Picture by Spacebom
At the end of last year, I suggested that people forgive. Forgive others and forgive themselves. And if you know you did wrong or someone else did wrong, forget the blame and emotional energy, let go and just don’t repeat it.
For this Chinese New Year we are at a time when it really pays to look over a long period of time and start changing what we all do so that things can work out much better for the long haul.
The Year of the Water Dragon is a special type of energy that only occurs every 60 years. It interesting that this falls during 2012, the supposed end of the world or the dawning of a new global spiritual awakening depending on whom you talk to. I want to give you a few perspectives on the Year of the Water Dragon that you may find interesting. Read More
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Hi folks,
Its has obviously been a big year. The biggest thing about the holidays in my opinion is to be kind and share your love with others.
Forgive everyone you can in every way so that the time the New Year comes you won't be holding onto anything. This is a great meditation. If you can let go and forgive what has happened in the last year your life will clearly be better moving into the next year. This includes both forgiving yourself and others.
Maybe you will have to take steps regarding the craziness that you have forgiven so it does not happen again. That is all good to do and remember that forgiveness helps you be free from the burdens of old creating space for the new to arrive.
Happy Holidays,
Bruce Frantzis
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A recent photo in Hutong Park, Beijing – Demonstrating the Bagua Single Palm Change
Hi folks,
A short post to say we are relaunching the Bagua Mastery Program for a limited time. We have printed an initial 100 units. We are closing the program before the New Year and will not reopen until 2013. Here is the link:
Bagua Mastery Program Launch
Everything furthers,
Bruce
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Bruce with Gao Ji Wu – Current President of the Beijing Bagua AssociationIn Beijing last week I awoke super early and had the feeling I should go to the park to meet someone. I know not who! It is important to follow you hunches in life.
After rousing my wife, off we went to Tien Tan (Temple of Heaven) Park, where I used to learn and practice with Feng Zher Chiang over 25 years ago. I also spent a lot of time in the park practicing a rare form of Northern Preying Mantis which I did with Li Jing Ru who is also known for bagua.
Back then, Tien Tan Park was one of the largest and most important parks for martial artists to practice. Don’t ask me how but I have always had a knack for finding masters in the oddest ways. Today it was extremely cold, but when you have a intuition you have to see where it leads you.
When we got there we asked and were directed towards where people are practicing some martial arts. The energy didn’t feel right. We then met an elder man who pointed us in a different direction. As we walked down the road through the park, we saw people practicing with steel whips, a traditional Chinese weapon. We were definitely getting closer. Read More
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Bruce Frantzis at Bai Yuan Guan Temple in Beijing
From an insider’s view, Bai Yuan Guan, or the White Cloud Temple, is considered the meeting point for Taoists to connect from all over North China. The complex is the main Taoist temple in Beijing.
Over 25 years ago, from 1985-6, my Taoist master used to send me to White Cloud once or twice a week. He gave me meditation practices, which I did at two spots here. At the time I lived only a 15 minute walk away. Read More
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Taoist Master Liu Hung Chieh and Bruce Frantzis in the 1980's
Last week I was interviewed by China Radio International (CRI) about my experiences in China in the mid 1980′s. Please enjoy:
Born and raised in the USA, Bruce Frantzis spent a total of 11 years in China in the 70s and 80s. He was one of the few foreigners studying martial arts in this …
english.cri.cn/7146/2011/12/05/2001s670230.htm
Stay tuned for a few more blog posts from China.
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Fried Scorpions and Seahorses on a Stick
Walking through the streets of Bejing after twenty-five years is quite a trip!
One astonishing sight is the pollution. Yesterday the sky was a nasty shade of grey, and you could barely see the sun through the soup. Yet I was told that it wasn’t that bad. Apparently there is “bad”, “very bad” and then there is “crazy bad”. The U.S. Embassy issues a pollution alert only when the worst is “crazy bad”. All I know is that last night I began coughing, found black in my nostrils, and got a vicious headache. Normally to relieve headaches there are points you can press in the eyes and forehead bones just above the eye sockets. I have never experienced such pain from pressing these points, nor had my entire eye socket bone hurt so bad. Went to bed early, thankfully the headache was gone by morning. Check out this from the US consulate in Beijing: Read More
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Photo Shoot for China Radio International
Today in Bejing I met a friendly 17-year-old kid. He had heard of Lao Tse, but like his peers, knew little about Taoism except the simplified book of Lao Tse (the Chinese translated the Tao Te Jing from the classical Chinese characters to the simplified ones of mainland China). The Cultural Revolution, which aimed to destroy old Chinese culture, keeps continuing and going strong.
The young man mentioned that it seemed as if foreigners are more interested and knowledgeable about old Chinese culture than most Chinese. He commented that nowadays, many of the youth are driven by money and consumerism, leaving behind culture and human values.
The conversation made me reflect on an interview I had just finished with China Radio International (CRI). On air, I spoke of the relevance of Chi work to modern Chinese life, where everything currently is just about money. I expressed that regardless of economic status or social position, if a person’s inner life was not in good shape, life in general can easily be unhappy and unfulfilling.
Money alone is not life. Rich or not, a person whose insides and outsides are in balance will get the most out of life. At the end of my time on the air, I encouraged Chinese youth to find legitimate masters, learn from them, and keep the traditions alive for future generations.
From the road,
Bruce
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