recommended ideas

So many clients - students and patients have enquired as to what books are read, products used and foods consumed, etc. Do I have a strict diet and do I live under the limitations of my practices.

Enjoy and live life to its fullist but always in moderation. Anything in excess will only harm us. Too much happiness and sadness can hurt our internal organs which in turn will harm our health; according to the TCM (Chinese medicine) classics.

 

Everyday is spent in the practice of taiji and qi gong for my health - to enhance my practitioning, teaching and to guard my mind. Investing in ones health is the best gift to give oneself.

Shirfu /Dr. Jeff has compiled a few items which will help to acquire some awareness.

topics

Click on the topic of choice for easier selection.

1. food for thought

2. reference for inspiration

3. 5 elements eating

4. Exercise for better health

5. inspirational words

food for thought

 

(calligraphy is Qi / Chi / Hara)

 

The Hsin (mind) mobilizes the Qi (breath)

Making the Qi sink calmly; when it gathers to permeate the bones.

 

The Qi mobilizes the body. Making it move smoothly to which it

then easily follows the direction of the Hsin (mind).

 

reference for inspiration

 

A few recommended reads to help the journey of understanding easier.

 

Tui na & De Da book & dvd - Dr. Jeff Lan (sold on Kalahari)

The illustrated I Ching - R.L. Wing

The art of strategy (Sun Tzu's art of war) - R.L. Wing

The Tao of power ( Lao Tzu's classics) - R.L. Wing

Genome - Bishop & Waldholz

Guarding the three treasures - Daniel Reed

The dancing wu li masters - Gary Zurav

The Tao of physics - Fritjof Capra

The turning point - Fritjof Capra

Strange tales of Liaozhai - Tsai Chih Chung

Journey to the west book I - Tsai Chih Chung

Journey to the west book II - Tsai Chih Chung

The end of time - Julian Barbour

The yellow emperor's classic of medicine ( Nie JingSu Wen) - Maoshing Ni

Cheng Tzu's thirteen treatises on Tai Chi Chuan - Prof. Cheng Man Ching

Gateway to the miraculous - Wolfe Lowenthal

Tai Chi Chuan - Cheng Man Ching

Chinese Traditional Kung Fu magazine - Beijing wushu institute

 

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5 elements eating

 

Dr. Jeff follows a simple method of eating the 5 elements eating analysis. Foods are consumed on the principles of the 5 elements - water, wood, fire, earth, metal; and its relation to elements, seasons and patterns.

 

But this does not mean that we cannot break away to the occasional "wrong food or drink item"..

 

In the body, all five elements are represented because they correspond to the five major organs: kidneys, liver, heart, stomach and lungs.  Usually one is stronger than the others, and one is slightly deficient.  One of the most important ways to create balance in the body is to choose to eat more foods, which strengthen and replenish the elements in which we are deficient.

 

Essentially, there are five elements, or factors, which have an inter-relationship which must be kept in balance. The Five Elements are: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. The chart below describes some of the common categorizations which fall under each element:

 

	FIRE	EARTH	METAL	WATER	WOOD
Yin Organs	HT & PC	SP	LU	KD	LV
Yang Organs	SI & TH	ST	LI	UB	GB
Sense Organs	Tongue	Mouth	Nose	Ears	Eyes
Colors	red	yellow	white	blue/black	green
Sounds	Laughing	Singing	Crying	Groaning	Shouting
Emotions	Joy	Worry or Pensiveness	Grief or Sadness	Fear	Anger
Seasons	Summer	Late Summer	Autumn	Winter	Spring
Environment	Heat	Dampness	Dryness	Cold	Wind
Tastes	Bitter	Sweet

 

 

 

• Brown Rice - increases qi, strengthens spleen
• Navy Beans - sweet flavor, benefits the lungs and spleen (both aspects of the metal element)
• Almonds - relieve stagnant qi of the lungs, transform phlegm
• Mustard Greens - influence lungs, clear chest congestion, improve energy circulation
• Onions - resolves phlegm and inflammations of the upper respiratory system
• Radish - transforms phlegm
• Pear - affects the lungs, eliminates phlegm
• Avoid - dairy (which may add mucus/phlegm), meat (which may weaken the spleen) and sweeteners (which may weaken the spleen and contribute to dampness)

 

Therapeutic Actions:

• Bitter (Fire) foods are generally cooling (yin) and encourage contraction and the descending of energy
• Sweet (Earth) foods are generally strengthening (yang) and encourage energy to expand upward and outward
• Pungent (Metal) foods are generally warming (yang) and encourage energy to expand and move outward
• Salty (Water) foods are generally cooling (yin) and encourage energy to move in and down
• Sour (Wood) foods are generally cooling (yin) and encourage energy to contract and collect
• Temperature - Within each categorization foods have differing temperature qualities which, while generally good for that element, may not be used during certain seasons or conditions. For example, if you had a common cold (Metal, Lung) condition you would decrease your intake of some of the foods which are generally cooling within the Metal element such as the fruits.
• Season - The current season will also play a role in which foods you may choose to eat. In the summer (fire, hot) we require more cooling foods and in the winter (water, cold) we require more warming, deeply nourishing foods.

 

Attend Dr. Jeff's workshop to find out about your particular needs or arrange a consultation for your analysis of the 5 element eating plan.

 

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exercise for better health

 

Dr Jeff's personal routine is exercise everyday making it a part of daily routine. Seeing patients, teaching, lecturing students, being a family man and working long hours 6 days a week; can be taxing on the body and mental well being.

 

Years of experience and the living examples of my teachers have taught me that hard work is not bad for you; only imbalance and excessive lifestyle is bad.

 

Hard physical workout over long term; is not only taxing but places strain of the physical body, internal organs and the mind; it is detrimental to ones health. Even a machine breaks down when not serviced regularly.

 

How can the body cope with all the lifestyle obligations imposed; when does the mind obtain a free moment.

The body needs revitalising exercise to stimulate good health; strengthen the mind, enhance the internal organs and reguvenate the body.

 

This is found in the daily routine practice of Taiji and Qi Gong; and of course, my weekly dose of acupuncture. I still spend some time on Shaolin and Yong Chun but more time is needed on my higher level internal training.

 

If I do not enhance myself how can I treat my patients and teach my students what it means to be healthy and strong regardless of age and physique.

Anyone wanting to train any of the Chinese arts; need to make the first informed step. Do you want it as a lifestyle investment program or are you wanting another "quick fix" or "new fad" routine.

 

This training is an investment; like an insurance policy; you invest in long term health and quality of life. The quantity comes with the quality.

 

Review the site for all your needs; once you make a choice get to know what you are wanting out of it and how much effort are you willing to invest. Less effort less reward; more effort more reward.

 

I hope this helps with your daily efforts of motivational training.

 

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excellent products & services

 

Products we use regularly as a family; and travel; in case of an emergency. Some items have been passed on from teacher to student in a few cases.

 

Chinese herbal products focus not only on pain relief, but increase energy flow and speed healing to get you back competing in your sport as soon as possible. The serious athlete focuses attention on training and preparation of the body: proper nutrition, core strength, a good training plan, and body awareness.

 

We hope you will find some joy with them too.

 

Green tea - & gong fu ceremony or tea making

Taiwan high mountain tea - the quality of the tea is important; ie, where it comes from and the conditions under which it was grown and picked. We only buy our tea from 2 places or we import our own.

 

Chinese dumplings, tofu and fresh produce

We purchase from the Chinese stores locally and import what we cannot get locally.

 

Four seasons medicated oil

can be taken orally and applied externally. Indications: cold, fever, diarrhea, vomiting,abdominal cramps, rheumatic pains, indigestion, pain, headache, sunstroke, vertigo, insect bites. ( we supply)

 

Hot drug oil - imada

to treat rheumatism, to dissapate bruises, to promote blood circulation, to relax and relieve stiffness, to act as an analgesic. Indications: rheumaticpain, rheumatic arhtritis, sprains, stiff joints, bruises, headache, lumbago, contusions and sore muscles.

 

Dit da jiu liniment - Dr. Jeff's own recipe

all kinds of bumps, bruises, strains, sprains, muscle pulls also to reduce swelling and stimulate fast healing.

 

Die Da Wan Trauma Pills 

Clears blockages of qi, blood, and fluids that have accumulated at the site of an injury, preventing blood from congealing in the tissues of the injured area. Good for multiple bruises, contusions, etc from getting "beaten up", sprains, strains, and fractures. Die Da Wan pills are taken internally as the counterpart to externally applied Dit Da Jow Liniment. 

 

Chinaherb - chinese symptomatic formulea

Good products if you have the correct formulea for the correct diagnosis. Its a pity its sold over the counter; as so many clients are taking the wrong tablets as they are not being advised by skilled practitioners.

 

Fieyue shoes - as worn by shaolin monks.

the best for grip; it is the best in comfort and fit. Wearing for a while allows the shoe to relax and shape with the foot to facilitate our type of training. It allows you to sink into the floor. For any training or just relaxing; it is the best.

 

Kung fu / Taiji outfits - supplied by shaolincafe.com & mindanarchy.com you can get good qualiy and service wihout standards being comprimised. Size and fit is never a problem. So many places buy cheap and it shows.

 

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inspirational words

Passage from section – Power in projection

tetragram’s 1, 2, 9, 19, 15, 20, 22, 23, 33, 44, 49, 70, 76, 77, 79, 81
Tetragram No 44.

THE POWER IN NEEDING LESS
Which is dearer,
Name or life?
Which means more,
Life or wealth?
Which is worse,
Gain or loss?
The stronger the attachments,
The greater the cost.
The more that is hoarded,
The deeper the loss.

Know what is enough;
Be without disgrace.
Know when to stop;
Be without danger.

In this way one lasts for a very long time.
______________________________________________________
In the Taoist view, individuals who are materially oriented — who identify themselves with their possessions — have no real purpose in the universe other than moving matter from place to place and reproducing life forms that may ultimately have the potential for intellectual evolution. Materially oriented individuals cannot evolve intellectually because their attachment to and hoarding of matter trains the mind to view reality as fixed and unflowing. This view is in harmony with dying, not growth, and thus they cannot connect with the larger meaning behind consciousness.

Those who follow the Tao realize that they are in a more powerful position when they are mobile, unburdened, and independent. For the Taoist, excessive possessions are treated like ballast. They are released to gain greater buoyancy. Just as air rushes in to fill a vacuum, more things will come into and pass through such lives. Most important, the capacity to need less and pass things on brings Evolved Individuals closer to themselves and closer to the continuous unfolding of reality — a perspective of advantage in the world.
(Extract from the - The illustrated I Ching - R.L. Wing)

 

pic: qi gong practice in the old days.

The princely man changes to virtue, the inferior man changes to material comfort.
The princely man cherishes justice, the inferior man cherishes the hope of favour to be received.
Confucius

 

Close the openings and block the door (sense of organ) and so long as you live, you will have no trouble, but open your space and become involved in affairs and so long as you live, you will not avoid trouble.
Lao Tzu

 

To yield does not mean that one is weak. In achieving ambition, the self should not take leave from humanity.
Shirfu Liang Dong Sheng (in honour of my late Grand Master Peng Nan)

 

Each nature from beginning to end without interfering with others invincibly exhaustible by time and space, initiation and nourishment, path to our route origin.
The Dao

 

If you are able to make all your sensations subside in your physical body, your circulation and your heart beat will also slow down. Your energy then becomes stronger and suddenly you will see the light. It comes within you, you must discover and cultivate energy before you can use it. We all possess it, but if we never discover it, how can we use it?
Dr./Shirfu Lin Feng Chao

 

Keep in one, become empty and will posess all. One don't transmit Qi to the patient, but induct the energy, patient will balance own energy and healer energy will also be balanced. In balance the Qi never reduce or increase, generate or degenerate, appear or disappear. It always influence by circumstances, one must keep in one to balance the Qi and understand its flow.
Dr./Shirfu Lin Feng Chao

 

Losing touch with our inner selves leads to losing nature, universe and earth.
The infinite circle of life is the journey of inner understanding of our own suffering and happiness on a whole.
Dr./Shirfu Jeff Lan

 

'Being too clever' destroys our spirituality, or even our mental capacity.
Dr./Shirfu Jeff Lan

 

Stop thinking, stop talking ... just let go.
Nothingness is somethingness.
Emptiness is you and at one with nature.
Dr./Shirfu Jeff Lan

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Feb 2011