Swami Brahmavidyananda
Vedanta Monk
President - Temple Universal Publications
Ramakrishna Monastery
Hollywood, California
Vedanta Monk
President - Temple Universal Publications
Ramakrishna Monastery
Hollywood, California
FROM SLEEPY MONK
TO ENERGETIC SPIRITUAL TEACHER
I studied with Michael Shaman in the mid 90's for some five and a half years. These were extraordinary years full of heart warming experiences. I could list a number of skills that Master Shaman has regarding the martial arts, because in many respects, that is what he is, a true, passionate martial artist. His range of understanding is vast. Yet what's so important is how he makes these ancient, esoteric, abstract Chinese ideas understandable to the Western mind.
TO ENERGETIC SPIRITUAL TEACHER
Moreover, Master Shaman teaches an added skill which I've valued the most. He knows the the healing power of nature along with the healing power of the human body. He's very sensitive to the play of chi in the human body. Doing Tai Chi at sunset with Michael, breathing in and out, was in itself enormously rewarding. As a teacher of Chi-gong and Tai Chi, Master Shaman gave me highly valuable tools which I continue to use every day of my life.
He lays great imphasis on areas or centers of power within the body and how to use these centers to control and distribute chi throughout the nervous system. This information stays with me in a profound way. Dantien is central to what he does. I don't think that the idea of the Dantien is clearly understood by many Tai Chi instructors. But Michael understands it clearly.
And once you tune into this reality, which he emphasizes so strongly, your life changes. You can actually govern your own healing, and stave off the likelihood of cancer and other diseases. A marvelous achievement in itself. There are a number of Chigong forms which he gives. There's the Eight Brocades, the Animal Forms and Swords, however, he's fully conversant with the various Tai Chi sets that are practiced today. So, there's a lot that he's able to teach.
Nevertheless, with all the marvelous skills, I would definitely say that for me, his great contribution is in his centering technique on the Dantien. This seems to be Master Shaman in essence. For it's from the focal point of the Dantien that everything else, healing, composure, the martial arts and inner strength, makes sense.