TERRY DUNN'S TAI CHI FOR HEALTH & QIGONG FOR HEALTH NEWSLETTER --MAY ISSUE
LU TUNG PIN'S 1,229th birthday is May 10. Thus, TAO TAN PAI 31 MEDITATIONS WORKSHOP is May 8-19. Weekly classes in Tai Chi Chuan, Flying Phoenix Qigong, Taoist Elixir Method 31 Meditations Qigong.
Terry Dunn’s Newsletter on Tai Chi, Qigong, Kung Fu &Healing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
I. TAOIST ELIXIR METHOD 31 BASIC MEDITATIONS WORKSHOP —to celebrate Taoist Immortal Lu Tung Pin’s 1,229th birthday!
3-Day Residential Qigong Workshop: May 8 - 10, Han Chinese Culture Estate, 33 Tao Road, Catskill, NY 12414
Dear Friends and Students,
From May 8 to 10th, I will be teaching a 3-day, 14-hour immersive residential workshop in Tao Tan Pai (“Taoist Elixir Method“) Basic 31 Meditations and for my advanced students, the TTP 5 Animal Kung Fu forms—Monkey, Crane, Snake, Dragon, and Tiger. This workshop is in celebration of the birthday of Taoist Immortal (saint) Lu Tung Pin, the de factor leader of the 8 Taoist Immortals of Chinese religion, folklore, and culture.
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 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.
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 TTP Qigong 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 Lu Tung Pin’s unique alchemic formula that cultivates 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. 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.
You will also learn in this workshop the Tao Tan PaiShort Form Power Yoga, consisting of five of the 31 meditations—a classical distillation created by the ancients to attain expansive rejuvenation in less than one hour of practice.
• In addition to the TTP-31 Meditations Series and the TTP Short Form Power Yoga at this workshop, I will be teaching for the first time ever The 11 Shen Exercises. This 2nd Level practice (built on the foundation of the TTP-31) specifically develops the Shen energy. “Shen,” within the context of Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung, means “the pure speculative aspect of action”—in the words of the ven. John Davidson.
• This video shows 8 key excerpts from the TTP-31 Meditations series that will 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 (796 - 1016), founder of Tao Tan Pai
The 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 and ordained 24th generation instructors of Tao Tan Pai martial, yogic, and healing arts. (See my other Qigong specialties in my online resume: http://www.taichimania.com/tdbio.html )
Through its yogic methodology and arcane formulas of perfecting the coordination of the focus of eyes, mind, movement and breath, the TTP-31 Basic Meditations, the Tao Tan Pai 5 Animals Kung Fu Forms (Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Crane, and Monkey) and Weapons forms (pole, sword, spear, bench, hoe, daggers, and others) systematically develop fine and extraordinary control over the subtle energy flows of the body (Ch’i), first enabling one to balance one’s own internal energy system for robust health and longevity, and then, after supervised training in the Tao Tan Pai healing arts and mastery of the 5 more advanced levels of the Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung, to preserve all life as a Taoist yogin and warrior. Upon mastering the final Qigong set of Tao Tan Pai called “The Five Dragons”, one comes to know the “Source Progenitor” that Lu Tung-Pin speaks of in his poetry and the actual meaning of his open secrets in Taoist alchemy: ”The cycle of the five elements follows the principles of reversal silently, the dragon and tiger copulate, and the yellow sprouts are born—this is the work of the Small Waterwheel.”
But just the first-level practice of the TTP-31 Basic Meditations can lead to the revelatory experiences of these yogic benefits described by Lu Tung Pin:
”When above and below work together, Yin and Yang are united, and the sound of thunder will be heard in the midst of stillness.”
“The Golden sparks fly from behind the navel to the head, the great medicine in the Yellow Chamber will be completed. Thrusting through the three gates, the medicine will enter the Internal Court. That which emerges at the back is harvested in front. Flowing upward, it repairs; flowing downwards, it refines. These are the signs that the Great Waterwheel is turning.”
> To more fully experience the transformative power of the TTP-31 Qigong system and to understand how the oral teachings of Lu Tung Pin advance its practice, I strongly recommend that workshop attendees read—or bring with you—this essential text of Chinese Yoga: Lu Tung Pin’s ”Secret of the Golden Flower”, translated by Richard Wilhelm with introduction by Carl Jung. And for supplementary information, read “The Tao of Health, Longevity, and Immortality – The teachings of Immortals Chang and Lu,” translated by Eva Wong (Shambala Press, 2000) <
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
The 3-day immersive workshop, May 8 to 10, consists of 7 two-hour sessions with 2 sessions on Thursday, 3 on Friday, and 2 on Saturday at these times (EST)—so that everyone can make it back home on time to celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday:
Thursday: 3pm - 5pm; 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST Friday: 10am - noon; 2:30pm - 4:30pm; 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST Saturday: 10am - noon; 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST
TUITION
$450 early registration for 7 sessions—or $65 per each 2-hour session. •> Please make $150 deposit on or before April 25 <• $525 day of workshop—or $75 for each of the seven 2-hour sessions
ZOOM PARTICIPATION
$60 per 2-hour session or $385 for 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 scan the QR code above) or send payment via Zelle (to terencepdunn@gmail.com).
LODGING at the Tao Retreat
There are 4 types of indoor accommodations, plus camping outdoors:
One room with a private bath – $350/night
Two rooms sharing a common bathroom – $250/night
Floor bed on loft or on floor of main house – $80/night
Trailer with kitchen, breakfast nook, bunk beds (for 2-3 adults or children) – $250/night
(each of the above 4 room rates includes meals)
Camping fee: $25/night (does not include meals)
Please book your rooms directly with Han Chinese Culture Association:
Please register early. The Tao Retreat’s “Main Tea House” has a limited number of spaces and rooms: two single bedrooms with queen size beds; two rooms with two twin side beds; seven twin dorm (floor) beds. Total accommodations: 13 - 15 people Plus the 4 modern trailers that each sleeps 3 -4 persons.
• Lodging is also available at numerous motels and lodges in the town of Catskill, which is only an 8 minute drive away.
MEALS
2 excellent meals each day (authentic Xichuan cuisine for lunch and dinner) 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.
BTW, the meals provided by the chef at Tao Retreat are authentic, super-fresh Sichuan cuisine—real Chinese “comfort food”—in which all the vegetables and mushrooms are home-grown. Most attendees agree that the food alone is worth going to Tao Retreat…because you can’t this quality of food even at good Chinese restaurants unless you know the chef. YUMMERS!
TO MAKE ROOM AND/OR MEAL PLAN RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT Yurong 豫容 Julia Li 李 at: jl@hancca.org or info@hancca.org Tel: (917) 828-0731
[For those not partial to Chinese food, there are many restaurants nearby in Catskill, ranging from nice Italian and seafood restaurants to fast food.]
If you have questions about the workshop or any special arrangements, please contact Sifu Terry at zenbearinc@gmail.com
[ workshop scenes at Tao Retreat, Catskill and Eastover Estate, Lenox. ]
II. TAI CHI FOR HEALTH: 60-part Short Form of Grandmaster William C.C. Chen (form refinement, self-defense applications, and Tai Chi sword)
Thursdays 7pm to 8:30pm EST; Classes No. 97, 98, 99, and 100 = April 3, 10, 17, 24.
Graceful in movement, slow in tempo, relaxed in perfectly natural postures, Tai Chi form practice improves circulation, respiration, metabolism, flexibility, and the neuromuscular function—agility, balance coordination, and proprioception. This weekly 90-minute class teaches you the 60-posture Yang Style Tai Chi Short Form created by my teacher, Grandmaster William C.C. Chen—along with applications of the form for self-defense. The class will provide basic to intermediate instruction in Push-hands (fixed step sparring) for students at all levels. Once properly learned, the Short Form will serve you throughout a lifetime.
Terry Dunn’s Newsletter on Tai Chi, Qigong, Kung Fu &Healing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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Two years ago in Sandy Hook, CT: practicing the 60-posture Yang style Short Form created by my teacher, Grandmaster William C.C. Chen.
In addition to learning Master William C.C. Chen’s subtle Tai Chi body mechanics that develop muscle-free, “toes-to-fingers energization” that leads to the high-level skill that includes what our style calls the “slow fa-jing”, you will also learn different ways of perfecting each of the 60 postures in the Yang Short Form--that I first learned from my teacher’s classmate, GM Abraham Liu from 1980 to 1992, which I have practiced and taught for 30 years. My step-by-step instruction in the Short Form and refinement of each posture will be supplemented each week by a warm-up module at the start of each class comprised of selections from my rather wide repertoire of classical Tai Chi conditioning exercises that I’ve acquired over the past 51 years. This 20-minute module will utilize time-proven methods such as:
1. The Silkweaver’s Exercise - an excellent classical Qigong exercise that’s easy-to-do and develops 4 basic and essential stances for Tai Chi, ingeniously opens and closes the chest and back, relaxes the back, does a superb job of relaxing and stretching essential involuntary muscle groups throughout the back, upper arms, pelvis, and loins to conduct more energy (eg., Coracobrachialis, scalene muscles, anterior serratus, posterior serratus, gluteus minimus, gluteus maximus, etc.) without one knowing it, promotes toes-to-fingers energization, and even prepares one for reverse breathing.
2. Three Essential Yang-style conditioning exercisesº –– taught by the late Master and General Abraham Liu: A. “The Gentle Bear”exercise—the “Wave Hands Like Clouds” pattern done in bow stance and ma-bu followed by the “Brush Knee” pattern in the same; B. Alternating Play Guitar and Lifting Hands exercise with 90º steps; C. “Snake Creeps Down” Figure-8 Exercise
(º As featured in the first 40 minutes of my all-time best-selling Tai Chi For Health DVDs released in 1989. Available at: https://www.taichimania.com/taichi_catalog.html
3. Qing Dynasty Imperial Guard Exercises - Practiced by the Qing emperors’ palace guards from 1644 to 1912. (As taught by Master George Xu in the 1980’s at his workshops at the Taoist Sanctuary of San Diego.) This system of martial and therapeutic exercises integrates and strengthens the body as it develops basic powerful martial reflexes utilizing correct and perfectly natural body mechanics.
4. Master James Lau King’s 5 Loosening Exercises. Master King is a senior student of the late Grandmaster Huang Sheng Shyan (a classmate of my teacher, William C.C. Chen), and teaches his teacher’s five loosening exercises that not only develop Tai Chi body mechanics, but also codifies GM Huang’s favorite Tai Chi Kung Fu techniques.
5. Chen Style Chan-Su-Jin (“Silk-reeling”) exercises—as taught to me in the 1980’s by Master John Bright-Fey. Chan-Su-Jin teaches natural movement in sync with the movement and transformation of energy represented by the Tai Chi diagram—or “Tai Chi Tu”—aka, the “Yin-Yang Diagram.” The entire Chen Style of Tai Chi Chuan—every movement and every thought—is based on tracing the Yin Yang diagram with every part of the body. One school’s watchphrase is: ”Whenever in doubt, jump on the Diagram!”
• FEE: $35 per class; $260 / 8-class series; or $450 / 16-class series
Please send tuition via Paypal (to zenbearinc@gmail.com or scan the QR code below) or send via Zelle (to terencepdunn@gmail.com)
<• Homework •>
BETWEEN CLASSES, CONTINUE YOUR TAI CHI FORM PRACTICE BY USING THE VERY BEST INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO REFERENCES IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: SIFU TERRY’S ALL-TIME BEST-SELLING INSTRUCTIONAL TAI CHI DVDs: “TAI CHI FOR HEALTH, YANG SHORT FORM & TCFH YANG LONG FORM (1989).
https://www.taichimania.com/taichi_catalog.html
III. QIGONG FOR HEALTH FOR BEGINNERS:
TAOIST ELIXIR METHOD + FLYING PHOENIX QIGONG
Saturdays 2:00 - 3:30 pm EST. Classes No. 196, 197, 198, and 199 = APRIL 5, 12, 29, 26
Our 196th Livestream of Qigong For Health For First-Responders is set for Saturday, April 5, 2:00 - 3:30 pm EST (U.S. and Canada), with 30 minutes of discussion and Q&A immediately following.
Repeat: this is a Beginners’ Qigong class—that will be a boon and a godsend for you if you happen to be a first-responder or healthcare professional.
This class teaches two—not one, but two—authentic ancient Taoist monastic systems of Qigong that impart tangible, visible, repeatable, and verifiable health benefits on the way to self-empowerment. Although these two Qigong systems, Tao Tan Pai 31 Meditations and Flying Phoenix Qigong are as different as night and day in terms of yogic methodology—they are not only compatible with one another, but also synergistic:
(1) Taoist Elixir Method (“Tao Tan Pai”) Qigong - Each class begins with a half-hour practice of the Tao Tan Pai Short Form Power Yoga, a classical distillation of the Tao Tan Pai Basic 31 Meditations (“TTP-31”). The TTP-31 is the first of six levels in Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung (“internal cultivation”)—not counting the TTP 5 Animal Kung fu Forms (tiger, snake, crane, monkey, and dragon) that are foundational to the Nei Kung and cultivate the essential elements of Taoist Yoga or the “Three Treasures”—Jing, Shen, and Qi— just in their choreographies. Tao Tan Pai was created in the Tang Dynasty and is correctly attributed to Taoist Immortal Lu Tung-Pin who gave precise instructions in the TTP Yogas and explained their Taoist alchemic paradigm when he wrote: “The cycle of the five elements follows the principles of reversal silently.”
(2) Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Qi Meditations (“Fei Feng San Gung”) is a purely medical or healing Qigong system that was created from 1644 to 1661 by renowned Taoist monk Feng Dao Deh (Cantonese: Feng Do Duk). It is the holistic health safety net of the vast Ehrmei Mountain Bok Fu Pai (White Tiger Style) Kung Fu tradition created by Feng Dao Deh. Flying Phoenix Qigong imparts tangible energizing and rejuvenating effects—and deep meditative states of consciousness— in surprisingly swift manner—within 30 to 50 minutes of practicing any combination of the system’s 8 basic standing meditations or 24 seated meditations. The allostatic (restorative) effects of FP Qigong practice continue long after one’s practice has ceased and often has a delayed onset.
"Flying Phoenix Qigong practice significantly elevates parasympathetic tone. 90 minutes of practice of this Qigong is restorative in real time and over time afterwards."
- Yetsa A. Tuakli-Wosornu, M.D., M.P.H., IOC Dip. Sp. Med. Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale School of Public Health Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology (December 2019)
Joining the Livestream Session
To experience the profound health benefits of these two rare and extraordinarily powerful Taoist Qigong arts that are easy-to-do and profoundly restorative holistic health practices, and join a lively worldwide community of students dedicated to holistic health, personal growth, self-empowerment, spiritual fortitude, sign up for the next Saturday session:
• FEE: $40 per class; $280 / 8-class series; or $500 / 16-class series
Please send tuition via Paypal (to zenbearinc@gmail.com or scan the QR code below) or send via Zelle (to terencepdunn@gmail.com)
—or send an email to zenbearinc@gmail.com asking to be sent a Paypal money request that you can use any credit or debit card to pay.)
••> Homework
BETWEEN CLASSES, CONTINUE YOUR FLYING PHOENIX QIGONG PRACTICE BY USING SIFU TERRY’S TOP-SELLING INSTRUCTIONAL QIGONG DVDs IN THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD: “CHI KUNG FOR HEALTH” (2004) VOLUMES 1 TO 5.
https://www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html
IV. ADVANCED FLYING PHOENIX QIGONG & BASIC TAO TAN PAI KUNG FU & NEI KUNG CLASS
Sundays 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm EST. Classes No. 185, 186, 187, 189 = April 6, 13, 20, 27
April 6 will be the 185th advanced-level Qigong & Kung Fu class in this ongoing weekly series. This course concentrates on the intermediate and advanced levels of the two rare and powerful Kung Fu/Qigong systems: Tao Tan Pai (Taoist Elixir Method”) Nei Kung and Ehrmei Mountain White Tiger Kung Fu, the latter which includes Flying Phoenix Celestial Healing Qigong, and several equally powerful Nei Kung arts such as “10,000 Buddhas Meditations.”
Prerequisites for taking this class:
1. Proficiency in performing all the Flying Phoenix Qigong exercises in Volumes 1 through 3 of Chi Kung For Health DVD series.
2. Proficiency in the Tao Tan Pai Short Form Power Yoga—and familiarity with the overall sequence of TTP 31 Basic Meditations—as acquired through attendance of two 3-day TTP Qigong workshops within the past 3 years, or 3 months of weekly TTP-31 Meditations classes.
Course Agenda:
A. INTERMEDIATE TRAINING:
1. Tao Tan Pai Cane Form.
2. Tao Tan Pai Monkey, Crane, Snake, Tiger, and Dragon forms.
3. Instruction in advanced Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung: The 11 Shen Exercises
4. Refinement ofstanding Flying Phoenix Moving Meditations: A. “Moonbeam Splashes On Water” — the 2nd most advanced Flying Phoenix moving meditation (on Volume 3 of Chi Kung For Health DVD series ).
B.“Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Qi Meditation”, aka, the Long Form Standing
Capstone Moving Meditation (Volume 4 of the CKFH DVD series) .
8. Introduction to “10,000 Buddhas Ascend To Heaven” Nei Kung system. A vast Nei Kung system within the Ehrmeishan Bok Fu Pai Kung fu tradition (named after the tallest peak int he Ehrmeishan region) consisting of 54 Meditative Exercises.
9. Eight Sections of Energy Combined (“Bat Din Gum”) Kung Fu System —as seen in the Youtube video at the top of this section. Here is an impromptu demonstration of the 8th Section of “BDG” in the dead of winter this past february:
10. Bok Fu Pai “Eagle Claw Ten Hook Attack Form”— seen here:
• FEE: $55/ class or $400 / 8-class series or $720 / 16-class series
Please send tuition via Paypal (to zenbearinc@gmail.com or scan QR Code below) or send via Zelle to terencedunn@gmail.com
Homework:
BETWEEN CLASSES, CONTINUE YOUR PRACTICE WITH MY ALL-TIME BEST-SELLING “CHI KUNG FOR HEALTH” 6-VOLUME DVD SERIES (2004) TEACHING THE FLYING PHOENIX QIGONG SYSTEM:
https://www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html
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. Music video pick for the month of May: “First of May" by the Bee Gees. I must confess that this is a Bee Gees song that I had never heard until this morning, when it was recommended by Google AI as a song representative of the month of May(!) After checking it out on Youtube, I agree that its retrospection and celebratory lyrics while slightly nostalgic, also captures the feeling of a fresh start and new beginnings—not to mention flowers—that the month of May can bring.
“Now we are tall And Christmas trees are small And you don't ask the time of day But you and I Our love will never die To kiss and cry, "Come, first of May"
Terry Dunn’s Newsletter on Tai Chi, Qigong, Kung Fu &Healing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
