12/31/2022
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! RELAX – You made through another year. Be thankful – and Joyful! See you January 2, 2023
12/23/2022
I am doing a retreat over the next five days with Francis Lucille, an Advaita teacher and disciple of Jean Klein. So, I will wish you a Merry Christmas now and leave you with this thoughtful quote from Rumi…
“What a Joy, to follow the way of the heart.” – Rumi
Merry Christmas and Joy to All from the depths of my heart.
A special video for Christmas, a time of true giving.
https://youtu.be/thFmcnXboyE
12/22/2022
Today’s quote regarding the Daoist view on Joy and Happiness comes once again from Chuang-tzu. Sometimes he uses Confucius and his disciples to get his point across.
Chuang-Tzu writes…
Confucius said to Yen Hui:
“Oh, come on, Hui. Your family is poor and your house is dilapidated. Why don’t you get a job?” — “I don’t want a job. I have eight acres of fields outside the city wall, enough for vegetables and grain. I also have an acre and a half of farm land nearby, which gives me enough silk and hemp. Strumming my zithers is enough to give me pleasure, studying Tao with you is enough to make me happy. I don’t want a job”
Whether you are strumming your zithers or dragging your tail in the mud like a turtle, studying the Tao and practicing self-cultivation, should be enough to make you happy. Enjoy your practice, enjoy Life, everyone.
Today’s video features Baguazhang and Li Wei Dong showing specific exercises and their applications.
https://youtu.be/hg8y9d9IkHY
12/21/2022
One more plain and simple quote from the I Ching on Joy and Happiness for the Jolly month of December.
“No plain not followed by a slope. No going not followed by a return. He who remains persevering in danger is without blame. Do not complain about this truth; Enjoy the good fortune you still possess.”
—I Ching
Much like yesterday’s I Ching quote this is the I Ching insisting that you enjoy your good fortune while it’s here because you never know how long before it’s gone. Enjoy your practice, folks.
Here’s Part 2 of the Martial Man’s interview with Prana Dynamics founder and martial artist, Master Huai Hsiang (Howard) Wang.
https://youtu.be/ZvSJ9HfFDpg
12/20/2022
Here’s another plain and simple quote from the I Ching on Joy and Happiness for the Jolly month of December.
“Change is certain. Peace is followed by disturbances; departure of evil men by their return. Such recurrences should not constitute occasions for sadness but realities for awareness, so that one may be happy in the interim.”
—I Ching
The I Ching is simply saying: “Enjoy life while you can.” We know joyful moments don’t last. Life always intrudes with disturbances of one kind or another. So what? Enjoy the present moment while you can. As long as there are no disturbances right now, why worry and fret? That goes for your practice as well. Enjoy, folks.
Today’s video continues with Part 1 of the Martial Man’s interview with Prana Dynamics founder and martial artist, Master Huai Hsiang (Howard) Wang.
https://youtu.be/TGZ6VbnIs98
12/19/2022
We concluded last week with a quote from the I Ching, and we will start off Christmas Week in the Jolly month of December with another quote on Joy and Happiness from the ever-wise I Ching.
“On average, an infant laughs nearly two hundred times a day; an adult, only twelve. Maybe they are laughing so much because they are looking at us. To be able to preserve joyousness of heart and yet to be concerned in thought: in this way we can determine good fortune and misfortune on earth, and bring to perfection everything on earth.”
—I Ching
So is this what Lao-Tzu meant when he said we need to become like a newborn baby? Go ahead and laugh your head off! It’s all a part of practicing self-cultivation. Enjoy, folks.
We concluded last week with a quote from the I Ching, and we will start off Christmas Week in the Jolly month of December with another quote on Joy and Happiness from the ever-wise I Ching.
“On average, an infant laughs nearly two hundred times a day; an adult, only twelve. Maybe they are laughing so much because they are looking at us. To be able to preserve joyousness of heart and yet to be concerned in thought: in this way we can determine good fortune and misfortune on earth, and bring to perfection everything on earth.”
—I Ching
So is this what Lao-Tzu meant when he said we need to become like a newborn baby? Go ahead and laugh your off! It’s all a part of practicing self-cultivation. enjoy, folks.
Two more weeks to New Year’s Day and to the deadline for registering in Master Huai Hsiang Wang’s six-month online master class in Prana Dynamics running from January – June, 2023. You will learn key aspects such as Confluence to Permeation for Fascia Activation, Linear vs Spatial Alignment, Simultaneous mind-body modulation, Tensegrity, Synchronization vs. Flow, From Flexibility to Conductivity and so much more. Master Wang, the son of Grandmaster Wang Chieh, is the originator of Prana Dynamics, and this is the only place where you can learn Prana Dynamics. Learn more at PranaDynamics.com.
Here’s a video clip of Prana Dynamics in action from The 2020 Martial Camp in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
https://youtu.be/mSMKe67I2DI
12/17/2022
We conclude the week with another quote on the importance of music in achieving Joy from the I Ching for this Jolly month of December.
When thunder comes it relieves the tension and promotes positive action. Music can do the same by making people enthusiastic and united together. When used to promote good it brings them closer to heaven.
—I Ching
Did you find that special music yet that stops the inner turmoil of thought, relieves tension and promotes positive action? If not, keep searching and enjoy the weekend, everyone. See you on Monday.
In today’s video Grandmast Zhong Yunlong presents the other classic Wudang form, Wudang Tai Chi 28.
https://youtu.be/1CYWExymFcs
12/16/2022
Today’s quote for the Jolly month of December as we focus on Joy and Happiness with a Daoist perspective is from author Wu Wei.
“Great music stops the inner turmoil of thought and allows the mind to seek its natural state of joy. Music frees our minds and allows us to soar to heights where we can experience the celestial. Music opens our minds to allow the perception of new thoughts of a higher nature, which gives us a spiritual lift, which produces yet more joy.”
― Wu Wei, I Ching Wisdom: More Guidance from the Book of Answers, Volume Two
The Key phrase here is “great music,” not necessarily pop music or dance music or rap or country & western or even classical Mozart. It may refer to classical Chinese or classical Indian or Sufi. That is up to you to sort out. I would say whatever resonates with your inner spirit. Listen and enjoy, everyone.
In today’s video we look at Wudang Tai Chi, which has two classic form – the 13 and the 28. Today, we viewing the Wudang Tai Chi 13 present by Grandmaster Zhong Yunlong.
https://youtu.be/t6C1tFbQ5-w
12/15/2022
The next few Joy and Happiness quotes come from India. Today’s quote is from ancient India from a contemporary of Lao-Tzu, Gautama Buddha…
“There is no path to Happiness; happiness is the path.”
– Gautama Buddha
I don’t know if Lao-Tzu would agree, but I’m certain Chuang-Tzu would. The problem is how does one find this path. My Advaita teacher had the solution: Just think you’re happy. Or, as the song goes, “Don’t worry. Be Happy.” Enjoy, everyone.
Today’s video is another view of The Martial Camp. This one from Adam Mizner’s training partner, Sifu Liang DeHua, demonstrating “Connection.”
https://youtu.be/B-XTL2INSAI
12/14/2022
Today’s quote for the Jolly month of December as we focus on Joy and Happiness comes from a French author and one of the most influential writers of the last century, Marcel Proust.
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
– Marcel Proust
Proust may have been far from Daoist, but it is a wonderful play upon Nature that any Daoist can appreciate and a gracious thought to put into practice. Enjoy, folks.
Today’s video is a demonstration of Yang style Peng, Liu , Ji, An with Adam Mizner at his 2020 Martial Camp.
https://youtu.be/Q5LbB52zLrI
12/13/2022
Today’s quote for the Jolly month of December as we focus on Joy and Happiness with a Daoist perspective is from the great German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer.
“It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else.”
– Arthur Schopenhauer
I don’t think there is a Daoist anywhere, living or dead, who would disagree with that. Go to it, folks, and enjoy your practice.
Today we also have a Joyful video courtesy of world-famous qigong master Wong Kiew Kit entitled, “The Joy of the Three Circle Stance.” Follow along, folks.
https://youtu.be/aEj3FScj0V4
12/12/2022
We start off another week of Jolly December with my favorite Daoist sage, Chuang-Tzu (Zhuangzi), with one of my favorite Daoist stories that best exemplifies the Daoist concept of Joy and Happiness.
Chuang Tzu with his bamboo pole was fishing in the Pu river. The prince of Chu sent two vice-chancellors with a formal document: “We hereby appoint you prime minister.” Chuang Tzu held his bamboo pole still. Watching the Pu river he said, “I am told there is a sacred tortoise offered and canonized three thousand years ago, venerated by the prince, wrapped in silk, in a precious shrine on an altar in the temple. What do you think? Is it better to give up one’s life and leave a sacred shell as an object of cult in a cloud of incense for three thousand years, or to live as a plain turtle dragging its tail in the mud?”
“For the turtle,” said the vice-chancellor, “better to live and drag its tail in the mud!”
“Go home!” said Chuang Tzu. “Leave me here to drag my tail in the mud.”
Ahh, what better expression of Joy than to fish in the Pu river and decline the opportunity to become a prime minister! So, your practice to start the week is to drag your tail in the mud. Well, not literally. But take the time to look at all the things you are doing and see if any or maybe most of them are blocking you from doing what will surely bring you joy. Enjoy your practice, folks!
We heard Mark Rasmus’ opinion on combining tai chi and a weight lifting practice. Now here’s a second opinion.
https://youtu.be/HQPzqJoUy8g
12/10/2022
Today’s quote for the Jolly month of December focusing on Joy and Happiness is from another Buddhist, this one being Tibetan – none other than the Dalai Lama XIV.
“Genuine happiness consists in those spiritual qualities of love, compassion, patience, tolerance and forgiveness and so on. For it is these which provide both for our happiness and others happiness.”
-Dalai Lama XIV
Good advice even if the Dalai Lama is not Daoist. Certainly these are Daoist qualities as well. Practice them daily if you can and have a great weekend, everyone.
Today’s video presents the first of two views on the controversial practice of doing both tai chi and lifting weights. The first view is from Marc Rasmus.
https://youtu.be/kiHpYPf2u9I
12/09/2022
Today’s happiness quote for this Jolly month of December is from a well-known Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh.
“The present moment is filled with Joy and Happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
The quote is from a Buddhist, but I’m sure it will resonate with many Daoists. So, make that your practice for today. Be attentive to those moments to day that can bring Joy and Happiness. And I am sure you will enjoy your practice, everyone.
Today’s video feature Mark Rasmus once more explaining using elastic for to cut a partner’s root.
https://youtu.be/-o4BMoqEsX8
12/08/2022
Our quote today is from Darrell Calkins, author of a collection of letters entitled “RE:” Calkins, a mentor, consultant and educator, focuses on the deeper aspects of wellbeing with an emphasis on bridging perspectives across disciplines, cultures, and traditions.
“Laughter has got to be the single healthiest activity one can perform. Just think how healthy you would be if you could sincerely laugh at that which now oppresses you.”
― Darrell Calkins, Re:
Not only would you be healthier but much happier as well. So, laugh more and especially laugh at yourself. Wll of us take ourselves way too seriously. Enjoy your practice, folks.
More from Mark Rasmus on developing Elastic Force in today’s video selection. This one focuses on developing the fascia.
https://youtu.be/VCRKnCvmxZQ
12/07/2022
Today’s look at Happiness during the Jolly month of December is not from the Daoist perspective, although I am sure many Taoist sages would most likely concur. It is by Jean Klein, an Advaita sage, from his “Dialogue at the Day of Listening,” in Fairfax, CA: May 22, 1991, and published in his “Book of Listening,”
“You may for some time live with the desire for a certain object, then one day this object is attained. You will then see that at the moment of attainment the object is not present, and you are not present. There is only a non-dual state: happiness. Then you can see that the cause is not in the object and you no longer project any object. Then you are free from the desire for objects and a profound maturity arises: you are free from all projection, because you have clearly understood that the cause is not an object, that happiness is causeless. You must come to this experience.
When you become restless it is because you have identified happiness with an object. But happiness is not in an object. It is causeless. It comes when you are open. It is not in a red car, a beautiful house, a second marriage.
You must live completely in openness, and this openness is the happiness.”
– Jean Klein, “Dialogue at the Day of Listening”
We think happiness is acquiring objects whether it be a new job, a new car or iphone, a new lover. But in truth – and self-dultivation is about realizing Truth – objects are not the cause of happiness. No person, place or thing can cause one to be happy. As Jean Klein has said – happiness is causeless. It comes when you are open. Openness is the happiness. So, for today, let’s see if we can practice being open. Open to your environment, open to your family, open to your friends, open to your emotions, open to yourself. And, above all, enjoy your practice, people.
In today’s video we are going to learn about Elastic Force with Sifu Mark Rasmus and the Martial Man.
https://youtu.be/e7BSMp0Orq4
12/06/2022
Today we have a not-so-jolly quote on happiness from Chuang-Tzu in this jolly season of December. Nevertheless, it is how a true Daoist sage look at happiness as it relates to our lives.
“I cannot tell if what the world considers ‘happiness’ is happiness or not. All I know is that when I consider the way they go about attaining it, I see them carried away headlong, grim and obsessed, in the general onrush of the human herd, unable to stop themselves or to change their direction. All the while they claim to be just on the point of attaining happiness.”
― Chuang-Tzu, from the Zhuangzi
Abiding by Chuang-Tzu’s directive, your practice for today is to see how many times you can stop yourself from a negative thought or action and change direction. Enjoy your practice, folks.
Today’s video is on advanced tai chi sparring demonstrated by Victor Shim.
https://youtu.be/ma5SFF-TJaU
12/05/2022
Sheila Burke starts us off this week with a quote from “Enriched Heart: The Tao of Balancing Your Big, Beautiful, Badass Soul” as welook at the Daoist perspective on Happiness and Joy for December.
“You have the power to change the happiness level in someone’s life and in the process you change your mind-set and the level of your own happiness. Practicing kindness and compassion will change your life, your environment, your outlook on your future, and how you view what has happened in your past.”
― Sheila M. Burke, Enriched Heart: The Tao of Balancing Your Big, Beautiful, Badass Soul
In essence, Burke is giving us the #1 rule for Happiness. If you want to be happy, then make someone else happy. That sounds like a great practice to start off the your week. Enjoy, folks.
Today’s video shows tui shou (push hands) basic concepts for new students rom Grandmaster Victor Shim.
https://youtu.be/gEu4HdB4hDc
12/03/2022
Another blissful quote on Taoism during this blissful, jolly season. This one from Leland Lewis…
““The Eternal Tao
Like the softness
of water we flow…
through gentleness
of love we grow…
and through blissful
Oneness we know…
Forever is now.”
― Leland Lewis, Random Molecular Mirroring
Wishing you and yours blissful Oneness this weekend, and practice making your practice blissful and let blissfulness be your practice.
Today’s video is the first of several with Victor Shim on push hands and using qi. In this one, Master Shim demonstrates push hands self-practice.
https://youtu.be/XQFCiHorjCA
12/02/2022
It’s December, ‘Tis the season to be Jolly. So, we look at Joy and Happiness from the Daoist perspective – fa la la la la! Today’s quote is from Lieh-Tzu and is nearly the mirror image of yesterday’s quote from Chuang-Tzu.
“To be truly happy and contented, you must let go of the idea of what it means to be truly happy or content. ” — Liezi, the Book of Lieh-Tzu
From both Chuang-Tzu and now Lieh-Tzu, one can surmise that the Daoist concept of happiness is based on their principle of wu-wei (non-action or no action). This means without intention, with no thought of pursuing happiness or joy but as my Advaita teacher once said, “Think that you are happy.” Do that and enjoy your practice, folks.
In today’s video, we will practice how to deepen and anchor the breath with my teacher, Damo Mitchell, in Part 2 of Anchoring the Breath…
https://youtu.be/WfL9Gks4mdc
12/01/2022
December is the month of Joy, Happiness and Merriment. So, we will look at Joy and Happiness from the Daoist perspective as well as that of other spiritual traditions. And who better to start us off than my favorite Daoist philosopher – Guess who – none other than Chuang-Tzu.
“Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.” — Zhuangzi
There you have it, short but sweet, the whole month in a nutshell. Tomorrow we will hear from Lieh-Tzu. Enjoy your practice, my friends.
In today’s video, we are going to step away from tai chi and bagua and start to look at the Qi specifically and Qigong practice. Of course much of qigong can be applied to the other internal arts, which is especially the case with breathing. Today, we will hear how to deepen and anchor the breath from my teacher, Damo Mitchell, in a 2-part video lesson. Here’s Part 1…
https://youtu.be/N0fTg23psfw
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