My Experience at Five Immortals Temple during the Beginner Daoist Medicine Class
This experience cannot be fully captured in words. It has been too profound. But I will try.
It has been two weeks since I arrived here at Five Immortals Temple. I only just now feel like I have truly arrived and settled into the rhythm of life here. I am very, very glad that I have another course after this one.
I came here for two reasons, primarily. First, to study with Li Shifu, the teacher of two of my teachers, Cheng Ling and Cheng Cai. Second, I came here to experience Daoist temple life.
I tried to come with few expectations but did have a lot of excited anticipation. Both of my primary goals have been met. I have been deepened for this experience and am very grateful. My life is changed for the better by the teachings, the rhythm of life here, the meditation, and the perspective on life here.
The rhythm of life here is outstanding. Recently I was reflecting, with deep gratitude, on the pace of life here. It is wonderful to be excited by chao fan and a beautiful sunrise. This calm rhythm and routine affords me the ability to increase my attention to the subtle.
Morning yangshen gong, qigong, San Zhui Qi Shi and Ha Ha Gong have helped me to deepen my connection to my body’s energy and qi while healing my body’s postural problems (which postural problems were created by my life as a lawyer).
Once there was free space in the morning I was able to get up a little later and do my morning recitations here in the temple (I had been doing them very early on the mountain top). Once I cleared it with Li Shifu, I was able to recite both the morning and evening scriptures, as well as the Beidou Jing and San Guan Jing, in the Guanyin Dian. I want to say this was very profound but the truth of it is that these recitations are always profound and the location does not much matter. At first, I was very excited and honored. But ultimately the powerful thing is that I can and do recite the scriptures; that I can ask questions about the scriptures from Masters like Li Shifu; that I know what they mean; that I practice the meditations, cultivation, repentance, and internal alchemy described in them; that I understand stillness and clarity and form and non-form; that I can express devotion to the immortals. That is what matters. Doing so in front of Guan Yin is beautiful. Doing so with all of the energies of this place is amazing. But it all pales on comparison to the practice itself. Still, I am grateful for doing so in an environment with such an elevated energy.
Meals, eaten communally and (mostly) quietly, of a consistent and routine vegetarian fare take a significant form of distraction out of the day. And, because we do chat, they also provide a space to circulate and converse with each of the incredible people whose fate it is to be here. I have enjoyed everyone, even though a couple raised tensions for others and one caused me concern by engaging in healing and cultivating practices from teachers who disclaim the need for lineages. The latter seems off; it seems a recipe for self-involvement and dangerous practices, even though he seems nice and well meaning. How can one practice Daoism without a lineage or a family and without the checks and balances of other teachers and the scriptures (let alone the precepts)? And yet, this is not my struggle or concern. I discussed it with him. I will leave that karma for him and those with whom he is sharing these practices.
After breakfast we rotate through the chore list. My favorite chore was cleaning the bathroom because I feel my work partner, Nasim, and I did a particularly good job and left the bathroom very nice. It was thus rewarding. It is also an honor to sweep the temple. Even the toilet duty was not bad. I think having raised two kids probably made that easier.
The classes have been an intense speed-run through of all Chinese medicine from a Daoist perspective. Li Shifu’s knowledge is vast — what an incredible breadth of understanding. And I am also impressed that Cheng Liang has been able to translate all of this material so effectively.
I have learned a tremendous amount in only a few days. Each subject has been mostly a taste – but enough of a taste and enough practice that I can start using many (but not all) of these skills and I know where and how to learn more. I will put the moxa and cupping into practice when I get home, with those people who are my coaching clients and who want somatic remedies for some of their life challenges. I feel confident to do both of these practices safely and effectively.
Obviously, I cannot and will not use the qigong medicine until I am qualified. Similarly, I will not use the acupuncture skills unless and until I get the necessary certifications. But I now have a significantly greater appreciation of acupuncture and the underlying thinking which I will apply in my acupressure. Similarly, I hope to study and build the skills to use the qigong healing.
I have been given an incredible and important foundation for Daoist medicine. I now deeply understand the background and look forward to exploring each topic in depth to relieve suffering around me. I particularly look forward to returning home and developing meaningful relationships with the herbs that are near me (such as dandelion, yarrow, elderberry, blackberry, willow).
The evening qigong and meditations have been life altering. It has been a long time since I have had such an excellent time and space in which to practice. This is exceptionally important. I have made significant progress in quieting my mind and learning what I need to do to strengthen my body so that my body and postural problems are less distracting. I am getting closer and closer to stillness and taming the monkey mind, which are prerequisites for more advanced practice. Thus far, I have only had a few tastes of what non-duality might look like – these tastes have been enough to keep me dedicated to this path. Now comes the simple but hard part of implementing it. I have moved leaps and bounds in that part – implementation – by having this space, especially with its elevated energy – which feels disciplined in the Five Immortals Hall, compassionate in the Guan Yin Dian, and wise at the stupas of Li Shifu’s three teachers.
Most important, however, has been finding this family. And coming to this family home. Perhaps it is because the temple reminds me of my childhood in Bolivia. But I think it is deeper than that. I cannot really elaborate on this. Home and family are the only words that express this – in all of their meaning. This community expands and deepens the family I have at Parting Clouds, which already included Cheng Ling and Cheng Cai.
I have deeply enjoyed conversations with both Cheng Liang and Cheng Da as well as Cheng Jue and all of my fellow students. I remain a little too embarrassed about my Chinese and a little too afraid of not living up to the honor to speak with Li Shifu in more depth. I do not want to let down myself or my teachers Cheng Ling and Cheng Cai. And Li Shifu has been so very busy with running these classes! I hope to do so one day. I hope I remember how to both ask what I want to ask and how to speak like a normal human being. There is a clear feeling of being a sibling with the other people here. I feel that very clearly with my roommate Matthias and with my workmate Nasim.
The first of the lunar month was a particularly potent day. The morning recitations were powerful. Watching Li Shifu perform the morning gongke was revelatory. His voice and his power conveyed new meaning in various parts of the scripture. The performance was also intense; I was captivated by the speed of certain portions and the intensity of particular phrases. The evening gongke was the first time I experienced the evening gongke at a temple in China led by a gao gong. It was a potent experience. And portions moved slow enough that I could keep up with the singing and recitations both. As I burned the prayer papers, my intent was dedicated to cultivating the Dao, spreading its message in the world, and healing the world. I was glad to have it confirmed that the purpose of burning the prayer papers was to transmit our wishes to heaven. I also performed the San Guan Jing and the Beidou Jing after lunch. I am deeply in the flow on the days where I perform all of the scriptures that have been transmitted to me.
Despite having very little skill and talent at singing, I have enjoyed singing the five healing tones and the first verse of the Dao De Jing. Singing the first verse of the Dao De Jing is particularly potent as, arguably, the rest of the Dao De Jing (and all of Daoism) unfolds from that verse. Practicing the Bada Shenzhou and Ling Guan Zhou and Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun Baogao have been very important for my practice.
Looking over my gongguoge, I have learned a lot through interacting with this environment. Regrettably, due to inattention, I have stepped on a number of beetles and centipedes. I regret their passing and have, generally, become more attentive as to where I put my feet. I have been fairly good at my tasks though I did not clean up some dog puke I found and let someone else do that. I also regret that and resolve to do better next time.
I have learned an enormous amount about Daoist medicine. I have improved several practices and learned new practices. I have grown significantly in this time. Especially with respect to my meditation practice. I think I will take up an instrument (the chirango) when I return so that I am closer to working with all five tones (I already use drums before recitations and the muyu and singing bowl during recitations). This time has been invaluable.
With deep gratitude,
Rafael
