Eva Wong – A Transformative Awakening in Daily Life
by Tanya Carter
Many of us experience events in our lives that transform the way we perceive the world. If we are aware and seize these opportunities; they can also serve as catalysts on a wonderful lifelong journey of learning and self-discovery. We are fortunate to have the privilege of experiencing one such transformative event this May when we receive Dr. Eva Wong at the Shambhala Center in Seattle, Washington. Through her unique upbringing and devotion to guiding students in numerous ancient disciplines across multiple decades and continents; Dr. Wong is considered by many as a ‘spark’ or catalyst that helped them embark on their path to greater understanding, acceptance and fulfillment in daily life.
Dr. Wong is an internationally recognized Taoist wisdom holder, author and Qigong and Feng Shui expert who is a devoted friend, student and advisor to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Her first connection to Buddhism began as a young girl of seven in Hong Kong; hence the affiliation today with Shambhala and Buddhist centers today. It is noted in her book Tales of the Dancing Dragon: Stories of the Tao, that Dr. Wong was exposed to tales while growing up “from the local storytellers and uncensored chronicles or ‘yeshi’—the wild history of China, not monitored by official imperial scholars and historians. The stories are mysterious and intriguing, passionate and violent, and they are peppered with colorful characters, including hermits, politicians, revolutionaries, scholars, scientists, and mystics.”As an adult, Dr. Wong later put these stories into context, and shows, through her writings and teachings, that Taoism is a dynamic spiritual tradition that is constantly changing.
Today, Dr. Wong is the 19th generation lineage carrier of Xiantianwujimen Taoism, founded by the Taoist sage and hermit, Chen Xiyi. In addition to her primary lineage, Dr. Wong is also a lineage carrier of feng shui, martial arts and is deeply learned in many Taoist and non-Taoist traditions. Despite all of her knowledge, it is ideal of the lineage to live as a hermit and “leave no trace”, which precludes her from engaging in activities of self-promotion; hence the absence of headshots or her quotes in general media. That’s why you won’t see her picture anywhere in the promotions for this event.
So how, one may ask, is an encounter with Dr. Wong so transformative? Because Dr. Wong has the unique ability to bring multiple ancient teachings and practices to life in a simple to understand and engaging way that awakens a curiosity in her students. She seamlessly integrates topics such as the cultivation of mind and body, meditation techniques, and overcoming the obstacles to enlightenment to convey her knowledge to a western audience. A student of Wong shares that “ … when I study with Eva, I find that she fully embodies what she is teaching….which can help us, as students, to deeply access the teachings to bring them into our lives.”
Although Wong insists she is not a teacher (she prefers the term “guide”) but simply a conduit for the teachings of the lineage, she is one of the first people to fully transmit her extensive learnings to students in the West. As any of Dr. Wong’s students will also share; even though her lineage has a tradition of not leaving a trace, it does not mean she isn’t a unique personality, quick to smile, with a warmth and generosity of spirit that aide the transmission of these teachings without distracting from their powerful effect. Dr. Wong currently lives with her husband Charles, a graphic designer and master jewelry maker and teaches exclusively through Shambhala’s global network of meditation and retreat centers.
