zen-bear

Hi Charlie, That's a good combination of seated MSW meditations. They also demonstrate how powerful simplicity is: the 60 70 40 5 med. is only 5 movements and the 20 40 90 10 is only 4 movements...and yet they do what they do. When they are practiced long enough, each of the FP / MSW meditations generally affect people the same way. i.e., people report similar sensations. e.g., with the 20 40 90 10 MSW, everyone in my LA classes (especially in the 90's when I was teaching a lot of FP Qigong) reported an intense "opening" sensation in the hemispheres of the brain starting from the back of the skull. Don't worry about experiencing blue light or not...or any of the other sensations reported. What will come will come. Every benefit of the FP Qigong system as presaged/described by GM Doo Wai comes sooner or later. Best, Sifu Terry

Hi Yuyumonk, In general, you'll know when you're ready for the next meditation when you feel "saturated" with the energy effects of the present one you're practicing. If you've regularly practiced all of the stationary standing Flying Phoenix Meditations on Volume 1 (Monk Holds Pearl, Monk Holds Peach, Mong Gazing At Moon) and all the moving meditations taught on Volumes 1 and 3 (Bending the Bows, Wind Above the Clouds, Wind Through Treetops, and Moonbeam Splashes on Water) and intimately know the energizing effects of each exercise, and you're doing the moving meditations correctly, comfortably, and are close to doing them effortlessly--i.e., feeling as if the movements feel as if they're doing themselves--then you're probably ready to start the Long Form capstone meditation. One way to be certain that you're ready to start the Vol.4 Long Form Meditation is to have me to review how you do all the FP standing meditations, especially the 4 moving meditations named above. On the other hand, if you have a lot of experience (let's say, 10+ years) in Tai Chi or any other internal martial art like Bagua or Liu He Ba Fa, and are proficient with those kinds of forms, one can start Vol.4 capstone exercise right out the gate. All the FP Meditaitons are synergistic with one another and the practice of any combination of the FP Meditations (taught in the CKFH DVD series Volumes 1-5 and Vol.7) That's what Ridingtheox in Arizona did about about 5-6 years ago. Because he had some 20 years of Tai Chi experience, he was able to jump right into practicing the Vol. 4 program and got immediate, profoundly energizing results. I recall that he said (as others have) that doing the Vol.4 Long Form Meditation two times a day was all that he needed, for that was all he could take because that practice imparted so much energy for his day to day activities. Then he went back and picked up all the preceding FP Meds. in Volumes 1 thru 3 and reported that he found each one on those more basic meditations were uniquely powerful and effective. Thanks a lot for posting this question! Regards, Sifu Terry P.S **One point I wish to emphasize here again is that "Moonbeam Splashes on Water" (taught on Vol.3) is a very important FP Meditation and makes the Vol.4 Long Form Meditation that much easier and more effective to do. I can tell by the relative dearth of comments and questions about "Moonbeam" over the years on this thread that most FP practitioners are not practicing enough of it. "Moonbeam" requires persevering practice to derive its full benefits. I encourage all FP practitioners to redouble your efforts in mastering this relatively short moving meditation. It will be well worth it.

My favorite FP Qigong meditations these days are: I. the Long Form Standing Med. on Vol.4, aka officially as "Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditation" because it feels better and better each time i practice it (--bliss component enhanced because I apply to it all the advanced Tai Chi body mechanics I've been practicing over the past 6 years) and I feel that it consistently imparts the full payload of FP's health benefits after I'm done. II. These two are my neck-and-neck favorite seated "Monk Serves Wine" Meditations that are taught on Volumes 2 and 7: (a) the one that starts with the forward orbiting extended arm movements and breathing (70 50 20 10) (b ) the one that has 9 movements and breathing (80 70 50 20) ...because: (1) the upper body choreography of each is beautiful, elegant, and powerful and is enjoyable to practice; (2) when practiced one after the other (7 rounds of each), during and afterwards I do not feel my body, but I feel like a soft, floating powerhouse of energy; (3) I feel the internal energy flows shift and roll and roil in sync with each movement of the arms and hands; (4) I see the unique FP blue internally; (5) afterwards I always sleep deeply more soundly and awaken fully refreshed; (6) whenever I program dreams while doing these two meditations, the practice always facilitates lucid dreaming . (7) I feel my hair follicles tingle periodically and every time I feel that charging, I wake up the next morning with less gray and more natural recoloration of my hair; (8) Though not as intensely as when i first started practicing them, I still often feel the very pleasant and soothing "washing" sensation of everything inside the skull above the ears; (9) when done, my mind is always sharp as a crystal and ready to deal with the world. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Steve, I also enjoy "the Sleeper" because it works and induces deep sleep consistently. I wanted to say this in response to a couple of your comments about the Vol.5 short 90 second "flash" meditations: They are short and sweet, subtle but strong. I found out by chance and accident that if you do a lot of Tai Chi form and have good Qi flow already, said Qi flow will be greatly increased and become much more tangible--especially through the head--after one has well-practiced the 5 short meditations on Vol.5. Best, Sifu Terry www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Good idea. Let's put the question out there for all FPCK practitioners to chime in and post which one or several of the FP Qigong Meditations is/are their favorite(s). Best, Sifu Terry

This week's two-hour Flying Phoenix Qigong class at the acupuncture college, which was the seventh class in an 11-week course, covered all the moving standing meditations on Volumes 1 and 3 of the DVD series in this order: 1. Bending the Bows – 18 rounds 2. Wind Through Treetops – 2 rounds 3. Wind Above the Clouds – 2 rounds 4. Moonbeam Splashes on Water – 3 rounds [10 minute break] 5. Tao Tan Pai seated meditations warm-up ritual 6. Basic seated FP warm-up No.2 (50 30 10) – 5 rounds 7. Basic seated FP warm-up No.3 (50 10 50) – 4 minutes 8. First Monk Services Wine Meditation (90 50 40 30 10--the fourth meditation on Vol.2 DVD) – 7 rounds. The sedentary standing and seated FP Meds. were well-practiced in the preceding 6 classes. Every student reported profound sensations of "thick energy flow" starting mid-way through Bending the Bows, throughout the practice and afterwards. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Steve, Thanks for sharing your experience of the differences between FP Qigong and TaoTan Pai Nei Kung (Basic 31 Exercises). I understand why, due to the shortage of time, you prefer to practice the FP Qigong. TTP Nei Kung does take a substantial investment of time on a daily basis but it is well worth it. A practitioner of any martial art will benefit tremendously from practicing the TTP-31. It is "slower going" at the beginning stages and the energizination and rejuvenatory effects do not come on as rapidly as with FP Qigong practice, but it is just as transformative, and TTP's higher Yogas more profoundly transformative in very different and unique ways compared to Advanced FP Qigong. You described the difference in demands of the two systems perfectly and by saying that: "...there is a more physical, callisthenic effort required doing TTP" that is very true: TTP-31 EXercises is an energy cultivation process that works from the outside > in. It develops a different type of body mechanics that requires continuous calisthenic effort. But with progress and mastery, the energy flows just as smoothly and effortly as any Qigong system, including FP Qigong. And TTP's very heavy and prominent Shen component makes the TTP-cultivated energy move "flexibly" and in ways that FP Qigong Healing Energy alone does not. The most advanced TTP yogas that I mentioned work from the inside > out. In contrast, all of Flying Phoenix Qigong--the entire system--works from the inside > out. Best, Sifu Terry www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hello FP Practitioners, I am posting this video as a benchmark or "tip-of-the-iceberg reference point to allude to what makes a complete internal martial art system. This, as I described early in my postscript on Post #3652, is the Preparatory form of "Eight Sections of Energy Combined Kung Fu" (Bat Din Gum). It is not one of the 8 Sections, or key Forms, but is a "foundational" exercise . This yogic exercise has some physically challenging postures such as the "dragon drop" seated position which is done twice, but the rest of the choreography is done slowly and is not much more complex than Tai Chi forms. The fact that this exercise is the Foundational Form--and not even one of the essential "Eight Sections" of the art, gives you the idea of how sophisticated and ingenious this BDG art is. I am making this form available here also because I want to invite and encourage anyone interested in learning the Eight Sections of Energy Combined art to learn and practice this preparatory form as a first step. If one learns this exercise properly, I will give him or her the breathing formula through private consultation. It is an excellent primer and advanced form for practitioners of any style of Tai Chi Chuan, btw, because of the physiological effects the strenuous dragon-drop positions have. Enjoy. Sifu Terry Dunn

Hi Charlie, The speed at which I'm doing the Long Form Standing Meditation is not the optimal, super-slow, speed-of-a-shifting-sand-dune, but is about as fast as anyone should do it to derive health benefits. As I explained on the post, I was inspired by the majestic scenery and dynamic, roiling elements to jump out of the car, lock off the camera, and practice a few forms on the spot. Of course, I did the priming breathing sequences of each meditation; I just didn't show it on each demo clip. I simply moved in accord with the energy of the environment. Peace, Sifu Terry

To Yuyumonk and to All: I decided to abstract this section of my answer to Yuyumon in Post #3659 and post it separately here because I feel it's important ot clearly define how much of Flying Phoenix Qigong and also how of Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung one should fully establish before adding or blending in another Qigong practice into one's practice schedule and life. FP Qigong and Tao Tan Pai work together best if either one is fully or at least substantially established before the other Qigong system is started. 1.) It is best to thoroughly establish a foundation in either one of the systems before mixing in the energy of the other. That means that one should have completed--at the very least-- all the FP Qigong Meditations in the DVD series up through the Long Form Standing meditation taught on Vol.4 of the DVD series. Ideally, one should have that capstone exercise (called "Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditation") learned well before adding any other Qigong practice--including Tao Tan Pai. That's because having that capstone form down noticeably increases immunity and subsumes the practice of all the 7 preceding FP standing meditations. From having this key meditation under one's belt, one will have a solid yogic frame of reference in order to understand other Qigong methods. Here again is my recent recorded practice of this Meditation in its entirety that I posted above on #3650 is done at a faster than normal practice speed, due to the dynamic energy of the elements that day alongside Lake McDonald). 2.) In order for TTP practice to have an enhancing effect on Flying Phoenix Qi cultivation, at the very least, one should have learned and practiced the four-exercise sequence within the Tao Tan Pai 31 system known as "The Power Yoga" before starting FPCK or any other qigong practice. Ideally, one should have established the entire TTP-31 system before adding another Qigong practice. For once you have the TTP-31 under your belt or you have the first fourteen (14) Flying Phoenix Meditations taught on Volumes 1 through 4), then you will be able to clearly feel and distinguish how each system cultivates internal energy in its own very unique and powerful way, and how each system's cultivated energy works so very differently. With regard to learning Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung properly: It is the unanimous opinion and modus operandi of all my TTP classmates who completed the course of training and my only remaining senior school brothers) that one must learn the 5 TTP Animal Kung Fu Forms in order to safely practice and derive benefits from the higher TTP Yogas: that means Six Stars, 9 Flowers, and 5 Dragons. Our rule of thumb is to not to teach anyone the last two Yogas of FFP unless the students are proficient in the TTP animal forms. This Nei Kung--along with most that i know about--just works better with a solid kung fu foudation. Of course a master of any internal system such as Tai Chi Chuan, Bagua, Xing-I, IChuan or Liu he Ba Fa, etc., can do the entire TTP Nei Kung system without having to do the TTP Animal Kung Fu Forms. Even so, there exists yoga built into the TTP Kung Fu forms that is synergistic with the TTP Nei Kung cultivation process and further intensifies and grounds it. So for beginners with no martial arts background, getting grounded in the TTP Animal forms is an absolute must. No other way around them for beginners. In contrast, FP Qigong does not necessarily require a Kung Fu foundation in order to fully benefit from the system. Its still and moving meditations develop the bare basics of a martial arts foundation even though there is no martial intent throughout the FP Qigong training. As Sifu Hearfield described many times, the FP Qigong and the Sunn Yi gung that he preserves both have hidden martial techniques and reflexes. So one can get away with learning FP Qigong by itself as a free-standing system if one is NOT interested in martial arts at all . FP Qigong is a complete monastic medical qigong system. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Yuyumonk, I will answer your questions by starting with the third question first, and then pick up the other 3. Q#3: What benefit would I get practicing both that couldn't be obtained by practicing each art exclusively? A.) Flying Phoenix Qigong (FPCK) and Tao Tan Pai (TTP) Nei Kung are very different methods of Qigong from very different martial art traditions. TTP dates back to the Tang Dynasty (700 A.D.) and attributes its creation to Taoist saint (Immortal) Lu Deng Bin. FP Qigong was created by Taoist Feng Dao De in 1644 and the oral tradition states that he was inspired to create FP Qigong through a visitation in the dreamstate by a Buddhist spiritual entity. The alchemic yogic formula by which FP Qigong cultivates its purely healing energy is totally different from that of TTP, which cultivates an energy that can be either martial or healing--depending on one's shen. TTP has a very large and substantial shen qi (shen energy) component, for as you know, it as a set of meditations called the Shen Exercises. My basic answer is: If you don't practice FP Qigong then you don't ever cultivate the remarkable Flying Phoenix Healing Energy, which channels into a supramundane current or “trunk” of energy, as GM Doo Wai put it. If you don't practice TTP, you don't develop its excellent body mechanics, you don't cultivate its internal energy, nor learn the capacity to use one’s "shen qi' and "qing qi" together to heal others by consciously balancing their energy system(s). And you don't condition your internal organs to singularly and collectively to withstand martial blows. That is, you don't develop the skill to instinctively move protective energy from one part of the body to another to protect that part from an imminent strike to it. Not training in TTP to the end means that one does't get to experience TTP's particular manifestation of the ancient Taoist adage: "healer by day; martial arts instructor by night. Also, if one does not do TTP to its most advanced levels--meaning learning the last two advanced yogas called "the 9 Flowers" and the "5 Dragons", one does not get to treble one's energy level (at a minimum) and does not develop one's shen, or psychic awareness, to the extent that one can literally see automatically all life forms as energy and all humans in their karmic totality-- in the same mode that Castaneda describes in his books chronicling his apprenticeship in what he called Yaqui Indian sorcery. FP Qigong and the other Bok Fu Pai Meditaiton systems fully develop shen to this same degree, but they do not do it in what I would describe as such a "compact, speedy and efficient" manner as the TTP system does it. TTP does it entirely through the its two most advanced Yogas. The transformative effects of this higher training on consciousness and bodily energy is profound and almost surreal--in terms of a beginner's frame of reference. These particular energy effects are the transformative hallmarks of Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung. Q#4: I know in past conversations we've had offline you said they are "different energies" but can you elaborate on that as well? The energy cultivated by FP Qigong is purely a healing energy that cannot be transformed into a martial energy. The FP Healing Energy has a distinct tangible feel, specific salient physiological benefits, and after a certain amount of correct practice, creates an aura around and within the body of a specific color. As I've discussed over the years on this thread, this healing energy, once it is cultivated to super-abundance, has the incredibly unique and splendid quality of spontaneously "jumping off" of the practitioner and infusing into anyone in proximity who has disease or injury and for which one has positive regard. No yogic energy that I have ever encountered on earth has this ability to automatically transfer itself. Tao Tan Pai Energy, per my experience and my observation of it others, does not have a specific color that is universally visible to every practitioner. The exception is that after practicing the most advanced yoga in that system, any person with good shen (and not necessarily a TTP practitioner) can see the effects of its cultivation as a mythic Chinese animal of residing at a particular locus in the body. The healing methods using FP energy and those of TTP are very different because the 2 energies are so very different. As I shared in the thread, GM Doo Wai who was a friend, peer and contemporary of GM Share K. Lew, and contrasted the differences in their healing methods in a nutshell by saying: "We don't manipulate energy; we just pass our hand over." There is much, much more to the differences, but that's one sufficient elegant summation. And it absolutely does not mean that one's healing method is better than the other. It just means that the energies are different. It is the testimonial of GM Doo Wai as to the spontaneous and automatic nature of the FP Healing Energy. Q#1: Can you help me understand how FP and Tao Ahn Pai work together? To answer your first question, I will start by putting it this way: • Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu inclusive of its Nei Kung stands by itself, as does FP Qigong and its encompassing Bok Fu Pai system. • FP Qigong adds another level of healing power to the TTP practitioner. • Practicing the TTP system at any level accelerates and enhances the cultivation process of FP Qigong and grounds it tremendously. One’s FP Qigong cultivation is naturally further accelerated if one is also practicing any one of the Bok Fu Pai martial arts, for these arts all came from the same spiritual source (except for the arts that the Doo Wai lineage acquired before it received the teachings of Feng Dao De. Q#2: Do they complement each other and if so how? My final elaboration of how Tao Tan Pai greatly enhances Flying Phoenix Qigong's cultivation is in two parts: A) Yes. As posted on this forum a couple of times, when I showed GM Doo Wai just a glimpse of the advanced TTP Nei Kung and asked him if I could continuing doing them why I was learning his system (FP), he said, knowing that I had done about 16 years of TTP training up to that point, he answered, "Yes, you can mix the two energies." So that is the answer to your question from the oldest living source of FP Qigong. B.) My student in Germany, "Joolian", recently engaged American medical clairvoyant Eric Isen (whom Tao Stllness has worked with extensively and first brought to my attention several years ago) and asked him the very same question that you posed here. Joolian was very kind to share his consultation with me and permit me to post it here, beginning with his email's third paragraph: I hope you don't mind me asking Eric Isen for a qigong assessment for me. This was in no way that I would have doubted the genuineness of Tao Tan Pai, but I was interested if this art would complement my personal FP practice So I guess you would also be interested in Eric's most positive answer: "> The questions would be: > > 1. Would the Qigong System "Tao Tan Pai (also known as Taoist Elixir Method)" suit me in terms of spiritual and bodily progress? > > 2. In what way would the above system complement my current practice of "Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditations"? 1. Excellent benefits from Tao Tan Pei. Development of intuition abilities and right brain function. More subtle and refined perception. And very important cleansing and expansion of heart chakra. 2. It combines well with Flying Phoenix by enhancing everything that is being developed by that system It will strengthen and increase all the benefits of Flying Phoenix. This combination is highly recommended." I am very happy with this answer and I am all the more inspired to learn it. It’s my experience and opinion that TTP Nei Kung complements and enhances FP Qigong more than FP Qigong complements TTP. This is because TTP Nei Kung works with the body’s generative force (sexual energy) and thus is rejuvenating to the extent that its practice can replace sleep to a certain extent. In contrast, Flying Phoenix Qigong and none of the Bok Fu Pai internal arts, according to my experience and according to GM Doo Wai’s answer to my question. Thanks to "Joolian" and sharing your Eric Isen reading and thanks to you, yuyumonk, for asking your questions. For they allowed me to make the above reminder to FP practitioners-- especially beginners-- of how best to learn FP Qigong and how best to learn the TTP system. Carry on. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Earl Gray, Welcome to the FP Qigong thread and thanks for sharing your background with everyone. There's a lot of support available here on this forum from many FP practitioners besides my responses to questions and comments. I hope you have great exploration of Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditations. I kind of envy you as you're starting FP Qigong at such a nice young age. I learned the system from GM Doo Wai when I was 37 to 41 years old. But it feels like the timing and progression of all my personal training was pre-destined. All the Best, Sifu Terry Dunn

Steve, Different Qigong, Yoga, and meditation systems use different alchemic methods to first integrate mind and body and then to perfect and purify the Mind-body. FP Qigong is a concentrative meditation system, and memorizing the breath-control sequence associated with each Meditation, memorizing the postures of the basic FP Meditations, and learning and memorizing the choreographies of the moving meditations--from the simpler ones like Wind Above the Clouds to the most complex one in the system, the "Long Form Standing Med." taught in Vol.4--is the gist of the mental training. Learning and memorizing the movements of all the meditations engages a most sophisticated form of visualization, which actually enhances and increases intelligence. The Long Form Meditation is challenging to memorize--but no more so than learning any Tai Chi form. Having a visual memory disorder would definitely slow down your learning process. But it's possible to devise means to work around and compensate for that handicap. They are rare and extraordinary, but there have been some great blind martial artists and yogis. Visual memory is one frame of reference; you might try to learn the FP choreographies by inventing auditory and kinetic cues to teach yourself each movement. After all, before there was television, video, and internet, the ancients used mnemonics and oral teachings and at best, illustrated manuals to preserve and transmit these arts. Maybe after you give FP Qigong a good rest, you can re-approach it with a different perspective on the longer moving meditations. You shouldn't be daunted. Where there's a will there's a way. And as Sifu Garry says, "Slow and steady is the Way." Best always, Sifu Terry P.S. Here is a new video that I just posted today on youtube: It's my demo in Montana last April 24 of the Preparatory or Foundational Form of "Eight Sections of Energy Combined Kung Fu" (Bat Din Gum). This yogic exercise has some physically challenging postures such as the "dragon drop" seated position which is done twice, but the rest of the choreography is done slowly and is not much more complex than Tai Chi forms. The fact that this exercise is the Foundational Form--and not even one of the essential "Eight Sections" of the art, gives you the idea of how sophisticated and ingenious this BDG art is. Enjoy.

Hi Gary, I just checked out the link using both Safari and Firefox browsers (from a Mac) and it works fine. You can also see it by entering this link using any web browser: or search under "Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditation Terence Dunn". A few more videos coming. Best, Sifu Terry

Hello fellow FP Practitioners, I just published on Youtube this first of several Qigong demonstrations I shot 10 days ago in Glacier National Park during my teaching trip to Montana. This is an impromptu demonstration at beautiful Lake MacDonald of the Long Form Standing Meditation called "Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditation, the capstone of the FP Qigong system. This first video was filmed on April 24 right after a rainstorm had cleared. I was sitting in a coffee house in Whitefish, MT, working on my computer as it had been raining all day. Suddenly around 4pm the rain stopped and the sun came out. So I jumped into the car and drove 40 minutes to a favorite spot alongside Lake MacDonald that my friend had shown me the day before and I got in several hours of good light and roiling lake. And no grizzly bears. I performed this moving meditation not at my usual practice speed (i.e., the speed of a shifting sand dune) but at the speed at which the dynamic energy of the environment inspired me to move. I also scored the video with an up-tempo piece of music that captures the powerful energy in the air, water and trees that day. Enjoy. Using my demonstration at the end of Volume 4 of the Chi Kung For Health DVD series as an interim benchmark, this demonstration from shows the fruits of 25 years of practice. More video coming later. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Blue Phoenix, Tao stillness is right in saying here are many meanings that people hold for the term "enlightenment". Its meaning depends on culture, spiritual and religious beliefs, and one's karmic age. (Some people aren't ready for, don't have the slightest clue about, and don't give a damn about the potential of enlightenment.) The only real truth is the experienced truth, and to discover one's unique truth of what enlightenment is, if one has not already attained it, but has a sense or hint of It , or has strong faith in it as being the salvation of the eternal soul, it helps to stick with a spiritual path that guides one to a holy life through doing Good Works and that also preferably has a complete and effective meditative/yogic vehicle that integrates mind and body thoroughly so that one develops the structural sensitivity to naturally experience Ultimate Reality, the Godhead, Brahma-Atman, the Christos, Buddha Consciousness, Cosmic Consciousness, At-Onement, the Infinite Event, whatever one chooses to call It. Getting a glimpse or fleeting taste of enlightenment is not enough. One has to claim the totality of oneself and become "a man of Power"--to use Carlos Castaneda's teachers' term for enlightenment--and ACT with that Cosmic Consciousness throughout one's life so that all of one's karma in the present life and all past lives is burned, so that one becomes liberated from the cycle of deaths and rebirths, which the Buddhist call samsara, the "Round"--i.e., the "Sorry-go-round" as opposed to the "merry-go-round." This is a link to Daniel Goleman's commentary on the "Vissudhimagga" titled, "The Buddha and Meditative States of Consciousness". There are hundreds of Taoist texts written through history on spiritual evolution, but I find that Goleman's commentary and his translation of the Buddhist text is more accessible and of more practical use to westerners who aren't scholars of Taoism. http://www.atpweb.org/jtparchive/Goleman1972.pdf I thus have recently added 3. "The Buddha on Meditative States of Consciousness" by Daniel Goleman as the third piece of required reading for all my students, alongside: 1. Tibetan Yoga & Secret Doctrines by W.Y. Evans-Wentz (Oxford, 1935) 2. Secret of the Golden Flower by Richard Wilhelm with commentary by Carl Jung (Steven Mitchell translation also ok). The Goleman article was first printed in the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology in the 1970's. It was later published as a book. It is still an invaluable roadmap to know where one is on the path of purification of the spirit, The Buddha's teachings recorded in the "Visuddhimagga" ("Path of Purification") is one text worth studying, for it outlines eight (8) states of consciousness or jhana-absorption, which are valuable benchmarks and milestones to measure one's progress on any path to higher consciousness to know God, Brahma-Atman, Tao. Not only will you know where you are on your personal Path, you will also be able to figure out where on the scale of spiritual evolution various prophets, saints, sages, bodhisattvas, and demi-gods that one has regard for, if any, according to one's religion and spiritual upbringing. If you're interested in eastern religious philosophies, then read up on any one of a number of Hindu, Tibetan, Chinese Buddhist, or Taoist texts to understand how these traditions describe enlightenment. Read books about Buddhist saints and Taoist "Immortals" (saints). Carefully read the New Testament, specifically the four gospels and the Acts of the Apostles to understand enlightenment and spiritual power. Read the Gospel of Mary in the Gnostic Scriptures to understand what specific kinds of yogic instruction Jesus Christ gave to his disciples. Personally, I like "Tibetan Yoga & Secret Doctrines" by Evans-Wentz because it has more precise, complete and elegant descriptions of Enlightenment --and how it is attained through yogic practice and/or Works---in its footnotes than I've seen in the main text of any western book I've come across over the past 50 years, which is how long I've been reading spiritual texts. But that's just my preference. To each their own source materials. Or don't read a thing, and just live your life...and take on faith what some of our greatest minds have discovered: "The total number of minds in the universe is one . In fact, consciousness is a singularity phasing through all human beings." --Erwin Shroedinger, quantum physicist You wrote: But seriously if it can help one be free from samsara then i will practice much much more diligently, i have honestly suffered enough. The mere practice of any Yoga alone--be it Flying Phoenix Qigong or anything else--is NOT going to liberate one from the samsara and make one an Immortal. Unless that practice leads to mastery and that mastery is followed by service and sacrifice to help one's fellow man for a lifetime or longer, depending on one's karma. I was thinking about rainbow body allot on monday at work, probably because i have been ill and battling addiction i like the idea i can just be free...plus i work at an old peoples home and i really dont want to end up like they are. Overcoming any type of addiction and fully recovering from addiction-related illness must be completed first in order for one to gain control one's life and wellness and to assume total responsibility for it. When one becomes physically healthy, whole and functionally effective, then one can work towards attaining spiritually wholeness. The rainbow body phenomenon is a sublime yogic and spiritual attainment--a very high one that you can strive towards. Use it as inspiration, but don't think of it as a means of instant liberation from your illness, its symptoms, and your existence gripped by addiction. Do use the grim vision of the residents of the old peoples' home where you work to motivate yourself to heal yourself and direct your life in a way so that you never end up in that picture. The "rainbow body" that you mentioned is a glorious manifestation of spiritual power that many a master of Yoga--especially the high Tibetan masters-- choose to manifest as their spirit leaves the earthplane or on other occasions--to heal, initiate and edify. Many strong discorporated spirits--even without having completed a path of spiritual purification and attained complete karmic cleansing and liberation--are able to "cross over" and communicate in startling and seemingly miraculous fashion with humans on the earthplane-- enabled purely by their love for their kindred spirits, if they are earth-bound ghosts (kuei's in Chinese), out of malevolence. ("kindred spirits" btw, are not necessarily family members or blood relatives). e.g., I have experienced wonderful and truly magickal visitations from both of my parents after they passed (my mother exactly 35 days after she died visited for entire entire evening; my father on numerous occasions over a period of almost 3 years after he passed in Nov. 2000, letting me know that he was around and about (by playing charming practical jokes on me that bore his distinctive fun-loving signature); and from my favorite Da-Sihing (senior school brother), Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu Master John Davidson, who during his time on earth, taught me the most about Taoist healing, how to do the TTP Kung Fu forms, how to best do the Tao Tan Pai Nei Kung, and the most about living by martial Zen. John's visitation was just last fall, eight (8) years after he had passed away, so it was unexpected, delightful, and profound, for it came through the dreamstate. His spirit specifically taught me how to use a particular Tao Tan Pai Kung Fu Form as a spiritual ritual to vanquish my karmic enemies on this plane, while he clears my path of them from where he is. Make what you will of this account of my former Da-Sihing's visitation. What I make of it is this: being able to cross over from the spiritual realm to help kindred spirits in this earthly hell (relatively speaking) is a sign of that spirit's enlightenment while on earth and its elevation to holiness. Practice of Flying Phoenix Qigong creates a very holy channel of spiritual growth, for those who have not figured that out yet. Best, Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Very well put, Steve. The reported experiences of seeing blue light, blue aura, a field of vision constantly cloaked in "gold dust" are natural by-products of correct FP Qigong practice that just occurs sooner or later. It doesn't matter how one regards the reported phenomenon. Whether one believes the reports, disbelieves them, or embraces and looks forward to the experience, or even if one is obsessively seeking the blue light or blanket of gold dust. As long as one practices the FP Qigong system correctly, all the stated benefits will come. They just come. And they come more readily if one has made that special commitment to study FP Qigong seriously and master the capstone meditation, the Long Form standing meditation taught on Vol.4. that bears the name of the entire Qigong system, "FLying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditation." Not only does regular practice of of FPHHCM bolster immune levels to a super-normal level, but the activation of brain and other bodily nerve centers by the FP Healing Chi is what brings on the visible blue aura, the shift in vision (seeing), and steady, gradual enlightenment with the steady expansion of consciousness. As one very astute practitioner and video reviewer on amazon beautifully put it in his second paragraph back in 2007: CHI KUNG FOR HEALTH, VOL. 4: FLYING PHOENIX LONG FORM STANDING MEDITATION *****Just Do It, May 11, 2007 Reviewer: Four Tusk Njoku "Njoku" (Philadelphia, USA) - I could have given it 4 stars for still being in DVD. First, this is a superlatively beautiful form to watch and to perform. Secondly, this is an advanced practice. It would take most people at least 6 months of regular practice going through the first three phases of this practice to develop the skills to take on Volume 4. It takes a special commitment and perhaps that is not you and it is definitely not most people, so I have found. I give out Part One of Chi Kung For Health ( Qi Gong ) - Five Standing Meditations of this practice to everyone I know, and about 20% of them take it up and they are most grateful. This is a great practice for body, mind and spirit. It is holy; it is healthful; it is scientific. Yet, there are no words. Just do the movements, memorize the movements, do the breathing exercises before. Do not argue, do not think. Just do, and you will see results. How did the ancient Chinese discover this? ••••••••••••••• Obsession of any type usually never leads, in the long run, to fruitful results in health endeavors; the internal tensions generated by obsessive compulsive behavior may slow down a person's progress in FP Qigong. But as long as one practices consistently and correctly, the FP Qigong will steadily impart its benefits. As Sifu Garry Hearfield puts it, "slow and steady is the Way." Flying Phoenix Qigong ART itself is a very benign and forgiving teacher and is so self-regulating that IT can transform the overly zealous ambition to "get something" and to "get it fast" into calm, stillness, and equanimity. And as I wrote sometime in Year One of this thread, FP Qigong is very foolproof; you really have to have talent to screw up the practice of FP Qigong in away that causes oneself harm(!!!) Again, because Flying Phoenix Qigong's cultivated energy is a purely healing energy, I have the luxury as a teacher to open the floodgates in teaching it to whomever is ready for "the next step" and more advanced knowledge. And if seeing the blue light internally, seeing one's aura turn blue during practice in front of a mirror, spontaneous "jumping-off" of the FP Healing Energy are experienced at whatever time, that's just an indication or benchmark that one's mind-body integration, FP internal energy cultivation, and development of meditative concentration is progressing nicely. A valuable roadmap to understand the stages of concentration-absorption on the path to Nirvana or enlightenment was laid out by the Buddha and recorded by one of his disciples in the Vissuddhimagga ("Path of Purification"). There are numerous Taoist texts about the same processes in meditation, alchemic yogas. and the development of meditative states of consciousness, but Daniel Goleman's translation of the Buddha's map of higher consciousness in the Vissudhimagga, in my opinion, offers us the most accessible, detailed, and useful map (that's not a puzzle) for the purpose of knowing where we are as FP Qigong yogically develops our consciousness and psychical abilities along with the body's totality. In Goleman's translation/treatment of the Vissuddhimagga, he describes in detail the four jhanic states known as the "material jhanas" or stages of concentration and the higher next four jhanas, which are the immaterial or formless jhanas, which are accessed by concentration not on any material object or focal point(s)...but on infinite space, then infinite consciousness, then the absolute absence of infinite consciousness, and then something beyond this focus on no-thing-ness. I have been writing a lot for my forthcoming book about the higher jhanic states mediated by FP Qigong and by specific FP Meditations and can share this much here: With only moderate commitment to practice, FP Qigong serves as an incredible meditative catalyst and yogic "accelerant" that provides instant access to concentration, and then enables the practitioner to enter and traverse the first and second jhanas, handily disposes of the impediment of "rapture" (i.e., any ado made about the vibrating, shaking, and tossings caused by the FP energy), sometimes third jhanas if rapture is disposed of--right up to the threshold of fourth jhanic state, where there is only one-pointedness and equanimity, where even bliss subsides as there is no thought forms or sensations whatsoever, as characteristic of all the formless jhanas as well. I cite the above excerpt and paraphasing from a meaty chapter of my FP Qigong Book in order to once again remind practitioners of the standard benchmark in Taoist Yoga and all meditative traditions worth their salt: And that is attaining mental quiescence and the wisdom that flows through that state: Hexagram 52: KEEPING STILL. Keeping his back still So that he no longer feels his body. <<------that's the fourth jhana, folks. He goes into his courtyard And does not see his people. No blame. The crux of my guidance on this thread is the same as what this able and astute practitioner, "Four Tusk Njoku" from Philly, wrote about Volume 3 of CKFH in 2007. I still don't know who he or she is to this day. I hope to meet him sometime and give him some tips on FP practice...or perhaps he can give me a few tips and teach me a thing or two... This particular DVD is the third in the series. They are standing exercises. Part I consists of basic standing exercises and Part 2 of basic seating exercises. This one, Part 3 assumes that you have mastered Parts 1 and 2. The energy builds upon ground covered by Parts 1 and 2. The choreography in these two exercises are a lot more complex. Once you have mastered the movements, you are supposed to perform them with eyes closed, after some breathing sequences. If you perform them regularly, at some point the subconscious mind appears to take over as your consciousness enters into a brown study, and you can actually feel the surging rivers of healing and thrilling chi in the body. You do not do the exercises necessarily looking to feel the chi. Just pay attention to doing them correctly. That will come. Undoubtedly it will come. So carry on--no matter what you believe about the blue light, the gold dust blanket, or my reports of the FP Healing Energy jumping spontaneously off of one to heal others in proximity, etc. BUT CARRY ON. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hello everyone, I got back a few days ago from teaching a 5-hour "Flying Phoenix Qigong for Stress Management" workshop at the annual convention in Missoula, MT called "Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect" put on the by the Montana Dept. of Public Health & Human Services that was attended by nearly 600 people involved in the highest burn-out niche in all of social work: child protective services. It was mostly social workers, first-responders, lawyers, adoption agencies, adoptive families... The seminar was a hit and the heads of the DPHHS said that they want me to continue teaching the rank-and-file social workers and develop a program for the senior administrators. I had a great time doing what I do best, helping service workers who needed it badly. Also had a terrific 4 days following the convention getting a tour of splendit Glacier National Park from a friend of mine in Kalispell. Here are some of the stills of my practice on the shores of glacial Lake McDonald, where everyday is a different form of beautiful due to the change in weather, cloud formations, etc. I'll post links to the videos shot there of FPCK and other arts that are going up in a few days on Youtube. For now, my Facebook product page has a few of the still shots of the majestic scenery and my practice that it inspired: https://www.facebook.com/Terry-Dunns-Tai-Chi-For-Health-236579434951/?fref=ts Will be getting back to answering questions and commenting on you postings shortly. All Best, Sifu Terry Dunn

I just wanted to corroborate the "next-day re-activation effect" experienced by Blue Phoenix as reported in his top-of-this page post (#3617) with my own experience today that occurred also on a bicycle. But it's not exactly "next day". Rather it's same day, about 6 hours after practice. This phenomena, btw, regardless if one is on foot or on wheels, occurs with lots of Qigong practices or other energizing Yogas--as it is explained in TCM by the "law of noonday-midnight," which all acupuncturists and traditional Chinese physicians know (or should know) and be fully experienced with. I love bicycles...'been riding road bikes since high school. But for the past 6 months, I have been without a bike because: (1) About one year ago, my most-often used hybrid touring bike, a Telivega 15 speed that I purchased in 1991, finally died of terminal fatigue and probably rust....where the frame lip holding the derailleur bent upwards 180 degrees--for the second and final time--when I stood on the pedals going up a steep hill and tried to change gears. The first time that happened, I was able to have a bike shop bend the lip back into its downward position. 2nd time was its death knell. (2) So I resorted to riding my thin-tired, newer but still vintage Specialized carbon fiber road bike for city use. But that nice bike got smashed when a pick up truck backed into me in a parking lot while said beloved bike was on my bike rack affixed to my trunk. I had just gotten it the car. Drat. The collision broke one side the rear bracket completely...and the top carbon fiber frame repair shop in town told me "$1,500 to repair." Insurance covered some but nothing close to that amount. So that was the end of my trusty road bike. And I've been almost 7 mos. without a bicycle. I know this info doesn't seem to have anything to do with Qigong or FP Qigong--yet. But now I finally get to it: So today I gave an official inaugural 1-hour ride to a new flat-handle road bike that I recently bought new for a great deal (a Marin). About 15 min. into the ride--right when I stopped thinking about work and teaching and just got fully absorbed in biking, my entire spine lit up and a smooth bolt of soft lightening rushed all the way to the top of the skull then spread sideways. Then came the bliss of the parietal lobes and the frontal lobes lighting up set on. Everyday I practice one, two or three of the most advanced Tao Tan Pai yogas and: the FPCK Standing Long Form (Vol.4), the Long 22-movement Monk Serves Wine meditation (not on DVD) that I teach privately, one of the Red Lotus FP meditations (also not published). Also, quite often I practice Wind Above Clouds, Wind Thru Treetops, and Moonbeam, and 4 or 5 of the Advanced FP Qigong (standing moving meditations not on DVD)--as warmup prelude to my Yang Tai Chi practice. I also practice 2 or 3 times a week a series of 4-5 meditations from the ultra-rare and advanced system, 10,000 Buddhas Meditations (54 in total). Then I practice the 8 Sections of Energy Combined (Bot Dim Gum) Kung Fu almost every day so that each week, I cover all the 8 Sections several times. (each "Section" is a very sophisticated internal KF Form that cultivates 1/8 of the total martial energy cultivated by this system. Then I also practice one of my favorite arts: a version of Liu He Ba Fa that I learned from Master Chan Ching Kai in NYC starting back in 1996. So the majority of my Qigong/Neikung practice consists of high-level Bok Fu Pai Family meditations. So I would attribute my same-day reactivation to my practice of the basic and advanced FP Qigong. The tangible energy activated is definitely the Flying Phoenix strain. **NOTE: I was not listening to any music at the time, so I did not encounter any wildlife (--as per Blue Phoenix). I just enjoyed a swift ride with perfect sunny weather through the little town of Playa Del Rey and its beach on the bike path up through Marina Del Rey and back. (My friend Chris told me the today's weather was perfect all over town as he attended Vince Scully Day at Dodger Stadium, honoring the golden voice of the Dodgers for the past 60+ years, and watched the Dodgers loses to Arizona Diamond backs under perfectly mild summer-like weather.) Thanks for reading this long-winded corroboration of Blue Phoenix's next-day re-activation of the FP Healing Energy. Sifu Terry Dunn P.S. Note to Tao Stillness and Bruce Qi: I will join your conversation soon. Soon as I recover from the blissful bike ride I took 6 hours ago. The Qi activation is still on. www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hi Steve, The Qing Dynasty Imperial Exercises are a body of kung fu conditioning exercises that I learned over a number of years from workshops in San Diego at the Taoist Sanctuary with Master George Xu (who Bill Helm brought down from San Francisco) and also from taking a couple of classes with him up in S.F. in the 80's through an old friend who had studied with him. (Master Xu teaches Chen Tai Chi, Bagua, Hsing-I, and Lan Shou, and of course each of these arts' weaponry.) They are the (northern) exercises that the imperial palace guards (protecting the emperor) practiced. I just naturally took to them because, as my high school friend and present head of the chemistry dept. at Reed College (Oregon) said, they are "everything you need to prepare you to do Tai Chi." I would say that the Q.D.I.E. are everything that you need to warmup and be ready to learn internal martial arts. They stretch the whole body elegantly, perfect basic stances, especially the cat- or sit-stance, they develop natural "linkage" (body mechanics) that accelerates "getting the Tai Chi," and, of course, almost every exercise has hidden and not so hidden martial applications. A couple of them are so holistic that if you do them at super-slow speed, they have the benefits and therefore technically qualify (by my traditional and exacting standards) as Qigong exercises. There are very, very few calisthenics, as you know, that can rate as Qigong. I haven't seen him in years, but I heard that Master Xu has a couple of senior students teaching around the country. Anyone who has studied with him knows the Qing Dynasty Exercises. For they are his staple system of warmups. Here's some of the arts that Master Xu preserves: • Chen Tai Chi (he was all-China champion in Chen style competition in 1984, I believe) • 8 Immortals Sword there used to be a great video of him doing Dragon Shape Bagua. Unfortunately the owner took it down. Here is 1987 video of his applications. I was there at a number of these videotaped demo's when the Taoist Sanctuary went up to visit and he and his class demo'd for us. Northern kung fu is hard to apply practically to the streets. Master Xu teaches very effective applications. At any rate, Steve, that's what Qing Dynasty Imperial Exercises are. In my Tai Chi and kung fu classes, they comprise about 60% of the warmups I use. Sifu Terry Dunn

Hello to all FP Qigong Practitioners, Last Wednesday I had an enjoyable Skype visit with GM Doo Wai. He unfortunately has been incapacitated for the past 8+ years due to a series of strokes that he suffered. He sadly has no use of his right arm and two legs. He only has use of the left arm. And his speech is severely compromised. He can vocalize less than 3% of his former vocabulary. His mind is alert and he has full memory access from what I can tell. I will not publicly discuss the causes that led to his strokes but will say that his severe health problems were certainly not due to his life-long practice of the Flying Phoenix Qigong or any of the martial, yogic, or healing arts under the vast Bai Hu Pai (White Tiger) Family System. In fact, his non-functioning limbs aside, he looked particularly good for being 87 years old. Skin was smooth; color was good that day. And he was in a pleasant mood. We worked out a way to communicate where I could ask him yes/no questions, and he was quite responsive and forthcoming. These are the parts of our conversation that I would like to share with the FP Qigong community: A. I confirmed with Grandmaster Doo Wai (again) that Sifu Garry Hearfield in Australia has learned the most amount of Kung Fu and most advanced Kung Fu systems within the Bai Hu Pai (Cantonese: Bok Fu Pai) tradition from him --including Bok Fu Pai, Omei Mountain Bak Mei and Tibetan Burning Palm Kung Fu systems. Again, Sifu Garry is thus GM Doo Wai's chosen and designated successor to carry on the task of preserving and teaching the Bai Hu Pai family of arts that he has learned to the next generations. B. I verified that four very powerful meditations that the grandmaster had taught our circle in L.A. in the early and mid-90's are higher level Flying Phoenix Meditations. I knew this already because these meditations tremendously amplify the reserves of FP Healing Energy to such superabundance that the Healing Energy will spontaneously transfer or "jump off" of the practitioner to anyone of positive regard in close proximity and heal that person. But after so many years, i finally got final confirmation from the grandmaster. I also confirmed that these Advanced FP Meditations can cultivate the general jing (geng) of the body to such a high degree and develop such control over the jing so as to enable the practitioner to "punch through" our own Bok Fu Pai Iron Shirt, which means most other systems' iron shirt arts as well. C. The "Healing Qigong Detoxification Meditation" with breath formula (50 40 30 20 10) that the GM demonstrates on a Youtube video (which I recall someone had asked about on this thread some time ago) is a Bok Fu Pai Meditation--not Flying Phoenix. D. The grandmaster was very pleased when I demonstrated for him Sections 3, 4, and 8 of the Eight Sections of Energy Combined Kung Fu. (I'm constantly amazed what the digital video and the web affords teachers and students these days.) Lots to preserve, so I better get back to training, teaching and publishing. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Shiva Shakti, The seated Monk Serves Wine Meditations that have been reported by me and others are restoring hair growth and original hair color are the found on Volume 7 of my Chi Kung For Health DVD series. I believe that they re the second and third exercises in the program with the following breath-control sequences: 80 70 50 30 - The moving meditation pattern consists of 10 positions and 10 movements 70 50 20 10 - The moving mediation pattern consists of left arm forward circle like a wheel, right arm forward circle, turning left palm to face the extended right palm at heart level, followed by 7 movements. Enjoy the hair raising and scalp-sparking. And also look out for the mild and blissful "washing sensation" throughout the brain matter. Truly amazing. Sifu Terry Dunn www.taichimania.com/chikung_catalog.html

Hello to all FPCK Thread Subscribers and Practitioners: Last night I taught the first class in a new FP Qigong course in LA. And just going through with the class of beginners the first 6 basic FP Qigong Meditations on Vols. 1 and 2 was like being visited by an old friend showing subtle gifts. After getting a bite to eat with a student and getting home around 10:30, I was so clear and light that I wrote new pages for 2 of my book projects for 6 hours straight into the wee hours. This is the content of last night's 2 hour class: • 45 min. of warm-ups emphasizing posture, relaxed body mechanics, flexibility and circulation. a) 6 Qing Dynasty Imperial Exercises (20 min.) ; b ) Play Guitar/LIfting Hands Drill as in the Warmup Section of my Tai Chi For Health DVD (1990)--5 min., c) Master Bow Sim Mark's Wu-chi turning of waist while lowering and raising of torso (5 min.) d) 9 wuchi postures of Ichuan. e) Bok Fu Pai standing Meditaton with breathing (90 60 40 30) 5 min. break 70 minutes of Flying Phoenix Meditations in this order: 1) Monk Gazing At Moon. 10 min. 2) Monk Holding Peach 10 min. 3) Monk Holding Pearl 10 min. 4) Bending the Bows 15 min. 5) Seated Meditation #2 on Vol.2: 50 30 10 -- 12 min. 6) Seated Meditation #3 on Vol.2: 50 10 50 -- 12 min. Standing basic FP MEds. caused subtle to moderate vibratory states (tossing) in almost everyone. Monk Gazing At Moon caused, as usual, a very, very rapid vibration through my whole body and causing rapid thumping of my heels on the floor, although my heels never left the floor, that vibrated through the floor it seemed in all directions and rattled the door 15 feet to my left and rattled the floor-to-ceiling glass windows and window frames of the large classroom about 20 feet to my righ. So after 24 years of practice, the effects of the basic standing FP Qigong meditations are more refined...but they definitely still ROCK the TOTALITY of ones being. Carry on you Wayward Sons (and Daughters). There'll be peace when you are done. Put your weary heads to rest-- in the wings of the Flying Phoenix. Cry all you need to--it's good for you. Sifu Terry

Hi Charlie, Glad to hear that you're experiencing delightful crown chraka opening sensation from the #4 advanced seated MSW meditations. All the Vol.7 MSW meditations are amongst my favorites. That's why I published them... so everyone can get a taste of real Qigong. Even the 4-movement one with 20 40 90 10. Such simplicity but such subtlety in mustering-manifesting Big Energy. As Fu_Doggy, others and I have reported, doing any 2 of the 5 Advanced MSW meditations back-to-back is a very deep and special cultivation that will advance the yogic progress of any practitioner with any type of yogic/meditation background. That's only about 35-40 minutes investment of time and energy. The returns are Cosmic! And as I've also suggested in the past year, doing any 3 of the MSW Meditations (from Vols.7) back to back to back in a sitting is a tremendously beneficial meditation. Practice of the entire Vol.2 program in one sitting is also a most excellent way to establish the FP seated meditations and anchor their benefits. Besides the health benefits, such 3x practice of the Advanced MSW meditations will greatly develop concentrative, focussing faculty, aka one-pointedness (samadhi)...and will enable one to traverse the lower material jhanas--i.e., the second and the third jhanas seemlessly. Heck, just the process of doing an FPCK breath-control sequence followed by any of the postures or postures-with-movements provides "access concentration" and experience of the first jhanic state, where all hindrances to full absorption have been subdued. (This is just a hint/teaser of what's coming in my FPCK book, about 85% complete.) Keep on enjoying! Best, Sifu Terry

Hi Blue Phoenix, Thanks for your report of good effects from practicing the Vol.7 Advanced "Monk Serves Wine" seated meditations. Yes, it's quite often that one will feel the energizing effects of an FP Meditation the next day, often during the same time period--especially in your case since you did the entire Vol.7 practice. So sorry to hear about your painful impact with the deer. But good that you are able to understand that that was no "accident" and that the accident was the end of a causal chain of events. As you progress further with your FP Qigong practice and attain deeper mind-body integration and one-pointedness, along with all the salient health and yogic benefits, you must bear in mind that you are also developing a very high degree of structural sensitivity--i.e., all the various types of energy absorbed through your sensory channels have stronger and deeper effect on your body and mind. Thus one must be more cognizant and more discriminating of what types of energies one exposes our sensitized structures to...and be doubly, triply careful of practicing FP Qigong in a totally secure, clean, uninterruptible environment. I'm not familiar with the type of music that you had accidentally downloaded and was listening to when the deer crossed your biking path, but I will take your word for it that it was "dark and evil" in nature. I can diagnose your painful bike crash in these terms: the spontaneously healing, life-giving nature of the Flying Phoenix healing energy that you unmistakably felt activated by your bike ride was in diametric opposition to the dark/evil music that was coming into your nervous system through the ears. Conflict within manifested a conflict without. Recall that a long time ago I posted here an account of how after practicing FP Qigong standing meditations for some duration with my students, it was difficult to switch to doing Kung Fu, because the FP Healing Energy cannot or "doesn't want to move that way" with a martial intent! That's how purely positive the FP energy is. I've had some "energy accidents" in the past when I was in my 30's with practice of the first Nei Kung system I learned, Tao Tan Pai, and fortunately haven't had any self-created problems when practicing FP Qigong all these years. For FP Qigong is extremely benign and forgiving. Recall I wrote once that it really takes talent to screw up an FP Qigong meditation and hurt oneself with it." You did not screw up your FP Qigong practice one iota. In fact, your practice was exemplary because the FP healing energy re-activated the next day during your aerobic exercise, biking. Your error--one of attention lapse as to your auditory input--was in NOT letting the FP healing energy guide you into the LIGHT. Instead, you inadvertently polluted the LIGHT with that music. So let the deer steer you back into the LIGHT of the Flying Phoenix! Deer dispenses Tough Love. Best, Sifu Terry Dunn P.S. fyi, I have all kinds of music in my libraries. The darkest stuff I have is some early gangster rap of the early 90's, which I keep for nostalgia's sake because I trained police in arrest & control techniques for 3 years and that music--e.g., Spice One's "Peace to my Nine"--reminds me of "the type" of criminal element in society and its milieu--so that I'm always able to recognize that type of wantonly destructive, barbaric and predatory spirit and energy in people should it ever come close--and to even have a bit of compassion for such low-level spirits (--only after they've been rendered harmless).