Learning authentic Tai Chi can be expensive for many people. Master Simon Wong has taught Tai Chi for 35 years and wants to make it accessible to everyone, as a charitable gesture. From his long experience, he knows how good Tai Chi is and understands its benefits to society.
Yellow Dragon Tai Chi invites you to join our free class, every Saturday at 2pm. We meet under the tree close to London Fields Lido, E8 3EU, 10 minutes before. Don't be late!
Nearby stations: London Fields, Hackney Central, Dalston Junction. Free parking is available in London Fields West Side and Gayhurst Rd.
Tai Chi is a great way to improve your strength, flexibility, balance, circulation and concentration. It is also a powerful and effective form of self-defence.
Everyone is welcome regardless of age, experience or physical ability. No special clothing or equipment is necessary.
Things you may learn include: chi kung breathing, the Yang style Tai Chi long form, self-defence techniques, partner exercises.
Classes are led by Master Simon Wong (Sifu) and senior instructors.
Sifu is a master of Yang style Tai Chi, Omei Mountain 100 Day chi kung, the 7th generation master of Bamboo Forest Temple Mantis, founder of Yellow Dragon Fist Kung Fu, and holds a 9th-degree black sash with the AMA. He has been featured in many articles:
http://www.yellowdragon-kung-fu.co.uk/articles.html
As well as teaching martial arts for over 30 years, Sifu is a master of Tantric Buddhism. Join him after the class for a cup of #EnlightenmentTea!
Call 07957 356753 / 07846 653 272 for more details.
(The small print: Please make the instructors aware of any injuries or medical conditions. By attending the class you agree that photos may be taken and posted online. Anyone behaving in a disruptive manner will be asked to leave).
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*The deeper side to Tai Chi*The true purpose of Tai Chi is to show us the way to achieve inner peace, by developing an understanding of our relationship and interconnectedness with the cosmos, ultimately revealing our internal light and awakening to our true nature.
We can begin to learn this deeper side to Tai Chi by reading and contemplating the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra every day.
The Heart Sutra shows us that we are living in a state of ignorance and delusion, through our perception of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches and thoughts as "reality". What we experience is merely an illusion presented by our senses, and has no inherent existence.
The Heart Sutra is the ultimate truth, even to the extent of surpassing everything that exists. It is the original consciousness of the universe. All phenomena are attributed to emptiness and all phenomena are the manifestation of emptiness. Thus, there is no difference between phenomena (form) and emptiness. They are not two, but one.
Through reflection and practice, we can bring this understanding into our daily life, learning to truly let go and relax. By developing these abilities, the mind will become clearer and we will gain the wisdom to overcome all of our problems, achieving lasting peace and happiness.
*The Heart Sutra*
The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, while moving in the deep course of Prajnaparamita*, shed light on the five skandhas** and found them equally empty. After this penetration, he overcame all pain.
"Listen, Shariputra, form is emptiness, emptiness is form; form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. The same is true with feeling, perception, intention and consciousness
"Hear, Shariputra, all dharmas*** are marked with emptiness; they are neither produced nor destroyed, neither defiled nor immaculate, neither increasing nor decreasing. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling, intention, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no forms, sounds, smell, tastes, touches, or mental objects; nor is there the realm of the eyes, up to and including the realm of mind consciousness.
There is no ignorance or ending of ignorance; up to and including no decay and death or ending of decay and death.
There is no suffering, no origination of suffering, no extinction of suffering, and no path; no knowledge and also no attainment.
"Because there is no attainment, the bodhisattvas, supported by the Prajnaparamita, find no obstacles for their minds.
Having no obstacles, they overcome fear, liberating themselves forever from illusion and realising perfect Nirvana.
All Buddhas in the past, present, and future, through reliance upon Prajnaparamita, arrive at full, right, and universal Enlightenment.
"Therefore, one should know that Prajnaparamita is a great spiritual mantra, a great wisdom mantra, a supreme mantra, an unequalled mantra. It destroys all suffering because it is the incorruptible truth. A mantra of Prajnaparamita should therefore be proclaimed. This is the mantra:
"gah-teh gah-teh, pah-ra-gah-teh, pah-ra-sum-gah-teh, boo-di so-ha"
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* Prajnaparamita - the perfection of wisdom, the means to see the true nature of reality
** Skandhas - the aggregates that compose our whole mental and physical existence - form, feeling, perception, intention and consciousness
*** Dharmas - all phenomena
Venue:
London Fields Lido
London, E8 3EU
Dates