'The Art of Negotiation' in Amsterdam

[Anke Verhees]

Dear all,

First, Sifu Piti: THANK YOU. And Lina, thank you so much as well; your presence was very much felt gently taking care of all of us.
And a very warm thank you to our own Sifu Darryl, who knows what is best for us and provides it. We are lucky.

Funny enough, I do not know what I am thanking you for yet; I feel I had such powerful insights at the last Art of Negotiation course but I cannot put them into words. I just phrased it today like this: I feel like I am standing very tall and crumbling at the same time.

Let me refrain from creating stories and tell you what I've experienced; I have felt my heart expanding to immense proportions, I felt myself opening up to extents I have never done before and I have felt comfortable doing so. I have been able to tame Sifu Darryl with his immense internal force with one smile from my massive heart. I have realised that my heart is an immensely powerful force that I have been partly hiding away from myself and the heart. That is not going to happen anymore.

And simultaneously I realise so much has been transmitted that is beyond my grasp and that is so okay. Because it does not matter; the transmission was so powerful it works it's magic anyway.

For instance: I realised today that I feel so powerful at my (previously very challenging) project: I am the person in charge and I feel completely at ease and at the same time conscious of using my power fairly and consciously.
It's like fairness is a given when you truly embody your power.

I feel I am really changing at my core right now, or better said: I am getting to my core. And I have had the positive affirmation throught the Art of Negotiation to have the courage to start living from my core. Doing something else I cannot sell to myself anymore.

And also: I have no idea what is going on. And somehow that feels good :-) This is basicaly an intense chi kung course :-)

I am completely biased in saying that I truly hope the the next course will be in Amsterdam as well. It is true what Sifu Darryl says; doing a course with people that have attended before makes the core of the group so much stronger and the experience so much more intense for everybody.

I want to repeat the invitation to all international Shaolin-family members: our doors are open, don't worry about the details, we will host you.

All the best, and a BIG smile from a BIG heart,

Love,
Anke

[Nick_R]

Amsterdam would be great.
I hope to make it..

[Daphne van Run]

Grateful to attend this course!

Dear all,

This is my first time joining this Forum and I find myself a bit hesitant to join the discussion in this thread. In this very moment I am reminded of the teachings of Sisook Piti in the course 2 weeks ago, and shift my back to the south, close my C7 and open my heart. There we go...

I can imagine this shifting to the south and closing a C7 might raise some eye brows with whom ever this is reading. It sure would have done if I'd read this before attending the course Art of Negotiation. Now, after having had such a real and deeply felt experience in this 2-day journey, I am just delighted to have walked out with such practical applications of which this is just one.

I feel just very grateful these teachings are available and accessible in the heart of Amsterdam. And as to the future, and the ambition to gather a more international crowd; I am happy to support with accommodation etc.

All the best,
Daphne

[parrapiti]

Dear Daphne - Welcome to our Virtual Kwoon!

Dear Anke - Congratulations and thank you!

Dear Brother Darryl - Wow! Did you recently take a negotiations course? I am sold on all your good reasons - I am in!

Smiling from my Heart,

Your brother,

Piti

[Darryl]

Dear brother,

That's beautiful news. It would be wonderful to host both you and Lina in Amsterdam again. It's also wonderful to be able to put the practice into action and translate the message accurately. For fun, I'm now learning how to negotiate with boats and currents on the highly-turbulent mighty Amstel river. Next time we see the city by boat!

Dear all,
If that is the 'where' sorted, we can also explore the 'when'.

Spring or Fall?
Spring is when all the tulips fields are out, fields and fields of multi-coloured flowery goodness. Fall allows for warm evenings, enjoying a lazy boat journey through the rivers and canals of Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a beautiful city and the Netherlands a beautiful country, so any time is good for hosting visitors.

As above, I have no preference on 'when', except to state that the course date will not conflict with any course that Sifu is offerring.

Dear Julie Simui,
Since Piti Sidai isn't free for November, how are you for Spring or Fall?

Dear Nick_R,
I hope you can make it too

Dear Fully Alive Team,
If Fall is easier for you then I'm certainly willing to see how we can work together. It would be wonderful to have a large group from the UK, setting the seeds for future workshops there.

Dear Jeroen, Anke & Daphne,
As a very wise man once said "Very good, carry on".

Warmly,

[julvol]

Dear Darryl Siheng,

reading this thread is confirming once again my intention to participate in this amazing course.

Although I have to admit that after November it will be quite difficult to do.
Anyway choosing between spring and autumn - definitely autumn in more favourable for me. Much better chance to catch the opportunity :-)

Thank you for doing this wonderful job!

With a smile from the heart,

Julia

[Bart]

Dear Sisook Piti and Shaolin family,

I missed the last AoN-course in A'dam as I was on my honeymoon to Colombia (what a wonderfull country!!!). And no, I did not think the course was in Bogota... :-)

I would like to add to this thread that I have the best of memories to the first one day AoN course in A'dam. Moreover, I still feel the benefits of this course on a daily basis. The most important one: having a much higher awareness of my three dantians and applying this when training and in daily life. A life changer, and that was only one day.

Therefore I will make sure to attend the next course in A'dam, spring or fall.

Best wishes,
Bart

PS if you really want to work on your waiste movements, visit a Colombian salsa bar...

[Diederick]

Awesomeness

Dear family,

I was fortunate to have attended both last year's 1-day course and the recent 2-day Art of Negotiation course. I am extremely impressed with the clarity and skill with which Sisook Piti has applied the principles of our wonderful art to the area of negotiation, communication, and general exchange of energy.

In all fairness, I think the course title 'Art of Negotiation' does not do justice to what is actually covered during the course. Of course the dynamics involved in negotiation are covered, and covered well, but there is so much more going on here!

Like Siheng Jeroen mentioned, this is about practicing the internal arts in the area of relationships and communication, in a way I wasn't even aware was possible before.

Some of the things I personally have taken from this course include a much deeper and more accessible awareness of the gates and dan tian's and in particular a number of internal skills I am now using in all kinds of day-to-day situations, with great benefit to me and others.

Thinking about a final recommendation, I'm reminded of what Sifu Darryl often says: Application is Everything. If that rings true for you, you will love being in a room with Sisook Piti to receive these precious understandings, skills, and techniques. They are quite marvelous

[Andrew]

Spring or Autumn (I speak real English ) have an equal probability for me, although my logical mind says Autumn would likely be better. Circumstances will "help" dictate my attendance as they did this year (the wrong way, though, in 2012).

[Jeroen]

My preference is spring. That is already a year away, as I assume autumn refers to 2013, which seems like the distant future. For me, most important is knowing the dates in advance, then it is easier to negotiate my agenda .

As it would be wonderful to have many international students coming over, so let's also collectively negotiate low cost for people coming over.
I am sure we are able to house quite a few people here in the Amsterdam family.

Furthermore, from my experience of traveling to courses in germany, england or switzerland, if you now the dates in advance, you can get quite cheap flight or train tickets. Same for Milan, Barcelona, Paris or Danmark.

Jeroen

[Luo Lang]

As it would be wonderful to have many international students coming over, so let's also collectively negotiate low cost for people coming over.
I am sure we are able to house quite a few people here in the Amsterdam family.

Furthermore, from my experience of traveling to courses in germany, england or switzerland, if you now the dates in advance, you can get quite cheap flight or train tickets. Same for Milan, Barcelona, Paris or Danmark.

Great advice Jeroen. From my humble experience it was great that foreign students at the Praying Mantis course would feel taken care of.

Last year we even had a driver for our French, German guests to get to the place venue smoothly from their Hotels.

Students invite students for staying is always a great meet together

All the best,

[parrapiti]

I am available for any dates Darryl Siheng chooses to fit most needs. And I agree with you - the sooner it is decided, the better for all of us!

With gratitude and respect,

Piti

[Darryl]

Dear brother,

I agree, the sooner the better.

Dear family,

The feeling from the existing attendees is that Autumn 2013 is very far away, so they vote for Spring. The most interest expressed here is for Autumn/Fall. I have to go with the greatest number, to match the practical needs and maximum value of Sifu Piti's visit.

I am reluctant to set a date for people who might make it, at the expense of people who will. I want to get as many of the international family taking part as I can, so I'd like to make an offer as tempting as possible.

The course will be on a weekend, with no conflicting dates and plenty of advance notice. There will be a course discount for people outside of the Netherlands, to help with the travel costs. Many of the Dutch students are willing to invite visitors into their home, to share their time and experience with you. The teachings themselves will be extremely valuable, skillful and fun.

In return for all of this, there's a minor detail. The course will be scheduled in the Spring, 2013 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Amsterdam is beautiful in Spring and I'm sure, as Shaolin students, all interested participants can easily co-ordinate their schedules to achieve maximum value.

Invitingly,

[Andrew]

I am reluctant to set a date for people who might make it, at the expense of people who will.

Excellent logic ---- and that from a Monkey

Once the dates are set, I'll start planning. And many thanks to the Dutch family for being so generous with offering support and accomodation.

[Nick Jones]

Unfortunately I was unable to make the last iteration of this course, however I'm already quite excited about a chance to attend it next Spring.

From my humble experience it was great that foreign students at the Praying Mantis course would feel taken care of.

That was indeed the case Sisook, I still very much treasure my trip to Bern to enjoy the Praying Mantis course and the hospitality of my Swiss kung fu family.

Thanks to Sipak's Darryl and Piti for the many enticements to come and benefit from this course.

Best Wishes
Nick