clearclouds

Hi, Just to let Aussie TB's know that I've posted upcoming events for the Sydney Based LaoZi Academy in the upcomingevents thread here. Just getting the word out there. Cheers, CC

Dao consists of usual Dao and Unusual Dao.

I remember a show on CCTV last year sometime that was interviewing a Jade expert talking about the evolution of the dragon in chinese art, specifically in relation to the totems that it came from in jade like the hongshan pig-dragon. There are a lot of theories, but basically they can be seperated into three as far as I can see at the moment. That the dragon is a purely mythological creation of mankind, perhaps from prehistory man finding dinosaur fossils and the like. A zoomorphic creature that represents all powers of the animal and 'spiritual' kingdoms combined. That the dragon is a specific shen, a force/being that can only be viewed by advanced Masters. That the characteristics of the dragon creature is the most apropriate type of creature to represents specific forces with specific functions. That their fluid like nature can best represent the shen of Nature with its constant changes. Often associated with water, but also with the transformations of sky or 'heaven'(tian). Also I recall that it was said that even the word for dragon in Chinese, Long, could be a homophone for the sound of lightning to ancient people as in llooooonngggg..looonggg.*cue sound of rolling thunder* Anways, there's a whole Electric Universe theory bunch (proponents of the major force in the universe being electricity rather than gravity) that have a whole different theory. They basically propose that dragons originally came from observations in the prehistory sky of plasma phenomena. When the earths electric field was more active due to planetary alignment/galactic currents.. here's one of their articles LINK.. also the below link gives you a tiny % taste of what they are talking about, video of a solar storms effect on the aurora: watch those dragons roll! food for thought at least --CC

Sounds like your practice is going well, i'm glad that stuff rang true for you TB's are a friendly crowd i've found. A friend of mine got attacked pretty harshly on another forum just for introducing Master Dong Yang. --CC

HI, Here's a LINK if anyone's interested to a little recent podcast talking about health effects of the full moon, specifically the moon festival moon, by Master Dong Yang. It's toward the bottom of the page. --CC

Just to let everyone know that we've just started uploading small free pod casts from Master Dong Yangs formal training classes at http://www.laoziacademy.com/media/audio He talks about Dao, internal alchemy - and many things from a traditional Dao perspective. We are looking at uploading on a regular basis. It should give you a better idea of what he is like and what he is teaching. You can also leave feedback, questions or comments if you'd like. Enjoy. --CC

Hi, I'm glad that you've been able to contact now, sorry for any problems before. I've replied to your PM. --CC

The teachings do revolve around Xingyi, Bagua and Taiji. But most importantly stress the root Daoist internal power cultivation techniques that are common link at the root of these arts. Without these techniques no tangible and permanent elixir can be formed. Martial Arts are only one leaf on the tree of Dao, so when pursuing true Dao amazing martial skills come about easily and naturally without effort. Dong Yang has mastered numerous martial arts, but now as he wants to focus on Tao teaching his focus is primarily on the above styles. His Martial knowledge and experience is very profound so i'm sure he can answer any of your questions. Looks like Melbourne might be on the cards in the new year, so will keep you posted. If you register on the site or newsletter list(both free) it's the easiest way for us to keep you updated on info. In regards to energy transmissions, the short answer is no, in the direct sense that I think you mean. The long answer is that yes the teaching does contain 'short-cuts' and 'acceleration' of a student's progress in the sense that being taught by a genuine achieved Daoist master has the true self-empowering results that far outweigh so-called 'empowerments'. True sustainable development comes from within. With the right methods this is the fastest, safest, functional and practical of ways.

The body is the house for the shen. The more refine the jing qi, the more shen is attracted to the body. Of course to properly refine jing qi, you need natural movement and a peaceful mind. When the mind is peaceful and body is moving according to the natural laws of movement, the shen can combine with jing qi so as to form the internal elixir. The specific details of this process only master Dong Yang can show. If you really are interested in learning, I can only suggest visiting the class or seminar. --CC

great, i'm sure you'll be very pleased. Specific natural circular movements to refine the body and cultivate jing qi shen to make what daoists call the Internal Elixir. This is also refered to as internal alchemy. So cultivating qi is only one small part of the process. There is no sitting meditation invloved, Master Dong Yang opinion is that many such exercises are misinterpretations of the classics. Specifically lines such as 'dong jing zhi ji' movement, stillness is trigger he says relate to stillness within movement. The focus is upon the common movements at the root of the internal martial/internal cultivation arts. These are the exact unmodified methods from his zhongnan and huashan lineages. Other schools may teach sitting - but Master Dong Yang achieved a high level of elixir cultivation without such practices. Initially the exercises refine the whole body to open up all major and minor channels. The movements help to stimulate and lubricate the joints and also restrengthen the bones. Also it trains the body to shift its balance which gives you fine control over your balance. After time it also makes you feel extremely light because energy is able to flow evenly over the whole body. So a condition of natural flexibility(PIC) without tension results without stretching exercises. Also coupled with this intial stage of cultivating JingQi but specifically as the student progresses further into the training one begins to cultivate shen. This is like a persons mental energy, but also relates to natural creative energy that exists everywhere (this is not qi). Cultivating the shen is what allows people to naturally stabilise their emotions and handle stressful situations. Masters who reach a high level of shen cultivation are able to do many things. hope this helps.

for me it's far too much of in-one-ear-out-the-other reading of random daoist info online. And far far too many thoughts of 'I should be working' and not getting distracted swimming around in the 10,000 things! the question is, is the energy in the toilet good for your health.... .

I'm sure he will be happy to answer your questions If you would like to ask any specific questions on Dao you could post them here or through the questions form on the site, otherwise if you would like to contact him personally you could come to a class session or give him a call on the landline number on the 'contact us' page of the site. He realises that not everyone is commited to a seminar situation right away so these other options could help to answer any queries. -CC

hmmm is IE crashing completely with the browser closing or just acting like a dead link? sorry about that i'll look into it. Try again later on. Unfortunately there aren't any plans to go to QLD in October but there has been some previous interest from Brisbane so there may be a Seminar organised there in the new year. When you can get on the site you can register for the newsletter which will keep you updated. --CC

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I remember hearing that it is quite common for those in the funeral industry in China to get quite tanked up on rice wine before work, especially the pallbearers, and that it's in order that they burn outward and off any of the negativity that they may be vunerable to.

GrandTrinity, Looks like the protruding part might be the dragons head from the back? the coils seem like the usual dragon body shapes..

This whole lin kong jin thing seems to be one of the hottest topics out there. my 2c is that the vid looks legit. Does anyone know if this master is still around because if he is his longevity would be an achievement in its own right.

Just wanted to say hello, Thought this forum seemed pretty friendly, I might start by posting some general short rants that I've done here and there on chinese art and culture from a taoisty perspective. -CC

It seems to me that chinese calligraphy both sharpens and blunts the spirit. It sharpens it in that it is one of the most efficient ways to refine focus, intention and alertness. Then on the other hand it seems to be an amazing way to dull the overactive chatter in the mind. It is this unnecessary chatter that impersonates our minds higher, stable, and accurate authorities only to lead us astray progressing from concern to anxiousness and finally settling on fear. And when we allow ourselves this conclusion our only promise is to perform desperate calculations about what to do next that will hopefully allow us to recover the lost ground. Unfortunately calculating admidst a cyclone of thoughts is wrought with the threat of error. But this is how we all so often act. So by allowing our mind outside the brains' cloister we can refine those parts of it that assist our intuition. For an accurate intuition is nothing more than a mind quiet and calm enough to see the signs and conclude the obvious. So the question is how does the mind leave the brain, how do we expand our awareness to the point where there is a sense that our intelligence is developing of its' own accord without concious study? The answer lies in the ability to first lead it with intention. When the Calligrapher is working, his awarness lies outside resting quietly but actively upon his brush tip, paper, and the character that he is writing. It is the unity of these three intentions that he is aspiring towards with every stroke. He is solving something. Tuning them together just like three ideas held in the mind, complimentary in purpose but different in function that we try to shape to a common purpose. But unlike when working within the mind, their is no risk at confusining and contaminating neighbouring ideas and thoughts. At worst the paper, brush and character run only into eachother leaving a mess upon the table. He can learn the universal challenge of how to refine and combine, without the risk of consequence. The Calligraphers study is the training ground for his life. High and Low, coarse and refined, light and dark, scholarship and naievity, all these things are his tools, and only mastery over their combination can produce a result. The key difference from other practices and painting styles is that there is only one chance to get each stroke correct. like a musician playing he cannot recorrect without cutting the continuity and thus effect. It is a incredibly difficult artistic skill, maybe never to be truly mastered, but it is in this journey of refinement that he is able to quieten the mind and connect to his spirit's higher function of intuitive reason. -CC