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Found 61 results

  1. Sup'

    Hello, This is my intro, looking forward to meeting new people, sharing and having fun. I teach kungfu in San Francisco Chinatown, and enjoy testing, pushing, and sharing material with others.
  2. Hello

    Hello. I'm only somewhat a daoist. I do not understand the Dao as well as I could or as anyone else that's more knoweldged than myself, but I study both the Eastern and Western philosophies. I've also been a practitioner of Tai Ji Quan for about 3 or 4 years both martially and for health reasons. Perhaps, I concentrate too much on the martial aspect too often. However, I practice the form often and have the first lu memorized religiously. However, there are 4 lus. Though, I never seem to progress because I wish to improve heavily before moving on. I guess, I want to ask advice even in the intro, if it's okay. Whenever I see my classmates move, they wish to proceed fast and learn everything as fast as possible. I don't know why, but I disagree with this mindset. I take the time to learn the first and second lu very, very well without proceeding any further until I am confident of it... Though, I must admit, I feel that perhaps I am jealous that my classmates can remember the techniques so easily, but I cannot. I worry about the small details before proceeding and wish I can do so well. Does anyone have advice?
  3. Greetings

    Hello, My name is Jim I live in Illinois and have been interested in Taoism, Eastern Philosophy, Internal Martial arts for as long as i can remember. I've been involved in Wing Chun the longest, and felt there were a lot of internal aspects not being addressed, this brought me to Chu Shong Tin's lineage where he focuses strongly on relaxation, joint rotation, and structure. The only problem wit this is there is none from his lineage in the States, that I know of, especially in Illinois. I trained in Hong Kong for a month under his lineage and was amazed at the power that was produced form this lineage. I also meditated years ago and am interested in all the aspects of Eastern Philosophy. Thanks, Jim
  4. Hello

    Hello, I just thought I would introduce myself to everyone on his forum. It is good to be connected to so many people who are commited to self improvement and truth seeking. A few years ago I realised I had several deep rooted issues due to my upbringing (I am sure many people here can relate, as often it is hardship that brings us to the path of spirituality). SInce then I started reading books and exploring myself. I have come a long way in the last three years (no more depression, no more attachment) but I still have a long way to go and lots of challenges to conquer, as this is a life long journey. Anyways, I look forward to learning more from everyone and sharing what I have learned on my own path. Namaste
  5. Hi I am here

    Okay, here goes: I am joining this forum, after gaining an interest in practicing and learning more about chinese energy skills. I'm trying to begin nei gong practice, with simple breath awareness meditation 30 minutes twice a day, to begin cultivating Sung breath. I did a buddhist Goenka-style vipassana retreat, and found the body scanning technique very effective in the silent-retreat partial fasting setting. After stopping my practice for a while, it's very difficult to get the same kind of effectiveness in my meditation. I looked for group meditation sittings in my home town of Baltimore, in the vipassana style, and found that most other vipassana styles are very different. However, while I was searching the internet I found that there are techniques used in Chinese systems, that are more similar than Goenka's technique, such as inner smile, inner/outer dissolving, water method, or Sung breath. Vipassana is straight forward, to contemplate 3 characteristics until one gains full enlightenment, but it does not focus on the energy levels of the body to support the mental focus and perserverence, character etc. that are required to successfully achieve this goal. From what I have read in a few sources, in a way the Chinese systems seem more elaborate, requiring more time to build up to the final goal of making a bid for liberation (facing the wall? parenting the independent Shen?) but in some ways they seem more comprehensive, that fill in gaps in my desire for intellectual understanding of this process of spiritual refinement, while Buddhist practice seems more...free form, or abstract. I am rambling, but I have some self-inflicted health issues that make me want to start at the ground floor, to rebuild vital reserves and my energy system, before I even think of taking on a goal like making it to stream entry. Right now I have pretty severe constriction around my breath, that responded well to body scanning on retreat, but it's back again because I tried doing abdominal breathing in a way that was forced and injurious, according to a video chi gong course. Maybe I need a real teacher!? Not too many internal energy masters who I am aware of in Baltimore. Maybe I am wrong, I hope. That said, I just left a highly stressful relationship to rebuild myself and cultivate my spirit, so I could be more mobile if I needed to be located more conveniently to capable mentorship. Well, good to be here, hope to get to know some of you soon and figure this stuff out. Trying to pick something and stick with it, seems like I can't go wrong with breath awareness so I'm going to keep at it, I am about 3 weeks in and it's getting easier but no magic yet.
  6. Hello, everyone.

    Hi. I don't really know what all I'm supposed to say here, but I'll try not to bore anyone. I just stumbled across this forum today after doing a Google search for Andrew Nugent-Head, who I Googled because I had just watched a couple of lectures he did on the Tao Te Ching. This seems like an interesting place full of interesting people, so I thought I'd register and join in. I read the Tao Te Ching for the first time four years ago, and it made no sense to me. I thought it was meaningless babbling with a few wise proverbs thrown in. About four years ago, I reread it and could hardly believe it was the same text. It absolutely blew my mind. Since then, I've been reading different translations, read a bit of Chuang Tzu, etc., but really never had any idea if there was anything I could do about this new (to me) thing that I had discovered. More recently, I came across a bit of discussion on "inner cultivation," and the idea of kind of scraping away the things that keep a person out of harmony with the Tao, and I'm interested in learning more about that. Which is another reason I joined here, since there seem to be people here who actually know Chinese, which means I can get advice from people who aren't just reading Western writers' interpretations of things. Anyway, I hope I haven't been too boring, or accidentally said something foolish or offensive to anyone. Have a wonderful day!
  7. Hi, my name's Daniel and I'm an alcoholic...

    Haha, just kidding. Hi to everyone on this forum. I look forward to enjoying my time using this site! My interests are as follows(and in no particular order): -Taoism -Spirituality generally speaking -Martial arts -Business and Entrepeneurship -Intentional communities -Women -Movies -Music -Dance -Meditation -Diet and health -Reading, etc, etc Yeah! Feel free to ask questions if you want...
  8. Hello

    Hello, this is aquaria saying "hi". Glad to have found the forum.
  9. Hey everybody,

    We tend to use nicknames, and I chose mine as Leir. The “Fox” comes as an add-on, because I long developed a liking for the fox symbol and its dualistic characteristics. I’m from Brazil, and so, if you ever see me writing anything that doesn’t make much sense or comprehension, I forwardly apologize. English is a second language to me, and I still have a lot to learn. I stumbled into Taoism as a road for another path I was following in life: the pick-up. I used to try to be a pick-up artist, and while I was in this process, I realized how much controversy and pain I was creating – for my life and for people around me. It was only when I reached a group called “Attraction Institute,” that I started realizing the pick-up’s controversies to me. I readied one of their ebooks, which quoted one of the most profound quotes I’ve ever read, from Tao Te Ching: Success is as dangerous as failure, Hope is as hollow as fear What does it mean that success is as dangerous as failure? Whether you go up the ladder or down it, Your position is shaky When you stand with two feet on the ground, You will always keep your balance What does it mean that hope is as hollow as fear? Hope and fear are both phantoms, That arise from thinking of the self. When you don’t see the self as the self, What do you have to fear? After that, I’ve grown particularly interested on Taoism. Since then, I browsed some subjects related to this path, like Feng Shui and Do-In (being the only ones that I really put into practice), and heard about I-Ching, Chi-Kung and various forms of Kung-Fu practices. I am also training Aikido, and both the philosophy and the techniques seem to relate a lot with Taoism, too. This forum seems to have lots of involvement with the other Taoism practices I’ve been in touch, so I believe I may find more people to discuss this subject, not to mention some “off-topic” practices I also find interesting (such as No-Fap for Jing energy and other benefits). Not to mention the fact that meeting other people that share similar loves gives a boost to it. I know few people that really enjoy this area. So, that’s it for an introduction, I think. The rest will come out with time. Peace,
  10. Hello from a novice taoist...

    Greetings to all! I just joined today and am hoping this will be beneficial to all of us. I come from a Bahai background and came into the Tao through personal research. I have always been drawn to Asian culture since childhood. I began studying with Grand Master Alex Anatole and The temple of Original Simplicity. For myself I am drawn more to the Religion of Taoism. I have joined hoping you all may be able to assist me in my growth as a Taoist. May the Jade Emperor bless you all....
  11. Hello?

    Hello everyone, I am very happy to find a community like this. I just began my journey into Taoism in September and I am interested in see everyone's views and beliefs. Sorry, I am a little awkward...