<DIV>Dear All, </DIV>
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<DIV>Good to hear from you Isaac and Cliff. I was thinking only the other night that it would be good to be in touch again.... Though as Isaac said too, I often feel I am back on the mountain whem I do my practice, and if I want to, can feel the presence of all of you around.</DIV>
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<DIV>I think the way you described 'collecting the Jing' , Isaac. is more or less the same as I recall it. Maybe one slight variation I have is that I tend to breath inwards and upwards through the Hui Yin (which compresses/contracts the abdomen)at the same time as tightening the buttock/perineum muscles and clenching the fists. I think I also slightly clench the teeth - but I suspect these might be my own variations that have just evolved, since I can't see that written in my notes, but I find for me, it seems to focus the energy in the lower dan tien.<BR></DIV>
<DIV>After three months of practice, I feel this is the most energetically 'tangible' practice I have. Not only do i feel strong registrations from the practice itself, but am sure it is changing the energetics in my tai chi - as if the meditation and the form interplay with each other. Yet I do not have a sense that my jing is strong. Possibly a factor of my age. But 'something is happening' despite that. I wonder about the experiences of others? It might be interesting to share experiences, But there again, possibly the experience is all, and does not need to be talked about. </DIV>
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<DIV>I send all of you loving wishes for this Winter Solstice which marks the emergence of the Yang......</DIV>
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<DIV>Muriel<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">----- Original Message -----<BR>From: "Isaac Freeman" <ISAAC.FREEMAN@GMAIL.COM><BR>To: "QiGong Dragon Sect" <WAG@EUGENEWEB.COM><BR>Subject: [WAG] Hello All!<BR>Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:42:09 -0800<BR><BR>
<DIV>Hello all!</DIV>
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<DIV>I hope you enjoy your holidays as you receive them!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Time has been moving quickly and yet I remember each of your faces as it was only yesterday up on the WuDang.</DIV>
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<DIV>The emptiness of the void does wonders for missing you all though and I generally only feel I have been disconnected with my original study group, when I am reducing practise to attempt to work through difficulties. </DIV>
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<DIV>One thing that has come up as a question lately in relation to Daoism, is a question of enlightenment, if Buddha said there were five paths to enlightenment and all of them included contemplation, where does Daoist enlightenment fit into that? Is it possible that there is another form of Enlightenment that even Buddha an all knowing sentient being did not understand? </DIV>
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<DIV>Perhaps the contemplation comes in when you reach a point where you seek to understand the I-Ching and as Teacher Hu described is the process of the path itself. So in effect, just maybe reading the old classics and letting your mind build the wisdom through meditation allows you to understand words that normally do not form cohesive thoughts. Indeed contemplation seems like a necessary part of the Daoist path, albeit a sort of opposite reflection of that nature, meditate to become quiet, place your mind into the void, this seems to bring wisdom, and yet as in the Bhuddist path, seeking wisdom through knowledge is not the way, but contemplating the how's. </DIV>
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<DIV>I see this reflected in every day life, if one loves doing something one should focus on it and think of the hows to be creative, the hows to be sensitive in it, the hows to improve and yet not focus on the attainment of knowledge for these purposes, but more working with what is present to these ends. As all forms some knowledge is required and one should not be afraid to learn, yet always being thinking of the how rather than the what or why. </DIV>
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<DIV>Well my friends I have a request to anyone who can full fill it. I would like to have someone re-affirm the Jing Preservation technique that I'm performing is accurate for what you remember or have notes on.</DIV>
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<DIV>This is how I remember it, stand feet shoulder width a part or slightly more and stand with knees slightly bent. Hands hanging to the sides palms facing backwards. Bring mind focus on the HUI YIN, the point between the genitals and the anus. When the Qi is felt then bring the Qi up to the solar plexus or focus on that path if nothing is felt. When you do this you tighten the muscles around your Hui Yin and breath in, bringing your hands into a slight fist and then holding for a few seconds and then breathing out. Repeat six to nine times? </DIV>
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<DIV>Please review this and let me know how it compares to what you are practising currently, have notes on or remember.</DIV>
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<DIV>**Bows with hands in yin-yang symbol position**</DIV>
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<DIV>Namaste my friends.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>BTW I've come to learn dantiens don't need to function, they just are.</DIV>
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<DIV> </DIV><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>WAG mailing list<BR>WAG@eugeneweb.com<BR>http://eugeneweb.com/mailman/listinfo/com.eugeneweb.wag<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>