In the early 90's my mother worked at the Westin Hotel in Chicago. She made her way up from the front desk to the concierge for overseas visitors. One year an academic group from China came to Chicago for an exchange. It was their first trip out of China. They spoke no English and had no idea how to use a fork or eat the food. I'm not sure why the Westin was so unprepared but suffice to say this group was traumatized. My mother had been in one of the first groups to China after Nixon opened the country. She completely understood how traumatic it was for them. Suffice to say, as my mother would have, she went out of her way for them.

There was one man in particular, the man in the photo left, with whom she became friends. He was a prominent scholar of Buddhism, Taoism & Confucianism. He lived and taught in Chengdu. They remained pen pals for many years after their trip. He always invited me to come due to my interest in China. He was getting a bit on in years, late 70's or so, when in 2000 my mother said, "you should go, he's getting old and you may not have this chance again." So, I did.

I had been in China for one month in 1991 but never back and really never thought I would go back. China in the early years of opening was a difficult place to travel. But this was quite an opportunity, to spend 2 weeks with a scholar such as him.

I arrived to a spectacular 2 weeks. He had it set up that I met and studied with all kinds of fascinating teachers, monks and scholars. I travelled all over the region, a very rich part of China for Taoism & Buddhism. I visited many temples, including the temple of "Green Goat" where it is said LaoTzu stopped to write the Tao Te Ching before he disappeared into the mountains on his Buffalo.

I ate amazing food in Buddhist Temples and travelled the stunning landscape of the region. (Chengdu is the launch for Tibet). I learned so much. And of course was treated like a dignitary as the Chinese would have at that time. I even practiced Chen Tai Chi in a random park with a direct student of Feng Zi Qiang, quite a "coincidence." Unfortuantely I can't find that photo at the moment.

There are many photos, but this one has always stood out for me. These soft men were Taoist Monks. The one to my right, in his 80's, could still run 100 miles across the mountains to the next Village.

I've always been able to balance the pragmatic with the spiritual in my personal practice and my teaching career. This trip definitely allowed me to immerse myself in the spiritual.

And by the way, after this trip, I thought I'd call it good and was sure I'd never return to China.......