Seeing Your Soul

Seeing Your Soul, this morning’s neigong… When you meditate does your soul come to the front? Like closing all the windows on your computer; The background becomes the whole screen; It was always there, you just didn’t see it before. Your soul is connected to the source; It is connected to all things; It sees itself in the eyes others; It is the uncarved block. With practice, when you begin Tai Chi; All the other ‘windows’ close; And your soul comes to the front; It is your place of perspective. It knows the sound of silence; It is your place … Continue reading Seeing Your Soul

Old Man Martial Arts

  This morning’s neigong; An old man has to be mindful; He cannot move without thinking about it first; Legs have to be balanced; Care has to be taken with arthritic joints. Every step is measured; Every push is done with care; Pain gives a measurement; ‘Training’ involves a higher percentage of mind. BUT this is a good thing; The young don’t have to think; Their perception and perspective is flawed; Their hormones and naïveté control them. Many old MAists try to be young; Making them feel old before their time; “I can still do it” sounds so sad; Like … Continue reading Old Man Martial Arts

The Sky Weeps To The Earth

This morning’s neigong: The sky weeps to the earth; And earth yields in empathy; The tears soften and nourish the earth; Which in turn nourishes everything attached to it. Empathy is to yield and receive first; To use the intelligence of our soul to understand; To receive, with an open spirit; And then to nourish the situation in a helpful way. Just as the earth softens to the tears of the sky; Humanity should soften towards any situation first; Join with it to understand it; Then bring it to a state of harmony. For this we need a soft front … Continue reading The Sky Weeps To The Earth

The Yin Yang Transitions

This Morning’s Neigong: The late summer slightly damp wooded ‘scent’ in the air; When in yin it feels like the front of the body and the inside of the limbs are in the shade; When in yang it feels like the back and outside of the limbs are in the sun. In neigong we hold to feel and then gently transition to feel the intention change; In the form we feel the spiralling action of the transitions; The softness of the embrace at the front; The power of the spine at the back; How life needs the transitions; From the … Continue reading The Yin Yang Transitions

Lose Yourself

This morning’s neigong: The self doesn’t want to die; But if you wait long enough it will; It will use fear and anxiety; Distraction and apathy; Anything to prevent truth. But the truth is that it is an illusion; There is no self; When you wait long enough; It falls away; The veil of illusion drops. The universe is joined up; There is no separation; All eyes have the same energy looking out; When you realise this; You will never feel lonely or isolated again. Continue reading Lose Yourself

Nature’s Way

  This morning’s neigong: Don’t look for it…. It cannot be seen; Don’t try to find that deep state: Don’t think, instead just be present. Feelings don’t require words; Let them come and go; Just watch whatever comes; Thoughts, feelings – nothing stays. Let go, let go, let go… Just ‘be’; Be yin, be yang, be neutral; Be totally in the present. Nature’s wordless speech; Can be experienced in this state; On this late summer overcast day; Natures freshness has begun turning in on itself. Soon enough it will hibernate to heal; The earth, wind, rain and sun nourish us … Continue reading Nature’s Way

Fasting Diet & Buddhism

Fasting Diet & Buddhism Meditation in the bath in the mornings, rather than listening to a ‘lifestyle guru’ I like to play a ‘Dhamma Talk’ by one of the Buddhist Ajahn’s from the informative website of Amaravati Monastery. This morning it was Ajahn Metta and just labelled ‘Dhamma Talk’. Her voice was very quiet and was difficult to hear above my abolutery splashing sounds, but I laid still to listen to see whether to change it – and am I glad that I didn’t! She was discussing fasting and diet and how the ‘switch off’ for religous fasting was easier … Continue reading Fasting Diet & Buddhism

The Present Is A Present

The Present Is A Present You cannot get into the future. You cannot get into the past. You cannot get out of the present. Therefore time as we know it doesn’t really exist. There is only the present. The present does not pass through time; Time passes through the present. It’s important to understand this; Guilt from what you think is the past, taints the present; Worrying about what you think is the future also taints the present; There is only the present. It is all one. It’s called the ‘present’ because that is what it is; A gift for … Continue reading The Present Is A Present

3 Ways To Practice Tai Chi

3 Ways To Practice Tai Chi Monk Style Always begin with Monk style… Neigong, Qigong, the Yang Chen Fu form and basic push hands drills. Practice like a monk in the temple gardens, with no ‘martial’ applications in mind, get rid of violence, aggression, fear and anger by clearing your mind, making it aware, focused, sensitive, intense and bringing it to a state of peace and stillness. Do this by working on your posture and breathing, this will bring forth these qualities of mind. Be gentle, soft, circular, continuous and let the mind be at ease. Until you can practice … Continue reading 3 Ways To Practice Tai Chi