Dahn Yoga DC Metro Member’s blog

On the top of an unnamed mountain,

Bliss of wind went through the yellow flower bed.

In the middle of the flower bed,

You stood tall with a smile on your face.

Here is my dearest friend!

My dearest friend,

Would your broad chest endure events

That the normal people could not bear to accept?

Your light body like a willow dancing in the wind;

And your smile—did your smile

Laughing compassionate for the human’s consciousness;

Or

Laughing joyfully for our great Creator?

When you saw me, you waved at me.

Our distance was getting closer and closer.

My heart started pumping fast and fluttering.

You hold me tight in your arms.

Suddenly, my tears broke out

Like two streams running down my face.

I cried:

“I am sorry!

I am sorry!

My dearest friend!”

I had left you and gone to a far away place called world.

I let the dust of the world cover my tiring body.

I had totally forgotten you,

I forgot your existence.

Then, I see you once more.

You still wait patiently for my return.

You are waiting—

Waiting for the two of us to become united ONE again,

Because –

You are me

I am you

This morning, Ana, my colleague, said to me, “…it’s really misty…must be hard getting in , no?..”…funny, i smiled to myself…

so everybody knew about the mist no more secret?…

And so, that was how i felt as I staffed (finally!) for Shim Sung this weekend….and saw …yes, how misty….one spark, so many manifestations….

so likewise…how can anyone see me? how can i expect people to know me? So much emotions….thought patterns….cloudiness….as i looked around at everyone in the room…they all like me! bright spots in the middles…yet i nearly got fooled, on my first day…so i said “sorry” from my heart…for my preconceptions…about you and you and you….

…and i felt really humbled….as a staff…and i realized…there’s so much more to learn…from others….if only i could listen…properly…everyone has something to bring  and i hope, we never forget our worth….even as life can sometimes appear to wear us down….spread us thin…

I came out of the workshop, …a new respectful ”me”!..the staff: the MSNs, the Masters…the passion they bring: to make each flower bloom…so this kind of attitude, i like to become attached to…i told myself…as i watched Master Lee, i saw how i could still keep my playfulness, and yet be responsible in my role….and i realised, how my past behaviours,  could seem offensive to Master Edward at times, as i see the seriousness and sincerity he brings to his role…so the expectations of how i really need to step up to mine…I learnt so much by being “on the job” with the masters… 

it was a great Shim Sung experience… as i also thank myself, for giving myself the opportunity to discover me…i’m very grateful to Master Bright for  inviting me to help out….that gave me a confidence boost she knew i needed…

Thank you for the wonderful Shim Sung program; Thank you Dahn Yoga; Thank you, Shim Sung Members….Thank you Shim Sung staff, for this opportunity…to learn, to grow together

On the top of an unnamed mountain,
Bliss of wind went through the yellow flower bed.
In the middle of the flower bed,
You stood tall with a smile on your face.
Here is my dearest friend!

My dearest friend,
Would your broad chest endure events
That the normal people could not bear to accept?
Your light body like a willow dancing in the wind;
And your smile—did your smile
Laughing compassionate for the human’s consciousness;
Or
Laughing joyfully for our great Creator?

When you saw me, you waved at me.
Our distance was getting closer and closer.
My heart started pumping fast and fluttering.
You hold me tight in your arms.
Suddenly, my tears broke out
Like two streams running down my face.
I cried:
“I am sorry!
I am sorry!
My dearest friend!”

I had left you and gone to a far away place called world.
I let the dust of the world cover my tiring body.
I had totally forgotten you,
I forgot your existence.
Then, I see you once more.

You still wait patiently for my return.
You are waiting—
Waiting for the two of us to become united ONE again,
Because –
You are me
I am you

Oct. 14th Shim Sung

Congratulations!!

Sara Arnold 

I started yoga classes at the Dahn Center in Gaithersburg in August, 2006.  I’ve practiced other yoga styles in other places and noticed the physical benefits, so I figured this would be the same.  I didn’t realize at the time that Dahn yoga not only benefits me physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.  Dahn hak is not just physical training, it involves all aspects of body, mind and spirit. 

The integration of these aspects of Dahn are most evident with Shim Sung training.  Shim Sung training is about who we really are, what we really want, and what our purpose I life really is.  So much of our time in our daily life is spent seeking the answers to these questions in the context of our preconceptions and the perceptions of others are not who we truly are, which is why we don’t find the answers to life’s most basic questions outside of ourselves.  We can only answer these questions when we find our true selves within ourselves.  That is what Shim Sung is all about. 

During the training, I discovered many preconceptions I had about myself and others.  I am a physician in the Navy and spent several months deployed in support of Operation Iraqi freedom and Operation Enduring freedom.  For several years I have been carrying around very painful memories from those deployments and other events in my life which would manifest as anger, frustration and depression.  I had to take medications to control my moods and go to anger and stress management sessions for a year.  This therapy only worked at the surface and did not treat the underlying problems, so I gave them up.  I wasn’t until I could go to Dahn Yoga healing, meditation, and Shim Sung training that I could learn to deal with my problems and become a happier, healthier person.