SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
FEBRUARY 2023 PART 3
Question 1
I just wanted to thank you for the many wonderful things you've taught me.
My brother invited me to a Buddhist centre here in Cape Town. My faith is growing and I find that I'm going more and more.
— Warren, South Africa
Answer
Buddhism is a beautiful religion. Actually we do not even call it a religion. The Buddhists call it "dharma" or the "teaching".The Buddha says that a Buddhist is one who avoids evil, does good and cultivates his mind. There are many ways to cultivate one's mind, like praying to God or the Buddha or Bodhisattvas (very high spiritual beings).
Sitting in a lotus position is not meditation, or a training of mind. Most people cannot relax and myriad thoughts come to their mind.
One of the best ways to get blessings is to be kind to one's parents. The Buddha teaches that a person carries his invalid father or mother not for one day but every day, not for one lifetime but for 500 lifetimes, yet he has not repaid the kindness which his father or mother has bestowed on him. Alternatively, you can be kind to any elderly person.
Question 2
I did an exercise out of the Chi Kung book you wrote just now. I feel marvellous. I want to do more.
— Brandon, USA
Answer
The exercises in my book are meant for my students.
I have to complete the exercises in a certain time, usually in a few hours. Normally students have to practice, usually in months, to perform the exercises correctly so that they acquire the skills in entering a chi kung state of mind. In our Intensive Chi Kung Course, we enter into chi kung state of mind in the first hour of the course.
To enter into a chi kung state of mind is very important. It means a higher level of consciousness. Most people do not realize that they have not entered into a chi kung state of mind. Practicing genuine chi kung is very rare. It was also very rare in the past.
Most people practice gentle, physical exercises, i.e. the external forms. Taijiquan (normally written as "Tai Chi Chuan") is a good analogy. Most people do not practice Taijiquan; they only practice the external forms. They do not have internal force and cannot use their external forms for combat. But they do not realize it.
I ask students to practice at 30% or less of their potential. I may strike you as being presumptuous, but I am just telling the truth. What is "high" level to us is actually "low" level to most people who practice gentle, physical exercises. They have not entered into a chi kung state of mind.
Entering into a "chi kung state of mind" is very important, otherwise most people practice gentle, physical exerrcise
Question 3
One of our students, Bernhard, reported being unable to feel love like he was able to before.
You yourself have been branded as a fake for many years now because you went against the mainstream narrative.
— Philip, USA
Answer
I disagree that Bernhard did not feel any love. The fact that he mentioned he "can feel love more intensive and longer" indicated that he did. Damian's article in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum must have done him good.
I was branded as a fake because I was honest. I showed that kungfu could be used for fighting, and that challengers from various countries came to China in the early 19th and the 20th centuries to challenge her, but were conveniently defeated showed that kungfu could be used for combat. But time has changed.
Today, kungfu is practiced as external form without any combat which led to martial sports like Karate and Kick-Boxing to blossom. Most people practice kungfu as external form without any combat which I clearly show as not genuine kungfu. Genuine kungfu is for fighting, but there are of course many benefits besides fighting.
Question 4
I like making scary faces and funny noises. I think I may be a psychopath.
— Bala, India
Answer
A psychopath is a disorder. Practicing chi kung is a very good way to overcome it.
Not many people know entering into a chi kung state of mind. They normally practice gentle, physical exercise but they call their art "chi kung". Chi kung is very rare.
Some years ago I had a gym owner teaching "chi kung" to other people, but he had not practice genuine high level chi kung, He taught he could teach some gentle, physical exercise, and he meant well.
Entering into a chi kung state of mind is very important in practicing chi kung. It is known in English as entering into higher consciousness. If one does not enter into a chi kung state of mind, he does not practice chi kung; he merely practices some gentle, physical exercise.
A good analogy is Taijiquan, written as Tai Chi Chuan in English. Many people practice "Taijiquan". But actually they do not practice Taijiquan; they just perform some Taijiquan external forms. They do not have internal force and cannot use their Taijiquan techniques for fighting. They have not enter into a chi kung state of mind. In Taijiquan terminology, they have not entered Tao.
In my many year of teaching, it is very important to enter into a chi kung state of mind, or to have a higher level of consciousness. If you are not in a chi kung state of mind, you merely perform gentle, physical exercise, which you can learn form a good book or a good video. It is usually cheaper. Students in my intensive courses can enter into a chi kung state of mind within an hour.
Kungfu is for fighting; otherwise it cannot be called "kungfu"
Question 5
Aren't you afraid that people will steal your kung fu without your knowledge by reading your books and watching your videos in your website?
Answer
There are two types of learning, which are "skills learning" and "content learning". Kungfu belongs to "skills learning" which includes football and driving. "Content learning" is what we learn in schools and universities, like history and mathematics.
I am not afraid that other people can steal my kungfu because basically it is skills that are most important. I can defeat masters and professional fighters. There are many benefits besides combat efficiency. Most importantly, I haven't been sick since more than 50 years ago.
Question 6
I hope you and your family are healthy
— Shaolin Wahnam Switzerland, Sifu Andrea Zilio
Answer
My family and I are very well and healthy. I practice every day, twice a day, but only for about 10-15 minutes.
I am very proud that I can run and jump, and can fall on hard ground, and have not been sick for more than 50 years.
The world lockdown is a nuisance, and I miss much of my world traveI. But I use the time to review my webpages.
Set training is very important but we must know what to look for in the sets
Question 7
After mainly set training I am glad we can go back to our regular training modus which includes applications.
Answer
Set practice is very important but we must know what to look for in the sets, not just going over the external forms.
Masters are made from set practice; they are too good to have sparring partners.
You should also develop internal force which we know can be used for daily living.
Question 8
On Youtube there is one master using "High Patting Horse" as a deflection against a boxer. But the application does not look safe or very useful. What application for this pattern would you recommend Sigung?
Answer
"High Patting Horse" is used to strike an opponent, or to thrust into his throat.
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
- Chi Kung: the Art of Developing Vital Energy
- A Comparison oof Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) and Shaolin Kungfu
- Some Applications of Dragon-Tiger Set
- There is Ground Fighting in Shaolin Kungfu
- Chinese Classical Weapons