Dear Shifu,
In these three months my life and how I view life has changed. This amazes me because my past has been very dark. I lost my teen years. I had migraine headaches as a child due to stress and in my adult life my search for spirituality lead to dead ends. I take everything you say to my heart because I trust you. I have studied Daoism for three years now with no master. Now that I have one my studies are now making changes in my heart, head, and body. I wish to destroy my self-image. I will give away my clothes (accept for clothes for yard work) and wear Daoist clothes, until I feel that I have connected with all things. My wife is supportive of this. I feel she understands my reasons. I desire to be a Daoist priest, not for the image but for the essence. I want to radiate light, not to be like a saint, but to have a pure heart. I wish to be a Daoist priest to help people find what I have found, and what I am looking for. I especially want to help war vets like myself to regain or gain for the first time health, peace, and virtue. I will however only do so with your blessing. I would love nothing more than to be honored with the right to represent Daoism in the west. Without your confirmation I will keep my understandings secret and continue to study (I will continue to study regardless) in private. I however need to know from you if I am or will be worthy of the title “Daoist Priest” by my return to the West. Thank you for your time in reading this. As for my studies beyond taiji and qigong, I am reading about internal alchemy and practicing. I am also studying Chinese astrology and Feng Shui. The book is helping me to understand my past Yijing practice with a more profound clarity. For all my life I will remain on the path in search for enlightenment and immortality. Thank you for guiding me in the proper direction.
With Peace and Love
Damian Ray Lundquist