Archive for February 2007
Baby Panda Weaned from Mother
Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 6:47 AM by Sifu Smith
In an effort to help the Panda's grow and become independent, it is time
for the one year old's to begin weaning from their mothers. Bai Xue,
the mother Panda, was holding on to her baby just a few days ago. The
process is one that occurs naturally in the open wild, so the cub can
learn to live on its own. It is a weaning process and they are not
seperated harshly. Who said animals don't have feelings??
Posted in Stories
Note to Students
Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 6:30 AM by Sifu Smith
As I was practicing this morning at 4:45 am, I was reflecting on the excellent practice we had last night. It was representative of the importance and power of having a kung-fu family. Where everyone takes time to learn and polish their skills and understandings. Where ego's are left at door and sincerity creates momentum. Over the years I think of Master Chin and some of the classmates that I trained and sweated with, and how it demonstrates the teaching of Master Kuo through Master Chin to us; "If you wish to sharpen steel, you need to steel. If man wishes to sharpen, he needs man." Continue to explore and assist one another, and the Tai Chi and Kung Fu will have no boundries.
Posted in Students
Monks Body Doesn't Perish
Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 6:22 AM by Sifu Smith
The only confirmed case of a body not perishing is of a Buddhist monks that appears to have planned the whole medical miracle. Hambo Lama Itigelov is a well documented Buddhist monk in Russian History; with degrees in medicine and philosophy. He was buried in 1927 in the presence of officials, family, and brothren.
In 1926, Hambo instructed his fellow monks to leave Russia, because the red communists were coming. Hambo stayed, mainly because he was 75 years old at the time. Shortly after he instructed the remaining monks to began meditation, because he was preparing to die. Hambo left a testiment of how he wanted to be buried (which he apparently knew what was going to happen), he wanted to be buried as he was found, in the lotus position, in a cedar box. So in 1927, Hambo's wishes were carried out. Because of the suppression of the government on religious activity; Hambo' body was exumed in 1955 and 1973, then carefully replaced. Then in 2002, the body was exumed again by scientist and pathologist, still sitting in his silk robes, in the lotus position, in tact. Hambo's skin and features are still there as if he was alive, without embalming or mummifying.
Hambo's body has been kept out for the past two years, in a regular room amidst the other monks, sitting in the lotus position. How Hambo maintains his preservation, no one knows. The Buddhist text's have described this deep meditative process, with reports that it had been successfully achieved. There has never been an example until now.
A picture of Hambo sitting in temple
Posted in Buddhist
Chinese Names
Posted on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at 8:40 AM by Sifu Smith
Several Students have asked for me to find their names in Manderin. I have began by finding the Chinese Name, the characters, the pronunciation, the literal english meaning, and getting a link for a downloadable file, so that you can hear it pronounced. This will be a work in progress and this for Full members and students only per their request.
Posted in Students
One Year Recognition
Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 at 9:36 AM by Sifu Smith
Two young men, Reed and Byron have now been with us for one year. Both have done wonderfully well. Each on their own path, yet there understandings are growing. Reed started with no experience in type of art, and wanted his health to improve. Now, he practices his posting regularly, smiles alot, trains regularly, and most outstanding is his willingness to help the other students, particularly beginners. He has turned out to be more than a great student, but a good friend to us.
Byron came with experience in Tai Chi and has worked diligently to deepen his understanding. His quiet and persistant practice has inspired others to regularly train. Byron has also inspired other students by his distinguished changes and abilities.
As a Sifu I am very happy to have these men working and sweating with us in the Tai Chi & Kung Fu Family.
Edited on: Friday, February 23, 2007 9:36 AMStanding Meditation and Shaking
Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 9:01 AM by Sifu Smith
As students progress through their training, they become aware of stages and signals. These inner signals make us aware of the massaging and cultivation of chi that is occurring internally. The trembles and shakes are one such signal. With beginning students the shaking may begin in a basic posture, while the body is trying to open-up, and the meridian lines, tendon-lines strengthen, and the heart-mind-body connection is being made. I likened it to welding, when I used to repair cars, the sparks are flying while entities were being merged together. Later, in this same posture, their much less shaking and the heart-mind-body connection is in harmony.
Many times the shaking will occur when one area is out of harmony, too many thoughts, too many emotions, and the trembling occurs. The trembling can evolve into noticable shaking; Master Chin would refer to it as 'bacon frying in the pan'. As I encourage students, let it shake, you will not hurt yourself. It is a good sign. Do not encourage the shaking, yet do not avoid it.
When we test ourselves even slightly, by sitting just 1/4 inch deeper, or rounding the shoulders slightly, or process of calming the minds with a new thought exercise (yi-chuan), the shaking may begin again. Students are only encouraged to bring the shaking to a halt through mental command, if the practice becomes an exhibition of physical strength or tension, or if significant discomfort occurs. If you hang in there, often the shaking will settle down, and a new sensation circulates throughout the body. You have just improved.
Recently, a Taoist priest, Chantak Mia was being interviewed in how the standing meditation (zham zhuang) was helping cancer patients restore their health. He explained that this electro-magnetic force or chi would often create shaking while it was being cultivated. Mia went on to explain, "Shaking is not an unusual effect and is in fact, beneficial, serving as an internal exercise. Concentrating on just one thought has been known to stop it and if it becomes really violent you can end it simply by ordering it to stop. The author encourages everyone to shake for the benefits it provides. To stop this shaking, just order it to stop and breathe normally."
Chantak Mia also discussed that shaking with beginners is often associated with nervous, panic type energy.
Posted in Meditation, Taoist
Students Evolving
Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at 4:04 PM by Sifu Smith
Recently several students have gained significantly in their understanding of accumulating and expressing power. Two that I want to recognize currently are Steve and Peter. Both have trained regularly for almost 15 months. One of the unusual aspects of inner development in kung fu is when a student has not practiced a particular exercise, such as An Fa Jing, yet after 2 months of not touching it, they are now better. The only primary exercise that they have worked is their Zham Zhuang posting meditation. By learning to better understand themselves, and developing their chi, and clearing the chaos of the mind, they have moved to a new level.
Their power has improved and delivery is much more balanced. The mind is staying within without over-extending. By learning to support all sides, their expressions have changed, and now all their kung fu is improving.
My respect goes out to them for their diligence and pursuit of understanding kung-fu.
Posted in Students
Triangle- New Years Eve Event
Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 at 5:14 AM by Sifu Smith
Last night we talked about this saturday's practice and the chinese new year. We are going to come into practice a little earlier and then plan to leave the school near 10 a.m. to go to the event at the fair ground. The Triangle Area Chinese American Society will have a cultural event at the fair grounds. Triangle Chinese American Website
During this next year I will work to see how me may be able to support, work with, and utilize their resources to create more opportunity for our students.
Tibetan's Trying to Flee
Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 at 8:44 AM by Sifu Smith
On Jan 31, a group of 25 Tibetans were caught trying to flee into Nepal.
The group included adults and children up to eight years old. They had
to pay a fine and some of the adults were led to work off their fines in
construction work. One of the Tibetans, who is now in exile reported
they were taken to a detention center in Dingri. Some of the adults had
cattle prod's used on them while in the detention center. Their was not
any apparent behavior that elicited the harsh treatment, and officials
were not respond to any questions on the matter.
This is on the heels of the shooting that occured this pass fall in September, when other Tibetans were attempting to flee into Nepal. Most of the people fleeing to Nepal are seeking blessing from their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
Edited on: Sunday, February 11, 2007 8:45 AMChinese Language Skills
Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 at 8:30 AM by Sifu Smith
Xu Jialu is a famous chinese linguist. He has recently spoken out and it appears that the goverment is listening. Xu has demonstrated that educated Chinese people are making more mistakes in speaking and writing their own language. This increase in errors has coincided with a recent emphasis on learning english as well. Xu has asked a basic question that has gotten the Chinese people attention; "what is more important to Chinese people, learning chinese or english?"
Edited on: Sunday, February 11, 2007 8:45 AMPosted in Stories
Shaolin to be preserved with Modern Tech
Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2007 at 8:21 AM by Sifu Smith
To preserve the Shaolin KungFu the Shaolin Temple in Songshan
County, Henan Province have elected to use modern media (video, audio)
to preserve their art. The Shaolin Masters have reported there are 360
sets and routines, yet they only have 100 at their temple now. All
their martial art information is stored with their other Buddhist works
in depository. Currently the routines are stored as letters, graphics,
and notes that have been passed down. Shi Yongxin, the present abbot in
Shaolin Temple, has decided to devote some efforts to saving more
Shaolin martial arts.
A select group of monks will be responsible
for classifying all the informaton into the 18 branches of patterns.
Each branch is a new set of skill: unarmed combat, dual practice, good
health, etc. This project is expected to take 10 years.
A Question on Tai Chi and Kung Fu
Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 at 6:51 AM by Sifu Smith
One of the most enjoyable parts of training and practice is gain ourselves and to see our students and classmates also gain. When you see the illumanation of understanding being translated to a physical reality, it is wonderful. Over the years I have recorded many questions from the beginner to very experienced, on why to learn, how to learn, why to practice particular pieces regularly, how to make it work, and probably most often 'how can it make me better'? Yet the one of greatest impact to a individual student is; 'where did my kung fu go'?
I am preparing a guidebook with those years of experiences, what students have done, how they changed and improved, and many of their comments and understandings on the other side. We used to hear the entertaining stories of Great Master Mar Sik, who would have his Kung-Fu-Repair-Shop. I was amazed many years ago to see the Repair-Shop at work with Master Chin. People who had spent many years of training, and lots of money learning styles and 'secret kung-fu', yet they found themselves at dead-end, or found that it didn't work when called upon, or worse of all, they couldn't find it. This happens regularly, someone spends their resources in training, one day they test it in a sparring match or more fluid situation, and find themselves frozen or they turned into a boxer because their wing-chun didn't come out or other problems.
They would ask the Master 'can it be fixed', the Master would have them pull the ole clunker in the garage, look under the hood, pull stuff out, streamline the flow, and almost everytime, replace and retrain the mechanism that fire. Training the understanding that all kung-fu must come from within. Get a higher octane fuel to drive your kung fu and then have some faith. The student would look perplexed and troubled as they were given direction to practice non-movement, every day. For some it would take a short year or two to understand, other's longer, yet eventually it would happen that they would realize that all movement starts in non-movement, if you are in chaos at non-movement, then your movement is nothing more than chaos.
Look for the manual coming up.
Rounding out Feng Shui Energy Items
Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 at 6:15 AM by Sifu Smith
Use mirrors, crystals, and stones to reflect and alter the energy and presence of a space. The effects are tremendous, and some are quiet clever.
Posted in Feng Shui
Calming the Mind - Shen
Posted on Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 1:38 PM by Sifu Smith
Calming the mind is the first step in training. Before training,
strengthening, creating, focus, and exploration can reach its potential.
We must first calm down the chaos that exists and builds. When
referring to the calming the mind, we are actually referring to calming
the heart, mind, and thoughts. Referred to as 'Shen', the Heart-Mind,
when we practice cleansing the mind, we begin by cleansing the heart.
Calm
the Heart-Mind - Shen
Posted in Kung Fu, Meditation