thelerner

Its cold out there, what are your thoughts on Tummo?

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My point is that I doubt that you can forward videoclips of authentic Nei Kung masters practicing or teaching.

I already have, a few days ago. I anticipated this in advance. Just go to 'Book, Film and Media' section. You'll find one video where a handful of lineage masters were interviewed and demo'd. There are at least another 5 or 6 videos under the same name, each containing similar interviews with different lineage holders and propagators, showing the origins and history of energy and martial cultivation in China.

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Thats at least 30 'gate keepers' who were interviewed. Not one nipple could be seen anywhere.

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...

I still don't even know what tummo is.

 

And all these practices are unknown to me.

 

I make it up as I go along!

 

I teach myself, too.

 

I swear to God though, I thought I was going to self combust, I really did.

 

I could feel the heat radiating from my body often in the weeks following my event.

 

And sweat, I still get the sweats.

 

As to the wind, my meditative practices actually seem to increase the wind around me.

...

Edited by Captain Mar-Vell

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I already have, a few days ago. I anticipated this in advance. Just go to 'Book, Film and Media' section. You'll find one video where a handful of lineage masters were interviewed and demo'd. There are at least another 5 or 6 videos under the same name, each containing similar interviews with different lineage holders and propagators, showing the origins and history of energy and martial cultivation in China.

 

You don't mean the Wing Tsun doku...?

Thanks to GEMA, I can't watch the second video.

Edited by Dorian Black

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You don't mean the Wing Tsun doku...?

Thanks to GEMA, I can't watch the second video.

Not the Wing Chun one. The Kung Fu Quest series. Its unfortunate you have no access.

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i can forward 8 clips of authentic neigung masters from China demonstrating their art, practicing or teaching, and all of them are fully clothed, from the neck down.

 

can you show 4 clips of Chinese neigung masters doing the same, but bare-bodied?

 

i dont think you understand what harm excessive wind exposure can lead to, even for those who have regulated inner fire.

 

First of all, even if they are Chinese masters, do they obligatorily have to practice without their shirts on? Even if you would reached the level where you can sit outside in -10 degrees in nothing but your underwear, that doesn't mean you then HAVE to go around town without your shirt on, in the middle of winter, just to show everyone who's boss. Second, yes, I indeed understand that excessive wind exposure is bad for you normally, however, I have my doubts whether it is as bad for someone, who can bathe themselves in a frozen lake, then sit on the snow completely still and practically nude, and put a wet towel on their back, while it is winter and -25 degrees. YOU may not understand, but at these temperatures, you would normally have far greater worries than wind. At these temperatures, the said towel on your back and the water still remaining on your body from your previous dip in the lake would freeze quite rapidly, and normally would lead to a severe case of pneumonia, if you are lucky. More often than not though, you'd have to have your fingers or limbs amputated, or you would simply die due to freezing.

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First of all, even if they are Chinese masters, do they obligatorily have to practice without their shirts on? Even if you would reached the level where you can sit outside in -10 degrees in nothing but your underwear, that doesn't mean you then HAVE to go around town without your shirt on, in the middle of winter, just to show everyone who's boss. Second, yes, I indeed understand that excessive wind exposure is bad for you normally, however, I have my doubts whether it is as bad for someone, who can bathe themselves in a frozen lake, then sit on the snow completely still and practically nude, and put a wet towel on their back, while it is winter and -25 degrees. YOU may not understand, but at these temperatures, you would normally have far greater worries than wind. At these temperatures, the said towel on your back and the water still remaining on your body from your previous dip in the lake would freeze quite rapidly, and normally would lead to a severe case of pneumonia, if you are lucky. More often than not though, you'd have to have your fingers or limbs amputated, or you would simply die due to freezing.

Are you speaking from experience here? Have you even practiced any of what you have written above?

 

Have you spoken to any Chinese energetic cultivators, teachers, doctors, and asked about what 'wind invasion' is?

 

If not, its just speculative talk.

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I already have, a few days ago. I anticipated this in advance. Just go to 'Book, Film and Media' section. You'll find one video where a handful of lineage masters were interviewed and demo'd. There are at least another 5 or 6 videos under the same name, each containing similar interviews with different lineage holders and propagators, showing the origins and history of energy and martial cultivation in China.

 

Links? :)

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Interestingly enough in yogic tradition my practise is from it has also been said not to practise in wind , reason being given specificaly is becouse it messes with internal "winds" pranas particulary due to nature of practise , which in effect can cause not only physical but also mental imbalance .

 

 

There are some people who are able whitstand extreme cold easily and bathe in frozen lakes without even having "a level of spiritual accomplishment " .

There is actually a bunch of grannies who go to local pond I go to in summer , and they swim every day -- all year around . OK it is not usually less than -2,-3 celsius , so it is not that cold in comparison to - 30 , but they still swim even if they have to break ice often . They have no sauna or heating nearby , just a cup of cocoa to warm them up after swim .

 

 

Just to say that whatever laws of science or laws of anything there is -- do not believe so easy .

Edited by suninmyeyes
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Are you speaking from experience here? Have you even practiced any of what you have written above?

 

Have you spoken to any Chinese energetic cultivators, teachers, doctors, and asked about what 'wind invasion' is?

 

If not, its just speculative talk.

 

Regarding experience, I know someone, who can do it. He is a friend of my mother, a 42 year old man with a lot of experience in different meditation techniques under his belt. It isn't exactly personal and intimate experience, but I've seen him do it years ago, so I don't believe what I say is just speculative talk. Mind you, what he demonstrated is what I believe gtummo is, but he might have been using a different, albeit a very similar technique.

 

Here's a 20 minute clip on YouTube, of a guy demonstrating gtummo meditation.

 

 

In the video, you can hear the wind blow while he meditates. I hope it will at least slightly prove my point.

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Im not negating/denying the power of tummo. Its part of my tradition too. Instead, im highlighting to the general readership the potential dangers of trying practices simply by watching some video, or reading from some on-line material, or what they read in forums such as these without having a reliable source to verify and clarify if what they have read/heard can be helpful or not.

 

For someone who have been practicing tummo for years, naturally they (as per the clip you posted) would develop a certain level of resistance to elemental exposure -- however, individuals of that level of resistance are few and far between, so as a general guide rule, i have pointed out the caution to be taken when attempting to expose oneself to unknown elemental intrusions (in this particular instance, wind element) in the pursuit of esoteric forms and energetic manipulations, especially without a reliable guide or teacher to assist.

 

I think the rationale behind this caution is concurrent with the practices of TCM, Tibetan as well as Ayurvedic medicine.

 

As long as one has the foreknowledge of the potential dangers involved, by all means devise a meaningful cultivation plan and follow that until the desired results are in the pocket.

 

Hence, all im saying in the last few posts is.... take caution.

 

I hope that is reasonably clear for you.

Edited by C T
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Just fyi. It might be true that there is a yin qi you get only when seated on the bare earth...but apana vayu is something else. It is a vata subdosha inside of the body, that deals with the movements of air and ether elements for the purposes of excretion, urination, ejaculation, to an extent being grounded and calm, etc. It resides in the large intestine and anus. If apana were yin chi, you could simply treat apana vayu so that it's working 100% optimally, and not have to sit on the earth for those practices. Sitting on the earth might help with apana vayu, since it is the earth element which will bring balance to the air and ether elements (vata).

 

...

 

null.

Edited by Kryptyn
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Apana is more than what ayurvedic science claims it to be

 

"Apana" comes from Ayurvedic science, in my understanding. I could be wrong.

 

Your ideas are interesting...no problem to disagree.

Edited by turtle shell

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First thing that comes to mind reading this discussion is that the Tattvic name for water is Apas, with water being the element most associated with yin/magnetic energy - not sure if there's a language correlation or whether it's just pure coincidence, but it is interesting.

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Gtummo isn't about heat. It's about melting and refining the internal world. A physical heat can be a byproduct but the internal spiritual heat is the true product.

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Im not negating/denying the power of tummo. Its part of my tradition too. Instead, im highlighting to the general readership the potential dangers of trying practices simply by watching some video, or reading from some on-line material, or what they read in forums such as these without having a reliable source to verify and clarify if what they have read/heard can be helpful or not.

 

For someone who have been practicing tummo for years, naturally they (as per the clip you posted) would develop a certain level of resistance to elemental exposure -- however, individuals of that level of resistance are few and far between, so as a general guide rule, i have pointed out the caution to be taken when attempting to expose oneself to unknown elemental intrusions (in this particular instance, wind element) in the pursuit of esoteric forms and energetic manipulations, especially without a reliable guide or teacher to assist.

 

I think the rationale behind this caution is concurrent with the practices of TCM, Tibetan as well as Ayurvedic medicine.

 

As long as one has the foreknowledge of the potential dangers involved, by all means devise a meaningful cultivation plan and follow that until the desired results are in the pocket.

 

Hence, all im saying in the last few posts is.... take caution.

 

I hope that is reasonably clear for you.

 

I see. In that case we clearly had a misunderstanding, and I agree with your warning. Without proper teaching and development, one should not try to expose themselves to extreme cold, especially if one only has some video or text as a guide. I am glad we cleared that up.

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I see. In that case we clearly had a misunderstanding, and I agree with your warning. Without proper teaching and development, one should not try to expose themselves to extreme cold, especially if one only has some video or text as a guide. I am glad we cleared that up.

 

I don't think it can be overstated:

 

 

That is why even though tantric techniques

may be outlined in a book such as this, they can only be followed

safely and productively under the watchful eye of a fully qualified

tantric master, and only by those who cultivate a particularly powerful

altruistic motivation, receive the requisite empowerments, keep

purely their tantric pledges, and undergo the proper preliminary

trainings.

 

The Bliss of Inner Fire, Page 8

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Gtummo isn't about heat. It's about melting and refining the internal world. A physical heat can be a byproduct but the internal spiritual heat is the true product.

I'd agree with this, tummo goes very deep, which is why I mentioned a lower level as well as the higher. Still even the lower level, the ability to warm yourself can be a lifesaver. I also see it leading to greater healing. But that which can heal can also hurt, best to use caution and get some experienced instruction and feedback before taking it too deep.

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Gtummo isn't about heat. It's about melting and refining the internal world. A physical heat can be a byproduct but the internal spiritual heat is the true product.

This. Bump for solid.

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Heck here it is without clicking:

The Method

The Wim Hof Method is similar to Tummo (inner heat) Meditation and Pranayama (yogic breathing). Yet it is something else entirely. While Wim has studied yoga and meditation for many years, this technique primordially comes from what he terms ‘cold hard nature’. By subjecting himself to the bitter conditions of nature, he learned to withstand the extreme forces of cold, heat and fear. If you learn this method or technique correctly, it will empower you do to the same.

The first part is a breathing exercise which can be likened to controlled hyperventilation. This is, of course, an oxymoron. Hyperventilation is something which happens involuntarily. But just imagine the breathing part, without any of stress triggers that normally cause this way of breathing. The image will consist of rapid breathing that makes one languid, invigorates one, makes one high on oxygen. One mechanism of this practice is the complete oxygenation of your blood and cells.

1) Get comfortable and close your eyes

Sit in a meditation posture, whatever is most comfortable for you. Make sure you can expand your lungs freely without feeling any constriction. It is recommended to do this practice right after waking up since your stomach is still empty.

2) Warm Up

Inhale deeply. Really draw the breath in until you feel a slight pressure from inside your chest on your solar plexus. Hold this for a moment and then exhale completely. Push the air out as much as you can. Hold this for a moment. Repeat this warm up round 15 times.

3) 30 Power Breaths

Imagine you’re blowing up a balloon. Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth in short but powerful bursts. The belly is pulled inward when you are breathing out and is pulled outward when you are breathing in. Keep a steady pace and use your midriff fully. Close your eyes and do this around 30 times or until you feel your body is saturated with oxygen. Symptoms could be light-headedness, tingling sensations in the body, electrical surges of energy.

4) Scan your body

During the 30 power breaths, delve into your body and become aware of it as possible. Trace your awareness up and down your body and use your intuition as to what parts lack energy and what parts are overflowing. Scan for any blockage between the two. Try to send energy/warmth to those blockages. Then release them deeper and deeper. Tremors, traumas and emotional releases can come up. It can be likened to kundalini rising. Feel the whole body fill up with warmth and love. Feel the negativity burn away.

Often people report swirling colors and other visual imagery during this exercise. Once you encounter them, go into them, embrace them, merge with them. Get to know this inner world and how it correlates to the feeling of tension or blockages in your body.

5) The Hold

After the the 30 rapid succession of breath cycles, draw the breath in once more and fill the lungs to maximum capacity without using too much force. Then push all of the air out and hold for as long as you can. Draw the chin in a bit so as to prevent air from coming in again. Really relax and open all energy channels in your body. Notice how all the oxygen is spreading around in your body. Hold the breath until you experience the gasp reflex on the top of your chest.

6) Recovery Breath

Inhale to full capacity. Feel your chest expanding. Release any tension in the solar plexus. When you are at full capacity, hold the breath once more. Drop the chin to the chest and hold this for around 15 seconds. Notice that you can direct the energy with your awareness. Use this time to scan the body and see where there is no color, tension or blockages. Feel the edges of this tension, go into it, move the energy towards this black hole. Feel the constrictions burning away, the dark places fill with light. Relax the body deeper as you move further inward, let everything go. Your body knows better than you do. After 15 seconds you have completed the first round.

Start this practice with one or two rounds. Try to do it daily and add two more rounds in a few days. After you feel more comfortable with holding your breath you can start to add exercises and stretches. Work up to a minimum of 15 minutes or 6 rounds with exercises. You can do this practice for how long it pleases you.

If you feel dizziness or pain, get out of the posture and lie on your back. Breathe easily again and stop this practice session.

Reserve at least 5 minutes after this practice to relax and scan the body.

Summary
  1. 30 times balloon blowing
  2. Breathe in fully
  3. Breath out fully and hold until gasp reflex
  4. Inhale fully and hold for 10-15 seconds.
  5. Repeat until finished
  6. Take 5 minutes to relax and scan your body
Bonus Power-ups
  • Add push-ups or yoga poses during the time you are holding your breath until you wait for the gasp reflex. Notice that you are stronger without air than you would normally be if you could breathe!
  • Charge the energy up the spine by holding moola banda, contract the rectum & sex organ and pull the navel inward towards the spine.
  • Stand up in squat position and do the balloon breath. Try to breathe away the burn. (get seated again the moment you continue the cycle, you don’t want to be standing and faint) See if you can get the energy overtake the pain. Don’t give up easily and see how far you can go if you have the willpower!
Cold Exposure

After the body scan of the previous exercise you are ready let your body embrace the cold. It is very important to try to relax as much as you can, really be with the cold, only then can your body process the signals and start thermogenesis. As Wim says, “the cold is your warm friend!

Cold Showers

If you are new to cold exposure, start with cold showers. Begin with your feet and then follow with your legs, your stomach, shoulders, neck and back and finally your head. An initial shock, shivering and hyperventilation is normal. Try to remain calm and breathe easily. Close your eyes and really try to embrace the cold.

If you feel any strong physical uncomfortableness, like heavy shivering, numbness or pain, get your body warm again as soon as possible.

 

Once you are out of the shower, take a moment to do another slow body scan before you dry yourself.

 

Cold exposure works like weight lifting, you get stronger over time. There are little muscles around your veins that contract when they get into contact with the cold. After some time (only 1-2 weeks according to Wim) these become stronger, making your veins healthier and reducing the force that your heart has to use to pump blood around your body.

 

You can increase exposure over time. At one point the cold will feel just as comfortable as wearing your favorite pajamas and you can skip the warm shower completely. Notice how you feel amazing after a cold shower and sluggish after a warm one.

Ice Baths

After a few weeks of cold showers you can up the ante to an ice bath. Get 2-3 bags of ice at your local convenience store and put them in a half-full bath tub. Wait until around two thirds is melted or that the water has reached your designated temperature (10 / 12 °C (50 / 59 °F)). You can throw in a couple of handfuls of salt to speed up this process.

 

As with the cold showers, try to relax as much as you can. Start out with around 10 minutes and increase exposure over time. If you feel uncomfortable or in doubt, get out. After this exercise make sure you do another body scan.

 

It is normal to feel extra cold after a small period of time after the ice bath. This is called the after-drop. Take a hot glass of raw coca and keep your blood flowing by talking a walk. You’ll feel amazing after!

These exercises are extremely powerful when done consistently and with intent. Try them and out and report your findings in the comments below! Remember, the cold is your warm friend.

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...

the cold is my warm friend...

 

Well, it would save me a fortune in heating bills.

 

on edit: Iceman! Ha ha ha!

...

Edited by Captain Mar-Vell

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