Flying Phoenix Chi Kung

[zen-bear]

Readers of this blog already know that I am not the most sensitive person when it comes to feeling subtle energies. Even so, I can attest to what Sifu Terry states about noticing the differences in energies between TTP and Flying Phoenix Chi Kung.

I did volumes 1,2, was learning 3, did volume 5 and a few from vol. 7 for about 2 years daily. I recently was doing the first 4 exercises of TTP plus the Shen Candle meditation and then the Earth meditation as taught to me by one of Lew K. Share's early students from the early 1970's when he began learning from him at age 18 and over 40 years later he still does TTP regularly. In fact, I have communicated with 4 old students of this system and they all are still doing this method for the past 3-4 decades and speak highly of it as a treasure.

I am able to experience the difference in how the energies feel between FP and TTP. It is just one more example of how unique FP energy feels compared to any other type of qigong, and I have tried probably 30 different qigong methods, some are considered to be the most powerful and most effective methods that are known. My own subjective experience is that none of them feel as good to me as Flying Phoenix energy. Some give me a stronger feeling of chi in between my hands but the other methods do not create for me the feeling of being in a cloud of energy that surrounds parts of my body. I stopped doing TTP because of the time constraints due to my family circumstances. Also, there is a more physical, callisthenic effort required doing TTP which I do not enjoy as I really disliked high school gym class, LOL. In contrast, FP movements are smooth and gentle flowing that seem to just glide on their own. But I have been told the benefits from TTP make it worth doing.  

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

 

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[zen-bear]

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

 

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Edited May 28, 2016 by zen-bear

[tao stillness]

I would be curious to see an informal survey of which Flying Phoenix Chi Kung meditation is each person's favorite in terms of the benefits it brings or any sensations or experiences that people enjoy from one meditation in particular.

[cihan]

Grossly speaking, all of the flying phonenix meditations I practice influence the middle space of frontal lobes and the center just inside the hairline on my forehead, as well as utilizing throat's ether and of course heating up the lower tan tien at first, after making a good earth connection. Tip of my tounge is very thingely and hot when connecting to upper palate. I am sure they are also attending the other chakras and centers, but they are not yet emphasized as these ones in my case. I used to do the meditations separately, also mixing them with other practices, but some wisdom at last manifested and I started doing them back to back with no mixing. This way the progress is much faster, and finally a bluish misty/sticky inner feeling/vision came. For the first time in 6 years, I felt it progressing rapidly. Maybe a wholistic approach to the system is a better way to comprehend.

 

 

[Shiva33]

Hi everyone. I want to restart my FP practice. Just want to make sure. One keeps the tongue on the roof of the mouth (behind teeth) during the entire meditation, meaning during the 3 deep breaths, breath %, meditation, end 3 breaths and during the last breath's exhale, or do you drop the tongue when you are doing the last big exhale? Just asking because if I understand correctly you must exhale that last exit breath through your mouth to help seal the energy in FP? 

[zen-bear]

I would be curious to see an informal survey of which Flying Phoenix Chi Kung meditation is each person's favorite in terms of the benefits it brings or any sensations or experiences that people enjoy from one meditation in particular.

 

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

[Aeran]

If I had to pick a single one it would probably be Monk Holding Pearl - I liked the comfortable posture and the simplicity of it when I first started practicing FPCK, very easy to relax into the stance, perform the breath sequence then just let the mind go quiet, and I loved the warm bubbling sensation it would bring on in the lower Dantien.

[tao stillness]

I always used to enjoy the meditation that Sifu Terry has dubbed The Sleeper, or The Big Sleep.

Since I would do it right before going to sleep I often would only be half awake and would doze off for brief periods and find that my arms were still moving correctly on their own to perform the repetitions. I also enjoyed all of the quick meditations on Volume 5 because I thought the hand and arm movements just seemed so cool looking.

[zen-bear]

I always used to enjoy the meditation that Sifu Terry has dubbed The Sleeper, or The Big Sleep.

Since I would do it right before going to sleep I often would only be half awake and would doze off for brief periods and find that my arms were still moving correctly on their own to perform the repetitions. I also enjoyed all of the quick meditations on Volume 5 because I thought the hand and arm movements just seemed so cool looking.

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

 

 

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Edited June 21, 2016 by zen-bear

[Joolian]

If I would have to pick one only, it would be Monk holding Pearl, too, at the moment. I share Aeran's experiences - it does ground me very well. I also get very still and some times it goes very deep... As a matter of fact unfortunately I don't feel bubbling in the dantian yet. Sometimes I experience a little bit of heat there and a little pressure in the head, while doing this meditation. I do this one nearly every night right before sleeping and it proves very well for a good sleep.

But sometimes I manage to do the "sleeper", which works all the more - it is absolutely amazing.

 

I hope also others chime in and share their favorite meds and effects Always enjoy reading your shared stories.

[cihan]

I cannot pick a single one! 

Premilinary sitting med 50,10,50. Effects come after 15 mins, with literally  dazzling inner white light, so my eyes squint  as reflex.I recommend it for feeling the Dan tien as well.

Bending the Bows. Kills fatigue, brings strength and lightness with wake up boner  ,  again dazzling inner light around eyes while doing.

Last of the advanced sitting med. Brings the most internal bluish fuzz between the brows.

Monk Holding Pearl. Comfortable bluish-warm fuzzy feeling. After 15 minutes, gives the strength to pause mind chatter. I also find it to be a very efficient lying down meditation.

Monk Holding Peach. Whitish alertness, again gives mind stopping strength.

[tao stillness]

A good friend of mine tried either Monk Holding Pearl or Monk Holding Peach, I can't remember which, as his first Flying Phoenix meditation that he ever tried and right from his first session he reported feeling this ball of energy between his hands which was spinning rapidly on its own. He has had other similar good experiences with feeling moving energy sensations from different qigong methods but he said that he cannot understand why he just cannot get motivated to ever do qigong regularly. And here I am after 10 years still waiting to feel something other than chi in the hands. Seems unfair, LOL.

[Astral_butterfly]

Hi Everyone

 

 

I am back, and wanted to say I have not given up on Flying Phoenix. Some of you may recall that I had a serious issue with tiredness that made it hard to wake up to the only "free" time I had in the day; the early hours of the morning. This was linked to a terrible daily chronic pain in my abdomen which really exhausted me, that none of the plethora of doctors and specialists I had seen could diagnose.

 

 

So I have been seeing a practitioner of TCM for the past few months and this has gradually reduced my abdominal issue and increased my energy level (and brought me back to my normal low weight). I have done no type of work on my energy body whatsoever and to save energy I have stayed away from intentional "vibrational" work though as has happened since my earliest childhood, I have had spontaneous "visitations", but just a few. I am at the stage where I feel getting up at 4am is not going to encroach on my precious existing stock of qi as badly anymore.

At the moment I am having disrupted sleep because of Ramadan so I am excited about starting again in July.

 

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have been responding to me, I so enjoy reading this thread and find the people in it extraordinary.

 

I have one question that has been bugging me for a long time that is not really related to qigong but that maybe someone can answer...I am very observant of my behaviour and habits and very keen to clean out my negative patterns or wrongdoings (spiritual cleansing is main reason I want to practise qigong) and am bothered by "sweeping the house while the wind is blowing in more dust". Meaning, as I heal, I am weary of picking up new karma as I go along. Is this not really a never-ending cycle of old wounds healing and new scratches or wounds forming? It would be so exasperating, taking a few steps forward and a step back every time is somewhat annoying. I am saying this as I have recently discovered that though it has been years that I have been mindful of my beliefs about myself and my place in this world, I had created a new self-deprecating belief not too long ago "in spite of myself".

 

 

It makes me feel that with all the will in the world, I am having to work harder at being more conscious and with my limited knowledge I cannot always catch myself in time before creating more harm. Somehow I do believe that I can drastically advance in this lifetime but I am going to need to find ways of diagnosing myself within my subjective reality and that is not easy. Sometimes I feel that even the will to advance is something to unlearn as it is clearly a symptom of my being too demanding on myself, something that has always created stress for me (people are always surprised that I expect more from myself, even at the office). But this need is even harder to shrug off when I see my toddler modeling herself on me every day...these years are so formative for her. I worry about it and it is always a relief when I see that she is full of joy every day and when people make flattering comments about her personality (she is very loving, considerate, assertive and expressive).

 

 

What kind of specialist do I have access to (via you) to help with this strong desire to assess my karmic health ?

 

There is a strong need also to differentiate between what are reasonable expectations for progress and what is just a case of being too hard on myself...

 

Thanks for any insights

 

 

Astral_Butterfly

[cihan]

Just let it go and open your heart. Heart is the tap of heavenly energies, which make us enjoy our life and evolve through love.

If it is half open, we tend to live as a fighter, of which the lower centers are nouirishing the control freak within.

Even GMDW is suffering serious health problems.

Trust the above, enjoy,study and practice hard below.

What is to happen will happen anyway.

Edited June 11, 2016 by cihan

[Astral_butterfly]

Just let it go and open your heart. Heart is the tap of heavenly energies, which make us enjoy our life and evolve through love.

If it is half open, we tend to live as a fighter, of which the lower centers are nouirishing the control freak within.

Even GMDW is suffering serious health problems.

Trust the above, enjoy,study and practice hard below.

What is to happen will happen anyway.

 

Thank you for this reassurance. The heart has indeed been my main focus for the past two years

[Earl Grey]

Hi everyone,

 

So I know that as has been said many times here, loud noises become much, much more grating and potentially harmful to us when practicing FP Qigong. The advice I read here is to get a good pair of headphones to deal with it.

 

Unfortunately, I live across the street from the train tracks, there is construction in several buildings daily, and Manila traffic passes by me even into late hours of the night, which my Apple earphones from my iPod just aren't doing enough when practicing.

 

Anyone have any other noise challenges they'd like to share or other solutions besides getting expensive headphones or moving to the countryside? I am a bit frustrated now because the noise now becomes far more grating on my patience since starting practice. 

[tao stillness]

In Transcendental Meditation we are taught that noise is no barrier to meditation. Even in a noisy market place you can still think, and if you can think, you can meditate. I proved that when on a TM course in France and while meditating dynamite charges were going off on the mountain where we were. I think same thing applies to qigong. You just come back to focus on your breathing or your movements, etc. Yes, much better to practice in quietness, but the show must go on when we can't. I have to meditate at times or do qigong with several exotic birds screeching, medical alarms going off, puppies running around barking, loud movies playing. It's about where I put my focus. Making the best of a situation. When I was instructed in TM meditation someone was hammering really loudly during my first time doing this new meditation. Pretty ironic.

[Aeran]

Hi everyone,

 

So I know that as has been said many times here, loud noises become much, much more grating and potentially harmful to us when practicing FP Qigong. The advice I read here is to get a good pair of headphones to deal with it.

 

Unfortunately, I live across the street from the train tracks, there is construction in several buildings daily, and Manila traffic passes by me even into late hours of the night, which my Apple earphones from my iPod just aren't doing enough when practicing.

 

Anyone have any other noise challenges they'd like to share or other solutions besides getting expensive headphones or moving to the countryside? I am a bit frustrated now because the noise now becomes far more grating on my patience since starting practice. 

 

You should be able to get a pair of rubber earplugs from the supermarket or chemist for $5 or so, that might be worth a shot. Or you could try a pair of earphones designed to block noise, which should be no more than $20 (although I'm not sure for iphones specifically).

 

Alternatively, are there any parks within a short walking distance but away from the tracks/roadworks?

[Earl Grey]

Okay, firstly, I can do most of my practices from meditation to spontaneous five animals qigong with noise, however, only Flying Phoenix and Relaxation Qigong styles don't work with the level of noise in Manila.

To put it one way, at my income level, I can't afford to be in a quiet spot in Manila, because by and large, it's a loud city everywhere unless you're in a high income high rise apartment area. Parks here are also inaccessible due to distance and hours of traffic getting worse every day, the air is comparable to Beijing level pollution, and noise is pretty much everywhere. Welcome to Manila, where our neighbors in Jakarta are our only friends who know what constant noise, pollution, traffic, and inaccessibility hinder every individual's ability to get anything done unless they are at a certain level of both income and free time to sit through hours of traffic just to travel 7km. No exaggeration.

As I mentioned... The earphones don't work here because the noise is that loud in Manila, and unless you are living here or Jakarta (both cities I lived in before), it just isn't that easy to find quiet. I'll also add that it's both flood/typhoon season, and this year is La Niña, and Manila has been known to flood my apartment building waist-level, adding extra layers of complexity for getting around to find those spots. 

My current solutions are I only get to practice when I am outside the city or at a rich friend's apartment. Otherwise, I wait until I leave Manila semi-monthly and just practice other styles that don't get me as bothered by noise. Or, there is a golden hour from 0300-0400 in the morning when there MIGHT be no noise.

 

I actually can handle noise, however, it's FP and Relaxation styles that make loud noises or sudden noises unbearable--no other style makes me as reactive to the noise besides FP or Relaxation styles. I've done deep level Golden Flower meditation in public in Tanzania before unaffected. But Sifu terry isn't kidding when he says loud noises aren't good when doing FP.

Edited June 13, 2016 by Earl Grey

[tao stillness]

 I just made a note for me to never ever travel to Manila!

I wear earplugs when sleeping with my wife who snores, but it sounds like earplugs would not be of much use in Manila.

I am sure that Sifu Terry might comment on your situation.

[cihan]

I used this kind for 4 years for meditation and also for FPCK.Only this silicone model seemed to work with me,blocking and muffling outside noises and revealing inner sounds.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/NMSAFETY-2-Pairs-Soft-Silicone-Corded-Ear-Plugs-Reusable-Hearing-Protection-Noise-Reduction-Earplugs-Protective-earmuffs/32441082143.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.19.eqqDnS&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_0,searchweb201602_2_10017_507_401,searchweb201603_3&btsid=b7065828-c3d0-431b-ac9d-369f27674da8

[ShivaShakti]

From time to time, i use silicon earplugs as well, when sleeping, especially if doing "deep" meditation. more easier to be in meditative state. and I agree with revealing inner sounds, is more pronounced.

[zen-bear]

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

 

 

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Edited July 15, 2016 by zen-bear

[yuyumonk]

Sifu Terry, how do I know when I'm ready for the volume 4 capstone exercise?

[tao stillness]

The above question is great. I think it has been answered before on this thread but it bears repeating.