24 minute read
The Tao of Walloo
By Asha Hawkesworth
Not long after I moved to Oregon, I was driving to the coast along Highway 26, and I noticed a sign that said something like, “The Largest Tree in Oregon.” Curious, I turned off toward the tree.
I didn’t have to drive far to see an enormous sitka spruce, surrounded by a little fence, with a sign designating it an Oregon Heritage Tree. It was 206 feet tall, 56 feet in circumference, and 750 years old—meaning that it had sprouted a few years after the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. I marveled at this beautiful giant and wondered at what it must have seen in its life. And with that thought, Walloo was born.
A tree so large and so old must have been a witness to so much, I thought. And what an advantage to live such a long time, and to gain so much wisdom. When I sat down to write Walloo’s story, I imagined it enjoying the pleasures of spring and birds nesting in its branches. I imagined that it endured the pains of fire, death, and destruction. And I imagined that it always asked, “Why? Why is this happening? What can I do?”
What I learn from the Tao is that such questions are not to be answered. Such things simply are. Life has its own rhythms, and the why of it is unknown. “The reed that bends in the wind does not break,” I always tell myself, paraphrasing Confucius. Wisdom is seeing that you are not separate from the current of Life, and that you must follow where it leads.
My Walloo comes to this wisdom with time. It comes to understand that joys and griefs come and go, and that acceptance gets us further than fighting it in despair. For Walloo, the moment of acceptance is also when the miracle occurs, and it is able to share its wisdom with an enlightened child.
I first saw the Klootchy Creek Sitka, as it was known, in 2003. In 2004 I gave birth to Walloo, who impressed its wisdom on me. Sadly, the original tree was injured by a wind storm in 2006. Another wind storm in 2011 further injured it, requiring the Parks service to cut much of its height away, due to safety concerns. Today, only the stump remains, a reminder that even the old and the wise have an end, which is also a beginning in the never-ending flow of the Tao.
Title: “Walloo: The Oldest Tree”
Author: Asha Hawkesworth
Book Review
By Asha Hawkesworth New Haven Publishing
This children’s story about the life of a tree, with its joys and sorrows, was inspired by the Klootchy Creek Sitka near the Oregon coast. Walloo is nearly 800 years old and has attained more wisdom than numerous human lifetimes, which it yearns to share with us in this Taoist tale. Will you hear what it has learned about Life?
What is life like for a tree? When you’re the oldest tree in the forest, you have seen a lot—and learned a lot. Walloo is the tallest tree in the forest, and it has experienced many joys and many dangers, from nurturing young wrens in its branches, to fire and the reckless destruction of the forest by man. The wise old tree appeals to its friends the West Wind, the Mountain, and Life for help during hard times, but they do not reply. Eventually, it will take a young girl to hear the tree and understand its message. As a result, Walloo becomes revered and discovers what Life is really about.
Asha Hawkesworth is a writer, painter, gardener, and mother whose primary interests are her family, the natural world and its preservation, human rights, and peaceful coexistence. She was profoundly influenced by “The Lorax,” and “All in the Family” as she grew up as an Army brat. She now lives in beautiful Gresham, Oregon with her wife, two children, cats, and a pug named Roxoo.
The Empty Vessel is now accepting poetry submissions!
Send entries to DaoDogPress@gmail.com
We will notify by email if your poem is chosen.
Book Reviews
LAO TZU’S TAO TE CHING: Psychotherapeutic Commentaries
AUTHOR: Raymond Bart Vespe
The Tao Te Ching is a principal text of the ancient Spiritual tradition of Chinese Taoism. It is a compilation of wisdom sayings attributed to Lao Tzu, the old boy/ philosopher/Master, recorded over 2,000 years ago and which has since undergone hundreds of translations, commentaries and adaptations. Tao Te Ching maxims are wise counsel given by sages to feudal rulers on how to harmoniously order their states and peacefully govern their peoples at a time in Chinese history of pervasive socio-political conflict and upheaval. The wisdom sayings have become universally meaningful and perennially relevant guidelines for successful leadership as well as for optimal living.
The present work is an original rendering of the 81 Tao Te Ching passages wherein identifying with the essential Reality of Tao and its dynamic-kinetic energetic characteristics, qualities and activities are considered to constitute the unique individuality, true integrity, innate wisdom and potent virtuosity of our inner human nature. The psychotherapeutically-oriented commentaries given for each of the passages are not only useful for professionals engaged in the attending relationship/process of psychotherapy but also for anyone interested in living a more Spiritually awakened, natural, contented and enjoyable human life.
SUBJECT: Chinese Taoism/Tao Te Ching/Psychotherapy • COST: 978-1-58790367-0 (paperback)/ $19.95 • 978-1-58790-368-7 (e-book)/$9.95 PAGES: 288 Pages/ paperback
CHUANG TZU’S NEI P’IEN: Psychotherapeutic Commentaries A Wayfaring Counselor’s Rendering Of The Seven Interior Records
AUTHOR: Raymond Bart Vespe
The Chuang Tzu is a principal text of the ancient spiritual tradition of Chinese Taoism. It is a collection of illustrative tales in thirty-three chapters recorded over 2,000 years ago and which has since undergone hundreds of translations, commentaries and adaptations. The first seven Inner Chapters/Nei P’ien of The Chuang Tzu text are attributed to Chuang Chou/Tzu, the serene/ubiquitous/Master, and are rendered here as the Interior Records. Nei P’ien tales are lively portrayals of how individual beings manage to find their truth, freedom and happiness at a time in Chinese history of rampant bloody internecine warfare between rulers of separate states vying for hegemony.
The present work is an original rendering of the tales in the Seven Interior Records/Nei Pien. The psychotherapeutically-oriented commentaries given for each of the tales are not only useful for professionals practicing psychotherapy, but also for anyone interested in truly and soulfully living a more spiritually awakened, natural, free and happy human life.
SUBJECT: Chinese Taoism / Chuang Tzu/Psychotherapy • COST: 978-1-58790-378-6 (paperback)/$19.95 • 978-1-58790-379-3 (e-book)/$9.95 • PAGES: 274 Pages/paperback
Book Review
Daoist Internal Mastery
By Wang Liping
Three Pines Press Softcover, 419 pages
Review by Solala Tower
This is an exciting new book by the famous Daoist teacher Wang Liping, who was profiled in the book Opening the Dragon Gate. In that book we learned about his training under three very traditional and even eccentric Daoist masters. This is the first book of his own that has been translated into English and is full of deep level qigong and meditation practices, many of which are appearing for the first time in English.
There are so many practices and guidance on qigong that anyone, from a beginner to a long term practitioner will find something that will be helpful to their cultivation practice.
The first chapter gives us some history of Daoism in China. This is followed by chapters on internal structure and various cultivation systems. There are chapters on Energy Balancing, Attracting Immortality, Alignment of the Five Phases, as well as Cultivation Methods of the Taiyi jinhua zongzhi (known in the West as The Secret of the Golden Flower).
Every practice is shown in great detail and range from very simple to advanced. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a serious practitioner of qigong and Daoist meditation. There is such a wealth of information here that one can take years to go through all the practices.
Qigong & Daoist Training Center
Sebastopol, California
Shifu Michael Rinaldini (Lichangdao) Highest Level: Certified Qigong Teacher Qigong Certification programs from 125 to 400 hours Seasonal Qigong Exercises, Circle Walking, Chinese Food Therapy, Prescriptions Three books on Qigong & Daoist Cultivation: A Daoist Practice Journal, series 1-3
Three-year non-residential training program to become ordained Daoist priest of Quanzhen Tradition Local-Distance study options.
2019 Annual Retreats: April in California and October in Ottawa, Canada
Contact: qigongdragon. com, lichangdao@gmail.com 707-799-4256
Book Excerpt
Ethics and Kindness in the Dao De Jing (added to 2nd edition)
A tendency to deny that the Dao De Jing has any ethical framework, or teachings of kindness towards others, has persisted in both the East and the West. This is likely due to longstanding competitions between Buddhists, Confucians, and Daoists, with the added influence of Christian missionaries – often unwitting participants in Western imperialism and cultural colonization – all of whom seized on their misunderstanding of a few chapters that appear to scoff at common ethics. A simple contextualization within the Dao De Jing itself shows that these chapters, in fact, warn of fabricated demonstrations of virtue which arises when individuals lose their inner harmony and groups lose their collective harmony, generally as a result of avarice and envy (see chapter 3).
Rather than simply offering a checklist of moral prescriptions, Lao Zi attempts to provide a guide to inner harmony, knowing that when people attain this harmony and contentment they will naturally seek to live out this inner harmony with others, in peace.
Rather than list thousands of “correct” behaviours for every situation, Lao Zi sought to instill that from which all good behaviours arise, working from within the individual to extend out to society.
Using external authority, law, praise and shame to coerce internally disharmonious people into harmonious behaviour does not solve the root of the problem, but only encourages people to act out of a desire for reward or a fear of punishment. This strategy is unreliable and unsustainable, as the behaviours it encourages will disappear with the rewards and punishments. The Empty Vessel — Page 30
Excerpt from: Reid, Dan G., translation and commentary. The Heshang Gong Commentary on Lao Z’s Dao De Jing. Montreal: Center Ring Publishing, 2015, 2019.
If I were steadfast in understanding I would simply walk the Great Path Having only one rightful fear The Great Way is like cleared land Yet the people love narrow tracks (Dao De Jing, chapter 53)
The difficulty is not that people are unable to distinguish right from wrong, but that their desires, envy, and conceit cause them to lose contentment, to contend with one another, and to prove their superiority. Thus, Lao Zi demonstrated these tendencies while showing the path to contentment, to self-sufficiency, where such
behaviours would dissolve as people return to their inborn virtues and their inborn desire to live in harmony with nature and other human beings. To break down Lao Zi’s teachings into a checklist of prescribed morals would be to miss his point entirely – that morality cannot be prescribed, that people should return to their inborn virtue, and that the virtuous should not try to force others by telling them what to do. Thus, writing a list of “do’s and do not’s” would be antithetical to his teachings on virtue. However, having noted a common claim that Lao Zi made no distinctions between good behaviour and bad behaviour, the following examples of such distinctions, found in chapters of the Dao De Jing, may serve to allay such claims. While many chapters show no concern for any such distinctions, those which do generally echo the guidance found in the following chapters, which may be summarized as:
Ch.2: Do not be conceited or envious. Do not try to show that you’re better than others. Ch.3: Do not stir up trouble between people. Ch. 5: Do not be partial in judgement. Ch. 7: Put others first. Do not be selfish. Ch. 8: Do your best and benefit others. Ch. 9: Do not be greedy. Ch. 17: Do not benefit others only for recognition. Ch. 18: Adhere to the above guidance so that harmony and peacefulness do not break down, for this breakdown necessitates fabricated acts of virtue in order
to avoid total chaos. Ch. 19: Do not act “holier than thou.” Ch. 20: Do not get so caught up in life that you lose your connection with the Source.
Another common tendency is to deny any reading of kindness in Lao Zi’s teachings, or otherwise claim that the perception of kindness in his teachings is merely an implantation of Christian values. This too may be a product of propaganda, likely from both Christian missionaries and the centuries old competition between Buddhists and Daoists. What is most ironic about this assertion is that it so often carries an expressed disdain for Christian imperialism, blaming this imperialism for a perceived projection of Christian values into Daoist literature. These allegations of Christian cultural colonialism, however, curiously overlook the monopoly they concede to Christianity on teachings of love, mercy, kindness, charity, and civility. This only perpetuates the very propaganda that allowed Christian imperialism to turn so many people against their native traditions and cultures despite such blatant evidence of these virtues in their own cultural practices. Teachings of kindness are, in fact, pervasive in the writings of Lao Zi. For example, in his description of Dao’s Virtue (De) from chapter 51:
Dao actuates them Virtue takes care of them, extends their lifespans Teaches them, completes them Tests them, raises them And brings them back (to their pure natures) Actuates them but does not possess them Sets them in motion but does not expect of them Extends their lives without ruling and controlling This is called Fathomless Virtue
The selflessness of De also proves to be an ideal for the Sage. In chapter 7, for example, Lao Zi states:
Therefore, sages leave themselves behind And they end up in front They do not cater to themselves Yet they persist Is it not because they are without selfishness and wickedness That they are able to fulfill themselves?
This virtue of selfless beneficence, and disregard for reciprocity, can be seen throughout the Dao De Jing. Surely, Daoists may deny that this kindness is connected to morals, in the common sense, because it is simply an expression of inborn nature. This integral nuance, however, does not change the ultimate reception and benefit of this behaviour as kindness, love, and charity – a beneficence without expectation of reciprocity. Further, English is not the only language with overlays of nuance in these terms. Just as kindness, charity, love, mercy, and civility all fractionally imply each other, so do ci (kindness, compassion), ai (love, care), and ren (benevolence, civility) fractionally imply each other. So, while Lao Zi’s teachings arguably transcend ethical rules, one would be completely amiss to overlook his admonishments for kindness, care, and compassion in personifying Fathomless (Mysterious) Virtue – Xuan De. Summer 2019 — Page 31
— Lao Tzu
A Journey into Daoist China with Solala Towler
Hangzhou • Wuyi Mountains • Chengdu • Qingcheng Mountain
October 12-27 2019
Please join us this October as we explore Daoist China...we will begin our journey in Hangzhou where we will go boating upon the famous West Lake, visit the temple of the famous Daoist alchemist Ge Hong and drink tea at some of the traditional teahouses there...then we will take a fast train to the beautiful Wuyi Mountains in southern China, a World Heritage Site and home of the famous Wuyi oolong tea...we will ride down the river on rafts, visit ancient Daoist temples and drink lots of local tea... from there we fly to Chengdu where we will eat hot pot and visit the pandas...we will also be staying on Qingcheng Shan, where we will study the local taiji with a master there, as well as witness the daily Daoist ceremonies in the nearby temple...one day we will hike to the top of the mountain for a special tea ceremony with Daoist priests...then we will spend a few days in retreat at a quiet temple at the back of the mountain before we leave for Mei Guo (Beautiful Country) and home...
All along the way we will practice Wuji (Primordial) Qigong each morning, have Dao talks each afternoon on the principles and practices of Daoism, have group meditation each evening and take part in many rich and soulful gongfu tea ceremonies...
We will be visiting very few tourist places other than the famous Panda Reserve outside Chengdu...instead this trip will be an opportunity to go deeply into Daoist practices...each day, each moment, each step on our journey will be an opportunity to engage with the ancient teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi and make them a part of our own life journey...
Cost for this 16-day trip
$5800 all inclusive double occupancy $6500 single occupancy
What’s included
• Roundtrip airfare from U.S. to China and back • All train, bus and airfare within China • All hotels, meals, classes • Local and national guides and translation • Excursions and sightseeing • All tips and gratuities
For further information and to register call 541.345.8854, or write to solala@abodetao.com.
Visit our website at www.abodetao.com
Solala Towler has been teaching qigong and the Daoist arts for over 28 years. He was publisher of The Empty Vessel magazine for 25 years and has had 12 books on the Daoist arts published, including The Inner Chapters of Chuang Tzu (Watkins) and Practicing the Tao Te Ching: 81 Steps On the Way (Sounds True). He has recorded 4 cd’s of meditation music and is a founding board member and past president of the National Qigong Association. He has been traveling to China since 1993.
We will be working with Dana Xu (Xu Shu Xin), a delightful and experienced guide. She will travel with us for the whole trip and be our guide, translator and confidante in the Middle Kingdom.
China as a spiritual journey and life changing experience!
Winter 2018 / Spring 2019: I Ching and the 8 Immortals, A Curious Opportunity, An Introduction to NSEV lineage, Balance With a Brush, Chinese New Year of the Earth Pig, Microcosmic Core Circulation,Empty Vessel China Tour 2018 recap
Fall 2018: History and Origins of American Dragon Gate Lineage, On the Shoulders of Giants, Harmony of Herbs: Bidens Alba, Working Consciously and Living Spiritually
Summer 2018: Lessons of the Dao, The Spirit of Intention, Like Flower Unfolding
Spring 2018: Thoughts For Spring, Spiritual Individualism in China, Qigong Mysteries, The Tao of Now
Winter 2018: Winter Cultivation, Earth Dog Year, Jiaye the Taoist Caveman, Quantum Qi, A Journey to China and Tibet
Fall 2017: Entering the Tao: Some Important Benefits from Consistent Practice of T’ai-Chi Chuan, Qigong, & Meditation; Sharing Taiji Qigong with Recovering Addicts; A Teacher of Natural Spiritual Truth: Empty Vessel Interview with Hua-Ching Ni; Internal Elixir Meditation: Basic Breathing Methods; Value of Worthlessness and The Wisdom of Foolishness
Summer 2017: SOLD OUT!
Spring 2017: Immortal Sisters Conference, Healing Chronic Pain with Tai Chi, Attaining Spiritual Fortitude
Winter 2017: 2017 Fire Phoenix Year, Illness as a Form of Communication, Origin of Daoist Religion, The Heshang Gong Commentary on Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, The Shaman and the Taoist neys: Treasure House of Jing, Chi Nei Tsang: Cosmology and the Wheel of Life, Secrets of the Tao Te Ching, Reinventing the Wheel: A Top Down Perspective on the Five Elements
Summer 2016: Chuang Tzu: The Inner Chapters The Way of Essential Virtue, Interview with Daoist Priest Wu Dang Chen, Dao Yin: The Mystery of Health
Spring 2016:SOLD OUT!
Winter 2016: 2016 Fire Monkey Year, Shape Your Destiny, Interview with Lonny Jarrett, The Five Shen
Fall 2015: Internal Elixir Cultivation, The Watercourse Way, The Mind Inside Tai Chi, Rediscovering the Roots of Chinese Thought
Summer 2015: Five Fold Essence of Tea, The Story of the Tao Te Ching, Functions of Essence, Breath and Spirit, Interview with Master Yang Hai
Spring 2015: Being Daoist, The Way of Wu Wei, Riding the Phoenix to Peng Lai, Daoism in the West, A Conversation Between a Taoist and A Buddhist
Winter 2015: SOLD OUT!
Missing a past edition of your favorite Taoist magazine?
$5.95 each (unless noted) 4 issues for $22
For a complete list of back issues email DaoDogPress@gmail.com.
of Reality, Refining Breath to Transmute It Into Spirit, SPECIAL TEA ISSUE: Alchemy of Awareness in tea, The Last Cup: The Ten Lost Tea-Brewing Pictures, The Way of Tea. $8
Summer 2014: The Poetry of Passion, The Daoist Arts of Wudang Mountain, Zhuangzi’s Perfect Happiness in the Light of Contemporary Western Psychology
Spring 2014: Ren Tian Zhi Dao: The Way of Man and Nature, Interview with Dr. Bernard Shannon, True Spiritual Help
Winter 2014: Year of the Wood Horse, Nei Dan Sitting Meditation, Dance of the Five Moving Forces
Fall 2013: The Watercourse Way, Tea Time With Old Po, Women’s Powers in Popular Daoism
Summer 2013:SOLD OUT!
Spring 2013: Food Cures and Diets, The Spiritual Warrior, Daoist Nature Meditation
Winter 2013: Year of the Water Snake, Art and Practice of Tai Chi, Lao Zi – The Hidden Dragon, Taoist Sexual Meditation
tion, The Dragon Turtle, Eliminating Pitfalls in Qigong Practice, Feng Shui Guidelines to Energy Flow Analysis, Embracing the One: Daoist Meditation
Summer 2012: The Three Treasures and the Golden Embryo; Shen, Hun and Po in Chinese Medicine, Dimensional learning Perspective
Spring 2012: Free and Easy Wandering: A Western Daoist Manifesto, The Tai Chi Sword and Spiritual Swordsmanship, Stress, Illness & the Daoist Antidote, Introduction To classical Feng Shui
Winter 2012: Year of the Water Dragon, Immortality and the 14 words of Lao Zi, The Tao of Joy Every Day, The World of Chinese Medicine, Qi Medicine and the Purpose of Cultivation – an interview with Master Zhongxian Wu
Fall 2011:SOLD OUT!
Summer 2011:SOLD OUT!
Spring 2011: Daoism in America: A Conversation with Xuan Yun (Mysterious Cloud), Return to Stillness is the Motion of Tao, Put the Heart Back Into Love, SPECIAL SECTION: BiGu – Avoiding Food and Eating Qi, Lao Tzu’s Journey
Winter 2011: Chinese Astrology and Inner Cultivation; Wu Wei: The Daoist Art of Happiness; Taoists, Doctors and Shamans – Part 2; Yi: Practice and Incubation of the Sage; A Taoist Master’s Search for His Chinese Ancestry – Part 4
Fall 2010: Chuang Tzu: The Way of Nourishing Life; Nudan Practice and the Modern Woman; Taoists, Doctors and Shamans – Part 1; Nourishing Woman; A Taoist Master’s Search For His Chinese Ancestry Part 3
Summer 2010: Bagua: Why Practice This Old and Obscure Art?, Mystical Wudang Mountains, Guidelines for Setting Up A Daoist Altar, A Taoist Master’s Search for His Chinese Ancestry Part 1
Spring 2010:SOLD OUT!
Winter 2010: A Taoist Master’s Search For His Chinese Ancestry Part 2, Daosim in the Korean Mountains, The Daoist System of Laozi
Fall 2009:SOLD OUT!
Summer 2009:SOLD OUT!
Spring 2009:SOLD OUT!
Winter 2009: Dao at the Beach, Searching For Dao in Daily Life, Returning to the Essence through Shamanic Qi Gong and Sacred Sound Healing, The Spirit of Tea, Reclaiming Your Power Through New Beginnings
Empty Vessel 3440 Conway Blvd., Unit 1D, Port Charlotte FL 33952
Edition:
Edition:
Edition:
Edition: Edition:
Edition:
Edition:
Edition:
Name
Address
City
Request past issues at this address with the form
provided and payment.
Cost:
Cost:
Cost:
Cost:
Shipping: $7.90 for 1-6 iss.
Shipping: $15.00 for 6-15
Shipping: $20.00 for 15+ iss.
Directory & Classifieds
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. Three year
academic and clinical program. We offer classes in Oriental medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese herbology. Master’s degree is accredited. Financial aid and China internships are available. Preparatory to national certification and state licensing examinations. 503-253-3443 for information, literature.
Genesee Valley Daoist Hermitage. Qigong, sus-
tainable gardening, meditation for self cultivation. Chinese herbs, daoist healing to harmonize chronic disorders. PO Box 9224, Moscow, Idaho 83843-1724. 208-285-0123. Celebrating 23 years of service.
The Alaska College of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture & Massage Therapy. 2636 Spenard Rd.,
Anchorage, AK 99503. Offering course work in a full spectrum of Asian Studies including Taiji, Qigong, Meditation, Medical QiGong, Taoist Herbology, Massage Therapy, with advanced study in Thai Yoga Massage and Tui Na Acupressure Massage and a three year Masters program of study in Acupuncture. We offer year round full or part-time schedules of study. We feature biannual Spring and Fall Health and Wellness Festivals where participants can study cutting edge information with our expert staff and visiting masters from around the globe. Traveling to Alaska? Check out our website and make sure our classes and workshops are in your plans. www.touchoftao.com. 907-279-0135
White Cloud Institute. Classes open to everyone. Taoist Studies, Energy Medicine, Chi Nei Tsang, Pelvic Health. Qigong and Meditation. Retreats. NCBTMB approved. 505670-3538. www.whitecloudinstitute.com. Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical
Arts in Asheville, North Carolina. Accredited Masters program in Oriental medicine; steeped in the spirit of Daoism and teachings by Jeffrey Yuen, a world-renowned leader in Classical Chinese Medicine. Preparing students to enter the profession as skilled acupuncture clinicians. www. daoisttraditions.edu.admissions@daoisttraditions.edu. 828225-3993.
Qigong Meditations CD (with music). Three
guided meditations – Three Level Relaxation, Organ Balancing Meditation, Expansion Breathing Meditation – by Solala Towler. $10 plus $3 shipping. Abode of the Eternal Tao, 1991 Garfield St. Eugene, OR 97404. www.abodetao.com.
Kirtan Qigong CD. Three slow, relaxing bhajans (Sanskrit chanting) with Solala Towler and friends. Perfect for slow movement. $10 plus $3 shipping.Abode of the Eternal Tao, 1991 Garfield St. Eugene, OR 97404. www.abodetao.com.
Chi Wellness, The Center of Qigong. 3-year
Medical Qigong Practitioner and Qigong Instructor certification training curricula. Retreats and weekly transformational Qigong Lifestyle and Qigong Movement classes for all health objectives and self care. Medical qigong treatment, and Qigong Lifestyle and Chi Nutrition coaching appointments. Consulting and training for enhanced productivity and balance customized for organizations. Founder/Director: Debra Lin Allen. 4155 East Jewell Ave., Suite 105, Denver, CO 80222. 720-427-0406. DebraLin. ChiWellness@gmail.com / www.ChiWellness.net.
American Dragon Gate Lineage: Shifu Michael
Rinaldini offers 125, 300, 500 hour Qigong Certification. Trainings in Daoist practices. A 3-year training to become ordained Daoist priest of the Lineage. qigongdragon.com
Taoist Arts Center. Tai Chi, Chi Kung, Taoist Meditation. Traditional Taoist arts offered in a friendly and cooperative environment. Classes, Workshops, Private Instruction. Director: Susan Rabinowitz, 342 East 9th Street, NYC 10003. 212-477-7055. www.taoist-arts.com.
National Qigong Association. Since 1996, the NQA
is the premier non-profit membership organization for all types of qigong schools and enthusiasts, and offers annual conferences and qigong certification. Website: http://www. nqa.org.
Learn to play Shakuhachi the Zen flute of Japan.
Gold Coast Chicago location. Vintage instruments available. Etsy.com shop: ZenShamanicArts. www.utaguchi.com.
— Tao Te Ching Directory listings: $25 for first 30 words, $1 per word thereafter, 15 word minimum.
Calendar of Events
To submit events, email daodogpress@gmail.com with the name of event, date, time, place, cost, and contact information. Tai Chi Amongst The Bonsai
Fall 2019 — $15
Sun, Sep 8 (9:00 AM) • Sun, Oct 6 (9:00 AM) •Sun, Nov 3 (9:00 AM) National Bonsai & Penjing Museum 3501 New York Avenue Northeast Washington, DC 20002 DC Tai Chi and the National Bonsai Foundation partner to bring a unique and unitive experience. Join us for a one hour Tai Chi class taught by internationally recognized Master Nick Gracenin surrounded by the beauty, serenity and history of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s world-famous collection of tiny trees. Master Nick will introduce the essentials of traditional Tai Chi and Qigong. Class is suitable for all levels.
Ongoing Tai Chi in the Garden
July 20 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am Tai Chi every Saturday at the Museum’s garden. Tea is provided. San Diego Chinese Historical Museum 404 Third Avenue San Diego, CA 92101 T: 619 338 9888 F: 619 338 9889 info@sdchm.org
“When I let go of what I am,
I become what I might be.” — Lao Tzu
BetheMedicine!
Nurturing Students to be Exceptional Practitioners of Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yo San University is a fully-accredited professional graduate school offering both Master’s & Doctoral Degree programs in Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine.
We place particular emphasis on our Taoist heritage and the added value brought to the medicine by the 38th generation legacy of our founders. The Taoist principles of harmony and balance are held to be the foundation of our physical, mental, emotional, and psychological well-being.
Our students do not just learn and practice the medicine. They are living examples of the medicine. They ‘Become the Medicine’.
