SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
FEBRUARY 2023 PART 2
Closing eyes to nourish "shen"
Question 1
Is "closing eyes to nourish shen" the same as meditation?
— Bala, India
Answer
Closing the eyes is very different from meditation. Meditation is a training of mind.The term "meditation" is wrongly chosen. It started when the early Fathers reflected on the words of God. In my school of meditation we do not have any thoughts.
However, if we close our eyes to nourish "shen" (or spirit), it can be a form of meditation. I recall that my sifu, Sifu Ho Fatt Nam, did not sleep. He closed his eyes to nourish "shen".
When people sit in a lotus position, they call it "meditation". But myriad thoughts come to their mind, and they cannot relax.
Question 2
It ended with the child physically becoming violent with numerous kicks, stomping of feet, and violent words you would not expect from a child.
— Ami, USA
Answer
The boy should not be violent. If I were around, I would have whacked him.
You are doing the boy a favour; you are making him healthy. He should be more deserving.
Tell the mother that the boy should be punished. There should not be any kicking or stomping of feet.
He is no match for you. You have your kungfu. Use it when necessary.
There is no need to give him chi. He doesn't deserve it. It is better for him to generate his own chi flow. Teach him to relax and smile from the heart.
Spiritual Dragon Rolls Clouds
Question 3
What you wrote about the merits of the eye exercises is a great inspiration to train every day.
— Sifu Roeland Dijkema, Shaolin Wahnam Netherlands
Answer
The Shaolin Eight Eye Exercises are wonderful. I work on my computer constantly so much that my wife has often told me to be careful with my eyes, but I don't have to wear spectacles. I believe my eyes are better than people half my age.
We have to practice our exercises every day, but the amount that we know, it may not be possible. Practice the exercises whenever you feel it necessary.
Question 4
When I do the first part of Dragon Strength, I let the chi flow when doing "Spiritual Dragon Rolls Clouds" and I have a gentle thought to consolidate whilst still letting the chi flow.
Answer
The Dragon Strength is my favourite, but I only perform the force training part. For combat application, I prefer our Shaolin 16 Combat Sequences.
Many people in our school are able to handle most combat situations, including opponents of some masters and professional fighters. If the need arises, we have to depend on some combat sequences from Essence of Shaolin.
The way you train Dragon Strength is correct. Flowing force is for good health, vitality and longevity, whereas consolidated force is for work. But the way we train in Shaolin Wahnam, we should focus on flowing force. Even if we use just a bit of consolidated force, we can cause much injury.
Chi kung is very rare
Question 5
I mainly updated and maintained the Shaolin Wahnam London website and connected with a couple of potential students that showed interested in Qigong and Taijiquan courses. I have connected with a few more potential students
— James. England
Answer
You were right. We focus on teaching deserving students genuine chi kung and kungfu. For those who are undeserving, we leave alone; we only teach the deserving.
Many people practice chi kung and kungfu, and call them "chi kung" and "kungfu", but they only practice gentle, physical exercise and bash themselves freely.
They have no idea what chi kung is and have no idea in experiencing chi. Many people have no idea what kungfu is and cannot defend themselves. Most importantly, they have no idea of what contributes to good health, vitality and longevity.
Genuine chi kung is rare, and was rare. Genuine kungfu is rarer still.
But we have to charge high fees, and we have no time for the undeserving. People in the past paid a very high fee for learning genuine chi kung and genuine kungfu.
Some like the early Romans before the Roman Empire became Christian paid with their lives. Some had to leave their families to become Buddhists. We just have no time for the undeserving.
Question 6
I understand that Sitaigung Ho & Sitaigung Lai are both patriarchs of the Shaolin Wahnam School.
We refer to Zhang San Feng as the First Patriarch of Taijiquan and we acknowledge the great Bodhidharma as the first patriarch of Shaolin Kung Fu.
It is said that Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, the Monkey God, the Great Sage equal to heaven & Immortal Li are all patriarchs of the Shaolin Wahnam School too.
Is the Zen Patriarch, the Great Bodhidharma, a patriarch of the Shaolin Wahnam School?
Answer
The term "patriarch" is subjective.
Sometimes I have used the term "grandmaster" for both my sifus, Sifu Lai Chin Wah whom I usually address as Uncle Righteousness, and Sifu Ho Fatt Nam. They were two of the greatest sifus in the world, and they form the main substance of our school, Shaolin Wahnam. Of course I honour my other sifus, Sifu Chee Kim Thong and Sifu Choe Hoong Choy.
We usually refer to the Venerable Chee Seen and the Venerable Jiang Nam as patriarchs. We honour Zhang San Feng as the First Patriarch of Taijiquan and the great Bodhidharma as the First Patriarch of Shaolin Kungfu.
We refer to the great Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva as a patriarch, and to Monkey God and Immortal Li as gods. The Zen Patriarch, the great Bodhidharma, is a patriarch of the Shaolin Wahnam School.
"Counting Leaves" is a very good exercise
Question 7
I have started to work in a hospital. This has brought about some interesting challenges. I sometimes miss not spending so much time with my wife and daughter.
— Steffen Wankmuller, Germany
Answer
Although working in a hospital meets many challenges, thinking of your wife and daughter is wonderful. You always have someone to return to, when you go home.
Question 8
I usually do the Small Universe in Wuji Stance. This sometimes leads to spontaneous expansion into the Cosmos without me doing anything extra. I wonder if it would be useful to advance to the Cosmos Stance? If I remember correctly, you kindly shared with us that the main benefit of Cosmos Stance is enhancing results.
Answer
Right now I practice the Small and the Big Universe.
From your description, your Small Universe is beautiful, and the spontaneous expansion into the Cosmos without doing anything extra is splendid.
You should progress to the Cosmos Stance, but do so carefully. The Cosmos Stance will enhance results.
If you have any questions, please e-mail them to Grandmaster Wong via his Secretary at stating your name, country and e-mail address.
LINKS
Selected Reading
- Dragon-Strength Chi-Circulation Set
- Is Shaolin Kungfu too Flowery for Combat?
- From Moving Slowly and Gracefully to Moving Fast and Spontaneously
- Difference between Shaolin Kungfu in Shaolin Wahnam and Martial Art in Shaolin Temple in Henan Today
- Application of Advanced Patterns of Shaolin Flower Set