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Meet your Neighbor
Ordination as Buddhist priest comes as finale to years of study, determination

By Melissa Hirschl

This April, a trip to Taiwan will mark the dramatic culmination of three years of intense study for Kyrene Corridor resident Philip Guzelf, a soon-to-be Buddhist priest.

Along with 11 other students, Guzelf has found himself immersed in a rigorous curriculum, including Buddhist history, sutras, tantras and philosophy.

For their ordination, the group will travel to Lion’s Head Monastery, where about 300 people will attend the investiture ceremony.

The monastery, which is nestled among Lion’s Head’s many peaks, is known among the people of Taiwan as their spiritual capital. Nearby are temples, shrines and residential/training facilities that span a 100-year history.

Guzelf, a licensed massage therapist and nationally certified Asian bodywork specialist, says he is thrilled to be see his years of study come to fruition.

“In addition to becoming a Buddhist priest, I’m really excited about traveling to Southeast Asia,” he said.

“My wife and I have traveled extensively, yet we’ve never been to that part of the world. While we’re there, we will be visiting a lot of temples and monasteries, not only to see them but to do meditation there, as well.

“It is our hope to establish a permanent home for Buddha Heart USA in America, including temple and healing facilities.”

It was after 14 years of study in Zen meditation and Zen Buddhism that Guzelf became enamored of various Asian therapies such as Ti-Chi and Chi-Gong.

Trying to tie his interests together, he took courses in Asian bodywork therapies at the Southwest Institute for Healing Arts in Tempe.

“After taking these classes, everything made sense to me,” says Guzelf.

“I soon got an associate’s degree in the program and also in the 500-hour certification program for Shiatsu” (a Japanese form of bodywork).

It was Guzelf’s  journey into the world of Asian healing that eventually led to his quest for priesthood.

His life was transformed, he says, when Buddhist Priest Master Richard Sittinger came to Phoenix from Massachusetts three years ago to teach Tibetan healing classes.

Sittinger is a teaching master of Buddha Heart USA, an offshoot of Buddha Heart International, a Tibetan/Chinese based group aspiring to relieve the suffering of all living beings and to advance the cause of enlightenment.

Buddha Heart USA, under the direction of Sittinger, is the first group of its kind in the United States.

“The background in Zen meditation and Asian bodywork combined all the philosophy and practicality of courses I’ve already taken,” he says, “because a large part of Buddhism is being able to heal oneself or others.

“I’ve always wanted to help people, which is why I got involved in these areas. In Buddhism, you get to experience your true nature, which you don’t normally get to do. Becoming a Buddhist priest seemed like the next natural step; I realized that I can’t reach enlightenment without helping out everyone else.”

The transition seemed to fall easily into place.

“Master Rich started teaching Tibetan healing, in addition to meditation practices,” says Guzelf.

“I was very interested in both these subjects so I, along with other students, started studying with him, learning some of his techniques and applying them. As we were learning, he sought out those of us interested in pursuing the Buddhism portion with the idea of going on to ordination; I was one of those he eventually decided on.

“The uniqueness of the opportunity was attractive to me, as it is unusual for a Master Teacher to make that kind of offer; usually you have to petition for it and prove your worthiness.”

At present, Guzelf works out of his home as he puts a new spin on traditional types of massage with his brand of Asian bodywork therapies, all designed to restore balance and harmony to the body.

“While the forms of bodywork I work with are different,” says Guzelf, “they share the same principle of Qu, or Ki, the Vital Life Energy; concepts that have been evolving over eight millennia. During acupuncture, we work with energy systems of the body, called meridians.

“In Asian bodywork, we do the same thing, only we use pressing, stretching, pressure, or a combination of all three, instead of needles.”

According to Guzelf, bodywork therapies can influence stress, high blood pressure, muscle strains, the immune system, depression, digestive problems, headaches, trauma injuries, back and joint problems, sleeping difficulties and relief from side effects of chemo therapy.

The therapies Guzelf employs are Zen Shiatsu (gentle acupressure), Qu Gung Tuina (gentle pulsing of the joints of the body and limbs), Chi Nei Tsang ( a therapy that gently massages the internal organs of the abdominal region), traditional Tibetan healing (strong stimulation of acupressure points to stimulate health and health-may use yoga and visualization), meditation (meant to reduce stress, calm mind, and reduce emotional highs and lows), Qi Gung (simple, gentle set of exercises to help the body bring balance and harmony to the Qi systems of the body) and Tai Chi (a simple form of exercise designed to help energy flow within the body).

For information, Guzelf can be reached at (480) 831-8251. He is currently seeking  people to start meditation groups.

Buddha Heart USA can be reached at www.buddhaheartusa.org/bhusa.html.

Master Richard is active teaching Buddhist philosophy and meditation throughout the Phoenix area. Advanced students are forming open, home-based practice groups for discussion, sutra chanting, tranquility meditation instruction and the transmission of some mantra practices.

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