Showing posts with label Taoism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taoism. Show all posts
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Monday, July 21, 2014
Religious Tolerance (dot) org
"The importance of faith/belief statements:
We feel that every denomination, para-church organization, religious group, and religious web site should consider creating a statement of belief or faith and displaying it prominently. This is particularly important among Christian groups who may use the term "Christian" to refer to only the Roman Catholic Church, or only to Evangelical Protestantism, or to the full range of Christian denominations and beliefs, or to some other subset of the religion. Quite often, when we visit a Christian web site for the first time, we have to search around among its articles to find out exactly what Christian belief system they follow and promote on their web site.
That said, the following is our attempt at a statement of belief. Please be sure to read the footnotes at the bottom of the essay because they include some important qualifications and exceptions.
OCRT Statement of Belief:
We are a multi-faith group. As of late-2012, we consist of one Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Wiccan and Zen Buddhist. Thus, the OCRT staff lack agreement on almost all theological matters, such as belief in a supreme being, the nature of God, interpretation of the Bible and other holy texts, whether life after death exists, what form the afterlife may take, etc.
We believe in:
Personal worth: The inherent worth of every person. People are worthy of respect, support, and caring simply because they are human. Unfortunately, our group has not reached a consensus on when human life, in the form of an ovum and spermatozoon, becomes a human person with civil rights including the right to live. On this matter, our group's lack of agreement on when personhood begins mirrors that of society at large.
Lack of discrimination: Working towards a culture that is relatively free of discrimination on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, physical disability, language, age, body shape, etc.
Dignity: The dignity of the human person. We oppose the use of torture and cruel or unusual punishment including the death penalty.
Democracy: The importance of democratic processes within religious, political, and other structures in which the will of the people is implemented, subject to the limits imposed by the constitution.
Religion-state matters: The separation of religion and the state. (This is generally referred to as "separation of church and state." But we prefer the more inclusive term). The government should avoid promoting one faith group within a religion over another, or promote one religion over another, promote religion over secular beliefs, or promote secular beliefs over religion. 1
Personal freedom: The freedoms of religious beliefs, speech, association, and expression at the individual, congregational and denominational level. 1
Freedom of speech: The freedom to compare the beliefs of faith groups with each other, and with the findings of science. It also includes the freedom to criticize faith and other groups when they harm others.
Relative truth: The principle that many moral, ethical, and religious beliefs vary greatly from one culture, religion, and time to another, and are thus relative. We do acknowledge that they are often considered absolute by various religions and secular belief systems. 2
Impact of religion: The generally positive influence that most religions have had on their followers and on society. 3
A problem with the use of prayer: It is our belief that prayer is an unreliable method to assess the will of God. We were initially divided on this matter, but a pilot study appears to indicate that prayer for this purpose is unreliable.
Evil in religion: In the importance of individual believers detecting evil influences and policies that currently exist within their chosen faith group, and strongly advocating for their correction. If significant improvement or elimination of sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, etc. is impossible, we feel that they should consider withholding financial support and/or leaving the group. 4
Education: The principle that people are not truly educated unless they have studied the world's major religions and ethical systems. They need to learn of both the good and evil impacts that each has had on society throughout history. They need to be taught skills at analysis and "baloney detection." 5
Check out Religious Tolerance (dot) org
We feel that every denomination, para-church organization, religious group, and religious web site should consider creating a statement of belief or faith and displaying it prominently. This is particularly important among Christian groups who may use the term "Christian" to refer to only the Roman Catholic Church, or only to Evangelical Protestantism, or to the full range of Christian denominations and beliefs, or to some other subset of the religion. Quite often, when we visit a Christian web site for the first time, we have to search around among its articles to find out exactly what Christian belief system they follow and promote on their web site.
That said, the following is our attempt at a statement of belief. Please be sure to read the footnotes at the bottom of the essay because they include some important qualifications and exceptions.
OCRT Statement of Belief:
We are a multi-faith group. As of late-2012, we consist of one Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Wiccan and Zen Buddhist. Thus, the OCRT staff lack agreement on almost all theological matters, such as belief in a supreme being, the nature of God, interpretation of the Bible and other holy texts, whether life after death exists, what form the afterlife may take, etc.
We believe in:
Personal worth: The inherent worth of every person. People are worthy of respect, support, and caring simply because they are human. Unfortunately, our group has not reached a consensus on when human life, in the form of an ovum and spermatozoon, becomes a human person with civil rights including the right to live. On this matter, our group's lack of agreement on when personhood begins mirrors that of society at large.
Lack of discrimination: Working towards a culture that is relatively free of discrimination on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, physical disability, language, age, body shape, etc.
Dignity: The dignity of the human person. We oppose the use of torture and cruel or unusual punishment including the death penalty.
Democracy: The importance of democratic processes within religious, political, and other structures in which the will of the people is implemented, subject to the limits imposed by the constitution.
Religion-state matters: The separation of religion and the state. (This is generally referred to as "separation of church and state." But we prefer the more inclusive term). The government should avoid promoting one faith group within a religion over another, or promote one religion over another, promote religion over secular beliefs, or promote secular beliefs over religion. 1
Personal freedom: The freedoms of religious beliefs, speech, association, and expression at the individual, congregational and denominational level. 1
Freedom of speech: The freedom to compare the beliefs of faith groups with each other, and with the findings of science. It also includes the freedom to criticize faith and other groups when they harm others.
Relative truth: The principle that many moral, ethical, and religious beliefs vary greatly from one culture, religion, and time to another, and are thus relative. We do acknowledge that they are often considered absolute by various religions and secular belief systems. 2
Impact of religion: The generally positive influence that most religions have had on their followers and on society. 3
A problem with the use of prayer: It is our belief that prayer is an unreliable method to assess the will of God. We were initially divided on this matter, but a pilot study appears to indicate that prayer for this purpose is unreliable.
Evil in religion: In the importance of individual believers detecting evil influences and policies that currently exist within their chosen faith group, and strongly advocating for their correction. If significant improvement or elimination of sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, etc. is impossible, we feel that they should consider withholding financial support and/or leaving the group. 4
Education: The principle that people are not truly educated unless they have studied the world's major religions and ethical systems. They need to learn of both the good and evil impacts that each has had on society throughout history. They need to be taught skills at analysis and "baloney detection." 5
Check out Religious Tolerance (dot) org
Monday, January 13, 2014
Tai chi chih
"Tai chi chih (simplified Chinese: 太极智; traditional Chinese: 太極智; pinyin: tàijízhì; Wade–Giles: tʼai4 chi2 chih4) is a series of 19 movements and 1 pose that together make up a meditative form of exercise to which practitioners attribute physical and spiritual health benefits. Some studies have found the practice to reduce stress and relieve certain ailments.
Developed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1974 by Justin Stone (1916 - 2012), tai chi chih has spread mostly through word-of-mouth in a grassroots fashion among practicing individuals.[citation needed] It is now taught and practiced in the US and Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and other countries.[citation needed]
Tai chi chih has visual similarities to t'ai chi ch'uan, but no martial arts aspect. According to practitioners, tai chi chih focuses on circulating, developing and balancing the chi (in the traditional Chinese concept, a kind of spiritual energy residing in every living thing)"
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Official Site
Movements
Developed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1974 by Justin Stone (1916 - 2012), tai chi chih has spread mostly through word-of-mouth in a grassroots fashion among practicing individuals.[citation needed] It is now taught and practiced in the US and Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and other countries.[citation needed]
Tai chi chih has visual similarities to t'ai chi ch'uan, but no martial arts aspect. According to practitioners, tai chi chih focuses on circulating, developing and balancing the chi (in the traditional Chinese concept, a kind of spiritual energy residing in every living thing)"
Credit
More info...
Official Site
Movements
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Qigong
"Qigong, chi kung, or chi gung (simplified Chinese: 气功; traditional Chinese: 氣功; pinyin: qìgōng; Wade–Giles: chi4 gong1; literally "Life Energy Cultivation") is a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation. With roots in Chinese medicine, martial arts, and philosophy, qigong is traditionally viewed as a practice to cultivate and balance qi (chi) or what has been translated as "intrinsic life energy". It is generally accepted that Qigong exercises have three components: a posture (whether moving or stationary) 調身, breathing techniques 調息, and mental focus on guiding qi through the body 調心. The prerequisite is a calm relaxing state of mind. Qigong is now practiced throughout China and worldwide, and is considered by some to be exercise, and by others to be a type of alternative medicine or meditative practice. From a philosophical perspective qigong is believed to help develop human potential, allow access to higher realms of awareness, and awaken one's "true nature"" (Wikipedia)
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What is Qigong?
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What is Qigong?
What is Chi Nei Tsang ?
"Chi Nei Tsang 氣內臟 is a hands-on holistic health practice of ancient Chinese Taoist tradition, rediscovered and further developed by Chi-Kung (Qigong in Chinese Pinyin: Chi-based internal exercises and functional meditations). Master Mantak Chia and his lineage of students and practitioners support the tradition. Chi Nei Tsang involves the application of Chi-Kung in the manual treatment of the viscera (Nei-Tsang) and the deepest internal structures of the body. Following the classical Taoist model, Chi Nei Tsang simultaneously heals the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the individual. Originally, Taoist monks and nuns practiced Chi Nei Tsang to enhance their health, detoxify their organism, and upgrade the quality of their Chi (Qi) so that they could successfully, and safely practice the highest-level spiritual meditation formulas of enlightenment. Once a practice of legendary fame at the imperial court of China and in the numerous Taoist temples across the country before the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Chi Nei Tsang has now virtually disappeared from China, along with many other Taoist practices of a spiritual nature, under the current Chinese communist ideology (Healing from Within with Chi Nei Tsang, 1999, G. Marin North Atlantic Books).
The contemporary form of Chi Nei Tsang, as being taught by Master Mantak Chia and his disciples worldwide, is deeply rooted in three different traditions: Classical Taoist Chinese Medicine, Traditional Internal Medical Thai Massage, and Western holistic medicine. The combination of these three traditions is actually congruent with the ancient Taoist philosophy of change and impermanence: The Tao meaning "the Way", "the right manner" and "the Right Way to live healthily in this place and age". With its holistic approach, its medical science coming from the depth of classical Chinese wisdom and using the precise technology of traditional Thai medical massage, Chi Nei Tsang has been able to provide deep transformative and permanent healing to the widest range of people worldwide regardless of belief system, culture or tradition." (Wikipedia)
More info...
Taoist Massage: Chi Nei Tsang
What Is Chi Nei Tsang...? Part 2
The contemporary form of Chi Nei Tsang, as being taught by Master Mantak Chia and his disciples worldwide, is deeply rooted in three different traditions: Classical Taoist Chinese Medicine, Traditional Internal Medical Thai Massage, and Western holistic medicine. The combination of these three traditions is actually congruent with the ancient Taoist philosophy of change and impermanence: The Tao meaning "the Way", "the right manner" and "the Right Way to live healthily in this place and age". With its holistic approach, its medical science coming from the depth of classical Chinese wisdom and using the precise technology of traditional Thai medical massage, Chi Nei Tsang has been able to provide deep transformative and permanent healing to the widest range of people worldwide regardless of belief system, culture or tradition." (Wikipedia)
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Taoist Massage: Chi Nei Tsang
What Is Chi Nei Tsang...? Part 2
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Qi
"Ch'i (also spelled Chi or Qi) is a fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy and culture. Found in Chinese traditional religion but especially Taoism, Ch'i literally means "air" or "breath," but as a concept it refers to the energy flow or life force that is said to pervade all things.
The nature of ch'i has always been a matter of debate in Chinese thinking. Some believe ch'i is a separate force from the physical world, while others think ch'i comes from physical matter. Still others, especially Chinese Buddhists and Taoists, hold that matter arises from ch'i.
The quality, quantity and balance of Ch'i is believed to be essential to maintaining health and achieving a long life. One author explains it this way:
"Qi is the basic material of all that exists. It animates life and furnishes functional power of events. Qi is the root of the human body; its quality and movement determine human health. There is a normal or healthy amount of qi in every person, and health manifests in its balance and harmony, its moderation and smoothness of flow." -- Livia Kohn, Health and Long Life: The Chinese WayIn addition to living a healthy life (both physically and psychologically), Ch'i can be regulated through practices like breath control, Ta'i Chi, massage and acupuncture. Nearly all techniques in traditional Chinese medicine are based on the concept of Ch'i.
Breath control is considered especially fundamental to balancing the levels of Ch'i in one's body. Controlled and meditative breathing, called hsing-ch'i, allows ch'i to permeate the entire body by imagining the breath as a visible current moving through the body. Another type of breathing exercise, t'ai-hsi, attempts to revert one's breathing to that of an fetus in the womb. This is considered especially powerful for longevity and immortality (especially in Taoism).
The traditional Chinese art of placement and arrangement of space called Feng Shui is also based on the flow of ch'i, as well as the five elements, yin and yang and other factors. The retention or dissipation of ch'i is believed to affect the health, wealth, energy level, luck and many other aspects of the occupants of the space. Color, shape and the physical location of each item in a space affects the flow of ch'i by slowing it down, redirecting it or accelerating it, which directly affects the ch'i of the occupants."
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