any situation, disturbed by nothing. Doesn’t that sound like the very best New Year gift, ever? With her guidance, my inner questions and meditation practice have developed, and I’ve had a chance to touch with the Awake within. It is a full and complete happiness unlike anything I had ever imagined or thought possible, hidden perfectly in the very last place I would have ever looked for it! I can now feel the possibility of living with the Forever Spring, which is far and away so vibrant and alive, compared to the temporary and fragile happiness of satisfaction that relied on things always going my way. All the stress and conflicts in daily life are surely commonplace, but I have come to see that we do not have to stay stuck in those patterns anymore. Ever since I started to experience the benefits of Zen Meditation at Universal Door, I was so excited to share with others that there is a practical, real path toward genuine happiness and complete freedom, and encourage everyone to connect with it for themselves. Why take the transient benefits of this spring season to be our greatest goal when we can aim to realize the Forever Spring within ourselves? For this Lunar New Year, may you discover the Forever Spring and bring that as your gift everywhere you go and share it with everyone in your life. All meditation classes, retreats, workshops, youth pr ogram, and other celebrations at Universal Door Meditation Center, founded by Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien, aim to help all people discover more about themselves and realize the Forever Spring within to be truly happy in everyday life. For questions about our Center, the Zen Master, or opportunities to connect with us, check out our website at www.universaldoor.org, our Facebook page, or by calling 281-5659718. We hope to see you soon! Thien Vien Pho Mon - Universal Door Meditation Center. 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, TX 77498. 281-565-9718 . UniversalDoor.org. See ad on page 9. 36
Houston
What is the “Point” of Acupuncture? by Jo Nell Norcini, L. Ac., M.A.O.M
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Cosmetic Acupuncture
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eople are getting frustrated with the current medical system. Many people find that they are taking more and more pharmaceutical drugs and are not feeling any better. In fact, they are feeling worse. Every drug on the market has side effects, even aspirin! Just listen to the television ads or read the package insert. It is crazy, but doctors will tell you that the benefits outweigh the risk and most of the time, they do. However, what if you could find a way to treat many common medical conditions without all the drugs? This is where TCM comes into play. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been around for over 3000 years. It is a complete medical system that includes Acupuncture and Chinese herbs. The beauty of TCM is that it looks at each person, individually, as a whole. It is this Holistic approach that makes TCM so effective. TCM is not a “one-sizefits-all” type of treatment. What this means is that if ten people present the
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