Master Jou Tsung Hwa

10/10/2024

The Two Hats
Discuss Living and Dying and Cancer
Part 2.
This is the second installment of our discussion with my long time friend Stephen Watson who is dealing with a diagnosis of cancer. Our discourse is about how he is facing these challenges and making use of his Taoist beliefs to make the best of the situation.
Part One can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/share/cCAFVqN34mbFJfqM/
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John: What are some of the things that you are doing to as you say practice dying?

Stephen: Well, in the past I had quite a bit of control of day to day things. When I was in the hospital, I was not in control, food, water, going to the bathroom were not really something I had control of. I had an ah ha moment of sorts in which I saw how even in life we are really not as in control as we think we are. Even though I am not in control I can and do have influence. Having this influence can allow me to participate in the process of the changes that are happening.

John: Can you influence when or if you will die from cancer?

Stephen: Oh, no I did not mean that. We can choose and have some influence in how we die, the way we act or how we feel about it, but not really when we die, no one does that really. I think once we realize it happens practicing dying also means learning to surrender to the moment.

John: So, you think just give up at the moment of death? I am not sure that is what you are saying is it?

Stephen: What I want to be able to do is actively participate in the process of surrendering when I know it is inevitable. It will not be that something is being taken from me, but it will be that I am choosing to release it.

John: So, you would when there is no other choice release, let go and surrender to the moment of death than try to vainly fight against it. That makes sense to me. I do not think most people who have not studied the Dao and other eastern philosophies can easily grasp. Many people are angry when faced with what you are facing.

Stephen: I have learned that anger is born of frustration and frustration arises from having expectations. There is no road to anger if you do not begin with expectations. With my cancer I am working to not have expectations and so I do not resent or feel angry.

John: This is a very Daoist and Zen attitude. It will be very foreign to many people. It seems you are working towards or have already learned to live in the now and not project fears and concerns into a future that does not really exist except in the mind.

Stephen: This is a work in progress. It seems to be the most appropriate way for me at this time as it fits with my philosophy of life.

John: So what changes have you made in your life as you go forward.

Stephen: Really I have changed very little. I made no radical changes. I was not doing lots of things that are bad for me before so I did not change much at all. Some people who are close to me or know me are surprised by that, but I am going forward with life and not letting this stop me from being me. I am on the way or The Path and that is the Dao.

John: So, in Texas when someone says are you ready we jokingly say, “I was born ready.” I think that applies to both living and dying.

Stephen and John: both laugh.

Discover Stephen Watson:
https://www.patreon.com/SomedayFarm

Help a deserving friend.
My long time friend Stephen Watson is dealing with a diagnosis of cancer which is costing him an enormous sum of money. So much so that he may have to sell his home and farm to pay the exorbitant medical expenses. There are many more medical procedures he has to go through to survive. If you can help him here is a link to a GoFundMe page where you can donate. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. Thank You
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-stephes-cancer-fund-save-someday-farm?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Stephen was interviewed by Taijiquan instructor Violet Li in the TaichiExaminer.
If you wish to watch the full interview here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00k9niHcrgg

Discover John Painter:
www.thegompashop.com

09/26/2024

In the arts I was taught the Li family had a philosophy that has been a guide to me most of my life. This is a capsule summation of what is called Yixingong or accepting the way. It is not a religious philosophy just a way at looking at life and where we are in all of it.

09/25/2024

Here is the hour long interview talking about my good friend Master Jou, Tsung-Hwa and his legacy. It was recorded by Taijiquan instructor Violet Li on her podcast The Taichiexaminer. Please watch, share and leave comments.

Dr. Painter, a master on Li Family Baguazhang and Internal Martial Art, was a friend of Master Jou Tsung Hwa, who is considered a legend in the development o...

07/16/2024

The Two Hats
Zen and Tao Conversations For The Path

TENDING A ZEN GARDEN

Stephen: That is a nice layer of green moss you have here in the tea garden.

John: (Sweeping leaves from the moss carpet)Thank you, it must be tended every day a meditation of sorts. You know moss is looked at by some who practice Zen as a symbol of inner cultivation.

Stephen: Yes, I have heard that said. I see a few leaves you didn’t sweep up over there.

John: When I first started doing this caretaking I would get very frustrated when after an hour of sweeping, just as I walked away a few more leaves would fall. At first I went back and picked them up. When I looked back some more had fallen.

Stephen: Seems frustrating, but leaves do fall you know, part of nature.

John: One day I hit upon a plan. I went over and using internal force I shook that tree until every last leaf that was ready to fall was down and I swept them all up. I was pretty proud of myself.

Stephen: An interesting solution. Did you shake the tree every day from then on?

John: No, I stopped when Mr. Li who had been watching came to me and said, “ This is a waste of your internal power, trying to improve on nature by interfering with the time a leaf drops, I thought I taught you better.”

Stephen: Oh, that must have stung! So what did you do?

John: I was pretty stubborn in those days so I said defiantly, “Well, it got all the leaves up and the garden is pristine.” To which he replied, “I sweep my tea garden moss each day as well and if a few leaves fall afterwards, they will be there tomorrow or the gentle wind will carry them away for me, besides a few of them on the moss might make a nice asymmetrical pattern. You really cannot improve on nature, you should work with it not fight it.”

Stephen: Now that is truly sage Zen advise.

John: Yeah, I stopped fighting the trees and wasting my energy and learned to enjoy what was there it was very liberating.

Stephen: Ok how about this poem for you.
“We sweep up the fallen leaves in the garden,
But we don’t detest the trees for dropping them.

John: Now, that is sage wisdom right there my Tao-Pal Emaho!

Can You Help My Tao-Pal Stephen Watson
My long time friend Stephen Watson is fighting cancer which is costing him an enormous sum of money. So much so that he may have to sell his home and farm to pay the exorbitant medical expenses. There are many more medical procedures he has to go through to survive. Stephen is a very skilled teacher of philosophy, meditation and Chinese martial arts as well as Aikido. If you can help him in his struggles here is a link to a legitimate GoFundMe page where you can donate. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. Thank You
John P. Painter
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-stephes-cancer-fund-save-someday-farm?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Discover John Painter:
www.thegompashop.com

06/18/2024

Tai Chi and Chinese internal arts students and teachers. Here is a recent interview with Tai Chi Journalist and amazing internal arts instructor Violet Li talking with me about the fabled Tai Chi Farm and my adventures with Master Jou, Tsung-Hwa. My student and I recently completed a huge website honoring my late friend Master Jou and his contributions to the proliferation of Tai Chi in the West. I hope you enjoy the interview and will click the link at the end of the video to visit the website. You will see photos and videos of many legendary teachers now gone into the void and prominent current living teachers, plus a collection of instructional news letters written by Master Jou himself.
Please enjoy and share with a friend.
https://violetlitaichi.com/master-jou-tsung-hwa-a-tai-chi-legacy-through-the-eyes-of-dr-painter/.

06/15/2024

Want To See What Tai Chi was like before social media, before the internet distracted you from training. Come visit, read and watch the goings on at the famous Tai Chi Farm. All this and more can be found on our new website honoring the Chinese internal arts.
Master Jou, Tsung-Hwa Tai Chi Legacy
www.masterjoulegacy.com
Please Share This Link With All Your Friends

06/06/2024

Qigong Instructional DVD From Dr. Dunbar
Eighteen Luohan Qigong
We at The Gompa highly recommend this video by our good friend Dr. Jay Dunbar.
Shíba Luohan Gong (十八羅漢手) translates roughly as eighteen techniques of the enlightened ones. The exercise combines internal cultivation of Qi (vital life force energy), tranquility, and consciousness with development of external physical strength, vigor, and flexibility. Dynamic yet meditative, challenging yet fun, the set is said to be 1,500 years old, attributed to Bodhidharma, a patriarch of Indian Buddhism and founder of the Chán (Zen) sect in China.

With elements of yoga asana and martial art, the set involves body, mind, breath, and spirit in an ancient ritual designed to foster health, longevity, and perhaps even enlightenment.

This DVD can assist those already proficient in the set, but also to teach the set to those who would enjoy to learn it. As such it is appropriate for beginners.
The program contains over an hour of indoor instruction, with separate movement and breathing sections in rear-view and mirror-image for each Luohan, a rear-view, mirror-image review of the entire set, and a full outdoor front-view performance. Frequent chapter marks make navigation easy.

Dr. Dunbar began his study of Taijiquan and Qigong in 1975. He is founder and director of the Magic Tortoise Taijiquan School/ Dr. Dunbar was a disciple of the late Master Jou, Tsung Hwa, with whom he studied for over 20 years. We at The Gompa highly recommend this video by our good friend Dr. Jay Dunbar.
Total length: 126 minutes.
Limited Supply, First Come Fists Served.
More Information Can Be Found Here
https://thegompa.com/shop/product/eighteen-luohan-qigong/

04/15/2024

Some exceptional people perhaps can copy movements from a video or Zoom presentation, but this is not the same as teaching a student one on one. It certainly is not a medium for certifying anyone as a teacher of Taijiquan or any other internal martial art.

04/11/2024

Those interested in this please share on your page and groups.

03/28/2024

Your Bagua Mat also comes with an instruction sheet containing:
 interpretation of the symbols
 instructions for care
 suggested training exercises
Limited supply so order now!
www. thegompa.com/shop/product/bagua-mats/

03/23/2024

03/22/2024

A Short but pithy Two Hats for You.

03/21/2024

The Two Hats
Zen and Tao Conversations For The Path

Stephen: Why are you working so hard in the heat of the day.

John: The plants I am tending need my attention now.

Stephen: Yes, but aren’t you almost 80? Why are you still working?

John: Because, I am still here and able to move and the plants are here and cannot.

Stephen: Ok, but why are you working in the hot sun?

John: (Pointing up) Because the sun is there.

Stephen: So you and the plants need the sun, I see now.

John: Heaven and Earth nurture all things.

Stephen: Yes, I think we should act without counting on the results and perhaps strive for success without dwelling on it. Do you agree?

John: Of course we wish a result to happen, but we must be willing to accept what comes even after our hard work and do what must be done without complaining about it.

Stephen: Work until the work is done and then retire, yes that is a good path.

John: Emaho my friend.
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Discover John Painter:
www.thegompashop.com

Discover Stephen Watson:
https://www.patreon.com/SomedayFarm
Can You Help My Tao-Pal
My long time friend Stephen Watson is fighting cancer which is costing him an enormous sum of money. So much so that he may have to sell his home and farm to pay the exorbitant medical expenses. There are many more medical procedures he has to go through to survive. Stephen is a very skilled teacher of philosophy, meditation and Chinese martial arts as well as Aikido. If you can help him in his struggles here is a link to a legitimate GoFundMe page where you can donate. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. Thank You
John P. Painter

03/09/2024

The world of Tai Chi (Taijiquan) is changing rapidly.

01/25/2024

Well, if I rebuild the Tai Chi Gala for 2025, then you know that we MUST keep the decades-long tradition of following it by Dr. John Painter's "Gathering of The Circle Jiulong Baguazhang" weeklong retreat. Here is the one hosted after the Tai Chi Gala & The Intuitive Arts Retreat in 2015. Old Chinese martial arts at its best. What do you think?

Learn More About Jiulong Baguazhang at www.thegompashop.comJoin me in the Internal Arts University.We have created the Li Family Internal Arts University Onl...

01/19/2024

Join me on X/Twitter . It's my combo profile of tai chi, gongfu cha, and related health, culture, healing, martial art, etc. Feel free to share content with me and I would love to share it there too! Let's get some positive vibes blossoming there!