Be not Affraid!

 My Grandmother and her three sisters and one brother left Finland during WWI as very young kids and teenagers. They traveled by a ship for several weeks, a unknown couple help them make it here. They left with the clothes on their back, and were not bilingual. As a kid I was often reminded how lucky we have it here and not take things for granted. Growing up we had no cable, internet etc. it was a different time we learned culture and traditions. Time was spent on nurturing life lessons, learning on what to do in life.  My parents and grand parents, elders will always be my greatest teachers to me; they made me who I am today. Those lessons make these trying days alot easier; my father always said don't worry alot things sort out if you can maintain patience. So very true!

There are many things you can do within your home life. This is not the end of the world having to sacrifice for the good of the cause.Now is the time to cleanse, lose a bad habit or get closer to a loved one whom might not always be around.My grandmother often said that her mother taught:

*Never give up on yourself or your dreams; there is always hope after despair.
*There is always a tomorrow after the storm
*True poverty is that of a lost soul; must have faith even in the worst circumstances.

Gary Abersold           

Sacred Symbol of Awakening ~ Lotus Flower

A student asked who's explanation on the Lotus Flower is correct? It's a good question since there's literally hundreds of articles on it. I feel everyone is allowed to express there feelings on anything; and I don't want to be the policeman on who's right, who's wrong. I believe everyone has their worth to chime in. 

One pithy answer from my early Ordained Buddhist Mentor is that the Lotus Flower is an important symbol in Buddhism, as it represents the process of awakening. The Lotus Flower beginning as a seed, it becomes secured in the sticky muck of a pond or dead end water body, and grows from that environment to blossom into this beautiful radiant flower. 

As a sacred symbol of awakening it represents the purity of our awakened body/mind, which in order to manifest itself, has to spring from the muck of normal existence. The Buddhist Religion in many forms has depicted this in their sacred art. The Lotus Flower/Lotus Blossom  is often depicted in the hands of various Icon's or shown as a platform seat on which they sit.  There are countless Buddhist documents, Recitation Practice's, short Mantra's (vocalization as a form of meditation), Mudra's (hand symbols) and Lotus Meditations using tantric imagery, and schools named after the Lotus Flower. Properly understood it for sure came from the Buddhist and has merged into many other systems of spirituality and health.

 Lotus Flower Invocation 

The purity of heaven, purity of earth; purity within and without; purity of my sense organs. Our mind being pure, there is no impurity in any pollution. Our sense organs of our body are pure, I am one with spirits of heaven and earth. Just as the awakened one has taught us the teaching of the Lotus Flower is like the shadow that accompanies form, if what we and what we do are pure, then all our personal request will be fulfilled and our happiness and longevity will be limitless. I am now endowed with the most revered and supreme sacred treasured teaching, my body/mind is pure like a beautiful Lotus Flower which transformed out of the emotional mud of the world.    

GWA

   

                                       

A Symbol of Hope for All

Statue of Liberty

 Hand Drawn Picture 1883  

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

The above is the full inscription from the statue of liberty. The Statue for most immigrants is the first thing they see/look for when coming by ship. My Grandmother on my fathers side recounted many times how they had to take what they wore and could carry in one bag, to leave their current life forever! This was in the early 1900's and she told me when they saw the statue they knew half the battle was over. They believed deep in their heart that once they arrived at Ellis Island they would be free from persecution of the Communist. 

The United States is a multi layered enclave of immigrants from all walks of life. This Country is more than just a symbol, but that of "hope, freedom, opportunity and place of new beginnings". In my life I have encountered many cultures, music and stage training and customs brought here by these indigenous people, whom have graciously shared with me the "foreigner". Although if you enjoy your Qigong Traditions, Yogic Arts or Martial Arts, you owe the gratitude to the people whom brought it here. This would not be possible if we were not a Integrated Society.

  

Each day more and more stories about immigrants being deported, DACA bill being rescinded in September. These are steps backwards not forwards; maybe George Orwell got is right in his essay of Nationalism read the cliff notes here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_on_Nationalism    

I am not here to bash the White House or the President, I will leave that for all the self righteous Facebooker's and Tweeter's. What I do think is we are going backwards, and talent, imagination and brilliant minds are not getting a fair chance because of partisan politics. Just remember if you like something that is uniquely imported from a different land such as Qigong, it is solely because of these brave men and women that forged to our foreign land. They seeked what Lady Liberty Stands for with her torch burning on high - Opportunity for all. Interesting that a Female Icon on our shores of New York Represents Balance and Opportunity?

GWA     

Health & Wellness, Cancer Prevention Through Qigong

Qigong for Cancer

  By

 Helen Liang

There is a new DVD available for purchase by Master Helen Liang, entitled "Qigong for Cancer".  Helen Liang is a Master in her own right, comes from a genuine family lineage. She is a Cancer survivor and has detailed 15 key real good exercises, Meditations and other insights that anyone looking into Qigong would appreciate. Perfect for beginners, and experienced alike. Filmed in crystal clear high definition video by YMAA Publishing. I wrote an  article about her with many links on my video page:

http://www.qigonghealingcenter.com/apps/videos/videos/show/19018570-qigong-healing-for-cancer   

Those that know me know I generally don't beat the drum to push products, market items in the name of Qigong. I am promoting this with no recompense involved for the sake of helping the community at large. It's a wonderful story as well, one cannot really go wrong with $40.00 investment, especially if going through Cancer Treatments or Recovery. They really did a fine job of keeping character in the video production, not a sterile boring video and her heartfelt testimonial of what she went through is of much welcomed value. I will also say that in a weary world at times its great to have these kind of story's to come across your desk.

Master Ling Guang Ming aka... "Guolin"
 

 Her story is reminiscent of the landscape painter "Guolin", whom created her own system of Qigong, due to a terminal Cancer diagnosis and  nowhere to turn. Guolin was not given much chance to live and created essentially what is often called Guolin Qigong, New Qigong or Therapeutic Walking Therapy. Guolin Qigong is also a complete system in itself; a relatively unknown system to Westerners, but really popular in Chinese Community's. They are both great success story's of how Chinese Medicine and Qigong worked in these hard to deal with Cancer cases.   

Below is a Snippet of the Video; and it can be purchased very easily on Amazon.com: 

https://www.amazon.com/Qigong-Cancer-Exercises-Prevention-Beginners/dp/B0713Z2C3P/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1498166601&sr=8-13&keywords=helen+liang

      

 

Simple Answer to "How is Qigong Different from Yoga, Gym Exercises Etc?"

  The Main Difference of Qigong Traditions

 By Gary W. Abersold

A common series of question's that is often asked are: 

1. What is the difference between Qigong and Relaxation Techniques? 
2. How is Qigong and Yoga different?
3. Are Gym workouts and Qigong different?
4. How is Qigong different from Samatha ~Vipasyana Meditation   
   

The above are a series of type questions often asked but, in mosaic fashion never truly are explained well. The answer is quite easy actually; it focuses on intention, attention and feeling of life force energy as a primary feature of  Qigong. I explain more below, but to also get a couple of things out of the way lets ad on a couple of other details.

 The term Qigong and Application: This is a umbrella term that has a large body of practices; numerable in style and uses. Each Qigong practice is unique and is not a "One Size Fits All" modality either. It takes a well trained practitioner with many years of practice to be able to easily enlightened the would be new user of Qigong. In the public many Qigong classes are taught and address many common ailments. In reality serious problems need specific tailored Qigong practices, along with in many cases related herb formulas and Qigong treatments. This can include massage and Acupuncture Therapy in various forms as well. There are many guidelines in proper administration of Qigong practices. Many Qigong practices have been vetted by Chinese Scientific and Medical Community, so the practices I am referring to are not self created Qigong sets by self identified Qigong Masters. I have been studying Chinese Medicine since 1981 and working as a Therapist since 1994, with many achievements and credentials. What I can tell you with certainty it requires quite depth, and continuing training and education in this vast tradition. 

The Qigong Difference: Qigong versus modalities such as Yoga, Gym exercises, etc. is that it first puts a large investment on mind intention and attention which develops our wisdom mind and helps us to properly enter into qigong properly. The Mind Intention and Attention I will leave for a journal entry all its own; its concepts are specific and different. It is a large teaching, which requires much elaboration. 

The universal salient features of Qigong Traditions is primarily the specifics of internal energy activation and mastery of life force energy. Specific practice's address the following - building/conserving, harmonizing/balancing, transforming/increasing, releasing/projecting life force energy is the main difference. Also skill set exercises that calibrate the physical body and internal organ system, specific respiratory breathing and paired movements, specialized life force meditations, specialized stretching, and postural movements, based on internal energy pathway system. Specialized personal empowerment's to strengthen ones Body/Mind/Soul are just some of the main differences.  

To Truly Feel and Experience Qi: With all that being said the main goal is to exist in a heightened sense of feeling, focus, and awareness of "life force energy". To truly feel and experience Qi is what seperates Qigong from almost everything else. It is unique and a complete tradition that does not have to be layered upon with other systems. Cultivation of life force energy is the oldest tradition in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The whole goal of Qigong is to strike a balance between yin/yang and develop the Qi for optimum health. Being present in the life force field activation and having the tissues, blood and bones saturated with Qi, is a main difference in Qigong Traditions and practitioners role in health and wellness.

Qigong is Holistic: The concept of holism/holistic is a foundation in Qigong. Western Scholars explain holism as a Philosophy with Therapeutic application.  The philosophy of holism is characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole. The therapeutic application of holism is treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the physical symptoms of a disease. Qigong in a western sense is Medical, a form of medicine and is therapy. To call it Medical/Medicine although is a slippery slope to use that lingo. Western Medicine and Chinese Medicine have no correlation and those terms eludes it to be western scientific medicine which just causes all kinds of confusion. It is simply therapeutic that lead's one into application of  holism. Follow your Qigong Tradition along with nature and you will exist in a holistic state. 

In Closing: Many years ago I asked one of my teachers of China "What does Qigong do"? Trying to pick his mind and see what he had to say. He said "Oh well It makes everything better"; from your personal to ones professional life that's it in a nutshell. It's no big deal just do it and stay focused and you will find the gold in your efforts. Forget everything else this is the best thing in life.

GWA     

Question: Erupting Emotions on Ones Healing Path

 Received a email where a person whom has recently been experiencing alot of emotions surfacing from practicing Insight Meditation. The person wanted to how practicing something so serene at times can be so hurtful. They also explained they want fast results now. This is a good question because it deals with an important topics that almost never gets answered in any classes for the most part. It really relates understanding how to proceed to heal. 

Generally when one embarks on a healing journey to better oneself, there are two types of people I find often. The first type is one that does multiple therapy's and is going to kinda "kill" the problems they are dealing with over excessive therapy, medicinal them-self to no end. They do in a weeks time from primary health, acupuncture, massage to different types of herbal treatments and Qigong classes. There is no shortage of appointments in their schedule. This is for a certain setup to fail; and really illustrates a multitude of personal problems within themselves. They have a lack in faith in one system per say.

The second type of person is one whom is focused, with like "Qigong" but they have very impatient expectations and want fast results within a short time. This is also one whom bounces from healer to healer system to system and really gets nowhere really quick. They don't understand that as many years it took for the downward spiral; it will take some time to bounce back as well. The following will give a snipit of what actually happens based on a possible scenario. It is based on consistent daily engagement to a process!

A Loose Timeline for Basic Stabilization

In ones personal life practice especially if dealing with anger, grief, fear and traumatic emotions, here is a loose timeline. It does not cover special meditations and spiritual healing practices. One really needs to be engaged in a process with a mentor teacher, healer or therapist that understands the depths of Healing practices. Practices like formless meditation found within Hindu, Taoist and Buddhist traditions give a framework to follow. Light standing Meditation to accent the long sitting sessions will help open up energy as well. You will need a mentor, don't kid yourself; you cannot do it alone. The mentor should be able to provide the special meditations and empowerment's with your commitment to the path, as you move along.

Stage I: The first Phase 1-60 Days:

This is a time period that will establish the beginning foundation for healing emotions. What typically happens is that one will experience alot of physical, emotional & spiritual detoxification, the body/mind will be "Seething & Simmering" out a state of turmoil and personal torment. One will have to guard against becoming overcome with boredom, isolation and loneliness anger, stress situations and exhausting themselves with too much to do. Its very typical to overkill with practice; "Less is always more" beware of the body trigger explained above.

Stage II: The second phase roughly 60-120 Days:

 At this point the body/mind should be done "Seething & Simmering"; although it might come and go. This is what's known as the "reset phase"; one feels like they are finally moving forward slowly. One will feel like "I am going to be ok"; I am moving forward. That is the short prompt good news, the truth is that the feelings that may have been suppressed through bad choices in life, are about to hit. One will have a tsunami of emotions come at you grief, anger, fear etc. They will need to be dealt with. This is where special enhancement meditations and deep healing practices comes to play. The reason is most of these problems and unbalanced emotions have been either medicated or suppressed for years. I call this "One most walk through Hell to get back to Heaven". Deep healing is never easy and will take a unshakable spirit to take hold. Personal faith will be your compass. Our habit attachments in life to our things, are a way for you to hide and mask what really is going on.

Many will have challenges of getting pass stage I or II; body/mind withdrawal likened to that of a substance abuser will be present. Immune suppression, psychical pain can hit hard. Many cannot negotiate it on the first try. It could take several attempts; you really need to simplify yourself especially if you are serious about succeeding. Community and mentorship is a must have.

 Stage III: The third phase roughly 120 - 180 Days: At this stage one is well on the path of a balance life most likely. You can begin restructuring a more positive life and all the earlier trials and tribulations seem like so long ago. Remember this is only the first 6 months. Beware of old patterns and habits could come back to haunt you like a hungry ghost! Much at this stage will be catered to where you fall and what is unique to your situation. It needs to be tailored for that from this point forward.

 Stage IV: The fourth phase and beyond the next 180 Days:

Many should take it slow with their healing process. Begin to develop structure, and create a healing model for you to follow. Remember not to immerse yourself with a never ending system of therapies. The Healing Meditations give you a firm foundation, but really is more than just meditating, or practicing Qigong.

Serious healing is like dying and being reborn once again. I can tell you from personal experience; it will challenge everything you believe and know. Heed good advice find a mentor you can connect with, as well as stay in touch with primary care. Your support network is very important as well. Although the question was about meditating and emotions, as we see in this article it really is just the portal to learning how to detox, heal and reemerge renewed and changed for the better. I hope this helps you in your healing path and journey's.

GWA 


     
           

           


 

   
       

The Wonderful Meditation on Compassion

 The Blooming Lotus Flower Mudra

(Lian Hua Shou Yin)

View Teaching/Information: This simple adaptation is from a larger practice, here for the web. It is one I learned from my teacher Wen Lei Chen of Emei Mountain Lotus Tradition. Emei Lotus Tradition is a hybrid system that has Buddhist and Taoist practice in a tradition.They are seated meditations that have many movement sequences to nourish life force and periods of formless meditation. In my classes most of the people whom follow it use it for personal healing and balance. Some follow the spiritual tradition, but not a mandatory aspect for the daily health benefits.  

 The blooming Lotus Flower Mudra as depicted above  is the Mudra of Compassion. In Buddhist Traditions and Taoism it connects to the Spiritual power of Kuanyin Buddha, deity of compassion.There is not enough space here although to go into depth conversation although. In Chinese Lian Hua ( 莲花) "Lotus Flower" the lotus hold special significance in many East Asian practice systems. Commonly taught as though rooted in the mud, the lotus blossom rises above to blossom in the sun. Although it grows in pools of water the leaves of the lotus always remain dry. The symbolism of the lotus points to the purity of consciousness and the journey of transformation from ignorance to awakening. Some give the analogy before we learned practices we existed in the emotional mud of life! 

Meditation practice for "Compassion" is a wonderful practice for anyone. The purpose of Meditation of Compassion is to help us eliminate anger and arouse the desire to alleviate discontent and suffering in others. We practice Meditation of Compassion with aspiring mindset of a enlightened adept to help family, friends, and coworkers free themselves from bodily and mental anguish, and if causes and conditions are right, to help them derive happiness from the teachings of Healing Meditation, and ultimately to reach personal enlightenment. Here are some ways to practice Meditations of Compassion:

(1) Generally first step is always connect to entering in tranquility, essentially formless meditation. Just be yourself and get comfortable with coming into harmony of the session. Utilize a position that is conducive to your body type and adopt a mudra/hand position that you like. The common meditation mudra of left hand resting on top of right and thumbs touching is traditional. The left represents formlessness and right represents skillful means of practice. The mudras are important for shaping the consciousness of practice.   

(2) Then after a certain amount of time, you shift into focused insight practice; - activate insight on how you tend to see people as either beneficial or harmful to you, or as neither beneficial nor harmful. Therefore, we should contemplate our relationships to others to better understand how you can help them.

(3) Next, we could use insight to see how we respond to others with like or dislike.We see that our feelings are often based upon the perceived benefit or harm we receive from others. If we understand that the mind is an ever-changing succession of sense impressions and illusory thoughts, we would see there is no reason to like or dislike our interactions with others.

 (4) Next we could investigate what really happens when we interact with others. We see that praise and blame are only sounds or vibrations entering our ears; a smile or a frown is only light rays perceived by our eyes. Just as the body is illusory, so are these external stimuli illusory. Once we realize this, we no longer need to give rise to feelings of like or dislike and we will treat all family, friends and coworkers as equal.

(5) Next we could, contemplate why people we know suffer from discontent, which is that they are ignorant of the true nature of the self. So up to now, there is still no true compassion in our meditation. How can we feel compassion towards people that possess an illusory self?..lol, so not knowing why they act in certain ways, our family members, friends or coworker don’t know why they feel happiness or anger. They are attached to emotions and possessions and are fearful of loss. This causes personal discontent or just plain personal suffering. They are not as free in body and mind as they think; they know they shouldn’t do certain things but do them anyway, and this also causes a endless circle of reoccurring discontent/suffering.  Kinda like never ending personal Chaos.

Sometimes it seems we have two selves, each struggling towards different ends. Kinda like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde persona with many we know. All of us are born, grow old, get sick, and eventually die. In the very short life span, each of us endures all kinds of afflictions of body and mind. Because of the discontent of life sometimes our loved ones undergo this and everyone should have compassion for them. I know this sounds like a lofty goal in  world of "Me-ism"...:)

(6) Finally, next we could contemplate people not as beneficial, harmful, or neutral, but as equals. We realize that our relationships with them are not fixed or unchanging. We cannot say that those with whom we now share affinity with, were not once our enemy or vice versa. There is no definite, unchanging relationship of closeness or adversity. Seen from the perspective of the infinite past, present, and future, all family, friends and coworkers beings have had some interaction with each other in the past, and probably will have in the future. From this point of view we can see all people as equal to ourselves, and can feel compassion for them.

(7) You can close the practice with returning to formlessness meditation as in number (1). In the beginning it could make you feel tired especially if meditation skill is new.

Closing Thoughts: I hope you find this practice inspiring and useful as I did when I first learned it. Give yourself a few months to work with it. Could be a perfect meditation for fall and holiday season. East Asian Traditions aim to liberate anyone not just the devout or special in crowd participants. Even the many who don't believe in good sense of the traditions message; or who engage in bad deeds. Are worthy of personal healing and salvation from darkness. Likewise, other practice systems and spiritual practices that are dedicated to compassion and awakening of the self, are accepted as welcome participants on the path. No matter how different traditions may be anyone that shares the healing ways of these indigenous world traditions is considered to be worthy and of value. With that being said we can say that all spiritual people lives a life that contains all other lives and practices a path that contains all the other paths...GWA 

         

Five key benefits of Qigong

 I believe Qigong as a tradition shares a very American ideal, the spirit of Americans that is. The spirit of Americans is that we can venture of into new areas in life, and make our way through obstacles and come out ok. It is very American to be syncretic, eclectic and learn to integrate new ideas and better ways of doing something. Qigong offers a universal appeal to almost anyone; cause it stands on the term itself "Qigong", which is a universal umbrella term for a vast tradition of systems and approaches.

The basic view teaching of Qigong as a system is a multi dimensional newtork of practices and traditions for physical, mental, and spiritual health. Its impossible to define Qigong although in a few sentences and due to the nature of Qigong. Its also correct to say that Qigong is extremely experiential everyone has their own. It can be likened to that of Music Appreciation, we all have our favorite's.    

The spirit of Americans and Travelers has been the enduring tradition of the United States dating back to the early 1600's. Within all Americans is another very American ideal; that everyone should access to knowledge and information. If we trace back our history we see this true in many areas of historical life. I have seen this with my grandparents from traveling afar and making a new life for themselves. I have also seen it for myself through a lifetime of travel, journey and study of the East Asian Traditions. I believe now more than ever the emphasis of Community and sharing of information and techniques need to really take hold for the tradition to survive for future generations.

Qigong will continue to rise in popularity and is cited as a one of favorite therapy's by many living with many disorders. Getting started can seem challenging, as it is often portrayed with Zhan Zhuang Qigong (standing meditation) where people hold postures and seem like nothing is going on at all. But, Qigong is an adaptable practice, with both functional and psychosocial benefits that can be suited to a variety of abilities.

For most common practitioners Qigong practices has become synonymous with holding and moving between a series of static postures; however, this stillness and movement tradition is only one part of the larger Qigong framework that includes branches such as philosophy of life, spirituality, healing Sounds traditions and selfless service for those whom seek it from teachers of Qigong.

Dynamic Qigong

Dynamic Movement Qigong (forms and sequences of movements) combines physical postures to address strength, flexibility, balance and mind-body-breath connection. Form sequences to induce more free flowing of energy and breathing practices are within it to develop greater self-awareness. Dynamic movement Qigong is essential once one has mastered the basic stillness and movement practices often done in a stationary position within the practice area. Each practice has its uses eventually it should have Dynamic Qigong movement traditions within it. Practices like Five Animal Frolics is a great example of school of Dynamic Qigong. Its a system within itself and offers many movements and the joy of animal imitation.

So I though it would be useful to list the most obvious benefits of Qigong. Through many teachers of mine and personal teaching experience over 23 years so far, there are many examples that support Qigong for anyone from almost any disorders found in western medicine. The following will address in easy language the five most obvious benefits. I will leave the intrinsic tangible Qi discussion for another article. What experience of the teachers and my studies do suggest are as follows:

Overall Benefits

Mobility: The issue of mobility has important implications for falls in older adults. Qigong participation can improve functional mobility and how a person with age walks and gets around. Standing Meditation (Zhan Zhuang) postural traditions target the hip extensor, knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor, which support center-of-mass during walking and may improve overall stability. Static postures combine with light moving meditation from the system give much benefit and fast acting results.

Balance: Balance training is an important component of any health and wellness approach. The data shows that 40 percent of nursing home admissions are preceded by a fall. Experience shows that moving line drills often associated with Kung Fu and Tai Chi Traditions of Qigong relate to vast  improvements in balance and an associated reduction in fear of falling; this can also help keep people with mobility risk to stay active in their community.

 Strength: Gains in lower-body strength occur for many following Qigong practice and are associated with improved postural stability. Qigong requires isometric contraction of specific muscle groups to stabilize the body as one performs the postures, movements and may mimic isokinetic contractions when performing controlled systematic movements from one sequence to the next. These mechanisms are the reason why Dynamic Qigong improves overall muscular strength.

Flexibility: Improvements in flexibility and range of motion are important since rigidity is a common problem for most americans, whom are inactive. This is due to cultural change from being a physical culture to one that is not. The modernization and technology has created a handicap for many. people whom practice Dynamic Qigong shows improvements in flexibility of the shoulder, hip and spine. Stooped posture is characteristic in sedentary lifestyles and can be related to short spinal flexors and weak spinal extensors; improved shoulder and spinal flexibility from Qigong movement supports a more upright posture.

Mental: The psychosocial benefits associated with Qigong are important for any levels of health, as they are not often addressed with conventional western medicine. Qigong can offer group support, improved confidence and self-efficacy. The calming effect of Qigong community groups (by enhancing parasympathetic output) may lessen perceived stress, enhance relaxation, benefit sleep in most individuals.

In closing Qigong should be guided by a experienced mentor/teacher; its best experienced in a community group I believe. This gives one community, sharing and the group collective qi practice that solo practice does not. You will also meet many new friends whom can also share their insights into the practice.

GWA   

  

Don't Lose Personal Faith in a Modern World!

The focus on today's entry is on prayer. We live in stressful and at times for some a world that all may be lost. It is not, its our personal disconnect from nature that's lost. In many of my classes I introduce the meditative traditions of China and Japan into peoples life and see remarkable changes occur. Many come to these practice because of the disconnect, and the lost of tradition in our modern world. Personal Prayer, Meditation and Spirituality are part of Qigong. Its important to have these in ones life, prayer is a practice that is in all the spiritual traditions. Prayer has been called the heart and soul of spirituality. Without prayer, spirituality would be void of its main means for connecting individuals to God, the gods, saints, ancestors, or whatever is taken to be a divine or spiritual source of power. Prayer, then, is connection via communion. As such, prayer is what establishes a relationship between individuals and a spiritual power or the Divine.

 We have many kinds of prayer. In our world we have individual, petitionary prayers directed to Divine/God. Public, institutional prayers to serve their purposes; however, it is the individual, personal prayers that are most significant for the process of connecting and establishing a relationship. The focus on petitionary prayers (prayers where specific requests are made and wishes are shared) is justified given that this is by far the most common type of prayer.

As for the focus on prayers directed to Divine, God, or Tao; such prayers have a similar, if not identical form to prayers directed to gods, saints, and ancestors—so we may assume that there is carryover with respect to what prayer means for these other prayer contexts. Prayer as a form of communion and relating follows
similar patterns to those found in relationships between persons.

Therefore, we gain a better understanding of prayer if we see prayer from the point of view of how our human relationships develop. One of the most striking features of modern culture, is the ways of communicating and relating to others has to do with the difficulty we have in distinguishing our own perspective or point of view from that of others. This difficulty comes from I believe the inability to distinguish and coordinate perspectives. Many just cannot be objective and causes divisions within us.

The Different Shapes of Prayer Throughout Life

A life of prayer in the spiritual traditions takes many shapes and maturity and uses. As a young person or maybe even now; our prayers are non resistant for the way we request that the divine is there to answer our wishes. That is, as a young people that had an active prayer tradition, we usually demonstrate an unshakable faith and conviction that our request will come true and our life and the way of the divine's are unified as one. For people of personal faith and spirituality, the attitude is that "The Divine, God or Tao exists to hear and answer our wishes and requests. We have a unshakable Life Path of Inner Meditations, Prayers and Communion with all that is.

In the early part of American history we seen prayer used by world leaders. During the American civil war,one of Abraham Lincoln’s generals once said to him, “Let us pray that God is on our side” to which Abraham Lincoln responded, “No, let us pray that we are on God’s side.” The contrast being here is a contrast in general attitude. For Abraham Lincoln if this is true - it still demonstrates a unshakable faith and one of personal ethics.

 Prayer develops also as a shift away from taking a passive to taking an active stance toward life’s problems. It is used for empowerment to help people to take first steps forward into the unknown. The abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, who was raised a slave, said as a child, he prayed asking almighty to free him. Later on, he said, “My prayers got down in my feet, and I ran away.” This empowerment shift in prayer is most commonly seen in the shift away from asking " The Divine, God or Tao" to change external reality to asking "The Divine, God or Tao" for support needed for the praying individual to have the hope, courage, wisdom, or whatever to act more responsively or effectively.  This empowerment concept is praying for strength, then, makes a significant shift to raise the spirit of the human individual of the "Now". For many of us that made a life change we can recall that time in our life, and remember such spiritual empowering prayers.

The Power of Presence

Many of us will find that prayer’s functions and development has to do with feeling "Universal Presence".

In all the traditions with a concept of  "The Divine, God, Tao etc., there is the practice of keeping the power transcendent and powerful. I feel that many that practice paths like Qigong, Yogic traditions, Native Medicine and Eastern Spirituality find also their private prayer's serves to aid a sense of "Universal Presence". For the adepts of these traditions do not pray so much because they believe in "The Divine, God or Tao" but, rather, the adepts of the path, believe in the tangible, feelable reality and presence. This is  because they actualize a "oneness" with what I call here "Universal Presence". 

Simply, prayer functions and develops to make "Universal Presence" reality and presence felt because that feeling can be empowered. People who have the meditation quality to prayer work, have deeper, more spiritually meaningful transformations occurring. There just seems to be a magical effect always around these types of individual one could say. The wise elders in most traditions will tell one that  there is a clear distinction between appearance (empty prayers) and a deeper intrinsic spiritual reality here.

If one begins to merge meditation, cultivation within prayer; I believe one begins as an effort to harmonize the"Universal Presence" in ones life. 

It functions first and foremost to change the reality outside of ourselves. It begins with a process of prayer which  becomes a way to discover and mold ourselves to what is felt to be Universal Consciousness, will, to feel connected to the breath of the way in order to cope with or change troublesome feelings, and to experience closeness with and the presence of : all that it is" and thereby become empowered.