TAOIST ELIXIR METHOD ("TAO TAN PAI") BASIC 31 MEDITATIONS WORKSHOP with Master Terence Dunn: April 5 -7, 2024
Taoist Elixir Method ("Tao Tan Pai") Basic 31 Meditations, the foundation of Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung and Kung Fu tradition created by Taoist Immortal Lu Tung-Pin
3-Day Residential Taoist Qigong Workshop at The Dragon Nest Center Highland, NY
Dear friends and students,
From April 5 to 7, I will be teaching a 3-Day, 14-hour immersive residential workshop in Tao Tan Pai (“Taoist Elixir Method“) Basic 31 Meditations.
The Tao Tan Pai 31 Basic Meditations (henceforth, “TTP-31”) is an authentic and miraculously intact and complete ancient Taoist monastic system of Qigong--based on moving meditation and breath control that utilizes a yogic methodology completely different than that of Flying Phoenix Qigong, but that imparts a wide range of salient health benefits and heightened sustainable energy levels and advanced body mechanics that enables and empowers Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu, other forms of Kung fu, and the Tao Tan Pai healing arts. Taoist Elixir Method 31 Meditations is a sophisticated Chinese holistic health practice—an alchemic formulation of “gymnastic medicine”—that opens the heart, clears and focuses the mind and profoundly strengthens the body. Regular well-supervised practice of the TTP-31 series imparts a wide range of verifiable health benefits: improved circulation, respiratory power, metabolism, posture, bone strength, immunity, flexibility, agility, coordination, central and peripheral vision, sound-regular sleep, higher sustained energy levels, and increased resilience to stress and trauma.
<•> PLEASE NOTE: In addition to the TTP-31 Series, during the last 4 sessions of the workshop (on Saturday and Sunday), I will also teach the Ten “Shen” Exercises, which is the next level of Tao Tan Pai Nei Gong that follows the TTP-31. The Ten Shen Exercises, which I have never taught before in a workshop setting (but only privately over the past 40 years) is a system of 9 standing postures and one sublime, sedentary seated meditation that develops structural sensitivity to ALL forms of energy. That is, the Shen Exercises more deeply integrates mind and body and then the mind itself--so as to perfect intuition as a unified consciousness and thus make you more psychic. To understand what Shen Energy is, redouble your practrice of the TTP-31 and then read pages 166 to 196 in Manfred Porkert’s classic tome, “Theoretical Foundations of Chinese Medicine: Systems of Correspondence” (1977, MIT Press) <•>
The greater Taoist Elixir Method (“Tao Tan Pai”) tradition is a vast and sophisticated Taoist monastic school of 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 Taoist Immortals (saints) of Chinese religion and 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. I learned Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu and Nei Kung from Grandmaster Lew and his senior student, the ven. Master John Davidson, at the Taoist Sanctuary of Los Angeles from 1975 to 1983 (when I received black-sash certification), and then received occasional refinements from GM Lew in San Diego from 1984 to 1992. Along with Masters Hugh Morison, Todd Takeuchi, and Bill Helm of the Taoist Sanctuary of San Diego, I am one of the few certified 24th generation instructors of Tao Tan Pai martial, yogic, and healing arts. (See my other forte’s in my biography at: http://www.taichimania.com/tdbio.html )
The six levels of Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung—of which the TTP-31 Meditations is the first — serves as the secret yogic engine that empowers the Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu and the TTP healing arts (herbology, acupressure, and energy healing) to supernormal levels of effectiveness. In the world of Chinese martial arts, Taoist Elixir Method Kung Fu practitioners are known for their forte of bringing martial energy instantly to the hands—because the art is so highly shen-driven. In Chinese medicine, Tao Tan Pai is recognized for its energy healing—both “hands-on” and at a distance.
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 coordinates and focuses the functions of eyes, mind, movement, and breath in a Lu Tung Pin’s unique alchemic formula that cultivate a superabundance of vital energy (Chi) and the mental ability to precisely control it—that activates and empowers the Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu and healing arts. This alchemic method of Chi-cultivation, in turn, supports peak performance in every kind of constructive human activity. As a first-tier, foundational Qigong system, the TTP-31 Meditations is nontheless equivalent to any school of Indian Yoga commercially taught in the west. You will also learn in this workshop the Tao Tan Pai Short Form Power Yoga, consisting of five of the 31 meditations—a classical distillation created by the ancients to attain expansive rejuvenation in less than an hour of practice.
Because TTP-31 Basic Meditations empowers Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu, it is the perfect complement and support for peak performance in any sports or athletic activity in addition to martial arts. During this workshop, you learn the 15 standing and 16 seated meditations that comprise the Tao Tan Pai 31 System—that efficiently provides the verifiable health benefits mentioned above. As a first-tier, foundational Qigong system, the TTP-31 Meditations is equivalent to any school of Indian Yoga commercially taught in the west. You will also learn the Tao Tan Pai Short Form Power Yoga, consisting of five of the 31 meditations—a classical distillation created by the ancients to attain expansive rejuvenation in less than an hour of practice.
This video shows 8 key excerpts from the TTP-31 series that give you an idea of the natural body mechanics that come with Tao Tan Pai Qigong and Kung fu. Plus, at the end you will see the Tao Tan Pai Cane Form, which I teach as a foundational practice in all my Qigong workshops over the years and in my acupuncture college courses.
Note: Most of the students seen in this video composed of scenes from my workshops are first-time beginners. As you can also tell from the nature of the exercises shown, the TTP-31 training in this workshop appropriate for absolute beginners without any experience in Asian yogic, meditative, or healing arts.
The complete six-level Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung system of which the TTP-31 Meditations is the first level, develops in the practitioner a structural sensitivity to all-encompassing Nature and the Cosmos. That is, TTP-31 practice restores and strengthens the organism and then refines the nervous system and all its sensory apparati to pristine non-verbal clarity.
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, Taoist Immortal, founder of Tao Tan Pai (796 - 1016 CE)
Through its yogic methodology of perfecting the coordination of the constant focus of eyes, mind, movement and breath, the TTP-31 Basic Meditations series, the Tao Tan Pai 5 Animals Kung Fu Forms (Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Crane, and Monkey) and Weapons forms (bench, hoe, daggers [chopsticks and others) systematically and gradually develops volitional/executive control over the subtle energy flows of the body (Ch’i), first enabling one to balance one’s own internal energy system for good health and longevity through Kung Fu practice, and then, after supervised training in the Tao Tan Pai healing arts and mastery of the 5 more advanced levels of TTP Nei Kung, to preserve and extend the life of others. And thus—and only thus—does one comes to know the “Source Progenitor” that Lu Tung-Pin speaks of since time immemorial.
***As I stated many times over the 14 years of the Flying Phoenix Chi Kung forum on www.daobums.com, the TTP-31 Basic Meditations System, as well as the more advanced levels of Taoist Elixir Method Nei Kung system, serves as a superb foundational catalyst that enhances and prolongs the tangible, visible and verifiable health benefits of Flying Phoenix Qigong practice. Both are complete and transcendently powerful Qigong systems in and of themselves, but I happen to have the good fortune to have inherited them both and discover that TTP Nei Gong further activates and accelerates Flying Phoenix Qi cultivation. I made this discovery when I began teaching Flying Phoenix Qigong and Tao Tan Pai 31 in NCCAOM-accredited courses at Emperors College in Santa Monica in 2013, which later was confirmed by the renowned yogin and medical clarivoyant Eric Isen of the Oneness Meditation Tradition of Sri Bhagavan. (See footnote in postscript).
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
The 3-day immersive workshop, April 5 to 7, 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
$445 early registration
$495 day of workshop
$75 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 or Zelle (to zenbearinc@gmail.com) •
• If you have questions about the workshop or any special arrangements: please contact Sifu Terry at zenbearinc@gmail.com •
See you in workshop!
mitakuye oyasin,
(Lakota greeting and prayer that means “All are related,” “To all my relations,” and “Help and health to all my brothers and sisters.”)
Sifu Terry Dunn
P.S. From 2013 until 2022, I taught the Tao Tan Pai 31 Meditations as the NCCAOM-accredited OM351 Medical Qigong course at Emperors College in Santa Monica, CA, a required course for students to obtain their acupuncture degrees. (Emperors College is perennially the No.2-rated Chinese medical college in America—by vote of 66 peer colleges).
3 SONG PICKS TO WELCOME THE SPRING THAT IS UPON US:
(1) Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles – because yes, it’s been a long dark winter.
(2) Everyday People - from the legendary 1969 smash album by Sly & the Family Stone. Nicely covered en masse by Playing For Change featuring Jack Johnson, Jason Mrz, Keb’ Mo’:
(3) Two Beatles’ classics, “Blackbird” and “I Will” —beautifully covered by the English a cappella group, the Swingles. (Swingles are the third formation of the original Swingle Singers formed in France in 1962 by Ward Swingle. Currently the group consists of 8 singers and performs primarily, but not exclusively, a cappella— covering wide range of styles, from show tunes to rock to avant garde to world folkloric music to straight ahead jazz to classical, including the entire repertoire of the original Swingle Singers.