We wtsh to achnowledge Tora Strawd.

erman, our Sa Bum Nim, uho has

been

an

inspiration to us and has generously giuen of her time and energy to meet and teach
many of u" one at a time. Slre has hept the Sun Do art altuefor us in Southern
California since 1990 as students haue come and gone.Without her dedication
many of us uould not haue had the opportunity to begin learning Sun Do.

Th* Sun Do boohlet includes contributions from many anonynwlrs Sun Do

practitioners and writers that Tora collected ouer the years, representing the

ffirts

of many to understand and rnahe the Sun Do art accessible

to

friend^s and

community. We wish to thanh all of you. Sun Do's enxergence and preseruation in
theWest depends on all of us.

We

i*

also wish to achnowledge the sundousa.comuebsitefor

ualuable trarclated

material. From their website we haue selected seueral pieces that we thought might
contribute to our understanding of the Sun Do Traditian and its history.
art Piece is from Kcuin Kclly's booh Asu Qnece (www.asiagrace.com).
This photo of Mount Soreh in Korea reminds our readers that Sun Do's origins are
in the mountains where it has been preseruedfor thousands of years. Now Sun Do

Th"

"or*

is being made auailable to the world. For us to be a

need to commit to awaheningour Spirit

part of

as ute ascend the

its preseruation ute

will

spiritual nwuntain.

We haue includ.ed excerpts from Tto or LIFE, as well as eailier writings from
Master Hyunmoon Kim uthich has made auailable Taoist iruight & raisdom for
those seehing hnowledge of theWay. We hope that there

will

be more

published

writings from Master Kim as he brtngs Sun Do to theWest.

Last

we raant to achnoutledge Master Hyunmoon Kim utho has embraced

all. His courageotu heart

and spirit haue opened the door to Tao for many-both now and what will be in the
futura He and his wife Hyunhee haue ffired the great gift of sharingthe Korean
culture with us-liuing among us, raising a family, worhing learning Dnglishall the whtle tahing us into their hearts and home. They haue nourished our bodies
Westerners, taught openly, and been an example to us

with their delicious and heahhy homestyle Korean cool"ing and helped to heal our
bodies and souls

with

Sun Do.

We wish to thanh Master Hyunmoon Kim and Hyunhee. We utish you much
happiness and the deepest fulfillment in life. In gratitude ue bow to you, to Aour

all of the Korean peoples.Webow to youfor all of those in the

qnd
West
thanh you from the bottom of our hearts for mahtng the Sun D o Teachings
auailable in this landfor future generations.
Ancestors, and to

Lifegate Press
L o s Ange

s, Califo rni a

July 200s

.2.

Th"

Tqo te Ching soys

"One giues birth to two.

Two giues birth to three.
Three giues birth to 70,000 things."

Nr*

after the reulm of

101000 confusions. In order to redirect ourselaes onfo
the right path, we must hold onto the root of life, rather
than the branches, through mind andbody discipline.
we haue gone

too

far

Wt ot this means in our

euerydny licre.s

sincere about Life, patient

we

hac)e

chasing

with

is that we be

Life, devoted to Life,

faith in life, and we surrender to life.

kno* that the discipline of holding onto

life's root canbe a painfuL process. But Taoism

is about indiqtiduals taking responsibility

for cleansing

A"a

thems elv e s .

so we need setf-discipline to

find out the

our own spirituality, which demands

constarnt practice, with integrity and sincerity.
This is what we dre being called to do.

essence of

-MesrrR

Hyuxrr,roox Krul

Moy the Sun Do Dhar?no Treasure beftrntly plantecl in theWcst

through the life & worlt of Master HyunnTootl Ktnt.
.3.

Thble of Contents

{r}
.*

r-fil

)*!L
Acknowledgement
Master Kim Qyote: "WhatWe're Being Callecl to

Do"

Contents
Sur.r Do & the ContemporaryWorld.............
Writings from Master Kim's Teacher: Srm Do
About Master Hyunmoon

Sorrg

......

-l

....................

..........

.............. 6

of Praisittg Notw't: ...............7

Kim .........

............ 8

Dedication

................9

Precepts
History & Lineage
SunDoMeditationChant
Mountain Thoism & Sun Do ............

............ 9

The Sun Do Five

.................... I0
.......... I0
............ I I

Sun Do Centers uncler the Guidance of Master Flyunrnoon

Sun Do Theory

...... 4

Thble of

A Letter to the Sun Do Community from Master Kim

......................

&

Kim.......................... I2

Philosophy

.....................

.............
Benefitsof SunDoFirst,StageBreathing
First,Stage 'fan Cheon Breathing
PracticeTips..........
Practice Overview

13

............. 14

The Nine Stages of Sun Do Cultivation

......

Ii

.................

16

..................

17

.................... I8

The Cornplete First,Stage Practice (Illusmated):

Exercises
Jwry Ki Dan Boub Postures
Errcling Exercises
Internal Orqan Exercises
Finishing Exercises

..........19.29

Beeinnirrg

Frequently Asked
Conversation

................30,35
..............36.41
...42,41

...........45.46

..................... 47

Qrestions...

with a Thoist Master:Q&A Session

Introduction into the Mountain Hermit Life of Chung

Quick Rel'erence: First.stage Practice

Postures.....

.4.

........48.50

Sahn

......... 5l .(t0
.......... 6I

Sun Do & the Contemporary World

Modern life utith its stressl,

conflicts, societttl

uncl e ntotional entanglentuts allows

littlc tinu for each of'us to t'cturn

clernand.c,

to our oun indittidual center. Our contplex society u,hich clcnics

uith

hunrunhind's dependence on and intcrrelationship

to rccogrtizc that

Lue

are out of ttotc ruith the (Jnit'ersal Energy.

O"ly throttgh quiet stillrtess oncl cncrgctic

cleepcr srarc.s

Nuttu'a, ncccls

ccrlnt

c'cut u:c

cttter irfto

of'realization, perhaps recogttizing thanrorr,

i.s

thc tintc

for eoch of us to reclaint our liues. Centereclness, calnt gathering of'

t'itulity, ancl purificatiort ore cssentiol to a hcalthy antl balcutt,etl lifc,
nruhing it ltossible to arttahen our spirittral nuture.

SWt DO
Mountoirt

r, an atrthentic, clecp curcl clirec't rncthocl prcrcrued bll

7Zloist.s ancl

nott,brought fo us in tlteWcst by Mastcr

Htlurttttoott Kim. This practice entphasizes the regencration of'

the

physical body, uhich greatly a.ssists

ancl

supltorts spirituul

rlct,eloPnrent. Modern nuut has lost an unclcrstanding of the

ralationsltilt of the Lifc Force to plrysical ancl spirituul health untl

nee cls

to grasp ltou' signtficant thi.s is ro /ris oturt

ucll being antl to

tltc gurcrations that follow.

VZ

rrrrr.st recliscouer

ttcry suruit,ul
o.fJ'cred

ortr relationship to Hettuen

dePend.s

artcl

Ectrth. Our

on this.'Thi.s ancientWisclont Troclitiott is bcing

to hunrunhind ot this tinte.for this purpose.

Yol, ,rrrd nothittgbtrt yotrr

bocl11,

breath, curcl tlrc utill to cleuotc

yourself to tluily pructice.'The pructice utill naturally balunt.e thc

cncrgy, begin to rcstorc healtlt, strcngthut the bocly, colnt the nincl,
oncl ltonor one'.s Ti'ue

Spirit.

,,rror,roge you to

pctss

through this

.\.

cloor.

A Letter to the Sun Do Community from Master Kirn

Dear Sun Do Families

A Thoist hermit Ilekvung (Secret llounclary) brought the ancient nrouurairr

practice of Sun Do into the citv

in

1967 .

[]e rvas trainecl ur.rcier his Teacher

Chung,rvoon (Clear Cloucls) ancl his GranclTeacher Moo-lr,oon (No CLxrcls)

for almost ts,o clecacles in the variotrs mountain reqions of Kore.a. There

were manY stories, folk tales, ancl legeuds rvhich gave dreams, hopes anci
eveu {antasies to the people the nrountain lil'e, mountain spirits, spirit
at'rgels, mountain tigers, supernatural porver, astral travels, rvhite bt,arultcl
olcl rnen, ar.rcl sucl-r. Rekyung became the briclge betrveen these rnvsteliou,
morurtain stories ancl societv lvhere orcliuarl, people re.sicle.
Rekvunq's traininq in the rnourrtain rvas r.xtre.melv har<I. One dav to the
next an(l one training to the next, hc. rvas not allorvecl to tl'rink at any
momerrt rvith the casual nrincl. It's ar.r ongoing challer"rge. llut the larger
challenge fbr Beky,u11g lvas to be C)ne s,ith Nature, because lif'e ou the
monntain itself is challenginu. There, he leanrecl that being C)ne u itl.r
Nature is the main ,source of healing, translbrmation anrl enliqhtennrcnt
all mankincl. Sun Do teaches exactlv that: horv to l:ecome ()ne lr,ith

lilr

Natrrre.
Bekvunq's passion fbr Strn Do ancl hi.s carinq for hunranity brought this
\\hv of Iife dort.n liom the rnountain to societt'. ln qratitucle to mr.' teacher,
mv inte,ntion has been to bring Sun Do fronr the East to the \\'est. Norv,
upon ove,rlooking the evolntion of Sun Do in the \\'est rvith the nrind and
ru.rderstanding of the East, I see that mr. job is still unlbklinq.
Lor-e,

Maste'r Hyrurmoon Kim

.6.

Writings from Master Kim's Teacher

C/r rrrr.g .Sartr fu A u tr;|,

\fn.stcr H-ytltrtrrlrrr hdrrr lr lcnc'/rcr
t1

The Song of Praising Nature

Thc Unit,erse contair:s nty spirit, and

My spirit

contains the Uniuerse.

'Tltc Uniuerse entbraces the lcru of nty spirit, and

Mry spirit entbraces the lau of the Uniuerse.

'Tluts,

My spirit encl the [Jnit,ersc arc One.

I will find all the ntysteries of lif, uithin Myself.

I u:ill reach the strcngth of the [Jnit,ersc
by acceptittg

lts Soul, Energy, and Dit'irtit!1,

ancl clet,eloPingthe Centcr of'the Energy.

'Tltereby,

I will

be thc Uue

otarcr of nty body and spirit.

My Spiritual Nature alutays

rentains pure, u;ith no obstructiotr.

Wealth andfante are ntere ntonvnts of o drcant.

I collect thc Uniuersal sltirit on nty abdonun,

Fill lts energy irt nty head, and

Ditine Unit,erse brightcns nty spirit.
A,ftcr tuso clecades of endless practice,

My onltl

ru,rsA

is to benefit

all sentiutt

I will let nry greet tcachcr's

bc

beings.

lessort

hnoun oll ot,er thc u,orlcl.

I utll

r"uelconu

all uho u:ish to lcarn.

Fuorr lne Wrrrlrxt;s or. Cnusr;

rus (lI:xll,xr

r)

About Master Flyunmoon Kim

0l" ul l7 tiircct masters sanctioned \ Ilekyunu, lv{aster

Hr.unnroon Kin has be'en teaching Sun Do for health, longevitl'
antl spiritual re'alization in thc United States since I979. In ordcr
(o rnore effectively communicatc in this nerv lancl, lvlaster Kim

Mu.a".

'lecturinq

Kim's life expcrience, his rvritinqs, anti his cnqaqinq

st_1le

makes him unicprclv tpalifie'cl to cottvc'r' thc

princiirles of Thoisnt to thc\r\''est.

1rl o..1". to ftrltill his in,liviclual

activclv set abrrut learninq\\tsterlr rr,avs'-inclucling language,

highe r cclucation (PhD. ol Philosoplw in Hrunan Scicnce) and
r"-searcL into cultural and psycholosical perspectives.

cst

(lutl to societY, Nlastcr Kinr

iras

allli.hctl tht' folL'rr. inq:

''l'he

Sun Do pro.eranr

Au.rlr:ist; & Ct't-'rtvvrt'nt;'I'llrl

Rt;r-\\'trtttN (o introclrtcc the hasic Strn l)o

\\h1' of lifc & practicr'into ortr conrurttnities.
C)Rtc;tll.rt. Est:,

FI" ,rr,l his rvife H1'unirce. havc raisecl two childrcn in America
*,hile sharinq traclitional Korean culture rvith their \\tstcrn
stuclcnts. Their trvo children also practicc Sun Do.
Mur,.l.

. Tt'acher & Instructor training

l)roqral.n to stlj)Port Acti\'('
Study & Practice Groups.

Kinr is the lirunclcr of the Sun Do USA Retreat Cent-cr in

Verrnont as rvell as the nerv siste'r ccnter in Thngjin, South Korea,

Sun Do Poil (Embracins Tho) s'hicir houses thc Intcrnational
Lrstitute for Srur Do-Taoist Cultural Rescarch IISCR). f{e norv
spt'ncls a port-ion trf his timc in Korca as a Professor of toism at
lJanst'o t-lni,,,e.rsitr', S. Kort a. He is thc author of Thc Tao of' Lif'e:
-.lrr lrrlt'.stigatirrrr o/'.Surr

ir

Prrrcr..s.r

Do

'lTroi.srirls PcrsLurul Qrou'th

of',\pirituul Drtlopnrrtt.

NIodtl

Sun flo IJharma Ceutt'rs throttghotrt North .\nrr:rit'a.

Scasonal

{c lvloturtair-r l{ctreats for practitiotrcrs u-isliitrg trr

into thc principles ancl practict' ol Srur l)o anri
authcntic
N'lountain'laoist trainit.tg.
expcrience
clelve dceper

.Lfo.,.'. Ifvttnutoon Kim

as

life rvork to help \\'i:stertrcrs learu

ll'ith

his TL'ache'r l]ckvunu]

JiilJill nty (hftU itt socicty,

I can try to ntake SL:.t Do nu)rc popular, or

knot-u ltfe tn the

city. In orcler

to

I can go.for ntore qltality, to bring the practice to ct tlcrl lel)el in tltc Wcsr

ttlile

ntatntaining the rt:isrlont of thc Traditiort."

--M.rsreR HvuNrr,roox

.8.

Knvt

lris

practir:.' this Tmc Srrtr I)tr

I tmderstctnd that life of'the hcrntit

[spcakine of his training ancl intensivc rctreats in Korea

atrcl

u'illingll ntatl.' it

Nftluntain Tho Dharma Treasttrc.

"

Ancl

has gcne rottslv antl

Dedication
In gratitude

rue boru

to Master Hyunntoort Kint, Beltywtg ancl ltis Ttucltcrs,

unrl ull tltc Motuttain Hernits before them who huue, for thousands of years, ltreserued tltc Srar Drl

]t[owttctitt Taoist Traclitiott in order to ffir hwnanity an authcntic ltath to the Tho.

THE SUN DO FIVE PRECEPTS

(HUN)
Jung Shinr:

TRUE MIND

With the genuine mind of the heavens,

Jung SAi: rnue

sEEING

C)l:serving correctly all things in the universe,

Jung Sah:

TRUE AWAKENTNG

Perceiving and acquiring accurately the real truth,

jrng

Do.' rnue pATH

Up to theWay to honestly Iive as obeying the larvs of the universe,

Jung Hang:

TRUE IIEHAVIoR

Without standing against the laws of naturc, act properly.

Follou:irtg the MountainWay requires dct,eloPment of great charucter.

'Training thc nind ancl body daily is necessary for ltealtlt and surt,it,al
and cleuelops the .strength of

uill

to liue ut tltc core of bcing.

Front this, true spiritual au)areness can

.9.

groLu.

Sun Do History 6t Lineage

Tlr"

^.t

ar.rcl

practice of Suu Do has becn perl-ectecl ancl hanclecl clou,n ovcr

the last 9,700 t'ears fionr ancient Korean people, rvhere it l,as practiced Ior
ceuturies as Nloturtaitt'Ihoism. \tr/ith tht' arriva] tlf firrr.iqn inlluence.s ancl
philosophies in the 9th centur\', sonre practitiuners rctreatecl pernrane-ntlv to
the nrtltttttains to presen'e and protect this art from extinctior.r.

It rvas onlv in

I9(r7 that Srur Do re.enrerged in Korean .societv s,hen llt-kvtrr.rq (St'cret

Rountlarr'), rvho fiour the age of
Sahn (lllue Nlountain) Iirr

Moo,u'oott

l0

ll

lived

as a

years rurclt'r the iustrtrction of Taoist \'lxstr.rs

ftsa (No Cloud) ancl Chunq.u,oun

retrrrn to humanity

ar.rcl

mourltain hermit nanrc.tl Clrturg

Ttrsa (Cle.ar Cloucl), rvas told to

teach the Sun Do art to thr'peoPle. Relirre returrriug

to the Inountains Bek,vung sanctioned llaster [{y unmoon Kinr to ltring these

authentic teachings to the West.

.\/rrslrr Klrri (((nttr) tca<hiny rrt l/rt L,S{.Sror 1)o Rctrrrrt L'rrrtr,r
ir \irrrrorrl.

SUN DO MEDITATION CHANT

(SU\-

Ix)loO)

h4uq oll bcings ert)arc of tlte ultinrute Tho

(Jruru Gak Do

Att critt

LLti s

(lont,

o nsc iousllcs.s,

\\trn)

end obil i ty tltrough

rl

is

(Che Ji Che Nunq)

Hot;itrl

Ltnited Dlturnru ctncl Tho into harntontl

(llool Do Il Fhva)

Scuc un(l enlighten

all

senticnt 6crrrg.s

(Goo Hrval Chans Sang)

-Rext

uxt; & rHe, Slrx I)o Nkruxr.rrx 'l'rorsr Trr rr;lt'tox

.to.

ipl

in c

Mountain Thoism & Sun Do

thc ph'sical bocll can cternallv erist; hos't'r'r.r,
Chturq Sahn argrtccl that thc original practice
ol Sun f)o \\-as not necessarilv a practicc to
beconrc inrmortal l;ttt rather, the s-av to rcturn
to natrlre. The original .Sroi in the Chinese

-Mountain Taoist practiccs art characterizcrl

b_r' direct nrr'tho<ls of self.cultivation tbr the
pnrposc o1'unitinq thc. indivi<lual s-irh
Heaven, Ilarth, anrl the Tao. )vlor.urtain Taoist
practices srrch as Sun Do havc becrr practiced
firr sevcral thousand vears in Korca antl China

characters rvas human * mountain, u'hich

litcrallr, meant one rvho practice.s lbr rrnitv

livinq in the nrountains. Irr ancient

tiurcs 1;coplt' rrtrshippctl Hcavcu ancl the Sun,
thcrclbrt thc nrountains s'cre thc loqical place

l-x' hcrnrits

lirr scclusion anrl s-ere also irleal lirr the

pructitiorrc.r to qct phvsicallv closcr to Hcaver.r
anrl thc Srrn. ,\ practitioncr ol Nlountair.r

tas olien rel'errcd to

as an ctor1n

(hernrit). Confircius rle llnos crorirr us thc man

*.h,, crcaprtl tlrt'sorkl; hos'r'r'cr, these people
harl not rcall-r' tscaped but rather tht'r' had
qont'into s.'elusion in onlcr
to l ork out a st stcnr of
Frorn
bcinq. Living tlct'p in the
nrountains. thesc hcrnrits
prescrvcrl tlrc Sun Do practicc anrl have orallv tracetl
Sun Do's histor.r'back for
several thousanrl vears.

Dirrinq

rhe

heaven and carth in thc mountairr. This

misconception of tlistorting the meaning of the
characters probablv arosc amotlg thc pcoplc
s'ho had not erperitnced the practice bevlntl
thc ph'r'sical realnr. \\'lrcn these people
s'itncsse.tl or hearu'l through legcnds and firlk,
tales about indivicluals s'ho hacl achievcrl
lonqcvitv ancl inrnrortalitr,, thev onlv sas'the
phvsical fornr ancl not the spiritual esscncc of

\{astcr Chunq \\bon

Humun

losa at tlre laolrak

Fr,rnr the. uressagr. oI chanqinq thc charrctt'rs.

hop6'11 111x1 tlrc practitiorrt'r.

Chrrng Salrn

u'orrkl bc cblt'to sct. bcronrl thc plr-r'sical anrl

mechanical l)r'acticc ol'Sun l)o antl into its

spiritrral aspect. In this rcgartl, thc prlrtit'c of'

Sun Do invrlvcrl certain ktx li.atrrre s that st'r't
prinran' prirrciplts of urrrshippirrg thc sun arrrl
hcar-cu antl that u'erc irlcologicull.r' <lcrivctl
ti'onr ancicnt'l'uoist
thotrqht.

I(xv in thc\\r.st. \la:ter

Hvunnroon Kiur is ttachirrg
tlris rrrtlrorrtir' \lorrnr eirr
Taoist Trarlition lirr thc

Mountain

upliftur.'nt anrl as'akoninq

of hrrnranit-r'. Irr lirllilling
the s'ish of'his Tcaclrt'r to
nraltt' t lresr' 1i'et'lrirr,1' uvail
ablt to all thc s'orkl. \lartcr
Kinr slrarcs llck.r'unq's rlrclr
untlcrstantlirrg anrl 1;rovitle:
clcar instnrction irr tht'

Humun + Heaaen

lVloutrtaitt in a strange t\\-ist

ol lite

llcinr.l's qoal

of uniting s-ith hcavcn. Hc chanqctl thc

meaning of thc.Srrri in Clrincsc f'ronr hunrln *
nrountain to Lunran * hoavcn t'ith thc .trrri to
cnc()nll)as\ I'nliql)tollnlcttt itr its rilt'arrilrq.

lx

{dr

nritl,l0th centu

norl charact.-r tlr:rt

soukl nranili.st thc hunran

tlrc nusscrge of clrunging the churoctcrs,

ClrungSnlrrr hopcd tlrut prut'titioners u,oul(l be able to
see bcyontl tlte pltysical ontl nrcclleniL'el ltractit'a of'
Sror Do ond into it.s .spirituc I usltcct.

rr', I l--r't'ar,oltl Chunq Sahn

nrct

talit_r'. Tlrrrs, h.'crcate<l a

s'ith

to go

Taoisnr

dt'r'elopnrcrrt arrtl not a iirrrrr ol'phvsical inrrrror.

an<l rcceilc<l lessons

Master Kirn rcturned to l{sing
anc'iutt Sun Do t'horat'tcrs
original Srrn l)o art ro all
in Srrn Do lr,rnr rlrc \lastcr
in orrler to e ntplta.size Bekyung's Tiaching
beconing Onc thosc rlesirirrg to lcatn.
tirr nrort than lO lears. In
\lastcr Kirn rctrrrne rl to
I9(r7, Clrung Sahrr s'as told
Nattu'c es tlte central principle of' Enltghte nntcnt.
using thc' arre icnt Srrn l)o
b,r' his teachcr to brir.rq Sun
thc Mountain Thuisnr as capttrrer'l mctaphor.
charactcrs in orulcr to onll)llasizo l]t'k_r'ung s
l)o clos'n lionr thc nrountains anrl 1;rcscnt the
icallv b,r' a conlnron saving in Taoisnr, lrro/i rrt
Teaching ol'lleconring Orrc s'itlr Nlturc ls the
practicc to huntanit.r'. Thus Chung Salrn cstab,
t/rL rrrorrrr, not thc.fingtr.
ccntral prirrciplc ol IJnliglrtellnlcnt. .\\ [)(.()l)lc
lisherl the I'irst Sun Do Training Center in
lookinq I'rrr t'hc\\ir-rt'alizc the inrportancc o1'
Sc.oul, Sotrth Korca in April I97{). Since tht'n,
trhc public perceive.<l the 1;]rvsical inrnror.
rccrnrtrcctinq to Naturc <lrrritrq t lrcrt' ti nrt':.
a qreat nunrl>cr ol'pcoplc all ovcr thc sorkl,
talitl of the Nftrtrntain Taoists as thc ultinratc
thcrc is atr ittcreasitrg trcccssit-t lirr strcrrgth
regartlL's. ol' rcligion, racc, or lrationalit\',
intcrest. The public rlirl not pcrceive of
an<l grounrlcrltrcss in llarth slrich is thc
have practicctl Sun Do, ancl havc enjo-r,cd a bet.
tinrrtlation of Sun Do. This is thc N{ountain
prescrvinq the borlv as the spiritual proct'ss of
tor rpralitv ol'lili'.
unillcatior.r s'ith He'avcn ancl l]arth s'ithin thc
\\hr'. \Iastt r Kinr is a Iivirrg cranrplc tirr his
bcing. The author Maspero ( I 98I ) indicatcrl
'7ire Sr,,., I)o practice consists of the founda.
.sturlclrts. anrl i. tlrorotrglrlr trairrirrg.. ri,ru:
that
inrnrortalitrs'as
unlv
a
l:-v-product
,rl
practitioncrs as Sa llunr Ninrs (Scrrior
tional techni<plcs that s'erc usccl to translbrnr
"Matcrial
nlvstical
union.
Tl'achcrs) to l)rescrvc this linoage anrl hclp
practiccs aro usclul
nrinrl anrl b,rrl,r'to beconrc unillcrl s'ith the
anrl gootl: the great inrnrortals usc thenl. lJut
pass on tltr'st' tcachinqs.
Tao. In this sonse', the Srrn Do practicc carr also
thc
cssontial
thing
is
spiritrral
Thr:
practiec.
be called an internal alchenrs (\'rrr Dor in
Tho l;t ing eternal, hc u'ho is in union *'ith it is
For infirrnration ott Sun l)o Ccnrcrs in tlre L .S
Korean arr<l ,\i,i Yiai irr Chincsc), s'Lich
bl
venlact
that
eterrral."
anrl abroacl rur<lt'r the gui<larrcc ol'\{astcr
usuallv nrcans thc process of thc transfirrma.

tlu

of

u'ith

ion of onescll.

H_r'rurnroon

T.aditirrrallr',

1;coplc in China anrl Korea

vieu-erl Sun Do as the s,a-r' to inrnrortalitv.

Inrnrortalitl

nre'ant

cultivating e.nergv so that

Onc of Clung Sahn's atte nrpts \\'as to ctlucate

thc pcople regartlinq the ultinratc' goal uf Sun
Do, s'hich rvas to I;c a lirrnr of spiritual

.1r.

Kinr,

sr.c

nc\t

l)aq('.

Sun Do Centers
Under the Guidance of Master Hyunmoon Kim

Y/rc .trat D() Rctrl'et Llrnf

lt'

i.t

lotrt(tl

ott u

hiIltop ortrlo,tl;iru,.7() aLrc.\ of ^tLoo(llrairl.' il

-\irrf/rrrrr \i rllr()ltt.,Sr'(rsr,r/tl t't tttrrl s rrtrr/ rt
.Srorrrrrc r /lc..ir1arlil !)rograrit art' ut uilttblr'.

.\-fnstrrrKdrttrrtrrl/ri.trlr/i, Hqunhaa,c'cnttr,u'ithsonrco//ris.ScBunr.\'inrs(.!crrior'Iiacitolti
/ris .Sc Bunr .\'inrs (.lcrrior'Iiacirort i
ln.rtrrrctrrrr) ut thc 200+ Sroruncr Rctrtet rrr \'irrirorit.

.clrcrltrle of N{aster Kirn's serninars on Att.+KE.t'r.rg I CL rt n.s,t t:,<1 ,rrtr:

Onrt;t-r'rr- E,\ERq) \\.'r.r-ntr', or Sun Do scasonal and mountairr retreats, see
\\'\\'\\1.SUNDO.ORG. To make arrangements for a scnrinar or rvorkshop in _rotrr arca,
()r to sr:t up an active stucl_v ancl practicc group, please corltact the N{ain Center in
Hartfbrul. Scnior Teachers or Instructors arc also available lbr group ur private train.
ing c()ntact the Center irr your area fbr morc inlbrmation.

-Rr.

NORTH AMERICA

INTERNATIONAL

USI\ M,.\IN CENTER:

\\''est l{artlirrd, CT 860. 513.5260

EUROPE:

ITETREAT CENTER:
Rarnet, YT 80).7 18.3 667

Paris, Frarrce

SUN DO CENTERS/
PRACTICE GROL]PS:
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Montpelier, VT 802.213,33I I
Easthampton, MA 888.527.I933

ASIA:

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Greater NY 7I 8-27I.2300

\\'hite Plains, NY 9I,+,,+18.0085

(ireater LA, CA 3)i.933.9)37 , x1
C)rrtsirle l-.\, CA 951.277.0I)4
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Nancy, Frarrce 33,383.i 5(t.7 98

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Chiang Mai, Tlrailancl 66-53.)62.7 67
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Rort (l r tt ultia.Srt Rtnit .\'irrr. .\ /rr.rlr r .i I I t ri' r t c t

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Sun Do Theory

& Philosophy

As our s'orkl seenrs to gro\\' evcr more strcss.

lirl and out of balancc, s'e as indivicluals nrust

take responsibilitr' lbr linding s,avs to bring
ourselvcs into balance.. Rather than being alir.e
onl_r' to crist, \\'e nlust strive lirr sell',realization.

W'e neerl to bt'conre inrrllved in nrore actir-itics gearttl tou,ard sel1'.integration, harnro.
nizatiorr and sell-,rlcvelopnrer.rt. Thc ancicnt
he aling art of Sur.r Do is such ar.r activitv. Sonre
unclerstanrlinq of Oricntal philosophv s'ill be
he.llliirl in unrlcrstantlir.rg horv thosc cpalitics
rrc rlcvclrrpr'rl rlrnrugh its practicc.

?lt principles o1' C) riental phil osopln-, rvhich

consist of tho concepr of l}.rerqr' (Ki) and its
t\\1) x\pccts olYin and Yanq, tho Fir,c Elcnrcnts
ar.rrl thc nrcritliar.r svstonrs (energv circnlatior.r
clranntls) in thc lrotlr', rurcltrlie the practice of
Surr Do and nrlnv otlrer Oriental arts an(l

scicr.rccs.

\\'hilc tlrt application of

nrcntals nrav cliffcr lionr

anothe r, the basis

or.re

thesc lunda-

rlisciplint to

of the Ur.rivcrsal Principles

of Oriental philosopll rcnrain rhe

sanre.

Tire rpralitie. urcrrtionecl above scll'.

intcgration, harnronization anil self.develop,
nlcnt are applications of thc I.as' of
Translirrnration of dualistic rnonism (harnronr.
of unir-ersc lx'Yin ancl Yang according to the

vitalitv aqtnt of Ki

shat

appcars as tso

s'as originallv onc). Thev are a nreans of

harnronizinq and intcgrating human bcinqs

s'ith their universc the

nricrocosnr (sel1)

rvirL tlrc nlacrocosnl (narure).

Srttr Drl

reaches

hcalecl

rr'ith thc Tho," nrcaning the \\tr-, encrg\. or

truth. There rvas a tinte tvhcn huntan beinqs
*'crc suffir.icntlt' in tune s'ith tlre unir.crse
that tlrtx s't.rt' able'to accrrnrulate, dircct and

utilizt Ki,

()r cnerq\', consciousl,\'and at u'ill

to hcal tlrr-nrsches. Acupuncturc ancl Oriental
as

utilizing rratural, but nevertheless

L.\ternallv suppliccl, energies anrl proclucts to
rc,integrate anrl rc.balancc t[re s4rolc person
to a n)orc harnronized, 1tcrl'ect state. Sun Do
traininq is a nrcthorl of rurii'r'ing human beings
s'ith nature ancl the univtrse. In other x.orcls,
it is a nrcthod o1"'elcrqv vcntilatior.r" s'hich
arlnrits the univt'rsal enerqr' l1os, into our bodics. l)'r'brir-rqing ourselves nrore into irarnror.rr.,
\\'e call once again l;cnefit fiom a closor relatiorrshi1; s'ith this universal eltL,rg\,.
rrrcth,xls ol'

of nrind and borlv pxxlucinq the sr-.e tl ol tlrt'

soul) is recognized, i.t. thc realizatiorr o1'thc

rliscipline is rrrritlrrc irr that crlrr scssiorr is

naturallv balanced, svstenlatic and ir.rherentlr'
conrplete. It is a nrastcrlirl ir.rtegration of

inr

stretchir.rq exercises, scll'.massaqe,

Ki

gong,

merirlian crercises, brcathing ercrcist's (trrrr

r'lrcorr brcathing), and nrerlitatior.r. The prac.
ticc flos,s in the gcntle ancl loving \\'a]: of rhe
Taoist orrler, crcating a svnergistic and hcaling efi'ect to the s'hole bcing.

Sttlt Do training srarrs rvith tan chton

breathing s,hich establishes the' inrlividual
slmbolic "caulclron" (spiritual l'onrb) in the
cavitv of the los,cr abdonrer), thus creating a
clensitv of .qravitv in the centcr. \,Lhile using
this breathing technirpe along s'ith /rarrg
gong nrcrlitation (nroving throuqh a series ol

union ol nracro anrl nricrocosrrric Ki lirrct's. At

this stagr', the- prrctitioucr bcctrnrcs corrscioLr:

ol the'unitv of heaven anrl carth throuqh
nr

ortalit-r'.

Ertcrnal]r', Sun Do l)ursr.ros tlrt' haruroniorrs

union of <k'tlicatctl huuran lrtings s'ith the
qrcat univorse. h.rten.rallr', thc practicc aspircs
to the harnroniorrs nnion of the nricrourrirerse
of r'/rong. Ai, anrl .siirir- Thc ctxrct'pt of'r'/r,rrrq
rr:t'ers to ph_r'sical hellth and serual cncrq_r'; rrl'
li to thouqht anrl nrcntal abilitr'; antl ol'.t/rrlr
to spirit and s isdonr. hr t]rc irrtcrre.lntionslrilr
ol tht three', if t'Iorrg bcconrt's lirll, li Lcconrcs

Irostnres rvhile meditatirg), the pracririorler

learns to gather and circulate Ki (the alchcnri-

purifie<l; if /ii bt.conros purilic<1,.tiirrr lrcconrc.

brightcr. rrlr. Clmng Sahn's anaLrgr' \\'irs ro r
candle: tlre cantlle itsc]l corrcsl:ronds to thc
chonq, the s,ick's flanre to tlrr. ki anrl tht illumination fionr thc liqht to tho shinr.'l'hrrs, il'
tlie cancllt stick is lxrge anrl purt the l'lanrt
s'ill bc strongcr anrl its illrrnrination lrriqhtcr.
This cor.rccpt is knos'n as "-I'hc'l'lrrcc

cal agcnt) throuqh tht me'riiliar.rs.

Trecsures."

fl,"
of alchenil' is usclirl in under",rr,""1,t
stanrlinq the process of change. brought al;out
bv the practicc of Sun Do. Throughout histor,r-,
alchenrists havc oxplort'tl thc possibilities of
transnrutirlg base nrctal. into qolcl throrrqh
repeatecl hcating ancl cooling of the substancc,
therel;1'changing the densitv anrl causing
strongcr nrolecules to be created. Sun I)o antl
other Taoist practices e\plorc "hunran alcheuu,." Through nretlitation, breathing

that "Discase nrar.bc

helbal nrerlicinc \\'ore dcvelopcrl later

is a successlirl svsrcm of rraining for

the harnronization ancl tlcvclopnrer.rt of thc
total beir.rg l;ccausc it concerns itsclf r.rot onlv
s'ith our phvsical, onlotional, and intellectual
sclves, but our spiritual naturos as s'ell. Thc

Sttlt Do

In practicc, the Sun Do stu(lent progressivclr,

Ki lirst througli tu.o channels

learns to nrove

(microcosnric orbit), then I 2 and I4 channels,

then 3(r5 points in the borlr' (nracrocosnric
orbit) ancl finall,r', throu,Ih all t'hc cclls. l)urins
this process, the pracritioner attains rhe
nricrocosnric lcvel and l;egins to gather
Hcavenl_v Ki ancl Ilarthl-r'Ki. Finallr,, the
"inrnrortal fetus" (a Thoisr svmbol of etcrnal
I i tt rclresenting rhe harnlonions conrbinatior.r

i.
I

Shim (spirit)
Jung-tan cheon
'Ki

(mind)

Sang-tan cheon
I

Chong (booy.;

-T--

Ha-tan cheon

ar.rcl

lnovenlellt through a scries of Postnrcs (al$'a\s

balanccrl accorcling to the princil;les of Yin
ancl Yang), the practitioner rlot onh: srrengrhens the boclv, but also creates ulternate heatir.rq
anrl cc,oling (charuing anrl densifving rhe nrus.
cle svstems), thercbv trarlsnuting the cclls to
the purest qualitv chonging our boclies to
svnrbolic gold. At this Ievel, a qualitv of
homeostasis (the maintenance of balancccl
intcrrelationship among the organs anrl s_t s,
tenrs of the bodv) is achievc'd.

.r

--------'--

Chung Sahn's Candle Analogy

7Le l)ostrlres, s.hic]r are integral to Sun l)rr

practico. arc nrorc tlratr tht assurnirrg ol.t.rrtain ph,r'sical positions. Thcv arc thcnrsclrcs
nrossages. Thore are

t*'o kinrls o1's'rittcn

muttication ont's'hich

orrr

uscs alphabcts tt,

firrnr specilic s-ortls, and another that uses

idcogranrs to con\,Lx conccl)ts.

71e icleogranrnratic st\-lc rlras's on natrrrll

phenonrena frrr its nrcthtxl of conrlnunication,
anrl thus is rrroro univr:rsal in irs t f tt'ct. So r rro

art the posturts ol Sun Do; u-t lrc lr:alrrirrq

the principles ol naturc and univcrsc throrrgh
the .l(r0 Srrn Do postures. llvcn il's c tlon r
un(lcrstan(l thenr intellt'ctuollr', our uncon.
scious can partialll rcad thcsc nrouninqs, antl
at sonrL. 1:roint c'an rlras' tlrc s,holc pictrrrc.
'lhat point is callcrl thc rpcninq of tlrt'
channcls, or cnliqhtt-nnrent.

The Nine Stages of Sun Do Cultivation

Tht'rc are nitre stagr:s in Srtn f)o, cach staqc
l;cing a prccorrtlition lirr thc ucxt onc:

/. 7l,,\',C

ll..r.\'BL'R

qO_\', D.{.\' BL'B

2. KIj()_\', ^/

( I 1).{-\' /l UR
+ J/.\ K/ D.{\'/r{'IJ
i .sA \/ H.{P /).{.\'BI_.rR
.t. \\ 1).\.

(t.

'-lt

) REI) D.r-\'BL'IJ

\/ ('H{'-\'(j D r-\'RL'R
\. \I(X) 71.\',/)1.\ BtrB
(r.
J/.\ (jo.\'(, D.l\'/lL'R.
,.

s.{

-fLc lirst sir staqes crlrrcsporrrl to

I l, thcn I'{ channels, atxl thetr to 365 points.

Tht'r.rnitpe characteristic t,f thi-. sta,Ic ol
practicc is that it liccs the proctitioncr lionr

Ki ftrrcc s'hich

ph.r'sical antl ps1'choloui cal conrpl i cct ions

s,ill totallr shlrter onr.'s

clcle ol

rvill

particular

to Ict'l and
conrprehend things rvithout seeing alrtl lcarn.
ing. \\/ith qenuiue tk'rlication, a practitiont'r
nral incrcasc po\r'cr to nurltiplc levels of his or
hcr orvn strength.
also beqin

(/ D.{.V BLII} reprt'scnts thc llrst

spiritrral level of Sun Do. The previous thrce
stagcs colrstitute the preliminarv steps of the

r'pcrl t,r thc hi,ilr..sr ltttnran capacitr'.

Srrn Dtr <liscipline.

an.l scltlonr sull'crs liom illness. 'I'he cells anrl

tissucs bcconrc vitalizt'd anrl rt'tain the cpralitv
of _r'otrthfirltrcs*.

l. (1lO\ qO.\' /1.1.\' Bt'B ("rtalizing

having rcaliztrl thc se.ll
hcarcn anrl carth"
in tlrc prcvious plac(ice), thcre arc l.l clillcrorlt l)o\trrrt'\ rvith a nrorc atlvancc<l llreathing
rrrctlrotl. 1{t,rr gorr dttn bub tt'achcs the practitioncr thc circulation of Ki through the trvo
basic nrcritliur.rs of thc hunran borlr'. Clcansing
activit ies arc carrietl on nrorr\ r'igorouslv
throughout tlrt'orgatrs atrtl tissucs, resulting in

harnrt,nl of plwsical l)rocesscs. This harnrony'

('r)al)l(.\ t lrc Prae titiUncr to Prat't it'c con('entraterl nrctlitation, alkrs-ir-r{ a scttlinq-in to a
spiritual ncst with t'rluilibriunr of borlv antl
nrinrl.
3.

\\1).\'K/ D,{.\'nt.-B ("oriqinal Ki"

o

con-

f hcaven/ceutr'r/carth)

corrsists o{'.}(10 postures and a nrorc arivanct'tl

breathir.rg nrctlrod. \\.brr Ii r/arr brrb builds the
qcncral statcs o1'nrin(l ar-rtl botlr- to a still highcr platcau. I)uring the discil:line of thc .l(r0
llosturcs, tlrr.practitiotrcr s ill circtrlate the

lc"unrtrlatc<l Ki throuqh all ofthc nrericlians,

s'hiclr art'1;ro{ressivel-r' increasc'tl liom trvo to

rlltrc i.

<larrg.'r,trr. arrtl .el l' <lcsl ritt't ir t'.

clas.scs.

lice

This stage ercrcirt's tho l)ractit i()Ilcl"\

s'ill. "lbchnirpc-s'

itht'ut- t u'ltuirpte"

thr. cssctrcc of this level , s'h ich c'n;tltlc. t ltc tli.'

ciplo to turitr', scprrettt: r.ttttl nrtnipttlrtt' K i o1'

culit'ottnrctrtal lliltrlrc at tlto cottttttatrrl ,t1's ill.

'flris is tlrt' situatiotr throuqlt s'hit'lr tltc rtrr.
rL'nt cntcrs thc state ol trattrral lrein{.

+. 71.\'

Jirt lii lurt

6trD consists

of

l;asic, mcdiunr and aclvanccil class levels utiliz.

inq live postlrrr.s. Jirr /ii, in Sun I)o, nrr'ans tltt'
statc ll'rvhich Ki in hcavtn arxl Ki ou earth
urc harnroniorr-sl1, trnitt'd. In othe'r s'or<ls, t
htrnran being, standinq bcts'ct'tr lrr-avctr atttl
c.urth, takes Ki fronr lroth realnrs into thc
borlv. This is thc Tho of hcatcn, tlrrotrgh

s'hich thc harnrony ol the universe' intcrnalizts itsell in hannonv s'ith thc bo<lr'. ."\t this
thc practitioner rvill arrive at thc gato ol'
f)o. The f'ul{illnrent of this rlisciplint's'ill

)er-el,

cnablc the practitioncr to sel)xrate, or con,

vcrselv, to Lrnite the bodv anrl mincl at s'ill. tlc
or she rvill begin to rcsponrl s'ithout pln'sical
exttnsion; to have thc'al>ilitr,to look irrto ler'els

of thc trnconscious anrl sul;colrsciorts mintl.

5. .S{ \1

H.{p DA.\'/lt'R

is also

divirltrl int,r

basic, nrtdium, an<l arlvancetl classcs. J'he

practitioncr bcgins skin l;rcathinq irr the
<liscipline of .sant /trrp lart bult. 'l'hcrc arc t\\'o
posturcs, in rvhich t'hc practitioner attelilPts
to cstablish the alchenrical transntissiott of Ki
of heaverr into Ki of earth, antl vice vt'rsa. At

this lcvel, thc practitioner rcaclres a trcs'

hc.ight of Sun f)o rlisciplinc', in rvhich statc tllc

utilize Ki 1:os'cr at rvill.

Thcrclirre, sincc Ki e,rergv nla\ bc rrsctl lor

stuclent can
nect inq thc cuergit's

pltr':ie al. trretrtul atttl

6.7O Rl:l) D.{t'Ii L'B lta: anotltt'r tltrt'c

Ki'flolr' throuqh the

rltt

oncscll'. This nristrtatntcnt

crert pll'sical strength through

cultilatetl in accunlance *'ith the uatural f)o.

L.ltinratclr', Ki an<l consciottstrt'ss art' rlcvcl,

1. 7{-'\(j KI D,-1.\'BLII| (cr.rltivatinq thc

centcr/ tbrnrinq the c.go") has 50 dif'l'erent
l)ostrrrcs shich rerprire a spccial brcathing
nrcthotl. This disciplinc tt-achcs the practitioncr to talie Ki in to thc bodr', therelx'cleansing
tlr.. organs aucl slstcnrs. .\t this lcvcl, the prac.
titiont'r bcqirs to btrild a hcaltln' constitution

l ithin

spiritual Lrrnr.rtn ; tht'rclitrc, tlt.'

lxrclv. [{e or shc

tuniversc

thus, he or shc beconrc tiee fronr all rnanner of

phvsical and psvchological illness. This is tlrr'
lcvel at u'hich practitiorrers l;tgin to lcarn to
rvav of concentratiorl and

natural qros'th: sos'inq tlrt scecl, planting;

nurturing, qros'ing, ripening, ancl han'esting.
In cueh stagr', Ki is salelv anrl harntoniouslt'

has bccn <leveltpctl ,,nl-r'

throtrgh carclirl training of'thc luLrnrottl ttl

u,rong intcntir)ns or pllrposcs, the practitiorter

rvho has the pos'er nlust be crtrcnrch' crnrsci.
cntious in thinking, attitu(l('s an<l bchavior.
Al;usc of porvcr has bccn tr<ntxvn to llrinq sell)
clestruction to the practitiont:r, becartse abrtsc
is thc counter lirrcc to thc esscrrce ol dtrelistic
nronism, the kev concept ol Sun Do. Ttr abrtse
this rloctrinc is to mistreat tltc cssencc olthc

.t4.

Tht're art'thrcr nrore tlisciplirre s, r lrr- higlre .r

knos n an<l Iinal ont's.'I'lrt'v arc ,S.1.\1
cHI ,.\',(i /).{.\', /rt'IJ (: ). .\too 7/.\ /) \,\'
BL B (\), antl J/,\' (O.\'(i D.\.\' llt lj f 9).
AIicr th.- srtrcessiitl praetict' ,rl'tlrc sir
s ill rrtrit.' rit.'
1-lrcvions stagt s, tlrr' I)l'itct itioncr

tso vitnl Ki lorccs (rnlt'rot'osnric atrrl trtit'rocosmic) to lrelp tlrt'spirit tirrnr tltc intniortal
fi't rrs. J'h csc thrt'c tl isci pl i nt's, I t,,.r'.'r .' r, I tl,rir
not becrt rer'.'aletl to tltt'rvorltl at lrrrgo,
tlthtruqh thcre arc sonte sclcct tlisciplcs

(-urronth' acrpiring krrxvit'tlqtr ol thcse

nltinratc lcssons rttr<lt'r tltr: itrstrrtctiotr ,rl'a
Srtn [)o ntaster itr thc nrorttrtaitts of Krrtla.
The nunrlrt'r of vears rctltrirt'rl tirr all ol'th.'
staqes ol'1;racticc tvill rur-r' rctortlitlg to tlre
rlcqrt'c of tlte pract itioncr's indn itltral tlcrli. a.
tiorr.'l'hc lcalninq llcrio<l ntal ll.' slr,rrtcttt'tl il'
thc 1;ractitioner rt'ntairrs itt th.' ut.,rtttt aitts,
qiving total tlr'r'rttiotr to Srttt l)o. Iltrrrcrer, tlrt
avcraqrt pcrst,n s lt,r livcs in hrrntatt rot'it't),

lili' s'ith a ntarriaqt',

aling u'it h tlrt' t li:tlr :rn,l
trilrrrlltiorrs ol a ntotlt.rn lifcst-vle, n,:it t,.','rl
lirttr to st'r'clr vrlars ()r ('\('ll tclt r-r'ers lirr tlre
first thrct' staqes rlf SuIr Do |rae t ict'.

lea<[ing arr,rrtlinirr_rlarnil-v anrl jt,b.

<le

'l'/r fir.st tircc rtrrgc.. of'.Strtt 1)o Ltttltlttt:i'-L

r.g('n.]'atilg ph4.:itttI lt,,r!th trrul ttrc trttrght
olttnl4 to u illittgtrtul tortttttrtltrl ltnul ilitrtrr i..r
(),titrg ltttlontl tht thinl \(tt!L t'Ltlttin.\ tt
srririrrs r, lation.rhilt rlit/r .\lrrrtt r Hryrrttrtr,,,;it
Kirtt, a cottuitiltltlr ,il .() tht rrfittrrtttttl ul
fuing itt both liotl.t ('* tlti,ir/, tttul tht lintr ,rtirl
(',rt ir()lirll(,iI r'rrttrlitt it r trr lntittiri'1 in lltt
/rig/rr'r strtgcs of Itnt,li<,.

Benefits of Sun Do First,Stage Breathirg

Brcathing

tiul unclerlying.fhctor in thc hccrlth ot''thc borty, ntind,

utvl cntotittns. Brcotltingputterns (hot-t'rt,c brcathc) dircctly uf t'bct t,ital li
f.s

ntt

e.s.sctt

ctrcrgy. Duc to intproper brcathing, ki cnergy in the bocly c'cut beconrc

tlininishe d or totolly blockcd. Energy blochagcs ttlay occur bcctntse of'

plrysicul injurry, poor tlict, entotional truunu, rigitl thinking putterns or

DurtttgSunDoltractit'e,.srrctr'ies anrlposttrresercptrlitnncdtitlt
spt:c'iJic breutltingpattcnts. This rclcuscs blockagcs o.f ki cncrgU untl ullou,.s
.srress.

it

to

flou: throughout thc u,hole body.

RIGHT AWARENESS:
THE I}REATH

BREATH AS REFLECTION
YOUR MENTAL ST,\TE

Thc first stcp is learning to rclax by devclop.

When,vou f'octrs on breathing, xxr btrikl

inq Right Arvare.ness through correct breath.

ing. Rrcath is a unirersal truth that rve all can

briclgc' betrvce'n consc iotrs arrtl unconsc ious,

tcst: to brcathc is to lir.e. Iu Taoist terms, to

breathc corrcctlf is to breathe like a bab1..
Tlris is krrorvn as the lirst stagc of Thn Chcon

OT.'

creating rnental and eurotional harrnon-r'. \\/hc.n

breathing potential is lirlfillcd, thc'n potcntial

in other areas of lif'e arc lirllilled.

l;rcathitrg. I{'1,ou har-e ever rvatchcd o ne\\'.

born baby breathe, they naturally move rheir

THE BREATH: CONNECTING

Iou'cr abclonrcn in ancl out , producing a wave,

likc nrotiorr u'hich florvs throuqhout their

Rv lbcusing our attention orr breathing, wc arc

in the realitv of the mourcnt. Thc gross rcalit,r'
of intcntiorral breathing is usccl to obscne. thcsubtler realitv of natural brcathing. Rv inte,

cntirc

l>ocly.

Rencfits liom breathing correctlr. are:

' C)x_r'qen gcts to thc lou,est part of the lungs
' Massagcs yrlur ab<lominal rnusclcs

TO THE PRESENT MOMENT

gratirg vour inner lif'e u'ith )'our outer rcalit-r',

are ablc t<l cleal rvith tlrc rorrtinc of dail-r.
-\-orr
living in a rclaxecl

ancl centcrccl u,a)'.

'
-vorrr heart & intenral organs
' Aiclcs 1,orrr cligestive proccss
Re]axcs

Relaxes \'our ller\-ous sYstern.

Witlt t'entcrctlbrcatlting, Srar Do posturcs enable pcoplc to

oL,crc'ontc ctncl deul

u'ith c.onflicts & crisc.s in thcir lit,cs.

.15.

First,Stage Tan Cheon Breathirg

'I'hc lrrt'athing nreditation portiou of the stanclarcl Srrn Do
practice is accornpanicd by an auclio recorcling of the Surr Do
bclos, and pagc I0).
Onc of the plrrposcs of thc chant is to aicl svnchroniz.ation of
onc-'.s l.rreath to tLc four Korean worcls or the I.2,3,.{ rhythnr
oi'thc iutonatior:s:

\'lctlitatiorr Chant, sturg in Korean

(see

As

vour Irrcath nroves in ancl out calml_r', rll'thrnicallr, lct tl,.

rise ancl f'all of .r,our bcll_1' nrassauc this n-lrolc arcu irtto a
clccpcr statc of rclaxation. Feel -vour".-I1' relarin.S, cntt'r'irtg

calnrcr and calrner statc. L,ct thc as'art'tre

vrtur rvholc l;od,r' into relaxation.

All inhalation and cxhalation

lung (;ak Do \\brr

is rlorrc

ss

ol'brt'atlt soothe

tLnngh thc

uost'.

Continuc this brcathing throuqhotrt thc' //orr,g (jorrg Ki

t)3+

Rerlulating Posturcs (Thc llrcathing \'Ieclitati,nr) seqnrr'rrt of

(.\lary all6cirrgs rrrlorc of'tht ultinrutr 'Iao)

thc practicc.

Che Ji Chc Nung

t)34

(.{ttrrirr zlisr/onr,

r'orr.st iolrsrrc.s.s,

Il
l.).3.4

H at

u tt

it t

r)34

(,5 u

Hrva

d D h u ntt a ouL Tcut i nt o lru rnro

(ixr Hu'al
tt' and

t n I i gh t,:

Over tinre, as thc new practitiont'r's los'cr alxlonriual

breathing beconrcs llatrrral, tht. Iustnrctor rttav quirlt'tlrt'
student to be'gin spiralling the cncrgv in tlrr, kru'cr '/irrr
C-/rrorr (as seen in the cliaqranr belou') s-hilc appl_r.irrq
the anal lock methocl correctl_\' ancl cfl-cctixrl_'r' to lrt'l1r

and obility through di.:ciltlinc)

IJool f)o

tu1

collccl'ltrate the cnerqr'.

Chcnq Sanq
n

I sortir-,nt

Dt irrg.s)

The lirllos,ing is the basic brcathing instruction for

Ilcqinuers trr thc Stur Do practice.:

INHALE T}IROI]C;II
THE tI-OSE

Close vour cves and lie dou.,n on )/our back. Place your

thrrml;s on \'orlr belly button ancl 1,our lbrefingers touching.

Makc a trianglc s'ith tlrumb and forefingcr. (Your '17rrr
C/rcori is approxirnatel_y trvo irrches belorv the bclly button in

thc nridst of this trianglc.)

Focus vour awarellcrss on )'our breathing ancl your mincl on
tlre arca of'the TZrrr Cltc'orr. Gently close 1'orrr mouth \\'ithout

LUNGS EXPANI),
LENGTHENINC}

clcnching,vorlr tccth. Allorv vour breath to conle through tht

nose all the u,av dovr-n into

ABDOI\,{INAL

lour belll'. F'cel the rise of _1,our

I)IAPTIRAGN,I

bcll-r', allorving \'our brt ath to expand the' abdominal area

gcntl-r', inhaling to a lixu courlt (irl time to the auclio

\{cclitation Chant, or approximatclv

5 secorrrls)...

Then li'cl thc f all of rotrr bcllr', cxhaling through the nose on
a lour count... Inhalinq, eqcntly lct -\,our stonrach musc]es
rclax, allou'irlg your stomach musclcs to expand slou'lv

TAN CHEON

PELVIC DIAPI-IRAGI\,I

tos'artl -r'our hatr<Is... (lcntlv, clralv in your stornach arca,

exhalins... Inhalc, 2....3....1... Exhale, 2....i...4...

.16.

Practice Tips
\\hen practicins, a place shoulcl
l;e ibunrl that has good vcntilation.
PLACE,:

Drrring the first three stages, it is bettcr

to practicc'ivith liglrt.

1'IME: Sincc thc origin of Sun Do

1;racticc is u'ith thc s,orshipping of thc
sun, it is best to practice s,hen thc energ)'

of the sun is strongcst in your area.

Do not practicc ltetrvcen the hours of I0
plvl - L\]l{.

.{TTI-l-UDE: Practicins rvith a 1'rrll

stornach cau bc unconrlilrtablc;

linish

it

is best to

nrcals at lcast -30 minutcs befbre

I)racticc ancl tu u'ait at least that krng lirr

nre'als

altcr practicc. If rou have drunk

olcohol, clon't practicc.

S,ryE YOUR ENERGY: Dorr't talk

or think too much befirrc aucl aftcr
1:racticc. Also rcmove rvatches, rings,
necklaccs, glasscs, etc. n'hcn vou practice.

CHANGES: Thc changes brought altout

11' Sun Do practicc can be likened to
thc changes we \\'cl'rt through cluring
aclolcscencc, u,hich af'lectctl ever_v aspcct
of our beitrg. During that pcriocl, s'c
cxperiencccl proliruncl changcs in our
botlr', qreat scnsitivitv in otrr cnrotiorrs,
the clcvelopmer.rt of a nrore incliviclrralll'
dcllned vahrc svstenr
all in all a
conlirsiug, diflicult, cxhilaratins rime of
lit'c. Tir again havc thc opporturrit-r' to
freshen our approach to lif'e, norv rvirh
thc rvisdonr of morc years ancl expericnce,
is a gift, albeit at tirnes disconcertillg.
Some of thc more tangible charrges
rnight be:
' Appctite: none, or too much
' F'reque.nt borvcl movenrc'nts
. Pain fiorn traurna, old injuries, old

don't drirrk too much colcl (icccl)

liquicl in the sunrrner.
ancl

DIET: Don't pav attentioD to clict

thr-orics. Continuous Sun Do practice rvill
give vxr an irlca of propc'r cliet.
Just listcn
to -\'orlr inner voicc for thc optirnurtr dict
Iirr

lour

bodr'.

Rack or sacmnr pain

Incrcasecl sc'nsitivit.r' to llaturc, to

'

Scnsinq L.ncrgv as cool (likt. lltn.(ia-r ),

s'arrn, hot

crttotior.rs

' Trcnrbling, r'ilrrations, juurpinu

'llrrrpinq

'

Shotrtino

The changes s'hich occur clurinq

aclolescetrce arc the rcsrrlt of thc arrtomatic, natural proccss. 1'hc chanqes
brouglrt al:out I;r' Sun Do pr-acticc art tlrt'
rcsult of lrrinqing Ki into thc lxxl.r'. .\t
tiurt's thc t'lrarrqt's can bc irr(crrsc.
Instructurs arc als'at's arailablc to cliscuss
questions or collcenrs altotr( tht' chang,'r.

WHY WI] WE,AR UNIFOR\,IS

operatious (scars) : Psvchological

traurnas (e.g., thc cf'fect of clivurce or
death on a child, disappointmcnt ir.r

Thc act of taking ofT _rorrr strce I clothcs

ancl putting on thc rrnitirrur hclps l)r'cl)ur('
r-ou lirr thc practicc. S-r'nrlrolicall-r' it ht lps

love, etc.) are storcd in uur sul>.

pcoplc urakc. tlrt'transitiou ii'orn thcir

clailv Iircs to tlrc nrcclitative atrnosl;lrtrc of'

cortscious ancl uuconsciotts nrincls, ancl

TE\IpERATURE: Kccp s'arnr in \\'ir)rcr,

'
'

have inrpact throuqhout our livcs.

Also, phvsical traunra (c.u., thc burnps
ancl bruises lbrm contact sports or

martial arts, injuries liorn pln'sical

violence) is storecl in our cells. Though
the practice, accunrulatecl cllerg-\' acti.
vares thcse hicklen

thc Surr Do cc.ntcr. \\'e have had ptoplc

s,h<l

u'trc resistant to the rrnilirrrn at lirst,

later liluncl this to bc trtrr.. Ol'

coursc, s,c have. othe.rs s'ho havc r-rc.r-e r
likcd thc unilirrnr antl still cLrn't.
ancl u,ho

pll'sical anrl tuxr-

tional rncmories

going deepcr ancl

deeper as the energy

gro\\rs strolrgcr.
Most of thesc clilliculties ancl injuries
hcal or irnprovc.

"Lots of problcn$ conrc.fromrluntingto go too.fast.

But u,e hat'e to look long ternt. NotTust thc ncxt thrcc
ycar to.fiuc ycer.s, but tlte ncxt generdtion, the ne xt
250 yeurs. Renuntbcr, tl\e ere still tltc.t'irst genarutiott t0
practice Sun Do.from tlle hennits in tlu rllotalrains."
-M.rs'r'en

Ht'Lxtroox Krrr

.t7.

Practice Overview
It takes one hour

and 20 minute.s to complete one lirll Sun Do Practice.

The practice is broken clorvn into fbur sections (illustrated on the f'ollorvinq pages).
h-rrr a otre page Qrick Reference of the First Stage Hairg
$ong Postures, ser\ the back of this book.

I . Ilec;rxrrNc

3.

E\encrses:

Geutle, voga-like stretches serve

as

bod1,dl ki

Coor- Don'x

& Frsrssn;r; ErERcrses:

Self-massage, stretcht's, aud calisthentics to abs,rrh

warrrl.lrPS.

the enerql ot'the practice.

2. Menlr vnr)N ,\Nt) llnr,rrsrsr; Posrunes (Horg

(jong): Postures that regulate the ki iu combination
rvitlr '7inr Cltcort lrreathing (see belorv), taught

4.

INrenN.rL Ou(;\N Eretcrses (Ki.Sirr Borrlr):

Postures fbr vitalizinq the Fir.e E,lerner.rt orglln s-\rstenl

of Oriental n'reclicine.

throuqh progressivell, aclvancing stages of practice.

Sror 1)o t.raining is ct nrctltotl oJ'uniJying

huntan Dcing.s r-uitlt nctttu'e und tht' urtit,erse.

In other u,orcls, it is c nrcthotl of' ''cncrgq tantilatitttt"

u,lich utlmits the untucrsul enernl.flot

irtto our bodies. By bringirtgoursclucs ntorc

into hannony,

cen once egain benefit J)'ont n

closer relationship ruith thls :lotit:et'sal cnergy.

"

One

ltractice

LL)e

r.L)orth

o tltousctrtcl ttnws reo(ling."

M rsrnrr Ht t

.r 8,

rttrtttl KIlt

Beginnirg Exercises
I. a.

Stancl facing to the East

with your fcct about

shoulclcr,

wiclth apart.
2',

b. Bcncl forwarcl to bow to thc Earth, thcn straighten ancl

strctch back to opcn yoursclf to Hcavcn.

Placc your hancls on )/our hips and circlc 1,our hips

(fbur tirncs orle way ancl fbur timcs in thc oppositc

2.

dircction). This stimulatcs ancl strcnqthcns ,vour lorvcr

back ancl sacrrm.

3.

a.

Sit down with your legs extcnclecl in fiont of you flat orr
thc floor ancl your fcet togcther. Lcan back slightly ancl
place your hancls bchind you for support. Strpport your.

sclf with your fingcrtips (i.c. hancls arc not flat on thc
floor
only fingertips touch the floor).

b. Movc your fcet forward

ancl back six timcs. Circlc 1,our

fcct six timcs in each direction.

4.

Wakc up your Q encruy b,v slappinq your lcgs, lorvcr

back ancl arms.

5.

Bcnd your lcft leg (riuht lcs stavs flat on thc floor) ancl
placc your lcft anklc or1 your riqht thigh just above thc
kncc. Holcl your left anklc rvith your lcft hancl ancl grasp
thc toes of your lcft foot rvith your right hancl. Strctch

your toes forwarcl ancl back a few timcs. Circlc your foot
in both clircctions a f'ew times.
(r'ollitrrrt'r/oiui( \r /)rg{

.19.

Il

gin[irf g ExerC

iS eS

(t,on r iri rrrr/ f

itt

t t

p rc riorr.r /;agr)

6.

Now let go of your lcft anklc with your lcft hancl and
srasp it with your right hand. Make a fist rvith y'our left
hand ancl strike the bottorn of 1,otrr left filot sevcral timcs.

7.

From the top of your left anklc bone (meclial nralleolus),

measure up four fingcrs ancl placc your thumbs (one or1 top

of the other) just behind your shin bonc (tibia). This is thc.
Specn 6 acupressure point. Inhalc into yotrr lorve.r
abdomen, hold your breath ancl pres.s rvith vour thurnbs
for about 5 sccond.s. Then sinrultaneously, cxhalc and
release your thumb pressures. Rcpcat onc niorc timc.
8.

Movc your thurnbs to a point on your lc,ft calf at the top of

just behind your shin bone (tibia). Press fbr I.2 scconcls.
a. Norv move clorvn your leg, staying right behincl thc shin
bone and press c\/ery I,2 inches. Continue all thc x.ay
clown your lcg to thc bottom of your foot.
b. Next move your thumbs back up to thc. top of ,vour calf I
inch away from your shin bone. Repcat tht. proccss, prcss,
ing every I,2 inches as your movc clown your lcu on a linc I
inch arvay from your shin bonc. Again prcss all around thc
bottom ofyour foot.
c. Finally, repeat stcps b ancl c on a line in back of 1,our calf .
and

4
G-

9.

Pull your left foot up as far as possible towarcl thc top of

your right thigh. Place your lcft hand on top of ,vour lcli
knee, your riqht hancl on thc toes of y,our riqht foot. Mtir.e
your uppcr body forwarcl ancl back, cach tinre stre-tcirins'
tou.ard your right lcg. Do about six strctches.

(trtttlitttrUl ,';t,/r r f /){,I,

.)0.

IJegirf Dil1g Exef

iS eS

(r.orrr iri rrcrl./ ittrtt lt

rt

riorrs /.,rrgr)

I0.
l0

II

Thcn strctch your uppcr bocly tor,varcl your riglrt lcg rvhile
nlovirlg ltoth your hancls to your right foot. Rclcasc, ltut
,vour hancls bchincl yotr (on 1,our fingcrtips), raisc vrur
body off the floor ancl twist lcft ancl right a f'crv timcs.
Repeat onc more time.

lcft foot f'lat on thc floor to thc right of ,rour

knec. (Notc that your lcft leg is crossccl ovcr 1,6111 lirr|11
lcg). Movc your rieht arm o.'v-er ancl to thc lcft of your lcft
kncc. Straighten your arm ancl grasp 1,our riqht lorvcr lcg.

Placc your

Inhalc into your lorvcr abclomcn ancl holcl. TWisr lour

upper trunk to the lcft fbr 3,5 scconcls. Thcn f'acc thc fiont
as you cxhalc. Repcat ollc timc.

12

I2,I8:

I rvith your lcft lcg flat on rhc

f'loor ancl your right lcg bent ancl your rigllt anklc rcsring

.18

Repeat stcps 5 through I

orl your left thigh.

I9.

Sit with your legs straight ancl sproacl rhcnr apart as far as
possiblc. Gcntly strctch by bcnclins,vour uppcr bodl'
foward (bencl straight forwarcl, thcn ro thc lcft, thc-n ro
thc right. Rcpcat).
a. Slap thc insiclc ancl outsiclc of 1,s111 1g.,5.
b. Twist your upper bocly to the. left, placirlg rhc fingcrtips of
both hancls to your lclt. Thcn twist ro your riqht. Rcpr.at
onc time.

20.
20

Bcncl your uppcr bocl,v torvarcl your

lcft lce

you rcach
out ancl holcl your lcft foot rvith both hancls. Thcn ]rcncl
torvarcl your right lcq. Itcpcat orlc tirne.
as

(( ('ir l ll lrr

)t.

(1

r,rr rrr r

/rrr1r )

eginniff g EXerC

iS S (t,o,rirr

ur

r/.

ront

rt

t, i o

r r

ln

gt)

2L

Hold your ankles and bend straight toward thc floor.

Tiy to touch the left side of your face to the floor.

22.

Then place your fingertips behind you, raise your buttocks

off the floor and gently shake your hips ancl thighs. Rcpcat
#2I and #22b\t touch the right side of your face to the
floor.

23.

Bend your knees, put your feet together ancl pull them in

to your buttocks. Your kuees are offthe

floor and pointing out to each side. Place your hancls on
your knees and push thern dorvn towarcl thc floor. Thcn
release the pressure. Repeat a few times.
as close as possible

z3

24

24.

Hold your ankles with each hand and rock forrvard ancl
back. Your body weight rests on the outsiclc blades (fifth
metatarsal bone) of your feet. Repeat a few times.

25.

Hold your toes and bend forwarcl and touch the left sicle of
your face to your toes. Straighten back up.

&x

25
Repeat touching the right sidc of your facc.

Repcat touching your forehead.

(r'orttiirtrrrl
')

-)

rlr

tt(

\t l)/t*\

Beqiff niff g EXef CiSS

(t rlrr irrrr, r/ | ro tr t I t rt r io

)6.
26

Sit rvith your lc'gs crossccl (or in a hal{',lotu.s or lirll,lotus if

possiblc). Put your hands or1your knccs ancl circlc your
uppcr body to thc left four tirncs. Ilcncl forlvarcl rvhcn votr
make the circlcs. Thcn circlc four times to thc riqht.

q,

28.

Clasp your hancls behincl your ncck. Tilt to 1'our lcft ancl
touch your lcft clborv to thc floor. Straightcn up and tilt to
your right, touching your right clborv to thc floor. I{clicat
onc timc.

29.

Tkist vour uppcr bocly to thc lcft, placinq fingc.rtii;s of

both hands on thc floor to your lcft. Then trvist to thc
right. Repcat onc time.

30.

Tiger Stretching: Roll forwarcl orr,vour knce.s rvhilc

kecping your legs crossccl (or in a lotus). Put vour hancls
out in front to catch ancl support yoursclf as l,ou roll
forward. Support yoursclf or] your fingcrtip.s. TWist -l'our
heacl left ancl right. Thcn roll back, putting your hancl.s
bchincl you to catch yoursclf (on your finucrtips). Ilaisc
your buttocks of f the floor ancl strctch 1.our bod,v, rhcn
returll to the floor. Repcat ouc tirnc.

29

30

lttt,lL)

27.a. Clasp your hands bchincl your back. Ilcncl your tqrpcr bocll'
clown to your left knee, cornc back up ancl thcn bcncl to
your right knec. Repcat onc timc.
b. With your hands still claspccl behincl l,our back, bcncl
straight forward to thc floor. Straightcn up ancl tu,ist l-our
bocly to thc lcft ancl right a f'cw times. Ilcpcat onc timc.

27

28

us

((ttttlilttttl
')3'

t'lt lrt

\.1

///i(t

Regiflrrifrg ExerCiSS

(r'orrrirrr.r/ lrorn ftrLrittus ltugL)

I.

straightcn your lcgs, fcct toqethcr. Stirnulatc

enersy by slapp irrg your I egs, lowcr back, ancl

LJncross and

your

arlns.

31

32.

Clasp your hands behind your ncck. Bcncl firrvarcl ancl

to touch your upper bocly to your legs. lmmccliatell,

tn,

straighten up ancl twist your upper body to thc Ieft, thcn

face forward. Bend forward tor.vard 1'our lcgs again,
straighten, twist your upper body to the right, ancl facc
forward. Repeat onc timc.

32

33. fwist your upper bocly to thc left, touching thc fingertips
of both hands on the floor to your lcft. Thcn twist to thc
right. Rcpeat one timc.

.1
34

34.

fcet. Straighten up, placc your fingcrtips on thc floor

behind you, Iift ancl straightcn your lro.ly. Thc.n trvist,vour
body left and right a few times. Rctur,- to thc floor ancl
rcpeat onc time.

4
35.

J_)

Bcnd your upper body fbru,arcl to touch 1.our lcgs,

simultancously rcachinq out rvith both hancls to grasp \,our

Pull your thighs up to ),our chest atrcl g,rap \rolr ap11s

around them rvhile clasPing ),our hands. Roll back (onto
your back), lctting your feet go ovcr your heacl, thcn roll
forwarcl into your starting position. Rcpcat threc timcs.

.)1.

Regiffniffg EXefCiSeS

(r.r,rrirrrrtr// ront ltrtriorr.r /agc)

36.

while still sitti,g on rhe floor, be.cl your k,ees ancl placc
both legs to yo,r lcft. Your legs shoulcl bc'bc,r a,cl l'lat o,
the floor. clasp your harcls bchincl l'our,cck. Tilt t, y.*r
Ieft, tryi,g to rouch your lcft elbow to thc f'loor. Imnrccliarcl,v
straighte, up a,d trvist your uppcr boclv tr,vour right. Facc
to the fro,t a,d repcat the bend a.cl twist o,e timc. Thc,
switch your lces to thc right siclc ancl rcpcat: clasp your
ha,ds behi,d your,eck, tilt to your right, touchi,g your
right clbow to rhc floor, straighte, up a,cl tu,ist
),o.r .ppcr
bocly to your left. Facc ro thc front. Rcpcat one rirnc.

37.

Move into a knecling position rvith your tocs tuckccl

forward. Thc, sit back on your hcels. put your ha.tls on
your hips. Move your hcad fonvarcl ancl back four timc.s.

38.

Look left ancl right four rimcs.

39.

Tilt your hcacl left

36

37

Fl--,

,/l-\
38

39

40

ffi

40- Gc,tly

ancl

movc your heacl

right ftrur rimcs.

i,

thrcc tir,c.s o,c rvay a.rl

thcn thrce rimes in thc oppositc clircction.
a circlc

(t0ntinu(l en nttt ftitar)

.25.

Begiffff iffg EXef CiSS (t orrtirrrrcr/. lrttnr lsrct'ittus

4L

ltagc)

Clasp your hands and stretch your arms dorvtrwarcl, thctr

stretch your arms forwarcl, and then strctch your arms

abovc your head. Keep your arms stretchccl ttprvarcl ancl
move them lcft and right. Movc 1'our hips to thc lc'ft rvhcn
)rour arms move to thc right and vice vcrsa.

4t

42.

Keeping your hancls claspccl, extend hoth arms straiqht in

front of you with your palms facing out. Thcn trvist vour
upper trunk and arms to the left and riqht a f'crv timcs.

42

43.

Hold your arms straight out in front of you, your palms

turned out, and then clasp your hancls. Swing your hancls
and forearms dorwn, then up ancl out. Returu to the startiuq
position ancl repeat one timc. Norv rclcasc thc clasp ancl
reclasp movinq the bottom arm to thc top. Srving as
clescribcl above (two tirnes).

44.

Drop your arms to your sides ancl shake your hancls.

Then hold your arms straight out in {iont of yott, pahns
f'acing in. Opcn yorlr arrns outwarcl and backrvarcl rvith a
swinging motion, and thcn swing thern back to the front.
Repeat two times.

45.

Open your arms (as

facing out.

43

44

in#44) thrcc timcs rvith your palms

45

(r'rtnlilttr

.26.

t1

ott il.\l l)tt,!L)

Beqiffnirlg EXefCiSS

(torrrirrrrtrl. li.ont prct,ious

lturt)

46.

Opcn your arms (as in #++l thrcc rirncs

facing down.

47.

Open your arms (as in #++l threc timcs r,vith your palnrs
facing up.

48.

Put your fi,gert\rs behi,cl your shoulclers a,cl rorare vo*r

shoulders four times i, one clirection ancl the, fbur times i,
the opposite clirection.

49.

Raisc your bocly up off your hccls arcl conre i,to a k,c.li,q
position, your toes still tuckecl forward. place your hancls

with your

palms

46

47

48

49

on your hips. Inhalc into your lower abclorncn ancl holcl.

Bend back as f ar as possible (to the f'loor if you can).

Straighten up and repcat one rinle.

50.
50

Straighten your left lcg out on a cliagonal ro your lcft.

Your left heel rests o, the floor, your riqht knec still o, rhc
floor. Clasp your hands behincl l,ou. Bcnd your upper boc\,
toward your left leg. Straight up ancl repeat one timc.

With hands still clasped behind you, swirch siclc.s ancl

repeat: pull your left lcg back, rcsr on your Icft kncc, ancl
extend your right lcg on a diagonal ro your riqht. Ile.nd
your uppcr bocly towarcl your right leg. Straighten trp ancl
rePcat onc timc.
.27.

((,ortiruL(l

o,

ttL\r f.u,!<l

Beginning EXefCiSS

(corrrinuer/f ront pret'itnts pugc)

5I.

Stand up, put your feet together ancl place your hands on
your knees. Do four deep knee bends.

52.

Then circle your knees four timcs in one direction

four times in the opposite direction.

53.

Straighten up, put your feet shoulder width apart and

place your hands on your hips. Rotate your hips four timcs
in one direction and four times in the opposite direction.

54.

Stand with your feet togcther, arms down by your sicles.

Then swing your arms and upper body to thc lcft ancl right

5t

52

ar-rcl

scveral times.

55.

Slowly raise up orl your toes while simultaneously touching

your hands together and raising them above your heacl.
Then come back down on your heels while simultaneously
spreading your arms outward and thcn rcturning them to
your sides. Inhale while you are rising ancl exhale while
descending. Repeat one time.

(t orrl irrrrrrl orur( -rl /)(gc)

.28.

Be

ginniff g Exercis

(t,onr

irr rrcd.

f'ro nt p rc

tiou s p a,gc)

56.

Massage your

57.

Face to the west and lie down.

lower abdomen below the navcl.

\l

From this positiorl, you will segue into the Stage Onc, Level Onc
(7""g Ki Dan Boub) Postures.

The Meditation Chant music

will

begin.

Remain lying on the floor ancl rest for about three minutes
beforc beginning the sequence of postures. Breathe into thc

lower abdomen with a l0.second cycle while you do each

posture (for details, see "First Stage 'Ian Chcon Breathing," pagc
16). There will be sound cues on the Meditation Chant.
You

will remain in each posture for eight breaths (rcmember

each breath is one inhale and one exhale). Keep your eyes closecl.

Also gently close your mouth without cler-rching your teeth.

t ortl

.29.

iturlr/ orr

)lr

rl /)agr

Stage One, Level One Postures

With

(]ung Ki Dan Boup)

remain in each posture for eight extended breaths, breathing in timc to the
Chant music (see page 16). The Chant will cue you to change to the next posture.
eyes closed,

POSTURE I
Stand straight with your feet shoulder wiclth apart. Put your
hands togther in front of you in a praycr position.

POSTURE 2
Standing, feet shouldcr width apart. Placc your hancls on your
lowcr abdomen below the navel
the tips of your forefingcrs
are slightly touching.

POSTURE 3
Same as#2, but separate your hands so that each harrd is
resting on the outer part of your lower abdomcn.

POSTURE 4.
Same as#2, but slide your hands to the outsicle of your lorvcr
abdomen on the inhale and slide them together on thc exhale.

POSTURE 5.
Standing, feet shoulder.width apart, arms h.anging naturally
by your sides.

(t orrIirrtrlc/ orr rrt.rI

.30.

/lagr)

Stage Otre, Level One Postures (Jurry

Ki Dan Boup) (t.rttittrrttlfittttt/,rz.i,rrspagr)

POSTURE 6
Standing, fcct shouldcr-width apart, arms crosscd.
6

POSTURE 7.
Standing, fcct shouldcr,rviclth apart, hancls claspccl behincl 1'our
ncck.

B
,,1l
>j\

POSTURE 8.
Standing, fect shouldcr,wiclth aprt. Bencl forwarcl from yottr
waist, keeping your back straight so that _your bocly forurs a
right angle. Keep your heacl up and lct your arms haug clorvn
naturally.

POSTURE 9.
Stancling, fcet shoulclcr-r,rzidth apart. Placc y'our hancls otr thc
backs of your hips. Then bcnd slightly back.

POSTURE IO.
Standing, fcet shoulclcr,wiclth apart, tilting to thc Icft ancl
rieht. Tilt from the rvaist as follorvs: Tilt to thc lcft as Tvou
inhale ancl straightcn uporl the cxhalc. Thcn tilt to thc riqht on
thc inhale and straightcn on thc exhalc. Rcpcat until you havc
dorrc eight breaths'
(r.rrlirri*r/r,rr tu\t

.3r.

rxt,JL)

Stage One, Level One Postures

ll

(]ung Ki Dan Boull)

(c'ntirtucttJrLtnrprz.i,rr.sp.gc)

POSTURE I I
Sitting with your legs crossed (or legs in a half,lotus or full
lotus if you can). Keep your back straight but make sure your
shoulders are relaxed (don't lift your shoulders when you
straighten your back). Cross your arms.

POSTURE 12.
Same as #II, but hands clasped behind your neck.

t2

13

t4

l5

POSTURE 13.
Sitting, legs straight in front of you and flat on the f'loor. Bcncl
forward from thc waist and hold your tocs (if you can't reach
your toes then place your hands on your lower legs).

POSTURE 14.
Sitting, legs straight in front of you and f'lat orr the floor, {'cet
slightly apart. Lean back and put your fingertips on thc floor
behind you for support.

POSTURE I5.
Sitting, legs flat on the floor and spread apart as far as possiblc.
Place the palms of your hands on your lower abdomen belorv
your navel. The tips of your forefingers are slightly touching.
(r'orrl inrrerl orr rr('.rl /)rtgc)

.32.

Stage One, Level One Postures (Jrory

Ki Dan Boul)

(tontinuL,ttltrtttltrtrirttr.: lttt,4t)

t6

POSTURE I6
Sitting, lcgs in thc samc positio. as #I5. T[r.r your palnrs .nr
and then slide thcm unclcr your knccs.

t7

POSTURE I7.
sitting, Iegs i, rhe same positio,
grasp your anklcs.

as

#I5. Lea,

fbrrvarcl a,rl

18

POSTURE i8.
Sitting, lcgs in rhc sasmc position as # I 5. Tkist your uppcr
body to the left. Placc thc fingcrtips of your left ha,cl on thc
floor to your left a,d behi.rcl you. Placc thc pahn of your right
hand on the right sicle of your lowcr abclomcn bclorv thc navel.
Push in with your right ha,d o, cach irhalc. Itclcasc thc
prcssurc on thc cxhale.

t9

POSTURE I9.
Sitting, legs in rhe sasme position as #I5. Twist your uppcr
body to thc right. Placc thc fi.gcrtips of your right har-rcl o, thc
f'loor to your right a,d bchi,d vou. place rhc pahn of y.ur lcft
ha,d o, the lcft side of your lowcr abclomcn belorv thc .avcl.
Push in with your left hand on cach irilralc. Relcasc thc
pressure on thc exhale.

20

POSTURE 20.
Sitting, lcgs in thc same postion as # I 5. Itcst thc palms of lour
hands on your thighs. Slowly lean back to abour a -{5,deqrc.c
angle on the inhale. slorvly lcancl fbrrvarcl ro ab.ur a -{5.clcgrec
a.gle o, thc exhale. Your palms slide ovor y)ur thighs as yo*
Iean forward anclback.
(( 0/rl
.

.)

.).

il il(

(1

r),t I( rt /)/t3(

Stage One, Level One Postures

2L

))

23

24

()urtg Ki Don Boup)

(t,ntintrtrtl,,,rtrprti,i,rrs

/,a.qr,)

POSTURE 2I
Sitting on the floor, bcnd both your legs and cross ),our right lc'g
over your left so that your right thiuh rests or1 top of your lcft
thigh. Both legs arc bcnt and your left is flat on the floor. Holcl
your right foot with your left hancl and your left fbot rvith ,votrr
right hancl. Place your thumbs in thc inclentations just bchincl
the instcps on the bottoms of both feet. Bow your hcacl. Push in
with your thumbs on each inhale and release thc prcssurc ol1
thc cxhale.

POSTURE 22.
Move into a kneelinq position rvith your toes tuckccl forrvarcl.
Then sit on your hccls.

POSTURE 23
Sitting, bend your lcgs and pull your feet in torvarcl your
buttocks. The bottoms of your feet are facing cach other.
Your knees are pointing outwarcl ancl are as closc to the f'loor
possible. Placc your hands on thc tops ofyour kuccs.

as

POSTURE 24.
Sitting, put your fcet flat on the floor and pull 1'our thighs to
your chcst. Wrap your arms around your thighs. Yuur arrns arc
betwccn your thighs and calvcs.

(trrirlirrirt

.34.

r/

rlr

)r(

\l /)a(( )

Stage One, Level One Postures (]un g

25

Ki Dan Borr|)

(t.ntinuctt.lront/rrz.it,rs/a.qr)

POSTURE 25
Sitting, legs crossed (or in a half,lotus or full,lotus if possiblc).
Keep your back straight. Place the palms of your hancls on your
lower abdomen below the navel. Your forefingers are slightly
touching.

When you have finished the postures, remaining sitting in

Posture 25. Return to natural breathing. Concentrate on a
point in your lower abdomen about 2 inches bclow your navel
and '/., inch in from the front of the abdomen.
Meditate on this point for 5,I0 minutes.

trlrllrrrrcr/ rrrr nL\ I

.35.

lilt!(

Ending Exercises
I.

When you havc finishccl the meclitation, lic clorvrr, placing

your arms above your heacl and strctch. Whcn 1'ou strctch,
try to fcel you arc clongating cach spinal vcrtebra.

2.

Spread your legs and clasp your hands bchind your ncck.

lwist your uppcr body to the left ancl right twicc.

3.

Rub your palms to creatc hcat ancl holcl them over your
eyes. Do this twice. Thcn clo massage ancl acuprcssurc to

your head, face, neck, and shoulclers.

4.

Hold your lcft shoulder rvith your right hancl, straightcn

your left arm and circlc it three timcs in each clircction.
Then holcl your right shoulder with your left hancl ancl
circle your right arm thrce times in cach clirection.

5.

Keeping your arms straight, strike thc floor above your hcarl

with your left ann while your right arm simultancously

strikcs thc floor by the right sidc of your bocly. Thc'n 1,our
right arm moves up to strike the floor above your hcacl
while your lcft arm moves dorvn to strikc thc floor on thc'
left side (your arms are moving in opposite clirections).
Do several times.

.i6.

(t),rlillir{ (/ (r,t,l(.\ I /)(lg(

Ending EXef

iS eS (t on r i n u c d.f it

nt I t

rl

itttts p

6.

u:t)

Cross your arms ovcr your chest and then extcncl them out

to both sides, striking the floor. Do sevcral rimes.

6

7.

Raise your legs and arms and shake your hancls ancl fcct.

8.

Lie on the floor, pull your knees up to your chest ancl

extend your arms out to both sides. Move both legs to your
left while simultaneously twisting your head to the right.
Then move your Iegs to the right and twist your head to
the left. Repeat twice.

9.

Keeping your arms extended out to both sides, lift your

legs and make thrce large circles in each dircction.

I0. Lift your left leg, left hand holds your knee ancl right hand
holds your ankle. Straighten ancl strctch your leg scvcral
times. Then stretch your right leg several times.

t onl

.37.

ititrt'r/

oni( rt rflgr

EffCling EXefciSgS

(totttitructl

fi.ttrtr

pn.r'irrrrs plgc)

I
11

t2

I. Extencl your arms out to both

sides and briclge your bocll',

using your shoulders and fect for support. Stay in thc

bridge for 3,5 seconds.

I2. Lie flat on the floor with your feet togcthcr ancl )/our arms
by your sides. Inhale into your lower abdomen and holcl.
Raise your lowcr ancl upper body into aVshape. Holcl fbr
3,5 seconds and then release.

l3

I3. Lie flat on the floor, legs spread apart, right arm extenclccl
out to your right, and left arm abovc your hcacl ancl flat on
the floor. Twist your upper body and right arm o\,er to
your left. Rclease ancl place your left arm out to thc left
and your right arm straight above your hcacl ancl flat on
thc floor.lkist your uppcr body ancl lcft arln ovcr to;.6L.
right.

I4. Lie flat on the floor rvith arms extenclccl out to both sicles
and legs sprcad apart. Move your right foot to your lcft
hand ancl twist your hcacl right. Releasc ancl thcn movc
your left foot to your right hand ancl twist your heacl left.

l5

I5. Bend your knees ancl place your feet flat on the floor.
Bridge up using your head and fcct for support.

r rrrrlirrrrr

..38.

11

orui(

\l f)a((

EnCling EXe f C iS eS (c

t r

itrt

tl .f

it nt I t rt t i ou s lt t r u)

I6.a. Move into

a shoulder stand and

put your hands on your

hiPs to suPPorr your back.

t6

b.

Move your legs in a back ancl forth scissors motion.

Then move thcm in a side,to.sicle scissors motiorl.

c.
d.

Move your lcgs in a bicycle and then a rc.vcrsc bic1,gl...

Lor.r,cr your feet towarcl the floor behincl 1,our heacl.
Releasc.

t7

l8

ffi
ffi\(

17.Lie on your back. Raise your knecs ancl put your feet flat
on the floor. Raise your elbows and put your finuertips in
front of your shoulclers. Briclgc up on your fingcrtips ancl
fcet. Hold 5 seconds and releasc.

I8. Lie on your stomach. Thp the floor several tirnes rvith
fingertips ancl tocs.

I9.

1,our

fingcrtips in front of your shoulclcrs. Slowl,v

raisc your upper body supporting yourself on your fingcr,
tips. Look left, Iook right, look straight ahcacl and raisc
your hcad up and back. Thcrr release.

Place your

20. While lying on your stomach, cxtcnd your

lcft arm straight

ahead and your right arm out to your riuht siclc. Tivist your

upper body and right arm over to 1,our left, hold for a {'ew
seconds and release. Then extcnd your right ann straight
ahead and your left arm out to your left siclc. Tivi.st your
upper body ancl left arm over to your right. Holcl fbr a fcrv
scconds and relcasc.
tortlitrtrrr/ orr l( \t f)d{(
.39.

Ending EXefCiSeS

(totrtttrtrttl/rom prur,r'orrs /agc)

2I.Lie on your stomach with your arms down by your sicles

with pahns facing the floor. Inhale into your Iorver
abdomen and hold. Raise your left leg and holcl it up for
about 5 seconds, then cxhale and lower your leg to thc
floor. Rest for a few seconds, then repeat the process rvhilc

raising your right lcg.

22. Extend your right arm straight ahcacl, bencl your riuht leg

that your right foot moves towarcl your buttocks, ancl

grasp your right ankle with your left hand. Arch your
back and rock back and forth on your stomach scvcral
times, then release. Extend your left arm straight aheacl,
grasp your left ankle with your right hancl, rock several
times and release.
so

23. Bend both legs so that your feet move towarcl your but,
tocks and grasp both ankles with your hancls. Arch your
23

back and rock on your stomach several times.

24.Lie on your stomach. Thp your lower back with your hands
to stimulate your kiclneys.

25. Slowly come to your feet while keeping thc finscrtips of

both hands on the floor. Kick your legs straight up above
your head and then let them fall back to the floor. Support
your body on your fingertips while your lcgs are in the air.
Repeat several times.
r orrl

.40.

irrrtrrl orr

n(

rt

1;lg(

EffClirfg ExerCiSgs

(<r,ttri1t11ss!

rortr ltrtrittu: lxr,trr

26. Move into a krrccling positio, allcl sit on yorrr hccls. Extcnd
your arms straioht ahcacl ancl rcst orl your fingcrtips.
Slowly movc your uppcr bocly forrvard (kccp it closc ro rhc.
floor), and thcn comc up into a tigcr posc. your fingcrtips

26

clo,ot move. Thc. rctrlrll to sitti,g

or1,\ronr hecls. Repcat

three timcs.

27.Back Stretch: Fincl a partncr ancl stancl back,to,back.

Hold your partncr's arms with yorlr arms. Lean {orrvarcl
while your partrrer leans back.When your partncr is orr
your back, left hirn/ her up off the floor. If you arc
practici,g alo,c, sta,cl rvith your back to a rvall. put 1,otrr
fingertips orr thc rvall abovc your hcacl. Thcn slorvll, lynlft
your fingcrtips clorv, the wall as yo. sinrulta,eouslv bcncl
back. This will stretch your back.

27

28. Put your ha,cls on your hips a,cl

about onc minutc.

?r)

-u
29

gc,tl,t,ru, i, placc for

with your fcet about shoulclcr rviclth apart *,ith

both your harcls or1yo,r lower abclomc. bclow thc,a'cl.
I,hale into y,ur lower abdorne, ancl sir,ultancously rnovc
your ha,cls out to yo.r sides a,cl thc, bchi,cl yo*. The,

29. sta,d

cxhale ancl sirnultancously rnovc;,otrr hancls back to

lower abclorncu. Rcpeat one timc.

_\,orrr

Move straight into thc Inrernal Organ Po.srurcs (ncxt pagc).

(tDttit\kd on n.\l
lilt,:t

.41.

Internal Organ Exercises (Ki Sin Boup)

I.

Stand

with your feet about shoulder width apart and your

arms hanging naturally by your sidcs. Inhale into your

lower abdomen below the navel ancl simultaneously raisc

both your hands to chest height. Your wrists cross when
you finish raising your arms ancl your left wrist is closcr to
your chest. This motion helps you gather erlergy.

2.

KIDNEY: After you have inhalccl and gathered energy

(#I),
with

hold your breath in your lower abclomen. Step forwarcl

your lcft foot and movc your hands to the outside of

your shoulders. Keeping your back lcg straight, push your

hands frorn shoulder height down toward the floor until
your arms are straight. Continuc holding your breath in
this position for a few seconds and thcn rclcasc.

3.

URINARY BLADDER: Repeat #I, hold your breath in

your lower abclomen. Step forward with your right foot
and move your hands to the outside of your shoulders.
Keeping your back leg straight, push your hands from
shoulder height clown towarcl thc floor until your arms are
straight. Hold this position for a few seconds, thcn rclcase.

4.

HEART: Repeat #I, holcl your breath. Then extcnd your

left leg. Swing your upper body over to your left ar-rd then
to your right so that you end up leaning to your right as you
simultaneously bend your right knee. Straightcn your arms
and place thcm parallel to your bo.ly. Hold this position fbr
a few seconds, then release.

5.

SMALL INTESTINE: Repeat #I, hold breath. Extcncl

your right leg. Swing your upper body over to your right
and thcn to your lcft so that you end up lcaning to your left
as you simultaneously bend your left knce. Straighten your
arms and place them parallel to your bocly. Holcl this
position for a few seconds, then rcleasc.
.42.

corrliturt'rl rtr

ir(rI /)(g(

Inter[al Organ EXerciSes

(r,,rrrirr rrt r/ /i.rrrr /rrt r.iorrs /ragr)

6.

LIVER: Repcat #t, hold brcath. Stcp forrvarcl rvith ,rour

lcft foot and place your right knce on thc floor rvhilc sirnul,
tancously raising your hands above your hcacl (your han<ls
end up touching). Thcn straightcn your arms ancl movc
them out to your sidcs ancl clorvn. Whcn both 1,our arlns arc
pointing towarcl the floor, then raisc thcrn in fiont of vou tu
about chest hcight as you bcncl your clborvs slishtl;'. Holcl
this position for a fcr.v scconcls, thcn rclcasc.

7.

GALL BLADDEIT: Rcpeat #I, hold breath. Stcp fonvarcl

rvith your right foot and placc 1,our lcft knce on thc floor
whilc simultaueously raising your hancls abovc your hcacl
(your hands cncl up touching). Thcn straiqhtcn,vour anns
ancl movc them out to yorlr siclcs ancl clown. Whcn both
your arms arc pointing toward the floor, thcn raisc theur in
front of you to about chcst height as you bcncl ,vour clborvs
slightly. Hold this position for a fcrv seconcls, thcn rcloasc.

8.

Extcncl vour lcft lcq, thc'n

sit clorvn orl your right lcq. Bcncl l,our uppcr boc\, tor,varrl
your lcft leg. Straightcn your arnls so that thcy arc) sonrc,
what parallcl to your lcft leg. Hold this position firr a f-crv
scconrls, thcn rclcase.

9.

LARGE INTESTINE: Rcpeat #I, holcl brcath. Extend

your right lcg, then sit clown on your lcft lc-g. Bcncl your
uppcr body torvard your right leq. Straighten \()ur arnls so
that thcy are somcwhat parallcl to your riqht lce. I-Iolcl this
position for a ferv seconcls, thcn rcleasc.

LUNG: Rcpcat

#I, holcl brcath.

<trrtlitttrr'l ott n.\l l)ut:t

.43.

Ifftef

ff

al O f gaff EXef C iSeS (conr irr irt rl /i.r,lr /rr.t r,iorrs /nrc)

I0. SPLEEN:Repeat

#I,

hold your breath. Place your riuht

hand behind your neck and bend forward and ahnost touch
your left hancl to the floor. Thcn twist your upper bocly to
the left whilc simultaneously raisir-rg yorlr lcft hand abovc
your head (kccp your lclt arm straight whcn you clo this).
Look at your left hand whilc it is abovc your hcacl. Holcl
this position for a few scconds and releasc.

10

I. STOMACH:Repeat#I,

holcl your breath. Placc,vour

lcft

hand behincl your neck and bcnd forr,varcl ancl almost touch
your right hand to thc floor. Then twist your upper bocly to

II

thc right ,uvhile simultancously raising your right hancl

above your head (kecp your right arm straight when you clo
this). Look at your right hancl while it is abovc your hcacl.
Hold this position for a few seconds and rclcasc.

I2. Stand with your f'eet about shoulcler wiclth apart rvith both
your hands on your lower abclomen belorv thc navel. Inhalc
into your lowcr abdomen and simultancously move your
hands out to your sicles ancl thcn bchind you. Then exhalc
and simultaneously movc your hands back to your lowcr
abclomen. Rcpeat one time.

Move on to thc Finishing Exerciscs.

trtrtlirtuttl on trt rl /lrtgr

.44.

Finishirg Exercises

I.

Head stand. When finishecl, massage your neck.

2.

Push,ups on thc fingertips (30 times). Whcn finishccl, lie on

your back and rest for a few minutes.

3.

Sit,ups (20 times). When finished, lie on your back and resr
for a few minutes.

4.

Raise your arms and legs and shake your hancls ancl fcct.

5.

Stand up. Place your hands on your hips and circle your hips
four times in one direction and four times in thc opposite

direction.

.45.

('r)Itirrir(a/ {,,r il('.tI pu!!t

Finishing ExerciseS

(c ttnt true tl.f ront prcti ou s pa

i

6.

ge)

Stand

with your feet shoulder width apart and your

arms

hanging naturally by your sides. Slowly raise up on your

toes while simultaneously touching your hands together ancl
raising them above your head. Then come back down on

your heels while simultaneously spreading your arms out,

ward and then returning them to your sidcs. Inhale whilc
you are rising and exhale while descending. Repcat onc
time.

7.

Stand

with your feet about shoulder width apart with both

your hands on your lower abdomen below the navel. Inhale

into your lower abdomen and sirnultaneously move your
hands out to your sides and then behind you. Then exhale
and simultaneously move your hands back to your lower
abdomen. Repeat one time.

At the end of the practice,

'we bow to the

Mountain Hermits,
our Teacher, and our Ancestors in the East, then make a circle,
bowing to each other. "Thank you for working hard."

.46.

Frequently Asked Qrestions

'

What is Sun Do?

Sr.m Do practicc u,as developer'l iu ancient Korea.
Thr,ruqh its practicr-, onc achicvrs health and
strcngth both in mintl ancl boclr'. Its tcaching
ultinratcl_r' rr:aches the r-italit.r' found in Riglrt

I rr ill rlcrelrrp
anrl virtrre

st rtrng

thllrglr

n'ill pos'cr.

ge

. You Can Control Your Emotions, lt ir a lonLl

tinle llelief il) C)ricntal nrctlicint tlrut t'nrotious
are clost lr, relatcrl to thc oPeratiotr o[' interrul

ncrrrsit.r',

Sun [)rl practice.

What is special about Sun Do?

. It is historically pror,en that Sun Do is a

orqans. For instanct', angt'r thnragcs tlrt' lir cr;

too nurch orcitcntetrt ltttrt

bl

Virtur.s.

Rigl-rt Practice: Sun Do was r.rot inver.rtecl

Why do we practice Sun Do?

ollc l)crsol.l's crpcriencc or philosoplrl llrt s'as

cln'cloped since the ancient tinres, uhile being

'Tlrt, practice

inhcrited on an inrlividrral basis.

Sur Do *'as thc original rvav of training thc
mind ancl bodt' lronr thc'era of Ktrrea's first
founding fathers, about 9,700 \'ears aso. In

is lirundcd upon the ancicnt

u'istlonr ol the Countn' ol Morning Calm,

Kore a, urtl has becr.r cuntinuecl fbr txer nine
thorrsund lears.

'Thc practict, t)rough accumulating the

Cr.ntral llnerg\', naturalh'cures ilhtess in the
nrincl anrl bodv, clear.rs thc spirit, antl cnhances
thc cncrg_r' lr.r'cl.

Tiroists rltvo'loperl and preservecl

lor thousanrls

. Oue can rccrx-cr and sustairt vnth throtrqh

Srur

f)o training that strcngthens ancl purifies Soul,

f)ivinitr'.

. I rvill ieel com[ortablc

and peacelul both in mv

incrcasc.

. I rvill rccovcr fronr thtigue

and clischarge toxic

cltnrents lronr nn' bod_r' quicklr'; thereforc, I

s ill lccl r,'tit''h,'rl all tlrc rinie.

obcsitr', hiqh l)l,rod pressure, diabetes, ancl

inrrnmre s\-str.m.

brtathing rvill calm nrl minrl antl

Effective Practice: Suu Do

instead ol rectivinq fronr otrtsicle.

Sun Do Practice Cleanses

s ith rorrglr

bre'ath, rvhilc dccp and calnr brcatli aurl stirbl.'

Can anyone practice Sun Do?

' Suu Do practicc is suitabL'lirr rrll agt s arrrl all
olpll'sical abilin'bccausc it otlon rlil'li'r.

staqos

ent str'ps of traininq rlcp.'ntlinq on tlrt'corrtliti,nr

of tlrt' practitioncr.

Is it hard to learn? Hor,r' long

before

feel results?

Srrn Do posturcs arL. ersv to lcaru lrt'catrre

are structure(l in accortlancr-

\'it]r

tlrtl

the Print iPlcs

of N-aturc antl Hunran I-il'c Rln'thnr. One n'ill

cL'arll *ptricnco Ihe dif['orcu( L'o\'cu aficr ,,nr

rnonth's practict'.

What are the postures and e{fects

u&n Ds-gaetreel
l) PRUp.{R,\TOIIY UXllllclSli

(l().1

i rnilr)

\irrr

s ill lcarn to nrakt thc b,xlil-r' nrorcrneut anrl Encrgr

Yourself. Some believe in receir,inq Energr'

(Ki) from other persons as a treatment of
illnesses. This method nras rvork temporarilv
hou'ever, through Sun Do practice r,ou rvill
learn hos,to create, accumulatc the llnergr'
rvithin vour boclv, and clistril)ute the Ilnergv to
rvhatever part of the boch' rvhener er neerlerl,

. The practict- u,ill

1:rrcvcnt and makc possible
the ctrring ,rf illnesscs conlnon to adrrlts such

cirrhosis of thc liver.

' \{r' bocll s'ill ac<prirc flcxibilin', rlv skin u ill
lct'l tight and vxrng.
. I can fal] into a dct'1; sleep, and have l goocl rest.
. TIrc rligestirrn til{l e\acuxtion \\s(enl iu mY
bodl s'ill liurction activeh' anrl smoothlr,. As a
resnlt, thc l;lootl ,rf energv stavs clcan, and I
rr ill nruitrtairr g,r,rtl hcaltlr.
'Thc practice rvill help mc recover liom anv
illness, l;ecause it cnhances the strength of the

Sun Do is an

. You Can Create the Energy Within

. llt'causc th.. orvgtn is supplied to nN svsrenl

acti\eh', thc orvgen rvill burn ercess fat quicl.:'lv.

Sun Do

llncrgv florv accorlrpan\- pt'acctirl rrrirrtl.

practiced together, stinrulate all musck-s antl

intcrnal organs so as to acti\,ate the llos, of thc
blood of energr'. When thc bloocl of enersv
circulates smoothh'and clvuarnicalh' in a bod'r',
ttt-tc cau cnhauc.. ont's liealth br- strt'ngthr'ning
I lt.' irnnrtttte st'stcnr artrl c\ acrra( ilrg t (,\i(
elenrents lronr tht l;odr'. Sun Do yrracticc not
onlv benefits the bodill'hcalth in the basic
practicc, but also guicles to der'.,1,p strong and
virtuous spirits in upptr lt'r'el practices.

milrrl anrl bodr- as if I s'as l_r'ing in the nriddlc ol

thc Grcat Nature.
' TIrr' circulation in nn'l>odl s'ill bc activated
]recausc Srrn Do practice incrcascs oxl gerr
supplv into our bodv.
'Thc stamiul ol all nrv boclill'organs s'ill

''fhe

Chung Sahn has not alterecl the esscnce of thc

I)ractice includes 5(X) uuique Posturcs t() train

abdomen breathing. The difftrcnt posrures,

What do I gain from Sun Do practice?

as

matcl-v connoctcd. ,{ngcr conrcs

erpericnccs.

o1'r'errs.

l-lnergr', an<l

I 9(r7, Chung Sahn e.dited the postures to match

the lifestl'le of modern societv. Hou'ever,

practice in an'war'.
The Sun Do practice has ireen provcr.l to br-'
the scientific ancl riqht practice tlrrouqh more'
than sixtv thousancl practitioncrs' personal

. Throuqh tlic practict', onr can leam abont the

corc ol tht' spiritual strcngth that Mountain

s tlrt' ltcart ; t oo muclr

thought t()rtures thc splccn; sorros attacLs tlrc
Iunq, aud le ar impairs thc Lidncr'. \\ lrr'n tlre sc
organs arc ll.qativl'h' aflcct.'tl, onc lrrrontt's ill.
Tht' chain ul vicc cor:tinucs. Sincc onc is ill.
one's intemal orgaus rlu uot fi.ulcti()u 1lr,rp.'r'lr.
Cortst'quentll one's enloti()n lostrs its ]rarnronious balatrcr'. llntotiou and lrrcathinq is inti-

flos liom

It'tting thc bkxxl of cnr'rgv cirt'ulatr rnrrr,rtlrh.

l) ,{l}DOMllN ENlllLClY

PII \CTlCIl (rr) {{) nrir,).

Throilgh alIIrr {lrc ]rrnclrL:rl rlilli'r,:rt l)(}\trrro\ \,)il
s'ill lcarn tho alrrloutn hrt,atlrin,1. .\lxl,rnr'r br,.rr lring crL,atcs, incri.ast's, arrrl srr,::rgtlr,'rrr t Ire

.l) CLOSIN()
trairr

Body and Spirit.

\\'hile takine

th.. cnrl ,,f tht' lrorl-r trr thc ccrrter of thc

brxl-r', thcn lronr tlrr. ccntor to rlre crrrl rgain. rlrerel,r

lrur

llXllRCISl;

(15.1{)

[:r,

r,1r

Itrili) \,ru rr ill

mrrsclcr artrl nL'r\ e \\ sterr in t lrc*t rl eP..

Hcrc, rrnr rrc rlistributing tht. Encrgr act r,,uulrr",l

a bath can s-ash the dirt ofT tht

skin, thc toxins and dirt in.rir/c the bodv anrl
the nrind can bc cleansctl onlv throuqh Ki

What do the postures actualh'dol

Practice.

The l;reathing nreclitati,n l)ostrrrras pr,rtlrrcc a rr,rrr.

'You Can Control Your Bod1,. You may

often

llnd that vou cannot control vour bodr', particularlt' the automatic l)en'ous slstcnr. ,{itt,r ylrac,
ticing Sun Do, vou u'ill be the nrasttr olrour
Ir,rrlr, crcn of the automatic n('nr)u\ svsr(,nI.

spirit. It can rccluce mv stress lcvcl, increase nw

tlrrring abtlomcn hrr'athing into ail parts ot'rhc lrorlr.

intellectual antl nor.r,conceptrral [,arning crperiDii'ilrent l)ostures rel)rc\ont dillcrcnt cir.

cumstances of lifc. \\ itL ccuter'"'rl lrrcatlrinq, Srrrr
ence.

Do posturcs t'nablr. pctplt' t,) o\ crcomrr anrl rhal

t'ith

conflit-ts

t\

crist,s in

tlrtir

as'aLens thc rvisrl,rrrr of lil'c

corrccntratirm ptxver, and opens the cloor to

qain rvisdrlnr.

livt's. Iiaclr posturt.

*'hich

is

stort'tl in

diffrr.'nt parts of tlro ]lxh. Sun Do practicc is

dcsigned lirr svakcniug tLi. hiddcn s'istlorn.

-47.

with a Thoist Master: q6rA Session

Conversation
Lif

es

tyle/?hilo s ophy

t'entcr):

cutain r/ict

SAorr/r/ I Jillou'a

rr'/rcrr

ltruutiting.9ror Dol'
A. \o.

Y<rur

Ho,, olttn shoultl

It

rnrr-st 6c

good.fitr you to

bt

herc, zLhert

Q.t.

a .Stot

Do prottitioncr, trhcrc r/or.t

onc s

.ro nruc/r

4ou Jicl at

Health Conditions/Concerns
Q

.\. Semal activit], is a natural part of life, but

f)o Irractitioner, the prioritv is to l>uild
cnergr'. Havir-rq sex is okav, but in morleration,

Since beginnins Sun Do practice,

har-e

kecp centerctl. Prrtting ice on

cleansing/healinel process. Sonretinrcs, lonq.time

Practitioners of the rarious breathing nreclitation
mcthods nright develop hemorrhoicls

if thev

had proper instruction.

,ft.y.r/rin di.rcnsc

tlirir'lr

tlur.
bac/i.t)'hu:

hatl disapprurcd

irrg t/rr /tr.st sct of posturl'.s in,s crrnrc

A. Cleansing of the condition is happening at

tleeper level.
a Srrn Do i)rstruct()r. It
a.f'lc.riblc attituclt'i.\ irnp()rt(nt in

Q / rr'tr,rt to bcconrc

this lsru<-tite . \\i// I rrct,r/ trr gilr rrl ny 25.4ur

('(),ir,,rit,)rcnt to r'('gcf( riulri.s nt owl bc JL: riblt

t/rot

drcthcr to Pursu(: iri.rtru. tor tl'(indlrg,

A. No. lltinli vegetarian to begin rvith rvill make
it casier for vou later on. There are tinres in the
t'an dcL itb

practice rvhcn regctarianism is nccessarl', so this

is not an obstacle.

Q ttny

i.s

it n()t

,;ttL>d

to scarch ott tttht'r Jbrnrs

of'hcaling irr rorrTrort'tftrn rlit/r Sror DoJ

.\. Anv fornr of natural ht'aling u'ill take time. If
rrrrr qo fronr one to the ncxt, vou scattcr your
cncrgr', and don't qive anv ofthem a fair chance..
,\lsrr, mar.rv alternatir-e hcaling f(rrms availablc
totlav are s'orking nrorc s'ith external energv,
and so rvill perhaps vicld short term, but not
ntcessarih'long,lastinq rcsults. Sun Do is about
building energr-, maintaining focus, and deep
hcaling.

If rour laith

lar practice, r-ou rvill

is strong and you do requ.

ffncl qreat benefits.

aul Iring

temporarilv develop as a part of the

faoist tcac/rirrgs!

ttt Anorl t/ris.ro

it to trU to tool it

problems. The practice doesn't create hemor.

rhoids, but just like other conclitions, they mav

a rrunrral oriuttntion

ut fsh: I uutrt

rrttT s/rirtr

so

.\. Thoism has no judgenrent. If the mind and

lx,tl. are health-r', then nothing is against nature.

rttrrrrg/t trr

itr

tlu'othcr rrlgnt. It rr'(r.r lcri/ utt<onlbrtublr'. I

cLtultln't sltcp untl I Jiturul it lt'r't7 r1i.'trt'ssirt,g. /

sont rclicf'. \\ir.s t/rot o/iar7.'\\?rs r/iis.fiolr rirc

ltra(t it t'!
.\. This is a verv good siqn and is certain'h' fronr
tlrt'practice. I1'rou havc hcat aqain,.iu\t ( r_\' tr)

haveu

al\rars thrt

Q I lrol irrterrsr it'rrt lil;,:.firt

put

Horr do I rtsolt t anl.lgo12l.\,)r totturd othcrsi

.\. Don't speak. Holcl l-our cnerg\'. The Problem
s ill resolve itsel[. Resolutions u'ill be found
* ithout rliscussirrn.

sr\)Porter.

practice, or just coincidental?

A. Usually, Sun Do practice bring sup hicldcn

I-t /roDrrr.tc,rr mlitrl

mt' t i nre s

as

not to lose too nruch enerqy.

at ctrrrlirrg to

like N{agic Jolrnson. thc'qood plalcr s ill assist

atrtl support. Tlrus, Suu f)o is sonretintes lt'atlt'r.

dereloped hemorrhoids. Is this related to the

a Sun

as

.te-.-un/

Iiftstyh:

surlact'of
othtr theraPics

issues to the

can be hclpful. Jtrst as iu sports, a uo,xl plaver

rlot'sn't rhvavr havc t,r bc the s(ar sunr('tinlc\.

tith sfiritrurl ln1tr,'s. I)o

so

uttititry,fit into

erentr.rallv clrangt'. Sinct'

tuol liJistyle.'flrc outsidt uorltl is riot

lructitiotvr':
,{. Sun Do practice elinrinates thc need to last.

rvill

difficult

a\\'arerless, sometirnes the use of

lutnx', hcrc at our ccntt't'!

,{. Even'u'here... I feel at lromt cvcrt's'herc'.

ryorrfir.st rrs a .9rar Do

Sun Do can bring

t/lc rz.sir/ort.s olrr/ gur.sts ure inrrncr.scr/ irr a .i1liri,

in hornrony

bodr rvill tcll vou u'hat to eat.

A. Yes, the patterns

(Qrcstion.front a teachu at e lorge Uogo

Q S, rrrnrrrT of'tht tutrtrr'tt

u/r,r r/rr t/ri.s lrut'tiL't

through a [Ltt ol e nuttion c/ turnroil. 1.r
t/ris aLro truc in Koru|!

.sc(',)r t() (q()

A. In Korea, most of the problems are plrvsical,

rather than emotional.

icc

on

tlLrLrn

it isn't a qo,rd itlca.

t'ontlition thrrt ltt r'lolt, is

rt.lutul to l/rr.$rrrr I)o rrr nrtll'
A. Il vou're practicing often anrl rcgularlr', _vnt
call assume thatjust about anvthing tLat conrcs
up rvill be relatcrl to thc Sur-r Do. A rlel'inite clue
is s-hen a condition returns s hich vou thougllt
\{,as gone. This is an indication ol'rlct'pcr cleanr.
ing on an emotional or phvsical lcr .'1. Anothcr
clue is if the conclition lrtcomcs moro iuteusc tlte

Q H,,rl ltt I l;no:r if'o

Jnorc \1)r.l practice. .[trst keep

Q Ii c Atrri cl,1;11i1
\\i// Srrrr Do hcllt:

practiciu{.

1rrr1.st{;rrtion.firr nuonl .t1rurt.

.\. Yes. Thc breathing rrassaqcs tlte organs, rntl

u'ill ccrtainlv help erentuallr', if not inrurerliatc

/rat't'to grr tLt thc bathroonr r/uring
Q
tlrc nvtlitutitttt alitr postru-cs. Is that ohary:
A. Yes. The breatlilng hclps to move thc borvcls.
1

Qf

a/u

nr7s

1r,t oJ

peoltlc btlth and Jhrt tlL:.'irrs ltrut'.

tlistratting to rrticrs irr t/rc

hc

4 n 1 to cori tr-t-r/ t/r crtt-s,:1tr.s

t

loose ancl frcqttctrt

This is an initial cleansing. Since vtttr cunstipa,

tiou has bccn rr'ith r',n lor a long tinrc, it ma_r'
take somc time.

ticc. This can bc

r'ln.ss. S/r o u/dn'

For ptople rvho do uot havt- this contlitit,tt,

boscl ntor'.'nt.'nts arc (llrit
common cluring thc first i-es' months of prat'tice
l1'.

A. The breathing and postures massage the

orqans anrl hef to forcc out air. This is impor.
tant for cleansirrg. Those studeuts rvho ilon't

tlut bring about this expelling of

air w'ill hopeftrllv be understandinq, ancl those
s,ho clo har.e the conclitiou miuht, perhaps, trv to
nroderatc the activit\'. Thev shoulcln't hold it in,
though. That rvouldn't be good.
have conditions

Sinr','brgirutirtg.srrrt I)o

1-rrat

trlt',

rrrtT

nttn.stnrul pt'rirrr1.r Iat , t lrungrl itt rrrarirT tt

ti,)ring, arlrolrg, r',tlor, tuul qrutlitU ti.f lou.
\\Arrt i.s this uhoutl

tti7.r.'

A. Sun Do practice affi'cts vour s'lrole'svstt'ttt. ,\s

changes happen, ofcourse ruur mc'nstrual cvclc

rvill also changc. llesitle's these Irorntal changr's,

sometimes a change miqlrt t'levelop that is rt.latt'tl

to a specific healing occurrencc. The mcnstrual

Q w//

ltsrlcholorlicul pattuns and

crrrotirrrrn/ burriers ttottwlly thunw il thc

cvcle is the tirrre u'hen rvomen l,rse the most cner-

ltructitiLtncr Ltnlq d<tts Sroi Do! Is pstlLhothcrapy hclltlil or hurtlil in lculinstlitlr t/rc.sc
problcn:l':

practice, charrqcs u'ill bect,nrc lcss anrl lt.ss, anrl

tht' cffects ol ent rgv Lrss s-ill not be so pro-

the dccp

.48.

gr'.

This is trut, no mattt'r rvhat. llut s-ith reqttlar

If vxr teel discomlirrt shilc practicinu

tlurinq vour periocl, takc'it easr'; don't push.
n,xurce<l.

(.tDtl InttL(l 0n

r( \ t /){r((

Ctlnvcrsation with

,Srur

D,r

s()))r( ti))rr'.\

i.s

srr/;1ro.irr/ to

Thoist Master:

lniltl

t'nt'rgt1, btrt

I fitI :o tirtd, t'sltttiullV et rctrtats.

rlrirrg s0rrrII/rirrg rr,t'orrgl

.\. l{ctrcats art intense, antl fatigr.re is comnron.
If thcr' laste d a f-cs, nrorc. davs, thcre rvrxrlcl be
nrorc tinre to build fhe tnerg_r'to balance the
inttnsit_r-. In terms of er'..rvdal life, *'hich is
hopefullv not so intense as retreats, lirtiguc
might be tho result of a too.lnsv lifestvlc that
must be slos'ttl. It might also lle a sign that the
enr.rqt is sorkinq on a dcop lc.r'el to correct
sonre inrbalanct,, anrl therc isn't nnch r'nergv lcft
to usc'in dailv activities. The best ansucr is to
pa! attcrltion to.r.our lif'e: Hos' clo vou \\-aste
cnt rg'r'? Talking a lot? Thinkine alot? Running
arounrl, taking I'ull arlvantage ol all thc opportu.
nitie.s arountl us.'Alter paving attcntion, rrlu'll
b., ablt to nrake tlecisions ancl priorities about

.{rrr

q&A Session

(totrrittttcd f rottt prttiorts lxrgt)

Qt\htrr I tlo tht strtttht'.t.r/rorrlr/ I rtath tr, litr

The Practice

rr-r

Q tl

/ro'c

i.s nr.y

follos,.

A. About tsrr inchcs belorv vour l:ellv button,

ancl about midrvav

/ t'atti'

A. Reach rvith v our ccntt'r autl _tlrr brxl_r rr ill

crltc ri
through \our lott'..r abrlomt'n

from lront to back.

Q. tt/r,rr I flcl

puin or dis<rtnlort, shoulrl

L'till

ltrQttitt !

So rtrnrttT t/roug/rts

trottl

A. Yt's, but case ofl'.

nry rrrirrr/ r/uririg

mcrlitotron. /.s t/ri.s o/iar7.'

A. It's thc minrl's joll to think,

so

I'cs, it's okar'.

Nevertheless, the l>enct'its of thc practice s'ill

morc quickl-r' achier'.'d if tlrr'c,rnc.'nrration is

l>c

strong. \\'hen vou {ind your mind $'an(lering, tr,\'

to bring it bactri to center ahvavs rvithout
juclgement.

of titntt aJiL:r ltruttiLc

Q.-{
\\
t
tall.
/ratls
t/rat rlcorri
fi'e
corry'lr,

I'vc Jtlt } 0

A. Erccllent couL'cntration.

Q. .s,,,,,.'ti,,,.r I .firl u: il rnq tl',l, ltothl i.'

.lilhl to tht'brirn lith Lntrgr1. \\ [at../rou1r1

/ r/ri

tfun':
A. []ase ol1.

Q tthat! hu|lxnin,:dttn I lttl

(.\tl'r',n(

trnttsrrt rlrrrirg t trtuin oJ tht. /ro.rtrrrt.ri

.{. It's good. Pert uf the h..aling. l}ut don t prnlr
too hartl.

Iros' best to rrst'or guartl ]1)ur enerq\,.

Q Srrrirttiirrrs I ('.\PL't-iL,tu'L rirrnt6rrls.., or putthes

ol hrut or to1r1, or.Trrst.rtr(ltgc strr.srrtirrns, n11 irr
I ari()us /)a)'t.s ol tlu body. I c\tcrit'rtt't,t/rr.ic .sor.
rrttirrtr.r rt// aitr titrtr , ,prt /u.st rr /t1tr I'ttr ltructit.
irig. /s t/ris o[ar7..{.

\ts. The

sensations arc an inclication of energt'

*'orkir.rg to clear blockages ancl correct imbalancr's. Once rrru'r-e l;eon practicing regularlv

Iittle rvhilc, thc energr is slrking all the time,

not just u-hen vm are practiciltg, so )'ou call
)c

c Pccul i ar \er) \at ions an-r'

t i rrrr'.

Q 1;rrst slarttr/ rloirrg ti(.rt{r)r(1ing /){)stu,1s,

und ofttn I lctl light.hturlL,l und ht'utl.uth4 fitu
ltxrttttt. /s t/ris rrrrnrrrrli \\'hut shoull I do:
.\. It could lrt'tlrat rour lrreath is a bit high. Yru
rurav neecl to $'ait to do the standing l)ostnre-\
until \uu havc gainetl sontc phvsical strcnldth and
lcarued proper brt'athing tlrrough
cheon.

hnotr iJ'I'mbrcathingriqhr:
A. The Master Instructor or junior/senior
instructor rr'ill check rurrr breathing ant'l give
guirlance if necessarv. Much of the instruction is
unspoken. The touch of the teacher's hands s'ill
guide you. llrc.athing is als-avs through the nosc.
The breath shoulcl be as cluiet, smooth, ancl deep
rlo

rvith a verv er-en rll'thnr. The uppc.r

bodv shr-,ulcl be relaxcrl, rvith little'or not nrove.
as possiblc.,

lor

('\l)rri('r

Q Horl

lour los'er tan

l'tt ttrtuinhl.filt.ttrorrg, ) (r()'gi/

ulso litI trtttl;tr
anrl lruint'd.I.s t/ris fiorir tltL ltntttitt:
tirrres,

Q.1t

r(tt'r prutticc, lrrrt.rorrrr'filrt's I

s.rrk t,,
it has t. qo

A. Thc energt is autouraticalh goinq to

balancc thinqs in tlrt'Ixrd_r-. Suntt'tinrcs

dct'p into tlrc organr, lt'ar irrg r rrur c\t rt'rli( i\'\

N'ith

L'ss encrgv tltatr

t'uu'rc acctrstonrerl tt,.

qll I dolt.li,l lilltrtnt

t'ulnrtr, ntor, ttttr'

pruutict, d)(r il i)r(ln /

mellt in the chest ancl shouklers. It is nornral filr

the quality ofvour breathing to change from tlay
to tla'r', sometinres bt'ing cleep anrl c\cr1, other
times being shallos'antl clifficult. Just koep prac.
ticirrg, anrl trv not to nrakc.judg..nrcnrs.

grti(,

Drrrirrg r/lr sittt,lg DtLtlituti()n ut thL'tnd o.f

that shoukl fu nry litus:
A. Als'als the t'r'nter. \iln can envision this in
diflerent $'als at different times: a rvhite ball, a
light bulb, a seed. \\/hatever. Just breathe into

ol'slreth.-r ()r not \1)u harc achicvetl an-\'thing.

Q.

()r tr'/tafct,'r, ultLr

ut'l:Lt't cd unrlthing in tlutt ltnrctict':

not to nrakt' jutlgerncnts al)()ut this. ()ur

lun'tn't
A.

Trl

conscious rnintls catrnot

on an encrgetic lcvcl.

knos shat

is

Llpllcning

If

\1ru'r.' llracticiDg rcgu.

larlr-, tlrt'long,t!.nrl rcsults s ill br. tlrt- arsurlnce

t/rr'po.strrrr'.s,

Hrrrl rlrr rTrttr .rtrggr'st rtltltrottthing (. )i( r{

s(

of lnstr tts:
A. Likr. holdinsl u nt's' Irorn

bab-r'.

the center.

Q 1i'c,roti(c(i

somt

ill

thc.stur/ort.s r/oing

strung{'tiling.s rlrrrirg c/n.s.r. Sonr

or

.icrli urouvl,

goirrg orr

ttith

ot/t

rr rtra/ic az irrl

ol

the

rrrr

i.rc.s. \1

nt.jutnp
/r

ot s

tlu,m:

A. The movcmcnts are. called vibrations. Thc art

causctl b,r'enc.rgv nret'ting lllockagt's and

trvinq

,tt'tuttlltl
.\lnuld I lt,l ,n ( ]'(1/ i,l

Oo f/tc inttrntrl(),'q(ai (.\(r'( ir..\

ufliLt tht' rtt'grttts

ttrtntr'r1i

tiost'rrrgrrrrs thilt I'nr tloing tltr Po:tuti:'

A. \'es, thc internal orqan crert ises uork s irlr
the organs nanrcrl, lrut don't fi,crrs ,rn tlrc ,,rgaur.
Conccntrate on -\'orlr cer)tcr:rntl tlrt'postrrrc firr
the or:ian, anrl ltt it haPPerr.'flr,: posttrre n ill

to rvork its u'ay through. The sanre rvith sounds.

strr'tcll ad drau the L.ncrgl along the nrcritli:rn

Some of this t_qre of activitv is verv subtle, somc

verv strong. Some people expericnce these thinqs

associatcd

s'ith thc orqan.

spontaneoush', having nevc.r done anv kinrl <,f

practice. Others mav practice for vcars anrl not

expcrience'r'ibrations. Make no jutlgements.
Vibrations arc llot a sign of qreatcr or lcsser
achit'r'enre'nt. Thev are, nevcrtht lcss, dcsiral;lc,
because' thev are evidcnce of cncrgl, lllo\'!.tn!'llt.

.49.

rottIitnttr{ on nt tt l)(!lt

Convcrsation

with a Thoist Master: q&A Session (otrrintrcd f rom /r*t irrrs pagg)
Q \\rrut uhotft thc btlts: Iltnr tlots u sltiritual

Miscellaneous:

pruttit:t sttpi,tort tht hicrarL'hiLuI inpliLtttton

Q $ lat doc., tht'(hant on thc awlio tapc hat'c

to tkt tith t/li.r lrrrrcticc, Ltnd u.lrut docs it maanl
.{. Thc nran doing thc chant is Grandmaster
Chunq Salm, uhosc portrait hangs in the main
school. Thc nrost ulrvious use of the chant is to
nraintain an even rhvthm in the breathing. The
meanirrg of the chant is

"This

is the

riglrt place

to prilctice Tao. Tlrrough mind and boclv harmo.

n1', achit'r'e Oneness. Save thc universe."

Q.{t tir, nroin st/uro/, thcrt'urc sonrc photo.

grophs

ol

nr,o rathtr.f'carsonrc 1oolri ng nrcn. \\'iro

urL tltt't1!
A. Tht'se are photosraphs

ol drarvings done bv

Granclmaster Chunq Sahn of his tu'o teachers

during his t\\'entl vears living on tl.re mountain.

Q tf"Aat tlo the fostures at'nrully dot

\. Dillcrr,nt postures represent different circum,
stanccs of

life. Sun f)o postures rvith centered

hrtathrng enable people to o\ercome and deal

rr'ith conl'licts an<l crises in their lives.

/s it ,ririglit to lt,utc t,rrltl

('.\.( 11

.\.

is(.r urc

\\}ilc

be_fbrc

thc truling

tonpltttd:

an orchcstra is plavinu classical music,

oJ'

bdt ltttls!
A. Thc practice ol Sur D., originatetl in Korea, a
cultnre r,l'ith a long histon' of spiritual practice
anrl martial arts. \\'hen thc practict'\\'as in(r(),
duced to the Korean public in I970, thc uniforms
ar:d lrclts u,erc perhaps incoiporatcd in ortlcr to
make the practice morc accessible to a peoplc
rvhose national sport is Tae Krvon f)o. Asitlo

fiom

change vour son's bohavior,

first tn'to

lifi..

(or coukl be green) is rvood: I-iver/Gall Bladder.

ntornin! prat'tit'r. I.r it tttorc e.fltctitc lo r/tr .Stttt

D o i n t hurrorrrirrg.' \\ 7rr7.'
,\. It rvas not intentled, lrtrt rath.'r tliscovcrcd lx'
orrr ancestors and tlrt' practitiotrers fr,rnr li{i',l,,ng
t'nrpirical cxpcrinlcnts. Plcast' tn'otttt'titttc. itt
the nrorning aud sontctimcs itr tltt't'vr.nitrg, atttl
tlren r-ou'll knorv slt-r'

Illack is rvater: Kidne)'/Urinarv llladder. llach

level of energt' eoes der'per and tleeper, cleansing
the boclv and spint of more ancl more imptrritics.
Concerning hierarch', thcrc are ven' ferv tradi-

titus rvithout some heirarcll. Tht'rc''s no tlenr',

more inlportant than enriching I'our life? \\'e uive

So even

thanks to class menrbers anrl thc instructor at the

and guidance, not for lordinq over. \\''e all have to

enrl of each class.

deal

{iren to the concluctor and ntusicians.

Since Sun Do is sorking for the Tao, rvhat is

tn'to

tit

change vour orvrr

ing that some people havt practicctl longer and

havc more experience. Most people rlisctx er that
the longer thev practice, the huml:lcr they get.

leave rnrtil the concr.rt is completecl and

I t t a h o ut nry
.fi t t'. t1r'rt r<rltl sotr .'
t' I c tnl r rd nrc nt. \\' h ut t' u n I I o !
A. Throtrgh Sun Do practic('\\'e \\'attt to s('('ottr
o\\'n tnle scl(. Findinq the truc .ell'i. tltc .ta. t,,
achieve oncnoss. Flttu rvontlerlitl that s'e catr
create our cloues Ix ntaking lor'.'instt'arl ol'rtsitlg
gcnetic cnqineering. Yes, rorlr s()ll is rrtrtr clonc.
Throuqh s'atching \'()ur son t'tttt har-e tlrr'oppor,
truritv to llirnpse r'our o\\'n trtre sell. llt'ftrrt' r'ort
e

this rnartial association, the belts have three

applications: phvsicalll', tlrs-let sou knorv if
rtrur brcath is too high: visuallr', the'r'let rou
knorv rvho the senior stu(lL'nts are; st'mbolicall-r',
thts are the culors ol thc' fir'c elcmeuts of orit'tt.
tal philosophv and inclicate the levcl olenerqr'
rvorking in the particular set of postures. \\thite
is associatecl rvith metal. This is the Lung/Lartt'
Iutestine ftrnction, and relates to the skin the
energl' closest to the surface.'t'ellorv is earth:
Stomach/Spleen function u'hicir goes a bit
deeper. Red is Iire: Heart/Small Intestine. Illue

applause

sc rlon't

q I f c I lu' I p

hr1lx, r u t

if

there's hierarcht', it's there for support

rvith our ellos, rvhether rve're beginners

u'h,r necd to qucstion authr)rit_\', or nlore

advanccd students coming to terms rvith atr inner
pou'er. The belts give us an opportrtnitl to check
ourstlves out.

5().

.{rnorig.firrrr ilq,.job,

aal ,\un

Do, u lr,t h hus

tlrc highcst ltrio rilrT.'Doc.irt't tht.fiunilry cont,

/irrt:'

\\ hat halrpens in the rvorkl is not nt'ct'ssaril-r

linear or scrluc'ntial. llvents also happen ratrtlonr.
lv and simultaneouslr'. \\b shotrl<l preltarc tirr
tlrr'sc conrplicatiotrs. Sun Du practice cltt qirc
,.\.

rr[r thc potver to all three at thc sanrt'tinre.

Q I lc /rcar,1 tltrr.Sror

Drr rlrt.s inte nltd to br' u

Introduction into the Mountain Hermit Life of Chung Sahn

it:4,

s#.i''

:l
t?,

v_.
,t''ffi'.r

: t1t
affi"::

'1S

,,,,
"

il ;;, ;l;lll,t'*l'

l;*l

;,,

n.,

As u boy antl yourtg ntan tra.inetl by the Mountuirt Hennits

.for 20 years, he rt,as knoult us Clmng Salm (Bluc Mowtuin).

Wlrcn llrs tcachers tletcnnined hc ruas reacly, they nanrctl hint
Bekyung (Secret Bowrclary) oncl .sent hint bach into tlte uorkl
to teach the Sun Do Mountain (Taoist'Traclitiort to hurnunity-

aWay ,,f LiJb that had not

been taught

openly since

the 9th century.

Bekyungtrainecl 17 nwsters, one oJ'ultic/r is Ma.star Hyurtntoort

Kint. After establi.shingtlrc Srar Do Tbaclings in Koreun sot'ietry

Muster Kint to bring tltese tcocltings to the

Wcst, Beltymtgu,ent bach to liue the Mourttain Hernit lifb.

ancl .sanctioning

fi.lj

&
.5t.

'

,, :'",

,.,;, i,11i ;1,:;r

t''

'

'

-.n-t t. ,rffiiw.Ell*f,t1}ruffitwrrurreffil{?

,"

Introduction into the Mountain Hermit Life of Chun Sahn

Kirrr tt'it/r Lcsltc F-rrnrtrs and Ilon Cutobtq Srr Bron Nirn (rr u'orh in p roerc.s.s). Itt ortlcr to

I t c rs o nul c

M.'qivelr

nui;t thc storr rrt< t'ssilit'

to

xltc r i e n c' t' -s rr;i th Bck yung.

nanrc is Kvung

Min, nrr

larrril-r lranre is Oo. I u'as llorrr in

Suson Citr', an<l t'rrr tlrt lirst three

lcars rrf nn' liii. I livt'd therc rvith
nl_\- parL.nts anrl grandfather. Mr'
qraudfathcr canie lionr a hiqhlv
respectecl ancl

s'culth'

This stortl tells about purt.s oJ'Bektlutg's life

u'ith the intentiort of sltou'tng tlrc
potential Jbr the hunurn dctteloPnrcnt
oJ' ht gh er consc iousrrc.s.s. .Ir i s itrtp o rt unt .fii r
ltcople to lutou'about tlis potuttiul

fanril,r,. He

studied anrl r.vorktd haltl as

roung man, and becanre au inlltr.

lvl,rs t nrr Ht

Coniircianisnr atl Ihrddhisnr. These

philosophies s'ert'clc..ph ingrained in his attitudes torvartl his Ii'llou hunran bcings, anrl he
trulv l,lt'tl his countr-v ancl its citizens. I)uring
the late I6(X)s, chaos lcll on the land. TheYcc

I)r'nasts rvas overthros.n bv the Japanese, anrl

of qreat social unrest ancl cleprivation
lrcqan. \'Iv gran(llathc'r s'as painecl bv s,hat he
sa*' rouncl hiur. arrrl he began contributing his
r('\()urccs to erlucational ancl social organizations, doing u'hat he cou'ld to lesser.r the
rlcspair ancl crxrlirsion ol the crumbling cul.
ttrro. l]_r' tho tinre I rvas born, nr.r' parents lcft
Sus'on Citr' fbr'\lanchuria. hoping to finrl

cvt'ntuallv inrprolc antl that *'e s'ould sonrc,

dal be ablc to live as a fami'lr'. Rv the tinre
Korea qained inclepcnclence I'rom Japan in
I9-{5. nrv srandfhther had nothinq left. and
s'e lived q'ith not evcn a roolover our heatls.
llrrt I knes- that nl_\'grandlather loved me. Hc
cducated me and took qootl care of nre, antl hc
inspircd me to strivc to bc the best person I

c,lrlt[ bc.

stto0:.. Ktrr

vr.ars old,

*;
side in order to spare

(^'O'l E: Hatittgbtt'n trlututtd lttl

urandlather thc bur.

tlcn of I'ee<ling and clothinq a gros-inq bo.r'. llut
u'hen I arrivecl at nrl, uncle's houso, I lirtrntl
that cvcryone hacl nrovcrl out. Iiven t]re coun.

trv

nr,r'

people had been al'lcctt'cl

b_r-

the tinres of

trouble. I kneg' that mv oltlest uncle still livc<l

on Taehak mountain, so I set uut aqain to lind
him. This uncle, thouqh, livecl on a snrall, poor
mountain l'arnr. anrl I sau'that he, too, s'oultl
be burdened by another mouth to feed. I t'elt
lille an orphan, cvcll thouqh I rvas not rcalll

nrt.. I rlecide'd to go to an uncle on nn' mothcr's

his gnnulfithtr (,'/rrrrrg .Srr/rr tr or, ,r/

(()rrrs(', rtrorigir1 irf ltrncttI b4 KorLu r.r/rilitir.

ul tntlitiotrs. llt Lncir of tlu nttl.rtt rioirs /lt r,

nrit.s tr /ro litt'd itt tht l)r()r{nt.ri,l.\ tttrl u ho htul
rt'nutrl;ablt poit t'r.t. /itrrirl/ri,rt tttrrril.r tt t rt
ottuttotiltT .\( r'll ()l? t/tt .sttt t Ir of' tht t ititt. ttrtl
spirituul.'n1ig/rtr'rrnrt'rrt 1r'ar (. g(,a1 h,II ltt1
rnunry, if'at hitt rd ln1 onltl tt .fttt. Et ot ttt lti.'
r/.)iorg.rg. C/rirrig Sa/rrr l;nLtt tltut ultrtt h,
uutttccl rllo.st r.a.\ to ar'/riclt (nIiglttInnttil.ItI

ltc rr

Budtlha.)

orphanecl.

Er'..n on the nrotrntain, tlror.rqh. it sas tlil'lieult lirr us to sul)l)()rt our.,:lrt's. Pcriodicallr,

On the

s'oulr[ travt,l to ir \'ounqor artnt's hou..' irt

Nantang, Sagotri Klunq ()i prolincr'.'I'lrt'rc I
u'orked on a salt larnr. s'hich u'as lrarrl sork

ol the nrountain u'hcrc nr,r'

uncle lir-ecl, there s'as a Iludtlhist monaster\',
Haesun Tcnrple. I nou' \\'cnt to the abbot of
this tenrple ancl asketl permission to builrl a
snrall house lN a nearbv \trL'am. Thc abhot
agrecd that I coultl, anrl I set about tht'task ol
same ritlge

cr,rtting clos'n trecs anrl

lnilding

mv cabm.

\\'hen I u'as finisherl, I rcturne<l to Suu'on

Citv and brought nn'qran<llither back to nn'
nes'lr'.built house. I s'as haplx'to har-e tlrc
opportunitv to repav sorne ol mv granrlfathcr's

Tachak Mountain \\'as llot a greal nrtruntain,

brrt thc air rvas clean. the \\'ater \\'as colcl antl

.52.

and required patit'ncr.. ,\nrl I did an-r'thing cl.e

I could llnd to do lirr nront'r'. llut ahvals. I

studiecl anrl contcnrplatcrl the sutra., an,l

nevcr lost a\1'arencss of

m_r

tlirection.

s'hcl I s'as alrout I3 r'cars,r'lrl, thc

al;bot of thc. Tl.nrplr: qavc nlc sonlt'lettcr t()
takt to Kuanq f)oc Ti'rnplc. I harl ncvcr r isit.
r'<l Ks'ang f)oc, lrrrt thc al:lrot gavc nre x nral)
C)nc dar',

anrl tlirections, an<l hr: sairl t]rat

I kneu'that

nn'qranrltither coulcl no longer takc care of

a nr,rnL.

1ll't

rlevotion.
I)-r'thc timc I s'as

Uu<klhist sutras, an<l I tried tt, lilt'

like a nrunk, t'r'cn thouqh not roall-\

t,

of his culture, he \1 as stceperl in

the spiritual traclitions of

srrrk ancl a better lili'. Thcv lelt nre rvith nl'

grandiitLcr. tnrsting that ctrnditions snulcl

tigers, but I rrcvor sa*' onc. l.itirrg

so closc to natrlr(' antl tlrt'Ti'urplc, I
bcgun rcatlinq and tprcstirrning tirr:

.for human deuclolnnent.so theq cun

intprorte thc Erulitry of'tlteir lit,es.

eutial qovernmcnt olllcial. TVpical

a periocl

purc, thc nrorninqs u'cre iirll ol tlrc

songs of binls, and the nights hoarrl
tht barkirrgs antl hos-linqs ,rl-largcr'
aninrals. 'I'he Lrcals toltl storit': ol'

noou ancl

krlt

if I lcli

a stcarlr' pat'c, I coukl

hr

arrivc

hr:lbre darli.
L-ttnl lnltt

tl 0n

nL

\l ltt,:(

Tlrc Mountain Hcrmit Lifc of Chung Sahn

I sr.t olT rlos'r.r thc' nrountain, torvarcl the small
villaqe ancl nrarketplacc ol Punq Se. I passed
through the villagc, pausing to take in thc
sounrls ancl activities of thc pcople, ancl to
rvatch thc chiklrcn p'la,r'ing. I s'ent on, u,an,

(.\'O'fE:

(,,,,,ri,,tr,,tl.frottrlrrtr.i.rrs/ragc)

C/r torg.zloorr

ro

gh

Bc li

ry

un

g to

h c

,lrount(riil.s tuul tuught /riDr Srltr Do. Chung

\lbori tolrl hint lattr tlrut toduy's ntccting lrud

bccn dc.stintd.fi'onr n /orrg tinrr'rrgo. "1 /rrrlc

taitingJbr

rul dtt'adts."
C/rrrrrg,rrrrorr uddt'd, " t ulso ttuttl:rtrl yotrr
birth atul grottth Jiom a rlisturttt' anrl thr'n
tht tinu' crnttc.Itln.s zlaitirrgfrr ryou at tlurt
bccn

you.fitr

.s"r'e

tlcring alonq thc river, askinq the occasional

petrylc I nrct ilI \\'as on tllr'right path. I sat
lirr as hilc, contcnrplating, enjoling thc river
lottttiott und at that tinv.")
anrl nr-r'solitrrtlt. I sct ofT again, anrl rcalized
that it s'as qctting late. Therc rvcren't anv
Finallr', nlv voung curiositv overcanrc nr,r' fi'ar,
othcr pcoplc anxtrrcl nos', anrl I began to be
antl I askctl, "Can vru realls teach me?"
liiqhtcnr.d. I startetl to hrrrr_r-. I renrenrbc.r the
After a long 1:ause, rlrrrinq s-hich the nran
scan stories I had ht'arcl of *'ild aninrals, ancl
returncd nrv scrutinv, hc saicl, "l'll teach t,ou."
nr_r' hair stood on cnd, inragining that sonre.
The nran hancled nrt'a borvl ancl tol<l mc'to
thiuq nright suddtnlv junrp out at mt'. So I
brinq sonrc s'atcr fronr the nearll'streanr. I
pickctl up a stonc aud began clappinr{ nu' hand
hartl against it ar.rtl chantiug very
lourll-r', to ket'1: rrr.r'scl l' sa I'c.
Hott'tt'oulcl you liltc to be oble to brcah

No*'

as I lookt'rl at hinr, hc appe.ar..tl rlil'f crtnt

than s,hen I tirst sas- hinr. I *'as again strrrck
Il'thc nran's picrcing evcs, lut ntxv I rroticetl

that his r.rearh' u'aist.lt'nqth black hair lratl

alnrost no grar', and his ticc harl an orcr,all
rcrtclish cast. Hc clicln't Iook so ukl nou.

Th.. old nran askctl nrt' itt r.r gt: ntlc, (Srictl\'
pos e rf'ul lricc, "I-arl, rr'llat tcnlpl(' alc _\1ru
in?" "Haesun 1i'nrplc, Sir," I replictl. 'llrrt
s'here are r-ou going?" "l'nt llringinq a lettcr
Iionr thc Abl;ot to K\\'anq l)oc Tl'nrplc. "[-ct
nrr. scc tht lcttcr," tht' r,kl nran rlt'nranrlctl. I
rvas lcarIirl, antl lrtsitatr'd, but I hanrlctl hinr
thc. le.tter. I'hc ultl nran bricfl'r' qlancc<l at thc
1;apcr, and

tltt

torc it in halll

Thcn he asLt'rl nrt', "llavc'r'orr

'\i's," I rcplierl,
''I rc ]carn.'tl ('hun S,,,r Irr rur."'
stonc tt'ith your ltancl!" u,us.frigltencrl,
Suddenlr', I felt sonreone s'as
"lltcitc it, pleasc," ht'ask.'tl. So I
uatchinq nre. I.sttryped antl
but intriguecl. thought thc num
be kitlclin,J,
lookcrl all arouncl..\nd thcn I sas,
btgatr rccititrq, lrut belirrc I Iratl firrhinr, trot thr asar'. .-\ strangc man.
or ntoybc he u'cts u ntoutltein god
isht'rl, the'oltl ntatr intcrruptcrl nrc,
He lauqhcd at nrc, a strangc laugh,
salinq "\bu'rc \'ol'-\'slllilrt. Ilrrt uln
or an oldJox beconrc a nunt.
largc ancl full ofsorrnd, but not at
rlo rott rvant to l;cconrc a nr,,nk': I),,
{rL
all Iikc the'\\'av nrost pL.oplc
_rou havc a reason?" I llcgarr t'rplainlarrglr. I sas tt'rrilictl, lrtrt cvt'n irr
ing s'ln' I s'antcrl to bcconrt'a rtr,,rrk,
nrv tcrror', I fclt safi'r lirr llcinq
that nr,r' greatest tlesirc s as tt,
tn anothcr hunran llcinq as tlarkness
s'alkecl throuqh the trees torvard the streanr,
achicvc enliqlrtcrrnrt'nt antl llcconr.' a llrrrl<iha.
"1,,..'a
canre cl,,sc. to scttlinq on the mountain. Still...
still contirscd bcts'een fcar ancl cxcitenrtnt. I
Grorluallr', as I talkcd, nn li'ars l)cqarr ro
I hatl lrcard storics at the tcnrplt. about hos'
l,iept thinking, "I havc to escapo!" I considcrorl
lesscn arrd llnall_v tlrc_r' \\'crc qono. I lleqarr t,,
u'hott a lix qros's olcl, hc can bcconre a nran.
that lbr no$-, though, I shoultl rlo as thc nran
realize that this nran rvas a'laoist hernri(. arr

learrrcrl rhe sutrasi"

night

LL

So

I uas torn bctst'en

l-ear anrl

relief, not

l.:nou ing s'hat this creatrrrc s'as, ar.rl I coulcl

not I]l()\'t'.

Suddcnlr', thc nrarr stoocl up. "Lad, conrc

herc." Ilvtn thouqh l \\'asll t srlre about the

nran, I autonraticallv respon<le<l to the conrnrar.rrl. Thc nran saicl, "Doesn't vour hancl hurt
u,ht'n ,rou hit that stoncl' Horv s,oulcl llu likc
to bc ablc to break thc stone s'ith r'our hand?"
I s'as frightencd, but intrigucd. I thought the
man nright be kiddlng, or nrar-be he s'as a
mountailr

go<l

or an ol<l fi>x bcconre a nran. I

lor-rkctl him ovcr carcfullv. His clothes shorvetl
signs of nruch nrcn<ling, lxrt thev s'ere clean.
Hc hatl long hair ar:cl a broarl forehead. His
cxcs \\'crc l;riqht and intcnse. He s'as a tall
nran, ancl looked like he rvas in his flfties.

oxlerctl, and s'ait for the rirlht time to gct

as'a)'. \\"hen I came back rvith the \\'ater, the
olcl nran s,asn't thcre! I lookcd all around and
finall_r'sas' him perched on top of a bie bou'I,
der. I rvas still frightcnerl. M1' hancls rvcre
trembling and nw knecs l-elt u'eak. l],r'r.rtxr', I
f'elt nx hair reachinq to thc skr'! llut I clidn't
scc anv choice but to take the s'atcr to thc
nran sitting high on tho boulcler.

The old ntan took onc s\r ol thc s'uter, urxl

said quietl_r',

"Yn

can brcak stoncs likc this."

Hc sharpl.r- lilted his riglrt fist and stronqlr'

extendetl thc little finger, pointed it tou'ard a
smaller stol)c on the l;oulcler anrl shattere'd it. I
\\'cs even more frighter.rccl no*,. \\ras this a nran
or a monster? But the okl man cluietlv snriled.

.53.

enlightcncrl L'ntitv in tht' lirrnr ol'a lrurrrau

s-hosc charge it s'as to hclp llcoplc. I lrcqan to
bclicvt'that this nran ha<l lirtrnd ule to llcll) urr
achicvc thc cnlighte.nnrcnt to\\'xr(l s'hich I

srrrkecl. I realize'tl that tht oltl nran \\'as tt'st,

ing nre, to ste

il I rvas s'orth_r'. So I startcrl

tcllinq hinr nlrll\' st()ries lj',,nr thc [.J _r'cars ol'

nn' lili'. starting s'ith a tlrcaru nr_r' lirth..r hatl
hltl rr'ht'n I s'as l:orn that Lc absorlrcrl th.'
I-ull nroon into hinrsr'lf'.'I'hc t,ltl nrarl (lu('\tionctl nre pcriorlicallr', ;rntl uhcn hc Irarl
htarcl t'r.ror.rgh hc.just lookctl at nrr- lirr s'hilt'.
sttrrios, tlrt'
I tlrtruqlrt that havinq h.-artl
"ll tlre
okl nran u'as goinq to givc nrc stlnrc grxrtl urh'icc
anrl teaching an<l send n'rr'on nl\' \\'a-\'.
Sudrlenh-,

tht'oL[ nran stoo(l ul) antl oxlcrctl,

tottlitntttl in nt \! lrt,!t

Tlrc Mountain Hermit Life of Chung Sahn

"ltollos' nre." Instcarl of sending

ott, the
okl nran startcd leaclinq me cleept'r into the
nrountain. \'lv lears rcturned ancl I thorrght.
"l'nr going to clie herel" I lookcd furtivc.lv
fronr sirle to side, hrpinq for a chance to
t'scape, but the old nran turnerl an<l stood irl
litrnt of nre anrl saiil, "Oncc a nran te'aches

saicl,

nre

1,,,,rti,uctllrottif,crrorrs/;rrgi)

"[{cre, nrake voursellcomtirrtable. Our

journev

is cnclcrl ancl vuu have

sorkecl hartl.

Close vrrur eves and sleep tt-.'11."

Whilc

sonlething, he cannot take it back. Befirre, vou

asked nre to teach t-oit to break thc stone. I
told rou horv, anrl thcu I sho*'etl J'ou. Nos,, I
anl sour teacher; vou are nrv student. You must
<lo as I orclcr." Ancl he ordered again, "F-ollorv

I sat in thc nridst ol thc lt'avcs, the oltl

man scttlcd dorr'n to slt'cP. I s'as Yerr- tiretl,
l;ut nry minr'l rvas lirll of thoughts. The oltl
man again gesturctl that I should slet'p, llrt I
couldn't close nn'e',vc's. I rcgrcttctl that I ha.l

follos'cd the nran. I coultl hear thc niglrttinrc

cries of animals and birds. On thc inside , I too,
rvas

crving.

nlc.

"lJrrt, I havc to sen'c nrt. qrandlither. F-orgive

nrt. Pltast k't nrcg()." I plearled. "Perhaps
rou'r't hearrl at the tcnrple that

ulen

*'ill

lleoplc conre toqcther, thct'

surel-r- sonreda-r' scparatc.

Tlrt'

natural sar t,l'crcr-r'thitrg is to

charrgc. Evt'n

il

von'rc not around to

grantll'ather, somcone else

hclp

rorr

rvill

come along rvho

rvill. Dvcrr',

thins s-ill be olriqlrt. So, lbllo* me."

I hatl no choicc. Tears canle to m\,
c.r'cs as I l:os ed in thc direction of
thc little house s'hcre I had lived

*'ith nl'qranclfathcr. "\bu

are

As darvn began to break, I thought to nrvst'lf,

"I clon't care about anvthingl I s'ant to rutr
clos-n thc mountain aurl cscapel" A littlc later,

.fiil
gcstured that I
n:i.nd tt,o.\

fbr anothe'r chancc. \\ hen I canrc back to tltc

shelter, thc oltl nran saitl, "Sit clorr'n. IIavt'
sonre l>rcaklast." I discovcrerl I s ls r t'r-t ltttttgr,r'. llut I s'as vert' clisappointc<l rr'hctr I sa*'
s'hat I had to ect: It \\-as sorrlc stranqc qrantt-

lar nrixture olras tirorl. l]r't'u tltorrgh lilc

u'ith nrv grandlather hatl bccn plain antl.inr,
plc, I sas'in ntv ntiutl's qc all the lixrrls I tt.etl
to enjo\'. Ilict', rit'r' cakcs, lrarltr',ricc s-ith

\\'ith thcse itr nr-r' nrcntorr', I

coul<ln't bring nn'scll'to cat s ltat
Nas no\\'prcsettt.'tl to ntc. llttt

pepper pastc.

tht',rld
So

of'thougltts. Thc olcl ntttn egeitt

clraggcd me alonq s'he.tr I moverl too slorvlv. Bt'

rrorr' thc lorcst ancl thc nrountain rvere tota]lv

durk. \\'e rvalkccl up nrountains ancl across

ijelcls, anrl up nrorc nrountains and more liekls.
At tinres thc tirrt'st s'as so dcr.p, it secnred that
nu lmnran s shados- hatl cvcr t'allc'n there

Finalh,, u,e rcacLetl a placc to rest. It s'as just

a L,rlIorvc<l,out spact shtlterecl lx' boulclers,
rvith roonr enough lur one or trvo people to
rcsr. I thouqht that this must l:e a placc thc old
nran hacl olitn stopped, because he led nrc
there rvithout hesitation, antl u'hen I settled
dorvn I fbunrl there s'r're' man-r' leaves [o cush,
irn us lionr th.- hartl ground. 'I'lle old nran

liom arorurtl mv s'aist,

ancl

nrarr

thc sun rose higher ancl thc tlarkr.ress l;cgatr

to give wa\', I cautiotrslv looked siderravs at
the old marr, *'ho r*'as sittinq s'ith closctl eves.
I began quietlv to crarvl as'av The oltl nran
casualll saitl, " \\/hat arrr \'ou cloingi"' I
junrped. I didn't realize that thc olcl niatt t-as

"Oh, I'm just goinq ovcr behintl those

trees. M,v bladder is full." "The'n rvl*' urr',\'ou
arvakc.

"l

cannot oat this."

thc

tirr matr_r davs. xnr'll be lntngr-r' ctr,,rrqh tltut

this t-ootl s'ill tastt's'ontlolfirl to lortl"
(.\ Ofll: 'I/ris rt.' tht.fir.'t .sttlt totr rtrl
puriJiin,J thr' bodtl u ith rorr .fiol (r.t rt r 11 (r \
br.girutitig to lt'ut-tt lrctr to ltlttLlt f rottt tlt,
nnnrl attachntr:ttts of ch ili:'-t'd lift.
P

urili r u t io tt

rt

ntl rt I t t.t, f ittrt r tr t t r t t h n, tt t.'

(l11 ,l('.r.\ lr.rt rtl,, tl
t

lxt A origitttrl(ltt

()utrrtfur

bt1

g/rrtt irtg lr.ilh tht' itnttr rudirttt< t

of' b t i tt g. ( ) r igi n a I rtir (r,1'll('r.\,rIrt rl.r It.r rttt l/t t

lourll'r' l fearcd the motttrtain nright crplotlt'.

nran an.sere<l

"\\'hcrc

ncccllcs, roots, atttl

to

"What

rt.s

iiq/l('r
is

(,il.\('ioUsrl..i.\.)

this lirotl matlc ot-/" I askcrl. Thc oltl

tltat it s'as a nrirtrtrc of pittt'

rviltl bcans. I s'as ntiscrablc. llvt'u thotrqh the iitod I had sLarc<l s ith
(

.54.

'llcrt'in

carulot cat it nos', just drirtk s'atcr. [1'lrtr last

fath

are vou goinq? Come herel" he conr.

nriur saicl.

nrountair.r, this rarv lirod is the ortl.r' kintl s'e

havc. liru nrust le.urtr t() crtt it. Il' r'ort rcallr.

rvalkt'd a srlall rlistatrt'c, putting a snrall

glatle betu'een nre antl the olcl nran. I lortkcd
again, and salr'that thc old nran stil) sut rl'ith
e-ycs closecl. I s'alked carefull-r' ancl slos'h', on
tip,toc, u.hen suddcnlv the olcl nran shorttt'd so

mantlctl. I stoppccl in nl'tracks, mv l'eet rivct,

toltl trtt'. [t sa.

llnallv I conrplairtcrl,

do es the trltl nran

no usc, antl

brings

olthc qr,trttttl.ttp.

rlctcrnritration, lirrcing ntlsoll' t,r

Th.'olcl
as

ortlert'tl. "l;at. t'atl''

harl a tastc

\\'atcr. The footl s'as bitt.'r. tln,

and glittt'. I coulrl not cat tl)i\
i'r,o<ll lhrt aqain, I put th,: qn,utt<l,
up nrixtrtrc to nt-r'ntortth u ith

shoulcl sleep, but

crau'ling?Ybu catr.r'alk, call't \'ou?" "Ye's, sir,"

I replied.

tirrr'.

nrcah- substatrct' atrtl a ss allt,rr' ,rl

,rL
'n
.r.:l-

Thcn the oltl nran ticrl a long piccc

of clotir ar,lrnd mr- s'aist and began s'alking
as'ar'. I lbllo*'ecl reluctantlv, and the old nran

loos.'nerl the clotli

nrrrst havt'bccn pcckinq ortt frtrnr rrntlcr his

er'elids. So, nrl'r'sca1;c \\'a\ rlot Possiblc riqht
rros-. ] sorrltl rcturn to thc,rltl uatr atrd sait

I coulcln't close
nty eyes. I regrcttetl that I haclfollou:td tht num.
I coulcl heur thc nip:httime t'rie.s of'uninruls ontl
bircls. On thc insitlc, I too, tuus cruing.

nt-r'

tht'oltl ntal, have scctt tttcl

Obr-iorrslv, his evcs \\'ert'll't reall-r't'loscrl; hc

bodv. Horv could

Whilc l snt in thc niclst o.f'the le at'e.s, thc oltl nrun

scttlccl dotut to .sbcp. / tlns t'cry tira(I, btft nn1

clevoted bor'," the okl man notccl.

'be

trl to the qrour.rtl tlt'spitc the trt'mlrlinq in

r,,ili,rii((1 r,,r

rt rl /lrtgt

rl1.t

..**q,f*'

1,'

;!;+'. ,.,'
.r\i 'ti;.="t

"' 1''
Thc M ount ain Hcrrnit
\

?'

,*u' 'i'i' ,

Lifc of Churtg Sahn

nr_r'qranrltathcr \\'asn't grcat, I realized ho.v

it *'as in conrparison to u'hat I rvorrld

good

havc to cat on thc nrountain. Thinking of the

lile I *-as lcaving bchintl remintletl nre aqain of

1.,,,,ri,, tLtl.fittttt ltrct'iou.s /ogr)

thouqh, I resolvecl to u'ork hard at the tasks

the old nran gave nrc. Anrl rvhcreas befure I
hatl to use great s'ill to c.at the. firorl, I nos' tlis.
covererl that

it sas like

hone_1'.

nrv qrarrrlfatl.rcr anrl

hos' nruch I missecl hinr. I

knes' tltat hc ntust be l'urried antl rvas cer,
tainll searching l'ur me. Mv nrincl was not
s'ith nrc therc on the nlxurtain, lrut back s'ith
nn'qrartrlf'athe.r at ottr

"I nttst

cabin.

I told thc olcl

ntatr. "Co ahead,," hc said, "lxrt rlon't think
go nlove nr.r'bor,r'els,"

8 nronths, I t'as gatherinq ancl

preparing the ingredients lirr the food nrvself.
I could identifl'the plants thar grerv above th.'
thicli, nutritious roots, and rl'an<leretl s'ith nn'
digqinq stick, gathering roots ftrr rlr_r'ing. I

dorvn

to*'artl thc bottont of thc nrountain, s'hcre I

I ofl'crerl s,rnrt' of tlrr. t'r'uit to nr-r'

teachcr. Thc ol<l urar.r lookctl at tlrt' liuit aurl
sairl, "Anvthing can cor.rtnir.r thc tncrgr-o1'
oarth alr(l tLc enorqr' .rf lr,:.r'"tr. .\nrl so tlris

shc'lter,

I'mit is okar'.

liuit

1'laxrr,

it s'ill

lnt

short again! Thc'okl nran

blockcil nr-r' path, snriling. "Yru
rlutr't havc to go tl)is l'ar to nrakc
rrp

until thc-r'rverc rlr_r'enough

to porrncl rvith a stone and qrind into nrr.al.
Thc prepared lbod I kept in a shclteretl placc,
as'a'r' fiom thc rain aud I took upon uryself the

So I spent

l){xvel nlovcnlent, vonng nran." Ancl

so I rl.turnL.(I.

Alicr tlrit, I trierl a les

I lailed.
Orrc tinre the okl nran rli<ln't sttlr
nre, anrl so I thought, "At last! A
ble.ssetl rryportnnitr'." I ran r-crl'far
t() cscapc, lrrrt cach tinre

hatler to livc s'ithour that

liuit

is gonc. I

s'orr't havc anr'.

tinre'gutht'rinq thc fl-uits,

Ml teat'h"r'. nanlc

I rentrnecl to our shelter, I olfcred

sonte of the fruit to nty teacher. 'I-he okl nrun
looketl ut thc.fndt und sui(I, "Anything ('en ('ontein
Ancl

so tlis

ft'uit

is oliay- But

it ftas

.so nurch tu.stc.

IJ'you eot the.fruit ancl bec'onrc ettochc(l ugein

to tltc.f'lartor, it r.ttill be harclcr to liuc

nr,rre tinrcs

has

u,ithout thut.flat,or oncc the .fn{ir is gone.... "

olrl tnan's orclers. No one call inragir.re hou'

Itard it s'as lirr nrc to finalh' clec'id.' 1. .,..\'
$'ith this strcngL'olcl nran on the nrountain.
Oncc I qavc up nn rlcternrinati()r1 to cscapc.

pr,rvctl

lll int..lloctual
,rul-r'

cxpori

tllis llorenrial prxvcr rhrorrqlr

Thc,,rrl,r' tinlr' I sa\\' Clnrng-so,,rr

s-ould stav in one place for a rvhile antl then

nlovc oD to arlothcr place. Mv clothes rvere
s-earing out, and besides, I had prettv nurch
outgrown thcnr, so I rvanderecl the nrountains
almost nakccl. Thc s'eatlrer s'as be conrinq
colder. The nrountains turnerl liom lush grt'cn

ve'r-v snroll as I returnecl to thc caYe tvith

okl nran. Lirtlc lrl littlc, I nradc mvsell'cat
thc ras' lirod. cliscil;line<l nwself to lbllos, the

bc.

thinking. Pcoplc can

thc practicc.

Iookctl at nrt' flerccl-r' lionr under his evelrrorvs

"l)i<hr't vou hear u-hat I said?Yoll cannor

I lclt

coukl not

tn
responsib'ilitv ul sen'ing the nrcals to nl'
tcachor. So thr, the okl nrar.r hacln't tarrqht nrc
about anvthing e\cept the food. Thcre hacl
been tro questiorls antl no ansu'ers.

the.

harl grcat llo\\'cr:, thc rrrrlinrirt'rl

po\\'crs of a Taoisr rnurtcr. I Nas
inspirctl boing s'ith hinr, Ilrt lr.'
ncvcr irrtcntionallv rlcnrorrrtlatr.tl
Iris pou'r:r. Chrurg -s'ot,n's l)()\\'cr'

ence

l'inril.. lice. Su<lrlenlv, thc olcl man rvas stand.

ing in nrv *'ar'. Hc s'as smiling as he harl in the
past, but this tinrc he explainerl, "Ybu cannot
run a\\'a-\'. It is .rrlrrr lite, -rour clcstinl, to sta1.
hcre,rn tho nrountaiu an<l lcarn rvhat I have to
tcach lou. I-et's go." Mournlullr', I pleaded,
"Sir, plcasc, I $,ant to go honrc." Tlre okl nran

lcavtl"

\\'as l-ct'Sorrg

but I knes' hinr as (']runqs'oon (llluo Cloutls). ll(' \\'as l)r)rr)

in Annrlurg Cit_r', Kr-ung Sarrq
l)rovincc. I lilt'tl u ith lrinr firr a
long tinrc, anrl harl a st rtst' tlrlt ht'
C)on,

lil.t

a\\'av this timt.. and bclicvr:rl I wes

llrt tlr.'

onl-r' lbod I of'fercrl to ...'t.'acl,cr sas thc

clriecl nrixturc of irino nettllcs, root\ anrl lrerrr.

tlte urcrgy of cartlt on(L the cnergy of hcot,ctt.

a

bc

it

go ahcatl ar.rtl havc sonrc voursc]l-."

When

trces I broke into a last rtrrr dos'n

thc nrourrtain. onlv to bc brought

IJrrt

llavor oncc tht'

coukl sce a littlt house. I nradc mr-

tav tosard th.'littlt stan(l of

trt't's. \\ hcn I s'as hirklcn ir.r thc

.u rrurcL (rstc. il'r.rrr

anrl lrt'c.rnrt' atta"lrcrl again to tht'

eat the

placerl the roots, pinc neerllcs, ancl bcaus in thc

shadc of thc trees

ol'tn'inq to run a\\'al aqain." l),r'no*', thou,h,

tttt'onlv thouqlrt s'as olescape. I looker'l

After 7 or

so, s'hilc s-anrlerinq itr thc rnountairrr, I

gathcrc(l s'ild fiuits. \\'hcn I returttctl t,, ,,ur

Antl

During this tinre the o'ltl nran took nre to nranl

dilfercnt places in thc hiqh mountairr. \\'e

to bright recls ancl qolds as the lbliage changcd

rvith the seasons. Thc leavcs be'qan to l'all, antl
once again

I thought of nn'grandfather. At

intentionalll n'as rt ortr llrst

nleetinq n'Lcn he slratter..rl thc st,rnt'llr' lxrint.
ing Lis linqt'r trxvarrls it. I Ic t'arrtcrl to nrrlie
srrre Lc ha<l uu'attcntionl It s'as his s'av of'
inrlrrcinq nrc to li,llos hinr. Atit'r tltat I sarr
nil' tcacher's great l)o\\.cr nrarl\' tinl(' s, l)ut onl_\
trsc his 1;ou'cr

in tht'conttxt of orrr tlaih' livt's. Of tt'n ]ri.

tcaching nlctlro(ls inclutlctl rrnconst iorrs itt't: ,rl
pos'er. I{ere I srlultl likt'to shart'sorllc nrcr)ro.
ries clf nrr'tinrc in thc nl()ulltlins arrrl nn tirrrc
*'ith Chunq,soon.

Wlren I \\'as practicinq Jrorg Ai l)rrn Ilttlt

(level I), I live-rl in e snrall ,'r'r't'.'l'lrt't'ntrrrrcc
\\'as vcr-\' Itarro\\', rvirlr s(0rrt'r'(lqes l)rot rlr(linq
ln thc clastinrt', it s'asn't ba<l going in anrl ou(,

this tinre of vcar, rvc usccl to qather *'ild fiuit

but at night nn'l;o<l_r' s'asn't flcrible or

on Tachak mountain.

rcsponsivc cnough to als

.)).

a-t

alritl

tltcst'

r'<lge

tDtliilttLtl itt rt \l l\t:t

Mountain

Life of Chung Sflhn

(.r,,ti,,

utljront

lrtt'intrs lxrsr)

I ol'ten bunrpetl nl' lilrchcad anrl scrapecl nr\'

hancls. One night, I s.oke rvith the urgent
necrl to relieve nrv bladcler. As I tried to nlove
quicklv thrtiugh the oper-ring, I hir nrv heacl
hard. giving mvsclf a large gash. Mv teacher
canre in the dark night and rvithout speaking

usecl a small stick to herd thc scorpions. \\'itli

stick in hand I tapped thc nesr and indicated
to the bees that thev shoulcl nrovc dorvn the
nrountain. Instead thev l;egan attacking ancl
stinuing nre. I ran tou.ard a rvaterfall, f-alling
on the rocks and cutting nw knees. I stootl

smoothed nrountain meclicine on the tr.ouncl.

unclerneath it until the bees har'l gonc back to

their nest. \f1hen I rcturnccl to the cave m-r,
teacher askecl me u'hat had irappened. So I
told hinr u'hat I had rlone. Then he saicl "You

As he

left the cavc, he macie some easy slicirrg

movements

rvith his hancl.

as

if

he rvere cut.

ting through tofu. The next morning, I uas

shockeci to see that he ]rail sonrehorv cut
through the stone of tht' opening, smoothing
out one of the large protrusions. That e.vening
he spoke to me, saving "When vou

hat,e their life?

nut tht

l:odry. \\:t
nl (Chttng.
?r'oolr rla.\ ttllitrg Bcl:1urtg that thc
irtjurtl urul lturnt happtnccl btt.aust
of o laLl; of ulutltnr,ss.)

rrro|t's az|rrr7.f

1,...t t rtiltorlirnt

If they ere G nuisutlcc to yolt,

yolt can tell thent to

ntoL)e

oll)ay.

If

r.s

not necessary

to hill ulr/ess something is really o thrcot to yott."

'Tlten he added,

One sunrnrcr dav as I ualked near

n1\-cave I neurlv steppecl on a large
scoririon. Startlecl, I threrv a srone

son

"

If

of neture then

you LL)ant to be cr
tJou lleLte

to hnott,

The tecching that CIrrrng.*oon bcgan qir ing

me is calleci Sun Do. According to ntv teacher,

vou have to kno\\.the rvhole universe is one

Dol

fanrill'." Hc qave nre rhis cleep teachinu.

there is no concept for this principle. On rarc

occasions
someone in society n-orrlrl
"vhen
meet a hermit ancl hear about the expcriences
of practice and nrountain lif'e, people began to
call these hermits "men in the nrountains close

is an ancicnt Korean practice that can be

rrtr

ir tht'ccntt'r ol'tlre turir-erre.

Erotericall,r,, it is the ct,nttr of tlrt'

borir'. Devclopinq tho ad,r t'lrc,rn is
the essence of Sun Do prat'tice. \\''hcn thc furrr
t/tcon is fullv developetl, pln-sical hunrc,rstasis
is achicvt,d. Spirituallr', lirll ilevelopnrcnt of
theaatt r irotr brings oneness rvith the r.rni-

At tlrst,

volr kno\l.tirat scorpions have their lifc? If

thr.r are a nuisance to lou, ).ou can tell them
to nlove arvar'. It is not neccssarv to kill unless
sonlething is reallr. a threat ro,\'ou." Then he
added, "Ilr.ou $'ant to be a son ofnature then

One s'intcr passed ar.rtl rvhen spring came, a

llcst of bees scttlcd ltearlx,. I *,antec[ them to
nro\e a\\'a\. ancl I recallecl hou' my teacher

1.ros'

r /tr

Later Chung.rvoon saicl to me "You cannot kill

all\-thirrg that is alive s.itliout reason. Don't

it

bor[_r' and spiri,

tual practicc. ln tlre hcgilrrrirr,l
stages, Sun Do uses mort pll sical
cliscipline. Tht' ph,r'sical aspcct

Srur Do is a nrind,

calisthcnics. Ilsotcrit'allv tht larr

began to nlove a\\,av and dorvn the mountain.

if

still rrscrl irr rvritirr,l.

filr

Thcrr thev rvill obcl and fbllou. vour thouqhts.

You have to knorv who thev are bclbre 11)u can
coDtrol them." Thc next rnorning I cliscoYcrccl
that all the bees hacl moved as'av. Although I
uever askecl Chung,uoor.r about it, I as.sunretl
hc had asked them to move a\\'a\'.

the stone asicle reveaiing a nest ofscorpions

untlerneath. M,v teacher mov'erl the stick
throuqh the scorpions, shaking it slightl,v, as
he rvas hercling thenl. Slorvlv the scorpions

are oiicn

1n

a small

torvarcl a large stone. Effortlessly'he movecl

Chinesc. Tht, Chinosc chulacters

tures, t{ni r'/rcori l;reathing, arrrl

j.L

branch, trimmecl it
s'ith his hanrl, ancl then rvalked

tht'rc n'as an cxchange ol- culturc

bet*'een ancicnt Korcans anrl

consists of stretching bodr'

the r-ultole Lo'tiL)erse is onc fanily."

and killetl it. Chung.s'oon sa\\'me

and said ")bu cannot rlo that." Hc

took

TongYee populatecl an arca from mainlancl

China to the Korean pcninsula. Elentr.rall_r-,

bt'cause of hostilitics rvitlr the Chinese, tht'
Tong Yee *'ithclrcu' to thc Korean
peninsula. llelirre thc rr'itl'rdras-al,
alit,e

kill anything that is

u'ithout reeson. Don't yolt hnoLu thot scorltiorts

mind. "

(\'O'lL: \\ /rcn zlc ntsh thc nincl

/r,rr,

Thc' pcoplc ol the Tong Yee Tribe, in ancient

tinres, *'ere the ancestors of Kort-ans. The.

tiring like that. You have to knorv the charac,

tcristics of all living thinqs in rhc universe.

"You cannot

arc in a hurrv, vou need to havc

sonre sl)acc in _r-our

have to be carclul and preparecl to so sonle.

to God rvho have supernatnral pos-t rs," s'hiclr

means, in Chint'se characters, Sun l)o. 'lirtla-r',
in Korea. Sun Do is rvritten in Chinesc charactcrs becausc thcso charactcrs easil-r' c\l)ross x
collcept. \\'hen the C-hinesc charactcrs arc
translatecl into Korean. Sun Do nrearrs
"Ultimatc- \\hr-."

Suu Do em1;hasizt-s nrorc plrvsit-al

practice lcadinrl tou'ard pr,pcr cne.rqr- llos',

rvcll-being anrl homc-ostasis. \\iith atlr'ane t,.

tracecl back 9600 years. Traditionallv, in the

nrent, Sun f)o beconres nrore spil'itr.ral thnmqh

the use of visualization ancl nretlitation.

motrntains, it is called "BotA Dol Buf;" (prin.

ciple of enlightenmenr). Hcrnrits use "Bo< 1r

Thcrt'

Bup"a,s an acljective,

llot

a noull, bccause

are nine stages of Sun Do practict.

Thc stages are intenclc-<l trr be practicerl in
sequence, but thc practitioner's erperir.ncc of
thesc stagcs is not necessariir scqucntial. Jrrsr
as

Chinesc nredicine treats evcr\-pcrson tlil'-

lerentlv accordinq to their constitution, rhr'

Sun I)o svstenr tcachcs t'ach indivitluai hos.to
Lt'|liilttLtl ril

.56.

rtt

tt ltrrar

Thc Mountain Hcnnit Life of Chung Sahrt 1.r,,ri,, utr!.finttt ltrct'ttttrs

pct,1a)

his/her being ancl achieve equilibriunr

Oftentinres people s'ith or.rlv a nreciitation
backqrouncl tirink Sun Do is a nrartial art, ancl
those s,ith onlv a nrartial art background

bencl a huge boulcler blockcd the path. As

thiuk it is a me<litative practicc. Bv the same'

token, .sonre people think it is a nrasculinc
practice u-hile ochers think it is l-eminine. In

out ofthe path and continued s'alking in

truth,

happened in a seconcl.

l;alar.rce

Sun f)o has no qencler nor prrlaritr'. It is

the lundarler.rtal antl ultinrate rvav of lif'e.

Cirung,u'oon approachcrl the boulder he raiscd

his hands, anc'l in amazenrent, I \\,atched tho
boulrler shattcr in hall'. FIc nroveci the pieces

ifnothing had happened. Asain I

s'as anrazcrl that it u'as a natural action an(l
silence as

Alter
I cuntinued to practice Sun Do verv harcl. At
tintcs I rr,'as so energetic I coulcl not
control the cncrq\'. \\tithout think.

I s'oulrl arrtrxnaticall.r' throrv

stoues, breck small tret,s or pull
in,1

thenr out of tLe grouncl.

I harl lrallucirrations
antl rvould also hear voices. When
I s'cnt to urinate or have a borvcl
nro\'ornellt, the trces of thc lbrest
bccamc pcople s-atching nre so I
s'as rrnable . I u-ould dance sponta.
neousll anrl at tintes there rvas atr
uncontrollablc <lesire to shout.
Soruet irrr,'s

and those with only o mertiol art bacltgrowul

tlinlt it is o ntedttotilte pratice.

By the sante tolien, sonrc peoplc thinlr

if is a masculine pructice while otlters
tltink it is fentinine. In truth, Sun Do
has no gen(ler nor polarity. It is
the Jiudarnental and ultinrutc Lt,ey ,J'lifr.

"Hou. conre it takcs

}L
"'?;

so

to brinq satcri"' I told hinr hos'the

involuntarv shaking causetl nrc to spill it and
hos' tl.rriug nl' Sun Do practice I becanrc so
scarecl thar I hacl to srop. Chung-$'oon replied
"lt is vour nrinrl that is shakv arl(l cannot con,
tlol vorrr borlv- Continue to practice harcl and
r',,rr s ill pars tlrrorrgh tlris."
Ior.rq

Onc

the.rc s'as a sc\:ere rain storm that

causctl nruch rlanragc to the nrountain. It
da_r',

pourecl all rlav into the night, anrl the flooding

caused nnrrl slirlcs, loosening rocks on rhe hill,
sirles, I;reakinq l;ranches, ancl topplin.g trees.
The nert cla-1' I rvas s'alking bchir.rcl mv
tr:acher on a snrall path. We s'cre heaclecl
tos'ar<l a spot r.r'herc I s'as doing n.n' Sun Do
practicc at that tinre. As we canrc aroun(l a

In thc linrth lcvcl ,rf Sun I)o.

Chrtnq.srlon is tcachin,l nre lron trr
s'ork rvith nl'spirit so that I anr
al;le to sce it in nre. 'lhe parts ,rf thc
practice aro calletl Ptrrt ,\hitn Rrtlt,
scparatinq tho nrinr[, Prrri .S/lirrr /3ri/;,
st.paratin{ th.'borlr', anrl '/ir .S/ri
Brrf;, secing through an-r'thinq. 'l-he :c
practiccs nse astral 1.lro.icctiorr s lriclr
reqrrires thc ust- ol inraqinatitur antl
r,isualizatiorr. I inraqino nn sclf
sitting ir.r a rlillclcnt Iocarion. \\'lrcu
mv rnrr r/rt'orr is strong errouqh. ln'
spirit actuallv nlovcs to that lot a.

tion.

*1,

to the cave. I rvent back to get more but it all

spillccl again. .\ltcr a feu, trips I gave him some
arrcl he askecl nre

I began trving to hreak largc

Mv hancls becanre

stones but rvas unablc to.

Oftentinrcs lteoltle uith only a nletlitatiotl

bachgrowtd think Sun Do is cr rnortiol ort,

I u',rtrltl,1ct irrtcrr:ivc lilrrariorrs

throrrgliout mv boclr'. C)uce, u.hile
brinqing \\'ater to lllY teacher, I
s.as shaking so much that the con.
tainer s,as emptv belbre I got back

*'ater

seeing this

atteution to us, likc s'cll,traincrl Inurting rLrgs.

l)trrinq Jin l;i dttn 6uD (li'r't'l 4), nl' tcacher'
toltl nre to tr\-conrnllnicatinq rvith thtnr u itlr
ntincl. It s'orks oltcn. F-or cranrirlc, rr.ht.n I
give tire suqqestion, through uritrrl, rrot to
lbllos. nre. thev sta-r, hehinrl. As the trrrr r'lrrorr
gro\\'s str()ngcr, the Practice leatls towarrl
onerlcss rvith thc unir-ersc an<l conrrcctiorr u itlr
ell thirrqs. \\ lrt'rr tlrir connc('ti()n i\ \l r'()ng.
conrmunication is possiblc rvith an-r' living thinq.

verv painlul and manv u,ounrls rvcre left on

them. I u.as far au'av from nlv teacher's po$,cr
but I kept trving and evcntuallv rvas ablc to
brcak small sttrncs easilr,. I could break stones
easilv because the er.rergv in nx' tan r,/rcon hacl
l;ecornc corlccntrated.

On <rne night of total clarkncss I s-alked

through the nrountain rvitli my teacher. I
coulcl not s,alk freelv, {'earful that I s'ould lall
off the path. Chung,s,oor.r rvalkecl as if it s.cre
davtinre. Therr he tolci nre "\Vhen voll are
enliqhtenecl vour eves ancl cars *'ill be briqhter
and vou rvill be able to see in the rlark. So con.
tinue to practice hard."

Lr nr_r'practice ol'Prot S/rirr

Brrf.r

(sellaratin,f thc borlv), thc projrctctl

being lirllorr,s nr-\' actions. I-ater on i
gave it sonre dilficult tasks to rLr anrl [ lirl,
los'ecl it. These thinqs s'cre dilllcu]t ro tlo rr
l.irst, but cvcntuall-r' the pnricctttl lrt'ing
became ur.rilletl to mc.

When I entcrcrl .;ont hal lan bub (lt'r'cl r) it

sc..mcrl to be the ultirnate rcalnr ol thc Tao
(Sun Do has 9 levt-ls). ,\utn lutlt rnr'ans hcave rr,
earth, arxl huntan beconrc onr'. Nos'rrrinrl arrrl
boclv arc trulv unittd, nrinrl gots arr<l b,,rlr

In thc nrcantinrc sc ha<l bccn rairirrq {srr

tigers. Their mother \\'as killed shortll alter
thet' u'cre born so rvc took carc of thenr. Ther.

follorr's. This is a verv high levt'l ,,1 nrinrl botl-r

unitication s'herc thuughts can bc nratcrial,
izccl. Even thouglrts about anotlrt r pcr:on s ill
cause that person s borl-r'to lbllos' nrr'
thoughts. At this tinrt'Chung,srron saitl to nre
"You cannot harc or n'ish bacl thinqs on an_r'
living bcinq in thc lanril_r' uf natrrre. \\'hatt'r't r_\1)u think s'ill actualize anrl lrt-conte tnrc."
lvlv teacher qave nre tlris renrintlcr anrl earefirl

]rave become quitt, biu. Thex ]ister-r and pav

guiclancc along nrr' path.

(

57

()IllIlrrrl

()I

ttt t

t ltt1lr

Life of Chung Sahn

The Mountain

..\lter I harl l;een in t]re nrountains fbr

rvhilc I

startccl practicing.To rrc thn bub (lcvel 6). I

had bcgun practicing skin brcathing cluring
xttit ltap dan bub, but nos' at this level ir is
nruch stronqt'r. I can stav unrler rvater {br a
Iong tinre. Ilarlv in the nrorning I clinrb to the
peak ol thr. nrountain to grcet the sun anrl
liqlrt. It is ver-r' joxrus. Thc jt1' sprints liom
nt_r' hcart antl nn' s'hole bodv hecomes
encrgizerl. The u'Lole sun seenls to al>sorb into

nn'l;otlr'.
M-v energv keeps gros'ing and qet-

ting stronger and stronqer. It is

reaching such hish levcls anrl I anr
still learning to control it. One tlal,as
I s'alkecl through thc nrorurtain I
spontane,ruslv shattered a big stone.

It

matle a thutr<lcrous noise that

revorberatecl across the vallcv ancl

the stonc flcs' c*'av. Then behind

rrc I hcar<l Clrrrnq.rvoon's voice in u
stcrn tone "\\'hat is qoing on?" I
trir:d to stabilize mt mincl ancl clear
anqer lionr

I havc nrany scars on nn'bodr' lionr the vcars

iu thc nrountains. I have bcen attackecl lrr'
tigers, bittcn bv snakts, cut and pt,kcd b,r'
trees s'hile rvalking in thc darkness, an<l nranlother accidcnts that happen rvhile adjr.rstinq to
mountain life. As nn, true l)ower accumrrlatcrl,
I s'as able to see futurc harnr coming anrl I
u'oulcl not go to s'herc it lroulcl happen. Mr'

bodl looks like that ol

a prinritive pcrson, but

mv nrinr'l and body have t,rgcther bccome pure

ar.r<l

l;odv one anrl vou can

<l,l

The,r nrv teacher said, "Thcse su1;crnatural

they can tlestroy your nlrnd untl botly."

lil

You shoultl

\'O'I E:

C/rinrg.rloorr i.s a.//ing BLliqung tlmt

brcahing l/rc .storrt' /rt is r/i.rt'orrnr,r'f irrg
tttttto't'. .\Iit'ttuting,teturL' linrit.s onc -s rorr.

bU

'''ll'

ss.)

These impulscs to break things continuecl

ticquentlr, for a long time. Horvever, through

thcse inipulscs I got manv <lecp lessons fiom

Chung-s'oou. l-atcr he saicl, "True porver

cannot conre. fronr cgotistic desire or selfish
nrinrl. True l)o\\'er comes lrom thc True\\hr'."

tht\

PO\\'Ors

can (lcstr(N- _\'orlr

nrinrl atrrl l;otlr'." F'inallr' (' htrrrqrvoon a<l<lcd, "f)on't rrru undt'r,
stancl

(.\'{)'/

"
1j: ()tu

is sarTing rlon't
-rt irlr.snr s.s

and

briglrt. Dvervthing insitlc

u,:ttitt

('111111,1-11

ltrttr

lintit tlour (on-

to potlr'r.r or bttotttt

lrr'.is i.s /tig/tr r coti.sliott..l. r.t rt

i.r rr'/rrrl tlott orc

iir

/t

.;trilirt,\ fbr.)

nre is br'conring

sinrilar to the virtue ,rf the run, cspeciallv the

qualitics of brightness and lif'e qiving nourish,
ment. I kcpt practicing thc last .3 levels ol Sun
Do,.sanr /iroig (7), nloo.iin (8), andjirr /roirg
dan bub (9). es I arlvancecl through tht'sc
letels, nr-r'conscious nrintl contimrecl to chanqc

In Hyunmoon Kim's own

words, coming from his
personal experiences with
Bekyung from 1979 to 1984:

r-erY nruch.

\\'lrile nn tcat'hcr llckvtrng s ls prut't ititt,l

Otit'ls t'trrt.rt iortJll('.!.s ,'ctll{ti}l.r /o('(1.

i:t'd rutlrL'r tlmtr trpottcling to trchicu uholc.

big trorrl>lc'. Evtn tlrough rhcr'

happe.n, tr_r'to fbrge't al>out thenr
as soon {rs possible. .[nst kccp practicing. I['_r'ou bccornc attac]rt'tl to

rtttut'lttl to tltL'nt. '1/rrsc l/ririg.

rr or/i rtgrtitt.st tt /toft rrt,rs. \\ iro1t.

']n

rigllt wa-\'. ..\re -rrlrr tr\-iltg to cut the blood ves.

scls anrl nrt rirlians of this nrountain? Do ron

rtr

vour nrincl
thern."

thcnt as soon (rs ltos.sible. Just kcclt practit'tttl.

If you beconrc attuclrcd to porucrs

Clrunq.soon hacl done this. Thcn m.r

tt'achcr saitl to ntr'. "That's not the

.\( i()ll.sllf s.$.

anvthing (eg, u'alkinq throrrgli s'alls)..." ' If

rou rcalh' \\'ant to rlo tht'se thinqs lott ntakr

But, rtltcn thcy oct'ur, if ryou tltinh ryou erc (lonc

practic'tttg you tl,ill bc in bis trouble.
Et-'en though they hupltcn, tru to.fbrget ebout

u'lrr'rr'it rras l>clirrc I brokc it.

lurng,rr.oolr cont i nuerl, "Aurong t hc t hi rt_r'

Ilo<ll change. art'lt'r'itatiott. l)rr)ic( tirtt \(rllr
bodl into l, I, or nranv others, pcnctrarinq
C

of'lthenontene LL'ill sAott, LQ on and oJ.f

rvas back

rhink rllat kintl ol plal is sorking?

go the right s'ar'. Ilight rvar'!"

ltutt)

po\\'crs are falsc foorl. s-hile \1)rr arr'practit'iug

Sun I)o, thcse kintls o['plrr.nonrena
s'ill shos' ttp on anrl ol'1. llLrt,
" ...supentotural pou'crs are
rvhcn thcx occur, if vorr tlrir:k rltr
.falsc .food.
are done. practicing vou s ill bc in
Vlhile you are practicirtg Sun Do, these kinds

it. \\/hen I rcgainecl con.

trol I realizcd the stone

1,,,,,,,,, utd.li'rntr ltrat.ious

Mv teacher once said, "\\'hilc \'ou

arc prac.
ticing the lr'ar- to the Tao (here are 70 changr:s
that s'ill happen, ftrrtv nrinrl changes untl
thirtl' bod,r' changes. Anrung the lortv nr inrl
changcs arc to be ablc to scc something, to l)e
able to talk, to be able to cat, to come and go,
flving, s'alking undcr water, staving unclL.r
rvatcr, staving in fire, beinq able to sce othor
rvorltls, coming from autl going to another
dimension, being able to nraterialize things,...
"There is nothing vou cannot do."

thc last tlrree stagcs of Sun f)o, his teacher

him orre tlav ond a.kc<l that hc gtt trr

the cin to publieizt'it. This s'as aroutrrl I9(r-.
Moving fionr thc nrorrlrtains to thc ci(,\'
recprirc<l a lengtltr' pcriorl ol' tratrsition.
llck-r'ung coukl not c\ on cat hunran li,otl. Tlrc
s'hole process took abortt -l .r't'ars. ,\t f irst hc

canrr: to

movctl to the krrver lt'r'r'ls of the rrrotrnt:riIrs atrtl

soul<l go to a llurl<lhist tcnrple otrcc in a u'hiie
Then llt'kvung bcgctr to nrakc'brief visits ttt
thc citr. .\rl.itrsr ing l'r'r,nr thc Ixrrc tttrrtttttuitt
.

.'r,rli,lit(

,58.

(/

r,r r( rl

/).1g,

t"1

:l'

"-.4{

t\

Thcc Mounta in Hennit Lif'c of Chung Sahn

life to citv lile is like traininq lbr toxitlcation.
Graduall-r'llekurnq spcnr nrore anrl nrore time
in thc citr',until bv I970 he rvas able to live
th..re.

Beklung estal;lished the llrst Sun Do schtrols

in Serul, Taechcon, and Ks'anqju. Othc.r

s.lr.rrl. ..-c.c ,rpenetl later. llek.r'ung even nraclc

bricf tisits ro rhe Unired States in I 97{ and
I97(r. In I9E4, llt'kvuns bcgan reac\ustinq his
both'.o that hc c()ul(l return to nrountain lifc.

llel,l ung returnc'd to mourlrain life in I9S4

anrl has not live(l in thc citv since. Hos'er.er, in
I9SS In,haek \u, a lbrmer high school rcacher
u'ho u'as travelling through (lil'fcr.
cttt tttourttairrs likc a $ anrlcriDq
Taoist, rlirl rrrcct hinr. \rr s as intcr
cstctl in \,lor.rntain'Ihoist Iilc.
Korca's nrountain ht'rmits havc
lrtcn lcgtnrlar_r' firr thousanrls of
vears. Onc tlar', <lrrring his travels,

\ir s'as sittir.rg in tht countn'sirlc.

IIc s'as suf'l'ering fronr

a scvcre

hoadachc s-hile he rvaitecl thc

1,',,,,ri,, ttttl

t'carinq

r.rs.)

"Alicns arc conrinq.

.\liens are conring." Surch', )ir thouqht, this is
a crazy nran. Thon thc strange nran cnteretl
thc statirrn, s'alketl tos'ar<l Yu, ancl presscrl a
l'cs' lloir.rts on his heacl. His hcaclache s,as
rc] ir.r't tl al nrost inrnre<liatelr'. A conversation
lirllou'ed ancl \u rliscovered the srrangc nlan
s'as Ilck_r'trng. Yu rleciclecl to spenrl tinre s'ith
llek-r'rrng, rravr.lling s ith hinr ar.rcl listening to

storios of nrountaiu lifc. \\'hcn it canre tinrc to

part, lk'kvung toltlYu hc s'as headerl for Kum

Kanq \ftruntaitr in North Korca.
Yu cvcntrrallr'pul:lishecl his book, ',llc
Prolthtcry rf t/rt .!oirrrs. His lxrok is al;our his

rr'ith nranv Taoist hc'rnrits and the

nlcssag(rs he recoilcrl lionr thtm. Althouqh hc
nrer.tinqs

rloesn't nrentit)n nanlLrs, \ir has privatel.r'spoken about nleeting both llekvung ancl

vrict' he

pcarecl. \'u

tation. Soon nrosqrritoes began to bitc hint and,

or-cn s'ithout thinking about the qoocl csarl,
ples set lx' lluddha and Christ, he clecirlerl to
be kind ancl avoid killing thenr. Then nrorc

Next to hinr a nran s'as sinqiug. Yrr sas tirctl

atrd rcach' tirr sleep, so at f'irst hc igrrorcrl thc
ntan. The sorttrtl of tltc ntatr's rrlie t' ctrntirructl
to drilt ovcr antl Yu slos'lr,beqan to rt'alizt'
that ho harl rrclcr heartl such a bcarrtilirl
sounrl. It s'as a voicc'rou coultl not lrcar irr tlris
u,orld. He listencd to thc sounrl anrl sus
strttrnorl to rccoqnizr. it s'as a Orr'qoriarr t'ltant.
Yu hacl bcen raisccl as a Catholic arrrl hc likttl
Cregorian charrts. Tir his l'trrthcr astonishrrre rrt
hc ncrt rcalizctl it s-as hi: l'avrl'irt.

nrosquitoe.s bcqan

biting cnd he'cor.rltl t'ec'l

himself losing his patience. Firrallv he lost

control and began killing the nrosquiroes.
Suddenlv sorneone saicl "Don't kill the
ntosqttitoes." Yu rcgainctl his conrposrrrc,
stoppetl killing the nrosquitoes, btrt the biting

{r}

LL

hose

harl hearcl.
The.n s'hcn\it rvas travcling to anothcL nr.urrtain lrv rail, hc s'as rvaitin,q in a snrall :tariorr.

lt rac t i c e, n eLL) re a I nt s oJ' c o tts c io l{s}l cs's

Ttttontutically openccl up to nrc
r.u it ltout
fo nn al ins t ruct io n .
Opening one's se lf to the unit,ersc is
u ntotter of conunitme nt en(l trust to Sun Do.

rnarr lregarr screalrrirrq

still rlidn't ktrrxv s

In.haek Yu hacl a scrics of expericnces rvhilc

that lcd to a meeting s'ith Chung.
tvoon. One tinreYu s'as staviug in Kvcrluong
\lountain ncar the Kap Sa Ruddhist Tenrplc. It
\\'.rs a \\,arnl sunlnler niglrt ancl he bcqan nredi-

Througlt con.sisrerlr ond contin lrolr.s Sror Do

ntilitarv unifornr. This stranqe

llekvtrng's teachcr Chur.rg.rvoon.

i(,r.s

trar-elir.rg

arrival of' his train. Hall.sittirrg

and hall'.lving on a bench, he
lookerl outsicle ancl .arv a stranqc
nran

fi'ttntrrrr

Oreqorian chant. .\ltt'r he .t,,pprtl

singing, thc nrun suitl I plantctl scr'
eral cucunrbe r sr.c<|. in 'l-arrq.f in (e
snrall

to*'n

orr

tht's'cst coast I lrotrrs

south ul Seuul) stich lrappcncrl to

bcYu's honrc torvn.lir corrlchr't tiq.
urc out s'hat rvas going on rrrrtil hc

voict'sas the ont'hc

harl heard ar Kxp Sr Ti.rnplc anrl lx
thc strcanr. \ir thouqht tlris stranqc
lllarl nlust bc a Ta0ist ht rrrr it . so lrc
bo* ct[ to hinr, shos inq lris rcspt ct
CltrtIr,l.u rtotr intro(lucc(l Irinrscll' antl :l .',rnr.'r,
rt,cognize<l thc

got worse. As nrort nrosqrritocs suckccl his

blood ancl he s-as about to lose control aqain
the soice scitl "Givt' r'our blood happilv!"
Although ir rvas verv dilllcult, Yu tried to be
happr'. The.n, all

ol a sudclen, his boclv s'as

soothecl antl refreshecl, and the nrosquiroes

stopped biting altogcthcr. Yu dicl nor kno\\'

u'ho had spokcn to him.

sxtion l)egan. In.haek

EPILOGUE

clrink sonrc s'ater. ]lut the s'atcr rvas <lirtv

lionr canrpcrs u.ho hatl been cooking, s'ashing
pots, and rinsing ricc. I)iligentl,v hc lootrretl
arounrl for a clean spot in the rvater. Thcn lrt
hcarcl rhe roicc, "Drink thar s'arer." At llrst

tltt

hesitated becausc it rvas so rlirtv, then

closcd his c1'es, clcnchcd his jas', anrl bcgan to
drink s'ith great rcsistance in his nrind. Again
he hcard the voice "Drink happili'|" So he
tried to bc happv ir-r his drinkinq, L'\'en thor.rsh

it

s'as ver,r' hard. His sickness

.'tr).

quickll rlisap.

<[.'cir[t,rl t() rr3\'ol

s'oou, Yit rccrlrdctl ntrlrc storics alrotrt rrrorrlr,

tain lil'c as s'cll as nrorc iulilrnrat i,rrr alrour
llekvunq. In-haek Yu is curn:ntl-r' u riting a
sccotrcl l>ook about his t'spcrit'rrcr:s in tlrr
mottntains.

On anothe'r da1', in thc nrorning, lir rvas I'eel,

ing sick. He s,ent to a stream so hc could

hc.

\ir

s'ith CIurnq,*'oon lirr es'Lilc. Fronr (ilrunq-

Manv peoplc lcarnt'd Strn l)o li'unr lleklunq

Srur Do sch,rol rluriug the lt-ars hr iir ctl

at

s'ithitr societr'. Ilvcntuall-r' I lrecarnc ont' ol' t lrr.

s('\'cnteen of llckr-unq's

tl

rect strrrlt'nts.

Encrgv clevelopnrerrt through Sun I)o inr',rlvt'.

ol l)o\turcs, brt'atlrinq

a standarrl sr.(ltrcncc

nreditation, an<l exc-rcise. Practice nrust bc

consistcr.rt arrrl corrtinrrr[rs. Throrrqh ('ons istcll(
arrtl cor.rtinuotrs Srrn Do l)racticc, ncrr' roalurs

of conscior.rsncss arrtonraticxll_r' opt'ntd rrp t,,

nrc s'ithout {ilrnral instruction. Ollcninq orrr's

The Motrntain Hermit Life of Chung Sahn

self to the universc is a nratter of comnritnrent
and trust in Sun f)o. In that sense, I think that
the role ot tlre tcaclrcr is nol (o gir c vorr
answers. The teacher assists anrl guicles 1.ou
through hisfher orvn Iife to sive you faith and

(.n,,ri,, ucl lrotn ftrtt.ious prtgt)

Bekvung never forcecl or insistecl that his

students accept his u,av. Rather, hc provirlcrl

inlbrmation on the True\\iv, clenronstratctl it

through lccture or in the practice room,
but through his own lit'e. His bchavior in a

r.rot

a sunrnrer da1', s'hen I *'as staving *'ith

Ilckvung at thc Sun Do Mountain Retrcat
Cr'nter in Ks'ar.rg.fu, Kvung Ki Provir.rcc, a
lricnd brought us sonrc \\'ate rnrelorl. \\i: ucrc
putting it into thc refriqerator and llck-r'ung

On

tmst.

said qentlv and r.cr1,sinccrclr',

Sun
With llckl unq's good

cranrple of

passion..,"rriiir"
Do, it took nre just two vears to
lii-e nroclel ancl

Do doesn't hatte any ruritten scril)tltre.

You could .say

series of

stancl or.r nl\- o\\,1-l l'eet. Since then

the jourrre,r' Iras been solely

Peoplc usecl to ask nre

n11,

breathitlg meditatiott postures

that prodtrce a non'intellecual

611'1.

and non. c onc el)tltal I eani ng e xl) eri e nc e.

"\\/hat did

vou learn liom llekvung?" It is a

hard rprcstion to ans$.er'because I
cann()t recall anvthing that }ie
taught me intt-'llectuallr'. I learnccl
fronr hinr horv to practice Sun Do
cxercisinq mind ancl bodv
through stretching, posttres, ancl
nreditatior.r. Sun Do doesn't halc.
ar.n' lr ritten scripture. You coulcl sav

thct its st:riPtttre contes front

Each posture awahcns the

thts ltddert utisdonr.

anrl ,rllscrrre

Rrrt I carr scc that. cr.'n tlr,,rrllr

One day I rvas rvalkinq dorvn the stairs from

the Sun Do school in Seotrl rvith Ilekvung

The tirllorvine storv told b1'Rekr,ung is about

au.akening hiclclen u,isdoni. Wircn rvholeness

antl higher consciousrrcss are achieved, all

lecrninq is alreadv there and comes from the

insirle. Onc da1- rvhile practicinq in the nroun,
tain he had a drcam. In this dream people took
hiur to a house and shos'ecl him hunclreds of
l;ooks. Thcre s.'cre a rvicle rar.rge of topics such
philosophv, meclicine, astrologv, geolog)',
sociologv and literature. He had rearl a ferv of
the books, but nrost he had not. When he
lookecl at the lirst pagc of anv book he instantlv kne." evervthing in the s'hole book. Years
later u'hen he lived in socictv he came across
anrl reatl all t,f these books. And, .just like in
his clream, s'hen he lookecl at the first page,
as

accessible to people in socictr'. Sonre

t1

clifferent parts of the body. Sun Do practice is

rlesignecl lirr arvakening this hiclden rvisdom.

leaming happen rvithin my

l)o

sorltl.
.\diustnrcnts rvcre nrark'to nrakc it

fr-tr

should be.

Lessons and

.J0 r-ears Sun

has beerr rciutrtxhrce<l to the

people nrav think that thesc atljust,

rnents rveakt n

tures thar prochrcc a non-intellectual ancl non.

conceptual learning experience. Each posture
as'akens the rvisdorn of life rvhich is storetl in

*'holeness ancl not onlt, in nn' heacl.

tr'achinq tirr me. llckvunq never

scolclecl or a.ske<l rpestiorrs likc
"\\'liv didn't 1ou...?" His bchavior

Durinq the past

oJ'the body.

Smt Do practice is designedJbr art,alzening

that 'its scripturc conres lionr a

rclies ol'breathinq nrcditation pos.

and positivc. NIaur'1-cars later I

rcalized that nronrorrt $'as a ([t'c[)

reflected the'lho.

u;isdont of life Luhich is stored in

dffirent parts

"\\;aternrelon shoulcl bc carcn

naturallr-." It s'as an eranrplc'of
hos' his bchar.ior as als'a-r's flos'ing

variety of situatior.rs taught nie horv lifc

rvhen we nrct a menr'ber of the Korean crinre

underrvorld. My teacher seenrecl to knorv hinr
r.erv rveli. Thev shook hands, erchangcd
greetings, and conversed aniicably. I rvas so
disappornted and shockecl. I ttrought of nrv
teacher as a noble man ancl erpected he shoulcl
not irssociate rvith underrvorld crinre figure-s.
At this moment he rvas acting Iike a gangster.
IVIuch later I realized that Rekvung s,as a

liienrl to all tlr:es ofpeople good, bad,

upper class, los,er class evervone. Somctimes
he loolis likc a saint. sonretinre: a qang\lcr,
ancl sometim.es even a conredian.

I saw hc

I00 dilterent pcrstxralities

rvished like a "\Lise Old lV{an."

coulcl be

he knerv cvcrvthing in the book.

.60.

if

he

i(

\ pllr('

qtral ir ic..

change havr bcen nraclt, thcr- art.

not rlestro;-ing tlic uncicnt s'isdonr of Srrn l)o
Sun Do still renrains a jourr. er, of as'akeninq

tLc original a\\'arcncss and is tlic path to\\"ar(l

rvholencss of hiqher cons<:iousness.

"Wlren uholcncss utrcl highcr

collscioltsn cr^s' cru at'ltit t'ctl ,

all learnirtgis

ulrcaclry tht'rt

und conrcs front the insirle."

lr{rsrrn Ht t rttorrr Krv

Quick Reference: Sun Do First,Stage Hang gongPostures

(7""9 Ki Dan Boup)

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