Hello brainbody, Shakurav(Steve?), and Shawn,
When I chose to learn SFQ, I was coming from having spent time in a purely spiritual self practice with a spiritual teacher. I had spent time prior to that in martial systems/martial qigongs. This spiritual teacher would not work with me, without me severing the martial connection. The shift involved me understanding a new way to use energy. Any expression of energy/energywork was shifted to healing, and spiritual transformation. Healing, as a word/concept, focus, underlying energy always present. I came to a point while I was engaged in this spiritual practice, where I began to miss the benefit of physical exercise and physical health/vibrance, that I enjoyed in my earlier self practice. I reapproached that interest through trying a few different medical/spiritual qigong offerings. That type of qigong offering was a fairly new thing at the time. Most of the masters were martial masters too. In hindsight, in my case, I could see that they were good teachers of healers, but not healers themselves. The fire or glow in their energy was very martial. Very bright accomplished energy, but, very martial too. No judgement here. For 'my particular path' that was unfolding, I could'nt be around that energy. SFQ was a very pure feeling expression of healing and spiritual qigong upon my first experiencing of it. Both the energy of the system itself and Master Lin's energy supported that. I know Master LIn enjoys a practice of Tai Chi, and is accomplished, but his Tai Chi practice is not intertwined in any direct way, into the qigong. I can do this qigong free of any connection to martial energy in the traditional sense.
In general terms, you can view a qigong system relative to three ingredients; medical, spiritual and martial. I would say SFQ is medical/spiritual. Any source energy that comes into this system feels pure, healing and transformative. You can perhaps follow your qigong interests relative to the martial/medical/spiritual template.
I've never heard Master Lin criticize any system, Master or whatever. He doesn't react to other systems or their structure or cost,whatever. He leads by being the high level energy of his practice. Once I made an offhanded remark about President Bush regarding a speech I saw him give, what his mouth revealed in a negative sense relative to reading someone's energy via facial marks changes etc, ,,,,,he didn't appreciate it! It wasn't that he was pro Bush or anti Bush. The point was, that it was not a good comment about someone, don't go there. ..
One last thing. Level II SFQ introduces you to detecting and clearing blockages. It is a very direct understanding and practice of working with energy. The active exercise at that level compliments the healing techniques used. You have the ability to help someone else, without their having to learn a set of exercises. You can clear your own or someone else's blockages, in many case, in a few moments. Not everyone wants to learn a form or set of
exercises to help themselves. It is good to promote that if one has the opening to teach. For yourself, you can also more directly clear energy blockages in a very literal sense regarding energy centers, points, meridians and channels. The higher levels of SFQ focus primarily on meditation/spiritual growth, along with more advanced healing techniques.
The criticisms by people about what Master's charge is unfortunate. It is very important that these qigong offerings are becoming more and more available and known. Our conversation about health care and medicine needs to include these new alternative and valid modalities. Everyone has the freedom to make a choice about whether to do something or not, and evaluate the experience relative to the cost. Yesterday, I wore this expensive t-shirt I bought 15 yrs ago. I paid 70 dollars for it, and didn't tell my wife at the time! I've never washed it, and it is still in perfect condition. I've worn it often over the years. I always have the intention not to sweat when I wear it, so I don't
:-) . When I divide the cost by the years I've worn it, it's looking pretty good these days.
love,
gallen
