November 6, 2006
Off once more
I've promised myself (and others) that this winter's excursion to asia will be documented daily in this blog.
Daily? Very unlikely, but one should at least aim high. And, armed with a high resolution video camera, (Sony HDR HC3) it will be illustrated as well.
Flight to Bangkok via Bejing is Wednesday, Nov. 9. Until then, it's Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto, visiting old friends and generally winding down slightly from 6 weeks of unending preparation.
And, thanks beaterboys and dozergirls for the great sendoff last Thursday.
Posted by james at 11:19 AM
June 8, 2005
The What and Why of Chi
It may surprise even some seasoned Taoist practitioners why chi or qi, as only one of three phases of the life force has such a predominant position in Taoist literature and practice.
As one of the triad of Jing, Chi and Shen, none of which has more or less importance as part of an essentially seamless whole, chi nevertheless predominates as a focus and end of practice.
So, Why?
Man sits between Heaven and Earth
Heaven is above and Earth is below.
Like this
|
MAN
|
EARTH
Chi is likewise between Jing and Shen
|
CHI
|
JING
Chi is to the life force as humans are to all of manifestation (Post Heaven)
So, immediately we can see that this focus on Chi results from humanity's place in manifestation.
Of course with deepening practice there can be no end to the subtlety of chi and no real division of subtle energy that is final and definitive.
Your Shen is Jing to the Chi of some part of yourself. Your job is to bring it all into consciousness, including the indivisibility of it.
Posted by james at 1:58 PM
December 22, 2004
A new approach to practice
Taoist's are always talking about practice. Is this different from a Christian talking about prayer. The Taoist approach focuses on technique, development and mastery. None of this would appear to make sense if applied to prayer. Enlightened Taoists apply intention and concern themselves with sincerity. This seems closer but is still far from supplication. Taoists name many Gods or none. No single overreaching entity exists. The Tao neither exists nor does not exist. There is clearly nothing to which prayer can be offered.
To what can Taoist practice be appropriately offered. The ego looms large and is impossible to contain. Inappropriate intention erodes and eventually destroys any benefit from practice. How can this be avoided while maintaining spontenaity. Difficult questions but not without answers. But what answers are actually helpful?
10% practice, 90% right action.
So how does one recognize right action.
Find it in practice. Apply it in life.
Without that connection, what meaning can practice have.
Posted by james at 9:10 AM