Tag: taoism

  • Qi gong giver ro og glæde i hverdagen

    Qi gong giver ro og glæde i hverdagen – og jeg kunne ikke forestille mig en bedre instruktør end Thomas 

    Jeg havde ikke prøvet qi gong, før Thomas introducerede mig for det for snart et års tid siden. Og sikke en rejse, det har været.

    Thomas har en meget umiddelbar tilgang til denne stående meditationsform, der også inkorporerer bevægelser, beslægtet med tai chi. Tingene er, som de er, og skal ikke tages for tunge. Ej hellere skal øvelserne udføres med for meget målrettet intention. Det gælder mere om at være i øvelserne, og i sig selv, og acceptere alle de utilstrækkeligheder, man selv eller verden måtte have. 

    Samtidig er qi gong en søgen efter det sublime, det at være i nuet. Sammen. Det gælder om, som Thomas formulerer det, at trække det ofte støvede og tunge forhæng til side, og bare være, acceptere og smile sig vej lige ind i tilværelsens epicenter: Det nu, som vi alle har, hele tiden, men som vi så ofte glemmer. 

    Ligesom denne filosofiske overbygning er et paradoks mellem accept og intentionel søgen, er også øvelserne et paradoks. I qi gong gælder det om at gå lidt ned i knæ, skabe jordforbindelse, komme op på forfoden, skyde hoften frem, løfte armene som træet, der strækker sine grene ud til siden, holde positionen og så, ja, slappe af i hele kroppen. Det er selvfølgelig nærmest umuligt. Men samtidig er det umagen værd. Det at stå i denne løbende proces mellem afslapning og anspændthed, giver sindet noget at arbejde med og en særlig ro. Og når man efter ugers og måneders træning er blevet mere bekendt med qi gong, giver øvelserne også en særlig glæde. Det er glæden ved bare at få lov at være. Lige nu. Lige her. 

    Det er netop roen og glæden, jeg værdsætter ved qi gong. Og Thomas’ indføring i øvelserne er både ligetil og udfordrende på samme tid. Thomas er en formidabel instruktør, der både forklarer og viser øvelserne på en let forståelig måde, der dog altid lader uendelig meget plads til fordybelse – jeg vil med vilje ikke bruge ordet forbedring i denne sammenhæng. Idet Thomas løbende italesætter det, han viser, er instruktionerne ligetil, og man bliver hele tiden mindet om at bevare fokus på øvelserne. Samtidig er øvelserne så mangfoldige, at det aldrig bliver kedeligt at dyrke qi gong sammen med Thomas. Det virker som om, han har et utømmeligt reservoir af øvelser.  

    Jeg kan ikke anbefale det nok at prøve qi gong sammen med Thomas. Her bliver du taget med på en både filosofisk og kropslig rejse, der giver ro og glæde i hverdagen.

    Merlin Christophersen, 19. December 2024
  • From something to nothing and back again

    I let go to land in no-man’s-land.

    Heaven and earth are one.
    The circle and the square are the same.

    They part necessarily, without effort.
    First boundless stillness, then endless movement.

    There’s no sense in speaking of form or formlessness.
    Substance or non-substance—what is the difference?

    Body, energy, and mind—what are they?
    I am merely a channel for nature’s forces.

    My mind moves and fills the form.
    Empty yet full, the universe fills itself.

    I stand in the center.
    Seeing the master and servant work.

    When we offer no resistance,
    we meet with no resistance.

    Miracles and Mysteries.
    Everyday things are welcomed as a friend.

    I have no mind that is my own.
    Over time, this too fades away.

    Perfection in imperfection.
    Imperfection in perfection.

    It seems as if I am here, yet I am not. I am not, yet I am right here.

    Others cannot grasp it. I cannot comprehend it either.

    Naturally—it’s all right.

    (A poem on the liberation of mind, heart, and intention—“Shen, Xin & Yi”—in spiritual practices such as Standing Meditation, Qigong, Neigong, Neijia, and Taiji)

    Translation of “Fra noget til ingenting og tilbage igen” from Qigong Gentofte 2015

  • Qi Gong is efficient and fascinating

    “Qi Gong is an efficient and fascinating way to preserve and improve one’s health. If you are serious about Qi Gong and looking for a teacher to guide you on the path to wellbeing then Thomas Dyhr is your man”

    Søren Brøndholt Nielsen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Testimonial from Qigong Gentofte 2017
  • Taiji og qigong spire videre i mit hverdagsliv

    Jeg er blevet undervist af Thomas i 1 halvt år. Begyndte at lave taiji i 2007. Jeg begyndte på taiji og qigong af 3 hovedgrunde. For det første ønskede jeg at ændre en mega spændt krop – af fodbold og skovarbejde. En krop der konstant røg ud i skader og som osse fik disse ord med på vejen af en massør” Hvis du var et dyr var du blevet aflivet!” Den anden grund var ønsket om at få alle mine ukontrollerede tanker til at slappe lidt af med deres extreme bombardement af mit væsen.  Sidst men ikke mindst så ønskede jeg at dyrke noget i et fællesskab, hvor der var kropskontakt ala leg, dans og kamp.

    Undervisning hos Thomas, Qigong Gentofte:  Mærker at når selv små og simple kropsjusteringer og holdningsændringer implementeres  så forandres  hele min tilstedeværelse i min daglige gøren og laden.

    Der anvendes en træning der bla.a. bruger  konkrete eksempler fra naturen, hvor vi spejler os i træernes, buskenes, græssets o.s.v.s lette og ubekymrede væren.

    Thomas er en lærer der lader det der sker komme under en ærlig og kærlig lup. Hvilket giver mig selv en unik mulighed for at reflektere og  mærke min egen krop og sinds styrker og mangler. Og således kan der blidt arbejdes videre med det..

    Mængden af øvelser Thomas har i sin rygsæk synes for mig utømmeligt og af stor kvalitet.

    Jeg elsker det faktum at  taijien og qigongen der praktiseres i timen bringes med ud af træningslokalet for at spire videre i mit hverdagsliv.

    Lars Jensen, Søborg, Danmark

    Testimonial from Qigong Gentofte 2017
  • Taiji essentials in practise

    Essentials in Practising the Taiji Solo Set & Playing Hands

    by Li Yiyu

    An earlier teacher said: “If you can draw the opponent in to land on nothing, you can then use four ounces of force to move his of a thousand pounds. If you cannot draw the opponent in to land on nothing, you cannot use four ounces to move a thousand pounds.” These words are rather vague and a beginner would not understand them. I will explain further so that those who want this skill are in a position to begin and then after much regular training get to possess it:

    If you want to draw the opponent into emptiness and use four ounces to move a thousand pounds, you first must know both yourself and the opponent. If you want to know both yourself and the opponent, you first must let go of your plans and just respond to the opponent. If you want to let go of your plans and just respond to the opponent, you first must be in the right place at the right time. If you want to be in the right place at the right time, you first must get your whole body to behave as one unit. If you want to get your whole body to behave as one unit, you first must get your whole body to be without cracks or gaps. If you want to get your whole body to be without cracks or gaps, you first must get your spirit and energy to be ready. If you want your spirit and energy to be ready, you first must rouse your spirit. If you want to rouse your spirit, you must first keep it from being distracted. If you want to keep your spirit from being distracted, you first must get your spirit and energy to gather and collect in your spine. If you want to get your spirit and energy to gather and collect in your spine, you first must get the front of your thighs to have strength, get your shoulders to loosen, and get your energy to sink downward.

    Power starts from your heel, is transferred through your leg, stored in your chest, moved at your shoulders, and controlled at your waist. In your upper body, your arms are connected with each other. In your lower body, your legs are coordinated with each other. Power is transferred from within. Gathering is contracting. Releasing is expanding. When becoming still, everything becomes still. Stillness refers to contracting. When contraction finishes, there will be expansion. When there is movement, everything moves. Movement refers to expanding. When expansion finishes, there will be contraction. Then when there is contact, you can turn smoothly and will be strong everywhere. You will then be able to draw the opponent in to land on nothing and use four ounces of force to move his of a thousand pounds.

    Whenever you practice the solo set, it is the practice of knowing yourself. Before moving through the postures, make sure your whole body is in accord with the principles as stated above. When the slightest part is off, immediately adjust it. To facilitate this, the set should be done slowly rather than quickly. Playing hands is the practice of knowing the opponent. His movement and stillness must be firmly comprehended. Still examine yourself as well. If I am in good order myself, then when the opponent comes near me, I do not need to act upon him at all, but take advantage of his momentum to find a way in. Connecting firmly to his power, I let him cause himself to fall out. If you do not have a strong position, this is simply a case of double pressure rather than neutralization, and you should seek within passive and active, or contracting and expanding, to fix it. It is said [Art of War, chapter 3]: “Knowing both self and opponent, in a hundred battles you will have a hundred victories.”

    Reference: THE TAIJI MANUAL OF GU RUZHANG | Brennan Translation

  • I recommend him to anyone who would like to learn Qigong

    I first met Thomas when I did my PhD in Copenhagen. He had just started teaching an introductory Qi Gong class in the international student house there.
    From the first class onwards I felt at home with him and his approach and stayed in the class for more than two years, until I left Copenhagen. Thomas was gentle and relaxed in a genuine and wholesome way, an authentic person whom I very much enjoyed to be around. He cared about everyone in the class and created a safe space for playful exploration and learning. I looked forward to every class. Over time, the circle of members learning and practicing Qi Gong turned into a group of friends, good friends. I think that was amazing and beautiful. I am very grateful for having met Thomas and cannot recommend him highly enough to anyone who would like to learn and practice Qi Gong or simply surround themselves with a very authentic, humane and kind person.

    -olaf

    Testimonial from Qigong Gentofte 2017
  • Empty vessel

    I am just an empty vessel
    saling the great sea.

    Forms arise and disappear.

    Change is just a principle
    no words describes the mysterious one.

    How can I forget
    that this moment
    and all existence
    is perfect
    and
    without flaws.

    Thomas 19/7 2009

  • The path of inner refinement is extremely simple and easy

    Bai Yuzhan said, “The path of inner refinement is extremely simple and easy; just get the fire of the heart to descend into the elixir field. The elixir field is the chamber of water, while the heart is fire. When fire enters water, then water and fire mix and true yang is produced. Therefore people Call them heart and genitals, not water and fire.”

    Reference: Taoist Meditation: Methods for Cultivating a Healthy Mind and Body translated by Thomas Cleary p. 115

  • The Intercourse of Water and Fire

    Whenever you leak vital spirit, being stirred and interacting with beings, that is all fire. Whenever you gather back spirits consciousness and quiet it down to steep in the center, that is all water. When the senses run outward, that is fire; when the senses turn around  inward, that is water.

    The one yin [ inside the fire trigram ] concentrates on pursuing sense experience, while the one yang [ inside the water trigram ] concentrates on reversing and withdrawing the senses themselves.

    Water and fire are yin and yang, yin and yang are body and mind, body and mind are spirit and energy. Once you withdraw to rest your vital spirit and are not influenced by objects, then this is true intercourse, as of course when you sit in profound silence.

    Reference:The Secret of the Golden Flower: The Classic Chinese Book of Life new translation by Thomas Cleary XI p. 55

  • The Three Precepts

    1. Simplifying involvements
    2. Not craving anything
    3. Queiting the mind

    “If people can empty their minds and contrive nothing, it is not that they want the Way, but the Way spontaneously reverts to them”.

    Reference: Treatise on sitting forgetting from Taoist Meditation by Thomas Cleary p. 102

  • The Lost Axe

    Once upon a time there was a craftsman who lost his Axe. He thought hard, and finally suspected his neighbor of stealing it. When he saw his neighbor walking, he thought that he walked like an Axe thief. When he meet his neighbor, the others countenance was just like that of an Axe thief, and when he saw him in conversation with others, he even talked like an Axe thief.

    Not long afterward, the craftsman found his Axe where he had mislaid it. Strangely enough, from that time on, his neighbor ceased to walk, look and talk like an Axe Thief.

    Reference:A Taoist Miscellany p. 67

  • The Master of Demon Valley

    The world has no constant values, events has no constant guide.

    When others act, I am still; When others talk I listen. If you know your nature, you’ll have few troubles; if you know your destiny, you won’t worry.

    Reference:
    Alchemists, Mediums, and Magicians: Stories of Taoist Mystics
    by Thomas Cleary
    ISBN: 9781590306598

    p. 14

  • A real human being

    I dwell in spiritual tipsiness, looking into the meaning of mellowness.

    I do not know why there is a profound smile on my lips,
    neither do I care to find out.

    Lighting up me entire body,
    filling it to the brim with nothing.

    I die to my self.

    Not knowing who I am,
    or where I am.

    Lost to the world,
    entering Heaven.

    Walking the earth,
    returning from bliss.

    The spark of tipsiness has lit my life.
    How can anything be the same.

    Learning how to die moment by moment. In an instant a real human being.

  • The Value of Boredom

    Learn to enjoy boredom and monotony. When you feel bored, it means that it is a really good time and everything is in good condition. This is the most valuable time for you. Most people are unpleasant when things are boring, because they do not know the value of boredom and monotony. Monotony to them is too simple, and they cannot stand it. Those things you consider boring and monotonous can help you come back to yourself instead of pulling you away. By accepting them, you can nurture yourself.

    Reference:
    Entering the Tao: Master Ni’s Teachings on Self-cultivation
    by Hua-Ching Ni
    ISBN 9781570621611