Many students, members and interested persons have noticed the visits of Buddhist monks from several traditions since our cultural center opened. Most recently among them has been Phra Mana Viriyarampo, who has taught Yoga and Meditation workshops. On April 22nd, The Peaceful Dragon had the special honor to host Phra Mana's teacher for the Saturday evening lecture which was about mindfulness. Because we are a martial arts school and a cultural center, the topic of mindfulness is fundamentally important to us whether or not we have any interest in Buddhism or Buddhist practices. Enlightened thought and action transcend historical, cultural and religious boundaries, and at the moment when we experience the joy of good thoughts and deeds whether our own or those of another person, we recognize their origin as having always been our own and not something that was ever outside us. Following are excerpts of some of the thoughts of the venerable Phra Yantra, as expressed in his monastery newsletter from November of last year. - Editor

Miss something? Here are previous newsletters: April, 2000 March, 2000 February, 2000 January, 2000 December, 1999 November, 1999 October, 1999 September, 1999 August, 1999 June/July, 1999 May, 1999 April, 1999 March, 1999 February, 1999

Basic Morality - Moral conduct is as important to the foundation of life as the taproot is to the tree. If we do not have a firm moral base we will not have firm concentration. When we build a bridge, we have to have two piers at each end to support the girders and roadway. Morality is like the piers, and forms our very foundation. When we walk past a bridge, we can look at it and think of the strong piers at each end as morality, the horizontal girders as concentration, and the roadway itself as wisdom.

Cultivate The Forest Within - When we live in the city we are confronted with suffering all the time, and it is not possible to find a forest to escape to. We must try to practice stillness and peace of mind, try to use mindfulness to overcome emotions, and try to create a garden of peace within our mind. The worldly forest helps us as a counterbalance to the city, and if we cannot find the forest when we need it, what can we do? Just be mindful and conscious of our breathing.

Simple Daily Tasks (Editor's Note: accomplishing even one of these simple tasks would be a wonderful achievement.)
a. Meditate in the morning.
b. Then change your posture: do some exercise.
c. Eat at a set time; eat moderately.
d. Don't be overcome by greed.
e. When alone, feel as if with company.
f. Speak carefully and do as you speak.
g. Don't let an opportunity pass by without doing the right thing.
h. Think before you do, but do not dwell on disappointment over things past.
i. Be aware of the present and increase your effort.
j. Be brave as a hero.
k. Don't rave about the future.
l. Love as a child would.
m. When about to sleep, feel as if it's going to be your last.
When awake, get up immediately as if throwing off your old pair of shoes.

Yoga and Meditation
Phra Mana Viriyaramporo, a Buddhist monk from the Forest Tradition of Thailand will be teaching another workshop of yoga and meditation in the first part of June. Details to follow.

Saturday and Sunday, May 20th and 21st - Medical Chi Kung Workshop:
An intensive Medical Chi Kung Workshop will be led by Sifu Eric Sbarge. Learn to take care of your own mind and body through the simple movements, meditations and breathing methods of medical chi kung (qigong). This 5,000 year old Chinese medical system is more popular than ever in China, and is now one of the leading alternative therapies here in the West due to its simplicity and proven effectiveness.

Emphasis will be on teaching practical medical chi kung (qigong) methods to help you maintain your health, or to help you overcome current illnesses and diseases. Discover for yourself how the mind impacts the health and balance of your vital internal organs, and how the state of these organs affects the state of your mind. Learn why dozens of "symptoms" may really be indications of greater illness or imbalance in the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys or digestive system, and learn specific exercises and meditations to help you overcome such ailments.

Sifu Sbarge will draw from his two decades of experience in chi kung, tai chi, meditation and internal martial arts. Many of the exercises to be presented are those of Master Liang Shou-Yu, a Chinese "coach of excellence" and author of the authoritative book Qigong Empowerment. Master Liang has practiced chi kung for more than fifty years, and has traveled extensively throughout China visiting hospitals and seeking the most effective chi kung methods. Sifu Sbarge holds a medical chi kung teaching certificate from Master Liang.

Times are Saturday, May 20,1-5PM and Sunday, May 21, 10AM - 5PM. Cost is $189; members $159; students $129. Register before May 18th and save $15!

Sifu recommends that interested students buy Qigong Empowerment before the workshop. The book is available from The Peaceful Dragon and major bookstores. Master Liang's accompanying videos will also be available at the workshop at discounted prices.

June 10th 1-3pm, Feng Shui of Love
Your sex life is affected by a lot more than your moods or your partner's looks. Juanita Muñoz of Feng Shui Design will show you how your surroundings at home - especially in the bedroom - can enhance your relationship with a spouse or loved one. An intriguing workshop you'll be glad you didn't miss; cost is just $69 for students and members, $89 for the public. Come to the free lecture on May 27th to find out more. Sign up before June 3rd and save $10!

Picnic! Perhaps it's possible to hear too much about a good thing, but everybody loves a picnic once they get there, and our Peaceful Dragon Fundraiser/Social Barbecue is no exception; it is now only a few short weeks away (and there will not be another reminder in this newsletter - whew!) The date is Sunday, June 4th. We have reserved the large pavilion next to the lower parking lot and the lake. Yes, this is where the old timers used to practice before we had a tea house. Yes, you can recreate the experience if you like. Come on out and chase the butterflies and the ducks. (The geese will chase you.) Our reservation time block is from 2:30 - 6:30, but we will begin setting up at 1:30pm. Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 for children 6 - 10, 5 and younger free; and you can sign up for the dish you plan to bring when you buy your tickets. It's going to be a lot of fun. Please note that the rain date has changed to June 18th.

More! Keep in mind the other fundraising activities that are still under way:

• Buy those extra workout clothes you need. We have your size.
• Framed or unframed pictures of Great Grandmaster, Grandmaster, and Sifu are still available. Inquire at the counter.
• You can still buy a piece of the new carpet directly. Sign the carpet yourself before it's installed if you like, and we'll mention your name in the newsletter as a special contributor to this important project.
• The coin jar on the counter still beckons. Can't you feel it just drawing the extra change and superfluous dollars out of your pockets? It's just that old kungfu magic and it's for a good cause, and we thank all of you who have been responding.

SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY SALE
20% off all teas and teapots to the public, 25% off for students and members.

Place your classified ad, $10 - up to 40 words, another $5 - 40 words more; see Wes or George.

Anyone can share their Peaceful Dragon Experience in this newsletter by submitting it - in 400 words or less - to Wes or George or me, Michael Ballantyne, in person, or to my email, bmk@carolina.rr.com. We'd love to here from you. -- Editor

All students should know that this is a student run school in the tradition of Chinese martial arts schools. The leadership and exceptional examples set by Sifu Sbarge and his family show the kind of commitment needed to keep a successful school going. Many students have also shown excellent Wu De (ethics, honor and duty) by their behavior towards other students and their contributions to the school beyond regular studies. What The Peaceful Dragon needs, however, is a broader base of involvement - this is, after all, an equally important part of training, study and growth in a traditional school. So it is partly out of appreciation for the potential that students represent, and partly out of the love that desires to see them grow that some additional structure is being given to the process of running the school in the form of action committees.

In this month's newsletter, you'll find a flier outlining the structure of these committees. Each committee will have a leader and will be responsible for a certain fundamental part of running the business of the school. Each of you is encouraged to begin thinking about how your special interests or talents might be appropriate to the needs of the school. Of course participation on one of these committees is entirely voluntary. All Wu De, as with everything in life is a matter of the choices we make.

The contented [person] will see bad aspects in what [is] gained, and the danger in what [is possessed]. This is the virtue obtained at a high level of letting go. A person who can't see bad aspects in what [is] gained, and can't see the danger in what [is possessed], will be deluded by material things.

From Phra Yantra Amaro, Love & Light Newsletter, Nov. 99

Call: (704)-544-1012

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