Ryan McCoole

The correct translation is "diamond thunderbolt". From what my teacher taught me, the "diamond" part of it refers to the path the lightning takes, specifically, an angled path. Diamonds have angles. Anyway, that's what he taught.

Yeah I think Kosta said that that’s the shape the earth makes when the thunderbolt (yang energy) strikes the ground. Also, the shape itself, being held together in the center is a hint at the Dan Tien as a center for generation and gathering of Qi? I’d have to look in the book again to be sure.

The Hui Ming Ching states:

“If thou wouldst complete the diamond body with no outflowing,?

Diligently heat the roots of consciousness and life.?

Kindle light in the blessed country ever close at hand,

And there hidden, let thy true self always dwell.”

Any thoughts to the Bums? It might be that to achieve true Dao you must “heat” your Dantien via your Yi (intention) to wake the Qi, and if you remain in your center in meditation and daily life for…however long…you’ll saturate your charkas with Qi to the point it completely re-organizes your being?

Musings…

-Ryan

I am sure they have pills for it.. but for blisters it is best in powder form and direct application.

Works faster.

 

Peace,

Aiwei

*nods* awesome, thanks. One more pestering Q: I hear people taking general inner-body pills, that clean out the whole system and make it better/more receptive for qi? Anything like that you'd recommend? Any other pills/herbs while I'm there? Haha, it's my first time there and I just want to be sure there isn't the "oh duh , why didn't you get this" item...although I'm sure it's all subjective/whatever the situation calls for.

Be well,

Exactly the Yunnan Bai Yao.

 

It cleanses and heals, disinfects. Have fun.. haha

 

Your musings are amusing :-)

 

Peace,

Aiwei

*laughs* I am amused as well.

I am going tomorrow to pick up the Yunnan Bai Yao. Does it also come in a pill form, or is it just the powder?

Thanks Aiwei, and be well,

in the Dao,

Ryan

Ryan,

 

If you can get to a Chinese Herbal Shop, buy Yunnan BaiYao Fen. Pronounced ; You Nan Buy Yeaow Fen.

Then take a pin or so, and pop several holes i nyour blister to let the water or puss out. After take a q-tip and dip in a bit of water, dip the q-tip in th epower and emmerse your blister with the powder. Allow it to be in the air for a few minutes, then cover it up with anything you can.. Clean it 3 times a day and reapply the same amount of times, the same amount of powder each application.

 

Give it a day or twwo, it should be much better.

 

Peace,

Aiwei

Aiwei, thank you, I will definitely check that out (I am in chicago, there must be a shop close by methinks ). Are there any other herbs/ mixes you'd recommend for general cleansing use? Just something you take on a regular basis?

More musings, be well,

 

The only ones who are stressing secrecy, and powers as a standard for enlightenment are wrong.

 

Cultivation is the foundation, it is not mysterious, nor secretive. Without cultivation there will be no realizing the result. There is no mystery to it, and those claiming mystery to it and basing enlightenment on acheiving powers are lying to everyone...looking to make money and shun out those who actually know what they are talking about.

 

In a world where the majority believes the false to be true, what is true is false.

 

If one hasn't already awakened, and they are looking to develop powers and such, they are putting too big of a tool in their hands which will cause more problems in the future. If one awakens, and intends to focus abit on powers and such, no problem. But is doesn't mean they are enlightened. Showing off one's powers and looking for recognition for it as enlightened or being powerful is only to welcome in the demons. You cannot gain anything from them...only problems.

 

Peace,

Aiwei

*nods and bows* well said Aiwei. When reading this, chapter 20 from the Hua Hu Ching came to mind:

"The clairvoyant may see forms which are elsewhere, but he cannot see the formless. The telepathic may communicate directly with the mind of another, but he cannot communicate with one who has achieved no-mind. The telekinetic may move an object without touching it, but he cannot move the intangible. Such abilities have meaning only in the realm of duality. Therefore, they are meaningless. Within the Great Oneness, though there is no such thing as clairvoyance, telepathy, or telekinesis, all things are seen, all things understood, all things forever in their proper places."

Be well,

Ryan

Yes. All of any abilities are only outcomes, byproducts of proper cultivation. It comes as it comes and doesn't need any one to think about it to develop. Only will power to dilligently cultivate.

 

Peace,

Aiwei

To play the devil's advocate, then why all this stress on cultivation and secrecy and powers being a standard for 'enlightenment'? Is it just the allure of bending the veil of Reality? Having something that you can call 'mine'? Or....? Just some musings...

To second Aiwei, John Chang says in that new video that all this Qi stuff is only on the surface...byproducts of the real meditational and Awareness-expanding journey that he makes.

Be well,

-Ryan

Okay Matt, you've piqued my curiosity too. Can you make it a public posting, as I am sure others are no doubt interested as well.

I am defintiely interested as well.

Taomeow and Cat,

Thank you both for your great suggestions! I'm on a mission, and I won't stop till I'm completly de-blistrified....

Yeah Meow...I have no idea why it started to hurt ony an hour later...strange and stranger.

Thanks again!

-Ryan

Long story short, walking across Chicago all day has given my left foot (why not right?) a very bad blister, so much so that for the past week it has been almost interrupting my qi-gong practice. I'm just thinking of popping it and rubbing antibiotic cream on it aterwards. Any similar experiences from you bums? Any way of dealing with this blistering problem...haaa...that was so punny. get it...? Ahem, sorry, lack of coffee...

Be well,

And by greed for enlightemnet I mean fervent zeal taking over the calming, relaxing flow of the Dao.

I've read it gives more energy right after, but then your body works to replenish the Jing and it slows you down. However there have been times where I'm like "Ah! I needed to release here because the toxins were building up, etc."

Yeah "Sung", I remmeber reading about that in Lam Kam's book...its like settling into yourself..finding that groove and letting it groove you.

Cameron, I like that description! I think of it as the Taoist concept of "completly empty, yet completly full"...its that strange, calm charge.

Be well,

Today I was sitting and, for some reason, I felt more than usuall the Unity in my body...everything was One: my hands, legs, dan tien, head were One. When I took in each breth, I felt the WHOLE of me vibrating to that inner pulse. And then I began to expand my Awareness around the room, relaizing that I am the same as a penny or a tree or the little lamp by my bed.

It's interesting to think that, aside from a slightly different arrangement of carbon atoms, there is nothing seperating us from a tree or showerhead. Everything is blissfully One...it's good to feel that charge in practice as well.

Be well always,

Much appreciated!!!

 

My Thanks as well!

Congrats! I've been retaining my jing for about a week on average, but after that I feel "withdrawl" symptoms and eventually succumb to releasing it. After reading so much positive stuff, I wonder: how many days do you go without releasing your Jing, and what methods do you use to stimulate your Dan Tien.

I practice Zhan Zhuang standing/static positions and can really feel a rush of Chi after practice, but what is the timing and methods of your sexual aspect?

Congrats again

Indeed, the Master's mind is the beginner's mind...if only I acted on that more...

Yes.

 

I first came across Standing in William Cohens excellent book, The Way of Qigong, years ago, and it has become one of the two most important training methods for me. The other being zazen or sitting. I also practice in the morning and evening, as well as randomly throughout the day, whenever I am in a situation that requires me to stand for any length of time, like waiting in line at the bank.

The Four Virtues of being Human.

 

Master Lying, Sitting, Standing, and Walking.

 

Yes! I also found that "standing like a tree" i.e. "holding the ball" has taught me so much about my body, mental responses, and spiritual energy. I felt so much pain I couldn;t even hold it for 10 munites, but I kept having patience, not "fighting" through the pain, but rather calmly finding my center and *experiencing* it to its fullest...then letting it go.

Lam Kam in his other book "Way of Power" says that top become proficient in Zhan Zhuang, you have to fight through fear, anxiety, impatience, nerve impulse to move, and mental wandering. I am only now seeing how endless and beautiful and challenging this path is.

I like the zazen as well. I also practice the standing and breathing through my Dan Tien, just letting this happen around me and merging into them...

After buying Master Lam Kam Chuen's book The Way of Energy last year, I have been doing the "standing like a tree" excercise everyday for about 30 minutes (15 morning, 15 in the evening). The other foundational positions of Zhan Zhuang are "Standing in the Stream", "Holding the ball infront of your face" and others.

I am thinking of upping my times (15 minutes without pain or fatigue is already here for me) and then adding more excercises during the day

Anyone have any experience with there Zhan Zhuang practice? Here's a basic wiki on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhan_zhuang

In Dao ,

-Ryan McCoole-

I am desperate. I think about the teachings of Mantak Chia for several years. However, i cannot even do the Big Draw. I read that the microcosmic orbit has to be open so that the Big Draw works but i am not disciplined enough to meditate regularily

 

I know that most of you think that it is ok to ejaculate. In my opinion, ejaculating is not ok. How can i learn to let the aroused sexual energy flow upwards? How can i learn to conserve it in my navel?

I am wondering nearly the same thing. What say you, bums of Tao?

Hello all, I've been at the Bums for quite some time, great posts, but I just had to throw this one out there. Here's a quote from "The Secret of the Golden Flower" translated and explained by Richard Wilhelm, discussing 'the seed' or Jing:

"“ An ancient adept said: ‘Formerly, every school knew this jewel, only fools did not know it wholly.’ If we reflect on this we see that the ancients really attained long life by the help of the seed-energy present in their own bodies, and did not lengthen their years by swallowing this or that sort of elixir. But the worldly people lost the roots and clung to the treetops.”

So, what are some experiences you have with utilizing and conserving Jing? Do herbs and ‘elixirs’ help (physically as well as spiritually) with walking down your path, whatever that may be?

Just some musings…thanks.

-Ryan McCoole-

Tao learner.