Jade Emperor's Mind Seal Classic

The Jade Emperor's Mind Seal Classic


"The Supreme Medicine has three distinctions:
Ching [essence], Qi [vitality]. and Shen [spirit],
Which are elusive and obscure.

Keep to nonbeing, yet hold on to being.
And perfection is yours in an instant.

When the distant winds blend together,
In one hundred days of spiritual work
And morning recitation to the Shang Ti,
Then in one year you will soar as an immortal.

The sages awaken through self-cultivation;
Deep, profound, their practices require great effort.

Fulfilling vows illumines the Heavens.

Breathing nourishes youthfulness.

Departing from the Mysterious, entering the Female,
It appears to have perished, yet appears to exist.
Unmovable, its origin is mysterious.

Each person has Ching.
The Shen unites with the Ching,
The Shen unites with the Qi,
The breath then unites with the true nature.
Before you have attained this true nature,
These terms appear to be fanciful exaggerations.

The Shen is capable of entering stone;
The Shen is capable of physical flight.
Entering water it is not drowned;
Entering fire it is not burned.

The Shen depends on life form;
The Ching depends on sufficient Qi.
If these are neither depleted nor injured
The result will be youthfulness and longevity.

These three distinctions have one principle,
Yet so subtle it cannot be heard.

Their meeting results in existence,
Their parting results in nonexistence.

The seven apertures interpenetrate
And each emits wisdom light.

The sacred sun and sacred moon
Illuminate the Golden Court.
One attainment is eternal attainment.

The body will naturally become weightless.
When the supreme harmony is replete,
The bone fragments become like winter jade.

Acquiring the Elixir results in immortality;
Not acquiring it results in extinction.

The Elixir is within yourself,
It is not white and not green.

Recite and hold ten thousand times.
These are the subtle principles of self-illumination."



The Jade Emperor's Mind Seal Classic. The Taoist Guide to Health, Longevity, and Immortality.

Translated with commentary by Stuart Alve Olson. Rochester, Vermont, Inner Traditions, 2003. Index, bibliography, 216 pages. ISBN: 0892811358. Revised Edition, 2003. Includes translations of "The Immortals" by Ko Hung, and "The Three Treasures of Immortality" by T'ien Hsin Chien. The Jade Emperor's Mind Seal was added to the Taoist Canon between 912 and 1116 CE. Reference: pp. 114-115. This book by Mr. Olson provides excellent, informed commentary on these Taoist works and the Taoist concept of immortality.

Taoist Quotations

Taoist Classics in Taijiquan and Qigong

Five Animal Frolics Qigong

"The Bear is a great winter exercise. Slow, ponderous, but very strong, it warms the body, strengthens the spleen, and builds vitality. The Bear's twisting waist movements massage and invigorate the kidneys. The Bear is an excellent preventive against osteoporosis, as it is known to fortify the bones."
- John Du Cane, Power Qigong

The Five Animal Frolics Qigong: Bibliography, Links, Quotes, Resources, Lessons. By Mike Garofalo, 145Kb, 1/14/07. This is a 1,800 year old Chinese exercise system for fitness, good health, and longevity developed by the Chinese physician Hua Tuo (110-207 CE). In the Wu Qin Xi the five animals are the bear, tiger, monkey, deer, and crane.

Making beneficial exercises interesting and enjoyable has always been a challenge to creative people. Hua Tuois one of the famous physicians of the Han Dynasty. In The History of the Later Han, Hua Tuo wrote:

"Man's body must have exercise, but it should never be done to the point of exhaustion. By moving about briskly, digestion is improved, the blood vessels are opened, and illnesses are prevented. It is like a used doorstep which never rots. As far as Tao Yin (bending and stretching exercises) is concerned, we have the bear's neck, the crane's twist, and swaying the waist and moving the joints to promote long life. Now I have created the art called the Frolics of the Five Animals: the Tiger, the Deer, the Bear, the Monkey, and the Crane. It eliminates sickness, benefits the legs, and is also a form of Tao Yin. If you feel out of sorts, just practice one of my Frolics. A gentle sweat will exude, the complexion will become rosy; the body will feel light and you will want to eat."
- From: Drawing Silk: A Training Manual for T'ai Chi, p. 6.

Walking Resources

Bagua Zhang: Circle Walking Internal Martial Arts
Eight Trigrams Boxing
Bibliography, Links, Quotations, Resources, Notes
By Mike Garofalo. 116Kb. 1/13/07

Baguazhang Added:
Jessie Cole, Portland


Combat Techniques of Taiji, Xing Yi, and Bagua: Principles and Practices of Internal Martial Arts. By Lu Shengli. Translated and Edited by Zhang Yun and Susan Darley. Berkeley, California, Blue Snake Books, 2006. 369 pages. ISBN:9583941452. General history and principles of 3 internal arts, basic movements, basic gongfu training techniques, and a detailed description with photographs of the Sixteen-Posture form (pp. 231-356).


Walking Meditation
Bibliography, Links, Quotations, Resources, Notes
By Mike Garofalo. 178Kb. 1/13/07

Rhythm Vision: A Guide to Visual Awareness, By Dennis Roth, 1990. Rhythm Walking!

Sensitive Awareness About Our Actions

"Simply speaking, drushti is sensitive awareness to that which you are doing. This has two aspects that are vital to every aspect of our practice. First it means bringing your mind to bear exactly on what you are doing. Not doing one thing while thinking another. This actually means learning not even to be thinking about what you are doing. Rather, just be doing it, feeling it. In the beginning we must think before we act. Then we act. Then think again. But we must learn to separate these two processes so that we can act with precision and clarity, without the distraction of thought. Eventually we will learn to trust the intelligence of the body and will be able to dispense with the thinking process more and more. Then our practice becomes meditation in action."

"The second aspect is to feel the effect of what we are doing. Not only at the point of the action itself, but throughout the whole structure of the body and the quality of the mind. We must feel its impact on the functioning of the body, breath and mind. We use this feedback to go deeper into the poses by making adjustments according to the four secondary techniques of asana, vinyasa, bandha and pranayama. Then through the dynamic created between our intention and our actions, a meditative awareness emerges."

- Godfrey Devereux, Dynamic Yoga, 1998, p. 24

Contemplative Practices

This is an excellent chart provided by the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society.
They offer a variety of electronic versions of this "Tree of Contemplative Practices."

Valley Spirit Qigong

Eight Section Brocade Qigong

Eight Pieces of Broacade Qigong:
Instructions, Bibliography, Links, Quotations, History
By Mike Garofalo
324Kb, 85 pages, January 10, 2006

This webpage provides information about the history and purpose of this popular Chi Kung practice. Detailed descriptions are provided for each of the eight movements; including information on movement variations, health benefits, qigong meaning, and cautions. The document includes the most extensive bibliography, link guide, and comments on Ba Duan Jin Qigong resources available anywhere. Some animated graphics are provided in linked files. This document is updated as new information is discovered. This qigong set is the most popular set practiced around the world, and is also known as: Baduanjin, Pa Tuan Jin, Eight Silken Treasures, Ba Duan Jin, Pal Dan Gum, Ba Duan Gin, Pa Tin Kam, Otto Pezzi di Tesoro, Acht Delen Brokaat, Les Huit Exercices del la Soie, Eight Silken Treasures, Brocade Qigong, Wudang Brocade Qigong, Brocade soft qigong (Rou Gong), Eight Treasures inner qigong (Nei Gong), Silk Treasures Qigong, and the first eight Buddha Lohan Hands.

Six Perfections (Paramitas)

The Six Principles of Enlightened Living
The Six Perfections (Paramitas) in Mahayana Buddhism:

1. Generosity: charity, kind-hearted giving, altruism, unattached generosity, boundless openness, unconditional love (Dana).

2. Virtue: ethics, morality, self-discipline, not harming, proper conduct, impeccability (Sila).

3. Patience: tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance (Kshanti).

4. Energy: diligence, courage, enthusiasm, vigor, effort (Virya).

5. Meditation: absorption, concentration, presence of mind, contemplation (Dhyana).

6. Wisdom: transcendental wisdom, mystical insight, enlightenment (Prajna).

- Dzogchen Buddhism, Dharma Talk: Six Principles of Enlightened Living
and Six Perfections (c 50 CE)

Lifestyle Advice for Wise Persons

Are You the Person of the Year?

Are You One of the Millions of Web-Sharers??

Time Magazine has recognized bloggers, UTubers, MySpacers, webloggers, webmasters and all other Web-Sharers as "Person of the Year in 2006" for their valuable work in founding and framing a new digital democracy around the world.

Lev Grossman writes, "For seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, Time's Person of the Year for 2006 is you."



Kudos, bravo, keep up the great work!! Congratulations to all Web-Sharers!
Onward ...

Who Is the Master?

"Hello Michael,

Maybe you can help or advise me on a matter that concerns me about what will happen to our future having no Masters !

For my own curiosity, I have seen the title of master for years in the martial arts. Can you answer my question, what is a "Master." What do you have to do to obtain this title and who appoints you to the position of Master? This is very unclear to me how this process takes place. Can you please help me understand how a Tai Chi person becomes a Master?

I have a lineage in the Wu Tai Chi Style that came from Master Wu Jian Quan to Mr. Wei Xiao Tang to Mr. Tzeng Yu (Tom) Huang. These people are now all dead and there are no masters. How do you appoint a master, do we have that right to appoint a master? Please direct me to someone that might know.

My teacher Mr. Tzeng Yu (Tom) Huang learned Wu Tai Chi in Tiepei Taiwan from Mr. Wei Xiao Tang who in turn learned from Master Wu Jian Quan while in Singapore. Tom said never call him master, he felt there was still too much to learn and he referred to his teacher as Mr. Wei. I know Mr. Wei Xiao Tang was a master in the 8 Step Mantis system, I don't know if Master Wu Jian Quan ever gave Mr. Wei a title.

What are the requirements and areas that must be achieved for the title of Master, where can we go to make this happen? Is there a committee or organization that we need to approach?

Who would be the next "Living Lineage Holder"? Does it go by seniority or the person who perfected the system even if they have less seniority, or would there be a living lineage holder at all? How is the next lineage holder selected?

What is now happening is older student is teaching younger student, older student is teaching younger student, older student is teaching younger student, etc. What is to become of us?

Thank you!

John Rosul"


***************



Dear Mr. Rosul,

The word "Master" varies in meaning as it is used in different cultures and languages. In the Taoist/Zen traditions, a "Master" is one who is enlightened, highly respected, venerated, a great contributor to the tradition, especially wise and insightful, and possibly possessing special and extraordinary powers of mind, body or spirit. If you had a relationship with such a "Master" it would often be one of a Guru and disciple, a Father and son, an Authority and learner, or a Superior and inferior ranks relationship. At some point, after many years of study and practice, such a "Master" would make a decision, based upon your abilities and performance and your face to face relationship with the "Master", to grant you authority to teach, or certify your enlightenment, or otherwise acknowledge your advancement into the ranks of a new "Master." One aspect of the philosophical Taoist tradition also tends to downplay the importance of titles, honors, degrees, and rank; and, instead, tries to bring more of a focus on natural living, simple living, committed ongoing inner practice, and having the heart-mind realize the Tao as more important than social status. Some of these Taoist/Zen practices are part of the Tai Chi Chuan teaching style.

As a general rule, Tai Chi Chuan internal martial arts schools do not award degrees, levels, ranks, or belts as do other martial arts systems. Many excellent and experienced (10 years +) Tai Chi Chuan teachers are also very modest, and prefer not to be called "Master." They may ask to call them "Sifu" or "Teacher," or simply refer to them as "Mr. Surname."

Many Tai Chi Chuan schools are also autocratic and non-democratic in their organization, do not have a formal and written curriculum, and are not coordinated with activities in other Tai Chi Chuan schools. These Tai Chi Chuan schools are a business, operated by individuals, do not provide for leadership changes; and, as such, are not interested in cooperation or sharing with competitors.

As for my personal preference, I favor a standardized Tai Chi Chuan curriculum, written, and coordinated with other schools teaching the same style of internal martial arts. I would prefer a clear, written, and standardized system of testing and grading by ranks, levels, or degrees of proven expertise as is found other external martial arts (e.g., Aikido, Karate, Kenpo, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, etc.). I'd like to see Tai Chi Chuan practitioners wear belts, specialized clothing, sash markers or other symbols to show their proven rank based on passing standardized tests. I prefer to see the curriculum of Tai Chi Chuan structured and orderly, written and published, leveled, and accredited by an outside administrative authority. Yes, I'm more of a Confucian or Legalist rather than Taoist on this subject.

I see the situation starting to change somewhat. For example, in the United States, the Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association now has a clear curriculum and ranking system. In China, the physical education curriculum at universities and colleges provides for a "wushu" (martial arts) curriculum and awards degrees accordingly, and does include Tai Chi Chuan in the curriculum. A number of Tai Chi Chuan schools around the world are now developing a specific written curriculum and rank testing. Traditional Chinese medicine, medical qigong, and acupuncture now have accredited programs, standardized curriculum, publications and textbooks, and ranking systems in the United States. I applaud these efforts.

If you can earn a "Master of Arts or Science Degree" in five years by taking classes and tests at an accredited university, and a Doctorate in 9 years, then you should be able to do the same in Tai Chi Chuan and be called, at some point of proven accomplishment, a "Master."

Tai Chi Chuan standardization of curriculum, and testing by accredited agencies, would give the prospective students, the consumers, a fair way to judge the qualifications of a potential instructor or "Master." Students would probably want a to employ and study with a formally qualified, intellectually and physically qualified instructor, not just a good fighter who asks you to call him "Master." This is not to say that there are not a few outstanding Tai Chi Chuan or Qigong Masters, great contributors to the art, who do not have any formal credentials or degrees, and who it would be an honor to study with; however, such people are rare and inaccessible to the millions of us who want to learn and practice internal martial arts.

If there existed a clear, standardized, and formal ranking system, there would be no question as to who were the most highly qualified teachers. Then, a committee of the most qualified teachers, could meet and elect a leader (i.e., top representative, president, chairman, spokesperson, lineage holder, etc.) of the Tai Chi Chuan organization. The leadership post is largely ceremonial, provides a focal point for acknowledging proven and respected authority, and helps with social organization. Leaders would probably be chosen for a variety of reasons including teaching skills, communications and writing skills, charisma, fighting skills, business organization skills, generosity of personality, commitment to the cause, etc..

As for the circumstances of your own Tai Chi Chuan situation and practice, it lacks all the elements I mention above for answering your questions. Your Tai Chi Chuan tradition seems to lack organization, standardization, ranking, testing, formal curriculum, or an orderly method for determining authority and leadership. Therefore, I don't have a good answer to your predicament.

I'm an older Tai Chi Chuan instructor teaching primarily older Tai Chi Chuan students. We don't concern ourselves much with titles and ranks, and instead try our best to enjoy ourselves, maintain our health and vitality, perfect our practice, and share. However, I would heartily welcome being able to learn more from a young Tai Chi Chuan Master, formally trained and degreed in Tai Chi Chuan, trained to teach, who could teach this old dog some new tricks.

Best wishes in your Tai Chi Chuan practice!

Mike



***************


Reply from Sifu Chris Bouguyon on 1/8/06:

If you do not mind, I would like to comment on this question. I agree with what you have said regarding a lack of standardized curriculum in traditional Tai Chi circles, and I also agree that as we get older, ranks and titles matter much less. I did once hear a respected Grandmaster explain the titles this way - In order to be recommended for Sifu you must have at least 12 years of training experience in your style and show a proficiency at teaching the material. Once you have 25 years of training and teaching experience you can be considered for the title of Master. This by no means entitles you to the title, it just means you can now be considered. Grandmaster status takes no less than 40 years to attain and you typically need to have a minimum number of long term students to show your continued commitment to the art you train and teach.

In the western mind, this is almost an insurmountable concept for anyone less than the most passionate among us. Unfortunately, I have seen many teachers claim the title master or even grandmaster with little to no real background for their claim. This serves to water down the traditional ways and does little for our art's integrity in the public eye. It took me 12 years and a difficult Master and Grandmaster review board to even be considered for the title of Sifu. This was years after my Master Instructor gave me permission to teach the basics to new students in the first place.

Bottom line: If you feel comfortable with your instructor's knowledge base, enjoy his classes and grow personally from this training, then do titles really matter.

Best of luck on your chosen path.


Sifu Chris Bouguyon
Senior Instructor / Owner
www.SimplyAware.com
Chris@SimplyAware.com
214-476-1721 Cell

Qigong Practice Tip #53

53. Find the Balance Point of the Body Along the Center

Try your best to find your center. Sit or stand up straight. Keep the body aligned along a center line: head in line with the spine, bodyweight over the hips. Find one's stable center and stay balanced when moving the arms overhead, forward or backward. Feel rooted in the earth with your body sunk and centered, and both of your feet solidly in place on the earth. Strive to be relaxed, soft, and supple as you align and center your whole body. In yourself, in your Qigong practice, in your body, make Heaven and Earth one, connected, aligned.

Many focus on bringing the feeling of being centered into the area in the center of the body, a couple of inches behind and below the navel. In Chinese Qigong this energetic reservoir and center is called the Dan Tien, Field of Elixir; and, in Japan it is called the Hara. In Chinese Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan, this concept of equilibrium at the center is called Zhong Ding.

Line up the entire body, from the top of the head to the feet in a straight line, as if you were standing with your head, back, and hips along a wall. Imagine the head, chest, Dan Tien, hips and feet all in one plane: aligned, poised, centered, resilient, one. Aim for a stable, balanced, comfortable, and centered feeling in your Qigong postures. Even when you bend or reach or squat or turn in Qigong, standing or sitting, strive to feel the bodily sensations of balance, uprightness, unified alignment, and whole body centeredness.

If a friend gently pushed on your shoulders while doing Qigong, would you remain stable, balanced, firm, rooted, upright, and in full control? Don't wobble, and don't become unbalanced. Draw your vital energies (Qi, Prana, Ki) towards that point of balance, that Still Point.

Let the mind settle down, cast off unbalanced thoughts, finds its spiritual Zhong Ding, be still with the One. Draw your vital energies (Qi, Prana, Ki) towards that point of balance, that Still Point.


Qigong Practice: Lessons, Tips and Suggestions from Mike Garofalo

Spiritual Practices

Seven Perennial Spiritual Practices:

1. Transform your motivation: reduce craving and find your soul's desire.
2. Cultivate emotional wisdom: heal your heart and learn to love.
3. Live ethically: feel good by doing good.
4. Concentrate and calm your mind.
5. Awaken your spiritual vision: see clearly and recognize the sacred in all things.
6. Cultivate spiritual intelligence: develop wisdom and understand life.
7. Express spirit in action: embrace generosity and the joy of service.

Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind.
By Roger Walsh, M.D., Ph.D.
New York, John Wiley and Sons, 1999. Index, bibliography,
source notes, 306 pages. ISBN: 0471392162.

Qigong

I will be moving my webpage publications on Qigong from the Cloud Hands Website to the Qigong Research at the Valley Spirit Center Website. This transition will take a few months in 2007.

All the Qigong documents in the Cloud Hands Website will remain for awhile, but in 2007 all changes and additions to these revised documents will be served by the Valley Spirit Center Qigong Website.

The Cloud Hands Website will focus on T'ai Chi Ch'uan.

I will be studying Qigong in 2007-2008 with Sifu Michael Rinaldini, Taoist Priest in the Dragon Gate tradition, Qigong teacher and healer. I will share with others as I learn, so I wanted to get all my Qigong research and studies in one website location.

Jo Staff Weapon Practice, Aikijo

I created a webpage on the subject of the Short Staff. This "short staff" is usually 48" to 50" long, and 1" to 1.25" in diameter.

Aikido offers a program of study in the jo staff. The Way of the Jo Staff is called "Aikijo."

Can anyone recommend a good book on the subject of Aikijo?

Can anyone recommend a good book with clear descriptions and photographs/illustrations of the Aikido 13 Jo Kata and 31 Jo Kata?

Can anyone recommend a good instructional DVD on the Aikido 31 Jo Kata and/or the 13 Jo Kata?

Thanks for your help!

Gateways to Personal Growth

Thirteen Gateways to Personal Growth:

1. Preparation: Stairway to the Soul
2. Discover Your Worth: Opening to Life
3. Reclaim You Will: The Power to Change
4. Energize Your Body: A Foundation for Life
5. Manage Your Money: Sufficiency and Spiritual Practice
6. Tame Your Mind: Inner Peace and Simple Reality
7. Trust Your Intuition: Accessing Inner Guidance
8. Accept Your Emotions: The Center of the Cyclone
9. Face Your Fears: Living as Peaceful Warriors
10. Illuminate Your Shadow: Cultivating Compassion and Authenticity
11. Embrace Your Sexuality: Celebrating Life
12. Awaken Your Heart: The Healing Power of Love
13. Serve Your World: Completing the Circle of Life

By Dan Millman, "Everyday Enlightenment: The Twelve Gateways to Personal Growth."
New York, Time Warner, 1999. 350 pages. ISBN: 0446674974.
Dan Millman was the author of "Way of the Peaceful Warrior."

Happy New Year

May each of you have a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.
May 2007 bring more peace in the world, and good harvests in the fields.
May many blessings come to you and your family this year.
May each of us do something practical to help the Earth Heal.

"The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace.
Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow.
You are here for no other purpose than to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment.
Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.
One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace.
Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.
To truly implement the Art of Peace, yu must be able to sport freely
in the manifest, hidden, and divine realms."
- Morihei Ueshiba, 1883-1969, The Art of Peace



Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba, O'Sensei, watering his garden.

 

May each of you accomplish all of your New Year's Resolutions.

I usually do make a few "New Year's Resolutions." This year I called them:

11 Things Mike Garofalo Will Accomplish in 1,001 Days

I played a bit with developing another list called:

101 Things to Do in 1,001 Days

If you are curious, you can read some of the lists of "101 Things to Do in 1,001 Days" created by other people.