But is this more than symbolic?

Hmm, yep qigong naked is definitely different. I see clothing as the second skin, architecture as third skin. Primarily hats are for warmth and protection from the environment, then they can become adornment and as such reflections of who we are (or would like to be).... But something tells me different hats create different energetic structures just like practicing qigong in a cathedral will be different from practicing on a beach or in a small hut. So, the benefits might be when our qigong is looking to be more contained, just as when we practice in a nice indoor environment it can benefit in a different way to practicing outside...

Are there any qigong practitioners here who have looked deeply into phenomenology? Although I haven't read the main works, it seems like it could provide a missing piece to Western people practicing qigong. This is pure speculation but it does seem that the culture that qigong grew from is inherently different from Western culture, and has quite a drastically different way of looking at things. This seems to be very much related to Chinese culture retaining a more pictorial language than the West. Because of this, over the last few millennia Eastern and Western minds have, in general, developed slightly different ways of relating to the environment that surrounds them. This is of course a subtle difference but may be hugely valuable to be aware of as western practitioners. The tradition of phenomenology points out in many ways, what just through our cultural upbringing, we have already missed when we begin our qigong practice. This is referring to a number of things- primarily our conditioned experience of the earth below us, the horizon in front of us, the horizon behind us, and the sky above us. How time interacts with this spacial field we happen to be at the centre of is where things really start to get interesting. Linguistically, the future is ahead of us, and the past is behind us... but could these words be applied to our physicality as well? I'm reminded of hearing we hold the bulk of one kind of emotional memory along our calves and the backs of our legs. "the beyond-the-horizon, by withholding its presence, holds open the perceived landscape, while the under-the-ground, by refusing its presence, supports the perceived landscape. The reciprocity and asymmetry between these two realms bear an uncanny resemblance to the reciprocity and contrast between the future and the past- the one withholding presence, the other refusing presence." This quote comes from the book that stimulated this thoughts- The spell of the sensuous by David Abram. Another book which works upon similar lines and has the same kind of impact is Mediation by Thomas De Zengotita. Both books suggest that a huge burden we as a culture have brought upon ourselves is our disconnection with the environment around us, the lost sense of being indigenous to a place. All these thoughts seem to resonate with Taoism. a

Too much for me !

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So this is supercool! The heart/pericardium are not just physically spiral bound, but the beating of the heart itself has multi-fractal patterns.... Fractals being most readily illustrated with 'the golden spiral'. For more cool heart knowledge see: http://www.i-sis.org.uk/HeartbeatofHealth.php and http://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/introduction.html A

Most of the inhabited world is now blanketed in electromagnetic pollution. Many of the top scientists researching this topic have concluded the high levels of electromagnetic pollution have a detrimental effect on human health and the health of the ecosphere we live in. The extent of this damage is rarely acknowledged and is in my opinion one of the most pressing but difficult issues of today. There is active resistance to these conclusion due to the how critical mobile phones, WIFI, and laptops, etc. are to the functioning of business and convenience living. This information is well-summurised in this documentary called Resonance; Beings of Frequency: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV9dhGv_tTs As a qigong practitioner, not only have I experienced greater sensitivity to the negative effects of EM pollution, but in discussion with others, it seems this situation is inhibiting the natural energetic development of qigong cultivation. With people who do not consciously cultivate one way or another, the effects seem to be worse. If you are a long term practitioner have you noticed similar experiences in the build up of EMF over the last 30 years? In terms of protection, it seems a significant but also limited amount can be achieved through energetic 'shielding'. Many protection devices are also on the market with inconsistent results, some seem to be outright exploiting people. Mindfullness practices and holding composure and cohesion of one's awareness also seems of benefit. This is consistent with ancient Oriental theories of 'Evil Wind' and strengthening the mind to create no way for it to enter. It seems there are new technologies on the horizon which could replace the current devices, although this could be quite a challenge to do, similar to new energy technology. Please share any thoughts or techniques you have found useful....

Some books come to mind: Skills of the Vagabonds by Leung Ting. Fourth Uncle in the Mountain by Quang Van Nguyen. Bangkok Tattoo by John Burdett. If you're going to start learning more about this make sure your intention is pure! There's plenty of people marketing and pushing things which are best left alone. A

In Buddhist samatha meditation there is the practice of the 8 Jhana's. Does anyone know of a Taoist parallel? My current view is that there is surely the same skill/experience being developed in Daoist methods... but has it been structured/framed in different ways?

Thanks for the comments, interesting thoughts. The Zazen article works around this theme nicely. A clear read. To me, this all suggests that the same states of consciousness are being experienced, but the difference lies in the language used to describe these experiences, which in turn is dependant on the context of the dialogue. So, perhaps because the Buddha went on to develop Vipassana, the investigative and insight based system of meditation, he developed a more intricate way of describing these states. This could have also been due to his many years spent engaged in teaching, whereas, I get the impression that Taoist adepts in general have not historically had the same lengthy (or wordy) experience of teaching. Or then again perhaps the difference lies in the differences of the actual languages being spoken. I am no linguist, but I would surmise there are some important differences between the Chinese language and the old Indian languages... I wouldn't no where to start in analysing the structural differences of these languages and how this would reflect cultural ways of seeing/being, but this would be fascinating to explore... A

Hiya. I don't think that one's Karma can be entirely known through using any type of astrology. It could be thought of as only half the picture.... At this moment there are many many babies being born into this world.... Of course it cannot be said they all share the same karmic make-up, they will all have entirely different lives. I can't remember for sure, but I think the Taoist term for one's karma is 'ming'-- translating as 'curriculum' or 'fate'. When one is born, the karma is determined partly from the timing and position of the heavenly bodies- this aspect it related to one's Shen. It is also determined from our Earthly inheritance- our parents- this relates to our Jing. So one's Karma/life course/Qi is a coming together of Jing and Shen. So, to get a fuller understanding of one's Karma we must take into consideration not only astrology but also morphology- the signs that can be read from one's hands, face, bodily form and character. And even if we can find someone skilled enough to read all this, I still don't reckon it's the whole picture. To really get a handle on it takes 'meditation kung-fu', great skill in perception. This is actually considered one of the 5 traditional Buddhist Siddhis.... to know ones karma is not simple matter. A

Hiya, Invest in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Daoism-Twentieth-Century-Modernity-Perspectives/dp/0984590935/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1359631786&sr=8-3&keywords=xun+liu Also, consider spending a few months or half a year in a Buddhist monastery, see how monk lifestyle works for you. There are many places throughout SE Asia that let you stay for free, as a lay practitioner. Maybe try one out in the countryside/mountains, closer to nature, farther away from society... A

Hey TaoMeow Fascinating stuff. Have you any references or leads to learn more about this? Thanks a

Yes, trying to understanding ancient Chinese concepts through the prism of modern English language requires a shift in thinking and seeing. Reminded of this quote by Wang Bing- "The words are that which clarify the images; obtaining the images, one forgets the words. The images are that which maintain the meaning; obtaining the meaning, one forgets the image. Similarly, a trail is how you catch a hare. Once you have the hare, you forget the trail. Traps are how you catch a fish. Once you have the fish, you forget the trap. In this way, then, words are the trail of the images, and images are the traps of meaning." Cool diagram. To make sense of how the 5E relate to the passing of time requires flexibility of thought- there are many types of time.... To talk about this in the normal sense requires an understanding of how the patterns of 5 and the patterns of 6 and 12 interrelate. On a much larger scale from minutes and hours, I think there is a correlation between the Indian Yuga's and the 5E- and that indeed in different points in history the sequence of the 5E shifts- usually in terms of Earth switching from between Fire/Yang and Metal/Yin to between Water/Yin and Wood/Yang. Also, in regards to how this correlates to the circulation of Qi in the primary channels and organs of the body, it can be helpful to think of the PC/TB as not just Fire, but also as Water or the pivot between Water and Fire.....

Like Yin and Yang, the elements/phases are best not thought of as definitive but rather as relative. As such, no particular thing can be strictly pinned to one element.... it's more like there are various degrees of resonance that are shared by all things. The five element system is a model of reality constructed through and for human means.... although it cannot be separated entirely from human folly I believe it nevertheless has a truthful basis in the world around us- and the most scientific way to see and understand this is by studying mathematics/numerology, the sacred geometry in nature, and what could be called the 'holographic paradigm'. a

The following thoughts are an attempt to clarify the relationship between the 5 Elements/Phases and the 8 Trigrams. I'm writing this down as this topic isn't very clear in the popular literature/teachings, and also isn't in my own mind. So do please share any ideas and maybe we can deepen our understandings. THIER CONTEXT: The concept and system of the 5 Elements [WuXing] historically stem from Zuo Yan (305-240 BCE), who founded the YinYang Jia, the school that formally established the theory of Yin & Yang. The 5 Elements are essentially a model of reality, a way of understanding the changeability of life, but nevertheless has a tangible basis in the world around us. Over the years this model has been developed and extended throughout all aspects of Chinese culture and indeed throughout the inner and outer life of humans. The concept and system of the 8 Trigrams [bagua] stems out of the Book of Change [YiJing], specifically elucidated in the 10 Wings of the Book of Change, which originated in the time leading up to and during the Han dynasty (but nevertheless attributed out of respect to Confucius) . Although not part of the original text {ZhouYi], if we have any respect for the intelligence and integrity of original authors of the Book of Change then we will acknowledge the 8 Trigrams as an essential part to understanding the changes in life, and also as part of the foundation structure of the Book of Change. THEIR CORRESPONDENCE: Both the 5 Elements and 8 Trigrams underly what could be called Correspondence or Resonance Theory [XiangShu], which is way of seeing the world as a beautiful and perfect, ever-changing hologram, entirely interconnected from the smallest to the greatest thing imaginable. Both WuXing and BaGua theory systematise the multitude of resonant connections apparent throughout nature and ourselves. They also give a working model to how we can understand the movement to one way or another of these different objects in the world and aspects of ourselves. But how are these two systems integrated together? Herein lies the rub.. My current viewpoint is this- both WuXing and BaGua are part of XiangShu theory, which utilises what we know as 'numbers' to describe the patterns inherent in nature. So, what pattern is there between 5... and 8? If we look at the proportion between the number 5 and the number 8, it forms what is known as the 'golden mean' a mathematical ratio which is inherent in the growth and regeneration of the natural world. The Golden Mean can also be translated into what is known as the "Fibonacci Sequence', which starts 3-5-8-13... This gives us a clue to what underlies both WuXing and Bagua- the number 3. The number 3 can be thought of as the first real number. It is only when Yin & Yang [2] create a third thing [Qi] that the world is manifested around us. Before this, we are dealing with absolutes, which are not part of the world as we are experiencing it now... In essence though, we can deduce from this that both the 5 Elements and the 8 Trigrams are shades and expressions of Yin & Yang intermingling with each other. The different between them is a matter of scope. Just as the 5 Elements are a more elaborated expression of Yin & Yang, the 8 Trigrams are a more elaborated expression of the 5 Elements. This is as far as I've got for now, please continue this line of thought if you wish...

Cheers for sharing this, supercool.