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Nine things that will lead any student to failure
In a prior article we listed 9 faults or traits masters and teachers of any subject or system must avoid in order to be successful and to help ensure the success of their students. This article is going to shift the focus onto the students and the top 10 faults that leads to their demise or failure. This list is applicable regardless of the quality of the teacher, and of course becomes even more important as the quality of the teacher/teaching increases.
It would be a good practice to review this list throughout ones training and endeavors and use the list as a daily “check yourself” check list. If you encounter trouble or begin to struggle and you notice that you are exhibiting one of these faults, then the conscientious student would be wise to immediately stop, reflect and let go of the fault.
- Many traditions talk of the necessity for faith and the trouble that arises from faithlessness. This is indeed very important, and a word of caution as well, do not act on blind faith. True faith comes from acting on ones accumulated knowledge and wisdom as well as the accumulated knowledge and wisdom of those who have come before, those that helped lay the path or Way per say. Blind faith is actually a form of ignorance and usually leads one to oppression and tyranny. So have true faith and avoid blind faith either from your own ego or the teachers.
- Avoid being immature with yourself and others. Traditionally a master or teacher would take on a role similar to a parent, and sometimes depending on the situation people would be even closer to their teacher than their own parents. You must avoid, however, placing your progress and growth at the feet of the teacher and expect them to do the work for you. In any endeavor your success or failure is ultimately yours and yours alone; others naturally assist but ultimately your life is up to you to live!
- Water is the most powerful and purifying element on the planet, this is true only because water moves so slowly, it is not ambitious but also not lazy. When water meets a solid object in its path it will either go around the obstacle or gently and repeatedly come in contact with the object until it wears it down and wears it away. Notice the Grand Canyon, the water and ice were far more powerful than all the earth in its path. What is most feared in a hurricane is not the wind or rain, rather the storm surge, think tidal waves etc… Laziness should have no place in the body, mind or spirit of any true student.
- As someone develops themselves they will naturally and spontaneously begin to experience different levels of awareness, consciousness, intelligence, wisdom and enhanced physical capabilities as well. It is important to practice humility and and being humble as to avoid inflating the ego and make the mistake of developing the traits of a bully. Many people learn a new skill, technique, system etc… and their first thought is to go- speak, show, tell, demonstrate etc… If you begin to develop a skill, keep it to yourself and continue to cultivate it. Let things develop slowly and naturally and avoid feeling that you are somehow better than other people. There is an old saying in martial arts: “the most dangerous martial artist is a white belt or beginner, because they learn a few skills but lack the wisdom to know not to use it.” How many doctors fail as students because they only recommend a healing method they are trained in; surgeons recommending surgery etc… and telling their patients this is the only way, is this not a form of bullying.
- One must keep their mind and energy focused on the true goals of cultivation which is benefiting the body-mind-spirit. One of the greatest obstacles on any path is the allure of materialism. Now, let us clarify one thing, in order to live we all need some things, whether it be food, or clothing, shelter etc… Materialism comes into play when the items become the object and purpose of a goal rather than a natural consequence or benefit. What could you possibly achieve in life if your energy, time, health, money etc… is being used in the pursuit of materialistic items? We have all heard the quote regarding “a fool and his money being soon parted.” The great sage and Emperor Huang Di (Yello Emperor) stated in his Medical Classic that when a person becomes sick or diseased it will cost him two things: time and money. If one is not willing to sacrifice both how could he possibly expect to heal? The flip side of the coin or sword is that the pursuit of time and money and the resulting stress of those pursuits is often the root cause of many of our modern illnesses and diseases.
- It is not uncommon for people to become overzealous and even obsessive when they devote time and energy to pursuing a goal. As much as possible, however, this must be avoided. Being obsessive is a form of blind faith as it does not allow the proper time for discernment and reflection. It can also trap a person and lock them into a compartmentalized version of their training, a self imposed prison – if you will. For example, if a student begins to develop a particular skill or ability and begins to fixate on that ability as the object of their training then all other possibilities will be neglected or removed.
- Hollywood, television, fiction and science fiction novels have influenced and tainted the views of many people. More often than not, a persons outlook or viewpoint is not original but a manufactured response to a particular form of advertising or other suggestive process. A student must be very careful they do not carry these forms of fantasy into their practice or endeavor. As much as possible remain as close to the blank slate or the forest in its natural state principles.
- Failure to practice and failure to properly learn and memorize are all rooted in the same problem. A student must take the time to sincerely and consistently practice, of course this becomes all the more difficult if the above faults are allowed to occur. Also, do not use the excuse of having a poor memory, as sincerity and consistency will make any memory more powerful.
- Being immoral has ruined more people and stopped more goals than perhaps all of the other faults combined. Morals does not begin when one makes it, we do not become good people at the top, or when the goal is reached, we must be good people at the beginning, throughout the process and even after completion. Ones moral compass should always point true. Everything in this Universe has set principles, set laws, one could say set morals, humans are no different. Imagine the chaos, if one of the planets disobeyed the laws of the Universe and decided to change their orbit, what if the moon decided it no longer wanted to reflect the Suns light, or if the north pole suddenly decided it would rather be south. Let your morals be as concrete and solid as the Universal Laws around us.
Note: this is a modified version of a list from the book Scholar Warrior by Deng Ming-Dao.
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Movie review: Confucius starring Chow Yun-Fat
This is a portrayal of an often misunderstood Taoist Sage and Scholar: Kong Fu-tzu or Confucius. The movie is just over two hours in length, however, you will be so drawn into the scenery and storyline that you will be surprised when the movie is over. The movie is available on Netflix and Amazon.com.
The viewer should have at least some background knowledge regarding the life and teachings of Confucius in order to appreciate the often subtle yet important moments of the film. For instance, the meeting between Confucius and Lao Tzu, where Confucius addresses Lao Tzu as his Master and Teacher. Many people, especially in the West, portray Confucius and Lao Tzu as opposites and claim that the teachings of the two masters were at odds with each other. It is well known, however, that Confucius was a Taoist Scholar and Sage and spent most of his life studying the I-Ching (Classic of Change) and adding the very same commentaries/elucidations that are still used to this day. This will be discussed further in another article.
There are several great moments in this film; in the beginning of the film a child slave escaped being put to death and sealed in the tombs with all the other servants of the recently deceased leader. While running away from the guards, he is discovered by one of Confucius’ top students who protects him and allows him to hide in the school/academy. During a meeting of the ministers and advisors, Confucius uses the meeting as a teaching moment for the government. The Prime Minister was discussing whether or not a sacrificial bird should be permitted to live since its feathers were not perfect, or should they condemn the bird to death to fulfill the sacrifice. The ministers all agree they should spare the bird’s life and release it in the forest so it can have a long and happy life. At this moment Confucius motions for the child slave to come forward and the Prime Minister and General both recognize the child and immediately question Confucius as to why he is hiding the child and then begin to list all of the reasons why the child should die.
Confucius uses the example of the recently released bird as a reason why the boy should live; sometimes breaking an old custom is the best option or else we are trapped by those customs. Surely, the life of a child is worth more than the bird, how can you have the compassion to let the bird live and not the child? As the ministers begin to agree the general steps up and claims that the child should die, because it was the leaders wishes that all those whom he loved the most should die with him, and this slave was his favorite, therefore he must die. Confucius looks directly into the generals eyes and states: ‘were you not very loved by him, and did you not live with and work him most of your life, in fact were you not his favorite and most loved General?’ His response, ‘of course I was’, at which time, Confucius stated: ‘then you will have to die as well to fulfill his wishes’. Of course, the general admits defeat and returns to his seat, the Prime Minister then announces the boy can live.
This was one of many examples in the movie, where Confucius using Taoist principles from the I-Ching and other Taoist classics was able to defeat an opponent and cause a situation to have an auspicious outcome without using force. One could say it was his intellect, others his keen wit, but in reality it was the principles on which he stood firm, that made this possible. Think of the story regarding Jesus and the Pharisees when they challenged his understanding of the Law of Moses regarding Adultery….Jesus’ famous response was: ‘let he who among you that is without sin, throw the first stone’.
It was a pleasure to see a movie take an honest (although not complete) look at one of the world’s greatest Philosophers, Sages and Scholars. Perhaps, this will open more discussions and debate into the real Kong Fu-tzu and his Taoist teachings and understanding of the Tao of Man.
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Nine faults a master or teacher must avoid
Being a master or teacher should be one of the most respected and appreciated positions in society, to a lesser extent coaching as well. Since people in these positions have close personal contact with people from various levels of society and from various age groups, there is an enormous potential to have either a positive or negative impact on society.
There is famous Taoist saying that when the “student is ready the teacher will appear, and when the teacher is ready to teach and lead the student(s) will appear.” How many people, however, have been harmed emotionally, physically or psychologically by bad teachers, whether it be school, work, political, martial, medical or even spiritual and religious.
What guidelines should we use to determine if a teacher is ethically, morally and legitimately qualified to do the work they are doing? How much effort do you really put into researching and observing the traits and qualities of your potential teacher, advisor, doctor, politician etc…?
These traits should be viewed honestly and if the person in question is in violation of them then you really should take action and leave the situation immediately.
- A true teacher should never exploit their student(s) for any purpose, especially not for selfish reasons; material gain or social recognition etc…
- Any sexual contact between the student and teacher should be strictly forbidden.
- Observe the teacher and make sure they are practicing what they teach, in fact they should be practicing at a much higher level than the students. Hypocrisy is an especially dangerous trait in any advisory or teaching role. How many times have you seen a Cardiologist that is overweight or a healer that is unhealthy?
- A teacher must never abuse their role or try to impose power over the students.
- Being cruel or mean does not make one a good teacher, on the contrary this behavior almost always is rooted in the teachers insecurity and awareness of their own lack of ability. Imagine what impact the following comments could have one a student: “You’ve been doing this how long, and you still cannot (______)…, or yelling at the students because they are not acting tough enough.”
- The teacher must not control the development or destiny of the student, it is not their job to make sure that once you are a student you will always be their student. Beware of the teacher that insists their way is the only way or do not study with or listen to anyone but them etc…
- The teacher must authentically and genuinely care about the students; if they are teaching for any reason other than the benefit and growth of the student(s) then it is time to leave. Notice the emphasis on benefiting the students and their personal growth, compared to making sure the number of students/patients/voting block etc… increases which will in turn increase the teachers benefits.
- The true and ultimate role of a teacher is to awaken a potential in the student that otherwise may have remained dormant or undeveloped. How can this occur if the teacher is dishonest with themselves and others? Keep a watchful eye out for the fraudulent, cocky, braggart teachers for they will only cause harm to your development. “When going for a stroll be always on guard for the snake disguised as a blade of grass.”
- A true teacher will cause improvement and assist in elevating growth and development of the sincere students.
Regardless of what information or goal someone is seeking, it must be realized that not everyone is qualified to teach, lead or advise. It is up to each seeker to make the connections through careful observation. Just because someone attended a particular school, received a particular training or has a title that evokes awe and admiration, does not mean they have cultivated the traits, experience or wisdom to teach, lead and advise.
The next article will focus on some of the more common faults of students.
Note: this is a modified version of a list from the book Scholar Warrior by Deng Ming-Dao.
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Top Taoist stories of 2013
The year of the Water Snake was a fascinating year. We will reserve a review of the Water Snake events in more detail for another article. This issue will focus on some of the positive news and events of 2013 as reported by your National Taoism Examiner.
- Morikami Japanese Gardens offers the art of Bonsai workshop for beginners as a part of their ongoing commitment to sharing Japanese culture with the west. Bonsai is the Japanese term for “plants in a tray”; it is based on the word bon which is a tray like pot. The art is based on ‘an earlier meditation and self cultivation practice of Taoism called penzai, which means “tray scenery”.
- Can citrus help to lower your risk of stroke? A new report featured in “Stroke: a journal of the American Heart Association”, states that eating citrus may lower the risk of ischemic strokes (clots), especially in women. Ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked.
- 2013 is the year of the Yin Water Snake. This year the Yang Water Dragon is transitioning to the Yin Water Snake as the cycle of change continues from Yang to Yin. The snake is also known as the minor or little dragon and has some of the same attributes of Dragon years. In general, Snake years are regarded as auspicious years and a time for great change. It is also not uncommon for natural disasters, war and financial crisis to occur during these years as well.
- 10 Snake Years of the modern era: a retrospective list. Snake Years often contain many major global events. It is not uncommon for war, famine, disease and natural disasters to occur during these years. Of course, these are not the only events and many good stories are reported as well, however, one cannot deny the high occurrence of catastrophes and tragedies as well.
- Interview with Dr. Stephen Chang: Traditional Chinese medicine is at a crossroad. What do you think of the current state of Chinese Medicine? Chinese Medicine is now at a crossroads in its existence. The key to moving on lies in the understanding of its definition and the content of “internationalization of TCM” as well as the consciousness of the Chinese people.
- Peru takes a major step in the GMO battle. People around the world are beginning to awaken to the reality that the biodiversity of native and natural foods are under increasing assault from “genetically modified organisms” (GMO). Many countries have seen anti GMO protests and calls for GMO labeling laws; others have seen an increase in organic food production and outright bans on GMO food production and importation.
- Will Mexico join the movement against GMO food? Mexico has over 59 different indigenous strains of corn, and corn is a key ingredient in many dishes; from soup, tamales, bread, and the well known tacos and tortillas. Corn is so important to the Mexican diet that an ancient Mayan text states that “man and corn are…inextricably linked –giving rise to the saying that Mexicans are ‘people of corn’. (Lauren Villagran, Christan Science Monitor)”
- NutraSweet: introduces a new poison to the world. The last few articles the National Taoism Examiner (NTE) has focused on Monsanto’s dangerous assault on the world’s food supply by forcing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and GM food onto most of the world’s dinner tables. In one form or another, unless you purchase and eat only organic food, you are probably consuming GM food. Even if you are very strict with food purchases there is still a very good chance that your clothing, furniture, toiletries etc… are made with GMO.
- An ancient answer to brain eating amoebas. According to WebMD, since 2001 there have been 400 reported cases worldwide, 35 of which were in the U.S.. It is important to point out that these are the reported numbers, no-one is exactly sure how many cases go unreported or are misdiagnosed. For instance, researchers are beginning to re-examine the records of people who died of meningitis to determine if the cause of death was in fact brain-eating amoebas.
- Royal jade cream is famous throughout history. Understanding that jade is a “living” stone—capable of absorbing the energies of the earth, emitting its power and changing to a color reflective of its wearer—the ancient Chinese had jade burial suits made specifically to encase and preserve their entire bodies upon death.
Don’t miss another National Taoism Examiner article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button below; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons and share the article with your friends and family as well.
Do you have a story, photo or video from your area that would be of interest to Taoists? Feel free to email (TJ@theQiInstitute.com) and they may be included or featured in a National Taoism Examiner article.
Reducing antibiotics in livestock is a step in the right direction
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new rules regarding the use of antibiotics and antimicrobial drugs in livestock.
“The Food and Drug Administration said the antibiotics could still be used to treat illnesses in animals raised for meat, but should otherwise be pared back over the next three years under a voluntary program to keep them out of the human food supply. Although voluntary, the agency said it expects drugmakers to fully adhere to the new guidelines and on Wednesday announced that two of these biggest purveyors of those antibiotics had already agreed to narrow their use. (Ransdell Pierson and Charles Abbott for Reuters)”
There is debate as to the true motivation behind this decision; is it due to the fact that a large percentage (80% by some estimates) of antibiotics in production are now used on livestock, greatly diminishing those available for human consumption. Or is the FDA trying to control the spread of MRSA type viruses which are becoming more resistant to the pharmaceutical companies current antibiotics. Perhaps, it is driven more by economics as many countries are refusing to import American beef and poultry due to the overwhelming safety concerns of consuming meat and meat products tainted with antibiotics, growth hormones and GMO animal feed.
Regardless of the ultimate motivation, it is a step in the right direction. This ruling, however, does not go far enough.
For instance; why make this a voluntary program, why give the companies three years to fully comply, with what level of certainty can the American people trust that this ruling is sincere and that companies will comply?
“Our fear … is that there will be no reduction in antibiotic use as companies will either ignore the plan altogether or simply switch from using antibiotics for routine growth promotion to using the same antibiotics for routine disease prevention,” said Steven Roach, senior analyst with advocacy group Keep Antibiotics Working. (Ransdell Pierson and Charles Abbott for Reuters)”
Is this a sign that the US government will take further steps to ensure the safety of the food supply? Can we expect to see GMO labeling laws, tax and business incentives for Organic or Natural farmers as well as grocery stores that primarily sell these items? How about following in the footsteps of Mexico, Peru, Kingdom of Bhutan, UK and many EU countries and ban these harmful practices. Can we look forward to Dr.’s being fined for prescribing antibiotics unnecessarily or better yet, how about reward Dr.’s who refer their patients to healing methods that do not rely on killing life (anti-bio) to begin with.
The Yellow Emperor (Huang Di, Emperor and Taoist Sage/Scholar) stated that what we eat and drink and the nutrients we consume are our first line of defense against illness and disease, they are, however, also the very same doorway to those evil calamities as well.
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Royal jade cream is famous throughout history
What is the significance of jade as the key ingredient?
Understanding that jade is a “living” stone—capable of absorbing the energies of the earth, emitting its power and changing to a color reflective of its wearer—the ancient Chinese had jade burial suits made specifically to encase and preserve their entire bodies upon death.
When modern archaeologists unearthed the jade-encased bodies many thousands of years later for scientific study, they were astonished by their findings. The state of preservation of the bodies from un-violated graves were remarkable: they were freshly preserved externally as well as internally—as if they had just died—even after more than 2,000 years of burial. Not only was the skin still elastic without any sign of rot, but also the food inside the stomach was preserved.
Jade is so well known that it is recorded in the Chinese Medical Classics as a skin preservative. It is with these properties in mind that Dr. Stephen Chang’s great grandfather Cui Guo Yin formulated Jade Cream through an alchemical process.
Cui Guo Yin was a famous physician, professor to the Emperor of China, as well as ambassador to the United States during the Benjamin Harrison administration (1889 to 1893). When Jade Cream was presented to the Empress Dowager to use, it became famous because of the phenomenal results she obtained.
Functions of the Jade Cream:
- Preserve youthfulness of skin by making it healthy and radiant.
- Correct skin problems. Its nutrients generate new, healthy skin tissues and repairs old, unhealthy cells. Therefore, it can correct any kind of skin problem, for example: scars, wrinkles, blemishes—even moles (testimony of one of the greatest of international stars).
- Imparts a tanned, radiant glow while prolonging a tan and minimizing sun-damage.
- Forms a protective barrier from the effects of the pollution, wind and cold.
- The physicians of the Royal Family of China have also reported a wide range of benefits for symptoms such as joints deformed by arthritis, herpes, sprained ankles, psoriasis, breast lumps, vaginal infections, skin cancer, spinal dysfunction, hemorrhoids, cataracts, glaucoma and eczema. Its effectiveness has been continuously proven over the centuries. Dr. Chang has received a “mountain” of testimonials from throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Royal Jade Cream is made exclusively by Dr. Stephen Chang.
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NQA DAY 2013: Get excited get involved be the Qi
“The NQA’s Regional Committee is excited to announce the Second Annual NQA DAY, being held Saturday October 5, 2013 at locations around the country. Events are already scheduled in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah 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 REGIONALS
Qigong in the Park, Central Park
Saturday October 5, 2013
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Mineral Springs – Central Park West, West 69’th Street, New York, NY 10019
“Come Qi with us at the Mineral Springs area off 73rd Street and central Park West. Join teachers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut who will provide a variety of forms to enhance vital ener-Qi! The event is free!”
Lamont Thomas – ldtlamont@sbcglobal.net – 203.843.1595
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National Qigong Day
Saturday, October 5, 2013
9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
106 Kimberbrae Drive – Kimberton, PA 19442
“Come Celebrate National Qigong Association Day with Helene Albright NQA Certified Qigong Instructor. Complimentary program includes sharing Qi thru Qigong movements, breath work, education and fun activities. We will spice up our Qi gathering with refreshments after the program. Reservations are mandatory so we can plan accordingly.”
Helene Albright at 610-933-6735 or hmalbright@comcast.net
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NQA DAY Celebration
Saturday, October 5, 2013
12:30 to 1:30 PM
Burroughs Community Center – 2470 Fairfield Avenue – Bridgeport, CT
“Come Qi with us in Bridgeport, CT and the Burroughs Community Center. Join teachers Julie Moffat, Darryl Manning & Maryann Charmoz of Connecticut who will provide a variety of forms to enhance vital ener-Qi. The event is free.”
Julie Moffat juliemoffat3@hotmail.com
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EAST CENTRAL REGIONALS
Discover Qigong: The Art of healthy Living
Saturday, October 5, 2013
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Kankakee Farmers’ Market, Kankakee, IL
“Come discover the healing energy of Qigong. Teachers will be on hand to lead gentle exercise routines that feature healthful breathing, moderate stretching, and mindful movement designed to let you achieve and maintain a sense of wellness in your life. The event is sponsored by the National Qigong Association (NQA), the premiere membership organization for practitioners and teachers of the Healing Energy Arts.”
Gary F. Paruszkiewicz,C.S.M.E. NQA Practitioner Member = gfprelax1@gmail.com www.relax1.net
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WEST CENTRAL REGIONALS
Denver NQA Day Celebration
Saturday, October 12, 2013
1:30 to 4:30 PM
Dancing the Soul, A Center for Creative Movement and Stillness
950-C Jersey Street
Denver, CO 80220
303-502-4586
“We will celebrate Qigong by exploring various simple forms from at least three instructors. We will have time between sessions for door prize drawings, sharing refreshments and to network with other practitioners and teachers. This event is open to people of all levels of experience, including those new to Qigong.”
Eric Imbody, Professional Member 303-355-1239 eimbody@earthlink.net
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Qigong in the Tao Garden
Saturday, October 5, 2013
11am to 1 pm. Weather permitting
The Center Place
2730 29th Street
Boulder Colorado
“Come and join others in the peaceful backyard of the Center Place. We will do several forms of Qigong as a group. All levels of experience are welcome.”
Annie Roberts, Professional NQA Member, 303-425-5345
Damaris Jarboux, Professional NQA Member, 303-447-0484
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Radiant Lotus Women’s Qigong & Tai Chi
Friday, October 4, 2013
12:00 noon to 2:00 PM
3220 South State St. Salt Lake City, UT
“Join us as we celebrate National Qigong Association Day. One hour of Radiant Lotus Women’s Qigong with Kimerly Wagstaff, RN, CHN followed by one hour of Old Yang Style Tai Chi taught by Master Cheng Tsang Lu. This event is FREE.”
Kimerly at 801.201.5887
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WESTERN REGIONALS
Qigong in the Park for Everyone
Saturday, October 5, 2013
9:30 to 11:30 AM
Cloverdale City Park – West end of 2nd Street – Cloverdale, CA. 95425
“PYNK Qigong will again be hosting a qigong workshop open to the public and celebrating NQA DAY with our special guest the venerable Mark Johnson a founding member of the National Qigong Association (NQA). Share the experience of ancient Chinese health practices as traditionally done in the fresh air and sunshine of our local free park.”
Janet Seaforth – NQA Level III Instructor – 707.894.7345 – www.PYNKQigong.com – seaforthjohnson@att.net
Don’t miss another National Taoism Examiner article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button below; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons and share the article with your friends and family as well. You can also follow the Qi Institutes Taoism blog.
Do you have a story, photo or video from your area that would be of interest to Taoists? Feel free to email (TJ@theQiInstitute.com) and they may be included or featured in a National Taoism Examiner article.
An honest review of the book Scholar Warrior
Over the last 60 years or so many books have been written about Taoism, very few of them, however, were written by those trained in the Taoist sciences. Many were written by Orientalists (academics and journalists devoted to destroying the history and cultures of the east and middle east), disillusioned hippies (searching for a way to escape their societal responsibilities) and fake eastern gurus. It is the last category that perhaps has caused the most harm, as more often than not, the person searching for answers will fall the hardest for the person who (on outward appearances alone) seems to fit the mold of the one they are searching for.
This review is not about the author, however, and as such the National Taoism Examiner will focus on some of the contents of the book which claims to be “An Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life”, Scholar Warrior by Deng Ming-Dao.
The book is divided into three main sections with twelve subsections:
Book 1: Beginnings
- Scholar Warrior: maximizing the versatility
- Three Treasures: the basis for personal health
- The Marrow Washing Classic: a complete approach to stretching and exercise
- Northern Star Qigong: cultivating internal energy
- Herbs: the secret of dietary transformation
Book II: Philosophy and Issues
- Tao: grounding yourself philosophically
- Masters and Students: the advantages and problems of study
- Resolving Doubts: confronting controversy
Book III: Meditation and Transcendence
- Daoyin: the bridge from exercise to mediation
- Meditation: the heart of Taoism
- Withdrawal: the opportunity to be spiritual
- Returning to the Source: the ultimate wisdom
Introduction…
The first few pages of the book are actually fairly good and the introduction does a good job creating how a person in so called modern times can learn about Tao and practice it as well. Unfortunately, after the introduction the book begins to become a mass of confusion and misinformation, beginning with the first chapter: Scholar Warrior Maximizing Versatility. On page 14, the author gives a description of the Manchu warriors as the epitome of a Scholar Warrior and describes them in other worldly terms even as exceeding the skill and training of the Shaolin and Wudang schools/temples. This is a major point of contention, as it is regarded by many that the Manchus are partly responsible for the destruction of China and that they paved the way for the last several hundred years of turmoil that China is just now beginning to recover from.
He describes how the Qing court required training in the following areas: “painting, poetry, music, calligraphy, history, the classics [does not mention what classics], mathematics, sciences [whose sciences?], medicine, statecraft, swordsmanship, horsemanship, archery, martial arts and strategy”…after properly demonstrating skill in each of these areas a person would gain the title of “Scholarly and Military Complete Talent”. It is this title that he uses as the basis for the “Scholar Warrior” which he claims is the proper image of a Taoist.
The points of emphasis were added because the author repeatedly does not mention the sources of his information, nor does he give proper credit to the practitioners of the tradition. For example, the classics being studied would have been the Taoist and Confucian classics as well as some Zen, the sciences would have been the 8 Sciences/Subjects of Taoism etc…. In fact, every so called skill of the Qing court listed in the book was a Taoist science/subject, spanning over 8,000 years of recorded history.
Moving forward in the first chapter, the author speaking on behalf of hygiene and nutrition gives the false statement that Taoists advocated drinking large amounts of liquids in general and in particular water. He advises people to drink more than 6-8 glasses of water per day. Again, this statement is proven erroneous with proper knowledge of Taoism and the classics where the advice given is to “drink when you are thirsty, eat when you are hungry, and sleep when you are tired”, other advice in Taoism includes the warning of not drinking too much (more than 36 ounces in 24 hours) as it damages the Kidneys and promotes water retention. The author of this book tells people the opposite, that drinking too little causes water retention. Which brings up another point, is the author misinformed or purposefully misinforming others?
More advice is given on eating three types of vegetables with each meal representing, according to the author, the three important colors of Taoism: red, yellow and green. What about the 5 colors or tastes which Taoism teaches should be present in meals? Why leave out the other two colors (white and black/purple)? In the same section he advises leaving out the following types of food and claims Taoist authority as the reason: turkey, pheasant, pigs, duck, geese, shellfish of all kinds, deep fried-greasy foods and heavily spicy food. Oh dear reader, you may already know that Taoism teaches ways to balance practically any meal and finds ways to the benefits of all food in their meals. For instance, pork and shellfish are very good for reducing tumors and hardness in the body, as well as decreasing internal heat.
Sexology and Dual Cultivation…
Let us take a break from the nutritional errors and move on to another important subject of Taoism: Sexology, often translated as dual cultivation. On page 31 the author states that dual cultivation is unfair to women and is nothing more than the man taking advantage of the woman to fulfill his sexual desires and goals. The fact that the technique is called “dual cultivation” should inform the author that the act is designed to benefit both people, whether it be to help overcome a health problem or to help further their physical-mental and spiritual cultivation. Another technique important to the Tao of Sexology is for the man to practice “holdbacks” to prolong love making and increase the benefits for the man and woman, it is actually designed to especially benefit the woman since it allows for higher levels of orgasm and multiple orgasms.
Your National Taoism Examiner must begin to conclude this review as an attempt to list all of the erroneous parts of the book would render the article far too long.
The final area of the book which exposes the true intention of Scholar Warrior is when the author makes the claim that Taoism borrowed many of its techniques and philosophical beliefs from India (Hinduism) and the Buddhists. The fact that Taoism predates both of those systems and the fact that Buddhism borrowed heavily from Taoism must have been unknown to or forgotten by the author.
A few good tips for the Master and Student…
There is an interesting section towards the end of the book listing some of the common faults of a “Master” (exploitation, hypocrisy, abuse of spiritual power, cruelty, possessiveness, inattentiveness, dishonesty and failure) and the common faults of a “Student” (faithlessness, immaturity, laziness, materialism, bullying, obsession, fantasy, poor memory and immorality). The “faults” listed are very good general guidelines to help both teachers and students along the path.
Amazon.com reviews…
One person leaving a review on Amazon.com stated:
“An unfortunate attitude ruins an otherwise informative book….this book is full of useful information, but unfortunately the author’s view on Taoism is rather discouraging.” And yet another stated: “Egotistical Tao?… Just ignore the meaning of his proses and rhetoric and you’ll actually find this book invaluable.”
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