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Join your host, me - Jake, as I share my story on traveling to the Wudang Mountains in China to begin training martial arts and the decade long adventure that ensued from there. Enjoy a cup of tea while I delve into topics from Daoist (Taoist) philosophy, life in China, kungfu practice, meditation, and spirituality to more personal subjects like how my life has changed and what place these traditions and lessons have in the modern world. Episode coming out every week! Join me as we find bala ...
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Taoalogues — dialogues about Taoism. A series of short conversations with 15th-generation Taoist Master Gu Shining of the Wudang Taoist Wellness Academy. We are situated in the Wudang Mountains in Central China. In our woodland shelter, the House of Pooh, we talk about all manner of questions concerning Taoism and about life from a Taoist perspective. Full transcripts are available at atramtakesflight.blog.
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Episode #14 - Qi Awareness & Listening to the Body
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Tea Talks are back! We start off with a discussion on the daily energetic cycle. Follow the ebb and flow of qi throughout 12 meridians to learn how to better listen to your body. Tea Talks – Unfiltered Episode #14 >WaysOfWudang.com >Support the Ways on Patreon The Ways of Wudang Channels Wudang Way – Martial Arts Instruction Youtube Facebook Instag…
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Episode #13 - How Kungfu Changed My Life
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Over a decade of martial arts training in Wudang, China has brought about a lot of changes in my life. In this episode, I will unpack some of the experiences of training and the lessons learned during my time learning and teaching martial arts, tai chi, and more. Tea Talks – Unfiltered Episode #13 >WaysOfWudang.com >Support the Ways on Patreon The …
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Episode #12 - Wu Wei, Virtue, and Enlightenment
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Art is an expression of our true self. In this episode, I delve into what that means for me as a martial artist, as a student and teacher, and as a creative endeavor in general. We should bring art into every aspect of our lives and I hope this talk brings a little light and motivation to those things to which you are passionate about. Tea Talks – …
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Episode #11 - My Top 5 Dao De Jing Chapters
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The Dao De Jing (Tao Teh Ching) is the classic text of Daoism. It includes everything from understanding cosmic forces, balancing oneself with nature, becoming a virtuous person, governing a nation, running a military, and even cooking a fish! Listen along as I share with you my favorite five chapters from the Dao De Jing and all of the lessons tha…
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Episode #10 - How I Fell In Love In China
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This week's episode, I am taking the disciple/coach hat off for a moment to discuss something more personal about myself, how I fell in love in Wudang, China at the martial arts academy. While this is a very personal story, and I am nervous to share it, I think it is an important conversation to have not just so you can learn more about me but also…
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Episode #9 - The Secrets of Chinese Culture
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This week's episode is all about the fabric of Chinese society, the cultural practices that are part of everyday life. Listen along as I share with you my experiences while living in China for the better part of a decade on everything from conversations starters and the Chinese perspective to fengshui and the most important need-to-know details abo…
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Episode #8 - Health for Immortality
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Today we discuss how we should perceive our own role in health management. I introduce the "Hierarchy of Health" as a means for us to guide ourselves to our healthiest potential. With the terms health, longevity, wellbeing, and balance being thrown around so much in society, we need to ground ourselves in a good understanding of what that really me…
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Today's episode is all about tea and the culture that surrounds it in China. I answer some questions and show you just how deep Chinese culture is immersed into tea production, preparation, and ceremony. From tea plants, types of tea, and the tea market to Gongfu cha, chadao, serving etiquette, and the culture around it all, in this episode we have…
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In this weeks discussion, we discuss Daoism. I share some of the concepts that are reflected in everything from the clothing and hair style to the history and transformation of Daoism over the years. Tea Talks – Unfiltered Episode #6 >WaysOfWudang.com >Support the Ways on Patreon The Ways of Wudang Channels Wudang Way – Martial Arts Instruction You…
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Episode #5 - Traditional VS Modern Martial Arts
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This week we discuss the concepts of "traditional" and "modern" in martial arts. The conversation around this topic can sometimes be heated and based in conflict by comparison. I hope that this tea talk clarifies some of the bias attached to each standard but also shows how each has its benefits and actually complements the other. Tradition and pro…
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Episode #4 - How To Become A Kungfu Master
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The question on everyone's mind: "How do I become a Kungfu Master?" This is the subject for today's Tea Talk. Join me as we go into the full context of this terminology, touch on Chinese culture, explain the ranking system within martial arts training, and hopefully shed some light on the role of a Shifu. Tea Talks – Unfiltered Episode #4 >WaysOfWu…
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Episode #3 - Learning Kungfu In China
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Join me as I introduce the the 5 year traditional martial arts program that I participated in. From 2010 to 2014, I lived and trained in Wudang under the tutelage of Master Yuan Xiu Gang and his disciples to become a disciple of the San Feng Lineage myself. Today I want to share with you everything from the daily schedule to what this time meant to…
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Today, I tell the origins story of how I came to Wudang the very first time. When I first set out to travel to Wudang, China, I had just turned 20, never practiced martial arts, couldn't speak Chinese, and had never left home by myself, let alone went to a different country. In this episode, I tell the full tale and, while you may know the destinat…
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Episode #1 - Introduction to Tea Talks - Unfiltered
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Join me for the inaugural episode of Tea Talks - Unfiltered! This podcast begins on January 1st 2022 along with the launching of the brand new Ways of Wudang website! I hope that you will join me on this journey! Here's to finding balance, one cup of tea at a time! Tea Talks – Unfiltered Episode #1 >WaysOfWudang.com >Support the Ways on Patreon The…
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Master Gu and Eli talk about the Wudang Mountains. Serene and tranquil home to Taoism; also a popular tourist site. How do tourists and Taoists coexist? And what does the "dust" in chapter 4 of the Tao Te Ching mean? What is "merging with the dust" about? Master Gu has some simple yet powerful advice for Eli and everyone about how to maintain inner…
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Purpose, ambition, the will to achieve. Emptying the heart-and-mind, filling the belly. To avoid the limelight or to seek it out. No mind, no worries. Is it wise to strive? Surely we need a sense of purpose. We are after all both natural and social beings. But nature came first. We consult chapter 20 of the Tao Te Ching and Master Gu tells more abo…
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Back from a short break! Now that we know all about the 心 xīn, heart & mind, in this episode Master Gu and Eli talk about how to make—and keep—that 心 xīn 平 píng: even. Balanced. Steady. Why? Because many physical ailments start with an uneven heart. And because the more hearts are even, the closer we come to world peace. 心平，气和, xīn píng, qì hé: hea…
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Heart and mind or heart-and-mind?心 xīn: the thinking and feeling heart, 意 yì: the focused attention. Two separate, conflicting powers or united in tranquility? Do you have three hearts and two minds? Mind you, we start as a heart and the heart goes on. Complex matter discussed against the light and life of an overworked teacher. Oh, and Master Gu e…
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In Episode 3, Master Gu and Eli talk about the Dao De Jing's notion of returning to the origin: the root. Tranquil, soft, and simple: how not to lose yourself. The Uncarved Block, 朴：what's that? Back to baby! Ancient but surprisingly timeless pointers for living long and living well. Find Master Gu at www.taoistwellness.com,…
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Dào fǎ zìrán! In this episode, we talk about what it means to follow nature: the nature of which we are a part, as well as our inner nature. About returning to the root, the childlike state of pure "naturalness" while still observing one's responsibilities as a social creature, too. Nature, mature. How to maintain the balance? Find Master Gu at www…
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In our inaugural episode, Master Gu answers the questions "What is the Tao?", "How can I learn to recognize it?" and "What does it mean to 'cultivate' the Tao?" Apologies for the airplane that passed over the mountain around 5'10" — I have not yet found a way to edit that sort of background noise out... Later episodes have much better audio! We hop…
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