by Dansk 69 Replies latest jw friends
everything I know is my own minds invention so I am aware that my mind may be inventing everything I have experienced like a dream and none of it is 100% reliable, but we must all gamble with our best skills for each move we make and my best guess is that some of these things are actually true.
ah... but the question is which part of you has invented all you see, for your mind currently exists in a self-inflicted divided state.
Unfettered and Zen,
I'm finding your comments facinating. I've practiced Zhan Zhuang (a form of Chi Gung) now for over two years. I've gradually built up to around 40-50 minutes per day (about 5 days per week). I've found it extremely relaxing and beneficial health wise, for instance my asthma is much improved. Between each form I do a set of Ba Duan Jin exercises and find Chi builds up within seconds of recommencing Zhan Zhuang.
More recently, after reading a book on Taoist Yoga by Mantak Chia, I've been trying some microcosmic circulation exercises. I don't know where this is all taking me but I'm enjoying it.
Weird thing happened a couple of nights ago. A loud buzzing noise woke me around 2 in the morning. I actually thought someone was drilling a hole in the bedroom wall! I seemed to tilt forward rapidly, looked down and I was still in bed. I was scared and fell back to the bed. I then woke up properly.
Still not sure if it was the beginning of an OBE, or just a dream caused by eating too much cheesy pizza that night.
Anyway, great thread Dansk!
CF.
CityFan,
Welcome to the thread. I'm always happy to meet a fellow Qi Gung practitioner.
On a gross level in Qi Gung there are two major types of Qi Gong work, that which is practiced in movement, and that which is practiced during stillness either in a sitting or lying position. I practice both forms and have noticed that the lying still qi gung greatly enhances my moving qi gung practice if I do it for at least 20 minutes before doing my moving qi gung. Is this what you are talking about when you talk about "some microcosmic circulation exercises"? Are these exercises done while sitting or lying still?
chris
Unfettered,
The Chi Gung I do is actually in a standing position, with knees slightly bent, I take up one position for say 8 minutes, do some Ba Duan Jin movement exercises for about a minute before taking up the next stance.
When I've finished all the five positions I then lie down (usually cause I'm knackered!), and then really just meditate on trying to move the energy through the chakras and up the spine.
Master Lam Kam Chuen has a good book on Zhan Zhuang called "The Way of Energy - Stand Still, Be Fit"
CF.
everything I know is my own minds invention so I am aware that my mind may be inventing everything I have experienced like a dream and none of it is 100% reliable, but we must all gamble with our best skills for each move we make and my best guess is that some of these things are actually true.ah... but the question is which part of you has invented all you see, for your mind currently exists in a self-inflicted divided state.
I have awoken within my dreaming to realize I have never ever been awake, so in truth I have no clue about the nature of the reality which is my true self as I have never seen it nor can I....I am accepting the FACT that somethings can never be known and there is nothing wrong with that.... it is the MYTH of THE TRUTH which in my opinion has caused the greater part of wars and violence.
I am accepting the FACT that somethings can never be known
That, in itself is a belief system, or a TRUTH that you seem to believe... and yet there is no concrete evidence either for or against the statement that "somethings can never be known". Also, it does not seem that your experience provides a basis for stating that somethings can never be known. How is it that you arrive at it being a FACT then? Rather, it seems to be more of a selectively held belief.
Interesting... the Qi Gung I practice puts a strong emphasis on the joints of the body. While in standing position there are times when standing still is best, and other times when movement is used. In general, while standing still we avoid the bending of knees (though do not lock the knee joints)... perhaps this is what you mean by slightly bent... they are straight, but not locked. The idea is to learn to feel the channels of Qi (energy) as they run up and down through the body, the arms and the legs. The joints are the primary gateways through which these "currents" flow.
The process of linking has to do with learning how to "open" the joints and the channels of all parts of the body and mentall link them together so that a natural balance is restored and maintained while we draw energy into the Dan Tien for storage there (sort of like a battery). By maintaining the linking of all the parts of the channels Qi is able to flow from the Dan Tien and Heart to all parts of the body as needed. Being overly warm or cold are signs and symptoms of imbalance and blocked channels. Each of the chakras are stimulated and opened mentally as well. We focus a lot of attention on the vertabrae of the spine as well.
When performing your standing movements are you simply moving and breathing, or do you also focus attention on "mobilizing" and focussing your awareness??... is your MIND in it so to speak or do you just practice motion and breathing, and let your mind wander to whatever thoughts you want to think about?
Weird thing happened a couple of nights ago. A loud buzzing noise woke me around 2 in the morning. I actually thought someone was drilling a hole in the bedroom wall! I seemed to tilt forward rapidly, looked down and I was still in bed. I was scared and fell back to the bed. I then woke up properly.
The buzzing noise may be a clear indication of the out of body state. When you say your tilted forward to you mean you "floated" forward without moving the physical body? ... and did you tilt forward or upward? Did you look down and see your full physical body on the bed?
Any type of strong emotion will almost ALWAYS end an experience immediately and jerk you back to your body. It seems to be some sort of reflex.
All things being said, I have to say I feel I will need to explore the mind-states attainable by the various forms of meditation.
I appreciate some stuff which, well, from my rather cynical point of view sounds like a personal reality, might take on a different character if I myself experience similar things.
It would be a bit arrogant to make assumptions about something I have no experience in. I have done, observed, and studied various religious forms and feel qualified to extrapolate from these experiences and learnings when discussing religion in general.
Altered mind-states? My experience is limited to;
So, excluding the fun chemicals, my experience with altered mind-states is Buckley's and then none.
So where should a complete novice start with meditation? I'd really appreciate any advice that Dansk and other Buddhists could give me.
Co-incidentally, my girlfriend has detailed recollections of knowing me 'before', which she told me before I told her about my sole experience, and the events may be contemporaneous to my arguable 'memory' (or at least in the same time frame), although I have no recollection of her in that 'remembered' event of mine.
I firmly believe that not being able to measure something doesn't mean it isn't there.
8-)
Conversely, being able to measure something doesn't mean it is there either, but I try to keep an open mind.
it does not seem that your experience provides a basis for stating that somethings can never be known. How is it that you arrive at it being a FACT then? Rather, it seems to be more of a selectively held belief.
some questions just have no answer because the question is irrational, like what is the origin of eternal reality? or where is the square circle? and some questions cannot be evaluated... Alan Turing's stopping problem for example. while others simply cannot be validated so no answer can be checked.... such as is there or is there not a god? and by what means would you tell?
and ultiamtely since everything we KNOW is within our minds, how do you verify anything at all other than being an item of perceptions? does persistance or consistancy really equate to objective reality? [obviously not]
