Back in the "Good ol' Days" of China (I don't have any exact dates); there were Masters of various disciplines – Tai Chi, Gung Fu, and other martial arts, as well as traditional healers, medicine men, etc… These Masters carefully chose the students they would adopt and train. The relationship was as close as a blood relationship and carried a lot of importance. The training might take three years for the healers, for instance, and during that time the Master paid for the student's room and board. The student paid nothing but his devotion to Master, following his every word. After the three years (or whatever amount of time), the student would be accomplished and begin working for a wage. Now it was time to pay back the Master. All of the student's earnings for the first year went directly to the Master. In subsequent years the amount was reduced by various percentages. As time went on the Master would continue sharing secrets with his students, in particular the one that showed the most promise. The student who learned his lessons well and supported the Master most generously was the one to receive the more valuable nuggets of information over the years. At the end of his life, the Master would give that student, and only that student, his most treasured bit of information – something he had held back until his final moment.
(Photo caption: Teacher in Ditan Park talking with his friends. Does he look like a relic to you?)My translator, Xihua Yang, says Teacher Hong is living in the Olden Days. When he says our relationship is like Father/Daughter it comes with a lot more expectation than handing down some traditional healing techniques! We have spent the last two days discussing the various financial aspects of our relationship, and it hasn't been easy! I certainly didn't realize that's what I was being invited into 2.5 years ago! This explains why Teacher suggested I buy an apartment here in Beijing – for me to use when I come to study with him for lengths of time. In HIS opinion, staying in a hotel is too expensive! I should just buy an apartment!!! Of course, in MY mind the difference in cost is very significant! And, I don't have plans to live here for months at a time to study with him. That Old World system isn't employed today, at least as far as I'm concerned. He has a hard time accepting that.
Teacher is living on a pension, so naturally earning some income from a student would ease his aging years. His argument for charging me large sums of money is that he's giving me the tools to become a very successful healer. That may be true and it may not be true. For instance, how often might I treat someone who has been stung by a bee on the eyeball? And if I did, could I really collect sputum from a rooster to do so?! My complaint is that he hasn't taught me much of anything as of yet. He's a talker and tells story after story. I'm a person who loves to hear stories, don't get me wrong! However, if I'm paying hard-earned money, I'd better be learning something! For his part, he says he's not an academic teacher as he's never been to university. It's hard for him to just teach me things. He needs to have a patient or many patients in front of him with genuine issues to work on, and then he can teach through example. That probably isn't going to happen. He has suggested that he fly to Helena, Montana, USA and shadow me in my *clinic* giving me suggestions for the treatment of my clients. Again, he has NO IDEA of what he speaks!!!
(Photo caption: This is Xihua Yang, my primary translator. I am wearing part of the gift Teacher gave to me - the necklace and some bracelets.)So, where does that leave us? Fortunately, my translator has been an excellent ally, has voiced my concerns and whittled down the price. I don't have to pay anything as of yet, so we can see if he follows through with some information and treatment protocols. I'll keep you posted!
Hong Liang
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