Interview with Sam Masich

Interview with Sam Masich

I am excited to introduce to you one of the most remarkable Taiji players in North America today. Sam Masich is one of the most accomplished mid-generation practitioners of Chinese internal martial arts in the world today. Having trained and taught for a quarter century, Masich has studied with several of the great masters of his era from both North America and China including Liang Shouyu, Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, Jou Tsung Hwa, Yang Zhenduo and Chen Xiaowang. He has taught around the world and is the subject of two internationally airing documentaries. Sam has made some 20 films on Tai Chi and Neijia related subjects.

I am sure that you will enjoy the live interview with him on the talk show The Secrets of Qigong Masters tonight. Please go to www.blogtalkradio.com/qigongmasters from 6:00 to 7:00 pm PDT (9:00 to 10:00 pm EDT). Do not miss a rare opportunity to connect with Sam and ask him your most burning questions about Taiji or Qigong. Feel free to call (347) 327-9635 with any questions for this internationally renowned expert in the Internal Martial Arts.

Sam is one of the most recorded internal martial artists of all time. He has been filmed in countless demonstrations, competitions and classes and was the first instructor to publish a video instructional manual on the subject of Push Hands. Through Little Productions, he has produced over 20 instructional films on subjects such as Taijiquan, Push Hands, Qigong and Xingyiquan and has several major instructional video works in development. Sam has served as a martial arts action consultant, trainer and choreographer on various TV programs and stage productions, and is himself the subject of two documentaries on Taijiquan and the internal arts. He is currently working on a feature length documentary entitled ‘Tai Chi People’.

Masich has distinguished himself in competition as a quadruple and septuple gold medallist in national competitions and was a member of the Canadian National Chinese Martial Arts Team competing in China at The World Wushu Invitationals in 1985. In 1994, although formally retired from competition, he was awarded seven gold medals for performances in the Shanghai Oberon Cup, an event involving athletes from more than twenty countries. Since 1989 Masich has refereed and judged in national tournaments and has held a steady position as Chief Referee for Push Hands in the U.S. All Taijiquan Championships.

Qi Dao Meditation Study Group

I would be glad to see you participating in our Meditation Study Group that meets by phone on Friday evenings from 5:00 to 6:00 pm PDT. This is one of the easiest and most affordable opportunities to enjoy the benefits of Qi Dao practice without making a serious commitment of time or money. Thousands of people throughout the world have found Qi Dao meditation practices extremely helpful for their self-empowerment and self-realization. I am sure you will find it very beneficial for you, too.

Due to some technical difficulties with our teleconference provider, we were unable to record the last two meetings, so I decided to offer the same teleseminars again. Now, we are going to make it sure that they get recorded in case you miss any of them. The recordings will be available to all members of the group at no extra charge.

Given the economic conditions many people experience nowadays, we are offering a $15 discount on the registration for this group, so you can register for this six weeks series for just $65. If you have the Qi Dao Initiation CD, that is great, because we will be following the same outline as on the tracks of that CD. If you still do not have it, you are welcome to CLICK HERE to order the CD from Amazon.com or to DOWNLOAD THE TRACKS HERE.

If you experience any challenges with Qigong or Qi Dao practice, I would be happy to assist you through phone coaching. But I believe that our Meditation Study Group is the second best option for a long-distance Qi Dao training.

To register, please send via PayPal $65.00 to academy@qidao.org and make sure you have the Qi Dao Initiation meditation CD. In response I will send you the phone number of the teleconference calls we will hold on Fridays, May 22 and 29, June 5, 12, 19 and 26.

Speak to you soon,

What would you ask a Qigong master?

As I am interviewing the top Qigong experts in North America for my Radio talk show The Secrets of Qigong Masters, I would love to be able to ask them the questions that you would ask them if you had a chance to. The caliber of the recent guests on the show is very high: Michael Winn, Jim MacRitchie, Bill Douglas, Bernard Shannon, Ted Cibik, and other fine Qigong aficionados. In the near future, we are planning on airing interviews with Bruce Frantzis, Yang Jwing-Ming, Effie Chow, Sam Masich, Suzanne Freidman, Lee Holden, etc.

Please submit your most burning questions on the Energy Arts, and I promise to ask the most frequent and interesting questions during the upcoming episodes of my show, which you can listen to at www.blogtalkradio.com/qigongmasters as well as download the archived episodes on your iPod or any other mp3 player for future enjoyment.

Speak to you soon,

Lama Tantrapa

The Secret to Qigong Mastery – Being Natural

Being natural requires paying attention to the inner nature of all things rather than their forms. When most people think of Qigong, they usually think of “doing forms” – sets of choreographed movements practiced repetitively. I do not believe that the sages of antiquity, who originated Qigong thousands of years ago, had to study any “forms.” Those masters created their systems of self-realization not by practicing some forms, but by discovering their own, authentic ways to experience their true nature. Since they were the original founders, they had no human teachers to emulate. They had to learn from Mother Nature as well as their inner nature.

The founders of the oldest systems of self-realization had to rely on the knowledge gathered from their own personal experiences and some anecdotal stories about the miraculous powers of the ancient Shamans. They had to find empirically their own unique methods of being in the flow of Qi and experimenting with it. Such a genuine approach reared great Qigong masters, whose mastery was based on personal observation and exploration, rather than a routine repetition of forms. Playing with each other and with different animals was the testing ground for their skills and powers.

Alas, the tendency of the human mind to be focused on appearances instead of the inner essence eventually reduced many styles of Qigong, as well as Yoga, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, etc., to merely “doing forms.” You would be hard pressed to find anyone who managed to achieve anything profound by emulating their teachers’ external appearances. In order to experience the authentic mastery of being in the flow, you will need to start by shifting attention from forms to the true essence of everything, starting with your own inner nature, which is pure energy.

Comparing yourself to others is such an insidious tendency that many artists never transcend the stage of mimicking their role models. Yet the entire idea of mastery implies being natural in your art and authentic in your artistic expression. Qi Dao teaches you to develop an attitude of authenticity from the very beginning while allowing yourself to be natural.

Since change is the most constant thing in the universe, the flow is always different from one person to another and from one moment to another. This means that to copy the master’s movements or other actions is to grasp the form of the master’s experience rather than the essence. Such imitation would not enable anyone to be in the flow, because being in the flow implies being in one’s own flow, not in someone else’s flow. Through the practice of Qi Dao you will learn to be truly authentic by perceiving the flow of life force within you and throughout the world around you. You will learn to surrender to the flow and allow it to guide you in whatever way is appropriate. It will allow you to manifest your dreams effortlessly and gracefully.

About the Author

Lama Somananda Tantrapa is the holder of the lineage of Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong – that has been fostered in his clan for 27 generations. Affectionately addressed by his students as Rinpoche, Lama Tantrapa has over 30 years of experience in Qi Dao and other internal martial arts. He was primarily trained by his Grandfather who was the last Grandmaster of Qi Dao. As a reincarnate Bon Lama, he carries a title of a Tulku and was ordained as a Buddhist monk in three different traditions: Tibetan Nyingma, Thai Theravada and Japanese Nipponzan Myohoji.

Before immigrating to America, he actively participated in peace marches and conferences in the former Soviet Union supporting the peace work of his spiritual mentor and friend Junsei Terasawa who aspired to build a Peace Pagoda in the center of Moscow, Russia. His initiatives dedicated to peace work and spiritual freedom were subjected to persecution in his homeland thus he received religious asylum in the United States in 1997.

Rinpoche is an author of a book on Qi Dao and a companion DVD, as well as Qi Dao Home Study Course. Being an avid speaker and presenter, he appeared on many radio and TV programs in the US, Guam and abroad. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the US National Qigong Association. Visit us online at www.qidao.org.

The Flow of the Dao

Welcome to my world of Qi Dao, the ancient energy art of Tibetan Shamanic Qigong. My spiritual tradition, named Qi Dao (or Ch’i Tao if you like this spelling), which literally means “the path of energy,” or “the flow of life force,” is a style of Qigong (also spelled Ch’i Kung) rooted in the Tibetan Shamanic tradition of self-realization called Bön. Following many generations of Tibetan lamas and Shamans since time immemorial, I explore this magical world where the stuff of myths and legends is quite real. Along my spiritual journey, the miracles of natural healing and amazing feats of power have been common place. I came to believe that everyone practicing this “Adventure Yoga” can receive revelations directly from spirit and learn to follow the inner guidance to enjoy being in the flow of the dream called life.

Have you ever thought that your life journey was meant to be a grand adventure, rather than a misadventure? Perhaps, you are one of those lucky individuals who have experienced “being in the flow” or, as some athletes call it, “in the zone.” If you have experienced it, you will probably never forget the profound sense of harmony associated with being in the flow. And if you have never experienced it, at least, you may be able to imagine yourself being empowered, centered and present. Your imagination may be as potent as your memory in preparing you for this exciting adventure in self-realization and learning to live a dream life.

Imagine a world where men and women can travel through life in harmony with each other and the world around them; where every human being can be in touch with his or her inner nature. Everyone there feels confident and free of any artificial limitations that religions, society, or family upbringing tend to impose on people. In such a dream world, everyone has an opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle, enjoying all the abundance life has to offer. Picture yourself in a world where every child and adult can feel empowered to openly experience and explore their greatest potentials, allowing them to blossom fully. In this dream world, the powers that used to be considered paranormal or supernatural are daily occurrences. Now you have a chance to turn your life into a heroic quest to discover the true nature of Being.

Of course, being in the flow is not an exclusive prerogative of Tibetan lamas and top-notch athletes. Virtually every indigenous nation on the face of the Earth has stories about the heroes, whose lives were dedicated to the exploration of the unknown, be that unknown lands or their inner realms. Those spiritual adventurers, regardless of their origins and personal histories, experienced profound transformations and astonishing feats of power that most people could only dream about. In our Qi Dao tribe, we call this way of being “dream being,” which means, among other things, experiencing life as though being in a dream. Dream Being is not only a verb, but also a noun representing the source of all your dreams: day-dreams as well as night-dreams. It is the mystical source of the big dream called life that in many Oriental schools of thought is referred to as the Dao (or Tao, if you will).

What is this mystical Dao? It is unseen, but it is everywhere. You may want to know it, but it cannot be intellectually understood. You may strive to find it, even though it has always been within you. “To become one with the Dao” has been the ultimate purpose of meditation retreats, pilgrimages and other spiritual adventures for millennia. Anyone who experiences oneness with the Dao can effortlessly navigate through life, being continuously in the flow, free of attachments, conflicts, or suffering. Nobody can harm or kill such a person, because anyone who would dare to go against him or her would also go against the power of the entire universe. Such an awakened being can fully enjoy the great power and freedom coming from realizing that the daily life and Dream Being are inseparable.

This awareness, however, has hardly anything to do with intellectual cognition or understanding. The more you try to comprehend this by logically thinking about it, the more you employ your linear mind, which will keep you stuck in the head. Trying not to think about it usually does not help either, because, if you try to stop thinking, you must, at least, have thoughts about not thinking. The practice of Qi Dao offers an alternative way to experience a practice of self-realization tailored for spiritual adventurers that is both extremely effective and easy to implement.

About the author

Lama Somananda Tantrapa is the holder of the lineage of Qi Dao that has been fostered in his clan for 27 generations since 1224 AD. He has over 30 years of experience in Qi Dao and other internal martial arts. After pioneering Qi Dao Coaching in 2000, he has provided wellness, peak performance and life coaching to hundreds of clients from all walks of life. His coaching has inspired many professional athletes, speakers, dancers, singers, writers and actors to open up to the infinite source of power that exists within everyone.

Lama Tantrapa authored a bestselling book and DVD entitled “Qi Dao – Tibetan Shamanic Qigong.” Being an avid speaker and presenter, he appeared on many radio and TV programs in the US, Guam and abroad. He currently serves on the NQA Board of Directors. For more information about Qi Dao Coaching, workshops, retreats, and long-distance learning opportunities, visit www.qidao.org.

No Good, No Evil

Before I share an excerpt from my recent book The Art of Being in the Flow, I would like to point out that my opinions are not official reflections of the Buddhist teachings. Although I am a lama, I consider myself a free spirit, rather than a proponent of any organized religion. I believe that any religious dogma, especially believing in good and evil, can be a major barrier to personal freedom and being in the flow of life. When we label something as good, we create an expectation that it should be good not only for us but for others, too. It also implies certain perpetuity of goodness despite any common sense. We know that many things that were deemed good yesterday may be not so good today and what is good for one person may not work for another. When we label something bad, it is just as misleading. Moreover, religious dogmas insist on rigid dualism of good and evil, judging our actions and threatening us with consequences. As it were, hell is not a geographical place but a state of being separated and afraid. Any belief supporting the sense of separation and fear creates a hellish existence in people’s lives on earth.

“Imagine coming to a crossroads and feeling the energies of different directions you could choose. You may notice that your energy resonates with some directions better than others. Where there is resonance, your energy is attracted to flow in that direction. If you pay attention to such resonance, you can allow the flow of life to unfold naturally and spontaneously. But if you do not pay attention to this resonance, you may feel compelled to take a path based on your preconceived ideas or stereotypes. Rather than following your own ideas, you may be indoctrinated to conform to traditional beliefs or stereotypes handed down from past generations. Letting go of such programming is not simply an intellectual exercise but rather a process of discovering mental alertness, spiritual openness and authenticity. These qualities can empower you to reconnect with the flow of life and promote freedom of choice.

“When you imagine yourself at a crossroad, you are in a position where you have the freedom to choose your direction. Personal freedom is necessary to be able to make a choice in any situation of this sort. Your freedom, however, may often be restricted by some beliefs distorting your perception. If you follow the beliefs that do not promote your perception of the flow, they become an impediment to being in the flow. Therefore, you may need to look into your belief system to check which beliefs resonate with your consciousness and which ones do not.

“Your attention is the interface between what you know and what you do not know. You cannot learn without paying attention, since you cannot remember that which you pay no attention to. Development of attention always requires acceptance. Being attentive is only possible when you accept what is. You cannot be attentive to something you do not accept, simply because when you are not accepting it, you are busy resisting it or running away from it, engaging in “fight or flight” instead of just being present. Such lack of acceptance creates the rigid dualism of right and wrong, judgment of actions and threats of adverse consequences. Being accepting will help you transcend this dualism, allowing you to be more content and happy with your life.”

About the Author

Lama Somananda Tantrapa is the holder of the lineage of Qi Dao that has been fostered in his clan for 27 generations since 1224 AD. He has over 30 years of experience in Qi Dao and other internal martial arts. He was primarily trained by his Grandfather who was the last Grandmaster of this style of Tibetan Shamanic Qigong. In addition to being recognized as an incarnate Bön lama, ordained as a Buddhist monk and initiated into Subud spiritual brotherhood, Rinpoche holds a degree in Cultural Anthropology and certifications in Qigong, Hypnosis and NLP.

Affectionately addressed by his students as Rinpoche, Lama Tantrapa’s initiatives dedicated to peace work and spiritual freedom were subjected to persecution in his homeland thus he received religious asylum in the United States in 1997. His unique background is complex enough to include serving in the Soviet Army’s Special Forces, being kidnapped in the Ukraine and going through several near-death experiences.

Rinpoche’s coaching has inspired many professional athletes, speakers, dancers, singers, writers and actors to open up to the infinite source of intuition that exists within everyone. After pioneering Qi Dao Coaching in 2000, he has provided wellness, peak performance and life coaching to hundreds of clients of all ages from all walks of life. For years, he operated Portland Qigong Clinic – one of just a handful of Qigong clinics in the United States at the time. He also founded Academy of Qi Dao – the first and only school of Qi Dao Coaching in the US.

Rinpoche is an author of numerous articles as well as multimedia training materials. Being an avid speaker and presenter, he appeared on many radio and TV programs in the US, Guam and abroad. He is the executive producer and host of his own Internet Radio show “The Secrets of Qigong Masters.” He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the USA National Qigong (Chi Kung) Association.

For more information about Qi Dao Coaching, workshops, retreats, and long-distance learning opportunities, visit us online at www.qidao.org.