Ilchi Lee

The first thing I did was to get up at dawn and go to a local park. As the morning light dawned, I took a good look at those who came to Choong Hyun Top park in Anyang city. Some looked ill, some were out of breath, some walked with a very weak gait, others had poor posture — I could see so many issues in each of their bodies.

I approached them and asked if they were ailing anywhere in their body. “If you want, I am willing to help you.” Some threw me a doubtful look, and others rejected my forthright offer, cutting me off with a curt, “I’m fine.”

However I did not give up and returned at the same time every day. I wanted to help them. Seeing my constant and unwavering attitude, they began to understand that my concern was from the bottom of my heart. But still they didn’t dare to ask for help.

One day a middle-aged man held me by my hand. After suffering a stroke, he couldn’t move his arms and legs freely. He asked for my help very earnestly and desperately.

My first encounter at the Choong Hyun Top park in Anyang city began like that. Standing in front of him, I said, “You are in front of me, representing society and humanity. I really want to help you.”

I tried to focus on him deeply, and asked myself, ‘How can I help him?’ At that moment, my arms slowly began to shake by themselves. Naturally I began moving to shake stagnant energy off the body, stretching my arms side to side, bouncing my knees.

He began to follow what I did. It was an easy exercise that a stroke victim could do. Shaking his whole body gently made him feel refreshed, and released stagnant energy so he could feel warmer.

A smile began to linger on his lips. Hope for health and passion for life started to bud from his heart. My heart began to be impressed by the light of his heart.

Thus I approached people and they came to me. Soon there were many people in that park, exercising in the early morning air. We recovered health, shared happiness and created peace together. It was the very beginning of Dahnhak (Dahn Yoga) and Brain Education as formal education methods.

After 30 years, now, whenever I meet challenges and obstacles, I remind myself of this time in the local park. These memories are precious to me, of a time when I cut through waves of fresh dawn air fluttering with pleasant expectations, to see sincere people waiting for me in the park.