Blog

  • Yun Yin Sen of Shanghai

    Yun Yin Sen performing Liu He Ba Fa Primordial Essence “Qigong”

    Thomas og Yun Yin Sen

    In 2009 I was traveling in Asia and I had the opportunity to visit Shanghai. Before coming to Shanghai I had found an interesting video on Youtube with Yun Yin Sen. I want to meet this guy I thought. I guess fortune was smiling because I was able to find Yin Yun Sen in the park near the central square the next morning. I felt an instant mutual connection with Yun Yin Sen. We spent the entire morning and the next together. Yin Yun Sen taught me his Water Boxing, Push hands and Qigong and a lot of insights willingly – thank you!

  • Feng Zhi Qiang Taiji Neigong

    Xinyi Hunyuan Taiji Internal Training performed by Feng Zhi Qiang

  • The Wolf Grischuk leading the pack in Petrosian Memorial 2014

    In this amazing fighting chess game in the third round of Petrosian Memorial GM Grischuk demolishes GM Morozevich. Alexander Grischuk, who is famed for his attacking chess, found a sharp variant of the Slav QGD for the game vs Morezevich. Both parties are walking on thin ice right out of the opening. Morezevich should have taken with the rook instead of the bishop in move 19. to equalize. On move 24. Morezevich was obliged to play Qf6 but he apparently fell through the thin ice with the wrong steep e5?! Grischuk missed a great opportunity to punish this weak move immediately when and he played 25.Bd2!? Morezevich would have drowned much faster with 25.Qh4! The last chance for Morozevich to hold on to an ice floe was 25..Rf8 but he missed it with 25..Rf6?! Then only ice cold water… 🙂

  • Riding the wind Floating with Clouds

    Lieh-tzu had the immortal Old Shang for a teacher and the sage Pai-kao-tzu as a friend. After he had finished his training, he came home riding on the wind and floating on the clouds.

    A man named Yin-sheng heard about Lieh-tzu’s feat and wanted to learn this skill of riding on the wind. So he went to Lieh-tzu and asked to be his student. So intent was Yin-sheng on learning this skill that he stayed at Lieh-tzu’s home and kept pestering the teacher with questions. This went on for several months, but Lieh-tzu only ignored him.

    Yin-sheng began to get impatient and then angry that Lieh‐tzu was not teaching him. One day, he left in a huff.

    When Yin-sheng got home, he calmed down and realized he had been stupid and impulsive, so he went toLieh-tzu and asked to be his student again. Lieh-tzu simply said, Now why did you come and then leave and then return?”

    Yin-sheng said, “When I first came to ask you to teach me, you ignored me. So I got annoyed and left. Then I realized I was too impatient and reckless, so I came back to ask you to accept me as a student again.”

    Lieh-tzu said, “I had thought you were intelligent, but now I can see you are quite stupid. Listen to what I went through when I learned from my teachers.”

    Lieh-tzu said:

    “When I asked Old Shang to be my master and Pai-kao‐ tau to be my friend, I decided to work hard to discipline my body and mind. After three years, I was afraid to have notions of right and wrong and I did not dare to speak words that might offend or please. It was only then that my master glanced at me and acknowledged my presence. Five years later, I thought freely of right and wrong, and spoke freely of approval or disapproval. My master gave me a smile. Seven years later, my thoughts came naturally without any conceptions of right and wrong, and words came naturally without any intention of pleasing or offending. For the first time, my master invited me to sit by his side. Nine years later, no matter what came to my mind or what came out of my mouth, there was nothing that was right or wrong, pleasing or offending. I did not even entertain the idea that Old Shang was my master and Pai-kao‐tzu was my friend.

    “It was then I became aware that there was no barrier between what was inside and what was outside. My body was illuminated by a bright light. I heard with my eyes and saw with my ears. I used my nose as mouth and my mouth as nose. I experienced the world with the totality of my senses as my spirit gathered and my form dissolved. There was no distinction between muscles and bones. My body stopped being heavy and I felt like a floating leaf. Without knowing it, I was being carried by the wind. Drifting here and there, I did not know whether I rode on the wind or the wind rode on me.”

    He then looked at Yin-sheng and said, “You had only been here for less than an hour and you got dissatisfied that you were not taught. Look at your condition. The parts of your body do not cooperate; the vapors of the sky and earth do not enter your body; your joints and bones are so heavy that you can’t even move. And you want to learn how to ride on the wind?”

    When Yin-sheng heard these words he was ashamed and did not ask again about riding on the wind.

    Teachings of the Tao: Readings from the Taoist Spiritual Tradition by Eva Wong p. 46-48

  • Sam Tam’s basic yielding in Taiji

    Sam Tam’s yielding is exceptionally smooth and precise!

    The circle and the square
    Always abide by your center to maintain central equilibrium! Do not not run away and do not resist! Catch your parters central equilibrium and his whole form is helplessly clued to your circle – and you can do as you wish! The secret is the understanding of the Taiji symbol. Yin adheres to yang – and does not separate from it! Yang sticks to yin – and yang does not separate from it!  When yin and yang do not move they unite and return to wuji – the infinite potential of emptiness.

    Links:
    Sam Tam internalmartialart.dk
    Sam Tam Taji youtube.com

     

  • The world is really great!

    The world is really great!

    There is room for

    the Sun, the Moon and the Stars,

    the Earth, its Mountains and Rivers, every Plant and Tree

    bad People and good People.

    All of this exists in space.

    The emptiness of our nature is also like this.

     

    Inspired by Hui-Neng

     

     

  • The 10 Tenets of Qigong

    1. Tranquility
    2. Experiencing
    3. Nothingness
    4. Emptiness
    5. Rootedness
    6. Openness
    7. Oneness
    8. Compassion
    9. Harmony
    10. The Way
    p. 53 – 63
  • Eyebright makes your eyes sparkle with light!

    Eyebright
    Eyebright

    Eyebright is a tiny herb that grows readily in backyards, fields, and pastures. It contains anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergenic properties. As the name suggests, eyebright is known for being particularly beneficial for eye related problems such as conjunctivitis, cataracts, blurry vision, weakened vision, and swollen, puffy eyes. Eyebright is also excellent for alleviating symptoms related to sinusitis, colds, seasonal allergies, and respiratory ailments. Eyebright can also enhance memory and improve overall cognitive performance. As a topical cream or poultice, eyebright can significantly improve acne and skin irritations. Eyebright is commonly found online or at your local health food store as a tea, capsule, tincture, cream, or salve. Eyebright is often combined with bilberry for enhanced benefits. If you find it in tea form, steep for at least five minutes in order to fully extract its healing properties.

    Reference: Medical Medium

    Links: Eyebright wikipedia.org

  • Sam Tam is coming to Copenhagen

    Seminar with Grand Master Sam Tam in Copenhagen from the 16th. to the 18th. of May 2014

    Torben Bremann and Ole Eskildsen visits Sam Tam in his home in Canada in 2006.

    There is a wonderful and rare oppurtunity to meet a real Tai Chi (taiji) and Ichuan (Dachengquan or Yiquan) master that makes the promises and wonders of the Chinese martial arts Classics come true.

    Sam_TamMaster Sam Tam is a “dashi” (大師), meaning “big teacher” or the teacher of teachers. As a mater of fact quite a few famous martial arts teachers from different schools all over the world has visited Master Sam Tam to learn or check his skill. As far as I know nobody left disappointed. According to the author Jan Diepersloot Master Sam Tam represents the pinnacle of Tai Chi achievement: “Sam Tam’s achievement, developed logically from his practice of standing meditation, represents the highest phase of martial arts mastery.”

    Come and take a look for yourself! Everybody with a genuine interest the arts are welcome.

    Master Sam Tam is not hiding behind words. And as far as I know you’re more than welcome to check his ability – at your own risk!

    Seminar with Sam Tam in Copenhagen 2014

    Place
    Gladsaxe Sportshal
    Vandtårnsvej 55 – 57
    2860 Søborg
    Denmark

    Time
    Friday the 16th. of May to Sunday the 18th. of May 2014

    Friday: 18 – 21
    Standing meditation og sitting meditation

    Saturday: 9.30. – 12.30.
    Qi gong -5 animal qigong

    Saturday: 14 – 17
    Sam Tam’s Sword Form

    Sunday: 9.30. – 12.30.
    Form, push hands and Applications

    Sunday: 14.00. – 17.00.
    Pushhands

    Price
    The total workshop cost is € 290 for the full weekend. The workshop is divided into blocks. One block € 95. For more than one block € 85 pr. block.

    Payment Info / Bank
    Danske Bank Reg.nr. 4820
    Kontonummer: 3332019171
    IBAN: DK8530003332019171

    Contact info etc.
    Torben Bremann
    Mail: info@taiji4you.dk
    Phone/Mobile: +45 44 91 97 98 / +45 40 20 77 75
    Web: taij4you.dk

    Original english invitation (pdf) Danish Invitation taiji4you.dk

    Reference: The Tao of Yiquan: The Method of Awareness in the Martial Arts (Warriors of Stillness: Meditative Traditions in the Chinese Martial Arts, Volume 2): The Method of Awareness in the Martial Arts v. 2 by Jan Diepersloot 1999

    Masters of Perception – Sensory-Motor Integration in the Internal Martial Arts by Jan Diepersloot 2014

    Note: The last chapter in “The Tao of Yiquan” is devoted to Sam Tam. The new book “Masters of Perception” is entirely about the teachings of Master Sam Tam.

  • Reaching the bright end

    as effortless as light
    and as certain as time’s passing

    we walk forward to a stillness
    we can never know

    with the clouds yawning in the distance
    and the sky, forever quiet

    we drift, less certain than foam
    reaching the bright end

    of the sea

    The Voice of the Sea: Poems of the Tao by Yu Jinghai

  • The Jade Tablet

    The Jade Pendant InscriptionTo guide the Qi, allow it to enter deeply and collect it. As it collects, it will expand. Once expanded, it will sink down. When it sinks down, it comes to rest. After it has come to rest, it becomes stable.

    When the Qi is stable, it begins to sprout. From sprouting, it begins to grow. As it grows, it can be pulled back upwards. When it is pulled back upwards, it reaches the crown of the head.

    It then touches above the crown of the head and below at the base of the spine. Who practices like this will attain long life. Who goes against this will die.

    Reference: Sitting in Oblivion – The Heart of Daoist Meditation by Livia Kohn 2010 Se also The Jade Tablet neigong.net

  • In the midst of Chaos I find Peace

    In the midst of chaos,
    I find peace.

    Not clinging to any thing,
    not obsessed by any thought.

    I seatle on a leaf,
    in mid air.

    Being calm for no reason whatsoever
    – happiness pervades all.

    I smile,
    leaving my self behind.

  • Fifty

    Between birth and death,
    Three in ten are followers of life,
    Three in ten are followers of death,
    And men just passing from birth to death also number three in ten.
    Why is this so?
    Because they live their lives on the gross level.

    He who knows how to live can walk abroad
    Without fear of rhinoceros or tiger.
    He will not be wounded in battle.
    For in him rhinoceroses can find no place to thrust their horn,
    Tigers no place to use their claws,
    And weapons no place to pierce.
    Why is this so?
    Because he has no place for death to enter.

    Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching translated by Gai-Fu Feng and Jane English

  • Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide

    An in-depth exploration of the art of shell scripting

    Mendel Cooper

    This tutorial assumes no previous knowledge of scripting or programming, but progresses rapidly toward an intermediate/advanced level of instruction . . . all the while sneaking in little nuggets of UNIX® wisdom and lore. It serves as a textbook, a manual for self-study, and as a reference and source of knowledge on shell scripting techniques. The exercises and heavily-commented examples invite active reader participation, under the premise that the only way to really learn scripting is to write scripts.

    This book is suitable for classroom use as a general introduction to programming concepts.

    Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide dyhr.com
    Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide freecode.org (original)

  • My Mac OS X Desktop icon’s Disappeared

    Today suddenly all icon’s on my Mac OS X Desktop disappeared or went missing and showed only the default icons. When I opened the Console app and searched for the icon process I saw messages like this:

    24/11/13 13.36.30,122 com.apple.IconServicesAgent[262]: main Failed to composit image for binding VariantBinding [0x34b] flags: 0x8 binding: FileInfoBinding [0x253] - extension: jpg, UTI: public.jpeg, fileType: ????.

    Ahh…. it’s the  “com.apple.IconServicesAgent” who is the culprit.

    Well, I just removed the “Finder” preference file in my home folder and restarted Finder.

    $ rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist; sudo killall -v Finder