Well, well, well ... attending a recent 3-day Taoist Elixir Method + Flying Phoenix Qigong for Health Workshop with Sifu Terry Dunn was long overdue. I'm usually not the type to talk at length about Qigong or Chinese philosophy, so I apologize for the long post; it's kind of a long story.I have a history with the flying phoenix Qigong that is important to me. I started learning them in 2001 after Jung Shee Doo Wai suggested them. In 1997, I had a major brain injury during a medical procedure that left me paralyzed on my left side, unable to speak and read. I was also in a coma for three days. I was in the process of recovering when Jung Shee Doo Wai and I crossed paths. He gave me many herbal recipes and suggestions, focusing heavily on combining them with food to make me strong again. While I was never officially a student, he gave me Qigong meditations to practice, which I found very helpful. I had about five years' worth of traditional Chinese martial art and Qigong training before my injury, so what I was discovering from Jung Shee regarding the "big picture" of herbs, Qigong, and Taoist philosophy came at the perfect time for me. It was different, but it wasn't a new situation for me.The smell of a lot of Chinese herbs brings back old memories for me regarding those times. As I healed, I asked Jung Shee about getting deeper into his family's Qigong practices. I could feel the difference, and please recall that I was recovering from a brain injury. So when I would practice Doo family Qigong, I was amazed that it would take away the pain and let me sleep. When your head feels full of mud, and it suddenly becomes clear, it's really noticeable. Jung Shee suggested Sifu Terry's Flying Phoenix instructional videotapes when I asked for more detailed practices. Yes, you heard that right; I said videotapes. So I bought them on VHS tapes and practiced them daily. A nice side note: this was "meant to be" because I bought them at a small alternative bookstore in Ontario, Canada, that had them in stock and didn't need to order them. They were right there. I even remember what part of the shop. There was very little reason for them to be available to buy other than to say it was fate. I genuinely believe that to be true. Material like this during that time was scarce in such a small place, let alone for it to be that specific.Jung Shee encouraged the Flying Phoenix meditations because he said they were explicitly for healing energy. He was clear in his explanation that the power/energy they cultivated did not have any martial applications. I needed all the help I could get.I started by practicing the essential standing meditations, and monk serves wine. Monk serves wine was incredible for me. I've practiced that series for so many years, and it's like an old song that you play to bring fond memories.With Doo Wai's encouragement, I attended a traditional Chinese medical school and eventually received my Doctor title in traditional Chinese medicine and Acupuncture. (I have to interject that Jung Shee often stated that what I was learning in traditional Chinese medical (TCM) school was different from what he called "Chinese folk medicine." He said both were good, but they were different. I understand what he meant now.) I've had the chance to teach Chinese medicine integrated with western biochemistry in Hong Kong and South China. I even ended up a peer-reviewer at an Oxford University medical journal for four years. In addition, I teach various continuing education credits for health professionals world wide, focusing on explaining Qigong for clinical applications. Flying phoenix, Sifu Terry, and Jung Shee Doo Wai, really helped me have a remarkable life. They were also a part in me recovering fully from something that should have killed me.This long story brings me to his recent workshop. I have always wanted to train with Sifu Terry Dunn directly, but the timing never worked out. We've been in touch but are usually on different schedules, coasts, and/or countries. Then Covid happened, and the "powers that be" shut the borders down, and it simply wasn't an option. Soon, however, things changed.I signed into Facebook one day, and Sifu sent me an invitation to attend via Zoom. I've never done anything like this via Zoom, but I decided to try it. For three days, I attended and practiced alongside the others. It was absolutely fantastic. On Saturday, I got so Shen'd out (spirited) that some of the students noticed it and cheered, "Look at David! He's so shen'd up! Shiny skin and glowing." I replied with a peaceful smile, "Dave's not here man ..."The combination of the Taoist Elixer Method and Flying Phoenix work really well together. When combined, I could feel how they worked in synergy. This was a new and very welcome feeling.For me, this experience was many, many years in the making. Yet, I'm grateful to have attended and learned even more about a practice that has helped guide my life over the last twenty years.I look forward to seeing everyone soon in person in Catskill.
