Rishi Das

Eric Goodman's Foundation work, especially the first two "founders" are really good for opening the shoulders, strengthening and straightening the back, and building the glutes. His intent is to reactivate the posterior chain.... which is what PTs apparently call the linked chain of muscles that keep us upright, muscles and use patterns that modern life is eroding. (Translation: too much time spent bent over e-media!  )

i second this. Foundation Training by Eric Goodman has done a lot in realigning posture and activating posterior chain.

i have witnessed it work wonders in people with back problems.

beautiful words, Differently Abled Daoist. i pray you find her/she finds you.

I've had lineage teaching in Chan, but not any in Daoist practises. I try something out, and if I actually feel that something is going on, I know I'm going in the right direction.

 

There's a problem here, if I don't get any initial feedback from a technique immediately, I've no idea whether I should continue it. With those things which I currently practice, ZZ and healing sounds, I've got that immediate feed back and experience and so know I'm going in roughly the right direction, but there is also a sense of walking around in the dark.

initial feedback is good. also important to give the practice enough space/time to settle in before disregarding it completely. just my experience...

ultimately, if it is real there will be no denying it.

also, nothing wrong with walking around in the dark; at least your up and walking. drawing on experience, it can be liberating to relax into that discomfort of not knowing. 

addressing the OP, again - my opinion...simplify, simplify, simplify. find a simple practice and give yourself to it, completely.

Rishi Das

EDIT: spelling correction.

Just wondering, are there any foundational practises he could do in preparation which are not risky?

standing practice, shaking/spontaneous flow, qi gong/yoga practice, mediation practice, chanting... 

no need to over complicate things. set a solid foundation and let the rest naturally unfold.

my experience- books are better when they confirm a state/experience as opposed to describing something abstract that one has no relation to; makes things too confusing. we end up reaching for fairy tales instead of settling into what is real.

seems to me that you have no need for a teacher or book at this point. look up said practices. integrate them into your life. 'when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.'

best to you.

Rishi Das

EDIT: re-phrasing

Great thread. Thought it should be bumped back to the top. 

thank you, VonKrankenhaus. appreciate the insight. 

just curious. i'll go first.

1. what brought you to Dao Bums and why have you stayed? 

2. what are you practicing?

3. how long have you been practicing?

4. why are you practicing?

5. what has your practice done for you?

6. what is the goal?

7. what are some things that hold you back?

-----------------

1. i originally came to Dao Bums due to a longing for something i couldn't explain or find the words for. i initially thought i was searching for a movement practice like qi gong or tai qi. i also enjoy reading and writing and utilized forums as an outlet of expression throughout my teens. when i found Dao Bums it just felt right.

one reason i have stayed on Dao Bums is to utilize the personal practice section of the forum. i don't write often but when i do it's a great platform to express and share on.

Dao Bums will always have a special place in my heart for the part it played in connecting me to my Teacher. 

2. my practice primarily consists of Guru Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Karma Yoga. i consistently practice Japa, meditation, Wuji qigong...keeping it simple.

3. i have been practicing now for a consistent 5 years.

4. i'm either really passionate or i'm being pulled to something i can't articulate or fathom - really not sure which it is. ultimately it just feels right. don't think i could get away from it even if i tried.

5. Sadhana has literally transformed who i thought i was and continues to do so. sure, there are still plenty of static pieces left but Sadhana is constantly gutting the interior and leaving space for consistent change and continous flow. that's a bit abstract so some things i've gotten from it: new perspectives, less attachment, an understanding of energy and it's flow, numerous experiences in various states of consciouness, peace, happiness, bliss, courage....

6. the goal is Liberation.

7. myself. it all seems to come back to surrendering myself to the fire.

.../|\...

Appreciate your help, dawei. Blessings to you brother.

please change username to:

Rishi Das

thank you. blessings.

What is it, dear friend, that 'we' all want? And, where is that 'there' you alluded to that is the desirable destination people need to arrive at?

THIS... is exactly why I don't post here anymore - this will be my last post.

I'm not in a position to teach - the original post in which you quoted was full of ego to begin with - having the urge to post in the first place should have been my que (now as well).

I truly wish you all the best.

"When you are deluded and full of doubt, even a thousand books of scripture are not enough. When you have realized understanding, even one word is too much."

 

-- Fen Yang

 

 

 

the qualities you bring to your path are more important than the external particulars. books can be a waste of time. they can even obscure what is otherwise simple and organic.

 

and,

 

a single book can prove to be all a person needs to accomplish the Great Work of Awakening.

 

 

know thyself. absent that, any path can be a waste.

THIS...

As was told to me last night - it's all blatantly obvious, it's all right there, because it's all 'your' garbage.

When your ready to get over yourself, you'll find the passion and the courage to do just that. Doesn't happen over night. Based off of my experience, it seems as if it would take a very rare westerner to pick up any form of 'Eastern Scripture' and be able to 'get it.'

We all need to find a little humility - we are not the "hero's" of this story - give up your ego and find someone or something that will take you there - what we all want, we will never have.

I study and practice directly under Hundun - if truth is truly what you seek, look no further.

That said, be aware that walking this path leads to real results. Naked truth - unkept, untarnished, unstructured, and wild...natural and raw, just the way we like it.

Blessed we all are for this man to be opening his doors like this - truly a once in a lifetime. .../|\...

There is no point.

Who are you?

To whom do these thoughts arise? Surrender everything. Fear or not, the body will soon be discarded. With palms wide open, let her in, let her transform you. You are not the body.

The doors are open...walk through...

I mean, who exactly are you...

 

TI

Instead of searching for who he is...go inward, ask the question, who am I?

Nadi's, Astral worlds, Heart Center...not it, not it, not it....

So now I have to justify my pedigree?

 

 

This is a brief list of the major spiritual activities that I have been into throughout my life:

Don Juan -Carlos Casteneda -every single book he wrote.

Out of Body Journeys - Robert Monroe

Eckankar - Paul Twitchell

Kundalini - Gopi Krishna

Rosicrucian -for two years

Kriya Yoga - SRF - Yogananda Paramahansa Yogi. - 3 years

Tibetan Book of the Dead

The Bhagavadgita

Many new age books on chakras and crystals. I also used to cut and polish gemstones.

Nisargadatta "I AM THAT" -read it twice. and three of his other books.

Krishna Menon, Goenka, Eckhart Tolle -most all of his books, CD's.

Old Testament - Bible, New Testament - Bible.

Gurudeva - Merging with Shiva (Raja Yoga)

I was trained in judo and karate and took Tai Chi for 1 year.

My kundalini woke about 8 years ago..

I have over 50 pdf's from various spiritual teachers on my computer, including Saraswati, Ennio Nemis, Dalai Lama, Gyatso, Buddha - Anapansati, Dada Bahgwan, Ramana, Mark Griffin, Visuddimagga, Edward Muzika and Rajiv Kapur, Ken Wilbur, Mantak Chia, Robert Adams, Adyashanti (no like).. Osho (no like) etc etc etc..

Not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it, not it...

Sounds like lots of private and or advanced yogi stuff so maybe more private communications for such details would be in order?

Om

"The source of everything is one’s own Self, and if one realizes the Self, one will not find anything different from the Self. Then these questions will not arise."

- Sri Ramana Maharshi

Yes sir....Sri Ramana...time for pranams...

Who pranams?

Want some real conspiracy talk, check out Alan Watt...if you dare that is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfLN1CD1GuU

Disclaimer: When I say "real" I simply mean more realistic then some of the stuff Icke, Wilcocks and the likes get into.

The worst style would emphasize knowledge.

How do you figure?

don: I'd rather be ignorant of this whole experience! I tried to let it run it's course for months but i realize that the symptoms aren't going away on their own so I have to do something about it.

Going into a situation ignorant is the best way to do it form my experience and by the sound of it, your pretty new to all this stuff so your ignorance in my opinion will do you well. I was more trying to imply that it's not necessary to try and intellectulaize and conceptualize the whole ordeal by reading into and trying to understand ancient foriegn scriptures/texts. Find a teacher you trust and connect with, simply surrender and let all that arises, arise.

Most people have to work very hard to get to the same state you are in, and some never get even close. Only, you are missing the discipline and knowledge of having had regular 'spiritual' practices and experiences before your 'awakening'.

From my experience, ignorance is one of the biggest blessings in disguise. All it takes is the right guidance and a simple practice routine; with that, one can develop quite beautifully.

In my opinion and from my observations, (take it for what it is) many westerners tend to get too caught up in all the unnecessary jargon and focus more intellectually on solving the problem rather than allowing it to naturally unfold. From what I have gathered, we are living in the 21st century and thus we must take literal translations of ancient foreign texts with a grain of salt, trying our best not to conceptualize and box up insights which were not our own to begin with. Sure the traditions offer a great amount knowledge, but the mere fact of the matter is that they were written for their time, in their time, and illustrate natural human phenomena with the language present during that time. What may sound mystical now, could be something so simple, so natural, it is overlooked due to the mere fact that it is sitting right in front of the eyes quite frequently, yet doesn't fit that "mystical" interpretation you thought you were looking for. It is truly a beautiful experience to experience and then read about, rather than read about and then try to experience.

Intent on not getting off topic, this was written in hopes that mike md reads and understands that what is going on with him now is not some absurd problem or mystical experience but rather a truly natural and breath taking humanly process which does not need to be conceptualized, intellectualized or boxed up in any way shape or form. Go with the flow, enjoy, let go, surrender, and live. Trying to find an answer where no answer resides, is like trying to find a piece of hay in the haystack; as Adi Da gracefully puts it, and my Guru gracefully recites it, "You can't get there from here!"

don, mm, I've been in contact with Seth via PM. Reading around it looks like he's held in high regard so hopefully he can help ! On page one he recommended some shaking exercises. Anybody with experience doing this ?

I shake everyday for at least 15 minutes and have found it to be one of the most natural, powerful, profound, and simple ways of clearing things out. To me, there is nothing more beautiful than simply letting loose in the moment and allowing space for whatever arises to arise. Bradford Keeney style is the only style for me!