Three Teachers

Don Tomei - Three Teachers

We all have three teachers. 1 – Our masters Our masters are the ones who come before us, or who are inherently superior to us in some way. They see clearly in our dark corners. They easily fathom what confounds us. Of all the lessons we learn from our masters, the most profound is that there is a path to follow that can take us from where we are to where we want to be. From our masters we gain wisdom, certainty, direction, assurance and encouragement. 2 – Ourselves The self lives in the only room we can never leave. It’s the perspective we can never change, the critic we can never please. But it’s also the only room we can decorate any way we like. From ourselves we learn discipline, accountability, pride and arrogance, but also shame, disappointment, confusion and regret. No teacher is closer to our inner thoughts than the self, yet none is more difficult to comprehend. 3 – Our students Our students are the most demanding teachers of all. They judge us not with their opinions, but with their lives. Their trust is our ultimate master. We may claim some part of their success, but their failure is indelibly ours without question. From our students we learn humility, patience, courage, nurturing and selflessness. All three of these teachers give us a priceless gift. There is no more trusted guide than a sage master. There is no truer friend than a centered self. There is no greater honor than a devoted student. Separately they allow us to explore a deep and profound art. Together they enable us to achieve mastery of our art and ourselves.

Fishes and Chains

Don Tomei

Fishes and Chains

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.

I don’t fish.

But I do teach.

I teach a practice that nourishes for a lifetime.

Human existence is delineated by constraints. Like tethered beasts we strain against our limits.
Yet the spirit, ever defiant, claims infinite scope.

I once read a story about captive elephants. It said that the captors first tether an elephant’s foot with a heavy chain. For a while, the elephant tries, in vain, to escape. Eventually it gives up. After that, the captors use only a thin rope to tether the elephant. Though the elephant could easily break free of the rope, it never again tries.

Yes, the spirit can be tethered. By fatigue. By fear. By complacency. By indifference. By ignorance. By evil.

But it is never a chain that tethers the spirit. It is always a thin rope. One that we can break free of at any time.

We need only try.

My mission as a teacher is not to break the chains of my students. It is to show them that their chains are not, in fact, chains, but only light rope.

And that simply by trying, they can be free. Not just for a day, but for their lifetime.

Don Tomei - Newsletter 2010

True to his nature, the Tiger has been kind to our program this year, granting us new students to keep us fresh, and old students to keep us wise.

The practice goes ever deeper and ever wider as we explore the vastness of our essence and work to harness the abundant yet elusive chi.

Mind leads breath.
Breath leads movement.
Movement propels energy through time.

And time transforms energy into new mind.

Spring emergence leads to:
Summer explosion, which leads to:
Autumn contemplation, which leads to:
Winter gestation, which leads to…

And so, again…

Don Tomei - Newsletter 2009

DON TOMEI
Wellness Qigong Program Director

2010 will begin my fourth year of teaching qigong at the Tai Chi Center of Chicago. I’ve now had three years to explore and experience this profound and elusive art, and that, on top of my 15 years of tai chi, seems to me like a good beginning. Hopefully, in another 5-10 years, I’ll have it figured out. They weren’t kidding when they called it “gong.” It takes commitment; it takes time; it takes focus. And it takes a willingness to suspend your sense of “reality” and immerse yourself in your own energy.

An ancient text called “The Jade Pendant Inscription on Qigong” states: In promoting and consolidating chi, depth promises storage; storage promises extension; extension promises descent; descent promises stability; stability promises solidity; solidity promises germination; germination promises growth; growth promises retreat; retreat leads to heaven. Heavenly qi functions from above; earthly qi functions from below. Conformity to this leads to life while adverseness to this leads to death.

So there it is for me in a nutshell:

Depth → Storage → Extension → Descent → Stability → Solidity → Germination → Growth → Retreat → Heaven.

Heaven above; earth below.
Life or death, your choice.

And all you have to do is practice every day with focus and a sense of purpose.

Simple enough. I choose life.

And so, another year of teaching and practicing Qigong.

Health, happiness and long life to you all.

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Guest Instructor Dr. Aihan Kuhn

The Tai Chi Center of Chicago
4043 N. Ravenswood
Chicago, IL. 60613
Invites you attend three special events in celebration of:
Dr. Aihan Kuhn's new book
"Simple Chinese Medicine: A Beginner's Guide to Natural Healing and Well-Being."

Three ways to get a personalized copy:
Barnes & Noble in Old Orchard on Sept 12, 12:00pm
Borders at 2817 N. Clark, Chicago IL on Sept 12, 3:00pm
or order a copy online and have it signed at one of the below events!


**************************
EVENT #1
Lecture
"The Secret to Good Health & Longevity"
Presenter, Dr. Aihan Kuhn, Master
Director of Chinese Medicine for Health
Sunday, September 13, 2009 9:30 to 10:30am
Fee: Free

Dr. Kuhn will give you her lifetime experience of the secrets to good health and a stress free life. She will also explain how natural medicine works, the differences between eastern and western healing approaches, tips for cancer healing and prevention, the healing power of Chinese exercise, and a simple 5-minute daily Qi Gong routine.


EVENT #2
Participation
Qi Gong, the Perfect Exercise for Self-Healing
Presenter, Dr. Aihan Kuhn, Master
Director of Chinese Medicine for Health
Sunday, September 13, 2009 10:45 am to 12:15 pm
Advanced Payment Fee: $25.00
At Door Fee:$35.00

Qi Gong has been used for healing and disease prevention for thousands of years. Because it is effective, it is still practiced today all around the world. This total body energy workout is becoming more and more popular and is easy and fun to learn. You will experience an overall feeling of optimum health and wellness.

The gentle body movements are a perfect exercise for all ages and ability levels and provide powerful healing results. This exercise incorporates slow body movements, choreographed whole body stretching, and correct controlled breathing. As the energy channels open up, you can feel the energy or "Qi" as it moves through your body. This moving energy and release of stagnation is the key to healing and disease prevention. It can assist in the healing of health issues, such as: heart disease, hypertension, PMS, weight problems, headache, high stress, insomnia, arthritis, Fibromyalgia, digestive problems, muscular disease, cancer and more. Other benefits include: feeling younger, improved posture, better mental focus by clearing the mind, and improved vision and hearing. It enhances daily energy levels, improves metabolism and immune function, elevates the mood and emotions, prevents memory loss, and has a calming effect that helps to promote a better outlook on life. It is a lifetime tool for self-healing for all ages.

In this workshop, you will learn:
The Basics of Qi Gong
The relationship between Qi Gong and Chinese medicine
How Qi Gong works to assist in healing
What Qi is all about and the benefits of energy medicine
The movements of a special Qi Gong exercise routine (Qi Gong for Total Body Wellness)

Call 312-505-1276 or email sfierro1@comcast.net to reserve your spot!