Shimsung

Open your heart chakra and find a golden flower there. This is a deeper and more profound continuation of opening the 4th chakra. In this workshop you can find, meet and love your True Self residing deep within you. You will open yourself to a new life free from your thoughts, emotions, memories and limitations. You will also acquire absolute confidence, vitality, courage and positive atitudes to reach your life's goal.

Another Day?

Its Monday. Yesterday morning Ashley realized she had left her only set of car keys at her aunt and uncle's house, about an hour away. We had day plans and figured we'd go at night - and so the day went and night followed and the plan ensued. We listened to the comedy channel, on the satellite radio, on the way up, laughing all the way. As soon as we got back in the car after seeing her uncle I felt strange, drained and sad with anger. I couldn't quite place why. In a relationship there is always something going on as two people seek to balance themselves in relation to the other. But I went deeper and drew on my history of like feelings and situations. What I came out with was a deep and true understanding of how sensitive I am to energy. The real importance of Energy Capsule training became real to me. I dug a little further to realize why I never really felt fully enveloped by my depression; it was never mine but the family's that I felt. There were a few more realizations but this was the most pertinent.
As we work to understand how we can manage and utilize our energy more effectively, I find this discovery / revelation extremely important to my growth in so many ways and I feel a relief to finally answer and tie off some loose end questions that I've never fully bothered to explore, I just always figured them inexplicable. I feel renewed in spiritual strength having drawn on my brain's strength training through Dahn practice. I will march on with a sharper blade of decisiveness as I grow in to the place of master.

Energy is Important

So very important. I have been training hard for the last couple of months and I'm finally coming to the "Great Wall" the point we all hit when we start to ask ourselves "just what the hell am I doing?"
My life is crashing around me which is not bad because it's a humbling experience reminding myself just exactly who or what I look like and what that energy brings from the world around. I am reminded of the Bible passage cautioning us to be aware of the log in our own eye before we start picking splinters out of someone else's eyes. So this crashing was like getting the wind knocked out of me -- I really found it hard to muster the energy to even eat lunch today. My family came to the center again and I gave them a class. It was a relief my brother and father are in need of this practice so I modified the exercises to be lighter on them as beginners. For me it was a perfect relaxation and opening, allowing fresh ChunJi Ki Un energy to fill my body and refresh my state of mind.
Just after lunch I checked my email and found a note from Ilchi Lee reminding us about self reflection and the value of not getting entangled in emotions while evaluating ourselves. His words hit home with a soft caressing punch. I revisited the note after my family left and found the words totally empowering.
By refreshing and moving out stagnant energy I am able clearly relate to the message of self watching with an open mind and heart.
Chun Ji Ma UM

A Day In the Park

Sunday 11.4.07 a group of us convened in the Rockefeller State Preserve for a short jaunt and some Dahn Mu Do style exercise. The fresh air was exhilarating and through the walk those that could keep their focus used the time for Jang Saeng Walking meditation, enhancing the inspiring autumn color; refreshing the mind and the body.

It was the second time the Bedford Hills Dahn Hak Yoga center had visited the park. Utilizing the time in the simple standard fashion - to enjoy nature in its many aspects and to also connect ourselves to it. Some prefer to sit, bask and soak, in the glory and amazement that is our world around us. Reflecting through the mind of the myriad memories that become the rich depth, breath, and height of our existence.

Allowing the majesty of the intricacies of life to hold them in wonder. Others can't help but to allow the energy to flow through them like water over a dam in the height of the rainy season. Pouring forth words, postures, gestures, and tones explaining the plight and ridiculousness of the entirely complex and confusing tapestry that life is.

Some are inspired with happiness and freedom and the only demonstration is to run with arms wide and a chest full of tasty autumn air; the damp leaves, wood and pond water.

For us it was a healing experience. We have a community here in the Bedford Hills center, all are welcome and your place is only designed by your desire to reach out to others. So simple and so easy we enjoyed the company and didn't dawdle nor were we hasty. As always there is much for each of us to do for what we've prioritized our life for, but here we came together to share our energy and time. Graciously fulfilling ourselves and each other enjoying the contact with nature and our world.

Prepare yourself

So I talk about the power of the mind, self help is out there, we offer yoga but what is really going on? Everywhere I turn there are events for raising awareness, saving the earth, help our community, donate blood. So many different ways to make a difference in the world and things are happening and we all would choose healthier over not healthier. Why do so many people resist? We can all make excuses till the day end but really is there anything more important than health?

As I begin my afternoon training with my compatriot and with the master a defiant anger wells up inside of me. He asks me join in the group and I willfully resist without making eye contact, pretending I didn't hear him. Again he requests and again I deny him. I realize to late that I've allowed my selfish anger to rule my actions and now I am going to have to face him. As a good master he wants to know why I would be so insubordinate. I look for the easy way out but there's no chance and the frustration pours out. I never thought I would fall prey to the usual student anger for ignorance of the master's method. I've always prided myself on understanding the principle of Master, that the method usually exceeds the student's comprehension. I didn't foresee that I would expect the master to be perfect and more then a human.

It is our ego and expectation of what life should be that separates us from healing ourselves in light of what is. As Americans we always demand proof before respect. Maybe it happens in other cultures too, but I know the U.S. and we don't take any one's word for nothing.

We continued our practice after a simple rebuking but it took me a whole hour to release my attachment to my anger. "Who is this petty emotion serving?", I finally asked myself. Because I was so busy holding onto that emotion and not letting our energies connect I missed out on the essence of my training. There will be a next time but that moment is now lost and the time wasted in one aspect. In another I have learned a good lesson the hard way.

Prepare yourself

The Kids

Every time I teach at RAHS (Ridgefield Alt. High School) I wonder if the trekking back and forth for the volunteer 45 min class is worth it to them and me. Just a curiosity as different advisers have different ideas about where placing your energy is most important.

There was a new girl in the school yesterday and she was givin' me the "prove it" eye. The rest of the students know the drill and they do enjoy that I'm there for whatever reason. I called the students together and asked them to please stand up, the new girl only joining when she noticed she was the only one resisting to at least stand with the group. (some of the students will humor me by standing with the group for the gym credit they get, but then that's as far as the intent goes - it gives me a laugh 'cause I did that when I was in the Alt. school).

So I lead them through some easy stretching, using the ones I've learned that yield the greatest oohs and aahhs from any crowd. This girl is still half assin' it not really believing in any of the usefulness - can't say I blame her, the important part of our practice is to experience otherwise who are you opening yourself for?. She is at least brazen enough to question the value of dahn jon tapping and some of the other stretching.

This class the students are requesting some meditation, most of them use the time to sleep - but our practice is about relaxation and if you're sleeping, you're relaxed. So I lead them into breathing - feeling their chest. slowly expanding the awareness to the arms and eventually down to the palms and back to the lower abdomen. After about 5-10 minutes of guiding the children's breathing and mindfulness of its presence and movement I have them raise there palms off their knees for Ji-Gam. There are only about 5 kids, new girl included cause she wants to see what I got, that are sitting at this point (the rest are resting there eyes and body). Slowly bringing their hands together to feel the energy. Her hands closed the gap to about an inch her eyes lit up as she felt the unbelievable. Her back straightened as she continued playing in disbelief, she checked eye contact and I reassured that was it, her energy, that she felt. Back and forth and expanding and contracting she felt her Ki Energy with delight.

We all stayed in Ji-Gam for a few more moments and then I led them back out of meditation and we concluded our session. The faces on those who focused were brighter and even those who just join in a peripheral way walked away a little lighter. It takes time for the jaded to trust and I respect that. It was watching her eyes light up that reminded me that my 45 minutes is worth it to me to see wonderment born.