Flying Phoenix Chi Kung

[simply puzzled]

Hey Terry,

 

After reading this thread, I got Vol. I a little bit ago, and I've been performing the exercises. I really, really enjoy FP compared to some of the other forms of Qigong I've experimented with. I injured my neck in an auto accident years ago. Though my Taiji helps, FP brings that mixture of pain and release that you get from an incredibly good massage, and once I'm done, it feels 100% better. Tonight, I even made my roommate do the exercises with me since her lower back has been killing her for days, and afterwards, she was almost completely better.

 

Thanks so much not only for the videos but for spending so much time on this thread. It is truly appreciated.

[Junbao]

Hi Sifu Terry!

 

I have had a recent change in my energy over the past few days and was hoping to get some questions to you regarding this.

 

A few days ago my FP practice was MHP, then the warm up with the hands facing above the knees (50, 10 ,50), and then MSW #3. During MHP I first felt the sensation I had before where my sense of body and direction dissolved, which MHP seems to do for me nicely. Then something new happened where I felt some sense of I guess what might be my energetic body shifting, solidifying, and then shifting again. I might not be describing this quite right but it's the best I can think of. It was no biggie and subtle but I noticed it.

After MHP and the other two meds, the rest of the day my energy was doubled at least, but not in the up all night can't sleep kind of way. Things were just more effortless.

The thing is it's a bit uncomfortable such a sudden change. Not terrible but not as relaxed feeling as I was before.

I was wondering if the stillness meds are more for building and the meds in motion for circulating? I only do one standing med per day and hold it for about 15 - 20 min, and do 1 MSW med and WTTT. IDK if I should back off the stillness ones for now and just focus on circulating till things balance back out again? Or maybe it's a particular med that my body responds to this way?

Also I have been feeling some stagnation in the lower dan tien along with some heartburn although that could be totally unrelated.

There is a bit of energy stuck around the top of the neck/shoulder blades area too.

In your reply to Christoph the other day you mention BTB, WAC, and WTTT are all good for circulating the energy, so I am working with those. In regards to WAC...well from what I understand WTTT is a longer form that is done only once per breathing sequence? And BTB can be done several reps after the breathing sequence before closing. I'm not clear on WAC though if it is done only once after the breathing or can be done several times before closing.

I still have not learned the second longer med on the third DVD. Perhaps it is time for me to put the other stuff on hold and work on that for a while?

 

Whatever your recommendations would be based on my explanation here would be much appreciated. I was even considering going for the long standing med on DVD 4 but I think I might be best to finish DVD 3 first?

 

I really am enjoying this practice a lot. Just need a little fine tuning for this new fuel my machine is running!

 

Thanks and blessings!

 

Junbao

[Friend]

Edited November 16, 2011 by Friend

[zen-bear]

Hey Terry,

 

After reading this thread, I got Vol. I a little bit ago, and I've been performing the exercises. I really, really enjoy FP compared to some of the other forms of Qigong I've experimented with. I injured my neck in an auto accident years ago. Though my Taiji helps, FP brings that mixture of pain and release that you get from an incredibly good massage, and once I'm done, it feels 100% better. Tonight, I even made my roommate do the exercises with me since her lower back has been killing her for days, and afterwards, she was almost completely better.

 

Thanks so much not only for the videos but for spending so much time on this thread. It is truly appreciated.

 

 

Hi Simply Puzzled,

 

Thanks for sharing your and your roommate's experiences with the Flying Phoenix Qigong. There is nothing more gratifying for a teacher of this system than to get a positive report like yours--that after a session of FP practice, you feel 100% better and got sublime relief from the effects of an old serious injury.

 

Neck injuries and head injuries of course are very difficult to rehabilitate. In the 80's, before I learned the FP system, I had two dedicated Tai Chi students who were both Occupation Therapists specializing with the head-injured. I learned from following their work that even by applying a Tai Chi-based therapy (which they formally instituted at their respective hospitals back east and got funding for) plus a strong Qigong system (basic of Tao Tan Pai that I also taught), the healing process is very slow.

 

That "mixture of pain and release" that you felt is the healing effect of the FP Energy. If you continue practicing it on a regular basis, you will slowly but surely release all the time-bound pain from the injury that can be released. In all holistic healing (models), the basic premise is that the body is inherently perfectly able to heal itself...and if left to its most natural and pristine functions without the mind's and nervous system's tendency to repress (i.e., not feel) the pain of the injury, the integrated body will heal itself more quickly and more thoroughly. (This isn't to say that repression is always a bad thing; rather, pain repression is a necessary for survival, it's an important facet of our "fight or flight" mechanism. But after we've suffered a severe or catastrophic injury, the body's natural repression of the pain can become extreme and "rigidifying", locking the energy (pain) of the initial trauma within the bodily tissues permanently. Rehabilitation then becomes a process of systematically releasing and de-rigidifying the body form its necessarily repressed, pained, and "contorted" state.

 

*Your very accurate description of the healing process brought on by FP Meditation as the "mixture of pain and release" gives rise to its converse: that "pain is in the resistance," which has been a yogic fact and holistic healing principle since time immemorial. (this isn't to make light in any way of the real and unbearable pain inflicted at the point of injury and trauma; I know what pain and suffering is. It speaks more to the healing process, post-trauma.)

 

Effective Qigong like Flying Phoenix and other truly healing yogas put the body in its primordial, pristine, self-healing state through regular practice. Very high-level yogi's can attain this effective, fast-self-healing state in meditation. It can also be induced to a certain extent through deep hynotherapy, depending on the subject and the expertise and particular schooling of the hypnotherapist. What I'm talking about, unfortunately,is not something that people can attain in a 50-min. yoga class lying on their backs listening to the sweet guided imagery or new age affirmations of the yoga teacher--no matter how nurturing or well-intended. (Unless of course, the yoga teacher is true master with powers.)

 

Any good Qigong system will have a powerful, esoteric formula (what I call its "alchemy") that refines and then coordinates the 3 processes or elements of Qigong: (1) xing (shape-form of the body), (2) yi (meditative concentration--not just "intent" or "mental focus"), and (3) chi (breathing or energy)

...to put the body in the primordial, pristine, self-healing state where mind and body are perfectly integrated, marked by the ability to "feel what you think" and "think what you feel" without any friction or one nano-second of a time-lapse between those two functions of thinking and feeling. Various yogic cultures give this state different names: "samadhi","transcendental", "stopping the world." As I've cited several times in past postings, one of the most ancient standards for attaining the samadhic state is described in the I Ching in hexagram #52: "Keeping Still. Keepiing his back still until he no longer feels his body."

 

***But the samadhic state is not the ultimate physiological self-healing state. Beyond promoting access to the samadhic state, FP Qigong in its very unique way activates the body's natural healing processes by putting all the organ functions under the regulation of the subconscious mind through its unique alchemy. FP Qigong's physiological effects (if they could only be scientifically studied and compared against a control group and a range of other Qigong methods!) are thus very, very different form the energizing and rejuvenating effects of other Qigong systems. Again, this is the precise English wording (in italics above) that my teacher used to describe how the FP Qigong works to heal the body and how Flying Phoenix energy is cultivated. Think about this process statement...it has very profound and far-reaching implications.

 

I hope you continue to reap more benefits and feel better from the FP practice, so that you very soon shift your screenname to "Simply Unpuzzled" :0)

 

Since you're recovering from a neck injury, I would highly recommend the seated exercises in Volume Two, because the seated "Monk Serves Wine" moving meditations create very pronounced energizing effects throughout the upper body and imparts a certain tangible sensation within the brain that I'll let you find out for yourself. (*perhaps other contributors and FP-testers can chime in to confirm the tangible effects in the upper body imparted by the Basic Seated Meds. but not completely give away the surprise! )

 

Best,

 

Terry Dunn

 

P.S. Again, I'm glad to explain as much as I can about the workings of FP Qigong because as you'll discover more and more, it has nothing but beneficial and salient effects--and also, as I explained before, the Flying Phoenix Celestial Healing Qi Meditation (Fei Feng San Kung) system is a purely healing or medical qigong system that cannot be abused or co-opted by the profane and deranged to do harm. (Which is the whole reason for high secrecy in the Chinese martial, yogic and spiritual traditions.) Thus I can be very forthcoming with what I know about practicing the system--as opposed to other internal arts taught by GM Doo Wai.

Edited October 27, 2010 by zen-bear

[johndoe2012]

I was experimenting with one of the FB breathing patterns.

I used from GM Doo Wai the "Ginger Breath" from Youtube aka "Grandmaster Doo Wai Healing Qigong sitting Meditation"

Breathing pattern is 50 40 30 20 10 then 5 minute meditation with a hand seal eating a little bit ginger per day for 108 days.

 

That breathing sequence is Monk Holding Pearl. Nice to know that ginger works in tandem with the meditation. I will go make some ginger tea

[johndoe2012]

Regarding 8 Brocades: I find Scott Sonnon's Intu-Flow better for a general warm-up even though it is a joint mobility exercise and not a qi building exercise. There is generally very little "juice" in the 8 Brocades.

 

The pain and release in FP I can relate to. I feel some pain in the shoulders when Monk Gazing at Moon (both sitting and standing).

 

Generally these days I feel a lot of "massaging" or "energy-pulse" in my third eye area / area between my eye brows when doing the FP meditations even the Monk Holding Peach which is supposed to channeling energy to the middle dan tien.

 

I also think my current cultivation efforts (the sum of tai chi, meditation and qigong) are superior to psychotherapy in generating changes in mind state. I'm not sure whether I can give FP all the honor but I feel a general relief of stuff that I have got rid of.

It seems that the Taoist model of feelings stored in the organs could be true or you could say that mind and body is just the same thing.

[zen-bear]

That breathing sequence is Monk Holding Pearl. Nice to know that ginger works in tandem with the meditation. I will go make some ginger tea

 

 

Yes, ginger works with all the Flying Phoenix meditations. Ginger is also one of the five ingredients in one partidular meditation tincture used for FP Qigong and other internal arts in the BFP tradition.

 

But for best results, you want to use the sliver of raw ginger in the mouth, not tea'd.

 

 

Terry Dunn

[JohnC]

 

I also think my current cultivation efforts (the sum of tai chi, meditation and qigong) are superior to psychotherapy in generating changes in mind state. I'm not sure whether I can give FP all the honor but I feel a general relief of stuff that I have got rid of.

It seems that the Taoist model of feelings stored in the organs could be true or you could say that mind and body is just the same thing.

 

Agreed.

 

Somatic psychology is all about this, as well as subluxation in chiropractic work.

 

Google subluxation and you can see some charts that map out really well with chakra theory.

 

John

[johndoe2012]

I forgot to mention that at the 2 month mark for my FP practise I started noticing the wrinkles in my face had smoothened out - so I now I look younger

 

So this is definitely a validation of this qigong.

[Friend]

Edited November 16, 2011 by Friend

[zen-bear]

Regarding 8 Brocades: I find Scott Sonnon's Intu-Flow better for a general warm-up even though it is a joint mobility exercise and not a qi building exercise. There is generally very little "juice" in the 8 Brocades.

 

The pain and release in FP I can relate to. I feel some pain in the shoulders when Monk Gazing at Moon (both sitting and standing).

 

Generally these days I feel a lot of "massaging" or "energy-pulse" in my third eye area / area between my eye brows when doing the FP meditations even the Monk Holding Peach which is supposed to channeling energy to the middle dan tien.

 

I also think my current cultivation efforts (the sum of tai chi, meditation and qigong) are superior to psychotherapy in generating changes in mind state. I'm not sure whether I can give FP all the honor but I feel a general relief of stuff that I have got rid of.

It seems that the Taoist model of feelings stored in the organs could be true or you could say that mind and body is just the same thing.

 

 

WTM,

I'm glad that you are starting to feel some of the remarkable benefits of the FP Qigong.

 

All the FP exercises work systemically (I don't mean here "systematically"--although that's also true) and the massaging, "energy-pulsing" at the third eye (and later "washing") that you felt occurs because each exercise's posture combined with the breath-control sequences works first to ignite the FP energy and then to release its circulation between the sacral and occipital areas of the spine and up to the top of the head. All the upper chakras naturally get charged and activated.

Best,

Sifu Terry

[JohnC]

WTM,

I'm glad that you are starting to feel some of the remarkable benefits of the FP Qigong.

 

All the FP exercises work systemically (I don't mean here "systematically"--although that's also true) and the massaging, "energy-pulsing" at the third eye (and later "washing") that you felt occurs because each exercise's posture combined with the breath-control sequences works first to ignite the FP energy and then to release its circulation between the sacral and occipital areas of the spine and up to the top of the head. All the upper chakras naturally get charged and activated.

Best,

Sifu Terry

 

Sifu Terry,

 

Does it activate the lower chakra's as well?

 

Continually impressed with this qigong.

 

Thanks,

John

[zen-bear]

Hello Junbao,

 

My comments are below in italic-bold.

I'm glad you starting to have fun experiences with the FP training.

 

Hi Sifu Terry!

 

I have had a recent change in my energy over the past few days and was hoping to get some questions to you regarding this.

 

A few days ago my FP practice was MHP, then the warm up with the hands facing above the knees (50, 10 ,50), and then MSW #3. During MHP I first felt the sensation I had before where my sense of body and direction dissolved, which MHP seems to do for me nicely.

 

sense of body and direction dissolving: absolutely normal in FP meditation and correct meditation period:...old "boundaries" in one's belief system as opposed to reality--disappear. Also refer to I Ching hexagram #52: Keeping Still, keeping his back still so that he no longer feels his body.

 

Then something new happened where I felt some sense of I guess what might be my energetic body shifting, solidifying, and then shifting again. I might not be describing this quite right but it's the best I can think of. It was no biggie and subtle but I noticed it.

 

"shifting, solidying, and then shifting again." need more info here.

Shifting in any particular direction? or compression/expansion? rising/sinking?

Or do you mean dissolution/reassemblage? Refer to Carlos Castaneda's "Second Ring of Power" and "The Fire Within" where he talks about the warrior's ability to re-arranging his assemblage point--and thereby structures the world.

 

After MHP and the other two meds, the rest of the day my energy was doubled at least, but not in the up all night can't sleep kind of way. Things were just more effortless.

The thing is it's a bit uncomfortable such a sudden change. Not terrible but not as relaxed feeling as I was before.

 

Doubled energy level is very good sign. Congrats.

 

I was wondering if the stillness meds are more for building and the meds in motion for circulating?

 

Naturally the moving meds. actively circulate the FP energy; but the sedentary meditations also thoroughly circulate the energy as long as you do them long enough: 7-10 minutes to be certain of results!

 

I only do one standing med per day and hold it for about 15 - 20 min, and do 1 MSW med and WTTT. IDK if I should back off the stillness ones for now and just focus on circulating till things balance back out again? Or maybe it's a particular med that my body responds to this way?

 

Also I have been feeling some stagnation in the lower dan tien along with some heartburn although that could be totally unrelated.

There is a bit of energy stuck around the top of the neck/shoulder blades area too.

In your reply to Christoph the other day you mention BTB, WAC, and WTTT are all good for circulating the energy, so I am working with those.

 

Good. concentrating on these 3 will solidify your practice further. You want to do the sedentary standing meds. As much as possible along with those 3. Sacrifice one group for the other only if you are that pressed for time in your training. the fact is that the stationary and moving FP meditations all work togther towards remarkable results.

 

In regards to WAC...well from what I understand WTTT is a longer form that is done only once per breathing sequence? And BTB can be done several reps after the breathing sequence before closing. I'm not clear on WAC though if it is done only once after the breathing or can be done several times before closing.

 

Wind Above the Clouds is done just ONCE after the breath control sequence, 50-40-30. If you want to do another round of it, take 3 breathes to end the previous meditation, and then start another breath-control sequence starting with 3 full breathes.

 

I still have not learned the second longer med on the third DVD. Perhaps it is time for me to put the other stuff on hold and work on that for a while?

 

Whatever your recommendations would be based on my explanation here would be much appreciated. I was even considering going for the long standing med on DVD 4 but I think I might be best to finish DVD 3 first?

 

That longer "Moonbeam Splashes on Water" meditation is a sublime beauty of a yogic exercise--as its name indicates. Get to it whenever you get to it. Concentrating on BTB, WAC and WTTT will get you there nicely. No hurry!

 

 

I really am enjoying this practice a lot. Just need a little fine tuning for this new fuel my machine is running!

 

I'm very glad you're feeling and enjoying the tangible effects of the FP cultivation. It is indeed a "new fuel". Imagine the whole world running on it. The fuel reserve accumulates nicely over time with regular practice until you get to a state of superabundance.

 

Thanks and blessings!

 

Junbao

 

 

You're very welcome.

 

Sifu Terry

[zen-bear]

Sifu Terry,

 

Does it activate the lower chakra's as well?

 

Continually impressed with this qigong.

 

Thanks,

John

 

 

 

John,

Yes, of course. The lower chakras are part of the human system.

You will not feel the activation in the lower chakras in the same manner that you feel that in the upper ones.

 

And one will also not feel the activation of the lower chakras in the same manner that one would feel their activation using a different a Qigong or yoga system (that utilizes different energetics).

 

Terry Dunn

[VCraigP]

Wind above the clouds is only done once???

 

I don't think you say that on the vid. Good tip then. Now I can do it REALLY slow and know I just have to get through it once.

 

BTW - still practicing intermittently the CKFH 2. For some reason Monk gazes at moon with the wrist tweaking is really challenging and energizing at the same time. Need more regular practice.

 

Craig

[zen-bear]

Sifu,

No, I have not done any TTP for a long while. I remember a few people loosing it at the T.S.

while doing it. Required healers to be close by to help. We spoke about a year ago and I wanted to do the

Ruler again but you suggested the FP, which I like.

 

One question on Wind above closed. I like to stretch deeply when doing it. Meaning

the extended arm is almost touching the ground next to me ankle and then I turn to the other side.

 

Any problems with that? Feels good after standing.

 

Thanks Again.

Ruthless

 

 

Hi Ruthless,

 

Sorry I didn't answer your last question about Wind Above the Clouds. No problem whatsoever in doing it with extreme, relaxed stretching. (My hand is out past my foot... right above the ground when I do it). As long as you maintain total body relaxation throughout the movements, the exercise will work for you.

 

Enjoy,

 

Terry Dunn

 

P.S. Yes, the Tao Tan Pai neigung requires close supervision when being practiced.

[Fu_dog]

Sifu Terry -

 

At this point in my practice (11 months now) I find myself gravitating towards the advanced seated meditations. I am currently practicing the first the and have a few questions:

 

With FP standing meditations there is a long form that, IIRC, encompasses the benefits of all other standing meditations. My first question regarding the advanced seated forms is, is there an equivalent in the seated meditations, i.e., one advanced seated that includes the benefits of all others?

 

My second question is regarding practice schedule. Doing advanced seated exercises "as slow as a shifting sand dune" can take me up to 30 minutes per meditation. My practice plan is to do one advanced per evening. I am thinking doing a different one per night would allow me to do all of the advanced seated FP meditations during a one week period. However, I thought I would ask your opinion on a practice schedule. (Note: I also do the basic seated FP meditations every week and fully concur with something as stated in one of your earlier posts, that the so called "basic exercises" aren't so basic!).

 

A third thing I would appreciate your comment on is this: There seems to me to be parallels between the FP advanced seated mediations and Zen or Chan style meditation. I can't clear my mind *completely* during advanced seated as in Chan style meditation, or else you l would lose my place. However, while doing FP seated meditations, there is a sublime peacefulness and calmness of mind experienced. Also, there is one point in the third advanced seated where you join thumb and forefinger and hold them over the knees for a few seconds, and in those few seconds with completely clear mind there is an amazing sense of the One. In those few seconds of stillness it seems one reaches a state very similar to (or even deeper than) that experienced in Chan style meditation.....and then of course you continue on with the movements. Any observations you care to make on this aspect of the practice is greatly appreciated.

 

Again, thanks for your contributions to the board!

 

Lloyd

 

 

Edited for grammar.

Edited November 1, 2010 by Fu_dog

[rsalazar]

Hello Sifu Terry,

 

During the Monk Serves Wine meditations, I sometimes get distracted for a moment and then lose count - If I'm off by one repetition, will the three closing breaths take care of any inconsistencies? Or is there anything else I should do to correct for any mistakes? Is it better to add an extra rep if I suspect I haven't done the full 7? This doesn't happen often, but every once in a while I have a momentary daydream for a few seconds while I go through the movements,which throws me off.

 

Many thanks,

Rene'

Edited November 2, 2010 by rsalazar

[zen-bear]

Wind above the clouds is only done once???

 

I don't think you say that on the vid. Good tip then. Now I can do it REALLY slow and know I just have to get through it once.

 

BTW - still practicing intermittently the CKFH 2. For some reason Monk gazes at moon with the wrist tweaking is really challenging and energizing at the same time. Need more regular practice.

 

Craig

 

 

 

Hi Craig,

 

Yes, Wind Above the Clouds is done just one time following the breath-control sequence. (I'm pretty sure it's on the DVD instruction.) And yes, you can do it as slowly as you can with the knowledge that you only need to do it once. Of course, do it multiples times with the breath sequence each time (interpersed with the other FP exercises) is a deeper practice and can only provide more benefit.

 

Enjoy,

 

Sifu Terry

[zen-bear]

Sifu Terry,

With the seated, I have a bit of a problem with doing the Half Lotus. Knee stuff. Is the most important thing to have the spine straight? I need to be a pillow of some sort and my wife can not even do that.

 

Could one sit in a chair and sit with a straight spine not supported by the back of the chair

and do the Basic Seated?

 

Ruthless

 

 

Hello Ruthless,

Everyone has to work around their physical idiosyncracies and limitations. Many of my older students bring meditation cushions and pillows to sit on when they do the Monk serves Wine seated med's. Keeping the back straight and vertical of course is absolutely essential in FP Qigong and all forms of meditation.

 

Doing the MSW meditations in half-lotus or full-lotus is optimal.

Next best is sitting cross-legged.

Next best is sitting propped up on a pillow or meditation cushion.

Next best is sitting in a chair with feet flat on fllor--and you can have your back propped up against back of chair. For beginners starting seated FP Qigong, supporting the back to maintain erectness and stillness is actually is better than not supporting the back.

 

While it is desirable to develop good seated meditation posture with being propped up by anything, there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing the seated MSW exercises with the back propped up against a vertical wall--for the long run. I do it that way in my personal practice all the time. When I teach FPQigong I don't use props or lean-to's, but I allow my students to bring any type of props and aids that they feel they need to do the seated ex's more comfortably and correctly.

 

So don't deprive yourself of the chair-back. Use it!

 

Sifu Terry

[VCraigP]

A concept which I have been incorporating of late is from the Chunyi Lin interview.

 

There is good, better and best.

 

Best to do full lotus or half lotus. Other than than that it is good to practice at all compared to not practicing.

 

Craig

[Warrior Body Buddha Mind]

Hi Sifu Terry (Si Hing)

 

Just letting you know im back with a new name, will be in contact soon I havent forgotten your package also brother, getting there!!!

 

Sifu Garry

[Fu_dog]

Welcome back Sifu Garry!

[zen-bear]

Hi Sifu Terry (Si Hing)

 

Just letting you know im back with a new name, will be in contact soon I havent forgotten your package also brother, getting there!!!

 

Sifu Garry

 

 

Hi Sifu Garry (Si-hing),

 

Good to see you with your new screenname. WBBM.

Can't wait to see it, Brother. I've loved every clip that you've forwarded to me over the past year. Thanks! More from me will be coming to you as well.

 

Best,

Sifu Terry

[Warrior Body Buddha Mind]

Hello,

 

Let me know also when you have time to Skype?

 

One.

Sifu Garry