Archive for December 2006
Xuedou Temple
Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2006 at 10:55 AM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith
Xuedou Temple Brings Home Giant Buddha
The Xuedou Temple in Fenghua County will starting building the new Giant Smiling Buddha this week. The statue will be 38 meters (124.5 feet) tall and cost 200 million yuan (25.6 million $US). Maitreya (Big Smiling Buddha) is a very popular image of Buddha among Chinese people. The Chinese people altered it into the image of a local monk called Cloth Bag monk (Bu Dai monk).
The Xuedou Temple was built in Jin Dynasty and relocated in 841 a.d. during the Tang Dynasty. The temple was known as the "Buddha Temple near the Waterfalls. The temple is located on Xuedou Mountain and considered one of the 10 greatest temples.
The temple was burnt almost completely down during the cultural revolution. It has been rebuilt and notably during 1953 and 1962 where refurbishment of the figures took place. Then again in 1986 where major temple rebuilding occured.
The Xuedou Temple in Fenghua County will starting building the new Giant
Smiling Buddha in early January 2007. The statue will be 38 meters
(124.5 feet) tall and cost 200 million yuan (25.6 million $US). Maitreya
(Smiling Buddha) is a very popular image of Buddha among Chinese people.
After it was brought to China, Chinese people altered the image to one
of a local monk called the Cloth Bag monk (Bu Dai monk). The Buddha has
a wide smile, his belly and hissincerity.
The Cloth Bag monk (religous name was Qici) lived between 907 and 923
A.D.He was born in Changting Village in Fenghua, he styled himself as a
man in Changting Village. After he became a monk, he went from temple to
temple in Fenghua. He became partial to the Xuedou Temple.
Posted in Cultural
Five Animal Chi Kung
Posted on Friday, December 29, 2006 at 5:45 AM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith
A very ancient form of training continues to be beneficial and practiced. This group practices in the mornings in the Anhui Province. Developed by the Taoist Physician, Hua, in the year, 2nd A.D. it has been used over 2,000 years to restore health, regain focus, strength and balance. Not complex, imitating the spirit and movement of the deer, crane, bear, monkey, and tiger.
I tried linking back to the original news paper article that posted this recent story, but their site pages were not working properly. We will construct a dedicated page for this excellent resource.
Edited on: Thursday, July 03, 2014 12:37 PMPosted in Style: QiGong
Recognizable Buddhist: Harrison Ford
Posted on Sunday, December 24, 2006 at 4:22 PM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith
Harrison Ford, Buddhist, was born in 1942 and has
demonstrated his support of the Tibetan People and the Dalai Lama. He
was a tremendous supporter of the movie "7 Years in Tibet".
Harrison Ford was born in 1942 and is very recognizable for his works and performance. He is also recognized for his support of the Tibetan cause and the Dalai Lama.
In 1998, during an interview he stated, "I support Tibet publicly," Ford told George magazine. "I just don't make it a public issue. I have introduced the Dalai Lama on a couple of occasions, and I have privately supported and am involved in other efforts to redress the inequity of the situation, but I don't actively look for opportunities to advance these issues."
Mr. Ford worked on the "Dalai Lama Renaissance" and narrated the documentary. You are encouraged to visit this site.
In San Francisco, 1997, many recognizable people lined up to shake the Dalai Lama's hand with the "Free Tibet Concert". Included was Mr. Ford, Steven Seagal, Sharon Stone, and many others.
On September 7, 1995, Mr. Ford testified to Congress about his experience in Tibet:
"Mr. Chairman,
It is a great honor for me to be here today and to participate in this
important hearing on Tibet.
I would like to salute you for the tremendous support you and your
colleagues have provided His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the people of
Tibet. This is not something that has gone unnoticed by the American
people . The Tibetan struggle is no ordinary freedom struggle. The
courageous men and women in Tibet have chosen the path laid out by
their leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is a path of non-
violence-- a path that too few peoples around the world have dared to
try.
As an American who cares deeply about justice, freedom and democracy,
I can tell you that this is a cause that touches at the core of our
own values. It is about the survival of a people who seek only to
democratically determine their own government, to have the freedom to
practice their own religion without interference, and to bring up
their children in a safe environment where they can be proud of their
unique heritage.
I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about my own
experiences in Tibet, although you will hear about our trip there from
my wife, Melissa. But I would like to take this Opportunity to
introduce to you a man of remarkable courage. A man who has risked his
life to bring information about the suffering of the Tibetan people to
the outside world, Mr. Gendun Rinchen.
Three years ago Melissa and I traveled to Tibet. Our tour guide was an
outstanding man, Gendun Rinchen. One year later, Gendun was arrested
and detained for attempting to provide information about human rights
in Tibet to a visiting delegation. He was charged with stealing state
secrets, but was released after eight months because of intense
international pressure.
He will tell his own story. But, I would like to impress upon you the
dedication and courage of this man, who under impossible
circumstances, contributed enormously to educating the world about the
brutal Chinese occupation of Tibet and the effect it is having on the
Tibetan people.
As we appear before you today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is in this
country, speaking to students, business leaders and Americans from all
walks of life for whom his message of peace, compassion and
non-violence resonates deeply. I would also like to take this
opportunity to encourage you to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
when he is in Washington next week and to urge the President to also
meet with this man of peace. His Holiness is a great man; to meet with
him brings dignity to America and to us all.
Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you today."
Edited on: Thursday, July 03, 2014 1:42 PMPosted in Cultural
Read Master Chin's Hop Gar Article
Posted on Saturday, December 09, 2006 at 8:21 PM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith
Printed in April 2006, this article discusses Master Chin's history, Hop Gar, and principles guiding the fighting style of this kung fu.
There are four principles for Hop Gar: cruelty, evasion, penetration and interception. When asked about cruelty, Master Chin quotes the Lama White Crane kung fu classics: "When hunting a tiger, destroy it. Otherwise, a wounded tiger will return to harm you. When weeding a garden, pull up the roots. Otherwise, the weeds will grow back. Whether the lion is hunting an elephant or a rabbit, the lion always uses full force."
Read the Origninal Magazine article
Our Internal Tibetan Hop Gar Home page
Edited on: Thursday, July 03, 2014 1:42 PMPosted in Kwoon , Style: Hop Gar
Spirit
Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 at 5:13 AM by Sifu TW Smith the site author">Sifu TW Smith
The characters for spirit; Jing Shen represent one of the Three
Treasures. Strengthening and cultivating Shen is an ultimate process of
training. Many classics state that prior to cultivating shen, one must
have consistently trained the body and mind. Much like placing the roof
on the house, foundations must be laid first.