Teja Bell, a recognized Zen Master in the Rinzai Zen lineage, has dedicated his life to the integration of Dharma, Dao, Qigong, and martial arts. He holds a 6th-degree black belt in Aikido and is a lifelong practitioner and teacher of Chinese Internal Arts, with a focus on the healing aspects of Qigong and meditation. Teja leads international retreats and trainings, including over 150 retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. His teachings bridge Buddhism, Daoism, and various martial arts, emphasizing holistic well-being and embodied leadership. MysticMag has the opportunity to find out more.
Teja, can you explain the concept of “QigongDharma: and how it integrates the practices of Qigong and meditation to enhance both physical and spiritual health?
Qigong, of course, is both a practice and a lifestyle rooted in Chinese arts and the Yang Sheng, which are life-nourishing practices. Qigong, as you know, means “energy practice.” These are practices I have engaged in for most of my life, both as a martial artist and a meditator. They are wonderful methods that help clear the system and engage the whole person.
The meditative practices are based in Dharmic traditions—not just Buddha Dharma, but the Dharma of all the contemplative and spiritual practices worldwide. Of course, Dharma is deeply connected with Buddhist traditions. I have enjoyed integrating and teaching the Dharma for practitioners, especially in retreats at places like Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California, Zen centers throughout the USA, and many locations and centers in China and Europe. It has been a delight to share the synergy of meditation and somatic practices, as they truly complement each other beautifully and effectively.
QigongDharma brings together the arts and sciences of both meditation and somatic practices. It is not a belief system, just as Dharma itself is not a belief system. Instead, we focus on what works practically and how it enhances daily life and supports deeper contemplative and internal discovery.
How do you incorporate the principles of harmony with nature, compassion, and kindness into the QigongDharma practices, and how do these principles enhance the overall experience for your students?
What a great question! The nature of the practices of Yang Sheng, which in an expanded way, includes Qigong and Dharma practices, works for the efficacy of well-being in all its dimensions – spirit, mind and body. Additionally, Dharmic practices bring us to greater ethical and moral sensitivity and a refined way of being. Thus, QigongDharma naturally integrates and enhances these features.
I refer to what I’m calling somatic practice, which integrates the practices of Qigong, also known as Daoyin, Yang Sheng and Neigong. These approaches to somatic embodiment encompass the spectrum of internal arts from Chinese traditions, modern science, as well as other traditions. Let me address the ‘Internal’ aspect of your question.
The principles of harmony, compassion, and kindness are inherent in the structure and spirit of Qigong and Dharma, especially in our approach with QigongDharma. When we practice, we are not just performing the forms of Qigong; we are expressing its spirit, vitality, and a lineage of knowledge – ancient and modern – and genuine embodiment of principles. Similarly, when practicing Dharma, we connect directly with the harmony of nature and the nature of harmony within ourselves, which effortlessly brings forth qualities of compassion, tolerance and care.
Compassion arises naturally when we begin to understand the interconnectedness of systems within our own lives, our communities, and the greater life of the planet. This interconnectedness enriches our lives and brings forward natural kindness and compassion. Kindness is essential to our practice because it heals and brings out the best parts of our humanity, including the radiance of joy, and the balance of presence, often called equanimity.
These qualities, known as the Brahmavihārās in Buddhist tradition, are intrinsic in the essential practice of QigongDharma.
What can students expect to gain from building a sustained practice with your community compared to attending individual sessions?
Individual sessions contribute significantly to edifying the sustained practice of our QigongDharma and its benefits. Students can expect a heightened sense of well-being and presence – physical and mental health. We practice this through both somatic methods, like Qigong and Neigong, and connect it with contemplative practices such as meditation. This integration brings together the best aspects of these pathways.
It’s important to note again that this is not about a belief system but rather a direct investigation. We engage with the value and benefits of Qigong and meditation in a direct, experiential way, not just a conceptual one. Through this process, students can expect a gradual unfolding of a greater sense of internal well-being. This occurs because we sit in the presence of our true nature and let that radiate.
We don’t rely solely on thinking, although good thinking is important. Instead, we connect with the essential radiance of being, which is transformative on all levels—psychologically, physically, neurologically, emotionally, and spiritually.
How do your teachings and practices in QigongDharma draw from your extensive background in martial arts, including Aikido and Chinese Internal Arts?
All practices of the Chinese internal arts, which encompass Tai Chi and Qigong, as well as other martial arts traditions like Bagua, Xingyi, and Liu He Ba Fa, emphasize the principles of life-nourishing training. While some martial arts are more focused on their martial aspects, the core principles are about nourishing life, which is my primary focus.
I’ve been interested in martial arts, especially as a younger person, and they have provided a wonderful way to learn these internal arts. Aikido, which I also consider an internal art, has been a significant part of my life. I began practicing Aikido in 1971, and over the past 50 years, I have delved into its depths and dimensions. The central principles of Aikido—universal harmony and unconditional love—are fundamental. This might seem antithetical to martial arts, but the martial training is designed to fortify one’s character, transforming one from an aggressor into a protector of humanity.
The connection with martial arts is vital because it embodies the nature of practice in a way that transcends mere conceptual understanding. Often, we think about things without truly understanding them. It is essential to embody principles—principles of essential harmony—not just talk about them. Experiencing, feeling and expressing them is what truly matters.
QigongDharma integrates somatic and contemplative practices for overall well-being, benefiting students through weekly classes, special programs, and longer retreats. Due to the pandemic, I haven’t returned to China or Europe to teach retreats or special programs, but I look forward to doing so in the hopefully near future.
In what ways does QigongDharma help practitioners access direct knowledge of their true selves and cultivate radiant well-being?
The practices of QigongDharma help us to center within our human being while also connecting us with the Earth and the Universe. Through this flow of practice and by resting in the presence of the Dao—or whatever name you may give it—we connect with who we are beyond our personality.
This practice is not just about transcending the personality; it’s about integrating it and including it. For certain important parts of our practice, we rest in the wholeness of the Dao and our true selves. Our true self is not merely a greater personality; it is our interconnection, interpenetration, and interrelationship with all of Life, all creation and beyond.
This connection with the Dao, which is ineffable, unexplainable, and incomprehensible conceptually, becomes accessible in direct experience. Through QigongDharma, we experience this profound connection and integration, bringing a deeper sense of peace and understanding into our lives and expression in the world.
If you would like to find out more about Teja Bell, please visit https://www.tejabell.com/
