It’s a small universe after all

Posted on 2011-03-03 by max

Is the universe expanding, exponentially and infinitely in all directions? Or is it just me?

We live “in” the universe, and a universe lives within us. Eastern medical philosophy recognizes that everything is holographic; wholes within wholes. For example, the condition of organs within your body can often be observed with accuracy by looking at areas of your tongue. Your ear, hand and foot map out your entire body energetically, and contain trigger points used in acupressure techniques which correspond to and affect all other parts of your body.

The Auricle Speaks

Auricular (ear) medicine is now proven to be effective for analyzing areas of problems, and treating the entire body from the external ear. It originated in China where medical workers charted more than 200 sites on the ear which showed direct correspondence to disease appearing elsewhere in the body. The techniques have also been developed in France and Germany over the past 50 years.

Ear reflexology is not only effective in the treatment of a wide range of common diseases, it can also be used with good results in the treatment of difficult emotional states.

So your ear is a complete information system that reflects your entire body holographically.

The food that you eat is new information you are introducing to the world of your body. And you, with your unique bundle of features, experiences, thoughts and emotions, are in turn a reflection of the greater world you live in too. (Granted, the reflection may be a bit kaleidoscopic. There’s always a lot going on.)

Back to the Universe

How very like an atom, with its spinning components, is our solar system with its spinning planets? And how like an atom, or, think big — like a molecule — are we, sitting here on this 8,000-mile thick earth?

In the practice of Spring Forest Qigong, the founding master Chunyi Lin suggests the following key:

“I am in the Universe. The Universe is in my body. The Universe and I combine together as one.”

March is Small Universe Month

For 30 days, we will contemplate the small universe within the larger universe, at least for a short time each day.

This contemplation ranges from thinking to experiencing, following a prescribed practice technique, and so becomes a meditative exercise: doing the “Small Universe”.

So, meditate on that.

Many Teachers, One Master

Posted on 2011-03-01 by leila

There is a saying in India that a person can have many teachers, but only one master. Some of the common elements in this relationship include:

The establishment of a teacher/student relationship.

A formal recognition of this relationship, generally in a structured initiation ceremony where the guru accepts the initiate as a shishya and also accepts responsibility for the spiritual well-being and progress of the new shishya. Sometimes this initiation process includes the conveying of specific esoteric wisdom and/or meditation techniques.

Gurudakshina, where the shishya gives a gift to the guru as a token of gratitude, often the only monetary or otherwise fee that the student ever gives.

Traditionally, in Chinese martial arts, sifu was used as a familial term and sign of respect as in the general usage.

The term takes on a more intimate context when a student becomes a formal student or disciple of the teacher. The acceptance as a student is a very formal event, usually requiring a discipleship ceremony called bai shi. After the ceremony, the relationship is defined as a more direct parent/child context and usage takes on this term rather than a generic sign of respect for skill and knowledge.

The Cantonese word sifu is translated into English as master. It can refer to either a master carpenter or a Master-Parent. The ambiguity arises when the Student chooses a Master who does not reciprocate the commitment. It can lead to disappointment and misunderstanding.

To paraphrase the Grail Knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: one must choose, but choose wisely.

In the Void

Posted on 2010-09-16 by leila

At the Level 4 retreat, Chunyi Lin talked about having gone to see the jellyfish exhibit at the Mall of America. He bought a souvenir to put in his meditation room. I went there to check it out last Sunday. Jellyfish seem to manage very well with no heart and no brain. Or are they all heart and all brain?

Fasting for health and enlightenment

Posted on 2010-08-22 by leila

This year I decided to fast during the Level 4 retreat at Two Harbors. Fasting is one of the topics covered in the retreat, and everyone who is healthy is encouraged to fast on Tuesday.

People who are diabetic, have cancer, AIDS, or other serious health conditions should not fast. If you intend to fast longer than 3 days, you should do so under medical supervision.

The first time we attended the Level 4 retreat, neither Max nor I fasted. I have never liked fasting. The second time, we both fasted the one day. It was not particularly fun, but it wasn’t so horrible either. We were planning to camp again this year at the municipal campground, and I started thinking about how much easier it would be to camp if we didn’t have to deal with food storage and preparation.

I’d been reading Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book called Fasting and Eating for Health. He is very knowledgable about the topic. He convincingly explains the benefits of letting your body rest so it can heal itself. Some health issues can take 10 or more days of fasting before you see complete healing. So I said to myself, if 1 day is good then 14 days should be even better.

When the other attendees had growling stomachs on Tuesday, I was already on day 8 of my water-only fast. I was not able to find a doctor to monitor my fast in Minneapolis, but I did have a fasting buddy so that was my safety net.

After 12 days, I decided to end my fast. By then, eating was something other people did. I felt like an observer. I needed more frequent naps, and the 3 hour meditations one hour after a 2 hour meditation became too physically exhausting. I did have some very good meditations and had some key insights into the Heart Sutra, which I’ve been studying since we went to the first Level 4 retreat.

We ended our fasts on yellow watermelon and 1/2 orange, alternating every 2 hours. We’re on day 2 of our 3 day re-entry. Dr. Fuhrman recommends doing a longer fast like this only every 5 to 10 years. I’d do this again…maybe by then there will be someone in Minneapolis who could supervise the fast.

Washoku – We Are What We Eat

Posted on 2010-06-07 by leila

Chunyi Lin tells us that we should try to eat at least five different colors at every meal. I recently ran across Washoku, which describes Japanese-style cooking. Some of these concepts migrated to Japan from China, so they are probably consistent with the teaching. Washoku incorporates 5 principles, as explained by Elizabeth Andoh in her cookbook “Washoku:”

Go shiki – Harmony in color. Washoku meals include foods that are red, yellow, green, black and white. This is not only visually pleasing, but a great way to be sure you are getting a good nutritional balance of vitamins and minerals with your meal.
Go mi – Harmony in palate (tastes). By having a balance of salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy foods, a washoku-style meal is thoroughly satisfying to the entire palate. We end up pleasantly stimulated, but not overwhelmed.
Go ho – Harmony in cooking method. Washoku-style meals use several different methods of cooking in each meal: simmering, searing, steaming, raw, and sauteeing or frying.
Go kan – Harmony in the senses. Each meal should please the five senses: taste, sight, sound, smell and touch (texture).
Go kan mon - Harmony in the outlook. This is a philisophical idea that when eating we should attempt “first to respect the efforts of all those who contributed their toil to cultivating and preparing our food; second, to do good deeds worthy of receiving such nourishment; third, to come to the table without ire; fourth, to eat for spiritual as well as temporal well-being; and fifth, to be serious in our struggle to attain enlightenment.”

Construction of a harmonious social order

Posted on 2010-02-13 by leila

Today I received my pendant for ReachOut service in 2009. The necklace is beautiful. It has the Chinese character for “The Great Commonwealth” fired in gold onto black art glass:

What is even more beautiful is the spirit of community that is represented by the pendant. The calligraphy was done by a member of the Spring Forest Qigong International Guild, the pendants were made by another gifted artist who is a member of the Guild, the story it represents was selected by the Guild Director, and they’re only given to Guild members who have performed ReachOut service at least three events within a year.

The story behind “The Great Commonwealth” is wonderful. According to the famous Confucian Da Tung,

When the Great Way prevailed, every person was a part of public society, and public society belonged to everyone. The virtuous and the able were chosen for public office. Fidelity and friendliness were valued by all. People not only loved their own parents and children, but loved the parents and children of others as well. The elderly lived their years in happiness; able-bodied adults were usefully employed, children were reared properly. Widowers, widows, and orphans, the childless aged, the crippled and the ailing were cared for. All men shared their social responsibilities and respective roles. Natural resources were fully used to benefit all, and were not appropriated for selfish ends. People wanted to contribute their strength and ability to society for public gain. Trickery and intrigues could not occur in such a society. Robbery, larceny, and other crimes all disappeared. Gates and doors were not locked; no one ever thought of stealing. This was the age of the great commonwealth of peace and prosperity.

To know the good is to do it. What a great honor and gift. Thank you, everyone.

Expanding my Useful Field of Focus

Posted on 2009-10-25 by leila

Last week, I got an email with an offer from Posit Science for a AAA discount on Posit’s Drive Sharp program. I took an assessment, which showed that my useful field of focus may have narrowed. Their web page said that, as we get older, our vision narrows and that can cause us to not see things unless they are right in front of us. Our reaction time slows as well, and can lead to car accidents. Besides the physical field of focus, we also have other fields of focus…

At Noel Radcliffe’s October SFQ Guild presentation, she talked about people with depression being like people walking in the dark having a flashlight in front of them who can’t see anything other than the little bit of space that is illuminated by the flashlight.

Making judgments and having “patterns” is useful, because it saves time making choices. It can be dangerous as well, because we miss opportunities and threats. We develop blind spots that prevent us from seeing things, both good and bad.

To try and find ways to expand my useful field of focus, I went to the Principles and Practices of Presencing for Leading Profound Innovation and Change.

5 movements of the U process

Expanding my field of focus starts in Co-Initiating, which has these supporting principles:

Attend: Listen to what life calls you to do.
Connect: Listen to and dialogue with interesting players in the field.
Co-initiate a diverse core group that inspires a common intention

Double Rainbow Meditation

Posted on 2009-08-18 by max

Photos by Rochel Rittgers. Log in or Register to be able to receive additional images from Love Radiator.

Master Chunyi Lin stands by the double-rainbow

Last night on the shore of Lake Superior at Two Harbors, Minnesota, our group of about 80 sat down to meditate at 7:15PM. Earlier in the day, Master Chunyi Lin had led us through the Spring Forest Qigong “Rainbow Meditation”, a visualization that bathes you energetically in the colors of the rainbow.

As the temperature gradually cooled to a comfortable mid-60′s range, we watched a thunderstorm move northeasterly, toward Silver Bay. We all settled in to meditate. I think we all hoped we wouldn’t get drenched, but it began to shower.

And behind us, the sun shown through the clouds. Then a colorful swirl of light zoomed across the shore through the group, and over the water. As we looked up, a brilliant double-rainbow brightened the sky. It formed a perfect semicircle, appearing to come from the end of the universe ahead of us (aka, Superior, WI) and arcing into the wooded point on our right.

The rainbow persisted for at least ten minutes. It was beautiful.

Master Lin suggested to us that this would be an auspicious time to make a wish!

Starting Your Love Engine

Posted on 2008-11-29 by max

In three simple steps, Spring Forest Qi Gong Master Chunyi

Lin explained how to start your Love Engine:

First, it starts with a SMILE:

Start My Internal Love Engine

SMILE

Smile is the symbol of love. It helps to evoke the senses of caring, healing, and forgiveness. Put a smile on your face. Begin by moving the corners of your mouth upward slightly.

Second, make your unconditional love connection, through slower breathing. Slowing your breath helps to relax and still your mind. Breathe slowly and as deeply as you can without trying too hard. You can do this with your eyes open or closed. Take your time.

Third, begin to visualize or feel the gold light of a sun, radiating from inside you. The light of this sun enhances the feeling of the peaceful moment. Really see the light, really feel the radiant warmth. Love can only be found when your heart is at peace.

Now that you have rehearsed the steps, try it. Practice now for just a few minutes. Practice often. In this way you can become a Love Radiator.

Enlightenment through Unconditional Love conference Wrap-up

Posted on 2008-04-20 by max

There were so many gems of truth, wisdom and beauty this weekend that the International Qigong Conference held something vitally important for the hearts and minds of, I think, all the attendees. As such, it was a resounding success. The program was instructional, inspirational, and generously heartwarming. Master Chunyi Lin, an internationally renowned enlightened Qigong master who lives in Minnesota, personally led nine sessions in the Grand Ballroom of the Bloomington Sheraton.

It is not uncommon for people’s lives to be profoundly changed with just a few minutes (or sometimes moments) in Master Lin’s focused presence. In this four-day conference, all participants enjoyed about 16 HOURS with him. Examples of session topics included “Achieving Your Full Enlightenment Now” and “Healing Through Forgiveness”.

Master Lin exemplifies loving kindness in his every word, and is a modest and humble man. He speaks with the wisdom of the universe, and fondly shares his experiences with bright humor.

His teaching is based on principles of sharing and simplicity, designed for people who do not have time to patiently meditate in remote caves or spend years perfecting esoteric training techniques. Spring Forest Qigong provides a direct, easy to learn approach. Master Lin’s stated goal is “A healer in every family and a world without pain”.

Presentations by other experts included–

Transformation and Healing Through Forgiveness, by holistic physician Dr. Noël Radcliffe
Qigong and Relationships, by Patrick Dougherty, psychologist and author
Empowering Yourself Through Breath, by Ann Cathcart, registered nurse
Bringing Qigong to Everyone, by Glenn Tobey, psychotherapist and social worker (newspaper article)
Meditation Concert musical performance by award-winning Chinese woodwind composer, conductor and performer Zhang Ying and two other members of the Minnesota Chinese Music Ensemble, Charlotte King (founder and coordinator), and Pei Ju Picard, musician and tea master!

Love Radiator

Open mind, open heart, open will

Category Archives: Spring Forest Qigong