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Zen and Taoist Stories Go With The Flow -- This Taoist story tells of an old man who accidentally fell into the river rapids leading to a high and dangerous waterfall. Onlookers feared for his life. Miraculously, he came out alive and unharmed downstream at the bottom of the falls. People asked him how he managed to survive. "I accommodated myself to the water, not the water to me. Without thinking, I allowed myself to be shaped by it. Plunging into the swirl, I came out with the swirl. This is how I survived." Egotism -- The Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty was a national hero for his success as both a statesman and military leader. But despite his fame, power, and wealth, he considered himself a humble and devout Buddhist. Often he visited his favorite Zen master to study under him, and they seemed to get along very well. The fact that he was prime minister apparently had no effect on their relationship, which seemed to be simply one of a revered master and respectful student. One day, during his usual visit, the Prime Minister asked the master, "Your Reverence, what is egotism according to Buddhism?" The master's face turned red, and in a very condescending and insulting tone of voice, he shot back, "What kind of stupid question is that?" This unexpected response so shocked the Prime Minister that he became sullen and angry. The Zen master then smiled and said, "THIS, Your Excellency, is egotism." Spider -- A Tibetan story that tells of a meditation student who, while meditating in his room, believed he saw a spider descending in front of him. Each day the menacing creature returned, growing larger and larger each time. So frightened was the student, that he went to his teacher to report his dilemma. He said he planned to place a knife in his lap during meditation, so when the spider appeared he would kill it. The teacher advised him against this plan. Instead, he suggested, bring a piece of chalk to meditation, and when the spider appeared, mark an "X" on its belly. Then report back. The student returned to his meditation. When the spider again appeared, he resisted the urge to attack it, and instead did just what the master suggested. When he later reported back to the master, the teacher told him to lift up his shirt and look at his own belly. There was the "X". For the original see Why Read Zen and Taoist Stroies at The University of Utah |
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In the Women’s Corner: Susan Rabinowitz The Water Method underlies all of Susan's teaching. It is based on the idea of going with the flow of nature, of letting things happen rather than making them happen. As water wears away rock, practitioners of this method dissolve energy blockages and allow their energy to circulate freely. The method builds a foundation of good health on which practitioners can transform themselves into balanced, mature beings at ease with themselves and the universe. The transformation may be worked through martial arts, chi kung, meditation or a combination of these. Susan is a graduate of the William C.C. Chen School of Tai Chi Chuan, where she studied with Master B.P. Chan, and a student of Master Ping Zhen Cheng, from whom she is learning the Wu Tang tradition of Yang style tai chi. She holds a B.A. in psychology and is a licensed massage therapist. In addition to her work at the Taoist Arts Center, she has taught tai chi and chi kung at a number of public and private institutions, including New York University, the New School University and Virginia Tech. Susan's work was showcased on the video Who Am I? Why Am I Here? narrated by Thomas Moore and was featured on the cable TV program Light...Quest. Her article Dragon and Tiger Chi Kung appeared in the November 2002 issue of Inside Kung Fu Magazine. For older adults, she has developed a chi kung program called Eldercise. Susan founded the Taoist Arts Center in 1990 as a place where students can learn traditional Taoist Arts in a friendly and cooperative environment. She caters to students of all backgrounds, walks of life and levels of experience. Her approach is based on authentic, traditional health, martial arts and meditation systems of China. She makes these systems accessible to everyone through clear and thorough instruction geared toward maintaining health and emotional and spiritual balance amid the stresses of daily life. The Taoist Arts Center is located at 342 East 9th Street, New York, NY 10003. Further information is available by calling (212)477-7055 or by visiting the center's web site at www.taoist-arts.com Women's Corner: Susan Rabinowitz was published by Martial Arts World News 2005 at http://www.maworldnews.com/article_susan_rabinowitz.htm |
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Introducing: The Taoist Arts Center The Taoist Arts Center's approach to the internal arts is rooted in the Water Method of Lao Tsu (Laozi) and the early Taoists which Ms. Rabinowitz learned from B.K. Frantzis, a lineage disciple of the Taoist Sage Liu Hung Chieh. The Water Method underlies all teaching at the Taoist Arts Center, and is based on the idea of going with the flow of nature and letting things happen rather than making them happen. As water wears away rock, so practitioners of this method dissolve energy blockages and allow their energy to circulate freely. The practices are designed to harmonize individuals with themselves, their environment and the universe and to help them maintain their health and balance amid the stresses of daily life. The Taoist Arts Center caters to students at all levels who want to raise their energy and achieve a relaxed vitality through authentic Chinese health, martial arts and meditation systems and aims to make these systems accessible to students through clear and thorough instruction in Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Meditation. An increasingly popular aspect of Chinese medicine, Chi Kung balances and increases the body's energies and helps develop feelings of health, strength and well being by using the natural functions of your body to release stress, develop flexibility, coordination and stamina and to heal chronic joint and back problems. Centuries ago in China, Taoist Meditation was created to help people turn Chi (qi) into spirit and emptiness. It's main technique the Taoist "inner dissolving" practice is especially effective for helping people to become aware of their hidden motivations and enabling them to change or eliminate those that they no longer find useful. Taoist Meditation contains sitting, standing, lying down and moving techniques, and joins well with Wu style Tai Chi. Widely practiced throughout the world Wu style Tai Chi is perfect for Americans because it is so kind to the knees. Its small movements and emphasis on health make it especially good for healing joint and back pain and releasing stress and trauma. Western doctors are now studying the effects of Chinese health practices like Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Meditation, and research has verified many of their claims. An extensive directory of information on the scientifically verified effects of these arts can be found Taoist Arts Center's website, including studies on the favorable effects of Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Meditation on conditions such as Arthritis, HIV, Multiple Sclerosis and ADHD, as well as studies demonstrating improved breathing and balance, lowered blood pressure, stimulation of the immune system, and enhanced recovery from illness and surgery Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Taoist Meditation classes are taught at the Taoist Arts Center year round. Interested? Visit the Taoist Arts Center 342 East 9th Street, New York City. 10003 Info: 212/477-7055 www.taoist-arts.com This article was published in the Autumn 2006 Qi Journal. You may read it online (subscription only) at http://www.qi-journal.com/ |
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Taoist Arts Center 342 E 9 Street, NY, NY 10003 |
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