posted May 21, 2006 08:00 PM         

along the way, the alchemist gets healthier and more vital, a result of collecting chi and circulating it into the major organs of the body. this is gratifyingly, one of the key benchmarks to progress in this way of alchemy. and even if he or she does not attain the immortal body, the work of alchemy has been well worth the effort.

eventually, through persistent practice, the subtle chi body is charged with vital force as well. it becomes as real to the taoist alchemist as his or her physical body, and through it, he or she can, in meditation, enter the Heavenly Abodes where master alchemists abound and one can greatly accelerate one's progress through the grace of instruction.

posted May 21, 2006 09:32 PM         

...Nay, rather, you must see your enemies as friends, ill-wishers as well-wishers and treat them accordingly. That is to say, your love and kindness must be real."

(Abdu'l-Baha, quoted in "Star of the West", Vol IV, No.11, p. 191)
http://info.bahai.org/bahaullah-manifestation-of-god.html

(not quite the taoist alchemist, but it all fits together, in a way...)

In the end, nothing we do or say in this lifetime will matter as much as the way we have loved one another
-- Daphne Rose Kingma

posted May 22, 2006 01:22 AM         

the celestial gate meditation

the celestial gate meditation practice is based on dragon points. dragon points as i mentioned earlier, are places of convergence where one form of chi meets another.

there are several dragon points within the human body. the celestial gate is just one of these, and happens to be a place where heavenly chi (a very subtle form of chi) flows into the body and meets the terrestrial (or earth) chi of the body itself. thus this place is an energetically charged area, and taoist sages discovered a long time ago how to take advantage of it.

sit comfortably and close your eyes. you can lie down if you wish, but this makes some people go to sleep. for a moment, just notice your breath. don’t change it in any way; just watch it. notice the rhythym and depth of your breath. then after a moment become aware of the space of about an inch behind the bridge of the nose. imagine that there is an opening about one inch square in this area. this is the celestial gate. all you do is focus on it.

do not concentrate on it. just be aware of it. if you are having thoughts or fantasies, this is not a problem. let them continue on their merry way. just let some part of your attention be on the opening. you can think all you want about anything you want and the practice will still work, so long as some part of your attention is on the celestial gate (the opening).

as you continue to focus at the gate, you will notice that thoughts seem to slow down. there will seem to be more spaces between the thoughts or fantasies. and eventually they will stop altogether, if only temporarily. it is during these moments that you might find that your breath has stopped or has become very shallow. this is natural and is, in fact, a sign that you are entering a state of stillness. it is in these deepest states of quiescence, where there is no-breath and no-thought that contact with the tao takes place.

doing it for about five minutes will usually give you a clear sense of how this practice alters awareness. eventually you can extend the period of time for deeper experiences.

don’t let the simplicity of this meditation fool you. it is a profound stillness practice that will lead you directly to the tao itself. gently extend the periods of stillness so that you become acquainted with and comfortable with these deep places of quiet. as you explore your inner worlds, you might eventually encounter celestial beings who may grace you and guide you with their instruction.

in taoism, the deepest secrets are revealed only by the tao itself. you cannot find these truths written in books, for it is forbidden to write about them. thus, meditations like the celestial gate are like cosmic keys. like keys, however, you must turn them to open the lock. if you wish to experience the mysteries of the tao for yourself and not just read about them, you must turn the key.

posted May 22, 2006 12:25 PM         

The Energy Within: Qi Kung, Energetics, and the Science Behind Eastern Healing Techniques
by Richard M. Chin

great book, easy reading, easy to follow, excellent applications.

Book Description
Here is a clear concise guide to Energetics, the science of the body's energy, or life force, whose ancient principles hold the key to every form of Eastern healing. The author explains the three tiers of human energy - physical, mental, and spiritual - and describes how to balance them for health and wellness.

($1.97 at amazon.com marketplace)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569248818/ref=ed_oe_p/002-1822882-9295243?%5Fenc oding=UTF8

http://www.allbookstores.com/book/1569246726/Richard_M_Chin/Energy_Within.html

and

Start Where You Are : A Guide to Compassionate Living
by Pema Chodron

the path to healing your heart is the path to all other healing.

posted May 22, 2006 12:31 PM         

quote:

---

jesus knew alot about it and there are alot of masters who still do...

---

indeed.

posted May 23, 2006 12:54 AM         

Thanks for the ideas. At $1.95 I think I can afford that. I went to Froogle.com, & entered books & "Linda Goodman". I found some of the most increadible deals. I found books that are really hard to get, and some I didn't know she wrote. I thought the ones on the homepage were her only books, but I was wrong. Linda was quite prolific.

Talk to you soon.

posted May 24, 2006 07:17 PM         

I just ordered those 2 books; plus Love Poems & Venus Trines at Midnight. I realized that I do so much research that I have very li'l Literature or Poetry in my soul.