Guest guest Report post Posted January 10, 2010 Jason you pointed out that Ye Tian-shi was a known gambler.......I would like to suggest that gambling is an interesting exercise of both the left and right brain, and most certainly (depending on the game) is an exercise in diagnostic/observation skills. Was he just having fun, addicted to gambling, or was he conscious of such an exercise? We will never know. :-) In Good Health, Thomas cell: Beijing, China Author of " Western Herbs According to Traditional : A Practitioners Guide " Check out my blog: sourcepointherbs.blogspot.com Create New Topic </post;_ylc=X3oDMTJkMzdmbnJpBF9T\ Azk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDbnRwYwRz\ dGltZQMxMjYzMTI2NTky>| Visit Your Group on the Web<;_ylc=X3oDMTJiNnRoY2VhBF9TAz\ k3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDaHAEc3RpbW\ UDMTI2MzEyNjU5Mg--> > Messages</messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJk\ NjdodHJ1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRz\ bGsDbXNncwRzdGltZQMxMjYzMTI2NTky>| > Files</files;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNGFhaT\ huBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDZm\ lsZXMEc3RpbWUDMTI2MzEyNjU5Mg-->| > Photos</photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJkcHZj\ aHJyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsD\ cGhvdARzdGltZQMxMjYzMTI2NTky>| > Links</links;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNXRlbm\ RxBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDbG\ lua3MEc3RpbWUDMTI2MzEyNjU5Mg-->| > Database</database;_ylc=X3oDMTJi\ cmZnODE4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRz\ bGsDZGIEc3RpbWUDMTI2MzEyNjU5Mg-->| > Polls</polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNDUxNn\ M5BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDcG\ 9sbHMEc3RpbWUDMTI2MzEyNjU5Mg-->| > Calendar</calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJj\ NHZlOWs4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRz\ bGsDY2FsBHN0aW1lAzEyNjMxMjY1OTI-> > Chinese Herbal Medicine offers various professional services, including a > practitioner's directory and a moderated discussion forum. > > > > MARKETPLACE > > Going Green: Your resource for green living<http://us.ard./SIG=14n7divd1/M=493064.13814333.13821539.13298430\ /D=grphealth/S=1705060815:MKP1/Y=/EXP=1263133792/L=/B=HkOPBkPDhFo-/J=126312\ 6592332543/K=DoJMe02C9R9V.F1dVpKENA/A=5922843/R=0/SIG=11ckn2mo6/*http://advision\ ..webevents./green/> > [image: Groups]</;_ylc=X3oDMTJjYmhscmJqBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAz\ IwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDZ2ZwBHN0aW1lAzEyNjMxMjY1OTI-> > Change settings via the Web</join;_ylc=X3oDMTJlcmtnNTNzB\ F9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDc3RuZ\ 3MEc3RpbWUDMTI2MzEyNjU5Mg-->( ID required) > Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Individual<-normal ?subject=Email+Delivery:+Ind\ iviual+Email>| Switch > format to Traditional<-traditional ?subject=Change+Delive\ ry+Format:+Traditional> > Visit Your Group > <;_ylc=X3oDMTJjbXNqajVpBF9TAzk3M\ zU5NzE1BGdycElkAzIwMTAxMwRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUwNjA4MTUEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDaHBmBHN0aW1lA\ zEyNjMxMjY1OTI->| > Groups Terms of Use <> | Un > <- ?subject=Un> > Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted January 11, 2010 Thomas, I agree that gambling, as well as almost all activities, use both sides of the brain. Even something as supposedly left-brain as chess has a very creative and right brain component, especially at higher levels when one has to visualize. I guess I misunderstood your point, when you said, " caligraphy [sic] and poetry were considered very important for the development of a person's character. " I guess I never considered gambling " artistry as a way to commune with the right side of the brain " nor a development of personal character. But I see your point now... Although I personally favor calligraphy, the study of classical Chinese, and Qi-Gong to help round out my Chinese medicine (as opposed to going to Vegas), I think too often people get on a high horse in regard to these activities. I have heard too many people think that you must do some special activities, e.g. sitting meditation or qi-gong, to really understand Chinese medicine. These people often put down others who do not partake in such activities, thinking they are somehow lesser beings. Therefore, my point was only to show that this is not always the case (and from arguably the best clinician in Chinese -- he was not sitting around meditating (at least from history), and we should be humble in our pursuits and respect others people who have a different idea of meditation, which may just be hiking in the forest, or playing tennis. Just because as some Westerner we sit around scribbling Chinese characters and speak some of the language does not make us any better or worse than anyone else. -Jason Acupuncture On Behalf Of Sunday, January 10, 2010 9:52 PM BTW Jason you pointed out that Ye Tian-shi was a known gambler.......I would like to suggest that gambling is an interesting exercise of both the left and right brain, and most certainly (depending on the game) is an exercise in diagnostic/observation skills. Was he just having fun, addicted to gambling, or was he conscious of such an exercise? We will never know. :-) In Good Health, Thomas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted January 11, 2010 Hmm. I think that the game you choose, your posture/form while you play, your mind-set and the environment/ nature surrounding you are all important elements to consider. Our form within the activity is important, for instance our stance in Qi gong, in shooting free-throw shots or in making a 10 foot putt. With proper form, which becomes intuitive after the initial wax-on, wax-off, the next thing is to make our Qi flow smoothly through the physical channel we mold for it. Finally, when we master the form and allow the Qi to flow freely, we can become creative and the manifestations then become endless and enjoyable. The results of our actions reflect our mind and the Qi that follows it. In other words, we can be doing calligraphy with skill-ful means or just be going over the motions with clumsy attention. We can play chess with the intention to beat the player in front of us and make our ego feel more secure or to elevate our own game and our own consciousness in the process. We can find the zone, the zen, in gambling but more often than not, if the odds are against us, we will lose. So, I think that practicing calligraphy and doing Qi gong is a better gamble (better odds in winning) than being a gambler in Vegas, because the house is set up to win and we're set up to lose. For gambling, that's the form and that's how the Qi is supposed to go. They set up the rules, the take and all of the distractions to make your mind work more like a monkey, than a monk. Imagine a casino where there are no flashing lights, no beeping slot machines, but ambient alpha-wave music. But, if you can do it, more power to you. As John Daido Loori said, " If you can be enlightened in New York, you can be enlightened anywhere " . K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted January 11, 2010 On Jan 11, 2010, at 9:19 AM, wrote: > . > > Although I personally favor calligraphy, the study of classical > Chinese, and > Qi-Gong to help round out my Chinese medicine (as opposed to going to > Vegas), I think too often people get on a high horse in regard to > these > activities. I have heard too many people think that you must do some > special > activities, e.g. sitting meditation or qi-gong, to really understand > Chinese > medicine. These people often put down others who do not partake in > such > activities, thinking they are somehow lesser beings. Therefore, my > point was > only to show that this is not always the case (and from arguably the > best > clinician in Chinese -- he was not sitting around meditating (at > least from > history), and we should be humble in our pursuits and respect others > people > who have a different idea of meditation, which may just be hiking in > the > forest, or playing tennis. Just because as some Westerner we sit > around > scribbling Chinese characters and speak some of the language does > not make > us any better or worse than anyone else. > > Right! Remember how slimming hula hoops were??!! 8-) ....ah, you're probably too young to remember. haha Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Yes I agree Koko, the chances of Ye Tian-Shi using gambling as his Zen practice is about one in a million. Most likely is that he was going out blowing his money like everyone else. The most important thing is that he was not known for sitting around in contemplation, practicing calligraphy, ruminating on Song Dynasty poetry, or anything else that we in the West deem " essential " for being a top-notch Chinese medicine practitioner. For example, you don't know how many students actually believe that you MUST practice Qi-Gong to be a good Chinese medicine practitioner. Many of them are concerned because this type of practice does not fit their personality. Although I probably will not recommend gambling as a substitute, there clearly are many ways and sometimes actually just studying the medicine rigorously is enough. -Jason Acupuncture On Behalf Of In other words, we can be doing calligraphy with skill-ful means or just be going over the motions with clumsy attention. We can play chess with the intention to beat the player in front of us and make our ego feel more secure or to elevate our own game and our own consciousness in the process. We can find the zone, the zen, in gambling but more often than not, if the odds are against us, we will lose. So, I think that practicing calligraphy and doing Qi gong is a better gamble (better odds in winning) than being a gambler in Vegas, because the house is set up to win and we're set up to lose. For gambling, that's the form and that's how the Qi is supposed to go. They set up the rules, the take and all of the distractions to make your mind work more like a monkey, than a monk. Imagine a casino where there are no flashing lights, no beeping slot machines, but ambient alpha-wave music. But, if you can do it, more power to you. As John Daido Loori said, " If you can be enlightened in New York, you can be enlightened anywhere " . K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Jason, Maybe it's because you practice in Boulder? I don't find these expectations hold water among the students here at PCOM, except for a minority. I do think personally that a one-sided emphasis on studying only medicine will lead to a one-sided personality. A broad intellect, strong spirit and supple body will be helpful in practicing Chinese medicine no matter what the methodology used. On Jan 12, 2010, at 5:14 AM, wrote: > Yes I agree Koko, the chances of Ye Tian-Shi using gambling as his Zen > practice is about one in a million. Most likely is that he was going out > blowing his money like everyone else. The most important thing is that he > was not known for sitting around in contemplation, practicing calligraphy, > ruminating on Song Dynasty poetry, or anything else that we in the West deem > " essential " for being a top-notch Chinese medicine practitioner. > > For example, you don't know how many students actually believe that you MUST > practice Qi-Gong to be a good Chinese medicine practitioner. Many of them > are concerned because this type of practice does not fit their personality. > Although I probably will not recommend gambling as a substitute, there > clearly are many ways and sometimes actually just studying the medicine > rigorously is enough. > > -Jason > > Acupuncture > > > > > > > > > On Behalf Of > > In other words, we can be doing calligraphy with skill-ful means > or just be going over the motions with clumsy attention. We can play chess > with the intention > to beat the player in front of us and make our ego feel more secure or to > elevate our own game > and our own consciousness in the process. > We can find the zone, the zen, in gambling but more often than not, if the > odds are against us, we will lose. > So, I think that practicing calligraphy and doing Qi gong is a better gamble > (better odds in winning) > than being a gambler in Vegas, because the house is set up to win and we're > set up to lose. > For gambling, that's the form and that's how the Qi is supposed to go. > They set up the rules, the take and all of the distractions to make your > mind work more like a monkey, > than a monk. Imagine a casino where there are no flashing lights, no > beeping slot machines, > but ambient alpha-wave music. But, if you can do it, more power to you. > As John Daido Loori said, > " If you can be enlightened in New York, you can be enlightened anywhere " . > > K > > Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted January 12, 2010 Z'ev, I agree that such expectations are among the minority (I did not mean to suggest otherwise), however I remember even at PCOM some had this belief. I also was not suggesting that one should just study medicine and nothing else, of course well rounded perspective is best. I was just contrasting it with those who believe that study is not really important and one can just " feel " everything or those who believe that a certain " practice " somehow makes them superior to others, and everyone should do such a practice. -Jason On Behalf Of Tuesday, January 12, 2010 8:49 AM Re: BTW Jason, Maybe it's because you practice in Boulder? I don't find these expectations hold water among the students here at PCOM, except for a minority. I do think personally that a one-sided emphasis on studying only medicine will lead to a one-sided personality. A broad intellect, strong spirit and supple body will be helpful in practicing Chinese medicine no matter what the methodology used. Z'ev Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
