Reflections after the Chan Meditation Training on Mount Emei, China Autumn 2015

It has been my fortune to have experienced many cultural styles of meditation including Native American, Tibetan, Japanese/Zen, Indian/Vipassana and Chinese/Chan. Studying with Grandmaster Fu Wei Zhong has been the pinnacle of all my experiences. This seven-day meditation and training intensive provided a rich and deep experience revealing new reference points for personal and spiritual growth. It has taken several months for me to integrate my experience; enough time that I may begin to share and inspire others to explore this path if it so resonates.

The challenge on the healing path is to be able to go deep enough to access the level of stored Qi information we experience as pain.  The goal then is to experience it through its complete energetic cycle to achieve a full release. 

The Emei Wuji Gong form is a clear gateway to enhance the meditative process. It strengthens your relationship with the Wuji state, whether within practice or when in taiji state. While excellent achievements may be experienced within movement and form, there are levels of achievement only possible through Chan sitting meditation. One practice does not negate the other. Rather, together they create both the yin and yang components, and internal and external cultivation, that creates balance we experienced as healing. 

The object of Chan is to discover “what is my heart” and “where is my heart” so that one may achieve Buddha nature within the common realm. The Chan teaching creates a focus of giving without being rooted in self-interest; giving with an “open hand”.  

The release of psychological and emotional pain while sitting strengthens Qi, thereby increasing circulation and creating a strong physical body.

A strong physical body is necessary to reach the spiritual levels Chan sitting meditation can take you. Through the strength that is attained, its focus can be used to help others while benefiting you as well, creating a win-win scenario.  Daily bodily expressions and sensations will diminish as they arise consciously and are resolved during sitting meditation. Sitting with the sensations allows us to experience the full cycle of expression of pain and our sensitivity to the fear of pain becomes diminished.