Nothing else to say !
Namaste
Mark
Can you hold out your hand in friendship to someone or something today? Can you extend your arms openly to someone or something today?
We are all connected, we owe our fellow beings on this earth respect for whom and what they are and for what they bring to our world.
We are all connected, so share some happiness and love today, hold out your hands and extend your arms in peace, love and compassion.
Be one with everyone and everything today.
Namaste
Mark
Time Reversal
One of the most fascinating things to me in Qigong has been the Chinese fascination with longevity and immortality. Immortality is not living forever in the body you have today, it is to be aware of your eternal nature – before you die.
Interestingly, Laozi addresses this in the context of light in his poem #52, “using your own radiance return to the source of all light, this is the practice of entering eternity.”
In Qi cultivation this process is initiated at the practical level of health and healing. However, in the more advanced methods that are explored in the Heaven Phases, healing, longevity and immortality are gained by returning to one’s primordial or pre-birth nature and by merging with the timeless field of universal Qi. Many Qigong practices are focused on reversing time and returning to your pre-birth when there was no stress, no complexity, nothing to know, nothing to plan, nothing to remember.
Very recently, scientists have determined that our usual perception of time is not entirely correct. The arrow of time does not just travel forward in accordance with the clock and the sun, it also travels the opposite direction. I found this out while presenting at the Esalen-Noetic Science conference noted earlier. My roomate was the distinguished physicist Helmut Schmidt, who developed the digital random numbers generator (DRNG) at Boeing in 1969. This device, produces sets of random numbers that allow scientists to investigate non-local and quantum effects. In our conversations I was amazed to find that his work reflected the concepts that were so prevalent in the world view of the ancient Chinese Qi Masters. Talking Dr. Schmidt is a little like talking to Laozi, “When exploring the science of Qi, emphasize the mystery – anything else that you name it is probably wrong.” In his research Dr Schmidt has demonstrated that mind or consciousness influence the chance process in nature so that an outcome can reflect your intention. (50, 51)
This was further confirmed by Russell Targ (52, 53) a physicist who conducted the CIA research on remote viewing and Dean Radin of the Boundry Institute. (54, 55)In the discussions with these three luminaries of science it became obvious that there is a significant amount of research data that suggests that an influence can travel from the present to influence the past or from the future to influence the present. It has been found that this influence is potentiated by coherent function, aligning inner resources through mind focus and intention.
The possibilities that arise from this research are amazing. Healing may not actually be simply physiologic. In the light of time reversal, healing could as easily be caused by an influence going into the past and altering the development of health status even before a disease had occurred. This is connected to our discussion on possibility, probability and actuality. The set of “probabilities” that were on track to cause the “actual” disease would be altered by a signal or message that travels into the past to trigger an alternative set of probabilities. This would prevent the disease before it began and established a new history, a new set of “actualities”, for the person which begins to manifest in the past but is reflected in the present.
In an applied sense this means that in our practice of Qigong we may be influencing the past to affect the future or that our practice in the future has an effect on our present. Let this sink in. Your practice today may influence the past to alter your future. As your practice advances in the future the more powerful influence may be having an effect on you now. This Qigong effect could translate into new choices or behaviors. Or it could simply inspire us to increase the quantity or quality of our Qigong practice. Essentially, as this picture formed up in the discussions with Schmidt, Targ and Radin it became apparent that as probabilities become actualities it creates what is called our “world line” – a sequential set of probabilities that actualized. The time reverse effect suggests that, through intention an alternative set of probabilities actualize creating a new world line – a new you. This is exactly what the Chinese promise in Inner Alchemy and the cultivation of the Golden Elixir which is a spiritual medicine that creates peace of mind and a direct association with timeless nature of life.
Love
In the highest levels of Qigong it is an intention of the practice to become one with all life. Or as we havediscussed it may be more accurate to say — to realize that that you are of the One. Dissolving in Qi is essentially this, to melt into the universal field of Qi. To become one is to deeply associate with and accept oneness with everything. This is love. One of the most advanced states in Qigong is compassion and spontaneous service – love.
Interestingly, the writers in the domain of physics that I have drawn upon the most in my exploration of the Heaven Level of equivalents of Qi all talk about love. One of the first and most interesting things that I heard William Tiller say about the practical application of his findings in physics was, “We have an inherent capacity to resonate to the frequency of love, except for one thing – fear creates resistance in our circuitry.”
Love in all its forms – compassion, devotion, appreciation, gratitude, caring – create inner coherence. Love describes interacting with openness. Physicist Goswami suggests that the reality of quantum mechanics at the human level is love – where the “boundaries of the self are transcended through the experience of unity in spite of apparent separateness.” Shen, the Chinese word for Spirit is often translated as unconditional love – because in the ultimate sense personal spirit is associated with the One. In the most advanced forms of Heaven Qigong, sometimes called Shen Qigong, one enters into a form of practice where the self merges with the One.
Coherence
These universal interactions — whether through fields, consciousness or otherwise — suggest that the Chinese idea of the One and the relation that you can elect to have with the One is feasible. We can not decide to make the universe more coherent. The universal field is already coherent. However we can, through our practice, align with or enter into coherence with the inherent power of the universe.
Heart/Mind Equivalent
Consciousness, it appears, may be the primary or fundamental factor in our experience of what we know as as the cosmos or the world. It also appears that your own consciousness may actually be an aspect or a portion of a universal field of consciousness. In the Chinese tradition this is all consistent with the idea of the pervasive Qi of Heaven entering the individual and residing in the heart (Heart/Mind). This means that our heart reflects the One.
When the great masters who teach with life and compassion do their good work it is essentially, according to the Chinese, opening to the natural Yin force of Earth, opening to the natural Yang force of Heaven and allowing them to merge in the Heart/Mind center. By over coming the illusion of separateness that causes fear and worry the heart opens and the influence of Heaven and Earth pour through you and into your life, your work, your family, your community. When you purposefully cultivate Qi to eliminate resistance and the forces of the universe flow through you, it is an expression of the One. Complete surrender to all that is — that is openness to the One. Openness to all that is that is love and love resides in and expresses through the Heart.
Nesting — Embedding
The Multidimensional Human
Physiology – Earth internal, material, local
Bioenergy – HeartMind internal, non material, local
Biofield – Heart Mind internal/external, non-material, local
Quantum – Heaven Qi internal/external, nonmaterial, nonlocal
Of the four Western equivalents of Qi, only one is material. Yet, for most practical applications particularly in health and medicine, Western science has been completely focused on the material. Our science has definitely demonstrated the power to study, and apparently even control, the physical domain. The future of Western science is guaranteed to be awesome given only the smallest material portion of the multi-dimensional world and only a minor aspect of the multi-dimensional human has been explored.
The Chinese are contributing to our capacity to understand what looks like the limitless nature of our being. It appears that each of the levels of our self may be nested or embedded in the other levels. This can be viewed from bottom up as is typical here in the contemporary science of the West, or top down as in the more intuitive sciences of the ancients.
Bottom up – Western Science —
The body — physiology and biochemistry — is the conductive ground for the bioenergetic frame work which generates the biofield. These together provide the local framework for the interface of quantum/consciousness which is boundless and timeless.
Top down – Ancient Science —
The boundless and timeless ocean of Qi (quantum) creates the personal Qi Matrix (biofield), which infuses channels and centers (Dan Tian). This constructs and maintains the physical body ( structural and biochemical interactions).
This nesting integrates the parts into a whole. In our practice of cultivation we can either work from the Heaven Level down – which is not generally that easy to accomplish for people from our background in the material world — using Natural Flow Qigong, Circulating the Light or Guarding the One are examples of this. Or, fortunately, we can cultivate from the bottom up as well. This approach is the approach to Qigong that is open to everyone. Creating inner physiological coherence among the heart, brain, nervous system and other organ systems enhances the flow of the ions which maximize the capacity of the biofield. Western science has recently progressed rapidly toward understanding this. In addition, our coherent biofield very likely creates a positive relationship with or impact upon our interaction with the universal field of conscious or the quantum domain. While this aspect of the multi-dimensional human is going to be a big challenge for science, there are excellent Qigong tools for practice in this area that have been refined and improved for centuries.
Earlier we explored briefly the ancient formula for health and longevity. The emerging new formula that expresses the equivalents from the contemporary sciences of biology and physics for the knowledge of the ancients:
Inner Coherence = Information Exchange = Optimal Function
Western culture is experiencing a breakthrough to new knowledge about the fact that it is possible to purposefully enhance inner coherence through the methods developed by the ancients as well as some more recently developed self-improvement methods. The new formula for the use of personal practice to potentiate optimal function:
Practice + Intention =
Coherence = Information Exchange = Optimal Function
The ancient Chinese would declare that we can manage our relationship to the universal Qi to improve our lives through the practice of Qigong and Tai Chi. Western science is progressing rapidly to confirm this. The Chinese would declare that by doing the cultivation practices we engage our Heaven self (spirit, Shen) which enters into us to create the illuminated life. With current trends in energy medicine and quantum science we are, it seems, close to this same discovery in the West. Will we solve the Mystery in the West through our sophisticated scientific methods? The ancients would predict that there is quite a bit that you can uncover about the nature and benefits of the Qi, but that it is unlikely that we will solve the ultimate mystery known as Tai Xuan – Supreme Mystery.
Paradoxically, it has become apparent that way before Einstein, the ancient Chinese were doing medical research that was completely consistent with modern physics. This fact is having a major impact on contemporary science and causing a radical new trend to use the framework of quantum era physics to investigate medicine, healing and human potential. From its earliest history, Qigong has been associated with a mysterious and wonderful inner medicine, the Golden Elixir, which is based in Qi and the universal field of potential. The ancient theory that Qi is everywhere has both frustrated and stimulated Western science. Western science has a strong aversion to unsolved mysteries. To solve the mystery of Qi, Western science will have to experience a radical transformation. Research in Asia and Western countries has led to speculation that Qi could be a multi-dimensional factor that may link specific components of the local world with unspecific and immeasurable fields of cosmic proportion into a dynamic, unbounded and unified web of life.
I hope you enjoyed this article on Qigong?
Namaste
Mark
Excerpt from:
The Healing Promise of Qi, Chapter 16, The Light of Science on Qi
McGraw-Hill; 2002 by Dr. Roger Jahnke ,OMD
Sources
48. Schmidt, Helmut. “The Mysterious Side of Psychokinesis (PK).” Esalen-Noetic Sciences Conference on Subtle Energy and Uncharted Mind. Esalen Center for Theory and Research (http://www.esalenctr.org/display/psi.cfm), 2000.
49. Schmidt, Helmut. “PK Tests in a Pre-Sleep State.” Journal of Parapsychology 64:317-31 (Sept. 2000).
50. Targ, Russell. “The Scientific and Spiritual Implications of Psychic Abilities.” Esalen-Noetic Sciences Conference on Subtle Energy and Uncharted Mind. Esalen Center for Theory and Research (http://www.esalenctr.org/display/psi.cfm), 2000.
51. Targ, Russell. Miracles of Mind: Exploring Nonlocal Consciousness and Spiritual Healing. Novato, CA: New World Library, 1999.
52 . Radin, Dean. “Time Reversed Human Experience.” Esalen-Noetic Sciences Conference on Subtle Energy and Uncharted Mind. Esalen Center for Theory and Research (http://www.esalenctr.org/display/psi.cfm), 2000.
53. Radin, Dean. The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1997.
[Dr. Roger Jahnke, OMD – has practiced clinical Chinese medicine for over 30 years. He has traveled to China 8 times to research Qigong and Tai Chi in universities, hospitals, temples and sacred mountain sites. He is a co-founder of the National Qigong Association and is director of training and research at the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi IIQTC, http://IIQTC.org and http://FeelTheQi.com. Dr. Jahnke is the author of The Healer Within, which is widely used in wellness and health promotion programs, and The Healing Promise of Qi, which became an instant classic of mind-body practice and energy medicine. He, along with his colleagues have recently published the most comprehensive review of the Qigong and Tai Chi research literature in the American Journal of Health Promotion (AJHP). The Integral Qigong and Tai Chi Teacher Training program at the IIQTC is considered by many to be among the most credible Teacher Training programs outside of China.]
My dear friends, I would like to add the following post from Master Zhongxian Wu, whom I had the pleasure to meet here in Shanghai a few months ago. Master Wu left an everlasting impression on me and I will remember his words and his teachings forever.
1. Introduction
The first time I picked up LaoZi’s DaoDeJing 道德經, I could not truly understand one single sentence. I found this interesting, as I already had a solid foundation in classical Chinese literature. The very first sentence, 道可道非常道DaoKeDaoFeiChangDao, which literally translates as “The Dao that can be the Dao is not the constant Dao” initially felt like a maze to me. I used my knowledge of classical Chinese to interpret the meaning as “The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao.” Still, I felt slightly puzzled.
After some years of a dedicated inner cultivation practice, I picked up the book again and I found that could understand it a little bit more than before. When reading the first sentence again, I decoded a different interpretation: “The Dao, discussed in any language, loses its original meaning.” In other words, we cannot truly understand the Dao simply through words alone. The way to access the Dao is through direct bodily experience. In order to gain experiential knowledge, you must be seriously committed to your inner cultivation practice.
I have had a concentrated focus on Qigong, Neigong, marital arts and other internal cultivation practices since the 1970s. I continue to come back to the DaoDeJing again and again. Each time, I gain insights based on the layers of meaning that reveal themselves to me. Now, the very same opening sentence tells me that the entire book is not a text that passes philosophical truths to us. Behind the words is a powerful teaching encouraging us to use our cultivation practice to connect with the Dao and Xian 仙 – immortality.
Over the last twenty years, I have been preparing to write a commentary on DaoDeJing from a Qigong/internal cultivation perspective. In this article, I will share a small piece of my project with you.
2. ZhiQiDongLai 紫氣東來
ZhiQiDongLai is a popular Chinese phrase often used as a prayer or charm. It is very common for Chinese families to post this above the entryway of their home as a blessing. ZhiQiDongLai literally translates as “purple colored Qi comes from the East”. The phrase originates from the birth story of the DaoDeJing:
In the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (circa 770-256 BCE), there was a famous astronomer named YinXi 尹喜. One evening while he was reading the sky, he noted a mass of purple colored Qi accumulating in the East. He was astonished by this natural phenomenon, and recognized it as an omen indicating that a great sage or truly enlightened master was traveling from the eastern direction. He made a predication about the master’s travel route – passing through HanGuGuan 函谷關and arriving in LouGuan 樓關. YinXi subsequently traveled to LouGuan and built himself a hut to wait for the master’s arrival. After several days, an old man with long gray eyebrows and beard rode towards his hut. He was riding on a green colored ox. YinXi immediately understood that this was the person he had been waiting for. He invited the old man to be his guest in his hut, hoping that he could study with the old master. The old master, LaoZi, saw that YinXi was seriously committed to his own inner cultivation and agreed to spend some time teaching him.
After three months had passed, LaoZi decided he was ready to keep traveling onwards. YinXi humbly requested that LaoZi write down some teachings for him before he left, so that YinXi would be able to continue his studies even if they would not have a chance to see each other again. LaoZi consented, extending his stay to write what we now know as the DaoDeJing for his student, YinXin. YinXi continued to live a hermit’s life in LouGuan, continuing his cultivation practice with the guidance of LaoZi’s DaoDeJing. Years later, after YinXi achieved true enlightenment, he wrote the renowned Daoist classic WenShiJing 文始經.
From this creation story, we see that the original purpose of the DaoDeJing is to provide guidance for our spiritual cultivation. It is a great blessing to create opportunities that allow you to focus on our spiritual selves. Through our Qigong practice we can continuously refine our study and understanding of the DaoDeJing.
3. The Wordless Teaching
In general, the first chapter of each of the Chinese classics reveals the purpose of the rest of the book. Consequently, it is always worth spending extra time on the first chapter so that you can get a real sense of the spirit of the book.
Please allow me to make a set of GongFu 功夫 tea so that we can savor the first chapter of the DaDeJing together slowly (please read my book, Vital Breath of the Dao, if you are interested in learning more about the GongFu tea ceremony).
Let us sip our tea and discuss the first line of DaoDeJing together.
Dao 道
Ke 可
Dao 道
Fei 非
Chang 常
Dao 道
The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao.
Tea Commentary: The original meaning of Chinese character 道 (Dao) is simply a trail, road, or path on which to walk. Later on, the meaning expanded to include rule, law, way, method, and the spoken word. In traditional Chinese philosophy, the Dao also refers to the way of nature or the universal law. In the first sentence of the DaoDeJing there are three Dao characters. The first and the third instances use Dao to mean the way or the method, while the second occurrence is used to mean speak or express.
The hidden meaning of this line is as follows:
The ways that are expressed in our daily lives, such as those pertaining to politics, business, and knowledge do not provide the pathway to the Eternal Dao – immortality or true enlightenment.
The way to attain the Eternal Dao is wordless. The path to the Eternal Dao involves gaining a deep understanding of your physical body, your Qi body, and your spiritual body. That is because the path to the Eternal Dao is not mental or verbal. Rather, it is experiential.
We reach the Eternal Dao through the same method as we enjoy our tea. We savor the tea, experiencing it directly through our senses – by tasting, smelling and seeing it, and by being in touch its affects on our bodies – that we accurately understand the rich and subtle complexities of the tea. If I tried to describe the flavor, fragrance, and color of the tea to you and never offered you the opportunity to savor the tea yourself, you would gain some superficial knowledge about the tea but you would never grow to truly understand it.
We learn about the Eternal Dao not only through the Dao of tea, but also through the Dao of Qi. Traditional Qigong forms serve as another pathway to the Eternal Dao. By cultivating our Qi, we learn to experience the Eternal Dao through our bodies, our breath, and our spirits.
4. Conclusion
Guan觀, which means observe or observation, is one of the traditional names for Qigong. Guan is also the name used to refer to all traditional Daoist temples in China. For thousands of years, Daoist temples have been much more than regional sites for ceremony or religion. Traditional Daoist temples have been and continue to be havens where Daoist masters, following LaoZi’s teaching, diligently practice various methods of Guan, or inner observation. Guan is both the secret and not-so-secret method of LaoZi’s own Qigong and inner cultivation practice.
The lineage of LaoZi’s teachings is known as the Hidden Immortal Lineage or Dragon Like Lineage. This name came about through Confucius. One day, Confucius returned from studying with LaoZi. His students, curious about the mysterious master, asked Confucius what he thought about LaoZi. Confucius replied: “LaoZi is just like a dragon.”
In China, the dragon is the most common icon, replicated on businesses and temples, in homes, on paintings, ceramics, clothes, etc. However ubiquitous in Chinese culture, the dragon itself is still a mystery – both seen and unseen, ever present but little understood.
Similarly, although the DaoDeJing is arguably China’s famous book, most people don’t realize that the DaoDeJing is actually LaoZi’s cultivation handbook. The secret to understanding the DaoDeJing is not a secret at all. Through a committed inner cultivation practice and guidance of an illumined master, you can decode the enigmas within these five thousand words and find the path to the Eternal Dao.
Acknowledgment: I’d like to express my gratitude and appreciation for my wife, Dr. Karin Taylor Wu, for her helpful suggestions and her editorial assistance.
Master Zhongxian Wu is the lineage holder of four different schools of Qigong, Taiji and martial arts. Since 1988, he has instructed thousands of students, both Eastern and Western in ancient Chinese wisdom traditions. Master Wu is the author of Vital Breath of the Dao, Seeking the Spirit of the Book of Change, The 12 Chinese Animals, Chinese Shamanic Cosmic Orbit Qigong and of Fire Dragon Meridian Qigong. He synthesizes wisdom and experience for beginning and advanced practitioners, as well as for patients seeking healing, in his unique and professionally designed courses and workshops. For detailed information, please visit http://www.masterwu.net.
Namaste
Mark
It was Midsummers day yesterday so my wife and I visited the Jade Buddha Temple here in Shanghai, China. We gave our blessings to The Buddha, presented our prayers in silence, took in the atmosphere and the heady smell of incense and sat a while beside the small fish pond and observed the fish, its a beautiful place, very tranquil, very quiet and the fish help me meditate. A beautiful few hours spent it peaceful silence and reflection 🙂
Namaste
Mark
Once, a group of students met an old lady sitting at the pavement under a lamp post searching for something.
They soon discovered that she had lost a needle. So they offered to help.
They searched high and low for it but to no avail.
Then, one of the students asked. “Auntie, where did you drop the needle?” The old lady replied, “ I dropped it in my room but it is too dark to search there, the pavement is much brighter…”
In life, we pursue and search everywhere endlessly for peace and happiness. But we forget that all these come from within us, our own heart,not elsewhere outside of us.
Just because somewhere else looks brighter doesn’t mean we can find what we want by searching for it there.
Peace and happiness is all within.
Namaste
Mark
A way for
global peace
happiness
harmony
prosperity
Chinese Buddhism
During the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China President Hu Jintao emphasized the importance of reviving the Chinese culture for future development. President Hu went on to say that the ethical and ideological standards of the people play a crucial role in the development of a harmonious society.
Chinese culture is underpinned by three of Chinese greatest and enduring philosophies which have been embraced worldwide: Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. These three philosophies are interwoven in the fabric of the Chinese psyche and reflected in society. I call these the tripod upon which Chinese society is built.
Since the late 1960’s there has been much interest in the West of Eastern philosophies and religions and we are now seeing many components of these philosophies now becoming part of mainstream clinical psychology as in the Mindfulness based therapies and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Since the 1980’s Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism have begun to spring forth new buds in the spring of cultural and economic revival in China. Many westerners are coming to China, not just for viewing the many breathtaking scenic places and exciting cities of China but also to come in touch with the heartbeat of an ancient culture which has dynamic relevance and importance to today’s world. Indeed, many Chinese are unaware of their own culture and its vital importance in the face of rapid economic development within China. A society cannot survive purely upon economic prosperity. There must be a cohesive humanistic culture which sustains the prosperity.
Buddhism came to China during the first century when both Taoism and Confucianism were already established. Buddhism has had a remarkable ability to blend within the colours and shapes of a culture and maintain its essence. To this end Buddhism absorbed the essence of both Confucianism and Taoism and took on its own identity as Chinese Buddhism.
During a Buddhist forum with foreign students at Guang Jue Temple, Zaoxi-Lin’an, in 2011, The Venerable Zheng Rong, spoke of the correlation of the three great teachings. Confucianism is about relationships between people and has a clear model in this regard. Taoism is about the relationship between man and nature, namely how to handle the relationship between our environment and ourselves. Buddhism is about ‘man and his heart-mind”. Our minds and a sense of the transcendent, our environment and relationships – these three are significant in our social development.
Buddhism is an education which emphasizes the pursuit of enlightenment. Enlightenment must be attained by our own effort. Only with self-awareness will we find the strength to deal with many worries and illusions, resolve to maintain our integrity and find peace and stability. To this end Chinese Buddhism has the model in which we can promote self-integrity and self-awareness which can change the world and benefit humanity.
In the past people used to think that Buddhism was nothing more than chanting or holding ceremonies for the dead and that monks lived apart from society in mountains. Every phenomenon in this world depends on a set of causes and conditions for its existence. Thus we cannot survive if we move away from people as they are our cause and condition, the heart of our survival.
Buddhahood can only be reached by the interaction of sentient beings. In the Buddhist sutras, it is said that every Dharma gathering or undertaking requires the presence of an assembly of beings to happen. The only way to success is to work side-by-side with other beings. This is an undeniable truth!
The most valuable things in this world are the good conditions between us and others in order to have harmony, success, fulfilment and merits. Therefore there are many good deeds worth doing in this world, for instance, contribute to or serving others, the building of international harmony networks.
China faces many challenges as it develops economically. There is a rapidly aging population with few children to look after families, there is need for education for those who cannot afford formal education, there is the need of medical services catering for increasing psychological problems which are inevitably part of materialistic development. Buddhism has much to offer to serve its local
communities and benefit the nation as well as the world. Its very survival depends upon its humanistic involvement.
It is important for Chinese Buddhism to establishes “bridges” between cultures so that not only the world may be able to access the wealth of teaching of Chinese Buddhism but also be able to cross over the bridge to reach out to humanity and the world in service and fulfil the aim of the Bodhi Mind.
In Chinese Buddhism we know the power of Vows to help us fulfil our spiritual aims. Vows strengthen our resolve. In the Vizualization Sutra Shakyamuni Buddha told Ananda to go and teach to many. Teaching is also by example. We must find resolve to respect the admonition of our Root Teacher and not only resolve but also ways to attain the spreading of the Dharma that are in tune with the needs of our society and in a way that modern society can comprehend.
Chinese Buddhism is one of China’s great cultural heritages. Let us not confine it to the museum of history but revive it to serve both the people of China and the world as well as bring peace, harmony and prosperity to all beings.
Master Zhi Sheng is Retreat Facilitator of Guang Jue Temple and has worked most of his career as a psychotherapist and mental health educator in Australia. His work, at Guang Jue Temple Zaoxi is in bringing foreigners to understand, practice and preserve Chinese Buddhism especially Pure Land Buddhism.
The Magic Number 108 in All Religions-Prana Kishore
The Significance of the number 108
The Indian Subcontinent rosary or set of mantra counting has 108 beads. 108 has been a sacred number in the Indian Subcontinent for a very long time. This number is explained in many different ways.
The ancient Indians were excellent mathematicians and 108 may be the product of a precise mathematical operation (e.g. 1 power 1 x 2 power 2 x 3 power 3 = 108) which was thought to have special numerological significance.
Powers of 1, 2, and 3 in math: 1 to 1st power=1; 2 to 2nd power=4 (2×2); 3 to 3rd power=27 (3x3x3). 1x4x27=108
Sanskrit alphabet: There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.
Sri Yantra: On the Sri Yantra there are marmas where three lines intersect, and there are 54 such intersections. Each intersections has masculine and feminine, shiva and shakti qualities. 54 x 2 equals 108. Thus, there are 108 points that define the Sri Yantra as well as the human body.
9 times 12: Both of these numbers have been said to have spiritual significance in many traditions. 9 times 12 is 108. Also, 1 plus 8 equals 9. That 9 times 12 equals 108.
Heart Chakra: The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, and there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, and is said to be the path to Self-realization.
Marmas: Marmas or marmastanas are like energy intersections called chakras, except have fewer energy lines converging to form them. There are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body.
Time: Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, 36 related to the present, and 36 related to the future.
Astrology: There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments called namshas or chandrakalas. 9 times 12 equals 108. Chandra is moon, and kalas are the divisions within a whole.
Planets and Houses: In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108.
Gopis of Krishna: In the Krishna tradition, there were said to be 108 gopis or maid servants of Krishna.
1, 0, and 8: 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for infinity or eternity.
Sun and Earth: The diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth.
Numerical scale: The 1 of 108, and the 8 of 108, when added together equals 9, which is the number of the numerical scale, i.e. 1, 2, 3 … 10, etc., where 0 is not a number.
Smaller divisions: The number 108 is divided, such as in half, third, quarter, or twelfth, so that some malas have 54, 36, 27, or 9 beads.
Islam: The number 108 is used in Islam to refer to God.
Jain: In the Jain religion, 108 are the combined virtues of five categories of holy ones, including 12, 8, 36, 25, and 27 virtues respectively.
Sikh: The Sikh tradition has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads.
Chinese: The Chinese Buddhists and Taoists use a 108 bead mala, which is called su-chu, and has three dividing beads, so the mala is divided into three parts of 36 each.
Stages of the soul: Said that Atman, the human soul or center goes through 108 stages on the journey.
Meru: This is a larger bead, not part of the 108. It is not tied in the sequence of the other beads. It is the quiding bead, the one that marks the beginning and end of the mala.
Dance: There are 108 forms of dance in the Indian traditions.
Pythagorean: The nine is the limit of all numbers, all others existing and coming from the same. ie: 0 to 9 is all one needs to make up an infinite amount of numbers.
We have listed below 108 Upanishads as per the list contained in the Muktikopanishad . We have arranged them in four categories according to the particular Veda to which each of them belong.
Rigveda(10): Aitareya , Atmabodha, Kaushitaki, Mudgala, Nirvana, Nadabindu, Akshamaya, Tripura, Bahvruka, Saubhagyalakshmi.
Yajurveda(50): Katha, Taittiriya , Isavasya , Brihadaranyaka, Akshi, Ekakshara, Garbha, Prnagnihotra, Svetasvatara, Sariraka, Sukarahasya, Skanda, Sarvasara, Adhyatma, Niralamba, Paingala, Mantrika, Muktika, Subala, Avadhuta, Katharudra, Brahma, Jabala, Turiyatita, Paramahamsa, Bhikshuka, Yajnavalkya, Satyayani, Amrtanada, Amrtabindu, Kshurika, Tejobindu, Dhyanabindu, Brahmavidya, YogakundalinI, Yogatattva, Yogasikha, Varaha, Advayataraka, Trisikhibrahmana, mandalabrahmana, Hamsa, Kalisantaraaa, Narayana, Tarasara, Kalagnirudra, Dakshinamurti, Pancabrahma, Rudrahrdaya, SarasvatIrahasya.
SamaVeda(16): Kena, Chandogya, Mahat, Maitrayani, Vajrasuci, Savitri, Aruneya, Kundika, Maitreyi, Samnyasa, Jabaladarsana, Yogacudaman, Avyakta, Vasudevai, Jabali, Rudrakshajabala.
Atharvaveda(32): Prasna , Mandukya, Mundaka, Atma, Surya, Narada-Parivrajakas, Parabrahma, Paramahamsa-Parivrajakas, Pasupatha-Brahma, Mahavakya, Sandilya, Krishna, Garuda, Gopalatapani, Tripadavibhuti-mahnarayana, Dattatreya, Kaivalya, NrsimhatapanI, Ramatapani, Ramarahasya, HayagrIva, Atharvasikha, Atharvasira, Ganapati, Brhajjabala, Bhasmajabala, Sarabha, Annapurna, TripuratapanI, Devi, Bhavana, SIta.
The Significance of the number 108
We must agree that all measuring systems are merely reference frames. They give us a starting point. It doesn’t really matter if you call them farenheits or cycles. All science is based on fundamental assumptions of the mechanics of this universe. Yet, these assumptions, if correct, connect like building blocks.
Much in the same way, the number ‘108’ is just a reference frame. It is symbolic of a bigger picture: that of humility. When devotees recite 108 Hanuman Chalisas, in their minds they believe, they are proving their love for God, and that there is in fact a need to prove their love. When devotees assign a 108 names to Shri Ganesh, they are once again gauging their devotion through numbers. What is important is that a system is there to guide us through the fundamental struggles encountered in any evolutional process. Otherwise, chaos and anarchy follow and nothing gets done.
Having said that, I will show you justifications from a few subcultures in India. Obviously, I consider the Vedic rationale to be the most consistent with the fundamental laws of this universe. The others have borrowed and built, but it still smells of Vedic beginnings.
In present times, we can find many rationales for the proliferation of ‘108’ throughout our scriptures. In fact, this number seems to garner its unfair share of attention from myriad cults and faith systems around the world. I will give you a few justifications that have been brought to my attention.
JYOTISH SHASTRA {VEDIC SYSTEM} This universe was created by the five elements: space, air, fire, water and earth. From these elements came the three attributes: Raj {birth}, Sat {protection} and Tam {destruction or death.}
The mathematical or geographical evidence proves that one circle has 360 degrees in space. Why is this circle or wheel of life considered to be of 360 degrees only? If we take a circle and start dividing it using the four elements and three attributes, all the logic can be observed.
The circle itself, is considered the first element of space, since we must consume space in drawing a circle. In this space {or circle}, the four remaining elements and three attributes create the idea of time. The circle is divisible by the product of four elements multiplied by three attributes. This involves the belief that the three attributes exist in the circle. By moving three times, each element completes its revolution.
So now we have the number 12 {3 x 4}. This division gave birth to our 12 months, and also to the 12 horas {1/2 of the day or Ahoratri}. We now have 360 degrees as well as 12 divisions. We can now further divide the wheel of time: there are 27 fixed stars (nakshatras) along with three attributes that divide the time in smaller portions. So this 27 + 3 = 30 is interpreted as 30 degrees or days of one part of the wheel (circle) or month. All of this is only half of a day. The night is yet unaccounted for. Therefore, we multiply these 30 degrees by 2. This gives us our reference of 60 seconds in a minute.
Thus the 360º x 30º = 10,800. Zero {0} is considered ‘Purna’ or complete. So we take out the last zeros and are left with 108. The idea of our total universe is represented by this number of 108. Offering 108, devotees believe that they are showing ultimate or complete respect to the Supreme.
There are many other justifications but all can be traced back to this system. A few are explained below:
SHOSHU BUDDHIST Followers use 108 beads in their malas. They implement the following formula: 6 x 3 x 2 x3 = 108 6 senses [sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, thought] 3 aspects of time [past, present, future] 2 condition of heart [pure or impure] 3 possibilties of sentiment [like, dislike, indifference]
BUDDHA’S FOOTPRINT All Buddhists accept the Buddha Footprint with its 108 Auspicious Illustrations. These areas are considered to have been marked on the Buddha’s left foot when his body was discovered.
BUDDHISM 108 beads on the Hindu maalaa {rosary} 108 Arhats or Holy Ones
HINDUISM 108 Gopis {consorts} of Lord Krishna 108 Holy places for Vaishnavas 108 beads on the Japa maalaa {rosary} 108 Upanishads 108 Divyadeshes – Divine or Sacred Tirtha throughout India and Nepal 108 sacred water taps in Muktinath – Nepal
TANTRA SHASTRA 108 Pitha {Sacred Places} The story goes that Lord Shiva was in deep and incessant meditation. His asceticism was creating great heat in the universe. All existence was in peril and Lord Brahma was deeply concerned. Lord Brahma asked the Mother of the Universe, Maa Shakti, to use Her strength and wile to seduce Lord Shiva. Maa Shakti agreed and was born as Sati, daughter of Shri Daksha. Lord Shiva was so entranced by Sati’s asceticism and extraordinary beauty that he took human form and they were married. Years later, at a feast, Sati’s father insulted Lord Shiva. Sati was so humiliated that she began a deep meditation which led to her immolation. Lord Shiva was completely heart broken. He reached into the sacrificial fire and pulled out as much of His beloved’s body as he could grab. As He ascended to heaven, bits of Sati’s body fell to earth. 108 bits to be precise! In time, these places were acknowledged and worshipped.
SANATANA DHARMA In a book by Khurana, the explanation closely mirrors the original Vedic justifications: A circle has 360 degrees, which when multiplied by 60 gives us 21,600 minutes in a circle. 60 comes from the 60 ‘ghatis’ which Sanatana Dharmiks believe in. One ghati is equal to 24 minutes and 60 ghatis come to 24 hours.
One ghati is divided into 60 parts or ‘palas’. So the 60 ghatis multiplied by 60 palasa comes to 3,600. This is further multiplied by 60 (becase a pala contains 60 vipalas) which gives us 21,600. Half of this is for the day, and the other half for the night. So, 21,600 divided by 2 gives us 10,800. For practical purposes, we use 108.
Using the number 108 helps us coordinate the rhythm of time and space & we remain in harmony with the spiritual powers of nature.
Namaste
Mark
Peace: It’s in everyone’s heart!
Or is it?
When we are born, we are innocent, we are at peace, we are love, we are compassion, and there is no hate, no greed, no envy, and no spite, just PEACE.
So what goes wrong?
From day one we watch and learn.
The love and the peace slowly get’s knocked out of us by our parents, our siblings, our families, our friends, our teachers, our neighbors, our supervisors, our leaders, our peers, by our governments and society.
Deep down, Love and Peace is there; it is STILL in our hearts, we just need to go deep inside and find it and it can be done! We can be at peace with ourselves, with others and with the world.
So who am I to say anything about Peace and Love…Well I’m nobody, I’m just a man, a husband, a father, a friend, a business leader, a peer…someone who cares! Someone with passion, someone who wants to make a difference to this world, someone who wants to see this world change for the better, someone who wants to see peace in his lifetime, someone who wants to see smiles on peoples faces, someone who wants to see the end of famine, someone who wants to see the environment heal, someone who wants to swim in the ocean with out the fear of pollution, someone who wants to see the end to endless greed by the few at the expense of the many, someone who wants to see justice done to the so called leaders of this world who continue to take and give nothing in return……Where will it all end, and can I make a difference?
Lao Tzu shared these quotes with us and I think he any many other sage’s, God’s and Masters left us with words that we have forgotten, like we have forgotten that WE STILL HAVE PEACE AND LOVE in our HEARTS:-
I just want to finish this short post with these words OF WISDOM…
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
Gautama Buddha
NAMASTE
MARK
A wonderful concert held here in Shanghai, the beautifully calming voice of Choying Dolma, stunning Mantra’s giving you protection and the lovely music of the Guqin.
Enjoy my friends
Namaste
Mark
Here we are, at last you say!
We have arrived…Here is ‘Dafo’ Big Buddha. As you can see he is huge and commanda a special place overlooking the river.
I do hope you enjoyed your walk with me around the gardens of Leshan and you gained some peace, solitude and compassion from the journey.
Namaste
Mark
TCM. Traditional Chinese Medicine in China.
Traditional Chinese medical education has a history going back thousands of years, and it has kept abreast of the development of TCM culture and Chinese civilization, which is rarely seen in the world medical history. Numerous practitioners have been trained and they have offered much in medical and health care for the Chinese people, and promoted development of traditional Chinese medicine. So far, it occupies an important place in national medical education.
A Brief History of the TCM Education System in China.
The ancient medical examination system took shape during the Zhou Dynasty fro 1100-256 B.C. Laid down In the Zhou Li Yi Shi (The Chief Practitioners Book of Rites) the requirements for TCM chief practitioners were recorded. Their compensation depended upon the response to their treatment, e.g. those whose patients responded well to their treatment without any failiure received the highest level of compensation, whilst those whose treatments were not effective received lower levels of compensation.
From the Qin to Han Dynasties 221 B.C – A.D 24 the teacher apprentice system prevailed, but by the Southern and Northern Dynasties 386 A.D – 589A.D, there was a systematic government run education. In the Sui Dynasty 581A.D – 618 A.D, the Imperial Administration of Health was set-up, and in the Tang Dynasty 618A.D – 907 A.D, the Imperial Administration of Health expanded and medical schools appreared throughout China. Through the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties 960 A.d – 1911 A.D, the medical education system was gradually perfected.
The Basic Principles of TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine all illness symptoms are based on the theory of eight principals. They are grouped in the four pairs of opposites.
They are:-
Cold and Heat
Exterior and Interior
Deficiency and Excess
Yin and Yang
These four pairs represent eight elements and explain the nature of diseases and the location of pathological changes. These principals lay in the basics of differentiating the symptoms and giving the analysis.
Cold and Heat
These two principles indicate the nature of disease.
Manifestations of cold syndromes include absence of thirst, slow pulse, tastelessness in the mouth and many others. These are the signs of having an excessive Yin and may be caused by Yang deficiency. Cold syndromes may also be caused by pathological changes.
Fever, thirst, red eyes, rapid pulse, red tongue, constipation, yellow urine are some of the symptoms of heat syndromes. They all all caused by a yin deficiency
Exterior and Interior
Exterior conditions can affect muscles, skin and channels. This refers to flu, viruses and cold. These conditions are caused by the invasion of the body by pathogens while Interior result from pathogens entering the interior of the body. These symptoms affect brain, bones, nerves and other inner organs.
Deficiency and Excess
These principles are used to analyze the bodies resistance to pathogenic factors. Deficiency is explained by the lack of something in the body. It may be caused by a weak constitution, low immune system, deficiency in Qi flow or loss of weight. Among the symptoms are weakness, tiredness, dull pain and many others.
Irritability, rapid breathing, constipation, pain in the chest and abdomen are the main symptoms of Excess. To give you a clear idea here is an example: a common; fast developing cold with high temperature, sore throat and sweating.
Yin and Yang
Exterior, Heat and Excess belong under Yang; Interior, Cold and Deficiency belong to Yin.
People who belong to the yang category are usually dynamic and outgoing. They are extremely energetic and choose careers to display their abilities. It is often very hard for them to sit back and relax. That’s why the symptoms of diseases are usually sudden and among them are:- fever, thirst, swellings and other Yang symptoms. Yang people need to take frequent breaks and learn to calm down, meditate from time to time. Chinese herbs will help them achieve this change to their hectic lifestyle.
Yin people on the contrary are pretty quiet. They choose careers where they can be supportive and more reserved in their outlook on life. They are happy with their quiet lives and go with the flow. The problem may be in their Qi flow. In order to strengthen their Qi flow and yang they also should take special herbs.
It doesn’t mean that being reserved or active is either bad or good , all our emotions and states are natural and given to us by God. Sometimes we can become tired and quiet and sometimes we feel, joyful, happy and are dynamic.
The only thing that is very important is balance.
Namaste
Mark
No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, compassion, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable so that we can continue to do good for others.
Yesterday I fumbled, I got myself lost on my spiritual journey, I faltered and questioned ‘Why Now, Why Me’! I took the time to ‘Think Too Much’ and allow my ego to have a place in my mind, to question me as to why i was on this pathway!…It took me sometime to bring my mind back into the ‘Now’ to push these thoughts away and to clear my mind, it also helped to receive some encouraging replies to my post from some dear blogging friends (Heidi, Frank and Rising Hawk) their comments can be seen following the blog post as can their contact links if you would like to check their blogs out too 🙂
Today is a different day, the sun is shining, I awoke with a clear mind after a refreshingly good nights sleep, I’m looking forward to my day with a smile on my face and I’m carrying on my spiritual journey with gusto 🙂
Namaste
Mark
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/daily-prompt-faith/
Hi everyone,
Happy Vesak Day to you all, may your lives be filled with Love, Happiness, Compassion and excellent health 🙂
Sorry, I have been a little tardy and busy with mundane things like work 🙂 So I have not had so much time to update my post on my walk around the Leshan Temple in Sichuan China. So here we are continuing our walk around this stunningly beautiful place of worship which eventually leads us to the largest Buddha carving in the world ‘Dafo’, I do hope you are all enjoying this walk with me and my beautiful wife May (she is in one of these pictures)?
Namaste
Mark
“Somebody Needs To Know . . . “. Please click this link to view the wonderful article by Risinghawk 🙂
This post is from one of my dear blogging friends Risinghawk and The Hawk’s Tail http://risinghawkspeaks.wordpress.com
It’s a wake up call to us all, especially me, one who has so many words inside his head and his heart but is too nervous to put them into words…I’m not a writer, I’m a visual person, I see in images and I feel things through my gut, my intuition…I cannot write,…or can I?
Should I pick up my pen, or put fingers to keyboard and tell you more about my feelings, my thoughts, my frustrations regarding this world we live in and my dreams of how we can work together to make our world a better place for us all to live in?
I would appreciate your thoughts on this question so I’m attaching a poll to this post , please reply with your thoughts and let me know if you would like me to write more?
Namaste
Mark
Hi everyone,
Here are some more images of the beautiful statues and wall carvings during my walk around the Leshan Temple gardens. Leshan is in Sichuan Province China close to Chengdu where the horrific earthquakes have taken place in 2008 and most recently in 2013. The worst earthquake happened in Wenchuan on Monday May 12th 2008 killing 69,195 people and a further 18,392 still missing presumed dead, so a total of 87,587 souls were lost to Mother Earth on that day. The earthquake was also felt in nearby countries and as far away as both Beijing and Shanghai—1,500 km (930 mi) and 1,700 km (1,060 mi) away—where office buildings swayed with the tremor. I too felt these tremors in Shanghai 😦 Strong aftershocks, some exceeding magnitude 6, continued to hit the area even months after the main quake, causing new casualties and damage.
I hope you enjoy my continued walk around these beautiful gardens and you feel some energy and serenity from the images?
Namaste
Mark
My Dear friends,
After my very sad and shocking post re animal cruelty yesterday, I felt the need to bring us back to some peace and tranquility, so i’m continuing my walk with you through the gardens surrounding Leshan Temple and the largest Buddha in the world ‘Dafo’.
These statues and carvings bring me to a calm state of mind as soon as i see them, it’s like walking into a temple, a Church, a Cathedral, a Synagog or a Mosque, these wonderful places of worship are also filled with stunning artworks from ‘God, our creator’ and they are placed all around the world to bring us back to the ‘NOW’, to re-focus our minds to the beauty this world has to offer, to give us time to re-think and to help us focus on what is important in our lives.
I’m truely sorry if my post shocked you yesterday but it is part of this crazy world we live in and it’s people like us who can make a difference, we can stop cruelty, we can bring peace to this world… if we work ‘Together’!
I do hope you enjoy these images and meditate a little today, re-focus your mind and be at peace with the world!
Namaste
Mark
Endless Light and Love 
