A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation- What exactly is it?

On October 5, 2011, In Meditation, Self Inquiry, Zen, By Pedram

Everywhere you look today, some expert is recommending meditation to people for a variety of reasons. Why? Because the world is crazy and we’re all wound up. According to the CDC, 90% of diseases today can be attributed to stress…yeah stress.

Meditation is an age-old, tried-and-true method which relieves stress…calming the body and the mind.

The questions are:

1- Why should I care?

2- Ok then so…how does it do this?

3- Why so many techniques?

4- How should I get into it?

5- How many minutes a day?

6- When will I see results?

7- Why am I having a hard time at this?

8- Hmmmm….interesting…I actually do feel better…now what?

Well, let’s start from the top…

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Tagged with: breath control techniques • Buddhist meditation • guided visualization • mantras • Meditation • meditation techniques • Mindfulness meditation • Taoist meditation • time compression syndrome • yantras • zen

Taoist Yoga, Taoist Alchemy, and Qigong Philosophy

On October 3, 2011, In Alchemy, Qi Gong, Taoist Philosophy, By Pedram

In Taoism, there are various traditions and schools of thought that have come along through history. Taoist schools are rare and hard to find because there are so few of them out there and most of the secrets of Taoist Alchemy are guarded and kept secret. Why? Because in the old days, knowledge of these arts led to incredible power so warlords and Emperors would make sure these secrets didn’t get into their enemy’s hands. In the West, the Knight’s Templars came back from Jerusalem with a mighty secret (Alchemy) and rose to power almost overnight. No wonder why the Church and ruling establishment went after them and killed them? Those in power like to keep it that way

The study of Taoist Alchemy is a tricky one. One must understand basic precepts of Taoism, Taoist tantric sex, Taoist yoga, and Qigong philosophy to have a foot in the door. Modern Taoist schools seldom teach all of this because most are either focused on scripture or on Qigong (Qi Gong) energy work alone. Qigong philosophy is important as is the practice but it is not everything. To understand Taoist Alchemy, we need to understand the underlying philosophy. We need to understand Who we really are in relation to this Universe and how things work here.

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Tagged with: Knight's Templars • Qi Gong • taoism • Taoist Alchemy • Taoist philosophy classes • Taoist schools • Taoist tantric sex • Taoist way to attain the light body • Taoist yoga

Kung Fu, Chakras, and Acupuncture – How they’re all Connected

On September 28, 2011, In Health and Wellness, Kung Fu, Taoist Philosophy, By Pedram

The ancient esoteric arts of Kung Fu, Yoga, and Acupuncture are all interconnected because they all come from ancient systems that have an energetic understanding of the body. In Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and several other ancient traditions, the energy meridians (Chinese) or nadi (Indian) in the body carry the life force to every organ. These energy pathways carry the flow of life-giving energy to every cell of the body.

Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese art of using fine needles to correct and manipulate the flow of this energy when it has gone out of balance. Restoring the proper flow of qi energy often quickly corrects ailments and allows the body to heal itself naturally. Acupuncture has been effectively used for thousands of years to correct all sorts of ailments in millions of people worldwide.

The Chakras are the energy storage sites (in the tradition of Hinduism) along the central channel. These spinning wheels of light show the quality and flow of the vital energy running through our systems and and can be used to both diagnose illness and to treat it. There are seven main chakras in the Indian system which correlate to three “dantiens” in the Chinese system. These “pools” of energy flow also act as reservoirs for our Vitality.

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Tagged with: acupuncture • chakras • dantiens • Hinduism • meridians • nadi • Qi • taoism • yoga

The Secret of Alchemy Revealed?

On August 25, 2011, In Alchemy, Qi Gong, Western Alchemy, By Pedram

Recently, an unknown author has released a book which purports that he has released the secret of Alchemy to the world. I received a call from a good friend of mine who was very excited about it and had run out and bought all of the beakers, burners, stoppers, and what have you in order to go through the 18 month – 5 year process of carefully cooking the Philosopher’s Stone. The benefits of such practice: perfect health, the reversal of the aging process, incredible clarity that comes from being unbound by Time, and the ability to create Gold out of base metals.

Here is a link to the book: http://bookofaquarius.forgottenbooks.org/

I recommend reading only the author’s bits first and skipping all of the long quotes until a second pass (if you should decide to take it seriously). The book illustrates very good points and gets into heavy concepts which are important for the adept to learn.

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Tagged with: "inner school" • alchemy • bookofaquarius • Dantien • Qi • Taoist Alchemy • Templars

If this doesn’t get you up off your ass…

On August 23, 2011, In Health and Wellness, Nature, Popular Issues, By Pedram

Here’s a compilation of studies put together that show just how horrible excessive sitting is for our health. From bio mechanical problems that lead to low back pain to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity…you can be sure that sitting around is going to catch up with you. Paleolithic Humans evolved in an active and very dynamic environment where we moved around for hours a day. Frankly, modern living is killing us and here’s some ammo for that argument:

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Tagged with: barefoot running • diabetes • heart disease • Kung Fu • Meditation • obesity • Paleo diet • Paleolithic Humans • Qi Gong • Tai Chi

The Paleo Qi Gong Connection

On August 22, 2011, In Africa, Health and Wellness, Nature, By Pedram

Taoism is based on unity with the natural energy that is all around us. The early Taoists studied the movement of the seasons and stars while watching animals and their behaviors in order to unlock the secrets of the Universe. The aim- to connect with the innate wisdom of nature and be one with that flow.

As a modern-day Taoist, I find these to be very exciting times. Barefoot running is awesome. The Paleo diet makes the most sense. There are several people teaching primitive skills and survival all over the world. I’ve spoken with and interviewed a number of the specialists in these fields for my second movie “Origins” and am in the throws of this “ancient wisdom fiesta”. We are really at a wonderful place in out understanding of ourselves and, funny enough, it really only had to do with looking back and studying where we came from.

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Tagged with: barefoot running • life force • Paleo diet • primitive skills • probiotics • Survival • symbiotic organisms • taoism • Taoists

Radio Interview with Dr Dale Archer

On August 17, 2011, In Anxiety and Depression, Health and Wellness, Popular Issues, By Pedram

Dr. Dale Archer is a charismatic psychiatrist who’s got a lot to say about education and the idea of what is considered “normal” in America today. We discussed anxiety, depression, education, and ADHD among many other things. He’s a delightful man and is really great to listen to. Here’s the archived show:

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Tagged with: ADHD • anxiety • Depression

Understanding How to Move Energy- Removing Obstacles in Your Life

On August 16, 2011, In Alchemy, Meditation, Qi Gong, By Pedram

The key to understanding personal transformation is knowing that there is no “out there” vs. “in here”. As the famous Hermetic Axiom in Alchemy goes…”As Above, So Below”.

In the practice of Qi Gong (or energy work), we cultivate the flow of the energies within our body and become aware of the blockages in this flow. Life moves. Nature moves. Energy flows. It is the impedance or blockage of this energy that creates suffering, disease, and blockages in our “outer” lives. This is the tough part- the paradoxical notion that any of the “problems” we are facing in our lives are reflections of inner stagnation or blockages within our bodies or our consciousness. It is hard to grasp and even harder to accept until one TESTS it.

Let’s be scientific here. We can use our bodies and lives as our WORKSHOP and test various esoteric theories to see if they bear validity. I learned this from my Zen Master who always insists that the practice of observing one’s mind is very scientific. It took me a while to grasp his meaning because the “New Age” stance on so many of these topics is so belief-oriented…just throwing one’s self at a new set of dogma and usually a new “personality” one has inherited…

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Tagged with: alchemy • Consciousness • Meditation • New Age • Qi • Qi Gong • Shen • Zen Master

Well.Org Radio Interview with Hyla Cass, MD

On July 27, 2011, In Anxiety and Depression, Health and Wellness, Vitality, By Pedram

I had a great opportunity to speak with Dr. Hyla Cass today on Well.Org radio. We spoke about wellness, the importance of lifestyle, herbs, supplements, gut health, gluten allergies, probiotics, and much more. Enjoy!

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Tagged with: gluten allergies • gut health • herbs • Lifestyle • probiotics • supplements • wellness

Pulling our Own Weight – A Matter of Personal Responsibility

On July 20, 2011, In Health and Wellness, Popular Issues, Self Inquiry, By Pedram

A couple nights ago I got off a plane from a two week trip to Europe. My wife and I had spent hours and hours walking around Paris and Amsterdam among people from all ages and walks of life. Young and old- people walked around and were moving their bodies.

Waiting for our luggage at the belt, there was a middle aged woman who came up to us and started to complain that the airport didn’t have golf cart service to bring her through the enormous terminal (maybe half a mile). She was pissed! How dare they make me walk that much!

This was the same woman we saw chain smoking in one of those “designated areas” in the previous airport. She was overweight, cranky, and, at this point, trying to enroll me in her fury. I smiled and consoled her but walked away thinking about the stark difference I’d seen in her European counterparts.

Why is it that we EXPECT people, the State, our companies, or the airports to take care of us when we have chosen to not take care of ourselves? Nobody forced those cigarettes on her. Nobody force-fed her the bad food. Yet, it is now the airport’s fault that she is tired because she is forced to do the one thing that we evolved to do best on this planet- move around. This is de-evolution in my opinion.

The socio-economic implications are also important. Her demanding a cart means the airport has to pay for it- the cart, the power, the staff, the insurance…all of it. Well, guess where the airport gets that money? US. Yeah- like any business, they either raise the airport fees or draw more tax dollars…however the heck they do it, WE are the ones having to pay that bill.

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Tagged with: de-evolution • vitality