Michael Winn

It’s of course true that Taoists and Buddhists borrowed methods from each other. But this doesn’t mean that in order to “embrace the Tao” one papers over the different outcomes of different spiritual practices. Embracing the Tao doesn’t mean that every religion is the same, just that one accepts that diversity is part of the Tao. It just as…[Read more]

I think your attempt to dismiss chen Yingning as merely being politically notivated is quite misplaced. His focus is not political, not calling for destroying Buddhism, but presenting his viewpoint as to their difference and to the consequences of different spiritual practices.

I feel its far more useful to deal with his ideas as they are…[Read more]

Note: in case you were not fully aware of the controversy surrounding his death, read these articles. Good reason to doubt “your senses” ,i.e. what you hear/see/read in the media. The media only announces what the culture allows it to. – Michael

AN ACT OF STATE: THE EXECUTION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING
By William F. Pepper
Verso (January…[Read more]

I think this image of natural vortex movement in the heart pumping of blood is quite interesting. If you study up to he level of Greatest Water & Fire formula, I introduce a practice that induces a balanced double vortex in the heart cauldron.
michael

The “type” she specifies clearly in her video is neidangong, or inner alchemy. There are many methods of neidan. You can post on her videos and ask her for more info. Let me know….:)

If we trash this particular frequency of earth I belivve it will be stored in the Earth’s memory bank of its multi-dimensional energy body. It will lie there fallow until it regenerates. I doubt humanity is moving to another planet. Just as we have self-correcting forces that maintain equilibrium in the physical plane, we have similar balance of…[Read more]

Just to be clear, the hypothesis my brother Peter (Geologist) does not accept is that global warming is caused MAINLY by human activity and C02 production, rather than warming caused by natural cycle.

And of course, there are the predictions that the current cycle of global warming will produce a lot more moisture in the admosphere that will…[Read more]

The oriental mind is inherently “beehive”, i.e. collective first, individiual second. The west has the opposite model. You and I are both born western. The taoists were the cultural rebels against confucian collectivism. but they still believe in an inherentl virtuous collective, Nature….
michael

Hi ron,
welcome back. I think you have a unique perspective to offer on where your anger and feelings of racism and sexism come from. I deleted your second post as degenerating a bit too far into obscenity and hatred. I’m going to leave this post up as a reminder of how the issues of sexuality live on in our culture. but I’m going to ask ou to…[Read more]

Excellent summary of evolutionary scientific thinking vs. faith-based living ffom perspective of ethics and moral psychology. Also from Edge.com

The main thing I see in these debates (which are largely evidence driven by genetic studies) is the view that a “third” force exists between empirical materialism and relgiiosity. Namely, spiritiual…[Read more]

Not to discourage your enjoyment of the book, but I got to know Yang’s (former) editor quite well, we studied bagua together for a number of years.

He tells me that the books are compilations of assorted materials, not based on yang’s experience, who was trained as an engineer and martial artist (who decades later, like many martial artists,…[Read more]

note: I’m posting this piece, as it highlights what I perceive as the need for a spiritual science to bridge the gap between religion and hard science. I believe eventually Taoist practices will play an important part in laying out that spiritual science, mostly because it has a clean set of principles that are personally testable thorugh qigong…[Read more]

Total exhale makes the lungs work harder to get chi, so they begin to convert internal chi entering from ming-men into kidney yarg to supply what oxygen normally does. I go into this relationship deeply in Qigong Fundamentals 3/4, difference between internal and external breathing.
michael

Lovely sharing, Bob – sounds like 2007 was pivotal year for you. The good news is that the best is yet to come – you’re still in the foundational 1st formula of One Cloud. The riches of Kan & Li beckon….the opportunity to dive deeper into your soul reality. But as you’ve learned, it is practice that drives the pace of change.

I thnk “down…[Read more]

I also agree with you. That is why I introduce the notion of yuan chi in Qigong Fundamentals 1 – so that it is there from the beginning, as the linchpin for yin and yang processes. And why I’ve linked it to the Inner Smile as well. When I studied these basic Tao methods, there was never any mention of yuan chi. I put them in, not because they are…[Read more]

I think this answers your questioin rather well. Basically, it suppresses your immune system’s natural defenses, usually while it does its job of suppressing an inflammation. It weakens the kidneys long term. I would get off it as soon as possible, or even try the thymic extract without it and see if you can absorb it directly.

Another good…[Read more]

yin diao gong is just what we call Iron Shirt 3. Been published for years, details in Bone Marrow Neigong book that I edited for Mantak Chia.
michael

Traditionally there are no colors used to visualize the 8 extra. But some system connect them to 8 trigrams, and assign colors to the 8 gua. But these would really be, in my opinion, astral colors, i.e. pre-natal color before it materializes.
michael

Color is the most subtle form of jing in the material plane. From my Qigong Fundamentals 1. it’s why the organ spirits are strengthned by visualizing color.
michael

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChinaU/

I would consider joining the above group, it will satisfy your yearning for linking of cutting edge science and chnese based spirituality.

here is a recent discussion from one of their threads, on how Big Physics avoids the nucleus of the atoms, vs. its moving parts. Kind of like living in the post-natal…[Read more]