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Longfei Taijiquan Association of Great Britain |
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| Longfei Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 2 | |||
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Letters
Dear Dick, Simon and Karen
Thank you for arranging such a wonderful trip! So many highlights and intense experiences will take some time to assimilate and reflect upon. The balance between training with top class instructors, sightseeing and free time was just right. All our senses were engaged, as were our bodies, hearts and minds. The moving time at Ba Bao Shan, a weekend of revelations at Yongnian, and the sheer energy and enthusiasm of the people will stay with me forever.
Professor Li's status, reputation and connections assured us an honoured reception wherever we went. At the same time he seemed to take real pleasure in mingling with us, one of us, enjoying the fun. I understand that he stayed on in China to be with the group, in spite of the fact that his wife had left for the States, to be with their daughter who had just had a baby.
And the sense of humour with which Tary shepherded us from venue to venue, his sensitivity in responding to our individual requests, and his ability to come up with one delicious meal after another, was truly remarkable!
For me it was also a deeply personal journey, coming to land of my ancestors for the first time. I am grateful for having the opportunity to grasp something of the long history and heritage of what it is to be Chinese. Preparing for the trip has enabled me to find a way to begin to make sense of the culture, learn the language and feel a part of the indomitable spirit of the people. A special thank you for this.
It's great to have the video - the cameraman was our indefatigable shadow, accompanying us nearly everywhere and giving us a great souvenir of the trip. I also have lots of photos, and will forward some on, once I've had time to go through them.
Many, many thanks to Dick and Simon for leading us firmly but gently through the two weeks, and to Karen for doing the organisation which made it all possible - while staying at home base. I hope you are all managing to have a well-deserved rest, while relishing the return home after a successful trip.
Very best wishes
Veronica
A Letter to my Ru Shi Dizi
This is a direct translation from Professor Zhang's address given at the disciple ceremony.
Dear Ru Shi Dizi (disciple)
Greetings to you all.
I am very honoured and pleased to accept you as my Ru Shi Dizi and would like to offer you a few words of encouragement.
"Ru Shi" (Enter the Inner Chamber), comes from the Confucian "Analects" and is usually used with "Enter the Hall" - meaning to pass through the front door and into the hall. It is something we do in our daily life. For example when we enter a house we pass through the front door, then into the hall and finally into the inner chamber. This symbolises the three stages of the learning process. The indoor stage is when we started to learn and acquire a certain amount of knowledge then into the hall, is where we accomplish a greater understanding and deeper knowledge and leads us to be a professional. Then finally the 3rd stage of entering the inner chamber means you have reached an advanced understanding of the subject and would be considered an expert.
However although you are all Ru Shi Dizi and have entered the inner chamber, at this different level of expertise we must not be contented, yet continue to strive for excellence and become a true professional of the DYYSG system. Then we can help the spread of and promotion of this traditional Chinese Yang Sheng culture internationally, through the science and unity of our effort and the learning of every aspect of the system. We can all give our modest contributions to explore the mysteries of human longevity.
There is a famous saying by China's first great poet "Qu Yuan":
"The road of learning is endless, we must reach high and low."
Therefore, I hope everyone will work towards the following aspects:
(A)
1. Strive to cultivate virtue. This should be the first priority when practising DYYSG.
2. Do not use strength inappropriately.
3. Do not be judgemental.
We should practice DYYSG with virtue and morals.
What is meant by virtue and moral?
Virtue is to be passionate.
Moral is to be humble and truthful.
(B)
1. This means people who practice DYYSG should be truthful to the heart, honourable and passionate,
especially towards the senior population, the weak and the sick.
2. Try to fulfil the spirit of the four happiness and the eight assists of the DYYSG.
3. To be self-critical everyday, self-criticism is self examination. A famous Chinese writer said:
"Self examination is like self dissection,
self interrogation."
It is likened to the hinge, one needs to maintain and clean it regularly in order to avoid rust. Our mind is the
same, we need to check it regularly, only by doing this can we avoid wrong doing and mental degeneration.
4. Strive to keep your oath and dedicate your life to the development of DYYSG. Today you have
become part of the Zhang family. You are all the seeds of the future of DYYSG. The seeds have been sown.
The seeds will take root, germinate, flower and bear fruit. It will need our nurturing and feeding so that it
will become deeply rooted and fruitful.
(C)
As your teacher:
1. I will not be ambiguous and strive to achieve all of the above requirements. I will do my utmost to
share all the DYYSG theories and teaching to all of you without reservation.
2. I will strive and search for a deeper and clearer understanding in my own study. I want to fulfil the
famous Chinese saying "One needs to understand oneself before one can understand others" and I will try
my best to live up to your expectations.
Professor Zhang Guande 2008 Translation by Diana Choy and Simon Watson
Longfei Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 2 Table of Contents