May 2012 Issue

Page 1

VOLUME 2 • 2012

Mastery

MASTER OF THE MONTH Dr. Stanley Ngui

WORLD QIGONG CONGRESS MAY 25 - 28 TORONTO, CANADA Introduction to Tibetan Shamanic Qigong -Lama Tantrapa-

Qi Dao Testimonial -Ricardo B. Serrano-

Six Healing Sounds -Dr. Stanley Ngui-

Stay in the Eternal Present -Dr. Pedram Shojai-

The Five Elements and the Paramita -Adam Holtey-

3 Reasons Why Your Qigong Practice Sucks -Marcus Santer-

May 2012

Magazine


May 2012

Letter from the Editor Articles

Introduction to Tibetan Shamanic Qigong Lama Tantrapa

Qi Dao Testimonial Ricardo B. Serrano

Six Healing Sounds Dr. Stanley Ngui

Stay in the Eternal Present Dr. Pedram Shojai

The Five Elements and the Paramita Adam Holtey

3 Reasons Why Your Qigong Practice Sucks Marcus Santer

Mastery Magazine Reader, As our publication marks its first year’s anniversary, it changed its name from Mastery Journal to Mastery Magazine. This change was prompted by the remarkable growth of our audience well beyond the relatively narrow circle of Qigong scholars. Mastery Magazine has also gained a new home at http://www.masterymagazine.com On Earth Day Weekend, a few thousand yogis gathered on the beach in Santa Monica and celebrated by practicing with world-class yoga and meditation instructors, dancing and flowing to top international musicians, listening to forward-thinking speakers, and eating amazing cuisine while walking through the ecoconscious vendor village. Please enjoy the photos from that remarkable event on the back cover of this issue. Mastery Magazine is proud to sponsor the upcoming 14th World Congress on Qigong that will be happening in Toronto, Canada on May 26-28, 2012. Dr. Stanley Ngui, who is featured as the master of the Month in this issue, is the father of the President of this congress Dr. Justin Ngui. Please enjoy reading about his work and make sure to attend the most important Qigongrelated event of the year. To register, please go to http://14wcq.com now Namaste, Lama Tantrapa

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Click the video below to view the 1st of a series of video segments on THE STATE OF QIGONG hosted by Lama Tantrapa. Publisher: Lama Tantrapa Production Designer: Thomas Pamelia The Cover Composite: by Thomas Pamelia Copy Editor: Lucas Meyer Information is correct at press time. Mastery is published monthly by the Academy of Qi Dao in Portland, Oregon. Signed articles do not necessarily reflect the official company policy Š 2011. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without permission is prohibited.


The Secrets of Qigong Masters Talk Show

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As the host of this enlightening talk show, Lama Tantrapa interviews prominent experts in the fields of Oriental Medicine, Energy Healing, Meditation, and Internal Arts. He also shares his unique perspectives on the principles and applications of energy awareness. Join us every Monday at 6:00 pm PST (9:00 pm EST) for a friendly and mindful exchange of ideas and “secrets of the trade.� Call in during the show with your most burning questions for our guests at 347-327-9635 or email us at qigongmasters@gmail.com



CALENDAR OF EVENTS FREE QIGONG COACHING TELESEMINAR WITH LAMA TANTRAPA

Are you a Qigong practitioner looking for a community of like-minded people excited to learn how to integrate Energy Arts into the daily life, overcome the epidemic of ignorance and develop compassion? If so, join us for this free teleseminar on Thursday, May 10, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm PST (9:00 to 10:00 pm EST). In case you cannot make this call, it will be recorded and available for download upon request. During this free event, you will be able to discover for yourself six most interesting ideas that can propel you to the next level of your professional Qigong practice. You will be empowered to dream up what you really want to experience in your professional life as it pertains to Qigong. Remembering that whatever you come up with is a dream will allow you to keep it flexible and able to adopt to the flow of your life, which is very different from the way most goals behave. They tend to loom in the distance and tantalize you by their unattainability, while setting you up for failure and disappointment. Instead of that, your dreams cannot have any power over you as long as you remember what they are and who creates them. Knowing how to be creative when dreaming and accepting total responsibility for your dreams can be considered the golden keys to living your dreams. You

Thursday June 14th 6PM to 7pm pst will also be able to pick the brains of other participants as well as ask the creator of Qigong Coaching any questions you need answers to, so you find the way to manifest the dream of being the best Qigong practitioner you can be. Consider this event as a mastermind group of colleagues who are committed to growing and evolving together. If you decide to further participate in this group, you will be welcome to co-create agenda of our meetings, and be a key participant in all monthly meetings. You will be encouraged to share your feedback, help others come up with new ideas, and establish a level of responsibility that makes all of us stay focused and on the right track to living our respective dreams. To register for this free online event, please go to http:// personaldevelopmentseminar.eventbrite.com now.


QIGONG FOR SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AT WORLD CONGRESS ON QIGONG IN TORONTO May 25th - 28th, 2012 You are invited to participate in this rare opportunity to experience Qigong and learn from the world-class masters at the 14th World Congress on Qigong/TCM in Toronto, Canada, from May 25 through 28, 2012. This Congress will continue the success of the preceding Congresses held in such cities as Japan, Rome, Washington, San Francisco, and will build on the momentum of these exceptional gatherings. Featuring a distinguished faculty of over 55 Qigong/TCM practitioners, scholars, scientists, VIPs, and presenters, the Congress sessions are lead by Dr. Stanley Ngui, Dr. Effie Chow, Dr. Alex Feng, Dr. Steven Aung, Dr. Kevin Chen, Dr. Nadia Linda Hole, Dr. Sandra Rose Michael, Lama Somananda Tantrapa, Chunyi Lin, Ting-Jue Zhou, and many other experts. In addition to experiential, hands-on sessions and exhibits, there is the dedicated Scientific Symposium chaired by Dr. Shin Lin. Do not miss the opportunity to experience post conference workshops on Monday, May 28, presented by the most distinguished experts in the field, including the workshop on Qigong for Spiritual Awakening with Lama Tantrapa. If you ever got interested in meditation, you probably wanted to experience some profound spiritual experiences or, at least, learn how to be more relaxed, stress-free, and awake in your life‌ perhaps, you even wanted to attain enlightenment or nirvana, which is what Buddhists call the state of freedom from any suffering. During this workshop, you will learn how to use Qigong to live a more fulfilling and enlightened life, free from stress and suffering. Discover for yourself how practicing the four stages of Dream Yoga can lead you to

awakening in the dream called your daily life. For information, please go to 14wcq.com or call (416) 960-8499 today.


PEAK PERFORMANCE IN HEALING ARTS WITH NADIA HOLE, MD Sunday June 10th 10am to 6pm If you practice or want to practice Qigong as a healing modality in its own right or in conjunction with other modalities, you will definitely want to attend this special event followed by the open house at Academy of Qi Dao. Please join Dr. Nadia Linda Hole in exploring and discussing the most fundamental principles specific to the healing applications of Qigong practices and techniques. These principles can apply to many other modalities of alternative healing, including massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathic and Oriental medicine. Find out how Qigong can enhance your healing abilities, help you heal others without spending your own energy, as well as avoid being affected by the energies and illnesses of the people you work with. This workshop can also serve as an important introduction to other aspects of Qigong studies that are available at Academy of Qi Dao, including wellness, spiritual, sexual, and Martial Arts Qigong. Where: 3360 SW 100th Ave. Portland, OR 97225 When: Sunday, June 10 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm How much: $97 per person ($77 thru May 31). Please call 503-501-8116 to register two people for only $147. Register at http://peakperformanceworkshop.eventbrite.com. Space is limited to 20 people!


QI DAO PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Knowing how challenging it can be to try learning Qigong from books and DVDs, we created a program dedicated to helping you learn how to use your body and energy more efficiently by mastering Harmonious Culture of Movement of the top Qigong masters. During the three month long basic program starting in October, you will also discover for yourself how to enhance your physical and mental flexibility, how to send the waves of Qi through different parts of your body, as well as to release various chronic tensions that may be causing some energy blockages in the body. Not only will you find a greater sense of physical health and wellness, but also enjoy inner peace and explore several profound meditation practices based on the Tibetan Dream Yoga. The culmination of this program - the initiation into the practice of Empowerment given during the final weekend workshop - will also serve as the corner stone for a number of more advanced practices. And the best thing about this program is that you will not have to move to Portland, Oregon, because the weekend workshops at the end of the basic, intermediate and advanced programs are the only events you would need to attend in person. Just like the hundreds of people from all over the world have done by now, you will be able to study at Academy of Qi Dao by using the state-of-the-art methodology of Qigong Coaching and modern communication technology, which allows us to see each other in real time and explore the aspects of our practices associated with body awareness, alignments, movements, etc.

Request a FREE orientation session If you are not a spring chicken, have any health challenges, or simply do not wish to spend years memorizing Chinese Qigong forms, you will especially love this opportunity to master Energy Arts through Qigong Coaching. By joining our upcoming program, you will be able to enjoy one of the best long-distance learning opportunities in the field of Qigong and receive the following benefits: • • • • • •

Improve your flexibility and range of motion; Learn to send waves of Qi through your body; Become more Centered, Grounded and Rooted; Manage and prevent chronic stress and tension; Develop the Harmonious Culture of Movement; Enhance your balance through Kinesthetic awareness; • Embark on the path of self-realization and spiritual awakening. By participating in this Qi Dao program, you will be able to learn the quintessential principles of Energy Awareness, develop a new, more efficient culture of movement and discover ways to be in the flow, which can empower and improve every aspect of your life. You will also learn the most effective meditation practices, methods of self-healing and ways to improve your mental and physical flexibility and balance. Qi Dao practitioners are known for being really energetic, centered and spiritually awake as a result of doing the practices specifically dedicated to developing such qualities. If you want to gain these skills and abilities, you owe yourself an opportunity to become a Certified Qi Dao Practitioner. For more information about our programs and to request a free orientation session, please email Academy of Qi Dao at academyofqidao@gmail.com today.



CONTRIBUTIONS Our publication accepts unsolicited contributions from professional and amateur writers. We are looking for articles and interviews that fall under the broad concept of mastery in Qigong, Kung fu and related disciplines. Please send us your stories on the best practices, masters’ profiles, as well as product and service reviews. Additionally, you are welcome to submit anecdotal stories about personal breakthroughs, discoveries, inventions, new approaches and applications. We will be glad to publish well written stories about Qigong, Kung fu and other masters from any place in the world capable of boosting health, well-being, and prosperity with specific approaches or methods that can be explained in writing. If you who would like to contribute to our future issues, you may submit articles, columns, profiles, stories and reviews electronically by emailing us at publisher@masterymagazine.com. Please provide your brief bio (a couple of paragraphs) and color head shot along with your piece of writing. Once you have been accepted as a contributor, you will be able to submit further contributions online by using our content management system.


ADVERSTISING Mastery Journal reaches out to thousands of Qigong, Energy, and Martial Arts enthusiasts from around the globe. Our market research indicates that the prospect subscribers to Mastery Journal are 55% male and 45% female. The average age of our readers is between 35 and 55; the majority having a college degree or higher. Most are avid wellness enthusiasts and have primary interests in Qigong, Internal Martial Arts, eco-conscious living, holistic health, and nature-based spirituality. You ads can be placed in two locations: on the interior pages of the ezine, and on the webpages of our site. The first option is more prominent, as it allows for larger size display ads. The second option is more persistent, as it appears on all webpages of our site. If you would like to place your advertising in the future issues of Mastery Journal please email us at publisher@masterymagazine.com and we will be happy to help you choose the option that would best suit your needs.


Introduction to Tibetan Shamanic Qigong Lama Tantrapa Shamanism is the most ancient spiritual tradition known to humankind. Throughout its history, the human race has evolved significantly in both technology and science, but human nature has never changed. We all have the same primordial spiritual core that we often call our inner essence or spirit. This inner nature is not always apparent, for the wonders of technological and scientific progress tend to distract us more and more from paying attention to our inner nature as well as the world of nature around us. Historically, the establishment of organized religions diverted the masses from the ancient Shamanic teachings and practices. Many religious institutions have a tendency to perceive Shamanism as some sort of witchcraft deserving nothing but persecution and extermination. It is no wonder that nowadays there is so little remaining from the former worldwide prominence of the Shamanic culture. The resulting inadequacy of human connection with nature has been rather detrimental both to humanity itself and to all forms of life on our planet. Besides the devastation of natural ecosystems and extinction of many species, we humans tend to pay less and less attention to the world within ourselves, which separates us even further from who we really are. Who are we, really? Are we some foreign intruders trying to colonize and enslave this planet? Are we a product of the games of uncanny forces that turn us into catalysts for our own self-destruction? To answer these and more serious questions, you would need to focus more of your attention inwards. This is exactly what the Shamans used to practice when communing with the spirit world. It is also what all prophets and mystics did when they received any profound visions or revelations. This way of receiving answers to the most challenging questions has been a direct path for many spiritual masters to self-realization and awakening to the truth of our Being. This experience of self-realization is often so transcendental that many mystics who experienced it never became prophets, since they could not even start translating their incredible revelations into the language of everyday life. Some of them spoke out and shared the remarkable sense of awakening and enlightenment as to the real source of our existence. They became well-known prophets and founding fathers of different spiritual teachings and world religions.

The Shamans of antiquity developed their acute energy awareness for personal development, healing, and protection of their tribes. Through years of trial and error, some of them fine-tuned their abilities to shift attention from the outer appearances of things to their energetic nature, which is called Qi in Chinese, Prana in Sanskrit, and Mana in Hawaiian. Energy is the essence of all Being, flowing through all things and manifesting in the multitude of forms. The forms of things are basically vessels for their energetic essence. This applies not only to tangible objects, but also to events, relationships, thoughts, etc. Thanks to the diligent transmission of this knowledge through many generations of dedicated practitioners, now we have a method for awakening our dormant ability to perceive the flow of things in our lives and to be in harmony with that flow. Shamanism in general was not founded by a particular person but rather naturally evolved and developed throughout many millennia. Every Shaman had to master his or her unique and authentic ways of realizing their true nature. Rather than trying to copy someone else’s steps, real masters came up with novel ways of self-realization that were geared to their own physique, energy and mentality. In other words, to be a real Shaman is synonymous to being in the flow. Qigong, an ancient energy art integrating Qi (or Chi – energy awareness) and Gong (or Kung – the practice of mastering it), is a system of self-realization that has been practiced for over five thousand years. Its numerous styles and schools developed mostly along the lines of different philosophical and spiritual traditions in the pursuit of embodiment of their respective teachings. The deeper you explore the history of Qigong in search of its roots, the more apparent it becomes that all of these teachings emerged originally from the vast pool of prehistoric Shamanic practices. Most Qigong styles were organized by and for the followers of one belief system or another in ancient China, Tibet, Mongolia, and Korea. Following the establishment of the main Eastern schools of thought about 2,500 years ago, Qigong eventually developed six distinctive branches: Daoist, Buddhist, Tantric, Therapeutic, Wushu (martial arts), and Kung Fu Tze (Confucian Qigong). Each of them developed their teachings and methods of training following the steps of their respective founders. The history of some traditions can be traced back to particular


individuals who originated their schools of thought, oftentimes even unbeknownst to themselves. As Jesus Christ was not a Christian and Buddha Shakyamuni was not a Buddhist, so most original masters of Yoga and Qigong had no idea that their disciples would institutionalize their personal practices of self-realization. The masters simply followed their own inner guidance as to how to be in the flow of things in this magical world. With time, a lot of people perceived those masters as great examples of living in the flow. The subsequent generations of students, however, grew further and further apart from the roots of their respective traditions by institutionalizing them. About 2,500 years ago, a prominent Chinese philosopher named Lao Tze presumably wrote Dao De Jing, which brought together many pieces of the ancient Eastern wisdom and formed the foundation of Daoism. The adherents of that teaching created Daoist Qigong, which was dedicated to attainment of great longevity and, supposedly, immortality. Around the same period of time, the followers of the famous Chinese philosopher Kung Fu Tze (Confucius) formulated Confucian Qigong, mainly concerned with mentoring leaders and guiding them in creating a harmonious society. Around the same time in India, Buddha Shakyamuni taught his teachings to thousands of devoted disciples, who eventually started practicing Buddhist Qigong to achieve spiritual awakening, or Nirvana. The adepts of Tantra, a mystical sect of Hinduism that spread via the Himalayas into Tibet, came up with Tantric Qigong, which was dedicated to selfrealization through the means of enlightening personal and transpersonal relationships. Therapeutic Qigong, initially a cornerstone of Eastern Medicine, is mostly concerned with the issues of health and holistic healing. Martial, or Wushu Qigong, as the name implies, is focused on effective selfdefense and protection of others. Nowadays, many Qigong styles are still confined within the parameters of their respective doctrines, while others integrate some aspects of two or more branches of Qigong. For example, Buddhist monks from the Shaolin Temple are known for both martial arts prowess and competence in Buddhist Qigong. Many Daoist Qigong masters are also great healers and/or martial artists. In fact, Tai Chi Chuan is an offspring of Daoist martial arts. By the same token, Tantra is a major part of Buddhist tradition in Tibet and Mongolia where lamas (Shamans and Buddhist spiritual teachers) often integrate Tantric and Buddhist Qigong practices. There is one style, however, that does not merely try to reach for the fruits on the ends of the branches of the “Qigong tree,” but rather goes back to the Shamanic roots of the entire tree and empowers its practitioners to stay true to the original universality of the art. Its practice allows advancing to high levels of achievement in all six applications of Qigong as a result of integrating the power and wisdom of the six branches into one. This non-sectarian tradition of Tibetan Shamanic Qigong has been preserved through the centuries by twenty-seven generations of masters who explored

numerous possible applications of energy awareness in all spheres of life, from fighting to healing and sexual energy arts. Our system has been known under several different names, depending on the culture and language of the person you speak to. In Tibetan, it may be referred to as Trul Khor, but in the States, I prefer to use the Chinese name Qi Dao, due to the issues with the Tibetan pronunciation (which really sounds like “true whore”). It originated from an ancient Shamanic tradition called Bön that existed for many millennia prior to the introduction of Buddhism in Tibet by Padmasambhava. Historically, Tibetan culture did not exist in as much isolation as many Westerners seem to think. Both Indian and Chinese influences have been very strong in Tibet for centuries; without them there would be no Tibetan Buddhism as such. Over the centuries, Qi Dao developed into a refined distillation of the ancient Bön traditions, Indian yogic practices and Chinese energy arts. It has many similarities with a number of other systems such as Tummo, Yantra Yoga and Tai Chi Chuan. The Mongols, who are culturally close to the Tibetans, disseminated Bön throughout Asia when Genghis Khan and his descendants created the largest empire in human history. As all empires eventually collapse, the Mongol Empire also fell apart 300 years later, and different parts of it became primarily Christian (Russia), Muslim (Central Asia), Hindu (India), Buddhist (Tibet and Mongolia), or Daoist/Buddhist/ Confucian (China). Siberia ended up as the only part of the vast empire where the Siberian Shamanism smoothly blended with the Tibetan/Mongolian traditions and survived to the present day. During the existence of the Soviet Union, it was quite difficult to perpetuate our practice, since the Communist regime persecuted all types of spirituality and even outlawed all martial arts, fearing that the common people might experience any kind of empowerment. Being born and raised in the former Soviet Union, I experienced on my own skin the brunt of the Communist oppression. Many years ago, the Soviet KGB even gave my grandfather, from whom I learned most of my skills, an ultimatum: “You must work for us or else . . .” Well, they used to send people to Siberia, but if you were already living there, what else do you think they might do to punish you for non-cooperation? Reluctantly, he agreed to train the top echelon of the KGB, including Stalin’s bodyguards. Many aspects of our tradition can be seen in Systema – the Russian martial arts developed by such masters as Mikhail Ryabko and Alexei Kadochnikov, both of whom also trained the Russian Special Forces. If you have an opportunity to experience that art in action, you will find it very fluid and formless, quite distinct from the vast majority of the Chinese, Japanese and Korean styles of martial arts, but very similar


to Qi Dao. As you can imagine, it would have been totally suicidal to teach any spiritual aspects of our art to the Soviet spooks; that is why the deepest parts of Qi Dao cannot be found in Systema. To learn more about the way Qigong can boost your awareness and facilitate spiritual awakening, please visit http://qigongcoaching.com.

QIGONG WORKSHOP ON PEAK PERFORMANCE IN HEALING ARTS Weekly Dream Yoga Workshops

Lama Somananda Tantrapa is the 27th lineage holder of Qi Dao, also known as Tibetan Shamanic Qigong. He has been practicing Qigong, Dream Yoga, Meditation, and Internal Martial Arts for over thirty five years, primarily trained by his Grandfather who was the paragon of the Russian Martial Arts and Qi Dao Grand Master. His background is complex enough to include serving in the Soviet Army’s Special Forces, being kidnapped in the Ukraine and surviving several near-death experiences. Lama Tantrapa was ordained as a Buddhist monk in three different orders and initiated into Subud spiritual brotherhood. In addition to being a Tibetan Bon Lama, he studied with a number of Qigong and kung-fu masters, great teachers of Yoga and meditation, as well as Native American, Hawaiian and Siberian Shamans. He is also trained in Cultural Anthropology, Meta-coaching, Hypnosis and NLP. When living for two years on a small tropical island in the Pacific, 7000 miles away from the majority of his students and clients, he pioneered a novel method of conducting Qi Dao sessions over the Internet called Qigong Coaching. In the last decade, he has provided wellness, peak performance and life coaching to thousands of people of all ages and from various walks of life. He is also a bestselling author of several Qi Dao books, executive producer of the film Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong, creator of CD albums Qi Dao Initiation and The Art of Being in the Flow, publisher of the Basic Qi Dao Home Study Course and other multimedia learning materials. To learn more, please email:

Holistic Strengthening Workshops

Distance Coaching Audio: Phone & Voip

Distance Coaching Video: Skype, Facebook, iChat, Google+ Qi Dao Practicioner & Coaching Certification Specific Interest Coaching

academyofqidao@gmail.com In addition to being the publisher of Mastery Journal, Lama Tantrapa is also the host of the Internet Radio talk show The Secrets of Qigong Masters that you can enjoy at: www.blogtalkradio.com/qigongmasters

Email for a free Q&A or Orientation academyofqidao@gmail.com


Qi Dao Testimonial Ricardo b. Serrano After finishing my Qi Dao advanced studies with Lama Tantrapa Rinpoche in Tigard, Oregon in the latter part of 2009, I have derived the following theories from my own opinions and experience practicing and coaching this transformative and empowering Tibetan Shamanic Qigong called Qi Dao - the art of being in the flow with the Dao. For thousands of years, Qigong formed the foundation of Oriental Medicine because Qi, universal energy or life force, is the basis of life; therefore, energy awareness offers us the key to health, happiness and longevity. Most styles of Qigong use movements, breathing, meditation, and visualization for the purpose of cultivating Qi. They are often taught through doing “forms,� or choreographed movements, that are to be memorized and repeated on a regular basis. All styles of Qigong originated from a primordial foundation of Qigong that was deeply rooted in the Shamanic Medicine Dances and Zhan Zhuang Qigong. Tibetan Shamanic Qigong, also called Qi Dao, goes back to the Shamanic roots of Qigong and encourages its practitioners to stay true to the universality of this energy art. Qi Dao teaches us how to feel the flow of energy, how to be in the flow, and how to simply surrender to that flow. The practice of Qi Dao does not contain any routines of repetitive movements that are supposed to manipulate or cultivate Qi. Aside from being a powerful internal martial art that is ultimately dedicated to self-realization and awakening, it is an energy-healing modality facilitating self-healing. It teaches us that there is an abundant source of energy within us that we can tap by paying attention to the existing flow of Qi without any judgments. Empowering others to embody such an attitude became the hallmark of Qi Dao coaching.

The use of the energy ball, and the four universal elements (earth, water, air and fire), are the hallmarks of Qi Dao, which consists of embodiment and mastery of being in the flow in the six branches of the Qigong tree. The six branches of the Qigong tree that correspond to the historical Qigong branches and comprise the six main applications of Qi Dao are Daoist, Internal Martial Arts (Wushu), Tantric, Therapeutic, Confucianist and Buddhist Qigong. Daoist Qigong - Dao Yin - primarily dedicated to wellness and longevity Wushu Qigong - Internal Martial Arts - for self-defense and conflict resolution Tantric Qigong - Tantra Yoga - for mutual self-realization through enlightened relationships Therapeutic Qigong - Qigong Therapy - for holistic energy healing and prevention Confucian Qigong - Mastery Coaching - for manifesting your innermost dreams Buddhist Qigong - Dream Yoga - for spiritual awakening in the dream called life. Physical Benefits: Because of the magic of touch and regular practice of Qi Dao’s harmonious culture of movement, the physical discomforts that I used to suffer, such as shoulder, back and other body pains, are now history, and I have also experienced strengthening of my cardiovascular and immune system energy fields (Wei Qi). Psychological Benefits: Most of the stress-related disorders caused by the six holding patterns, which consist of the physical and psychological states of Holding Forth (anger), Holding Back (judgment), Holding In (fear), Holding Out (cynicism), Holding Down (depression) and Holding Up (pride), have all been managed and prevented. Spiritual Benefits: Because the energy blockages, tension, and congestion caused by the six holding patterns have all been cleared and balanced through the practice of the Wushu, Daoist and Therapeutic Qigong, manifesting the dream of enlightened relationships, self-realization and awakening


are now possible through the practice of Buddhist, Tantric, and Confucianist Qigong. Overall Summary: For the above-mentioned benefits accruing to the body, mind, and spirit, which come from the regular practice of the six main branches of Qi Dao, I am grateful that I started and finished my beginner, intermediate and advanced Qi Dao practitioner certification programs, which cover the necessary Qi Dao empowerment and fundamentals in the six branches of Qigong. These are the foundational tools with which one masters the art of being in the flow with the Dao that is synonymous with becoming one with the Dao. Most importantly, unlike other Qigong styles lacking a spiritual component, which basically concern one chakra tied to a specific psychological or emotional state, the practice of Qi Dao is fluid, malleable, and not bound to one chakra, making it possible for the flow of Qi to become unimpeded in every one of the chakras, meridians, organs, or parts of the body within one’s energy field. This free-flowing fluidity and malleability of Qi, which I believe is a distinct hallmark of Qi Dao, is what makes it work in the six branches of Qigong and is one of the most important reasons to practice Qi Dao, which can be loosely translated as “Way of Energy.” According to the book of Chuang Tzu, some followers of Confucius see an old man swimming in a raging torrent when he suddenly disappears. The pupils of Confucius rush to save him, but the man reaches the bank entirely unaided. Asked how he had pulled off this remarkable feat of survival, the man replied that he had simply let himself go with the descending and ascending currents in the water. The true Taoist, in other words, molds his senses, body, and mind until they are at one with the currents of the world without.

Ricardo B. Serrano, R.Ac., is a registered acupuncturist, Qigong teacher and healer from North Vancouver, BC, founder of Maitreya Shen Gong and integrative whole body Enlightenment Qigong. He has been trained by Pan Gu Shengong Master Ou Wen Wei, Wuji Qigong Master Michael Winn, Sheng Zhen Qigong Master Li Jun Feng, Master Pranic Healer Choa Kok Sui, Zhan Zhuang Qigong Master Richard Mooney, Merkaba Master Alton Kamadon, Qi Dao Master Lama Somananda Tantrapa, and Siddha Guru Baba Muktananda.

Ricardo Serrano founded Maitreya Shen Gong based on his knowledge of Qi Dao, Pan Gu Shengong, Sheng Zhen Qigong, Primordial Wuji Qigong, Crystal Pranic Healing, Holographic Sound Healing, and Qigong Omkabah Lightbody Activation Method (QOLAM). He has been practicing Chinese Herbology and Qi-healing (combining Qigong with acupuncture) for over 30 years. http://www.qiwithoutborders.org/index.html


Master of the Month Dr. Stanley Ngui Dr. Stanley Ngui is the host for the 14th World Congress on Qigong and TCM to be held in Toronto, Canada and has been the co-chair to the congress for the last eight years. Dr. Ngui is the 23rd generation of the Ngui family. Since the age of four, he has studied with his father and various Masters of Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine. His education includes a Master level in Qigong, Doctor of Philosophy in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Doctor of Acupuncture, Doctor of Natural Medicine, Doctor of Integrative Medicine and Doctor of Humanitarian Services. One of his great honors was being knighted into the Sovereign Orthodox Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John in 2009. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Orthomolecular & Integrative Medicine and World Organization of Natural Medicine Practitioners where he also functions as Ambassador at Large North America and the Chancellor. He is the President for Beyond Abilities Centre (a not-for-profit charity Organization) and department head of Acupuncture and Addictions for the College of Humanitarian Medicine. Dr. Ngui is now Chairman of the Academy Of Acupuncture and founding director of the Canadian Practitioners’ Association Of Asian Medicine, In 2006, Dr. Stanley Ngui was recognized for his contributions over the years in the martial arts community and was inducted into The North America Martial Arts Hall of Fame. As a Grandmaster in the art of Qigong, he founded The Academy for Chi Kung Studies and became the founding director of the Kung Fu Federation (Toronto, Canada). Dr. Ngui has taught seminars, workshops, classes and retreats, both locally and internationally, on Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Some of the organizations hosting him include: York Region District School Board, Shiatsu School of Canada, Ryerson University and St. Francis Xavier University. Well known for relevant and practical subject matter, a few of the topics he has spoken about include general health, Qigong, martial arts, feng-shui, tui-na, and acupuncture. As a certified practitioner at his acupuncture clinic, he uses a multitude of traditional Chinese therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure massage, Qi Gong, moxabustion, herbology and nutrition. His clients include players from the NHL, NBA, Lacrosse, PGA, and Olympic Teams. Throughout his travels and successes, many people have featured Sifu Stanley Ngui through media and events. He has been featured in weekly news updates, teleconferences, and shows on national television such as Vision Television in Canada. In 2011, Dr. Ngui’s ability to successfully treat terminally ill conditions was featured in a short film documentary called Enlighten Me. Due to the prevalence of cancer in western society, Dr. Ngui has focused intensely on developing several protocols to treat common and rare types of cancer. Through his research, he has also developed groundbreaking approaches and procedures that effectively treat many kinds of conditions and illnesses thought to be untreatable. In 2010, Dr. Ngui travelled to Haiti as the team leader in a mission to care for earthquake survivors and to educate frontline professionals on natural ways of treating emergency disaster survivors.


Six Healing Sounds Dr. Stanley Ngui Long before the twentieth century, man used energy in many forms, the most prevalent of those being the tangible and visual. For most people today, just like it was thousands of years ago, seeing is believing, but advancements in science and technology have taken us past the realm of the visual spectrum. We have learned that seeing is but one of many ways to verify the existence of energy. We now understand that the physical, the material, and even things considered abstract can be proven as forms of energy. However, this discovery is not new; there are many theories and scientific systems recognizing these unique properties of energy that have existed for thousands of years. One such system, developed out of China, is known as the Six Healing Sounds. The same way you can harness the sunlight through a magnifying glass to burn a small piece of paper, you can harness energy using sound to make positive changes to the body. The Six Healing Sounds describe the effect of sounds on the physical body and explains them through science, right down to the mathematical equations used to formulate the absorption and deflection of vibration. More specifically, the theory states that each of the six sounds has a direct relationship to an organ inside the body. Interestingly enough, this relationship correlates directly with the science that is the core of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Through the Chinese methodology, we can discern that each sound-organ relationship can be further subdivided into a Yin and Yang relationship between two distinct organs. These are: Lung / Large Intestine Heart / Small Intestine Liver / Gall Bladder Spleen / Stomach Kidney / Bladder A clear understanding of the relationship between organ and sound forms the basis of an easy-to-use diagnostic tool for practitioners in identifying the area(s) of the body (or organ) that may be the cause for health concerns. The beauty of this protocol is that

a practitioner can easily evaluate and refine the sound during treatment and transform a neutral effect to a positive one instantly. It is an effective and reliable system for translating conditions into sound energy and vice versa. The energy that is changed from stillness to sound works on the organ (and the body) through two major mechanisms: (1) by cleansing the affected organ of its toxic substances and energies, and (2) by allowing the positively charged energy generated through sound to be absorbed by the organ. This works in the same way as when you fill a dirty glass full of water. As you continue to fill the glass with clean water (positive sound energy), the glass overflows, the dirty particles (toxins) are carried outside of the glass (the body), and you are left with clean, clear water. However, we must do more than just be able to create vibration to make use of this thousand-year old theory. The Six Healing Sounds can have different efficacies depending on the types, tones and pitch of sound we use. Like an orchestra, the sound must be complete with all of its parts in order to be effective. The inclusion of high- or mid-tones and a bass tone creates a fullness of sound energy that is pleasing to the ear, and subsequently, pleasing to the body. Having the ability to judge the effectiveness of the energy right off the bat allows for less chance of mistakes and possibilities of error when using for healing. Specifically, high- or midtones are used to guide the sound energy to its intended target, while the bass tone’s purpose is to change the surrounding energy into massive vibration powerful enough to penetrate the densest object. To further enhance the effectiveness of the Six Healing Sounds, there is yet another layer of fundamentals that works on top of the sound energy. Following the understanding that energy is a form of vibration and that vibration occurs in specific frequencies, we add the attribute of color. Color is universal in its applicability as a healing tool for many cultures, including those following the Western philosophies. Many people believe that painting the walls in your home certain colors can make the space feel “warm” or “cool,” “inviting” or “sterile.” The number of colors supplied by the universe is as vast as the number of molecules that make up a human being. It is important to understand that color relationships are guides to a color that resonates with the person being healed and not necessarily the healer. The system tells us that each of the organs and respective sounds is related to a color. When you channel that color to the body, it matches the resonance given off by the sound. This combined resonance gives us a maximum healing effect.


Through the Six Healing Sounds, we not only create powerful forms of energy but also the ability to direct that energy as we see fit through the use of different tones, pitches, frequencies and colors. The layers of fundamentals within the sound energy theory work to enhance each other and also to reinforce the practitioner’s understanding of the sound choice that is correlated to the condition being treated. The Six Healing Sounds is one of the most powerful systems in the Ngui Style of Qigong. Through Ngui Style Qigong, we have used these sounds with individuals and groups and have found many success stories for healing many conditions including heart conditions, diabetes, modernday illnesses such as hypertension, and even cancer. One such story is that of Judy’s. As a bearer of severe sinusitis for 22 years, a condition that causes severe inflammation of the sinuses, she learned first-hand about the healing effects of the Six Healing Sounds. During those 22 years, she had undergone multiple treatments from many doctors, all with no success in creating any sort of relief for her suffering. Her condition was deemed untreatable. She then participated in a group session where she practiced the Six Healing Sounds with us for the very first time, not knowing what to expect. Twenty minutes later, at the end of the session, Judy was so excited, exclaiming that she felt clear for the first time in years. She was astonished and overjoyed, having never felt such an improvement from her symptoms, and amazingly in such a short period of time. She is currently living a healthy life free of sinusitis.


Stay in the Eternal Present

what happens? We keep building charge in our energy field by entrapping our power in time.

Dr. Pedram Shojai Staying on path is easy, just get out of the way and follow the leads the Universe (God, Tao, call it what you want) presents to you. The path of least resistance really shows up when we can step into the present moment and stay aware of where we stand. The problem?

TIME. Yeah, time. We have memories that are tied to unresolved emotions that entrap us in “time.” How does this happen? When we feel something or have a response to some stimulus that presents itself to us in the moment, we are faced with a choice. Do I accept this for what it is, not judge it, stay in the present and feel what emotion it evokes and be OK with that, OR, do I feel the emotion this stimulus brings up and say “Oh, this sucks, I don’t like feeling this at all . . .” and run away. How do we run away? Well, we move away from the emotion by trying to counter it with the opposite feeling or energy. “This makes me feel sad, so I’ll think happy thoughts . . .” OR we think to ourselves, “Wow, that’s too much to handle right now; I’m gonna file this away and deal with it at a later time when I’m stronger, richer, better looking, and maybe 3 feet taller.” Guess what folks -- tomorrow has its own set of “crap” to deal with. So

Think of it like a time credit card. I don’t have the cash to pay for this now so I’ll charge it (the American way). And what happens? We get stuck with interest . . . the high percentage kind. How? Well, next time I come to relax and sink into the present moment where all the Power that ever was or will be resides, something taps on my shoulder . . . oh yeah . . . TIME DEBT. I’ve got all this crap I said I’d deal with at a later date and guess what? Here it is again. We CANNOT reside in the present moment until we either charge off (qi gong techniques and meditation practices) or pay off (handle the stuff and stop committing to things until you’re “current”) the time debt. We cannot reside in the present moment when we’ve tied our consciousness to time, and this time debt is leading to what I call “Time Compression Syndrome.” It’s all around us. People have too many commitments and too little time, so they’re always in a state of panic and chronic stress over it. Why is this so bad? Well, the body is either growing (relaxed non-stress metabolic growth and healthy functioning),


or in battle (running from the Lion, fighting the invading Zulu tribe, or, sadly, opening an enormous cell phone bill you weren’t expecting). Ouch. Good luck digesting that pizza now buddy. So how do we get out of this mess? The answer is to stop committing to things in the future (better boundaries) that don’t fall in line with Who we are, and to learn to maintain our “equanimity” in the present moment. Who are we? Well, that’s the question of all questions and the only one really worth asking in my opinion.

When we can STAY in the present moment, all the power of the Universe is available to us and we are connected to the Source of all Life, Light, Healing, and Inspiration. Call it what you want -- Ram Dass was right -- Be Here, Now. It’s that simple yet we keep searching for some complex solution to our lives. Treat complexity with simplicity. Learn to stop doing and step into the real power that is powering the empty space inside each of your cells. Then we can be aware of the clues the Universe drops on us and, being present and centered, recognize them as omens and spiritual communication with us. We follow and It leads . . . leading us to the Majesty of Who we are and what this amazing journey is really about. If your husband or wife is watching some crap on TV right now, grab your spouse by the hand and go for a walk. Notice the trees and the feel of the breeze on your

face. Wake up to the present moment and snap out of the trance. Follow the Light and gather the Nectar and you’ll be happy you did

Pedram Shojai is an acclaimed Qi Gong master, herbalist, and talented Acupuncturist. He comes from an unbroken line of masters and is an ordained minister of a Taoist tradition of Alchemy. Having studied a variety of Alchemical systems, Pedram uses his friendly teaching style to impart esoteric concepts to English-speaking audiences. He teaches philosophy, meditation, Qi Gong, and healing techniques to audiences worldwide. He is currently involved in a couple of meaningful documentaries, the first of which is set to release in 2012. His new book, “Rise and Shine – Awaken your Energy Body with Taoist Alchemy and Qi Gong” is now available through this website. He has studied yoga, meditation, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, and healing for years and has taken sabbatical in the Andes and Himalayas. Pedram uses a no-nonsense approach to teaching the esoteric arts and holds each student personally accountable for their own liberation and enlightenment.


The Five Elements and the Paramita Adam Holtey Five-element theory is a crucial component of qigong philosophy and practice. The five elements are earth, metal, fire, water, and wood. Countless qigong forms and meditations are taught to help bring these elemental energies into balance. Within these forms and meditations, there are infinite correlations to the five elements, including positive and negative emotions, healing colors, the season cycle, and so on. In this article, I would like to share some of the lesserknown correlations -- the Buddhist “paramita”-- and tips for their application in qigong practice. The following is an introduction to the pāramitā, translated and compiled from a variety of Buddhist sources by the non-profit organization, The Heart of Dharma Collection: The Sanskrit word pāramitā means to cross over to the other shore. Pāramitā may also be translated as perfection, perfect realization, or reaching beyond limitation. Through the practice of the pāramitā, we cross over the sea of suffering (samsara) to the shore of happiness and awakening (Nirvana); we cross over from ignorance and delusion to enlightenment. Each of the pāramitā is an enlightened quality of the heart, a glorious virtue or attribute—the innate seed of perfect realization within us. The pāramitā are the very essence of our true nature. However, since these enlightened qualities of the heart have become obscured by delusion, selfishness, and other karmic tendencies, we must develop these potential qualities and bring them into expression. In this way, the pāramitā are an inner cultivation, a daily practice for wise, compassionate, loving, and enlightened living. The pāramitā are the kinds of virtuous practices required for skillfully serving

the welfare of others and for the attainment of enlightenment. We must understand that bringing these virtuous qualities of our true nature into expression requires discipline, practice, and sincere cultivation. This is the path of the Bodhisattva—one who is dedicated to serving the highest welfare of all living beings with the awakened heart of unconditional love, skillful wisdom, and all-embracing compassion. There are a total of six pāramitā (as practiced in the Mahāyāna branch of Buddhism). The first five pāramitā each relate to a specific element, and help in overcoming the negative emotion associated with that element. The first five pāramitā are: Dāna, the practice of generosity; Vīrya, the practice of perseverance; Śīla, the practice of ethics; Kṣānti, the practice of patience; and Dhyāna, the practice of concentration. The Dāna pāramitā, the practice of generosity, assists us in overcoming our worry, the harmful emotion of the earth element. The Vīrya pāramitā, the practice of perseverance, helps us to overcome our sorrow, the harmful emotion of the metal element. The Śīla pāramitā, the practice of ethics, helps us overcome our fear, the harmful emotion of the water element. The Kṣānti pāramitā, the practice of patience, helps us overcome anger, the harmful emotion of the wood element. Finally, the Dhyāna pāramitā, the practice of concentration, helps us overcome our anxiety, the harmful emotion of the fire element. In order to create a comprehensive practice of meditation upon the five elements, I have incorporated


the wisdom of the pāramitā into healing affirmations. There are four affirmation cycles for the five elements. Below is the third cycle of affirmations, which brings to mind the virtue of each element in the first line, and then the pāramitā of each element in the second. Earth: Breathing in, I trust Breathing out, I practice giving Metal: Breathing in, I am courageous Breathing out, I live with joyful enthusiasm

I provide all of the affirmation cycles in a convenient audio format (as well as printable text) in an online course entitled, The Five Elements: Affirmations and Qigong. The course also includes over an hour of video instruction in a dynamic form of five-element qigong. Additionally, the course provides over 70 pages of text describing the pāramitā, five-element theory, and additional meditations that incorporate the meridians related to each element. I encourage you to try the affirmations I’ve provided in this article. If you find them helpful, you can find out more about my course, The Five Elements: Affirmations and Qigong, by visiting my website, http://affordablenaturalhealth.com/5_elements_course.html.

Water: Breathing in, I am wise Breathing out, I practice the perfection of ethics Wood: Breathing in, I am loving and kind Breathing out, I practice patience and tolerance Fire: Breathing in, I am compassionate Breathing out, I practice concentration To practice these affirmations, I recommend making yourself comfortable and repeating each one mentally about three times. As you practice each affirmation, you can bring your attention to the internal organs associated with each element, and grow in awareness of the healing effects you notice there. The first affirmation cycle is designed as a meditation to release the negative emotions of the elements. The second affirmation utilizes the healing color of each element. The fourth affirmation incorporates the transcendent wisdom of the sixth pāramitā.

Adam Holtey began studying Tai-Chi and Buddhist meditation practices at the University of Oregon in 1998. In 2000, Adam moved from the University to his hometown of Ashland, where he began practicing “Dahn Hak,” a Korean mind-body discipline comprised of Taoist philosophy, Qigong, and energy healing practices. Adam became a Master of Dahn Hak in 2003, and instructed at Dahn Centers throughout Oregon until 2008, at which time he opened his own health clinic in Central Point, Oregon, called, “Community Acupuncture + Natural Health.” In 2011, Adam opened a second location in Ashland, and he is currently managing and teaching classes at both locations. Adam lives with his wife and two children in Talent, Oregon and can be reached by email at adamwebb32@hotmail.com.


Three Reasons Why Your Qigong Practice Sucks Marcus Santer Why do you practice Qigong? Because you want to gain some benefit or result. There are five main reasons why people practice Qigong and they are: 1) To improve health and vitality. 2) To increase longevity. 3) To develop and harness internal force (think of this as abundant energy). 4) Mind expansion. 5) Spiritual cultivation. If you’re not gaining these benefits, there can be any number of reasons why your Qigong practice doesn’t appear to be working. From my experience there are three major factors that contribute to poor results, assuming of course that you are practicing Qigong and not just Qigong form. If you’ve been practicing Qigong daily and correctly for at least three months and you’re not getting the results that you want from your practice, then these are the three areas you need to look at first: 1) You intellectualize too much I r-e-a-l-l-y struggled with this one in the beginning. I worried that my form wasn’t correct, I worried I wasn’t practicing enough, and so on. My practice was 15 minutes of mental wrestling. Thinking, or intellectualizing makes it harder for energy to flow. It’s also one of the core causes of “mental” blockages. So what can you do? I had to get strict with my thoughts. Before I began my practice I would tell myself

that I was going to do the best that I could and that I could worry or think about all of my “stuff” afterwards. I threw my notes away (yes, I used to look at them while I practiced; I’m sure you’d never do that) and quit using a stopwatch to time myself. Every time the mental chatter started, I said “No” to it and ignored it. If that didn’t work, I focused on what I was doing, for example, “Now I’m lifting my arms, while breathing in through my nose.” Because your mind can really only focus on one thing at a time, this is a helpful way to stop useless mental chatter. 2) You tense up too much Listen, if you can’t relax you can’t practice Qigong. You need to be able to relax physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Being able to do this is what I call “Entering a Qigong State of Mind” (QSoM), and it’s a skill that must first be learned and then practiced and practiced and practiced. While it’s easy to tell if you’re physically relaxed, relaxing mentally and emotionally is much harder. It takes time to be able to do this, especially if you’re starting from a place of being stressed out, anxious or worried. While many people practice Qigong to relax, being able to relax is only the start of what Qigong has to offer. 3) You are distracted This can also be a subdivision of area one (see above) in that you’re so busy thinking about something else that you are distracted from your practice. This can be overcome by reminding yourself, before you start your practice, that this is your “Sacred Me” time, time specifically for working on you so that you can better help and be of service to others. You can always have your “problems” or other baggage after you’ve finished your practice, but for the next 15 minutes your focus is on practicing Qigong and not what you’re going to do about that bill that came through the post this morning. Distraction can also relate to where you do your Qigong practice, because where you practice is very important in gaining the results of Qigong. Not only must you


practice in a safe environment with fresh, moving air, but you must also practice in a space where you will not be disturbed. If you practice in a shared house, or outdoors where there are lots of other people, it can be hard to focus on your practice and not on what is happening around you. If this is a problem for you, then find somewhere to practice where you won’t be distracted by the world around you. While this might take a bit of extra effort on your behalf, you’ll be glad you did. Addressing these three areas, especially the first, will undoubtedly help you to gain more benefits from your Qigong practice. If you want to dig deeper into this subject I’ve written two free reports you might like: 7 Common Mistakes Beginners Make In Qigong And How To Avoid Them. You can get these 2 reports and 4 others at http://qigong15.com/dd.html I also offer a free 21-day online Qigong course, which you can find at http://qigong15.com/blog/freeqigongcourse It really is easy to get the benefits of your Qigong practice when you know what you’re doing, and what you should avoid doing! Enjoy your practice.

My name is Marcus Santer and I am the founder of Qigong15. I’ve been practicing Qigong since 2000 and teaching it since 2003. I love Qigong and have benefited greatly from its practice. In my quest to make it as popular and as well known as Yoga, Tai Chi and Reiki I have been sharing, quality, ‘fluff’ free information with as many people as I can reach. Through working with hundreds of students over the last decade I have seen the power of Qigong to help people live a happier, healthier and longer life in just 15 minutes of Qigong practice a day. My guiding principal is to give, serve and share. Utilizing online technology has allowed me to share the promise of Qigong with many satisfied customers since the creation of the Qigong Secrets course in 2009. To gain a greater understanding of the connection I have with those interested in Qigong please visit my Facebook page, where you’ll find real people making real posts about the brilliance of Qigong. http://www.facebook.com/Qigong15


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