Category Archive

Zanshin is a Japanese word meaning Reminding Heart or Mind. It is the name of the final position of the body in Kyudo ( Japanese archery) after releasing the arrow. When the mind is clear, the breath is slow and relaxed. The form has changed to formlessness, in a state that would be called Wu Wei 无为 in Chinese. At least as I understand it, for this case.

I found it interesting that after the intense training of Kyudo for prior week, my next training after discarding the form, and being left with the “Heart” is the formless training of Heart Chan retreat. Which in one part of the sessions we spoke and discussed the heart/mind.

The Heart Zen retreat was held in Monterey Ca at the Asilomar conference center. This complex on the state park grounds next to the ocean is the complete opposite to the the high mountain heat and rustic monastic life of the Sonoma Mountains training.

The weather was comfortable somewhat on the cool side, but still bearable with a light jacket. This time I shared a room with my cousins, & wife. No walking for a 1/8 mile uphill to use the bathroom. Also no 5:15am zazen, It was 6:30 a.m. this time, extra hour for sleeping…sweet. There was no official lights out at 9:30 however, we did not finish with the evening sessions and meditation until 9:00pm.

Friday was our first session, it was more of an introduction and welcome to everyone with some review and basic practice. We had games to play on a couple of occasions.

Sat. morning began the work, with meditation at 6:30am after some motion Zen drills. From there we moved to breakfast.

The meals we nice and well prepared. The service was good, and one lacked for nothing. The meals were time for real social talk. As we were a dining hall with several other groups, that part did not feel as intimate as last year with just our group eating together. We were placed in a smaller back room for the first couple of days. Which was nice than the front area we were in on the final days. It was a small thing though due to our human ability to tune out.

After lunch a short break, that was welcome. A short nap or walk was called upon to fill the spot.

Over the next couple of days we followed the same pattern. the grounds were interesting.

A mix of tress, sand and water.

Our next session were lectures on things such as Having a Perfect life ( Sat.) & Living in the Zone ( Sun.). Then a Break and followed with more meditation 30 minutes.

The next lectures
How to Cultivate Our own Spirit ( Sat.), How To Live a Fuller life ( Sun) .

These were followed by lunch.

Next after lunch we have Details of Heart Chan practice ( Sat. ) and Success Story - Zen in the work place.(Sun.)

This turned into one of the more popular topics and ended up carrying over into more time. After a short tea break we were treated to a play. Showing the origins of Shaolin Chan via Ta Mo ( Bodidharma) ( Sat.)

which was funny & very entertaining

and watched later A DVD of one of the Shifu’s lectures.

After our next break and chat time, we had question and answer time. We were fortunate to have a senior brother who had been with the Shifu for some 15 - 18 yr. I think it was, visiting and helping with the seminars operation. Along with several other seniors we had a treasure chest of first hand information available.

The different and sometimes amusing part of being part of this event is the lectures all have to be translated, Chinese to English or English to Chinese. Sometimes things were skipped or change, which got a laugh form those of us who could tell. We also had singing, & individuals experience sharing. Our sessions covered a large spectrum.

My only real disappointment was not learning more Motion Zen drills. However, that is just my thing, as my ministry as it would be called in Christian circles, of Ch’an ( Zen ) is through the Motion Zen. I did pickup two new drills.

One of which maybe be a great help to my shoulders for Tai Chi and Kyudo the other I know from Tai Chi practice, it was very familiar.

After dinner & a break, there were other discussions before our evening meditation at 8:30 and closing @ 9:00.

The nice thing for us about being in Monterey is our friends the Tokyo Deligation lives there. So on Friday and Sat after the session we went to visit them. Also met another intercultural couple who are friends of theirs. These may also become Zen students as an interest was expressed from them.

Sunday morning followed the same pattern for the most part as Friday and Sat. The morning lecture was a lecture and practice on Deep Reflection Meditation. A step up on our basic daily Chakra meditation.

The lessens I received form this event were different in a way that I can not put into a wordy story. I am pleased to have attended and grateful to my spiritual “brother & sister “ who made possible for my wife and I to attend without hardship.

I am delighted my wife was able to attended this year and even more so since she had her own breakthrough with her meditation and understanding of Chan. I am also grateful that my cousin and wife were able to spent some connecting before her relocation. They are more than just marriage relations, they are friends. Also that we got to share this together.

I was able to find some of the papers translated from Chinese to English on some of the Shifu’s lectures. I will be posting some from time to time, maybe. One of the things spoke on during the event was how Zen practice is beyond religion. One can be any religion as I stated before and still practice “Zen” It was also stated that Zen/Chan is also more than and beyond just a “life style” as it had become in the West and less formal in our lay practice than the rigors of Japanese styles. Our lay practice with the focus on connecting to the Chi of the Universe, for health, wisdom, cleansing, and enlightenment is the base of life. One does not have to give up, convert, or join anything in mind or heart to follow the path of Shaolin ( Heart) Chan or add it to their own spritural practice.

Some parts of last year’s retreat I did find more enjoyable, but it did not hinder me from enjoying were I was or being grateful for this year’s event. In many ways it was more enjoyable.

I will be reflecting and recalling lessons, feelings, sensations for several days. Sometimes the subconscious brings out wordless stored messages, lessons after the fact, after storing the substance first. Bring them up again like when I am writing this post. Sort of like a cow chewing it’s cud.

I did realize clearly how much of a natural course this Heart Chan is for me. I have studied Chi, for healing - Chi Gong, Protection - Kung Fu, for health - Tai Chi, for balance in one’s environment via Feng Shui

This covers the body and mind, so connecting to it’s use for enlightenment, spiritual development, mental and spiritual health is a natural progression.

_/\_

Day II

I am feeling lousy today!! I did not sleep much last night. I am not use to going to bed at 9:30 p.m.. Folks snoring… and SOOOO bloody hot!!. The wind pickup major last night most of the shade stuff we set up yesterday in the lower range was blown down today. It took a lot of repairs and re-setting to get things back to a usable place.

I got up at 4:20 A.M.!, ( yeah that is O-dark: 20) the others got up at 4:45a.m. We had Zazen at 5:15am !!! Sugoii ! sigh , ok, this is training…

It was LONG maybe 40 min zazen, then walking meditation, then another 30 min of sitting. Next chatting and prostrating (my least favorite). Things seemed to go on forever. YUK!!! I was feeling bad, hungry, tired and , even a little sick. I could relate to the Buddha being attacked by demons Yuk!! Again.

All this time the wind is kicking! As bad as it was and was going to be for getting things setup , it did help with the heat. I could tell already it was a going to be another day of being forged like the tip of a war arrow.

We had breakfast @ 7:00 am . Finally finally, However…All I had was a fruit salad. I do not like hate Oatmeal and eggs, So I passed on all but the fruit. Alright so here was another challenge. Make it to lunch time with only a big bowel of fruit to eat, and walking up and down mini mountain. We had short break after breakfast. Afterward we had to reset all the handy work, targets and shade we setup before on the lower shooting range, Let’s call it Lil Kyoto. Hot and in a valley of sorts. Everyone pulled together and we repaired and reset the handy work also put up the second shade for shooting Distance targets. The upper level, “Lil Edo” was for short distance, Makawara shooting. Lil Kyoto was for distance.

Finally Around 10:00 am we got ready for Kyudo…Wha hooo!
We all changed into our Kyudo gear and made our way to Lil Edo for the opening. It looked to be some 15 of us. Some new faces I had not seen, which means nothing and the old faces. Mostly everyone was friendly or at least cordial. They are a good group.

After bowing in and a couple minutes of settling the mind we began. She who does not speak was called for the first demo, whilst Onii-san gave a short talk.

Everyone got their gear on and ready & we had it.

I got a few shots in to activate the memory cells. It is a matter of constant body checks at this point for me. Remembering corrections, advice, breath, shoulder drop, expand chest, emptiness. Being “there’ being connected, yet being unattached. Flowing from yin to yang, yang to yin, big to small…release

The sun was still a bit low for the sun shade to fully cover the morning shoot area. It could have been worse. One had shade on most of the body but not on one foot, which got smoked. Anyway after a few shots, I gave up my spot so another could get a turn.
The master in Japan had said learning is part practice and part watching. I had heard “D” Onii-san say a similar statement. I found a shade spot and threw myself zen-mindfully into the watching practice part…did I say it was getting hotter?

The wind was still up, but it helped because it was HOT again today! 100 degrees or so by the end of the day. I came up with a good idea, brilliant idea of using a old windex bottle filled with water as a mister, that was nice!! A few gave me looks, and a chuckle, but then when I misted them, the smirk turned to ahhhhhhhh that feels good!!! Do me again!
I took it easy as did most people. Everyone was moving slowly, drinking lots of water & cool ( sort of) barley tea. I was wishing for some nice cold green tea. I also took advantage of the fact the bath house was the COOLEST place to be located. I took a short much needed nap on the bench in there during a break…simple pleasure, can hold great joy.

I felt grateful to locate it. Gratitude is part of the Zen Tao. So I accepted the gift of the space and as with Zen principals, I enjoyed it fully and was grateful. It was not that comfortable sitting there and even more so laying there, but much more comfortable than roasting in the Tent ( oh, called a Yurt) or some other location that I knew of there. Most other resting places were like mini ovens. Especially the Tent! Good grief! There where several who took multiple cool showers during the day. I had even for a brief moment considered, bring my sleeping bag here or at least a cushion where I could sit and type this stuff.

Another LONG Zazen session tonight. Of course that is only in my mind, because I have not over come the “time” thoughts, or heat. I really do not like those long sessions… yet any way. Tomorrow I will not wear a robe to meditation. A shirt will give me one less distraction to deal with while sitting, and not cook so much. Bummer I did not bring my light robe. It did not really matter to anyone, but me. I did not feel proper dressed for here. I got over it. Clothing, robe, no robe, like standing or sitting, legs crossed on a cushion or hanging off a chair it does not matter. This part is about the spirit.

The style of Zen practiced here is more religious in form than I care for personally. Very ceremonial, which the Japanese love to do. So when in Rome Nihon… , I got comfortable and flowed into the local favors.
The chanting can be cool. I can get into the rhythm of the chants. I do have to remain mindful not to do a harmony and trip around with counter notes. It is a Musician thing.
During walking Zen period I did a modified Tai Chi walk. It felt like the the place for it to me. The mind is the same though the body maybe different, yet as all things are connected, it fit. I wonder if that is waht is was orginally a part of Tao Mo’s 18 motion zen drills. I have now taken to look at the posturing as another form of motion Zen, body Zen practice, up and down, up and down, breath…

It is cooler tonight, a bit! The temps are suppose to get down to 65 degrees, NICE I can sleep…hopefully! I was going to go to the Bath house and write this tonight… but… It is already cooler somewhat and I’m beat, the heat drained me, walking up and down the hill. To do anything, to go anywhere, once must embrace the mountain!

Coming from a Shaolin Zen foundation, we have the mind , body , spirit balance thing going on, or try to. Here in this training it is more Mind and Spirit. However, they have I decide, their own body training path here… the Mountain. Having to walk all over it, IS the body training another from of motion Zen.

Sooo sleep time! Even if I wake up later in the night. I’m thinking to myself as I turned in @9:00pm!

Just as I thought correctly, I did awake several times. Not because of the snoring that sounded like it was right at the head of my bed. Not because of the major pain in my shoulder and back, I’d been having for a month, nor having to go to the loo from so much warm water drinking all day. Nope, … well all of that plus…I was still adjusting to the “newness”

I had however made it through 2 days. I am getting a little better controlling monkey mind jumping to the how many more days left count down. Yes, as Shisuk would say, this is training, it is not suppose to be fun. However , I think, with a Zen mind it can be… perspective! This is what I am thinking when I’m suffering. As any Zen master would say, there is no tomorrow, next week, there is only NOW…this shot, this arrow. Anything else is a delusion. Stay connected, but not attached… The biggest hurtle to shooting, to relaxing into the flow of things is the Heat. Did I say it was hot again today?

A older student of mine wrote me asking if I knew of such n such person, “G” who teaching Wing Chun, is an accupunturist I said yes, he was younger classmate from the Tai Mantis School in Torrence. She sent me his website, for Turning Point where he works in partnership I guess. I read through it, I was impressed with his growth and that he was also a Zen student now. He is working with another younger classmate who is a Jujitsu master now and has a school in Oakland called Suigetsukan . I had seen them both several years ago at the grand opening of the Jujitsu school. I decided to arrange my schedule to be in Oakland on Friday night and drop by the Dojo.

The last time I was there, some 2 or 3 years a go. My classmate, the Professor was out of town. Today I went by after visiting Shisuk at the Photo studio. It was about 1 hour before class, the dojo looked empty. Knowing that some of the group live there I rang the bell. After a few mintues one of the student answers. I have a bit of a chat with her, because guess what her Sensei, the Professor is out of town. I am told he does not go out of town often, I said I do not come by often and both times he is out of town. Anyway, I was going to leave a note and then find out that the other classmate, “G” is living there as well and is home. I follow her to the upstairs dorm and am announced.

“G” is surprised and please to see me. As I am him. We sit and talk of old times and old mutual friends. It is a nice visit. It is funny the connection that we who trained together hold. I wonder if people who do regular sport have this. This guy was a kid when he started at the school, as was the Dojo Sensei, the Professor, who was one of my students for a while. Now he is all grown up, they are all grown up and we are still at it, different paths but still the focus, same mind as Lady Z would say. Time and the legacies continue. I guess the few who stick with it through time have that same weirdness and once you have you always have it. It is a strange feeling through to be looking at our studies from the other point in the spectrum, and not the beginners level.

The Dojo seems to be an interesting place. If I was younger and single it would be a cool place to hang out, learn some Arts and met some like minded peeps. It was brought up that they do seminars there at the school, would I be interested…If I was, it could be brought up with the Professor. He felt it would be interesting to see another point of view on combat.

They have a mixed of Arts there at the Dojo,  Jujtsu, WIng Chun, Ba Qua, Eskrima. Zen meditation. A serious student coming out of that background, would be a well balanced Martial Artist.

We will met some time in the future for a reuinon lunch or tea.

Hard to believe another month has passed. I arrived early to the school since I was closer to Campbell and not working. After speaking with Shifu and giving him a CD of the school logo for new shirts. I set about warming up.

Soon I was joined by D1 . We chatted about what I was working on. I told him mostly review these days. I have a lot of stuff to do. I did want to learn the two man Bun Bo Mantis set. My problem was, Shifu knew and taught the 7 -Star Praying Mantis version. Shisuk’s school did the Tai Chi Mantis version. The 7-Star version looks more complete we agreed. It is more realistic in the moves, where as the Tai Mantis version looks like somethings is missing. My problem with learning the 7 Star version is I would need to learn both sides. At least re-learn one side and totally new on the other. I had stopped doing the 7 star version. However with the Tai Mantis Version I only needed to learn one side. Hmm Something I need to speak with Shifu about, in my questions about preparations. There is another set I want to learn from Shifu is his two man Tai Chi Drill. Shifu does not have a lot interest in Tai Chi on it’s own. He does I hear, think this Two Man Drill is very good. Very complex I hear. This will be a challenge to learn both sides, plus catch up with everything in 3 years.

D1 asked if I was learning two handed sword from Shifu. I said no, I have plenty of stuff I need to practice and relearn I do not need yet another set to practice. I do want to go over The Mantis Long Staff with you! Ok , He says, let’s go it. For he next 30- 45 min we reviewed the Set. After a bit we were join by D2 who also practiced with us reviewing the set. I practiced until I was pretty sure I had it back. I still need to practice to feel more comfortable with it. But I got the moves again. I also made a short video of it. That way I will have a backup in Japan.

After a while I went inside. Shifu was speaking and demoing about cutting inside of a punch, and following up with several options. One of the differences with Shifu and Shisuk. Shifu is all about combat, how things work and following through. Shisuk is more technical and academic in his approach. They do not always agree on things in the system, practice, training, application. Shisuk usually submits to Shifu his senior. They do have some heated conversations at times. More so when they have both been drinking.

Friday ended with some talk on Jet Lee and Jackie Chan’s new movie. Entertaining , was the final remark by someone who saw it. Cool I’m there!

The Walnut Creek, Tai Mantis School had a BBQ this Sat.

My students and I were invited. As usual unless it is a big event. I am the only one that shows up to these things.

There were not that many people there when I showed up. Even Shisuk ad not arrived yet and I was 1 hour later. No matter. I can hang out…

I went through the school, took some pictures said hello to all. I chatted with the senior student outside for a while it had been awhile since I had seen or spoke to him. I’m sure I will be hearing a lot more from him with the summer events coming.

There was no Chinese food today at the BBQ, just BBQ. I do not know how true but I hear the meat of the day was squirrel. The meat I saw them cutting up into small strips looked different..

I was having veggie burritos & pasta no matter what they ate. We had several nice wines to chose from. Finally Shisuk arrives so we can eat.

As we are into our plates more people show up. The interesting thing about Shisuk’s school is that there are a lot of couples with there kids.

Shisook is very much the parent with all of them… the Shifu. He gives advice, on health, study, business, relationships, not just kung fu. He students are very loyal. He is a firm teacher, but will do anything he can for his students. He truly helps them develop in character not just physically. When questioning him on it he will say, generally, this is how my Shifu taught me.

One of the late comers is a friend of mine from Vietnam. She is one of my favorite people there. For no other reason that we click and are about the same age. She is a vegetarian also, so at the banquet through the years we, her, Shifu’s wife, myself & wife, and another couple share the same table. This past banquet I find out she is a Zen student.

So when she comes today I figure, Oh, great I can hear some of her system. She pulls up a chair at a table with myself and Shisuk. Her and I get to chatting, this is really the first I had gotten to speak with her about her Zen practice. When I found out at the banquet when were just about leaving. This day I find out she holds sessions at her house, and goes to various other meditation centers around the Bay are as well. She is a student of Zen Master Tich Nhat Hanh, recieved her Dharma Name via him. She goes to all his retreats and such and hold her own session around town. She also is the Vietnamese translater for his books for publishing in English. Wow I had no idea, she was up there. We also spoke on Ophra’s new project with he author of “new Earth” I think it is called. She did not know of my studies, other than the motion side of Shaolin. I told her some of Shaolin Chan and she asked for the web address. It was a brief, but interesting talk, she needed to go pickup her husband. That was a good point for me also, there was a new flurry of activity, so I said my goodbyes as well and headed home.

It is good not to have expectation about things, well, not too high expectations, especially things you can not control. Also a good perspective is a good thing to have. I say, the keys to life are timing, perspective and who you know any one of them gives the holder a happy life. Go ahead, match it to anything…zen

The adventure began on Sat. morning. It was a good example of life, and the flow of things, yin within yang, interdependence all that. I started my part of the day going to the Emeryville marine Flea market. I was also ready somewhat disappointed that a guy I had been talking to about an anchor for months could not find room for it in his truck. I let it go and moved on, to find another.

I was hoping to find one at the flea market today along with a part I needed for my Mainsheet controls on the boat. I did not check the starting time of the event and arrived almost two hours early DOH! Starting at 10 am, I never seen that before. I found this out after hanging out and seeing little signs of a sale. So I asked. While in the process of hanging out, watching folks setup. A guy comes up just off to my rear side vision. He has a wheelbarrow full of anchors. I go over to check things out. I spot the very Anchor I wanted from the other guy, (who was setup just across from where we were standing) perfect. I ask, how much?, he says make me an offer I have no idea what it is worth… Hmm I think, I want a good price, I also need to be fair. I offer 15.00 below what the other guy wanted. Done he says! Sweet!

After I acquire another small item, I head home to pack. We are together and ready to go without too much hassle. After all it is just over night. So let me go over the plan.
We land about 6:00, get a car and head over to dinner with the master at 7:00 p.m. which is 30 min from the airport. Then we head over to see my brother after dinner which ends at 8:30, next a stop at a friend who just got out of the hospital. From there back to the hotel around 11:00 p.m. Up early the next morning to pickup my Cuz. and another zendude at the airport, before heading over to the day retreat with the master. That was the plan and this should be a clue that when I say that was the plan, the universe had other plans…

We arrived to the airport on time, with easy access to the loading gate through the checkpoints. Once there things went downhill. First the flight was delayed 15 min.

Ok, no biggie, Once we got on the plane, something is wrong another delay. Then leave the gate, doh, something is still wrong,

It has to do with some lights we are told. Finally we are on the run way, and we stop again, this time told, delay 10 min, then it was back to the gate for a mechanic. We finally take off at 6:00pm one hour late.

We arrive in Ontario @ 7:00. Barley enough time, the diner had started. We got a car and made it to the restaurant by 7:30… We find, NO ONE there we know or knew us or the party we are looking for. We are told, perhaps that it was another place, which had almost the same name, but was across town… I find out later another restaurant was chosen.

I let it go as a lost effort. It is now 8:00 p.m. Rather than go visiting, I take the evening so far as a sign, I feel I should just bag the evening and find the hotel then decide. I was a bit concerned about where the location was, it was suppose to be near the airport by a few minutes, but I saw no signs of hotel on our way to the freeway. So we drive back to the airport area, I call for directions. I get some rough idea we are on the wrong side of from where we want to be. I should go look for this street and follow that to blah blah. Ok we drive, and drive, and look and look. We call again. More directions to a street I can not find. Oh did a say we have a map as well with none of the street on it working like we are told, if they are even there on the map!! I stop and ask a local, I get pointed in the right direction, I drive, and locate one street name, but nothing of the intersection. I stop again in a gas station, the lady, makes the call herself and writes down the directions. Thank God for folks like that, we finally got to the hotel at 11:00 p.m.. So much for any other traveling. The Force did not want us out and about visiting. We called it a night after locating some food.

Sunday with the Master.

We needed an early start in the morning…it is not everyday one meets a spiritual leader…and a deputy Abbot of Shaolin Temple.

We are at the hotel desk the next morning, Sunday, checking out. I ask the person behind the desk. Is the airport that way? and point let’s say north. She says, err ummm, I’m not sure.
We check the map, she looks up something. she points the other direction, south, I check the map hmmmm ok hmmm…
We are heading to the airport to pickup my Cuz and another person. We go about 4 blocks I feel something is not right, Lady Z also checking the map says something is not right with the direction. What kind of workers are these who can not give directions to and from the airport?! I ask a cop on a bike about the airport. He points north, ( the other way ) and gives me directions. We are there in 10 min. !!! Yeaa CHP!!! Arigato!!!

We make it to the airport, pickup my Cuz, pickup boarding passes for the trip home, pickup the other dude from Texas and we are off to see the Master. That went smooth, as did the trip to the Meditation center. We arrived in plenty of time for a few introductions and good to see you again happy faces and get settled into a seating spot before things start.

We were in the third row. sitting on foam mats. Yuk!, These are not comfortable and we are not suppose to bring cushions. For some reason this group does not use cushions, only if one really needs it, they prefer none. However it is ok to sit in a chair if you need. When at home sitting I use a traditional Japanese style cushion, when I practice in Fremont I use a smaller cushion, I find it makes a difference when doing long sessions. MAybe the floor things is par tof the training.
Anyway, the morning lecture was to be two hours. It was going to be a long sit, being still, respectful and sitting correctly, there was going to be some suffering, training time. Very much like Kung Fu training, learning to go beyond the discomfort… pain. (We most of us were suffering at the first hour. We did get a break. Even my senior said his legs hurt. We could not tell !!)

We get a few announcements from a couple of seniors, then told to center ourselves quietly and wait. We were sitting for 15 min or so before the master arrives. The Shifu arrived just about 10:00.

He walked up with a couple of aids. He looked young for the age I thought he was. Small in stature, calm in energy and face. I was curious about his energy, his chi, I can not say that I was covered with this aura of goodness and mercy, he did however feel like he is a good person a peaceful person. I got no sense of a power figure from him. Nor did I get a car salesman vibe, or the cult leader vibe from him or the others. I was pleased. Shifu spoke in a soft voice. Softer than I expected after listening to the DVD. He spoke with a soft convection. There were no robes or other formal ceremonial trappings. He wore a regular Chinese style dress jacket, with a gold Chain necklace with a small shrine/temple image with a Jade Buddha inside. I also had on my Gold chain with a Chinese Jade, it is of Fu Dogs ( Lion Dogs, the temple guards). I felt a connection

Now as i post this, something comes to mind. He is wearing a jade temple, I am wearing jade temple guards… whoa…is it a sign… is it real…or memorix? * incert twilight zone music track here*

The first of his lecture was about Ch’an, the nature of Ch’an , why we need it. For balance of body, mind and spirit. It was also about the non-religious heart of Zen (ch’an) how Ch’an helps enhance whatever your faith. Ch’an is about the heart of man, the heart of nature, the heart of the universe. Our connection with all that was & is before we came up with religion. Ch’an is older than religion. He spoke of how Buddhist terms are used to describe Ch’an but it is not only Buddhist idea, or path. It is Universal in nature without the limits of names and labels. Which is why it is pushed to live it, experience it from practice not by reading books, or chanting, those are paths, ways of the mind and not true Ch’an. They are limited. He also explained the colors of our HeartZen logo.

All this had to go through translation from elder brother JM. So I’m sure it had more impact without the language change breaks and things are lessen sometimes in language and culture translations. There was a lot said, a lot I do not remember on the surface. I think that is of leaser importance than being there in the presence of the Shifu’s Chi. I wish I had a recording, maybe one will show up. There are old video sessions on line. Which I can listened to at leisure. I will do so again, I think they will sound different, now that I have seen the Shifu live…or not

We thankfully got a break after the first hour. We were suffering. I understand that part of the training in sitting is going beyond the discomfort to find calmness. Sitting is also training for life and spirit. Like doing horse stance in Kung Fu. Anyhow, you gotta break sometime.

After the second part of the morning lecture, on things, like Chakras, reincarnation, heaven, & hell. We broke for lunch. Sandwiches from Quzinos Subs! Nice, Veggie ones at that. I had two, I was hungry after a light dinner and much lighter breakfast.

I found Lady Z, my Cuz and I some shade to sit in. Oh btw, it was about 100 degrees there in Southern CA. Not at all like Northern Cal where it was somewhat cool and most of the US still dealing with coldness and snow in some places.

Not that we did not want to sit with anyone, but all the shade spots were taken, except up next the to bushes. We kind of grouped there. At some point while I was getting seconds to feed my face, brother JM came and sat and talked with the ladies and myself and one other who joined us. It is always interesting to listen to brother JM speak. He is able to explain things well. He spoke of living zen not just reading about what the Buddha did thousands of years ago from the Sutras. Basically practice and write ones own sutras. Also about the Shifu and his connection to the Force, also things that he himself had seen, and experienced. He also related how this visit came about and the number of people in attendance. My only disappointment, was that LadyZ did not get to get talk more with the other Japanese lady, she left just after lunch started and did not stay for the whole event. I did get to chat some with a couple of people about the Martial Arts side of Shaolin.

After lunch we had another session with the Shifu. Before he arrived, we were given Amber colored bracelets, which he, the Shifu had brought with him from Taiwan or south America ( I did not quite get which which) and had done blessings on. Generally we are told that the Shifu get the gifts. But with him he gives to his students, he has no needs.

We were asked to submit questions for him. He would address them. There were many questions. He went through them for the next hour and there were still more. I do not remember all of them. But some of his answers where funny and informative. I was pleased to hear him saying, he was not a Buddha. ( shows humbleness) He would say that The Dala Lama is the only one he has met. He also spoke on our need to do something about the environment a living presense. He spoke on Greed, and how in a sense staying up past 11:00 or 12:00 doing something is a form of greed. Our bodies operate on a natural cycle, when we disrupt that cycle by a choice we are being greedy. It was remarked later by my cuz she noticed, he did not directly answer some of the questions. He touched on them, but some things, he said needed to be experienced not just told this is how it is. Which is part of what our practice is about. Not being told how things are and feel but to practice and experience for ourselves what things are, and how they feel. That way you are not living, doing, acting on faith, on a belief, you are living an experience.

By now into the second section my legs are killing. I hear others around me shifting as well. I do not feel so bad now, others are suffering with me, we are a team
I am hoping for a break, my legs and my bladder need a break!!! The break did not come, but we finished that section early. Next it was meet and greet time with the Shifu. We lined up, with people who had met Shifu before standing in the rear. Us new folks in the front. Finally it was our turn. I was introduced and I introduced the Lady Z in Chinese. We had an exchange of words, in Japanese & Chinese then had a couple of pictures taken.

It was getting close to the end of the day now. Our plane would be leaving soon. There was another stop to make. This was the last meeting at this location. There was a new center which we were going to today so that the master could bless the location. So many of us headed over to the new park location.

We all relocated to the new place, the Shifu came last and we lined up to greet him. Once in the new room there was a Buddha painting that was hung.

The master did some brief ceremony that had to do with opening the “eyes” of the Buddha, turning on the light, otherwise it was just a painting. He did the blessing on the room and on all of us there. I did not get the words, but I understood what was happening.

Interestingly when I got home I thought to myself a couple of times that evening and the next day how peaceful I felt. Like everything would be ok, don’t worry be happy.
Later the next day I get an email from Brother JM, he said, he may have forgot to translate what was happening with the blessing. He said

“At the Heritage Park, when our Master turned around toward us, after he turn on the light for the Buddha, did you notice that he did a sprinkling like gesture to all of us? That is to sprinkle us with the Loving kindness of Buddha.

If you are calm, you can feel the energy. Some of us may even feel like crying.”

Wow I thought that is just how I felt. Not the crying part, but for real a sense of peace.

Anyway, back to the retreat, we are now to the closing. We take group pictures outside and end. Then we three head off to the airport sadly leaving the rest of the group. It was a good trip. Great to see old faces, and met the new ones. Meeting Shifu was an honor and worthwhile for the trip. My Christian side felt better not feeling any conflict coming from him. My Buddhist side felt comfort in meeting the Shifu and receiving the blessings. Being a Christian Buddhist or Zen Christian, I need to have internal balance and harmony with the concepts of both in my heart and mind.Yeah I knew there is no such things a Zen Christian or the like, but people make up labels all the time. I can also. Oh, maybe Shaolin Christian Buddhist , Christain Shaolin Buddhist,…A rose by any other name…Hmmm maybe I can start a new Christian Buddhist Ch’an Sect…

We made it back to the airport and made our plane with time to spare. We three sat together on the flight home. It was good, we napped a bit on our 1.15 hr flight. I said to my cousin. Wow, when we were growing up in Philly who would have ever thought we’d be flying back to the S.F. area after meeting with a Chinese Zen master from Taiwan in LA. Life is a trip isn’t!

Training/practice takes different shapes, different time. It had been a long day for me, nothing stressful just long, doing misc stuff. I was not up to going out late to Shisuks for practice. This was one those telling moments of what path you take on things, your spirit. I was not up for going , but I did. Part of training is just doing it.

The class had more students attending than cars, in the lot. I was a bit surprised. I bowed and entered. I headed to the back to put up my jacket and stuff then went back on the floor. I was checking out a few picture and getting a bit loosened up when Mae comes up with her orders from Shisuk, we are to practice Chen.

Nice!, I wanted to go over some Chen parts I knew I was missing so this worked out well. I thought Shisuk would have me doing breathing and silk weaving drills. I was pleased it was Chen tonight.

Chen is my favorite of the Tai Chi Chuan sets I have learned. I enjoy the feel of strong yin and yang flow, with the fa jing and the Spiraling chi. As I wrote that I flashed on a thought of trying to send that spiraling chi to the arrow next time I shoot. Maybe I am thinking too liner when I shoot. Just something to test… Away I digress.

I am pleased to be able to learn Chen from Shisuk, who can relate how things work and the crossover with our mantis techniques. He teaches heavy heavy basics, as well as where and how the power travels, the expanding spirals, the expansions and contractions of the body and chi flow. Balance, being centered, rooted, yet flexible. A bamboo in the storm…

I will miss my elders when I go to Nihon. I am blessed to know them and learn from them…Life will provide me with new Elders to learn from. Perhaps I have already met them…

Chen style for me is more like I’m doing Kung Fu and not just ‘motion zen”. This Chen, Shisuk is training me with, will be the advanced level training for my students under the Japanese Program. Yang 24-beginners, Chu 24 Palm-intermediate, Chen 24 - advanced. This will be in addition to other practice training, but these will be the forms for the foundation of the Tai Chi Chaun Path along with some Zazen. I think these give a good balance on training, rather than just a long 106 movement form few would practice. This way even if they picked just one form to learn and practice, and drill and digest and make it theirs… it would be a worthwhile path, for any age, even more so an active, heath wise senior, or middle age seeker!

So how was my practice tonight,　ままをを! Some parts I felt better with because I have been practicing. I try to remember what I was told last time, and watch the girl I am following, with Shisuk watching me. He corrects her in Chinese , I listen, and correct myself. The lady I am following has gotten amazingly better with her Tai Chi in the last few years.

It was a short session, Shisuk needed to leave on time. So when the Lady I was with needed to leave, I left as well. It had been a while since I had trained with the WC school on a regular basis. They all said, WoW so short, you should stay. I thanked them but needed to go. It was their class time, another time for me, if it is in the Tao.

Whoaaa..Things are a buzz here!! I thought the big thing for our Zen group this year would be the Weekend retreat in Monterey. However Ch’an Shifu, Miao Tian, Deputy Abbot of Shao Lin Temple is coming to or from Tawain to visit the Heart Zen main center in SoCa. He is on his way to or from some other country doing spiritual Shifu stuff. The last I heard in a matter of a few days notice they are expecting 100 people to show up for the one day retreat. At first just I was going, next it was my cousin and I, finally now Lady Z is also going. She was feeling a bit unsure since she had not been practicing. One does not gets a chance of meeting a major Spiritual leader often so I made the choice that she should go….. So we all are going.

Tian Shifu speaks some Japanese, so Lady Z can speak for her & me. I am suppose to do the face to face exchange with the master. whoa. There will also be another Japanese woman there who practices HeartZen so Lady Z can have a talk in Japanese with someone else. I see all this as a good thing and I have a couple hints that this is something I should go to, for whatever reason. So all this goes down in two weeks… The Zen Crew’s Excellant LA Zen Adventure…sugoii

It seems like awhile since I’ve posted here, not really put sort of, During quiet time here I’m generally in Boat mode.

Last night, Friday hence the name was practice night with Shifu

It rained I was not expecting much of a turn out. However I was wrong, it was larger than last month. By more than double triple. The rain had let up for a while so I was able to go outside and practice. That is were we generally practice weapons not just for the room but for safety.

While most of the group was inside practicing and disecting a two man sparing set I work on my Jhian ( gim) out in the parking lot. Shixong spotted me and watch fo ra bit then came out to help me finish the set. Wahhooo. I was much closer to the end than I thought. After about 10 fairly simple moves I was done. Another completed Mantis Sword set. This one was the Tai Chi Mantis Tai Chi Palm Sword. Now I need to refine it and film it. From here I am done with new sets weapons training. Well I should not say that because I know they, the elders will have us do more at the seminars. However as far picking it up outside of them, I’m done.

My focus now will be reviewing all those I have done. I was able to go through part of the Mantis Staff set. However Shixong’s version was a bit different from the one I learned so I did not even try to practice that with him after seeing it. We did do the two man Fire/Water staff from the Northern Shaolin system. I had just finished teaching that to my students so I was pretty fresh with that one.

Meanwhile the group was working on joint locks with Shifu. After Shixong finished with me he went back inside with them. Generally that is what the main focus of Friday nights are, break down of the techniques and applications. The form review/practice is only the smallest part.

Afterward it was pizza time. There was a little other food, rice some pot-stickers Shifu made and some other things. This was the first they ordered pizza with a Veggie one for me, with no Mushrooms, yea!

The talk of the evening, was old moves and Kung Fu TV. As well as some of the guys from the old days, Chuck Norris, Bill Wallace, Jim Kelly and others. We also discussed weapons and the usefulness of some vs others. As the Double Gim is pretty much a show and flowery form, where as single Gim is to watch for deadliness. Double Saber is more about footwork, were single Sable is about not so much the sword but the empty hand. Because of this is it considered more superior to double saber. Shifu and I went into how this was also true with Kali and Arnis the Philippine arts

There were some discussions about as always about Philosophy and our training. Shifu told us about a poem, in Chinsese, that Shigung (grandmaster) had written at the end of one of us books. It was about Ta Mo and the wordless enlightenment of Ch’an. How the Master could only point the way for the student to get enlightenment and not by alot of words it had to be experienced. The same was true for the Physical training side of Ch’an, Kung Fu the student had to realize and experience his enlightenment. Not via the words of the Shifu but from his own experience.

In a simple way of putting it, The Shifu is but the finger pointing to the moon.

I was thinking of heading down to s/v Zen today, which is Sat. as I start this post. I wanted to pickup a few things and maybe do a little work. As the morning turned to afternoon quickly from our late start. Also as even as this current time rapidly is going the way of yesterdays gas price, I came up with an alternate plan. This involved staying at home with the Lady Z on her day off , hanging out, home chores and saving a trip and gas until tomorrow. I had no deadline for doing stuff down at the marina and soon I would have plenty of time to get things down. I am planning of week of just working on the boat one work stops in two weeks.

I took the trash down to the lot and picked up the mail it occurred me that I needed to practice the Tai Chi Palm Sword so I would not forget what we went over yesterday. At the same time I took in what a great day it was. The tide had me land-bound today so I could not sail, I was staying home… I should practice. The clubhouse was empty, I could also have the choice of by the pool on the deck. I went in for my sword.

After I changed clothes and got my sword I decided outside was nice, but it was on the chilly side, I could not concentrate so I went inside. It was prefect. With all the glass windows facing the pool or the garden it was quiet and peaceful for a early afternoon practice.
I did Chen Style to warm-up. Slower than usual I went through things seperatly, like doing chakra activation in Ch’an meditation. Section by section then connecting them. Working on understanding each piece better and my body position, not the movements in between but the grounding. Staying grounded, a bamboo in the storm. using the waist, the spine, the legs. The weight here, mind here, sink, tuck…The arms attached, but they are not the leaders, right before left, lots of details. This is why it takes so long to understand, let alone master Tai Chi. This is also why it helps all else one does. Shisuk said many times, Tai Chi helps your Mantis, also your Shaolin. Practice your Tai Chi, remember the rest. I received a flash of understanding about doing Tai Chi on a boat. But that is another story.

Jian (sword) time, I was glad I decided to practice . There were a couple of parts I would have forgotten otherwise…maybe. Anyway it was good to practice with feel of nature around instead of walls, the glass gave a nice illusion of being in outside…without the chill. I had not been using this Sword for a while. I was surprise how quickly I adapted to it again. It must be my sword. Here I could not put the same kind of internal focus on the set. Here I had to remember the external before I could go internal. I am still learning this set. It may take another 3 moths if finish it. Then I need review on my others ones, and record them so I can keep them separated. Some moves are the same in all three forms ( sets).

Before I leave I practice a little Mantis. I do pieces of the last form worked on with Shifu, Lan Ji. I think it is my favorite from the Tai Chi Mantis System. The parts I remember are ok, however there are holes. Sigh, I have a lot of practice to do and notes to make. Fortunately I will not need all the forms I have learned over the years. Shisuk says I should concentrate on just a few things now. Which makes sense, however I need to review everything and make sure I have some filmed backup or notes. Generally we (teachers) work with a several forms repeatedly and have notes to remember the rest. Which is why it is nice to have some advanced students. One has to dig up those advanced sets and combo techniques. It is more fun then also to teach, rather than the masses of students that come, stay a week or a month then leave. The mass are like doing your daily Zazen . So one gets mostly in a loop teaching the same basic level. One flip side of that, one gets to really understand the basics, which is a very good thing. The better the roots, the stronger the tree.

Friday Fu with Shifu.

It had been 3 months since I had been down to Shifu’s. I missed all the Holiday gatherings from both schools because of work or travel or family. Now I am re-programing my life pattern again so time to get back into the cycle. I did not remember if I had told anyone I was coming tonight. It did not matter though.

I got off early from work so I had a bit of time to relax before making the 1 hour min. drive. Traffic turned out to be pretty good, although I did leave on the somewhat late side, about 6:45pm. I arrived@ the Campbell studio around 8:00pm. I came in paid my respects and greetings to all, and started to warm up. I was expected. I was told vegetarian fair was added. One of the things we do on the Friday night practice is eat afterwards. The class/ workout is very loose format. We work-on practice whatever we want and ask any questions on anything. We exchange ideas, clear up questions on application.

I first went through my Tai Chi Palm, after some stretching and horse stance practice. Next went into Yang 24 Tai Chi. I had a couple of question on application of a move in Tai Chi palm so I asked, Art Shixong . He was there as usual practicing. He runs a group in S.F. and is a classmate of Shifu’s in Wong Jac Man Shigong’s Shaolin Linage, as well as being senior student to Fong Shibak ( elder uncle) another of the 8th generation Chuk Kai Tai Chi Mantis Linage. We went through a couple of things, and also with the added input from Shifu , my questions where covered. With Shifu’s added comment after a discussion grew from this being; “this is why it is important to explain what the movement is doing, not just how to do the move. This is how the student understands.”

It is interesting seeing the differences in teaching styles with Shifu and Shisuk they are completely different personalities and styles. Shifu taught compact skills to the Rangers in Viet Nam. Shisuk grew up in Hong Kong and Shanghai not from a wealth family. They are like Yin and Yang, Fire and water. Both can kill or be helpful.

My next practice section is with Tai Chi sword. I had been working with Art Shixong on this, however I have not been practicing and needed review badly. That is what we did for the next 30 min, review. The main parts I remembered but there were connections I was missing in the form. It was good to repeat. I declined going further until I was better with what I had.

Around this time dinner was ready. Part of the Friday night gathering is we have food afterward. Either BBQ done there at the school or people bring stuff. It the bonding time, food, beer, Cognac. We talk or do not talk, depends. Shifu tells about some history or we just speak about misc stuff, chat.

Generally afterward it is usually late and I take off. Tonight I stayed later. I got one of my brothers to show me a grappling drill I had missed from the seminar, but had seen them practice. We went through it a bunch. He told me Shifu’s explanations from how it is done in the real world and how it is done in class and flow is maintained. This is something I have been wanting to give my students to work on. Since I do not have any new students, I can give my group more advance things to work on now. The group that I have now, will be the ones who will carry my line when I go to Nihon.

Looking back on things from my blog last year, I also see it has been over a year ago that I started with Heart Chan. So much has changed in the past year, yet in some ways I’m full circle to where I was a year ago. So I question myself on what needs to be changed, what was a good thing. What needs to go, with the new year it is good to clean out one’s house…and mind. Keeping what is needed & used.

I reflect on my Ch’an practice. I am still at it so that means a lot. I am now doing it twice a day for the last 5 months rather than just once daily. I enjoy the space I find when in Zuò Chán ( Zazen). I have found points of merger between the Yin of stillness and the Yang of Motion which can be passed to my Shaolin Students. I can explain the need for both in a balanced training and have included basic meditation as part of the standard warm ups along with Chi Gong. Awake the Body, awake the mind. This was my reason for seeking this out, to make that connection between them, and to understand the basics of how that worked, that was the knowledge I sought. That was the enlightenment I wanted. Although I have just peeped through the door of the training hall, and eaten the crumbs from the table of knowledge I am pleased at where I am. I am grateful to have found the table, & for the crumbs.

Gratitude… there are side-effects to the Ch’an practice. Because it is not just about sitting and going beyond the aches and pains of sitting and relating that to everyday life and going beyond to see joy. As Kung Fu is not just about punches and kicks. Ch’an is not just about sitting, it is also about compassion and gratitude, how you live your life. It is about examining other parts of your life and understanding, all other life touches all parts of your life, you are other life and it is you. We are interdependent. We are the world, the universe, all that was, is or will be. In treating other forms of life with compassion and gratitude, we treat ourselves to it. What we do to our Oceans, Lands, & Air, we do to ourselves and our children’s children. That is the reality of no-duality. This is our spiritual connection to all, our responsibility to ourselves, to care for other life.

Shaolin is Love, A Kung Fu brother once said that to me …Shaolin is about Love, hmmm. I thought about that for a long time. Until I understood more of the Ch’an Heart I did not understand. Our Motion Ch’an is another form of meditation, rather than the distraction of cramps in the leg or that itch, we have the complexity of movement, to connect with yet stay detached, remaining calm, centered, mindful. Connected but not attached. The same as washing dishes, walking down the street, driving a car, sailing a boat, defending your home, family, friends. Ch’an is not just about sitting and meditating. It is about living fully in each moment, compassionately in harmony with your environment. No mater if it is in perceived good or in a bad way, cycle, day. At the Heart of the Shaolin Practice lies, Ch’an ….

The Heart of Ch’an is Love.

A pretty good group of lessons for a year. Now that I can crawl it should even more interesting…

It was a rainy evening as I headed out to the WC , Shaolin Tai Chi Mantis Studio

It has been a long time since I’ve seen Sisuk. Not since before the holidays. I went by his school last night to catch up on things. He was happy to see me. We lightly chated for a bit while his class was still in session. It is always good to see him teach. It is a lesson for me when he points out small things to his students. Also seeing them drill gives me ideas. His students are much more hard core than mine, so I need to adapt some things. There are a couple of my students that would hold up under such training. The others…

Anyway it was good to hear his comments about, the why’s of what they do stuff, balance in their stances, two directional punches. Good stuff, good to hear re-enforcements on what I show , good to get new things.

After the class dismissed. Then we spoke on deeper issues. He was not pleased that I had to go seeking another job. He had a couple of ideas out of my field…but that is maybe the way to go to get some stability. He also spoke of some of the things he is dealing with in his life. As I am not his student but a “nephew” he can speak with me of things he would not say to his students. It is interesting to me the role I take on when I am around him or Shifu. I am just another upcoming student. Even though I have some “rank”, to them it is nothing, I am still a “grasshopper” I always feel humble in their presence, like I am a teenager just getting my feet wet in life.
A s usual beside person stuff and work we spoke of Kung Fu, or Federation, & training. He is still considering and working on bring the Chen system he studies into this country full on. To him this is a big deal, a major comment of some type. Which I have not fully grasp yet. I know it has something to do with him being a deciple of this Chen clan.

He told me I needed to practice more ( as always), this is not the time to back off. Even though busy with life and getting older with the tendency to slow down. I needed to stay on it. More so with my re-location plans. So this leads to that, and I am told to show him, X,Y,Z, gulp. Not ready for a demo, was I , but I rallied and did a bit of a drill he had given me.  One cannot say no. I was told the corrections I needed and reminded this needed to be done daily at least 30 min.

If I followed everything he said about what I needed to do daily for 30 min. I would be up at 4:30 everyday practicing until 7:30 and rushing out the door to work. or get up at 3:30 so I could do Zazen and have breakfast after the a.m. training. If I want to be “a master”…I have no care to be one, to “master” it is another story.

Life is more complex than in the old days living in a temple…

I will go see my Shifu next week, it is time for the monthly training. I have been unable to attend since Nov. I need to review my Gim Sword badly. I will put in some practice time this week, so not to lose too much face. Even through Shixong with working with on on this sword set. I still need to step up my game.  Summer Mantis Events are coming. Back to Training.

Due to work and family visiting from Japan I am missing all my Gung Fu families New Year Parties. However, one must be one with the flow of things and make the best. It will be a treat to she my Sis-n-Bro inlaw, we will have some good memories and it is still a pleasant way to start the New Year.

I am still working, and like the job, although it is not as creative as a postion as I would like, but it is work. I have been there six months now. This was brought to light when two people were let go yesterday after their three month review. Wheww, I am SO thankful it was not me, although I feel bad for them. It is a difficult time to find work.

I have been asked to teach Taiji at this year’s Zen/Ch’an retreat in May in Monterey. It is difficult to show more than a few movements and the opening in such a short time. However it will serve as an intro to many and they can also see and perhaps understand the connection of Yin and Yang from still Meditation to Movement meditation. As we do some simple Motion Zen drills already this will balance it out further.

Happy Luner New Year to All, may this be a year of GOOD change.

One thousand of our practitioners from Taiwan reunite with Shao Lin in China October 2007 returning the Sitting Chan practice back to Shao Lin after an absence of two hundred some years. In exchange Motion Chan (Martial arts) practice will be taught by Shao Lin Monks through our many centers.

www.shaolinchan.org

Since I was in LA this weekend for the Kung Fu stuff on Sat. I figured I would go by Diamond Bar and sit with the Ch’an family at the somewhat new location. It was about 45 min drive from where I was stay and start early so I was up and out the door early Sunday. It was foggy, it got more foggy as I drove, but not to the point where it was a hazard.

I got to Diamond Bar very easy, the goggle directions were great. I was the first to arrive so I found a spot to the side of the building I figured to do some Tai Chi while waiting. I was just into some warm ups when the first car arrived. It was Tracey & Vicki, there were surprised to see me! I was an unexpected guest. I helped carry and few things into the location. The room is very nice, open, airy & good light. There is a fireplace at the end with some seating around it. I’m sure that is very nice on cool days and evenings. I could really get into meditating around a fireplace.

It was great to see Tracy & Vicki, they were the ones who first asked about joining me for Tai Chi Chuan in the morning at the Santa Barbara retreat. We chatted a bit about this n that, then others arrived. More faces I had knew from the retreat, they were all surprised to have an out of town visitor. I was made to feel very welcome and a bit embarrassed by the attention. However it was at the same time, very warming to my spirit.

We did a about a 2o min meditation, then brother Tracy gave a talk on some things he had experienced visiting another Zen lecture and relating some feelings about connecting with others. We also did a small bit of Motion Zen , then a small closing meditation. After that I was called on to speak, that was a surprise. Since there were a couple of new people I spoke just a bit on my reasons for joining and somethings I had experienced without boring the ones who heard it before.

The Diamond Bar group has 2 sessions on Sundays. Each one is an hour. The first for English speakers, the second for Chinese. I stayed a bit after the first session speaking with brother Ronald and his wife sister Yi-ping, then the second session started. It was close to my time to leave for the airport, but I stayed and sat with them just a bit, and got another introduction from sister Vicki to the new group. It gave me a warm feeling to feel so welcomed, when I was just expecting to just quietly come and go like a like shadow of a bird before the sun. The warmth of all I have met in this group ( Heart Chan) is but one of the attractions, but something important the spirit needs.

Now that I know were the location is I will visit again when in Southern Ca.

I had the chance to attend a Kung Fu classmate’s 16th year, anniversary reunion event this weekend past. He runs the Shaolin Temple Lomita - Kung Fu school In Lomita Ca., which is south of LA. It was the first event I had attended in several years. This one was told to me to be different as it was more of a reunion for my schoolmates.

I flew in late Sat. afternoon, wisely into Long Beach this time. It was much nicer experience than going into LAX. it paid off more so on my return as I was able to sit outside the terminal and snack, read and enjoy the sun and great weather. But I’m jumping ahead.

I checked out my rental car and headed over to Lomita. I was running early so I wisely decided to stop at a nice little Chinese Vegetarian restaurant I go to when in town. It is just a few blocks from the Lomita Studio. I had a small meal, figuring since there was suppose to be food there I would not stuff myself.

I pull up to the studio just as my elder brother and another school mate are getting out of the car. I pull along side the car and in jest, blew the horn and grumble about people leaving their car doors open blocking the street while shaking my fist in the air.

After parking I head in the the school. It was already starting to fill up, with a lot of people I did not know & students who I also did not know bowing. A found a couple of my brothers, we talked in the corner as others showed up, along with Kam Shifu. We all did the chit chat thing in the corner next to the main table whist everyone hustled about making ready for the ceremony to start.

Things were ready to begin so we took our spots at the table.

I was next to Shifu, with Manual the school’s Shifu on the other side. I had a good seat for the show, honored I was, but it should have been Rob’s place since he is the eldest…and much closer to Kam Shifu. I was also seated next to Zhong Xuechao aka Master Bing from the WuDang School. He was unfamiliar with the Tai Chi Mantis style so we had a chat on a few subjects later that evening. He is more quiet than me, started by asking where I learned to speak Chinese. At the far end of the table to me & Kam Shifu’s right were all my other classmates.

The events started with a speech from Manual Shidai ( younger brother), and group tea drinking. Then incense and 3 bows for the past Sigungs (Grand masters). Next the Lion Dance.

The Lomita school and the Las Vegas school both have well known lion Dance teams and sometimes work together on shows and events. Tonight it was just the Lomita school preforming, although our brother from the Lohan school of Shaolin was also there.

Following that there were demo from the various schools. There were some 8 -10 different schools from both Northern and Southern Styles present along with some young Shaolin Monks from China and their Shifu.

The demos were excellent. The one that stood out most to me, were the Bua Qua, Wu Dang and the Half drunken from a student of the Lomita School. Most impressive was the Hsing Yi Master bending the 1/2 in thick iron bars , that were shoved into his neck. I got it on film! Impressive, they were thick bars which could not be unbent by hand.

Kam Shifu also gave his healing demos correcting pain from anyone who wanted to come up. Something I learned from him at the basic level of but have no confidence in using. He on the other hand has a large following of people who swear by it, and some who do not, just to be fair, in my statement.

After much To Do, and Ceremony , the last of which was a presentation of black sashes to 4 students of Manual’s it was time to eat.

Things were laid out buffet style with everyone helping themselves. This is were eating before hand paid off. There was next to nothing I could eat, everything for the most part had meat. I ended up with a small portion of rice, like a half a cup with a small amount curry sauce, 1 teaspoon which I could not tell if was pure veggie so I did not take a chance with more than a spoon of plain sauce also some garbanzo beans. It was a wise move for me to look out for myself and eat first.

By now everyone is eating and chatting , chatting and eating. It was worth the trip seeing classmates I had not seen in some 20 yrs and retouching the bond of Shaolin training we share. It was pleasing to see some are doing very well on their paths. Large full time schools with many students, film, TV, etc. Makes me feel like have not really accomplished much, however some have stopped training at all. I am still on the path at least, humble as it is…

A few of us slipped away after the end, when folks were leaving and went to one of the old gang’s house and shot a few rounds of pool. It was like old times, but now with gray hair.

Some left after a few games they had a long drive, shortly after that I crashed in the spare room I had a early trip to Ch’an practice some hour drive away. I left the couple of the regular players still at it. It was a good day of memories and vibes.

 

 

Now things are settled from the seminar, I have some time to reflect on the weeekend. I’m glad I went to this event. It really gave me a chance to see how to bring the Physical, Mental, Spiritual aspects of the Shaolin teaching together. The seminar was a good environment for that. It also gave me the chance to see how I can run a seminar. I was told by a Shifu in Japan I could run seminars at his school, this gave me a good format to follow. I also came away with more respect for my classmate, he teaches good Mental & Spiritual foundations to his students. I had not seen him interact with his students before.

My classmate wanted me to come every other month and teach a seminar. I thought that was a bit much and suggested once a quarter was better and easier on all.  Good training for me & them. I’ll have some lessons prepared for the move and setup in Japan.

 

It was also interesting to chat with friends/family/classmates one has known & trained with for years and see how our paths are different but still the same. Another way of thinking , though we walk different path, we share the same spirit.

 

I guess though from a Ch’an  sense that is true of everyone.

I’m starting this as I am off today to San Bernadino to teach my first seminar. It is a Tai Chi Seminar for one of my younger classmates from my old school. He asked me to give a seminar at his school. The course is Yang 24.

I went to visit my Shifu last night with Sisuk for the monthly practice gathering. Sisuk who knew I was going to give this seminar checked over my Tai Chi. He was not pleased! I have gotten all of my advanced level Tai Chi training from him, that is his specialty. I was admonished for the drop in my skill level. Not that I thought I was all that, far from it. I do know on my worst day I am better than the best day of my classmate and his students who i am going to teach. Anyway I was reprimand about not practicing more especially before giving a seminar. I felt bad. Not that my quality of teaching was going to be lessened, I think I am a good teacher, and have a lot to offer these students. More so basically my ego was hurt I guess, I tend to be too sensitive. After I had been torn down, I practiced more and he said thats better. “Do not worry, just teach your style”. He had given me a bunch of changes to the form which he taught me, also a barrage of small changes, so I was confused on which way to do something while he was watching. He says “ when you practice you do things this way…, when you teach you show and teach this way…” whaooo , what ? Huh? But!…

I understand that he is teaching from a different level from where I was, and am now. He wants me to be impressive and he has high standards. He is a hard teacher. To me it is not so much about how I look to them but how I teach to them. However I do see his point. So after 30 min of practice, he was more content. I remember when I first started practicing with him, he told me all I had learned was basically useless, it was all the outside not the inside. I was crushed then, but I practiced more and discarded mostly everything I had been taught before. I did go on to win several 2nd place positions in a few tournaments. His senior student took first.
Anyway I know I have not been putting in the practice time I should, life is busy right now. My personal skill level has dropped since I was competing, but I think my teaching level has risen.
Sisuk wants to raise my skills for teaching in Japan with Yang & Chen 24. He says I HAVE to be not just good, but VERY good when I go. Yeah I know…There is a lot of training ahead. Not just with Tai Chi , but also with my Mantis. However one can only take one step at a time. Sisuk is a great Tai Chi player, but not very patient, we all have things to work on, that is his area.

So I arrive at the San Bernadino School, there are only 9 of the