Fu_dog

chakra - Most of your questions about Flying Phoenix have been answered earlier. It's a lot of pages, but worth it to take 30 minutes to read what Sifu Terry has previously posted. You'll find a lot of really good information. All the best, Fu_dog

Not Sifu, however, I will weigh in on your question (4) based on my experience. I have been practicing FP for 14 months now and am just now beginning to learn the Vol 4 exercise, which is the FP standing long form. I have spend the first 13 1/2 months practicing the basics. I can tell you unequivocally the energy from FP is significantly different that other forms of qigong. It's more subtle, and at the same time in many ways, more powerful. I had practiced different forms of qigong for 8+ years before beginning FP. IMO, jumping to the FP long standing form in Vol 4 and skipping the basics would be akin to building a house without a foundation. Or, it would be like skipping childhood and jumping straight to adulthood.... something precious and extremely valuable would be lost. The FP meditations in Vol 1, 2, and 3 "teaches" your energy body to adapt to the energy. It allows you time to become adapted and to develop a feel for the Flying Phoenix energy. The energy is different, and I cannot imagine any substitute for months of actual practice. During your practice, you will learn to optimize the energy. So, after learning the practices in Vol 1, 2 and 3 and putting good time into practice, then when you begin learning the FP long form you will have the experience that will allow you to maximize the benefits from the Vol 4 exercise. Also, I believe you would find the basic FP mediations aren't so "basic". They are indeed extremely powerful. In fact, as Sifu says, the energetic effects are cumulative. If you do one exercise you feel some energy. If you do two you feel more energy. If you do all of the basics in one practice (either Vol 1 or Vol 2, you will feel a very powerful energetic effect that builds with each exercise. In fact, it was my experience that when I finished Vol 1 and was learning Vol 2, that I had to pace myself to allow my body time to adapt to the powerful energetic effects of the FP qi. My body was not ready for the energy, and had to take time to adapt to it. I am sure Sifu can add more perspective, however, the above are my observations. Lloyd

Hi Sifu Terry - You had mentioned that in addition to the Flying Phoenix meditations that you teach on your DVD's (which are all excellent, BTW), there is also some "closed door" practices of Flying Phoenix. This is more of a question of curiosity, however, can you please tell us what there is about the closed door FP practices that's not in the meditations that you teach on the DVD's? Or, put another way, without telling us what those practices are, can you please tell us a little about the benefits of these practices? I still have a ways to go with what you teach on your FP DVD's, so I am not implying anything by asking the question. However, I feel the question is legitimate. That said, I am not offended if you deem it most appropriate not to answer. Thank you, Lloyd PS - I will soon be starting to learn the long standing form you teach in volume 4. Looking forward to this one!

Sifu Terry - That's a pretty awesome response to my question. Given the flexibility of focus while doing the Monk Holds Pearl meditation, IMO this makes it a true meditative practice. That's excellent news which only enhances an already rich and powerful Flying Phoenix system. Also, the ability to commune with the One while doing this Monk Holds Pearl meditation is awesome. I know you have said before after one does the breathing sequences, it doesn't matter (with only a few restrictions) what the mind focuses on while doing the movements. Or in the case of Monk Hold Pearl, the stillness. However, your last post clarified this in excellent detail. Based on this, I'll be doing a lot more of the Monk Holds Pearl meditation. Thanks much! Lloyd PS - Also, I have taken your practice advice to do standing FP in the morning, seated FP in the evening. I am really enjoying the benefits of this routine. In 2011 am very serious about learning the entire system, or at least as much as I can learn via DVD. I expect to have all the meditations learned by late Spring, then will work the rest of the year on refining.

Hi Sifu Terry - I have a question regarding the "Monk Holds Pearl" standing meditation. After the percentage breaths (50 40 30 20 10), do you recommend that the practitioner continues deep breathing to the lower dan tien, or do you advise to forget about breathing altogether and simply focus the awareness on the lower dan tien? Or, does it matter? I have done it both ways, and I find after the percentage breaths to simply forget about breathing and focus attention solely on the lower dan tien is extremely refreshing. That said, I want to practice in a manner consistent with the tradition of the Flying Phoenix Qigong art. So, thanks in advance for your advice and council on this. Lloyd

Sifu Terry - Thanks for you excellent response to my question regarding "fingers spread or fingers together" on hand postures on the Flying Phoenix mediations. As a practitioner, my goal is to maximize the benefits and value of each Flying Phoenix mediation, and correct posture is one of the important elements. Again, I am very grateful for your contributions to this thread. Lloyd

Sifu Terry - Regarding hand posture..... particularly fingers open vs. fingers closed. It appears in your training DVD's that fingers are often closed during hand movements. As closely as possible, I try to mimic your example of each FP exercise. That said, can you please comment on fingers open vs. fingers closed? Is it important? Is this something we practitioners should pay attention to? Thanks, Lloyd

I am slowly working my way through Casteneda's books, but have not yet read this one. I always enjoy the words of don Juan, so thanks for posting. Pretty strong stuff.

Sifu Terry - Nice picture on your website on your qigong catalog page of the temples and the god with four faces facing four directions. I am curious about the god. There is a similar looking shrine in Bangkok (i.e., it houses the actual god) that looks similar to the one in the photo on your website. The name of the one in Bangkok called the Phra Prom. It is also called the Erawan shrine. I consider myself quite a rational person, however, I can tell you the Phra Prom in Bangkok has some serious power. It is not to be toyed with and must be treated with due reverence. One can actually *feel* the presence of its spirit when you get close to it. So, just curious, can you tell us a little about the god in your pic? Link to pic Thanks....

Thanks for the post.....Blofeld is excellent. I just started reading his other book on Toaism, titled "Toaism: The Road to Immortality". I am about 50 pages in and I find it extremely insightful. When I finish, I will also read Toaist Mysteries and Magic.

Sifu Garry - WOW....I'm impressed !!! And, your story is very encouraging! I've seen some of the vids where you are doing forms and I can see they are quite powerful. To say you have learned via "distance learning" mixed with a lot of very hard work on your part is very inspiring! What you have done does indeed say that someone who *really* wants to learn can do so. I love your story, Sifu! Thanks, Lloyd

Sifu Garry - Just curious where did you study under GMDW? Was it in the US? Other? Thanks, Lloyd

Rainbow Vein - Nice comments on Michael's style and your laugh lines disappearing. Like you, the first time I looked in the mirror and saw the tangible differences, i.e., the disappearance of facial wrinkles, after a long Flying Phoenix practice I was shocked as well. Those sorts of benefits are undeniable. For people asking if qigong works, I will also chime in with Sifu Terry....."Just do it!" Assuming style of qigong is legit, then the practioner will notice benefits. Good luck as you continue your practice. Lloyd

Sifu Terry - Thanks for your thoughtful response to my "After One Year" post. There are several things I glean from your comments. First, after one year, while guys like me and Rene have seen some very tangible benefits, in reality we just scratched the surface. You are correct I have not yet completed all of the exercises, including the long form. I am looking forward over the next 6 to 12 months to learning the complete Flying Phoenix system (at least as much as you present on your DVD's). Then perhaps as you suggest I will have *much more* to talk about. The second thing I see is that 30 minutes is maintenance, and that real energy gains will happen with longer sessions. So for me, in addition to longer practices on Saturday and Sunday, I am going to try to have one long Flying Phoenix practice during the week as well. If I can do this, then that's 3 longer practices a week instead of two, and I have to think I will realize some benefits. Also, the guidelines for practice time in your response to VCraigP are very good. As you stated, it's a challenge for some of us to find 2 hours per day to practice. That said, I appreciate the fact that you have given us this guideline. It's good to know. Again, on behalf of those of us who are practitioners in search of some guidance on the practice of FP, I want to thank you and Sifu Garry for the time and effort you have put into answering our questions. Lloyd

Sifu Garry - Thanks for your good words on "Perseverance", because they motivate me to keep on keepin' on! I decided to use the Chinese symbol for Perseverance as my avatar. Best wishes, Lloyd

Sifu Garry - thanks for getting back. I will take your comments under advisement. Those three videos are showing a powerful system (I can tell!). Can you tell us more about the Omei Bak Mei White Eyebrow System? Thanks, Fu dog

Thanks Sifu Garry! I always enjoy your vids. The Omei Bak Mei looks like a powerful system. I always start my mornings, as soon as I am up and before breakfast, with 20 minutes of reverse breathing. I may try to change this to the Omei Bak Mei exercise #1, as this looks like it would be a step up over what I am doing. On the Omei Bak Mei exercise #2, did I hear you mention something about a percentage breath? Thanks, Fu Dog

After One Year It was just a little over one year ago when I made my first post regarding the Flying Phoenix system. I would like to provide my observations after one year. First a little background. In November of 2010 I arranged a call with Sifu Terry to discuss the system, as I felt it had promise, however there were some things I wished to have clarified and wanted to speak with him directly. My first impression, in addition to having some technical questions answered, was that Sifu Terry had a strong belief in the system, as passion for teaching it. I felt very good about this. I began to practice in earnest. By the way, please keep in mind that when I began practicing I had just celebrated my 55th birthday. I practice FP on the average of 30 minutes per day, however, on the weekends I practice sometimes for 90 minutes to two hours, taking Sifu's advice to practice your entire routine in the sequence presented in his DVD's. Here are my observations after one year: (1) The energy I feel in FP is stronger than any other system I had practiced. I am convinced the breathing sequences to begin each exercise are a differential factor towards this energy generation. No other system I had practiced had this, and I had practiced a number of qigong systems prior to Flying Phoenix. (2) The most tangible benefit to FP practice is my appearance. Most of the wrinkles on my face have receded to smooth, and I look noticeably younger. Some wrinkles that were on my face for 5+ years have nearly vanished. This, to me is amazing. Nearly everyone who knows me I comments on this. (3) I now use the appearance of my face to gauge my level of practice. If I am practicing "enough", then my face looks smooth, younger as a general condition. If I am not getting enough practice, then the wear starts to show, and this tells me I need to practice more. (4) My libido has increased. Nuff said. ;-) (5) The practice of Flying Phoenix washes away built up stress. I work some long hours in a high pressure environment. The FP exercises just seem to clean away the stress. (6) I sleep more soundly. The second of the Basic Seated FP exercises and the first FP Advanced Seated are especially good to do before sleeping. (7) I have not been sick, except for one cold, and I got that in March of this year. Coincidentally, that came on the heels of the only period over the past year where I had gone for a little more week without practicing, due to a brutal work/travel schedule. Since then, I practice daily, and have had no hint of any illness. I honestly believe had I not had the lapse in FP practice, that there is a good chance I would not have caught that cold. (8) After one year, the practice of FP has truly become a "moving mediation". With practice that is what it has become. There have been several questions on the board about the parallels between FP and meditation. I can tell you that with more practice, the FP exercises become quite meditative. There is a peace and calmness experienced during the practice that is really quite special, however, at the same time there is this really nice experience of the Flying Phoenix energy. It makes the FP meditative experience quite unique. (9) During the movements, I feel as if I am moving my hands through a "thick" qi (that's the only way I can describe it), and this feeling, in turn, slows my movements. It's as if the Flying Phoenix energy itself provides me feedback as to the correct speed of my movements, which is quite slow by the way. (10) I often feel during the seated FP movements, that the hair on my arms is standing on end. Other posters have mentioned this feeling as well. (11) I have a mental calmness about me now that is more pronounced than a year ago. I am not sure if I would 100% contribute that to the practice of FP, however, I feel for sure that it is a significant contributing factor. (12) As FP exercises are practice one after the other (with a small break in between as prescribed by Sifu Terry), the energy builds with each additional FP exercise practiced. At least for me, the Flying Phoenix energy doesn't peak and level out. I feel a cumulative energy with each successive FP exercise. I will stop there for now. Perhaps in another 6 months I will provide another progress report. I still have not learned all of the exercises as taught by Sifu Terry on his DVD's, so there is much more to look forward to. I would like to offer a special thanks to Sifu Terry and also to Sifu Garry for your contributions to this thread. Warmest Regards, Lloyd Edited for spelling.

On a trip to Bangkok last year, I saw Van Damme because he was staying at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where my gf and I were also staying. Word was he was in Thailand training with a local martial arts master, getting ready for an upcoming fight. So, I figured he was taking his training seriously. During the two mornings I was there, I saw him when I went down to breakfast, which was served on a outdoor patio on the Chao Phraya River (quite beautiful). Dude looked *very much* in shape. He was alone both days while having his breakfast. No one seemed to recognize him. Likewise, I left him alone. But my gf's niece had her wedding at the Mandarin Oriental during my stay, and the bride did get a pic with him. So, I have to wish him luck!

Nice vids Sifu Garry! Thanks for sharing.

I live close to Kennedy Space Center. I have seen many rocket launches that look similar. So for my money, it was some sort of rocket. Military rockets are not announced to the public, never admitted to.

Welcome back Sifu Garry!

Sifu Terry - At this point in my practice (11 months now) I find myself gravitating towards the advanced seated meditations. I am currently practicing the first the and have a few questions: With FP standing meditations there is a long form that, IIRC, encompasses the benefits of all other standing meditations. My first question regarding the advanced seated forms is, is there an equivalent in the seated meditations, i.e., one advanced seated that includes the benefits of all others? My second question is regarding practice schedule. Doing advanced seated exercises "as slow as a shifting sand dune" can take me up to 30 minutes per meditation. My practice plan is to do one advanced per evening. I am thinking doing a different one per night would allow me to do all of the advanced seated FP meditations during a one week period. However, I thought I would ask your opinion on a practice schedule. (Note: I also do the basic seated FP meditations every week and fully concur with something as stated in one of your earlier posts, that the so called "basic exercises" aren't so basic!). A third thing I would appreciate your comment on is this: There seems to me to be parallels between the FP advanced seated mediations and Zen or Chan style meditation. I can't clear my mind *completely* during advanced seated as in Chan style meditation, or else you l would lose my place. However, while doing FP seated meditations, there is a sublime peacefulness and calmness of mind experienced. Also, there is one point in the third advanced seated where you join thumb and forefinger and hold them over the knees for a few seconds, and in those few seconds with completely clear mind there is an amazing sense of the One. In those few seconds of stillness it seems one reaches a state very similar to (or even deeper than) that experienced in Chan style meditation.....and then of course you continue on with the movements. Any observations you care to make on this aspect of the practice is greatly appreciated. Again, thanks for your contributions to the board! Lloyd Edited for grammar.

Hi Sifu Terry - I have a most basic question. When moving from one seated FP meditation to the next, can the ending 3 deep breaths from one FP meditation be the beginning 3 breaths for the next? I have not been doing it the way described above. I have finished with 3 breaths, opened my eyes, etc. Then I start anew with 3 deep breaths to begin the next. Can you please comment? Thanks, Lloyd PS - Also to add the comment on the energy of FP. To be honest, the energy is so strong for the first 3 months I practiced I had to limit the number of FP meditations I did in one setting, because my body had to adjust. The FP energy is really quite special.

ralis - now that there's funny, and I don't care what anybody says....