Nnonnth

>>Just trying to make things clearer<<

Thanks, NN

>>But its my experience to really know someone, you need to see how they treat their spouse, kids, students in the home. Just because one knows or masters a qi gong or theory or method does not mean they live it.<<

I'm just shocked you feel the need to say it. Still, there we go, I haven't met the people you are talking about. If people don't…[Read more]

… because without direct experience of all these methods I can say no more. I hope it’s realized that I am very ignorant! – probably is. But sometimes the ignorant can have something useful to say.

I just want it known that I personally think everyone in this discussion is making important points – speaking as an ignoramus. Now I must go find…[Read more]

Hmm… ok, I’ll bite.

>>I think it is about making nei dan rigid. Tyring to make one formula or method different from others, this is an attempt to distuinguish one method of nei dan from others and I feel it is very polarizing.<>Just pay attention to the posts, which ones polarize you and which ones harmonize you.<>Words should reflect the…[Read more]

– and insightful. NN

… could you tell more of what you mean by this? Don’t have to name names but what sort of ‘life actions’ are you talking about?

>>Some people quote tao masters on this site, I know some of them personally and they would be shocked if they new about there life. there quotes are good their life actions not so good.<<

NN

I don’t understand all the technical talk, but isn’t this –

>>My main point is that nei dan and stillness are both required to reach the way<<

– what *everyone* is saying?

I can't help feeling this is an argument about language mostly, which was the intent of that post before with the quotes from Cleary.

Still!

NN

>>get some good books on Zen<<

What translation is that? I haven’t heard of this work before now. NN

Michael, a saying of Lu Dongbin tr. Cleary again. Would you mind giving an interpretation?

THREE LEVELS OF ATTAINMENT

There are three levels of attainment of the Tao. One is the alchemy of nondoing. Another is the alchemy of spiritual power. The third is the alchemy of preserving unity.

In the alchemy of nondoing, the mind is the…[Read more]

You are wise, you have it.

My post was aimed at saying there is no disagreement. (Mind you, other people have said that same already.)

*Religious* Buddhists tie themselves up in knots trying to explain one moment that life must be lived right and the next moment that it is meaningless. The point is as you say that it is all about strategy,…[Read more]

Hey Michael and Fajin –

This is an interesting discussion, but frankly I think it is something I have already quite settled in my own mind by saying there is really nothing to settle! A careful reading of the few Taoist books I have gives that impression VERY strongly. I have pondered this alot by now. I must say that I ask questions of…[Read more]

The most fruitful outcome
Does not depend on force,
But succeeds without arrogance
Without hostility
Without pride
Without resistance
Without violence.

– Lao-Tzu 30, tr. Addiss/Lombardo

– was a wandering minstrel, a street entertainer. He had flowers in his hair and dressed sometimes as a man, sometimes as a woman. He is one of the great taoist immortals. If you want to attack ‘fruitiness’, why not start with him? NN

Hey Michaelerner –

>>I have found Nnonnth to be such a lucid, well rounded, with it practitioner here I thought it would take the opportunity to pick his brains.<<

I'm flattered!

I think the problem is that I have checked into alot of stuff, but even after all this time, I still don't know exactly what it is I'm practicing! Sometimes…[Read more]

>>Are you being sarcastic or what?<<

No way! I really and seriously don't think I understand the Bardon stuff as well as you do, from what you're saying. Honest! My practice of it just collapsed under its own weight, not once but twice. I had no talent for it whatsoever, but I thought that because I'm good at other kinds of 'magic' I could…[Read more]