Taoism
To realize the Tao is to simultaneously experience the base,
the path, and the fruit ceaselessly manifesting.
Glimpses of my experiences with Taoism, Qigong and Neigong Meditation
When I first met Sifu Joe Hing Kwok Chu in 1992, I had no idea that the techniques he taught me for meditation, breathing, postures and movements would transform my life. I am profoundly grateful for his skill, patience and dedication in wordlessly revealing the Tao.
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao – Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
I remember clearly the moment that I first experienced the whole body breathing, one body, one breath, all through the cycle of the breath. I also remember when I realized that I had learned to apprehend with the whole being.
Heaven, earth and I are born of one, and I am at one with all that exists – Chuang Tzu
On April 7, 1997, I wrote this journal entry:
Changes in my breathing affect the functioning of my bodymind. My perceptions shift. My body feels at ease. My mind clear, free of thought. Actions arise spontaneously. Flashes of insight guide me. I experience myself and the world radically differently. Some changes seem so profound, as if they occur at the level of the DNA. It feels as if I am being restored to the wholeness of things.
In February 1999, I reflected: As I practice QiGong, I come to know those sacred spaces where Being flourishes. Nurtured by QiGong, I slowly opened to life, inspired by the words of Lao Tzu:
Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness?
Can you let your body become supple as a newborn child’s?
Can you cleanse your inner vision until you see nothing but the light?
Can you love people and lead them without imposing your will?
Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course?
Can you step back from your own mind and thus understand all things?
Giving birth and nourishing, having without possessing, acting with no expectations, leading and not trying to control:
this is the supreme virtue.
In 2010, Master Chu held an empowerment ceremony for me, authorizing further study of the Tao. The ceremony included a lion dance with drummers and musicians, a tea ceremony, and a community meal.
In 2018, Sifu Chu authorized my teaching the Tao.
Taoist practices have been transmitted from ‘heart-to-heart’ for over 4,000 years.
My understanding of Taoism
At the heart of Taoist practices are precise techniques to control and direct the flow of qi. Qi refers to signals that travel on the electo-magnetic wave spectrum that affect the functioning of the body. The movements and postures in various qigong practices are frameworks for the internal strengthening, balancing and moving the qi.
I want to state clearly that there are risks with Taoist practices. Some qigong practices are not suitable for certain people and can lead to imbalances in the body, or even more seriously to deviations – catching fire and entering demons. Stored within our body are entanglements and blockages. To study these practices with me, people need to know their own psychological history. They also need stability, stillness and an unwavering depth of compassion and presence. I am not a Taoist nor a psychotherapist. Nor am I trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine or martial arts. I am, however, authorized to teach the Tao. All that I’ve learned from Sifu Chu has been communicated to me nonverbally.
When Sifu Joe Hing Kwok Chu authorized me to teach the Tao, I had attained this realization:
The Tao is the base, the path, and the fruit of ceaselessly manifesting
How I integrate Realization Process practices into my teaching of Taoism
When I teach Taoism, I often draw upon the specific language and practices of the Realization Process for inhabiting th