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Found 75 results

  1. Peace to all

    Hi All, Peace to all of you. I've been training Yiquan and Taoist meditation for more than 10 years now and would like to share experiences and learn from others. Living in the Netherlands near Amsterdam. Peace. Dimitri.
  2. I would just like to start an archive of everyone's favorite sayings and so forth, as well as accompanying discussions and interpretations of them, how the lessons are applied to life, and why they're particularly your favorites. I apologize if there is already such a thread, and this may be merged with it, if so. One of my favorites is this story by Lieh Tzu- On the way to Song, Yang meets a man at the town of Ni. The man has two wives, one is very attractive and the other one is quite plain. But the man favors the not so attractive one. So Yang asks him why. The man answers:"The pretty one knows she is pretty. I don't. The plain one knows she is plain. I don't. A bad person knows he is bad. I don't." Yang says:"I will remember what you just said. The Saint behaves as a Saint, by his own volition." How does everyone see this? I also very much like the painting, The Vinegar Tasters. It perfectly shows how Tao's approach is starkly different to the other school's of thought.
  3. Hello, How does all of this Neidan/Neigong/Qigong/Energy stuff relate to Non-Dual Truths/Enlightenment? Enlightenment as explained, and axiomatically acknowledged/intuited by myself (and many others), in (some/most) Zen/Advaita/Self-Inquiry/Jnana Yoga approaches is seeing realising what is True, is seeing through the illusion of Self, realising no-self, etc (I could go on and/or make it more specific, but, if you know self-inquiry, you know the jist of what I'm talking about). I have heard/read that these insights/seeing through the illusions/bullshit/labels/separations, etc, leads to a purifying of energy in itself as a sort of side effect. Through bouts of extreme insight I have felt something akin to this. How does this approach of inquiry and realisation relate (if at all) to Neidan/Neigong/Qigong/Energy stuff, according to you? As I have mentioned before, I am relatively new to Taoist/Chinese terminology but I have heard the phrase of Ghost level of realisation tossed about, or something, when referring to this approach, as if it's inferior, but, to me, realisation of Truth, of no self, of pure awareness, of pure being and non-being, everything/nothing seems to be self evidently final. From my preliminary reading it seems that the aim of energy work is to maintain the memories of this incarnation and then go about your business, just like someone who's enlightened on earth, but, as an immortal forever. So, someone who DOESN'T do this stuff that realises no self, what's supposed to happen to them? They just cease to be and rejoin Tao/One/Brahman/Totality completely? Superior and inferior aren't really the words I like to use, but they're all I have here. This ceasing to be/becoming one with Tao seems simultaneously superior and inferior. Superior in its sense of ultimate letting go and finality, ultimate Truth. Inferior in terms of utility and not being able to go on helping others, BUT, the cosmos/karma/one/Tao/Brahman, etc, does this, provides exactly what we need to wake up all the time anyway, so, we don't really need teachers in some regards. Also, there're reports about ascended masters, etc, who seem to have practiced this self inquiry approach themselves but are then still travelling around the different planes of existence/that are still contactable, implying that they don't just fade away or cease to be, but they are still going about their business, not identified with their form, but, also still able to operate. Anyway. Your thoughts on this would be interesting.
  4. A recent convert

    "The word that can be spoken is not the eternal word" That brings up some kind of feeling for me personally in regards to joining this forum. But honestly something called to me to put in a post and see just who are on these things. Within the last year I read over and over again the Tao Te Ching. Different versions can be particularly interesting in being giving a new spin. I have also been taking yoga more sincerely just because it helps me get into my body and really feel like I am present. Meditation has gone with it hand in hand and I have even realized my heartbeat getting very slow. I would love to hear from anyone practicing any type of Taoist art! How you feel it brings you closer to the Real. Look forward to discussion!
  5. Thoughts about God

    So far, in my spiritual journey, I have been exposed to two views about God. As a Christian God is seen as the bearded man in the sky somewhere. God is seperate. God is loving, but can be angry or jealous. God judges, God is affected by the things we do, think or say. God hates sin. God is outside of me, seperate from me. God has some sort of plan for His creation. This idea of God does not evolve. Now, as whatever this is, the Source is seen as both outside of and one with all of creation. The Source is seen as an energy, The Source has no ego. The Source remians unaffected by what I do, say or think. The Source sees the Truth of who I am. The Source has no plans and does not judge. The Source just is. The Source may be loving in essence, but there is uncertainty here, because if love exists then so does the possibility of its opposite. This idea of God, as Source, is still evolving. But this brings up two nearly identical questions. If the Christian idea of God is true, and Heaven is perfect, where did the sin of jealousy come from, that Lucifer and 1/3 of the angels woudl fall? There can be no imperfection in perfection. If God is perfect, if Heaven, His home is perfect, then sin can not exist there. It could no more grow there then a redwood seed could sprout and grow on the moon. If, on the other hand, God is not seperate, if the Source is one with all of creation, how did parts of itself decide that they wanted to be seperate, to become you and I, the things in creation, and experience things from that persepctive? If the Source is in some unchanging state, free of any ego, and therefrore desireless, how did parts of itself desire to experience seperation? It would be the same as if my arm suddendly desired to experience life seperate from my body, and dropped off. This is telling me there is something wrong with both perspectives of God. There are holes in each definition where there should be no holes. What do you think? What is your explanation?
  6. my position and my goals

    Hello, friends. I suppose I'm here because I feel like self-improvement is to be found in TCM, Qi Gong, and/or Tai Chi. The only problem is that I'm a complete virgin on all three subjects, with virtually no knowledge of even their basics. I'd appreicate any sort of advice and pointers you guys might have for me, and am totally open to answering any questions. Thanks!
  7. I have been thinking about this one recently and want to share my thoughts. Other than the obvious observation that historically, the majority of living things have simply gone about eating their prey for survival, I would like to add to this. I'm not talking about moral choices here. I wrote a thread on turning vegetarian a while ago and I stopped the practice after 3 weeks. I felt that my 'morals' were more of an illusion, or even a confusion and that vegetarianism wasn't a part of my nature. What I am wanting to do is not go down that road of debating right from wrong, but the nature in how things occur. Here is my recent thought: The stomach is a predator. What happens if we do not eat? The stomach eats away at us...until we (and of course, it) die. So we are born to be slaves nourishing it. We cannot help this fact. The stomach certainly likes flesh - can we deny that? So by eating meat, are we simply feeding something what it needs? I don't want to say "something that it wants", because that would imply that it has a mind of its own. That is also probably something that I expect to fall into this convo though! I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
  8. Hi newbie

    Hi I have just started practising taoist studies with Mantak Chia. I want to hear more from your experiences. Thanks
  9. I was wondering if any one knew about the effects of amanita muscaria if one practice tai chi and/ or Taoist practices. I know that most drugs are yin base so unless you are practicing magick you cannot take it, but amanita muscaria seems different because it seems to access the subtle energies. I want to know if anyone has taken amanita muscaria and knows if you lose your chi from it?
  10. I was wondering if any one knew about the effects of amanita muscaria if one practice tai chi and/ or Taoist practices. I know that most drugs are yin base so unless you are practicing magick you cannot take it, but amanita muscaria seems different because it seems to access the subtle energies. I want to know if you take amanita muscaria, do you lose your chi from it?
  11. So far I have interpreted Taoism's purpose as gaining enlightenment. Lao Tzu has many words to say on this topic and as my general understanding goes, this appears to be what monks are striving for. Then you look at the other side. We talk about having our own "Way". For me, at present, I would call that not being bound to anyone or anything and doing whatever I please. In a nutshell...that's me. Naturally, just doing my thing and not caring to conform to trends. That was very brief, but my question is this. Do you think we really DO have our own Way? Or is there a universal true Way, being the path to enlightenment? Right now, I would say I'm using the Tao of music and entertainment. And kung fu too But occupying my time with such paths distracts me from a path to enlightenment. I have had many moments in which I have touched the universe and the heavens...and it would be great to devote my life to this. I would love to. But I'm already so far on my current Way. Am I attached to this Way, or am I just "normal" by deciding to put my life's work, girlfriend and hobbies at the forefront? What do you think. Has anybody else had similar thoughts?
  12. What's are some of the most interesting experiences you've had during meditation, OBE, etc.? I'm very interested to hear some of the them!
  13. Taoism vs. Daoism

    From what I've gathered Taoism and Daoism are basically the same thing; just different translations of the Chinese word. I've heard a few people say they are a little bit different though. Are they?
  14. I have all of Stephen T. Chang's books about taoism and love them. I find it very intriguing that he often pays tribute to a man called The Yellow Emperor, a pioneer of taoist healing. However, further research into the origin of the man known as the yellow emperor points to a possibility that he was a being from somewhere else in the universe who landed on earth for the purpose of spreading taoist healing principles and practices, amongst other things.... Have any of you heard of The Yellow Emperor, and does anyone know where he came from?
  15. Hello Fellow Lovers of the Tao

    Hello. I am really interested in taoist thought, practice, and ways of living. I consider myself a student and seeker of truth, which means while I understand philosophies and their place I realize the most important part of anything is how it affects me...in short I like practicality and to prove and experience things for myself. I've read and researched many "spiritual" philosophies and practices and would like to be able to eventually experience them all for what they can offer. I am most interested in chi right now, and to understand if what I have been feeling is the same thing as some of you...please reply if you think you can help me. Lately I have been noticing vibrating tingling like sensations mostly in my fingertips and through my hands, sometimes in other parts of my body. Incidentally as a result of focusing on these vibrations inwardly in a way they increase...now I have noticed to that wrinkles and lines have begun to form and appear on my hands that were not there before. I am worried that I am doing something harmful to myself, which sucks, because I wanted to understand chi and its healing benefits. Am I actually feeling chi? Or just nerves? Is there a difference? It's almost as if I think I am accelerating the aging of my body, and I thought meditation and feeling chi would lead me to reduce the aging of it...? Have I stumbled on the "dark side" of the force? I have never had a meditation teacher, and I have only read books on these subjects, which is why I am posting this here now. I wish there was someone in Ohio, which is where I live, who is actually able to personally help me. Please respond if any of the things I have said interest you, or if you think you may be able to help me understand some of these things. Thank you.
  16. 144CETORAIN12 (WORK IN PROGRESS)

    v Omniversiality v __________________________________________ (0,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144) [C E T O ] 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, 8, 9, 10,11, . . 12 . .[ R A I N] 1.615384 GOD^TAO^CREATION^ONENESS^OMNIVERSE;12, True Yin; Yin, Yin; 0,0 *If: present divided by past =/= 1.615384¯¯¯¯¯¯, continue adding past to present.* v Yin and Yang v (0.) _________________________________________ (0,2,4,6,10,16,26,42,68,110/10=11) 10 AND 11[YIN AND YANG] (0.0) (1,2,3,4., 5., 6., 7., 8., 9., 10) ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^Yin / Yang v __________________________________________ (0,3,6,9,18,27,45,72,117/9=13) 13[TRINITY] ({yang and yin}, [yang and yang], and (yin and yin)) (true yang) (Space/Origin) (0.00) (1,2,3,4., 5., 6., 7., 8., 9) ^ Yin and Yang ^ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^ Holy Trinity ^ __________________________________________ 0,4,8,12,20,32,52,84,136/4=34 (/9=15.111¯) (0.001) 9[bREATH] [0+1] [0,0] [0,1] [1,0] [1,1] (relax, inhale, exhale, hold): ([0,0], [0,1], [1,0], [1,1]) (true "infinite binary") (Relax::Spring; Inhale::Summer; Exhale::Autumn; Hold::Winter) 0,5,10,15,25,40,75,115/5=23 (/8=14.375) (0.0013) 8[5_ELEMENTS] [1] [+1= ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^5 element blueprint^ v 3-D v __________________________________________ 0,6,12,18,30,48,78,126/6=21 (/8=15.75) (0.00137) 8[DIMENSIONS OF TIME AND SPACE] [1] [2 0,7,14,21,35,56,91,147/7=21 (/8=18.375) (0.001373) 8[HOLY SPIRIT/PROCESS OF CREATION] [2] [2 0,8,16,24,40,64,104/8=13 (/7=14.857142¯¯¯¯¯¯) 8 (0.00138) 7[CARDINAL DIRECTIONS] [2] [+1= ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^3-D^ __________________________________________ 0,9,18,27,45,72,117/9=13 (/7=16.714285¯¯¯¯¯¯) 7 (0.001387) 7[?SO???UL?] [3 0,10,20,30,50,80,130/10=13 (/7=18.571428¯¯¯¯¯¯) 5 (0.0013875) 7[??BO?DY??] [3 0,11,22,33,55,88,143/11=13 (/7=20.428571¯¯¯¯¯¯) 4 (0.00138754) 7[?M?I?N?D?] [3 0,12,24,36,60,96,156/12=13 (/7=22.285714¯¯¯¯¯¯) 2 (0.001387542) 7[WATER, METAL, EARTH, FIRE, WOOD] [3] [+0* 0,13,26,39,65,104/13=8 (/6=17.333¯) (0.0013875423) 6[WOOD, WATER, METAL, EARTH, FIRE||BODY, MAGMA, POISON, ICE, TECHNOLOGY] [3] [+1= ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^Humanity, humanness, being human; blueprint^ __________________________________________ 0,14,28,42,70,112/14=8 (/6=18.666¯) (0.00138754236) 6[FIRE, WOOD, WATER, METAL, EARTH||TECHNOLOGY, BODY, MAGMA, POISON, ICE||MAGNETISM, MIND, CHI, SPIRIT, VOID] [4] [+0= 0,15,30,45,75,120/15=8 (/6=20) (0.001387542360) 6[EARTH, FIRE, WOOD, WATER, METAL||ICE, TECHNOLOGY, BODY, MAGMA, POISON||VOID, MAGNETISM, MIND, CHI, SPIRIT, VOID||GRAVITY, LIGHT, AIR, SHADOW, ELECTICITY] [4] [+0= 0,16,32,48,80,128/16=8 (/6=21.333¯) (0.0013875423603) 6[METAL, EARTH, FIRE, WOOD, WATER] [4] [+0*= 0,17,34,51,85,136/17=8 (/6=22.666¯) (0.00138754236036) 6[???Human???Animal???] [+1=] [5 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^Human range of Free Will^ __________________________________________ 0,18,36,54,90,144/18=8 (/6=24) (0.001387542360360) 6[?TI?ME?] [5] [+0 0,19,38,57,95,152/19=8 (/6=25.333¯) (0.0013875423603603) 6[???] [5] [+0 0,20,40,60,100/20=5 (/5=20) (0.00138754236036030) [5] [+0 0,21,42,63,105/21=5 (/5=21) (0.001387542360360300) [5] [+0 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^Human range of Experience^ __________________________________________ 0,22,44,66,110/22=5 (/5=22) (0.0013875423603603000) [5] [+0 0,23,46,69,115/23=5 (/5=23) (0.00138754236036030000) [5] [+0 0,24,48,72,120/24=5 (/5=24) (0.001387542360360300000) [5] [+0 0,25,50,75,125/25=5 (/5=25) (0.0013875423603603000000) [5] [+0 0,26,52,78,130/26=5 (/5=26) (0.00138754236036030000000) [5] [+0 0,27,54,81,135/27=5 ( ) (0.001387542360360300000000) [5] 0,28,56,84,140/28=5 () (0.0013875423603603000000000) [5] 0,29,58,87,145/29=5 (/5=29) (0.00138754236036030000000000) 5[???] ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^??????^ __________________________________________ 0,30,60,90,150/30=5 (/5=30) ( ) 5[???] 0,31,62,93,155/31=5 5[???] ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^??????^ __________________________________________ 0,32,64,96,160/32=5 0,33,66,99,165/33=5 0,34,68,102/34=3 [4] 1., 2., 3., 4. ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^??????^ __________________________________________ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ 0,42,84,126/42=3 (/4=31.5) ~~~ 0,49,98,147/49=3 (/4=36.75) ~~~ 0,50,100/50=2 (/3= 33.333¯) ~~~~~~ 0, 99, 198/99=2 (/3=66) [???] 0, 100/100=1 (((/2=50)/2=25)/2=12.5) [???] 0,101/101=1 (/2=50.5) [???] 0,102/102=1 ((/2=51)/2=25.5) [???] 0,103/103=1 (/2=51.5) [???] ~~~~~~ 0,144/144=1 ((((/2=72)/2=36)/2=18)/2=9/2=4.5) [OMEGAlpha] ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ^ Omniversiality ^
  17. Unorthodox translations of the TTC

    I found the following Text while messing about on the internet, Im always looking for diferent adaptations of the Tao Te Ching as well as personal input and interpretations people have posted arround. Not only do I find it incredibly amusing, I think it has a certain clarity you won't find in many other Taoism texts out there. I apologize for the inconvenience if it's been posted before. Link: http://cantbeatfun.com/Tao/tao_rh.htm A slice for your reviewing. adapted by Ron Hogan originally attributed to "Jesse Garon"[...]15The ancient Masters were pretty damn impressive.They were deep. Real deep.Words can't even begin to describe how deep they were.You can only talk about what they were like.They were careful, like a man walking on thin ice.They were cautious, like a soldier behind enemy lines.They were polite, like a guest at a party.They moved quickly, like melting ice. They were as plain as a block of wood.Their minds were as wide as a valley, and their hearts were as clear as spring water.Can you wait for that kind of openness and clarity before you try to understand the world?Can you stay still until events have unfolded before you do the right thing?When you act without expectations, you can accomplish great things. 16Clear your head.Stay calm.Watch as everything happens around you.Everything reverts to its original state, which was nothing.And whenever something becomes nothing, it gets right with Tao.If you don't understand that, you're going to screw up somewhere down the line.If you figure it out, you'll always know what to do.If you get right with Tao, you won't be afraid to die, because you know you will.
  18. Finding the inner man

    Greetings fellow friends. I come to you to discuss my past and sincere with a query of how to save my life from certain misery in the future. I am 18 yr old male and have had many problems in my life. As a small child I was always a non-aggressive type. I did not play rough games with other boys and preferred reading books to playing soccer or wrestling. I was short for my age - small. At this age, never did the concept of vanity or outward appearance occur to me. I was too preoccupied on intellectual pursuits. When I hit puberty and teenager I became aware of the concept of physical attraction. I suddenly looked in the mirror and started to think about how members of the opposite sex would perceive me sexually, perhaps making assumptions far beyond my years. I started to become vain and preoccupied with the external body, which I believe is manifestation of yang. I masturbated incessantly to relieve additional yang energy, which after a couple years left me feeling very asexual and out-of-touch with myself. Still seeking something -- not even sure what, I became anorexic and all but destroyed my body, becoming malnourished and emaciated. I lost all concept of sexuality at this point and became very child-like in appearance, almost in a regressive fashion. I was always a late bloomer, but suddenly looked like I was 12 years old. Today, at 18 years of age, I have recovered and am at healthy weight, but still have a long road ahead. I am only now beginning to develop characteristics of man's physique (shoulders, face). I attend college and people still think I am in high school, much as in high school, I looked like a middle schooler. I have tried very hard to quit masturbation as I have noticed this has a calming effect on my nerves and helps me be less impulsive and emotional, but it is extremely difficult. For many years during my earlier adolescence I all but forgot my creative pursuits in favor of purely physical, external manifestations of what i felt was "manly." My trials have sapped me of joy in my life and have destroyed several relationships with close family members. How can I use Tao to find the inner man within myself and grow into a man who can still have a promising future? I will appreciate advice with an open and eternally grateful heart. peace Asan
  19. God, Nature, The Universe, The Earth, Life, Mind, Human History, Worldwide Flood Myths Ultimate Greatest Thread Ever Made. Bar None. Chinese character for Qi- vapors rising Vapor and rice together Here is a quote about Chinese Medicine and Martial Arts- Connection to the earth. Center of gravity. For sweeping the sweep digs a trench into the earth. The hips are like pendulums, connected to the ground Video showing a little bit of internal energy Anyways, that's one article I found interesting. Throughout history, teachers would teach mankind through oracles such as the I Ching to teach about oneness. About how everything is vibration , and octaves. Galaxies, stars, planets, moons, humans, light, matter, vapor, sound. The kings and emperors had no problem with this as long as they could become immortal, lead be turned to gold, or if their futures could be predicted. Wuji- the formless, shapeless, nebulous, great void, before creation Taiji- the beginning of creation, experience, companionship, and duality, Yang and Yin turning around and eternally alternating giving birth to thousands of things within certain planes in the universe. Yang, one extreme pole- Yin the other extreme pole- One of the representations of Yin and Yang, is Water and Fire SmallYang-BigYang-BigYin-SmallYin- There are many meanings, including Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring
  20. I have realized that IMA (internal martial arts) folks are reifying Jin (power) in the same way as many Taoist folks reify Tao. By this I mean that they are trying make it a concrete "thing". You hear terms like ... emitting Jin ... or shooting Jin ... sending out Jin. It is the same error when people think that Tao is a "thing" that can be the "object" of worship. It is also synonymous that, just as Tao is not a "thing", Jin is also not a "thing", and just as Tao is more of a "way" or pattern of things, Jin is more of a "power". Also synonymous is that folks try and make both Tao and Jin something "special", meaning that it is something above or beyond mundane reality. Read more... http://www.tai-chi-wizard.com/the-tao-of-jin-in-tai-chi-chuan.html
  21. Turning the Great Law Wheel

    Falun Dafa- Turning the Great Law Wheel Introduction Video- The Nature of the Universe is Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yfY6YlBJBAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qoXgKjMguE It is totally free. Everything to get started can be got free off the internet. You can start learning this practice right here and right now! Detailed Video Instructions of the Falun Gong Exercises- Instruction on the Falun Gong Meditation- Video of the lectures and teachings of Falun Dafa Falun Dafa - 9-Day Lectures in Guangzhou Here are the main study books of Falun Dafa Falun Dafa - The Falun Dafa Books Turning the Law wheel, Great Law book ZHUAN FALUN-INDEX Mr. Li Hongzhi on Buddha Law-
  22. Please dont dismiss this question as some cheesy, lame girls pick-up interest or locker-room talk, iam happy living with my girlfriend for several years now and also have broad interest in eastern body cultivating excercises and iam just describing EXTERNAL SYMPTOMS of something i believe is of greater importance going on inside the body (a natural order of things) that iam curious about - i assume it has something to do with sexuality and who knows more about sexuality than eastern philosphies... I notice this "weird" thing for several years now. Iam an average looking guy 193cm high, 30 years of age, normal physique (not athletic by any means). Normaly through out the day i dont get any significant eye-contact from girls other than typical cassual by-passing looks in public transport, shopping malls, etc... nothing significant or intentional from girls towards me... iam just an invisible average joe to unknown women... but whenever i ejaculate (masturbation or sex with my gf) the next day i feel like somebody exchanged my face for brad pitt - what iam describing next can easily happen within single day... girls going in opposite direction on street hold looong eye-contact starting from far distance and keep on looking as they walk past me, when sitting in metro some girls cant help looking away and than back at me and than away and after a while back at me - several times, sometimes across the whole metro vagon - sometimes i must almost escape from the metro its almost unconfortable... (iam not the kind of guy who is like a fish in a water flirting with girls), but there is more... occasionally some girl park a totaly zoned-out "dear cought in head light" frozen stare at me until she realises and looks away... the weirdest example must be when i pass by on long metro escalators (slowly going up) and there is a girl going opposite direction (down) which doesnt see me at all - she is looking away but suddenly she almost twitch her head around and looks directly at me and stares for a while - almost as an animal catching a sniff of pray in a wind - he twitches his head in the incoming direction and hypnotise the prey... this happend to me few times already and only on days after ejaculation (24 hours)... i also get these "electrical" looks, where we meet in same shopping mall with particular girl several times during 1 hour (she is shopping around, iam shopping around so we pass by, here and there) and each and every time she looks at me for looong time - after about 5th "loong and electrifing" look across the ailes within few minutes we both start to laugh... the previous examples can all accumulate within 1 day when i cruise the city - its like waking up in a crazy hollywood film for 24 hours - i turn from regular joe to playgirl model, just for 1 day how do i know this is not placebo ? because after about 24 hours its gone TOTALLY - no matter what i do the following days (stand on my head) girls just dont see me - iam invisible regular joe again... this can go for week or more (sometimes i have sex but dont ejaculate), until i ejaculate again - BANG ive got 24 hours in the "spotlight", regular as a clockwork... the difference is so striking (normal days vs. 1 day after ejaculation) and so perfectly time-constrained it cant be coincidence or placebo... Before you condemn this text as pubescent locker-room talk - try to imagine yourself in this "unwanted" or unplaned situtation - i love my girlfriend and have no intention to cheat on her but every time i ejaculate (masturbation or sex) for 24 hours ONLY i wake up in this other reality where beautifull girls really do give me signs of favour and price - its a textbook example of potence and i believe it all comes back into a circle of sexuality, health, life vigour and energy - its just fantastic feeling for a man no matter if you have a loving and stable relationship or not. But after 24h you crash back on earth. I dont know many man who honestly wouldnt want to investigate whats behind this sudden fluctuation if sexual potence.
  23. As a cultivator, it is very important to learn about the gradations of internal cultivation. Generally, we use the following level classification: I. Refine Jing (vital essence) into Qi: this stage contains inside and outside Qi moving, small ZhouTian opening and Entryway opening three steps. II. Refine Qi into Shen(spirit): this stage contains internal and external opportunities appear, big ZhouTian moving and the Entryway losing form three steps. III. Refine Shen return emptiness: this stage contains primordial Shen appear, Shen baby in vitro and millions of incarnations three steps. IV. Refine emptiness fit Tao
  24. The Master of the Hidden Storehouse is a very easily comprehended work attributed to Keng Sang-tzu, a disciple of the old scholar, and is a classical treatment of the taoist philosophy with emphasis on leadership and governance. I found this little gem buried in the back half of a book called Thunder in the sky, an english language translation by Thomas Cleary which includes two texts: Master of Demon Valley, and Master of the Hidden Storehouse. The book is published by Shambhala, isbn# 1-57062-660-x (in case anyone gets bored with the pace that I lay it out on this thread and wants to get a copy for themselves). After reading this book, I must conclude that it is essential reading for anyone who wishes to be effective in a leadership role from the point of presiding over a nation, a state, a province, a villiage, a neighborhood, a house, or themselves. The lack of understanding of the way when it comes to governance in our world's leaders is shocking, but not unexpected, as the persons most likely to seek public office are, by their natures, the ones least likely to be competant to fill these roles. By way of overview, there are nine segments in this text: Preserving the way intact, Applying the way, The way of government, The way of leadership, The way of administrators, The way of the wise, The way of education, The way of agriculture, and The way of war. Get your ink and brushes ready: you will want a copy of this text preserved for future generations.
  25. SEX (hi)

    Greetings, glad to have gotten your attention from my title. I'm brand new to this site (obviously) but i have observed and enjoyed many posts here, not to mention the variance of responses from a wide base of fellow TaoBums. My knowledge in the Path is extremely little, i have done much reading (both online and in print) on the subject however, with my interest being born after reading the first few lines of Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching. I have been practicing meditation and "energy awareness" for about 9-12 months now, adjusting my practice and my way of thinking of the practice innumerable times. The point i have reached now (that i can perceive) is my lower dan tien getting a warming or slight pulsating sensation when i take a few slow breaths and put my attention to that area, i made the mistake early of visualizing the entire MC orbit, instead of simply garnering my perception of the dantien, and i admit that i am capable of perceiving energy (how much or how fluidly it moves is a current mystery) go from my mingmen, up the spine and into the top of my head, as well as energy that seems to pulsate or flow in waves (in sync with my breath often) downwards from my head down the front of my body to my navel area. When i get around to doing a meditation session of 20-30+ minutes it takes a small amount of effort to relax the shaking and inner vibration i feel throughout my body. My posture is something i waste a lot of time thinking about and could use a tip on how to easily put myself in a comfortable yet "strong" meditation posture ( i have rather long legs in proportion to the rest of my body, crossing my legs leads to cramps within 5-10 minutes) I need to keep my spine and my sacrum in the correct position which i find difficult often whether sitting in a chair, in my bed or even lying down. Sexual energy is something that has also interested my greatly, i have recently been able to perceive cooling waves of pleasure shoot up my spine when i sync my breath in accordance with slow PC muscle contractions, this is an area i would like to know more about and research, knowing that i should do everything with care and focusing simply of perceiving and being conscious of my body. A serious concern of mine is my habit of being a very regular drinker of alcohol and smoking. My worry lies that when i find myself under the influence (especially MaryJane) i seem to perceive my energy A LOT stronger and noticeably, it scares me when i seem to make the most progress in these "impure" states. I might as well mention that i am a 130 pound, 19 year old male, and am probably getting close to having abdominal breathing become 100% natural, although i find it still takes effort to preform it perfectly (getting it all the way down to the lower dantian without effort) and it will take a countless amount of time to slow it down. I am thinking about taking a break from "energy perceiving" and switching simply to meditating on nothingness, where i started. Thank you so much for taking the time to read all this (even if you havn't) ANY and ALL advice and feedback is very much appreciated, Much love to you all.