Busted! I can't sit long enough to watch a video this long without pausing for a drink, a bathroom break, walking around, whatever. I have much to learn and I'm happy to get started. Thanks!
I greatly appreciated this Q&A and gained much from it. As a pharmacist, I would like to make a correction to your comment regarding caffeine. While caffeine is metabolized by the liver, its stimulant effects do not suggest a inefficiency or pathology in that organ. The stimulant effects of caffeine and its metabolites are well documented and are a direct effect of methylxanthines. Its lipophyllic nature allows it to cross the blood brain barrier and produce its stimulant effects centrally. Many variables can effect the degree of stimulation individuals experience, but this will occur in all healthy people to some degree, independent of existing pathology in the liver. I hope this will help in clarifying that point. Best regards.
Its easy to say just be normal, but there are plenty of people whose normal isn't the same as yours. They may need to practice some kind of meditation or something to get themselves on a better track. But you can't just act normal if you have deep motivation to do abnormal acts. Honesty is a great start. Express your desires and fears etc so at least you do not get lost in a complex world where you don't even know yourself.
Train yourself, your mind, with the meditation techniques you have received, and don't twist the techniques to protect your delusion. ~ Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche
Thanks for the sincere session! It's pretty legitimately refreshing to get some street side pointers and observations 👍too much of the OG kung-fu type mentality
Will Power, Antidote, Suppression & Observation were the 4 Techniques Given. sometimes it is helpful to express feelings, not from fear but from authenticity can provide a release.where suppressing might harm the immune system, unless transformed
I love your talks, your Q&A sessions and the demonstrations and explanations. You answer questions straightforward and elucidate the concepts and cut to the point. No BS. Simple answers given where required, yet always sharing your deep understanding of practice and the higher aspects of it. I discovered you because of the pandemic. I was searching for information and demonstrations on Tai Chi on RU-vid to restart my practice back in March and came across one of your demonstration videos. Since then I have viewed many of them. I agree, it was a blessing in disguise to have so much time and little contact in order to take advantage and work on the self and the internal. Serendipity brought me to your door. In this Q&A you answered many questions I have asked myself over the last few months while rediscovering Tai Chi and newly discovering it as a "path." You are an excellent teacher. Thank you so much.
I really appreciate the advice and instruction given here, there is a wealth of knowledge that I hope to be able to remember and follow. However I have issue with the section on food. First, the implication here is that meat is nutritious and fruit and vegetables are not? I know people that thrive on fruit alone, others that eat meat and more that are vegan or vegetarian and do just fine. I think perhaps the main thing people get from these diets is cutting out sugar, processed food and refined carbs. Fruit and vegetables are highly nutritious food. There are many vegan athletes these days winning competitions, and many report faster recovery times. From this question I can only take the advice that nutritious food is important and disregard the personal opinions given on what constitutes nutritious food. Also it was stated the only reason anyone would cut out meat is if their teacher told them to. Any other reason does not hold up? Well perhaps someone does not wish for the suffering of animals, which these days is horrific in the meat and dairy industry. This is surely also something that buddhism and spiritual paths recommend. This is the definition of veganism, which is based only on the wish to stop animal suffering.
That funny because I feel every day and every lecture every SoundCloud recording already is our available meditation course assignment and gift. Just hoping I’m ready in time
I see your attitude in these QA sessions is very different from other interviews and other teaching moments. Are you trying to maintain a certain meditative state when answering these questions? It appears to me you are attempting to allow the truth of the universe to flow through you when answering these questions. Just wondering if I am right about what I think I am seeing.
You definitely don't seem like a New Age Guru. Looks like your way of applying the knowledge is very functional and practical. Which is logical in my humble opinion. It's easy to see how fake Gurus would be Butt-Hurt by your straight-forwardness. You may put them to shame in the fullness of time. Great video.
Fortunately you are a master. If I had such a yapping mutt in my neighborhood, like the one we can hear in the video background, I would have a lot of silly little feelings ;-)
@Discover Taiji: Sifu, first of all, THANK YOU, you've been great to my life and my progress, not only as a martial artist, but also as a human being. Thank you. I have a few questions and I hope they will be answered either here or on some video in the future. We live in a world that is filled with a plethora of charlatans, Taiji is no exception. I was fortunate to have run into a person during a friendly sparring session, who by all measures, should not have been able to dominate me. I was even more fortunate to have the presence of mind to push my ego aside and say "that thing you just did, teach me, please", and that was my introduction to Taiji. Question #1: do you have any advice for people who have not been exposed to the real Taiji on how to identify a charlatan vs a true teacher? I think i can tell relatively quickly, but knowing what i know, I also know there are people who have no idea, thus would fall pray to said people. Question #2: Do you find that "the path" as it were, ultimately leads to exiting martial arts and pursuing a more spiritual path? Or is that something that varies from person to person? As a martial artist, what was the catalyst that lead your personal path away from martial arts? Question #3: Do you share the opinion of keeping Taiji as a "hidden art"? Or are you simply complying with the culture of doing so? Question #4: What could an "outdoor student" achieve vs an "inner door student"? As you can imagine, I have many more questions, but I think this is enough. Thank you, Sir.
I can fully agree that having food sensitivities means you're sick and soemthing isn't functioning. The issue for me seems to be that I can't get any better 😂
I appreciate you not only taking the time out of your day to do this Q&A, but devoting much of your life to teaching people what you have learned over the course of your journey. I find a lot of wisdom in your words, and it is obvious that there is much we can learn from you and your methods. I don't doubt the validity of what you're saying, but even a fool such as myself knows what the melody of kindness sounds like, and the notes of condescension and disdain are not in that key. I can only imagine where your issues with your students and society at large come from, but it is readily apparent in your tone when you mention such topics that not all is well. I don't mean to be overly critical, as everyone hits sour notes from time to time, but it is a pattern I've noticed in many of your videos. Even to a spiritual novice like me, hearing someone sing the praises of a spiritual practice while they're singing out of tune makes one wonder if they've not missed something important along the way. I wish you only the best, and may your song be light.
I disagree with your position that such expressions are inherently bad. I empathise with Adam's tone and do not see any abusive expression in it. Feeling frustration towards that which is frustrating is rational. How one expresses this is another thing entirely. At no point was adam abusive in his expressions, he was honest and respectful. Anger for example is not inherently bad. Nor is love inherently good. Being angry at evil is good. Loving evil is bad for example. Context is everything. The functions for these labels though do need more clarity as they have multiple contextual functions and meanings. Our language really needs evolving instead of devolving and convoluting itself by changing the meaning of words constantly. imagine if you changed your name all the time. You are still the same person. The functions of reality still exist regardless of what we label or relabel them so lets be a bit more consistent I reckon.
@@symbolsarenotreality4595 It may sound strange to hear this from me, but I also disagree with the position that such expressions are inherently bad. I understand that interpretations will vary as to how good/bad/evil/abusive/honest/respectful I may have found Adam's presentation, but rather than address each additional interpretation, I invite you to read my comment again without reading too much past the words I actually used. You are obviously very intelligent, and for me to re-explain what is already there would be a disservice to your intelligence. If it would help to clarify, I'll add one personal opinion: the things we cannot accept in others are the things we cannot accept in ourselves. I personally find many things unacceptable, as we perhaps all do, so I understand the frustrations of being human. I'm just saying that such frustrations point to the work that is still left for us to do within ourselves, and sometimes such work gets overlooked.
Amen to this haha. Getting moral here hahaha. People don’t undrstand the correlation between the way you live and how it affects your mind body and spirit.
Gautama was a meat eater. Anyway, the point is most people are lacking in yin, they need to anchor things. Meat does them well, vegetarianism just makes them more unbalanced. This is a generalization for general audience.
I think it's funny how supposed Taoists always talk about being natural from one side of their mouth, and then from another promote a practice which is by their admission wholly unnatural to come by. Taiji is one of those things. You yourself admit the process is not something one would naturally come by, and is somehow painful...yet you tell people in all other corners of their life to be 'normal'. To be 'immortal' means, (according to some schools) to create a spiritual fetus inside oneself that can eventually live outside the body...this isn't a 'natural' process either. Perhaps someone should tell you, to 'be normal' hmm? Another thing, you say you walked away from fighting because you starting accumulating negative feelings about loved ones that you were practicing with. Yet, you're supposed to be a Buddhist. You're saying then, that you could not emotionally detach yourself from your practice to the point where you didn't want to harm your partner? Also, in competition, those feelings usually only arise when someone loses...a lot. Why else would you have negative feelings for someone in competition, if you didn't feel bullied by them? So, you're saying that you not only could not detach yourself from your emotions, but it was because you couldn't win against your rival. So, you just quit. Huh? Great example (?)
@@DiscoverTaiji It appears to compliment your talent for non answers, and disingenuous compliments. You might as well not have responded at all, since you haven't addressed anything I've said, and instead decided to try to insult and talk down to me. Nice.
@@DiscoverTaiji If I misunderstood something, then clarify. If you don't think I would understand your clarification, there's no reason to respond at all. Taunting is useless and low for someone of your apparent spiritual achievements yes? Or is that still the problem of detaching?
@@DiscoverTaiji I only made two points 1. What you do does not 'naturally' or 'normally' come to anyone which is the entire reason they seek you out. So telling people to be normal in any other aspect of life is inconsistent. 'Taoist Alchemy' ect... is not 'normal' ok? 2. I don't need to restate my second point, but the fact that you responded at all, and how you did, basically tells me all I need to know about that, so thanks. Misunderstanding? Hmm...not sure, but how could I be?
Great Q&A....very informative. I would have to defend vegans , ( not one myself) but there are many elite athletes who are :Top 10 Most Successful Vegan Athletes Tony Gonzalez - NFL Player. One of the most famous NFL vegan players ever is Tony Gonzalez. ... David Haye - Boxer. David Haye is a British boxer with world titles in two weight categories. ... Nate Diaz - UFC Fighter. ... Kendrick Farris - Weightlifter. ... Patrick Baboumian - Body Builder. ... Lewis Hamilton - Formula 1 Driver
There are many types of yogi and Yogi; Indian Yogi, Himalaya Yogi, Buddhist Yogi, householder yogi, Tibetan yogi's etc. It doesn't mean all yogi's have to be and fit in certain criteria. Also, Yogi's can choose to be in high and low energies, it depends on the situation. Being in samadhi, but living in modern urban society will be of not much good for the yogi. So the yogi will act and be more 'normal'. Stay positive! Thanks.
Thank you for making this. I found your insights to be simple but extremely profound. And I somehow don’t feel so bad for liking wine. lol. In all seriousness, I found myself when watching this feel an immense gratitude for your taking the time to openly share your knowledge.
@ 5:02 Understanding the energies at play is like having a compass in a dense forest. Just as the compass helps navigate through the trees and avoid getting lost, understanding energies helps individuals navigate through manipulative tactics and make decisions based on knowledge and awareness.
Thank you 🙏🎚🕊.Just curious,does being “aware” of the properties of water or physics of vertical and horizontal in relation to “spiritual “or “physical” awareness of the “magnet “ important?🤔. Agreed on “mental “ will an most of vid.
53:27 Parents who are honest with you (and themselves) will tell you that kids are 80% sh*t... so you better REALLY want them! * Good answer, especially the first response.
I have had the joy/pain of spending a great deal of time with my child. Being with a child, as a parent, can be a wonderful thing. Yes, children are their own people. And if they are a kind of person that you do not resonate with, it will be difficult. But, for all of the people I have heard complain about children, its the parents that seem to me to be 80% sh!t. Only speaking to them to scold them for doing something wrong. Passing them off to family members so they can pretend they are living in their child-less pasts. "Thats nice dear", and other passive phrases that simulate ignoring them. No wonder children grow up angry & disconnected; thats all they've heard.
@@pranakhan Thanks for your reply. It adds another perspective to my original comment, while leading to the same conclusion: Don't have kids unless you really want them!
Interesting info about sex, really shows that Adam is on a much higher level and not just a copy and paste teacher. Refreshing insights, permission to ejaculate granted! Also the section on pain is the best advice and so true. Don't run away from your pain, don't run away from your body. Great stuff Adam, thank you.😉❤️
I like what ya said about food in this one, vibration, energy- the body can handle it when the person is happy/content, while some foods do have higher vibration because they contain more water, or energy.
Hey Adam, Do you ever come to the U.S.A.? I live in Crestone, Colorado. Maybe you have heard of it? There are a lot of different buddhist temples here. Thanks for all the videos. I unfortunately haven't been able to get up to see my sifu in sometime. Its nice to have some of these to learn from meanwhile.
Excellent commentary/dialectics on suppression/expression, starving/feeding etc. Suppressing is not growing something inside of you, its starving and shrinking something inside of you. By definition suppression is not growth. Excellent dialectics. Basic but so much literature and media exists to support the misrepresentation of these functions it's of course little wonder these fallacies are common. .
Especially liked the comment on the screws and steel in the body. Thanks for the TJ practice I have kept working out in spite of having arthroplasty in both hips. Create momentum is the word. Thanks
Not moving for a very long period of time is not natural for any organism, let alone human beings. It is not a healthy recommendation. A blood clog can form in some people without circulation. There has to be a better way to meditate. Some people may have joints problems and can't sit in Lotus position. Respect traditional way, but not be bound by it. We need to be more creative than that.
I enjoy listening to you. I am 62yrs of age I desire to better understand my body. Is it to late for me to learn and what advice you have for me? (Female)
Question: What do you see as the relation between effort and grace? The role the will plays seems to have a glass ceiling due its dependence on the ego, and yet the goal extends beyond the ego, and so the power of the transcendental Other, the Wisdom-Compassion at the heart of reality, seems a necessary aspect to spiritual growth and surrender. I'm wondering how you see this in relation to both your taiji and your meditation instruction. Thank you!
Some very interesting and helpful insights here. Good practical advice mixed in with some of the more philosophical responses. Life is short, best just get on with it and do the best you can. You never know what is coming around the corner. Don't waste your time, it's not limitless. There are as many paths as there are people, but here Adam is managing to really nail it on the head in a way that should help anyone, no matter what background they are coming from. He is also just a guy on his own path too, so he's clearly sharing knowledge from his own experience and not just things he's read about or heard others say. It's giving me a kick up the ass listening to this, as some of the comments apply to me too.
Just posted this on a really old video and wanted to repost in hopes of getting a thoughtful reply. Thanks: I admire this man’s dedication and commitment to his practice. His ability to clearly articulate its tenets is nothing short of excellent. I continue to be, however, very confused by the promotion of Taiji as an effective modality for self-defense. This comes from a person who has practiced taiji for 10 years and martial arts for 20. I grew up wrestling and did so for 10 years. I wasn’t the best but I was a hard worker and eventually grew to beat state champions, but never became one myself. This doesn’t much matter, it’s more a way to illustrate my commitment to the sport. I know that to this day, because of my background in wrestling, I never feel an inability to defend myself against 99% of men, this includes Taiji practitioners. It’s just a matter of hard work and training that is highly effective. We trained many long hours, full of blood and sweat, many hours of which 100% live, each man giving everything they had. After a couple years of diligent hard work in amateur wrestling, one has a solid preparation for defending oneself. The same goes for Brazilian jiu-jitsu. After a couple years of hard and committed practice, one is able to defend against a vast majority of attackers. In all my years of Taiji practice, I’ve been impressed by the grounded nature of many men and women’s integrated body movements, though never have I been impressed by their ability to defend an attack. It’s a unicorn that I’ve been looking for for a long time and I’ve all but given up. Taiji seems to be about the economy of time, energy, and ability. In this sense, why would one practice for 10 -20 years before getting effective and skilled enough in taiji for self defense when one could spend a tiny fraction of that time in wrestling or jiu-jitsu and have an incredibly effective method for defense. One might argue that taiji is also about spiritual attainment, and I would agree, however, don’t we have a mediation practice for that? Why not, just sit in meditation? Like I said, I admire this man for his practice and art, but I highly doubt his effectiveness against any NCAA D1 all-American over the last 10 years, and that’s hundred of wrestlers. Those quick chops will do nothing against a skilled double-leg takedown and choke. If you know, you just know. I love woo woo stuff, but let’s try to be real and efficient with our use of time and energy. I want to believe, but I’m just not there, not even close. Am I too cynical? Maybe I just don’t get it...
Ben mon gars on pourrait rétorquer, passer 20 ans de sa vie à faire un travail acharné juste pour au cas où quelqu'un veuille vous frappez, achetez un pistolet ça prend 5 minutes et vous aurez même pas besoin de vous en servir, sa simple vue effraie 99 % dès gens. Et là vous allez me dire que c'est loin d'être la raison principale de votre pratique de la lutte, alors peut être en va t'il de même pour le tai chi
Thank you for sharing. Question, I teach tai chi forms here in the mountains of South Africa. How, besides push hands can I begin with partner training in groups. 🙏🏼
What is the difference between going hard versus not listening to the body? It seems that the sensation and feelings of the mind and body often tell us what they need. And failing to meet the needs of the mind and body can lead to a situation where we create imbalance and chaos, which makes it more challenging to be aware. Granted we want to conquer pain, but I’m trying to understand where is the line between going hard and being on a path to injury/tightness/lack of mobility. Is there something to be said for being hard on the mind but gentle on the body? Great Q&A. Insightful as always! Thanks Adam and HME team!
It is so rare that anyone goes hard, most just cower. If someone really does go hard then my advice would be to slow down and listen to the body. Of course most peoples bodies are junkies and lie to them all the time.
Thank you for the wonderful lesson and in-depth explanations. I have been practicing for years without a teacher because of a distant geographical location..how can I check that I am developing the ability at the intermediate level and especially if I do not have anyone to practice with?
I came from a physical understanding of exercise, moving into/studying internal arts. The sung, is relaxing the body? Is this also sinking the chi? I understand you can charge and discharge. But i leave that on the back burner for now. I love this stuff
Best understood through practice, but 'song' is basically release of all contraction in the body and mind, it is not exactly 'relaxation'. Sinking the qi occurs at least partly as a result of song/release, as well as the involvement of your mind (intent). The concepts all mean nothing really without training and understanding in the body. Good luck on your journey!
Adam, you continue to provide profound insights and wisdom. Your ability to communicate your experience and knowledge in combinations with your willingness to share are a major contribution to anyone interested in Taiji. Thank you.
@@DiscoverTaiji What does it feel like to have faith? Is it like putting you're trust in something? Or is it like believing in something until it becomes real? Or something else?
