https://youtu.be/xfSMn7DvwII

Recently, Robert Downey Jr. was honored with the 2012 Robert Graham Visionary Award by Yo San University. According to Yo San University President Larry Ryan, Yo San’s highest honor “is named after the late Robert Graham, an international artist and sculptor, and husband of Anjelica Huston. Mr Graham is best known for his work on the FDR Memorial in Washington DC, the Duke Ellington Monument in NYC and the great bronze doors of the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of the Angels in Los Angeles. Until his death Mr. Graham was a supporter and member of the Board of Trustees of Yo San University. [The] Robert Graham Visionary Award is conferred every year to an individual who is an advocate of Traditional Chinese Medicine and whose life is characterized by outstanding achievements. (January 2012 issue of Wellness Magazine)”

Robert Downey Jr. was chosen for this award because of his tremendous recovery over the last 10 years, in both his professional and personal life and to his commitment to Chinese Martial Arts and Chinese Medicine. Downey, overcame many hurdles, obstacles and dark days to achieve his current level of success and peace of mind.

In an interview with Men’s Journal Magazine (May, 2010), Guy Ritchie (Director of Sherlock Holmes), Eric Oram (Downey’s Wing Chun Sifu/Teacher) and Robert Downey Jr. describe how he went from not being able to get insurance companies to bond him for movies and how he could not get any roles, to his current phenomenal box office success with both the Sherlock Holmes and Iron Man franchises. Downey stated that Chinese Martial Arts and Chinese Medicine saved his life and he attributed both to his remarkable recovery. According to Downey, “this is all about focus…Wing Chun teaches you what to concentrate on, whether you’re here or out in the world dealing with problems. It’s second nature for me now. I don’t even get to the point where there’s a problem. (Men’s Journal Magazine, May, 2010)”

If you have been following the Taoism Examiner then you already know that Taoism is the root of Chinese Martial Arts and Chinese Healing/Medicine. Since Taoism has over 6,000 years of success perfecting the Body, Mind & Spirit it is no surprise that its “branches” would produce these dramatic changes.

Congratulations Robert Downey Jr. on this award as well as your dedication to self improvement and cultivation. May you become an example for others of how they can find hope even in their darkest days.

Don’t miss another National Taoism Examiner article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button above; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons to the left as well.