Post yr questions here.

You teach beginners breathing, what is the advanced? What do you think of mantak chia/white cloud/winn's formulas? What is th best qigong? What is the best way to mix qigong and yoga? What is th best book on spiritual practice? How do you become a shaman? What is the best techniques for chi nei tsang? hmmm, thats all i got for now. How can I be immortal?

Ken,

I was hoping you'd visit!

Like Grand Trinity, I'd like to hear your overall take on the Winn-Chia approach to practice as that approach has been formative for us here. Also, I'm sure you can pick up on the vibe at this site and I'm sure that could inspire a comment or two. Any thoughts on sungazing would be appreciated as well.

-Yoda

I agree with the questions above. Are you actually interviewing him or is he gonna visit and engage us?

Spyrelx,

Read the Obesity Myth. Great book. In short, being over weight is not actually a health problem. It's better to be 75 lbs over weight than 10lbs under weight as far as health and longevity are concerned. Obviously, gross overweight where you have trouble moving is not good. Bad science has supported the popular notion of the ideal body type until recently. Just like scientists used to discover reasons for womens' or Africans' failings. This seems consistent with what I've read on Taoism. Being heavy could be an asset for a practitioner in order to be grounded.

Having said that, I'm working on digging up my 6 pack soon.


-Yoda

I am going to interview him if it works out with his schedule, he told me to call later this week.

He doesn't have a computer.

How did the interview come about?

Q. what are 3 simple things everyone should do?

Q. Do you think society is evolving spiritually or its the same old same old?

I called and asked sweetly. I figured nobody could resist my charm.

You rock, Lozen! I had written him a letter to visit us here, but I see he's honoring his liver and staying offline.

I would also love to hear Ken expound on sitting vs standing. Ask him if you are allowed to write up an article based on your call to post here. Maybe we could interview other teachers too and post articles. Just a thought.

Great work!
-Yoda

PS, his thoughts on tobacco too. I haven't read his native american book. Is it good?

Why is he fat? What happened to the formulas for immortality? Is he an immortal? Is he familiar with 4 dimensional healing? Who is immortal? Where do they live? Is Mantak Chia much cooler than him? (i think so) How about ejecting the pearl? How do we get into Wu dang mountain? What is his favorite movies/music? How hot is his wife? How much does he meditate? Does he have a family? How much herbs does he use? Does he plan on another book? Whats up with atlantis and stuff? Egypt? The devil? God? Jesus? ancient fetus?

Chia cooler than Cohen? Chia has the sizzle to be sure, but in terms of linear thinking and useful teaching skills, I would say Cohen by a lap.

Yeah, it's amazing.

I guess I'm biased, though. I think all qi gong authors except Cohen are off their rockers...

I'll ask some of those questions and write something up assuming all this works out, scheduling, etc. I think he's here over the weekend but I want to get Mon so Cam could ask questions too.

L,

I have nothing to ask Ken in an interview setting. However, I would love to sit in if you do it.

Cameron

Are you in contact with any non-corporeal "teachers"?

If so, do you have different "teachers" from different traditions if you mix spiritual paths (say daoism/qigong practice with Native American Path) or are they the same "teachers"/guides in different disguises?

That's the elephant that's standing in the living room... why are they all so frickin insane???

Ken is unusually level headed for a guru... it's bizarre. Ask him what practices have led him to this rarified attainment.

-Yoda

I looked up his book on amazon and it looks great!!

He studied with Rolling Thunder??????????? Kick ass!!

Maybe that's why he's sane--he's not a jumpy thoroughbred. I'll post a review when I get my copy.

-Yoda

To Lozen and Yoda,

First, to Yoda,

I think you were responding to a post I put up for a few minutes and then retracted because I thought better of it (damn, are you lurking here ALL the time?). Although Grand Trinity seems to have no problem asking "why is he fat?" I did -- mostly because I went on line and looked at a few recent pictures and he's NOT fat in them. He's middle aged and has a bit of a spread but not as fat as earlier pictures make out.

Oh, and by the way, I haven't read the book but if you or anyone else believes being 75 over what's normally considered median healthy weight is better than being 10 pounds under, you're out of your mind. Median weight usually gives you 10 to 20 pounds to play with and still be within the norm. 75 is a LOT of pounds. I just don't buy it.

Lozen,

If Ken IS noticably hefty when you meet him you might want to raise the issue. Taoism is about balance and it strikes me that being overweight is a symptom of imbalance. So the question would be what do you think it is about your system that causes this imbalance (or prevents you from correcting it). By the way, a similar thing might be said about him being bald. Chia and certain ancient texts would argue that baldness is a sign of imbalance. I wonder if Ken believes that and, if so, where he thinks his imbalance lies.

Thanks

My questions:

Do you believe that each individual has a purpose?

What do you consider necessary preparation for circulating sexual energy in the body?

Are you able to stop thinking? Do you value this ability?

What do you believe happens to the individual upon physical death?

Spyrelx, both in terms of health problems as well as actual longevity 75 lbs over is better than 10 lbs under. Until recently, there's been a lot of bogus science which has misshapen current actuary tables.

Ian, I second the death question.

Ken, if I remember correctly you advise to take nutritional supplements in todays time... so you don't think that charging with the energies of the sun & moon and all living things around us, the universe that that is enough for a practitioner to be fully "nutritionally" supported?

Why then practice?

I thought that practice leads to being able to transcend being under the influence of the 5 elments?

thankx

Yoda,

You read one book by a guy whose only claim to medical and/or nutritional expertise is he's "a lawyer and a journalist" and you call virtually every other health care source out there "bogus science"?

Please.

A good argument can be made that Americans careen from one stupid food/body obsession to another and that this is caused or at least exacerbated by questionable “information” put out by industries whose only motive is profit, as well as by our culture’s steadfast belief that there’s a quick fix for everything.

But that's really a critique of the way capitalism works in a modern consumerist society and is in no way limited to the issue of weight. Indeed, that dynamic is at work in most anything in popular culture. Look at your own manic obsession about health/spirituality -- moving from one “quick fix” to another, fueled by both extraordinarily limited information (mostly from advertisers) and your own apparent belief that just one more product/practice (rather than dedication to the hundreds you’ve tried before) is sure to get you to your goals -- I find little difference between this and a crash dieter who careens from one diet to another.

Getting back to the issue of weight, I stand by my position.

I’m not arguing that Americans might be stupidly obsessed with fat, or sugar, or “bad cholesterol” or belt size. But to argue that obesity (75 pounds over is obese) is preferable to a few pounds below average weight is ludicrous. And it’s also contrary to what virtually EVERY professional with any REAL background in health or nutrition believes.

I just did a quick internet search and found Met Life’s weight tables for different heights. It gives a range of optimal weights based on lowest mortality levels. I’m sure there’s other methods of doing this, but since they give a fairly broad range I doubt that other methods would conflict dramatically with these.

The optimal weight for a 5’10 woman was between 144 and 180 – a 36 pound spread -- depending on build.

Let’s take medium build. The optimal weight for a “medium build” woman who was 5’10 was between 151 and 163. Right in the middle is about 150.

So if we say that, roughly speaking, the average optimal weight based on life expectancy is 150, then an additional 75 pounds is almost ONE THIRD heavier, while ten pounds less is merely a ONE FIFTEENTH DIFFERENCE.

Other things being equal (eat same stuff, exercise regularly, no genetic issues, etc.) there is NO WAY that a 5’10 medium built woman who weighs 225 pounds is as healthy as one who weighs 140. The strain on the heart and skeletal system alone would be enough to make a difference.

Bogus science indeed.

Spyrelx,

Well, his point is that being overweight, even 75 lbs overweight isn't detrimental to your health and I think that will be nice to hear when the news gets out so people don't diet out of a sense of fear and perhaps can have a better sense of acceptance. I fully understand that it's an unorthodox position. The book was well footnoted and based on studies. Time will tell. As I said, I'm all for gettin shredded!

-Yoda

Yes, I understand his point. And he's dead wrong. Good luck on your abs.

Lozen:

Don't know if it's too late to add some questions to Mr. Cohen...

First, I really enjoyed his book, but found few pointers to the more "advanced" practices, like sitting, and working with the inherent obstacles of more prolonged cultivation. So my questions are:

1. How is the spine and the opening of the spinal cavities, or chakras, related to emotions and patterns of holding and tension?

2. What is the relation between the spine and the core channel?

3. Could he explain more on the relation between the cosmos/outer universe and the inner cavities/space?

h

Lozen, how exciting.

Ken Cohen came to the UK a few years ago, sponsored by the British Taoist Association, and there are some good interviews with him in their journal. I did a weekend with him, learning a form of primordial chi - kung.

HE IS NOT FAT! He is very very very very soft, however. Soooo relaxed.

I think I asked him about the mantak chia stuff. He favours simplicity, I think. Though I have some of his tapes, and it was through one of his guided mediations that a channel to kwan yin energy got opened up for me.

I think I would ask him about what we were discussing with sean. About the female/male thing. How to phrase the question is beyond me at this moment.

He is so amusing and erudite and lovely to be with, I wish I were able to sit in on the meeting. It will be so fun and fascinating. he is jam packed full of wisdom and humour. I love his books too. it was his book which first ever got me into this stuff, just doing his breathing excercises, very gently, awakened the serpent very fast. my spine burned so much I thought I had some bone disease..

Anwway. cant wait to read the interview. Or will you be able to distribute tapes, or stream it?

Thanks everyone for the questions. I can't possibly ask all of these so I will pick the ones I'm interested in and add some of my own. I am still trying to get ahold of him re: scheduling.

Hmmm, unfortunately I don't think I have the technological capabilities to stream it, I am gonna use a good old fashioned tape player... It has batteries!

What a great project! Good thinking on that!

Can you record it to your computer or minidisc and turn it into an mp3?

In any event, thanks.

Nope, sorry, I don't have the stuff on my computer (it's old) and in any case we had talked about getting lunch so won't be at my house, and I don't have a laptop. I also don't have a minidisc player, nor do I have the money to get one. I do, however, have a trusty tape player. Anyways, I also have to schedule this thing, so wish me luck!! We need our schedules to match up. Preferably on Monday.

Good luck!!

Also, Ken is even more into Native Indian spirituality then he is Taoism so you may consider touching on that. Perhaps Native Indian stuff picks up in places Taoism leaves off.

Also, I know you are personally into the Native Indian stuff so you and Ken would have that in common already. I don't know much of anything about traditional American Indian stuff but Ken takes gifts of tobacco and herbs and all that pretty seriously I think. If you want to get him some nice tobacco or herbs or something and I will reimberce you for it or pitch in or whatever.

Something good that you would offer a Native Indian Medicine Man.

Something else that just came up .Since he is Jewish You may want to touch on how he has reconciled being a Jew by birth, a Taoist priest and scholar, and a Traditional Native Indian healer. And do these traditions all complement each other and ultimately lead to the same truth?

Cameron

Cams line of questioning is very good. Instead of being generic, they take account the Teacher, his specialties and interests.

Michael

Talked to Ken, we are getting breakfast next week!! (Not on Monday, sorry Cam. He didn't want to do anything the day he has his workshops.)

Will keep y'all posted.

I get him for one hour! He wants to pick me up at his hotel, and I'm all embarrassed about my piece of shit car.

If I remember correctly, Rolling Thunder's car wasn't exactly a Lexus or anything.

LOL! I'm gonna hang out with Ken Cohen (!!!!!) and all I can think about is what he might think about my missing bumper. I am being a dork. I will stop it! I'm gonna get breakfast with Ken Cohen!!

Yeah baby! That's the spirit! It's very auspicious to dine with a great teacher like Ken.

I smudged my car.

Don't worry! A piece of shit car is one of the signs of a serious spiritual aspirant! (Go to any serious meditation group and you'll see a whole parking lot full of them! )

Congrats on coming up with the idea and getting to do it!!!

Wow, I've gotten e-mails, PMs and even phone calls about this interview. I've started transcribing it today, and I'm almost done, I hope to have it finished by Wednesday and mail it out to Ken for his review by Friday or Saturday, and then however long it takes to get his okay, and then I'll post it. I wrote about the actual interview (a little bit) on my personal log (wow, that sounds so Star Trek!) In any case, I think it will be well worth the wait.

Correction: I am done transcribing, but I have to get to a printer (I just have an i-mac), and I don't think I'll be able to until work on Wednesday night, which means it still won't go out in the mail until Friday.

I can't control myself Lozen asked Ken what his opinion was of the five shen(as used in Michael Winn's system) and he said " What are those?"

Or something.

I asked him about balancing the five shen in order to achieve enlightenment, or immortality, or something, and he said, "What are those?" And I didn't know! He told me the elements were the wu sing. Anyways, he gave this amazing answer which was my favorite part of the interview... HA! Sorry.

And now that we're spilling secrets , Cam heard someone ask Ken about whether qi gong was transmitted to us by aliens, and he said, "We're all aliens!"

av madness..I am just going to have no av for awhile..

Wu Xing is not really the same as the 5 shen. I don't think Ken teaches anything about the 5 shen. Wu Xing is textbook chinese medicine stuff..5 elements and different cylces and all that..

I think I am going to start reading Honoring The Medicine finally .Ken said it's better than the qigong book and the qigong book is the best work on the subject IMO..

I was talking about aliens with a bunch of people at a party Sat night..funny how many people say they have seen UFO's flying around.

I often see UFOs myself. Living in london it's hard to identify every flying object you see.

That was friggin hilarious! If anyone is worried that you might be an alien, you can check out the book The 4 Diemnsional Art of Life by Dirk Oellibrandt, highly recommended:

"By seeing all parts of your being and all experiences as they really are, and by living this in the world, you'll come to the deepest fulfilment in the true experience of 'being human'."

...has a lot to do with the Power of Now times infinite.

<snip>

Thanks so much Yael.

And I hope this is ok with Ken.

Awesome Job!!!!

Beautiful website too!!

You got some great answers out of him. Thanks for setting up the interview and sharing it w/ us.

Michael

Help, I'm devolving every day!

great talk, thanks a lot Yael for doing and posting.
After reading this I really get interested in his books...


affenbrot

You've got to respect the man, but I disagree about his vilification of the internet. Its a tool, not a demonic separation device. I can see people making the same arguments he did over the printing press. Now people will just read, it looses the soul of hand written books, people will be lazy and not memorize anymore etc.

Its a tool. It has traps. We can use it to learn knew things. We can use it as an escape and isolator.

When asked about sun gazing, he didn't really know much. Maybe he doesn't know much about urine drinking either. Yet due to this site, I may not practice them, but I know something about them. I've been exposed to not one viewpoint but several, energetics, medical, cautionary and fanatical.

On sites like this one and its links, I'm getting bits and pieces, viewpoints and ideas that I can collect and make my own. The idea is not to dig 100 shallow holes, but to construct a practice that is multidimensional and complete.

Michael

First off, wow, go Lozen!

Second off, honestly, no one individual has a claim on the totality of enlightenment Find it within yourself!

Last I knew, baldness was I genetic thing.

Matt