From the Editor

The Peaceful Dragon is open! This has been a tough and uncertain summer for everyone: the building crew, the volunteers, all those who have missed their training or left the Dragon altogether, Sifu's family and most of all Sifu.

As Sifu said the other day, building the new Dragon has been more difficult than he imagined, and the results have been more magnificent than he dreamed. He has never been away from training for so long in his life. I know he is anxious to return to his own training and to begin teaching again.

As with most life changing events, making the new school a reality has many facets. Some students perhaps feel they were let down, but the very fact of our new school with all it has to offer says loudly that it was all of you students for whom this effort was made in the first place. There is greater opportunity than ever to train hard, to experience amazing personal growth, to share your interest in Asian culture with the larger community.

- Michael Ballantyne

New home of The Peaceful Dragon Tea House and Cultural Center

Special Announcements

Grand Opening
On Saturday, September 14th, we celebrate the grand opening of our new school. Radio and print media are getting the word out about The Peaceful Dragon, and all the new features and services now available. Even so, they will only scratch the surface.

The original Peaceful Dragon started from a big dream and became a gathering place for a variety of people who found their own reasons to be involved; it became an idea and a presence in the community that was widely felt. This grand opening will be a celebration of the traditions already established; a special opportunity for old friends to get reacquainted with us and for many others to find out what they've been missing.

Come back, come in, and come along with The Peaceful Dragon as we step further along The Way. All families, friends and children welcome! Special events, opportunities and other stuff to spark your interest; we look forward to enjoying this wonderful day with you!

New Address
In case you don't already know ... we are doing business at 12610 Steele Creek Road between Sam Neely and Erwin. Come on out! Here's a map.

New Phone Number
Pardon the phone company ... apparently the old number isn't rolling over. The new one is 704.504.8866. Give us a call!

On Saturday, September 14th, we celebrate the grand opening of our new school. Radio and print media are getting the word out about The Peaceful Dragon, and all the new features and services now available. Even so, they will only scratch the surface.

Workshops and Special Events

Meeting of the Masters
To celebrate the opening of the new Peaceful Dragon, Grandmaster Frank DeMariaand Venerable Shi Guolin will hold this very special joint workshop. Learn about Tai Chi, Shaolin Kung Fu, Chi Kung and Meditation with two of the greatest Masters of our time.

Friday, 7:30 pm, banquet and student social
Saturday, 9:00 am, Chi Kung with Master Guolin
Saturday, 7:30 pm, Lecture: Grandmaster DeMaria and Master Guolin
Sunday, 9:00 am, Tai Chi with Grandmaster DeMaria
Sunday, Noon, Kung fu and chi kung with Master Guolin
Monday, 9:00am-6:00pm, all day with Master Guolin

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.

What's Up?

• We have a separate restaurant featuring the wonderful vegetarian cooking you loved before, and a host of elegant and exciting new Asian fusion dishes from Chef Geoff Bragg.
• If you're still waiting in line for a good after school program, The Peaceful Dragon has one for you, hosted by school teacher Melanie Snider.
• Had a hard day? Make an appointment for an invigorating, relaxing massage from professional therapist Debbie Nelms. Deep tissue, Swedish, aromatherapyŠmore styles and techniques to come.
• Need some one-on-one help getting in shape or refining your workouts? Let Lyn Adams be your personal trainer.
• We have a new expanded tea house with ambience ­ and fine teas ­ that you won't find anywhere else.
• For your shopping pleasure, there is an expanded high-end gift shop featuring beautiful and unusual Asian themed gifts and products ­ more things being added all the time.
• Saunas!
• Showers!
• Oh, and let's not forget - BIG STUDIOS!

Until further notice, The Peaceful Dragon will follow the old schedule of classes posted before the construction project began. If you have any questions, call the Dragon at 704.504.8866.

Young Dragons

Everyone has missed some class time this summer. We hope you have continued to train on your own as Sifu wished. Of course school has started again and you're all in a new grade with new challenges, harder classes, and maybe even different friends. So there's a lot going on in your life. When you were training regularly, no big deal, you took it all in stride. It felt good. Well, it's time to get that feeling back. Young Dragons will have more stuff to do and more room to do it in. Come on and check it out ... and bring your friends!

Volunteering

It's Wu-de, it's personal commitment and growth, it's sharing with a special community. It's giving something worthwhile and getting back more than you bargained for. The values and etiquette of a traditional Chinese school seem out of place at first to many students. Why should you pay for these classes and then clean windows or haul stuff in your car too? What you learn in class is only part of the training. It's that simple. As you come back to The Peaceful Dragon, or come for the first time, be prepared to expand your idea of what it means to train.

Even though classes will continue as before, almost everything else about our center has changed or is new. There will be a lot of settling in, unanticipated needs, and happy surprises that need to be addressed ... perhaps by you?

Dragon Classified Ads

August newsletters apparently got hung up in the mail and have been arriving a bit late. These things happen - but don't miss the ad for B. Dale Saufley's feng shui pool and spa design. Call her at 704/ 541-9179 or e-mail BDale.9@att.net.

Do you have an ad you'd like to place? Until further notice, same deal as before: 40 words, ten bucks. Got more to say? Kick in 5 bucks more, get another 40 words. Circulation is going to increase - you'll target a community with your interests. The editor will try to make your ad stand out.

My Peaceful Dragon Experience

Also be sure to check out B. Dale Saufley's article in the August issue ... it's worth your time. And if you're a Disciple or senior student and haven't written a column for the Dragon, you might as well see who's going to be the first to get us off to a good start. Every article that has appeared under this head has been special. Length is not a big deal but 400 words is a good target.

The editor is here to edit if needed. E-mail me, bmk@carolina.rr.com or leave a message and I'll meet with you, 704.889.2353,

Words to Light Your Path

"What is enlightenment but the utter absence of confusion?"

— The confused editor, at 17