High Level Monk - Tse Qigong Centre

Life presents us with many difficulties for that is the nature of
things. But it is the way that we deal with these difficulties that often
reveals the true nature of our heart.
Difficulties
Some of the problems that we
encounter during our journey
through life are of our own making.
The Chinese believe that if we project
bad energy outwards then it will
ultimately be reflected back to us. So,
when we do bad things to other people
or spread malicious gossip, that
negativity will eventually return to us in
the form of bad luck or ill health.
Many years ago I worked with a
woman who was very unpleasant to her
colleagues. She would
sometimes get them into
trouble by making false
accusations to their boss
about them. This went
on for years until one
day she was involved in
an horrific car smash
that was entirely the
fault of another
person. She was so
badly injured that she
was unable to work
again and found it
very difficult to
manage with no
income. It was a very
hard way to learn
about cause and effect,
but sadly, I doubt that she
saw the connection.
If we harbour a lot of jealousy or
anger towards another person it will
eventually affect our internal organs.
Anger relates to the liver, so harbouring
anger or resentment against someone
else will weaken our liver. Jealousy
relates to the spleen, so we should not
waste our time coveting what other
people have or trying to sabotage their
efforts.
If we really want what someone
else has that much, we should find a way
to achieve it for ourselves. People very
often envy another person’s lifestyle.
The problem is that they usually only
covet a small part of that person’s life.
Yes, someone may have a very
interesting job, be very good looking or
have interesting holidays but would we
really want to exchange the whole of that
person’s life for our own?
We would have to accept the bad
parts as well as the good. But people
never see that, they only see the small
aspect of a person’s life that they want.
They also wish to gain it without putting
in the hard work the other person has
done to achieve it. Life is far from
perfect. Nobody can travel through it only
experiencing good fortune. We all have
to experience the bad as well, but if we
have a good heart, then the bad will not
be so very bad.
“Sometimes we face
problems that are not
of our own making.”
Sometimes we face problems
that are not of our own making but life
has a way of sending us tests from time
to time. Perhaps they are designed to
see how much we really want that which
we are seeking. The half-hearted will fall
by the wayside. When we are under
pressure, are stressed or have been
surprised by a turn of events, the way
we deal with a difficult situation reveals
a lot about ourselves.
Some people react
with anger or aggression, or
the negative feelings that a
person has harboured towards
another may be revealed. If, for
example, we do not trust someone close
to us but hide our real feelings from
them, then eventually a situation will arise
in which the contents of our heart will be
made clear to all.
Our Sifu is more than just a
teacher of forms. Our Sifu will help guide
us on to the right path. Of course
sometimes we do not want
to hear what they have
to say. As adults it is
more difficult for us to
stomach criticism of
our actions. It can
be quite a bitter pill
to swallow.
However, if we
think back to when
we were children,
if we did
s o m e t h i n g
naughty, of
course, our
parents told us off.
It was their job to
teach us how to live
safely and in
harmony with
those around us.
As adults it is
easy to become
influenced by the
wrong people or
act only from our
own selfish
desires without
thinking of the
impact of our
actions on others. We all still need
guidance. And just as when we were
children, we should know that when we
are disciplined it is done because
someone cares about us and wants to
help us reach our full potential. But at
the end of the day, whether we take
heed and move forwards or walk away
along a dangerous path, is entirely up
to us
by Kate Britton.
kateb@qimagazine.com
Qi Magazine Apr/May/June 2007 page 15