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Learning from a Grandmaster vs learning from a book

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  • Learning from a Grandmaster vs learning from a book

    Dear all,

    I am starting this thread to talk about my experiences learning, or rather not learning, Shaolin Wahnam Chi Kung from a book. I made a reference to that in a reply to Jeffrey, here

    I mentioned that I made a mistake learning from Sifu's book. This needs a bit of clarification.

    I started learning from Sifu's book a few months prior to my first course. I could learn from the book in the sense that I learned the technique of Lifting the Sky correctly. I could not, however, generate an energy flow. The main reason for this, of course, is that I did not have the skill of entering a chi kung state of mind. I did not end up doing it wrong, like Jeffrey, as I did not add anything to the instructions. I just ended up doing a technique.

    Maybe I could have generated a bit of energy flow after a year or more if I had not taken any courses with Sifu. But that is a big maybe and I might well have given up long before as nothing much happened.

    "There really is no substitute for finding a great Master if you really want to learn the Art." That was my first thought after my first hour at Sifu's course. Comparing the two, learning from a book and learning from a Grandmaster, I can say that what I did before really had as much to do with Chi Kung as playing football. In order to do Chi Kung, you have to generate an energy flow and that I could not do. In that sense I might as well have been playing football.

    There was, however, something very good that came of it: the wow-effect. Because I really believed until then that I had been doing Chi Kung. To then experience the true wonders of real Chi Kung, that was simply amazing.

    If you have similar experiences, or completely different ones, then I invite you to share them here.


    Best wishes,

    Roeland Dijkema
    www.shaolinwahnam.nl
    www.shaolinholland.com

  • #2
    Hi Sihing,

    Good idea for a thread.

    I also learned from one or two of sifu's books before going to the chi kung intensive course in Sabah. Let me take some time to review my recollections and I will reply shortly with my experiences.

    Yours,

    Charles
    Charles David Chalmers
    Brunei Darussalam

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    • #3
      Hi everyone!

      This is an interesting topic for sure. My Sipak Markus kindly pointed out to me the possibility for self-learning in the book The Art of Chi Kung.

      I tried the instructions as faithfully as I could and got obvious benefit from my first attempt. However, the following attempts were not as successful, so after few days I gave up and waited for nearly two months until I could begin Chi Kung under the instructions of my Sifu. After participating in her supervised teaching I could reliably get results, so in my experience learning from a qualified instructor is the best method of learning.

      I could hardly ever recommend self-learning for anyone who has a substantial internal injury manifesting as chronic pains or difficulty in relaxing. The lack of mental clarity in sick people is also a serious counter-indication, as is the tendency to overestimate one's competence. The latter especially suggests of closed heart and lack of humility, which is a obstacle for healing as detailed in much of Shaolin Wahnam discussion and Sigung's writings.

      With sincere respect,
      Olli

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