How to turn the challenge into opportunity

While we are facing all the challenges of life, we often resist the challenge without realizing the truth of life: life without challenges doesn't exist -- it is even true for Saints and Awakened ones. The difference is that realized ones have cultivated deep inner resource to turn challenges into power and wisdom. In its true sense, challenge is an opportunity for expanding ourselves.

As we resist any challenge, we cause unnecessary contraction of energy -- it is frozen like water frozen into ice. As we resist pain, it causes suffering on the top of pain. As we resist fear, we become stuck while energy freezes in the kidney system.  As we accept challenges as a part of life and learning, we let go of the past pattern of resistance and contraction that cause the stagnation of life energy in the body.

Qigong allows us to go deep into the energy, which is the life force, underlining the challenging experience and feelings --- use the movement to free the stagnated energy in the pain, use the sound to free the energy suppressed in the challenging emotions like fear, and use the visualization to free the energy programmed in the old story of dis-eases.

When the energy is stuck, lacking of aliveness, flow, purpose and harmony, we experience dis-eases and un-fulfillment. When the energy is fully experienced and moving to the next expression, we experience well-being and fulfillment.

- Master Mingtong Gu

E/W QiGong Conf

Ive gone to this conference twice in 10 years and had wonderful times... Im at a teacher training with Mingtong Gu who I met there long ago and cant go, perhaps you'd be interested in going...plus its reasonable... 

"Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, the Twelfth World Congress on Qigong/TCM April 24-26 is affordable for all! The entire event including the Gala Dinner on Saturday and the Buffet Lunch on Sunday is $68 through April 16.  Enjoy two entire days in San Francisco beginning with the 12th World Tai Chi and Qigong Day in Union Square and the Twelfth World Congress on Qigong and TCM. 

View the latest schedule of presenters and REGISTER NOW! at http://www.eastwestqi.com/wcq/wcq.html

Invite your students,  family, friends, colleagues, make it your party only $68 per person. 

Reasonable overnight rates at Hotel Whitcomb start at $69 per room. 

Sunday night hear Mr. Trivedi and learn more about him at trivedifoundation.org

dipping into the Qi field

This from my freind and co-teacher, Vivi:
 I notice that with Spring in the air there is a tendency to get caught up in a whirlwind of events, ideas, creative impulses -- all wonderful to be sure, but a good time to take a moment to breathe and notice what's going on inside the body.  This is where our health, happiness and awakening occur.  Are we giving ourselves time to be with ourselves.  I have been reminding myself that this is my priority.  All the must-dos will get done so much more smoothly and with great ease if I feel into my body  throughout the day and put aside some time for my practice.    If you notice your practice has not been happening, be gentle with yourself.  Grateful that you've noticed, and ask yourself what feels right for you.  Things change and sometimes half an hour of focused practice is more beneficial that an hour of hurried scattered practice.  Five minutes of dipping into the qi field can be a tremendous pick-me-up.  Practicing for just a few minutes helps to integrate qi gong into your life.  A couple of minutes of lachi on the whole body, arms at side, when standing in line.  When irritated, feel into where there's holding in the body, and try doing the inner smile into that place, visualizing  a waterfall of smiling healing energy flowing into the contracted spot and relaxing, releasing the blockage into the ocean of life around you.  

"Joy is only possible when we meet all energetic circumstances equally."  -- Michael Brown

flowing into form

Sent by another teacher friend: I am reminded that Taoism was developed neither as a philosophy or religion but a system of describing existence. Taoism sets forth the intentions of the chi, the life force, or intrinsic energy of all things. Living with the qi is to live in harmony with nature; to live spontaneously; and to unite with the creative forces of the universe.

"The clouds pass and the rain does its work, and all individual beings flow into their forms" (I Ching)

This also gives us a reason to practice, and reminds me of the beauty of "Passing Clouds" in the darkness of early morning....

Thanks for the magazines left at the last teacher's meeting! -Judy {the above synthesized from an article by Portia Brockway in The Empty Vessel, 2002}

Using the Huan Yin Ling Tong Chant

I love to chant this chant, and have used it to fall back asleep, to go to sleep and just in walking in and out of the prison. Once I heard Mingtong tell the story about Jamine falling off his changing table new ways of using the chant opened up that I could apply easily as both my nearly two year old grandsons are frequently stumbling and falling. I have prayed (asked the chi field) that it be the first thing I think of when that happens, and it comes into my head pretty quick.
It works like a "magic spell." The first time Jack looked up at me with the most curious look in his face and then dusted himself off and went on his way... the next time he didn't even glance my way.... With Peter, he started a little fuss (it was a big fall) and then thought better of it.... When I was at the playground with a little friend of Peter's and her mother, the little girl whacked her head on the swing and the mom went into a tizzy. We talked some and I taught her the chant... She was very grateful for something positive to do, as she knew that her own reaction was not helping her daughter learn to cope.
When I fell down the stairs (I never fall) my ankle was really letting me know it had been traumatized, I just lay on the grass, smiled at my ankle and chanted, (under my breath cause my daughter was there) and visualized flowing energy adjusting any injury back into its natural state quickly and efficiently... I rested and then after 5-10 min got up and the ankle was fine... The next morning my back was all out of whack, maybe next time I'll invite a general bath from the chant, rather than being so focused on what "I feel the healing energy ought to do"....
Huan Yin Ling Tong

In an email correspondence with a student she shared this quote in closing:
Muhammad: Even if you cannot do it perfectly, be steadfast on the straight path.
and said, "I remember you said at the first workshop that there is not a bad or wrong way to do QiGong, but just try something. Thanks!"

What an honor to be remembered alongside such a prophet. My reflection back:
"I had a very powerful practice today inside prison, the chi doesn't judge us by our past or our performance, our skill or our technique, or even which form we enjoy ... how much of this infinite, unconditional flow we can participate in at any given time seems more to do with the our level of sincerity, and level of tension.... so relax and do my best ... is the best motto I know...Haola!

Testimonial to life, even in death

Here is an email I received today regarding one of the participants in our Chi Healing Group at the Intensive, she was a marvelous spirit, and so dedicated to being all she could be! Healing does not always mean curing, and life has its natural ends, let us make the most of each day and do what we can (our QiGong practice) to insure the high quality of the remainder of our days! Haola

Dear Ones,

Our beloved Helen Ramstad-Lane passed away peacefully last week, surrounded in love with her husband, Derek, and daughter, Heather.

Helen came to the first Healing Intensive Retreat at the Dakini Temple in Richmond after she was given a few months to live with pancreatic cancer. Her spirit and energy increased with her dedication and commitment to the Qigong practice, expanding both the quality and quantity of her life, living almost a year beyond her prognosis.

Her doctor was so amazed by her progress that he asked her for an hour appointment with her so she could tell him what she had done to increase her energy, spirit and life span!

Helen’s inspiring courage, perseverance and humor is a continuing model of grace and grit for all of us. Her radiant presence illuminated each of us with her gusto for living life to the fullest in each moment.

Please join us in blessing her beautiful spirit as she moves on peacefully into the ocean of light, a refuge for all, and to a New Beginning.

Haola,

Mingtong, Linling , Gina and the Chi Community