dawei

To me, this sounds like a focus on moralistic. Or dare I say Confucian morality with a Zen nowness? I don't see nature as focused on being the 'best' or doing anything with 'honesty and sincerity'. But -isms have a way with creating such ideas. a simple picture of Tao for me is a flower. But I can think of 10,000 more things. But that flower is the product of the eternalness of the way; past, present, future.

If you accept that Qigong is sometimes separated into Nei Gong (Internal) and Wai Gong (external), then forms belong to the latter and are considered safer and easier to feel results but ultimately less effective at producing a higher level of energy. Therefore, it would stand to reason that Nei Gong (internal generating of Qi) can generate more effect with no movement but it takes more practice (except for those gifted with it). In my example of using an index finger in one hand to feel it in the other hand; the second step is to use someone else's hand; the third step is to use no hand, just your mind. The movement helps sync up the body faster but the mind alone can do. I would say in general, the mind facilitates. But, our definition of 'mind' may differ. I think with practice, one is developing their innate mind (lower brain; lower dan tian) to coordinate and facilitate this and that is when such effect gets more pronounced. Meaning, you can only get so much from just using your upper mind. Another way of questioning which may be interesting is: Is there a way to generate results without the mind? The simple answer is yes, since qi constantly flows or we would not be typing any words. If you have had acupuncture and felt qi flow as a result, that is not just your mind producing it. If you have had someone with energy abilities move YOUR qi without even touching you, that is not just your mind either. The only forms of meditation I practice are Qi oriented. So I cannot speak for experiences which are more empty oriented. I have a friend who did 3 hours of transcendental meditation a day. I asked if he ever felt Qi flow and he said no. I asked exactly what he did for breathing and he was going into slower and slower breathes which also because longer and longer, into his lungs. So he was generating incredibly large lungs which pushed downward. This is generally not the method of Qi meditation which breaths down into the stomach. You can play with breathing into your stomach or diaphragm. Place one hand over that area and another over the other area to make sure the movement is only to the former. You can also breath in through your body. The palms, bottom of feet and top of head are the five gates, but you can breath through anywhere if you put your mind to it. While I did mean literally put your mind to it, sometimes a spot spontaneously opens without the mind there. And sounds can trigger that too.

Hey Forest, It would be good to hear you explain what is BS about forms. I can imagine but shouldn't speak for you. I can only speak for myself. I practice Tai Ji and Qigong, and Medical Qigong to boot. I'll say this; It's all BS. I'll explain my use of BS. It's just all words, phrases, methods, practices, tradition, etc. Whether you raise your right hand upward or push your left foot at a 45 degrees doesn't really matter. In fact, you can invent your own forms and find that they are as (or dare I say more) effective. You can walk or sit and produce some effect. But I think your mind (and to more degree your intention) must be present. I fly often and at 33,000 ft it is irresistible to manipulate the Qi. I have done it often. But on one flight a lady next to me began to talk about her limited experience with Qi and wondered if it wasn't all BS. I asked her to give me her hand. Then while holding it, I told her to pass her other hand's index finger in a circle around that hand [that I was holding]. WIthin a few seconds she said she could feel it "move inside her hand". I asked her what she can make of that... then I told her to let me pass MY hand over HER hand in a circle. After a few seconds she was surprised and felt MY hand pass over hers. But I asked her: what is it you really feel? What is truly causing that sensation? Here is the bottom line, as far as I am concerned. What is it you want to feel or produce or practice or achieve? It all depends on you and your internally connection. If you only want to feel it in your hand, that can be done. If you want to feel it within some spot or meridian, that can be done. If you want to feel some deep connection to the spiritual that can be done. Each one requires something. Some may require a deep dedication to produce that. If you truly want that, you then truly need to commit to what it takes. I sometimes think we have to follow such programming since we have lost the 'way'. I think that is true on some degree. But many have died over the many thousands of years to get to the highest levels. You can know that to get to the most simple levels only requires to breath and put your mind on it. Those two are the dynamic duet. Your mileage may vary.

Have you read JC book? Level 4 (of 72) is described a little bit in there. He says that is the level where one has to be prepared to die since he says many have trying to achieve it. It seems to be the complete and utter merging of Yin and Yang in the Dan Tian. But I do not recall if he said there was more danger after a certain age.

This eight ingredient pill is said to be stronger than the popular six ingredient pill for men. So I would be careful with the dosage. Personally I would probably take 10 each time at first and see how my body reacted. Pay attention to your kidneys, lower back and reproduction area.

Qi Gong practice is often divided into Nei Gong (nei=inner) and Wai Gong (wai=outer); sometimes as Nei Dan and Wai Dan. The former is more like building up Qi internally (lower dan tian) through meditation or stillness then distributed to the meridians. The latter more like building up Qi in the limbs through movements and then distributes to the meridians. Mind and Intent are important in both. Dao Yin - 導引 - Stretching and guiding ; guiding movement So Dao Yin is more aligned with Wai Gong. I am agreeing with I4L.

If you looking to copy the chinese, some of it can be gotten from here: http://www.ccmp.gov.tw/information/license_detail.asp?id=03&num=010940&relno=513 This appears to be for Kidney Yang deficiency. 肾阳虚弱 You can't just search for this pill by name since there are two varieties (for Kidney Yin or Yang deficiency). The bottle said to take morning and evening in diluted salt, warm water. 20 pills each time. 早晚淡盐汤送服

I usually subscribe to the 'Wu' vs 'You' distinction but I like this explanation among any I have heard or read. Particularly because it aligns to the two oldest chinese Cosmologies: The Huai Nan Zi and the Tai Yi Sheng Shui. This latter text predates the MWD versions since it was found among the Guodian bamboo scrolls and the Guodian Lao Zi did not have Chapter 1. Sorry to sidetrack but nice comments.

I never considered myself any kind of "ist"... well, maybe except the 'ex' kind.

This is your translation, not mine I usually attach to the 'comma controversy' crowd but I like what you have done so far in avoiding the controversy... well, maybe not avoided it but your sidestepping into it's mud. I can see what your conveying and I think you're dancing around "Wu" and "You" but you don't want to give them any more power than necessary. Maybe there is a happy middle way which you are close to. You choose to give weight to "Wu" as 'enduring' in "Wu Yu" but simply 'Unknown' in "Wu Ming". On some level I like the simplicity but it doesn't come without it's problems, as Apech points out. There is something enduring about that 'unknown'. You choose to give weight to "You" as 'incessant' in "You Yu" but simply as 'Known' in "You Ming". There is something incessant about that 'known'.

Enduring names and known desires, if you reverse the translations a bit. Replace "unknown" with "enduring". Both utilize "Wu". Replace "incessant" with "known". Both utilize "You". I know one must translate in line and in context but see an interesting exchange in your usage which you keep separate. Chapter One -- Embodying Dao Unknown is Heaven and Earth's inception; Known begets the many separate things. Therefore, enduring innocence Comes from the subtle view; Incessant desire for things Comes from the superficial view.

I can see you want to avoid the comma controversy for wu. Ok. that aside. If we can play with your translation. Do you see a relationship in: Enduring names and known desires, if you reverse the translations a bit.

I think the original line goes as: 窮神知化，德之盛也。

in TCM meridian clock (2 hour cycle), 7-9pm is the "circulation sex" period. It's not just all about the man; this is the best balance. And one can retain or retrieve some of the lost Jing.

Google "Wim Hof"; aka, "the ice man". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wim_Hof You can also check to see if Qi Revolution does any seminars in your area, they do a short bit on tummo meditation.

I'm at a 5 day Medical Qigong session in Fort Lauderdale and ironically I struck up a conversation with a guy who practices retaining the essence and I asked him to describe it since I've read Mantak's books but never pursue it. He seem to suggest two things in general: 1. If you do the preserving method, you need to do the meditative aspect while still with your lady. He said to "lose the end game" notion and think of the entire experience as one whole. 2. He also felt that one doesn't need to do the preservation method all the time since he claimed you can re-claim it afterwards with her; again, no "end game" exists in this sense. He seemed to say the faster you get up and go the worse your treating your body; well... and the lady possibly too. I might suggest a middle ground is less than 4-5 times a week; she may not be aware of how taxing that can be to your Jing Qi. Good luck.

I have had Qi get stuck a few times, although not on my butt If it's stuck Qi then one wants to 'clear' it (or I guess you could say move it). Maybe you need to practice rooting out your feet and visualize it going 10 feet away. Sink everything down through the legs and out. You probably don't want to focus on the dan tian too long if you can build it up quickly. Let it go somewhere or practice some Qi circuits; but for now, I would try sinking everything down and out the feet. It's possible it got stuck trying to go up the spine since that is the microcosmic orbit route (down to the dan tian, around the lower bend up the tail bone and up the spine and up over the head, etc); some might say to clear it upwards in the path it was maybe trying to take. While I understand that, my gut says to try to clear it downward first. But this means you cannot sit cross legged; meditating cross legged is purposely to not let the Qi flow downward. So you can do it standing up (not on carpet!!); maybe outside barefoot would be nice to get in contact with the earth. And you can do it laying down. Start at the head and visualize a melting snowman or water pouring down your body; head to toe and outward 10 feet. Front and back; head and neck; arms and shoulders; chest and waist; hips and legs; down to feet and out. That's what I would try. Sorry to repeat so many times... I'll stop now. Hope to hear something back. Edited to add: Due to the strong buildup you get, you might also (later) visually bring in Yin Qi to help balance out the hotness that develops.

Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan - Fu ZHongwen Chi Kung - Yang Jwing-Ming

This is interesting to see since I am doing reverse breathing practice. The stretching ligaments is a good visual. Maybe you could show some more parts moving; On inhale the HuiYin and Diaphragm (which are energetically linked) should move upwards. I was taught to bring my breath up to meet with Heart Qi and then let some of that Qi come down with the exhale. It may not go all the way to the heart necessarily as I let the Heart Qi descend a bit to meet it. On exhale, I keep the HuiYin raised a little longer to let the Qi concentrate, then let it return to normal. The sideways figure-8 idea with the pelvis is interesting and i can visualize it. I had learned a sacrum stretch from one of Mantak Chia's books and then modified it to stretch in different directions. I'll have to try the pelvis-8 but I'm going to guess I'll fatigue rather quickly!

I think your a bit dramatic. And I would intuit it is south china, maybe include some port cities like Shanghai, which occupies your comments. Yes, chinese think "fresh" is alive; the US says "fresh" is slaughtered, packaged, wrapped, and shipped around the country on display in your market of choice. How long have you lived in china among them, eating with them? Are you glad you were not born a chinese, with such "cravings"? Just how do you settle for dead animals? The US style is that corporations are taking over; there are 5 which serve the majority of the beef in the US... We have progressed beyond slaughter houses to corporate food chain manufacture. And if your a vegetarian, the genetically altered crops abound and don't require an FDA notice. I have been to china 10 times and I have eaten everything imaginable; and every body part imaginable. I would do it the chinese way over the american way anyday: At least the chinese don't waste any part of the animal if your going to eat it. Also don't gorge yourself on meat alone; veggies are a priority instead of 'super sizing' your meal. Bon appetite.

The only issue I see is that JC describes a very specific teaching which has 72 levels; Level 4 he describes this merging of Yin and Yang and he also describes it as 'prepare to die' if you even try this. But your experience is different, based on what you have shared, which is good since life is full of variation. You may have some Yin aspect which did not require his 4 level approach; you didn't go through some practice to force the merging. It will be interesting to hear how you describe what you learn about these two energies mixing and merging.

In my opinion, they follow the polarity rule; like attracts and opposites repel. If you build up a charge in both hands and bring this Yang Qi close together, you will feel a resistance between your hands; some use the phrase 'qi ball' to describe since you can rotate your hands around (in a ball motion) and feel the pressure constant. But I honestly don't think it's just that simple. Meaning, one can apply Yang Qi to another or pull it off of them. But I have to think that the Qi automatically adjusts (ie: turns more Yin to attract Yang) based on our intention even if we're not aware of such adjustments. I think what JC has achieved is the ability to control this adjustment exactly as he wants.

This may not be exactly what is implied by the book, but you should research wei gong [external] vs nei gong [internal]. Example: http://www.china-taichi-guide.com/TaiChi/Qi-Gong.php

Remember I said that Yang Qi provides the power but Yin Qi provides the movement (ie: spacial issues). Thus, it is Yin Qi which is interfered with in regards to synthetic material. I found this out myself some years ago whenever I did qigong on a carpet (let's say doing some practice in bedroom). It really bothered me but I could not describe or know what or why. After I read John's book it was a light bulb went on; the carpet was interfering with my Qi movement to root outward from my feet. I felt like I was trying to push through something I did not sense in other locations. Based on John's comments, it is the Yin Qi which is affected when space is involved. In my case, my feet would feel like they are burning up. So I don't doubt that there may be some Yang Qi interference but I don't think John explicitly mentions that. Again, this is my understanding based on John's book and my experience. Whether it affects you exactly the same, I cannot say but I think it safe to start off with how John explains it till experience shows you differently.