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Learn to Read the Currents
When Swimming Across the Sea
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Utilizing Principles and Teachings of Taoism
in Your Everyday Life
By Dr. Mao Shing Ni
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A friend, Gary, who is an avid student of the I Ching said to to me recently that the I Ching has taught him “how to read the currents when swimming across the sea!”
It is an apt metaphor for navigating the challenges and uncertainties of life which is like a vast, unpredictable ocean. Just as a swimmer must read the currents to reach their destination safely, we can learn valuable lessons from Taoism to guide us on our journey.
Wisdom of the Tao
At the heart of Tao, often translated as "the Way" or "the path," it teaches us to flow with the natural rhythms of life, like water flowing effortlessly downstream. Taoist principles remind us to embrace the currents rather than fight against them. The concept of "Wu Wei, or "effortless action," is central to Taoism. It suggests that by aligning ourselves with the natural flow of events, we can achieve harmony and balance. Similarly, we conserve energy by moving with the currents of life instead of struggling against them.
The I Ching—A Guide for Life’s Changes
The I Ching, also called The Book of Changes and The Unchanging Truth is an ancient Chinese divination classic that offers profound insights into the ebb and flow of life. Through its hexagrams and commentary, the I Ching teaches us to understand and adapt to change, much like adjusting our course based on the shifting currents.
Each hexagram in the I Ching represents a unique situation offering guidance on how to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Just as we learn to read the currents to choose the most favorable path, consulting the I Ching helps us make wise decisions and navigate life's complexities.
Incorporate Tai Chi Principles and Practice
Tai Chi is not just a physical exercise but a holistic practice that integrates mind, body, and spirit. By practicing Tai Chi, we cultivate balance and stability. Tai Chi emphasizes grounding and balance — essential qualities for navigating choppy waters both literally and metaphorically. Through Tai Chi practice, we develop physical stability and mental clarity.
Tai Chi also encourages mindfulness and present-moment awareness. By being fully attuned to the sea's currents, Tai Chi practice can help us learn to be fully present and responsive to our surroundings.
By drawing upon the principles and teachings of Taoism and the I Ching, we can cultivate resilience, adaptability, and wisdom in the face of life's challenges. I invite you to join us in College of Tao’s April retreat in North Carolina where you can immerse yourself in the ancient wisdom of Tao, practice Tai Chi in a pristine mountain setting and learn to better navigate your life’s journey, flow with the currents, and cultivate harmony within and without as you swim across the ever-changing sea of existence.
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Mystical Blue Ridge Mountains
North Carolina
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College of Tao Spring Renewal
Annual Retreat April 23-28, 2024
Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina
Let's Share this Spiritual Journey Together
Register Here
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Dr. Mao Shing Ni, 38th generation Doctor of Chinese Medicine, longevity specialist & bestselling author will share his wisdom on Dragon Rising: Awakening to a New Day and the Soul of Humanity. Embrace this call to action and reconnect with your inner strength and wisdom. | |
Spring Emerges with The Dance of Yin and Yang
I feel like an Otto, the bear not quite ready to leave the cave…spring emerges. Feeling liberated as I allow the grey ash matter to release from the crown of my head. Ollie, the owl, morphs with the ash and with his newly formed wings, carries it to the end of the earth.
Acceptance, of the life I have chosen as the root of my soul moves up my spine and into my third eye…I can see the eternal life. Another day of infinite joy and peace. Love within and without. The dance of the yin and yang. Water moves down to my toes. The fire in my heart is soothed, anger gone. Only love.
by Marla Halperin 🙏
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For enrollment in upcoming Summer classes - May 2 - July 29,
see the announcement at the end of this newsletter.
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Two Free Eight Treasures Classes
Instructor: Edward Sullivan
"Practice of the Eight Immortals"
Monday April 1st and April 8th
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm PT on Zoom
Click Here to Join Zoom Class
It is an effective way to lengthen your years and can be practiced by anyone at any level of fitness. It is based on the natural motion of the heavenly bodies and integrates the body with the mind and spirit.
Any questions please contact
sullivanE888@gmail.com
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Marc Mason chose a selection from the book: Eternal Light,
Teachings of My Father, Grandmaster Ni, Yo San, Ch. 7. He shared, "The use of these practices, the Ten Unities, are described on pages 89 through 96."
"According to my father, in learning Tao, we learn to attain harmony among all confronting situations. There are Ten Unities of oneness."
A quote from the Ten Unities:"The third unity is the oneness of Heaven and man. If you understand that, the differences between Heaven or people, god or worldly, do not exist. There is no difference between them."
Marc Mason said, "I am inspired by these pages, studying them has caused and are causing a shift in my outlook, and are helpful as guidance to living daily life following the Tao."
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Dr. Daoshing Ni, a 38th generation doctor of the Ni family lineage facilitates this monthly tele-study group
If you have any questions, please contact Vladimir Iliev at vladimiriliev@sbcglobal.net
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Work to Serve and Teach
by Alannah Fitzgerald
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Reclaiming Our Spiritual Sovereignty | |
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What is sovereignty? What is spiritual sovereignty and what bearing does it have in our personal life? If you will, let’s explore some accepted definition[s] of the word sovereignty, in its various aspects.
Definitions from Oxford Languages & Cornell Law School both speak of sovereignty as supreme power or authority; the authority of a state to govern itself or another state. “national sovereignty”.
In light of personal sovereignty, implications are "self-ownership, also known as sovereignty of the individual or individual sovereignty. It encompasses the idea of property in one’s own person, expressed as the moral or natural right of a person to have bodily integrity and be the exclusive controller of one’s own body and life."
What is self-sovereignty in relation to our spiritual nature? “It is a journey that starts with the first step of recognizing that a new path is available to you. Then it is a process of learning to find the right balance, a wholesome balance where nothing has power or influence over you and yet you are able to maintain your position in the center of it all.”
-The Brahma Kumaris
Within our Taoist tradition, we cultivate ourselves to achieve [ever-changing] personal balance and subtle integration of our whole being, encompassing our body, mind, emotions and spirit. We are strongly encouraged and guided to become a good king or queen of our own kingdom [our own life]. We can practice sovereignty within our own life through mindful awareness, attentively watching the movement of the mind from a point of stillness. Achieving this state of stillness can be as simple as breathing deeply and consciously, as if breathing a thin stream of delicate, smooth silk. This enlivening process can gradually bring our attention into this ever-present, eternal moment of pure awareness.
Therein, we become wholly aware of our self-responsibility [the ability to respond]. As our continuously cultivated awareness strengthens and grows, we recognize personal responsibility for our every thought, our every word, our every emotion and our every action. As such, we learn to be good governors of our own lives. If, for example, someone speaks to us in a loud, angry voice, projecting their disgruntled emotions upon us, we can choose to respond with a calm, clear mind, quickly realizing their projection is a result of their own internal state of being.They themselves are solely responsible for themselves, just as we are for ourselves. In this way, our kingdom becomes peaceful, creative, joyful and free of self-induced suffering.
Mindful of our breath, attentive to the unoccupied, aware mind… being present in this very moment, breath by breath and moment by moment, we can enjoy happiness that spontaneously arises from deep within when we choose to nurture a calm, clear mind that holds nothing in it. Simply clear, egoless awareness.
In closing I'd like to share a quote from Dane Rudhyar, composer, painter, philosopher, poet and author. “May the power of the creative NOW illumine our every moment with significance! Indeed, there is beauty and meaning in every moment…”
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Cosmic Tour Bagua
Invest in your Self
Continue the Journey
The Active Dragon Moves On
April 21, 2024 9:00 - 12:00 PT
Transformation 5, the Changing Sky
with Dr. Arnold Tayam
Dean of Cosmic Tour Bagua
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Click Here to Join
(prerequisite Merry-Go Round, Transformation 1,2 3 & 4)
Sessions must be taken in Sequence
But if you missed Merry Go Round and Transformation 1, 2, or 3 you can still catch up by making request to chihealing@gmail.com
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Every Sunday at 7:00 am PT, you are invited to join via Zoom in Spiritual Renewal Ceremony facilitated by the Ministers of the Integral Way, including James Tuggle, Phillip Christman, Ed and Sue Sullivan along with others,
…followed by a talk on how to apply the wisdom of the Integral Way. This service is free for the College of Tao community, friends and family.
Join Zoom Meeting Here
Meeting ID: 136 428 813
Passcode: 006090
Find your local number: Click Here
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In the March 31st Renewal Ceremony, Jono Howard read passages from Omni’s August 1st, 2015 talk at the Shrine of the Eternal Breath of Tao in Los Angeles. For those who are interested in reading the entire transcript (which was edited by Joy Grant) please click the link below to download. Enjoy!
Read the transcript.
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Lao Tzu Study Group
the first Wednesday of each month
Wednesday April 3 & May 8, 2024
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm PT
We'd love for you to join us!
For zoom link contact:
Amira.cultivating.harmony@gmail.com
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Brothers of the Heavenly Way | |
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BROTHERS MEETING
April 7, 2024 10:00 am PT
After a discussion of our daily lives we turned to our text, Eternal Light, page 39, number 34. This is a teaching about “seeing the long-living truth” in an event or happening. We decided that the first half of seeing the spiritual truth is awakening. The second half is compliance with what you are seeing. We’re talking about seeing the subtle law in its operation; acceptance of the energy, and moving in harmony without any conceptual thinking involved. It’s not easy to do until one has broken through all internal obstacles anyway.
Number 35 is an admonition to avoid challenging the long-living truth. You can’t win an argument with the long-living truth. Again, acceptance is needed before compliance. To fight against what is happening, to try to impose your will on reality, is fruitless.
We finished our discussion at 36: there is no human authority over you. True authority only comes from your own personal spiritual growth. This lesson finished with a wonderful sentence: “...No true [spiritual] messengers come from anywhere, unless their teaching finds its counterpart in your own developed mind.” In other words, no spiritual truth can reach you unless you have developed yourself to the level of that truth first. So keep practicing.
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The Brothers meet via Zoom the first Sunday of every month. Next meeting is April 7 and then again on May 12, 2024
Please join us: contact Matt Nielson at mniels7@yahoo.com
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Sisters of the Heavenly Way | |
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"All teaching and all spiritual guidance, if truthful, comes from the
subtle source that everybody has. No higher wonderfulness and excellence
can be borne from any source other than your spiritual nature.
All people’s spiritual nature is the same. If you keep looking for and accumulating
the many small practices, you will never reach the goal. The true practice
is to guide yourself from the small practices directly to embrace the
unformed subtle source from which you
attain your life and capability…..
There is no other direct practice connected with inner clarity and
freedom of soul than cultivating a calm mind."
From Mystical Universal Mother by Hua Ching Ni
Our next Sisters gathering is
in Perth, Australia, at 7 am on Sunday April 21st, and
in California, USA at 4 pm PT on Saturday April 20th.
In May we meet on Saturday/Sunday, May 25 & 26
If you would like to join us,
please email Barbara at sistersofuhw@gmail.com
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Welcome to your April 2024
Taoist Horoscope!
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Chinese astrology, deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and Taoist philosophy, offers valuable insights and predictions across various aspects of life.
In April 2024, according to the Chinese calendar, it features Wu and Chen—associated with Earth and it's elements, respectively. It is a double Earth month, characterized by stability, hard work, creativity and transformations But what does that hold for your personal element and month? Take the quiz to discover your Element. Read on for your personalized horoscope here.
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OFFERINGS BEGINNING IN MAY | |
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For a free trial of this Qi Gong class in April,
see the offer above.
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8 TREASURES QI GONG
Zoom Course
STARTS May 13- August 5, 2024
INSTRUCTOR: EDWARD SULLIVAN
"Let's Heal Together"
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8 Treasures Qi Gong
MONDAYS On Zoom
May 13- August 5, 2024
7:00 pm PACIFIC TIME
$80
For Information or to Register
Click Here
If you miss a class, there are still 4 free classes
"Practice of the Eight Immortals"
These Energy conducting exercises originated from the Eight Immortals during the Han Dynasty and was passed down through many generations of the Ni Family. It is an effective way to lengthen your years and can be practiced by anyone at any level of fitness. It is based on the natural motion of the heavenly bodies and integrates the body with the mind and spirit.
Qi gong specifically combines breathing techniques, simple movements, postural training and mental imagery to guide the flow of energy (Qi).
- Releases tension
- Stimulates vitality
- Promotes self-healing
- Strengthens the immune system
- Clears stagnation
- Assists in uplifting & balancing mind and emotions
- Assists in increasing spiritual awareness
Any questions please contact
SullivanE888@gmail.com
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Infinichi Medical/Energy
Qi Gong Level I
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IN-PERSON OR
ZOOM CLASS
May 17 - 18 - 19, 2024
Friday - Saturday - Sunday
9:00 am - 5:30 pm Pacific Time
Instructors
Dr. Mao Shing Ni & Edward Sullivan
Total Cost: $350
$300 If Registered by May 4
Click to Register
Prerequisites: None
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(If you have already taken this class
you can AUDIT for $89 for whole weekend
California CEU's available at regular price)
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Welcome Qi Friends
- Protect yourself
- Protect your environment
- Strengthen your Vitality or Qi
- Learn the Foundation of Medical Qi Gong Healing
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In this InfiniChi course you learn some ancient healing
Qi Gong practices to help heal yourself and learn how to help others heal. The entire InfiniChi program is designed to train students to develop their energetic Qi healing abilities. You can take this InfiniChi Level 1 course to get healthier and some may even choose to go further into the program and make InfiniChi Qi Gong their new healing profession.This ancient healing wisdom is based upon the healing modalities of the Hua-Ching Ni Family and Traditional Chinese Medical
Qi Gong texts.
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Feng Shui is the 5,000 year-old art of energy alignment with one’s environment. The objective of Feng Shui is to align our environment with who we are and where we want to go in life in order to harmonize and optimize our energy at home, work and play. iI is based on the same principles of balancing Yin Yang and the Five Elements in Chinese medicine.
Dr. Mao Shing Ni teaches easy steps to connect our mind, body, and spirit all together with our living or working space for a healthy and fulfilling life, while Claire Cunneen guides your learning via live stream sessions with Q&A, examples and practice.
For More Information Click Here
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