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}