East Asian Healing Systems

To put this in the open and to avoid more emails:

I receive many emails on who,what, or why of Chinese Medical Philosophy views of health versus Western Medicine if are similar or not. It's very easy to explain from my personal experience that East Asian Culture and Western Culture Western ways of thinking can be so dissimilar. On the most basic level Western Medical Doctors beliefs and attempts to be linear and logical, data driven and therapeutics driven to eliminate symptoms only. Whereas the Chinese Medical Philosophy beliefs are holistic, with an over-riding and practical concern for gaining well being, treating the root cause of dis-harmonies. The use of  Energy Body Cultivation (qigong), Meditation Systems, Herbs and Minerals, Massage and Acupuncture type therapies helps to make one more whole. Embedded within all this are unique spiritual beliefs and the practice systems of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucian Beliefs.

I started on this path as a young teenager after allergy shots and skin test left myself more empty and sick and probably would have been  better off if  I had not taken them. The practice systems of East Asia brought myself to learn how to control my health and what to do if problems erupted. I was although in a special situation where I had encountered real Masters of the Way through personal instruction. I have been very fortunate and many don't have this I understand. Most of the information Internet is very basic and in many ways quite empty. Below is a good book that has been around a long time that still accurate that I would recommend: 

 

A good book for the curious ones would be "The Web That has No Weaver " read here:

 

     

Web Has No Weaver

GWA

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

   

                                       

Be the Light that Illuminates the Way ©

 When we come into the world, as we mature one can be mislead by culture, trends and technology. If we live our lives for what the outer world pushes onto oneself and don't cultivate our own life - we truly become likened to "animal herd mentality".  Then we have loss the real meaning of our life.

Personal worth and experience  is truly seldom recognized and appreciated in our society. The world at times seems to reward people that are popular, greedy and of poor character. It has been a problem since the beginning of time and will continue. It's important to avoid these pitfalls of our existence and follow truly people and things that have great integrity and tangible value. Find the true mentors of whatever you are into to help you along the way, but you must do the personal growth and work. They cannot do it for you.

As you live your life, if we long to be what Society of the World wants you to be, our life will be empty, no matter what you believe that you have achieved. We must examine deeply into our own life. For it's not hard to realize that true power does not come from outside or around you; but from our own personal skill development.

It takes much patience to filter the people, events and things out that really have true meaning. If you don't learn this you will forever chasing your tail of "chaos". The sages of old have taught our natural integrity, contentment and clarity is our foundation of true happiness and of everything we seek in life is found with our personal path. This truly is the "gold" that is worth investing time into for personal achievement. 

Spirituality and Pathways are not about graduating, or mastering. It's all about being better than yesterday; learning "how to be less wrong" and living a life of hope and upright character. All the Sages teach a life of service - help the "down and trodden" and be the light in many's life. A lesson taught that some follow but many abandon once they get deluded by greed and hubris. 

When you are around people think of the north star and bigger dipper a never ceasing sparkling source of energy to uplift anyone. This in a sense you are not alone. Just do a silent countdown of  1-2-2-4-5...okay now "lets sparkle and make a difference"!

The only true thing in life we own is our personal experience, integrity and how we carry ourself. Where ever you are today is from your own navigating; stop blaming your parents or others it is on you. Do some real personal work and change what you don't like. Everyone deserves a fresh start give yourself that start today.

Look in life to to cultivate oneself this is the foundation of true happiness. Learn how to be the architect of your own blue print in life; for this is worth achieving.  Learn how to harness the power of self through life. Only you can do it.

GWA 
     
    

New Certified Teacher in Tai Chi 氣 Chi Flow Level I (太極氣流) and Emei Lotus Tradition I

Congratulations to Kathy Liang for passing the Certification Test in  Tai Chi  氣 Chi Flow Level I (太極氣流), a student now - a teacher dedicated to the tradition. She also received a teacher Certificate in Emei Lotus Meditation  and  Certificate of Completion of the Emei 49 day Purification Tradition. She will have classes in North West Michigan area; for more information contact us through this website.

Kathy has been a rare student whom practices what she comes to class for. I can see it in her practice and how she carry's herself in daily life.  A student of the past 4 years of weekly private classes; she's a textbook perfect example of following traditional guidance through verbal instruction and one on one training.  A perfect example of real experiences gets you to the end goal, and learning how to integrate "Qigong Way of Life" in one's everday experience.

I have taken her through many traditional foundations and rare ritual practice of  Emei Mountain Healing that Master Wen Lei Chen had taught me many years ago in Windsor at Reaume Park. Today was coming full circle where had I met her four years ago as curious student; she now is one of my most competent teachers to share Health and Wellness practices of Qigong and Ritual Meditation. Great Job :)

Gary W. Abersold

     

Architect of Self

~Create Your Own Path ~ Follow Your Own Aspirations ~

 ~Make Your Own Moves~ 

Message of the Moment: Best to be yourself rather than being a clone of someone else. Follow your path, embrace the aspirations you feel and yearn for. Take action - make your moves . Don't become "I would have, should have, could have been person".  Life will teach you that one must work hard to attain it. Whatever that passion is that has sparked a flame within you go after it! Most important thing is never second guess yourself.

GWA    

Invest in Authentic Teachings

 

Introduction:  I had a gathering with a student whom is interested in learning. They were learning from someone whom made their own books and DVD Video's loaded with errors. They claim to invent their own approach to Qigong. The teacher on the video is very ill looking (grey hue) and has extreme Energy Congestion in their body. Their approach they pulled from a Teacher I know personally. To prove a point to the deluded  student I called the teacher and asked if this person ever studied with them. They said a resounding no! So this article is for the importance of honoring the indigenous teacher's who share their art and traditions with the public. The good news is I set it up for the student whom I had a meeting with to leave the Qigong marketer and train and live with a real master teacher! A success story of guiding someone to a source tradition.

True and effective Qigong, Tai Chi Chuan, and Martial Art Lineages requires physical personal instruction from a qualified master teacher. This is usually in the West someone whom has a link, a ongoing connection to the indigenous teachers of East Asia. All these practices are found in these many country's and all have their view teaching, as well how and why it works. One will need to sacrifice personal time and energy and receive one on one physical teaching for some time to learn correctly and be mentored.    

In area's outside of East Asia it is very possible to have advanced practitioner's receive physical personal instruction from a qualified master teacher and are qualified in their own right. Such individual's has already embodied the teachings and, do not merely rely on instructions read in a instruction manual, or rely on archival video's for instruction.  This is not to condemn Instruction manuals, archival videos which are useful, but a qualified master teacher can turn the dead words and images into a living flowing transmission.

A instruction manual on its own only conveys  a prompt to the practice;  a partial truth – which is only the outer layer. The master teacher conveys the inherent truth and does not get stuck in outer layers, common knowledge or pointless aspects of some systems way of practicing. Many students who do not understand this reality, get disheartened and move from one system, teacher to the next, forever repeating their past mistakes and getting nowhere in their life path practice's.  

What my indigenous master teacher's all agree on is true – there is no guarantee that a practitioner who does not have access to a qualified master teacher, will be able to convert the wisdom of the words in the book, or images from a archival video, into embodied skill in the real world. They need to lose self -righteousness and surrender to a teacher, a system so they can actually learn and grow into something. East Asian Traditions is unlike many other things and requires time, effort, patience and guidance. One is fooling themselves if they think they can figure it out on their own. How can one master something that they don't understand?  

Copying movements and reading the words is one thing, while receiving the true significance of their meaning is quite another. A confused practitioner is like a blind person in practice, which will get you nowhere and be counter-productive to your learning and later if you guide new students. Likened with a blind person one needs personal assistance to finding their way in the beginning and later aspects in one journey.  A good Master teacher is also likened to a road map to get you to the destination faster. The confused or unclear  application of these arts and skills can cause more harm than good; heed attention to this warning. Study the Instruction books and archival videos; "yes", but seek out genuine instruction as well.  Avoid the self righteous Teachers whom made it up or develop their own technique.

Traditional Schools and authentic teachings will exist and forever to exist. Watch whom you let pollute your consciousness that tradition does not matter. I been in the practices since 1981 and can prove all my teachings and where they trace to. All the true master teachers are still around or have left it in great hands. Why waste your time with someone who's full hubris and are only on the path of self righteousness. Their practice and traditions in many way's don't resemble their teachers teachings as well a faint image of what could have been. There are many Qigong, Tai Chi and Martial Art paths in the world today, but the traditional schools and lineage Masters are renowned for its effectiveness and are very popular as a result within the community's.

Invest your time, energy and personal aspirations and connect to someone whom is willing to teach you. Do whatever it takes to train and learn from them. Yes you might have to travel spend money; and most likely some people are not use to spending extra money and making oneself uncomfortable. There is a old saying "he or she who pays; pays attention". Think about this 5,10 or 20 more years down the road do you want to have a life of regret?... or I was glad I took the time to truly learn? Don't become the "Would Have, Could Have, Should Have" people. A life of unfulfilled stuck remorse is sad; do something different go beyond  everyday average effort.  

GWA  

Are you Burned Out?

 

 Why does having a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment for many in their careers seem like such a struggle at times? There is an invisible battle going on, day-by-day between our search for a Fulfilling Career in our desires and the hidden forces of  Professional Burnout. This is also applicable to teachers of body/mind traditions as well. In many driven people I have found they don't like to ask for help or admit they are getting  burned out in their work load. The following are ideas that could help awaken how to regain balance. 

(1) Admit you are worn out on the road to exhaustion: This sounds easy, but it’s the hardest step. Our egos, as well as our incomes, are invested in feeling good about our work. It’s not easy to admit that you are a mess. See it as an opportunity to grow. For many teaching classes, or doing therapies they are overloaded with too much. Quality has slipped long ago and they are barely hanging on by a thread to keep it together. These practices over time when done excessively without proper recovery are taxing on the body/mind if proper recovery is not done. High quality can only be maintained with proper level of work load. Everyone's stamina is different so pay attention to your personal needs.    

(2) Take breaks and vacations from your work: Personal retreats will give you time to sharpen your skills back up. Schedule your personal retreats ahead of time they can be as a simple as around the corner from where you live. Displacing yourself from your home and surroundings is all that is needed. Leave the technology off, and find yourself once again. Any type of body/mind healing will do wonders for yourself. This can be a ideal time to work on a practice you have been struggling with as well. Take time to refine yourself is crucial for personal health.      

(3) Return to Yourself Daily: Oddly some people that are on the downward spiral - road to burn out never spend time alone. Everyday connect to yourself; your traditions that serve you. Daily, body/mind healing traditions can help dissolve the layers of stress and symptoms of burnout.

(4) Emotional Balancing: This is probably the most important. Get in touch with your true and deeper feelings and express them. Repressed emotions alone can create burn out. Work with a trusted mentor to help you deal with these frozen emotions. This will help raise your consciousness back up and make better sound judgements, in life. In many cases this is the root of many illnesses and personal burnout.   

(5) Trusted Friend: A person whom you can be completely comfortable with and express your deepest parts of yourself is important. It really can put things in perspective, and help you be more conscious about your personal challenges. Connect with a non-judgmental, but objective trusted friend; you can open up to. Everyone needs someone whom they can ask questions too to get a unbiased view point. In many cases they might be able to point out things you do that causes you being overwhelmed. The key here is that you will need to surrender yourself to objective criticism as well.   

(6) Start a Empower Group:  Start a monthly get together with other people in similar situations. The ideal help of all is to share your experiences with your peers who have had similar experiences. It’s very empowering and will give you many ideas that can eliminate repeating silly mistakes as well.

(7) Be in Control:  Don't let the people, client's in your life determine how you interact with them. You teach people how to treat you. Understand that not everyone that comes to you in life - in professional and personal life will be good for you. Decide what kinds of people you want to work with, be around with, and be willing to let those that don't fit the bill go by. There should be a common likeness for things to flow properly. Sometimes you have to clean the slate clean, and eliminate those elements out. If it happens to much most likely its probably you and not them, which in that case you need to seek experience help to figure that out. 

(8) Is it a Career or a Passion?:  Many time the things we love most perhaps will not be supported by the public 100%. There are those Careers like Art, Music and other desires that at one time were lucrative. Now that times change and we must adapt to that. Ultimately our personal health is paramount to all else-including money. If you love what you do, and simply cannot be supported by public need. It most likely will not be a good choice for not fulfilling your financial needs, don't stay in the game just because.  Look into other businesses and career opportunities. Still follow your bliss but learn to adapt and not stress yourself out. The mental stress alone will burn you out. 

I hope you find these ideas useful; and if you are in this place in life, it can help you begin to paving a new way, for personal healing!     

GWA

Emei Lotus Meditation

Thursday Night's 7:00pm-8:15pm 

This is a ongoing focused group; the seated Chi Meditations of the Emei Lotus Tradition short form tradition is taught in this class. This Emei Tradition is a series of "stillness and movement meditation's". When practiced regularly and conscientiously will help one to maintain health, youthfulness and vitality through ones lifetime. 

The stillness meditation sections of the form allows one to focus and draw into the body "universal energy" and "life force" energy of nature, circulate it throughout the body releasing any blocked meridians. The movement sections of the form are rotational movements of the body to harness the energy of universe.

Through movement we draw energy into the body and channel it through the meridians. This is so that the internal organs are replenished with life force energy. This energy will flow unimpeded through the meridians, as it loops vertically around the body from the head to the perineum. It also horizontally moves, nourishing the major internal organs of the Liver, Heart, Spleen, lungs and kidneys charging them with vitality. 

The practice is taught on chairs, but generally is practiced on a zabuton matt and zafu cushion for those who like traditional way. In class chairs are avaiable for anyone to be able to learn this beautiful tradition. This is a perfect night time practice for anyone. It is structured and easy to learn and will give much peace and tranquility after a long hard day. Level of difficulty is beginner to advanced; anyone can do this all ages.

Location: Unity of Livonia Church, 28660 5 Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48154
Days/Time: Thursday Nights @ 7:00pm - 8:15pm 
Cost: Offered through practice of Dana Paramita Love Donation Tradition  

Questions please email us at: taozahnchi@gmail.com

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   

Contentment: Understanding Ourself is Insight

In the teachings of the Tao Teh Ching, contentment is a key goal to strive for. Lao Tsu describes it in several parts of the Tao Teh Ching as in chapter 33:

Many teachers call this the "Who are you", Understanding Yourself is Insight, Knowing oneself"; in actuality there are no chapter titles from the traditional Chinese text. It does help I believe for anyone to remember the teachings and the many layers that will follow each section.

Chapter33:

• If you understand others, you are clever. If you understand yourself, you are insightful. If you control others you are uncommonly forceful. If you harmonize yourself you have unusual inner strength. If you know when you have enough, you are flourishing with true wealth. If you have great follow through with your intentions to completion, you are unwavering.

 Lao Tsu's Chapter 33 is again teaching us about contentment. The guidance that could be applicable here as a suggestion is when "flowing in the way" of contentment and you are having a great period of success of harmonizing yourself, is to make note of these peaceful and tranquil moments that we are experiencing. When it's possible let it flow to others around us to have a positive influence as well.

We all need to realistic and understand that there will be adversity; there will be people and situations one needs to dissolve out of their life. This could because of a number of reasons.  By working diligently, we can prune these people, places or things out and clear the way for true contentment and progress. Aligning oneself with others that are like minded and have a energetic affinity to ourselves will aid much great progress as well.

This could be amplified by taking a class of some type of practice which you have a desire to do and making new friends and harnessing flourishing energy and happiness along the way. If taking classes is not for you; for whatever reason, then develop a simple centering meditation practice, where you can clear the space in yourself for more illumination to enter.

The Tao Teh Ching and teachings of Lao Tsu and other aspects center around the meditation practice. Try and practice this spiritual tradition when you are at your best or when demands are on a simmer in your busy day. Until next time, more lessons on contentment and Traditions of Natural Truths..

GWA