Postures by Dorian Matney Photographs by Bob Coates

EARTH DAHN GONG is a training method jointly developed by Dahn masters at Sedona lichi Meditation Center in Sedona, Arizona. As people jokingly say, “God created the Grand Canyon, but He lives in Sedona.” Sedona boasts of its exceptional beauty; here, the sky is perfectly clear and blue and the color of Earth is almo* orange. A peaceful and lively energy in Sedona lingers between the sky and Earth.
Many of us might enjoy Earth’s nature as we climb the mountains, drink in the sight of the flowers and trees, and walk around a lake. We may think, “Oh, that mountain is grand, that flower is beautiful, this place is very peaceful,” but rarely do we think, “How beautiful the Earth IsV’ We do not often feel Earth with our hearts.
Sedona is one of the places where we can have this rare experience. ‘While I stand on top of a red, rocky hill and look toward the faraway horizon where the sky touches Earth, a gigantic, gold moon rises an arm’s length away. Then, strangely enough, I realize that I am living on a planet called Earth, and I experience a fresh excitement. I am moved by the fact that the Earth is the root of my being’. I am amazed and deeply stirred by a simple understanding that it is because of Earth that I can breathe, eat, relate with others, and create. Here, I understand with my heart, not my head, that the entire human race is one famih, and that we are all brothers and sisters regardless of our individual differences in nationality, religion, and culture.
Dahn masters at Sedona Ilchi Meditation Center developed Earth Dahn Gong for the purpose of letting us express the beauty of and our love for Earth with our bodies. We practice Earth Dahn Gong as we watch the sun’s evening rays paint Secret Mountain—the mountains that shelter Mago Garden like a giant, folding screen—in gold.
Earth Dahn Gong helps blood and energy circulation throughout your body. Even though we use our upper extremities to a far greater extent, much of our weight is placed on our lower extremities. For this reason, Earth Dahn Gong was designed to strengthen and balance the lower extremities for people of this period. Training patiently will help develop your muscles and physique evenly. In addition, practicing deep breathing at the same time will require you to focus on your energy flow, helping you calm your mind and improve your concentration.
The most appealing aspect of this training is that it fosters a closeness with Earth, so that you come to think of Earth as “your planet.” Otherwise, Earth can easily become an impersonal object of nature. Just as you feel a oneness with your family or hometown, you can feel the same way about Earth. You can feel that you are one with Earth through Earth Dahn Gong. Creating this experience is the greatest appeal of Earth Dahn Gong.