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This is a charming story about an old man who is a qigong master and a young man who is ambitious to master himself and the universe. Hai San’s grandfather seeks the return of a favor, so he asks his old friend Sifu Wang, a qigong master, to train Hai San in the secrets of the universe. The old man agrees and gives regular lessons to the fifteen-year-old boy. These lessons include what it means to always choose love, how to always get what you want, how to deal with difficult personalities, how to heal from disease, and many other practical life lessons. These lessons are delivered with clarity, intelligence, and kindness. The reader catches on that while the narrative is compelling enough to keep a reader turning the pages, these golden nuggets of wisdom are the real substance and inspiration in this read.
The more the old man reveals the “secrets of the universe,” the more perplexed the young boy becomes. When he desires to use these qigong secrets to win a lottery where the grand prize is a Perodua, the young boy becomes increasingly anxious and sometimes even doubts the teachings of the master. Will these breathing, visualization, and communication exercises work?
The coming-of-age narrative transmits beautiful teachings both to Hai San, the boy, as well as to the reader. Drama and tension increase when Hai San feels misgivings and wants a way out of his commitments. Things turn around in surprising ways. Readers will enjoy the thread of a good story holding a strand of pearls of wisdom. Fans of martial arts, especially the philosophical teachings at their heart, might want to see what this book offers.