David James Lees - Peak House Practice (UK)

[Basher]

Was just doing a search on Wu Wei & found a website about this guy that sounds / looks quite interesting.

 

Does anyone here know anything about him or his practice ?

 

Cheers

 

Basher

 

(unsure if I'm allowed to post a link, so played it safe)

[三江源]

Who would stop you posting a link, Basher? the link demon?

[Basher]

Who would stop you posting a link, Basher? the link demon?

 

Don't be silly, cat.

The link ninjas of course.

Wasn't sure of protocol, is all.

[三江源]

link ninja's say DO IT.

[Basher]

I just like the look & feel of this website.

 

http://www.peakhousepractice.com/

 

 

Just received this from Alexandra Lees

 

"Hi Basher, thanks for your interest in David James Lees' work at http://www.peakhousepractice.com

You can also read more about his philosophy and practice on his blog: http://www.davidjameslees.com and facebook: /davidjamelees both of which are updated regularly.

He's happy for you to share all links :-) Alex"

 

 

 

Edit: Add PM

Edited August 1, 2013 by Basher

[三江源]

I just looked at the site, is a very nice one and he is offering a nice service too,of counselling/therapy/coaching, with a taoist viewpoint. his blog is quite interesting.

 

He is ordained. It would be nice to know more about him, who his teacher was, what school etc.. have you spotted that info, Basher?

 

I dont think alchemy is part of what he does? It is qigong and taoist principles for living afais.

[Apech]

I just looked at the site, is a very nice one and he is offering a nice service too,of counselling/therapy/coaching, with a taoist viewpoint. his blog is quite interesting.

 

He is ordained. It would be nice to know more about him, who his teacher was, what school etc.. have you spotted that info, Basher?

 

I dont think alchemy is part of what he does? It is qigong and taoist principles for living afais.

 

 

He looks nice and I imagine he could help a lot of people with his therapy approach. I don't agree with his definition of wu wei but hey what do I know? Doesn't seem to me to be orthodox Taoism of any sort ... no details about the ordination that I can see. If I was still in Manchester I would go look see cos its reasonably close by (Matlock).

[Basher]

He is ordained. It would be nice to know more about him, who his teacher was, what school etc.. have you spotted that info, Basher?I

 

Looked under About Us - Our People - David James Lees

 

 

BSc Hons, Lic Ac, MBAcC, Pg Dip Counc, GQ Hyp, NLP Master, Master of Taoist Arts & Qigong Master [China]

David is a fully qualified and insured Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, hypnotherapist, counsellor, NLP Master Practitioner and Qigong Master and a registered member of the British Acupuncture Council.

 

After graduating from Birmingham City University (formerly UCE) with a counselling diploma, David trained in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading, and later gained qualifications in hypnotherapy and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), before moving to Derbyshire.

 

David has a lifelong interest in Taoist philosophy and gained teaching qualifications in Qigong meditation and healing in Beijing, China. He was ordained as a Taoist Master at the Purple Cloud Temple in the sacred Wudang Mountains of China under the guidance of Master Wan Su Jain from the Chinese Taoist Medical Headquarters.

 

From our Derbyshire base, David specialises in helping clients all over the world with emotional issues such as stress, depression, anxiety, phobias, worry, anger and guilt as well as a wide range of physical health problems. He has developed a groundbreaking counselling and personal coaching method based on his Taoist philosophy, which he uses as part of his unique Combined Therapy Sessions and Skype video counselling/coaching sessions.

 

David’s proven success with a wide range of patients of all ages means he receives many referrals from GPs, as well as other counsellors and therapists. An accomplished presenter and writer, he is a trusted advisor and regular guest speaker on BBC radio on complementary and alternative health and emotional wellbeing.

 

(Relevant para in Bold, by me)

Basher

[Basher]

A bit more info...

 

David James Lees has a lifelong interest in Taoist philosophy and practices and was first taught Qigong by Chinese Tibetan Buddhist monks when he was 16 years old to help him overcome a profound stutter.

 

After qualifying as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner in the UK, David trained for a number of years as a Qigong instructor with Doctor Shen in London and Master Wan Su Jain from the Chinese Taoist Medical Headquarters in Beijing, China.

 

Under the tutelage of Master Wan, David gained practitioner and teaching qualifications in Qigong Meditation and Qigong Healing (Medical Qigong) and was later was ordained as a Taoist Master at the Purple Cloud Temple in the sacred Wudang Mountains of China.

 

David has practiced as a Medical Qigong doctor in hospitals and clinics around China. Today he is based at his UK teaching and therapy centre Peak House Practice where he works as a multi-disciplinary therapist, TCM practitioner, Qigong teacher, and spiritual counsellor, coach, writer and broadcaster.

 

He enjoys sharing his unique Wu Wei Wisdom model of Taoist coaching and guidance with people from all over the world via his blog, workshops, talks, classes and one-to-one sessions.

[Wayfarer]

Hi Basher,

 

This is the first I've heard of Peak House and David James Lees. You sound to me like you already know you want to give him a try. His Wu Wei description is like that of Druidic "Awen" which I'll leave you to research. I personally don't hold much store about people coming to the UK as Taoist masters and the Purple Cloud Temple is particularly a tourist destination but that aside what he is offering will help a lot of people I think. Whether it helps them understand Taoism or Awakening more deeply I'm not sure - depends what floats your boat.

 

If you are ever in Warwickshire you are welcome to attend our Taoist group. You can see what we did last meeting on the link below where there is also a bit of something I have written on Wu Wei, if that is something you are interested in. I must say that what I wrote about it is not the whole of Wu Wei but something reflective of what was said in the group meeting.

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Warwickshire-Taoist-Group/478541942232778#!/pages/Warwickshire-Taoist-Group/478541942232778

 

Being in Surrey, you might wish to consider the British Taoist Association who meet several times a year in West Sussex, you can see their events here:

 

http://www.taoists.co.uk/events.htm

 

The BTA website tells you of their lineage and you might like the association's magazine "The Dragon's Mouth". The BTA and the temple it is associated with seem well respected. Their practice centres around tranquil sitting and dao yin exercises. Shi Jing, the senior priest talks eloquently and deeply about the Tao Te Ching and Chuang Tsu. There is a good atmosphere among the people there too.

 

Best wishes,

 

Heath

[Basher]

Many Thanks for your interesting & informative post, Wayfarer.

I will investigate further in my lunch-hour.

 

Basher

[Basher]

Heath/Wayfarer,

never met him or had any connection with his work, so don't know why, but I just got a good "Vibe" whilst browsing David's Peak House website.

 

I'm interested in all those in the UK, that are promoting genuine Taoist ways of healing, etc.

But whilst I'd encourage David & Alex to join us in our discussions directly, for the present I'm more than happy to forward any of their thoughts (sent to me via PM).

 

Basher

 

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

 

From David:

 

Thank you for your input on this thread, I just thought I would clear up a little misunderstanding: The Purple Cloud Temple can be visited by tourists at the moment but it is still a very important ‘working’ temple in the Wudang tradition. They are now building a more defined tourist area or park in the mountains which should protect the ancient sacred areas and building for the future, we will have to wait and see how this project develops.

I'm not quite sure of your analogy of my description of Wu Wei to the Druidic “Awen” but I do believe and teach that the best description of Taoism in the West is as a spiritual practice and that Wu Wei is to be living in that unique authentic flow of effortless effort or ‘Oneness’ with the Tao.

I enjoyed reading your interpretation of Wu Wei on your Facebook page and pleased to read that your group discussed Chapter Sixteen of the Tao Te Ching which is a beautiful verse. I wish you every success in establishing your group in Warwickshire and encouraging the accessibility of Taoism in the West.

I would also support the BTA work within the United Kingdom.

Yi Tao Qi Tao

David

[Wayfarer]

Thanks Basher what a lovely response. I'm glad to hear about the Purple Cloud Temple as it has been an iconic symbol of Taoism for centuries, that said, we are no different in the West with our iconic cathedrals etc...it is of course their significance that attracts the tourists to begin with.

 

The Awen is a flow, it Welsh for breath. It is the same principle as the I-Ching and in Druidry it is seen as the energy of the Sacred coming through us as an expression of creativity. So, to be close to the Divine is to create. I personally believe that to be close to the Divine is to be tranquil and not create as to want to create is to overlook the Oneness of all that Is. And totally agree that Wu Wei is living in that flow of effortless effort. So I guess our main difference in approach is that to Know the One is to realise nothing needs to be created for the One cannot be improved upon. We think the One creates but it is that which is uncreated and all 'things' are an expression of it, not because they are individual manifestations of it or it flows through them intrinsically but that IT is IT. Nothing comes into creation or goes out of creation.

 

So, yes, creativity can be a spiritual experience, an internalising and externalising of our spirit etc to me though (and no big deal, so no need for anyone to respond), creating takes us away, metaphorically, from that which is uncreated.

 

Anyway, back to David, nice to have 'met' you and for our paths to have crossed. Many thanks Basher!

 

Heath