zen-bear

Hello Pitisukha, I'm very sorry to hear about your father's dire state of health and that he is under unbearable pain. This is my answer to your question: While I don't consider it an ideal setting for practicing FP Qigong, if you are already well-practiced in FP Qigong and if you are keeping a constant vigil over your father and cannot leave or do not want to leave his bedside and want to rejuvenate yourself during your vigil, then I think it is generally safe to practice FP Qigong. However, bear in mind that there is a general admonition in the Qigong world that one should not practice the art when one is emotionally distraught, upset, morose, or depressed. If you are clear, it is fine to use FP Qigong to help you keep vigil. But much depends on your long relationship with our father, (your karma with him), and if there is any unfinished business. Also, if one is a theist, it is customary to pray over the dying loved one. When I was at my father's bedside during his final hours, practicing Qigong was the farthest thing from my mind--and I had complete closure on every known issue with him. Again, I am very sorry to hear that your father is on the verge of passing. May he pass in peace. Sincerely, Sifu Terry Dunn

Hello LL, Good to wonder. I'm glad to answer your questions the best that I can. You said that the yogic, healing, martial, or spiritual practice can lead to enlightenment. Yes, any practice under a true teacher can lead to enlightenment. Is enlightenment different from immortality? Yes, very different, but with a little overlap. Michael Winn explains that the Kan & Li meditations he teaches through the Healing Tao can lead to immortality by integrating/harmonizing the shen so that they don`t separate in different directions after death. (Or at least this is my current understanding of what he`s said.) Can the Flying Phoenix meditations you teach do something similar? I don't believe that Mr. Winn is speaking from any type of experience in talking about "the shen splitting in different directions after death." His wording, if you are citing it correctly, doesn't make sense to me: Also, you wrote "integrating/harmonizing the shen"--as if shen needs to be "integrated." And then later you refer to shen in the plural: "so that they don't separate, etc." If you have correctly recited that passage from a Michael Winn talk or writing, I must say, quite candidly, that that sounds like totally confused gobblety gook to me. I am not acquainted with Michael Winn. But I happen to be pretty good and old friends with his brother, David, who was two years ahead of me at a small eastern college and one year ahead of me at the same Harvard graduate school. And I happen to be very good and old friends with David's wife, Julie Sullivan, who was my college classmate, and who, being a Chinese Studies major in college and fluent in Chinese with strong life-long interest in Chinese culture, has never had--to the best of my knowledge--flattering things to say about her brother-in-law's way of teaching or rendering Taoist arts. So to answer your question, Flying Phoenix Qigong most certainly does NOT have an effect similar to that which you described, because the effect that you described does not in my yogic experience or imagination, have any value in the evolution of one's eternal soul on either the earthly or heavenly planes. But FP Qigong, as attested to over the last 8.5 years of this thead by hundreds of people, will improve your health, t make you stronger and more functional in every way, transform your way of seeing and experiencing the world, by cleansing all the human doors of perception--internal and external doors, and give you an experiential foundation for understanding all yogas and meditative paths--and in rather short order, I must say. **See the recent post by "Cihan" on 6/11/2017 at 0:15 AM, which I just commented on (above). ** One very accessible Chinese semantic structure translated to English is Wilhelm's or Cleary's translations of "The Secret of the Golden Flower". The spirit of the physically deceased will rise as a shen or enlightened spirit, or it will sink and become earthbound or hellbound as a "guei", or negative ghost. If one's "shen is separating in different directions after death" that sounds like that persons' disembodied spirit is in trapped in Hell's Cuisinart and Satan has turned it on "High". I suggest reading "The Secret of the Golden Flower" to ground yourself in basic Taoist yogic and spiritual concepts terminology, so that when you do experience the supramundane, you won't be confused or lost because you're using a map that doesn't fit the territory. The Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung that I teach has a complete system of shen-gung within it. As does many other Nei Kung traditions, including Bok Fu Pai and 8 Sections of Energy Combined. But training one's shen-qi--or for that matter, one's qing-qi--does NOT mean automatic immortality. Nor does training in any practice or Yoga alone, not matter how authentic, guarantee the attainment of enlightenment and training alone certainly not guarantee immortality of the spirit. The later depends on one's karma and whether one has the strength to take spiritual guidance when it comes and make the necessary sacrifices to do one's karma-yoga (Works) to ultimately fulfill one's spiritual destiny. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Book of James 2:14-26 (KJV) Similarly, seeking vitality and longevity and "immortality" without Works is also dead. Which is why the great philosopher Mencius frowned upon the obsession with seeking immortality gone to incredible extremes, and wrote, and I have quoted him here often: "DO NOT SEEK IN YOUR VITALITY (EXERCISES) WHAT YOU DO NOT FIND IN YOUR HEART." Hint: for beginners, one easy way to start understanding what "Immortality" means--as cultivated in Taoism-- is by reading about the path, powers and works of the 8 Taoist Immortals or Saints. And btw, Lu Tung Pin (Lu Deng Bin in pinyin), the leader of the 8 Taoist Immortals in Chinese folklore and Taoist iconography, is the reputed founder of Tao Tan Pai tradition. What`s the best way to get started? If I decide to give this a try, I could see myself being able to devote an hour a day to begin with and going from there. Maybe buy the first two DVDs, basic standing and basic sitting? Or what would you suggest? If you are southern California: (A) Best way to get started is come to my classes that each both Tai Chi and FP Qigong. (B) Second best: buy the first 3 DVDs. Most everybody starts FP Qigong by doing both the standing (Vol.1) and seated (Vol.2) meditations. Then practice hard and post questions to this community to get good guidance. All Best Sifu Terry Dunn

Hello Cihan, Thank you for chiming in with your good information and clarification of the "complete breaths between the percentage exhalations." I love your term "Password" for each FP Meditation's specific breath-control sequence. If you don't mind, I will be using that occasionally from now on! And thank you for your foreshadowing and helpful warning about practicing other Bok Fu Pai Meditations demonstrated by GM Doo Wai on Youtube and other DVD programs. As I've stated several times in this thread, the FP Qigong is the "health safety net" of the Bok Fu Pai system and the very first thing that GM Doo Wai was taught as a child. As most practitioiners have discovered after doing Vols. 1 and 2, this art is very safe and almost foolproof, so that one can practice it and get good results without having a Qigong master standing over you as you practice. Cihan, the following is a very helpful heads-up for all who want to practice other Bok Fu Pai meds, but I advise everyoe who wish to do so to first complete the first level of the Flying Phoenix system (on Vols. 1 through 5, and ideally Vol. 7 as well). Then one will be fully established in FP Qigong and cultivated enough so that you should be able to weather any stray or accidental energy effects gotten from practicing from the Youtube demonstration programs--with no disrespect whatsoever to my teacher. Effects and feels of FPCK is extremely gentle, and with all respect, GMDW does not show much charisma while demonstrating other forms on Youtube and also Dvds. This is a fool's barrier. Of the ones I practice ,there is a nine mudra static meditation called "pushing ging", and also two moving meds in the expensive "energy" Dvd, which flood you with an additional WoW! factor and literally dazzling inner light. You are on your own on these meds and there is no another Sifu Terry, and if someone -out there- do not clip most of their psychic effects after a few practices like it happened to me, you might feel really alone on uncharted waters without enough experience and mental configuration of prior exercising. Thanks again. Best. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Phil48, It's OK to do reverse breathing while doing FP Qigong if your body naturally snaps into doing that. As long as the breathing is naturally and not forced in any way, go ahead and do it. btw, just to make sure we ae speaking the same language, please describe the "reverse breathing" that you are doing and, also, if you care to, how you learned or developed it. Thanks. Sifu Terry Dunn

Hi Taoguy, Yes, FP Qigong training will strengthen your immunity in the most sublime manner. Then it will maintain it at a high level with regular practice so that you can treat plenty of patients on a regular basis and operate within a hospital environment, which as you know is intensely full of germs and pathogens. Self-healing is first and automatic with FP Qigong practice. For healthcare professionals, the immediate benefit is that they are working more effectively with their specific skill-sets and are far less prone to contracting illnesses from their patients and environment...and also far less prone to become a "psychic sink"--i.e., to take on the exact symptoms, serious diseases, and mentalities of their patients should they "slip" and open up themselves up too much, which you have obviously observed by your statement: ...but I realize that most doctors end up being at a norm of 'sick' and frankly aren't energetically at a good level to heal people. In teaching beginners the Flying Phoenix Qigong, I don't use the concept of "sick chi" that needs to be expelled--when they start using their energy to heal others. Start with practicing the FP Qigong until rather quickly you feel it transform your health and immune system and impart very integrated, truly holistic strength and stamina that makes any kind of work easier. Later, when one has become proficient in the entire first level of the FP Qigong system, if one doesn't have the skill-set already, or one has not yet discovered it naturally or developed the abilities elsewhere, then do I start teaching the energy healing. That involves teaching both the foundational energy healing methods of Tao Tan Pai, which is the Neikung/Healing system that I learned first and have practiced the most (starting in mid-1970's) teaching the healing with the FP Healing Energy and Bok Fu Pai herbology, that I learned from GM Doo Wai starting in 1991. Until instruction in energy healing commences, the key maxim for FP beginners who have jobs in healthcare is: "Physician, heal thyself"--via your own FP practice. Best, Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Earl Grey, That is a pretty good and extensive minimum FP regimen that you've been practicing! that that is your minimum practice is impressive! Good emphasis on the intermediate and advanced standing meditations. Also a very good sampling of the seated MSW meditations. ** I would suggest adding one FP Meditation to anchor that entire practice: Bending the Bows. It's one of the pillars of the system and after 25 years of practicing it, it still teaches me things and continues to transform. You don't have to do it every day or even every practice session...but try doing it a couple of times a week. Hint: right before you do Moonbeam and Vol.4 FPHHCM. Here are answers to your questions (in blue): 1) For the very first Skype session, what are the common corrections people typically find themselves going over? I'm guessing it's mainly the long form that needs corrections, or even Moonbeam and some of the seated MSW forms? Every student is different when it comes to the types of corrections to their FP Qigong practice because of a myriad of factors: age, athletic ability, mind-body coordination, level of Tai Chi experience, extent of other Chinese martial arts experience, meditation experience, yoga experience, medical condition and injuries, mental health, how people have dealt with stress all their lives, natural talent, ability to work hard and persevere, ability to take instruction literally and easily (called "physical suggestibility" in my school of hypnotherapy). But to give general answers, I would say the most common corrections for FP practitioners are the same corrections given to my Tai Chi students: (A) Foot placement, (B) Orientation of the hips/waist--the "gua", (C) proper roundness of the chest and arms (Wuchi is everywhere, almost, when it comes to FP and Tai Chi), (D) total relaxation of all muscles with sinking of the joints, etc. 2) What is your bare minimum expectation in terms of how much practice we should have before contacting you for a Skype session? I ask in the sense that I have no problem with adding more time to my practice or waiting a few more months to even another year before contacting you for a Skype session...but if there's anything else you would hope for or expect from someone who wants to not just go the distance of an A+ student, but to go beyond and be an S student (108% instead of 100%). I don't have any bare minimum expectation in terms of practice under one's belt before contacting me for private lessons. Since I started teaching FP in the mid 90's, I've taught absolute beginners with no background in any Chinese martial or yogic art. But I will answer your question in terms of what gets the student the biggest bang for the buck: one should have done all the Meditations on Volume 1 of the CKFH DVD series and also all teh seated meditations on Vol.2. I have had many students come in from far out of town to get their first instruction on Vol.3 meditations Moonbeam and Vol.4 the Long Form Standing. I have had one Skype student in Wisconsin, who is very private, lives like a hermit, and won't participate on this thread (although he had subscribed and posted about 2.5 years ago), who has been taking Skype lessons from me every other week for the past 2.5 years. And he is more advanced in the FP system than any of my local Los Angeles students. I like the degree of "studenthood" and mastery that you say you're intent on attaining: 108%. Remember, as my classmate Sifu Hearfield posted many years ago: slow and even is the Way. The "Gong" in Qigong is the same "Gong" in Gong Fu: it means a fine diligent effort, day in and day out, without strain or obsession. ("obsession" defined operatively as: trying too hard because one is too attached to desired outcomes or driven to mania by an unhealthy motivation. SEE THE THIRD MOVING LINE IN I CHING HEXAGRAM 52 - MEDITATION "KEEPING STILL" FOR A GOOD GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ERROR OF TRYING TO FORCE RESULTS FROM ANY HIGH LEVEL MEDITATION ART [SUCH AS FP QIGONG].) 3) How else would you advise us to better advance not just in Flying Phoenix, but other forms we may be potentially interested in? (There are a couple others you know that I am drawn to). I know you mention in our ongoing thread here that there is a required reading list, which I have purchased almost everything listed there and already read cover to cover those titles. Regarding other forms and arts that you're interested in, make sure you get to the source of the art as close as possible. A bona fide master or a senior student very close to a bona fide master. Excellent that you've read the entire recommended reading list. One book series that is a wonderful roadmap for learning Taoist arts is the one written by Carlos Castaneda (The teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge, A Separate Reality, Journey to Ixtlan, Tales of Power, etc.). The most important bookd on the required reading list for all my Qigong students is 2 primary books: "Secret of the Golden Flower" and "Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines" by W.Y. Evans-Wentz. If you've thoroughly read the both and understand them, then you can start teaching right away. I'm not joking! In short--how can I make your role as Sifu easier and more enjoyable as I aspire to climb to the top of the allegorical mountain with the intention of continuing to climb even after I reach the peak? How can I be what constitutes an overachiever student by the standards that you hold? You don't have to make my role as a teacher easier. If you are the overachieving student that you say you want to be, once I see that, I'm sure that I will be pleasantly thrilled. A student doesn't need to think that far ahead--i.e., to make the job of the teacher easier. What I ask is that a student be a "good" student, as defined by Gasan: The poor student uses his teacher's influence. The mediocre student admires his teacher's kindness. The good student grows strong under his teacher's instruction. My standards are very simple: refine your practice of the FP Qigong art and progress through all the natural steps, learning the basic level of material on the DVD series...to the extent that one is fully self-healed, has cultivated a tangible reserve of FP Healing Energy, which can be seen and felt by me and advanced practitioners, and express (or not express) a predilection for healing with the FP Healing Energy. (The latter is totally up to you and your nature and won't affect the next couple of levels of instruction.) If one develops naturally along those lines, then, when one is ready, the next level of Knowledge will be made available. There are 9 advanced FP Qigong standing moving meditations that come next. Thanks for your post and your enthusiasm and intensity! Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

To Flying Phoenix Qigong practitioners and the extended Flying Phoenix community (--and especially to all my friends on the eastern seaboard of the U.S.): I wish to inform everyone of you that from June 23 to 30th, the Eastover Estate and Retreat in Lenox, MA is sponsoring its annual Medical Qigong and Eastern Medicine Symposium and I will be demonstrating several ancient monastic Taoist arts that I preserve and teach, along with at least thirteen other Qigong masters and doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine involved in energy healing giving their presentations. I will be giving presentations on the last 3 days of the Symposium on these dates and at these times: Wednesday, June 28: 9 am - 12:30 am: "Ehrmei Mountain Flying Phoenix Qigong" 4pm - 5:30pm: "Tai Chi For Health" Thursday, June 29: 9 am - 12:30 pm: Flying Phoenix Qigong & Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung 2 pm - 3:30 pm: Flying Phoenix Qigong Friday, June 30: 11 am - 12:30 pm: Flying Phoenix Qigong & Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung These short presentations at the Symposium are experiential previews of my upcoming 3-day and 5-day residential retreats at Eastover Estate on July 27 to 30 and on August 29 to September 3, respectively. During these two retreats, I will be teaching the bulk of the FP Qigong system. I hope that all serious practitioners of FP Qigong will try ot attend the July or August workshops or both. Both will be intensive skills courses, where much much form correction will be given. Complete information about the Medical Qigong Symposium including profiles of the 14 presenters is at this link: http://eastover.com/symposium.html --with the schedule of events detailed here: http://eastover.com/…/B…/symposium/SCHEDULE-2017-colored.pdf *For those enrolled in Acupuncture and TCM studies, CEU's are offered for this professional development activity by the NCCAOM. ••• Information on the Flying Phoenix Qigong art is, of course, at: www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html >> And the proof of the Flying Phoenix Pudding is our very own and very lively worldwide discussion thread started by "Fu-doggy", Lloyd McCelland of Orlando, FL, who I must personally thank again at this juncture for starting this thread and then contacting me to join in and to answer questions a few weeks later. It's been a fun and enlightening 2-way experience all these years. Who would have known that it would go on for 8 years and get 560,000+ views to date? Let's see how many more years and postings it goes. [Ahem. Many more years, I'm quite certain because I have only given answers online to a student posing questions about Vol.3 Meditations: Wind Through Treetops and Moonbeams back channel but ONE TIME. Just one time as far as I can recall. And I can count on two hands and one foot how many students outside of my Calif. students I've practiced the Long Form Standing FPHHCM well enough to require corrections through Skype. So let's get cracking on Moonbeam and Vol.4 Standing Long Form!!!!! ]

Yes, GMDW's Detox Meditation that he calls "Monk Watching the Moon" (same Chinese name as the FP meditation, "Monk Gazing At Moon") is very effective. It was something he taught outside of FP Qigong, so I also teach it outside of FP as an ancillary tool. Also try his healing meditation that he describes as having some postures similiar to Tai Chi but is not Tai Chi. It is a good Qigong exercise that builds vital energy that can be transmitted across space as he suggests you try to do in experiment(s) with your friends. This is also non-Flying Phoenix qigong: Enjoy the wide variety of Qigong under the Bok Fu Pai banner. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Apologies to all who are waiting for replies to posts. I am still behind after see a graduating class of acupuncturists and masters os doctors of TCM this past weekend. I will get to y'all shortly. So busy I forgot to post this Flying Phoenix Qigong training sequence I did yesterday from 10:15 am to 12 noon. I actually practiced form 6:30 am to 12 noon: The 6:30 am to 10:15 am segment was devoted to: (a) Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung (1 hr.), (b) Liu He Ba Fa Form - 2 rounds (30 min.) (c) 8 Sections of Energy Combined Kung Fu -- Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 (90 min.) (d) Yang Tai Chi Chuan and sword - (45 min.) The 2 hours of Flying Phoenix practice: 3 Standing Moving Meditations (30 min.): (a) Wind Above The Clouds + Wind Through Treetop (10 min.) (b) Moonbeam Splashes on Water (8 min.) (c) FPHHCM - Long Form Standing Meditation (Vol.4) -- (12 min.) 4 Seated Meditations (90 min.): Monk Serves Wine seated meditation No.2 (50 40 30 10) - 20 min. MSW on Vol.7 (80 70 50 30) - 20 min. MSW on Vol.7 (70 50 20 10) - 25 min. Unpublished MSW seated meditation involving massage of head and face: (90 50 20 30) - 25 min. Unpublished 22-movement seated Long Form meditation (50 30 10) - 5 min. **I just realized this, and it is noteworthy experiential fact only because of the yogic principle behind it: I practiced the 5.5 hours straight without any water or food beforehand or during the practice. Afterwards, I was not hungry at all nor was I noticeably thirsty. I did full day's work, took a break to have a short meeting with a friend at a coffee house at 2 o'clock at which I had a latte. But I didn't feel hungry at all throughout the day and had a moderate dinner at about 8pm. I demonstrated to myself this yogic fact: when you practice any Chinese yogic art at an advanced level properly-- and I can only speak for Chinese arts with monastic roots-- and achieve a prolonged state of what I believe western science calls allostasis, you can live for quite a while without ingesting food or water...just by continuing to practice, and slowly swallowing your saliva from time to time. This was something that Madame Bow Sim Mark told me way back in 1980 when I was studying with her in Boston on Saturdays while I was in graduate school at Harvard. Only in the past couple of years have I practiced long enough Nei Kung sessions to demonstrate this to be true in terms of my personal practice. [This principle is also why Indian Yogas evolved the way they did (due to environmental factors of famine and food scarcity throughout India's long history) in order to allow practitioners to survive on base metabolism and not have to eat. Chinese history was millenia of war and blood shed, so its yogic arts born out of intuitive/spiritual genius took the functional form of advanced martial and healing arts.] I am now writing this at 3 pm Tuesday, and I had nothing to eat or drink today except for a shotglass of almond milk and a banana at 10 am. And I'm not hungry or thirsty at all aftert having I just finished another--but much shorter, 3 hour--practice from 11am to 2pm: (a) Full set of Tao Tan Pai Nei kung (1 hour) (b) Tao Tan Pai snake, crane, and monkey forms. (20 min.) (c) Master James Lau King's mind-body coordination (Tai Chi Qigong) set--3 rounds in 3 stances: 10 min. (d) GM William Chen's Tai Chi Long Form - 20 min. (d) GM William Chen's Tai Chi Sword form - 2 rounds - 20 min. (e) Wudang Dan Jian - one round -10 min. (f) FP Monk Serves Wine Mediation on Vol.7: 80 70 50 30 TWO SETS - 40 MIN. total.* *Yes, you can try doing any of the seated Monk Serves Wine seated meditation in repetitive sets of 7, back to back--with a short break in between, if you like. (that's the "gong" in Qigong). Work It!--but in sublimity, calm and refinement. Enjoy your practice. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hello Tao Guy, I'm sorry for taking so long to reply to your post. We ended the quarter at the acupuncture college where I teach last week and this past Saturday was the commencement ceremony for the 4th year graduates and graduates of the Master's and doctoral programs in acupuncture and oriental medicine that was held at UCLA. Answer to your question: As a complete medical qigong system, Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Kung was specifically designed by the ancients (a) to promote the body's natural self-healing faculties and (b) to empower healers to maintain strong immunity and avoid contracting diseases and symptoms from their patients and subjects. Flying Phoenix Qigong does this, as I've quoted my teacher in the past by: "bringing all the organ functions under the regulation of the subconscious mind." How Flying Phoenix Qigong tangibly effects this super-regulation by the mind is profound and without hard scientific research, beyond the scope of atomistic, Aristotelian thinking. I started the week right and practiced this morning from 6:30 am. to 12 noon. the last 90 minutes was devoted to Flying Phoenix Qigong: a. Wind Above the Clouds (4 min.) b. Bending the Bows (12 min.) c. Monk Gazing At Moon (5 min.) d. seated Monk Serves Wine #2 (50 40 30 10) -- 10 min. e. Monk Serves Wine (80 70 50 30) f. Monk Serves Wine (70 50 20 10) e. unpublished advanced MSW with self-massage (90 50 20 30) h. Red Lotus FLying Phoenix No.1 I've discussed Kundalini in the past briefly on this thread because many practitioners of Indian yogas and ayurevedic medicine know and use that term. Flying Phoenix Qigong and all the Nei Kung arts under the Bai Hu Pai (White Tiger System) banner awakens or raises the Kundalini very sublimely and gradually as a perfectly balanced side-effect of its super-regulatory cultivation. Another Qigong/Nei Kung system that I teach, Tao Tan Pai (Taoist Elixir Method), a 9th century Tang Dynasty system attributed to the leader of the 8 Taoist Immortals (Saints), Lu Deng Bin (Lu Teng Pin in old Wade-Giles romanization), directly cultivates and circulates the Kundalini to the crown chakra ("Thousand Petaled Lotus") in a more dramatic-- manner, using a wide, wide variety of Chinese yogic postures and breathing methods. The Flying Phoenix Meditations effect very dramatic changes to the body's nervous system and organ systems in a very sublime manner. First by energizing and rejuvenating the entire body--every cell. Early on, practitioners can experience sensations in the head that all yogic traditions call "brain activation" and the activation of very precise brain centers. The first non-ordinary experience that is the most basic benchmark in FP Qigong practice is the gentle and enjoyable "washing" sensation of the brain. Permanent "enhancement" of all of a person's sensory channels can occur, and various traditions call this process "enlightenment". And it is attainable through Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditations practice alone, according to the oral tradition in reference to past masters. And certainly of FP Qigong's creator. (I generally abstain from talking about "enlightenment" attained through any yoga unless there is a long history of wise, humane, and saintly actions to corroborate that status.). The chart you posted juxtaposes various authors' and traditions' translations of "consciousness roadmaps. " The one I found personally most useful in the English language is Daniel Goleman's 1972 translation of the of the Visuddhimagga account of Gotama Buddha’s teachings on meditation and higher states of consciousness, which is perhaps the most detailed and extensive report extant of one being’s explorations within the mind. That fact that the one being was the Buddha makes it worth studying and keeping by the serious yogin. Goleman's chart of the 8 jhana-absorptions is on page 30 and 31 of this 44-page article: http://www.atpweb.org/jtparchive/Goleman1972.pdf So is a far more detailed of that map on the left side of the chart your posted. You asked me to comment on the chart you posted of the 12 absorptions. • As I just stated, the Goleman articles/books on the the Buddha's teachings regarding higher states of consciousness (HSC), and meditative states of consciousness (MSC) is detailed and worth studying. • I'm not familiar with Patanjali Yoga and so don't know what those states written in sanskrit mean. • I need to read more of Sant Mat/Regions by Peter Halloran before I can comment other than it maps MSC and spiritual realms. But as for his declaring Sant Mat as a superior technique and path, I have no comment, for I have heard and seen that type of hype in every field of human endeavor. He may be confident to make that declaration within the sphere of Indian spiritual traditions, but there are other worlds of alchemy beyond that culture's--and not just China's. Even within India's rich traditions, I think there might be a few Indian saints in the upper regions who find that type of self-esteem boorish. • I disagree with a couple of technicalities in Brooks' schematic chart and question his use of words. • If that is how cognitive psychology observes and interprets MSC, then their logic is too narrow to the point of not just uselessness, but causing retardation of anyone seeking holistic health and spiritual illumination. It's a strange chart. But thanks for posting it. Amd thanks for your question about Kundalini. Thinking about it has causee me to decide to add a few paragraphs about Kundalini and its progess in my forthcoming book on FP Qigong. Regards, Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Today I read a friend's FB posting of Reinhold Niebuhr's very brainy theological saying, “The final wisdom of life requires not the annulment of incongruity but the achievement of serenity within and above it.” extolling a "Final wisdom of life" requiring "the annulment of incongruity" being subsumed by the "attainment of serenity in and above it". It took me 12 minutes to read this saying 4x and to revolve on it before realizing that it was his rigorous functional definition of At-Onement, enlightenment, At-One with the Godhead. (I was a bit slow because I don't think like a German theologian). But nothing objectionable about this saying. Better to achieve this "Final Wisdom In Life" --serenity that permeates all congruity --i.e., wisdom that creates no more (negative) karma that needs to be burned (in the present or future incarnations--earlier in life and spread more Peace and Love, instead of achieving it later in life, with all its regrets and suffering over missed opportunities of fulfilling good works (karma yoga). The difference between a bodhisattva and a stone buddha. This is Hui Neng's prescription as to how to attain wisdom-serenity, or what the Taoists call "Immortality within one lifetime": "Calmness (meditation) and wisdom (serenity) and is like a lamp and its light." -- Hui Neng, 6th Patriarch of Buddhism, founder of the Sudden School of Enlightenment, Chan (Zen). ••• Then I found this Reddit page nicely summarizing the teachings of Hui Neng-- albeit not using my favorite English translation of the Altar Sutra (which is by Wing-tsit Chan, who translated D.T. Suzuki's translation in 1963). btw, you can substitute "Buddha Way" below with "the Tao", "the Way", "the Christ within", or "divine wisdom." So get calm for clarity through Meditation and then get busy with your Karma-Yoga. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Joolian, I too am curious if any other FP practitioners have experienced sweating on the top of the wrists and narrow parts of the forearms. I don't recall ever having experienced sweating at those locations. But I've done other Qigong systems for 25 years before training in FP Qigong. Those are interesting locations to be sweating while doing FP Qigong. But more information is needed before I try to "shen" out what's going on with you. Contact me on PM if you want to follow up. I need to know: (a) is it all around the forearms or just the top side? (b) What hours of the day did you practice when this occurred? (c) environmental factors... If you want an answer, then it's most efficient to do a short Skype session with me so I can see you. Best, Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Today's Sunday practice included the following Flying Phoenix Meditations: A. *22-movement Long Form Seated Meditation (not on DVD series) - 3 rounds (18 min.) B. *Red Lotus Flying Phoenix Seated Meditation No.1 -- 4 min. C. Wind Through Treetops D. Wind Above the Clouds E. Moonbeam Splashes on Water F. *Advanced Flying Phoenix Standing Meditations 1 - 5. (15 min.) G. 3 rounds each of the 2 standing Nei Kung exercises of the 8 Sections of Energy Combined (Bot Dim Gum) - 20 min. *The lovely 22-movement Long Form Seated Meditation is an exercise that I teach in person or online after students have completed Vols. 1-3 and 7 of the DVD series. *B. Red Lotus Flying Phoenix Seated Meditations are taught after one has proficiency in the entire "basic" level of FP Qigong. *F. The 9 Advanced Flying Phoenix Standing Meditations are taught after one has completed the Basic Level of FP Qigong and Long Form Seated Meditation are mastered. Happy Memorial Day weekend. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Go Get'em, Deltrus! Good session Tao Tan Pai last night! Cheers, Sifu Terry

Hello Everyone, Last night I enjoyed a lovely Oneness Meditation session last night at the Santa Monica Unitarian Church led by the gifted Eric Isen, a Deeksha in that tradition (founded by Sri Bhagavan) who has worked full time as a medical clairvoyant since 2004...after spending 30 years as a monk in Ayurvedic traditions. It was our joyous first meeting after years of mutually beneficial teaching of our common students/clients. You may recall from posts by Tao Stillness starting about 2 or more years ago that he had given, one by one, most of the Flying Meditations for Eric to remotely read each one's specific therapeutic, healing effect on Tao Stillness. Over the course of many months of Tao Stillness kindly sharing Eric's remote readings of the FP Meditations with me, I found Eric' readings to be uncannily accurate and profoundly enlightening as well, for he put into words a certain few experiences I had of each FP Meditation over the past 25 years that I had not put into words yet because Eric uses Ayurvedic language ("chakras", etc.) and I use my own based on Taoist and Buddhist terminology. As I think I've posted before: the Deeksha energy and consciousness of the Oneness Meditation movement--for which Eric Isen is a "battery"-- is very powerful, very healing, comes from a spiritual source, and is somewhat similar to Flying Phoenix Qigong in that it activates specific brain centers--but not the same brain centers as FP. The wonderful fact is that once you master Flying Phoenix Qigong to a certain extent, you can spontaneously channel and partake of the Oneness Meditation energy channel. Quite honestly, my brain centers and brain surface are profoundly "lighting up" as I simply type this. So I want to take this opportunity to thank Tao Stillness in Baltimore, MD for introducing me and all the members of the FP Community to Eric Isen, who is a very fine, totally legit and effective medical clairvoyant. That is, Eric will remotely read the health benefits or anything deleterious that would result from taking any type of medication--eastern or western, natural-herbal or pharmaceutical, and that results from practicing any form of Yogic, Qi , Meditative or martial art exercise, or undergoing any type of medical or therapeutical, psychotherapeautic operation, procedure. I think y'all can tell from this photo below what type of a deeply compassionate and gifted teacher, guide, and healer Eric is. He has been most helpful of course, in clarifying and corroborating for many FP practitioners and subscribers to this thread the very precise effects and effectiveness of each FP Meditation that they have asked him about. Eric is also a Harvard grad, but I forgive him for that! Have a very enjoyable weekend as you further explore the wonders of Flying Phoenix Qigong. Sifu Terry Dunn

Hi Shiva33, There is no set rule for how one should synchronize movements with breathing cycles in FP Qigong. The only rule that I would call a hard and fast and rigid is that one MUST NOT try to synchronize movements with breath cycle to the extent of straining the breath in trying to match long movements. There should only be relaxed normal breathing and no conscious striving to expand length of breath. Expansion of breath cycle and tidal volume occurs naturally in the FP Qigong art--without conscious striving. The one thing I admonish against is "trying too hard." What I have done in expounding this rule of not synchronizing breath with movements is simply to pass on Grandmaster Doo Wai's teaching. If you feel most comfortable and natural with the synchronization that you've described, then continue with it. There, however, are some natural tendencies and synchronizations that occur by themselves once one has practiced this system long enough. The body has its most natural and optimal way of moving. All other Qigong systems and yogas worth their salt return the person to this original pristine perfectly natural form of movement. My natural tendency is that as I inhale, my forearms and palms turn from the "facing each other" position to the forward facing each at 45-degrees from the plane of my chest. Hint, btw: many Tai Chi masters will give oral teachings to enable their students to achieve this coordination. One does not have to subscribe to this coordination in order to get the full health benefits from FP Qigong. I am just saying that this synchronization of breath cycle with tweaking of the wuchi (Monk Gazing at Moon) position happens to be congruent with Tai Chi internal principles. Best, Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hello A_B, Here are answers to your questions: Could you please tell me what would logically be happening at this time? Being fresh out of FPCK, I am still in its energy. But am I still cultivating or am I circulating it? I ask this question because it feels like I am still cultivating it. Am I imagining this? Once you have taken 3 deep breathes to count yourself out of the last FP Meditation, you are no longer doing that Qigong and its specific cultivation. You are feeling the energizing, healing and rejuvenating effects. If one practrices FP Qigong for a number of hours--say 3 to 4 hours-- then the cultivation might be felt to continue afterwards for some time. Also recall that many FP Practitioners have reported here that they experienced strong coming on of FP Healing Energy the next day 12 or 24 hours after a particular practice session. I also wanted to say that you mentioned a lady developing clair audience from FPCK. Well I was clairaudient before but now I am learning to "tune" it. It is quite remarkable that I should discover this ability that I never suspected myself to have. Yes, FP Qigong practice will activate and bring to the fore all latent powers that one has. Some have great natural potential for clairaudience, some for remote vision, some for scrying and out of body yogas, some have natural talent for projecting energy without touching. It appears that FPCK is teaching me to navigate states of consciousness that allow me to tap into various repositories of energetic information, from hearing. Yes, FPCK as a powerful system of concentrative meditation develops consummate visualization power, mental concentration to be able to navigate various planes of consciousness, which I will call jhana-absorption states. Just normal practice of FP Qigong system that's presented on the DVD series will enable the mind to zoom through the first jhana altogether and rest in the 2nd and 3rd jhanas for many. For the gifted, FP Qigong will accelerate meditative power and enable one to traverse the 3rd and 4th jhanas--and go right to the edge or threshold of the FORMLESS JHANA's. (btw, read Daniel Goleman's "Buddha and Meditative States of Consciousness" to understand the semantic map I am using.) various repositories of energetic information I have no idea what you mean by these words. But if you are auditorily accessing higher intelligences, more power to you. I thought it would develop my ability to surf states of consciousness but I never knew it would start like this (from hearing) so it is a lovely and welcome surprise, thank you Sifu. This way I can also build connections that allow for healing energies to pass through me and be transmitted to the person of my choice, with the same channel used for hearing, as obscure as that may sound... You are definitely auditory-dominant in terms of your frames of referencing Reality. So if FP Qigong has enabled you to "surf" states of consciousness, I am very glad to hear it. But don't thank me. Thank the Flying Phoenix Qigong art, its spiritual Source, and the human tradition that has preserved it to this day. (I strongly hope that that means to traverse different states of absorption/concentration by controlling sound energy) Every healer has his/her way of directing healing energy towards, and if you do it through using sonic channels, more power to you. Once I feel the blissful love, it is not easy to come out and want to do any other med, so I try to get what I want done first and do MGM last, just to benefit from this sublime sitting meditation. Yes, the fruits of practicing FP Qigong --being healed and rejuvenated in the allostatic state, and having consciousness expanded to higher realms can be most blissful. If you find certain FP or MSW meditations that facilitate your communion with Cosmic Love--as differentiated from just the experience of the FP Healing Energy in the body--then by all means, do more of those particular meditations that deliver you there. I'm glad to hear you are getting meaningful and enjoyable results from your practice. Enjoy your spiritual explorations with Flying Phoenix. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Earl Grey, As you do mantric yoga, here is one mantra in Sanskrit that intone on special necessary occasions. As a healer, you might know of it already. It came to me about 7 years ago when I was in dealing with the most hopeless of souls that needed extreme healing and spiritual correction. It is from the book, "Bodhisattva of Compassion: The Mystical Tradition of Kuan Yin." I believe it's also on the Daily Pure Land Practice website with English translation. I post it here for you and the FP community as it invokes the same compassionate spiritual force that engendered the creation of Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditations. Namo Ratna Trayaya Namah Arya Avalokiteshvaraya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya Mahakarunikaya Om Sabalavati Shudhanatasya Namas Krivanimam Arya Avalokiteshvara Lamtabha Namo Nilakantha Shri Mahapatashami Sarvatodhusuphem Asiyum Sarvasada Nama Bhaga Mabhatetu Tadyatha Om Avaloki Lokate Kalati Eshili Maha Bodhisattva Sabho Sabho Mara Mara Mashi Mashi Ridhayum Guru Guru Gammam Turu Turu Bhashiyati Maha Bashiyati Dhara Dhara Dhirini Shvaraya Jala Jala Mama Bhamara Mudhili Edyehi Shina Shina Alashim Bhalashari Bhasha Bhashim Bharashaya Hulu Hulu Pra Hulu Hulu Shri Sara Sara Siri Siri Suru Suru Budhi Budhi Budhaya Budhaya Maitriye Nilakantha Trisharana Bhayamana Svaha Sitaya Svaha Maha Sitaya Svaha Sitayaye Shvaraya Svaha Nilakanthi Svaha Pranila Svaka Shri Sidha Mukhaya Svaha Sarva Maha Astaya Svaha Cakra Astaya Svaha Padma Keshaya Svaha Nilakanthe Pantalaya Svaha Mobholishankaraye Svaha Namo Ratna Trayaya Namah Arya Avalokita Ishvaraya Svaha Om Sidhyantu Mantra Pataye Svaha! For those inexperienced with mantric Yoga, as a beginner, one must be careful with the use of names. This mantra above uses many names of Kuan Yin so it is very safe to use. One should of course know the meaning of the mantra but one doesn't necessarily have to fluent in the original language it is written or spoken in. But one MUST know its purpose and how it has been used throughout time. If one's Yoga is advanced, one can instantly read the intent of any energy projected in any form, including sound energy, which is the easiest to feel and interpret. Best, Sifu Terence Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Earl Grey, I echo Tao Stillness's thanks for sharing the "Video effects -- Geometry -- Transform -- Flip Horiz." pathway on VLC to allow FP Practitioners to get mirror image of my Flying Phoenix Qigong instruction. Given that there was no video record when GM Doo Wai was learning this art from his father, and before GM Doo Wai ingeniously created the percentage breath-control formulas, every FP Qigong and BFP practitioner had to look at the teacher's body to try to figure out the breathing, the world is fortunate to have the FP Qigong recorded on any visual medium--in the first place. Carry on! Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Kshanti, I can't really answer your question without more information such as your answers to: "What are you feeling from doing each of the FP Meditations? And better yet, if I saw your practice of exercises like Bending the Bows, Wind Through Treetops, Moonbeam, and the Vol.4 Long Form Meditation. Overall, it sounds like you are doing quite well, having practiced for 2 years and having taught yourself the Long Form Standing Meditation from the Vol.4 DVD. For two years I did the seated and standing beginner meditations dvd's 1,2 and 3 . Usually twice a day for 30 minutes or either 2 sitting or 2 standing or all 4 together or spread out throughout day. Maybe 3-5x/week. Once I memorized the standing long meditation dvd 4 that's pretty much all I do now with 1or 2 of the advanced seated meditations which I cycle through. So my practice can take maybe 15-40 minutes depending if I just do the standing long form alone or if I add on extras. 15 to 40 minutes of practice a day is a wide range. But since you've been practicing for two years, I assume that you've spent equal time on all the FP Meditations on Volumes 1 through 4. Based on your durations of practice stated above, I would suggest that you increase your time of practice in one session and try to do a 60 to 90 minute session once a day. This may be difficult to work into your daily schedule. But if you can manage the time, try it as an experiment. The continuity of practicing gotten through a 60 to 90 minute practice session wiil probably advance and further your FP energy cultivation in a significant way. Every FP Qigong class I teach is 2 full hours. Last week, I one inspired class ran 3.5 hours. Another question is how should we integrate the standing flash meditations-is it good to do 1, 2 or more ? Can they be done alone if we lack time to do anything else? Yes, the the 5 meditations on Vol.5 and all the FP Meditations in the preceding 4 dvd volumes can be practiced stand-alone if you're greatly constrained time-wise. In the beginning, for any of the DVD volumes (e.g., Volumes 1 and 2), it is very productive to practice through the entire DVD volume. The same is true of Volume 5. Try practicing all the Vol. 5 meditations right after you do the Vol.4 Long Form Med. That shouldn't take more than 25-30 minutes, since each of the 5 takes 90 seconds to 2 minutes. I don't know if you've gotten to this 2016-17 postings, but one big piece of advice I started giving last year was to practice three (3) the seated Monk Serves Wine meditations at a sitting. Again, the best means for me to answer your question is for me to view your practice of the standing moving FP Meditations mentioned abover. Over the past 4 years, I've been giving I feedback and plenty of form and other corrections to FP practitioners/Daobums subscribers via private online tutorials using Skype or Facetime. If you're interested, contact me through PM or at this address and I will give you more info about Skype lessons: [email protected] Enjoy your expanded practice. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Cihan, I am so glad that you discovered the effects of the fifth meditation on Volume 5. It validates my creative intuition as a teacher that caused me to pluck that meditation out of "Eight Sections of Energy Combined" Kung Fu to "round out" the four 90-second "flash" meditations. when I hold the ball on waist level, a Tai Chi like energy rises through my legs and charges the lower dan tien in a sexual note, which never happens in other FP exercises, and then transforms into the known FP sensations during the exercise. Yes, what you've described when you "hold the ball at waist level" (the fifth move or posture) is exactly what you should feel. To enhance that energy circulation and sensation: press the inside edge of your feet and focus you mind on the gap between your index finger and thumb on each hand. You're most welcome. Enjoy. Sifu Terry Dunn

Hi Earl Grey again, First, Thank You for your helpful, encouraging, and interesting reply to Enchanted Garden. Here is the answer to your question-- Direct question first to Sifu Terry: did you learn this as part of your training in the beginning when GM Doo Wai taught the flash meditations alongside the basic five in Volume 1? Or just the first four exercises on Volume 5? --No, I did not learn it in the beginning when I learend the 90-second "flash" meditations from GM Doo Wai. The fifth exercise on Volume 5 is a general vitality and empowerment exercise from a rare internal martial art that translates into: "Eight Sections of Energy Combined" that I also define as a martial qigong system. The art consists of one preparatory form, 8 Sections" (or Forms--seven of which are kung fu forms and one of which is very similar to Tai Chi), and five Nei Kung exercises. The 5th Meditation on Vol.5 is shortest and simplest of these 5 Nei Kung exercises. I wanted to program 5 meditations on Volume 5, and my intuitive spirit picked that particular Meditation to "round out" the preceding 4 FP Qigong 90-second meditations. Again, it is from a totally different system of Nei Kung. While the fifth meditation cultivates good grounding and a vital energy that is very complementary to FP healing energy, it is not mandatory that one practice it in order to master the entire FP Qigong system. It's just an supplement and aoo catalyst. No, you're not thinking too much. Your question shows that you can feel the difference between FP Qigong and another Qi cultivating exercise. Enjoy the BLUE. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Earl Grey, I too want to thank you for your nice and interesting reply to Enchanted Garden's lovely explanation (with all necessary obscurations) about she came to FP Qigong practice and how it's going. Hi Early Grey, I am thrilled that you're feeling the other-healing effects of the FP Qigong as opposed to the self-healing effects. What I will share, however, is that everyone who sees me doing the long form on Volume 4 (and even Moonbeam Splashes on the Water) not only feels calmer watching it because of the grace of the form, but feels qi penetrating them even before I stick needles for acupuncture or lay hands over for Reiki healing. What you are describing is the spontaneous, positively inspiring, "preceding", and independently "targeting" nature of the Flying Phoenix healing energy. As I've told every FP practitioner that they will experience sooner or later: after doing an FP Qigong practice session of 35-40 minutes, when they go out into public and enter a restaurant or any room with an assembly of people, the relative purity of your energy and the just exercised one-pointedness and concentration/jhana attained will also affect other people's spiritual "antennae," causing them to all turn and look in the direction of the energy that has reached them. Conversely, your polished doors of perception will also tell you or alarm you should you catch sight of or encounter someone who is sick and diseased, or is a threat to life and limb and free will in any way. Enjoy the fruits of your FP practice! It first transforms your health and spirit. Then it will transform the energy with which you heal others. Enjoy the BLUE. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

In my norrmally scheduled Flying Phoenix Qigong class last night, I gave an intensive Mercury retrograde review of two Qigong systems: half the time was devoted to a sampling of Tao Tan Pai Basic 31 Nei Kung exercises; other half was FP Qigong. And that practice was prefaced by 15 minutes of Yang Tai Chi warmups. I. Class began with the 3 Yang Tai Chi warm-ups presented in the first 40- minutes of my Tai Chi for Health Short Form and the TCFH Long Form dvds. These 3 exercises were created by my first: A. Wave Hands Like Clouds in bow stances and "horse step" (ma bu: a wide 2 shoulder-widths square stance with feet parallel) B. Play Guitar to Lifting Hands repetitive 90-degree transition practice C. Snake Creeps Down L-Rt repetitive practice. II. A 35-minute of sampling of Tao Tan Pai Basic 31 Nei Kung Exercises: A. Circling Palms (2 sets of 8 reps.) - 10 min. B. Crane Folding Wings - 3 min. C. TTP Basic #3 - 3 min. D. TTP Basic #4 - 5 min. E. TTP Basic #10 - 4 min. F. TTP Basic #11 - 3 min. G. TTP Basic #12 - 3 min. ("Clench, contract, swallow") H. TTP Basic #16 - 4 min. (seated, 5 breath retentions) III. Flying Phoenix Qigong - Standing Meditations 25 min. with emphasis on Bending the Bows: A. Monk Gazing At Moon - 5 min. B. Monk Holding Peach - 5 min. C. Bending the Bows - 17 min. D. Wind Above the Clouds - 1 round: 3 min. IV. First 3 of the Tao Tan Pai Basic 31 Seated Meditations - 9 minutes. V. Flying Phoenix Qigong - Seated Meditations - 20 minutes E. Seated Warm-up Meditation #2 (50 30 10) - 5 min. F. Seated Warm-up Meditation #3 (50 10 50) - 5 min. G. #4 Advanced Monk Serves Wine Meditation on Volume 7 (60 70 40 5) - 12 min. 'Tis a very rare occurrence--that two such powerful and authentic monastic systems of Qigong have been taught together. And creatively blended at that, if I do say so myself! Enjoy. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi David, First of all, you're very welcome. Second, I will respond to the comments you made underneath your 14+ quotes of sections of my posting as soon as I can. I am in the middle of an extremely busy week. But right off the bat: If you are pressed for time, you don't have to spend 10 minutes on each of the standing warm-ups on Volume 3--especially if you've been doing themfor some weeks or months. While the warm-ups that I programmed onto the DVD series are great primers for FP Qigong practice, It is more valuable use of time to do the actual FP Meditations. Best regards, Sifu Terry Dunn