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NQA Day 2012 continues with an introduction to Qigong event
Most of the events for the National Qigong Associations “NQA Day 2012” were held last Sat. October 6, however, there is one more event scheduled for this Sat. October 13. The event is an “Introduction to Qigong” and would be a good opportunity to introduce people to this ancient and powerful healing system that is deeply rooted in Taoism.
“Introduction to Qigong Open House”
Saturday October 13, 2012
13959 West Illinois Highway Suite #2
New Lenox, IL 60451
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
“Come out to White Cloud Inner Arts and join us for an introduction to Traditional Chinese Qigong. Qigong literally means cultivating the body’s life energy. This modality integrates the mind-body healing method using the coordination of breath and gentle movements of the body. Focusing intention and cultivating energy, aka “Qi” (pronounced “chee”); while practicing allows for the body to increase energy to rebalance itself and function on an optimal level. Learn to cultivate one’s own healing energy, feel a palpable energy field with Qigong practice and quiet the mind. Qigong is gentle, burns calories fast, increases metabolism, circulates blood flow, strengthens the body, mind and spirit, creates confidence, empowers & transforms you, while reducing stress. Feel free to dress in relaxed comfortable clothing. (www.nqa.org)”
For more information contact: Tony D’Angelo, 815.463.0122 or www.whitecloudinnerarts.com
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NQA Day 2012: Cultivate, energy, wisdom, health and peace
“The NQA’s Regional Committee is excited to announce the First Annual NQA DAY, being held Saturday October 6, 2012 at locations around the country. Events are already scheduled in Florida, New York, Illinois, Colorado, and California… The National Qigong Association is the premier membership organization for qigong. Be a part of the Qi Flow and the Qi Excitement that is moving through our country. The mission of the NQA is “Enhancing and nourishing the quality of life through Qigong for all… (www.nqa.org)”
Carefully review the list of events, organized by regions, and feel free to contact each person in charge for more information. Not only will you be able to practice with like minded individuals and learn new skills, you will also be able to encourage the development and growth of the Qigong community. This is a great opportunity to share the many benefits of Qigong with those whom are unfamiliar with this ancient science, which is rooted in Taoism and is one branch of the Tao of Revitalization.
Northeast Region
Qigong in the Park
“Mineral Springs”
Saturday October 6, 2012
Central Park West, W. 69th Street
New York City, NY 10019
10:30a-1.30p
“Qigong in the Park on October 6th 2012 celebrates the cultivation of energ-qi through movements, massage, laughter, dance, animal frolics, and stillness. No experience required. Teachers from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania will present a varied program. This NQA DAY event is sponsored by the Eastern Regional Committee of the National Qigong Association (NQA). All ages are welcome. (www.nqa.org)”
CONTACT/HOST: Lamont Thomas, ldtlamont@sbcglobal.net, (203)843-1595
Southeast Region
“Qigong Equinox by NQA”
Saturday October 6, 2012
Brook Run Park
4770 North Peachtree Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338
12:00 – 4:00 PM
“Qigong Day” – Saturday October 6, 2012 – celebrate the energy of Qigong. Enjoy various forms of Qigong for healing or for martial arts, try out some Taichi and learn a few martial arts moves! No experience required. Several teachers will present so that you can “sample” many types of qigong. This NQA DAY event is sponsored by the Regional Committee of the National Qigong Association. All ages are welcome. (www.nqa.org)”
CONTACT/HOST: Christina or Peyton, The Rising Lotus Qigong, Christina@therisinglotus.com, www.TheRisingLotus.com, (404)721-2326
East Central Region
“National Qigong Day Celebration”
Saturday October 6, 2012
Kankakee Farmer’s Market
South Schuyler Ave. at Station Street
Kankakee, IL 60901
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Five Treasures Qigong to begin at 10:00
“Come join us to learn about the health benefits of practicing the “Energy Arts” of Qigong and Tai Chi. We will practice the “5 Treasures Qigong” routine, and have information and classes (including weekly sessions) in the area. FREE DVDs will be given away throughout the event. (www.nqa.org)”
CONTACT/HOST: Gary Paruszkiewicz, gfprelax1@gmail.com, (815)342-4803, www.relax1.net
West Central Region:
“2012 NQA DAY”Saturday October 6, 2012
Washington Park Recreation Center
701 South Franklin Street
Denver, CO 80209
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
“Denver, Colorado, by far last year’s largest National Qigong Association Day Celebration! A fun and refreshing day of qigong for all ages! Bring family and friends and enjoy a wide spectrum of qigong experiences:
- Meditative rejuvenation
- Power up intentions and focus
- Qigong Movement and Healing to enhance vitality and relaxation
- Heartfelt connections with new and experienced qigong practitioners
Valuable qigong information and drawings for gifts throughout the festivities. Free admission. Donations are graciously accepted. (www.nqa.org)”
CONTACTS/HOSTS: Eric Imbody, eimbody@earthlink.net, (720)917-9999,
Debra Lin Allen, DebraLin.ChiWellness@gmail.com, (720)427-0406
Sarah Horn, Sarah.WholeHealth@gmail.com, (720)530-8948
“NATIONAL QIGONG DAY CELEBRATION”
Saturday October 6, 2012
12409 W. Indian School Rd.
Avondale, AZ 85392
8:30 – 12:00 noon
“ Wellness Avondale would like to say thank you to the community by celebrating the 1st Annual NQA DAY Saturday October 6th. We will be offering free classes to the community for NQA DAY. Come celebrate with us!
- 8:30 AM — Sitting 3 Hearts, 9 Gates Qigong
- 9:00 AM — Standing 3 Hearts, 9 Gates Qigong
- 9:30 AM — 6 Healing Sounds Qigong
- 10:00 AM — Golden Chi Ball Qigong
- 10:30 AM — Tai Chi Foundations
- 11:00 AM — 24 Yang Style Tai Chi
- 11:30 AM — Wudang Tai Chi Sword/Fan (www.nqa.org)”
CONTACT/HOST: Kristen Burkhart, Kristen@zenwellness.com, (623)229-9139
West Coast Region:
2012 NQA DAY
Saturday October 6, 2012
Sebastopol Community Cultural Center’s
Garzot Building, Libby Park
7985 Valentine Ave and Pleasant Hill Ave
Sebastopol, CA 95472
10:00 – 11:30 AM
“Come join Shifu Michael Rinaldini and his students to celebrate the First Annual NQA DAY. This will be a special event for both new and old NQA members to practice qigong together, and support a Regional National Qigong Association Community. NQA members and non-members from throughout the Greater San Francisco Bay area are invited to attend. Puerh tea and snacks will be provided and a raffle of NQA Logo Bags made from recycled material will be offered. Information on the National Qigong Association will be available. (www.nqa.org)”
CONTACT/HOST: (707)829-1855, Lichangdao@gmail.com
“NQA DAY”
Saturday October 6, 2012
Cloverdale City Park
Cloverdale, CA
9:30 – 11:30 AM
Potluck Picnic to Follow
“Everyone is invited to join us to celebrate this healing exercise that has been practiced for thousands of years. The simple range of motion movements of qigong will be done from a standing position. These are massaging exercises that massage every joint and every organ of the body. The movements will also increase flexibility and help with maintaining bone strength and improve balance. Qigong is a mind body exercise. The mind is brought into the loving service of the body and this intention gives qigong its unique and powerful healing ability. Many studies are currently available on the amazing healing qualities of qigong. Just Google it! (www.nqa.org)”
CONTACT/HOST: Janet Seaforth, seaforthjohnson@att.net, www.PYNKQigong.com
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Autumn: the season of maturity, harvest and conservation
In the prior article, we explored how the seasons are not fixed points that occur at the whims of man; rather they are natural events that occur according to God’s/universal laws. The seasons occur at different times from one year to the next, depending on the energy of each season. For instance, a season that is too strong (excessive energy) will weaken the following season causing such phenomenon as the late summer or Indian summer; which is the result of strong/excessive yang fire energy (summer) intruding into the fall season.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 mentions this change:
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (King James Version, Regency Bible)”
Further elaboration on the nature of this change will have to wait for a future article so that we can focus on the season of autumn or fall.
What is important about autumn and how does it impact us?
Since man has a physical body and occupies a place in time and space, we are affected by elemental forces of both earthly and celestial influences. There is no denying this Universal Law; all one needs to do is observe how the lunar cycle influences a woman’s menstrual cycle, or how high tides are influenced by a full moon etc… No matter how much mankind may want to separate himself/herself from Nature, or deny the existence of Universal Laws and God, it will never change the fact that these laws do exist, and will impact humanity whether mankind likes it or not.
According to Huang Di (a great Taoist Sage and Emperor aka the Yellow Emperor):
“In the three months of autumn all things in nature reach their full maturity. The grains ripen and harvesting occurs. The heavenly energy cools, as does the weather. The wind begins to stir. This is the changing or pivoting point when the yang, or active, phase turns into its opposite, the yin, or passive, phase. One should retire with the sunset and arise with the dawn. Just as the weather in autumn turns harsh, so does the emotional climate. It is therefore important to remain calm and peaceful, refraining from depression so that one can make the transition to winter smoothly. This is the time to gather one’s spirit and energy, be more focused, and not allow desires to run wild. One must keep the lung energy full, clean, and quiet. This means practicing breathing exercises to enhance lung qi [energy]. Also, one should refrain from both smoking and grief, the emotion of the lung. This will prevent kidney or digestive problems in the winter. If this natural order is violated, damage will occur to the lungs, resulting in diarrhea with undigested food in winter. This compromises the body’s ability to store in winter. (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine by Maoshing Ni, PhD, p.6)”
One of the major areas of study in Taoism and among Taoists is observing the forces and nature of change and the impacts of that change on mankind, so that humanity can prepare for the change prior to its occurrence and adapt to it when it arrives. This is one of the secrets to health, longevity and illness prevention, as well as creating a peaceful life and world for all. Take Huang Di’s advice and observe the autumnal change, modify your lifestyle according to this season and you will have good health through winter.
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Did autumn already arrive for 2012?
In the western/modern calendar, the seasonal solstice/equinox is treated as a stagnant occurrence that is as routine and unimportant as the days of the week. People are told that September 22, is the beginning of autumn; a logical question could be: why is September 22 the first day of autumn, why not the 19th or 25th or any other day in September, or even another month.
Contrary to what many people think in the “modern world”, man does not determine the proper order of the seasons and the seasons do not occur according to political ambitions or on a set day every year.
A fundamental natural law, observed by Taoists, is that everything in the universe is in a constant state of change, and nothing remains the same or constant with the exception of change itself. It is with this law in mind, that we are faced with the irony in the modern observance of the solstices, equinoxes and the first day of the seasons.
September 22, 2012 is recognized as the Autumnal Equinox, however, the equinox does not represent the first day of the season; it is actually the peak or height of the season, when the season’s energy is the most full and active. This means that every day after September 22, we are moving one day closer to winter, as the energy of winter slowly begins to build (or retreat depending on the perspective).
According to the Taoist and Classical Chinese calendars, August 7, 2012 was the first day of autumn. The Taoist calendar is based on observing the natural cycles and changes of the Sun (Solar), Moon (Lunar) and Stars (Celestial) in relation to the Earth/Earthly changes and has been used for thousands of years. This is in contrast to the Western calendar that was established by Julius Caesar and later modified by Pope Gregory XIII to create the modern Gregorian calendar.
If you look outside and closely observe nature you will begin to see the signs of autumn already in action, leaves are beginning to change in many parts of the country, animals are beginning to prepare for hibernation, birds are already flying south, and the cool winds and cold fronts are taking shape as well. Nature is responding to the autumnal change that began its influence over a month ago.
In the next article we will explore what the autumn season represents and how it can impact our health.
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Farmer cycles from China to London to spread the Olympic spirit
Every so often, a truly great story appears of an epic adventure or a heroic person, accomplishing a grand, mythical feat that challenges humanity’s thoughts of what mankind is truly capable of.
In ancient times, these stories were more frequent, in modern times these tales usually only exist on a Hollywood set. Chen Guanming of China proved that for some, the spirit of adventure and the ability to accomplish the impossible is alive and well.
Four years ago, Chen Guanming, was overwhelmed with emotion when the Mayor of London accepted the Olympic flag as the host nation of the summer games. According to Chen, it was at that moment that he wanted to spread the same Olympic spirit by riding his “rickshaw” from China to London in order to watch the opening ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics.
The 57 year old stated, “I came to support and cheer all the people from all over the world who are participating in the sports, I’m volunteering, I’m not looking for a reward. (Associated Press, ESPN.go.com)”
As expected, many doubted Chen’s claims that he actually traveled for 2 years, through 16 countries on his three wheel rickshaw. In a modest manner and with a warm grin, Chen gladly shared stories of his trip along with hundreds of photos as well as the visa stamps in his passport.
Chen said “his worst experiences … were traveling during Thailand’s floods and being trapped in freezing temperatures in the snow in Turkey. He arrived in Britain by ferry from France on July 6… (Associated Press, ESPN.com)”
Let us not forget that for several thousand years, man was traveling from Europe and the Middle East to China via the Silk Road, for the mutual benefit of trade (whether the commodity was knowledge or physical). How truly remarkable it is that as the world gathers together to cheer for elite athletes, it is a “common farmer” that reminds us, of the incredible potential humans are capable of, when not suppressed by political games and artificial barriers.
As we watch the accomplishments of the world’s elite athletes and ponder the enormity of Chen Guanmings journey, we are reminded of Lao Tzu’s famous section from the Tao Teh Ching.
“Peace is easily maintained:
Trouble is easily overcome before it starts.
The brittle is easily shattered;
The small is easily scattered.
Deal with it before it happens.
Set things in order before there is confusion.
A tree as great as a man’s embrace springs from a small shoot;
A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth;
A journey of a thousand miles starts under one’s feet.
He who acts defeats his own purpose;
He who grasps loses.
The sage does not act, and so is not defeated.
He does not grasp and therefore does not lose.
People usually fail when they are on the verge of success.
So give as much care to the end as to the beginning;
Then there will be no failure.… (Section 64, Tao Teh Ching, Gia-Fu Feng)”
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(Article) Using the five tastes to prolong life and improve health
Food pyramids…How many have there been over the years, use to be one, now we have, what 5, 10, 12….How many will we have in 10 years—-20? Who can eat 5 fruits every day, plus 4 servings of grains, plus meat, plus vegetables, plus-plus-plus…? It is frustrating I know.
Now, read all the information about vitamins. First we hear, take Vitamin C, then a few years later, do not take it, now they tell us to take it again. Then Vitamin D, is great for you, and then avoid it, now it makes us stronger… Vitamin A, great then, now it may be toxic after a certain level. Pheew! Can you keep track of all this? Do you remember your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, knowing or needing all of this information?
Did your grandmother, make apple pie from scratch, measuring the vitamins, minerals, fats, cholesterol, proteins, carbohydrates and calories? Or did they make the BEST apple pie you have ever eaten! Did you grow up smelling the pies cool on the windowsill, with the window wide-open….sure someone somewhere is probably saying to no longer do this! What is it germs, bacteria…did they not exist back then, or are we just becoming too obsessed with certain things that may or may not be important!
There is an Alternative
Well, actually it is not a true alternative, it is a way of viewing and preparing food that goes back over 6,000 years and has influenced one of the oldest healing systems that is still practiced today. Every day over one billion people around the world eat food based on the following principles. Rather than an alternative, let’s call it a better way!
The Five Tastes
(Tao of Balanced Diet by Dr. Stephen Chang)
Ok, so far nothing new here, everyone knows that we have five tastes. But what many are not aware of is the impact of these five tastes, it is not just to determine what Tastes good. It is much-much-more important than that!
Any food will fall into one of five categories: Spicy, Sour Sweet, Salty & Bitter! Still nothing new, ok, did you know that each of the Five Tastes directly affects a major Organ & Bowel in your body! For example, foods with a bitter taste will be guided to the heart, so bitter foods nourish the heart. The nutrients and vital energy in bitter foods will enable the heart to build more tissues and become healthier and stronger, thereby improving its function. Anyone who has drunk two or three cups of strong coffee within a brief period has experienced his heart “beat like crazy”, not from caffeine so much as from coffee being a bitter food according to Taoism &Chinese Medicine! Unfortunately, coffee gives little or nothing of nutritional value to the heart so it simply stimulates the heart causing it to beat faster, not become stronger.
- Spicy: Lung/Large Intestine
- Sour: Liver/Gallbladder
- Sweet: Spleen-Pancreas/Stomach
- Salt: Kidney/Bladder
- Bitter: Heart/Small Intestine
To elaborate further, spicy food or piquant food is food for the lungs and large intestine. So cinnamon, pepper, chili and curry are good for coughs and colds. Sour food is food for the liver. Apples & grapefruit are examples of sour foods. Sweet food is food for the pancreas, string beans are considered good for the pancreas. Salt is food for the kidneys, salt stimulates the kidneys and makes it work. Too much salt however, causes the kidneys to overwork and become weak.
Other examples:
- Sweet: Almonds, Beans, Beets, Black Eye Peas, Eggplant, Kale, Lettuce, Milk, Oatmeal, etc….
- Sour: Beef, Breads, Buttermilk, Freshwater Fish, Red Meat, Sausages, Turkey, Yogurt, etc…
- Bitter: Asparagus, Avocados, Broccoli, Chocolate, Cocoa, Green Vegetables, Tea, Turnips, etc…
- Salty: Butter, Canned foods, Cheeses, Egg, Saltwater Fish, Ham, frozen food, Tofu, etc…
- Spicy: Basil, Chili, Cayenne Pepper, Garlic, Ginger, Liquor, Mint, Onion, Vanilla, Wine, etc…
So a balanced diet according to the Five Tastes, each meal would look like this:
- Sweet: 20%
- Sour 20%
- Bitter 20%
- Spicy 20%
- Salty 20%
Excessive Sweet Taste Diet (one that may cause: hypoglycemia, diabetes, heartburn, indigestion, constipation & water retention)
- Sweet 50%
- Sour 30%
- Spicy 10%
- Bitter 5%
- Salty 5%
Excessive Sour & Salty Taste Diet (one that may cause: kidney weakness & disease, heart ailments and high blood pressure)
- Sweet 20%
- Sour 30%
- Spicy 10%
- Bitter 10%
- Salty 30%
The key with food is balance, combining the right amount of each of the Five Tastes! For instance, too many apples a day (sour) would further weaken a weak liver eventually, even if it temporarily appears stronger. Also, color, texture & aroma are equally important with food. No-one wants to eat food that is limp, hard and has a bad odor, well not most any way.
The new USDA My Plate program is a great improvement over the old food pyramids. The Taoist method was also based on the concept of “viewing your plate”. With a few modifications we can actually improve “My Plate”, for instance; in place of Protein-use Meat, also have soup or drink tea, coffee, wine etc… after the meal. Animal protein is necessary in small amounts (approx. 3-4 oz. per day) and is not the same as vegetable protein. Drinking while we eat reduces our saliva and prevents proper digestion, red wine is an exception however, and is permissible while eating. Since strong tea, coffee and wine are acidic, they can aide in digestion if you drink them after the meal. In a future article we will discuss the reason for including white rice and potatoes with meals, look for Acid/Alkaline balance for proper digestion.
Balancing the Five Tastes along with the meal being colorful, with good texture and aroma is the secret to balancing your food/meals. You now know what it truly means to have a “balanced diet”!
Will you ever see food the same way again; next time you eat, take the time to consider what is on your plate, then make a wise decision, and Enjoy your Meal. We are after all what we eat!
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(Article) Lao Tzu: Tao can be spoken of
Lao Tzu is one of the most important Taoist Sages and Teachers of all time. One of his greatest contributions was the Tao Teh Ching (Sacred/Heavenly text of Tao’s [God’s] Virtues). The Tao Teh Ching is the second most published and translated book in the world; behind only the Bible.
We will save a history of the Tao Teh Ching and Lao Tzu for another article. The purpose here is to correct and explain a common misinterpretation and mistranslation of one of the most important tenets of the text; the first two lines of the first section.
A brief historical note is necessary here to clarify the intended point. The Tao Teh Ching was recorded 2,500 years ago in Classical Chinese script. This poses many problems for translators:
- Very few people today are able to read and write Classical Chinese
- The text was encrypted with Taoist writing techniques hiding the true meaning and often misleading those who do not have mastery of Taoism
- In order to read the Tao Teh Ching today, it must first (unless you understand Classical Chinese) be translated from Classical Chinese into Modern or Simplified Chinese (Mandarin)
- For the rest of the world the text must then be translated into another language ie: English, German etc…
Popular Translations
As you can imagine, if one mistake is made in this process or if one piece is missing even though you may be reading the Tao Teh Ching, it can become quite difficult to say you are reading “The Tao Teh Ching” as written by Lao Tzu. The first two lines will demonstrate this problem.
- Tao Te Ching, Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English (25th Anniversary Edition): “The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name…”
- Tao Te Ching, James Legge: “The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name…”
- The Complete works of Lao Tzu, Hua-Ching Ni: “Tao, the subtle reality of the universe cannot be described. That which can be described in words is merely a conception of the mind. Although names and descriptions have been applied to it, the subtle reality is beyond description…”
- Revealing the Tao Te Ching, Hu Xuezhi: “The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name…”
Note: this is only a selection of the vast array of translations available and is used to describe an overall trend in practically all of the available translations of the Tao Teh Ching.
The overall trend and intention of the translations of the first two lines is to say: The Tao cannot be named and cannot be spoken of. Dear reader, please ponder this meaning for a moment….
Why would Lao Tzu a Taoist Sage, chief/head/minister of the Imperial Archives write a book with the title The Sacred text of God’s Virtues, and continue to write 81 sections about these Virtues, if Tao cannot be named and cannot be spoken of?
The simple answer is:
The common translation and interpretation of the first two lines (as well as others) is not correct and not what Lao Tzu wrote.
If you carefully examine the Classical script along with the knowledge of Taoist Philosophy & Science you come up with an entirely different translation:
“The Tao can be spoken of, thought about and practiced.”
“The Great Tao has no bodily form, but It produced and nourishes heaven and earth. The Great Tao has no passions, but It causes the sun and moon to revolve as they do. The Great Tao has no name, but It effects the growth and maintenance of all things. I do not know its name, but I make an effort, and call It the Tao” (The Great Tao by Dr. Stephen T. Chang & Ching Chin Ching: The Classic of Purity by James Legge).
Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Teh Ching for the same reason Fu Xi recorded the I-Ching and Huang Di wrote “The Classic of the Internal”, because Tao can be spoken of, thought about, taught, practiced and experienced. This is why Lao Tzu described it as “My Tao is easy to follow and simple to practice, yet very few will.”
As Lao Tzu said: “The highest person upon hearing the Tao immediately practices it, the average person upon hearing the Tao thinks about it or is unimpressed, the lowest person upon hearing of the Tao laughs loudly. If there was no laughter than it would not be the Tao.”
May the path and your journey be more clear.
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(Article) Attitude of Heaven: Taoist method of planning & attaining goals
Man has been interested in planning and creating things since the beginning of time, it is indeed one of the attributes that makes us human. The ability to plan and create is a God given gift, however, it is a gift that many never develop into a skill and even less develop into a Great Skill or Mastery.
At the beginning of each year people the world over contemplate what they would like to do in the upcoming year and try as quickly as possible to forget the prior year now passing. Others will come up with “New Year’s resolutions” similar to: losing weight, making more money, getting a job, being promoted, getting married, having a child, volunteering more etc… But how well does the method of thinking and dreaming actually work? How many of us actually achieve our New Years Resolutions? How many write them down? If you do write them down, then what?
In a moment you will discover a truly powerful method to plan & attain your goals. First consider a Taoist concept: “The right person, who does the right thing, in the right way, at the right place, with the right people, commands success (The Integral Management of Tao, p. 62)”.
The ancient Taoists (in particular the Yellow Emperor in the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of the Internal, over 5,000 years ago) observed that the entire Universe was an oscillation of two forces Yin and Yang . After much investigation they discovered that Yang (——-, solid line) consists of: life, goodness, justice, righteousness, light, peace, heat, wealth, happiness, heaven, growth, the sun, active, things on the surface etc… With Yin (— —, broken line) consisting of: death, evil, injustice, unrighteousness, darkness, war, cold, poverty, unhappiness, hell, decay, the moon, passive, that which is deep or hidden etc… Yin and Yang represents every conceivable pair of opposites (Dr. Stephen Chang, The Integral Management of Tao, p.48).
If we look at the three solid lines or Yang lines, from the Pakua (Taoist symbol), we see the symbol that represents Ultimate Yang or Heaven. These three Yang lines represent absolute progressiveness, constantly improving-growing-learning. A person that wants to be successful will constantly strive to mirror the ways of Heaven by constantly improving, growing & learning. The nature of life is to live, and what one lives for is called a goal.
Throughout Taoism’s history these three Yang lines have held the secret to success and with practice you will understand why. The lines represent: immediate goals, mid range goals and long term goals. The method is to contemplate and then write down what you want to accomplish in the next: 6 months, 2 years and 5 years. Make sure the goals are challenging, realistic and specific. If you want to lose weight in 6 months; how many lbs, inches, body fat % etc… Also make sure you have a WHY for each goal, what does losing weight mean to you, why lose it; is it so you will live long enough to enjoy your grand or great grand kids? If you want to make more money, WHY, why should your employer pay you more, why should your business make more money, widgets etc…?
After you have the lists, the next step is to review them daily and make revisions at least monthly. If you take the time to do this, then this will be the beginning of a new you and this will, regardless of what others are saying, be a prosperous & blessed year!
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(Article) Tao of revitalization: the way of self healing & longevity
External Exercise?
Like most people, you have probably heard somewhere, perhaps from your doctor, a magazine or TV show; that exercise is good for you. Perhaps, after hearing this you begin to research and think about exercising or you may be the type of person that decides one day to “Just do it” like the Nike commercials tell us.
Before you venture out there and just do it …or if you already did…there are a few questions that you probably have, if not then you should consider.
- why am I exercising
- what form is best
- what is the ultimate goal
- how will this exercise help me to reach that goal
- is there such a thing as the wrong exercise
- and in the long run will this help me to live longer, happier and be truly healthy
Now if you pick up an exercise book, magazine or go to a local gym, you will be directed towards the following: exercise machines, free weights, cardio machines, sports, calisthenics, aerobics, pilates, yoga, zumba, martial arts and a long list of other options. In short, you will have a long list of options that although they appear different actually offer the same end result and goal. That is, to have an attractive outer appearance/figure. All of these methods can also be classified under the same category of External Exercise since there emphasis is on the surface or outside of the body.
We are told that these external exercises will help to improve our health and will help our heart as well. On the contrary, external exercise actually puts increased stress and tension on the body and only further depletes our vital energy from an already depleted account (Dr. Stephen Chang, Complete System of Self Healing, Internal Exercise, and The Dao of Taijiquan by Jou, Tsung Hwa).
Not only is the exercise itself depleting but the end goal of larger muscles, increased heart rate; further strains our internal organs and systems which contributes to further weakening. When you age, and your muscles begin to break down and convert to fat this will further contribute to a weaker body. So to sum up external exercise: it is a fast approach to developing the body and external figure, which rapidly weakens and decreases the function of the internal vital organs and energy, ultimately increasing the aging process. Look at Arnold Schwarzenegger’s heart trouble as an example, or professional athletes being considered old in their 30’s. How is 35 old and how can we consider that form of exercise productive if it causes us to be “old” at such a young age? And if muscles are a prerequisite to strength and health then why is it so difficult for a grown adult to remove the hand of a newborn baby when it squeezes or holds onto their finger? The good news is that there is a way to balance out the side effects of external exercise!
Another Option does exist
There is a system of exercise that’s existed for over 6,000 years and was referred to and written about in both the Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine (approx. 5,000 years ago) and Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching (2,500 years ago). This method is called the Tao of Revitalization (Yǎng Shēng Shù) or Internal Exercise.
What is Internal Exercise?
Taoists discovered long ago that mankind must fulfill two basic physical needs in order to maintain, revitalize and prolong our lives.
1) Consumption (eating, drinking, etc…)
2) Motion
a) Mind movement (thinking)
b) Body movement (breathing and other functions of
internal organs and external limbs)
c) Sex
If either of the two basic needs are not properly met and sustained then life will cease. Internal exercise in almost every aspect is the opposite of external exercise. The emphasis is placed on healing, energizing and improving the function of the internal organs. The Internal organs are the key to youth, immunity against disease and true health (Dr. Stephen Chang, Complete System of Self Healing, Internal Exercise, p. 13).
Since external exercise depletes our energy through its fast and or strenuous movements; Internal exercise functions through slow, smooth, gentle, natural and precise movements that coordinate: physical movement, breathing, mental focus and spiritual awareness thus benefitting body, mind and spirit.
There are many forms or versions of Internal exercise, some more well known versions are Qigong (Chi Kung) and Dao Yin or Do-In as it is called in Japan. Many experiments in the west and east, as well as time tested faithful practice, have confirmed why the Tao of Revitalization/Internal exercises were given the title “The Foremost of Therapies” by the Yellow Emperor. “One study by Dr. Pao Ling published in Guolin Research Report involved 2,873 terminal cancer patients where “Chi Kung” therapy was used to treat their afflictions. Within a six month period, about 12% of the patients were cured and about 47% showed significant improvements in their condition, about 41 % showed no improvement” (Dr. Stephen Chang, Complete System of Self Healing, p. 14-15). That is almost 60% of the people cured or significantly improved after only 6 months of therapy/practice, truly incredible. The list of research would fill a book on its own so I will only include the one study for now. Future articles will reference others where appropriate.
Let us pause for today with one final thought that earlier was referred to as the goods news…. “If you do external exercises, you must do internal exercise. If you do internal exercise, you can forget about external exercise” (Dr. Stephen Chang).
Until next time, Best Wishes and Many Blessings to all.
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(Article) What is Tao?
What is Tao?
(Continued from the article Taoism: The Science and Philosophy of Life & Longevity)
If Taoism is the Science and Philosophy of Life & Longevity; then a logical question is; What is Tao? What is the source of that which Taoists study?
Most people translate Tao as the path or The Way. This is partially true, if you use the lower case version of tao. Others will mention being in harmony with nature, being at peace, flowing with what’s natural, balancing Yin & Yang etc… All of these are accurate descriptions but the question still eludes us, if Tao is the Path or The Way, then what is it the WAY of. What we are discussing here is not just tao, but TAO or Da Tao(大道, Great Tao). So what is this Da Tao or TAO that the ancient Taoists were speaking of. Quite simply TAO or Tao is the Chinese word for The Way of God. When a person is following The Way and he/she is in harmony with nature, at peace, balancing Yin/Yang, etc… they are literally walking with God, by elevating their body, mind & spirit. Let us look at a section from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu to see what he had to say about Tao. Note the following qoutes are from the “Tao Te Ching translated by Gia Fu Feng and Jane English”. Notice how the text reads when you replace Tao with God.
Section 21:
The greatest Virtue is to follow Tao (God) and Tao (God) alone.
The Tao (God) is elusive and intangible.
Oh, it is intangible and elusive, and yet within is image.
Oh, it is elusive and intangible, and yet within is form.
Oh, it is dim and dark, and yet within is essence.
This essence is very real, and therein lies faith.
From the very beginning until now its (God’s) name has never been forgotten.
Thus I perceive creation.
How do I know the way of creation?
Because of this.
Section 23:
To talk little is natural.
High winds do not last all morning.
Heavy rain does not last all day.
Why is this? Heaven and earth!
If Heaven and earth cannot make things eternal,
How is it possible for man?
He who follows Tao (God)
Is at one with Tao (God).
He who is virtuous
Experiences (God’s) Virtue.
He who loses the Way (God’s Way)
Feels lost.
When you are at one with the Tao (God),
The Tao (God) welcomes you.
When you are at one with (God’s) Virtue, The Virtue is always there.
When you are at one with loss,
The loss is experienced willingly.
He who does not trust enough
Will not be trusted.
Taoism developed its 8 Subjects/Pillars with the goal of helping a person to not only achieve balance, peace and harmony, but to literally create a system to completely elevate their body, mind & spirit so they could “walk with God”.
Let us review for a moment:
Tao is The Way of God, Taoism is the Science and Philosophy of Life & Longevity (designed to elevate a person’s body, mind and spirit), and a Taoist is a person pursuing this path in an active, engaged manner. It is interesting to point out that being a Taoist does not interfere with a person’s Religious beliefs or cultural customs. It is very common for someone to follow Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism etc… or be Agnostic and also apply the Taoist Principles and the Science of Life & Longevity to their lives in a meaningful way that further enriches, and deepens their life and understanding. Let us take a break for now and ponder the words of Lao Tzu. Before we meet again, make sure you go for a walk, breathe slowly and deeply, and take the time to enjoy family-friends-and nature.
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