PRECIOUS GIFTS- Discussions with Sifu

[Irina]

Dear family, to follow the example of Hubert Siheng I would like to share some of the wisdom I learned from Sifu during the time in Moscow.

“you wei” and “wu wei”

There was one question with regards to “wu wei” meaning “do nothing and everything will be done for you”.

Sifu explained that this term, like many other Chinese concepts, is completely misunderstood due to translation into Western languages. And like “yin” cannot be defined by itself without the definition of “yang” it is the same with “wu wei”. It can only be understood along with “you wei”.
“You wei” is the art of diligent preparation of the ground while having the objective in mind. Once you have done everything as best as you can possibly do and, once you have paid attention to all details and have prepared the ground in the most steady manner you can let yourself flow into the “wu wei” and everything will be done for you. Moreover, if you don’t let go and continue to “work” then you may not achieve your objective at all. It is like a continuous process, like breathing.

yu wei (stillness) wu wei

I have drawn my conclusions with my own practice of Taijiquan or Qigong; It is therefore a complete focus (not concentration but focus without tension) on the form while doing the form. Somehow melting with the form and the movement while being in Tao, i.e. just doing exactly what you are doing in this very moment and nothing else. The more profound you are being one with the form the easier it will then be to let go completely. And then, do not do anything as everything will be done for you.
Just enjoy the chiflow !

[Hubert]

Dear Irene,

Thank you for starting this thread. Isn't it great to share the benefits we got from our discussions Sifu? I realized that the more I write about what I've learnt, the more it sinks in.

I hope there will be more great insights from Russia. I particularly enjoyed your creative use of the font sizes

Warm regards,

Hubert.

[Irina]

The Apple

Dear Hubert Siheng!
Thank you for your appreciation :-)
Yes actually, these postings are a little "selfish" because I am writing things down to keep them in memory :-) and to clarify the lessons I learned for myself! However, if it is useful for someone, I am happy.


Next lesson - The apple

Sifu says, think of nothing.
Disciple asks, but Sifu, I cannot think of nothing!.

Sifu says, think of nothing.
Disciple says, Sifu, but how can I think of nothing?

Sifu says, if I tell you, eat the apple, then eat the apple. Just take it and bite and eat.
I will not tell you, an apple is a fruit and it is usually red and it has white flesh and sometimes the flesh is yellowish. And if you bite in it, you may feel its fragrance and the juice may run down your mouth. I will not explain you that an apple is a fruit that grows on trees and it has some skin that you may peel off with a knife before you want to eat it. However, some people do not peel it but bite in it without peeling it first. I will not tell you that, because it will not help. What I tell you is: Eat the apple.
So if I tell you not to think, then think not. Do it now. And if you have 100 thoughts in your head and just manage to reduce the amount of your thoughts to 90. It is great. And if next time you manage to reduce the amount of your thoughts to 82 it is great. And if in 3 months you manage to reduce the amount of your thoughts to 35 it is fantastic, even if in some weeks the amount of your thoughts may increase again to 70 again it is still fantastic, because you are on your way to thinking nothing.

[Mark CH]

Dear Irene

Thank you for sharing this, it is always wonderful to read Sifu's instructions. Look forward to more.

Best wishes
Mark

[joko]

Do Nothing

Thank you, Irene. Wonderful!

Just before reading the "do-nothing" in your first post in this thread, I happened to read a relevant story from a book, which I would like to share here.

LETTING GO

“What must I do for enlightenment?”
“Nothing.”
“Why not?”
“Because enlightenment doesn’t come from doing -it happens.”
“Then can it never be attained?”
“Oh yes, it can.”
“How?”
“Through non-doing.”
“And what does one do to attain non-doing?”
“What does one do to go to sleep or to wake up?”
__________________________________________________ _____

Joko

[Charles David]

Last Day of School: Wu Wei to Yu Wei

Today is our last day of classes at the high school where I teach, hooray! Congratulations to all the 2009 graduates of Dalian Maple Leaf International School.

I worked a little later than usual and came home after my family had eaten. As I was eating, I thought to myself how much I enjoy working. In fact, I thought, there is not much more I enjoy than working. Then I realized that perhaps the reason I liked working so much was that I got to relax afterwards. In fact, it may not be possible for me to relax as well as I do if I didn't work hard beforehand. I present this as an example of the formula, Yu Wei to Wu Wei.

Letting Go After Work,

Chas.

[Andrejs]

Dear Irene,

Thank you for sharing your learning experience, during Sifu courses in Moscow.

How it is wonderful to learn from Sifu this wise Chinese concept.
“Yu wei” – “Stillness” – “Wu wei”
(Exercise, Form) - (Think of Nothing, Enjoy the Stillness) - (Letting Go! Chi Flow! Do nothing and everything will be done for you!)

Hao yun qi!

[Irina]

Thank you, Irene. Wonderful!

Just before reading the "do-nothing" in your first post in this thread, I happened to read a relevant story from a book, which I would like to share here.

Joko

Thank you Joko, wonderful story and so simple just like the truth might be :-)

[Irina]

The Car

Next lesson - The Car

Disciple asks, Sifu, we learned 18 Lohan Hands and in the intensive course you teach only 3 forms, which means this course is much more intensive!

Sifu says, the skill level in the intensive course is much higher.

Disciple says, Sifu, yes but we learned more forms, this means this course was much more intensive!

Sifu says, if I tell you, carve the diamond, then carve the diamond, do not break it into pieces. It is better to carve one small diamond and make it a solitaire than to break 100 diamonds into pieces.

And Sifu says, If you need to go to the local market then the best may be to take a bicycle. It doesn’t matter if you have 10 cars in your garage. It doesn’t even matter if you may have the driving license but not practice. Still, in order to go to the local market you may still take your bicycle, because you have practiced riding a bicycle for several years and the market is not far anyway.
However, if you have a small Mercedes and you practice driving every day, then you may take the Mercedes to go to the local market. You may also take the Mercedes to go to the next town. Actually, you can use it every day for many different purposes, in spite of the fact that you have 10 cars in your garage. And even if you have a racing car in your garage, and even if you have an airplane in your garage, you still may want to use your Mercedes to go to the next town and in most circumstances the Mercedes might just be the best.
Moreover, if you have to drive a long distance, it is maybe still better to take your Mercedes instead of taking the airplane, because, if you do not have the practice of flying, flying the airplane may even be dangerous and you may not arrive at all.
What you have now is a driving license and a Mercedes. So practice every day and you will have the benefit of driving a Mercedes. And this will be sufficient for most situations you may encounter.

[Irina]

Thank you, Irene. Wonderful!

“What must I do for enlightenment?”

Joko

Dear Joko!
I was just thinking of a similar story that was told to me by my son.

“Master, if I meditate every day how long will it take me to get enlightened?”
"Ten years"
"Master, and if I try very hard?"
"Then 20 years."

[Andrew]

Great!!!!! Thank you for all of the open sharing

[Omar]

“Master, if I meditate every day how long will it take me to get enlightened?”
"Ten years"
"Master, and if I try very hard?"
"Then 20 years."

This put a smile on my face. So true!