Archive for December 2006
New Giant Smiling Buddha
Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2006 at 10:55 AM by Sifu Smith
The Xuedou Temple in Fenghua County will starting building the new Giant
Smiling Buddha this week. The statue will be 38 meters (124.5 feet) tall
and cost 200 million yuan (25.6 million $US). Maitreya (Big Smiling
Buddha) is a very popular image of Buddha among Chinese people. The
Chinese people altered it into the image of a local monk called Cloth
Bag monk (Bu Dai monk).
Read
More on Xendou Temple
Posted in Buddhist, History, Stories
Five Animals Exercise for Health
Posted on Friday, December 29, 2006 at 5:45 AM by Sifu Smith
A very ancient form of training continues to be beneficial and
practiced. This group practices in the mornings in the Anhui Province.
Developed by the Taoist Physician, Hua, in the year, 2nd A.D. it has
been used over 2,000 years to restore health, regain focus, strength and
balance. Not complex, imitating the spirit and movement of the deer,
crane, bear, monkey, and tiger. I tried linking back to the original
news paper article that posted this recent story, but their site pages
were not working properly. We will construct a dedicated page for this
excellent resource.
Standing Meditation
Posted on Friday, December 29, 2006 at 5:16 AM by Sifu Smith
One of our most basic training tools for all students is the working of putting the mind and body together. Most recently many students that have been practicing regularly have noticed new responses both in their body and their minds. Several of the new students have noticed that now the same movement exercises feel different because they are mindful with their practice. The ole saying that "Our thoughts are the magnetic force of our reality" is a powerful tool.
Some students are easily standing for half-hour and a few have now pushed to 45 minutes and one hour of non-movement training, and one hour of movement training. These are the same student whom 10-15 minutes of meditation was a struggle months ago. Practically every student we have, even the ones who have come to learn 'fighting kung fu' have told us (and we feel the same) that the greatest benefit and work is in the posting.
The real kung fu and tai chi is invisible, it is not how the practitioner moves that is the driving force, it is how his mind moves and expresses itself that makes the kung fu work.
Posted in Health, Meditation
Radio Waves being jammed by Chinese Officials into Tibet
Posted on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at 9:54 AM by Sifu Smith
In 1996, a radio station in India observed Worldview Rights and began a 30 minute broadcast in Tibetan and a supplemental broadcast in Mandarin Chinese. The radio station, "Voice of Tibet", reports on activities and development inside of Tibet, the activities of the Dalai Lama, and status of many work groups. It was observed that within a few short month, the broadcast was being jammed by the chinese government. The "Voice of Tibet" is working to overcome the jamming process.
2007 Chinese New Year Coming Up
Posted on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at 8:58 AM by Sifu Smith
February 18, 2007 is the Year of the Pig. If you were born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995 then you were born in the year of the pig and this is your year. We are going to look for a local place to open the new year, or look more in region.
Edited on: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 6:49 AMPosted in Stories
Recognizable Buddhist: Harrison Ford
Posted on Sunday, December 24, 2006 at 4:22 PM by Sifu Smith
Harrison Ford was born in 1942 and has demonstrated his support of the
Tibetan People and the Dalai Lama. He was a tremendous supporter of the
movie "7 Years in Tibet" and has new work coming.
Read More on Mr. Ford's Support and Work
Chinese Military Training In Snowy Mountains
Posted on Friday, December 22, 2006 at 5:06 AM by Sifu Smith
Pictures taken on December 21, 2006 as Military Prepares their soldiers for some of the harshest training, survive and assist in the snowy mountains.
Click Here: Chinese Military Training
Posted in Stories
Using the Chi
Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 2:52 PM by Sifu Smith
Learning to use chi during activity isn't new. It isn't easy, but practitioners in kung fu have pursued this level of training with great benefit. This article, printed in 2005, discusses the use of chi in a common health practice, jogging.
Edited on: Thursday, December 21, 2006 2:54 PMPosted in Health
Health Benefits of Tai Chi Chuan
Posted on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 10:27 PM by Sifu Smith
Tai Chi has shown to improve many physical health aspects, and also has
an impact on the mind. Come and read about the effects on the alpha and
beta mind waves, and read through inspiring stories of people that using
Tai Chi has altered their entire lives.
Benefits of Practicing Tai Chi Chuan
Edited on: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 10:29 PMPosted in Health
Chi Kung Practice
Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 at 8:33 PM by Sifu Smith
Beyond training Tai Chi and Kung Fu, all students have an opportunity to
train in Chi Kung and Meditation. Practicing flexibility and balance are
an important component to health and energy. Pictured here the student
is following in exercise.
Posted in Health, Raleigh, Students
Read Master Chin's Hop Gar Article
Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 at 8:21 PM by Sifu Smith
Printed in April 2006, this article discusses Master Chin's history, Hop Gar, and principles guiding the fighting style of this kung fu.
There are four principles for Hop Gar: cruelty, evasion, penetration and interception. When asked about cruelty, Master Chin quotes the Lama White Crane kung fu classics: "When hunting a tiger, destroy it. Otherwise, a wounded tiger will return to harm you. When weeding a garden, pull up the roots. Otherwise, the weeds will grow back. Whether the lion is hunting an elephant or a rabbit, the lion always uses full force."
Edited on: Sunday, January 17, 2010 6:14 AMAnniversary for Students
Posted on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 at 9:57 AM by Sifu Smith
ANNIVERSARIES
Congratulations
to Peter and Steve for their
persistant work over the past year. Their persistance and training is
paying dividend and each are certainly much more skilled and confident
in their understandings. Karla, its
been 3 years, Thank You!!
Posted in Raleigh
Tuesday Night Practice
Posted on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 at 5:12 AM by Sifu Smith
Practice was excellent, the beginners worked smartly on developing body
skill for Peng, Lui, Gi, and An on both sides. Becoming attentive to the
lines of expression. Senior classmates put much polish on
backhand-intercept-centerpunch, as well as working the Old Yang Pan Ho
style for timing.
Posted in Kung Fu
China- Selling Tea to Help Deaf Children
Posted on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 at 5:04 AM by Sifu Smith
The Audiology Development Foundation of China (ADFC) is collecting
donations to treat deaf children.
The yearlong campaign, which begins
this month, will raise funds by selling 30,000 boxes of superior Pu'er
tea, a famous tea produced in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The
money collected will be used to buy audio phones for deaf children in
China and provide them with basic language training.
Posted in Stories
Spirit
Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 at 5:13 AM by Sifu Smith
The characters for spirit; Jing Shen represent one of the Three
Treasures. Strengthening and cultivating Shen is an ultimate process of
training. Many classics state that prior to cultivating shen, one must
have consistently trained the body and mind. Much like placing the roof
on the house, foundations must be laid first.
Dongzhou Village Raid, Then News Blackout
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 at 7:38 AM by Sifu Smith
After Chinese authorities raided the southern village of Dongzhou,
trucks of armed forces took position to ensure no news reporters got in
or out. One Villager stated that a US reporter had been hiding in their
place, and was asking the US embassy for help. The tensions between the
villagers and government officials stem from poor living conditions and
the sense of impropriety by the officials.
""The officials have got all our land across the whole area. We don't even have anything to eat. They put so much pressure on us, how can we maintain a life?" stated one villager. In 2005, officials shot down 3 villagers during a protest, as they felt the government took their land to build a power plant, and compensated them very unfairly.