This may be a shorter, one off post than some of the others. . .

Taoists (as well as people from many and most other practices) generally consider the human body to be a micro-cosm of the universe.  A universe within a universe. 

You may have heard an expression like “As above, so below” but haven’t given it much thought.

Take a minute to cue up your minds eye and visualize the rotation or orbit of the plantes in our solar system around our sun.  Now think of the orbits of protons and electrons around a neutron.  As above, so below.

What I am about to suggest to you requires more of a leap of capacity than faith, but it’s a leap that most normal people aren’t ready to make.

let’s start out with a simple illustration:

12345

What’s so special about this number?  Nothing, really.

But we’ll use it as an example. 

So we could read this as 1-2-3-4-5 or we can read it as twelve thousand, three hundred and forty five.

In this example, 1 is part of twelve thousand three hundred and forty five.  2 is part of it also.  So is 3 and 4 and 5.

However, the opposite is not true.  Twelve thousand, three hundred and forty five is not part of 1.  or 2.  or 3. 

Are you with me?

So . . . Quarks, Neutrinos, Protons, Neutrons, electrons, molecules, planets and galaxies are all part of our universe.  That’s not to say that our universe is part of any of those particular items, though, right?

Smaller systems are incorporated and are a part of larger systems that are similarly structured and follow similar laws

A man or a woman is part of a society.  A society is part of a species.  Etc.

So lets assume that the traditional Taoist view of the human body is correct, and that it is in fact, a micro-cosmic model of the universe.

Albert Einstein said that the most important decision you  make in life is whether or not you believe that the universe is a “friendly” place.

Of course, it’s friendly and unfriendly, just like the rest of nature.

But it leads to an interesting question . . .

“Are YOU a friendly universe?”

Again, if we assume that the historical Taoist cosmology is basically correct and that you are indeed a microcosm of the universe, than it makes sense that YOUR universe is teeming with life - or at least has life or capacity for life in much the same way as the larger system that you yourself inhabit.

Do you shake your head in agreement with Al Gore documentaries and chain smoke cigarettes while watching?

Do you purposely go out and through violence, over exertion, or whatever - destroy large amounts of your body or tissue before it’s natural time to die off and be replaced?

Do you live a life of physical, emotional, and psychological excess, or do you try to achieve a more homeo-static grounding?

This is a wake up call to people who know better but aren’t doing better

Preserve your body to follow its natural course.  Control your emotions to avoid the pollution of harsh neuro-chemicals into unknown worlds.  Take it easy, and when you “do unto others” remember that others might not just be the ones you see at your own level.  You are part of something bigger than yourself, and ultimately a bigger context for things that are smaller than yourself. 

Not really . . .  To bad, so sad.

Later on tonight, I will be filming two new videos for the site.

They are:

1. Understanding the Zhuang Zi
2. An Introduction To Contemporary Taoism

But, I have this gut feeling about what people really want to see.

I guess, that alot of people are probably looking to see alot of video on internal martial arts, and training at Wudang.

And it’s coming, Don’t worry. . . There will be ample opportunity to see me (happily) made a fool of. 

I also am worried that some people might not understand why I’m posting the things I’m posting in the members area right now . . .

Why I’m posting so many videos and audio about traditional Taoist writing and theory:

There are multiple reasons for this, and it’s not really an accident, or because of a lack of other material that I could present instead.

The first, is that I personally am interested in study of this material.  So, while I’m doing that, I figure I might as well go ahead and make some shareable content out of my own study.  MP3’s you can listen to while walking or driving.  Videos you can watch that will provide (at least a minimal) audio visual input to help you internalize the material better.  PDF’s to read when you’re bored.

The second reason is because I enjoy doing it.

The third reason is because I think that before we begin higher level discussions or start putting higher level material out there, it’s important to create a solid ideological foundation.

Which brings us to the fourth and main reason . . .

I believe that it’s not a good idea to talk about high level concepts or processes without making every possible effort to talk about morality, first.

There are people who do this.

More specifically, lots of people mass market material on Taoist sexual practices.

My personal feeling about this issue is that I find it to be quite irresponsible.

There are several reasons why:

• It easily encourages an attachment to lust
• I believe that high level practices without a solid moral foundation can contribute to delusions and psychological disorders (Mainly wierd Messianic delusions and/or paranoia)
•  When or If people experience any results,  or phenominalogical effects from these processes, they can easily go down a wrong path

 What I believe in, and what I’m trying to follow and share with people is orthodox Taoism.

At this point, there are hundreds of heterodox practices that are derivative of traditional Taosim.

From martial arts, to Chinese medicine, to Qigong, Feng Shui, Astrology and all sorts of other things.

All of them are good, I think.

But, peoples intentions, motivations, secret desires and hang ups aren’t always good.

Often, it seems like the reason people become involved in these practices are quite contrary to “the Tao”.

• They seek to artificially influence something.
• They want to control things rather than let them follow their natural course.
• They hope to gain something that is not theirs to begin with.

 Hucksters, Charlatans and Fakes possess attributes which can be recognized

This is not a call out.  I’m not even saying that hucksters, charlatans and fakes don’t serve their purpose or have their place within the eco-system of Taoist cultivations.

Only that they can recognized.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Is this person offering me something for “nothing”?
• Is this person offering me a shortcut to enlightenment, martial ability, sexual power, well being, etc. that doesn’t require a proportionate sacrifice of worldly interests?
• Does this person have my best interest at heart, or are they out for material gain?  Is the true value they’re providing me consistent with what they’re asking from me, materially?
• Is this persons life, life style, and behavior consistent with what they’re teaching me?
• What is my OWN motivation, and reason for doing this?  What am I really trying to pursue?  (I don’t mean the features, but the results.  Not Qigong, or Kung Fu, Or Feng Shui, but things like fame, money, power over others, helping others, health, understanding the nature of “things”, living in accord with the Tao, blowing your load 99 times in half a minute, etc.)

I am an Indiana redneck - covered in bad tattoos. 

So in saying all of that, I guess I should caveat it by saying that I’m nobody to listen to.

I am not capable to be anybody’s teacher or anything like that, because I’m just a beginner at trying to be a real person (ZhenRen)  myself, and I’m no where near even being close.

But . . .  my instinct and my spirit tell me that - before we start taking the camcorder into anybodys secret mountain caves, talking about re-directing peoples momentum into concrete walls, or seminal retention - it’s important to at least make available as much information as possible about how to be a good human, rather than just a human who’s efficient at doing this or that.

So bear with me . . . The time is VERY near when I’ll be living on WudangShan full time, and when it comes to providing you with great content related to internal martial arts, qigong, Chinese medicine, etc. - I guarantee . . . I WILL CRUSH IT.

In the meantime, bear with me while I try to get my own self in a better head space.  I encourage you to try and do the same, if that’s what you want to do. 

I recorded six new audio book tracks for myself to listen to while I excercise or walk, or ride the bus or whatevever so I thought you might like to check them out to.

Here is a list of the tracks included:

• Chi Wen Dong - The Red Streaked Cave
• The Pivot Of Jade
• The Hsin Yin Ching - Imprint Of The Heart
• Ching Jing Jing - Purity And Rest
• Tai Hsi Ching - Respiration Of The Embryo
• Universal Understanding<

The tracks are kind of rough, as they’re just for personal
use, and I stumbled more than a few times, but you can download and
listen to them HERE.

I’m going to add the following videos tomorrow:

Wudang/Taoist Diet and nutrition

BenchMark Video (aka the watch how fat, out of shape and sloppy I am video!)

After that I’m going to focus on the Zhang San Feng video, and continuing with the Tao Te Ching video study group vids.

That’s it.

Take care everybody.

Went ahead and added the Wudang Forums . . .

Again, none of this takes the place of the actual membership site - it’s just there to supplement it.

If you want to see the real content you have to register on the front page at wudangquan.com . . .

I went ahead and added a video site for non members.

You can find it here:  Wudang Videos

This is not the members content - It’s just some other stuff from youtube, etc.

If you want the WudangQuan.Com Membership content, you have to sign up.

Here’s a list of what’s on tap to be inside the private members area this weekend.

 Core To Core

This is a video I’m putting together which is basically just me talking to you.  I don’t want to get into alot of details before you see it, but it’s going to be kind of “heavy”.  I don’t mean intense philosophical stuff, really or even some knock down drag out self criticism or analysis - but . . .

I’m not doing WudangQuan.Com like other guys do their sites.  When I say this site is about our PERSONAL journeys, I mean it. . . I could post a lot of cold data and some step by step stuff, but that’s not really what I’m trying to do.

So the core to core video is really going to be about the differences between our superficial selves (I’m Bob - I’m a tech support guy and I have a good insurance plan) vs. our core selves (I’m Bob - I want to help other people, I want to understand myself more, and I want to feel free to express who I really am without fear of ridicule, and I want to live life sucessfully, more than I want to live a sucessful life).

So I’m not going to give you any advice or anything, and I’m not going to give you a bunch of get along gang new age BS, but really - I want to talk TO your core self FROM my core self.   If we can at least do that, then the other things will fall into place pretty easily I think.

Tao Te Ching Study Group Videos 3 and 4

I’m going to go ahead and get these together.  I’ll probably film them at Longquan temple here in Kunming.  Not so much because I want to show it to you (cuz I have other videos of it floating around), but because I just like to hang out and parlay there . . .

So TTCSG videos 3 and 4 will basically be about Parts 2 and 3 of the Tao Te Ching, and if you’ve seen the first videos, you know the translation we’re using, etc.

Taoist Diet And Nutrition Video

I’ll also probably film this one at Longquan.  I’ll presnet a basic outline of Taoist dietary considerations, and some stuff specific to the diet of Wudang Taoist monks, etc.  Probably will film this one at Longquan, and maybe in the kitchen if I feel really inspired.

Catch up on correspondance

You guys have been really cool about leaving me comments on the blog and stuff.  So I’m going to go through and try to reply to every one of those individually.  Let’s not say I’m going to try, let’s say I’m going to do that. 

Also will try to catch up on email and other correspondance.

So . . . That’s it in a nutshell.

J

Here’s a quick video from youtube where I talk about the free (physical products) that I’m going to give away for our members in the next week or so, and how you can claim them:

I sent an email with a link to the “Backdoor” registration for Wudangquan to some people who had pre-registered last night.

The real registration is now open on the main page at http://www.wudangquan.com . . .

If you pre-registered, you should have gotten the message.

Anyway, you’ll need to go ahead and register there to get access to the members area.

I’ll be uploading some videos and stuff to the members area later tonight.

In the last few days, I’ve gotten a bit of negative feedback.

Not a lot, mind you, but from one person in particular.

The basic idea of the criticisms was:

• Wudang Culture should not be widely spread
• I say I don’t have alot of money, so how am I going to do it?
• Allowing people to see video from inside of Wudang de-mystifies and “cheapens” it
• And some criticism of me trying to pull off something like the TV show “Big Brother”

So let me try to address each of these as well as I can.

 #1.  Wudang culture should not be widely spread

This is pretty subjective, I guess.  If that’s what somebody really believes, than I guess that I won’t be able to change their mind easily.

Having lived in Asia for most of my adult life, I’ve taken more than a passing look at the major religious, and spiritual threads running through the history of this continent.  Buddhism, of course offers universal salvation to all.  The Tao (as far as my undestanding goes) is more oriented towards personal cultivation.

That being said - Wudang culture and Taoism, particularly are already quite spread out amongst the mainstream - We even have hip hop groups like Wu Tang Clan on MTV!

My goal is not to take away any of the mystery of Wudang, but to share the living tradition, founded by Zhang San Feng with others who would be interested - not the entire world.

And I think that there are alot of people like me out there.   Maybe they have a martial arts background, and maybe they are spiritual people - but they’ve let themselves get trapped in the quicksand of every day human society.

#2.  I say I don’t have alot of money, so how am I going to do it?

Well . . . I have a video camera.  :)  I will have computer access, and my housing and food are arranged.

Will I be able to afford expensive Kung Fu suits, weapons, and late nights at the KTV with beautiful women?  Probably not.

But my goal is not to live what I’ve talked about before as a successful life, but rather - to live life successfully.

For me, that means helping myself realize my own physical and spiritual potential, and helping, or at least encouraging other people to do the same.

#3.  Allowing people to see inside Wudang culture de-mystifies and “cheapens” it.

This is really the same argument as #1, but just phrased differently.

I have tremendous respect and admiration for the monks, both in history and today at Wudang.

The truth is though, that we live in a society where people are led along by their base instincts to do what others want, to their own detriment.

If showing a viable alternative to that cheapens that alternative - than I will accept that guilt.

 #4.  Trying to do something like the TV show big brother

If the person means showing a lot of petty inter-personal drama, and trying to tittilate peoples worst instincts, they couldn’t be more wrong.

If they mean that I want to give normal people who can’t get away from their jobs, families, school, etc. and live at Wudang the opportunity to see the possibilities of REAL life change, and the profundity of Taoist thought and practice, again - guilty.

. . . And so.  I will go to Wudang regardless of what anyone tells me, because I know what I need to do for myself.

That being said, Even though 99.999% of my feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, I want to know what you think.

Should I close this project down, and just use WudangQuan.Com, WudangMountain.Com, etc. to sell other peoples expensive DVD’s and make a quick buck for myself?

Or are people really interested in this?

Click below to leave a comment, and I really need your feedback!