TAO TAN PAI 31 MEDITATIONS WORKSHOP with Master Terence Dunn: July 28 to 30...ZOOMable!
Taoist Elixir Method Basic 31 Meditations, the foundation of Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung and Kung Fu tradition created in the Tang Dynasty by Lu Tung Pin, is a complete system of Taoist monastic Yoga.
3-Day Residential Qigong Workshop at Tao Retreat — Han Chinese Culture Estate, 33 Tao Road, Catskill, NY 12414
Sifu Terry Dunn teaches the Tao Tan Pai (“Taoist Elixir Method“) Basic 31 Meditations during this 3-day, 14-hour immersive workshop. The Tao Tan Pai 31 Meditations (“TTP-31”) is a powerful Qigong system of moving meditation and breath control that imparts these verifiable health benefits: improved circulation, respiration, digestion, metabolism, posture, balance, flexibility, agility, coordination, bone strength, central and peripheral vision, and sound and sufficient sleep. Morever, the TTP-31 imparts vitality, strong immunity against disease, enhanced executive function, enhanced athletic ability, higher energy levels, and personal empowerment physically, mentally, and spiritually—when combined with Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu and advanced TTP Nei Kung over time. The TTP-31 regimen is so comprehensive that it is comparable to almost any system of Asian Yoga—and can take from three to five hours to practice to completion, depending on the yogic level of the practitioner and how long one wishes to practice three of the 16 seated meditations.
Taoist Elixir Method (“Tao Tan Pai”) is an authentic system of Taoist monastic hygienics, martial art and spiritual art that was created in the Tang Dynasty and is correctly attributed to Lu Tung Pin (Lü Dengbin, 796 CE – 1016 CE), the de facto leader of the 8 Immortals (saints) of Taoism and Chinese culture. This rare Taoist tradition was preserved for 23 generations—at the Ancient Temple of the Yellow Dragon ( 黃龍古殿 Huanglong Guguan ) near Mt. Luohu in China’s Guangdong province before Taoist priest Share Lew brought the art to America in 1948. Terry Dunn learned Tao Tan Pai from Grandmaster Lew and his senior student, the ven. Master John Davidson, at the Taoist Sanctuary of Los Angeles from 1975 to 1983, and then received occasional private instruction from GM Lew in San Diego from 1984 to 1992.
Tao Tan Pai 31 Basic Meditations is the health and self-healing Qigong foundation of the Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung, which is perfectly designed to empower Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu and the Tao Tan Pai healing arts (herbology, acupressure, and energy healing) to supernormal levels of efficacy. In the kung fu world, Tao Tan Pai is known for its forte of bringing martial energy to the hands instantly because it is so shen-driven. In Chinese medicine, Tao Tan Pai is recognized for its energy healing—both “hands-on” and at a distance. Fully integrated with the six-levels of TTP Nei Kung is the classical TTP Kung Fu system, comprised of five forms of “animal acting”: tiger, dragon, snake, crane, and monkey forms—plus weapons forms—where each kung fu form has Yoga ingeniously built into it. It was visiting Master John Bright Fey (master of Chen Tai Chi, Pa Kua Chuan, and Northern Shaolin) who dropped this revelatory hint to me early in my training at the Taoist Sanctuary: “Your teacher told me that the ‘Yoga is in the Forms.’” Thus the TTP Kung Fu is a system of Qigong in and of itself and an essential component of the TTP Nei Kung. Therefore the Tao Tan Pai Basic 31 Meditations Qigong is an ideal complement and support for any athletic activity as well as Chinese martial arts.
The TTP-31 regimen that you will learn at this workshop consists of 15 standing moving meditations and 16 seated meditations, all of which involve upper-body movements except for three. Each exercise and the entire regimen employs a yogic methodology that coordinates and focuses the eyes, mind, movement, and breath to cultivate a superabundance of vital energy (Chi). The TTP-31—as well as all the advanced Yogas in Tao Tan Pai tradition—systematically opens the heart, clears and focuses the eyes and mind through concentration upon repetitive natural movements coordinated with breath cycle, and develops volitional control over the subtle energy flows of the body (Ch’i), gradually enables one to balance one’s own internal energy system, and by longer term conditioning, to develop a structural sensitivity to all encompassing Nature. That is, TTP-31 practice restores and refines sensory perception to pristine pre-verbal clarity.
If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. — Aldous Huxley, 1954
Nurturing energy, forget words and guard it Conquer your mind - do non-doing In activity and stillness Know the Source Progenitor There is no thing Whom else do you seek? – Lu Tung Pin, founder of Tao Tan Pai (796 – 1016 CE)
As one’s physical, mental and spiritual cultivation progresses to the advanced TTP Yogas, the “Basic” TTP-31 Meditations are realized to be not so basic at all—but all the more powerful and profound. The intermediate and advanced Tao Tan Pai practices that follow the TTP-31 enable the adept to balance the energy system of others and to focus their natural healing processes to specific areas and orbs of the body according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Because the entire TTP Nei Kung system is shen-driven—that is, it cultivates and perfects Shen Qi to give form to Qing Qi to manifest Qi, only the TTP-31 regimen can be shown to the general public and taught to non-initiates.
The TTP-31 system (as well as the entire Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung tradition) demonstrably meets the classical definition of authentic Qigong—as set forth by the late great Master Tzu Kuo Shih (in his book, “Qi Gong Therapy: The Chinese Art of Healing with Energy”)—with flying colors:
1. Prevents disease, 2. Cures diseases, 3. Strengthens the body, 4. Increase intelligence and prolongs life, *5. Develops latent powers
In addition to learning the 15 standing and 16 seated meditations of TTP-31, students will also learn:
(A) Tao Tan Pai Short Form Power Yoga, consisting of five of the 31 meditations. This is a classical distillation of the 31 Meditations series, rather brilliantly designed for daily practice of approximately 40 to 60 minutes.
(B) Tao Tan Pai kung fu Cane Form – a basic and most comprehensive kung fu form that develops essential postures used in the TTP-31 training and natural body mechanics that promotes robust and healthy Chi flow. I have been teaching is an foundational warm-up to all my TTP classes since 2013. (See the above “8 Excerpts” video at 11:40.)
• In the 1970’s after my classmates and I first learned the TTP-31, we were encouraged by Master Lew to teach it to the public. So that is what I have done since 1983. Since 2013, I have taught the TTP-31 regimen as a NCCAOM-accredited course—the OM358 Medical Qigong I course at Emperor’s College in Santa Monica (perennially one of the top two Chinese medical colleges in America by vote of 66 peer colleges).
My bi-annual workshops in TTP-31 are rare opportunities to learn the foundational Qigong practice of the extremely rare and authentic Taoist monastic tradition of Tao Tan Pai. All are welcome.
Copyright 2018. Terence Dunn
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
The 3-day immersive workshop, July 28 to 30, consists of 7 two-hour sessions with 2 sessions on Friday, 3 on Saturday, and 2 on Sunday at these times (EST):
Friday: 3pm - 5pm; 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Saturday: 10am - noon; 2:30pm - 4:30pm; 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Sunday: 1 0am - noon; 2:30pm - 4:30pm EST
TUITION
$400 early registration
$440 day of workshop
$57 for each of the seven 2-hour sessions
• ZOOM PARTICIPATION:
$50 per 2-hour session or $320 / all 7 sessions [Zoom log-on links will be emailed to registrants the day before the workshop begins]
• Please send payment via Paypal (to zenbearinc@gmail.com) or via Zelle (to terencepdunn@gmail.com •
ROOMS AT TAO RETREAT
A. There are 3 rentable rooms at the main event hall at Tao Retreat: One room with bathroom: $350 / day* Two rooms with a shared bathroom: $248 / day*
B. Ten floor beds in the main tea house / event hall: $60 / night*
C. 4 new comfortable trailer rooms with sofa-beds for up to 4 people: $250/night*; $50 for additional person.*
*Room or floor bed rentals includes each day’s meals.
PLEASE NOTE: There are very comfortable and affordable bed & breakfast inns, motels and resorts in the nearby town of Catskill —14 minutes away (8.5 miles)—such as Wolff’s Maple Breeze Resort: https://www.greatnortherncatskills.com/.../wolffs-maple...
MEALS:
2 excellent meals each day—authentic Xichuan cuisine for lunch and dinner (made with organically homegrown veggies)—plus one smoothie or light soup before sleep. • Meals are included with room or floor bed rentals • Meal plan for non-residents: $50 per day. Yummers!
••> Btw, the former resident chef, Kevin, who makes fantastic authentic Xichuan cuisine for every meal, is back at Tao Retreat after being away for 2 years. His cooking alone is worth doing the weekend retreat! No exaggeration. ;o)