Courses, Books, Etc. Etc. That You Couldn't Do Without For Your Practice.

[mwight]

I've read quite a lot in my opinion. Most of the stuff on the market could be safely tossed in the garbage can. So here is my list of books and resources I find useful, and I wouldn't want to live without.

 

Please share yours also, but try to keep them to resources which actually provide active training info on your path, not biographies etc. Please try to include things you yourself practice and know to be valid, not things that sound good but you have never personally implemented.

 

 

 

 

My List:

 

1. Spring Forest Qigong Levels 1-4 (still a lot of filler, but I believe this to be the best home course out there and free if you know where to look, emule demonoid etc.)

 

2. Robert Bruce's Works: "Energy Work" and "Astral Dynamics" (lots of resources on the web for free, AD is free on demonoid)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Astral-Dynamics-Out-...0952&sr=8-1

 

http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Work-Healing-...0975&sr=8-1

 

http://www.astraldynamics.com/tutorials/

http://www.astraldynamics.com/tutorials/?BoardID=6

http://www.astraldynamics.com/tutorials/?BoardID=65

http://www.astraldynamics.com/download/NEW-V2.pdf

http://www.astraldynamics.com/download/Treatise.pdf

 

3.The Tao Of Meditation (Way to Enlightenment) By Jou, Tsung Hwa. (great book)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Meditation-Way-E...0690&sr=8-1

 

 

4.The Einstein Factor By Dr. Win Wenger (free on demonoid)

 

http://www.winwenger.com/ebooks/guaran.htm

 

http://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Factor-Prov...0412&sr=8-6

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/074...0412&sr=8-1

 

 

5. Centerpointe Awakening Prologue (expensive if you buy a copy, free on demonoid)

(imho the higher levels suck, wouldn't recommend them. It is great for inducing a trance.)

 

http://centerpointe.com/

 

 

6. My Custom Ocean Wave MP3's For Breath Timing

 

30 minutes at 3 Breaths Per Minute 256Kbps smile.gif

http://www.sendspace.com/file/zn7bt1

 

30 minutes at 2 Breaths Per Minute 256Kbps smile.gif

http://www.sendspace.com/file/m6tn56

 

30 minutes at 1 Breath Per Minute 256Kbps smile.gif

http://www.sendspace.com/file/c3xyso

 

7. Contact MoPaiStudent

(I can't say enough good things about this person, his email is in his post from the lobby)

http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?showtopic=5786

 

8. Spiritual Enlightenment The Damnedest Thing by Jed McKenna (audio book version is preferable, available on demoniod)

http://www.wisefoolpress.com/

 

9. My 6D Theory

http://www.thetaobums.com/A-6-Dimensional-...lity-t3353.html

Edited August 8, 2008 by mwight

[Wun Yuen Gong]

I would say the secret transmission (poems etc) of my Primordial Chaos System dating back to Lao Tzu its a real treasure i read it everyday and each day i understand it differently. Its like I ching, Dao de Ching, plus all cultivation methods in one.

 

WYG

[mwight]

bump?

[findley]

I have an itch every day that I need to read the Tao Te Ching. Every Day.

But I don't.

 

I think that would probably be the most profound text for me. If I took advantage of it.

 

I think that read the tao te ching is like, you know, a super karmic-cleanser. It gives you good karma. or balanced karma. ...uh whatever.

 

I would probably be oneo f the wisest men in the world if I read it everyday. which, I am sure, would invariably lead to great spiritual attainment.

 

goddamnit.... maybe I should kick myself in the ass and do it.... maybe make a ritual out of it, or something... but a new copy of my favorite translation.. wrap it in silk... .... bleh...... I need to do it...

[Taiji Bum]

The Tai Chi Classics for sure and for some reason I like reading my own 64 sayings booklet that I wrote for my advanced Tai Chi classes. I hope thats not vanity.

[Eric23]

I have an itch every day that I need to read the Tao Te Ching. Every Day.

But I don't.

 

I think that would probably be the most profound text for me. If I took advantage of it.

 

I think that read the tao te ching is like, you know, a super karmic-cleanser. It gives you good karma. or balanced karma. ...uh whatever.

 

I would probably be oneo f the wisest men in the world if I read it everyday. which, I am sure, would invariably lead to great spiritual attainment.

 

goddamnit.... maybe I should kick myself in the ass and do it.... maybe make a ritual out of it, or something... but a new copy of my favorite translation.. wrap it in silk... .... bleh...... I need to do it...

 

I used to read a chapter, picked randomly, every day. It only takes a couple of minutes. Only makes sense that if you call yourself a Taoist that you read the Tao Te Ching once in a while There are days it speaks directly to the issues of the day and at other times it gives you something to think about, like a koan.

[Ian]

Don't know if this counts under "etc etc", but...

 

Trees. Especially the sycamore in my mum's garden and the pine trees by the Banbury Road entrance to the University Parks. I've just found another nice little cluster of pines at the top of South Park, but they need a little warming up still.

 

And my friend Alessia has some lovely plane trees just round the corner from her place in Wapping.

 

Apparently plane trees are amazing for cities because they can soak up pollution and get rid of it in lumps on their bark, rather than dying from it.

[Gerard]

Music, spiritual sounds. I have been listening to this song just tonight and sent me good vibrations. It was adapted to Bollywood from the "Qawwali":

 

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/1745053/5809864

 

O Re Piya

[Zhan Zhuang]

Probably THE best book on neigong Xing Yi Nei Gong

 

 

 

 

And the only books on standing you'll ever need. One

Two

[joeblast]

Xing Shen Zhuang is an absolutely fantastic practice set. Definitely in the list.

[SiliconValley]

Xing Shen Zhuang is an absolutely fantastic practice set. Definitely in the list.

 

 

Joe,

 

Was this what you were talking about?

Edited September 3, 2008 by SiliconValley

[steve]

Some books that I've found to be indispensible in my view of things:

Awareness by Anthony de Mello

To Be Human by Jiddu Krishnamurti

When the Shoe Fits by Osho

Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi by David Goodman

I Am That by Nisargadatta Maharshi

 

A couple of inspiring CD collections:

Wake Up and Live by Anthony de Mello

Out of Your Mind by Alan Watts

 

All of my meditation and martial arts practices come from my teacher. I haven't found martial arts or meditation books help me much.

[mwight]

does anyone here have a copy of the Xing Yi Nei Gong book?

Edited September 3, 2008 by mwight

[松永道]

Intuflow by Scott Sonnon

I just purchased Intuflow for my mother. Really great stuff. I've noticed some of the exercises are very similar to movements that have come to me spontaneously in natural qigong practice. Intuflow can be practiced fast for looseness and invigoration, slow for qi development, and it seems to me could be practiced hard (that is with maximum muscle tension plus maximum range of motion) for muscle-tendon changing. I like logic Sonnon's system. Foundation of joint mobility, then athletic bodyweight 'yoga' movements, then circular strength training with kettlebells and clubbells. Add a standing practice and sitting practice and you're pretty set. For standing I thought The Way of Energy and Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body were both adequate. For sitting, Yang's Embryonic Breathing seems ok at first glance, but honestly I wouldn't get too deep into sitting Neigong practice without a good teacher, and from Yang's writing, I'm not don't believe he has achieved the practice. But that's my opinion. Sitting and forgetting or quiet sitting, is a fine practice without the risk. Overall though, any good internal martial arts system will include all these things, I'd only do it piecemeal like this if you can't find a good teacher.

 

Hands of Light by Barbara Brennan

I dabbled with energy and qigong practice for a while before stumbling across this book. Very good. The author studied astrophysics and worked for NASA before re-focusing her studies on the human energy body. This book gave a nice theoretical framework to many of the things I had been seeing and feeling. It incorporates Chakras, meridians, auras and more. Very open-minded and, true to the author's scientific background, an evolving system. My only critique: her advice, in my opinion, overcharges Hun / the upper Chakras prematurely.

 

The Prophet by Khalil Gibran

Absolutely beautiful poetry.

 

The Web that Has No Weaver by Ted Kaptchuk

Chinese Medicine, pre-revolution Classical Chinese Medicine anyway, is the foundation of higher practice. It's provides an understanding of one's internal ecosystem. Knowing when and where Qi/Blood/Fluids are excessive, deficient, stagnant, etc, the meridians, and the interrelated function of organs systems is very, very helpful. With this understanding, you can use qigong and foods (no need to even use acupuncture or herbs) to cure any illness. For an understanding of food energetics, Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford is the best I've seen. Between Heaven and Earth is another good introductory book into Chinese Medicine with an emphasis of 5 elements and constitutional typing. Healing with the Herbs of Life also deserves special commendation, a good clear introduction to diagnosis and herbology. Finally, A Tooth From the Tiger's Mouth is a really cool book on martial medicine for rehabilitating fight injuries, it also includes some first-aid acupressure. My other favorites and most of the materials I use for study now are all in Chinese unfortunately.

 

To be honest though, I haven't found THE ONE yet, any book or course I couldn't live without. I feel meditation, natural qigong and work/play/observation out in the natural world could teach me pretty much everything I'll ever need to know. But I like reading and thinking, philosophizing and analyzing, maybe I'm addicted, but in the true words of an addict, "I can quit whenever I want!"

 

It is useful though, to have some structure for your substance, some form to contain your meaning. Sure you could build your own framework from scratch, but for the ease of communication and cooperation, it's nice to find a good, pre-existing structure and build off that. So while Chinese Medicine, neigong theory, etc aren't mine, I'll use them for now, and where they can no longer contain my body of experience, I'll build out from there.

Edited September 3, 2008 by 松永道

[Christoph]

Muscle balance and function training and Intu flow with various Qigong.

 

 

books

Dao de Jing , Nine nights with a Daoist Master, Secret Teaching of All Ages

[joeblast]

Joe,

 

Was this what you were talking about?

Similar but not the same...I learned XSZ at the Foundation Training seminar back in March up in Oregon.

 

 

For sitting, Yang's Embryonic Breathing seems ok at first glance, but honestly I wouldn't get too deep into sitting Neigong practice without a good teacher, and from Yang's writing, I'm not don't believe he has achieved the practice.

I got a lot out of that too, but yeah...from what I've seen he's an excellent martial artist but it seems like he's missing a key thing or two for 'the achievement'. Seems to be a good scholar, the books have the original chinese, if you can read it.

 

The other good idea I got was from BKF's Opening the Energy Gates book...longevity breathing! That combined with Yang's EB method did me well, although I wasnt really focusing on building qi in the ltt like Yang describes.

[Yoda]

I'm addicted to reading in general and it's my ideal to read a book a day but once I read something I'll give it away or burn it if I can't find any takers so as to release the wisdom.

 

I have a few Tibetan slogan training books, Victory through Vaastu, Way of Qigong by Cohen, Max's recent Kunlun book, Hafiz and other poetry books, a copy of Anna Grandmother of Jesus, some Abraham books for my kids, The Hathor Material, a slurry of western magic reference books, and my grandmother Ruth's Bible.

 

I like the vibe they give off when all together so I have them next to my bed with a statue of Ganesha, an image of Jesus, an obsidian ball, my Egyptian rods, a Navajo drum, and a crazy copper yantra that's hard to describe.

[bindo]

The Integral Yoga - Sri Aurobindo's Teaching and Method of Practice

 

and

 

The Synthesis of Yoga - Sri Aurobindo

[松永道]

I'm addicted to reading in general and it's my ideal to read a book a day but once I read something I'll give it away or burn it if I can't find any takers so as to release the wisdom.

 

Yoda, that's either a joke or a sin. Send them to the Goodwill!

[Yoda]

Goodwill here in SC would put them in the roundfile. My Lama told me that if you can't find sacred texts a good home that burning is good too. Hope I didn't offend anyone!

[rain]

my heart

[phore]

The practices i use

Kunlun forgotten practes for self awakening by max christensen

Lambda meditation system by jeff thompson

Epsilon meditation system by jeff thompson

Meditation mastery series 2 tamos cave by glenn morris

 

Iwould also recommend this even though im not using this practice any more

Meditations for manifesting by wayne dyer

 

Then just for general reading

Wayne dyer books

Glenn morris books

Carl jung books

 

 

Also it is good to stretch. And try joint rotations. they can solve a lot of problems.

 

Oh and love helps

Edited September 3, 2008 by phore

[steve]

Goodwill here in SC would put them in the roundfile. My Lama told me that if you can't find sacred texts a good home that burning is good too. Hope I didn't offend anyone!

I send my used books to the Veterans' Administration Hospital. There are lots of ill and injured soldiers and their families who have a lot of time and love to read - they're usually starving for new books to read and will read just about anything to pass the time in the hospital.

[h.uriahr]

I'll tell you what NOT to buy and that's NEI KUNG by Kosta Danoas....Alot of read between the lines and hidden messeges stuff.

[Qui-Dao]

does anyone here have a copy of the Xing Yi Nei Gong book?

 

Oddly enough, I do! Strangely, I don't practice QiQong, but when I saw that book more than 10 years ago one Sunday in Chinatown, I was drawn to it and bought a copy, thinking that one day, when I have time to study and practice Qi Gong, it would be something I want to explore. It has been sitting on the shelf collecting dusts for all these years, I am going to read it now just for the sake of it. I also have Dr. Yang Jwing Ming's Xing Yi Quan, don't know if they are the same practice or something different. So much to learn....

 

I send my used books to the Veterans' Administration Hospital. There are lots of ill and injured soldiers and their families who have a lot of time and love to read - they're usually starving for new books to read and will read just about anything to pass the time in the hospital.

 

Tao bliss you! What a good idea. What's the address of the hospital you sent your books too?