Penglai Fellowship Summer 2024 Lectures:
Summer has come again and with it many of us are turning our minds toward recreation and holidays, so what better could you do with your free time than join us from 1 to 4 PM EST July 20th for a free afternoon series of talks by experts in the meditation and Qigong space Wes Tasker, Ian Burgess and Robert Coons?
In Brief:
What: three talks on internal alchemy and Daoist Qigong including limited instruction,
When and Where: July 20, 2024 from 1 to 4 PM EST by ZOOM meeting (recording available on request),
How much: free! Just bring a smile :)
How do I sign up: email Robert at immortalitystudy@gmail.com to indicate your interest and you will be sent a ZOOM link one day before the seminar.
Schedule:
1:05 PM: Welcome to participants and introduction of speakers,
1:15 -2:15 PM: Wes Tasker: "From Daoyin to Neidan: Post Heaven as Foundation for Pre Heaven" including time for questions and feedback.
2:15-3:15: PM: Ian Burgess: “Practicing the Seated Eight Silk Brocades with an emphasis on the Spine.” Including time for questions and feedback.
3:15-3:25: ten minute break,
3:25-4 PM: Robert Coons: “the power of nothing, achieving realization by following the reverse course.” with questions and feedback at the end of the session.
Seminar description:
1: Wes Tasker: "From Daoyin to Neidan: Post Heaven as Foundation for Pre Heaven"
Wes will teach a Daoyin practice called "Without Intention Achieve the Great Return" from the Master of Carefree Wandering Dao Yin Formulas then move on to the Clarity and Stillness Classic to highlight the differences between Pre and Post Heaven practices and how they can support each other in energetic meditation practice.
2: Ian Burgess: “Practicing the Seated Eight Silk Brocades with an emphasis on the Spine.”
Looking at the seated Eight Brocades with a focus on the spine, one of the main benefits is the improvement in your ability to sit comfortably. These exercises also help open the body allowing for the free circulation of breath, blood, and qi. In this session, we will focus on exercises that enhance the flexibility of the spine and concentrate on opening the three gates. Our approach to Daoyin will begin with theory, followed by detailed physical movements, breath and posture, and breath holding to help open up the body. The session will be led by Ian, who has learned these practices from several well known teachers.
3: Robert Coons: “the power of nothing, achieving realization by following the reverse course.”
Daoist Meditation practice isn't about being in the now, heightening tactile sensitivity of developing appreciation for chocolate by being mindful about taste and texture, it is a sophisticated system of transforming inner stillness to spiritual illumination.
This lecture is a primer in Internal Alchemy theory with a special focus on how Daoist Cosmogony is used as the primary mechanism of spiritual development in seated meditation.
Speaker bios:
Wes Tasker: has been studying Chinese Medicine, Qi Gong, Nei Gong, Xingyiquan and Baguazhang with Tom Bisio since 2004. He is also studying Classical Medical Chinese with Craig Mitchell as well as studying and translating several Tang dynasty Neidan Classics with Robert Coons.
Ian Burgess:
Based in Scotland, Ian has been practicing internal martial arts and qigong for over 30 years, with a primary focus on Taijiquan. He now runs HME Edinburgh, part of Adam Mizner's Heaven Man Earth school. A few years into his martial arts journey, he began studying Buddhist and Daoist internal practices and scriptures with many teachers to develop a deeper understanding of himself. In recent years, his main teacher was Lao Zhi Chang (until his passing).
Robert Coons: Robert Coons is a practitioner of Internal Alchemy, Qigong and Taijiquan who's main teachers are Hai Yang (Canada) and Yin Qin (China).
About Penglai Fellowship:
We are a group of secular practitioners of Daoist, Buddhist and Confucian Arts with an emphasis on internal energy cultivation as a spiritual practice.
Our goal is to study classical and modern resources about these practices and provide high quality educational opportunities to the public.
Expect us to be more active in 2024 and going forward!