August, 2001

Wonderful News! The Peaceful Dragon has purchased the land for our new center! The Peaceful Dragon will begin construction this Fall on a building twice the size of our current space, located on six and a half wooded acres just 10 minutes from our current location.

This new center will incorporate many outstanding features including outdoor training areas and meditation gardens, an upscale tea house with a fireplace and lounge area, a patio for outdoor dining, saunas and locker rooms, plus training studios twice as large as our current ones.

Come celebrate! Sifu and Debra wish to invite all students to their home on Sunday, Aug. 19th at 5:00PM. There will be a meeting to begin planning the building and construction of our new center, and to outline how students who wish to volunteer can help make this project possible. The meeting will be followed by a celebration party and barbecue! Please bring a covered dish and your favorite beer, wine, etc. Also bring a folding chair or blanket to sit on. Directions to their house are available at the front counter.

More Fantastic News! Grandmaster Frank DeMaria (Ma For Ren) is coming! That's right, Grandmaster is returning to Charlotte! Two years have passed since his first and only visit, and he's ready to come back and teach once again! If you were at his last workshop then you know you're in for a treat. If you missed the last workshop or you're new to The Peaceful Dragon, this is your chance to meet and train with your Grandmaster, a man who is truly a teacher's teacher, and one of the most gifted practitioners of martial artists, chi kung and meditation in America.

Click here for pictures from Grandmaster's previous visit

He will lead a three-day intensive workshop on tai chi, meditation and Shaolin Friday - Sunday, Nov. 2-4th. This workshop is for every Peaceful Dragon student aged 12 on up through our senior citizens. Students will split into groups based on interests, skill and physical condition. For example, senior citizens who practice tai chi will focus on tai chi practice and principles throughout the three days, while shao-lin students can work on a more physical mixture of shao-lin and tai chi.

All students will learn the exotic Yang style tai chi fan form—a beautiful and graceful form integrating healthful chi kung with unique combat applications!

Here's the schedule.

Dear Students and Members of A.C.C.S. at The Peaceful Dragon,

As usual I want to express my sincere appreciation to each and every one of you for your kindness and generosity on my birthday.

First, I want to thank my disciple Sifu Eric Sbarge for instilling in you the old traditions of Shao-lin. These traditions have been passed down from generation to generation and are the core difference between us and non-traditional schools of martial arts. In non-traditional schools the main goal is for students to pay a fee so they can learn a martial art to fight or for whatever reason. The traditional school is concerned with the character of the student more than anything else. Without character development the art would degenerate into nothing more then a fighting method.

Fighting is always a last resort, and people with high moral character rarely have fighting encounters. People who are taught love and respect for all humankind find ways to settle disputes in a peaceful and logical way. If one's ego has been tempered sufficiently through the course of training of mind, body and spirit there is seldom reason to hurt people to prove a point.

Receiving your birthday card with all the names tells me how you feel about your training. I don't look upon that list of names as master killers, but rather loving people who are enjoying the fruits of our training. People who appreciate the ethics and deeper principles underlying our arts. The best martial artists in the world were people who were concerned first with overcoming their own imperfections. Once this is done, fighting becomes the very last resort.

Actually, when you cannot avoid a fighting situation it is a sign you have failed in some way in applying the art of avoidance. Of course protecting yourself when all else fails is a natural response. Yet, it doesn't negate the fact that it pains our heart to hurt others, no matter who they are.

Never to use your skills to hurt others would be the greatest triumph. So, the question arises, if you never intend to use your skills, why learn them? The answer could only be understood by those who have found the real meaning of Shao-lin which is peace, harmony with nature, and helping others. Our fighting skills remain only a tool to further develop our character and compassion. When I see all those names on my birthday card I trust I see people who have a love of life, compassion for others, and respect for all that is right and just in life.

I thank each and every one of you for thinking of me as I grow older. In return, I can only offer you what I know best and that is, the hardest Shao-lin workout in your life the next time I see you.

I, just like you, am forever training, studying, and perfecting Shao-lin knowledge. I am looking forward to sharing what I have learned with you by teaching things I am currently focusing on: The deeper aspects of the internal tai chi Jings; a deeper analysis of Chinese Kenpo techniques; even the beauty and effectiveness of exotic weapons such as the Tai Chi fan. This is my gift back to you for your kind remembrance of me.

Yours in Shao-lin,
Ma For Ren

When we observe nature, which is a manifestation of the Tao, we quickly discover that everything goes in cycles. If there is up there must be down, if there is down there must be up. We learn not to get too discouraged during down times, or too elated about up times. Therefore, during up times it's important not to downplay them, but let yourself feel joyful, and experience the positive energy of the moment, just as you can't avoid feelings of grief or despair during the down times and must experience them fully as well.

For The Peaceful Dragon this is surely an up time, with so many positive things happening at once. We've finally closed on our property and will soon begin to build our new center, Grandmaster is coming to lead a workshop, we've just returned from the exciting national kuoshu tournament where our students fared so well, our tai chi festival and retreat are right around the corner.

So, smile, ride the wave up and enjoy the moment! P.S. - A special thanks to all of our students for the generous birthday gift you gave me. It's nice to be remembered by people you care about.

Third Annual Mountain Tai Chi Retreat, Friday - Monday, September 21st - 24th
For the third year, our retreat is at the very peaceful YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. Relax and revitalize your spirit with a long weekend of concentrated training in tai chi, yoga, meditation and chi kung under the instruction of Sifu Sbarge. The retreat is in the North Carolina mountains only a couple of hours from Charlotte. Lodging and meals are included in this comfortably rustic setting. Former retreat attendees give it high marks; it's definitely not an event to miss.

Click here for pictures from a previous retreat

If you've never done tai chi or the related arts, this is a perfect chance to discover how great they can make you feel. And if you're already a student of these arts, four days of intense uninterrupted training can help you break through barriers and reach new levels in your skill and understanding. Everyone is welcome: students, members, friends and family.

Hours are from 1pm Friday, September 21st - 4pm Monday, September 24h. Directions are available at The Peaceful Dragon or by calling the Assembly directly at (828) 669-8497. Make your reservations now at the front counter. $339 for students; $459 for members. (Remember, anyone can become a member for $19.95 and receive our member discount; or become a student and get the full student discount!

If The Peaceful Dragon has to cancel the retreat for any reason, everyone who registered will get a full refund.

National Kuoshu Tournament in Baltimore a Big Success for Peaceful Dragon Students
A dozen students from The Peaceful Dragon attended the weekend-long tournament, with eight students competing. In all there were over 600 competitors, with many seminars and demonstrations by nationally renowned masters. Our aim wasn't to win medals, but rather to have fun and learn more about the arts we train in.

However, for our first national tournament our students did exceptionally well: George Lu took 1st place in Advanced Southern forms, 1st place in Advanced Kenpo forms, 3rd place in Advanced tai chi push hands, 3rd place in Shuai Chiao wrestling, and 3rd place in Advanced Broadsword forms. Aaron Arden took 1st place in Advanced tai chi push hands and 4th place in Shuai Chiao. At the intermediate levels Vera Reese, Jennifer Schultz, Shawn Hammond and the Cozad Twins took several 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals in tai chi forms, shaolin forms and sparring. Hank Kadel had a nice showing with his advanced tai chi broadsword form and was pushing-hands to the limit before his bad knee gave out.

Congratulations to all competitors and a special thanks to those students who went along and supported them.

Master John McSweeney Kenpo Workshop, Saturday September 29
Mark your calendar now for this intensive applications workshop Saturday, Sept 29th. Master McSweeney is Grandmaster DeMaria's kenpo teacher, and this workshop will focus on fighting applications. Be aware that Master McSweeney is giving this workshop in New York, so let Sifu know if you are interested as space will be limited. This is a rare opportunity to study under one of Grandmaster's still living teachers. More details will be provided later.

The Online Store is Open for Business!
The Peaceful Dragon has opened a storefront on the net where you can shop for teas, soaps and bath products, clothing, yoga and meditation supplies, and coming soon - tea pots, and kung fu and tai chi supplies. Take a look at www.thepeacefuldragon.bigstep.com.

5th Annual Tai Chi and Asian Health Arts Festival
Saturday, September 8th Noon - 6pm. This is our big event, now a Charlotte tradition!

Everything from acupuncture to massage. Take advantage of FREE lectures and demonstrations of tai chi, yoga, and shao-lin kung fu. Try a delicious and healthy hot tea served in one of our exotic yi-xing pots. Browse the expanded offering of fine oriental gift and luxury items in our store (and you can now shop on line at www.thepeacefuldragon.com.) You can become a member for only $19.95 and receive our newsletter, discounts on workshops, and 10% off anything you buy. Ask one of our staff for details. Our famous veggie burgers will be cooking, along with many other favorites. Sign up for classes and get a discount. And of course we'll have our special drawing for a FREE YEAR of classes! There's something here for everyone.

Please tell your friends, come and see us.

What can we say, but thanks again to all of you who came and helped clean on Sunday. We couldn't keep up without the generosity and good Wu-de of our students. Just think how much easier the teahouse will be to clean when it's twice as big.

Before the helping mood wears off, we need a few people to help run the tai chi festival on september 8th. please see melanie or shawn. In addition, several skilled volunteers are needed to help with our on-line store. If you have writing, photography, graphics, editing, marketing, or computer/internet skills, please see George Lu or email him at staff@thepeacefuldragon.com.

Quickbooks instructor needed for Debra
Among Debra's many duties here at The Peaceful Dragon are bookkeeping and inventory control. If she could learn how to do this on a computer she could save hours of work each week. We are hoping someone with computer skills can teach her how to use Quickbooks. Perhaps a weekly lesson? If willing and if you have the time, please see Debra.

Vitamins and Herbs
NOW brand vitamins and herbal supplements, as well as cosmetics and high quality health foods, are available through their catalog at a significant discount to Peaceful Dragon students. You won't find better quality or price anywhere else. Check it out. Place your order by the end of the month.

Babysitting
Need a night away from the kids? I'm an experienced child-care provider and teacher available nights and weekends to baby-sit your children. Call Melanie at (704) 277-7525.

For Sale
Two white Schwinn "Collegic" slightly used man's and lady's bicycles. Three speeds with safety brakes. $80 each or $150 for both. One NEW and never used "Tunturi" rowing machine (superior product of Finland) $75. Hella Zettler, 704 541 6468.

Classified Ads at The Peaceful Dragon are the cheapest around, $10 for 40 words and $5 for 40 more if you've got a lot to sell. And they really work! Sifu even sold that old truck. See Wes or George.

First Stage of Meditation

"There is the case where a monk remains focused on the body in & of itself - ardent, alert, & mindful - putting aside greed & distress with reference to the world."

Commentary:
"Four terms in this passage are key. "Remaining focused"äcan also be translated as "keeping track." This denotes the element of concentration in the practice, as one tries to stay with one particular theme in the midst of the welter of experience. "Ardent" denotes the factor of effort or exertion in the practice; the Commentary equates this with right exertion, which contains an element of discernment in its ability to distinguish skillful from unskillful mental qualities. "Alert" means being clearly aware of what is happening in the present. This, too, relates to discernment. "Mindful" literally means being able to remember or recollect. Here it means keeping one's task in mind. The task here is a dual one—remaining focused on one's frame of reference, and putting aside the distractions of greed and distress that would come from shifting one's frame of reference back to the world. In essence, this is a concentration practice, with the three qualities of ardency, alertness, and mindfulness devoted to attaining concentration. Mindfulness keeps the theme of the meditation in mind, alertness observes the theme as it is present to awareness, and also is aware of when the mind has slipped from its theme. Mindfulness then remembers where the mind should be focused, and ardency tries to return the mind to its proper theme as quickly and skillfully as possible."

"... These points may be illustrated with [a] meditation technique that [is] currently popular in the West ... In "breath" practice, mindfulness means keeping the breath in mind as the theme of the meditation, alertness means being sensitive to the sensations of the breath. Ardency means sticking with the process relentlessly, as well as taking up the stages of "training" in which one tries to be aware of the entire body with each in and out breath, and to let the breath sensations grow calm. In terms of jhana factors, mindfulness would be related to directed thought, alertness to evaluation, and ardency to singleness of preoccupation. As awareness fills the body and the breath grows calm, one's alertness stays steadily with the breath, and the mind enters the singleness of jhana. At this point, one no longer needs consciously to direct the mind to the breath or to enlarge one's awareness any further."

--3/4 excerpt from the Pali Canon
by Thanissaro Bhikku in "The Wings To Awakening"

To contact The Peaceful Dragon:

Call: (704)-544-1012

Write: The Peaceful Dragon
8324 Pineville-Matthews Road No.509
McMullen Creek Market
Charlotte, NC 28226

E-mail: comments and suggestions to staff@thepeacefuldragon.com