Ted Cibik's Inner Strength

Ignorance and Wisdom



Excerpts from Dr. Ted Cibik’s ongoing Taoist Lecture series at Inner Strength
Retreat Center in Leechburg, PA on Wisdom and Ignorance



Two of the greatest detriments to our sanity, peace and
happiness are Ignorance, and through Ignorance, the inability to manifest our
Wisdom. This creates, what I like to call, being off-center.



As His Holiness the Dalai Lama Stated, ”…..I believe that
all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the
selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction.”



In this regard, Ignorance causes reality of situations to
become distorted – especially in ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Ted Cibik at 4/22/2008 2:43 PM | Add Comment

Simplicity

The following is an excerpt from Dr. Ted Cibik's classes on Formless
Taoism which are held the third Saturday of every month here at Inner Strength in
Leechburg PA. Previouse topics have included Fear, The Warrior and the Priest,
and Being in Center. Some of these are recorded and can be found at www.inner-strength.org





One of the special features of true Taoism is that is
support the value of simplicity. As we become more technologically advanced
with nanobots and Richard Branson (founder of Virgin records) speaking of
building a team to inhabite Mars (yes, the ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Ted Cibik at 4/9/2008 3:20 PM | Add Comment

Death and Transition

It has been a very sobering week for me as I have had 4 people I cared about - die within 5 days. Like most deaths, these were sudden, out of the blue, that leaves you shocked and at a loss for words. My training (mind) tells me that we are all born to die - however my human-ess (heart) feels the pain of loss. No matter how well read you are, how versed in your particular faith and its practice, I believe we all feel this pain when the person who passes on is close enough to you to affect your heart. Yes, dying is a part of life – I understand, but it does cause you to reflect on the things that are non-tangible and omnipotent - Love, Compassion for the living, and Spirit.

As we open our hearts more in our practice, it also allows us to become more vulnerable in a sense to feeling pain. First, we feel the pain of those around us - those we are closest to. Later, as we go deeper into practice, we begin to feel what the world would call strangers. We begin to realize that all human beings share this understanding of death and loss - and in a strange way perhaps – it makes us all connected. As we come together in loss, we feel the love that each individual had for the departed, and through this unification find compassion for each other.

I believe that this unification is the final and greatest gift offered by the one who has transcended the confusion between the left and the right brain. Let me explain. The left brain is the about the worry and predictions of the future. It is the brain that sorts the details out and itemizes them into categories of time. Our left hemisphere thinks in language - that ongoing brain chatter we Taoists call monkey mind. It is also the side that causes us to be that individual that says I need to do this and that and I should be doing this or wonders how other people perceive us.The right brain is about the present moment. The right side thinks in pictures and kinesthetic movement like when you fall in love and the whole world feels right in that moment - with love and connectedness for everyone. 

I am not unfamiliar with dying, or even death. As a child and teenager, I was “pronounced dead” twice in hospitals respectively, and had my last rites (Catholic) performed twice. The first experience was written up in JAMA and the Lancet, two very prestigious medical magazines. According to records, I was “dead” almost 14 minutes before “Coming back to life.” This intrigued so many physicians, psychologists and clergy that my case was followed for almost 10 years thereafter – becoming one of the leading case studies for Near Death Experiences – Only, I argue that I was not near dead – I was dead. You can read more about this in my book “Air Passages Surviving Asthma Naturally.” I do not, however, write anything in the book about what I seen after death or what happens to you when you die – as the book is about what I did to survive, when all the physicians were in agreement that I could not live.

Once people hear my story they ask, what happens after you die? What you see after you die? What is heaven like? Are your pets and loved ones there etc.?Many have also asked, so why don’t you go public about this, write a book and become famous like so many others who reported their experiences?

The truth is, I answer these questions privately, as death or dying is a solitary act in itself – very sacred. As a Taoist priest, I believe in affinity, that those who need to speak with me - will find me. Patients, who come to me with MS, ALS or phase IV cancer for example, always ask these questions and we have lengthy conversations and how to prepare for the inevitable (We all die – but for each person it is different). 

I will tell you this – That I do not fear death – as I have been to the “Valley of Death” and back. Upon returning, is when I knew I was to become a healer – but I had to heal myself first – and most of my youth was figuring out how –this was the greatest education that I could ever hope for - and it was all self-directed.In retrospect, it is always the living that has to heal and have to suffer. And so, my real compassion at the funerals - were for the people who were living.

Posted by Ted Cibik at 3/18/2008 4:01 PM | View Comments (3) | Add Comment

QiGong Exercise Specialist

I caught a news report the other day that made me
shake my head. A recent report spoke about how a Chicago High School improved
students grades from C’s to A’s by just including exercise before the acedemic
day. By providing exercise before classes, the students added one year of
reading level and a twenty percent increase in math scores! Although extremely
news worthy, doesn’t this just make common sense to those of us in the exercise
world?



So young and not so ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Ted Cibik at 2/12/2008 8:00 PM | View Comments (9) | Add Comment

MRSA, Taoism and the Earth

I often think about nature, its relationship to me, my mood,thoughts, my being and my state of mind and body. How can we separate ourselvesfrom it? Even in drinking of water and consuming my oatmeal, nature is patientlythere reminding us of a delicate balance between its health and ours.

Henry David Thoreau wrote in the 19th century,“In wilderness is the preservation of the world.” That line is to me like aline from the Tao Te Ching – timeless. It speaks on so many levels withprofound acuracy, but for most of us little contemplation on the depth of itsmeaning.

Yes, this might sound like a philosophical beginning forthis blog, but snap back into the reality of the world, and you begin torealize that even MRSA – the superbug that devours flesh – may have its humblebeginnings in our ravaged streams and soil. Scientists have found that MRSA maybe a part of what they call genes for antibiotic resistance – DNA Pollution!Our soil and our water all contain bacteria that interact with what we feed ourlivestock and poultry (antibiotics) which then transfer into their droppings -that transports the antibiotics into the soil and into our groundwater. Now thesoil and groundwater’s bacteria have a chance to mutate and adapt to whateverwe throw at them (think of what we grow in our soil also). But what about allthe antibiotics our impatient human population takes, excretes, pumpes intosewage treatment plants and then is made into fertilizer? Guess where thefertilizer goes? We already know that certain excessive bacteria can cause cancersuch as Helicobacter pylori –  but what happens when it mutates?

If this concerns you, read the March 2008 issue of Discovermagazine called “Superbugged”. In the same issue, George Schaller, fieldBiologist, asks a question that moved me so much that it made my heart ache. Hesaid, “ Can you put a value on a river -  On the cry of an animal?  Unless you can convince people of the spiritual value of theenvironment, the cause is lost.”

Many people poke fun at environmentalists, until their childgets cancer from benzidine, a chemical found incertain dyes or Tetrachlorethylene produced since the early 1900s mostlyfor dry cleaning, textile processing, rubber coatings, printing inks, adhesivesand glues. Drinking water, contaminated bytetrachlorethylene runoff from manufacturing, that then that seeps into thegroundwater, can be absorbed by inhaling while bathing or showering. Moreover,aggresive infections that do not respond to traditional treatments orcancers begin to spread in towns where there was known nuclear dumping etc. Sooften we play russian roulette with our actions regarding the environment,without being truly responsible for future generations. People laughed atenvironmentalists concept of global warming 15 years ago, now it is front pagenews and on all the science shows on TV. Watch the National Geographic showabout what just a three to six degree climb in Earths’ temperature will do. Theamazon rainforest will be gone, and parts of Europe, India and South America willbe uninhabitable due to to barren wastleland.

So now we believe we are knowledable enough to clone animalsfor their meat and milk. The FDA recently paved the way by approving themarketing of meat and milk from cloned cows, pigs, and goats in the UnitedStates. The FDA does not plan to require manufacturers to make any declarationof cloned content on labels! How are we as consumers able to opt out of clonedproducts? Morover, what about animal welfare? What about the ethical andenvironmental implications of cloning? Do we really know what we are doing? 

If we look at history, nature is the strongest force on theplanet and it will overcome the reckless alterations that we have set forth. However,it might just cost us our ability to live here as well.

 

Posted by Ted Cibik at 2/11/2008 5:22 PM | Add Comment

Medical QiGong Certification with Dr. Ted Cibik

Oprah is talking about it. Dr. Oz thinks it is the perfect proactive wellness tool. Incredible, positive western research is pouring in. The Wall Street Journal, where Dr. Ted Cibik was interviewed states: “It is rumored that Tiger Woods practices Qigong.” Two guests on the Oprah show stated: “We used Qigong to change our lives.” 

There is a shortage of thoroughly educated Qigong teachers, Medical QiGong Therapists and Chinese Health Practitioners. Roger Janke states: “Within 2 years Qigong and Tai Chi will be in every school, university, social service agency, military base, hospital, fitness center, YMCA, prison, faith ministry and spa in the world”.Imagine being established as a certified teacher and being a part of that!

Dr. Ted Cibik, ND, and Doctor of Medical QiGong, has been lecturing at conferences, corporations and research institutes throughout the United States and Canada. He was one of the first speakers at the National Institutes of Health to speak of QiGong. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National QiGong Association and chairs their research and education committee while being a member of the World Academic Society of Medical QiGong. He is an author of two books and numerous research articles and chapters in books on energy medicine, naturopathy, meditation and mind/body medicine. Inner Strength Medical QiGong and the Chinese Health Practitioner is the Ivy League school for Qigong and Medical QiGong Teachers worldwide.

True Medical QiGong treats many illness, afflictions and allows the person to mature in many ways. Cancer, fibromyalgia, tumors and cysts, pain management, addiction, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, depression, bi-polar, fear and anxiety, stress induced illness and asthma all can be improved with Medical QiGong therapy.

There are many Medical QiGong and energy healing systems available to the consumer. Reiki, Energy Medicine, Bioresonance Therapy, Touch for Health, TBM, Endogenous Regulatory Forces and Energy Kinesiology to name a few of the more popular energy medicine models. Medical QiGong training is the foundation of all Chinese Medicine. Everything that claims they use meridian system as their basis or foundation uses Medical QiGong concepts and principals in their healing. It is the foundation of acupuncture, herbal preparation, Tuina, Anmo, Bone setting and many other invasive and non-invasive modalities.

Additionally, Inner Strength Medical QiGong is not Taijichuan training or even Gung Fu training - is unique unto itself. Although some techniques may “cross over” as stand alone drills, the depth of training in Inner Strength Medical QiGong is arranged along very specific guidelines of grounding the person first before allowing that individual to progress into areas of emotional and spiritual development. Emotional and spiritual development may challenge their current ideas and belief’s about themselves. Inner Strength’s program is about developing a sense of enlightenment – letting go of fear – letting go of ego – letting go of self-destructive thoughts so that you may serve your clients without any preconceived judgment - or seeing through glasses tinted by your own issues (transference). Yes, this is difficult, and that is why the instruction takes time and cannot be rushed. Every one of our students goes through physical, emotional and spiritual epiphanies repeatedly – when they do the program as directed. The term life changing is a term used so much that it almost has lost its true impact – but that is what happens here - transcendence of suffering towards true understanding and enlightenment.

Inner Strength Medical QiGong and Chinese Health Practitioner Program allows the person to see the true nature of things – to take off the glasses of delusion – and see clearly for the first time in their life. Then and only then, should a healer be working on someone else’s energy matrix to allow them to see clearly!

Copyright InnerStrenth, Inc. All rights reserved under state and federal laws. Copyrightcontrol of this article, the title and ALL content remains with Inner Strenth,Inc. at ALL times. Content may not be copied, altered, edited, disseminated, orreproduced in any way. >>

Posted by Ted Cibik at 2/5/2008 10:01 AM | Add Comment

Arthritis, Pain and QiGong

For people who
are otherwise exercise compromised, Tai Chi / QiGong can improve posture
control while stretching, toning and relaxing the body in a cumulative way that
no other form of exercise can achieve (American Journal of Occupational
Therapy).



Not only that,
but QiGong is the lowest weight bearing exercise that can be
performed with benefit, and modified forms can be suitable for even arthritis
sufferers with minimal discomfort (American Journal of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation).



Okay, now you
are sold on the virtues of QiGong - So off to find an instructor!



Here are some
tips from being in the sport medicine field ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Ted Cibik at 1/22/2008 3:39 PM | Add Comment

Medical QiGong in the 21st Century

PODCAST: Listen to Ted's lecture at a Cleveland Health and Welness expo on the benefits of Medical QiGong as a health modality as we move into the 21st century.<< MORE >>
Posted by Ted Cibik at 1/20/2008 6:21 PM | Add Comment

Medical QiGong Teaching Certification

I have been teaching Medical QiGong for over 10 years across the country, and I have come to realize the stark differences in energy training methods and the people who use them.

I have come painfully aware ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Ted Cibik at 1/20/2008 3:31 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Energy Vampires, Fatigue and Disease

EnergyVampires, Fatigue and Disease

One of the most interesting andcommon situations that occur in the energy world is the vampirism or the sucking of life force from one human being to satisfy another. This dark energy that people feel coming offf someone who is mentaly troubled is real and affects millions of people daily. Inner Strength has been teaching how to prevent this in their Medical QiGong and Chinese Health Practitioner courses for over 10 years now.

We probably have all experienced this situation before: ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Ted Cibik at 1/7/2008 10:14 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment
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