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August, 2002 From the Editor Following the necessary hard work of building a new center, we must look forward to rebuilding the student base that has unavoidably dwindled during the construction phase.
Students are the heart of The Peaceful Dragon, and so our efforts must now focus on these critical phases: recruitment of new students, members and supporters; and implementation of new programs and services. Considering the wonderful effort that so many students have put forth so far, Sifu is confident that we will continue to work hard together to make the new Peaceful Dragon the school and community resource it is intended to be. Thanks to all of you who have helped to bring us this far. There is still a tremendous amount to do, and Sifu asks you to persevere in your efforts to bring meaning and ultimate value to the space we have created. He also looks forward to teaching again. - Michael Ballantyne
Special Announcements
The Peaceful Dragon Has a New Home! In the meantime, we are excited about the full service restaurant and tea house with very creative, expanded menus, to be run by Geoff Bragg, formerly with The Pewter Rose; thrilled to have massage therapist Debbie Nelms on staff; extremely happy to offer a comprehensive after school program, care of Melanie Snider; and we're understandably proud of our larger state-of-the-art training facilities, not to mention saunas, an outdoor patio, and expanded high-end gift shop. Once again, directions to the new Peaceful Dragon at 12610 Steele Creek Road are as follows: From the east side or South Charlotte, take 51 or other entrance to 485 W and go to the last exit at Arrowood Road. Turn left on Arrowood which becomes Brown Grier Road. Turn left at the light at Steele Creek Road. The Peaceful Dragon is three miles on the right, after you cross Westinghouse Blvd and Sam Neely Road. From uptown, take 77 South to Arrowood Road, exit right, headed west. Go a couple of miles until you cross 485, then look for Steele Creek Road as above. If you get lost, phone number is 704.504-8866.
Temporary Class Schedule
Monday and Wednesday:
Saturday: Contact George with questions, 704.965.7800 or george@thepeacefuldragon.com Workshops and Special Events
Grand Opening/Tai Chi Festival What's Up?
Meeting of the Masters
Friday, 7:30 pm, banquet and student social Price for the workshop - before September 1st - is $149; $179 thereafter. Banquet tickets are $30; only $15 for those under 10 years old. Grandmaster DeMaria is the adopted son of Great Grandmaster Chang Dung Sheng, and founder of the American Center for Chinese Studies. Venerable Shi Guo-lin is a 34th generation lineage transmission disciple of Abbott Shi Yong-shin of China's famed Shao-lin Temple. Here's the schedule. Young Dragons
Attention all Peaceful Dragon students! Volunteering YOU are needed! There's a lot more work to do and the clock is ticking. Please give your support even for a couple of hours. You'll be glad you did, and so will we! Dragon Classified Ads Revitalize your space and life with feng shui! Receive a detailed report of positive changes for your home, gardens or office. Area's only certified feng shui practitioner in swimming pool and spa design! 704/ 541-9179, 704/ 849-7665 or e-mail me at BDale.9@att.net - B. Dale Saufley My Peaceful Dragon Experience By Barbara Dale Saufley "When the student is ready, the teacher will come." - Confucius Just over two years ago I enrolled in tai chi at The Peaceful Dragon. Little did I know how much the classes, people and positive changes from this decision would mean to me. I had always been active in ballet, modern dance, all water sports, softball and running. However, as I approached my fortieth birthday I realized it had been years since I had been consistent in anything aerobic. I needed something physical and positive; a goal that was a challenge, but not unattainable. My feng shui teacher, Juanita, stresses the importance of positive chi in ones personal space. Most feng shui master classes begin with tai chi or chi-kung practice. So, after watching a few sessions I enrolled - giving Wes the first six months fee in advance. I can now say I've never made a better resolution concerning my physical, spiritual and mental self. I am facing surgery in August and my doctors are amazed that I am not suffering more from my "ailment" and that I am not on painkillers. In my daily meditation and tai chi practice, in my classes in yoga and tai chi, in the support from teachers and students, I've found the answer for my life. Lately Sifu has not been teaching due to construction on our fabulous new location. Many students have not attended classes thinking that their practice will not advance. I submit that it is on the student to seek out not what the teacher can impart, but what the student can make of the experience. Confucius also said, "If I give a student one fourth of what he should know, I expect him to get the other three fourths himself; otherwise, I do not want him as a student." For those of you not attending classes, perhaps the "other three fourths" is in a Disciple ... perhaps your teacher has been here all these months. You just need to be ready to learn. Words to Light Your Path "The word samadhi carries within itself two absolutely contrary meanings: 'perfect reception' and 'perfect non-reception.' In order to 'perfectly receive' each instant as it occurs, it is necessary to 'perfectly not-receive' the previous instant and the future instant. No matter how accurately and in what detail a mirror may reflect what is before it in one instant, should it be turned to face a new direction, the previous reflection will disappear without a trace and the mirror will faithfully reflect what is newly before it. Likewise, in its power to always perfectly receive what is at hand and to perfectly not-receive what is not at hand, the heart functions doubly. For this reason, from times of old, the heart has been likened to a mirror. The state in which this power functions to receive everything perfectly, just as it is - that is to say, the heart of perfect non-reception that does not get caught up - is called 'the heart that is still,' or simply Zen. "The mind that neither ignores anything nor attaches to anything is not something that is obtained through training. It is the natural 'power' with which you entered this world. Those of us who are called Zen monks enter the monastery in order to awaken through practice to this power that we inherently possess, to freely demonstrate it, and to bring it to life."
Excerpt - Novice To Master, To contact The Peaceful Dragon: Call: (704)-504-8866
Write: The Peaceful Dragon E-mail: comments and suggestions to staff@thepeacefuldragon.com |
To celebrate the opening of the new Peaceful Dragon,