leopoldson

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Posts posted by leopoldson

  1. Posted · Edited by leopoldson

    very good topic!

    as for me, nothing sensational, but a little personal:

    My father's name was Leopold. He often said that he didn't like his name.

    Our relationships were quite difficult,conflicting since childhood, we have never really communicated.

    For him, the past of the family, the roots were important, for me not at all, I had the desire to cut off all that rubbish and family was nothing for me.

     

    He died a few years ago.

     

    I realized only recently (I shut off the details)that my dad was really part of my life, and that roots should be taken in consideration to understand at least part of what we are.

    So because I can finally say that I love him although he is not physically there to hear what I say, I choose this screenname as a tribute: I like very much his name, I am proud to be his son, and I hope he can benefit from my cultivation where he is even if it is shallow.

     

    The avatar is too well known here, so I don't have to explain. :lol:

     

    L.

    • Like 1

  2. Posted

    How true! Thanks TheSongofDistantEarth :)

    Cultivation is real and tough work and not endless search of blissful states that give satisfaction to one or a few of the selves that build the anamorphous crowd of what we are in the hypnotized state: only mechanical beings.

    Take care,

    L.

     

    Robert S. de Ropp, student of G.I. Gurdjieff and author of The Master Game and Warrior's Way, also wrote a book called Self-Completion, from which I quote:

     

    "In their incompleted state human beings thought they were awake when they were really moving about in a state of hypnotized sleep. They thought they had will but they had no real will. They thought they were free but they were really slaves. They thought they had something called "I" but they had no real I, only a multitude of petty selves with different desires and different aims.

    In their state of "waking sleep" humans voyaged from birth to death aboard a ship of fools. The captain was asleep, the steersman was drunk and the navigator had forgotten the aim of the voyage. Any fool on board could push the steersman aside and try to steer the ship. The great human agglomerates that called themselves nations were just as much at the mercy of the fools in their midst as were individual men and women. The technological Titanic, modern society, was proceeding full speed ahead into the fog, but there was no one in control. Under these circumstances it would not be surprising if the vessel hit a rock or an iceberg. The surprising thing was that it stayed afloat at all."

     

    How many selves do I notice? Many. There's my work-self, my home self, my brother self, my 'awkward teenager self' around attractive women self, my sexual self, my warrior self, my fool self. Have you ever experienced 'road rage' and almost done something that later you were really glad you didn't? Who was that directing things before you came back to some more usual version of 'you'? Ever been tongue-tied around an attractive member of the opposite sex? "Where did that come from?" you may wonder afterwards.

     

    Unity of self only comes with awareness and ability to observe one's self dispassionately. It comes from many years of cultivating and working on one's self. It comes with mindfull living in the present moment.

     

    Many people, especially those on a spiritual path delude themselves that they are a single, non-fractured self. I agree with de Ropp. I do live aboard "a ship of fools" that I am becoming aware of. Becoming aware of this is the essential first step in self development.

  3. Posted

    Hi dmattwads

     

    First, change a little your location when you practice (1 or 2 yards/meters away from the spot you practice)- It may be that you stand in a place where there is geopathic stress. Also,ime practicing outdoors really makes a difference

     

    Second,I don't know how much time you spent practicing the first position ( what Lam Kam Chuen names Wuji position with arms hanging on sides) but, if I were you, I would just begin anew with this posture until you reach 20 mn a day without doing any energy manipulation- just gently focusing on lower dan tian on each inspiration/expiration without involving sole breathing. LKC insists in his books that this posture is really important whatever level of practice you may reach there after.

     

    When you have practiced wuji posture 20 mn a day for two or three weeks, you may do the third posture in Lam Kam Chuen's Way of energy with hands in front of lower dan tien and built until you progressively, and gently reach 20 mn a day- again without any energy circulation exercise- just gently placing your attention on lower dan tian.

     

    And then you may go for the second posture( holding the ball in front of solar plexus)

     

    I don't advise selecting a different posture on different days before having worked consistently with each of them nor adding some concentrations or energy circulation exercise unless you are explicitly following a method that recommend that. If you are following such a method (I mean different from LKC ), you may just follow the directions in the way it is presented without adding or changing anything.Particularly, I wouldn't mix zz with chakras concerns etc...Otherwise you may disturb your energetic system and face some troubles.

     

    I am advising you all this this because:

    - this is what I have done myself without any trouble.

    - this is what I advised one person who had some trouble (feeling tired etc..) after the practice. When she began anew in a very progressive way, she stopped experiencing this troubles and found the practice beneficial.

     

     

    If you choose to do that, let us know how it goes!

    Thanks

    Leo

     

     

    Yes I pratice daily, and usually in the same spot. I do not find it difficult at all nor am I tense. The only concentration I have is if I'm holding the ball at a certain spot/leve I'd focus my breathing there. If I am in wuji posture on inhale I focus on my dan tien, and on exhale on the bottom of my feet. I've noticed that if I hold the ball for 5 min I generally feel ok, but if I try to do it for 10 min I feel odd.

    When I say odd I mean that if I do hold the ball in front of a new area of my body, then I usually feel very tired, shaky, nervous, and feel strong emotions associated with that area. For example in "The Way of Energy" it starts you off holding the ball in front of your middle dan tien/heart chakra area (the book does not call it this, but that is where it is). I noticed that I began to get quite emotional and feel lots of hatred for no reason at all, I got very tired for a while, and felt just unusual. After a while these symptoms went away, though for a while I had stopped doing ZZ because it was to hard to deal with.

    Last week I began holding the ball in front of my sacral chakra area, for a few days I got super horny all the time, it even woke me up at night, I got tired again. This week I have been doing it at my solar plexus, again feeling tired, shaky, nervous, angry, irritable, and realzing very acutely my self-esteem issues, and things like this.

    • Like 1

  4. Posted

    Hi dmattwads,

     

    Do you practice daily? for what duration? Do you find it difficult? Do you feel tensed during the zz? Do you do it always in the very same spot/place? Are you just standing or do you add some special concentrations?

    What do you mean by "feeling odd"?

     

    Leo

     

     

     

    Is anyone familiar with side effects from zhan zhuang? I've noticed that if I'm going to feel side effects from any type of qigong, its this. I've noticed in particular that if I do the holding the ball position in front of chakras that I consider relatively weak, such as my solar plexus, that I feel very odd later. Is this a normal thing to get through or what?

  5. Posted

    Hi Stigweard,

     

    I agree with you, and would just add that generally speaking the same observation could be made after a period of prolonged computer using; let alone the digital distraction that results from all the electronic devices (mobiles etc).

     

    hexagram41-sun.jpg

     

    :rolleyes:

     

     

    I hear a lot of self-justification to support an addiction here. Pay attention to what happens to your energy after a period of prolonged gaming. Let that be your guide.

     

    :)

    • Like 1

  6. Posted · Edited by leopoldson

    Hi pappamolla,

     

    Let me rephrase what I have understood:

     

    You like very much sex but according to your experience ejaculating too much caused you some problems.

     

    You don't want to learn and practice anything else than retention (no meditation, no others preparatory practices).

     

    I have some questions:

     

    When some people here tell you that it may cause you some major problems if you practice retention; are you feeling disappointed and angry because you are hoping that practicing retention only could be enough to solve your problem and you don't want this hope being destroyed?

     

    If yes, can you tell me more about the negative feelings you have towards the idea of having to practice meditation/other things than retention? Is it that you are afraid that having to practice something else than retention might turn you away from your immediate goal? Or is it that you are afraid that some relatives might ask you questions if they see you practicing some meditation etc?

     

    Leopoldson

     

     

     

     

     

    Well.

    Like i said i know very well taoism, but for now i don't want and don't have time to learn meditation.

    The problem is very very simple. Now i'm 38, and i like very much sex. I practice sport very seriously. And if i ejaculate often i have problem. I think you know very well the effects of ejaculation.

    Last year i overtrained, have various problems, an incredible exhaustion, with some kind of little infections. Initially i thought the problem was the training, then i discovered that the problem was the too frequent ejaculation. For example, it's impossible for me to have sex every day.

    So, that's why i'm trying to find a solution.

    • Like 1

  9. Posted

    Somebody mentioned doing some sitting after standing. My teacher, conversely, once recommended sitting before standing.

     

    What seems to be the benefit of sitting after standing? I think it may have had something to do with sublimation, but I can't quite remember. Any experience here is appreciated!

     

    Hi Ben,

     

    In my understanding,it has to do with cultivation: jing->Qi->Shen

    Of course, standing, moving, sitting, all work on the three levels, but is is a matter of proportion. By comparison, it seems that standing cultivate more jing, because it involves the legs. When you sit,your body structure is quite at rest: by crossing the legs, you redirect energy towards the torso,and can naturally stimulate circulation in Ren and Du channels (Xiao Zhou Tian) and concentrate on nourishing Shen by refinement after having stimulated the Jing, cultivated the Qi. You collect the fruits of your work in sitting.

    My 2 cents

    Leopoldson

  10. Posted

    Yes, exactly! That's the very reason I was driven towards oriental teachings, they are most of time 100% practical!

     

    One thing I like about qigong is that for example in Christianity I feel that some of the teachings are pretty good, yet they tell you what would be a good thing to do, but don't really tell you how to do it. I've found that qigong helps you to apply good principles to your life.

  11. Posted

    If it makes sense to have a regret about something in my life, it would to be this: not being a real martial artist. I find Dr Yang's project very very beautiful. Have you seen his interview? I have respect for this:_/\_

     

    youtube version+ text version

     

    -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5RRccIaE_U

    -http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=887

     

    Leo

     

    i have the upmost respect for Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming. how i wish i was in miranda right now :) .

  13. Posted

    Hi dmattwads,

     

    Thanks for your review of the Five animals play! This is very interesting.

    Well, at some point, one has to choose what to practice, because, days have only 24h :( .

     

    Leo

     

     

    I actually have the 5 Animal Sports DVD from YMAA. While the movements are quite external, it definately has internal effects. I actually began to wonder as I was doing these movements how they could have an internal effect. What I realized was that they have an internal effect on the energy much in the same way that acupuncture/pressure uses phyical manipulation on the exerior of the body, to manipulate the internal energy. How does acpuncture work? I really don't know, but it does. How do these movements have a balancing effect on our internal energy/organs? I don't know either, but it does. The 5 Animal sports have been around in China for a very long time and have been proven again and again. I heard a story about a lady in Bejing who got cancer. She refused chemo and the more standard treatments, and ONLY did the 5 Animal Sports like 3 times a day for a few months. The next time she went to the Dr. no more cancer. :)

  14. Posted

    Thanks Ed,

     

    What is of the utmost importance in your case is that practice came before belief. I was raised Christian so it's another story.

    That's the reason why, I choose to set aside all my belief system and see for myself what is true or not for me. So far, I have not encountered the God within, but perhaps, He is looking for me patiently. Who knows what will happen?

     

    Thanks a lot.

    Leopoldson

     

    Hi Leopoldson,

     

    Well one is a practice, one is a belief system. But i had a belief before i started meditating that God was within. I meditated with this in mind and i guess developed my own beliefs from what i found within.

     

    I only became a baptised Christian 3 yrs ago. I meditated for around ten years, so practice came before hand.

     

    I don't see what in the new testement clashes with meditation or belief God is within. Jesus said in it, the kingdom of God is within and without...then you have the lords prayer which starts "our Father who art in heaven" and kingdom of God is heaven, so.... seems pretty clear to me.

     

    I could go on quoting but it comes down to interpretation. Who is to say the church is giving the right interpretation when the inner/esoteric was kept for the apostles and only parables for the public. I assume that rule is sill valid, so... we are not given the inner teaching.

     

    Sorry if i have not been very clear...

     

    Ed

  16. Posted

    Thanks Zerostao and Neichuan,

     

     

    Actually,the 5 animals trailer gave me the impression that it was more an external workout than an internal one.

    I will definitely go for the EB book.

     

     

    dvds> 5 animal sports,xingyiquan, tai chi chuan classical form, push hands 3 &4.

    small circulation, martial arts breathing.

     

    books> xingyiquan,bgz theory and applications, adv yang style TCC theory and jing,

    adv yang style 37 martial postures.

     

    i would like to find the original chi kung book B)

     

    IMO YJM will not lead you astray. i do think the 5 animal sports is a little weak.

    all of the books are treasure :D

     

    his raw silk uniforms are nice too

  18. Posted

    Well cool cause you pretty much outlined my practice just now lol.

     

    :lol:

    Well, great!

     

    If I can suggest a qigong set that -IMO- prepares and empowers greatly JQS, you may have a look at this one: http://www.wudanglongmen.com/wudang.html (you can also find it on amazon ).

    Some people find it poorly done, but the content is worth it (good health,good heart,clearer mind). Just add a few repetitions more than what Sifu Liu Xiao Ling does for the demonstration. There is also a section about zhan zhuang and a massage section. He says nothing about sitting practices but you just have to add it at the end!

  20. Posted

    That's just fine since your contributions tend to add more substance and color into the one-line-style answers of most of the people out there. :lol:

    Keep up the good work!

     

    :lol: well, the forum's not very active, definitely not like here. since it was my first exposure to the subject I just stuck around the qigong section there to help make it appear a little more active :)