When the Student is Ready: A Tribute to Grandmaster Hua Ching Ni
A personal tribute to Taoist Grandmaster Hua Ching Ni on his 100th birthyear—how ancient wisdom transformed one man's life during the chaos of 1980s Miami.
Interview with Bob Martin
Q: Let’s begin at the heart of this. Who was Grandmaster Hua Ching Ni to you—not just as a figure of wisdom but as a presence in your life?
Grandmaster Ni was more than a teacher. He was a mentor, a model, a living embodiment of ancient wisdom. He introduced me to a way of seeing the world that—though centuries old—was entirely new to me. It’s a bit of a wild metaphor, but he was like a matador to my ego. Life had already worn me down, pierced me, and left me restless and searching. And just when I was at my most open and vulnerable, he appeared—striking with the sword of wisdom. And everything changed.
Q: Do you remember the moment you first encountered his teachings? What was going on in your life at that time?
At the time, I was a pretty hot-shot lawyer in Miami—during the Cocaine Cowboy days. Money was flowing fast, and I was moving in circles most people only read about. The cartels—Colombians, Cubans, Italians, Haitians, Peruvians—they all had their own routes and territories. At the top, they actually talked to each other and managed those boundaries. Of course, I wasn’t in the cartel—but I was professionally moving among that elite criminal class. Respected. Second-tier, maybe, but known.
Personally, though, I was spiraling. That’s when I started seeing a therapist named George. His office sat behind his house in a tranquil Chinese garden, and there was this energy about him—grounded, calm, deeply peaceful. What I didn’t know then was that George was not only a devoted student of Master Ni but also his English editor.
One day, George revealed his Taoist path to me—that’s a whole story in itself—and not long after, I met Grandmaster Ni in person during one of his visits to Miami. From the first moment, I knew. This man was special. I wanted to learn from him.
And the thing is—I wasn’t raised in any religious household. My family had suffered deeply under the Bolsheviks and other regimes, so religion wasn’t rejected so much as never really introduced. When I met Grandmaster Ni, it felt like I was handed the owner’s manual for being human.
Q: The saying goes, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” What made you ready?
My life had cracked open. From the outside, everything looked great—money, power, prestige. But I was being hollowed out from the inside. That’s when he came in. I was ready to hear what I couldn't have absorbed any earlier.
Q: Was there a moment or teaching that left a lasting imprint on you?
Oh, yes. One day, a small group of us were together—just a handful of Taoist wannabes—and someone asked him, “Why do they call you Master?”
He giggled. He giggled a lot, actually. “Because I have mastered life,” he said and started to walk away.
Of course, we chased after him. “Wait, wait! What does it mean to master life?”
He became serious for a moment and said,
“When you have learned to interfere the least in the natural progression of things and have the correct impact, then you have begun to master life.”
We unpacked that for weeks. I’m still unpacking it.
Q: How did your relationship with him develop?
He only came to Miami a few times, but I was all in when he did. Our little group met weekly, and I was glued to his side when he was in town. He was prolific—wrote endlessly—and I read every book. They’re still with me. I studied, I absorbed, I transformed. Most importantly, my heart opened.
Q: What made his teaching style so distinct for you?
I had never met anyone like him. Period.
Q: This is the 100th year since his birth. What does that bring up for you?
I feel a mix of sadness and gratitude. Sadness because life has taken me away from him, and we’ve lost touch. But perhaps it’s as it should be—maybe his work in my life was complete. I honor him by striving every day to live out the wisdom he gifted me.
Q: For those who don't know him, who was Grandmaster Ni?
Grandmaster Hua Ching Ni received 72 generations of handed-down wisdom. In his own family lineage alone, the teachings had been passed down for 34 generations. He carried a flame that has now been passed to his sons, who continue teaching today.
Q: How has his influence shaped how you now show up as a teacher?
He gave me a framework—a kind of mental bookshelf—where I could place all the pearls of wisdom that came into my life later. It gave structure to the chaos. I love him, I honor him, and I wish him profound happiness in his 100th birthday year.
A Gentle Meditation and Invitation
“The greatest power is the power of inner peace.
The greatest wisdom is to know the rhythm of life and flow with it.”
— Grandmaster Hua Ching Ni, Tao Teh Ching, Verse 22
Take a moment now to sit quietly. Let your body soften, your breath slow. Imagine the wisdom of generations flowing gently down a stream of time, reaching you. You don’t need to understand it all—just rest in it. Feel it filling you, not with answers but with space.
Inhale deeply.
Exhale slowly.
Let go.
Let go.
Let go.
Feel the Tao within.
If Grandmaster Ni’s teachings or this story stir something in you, I invite you to explore further. Taoist wisdom is not a belief system—it’s a way of living in harmony with what already is. It’s an invitation to return to your natural rhythm, to release the need to control, and to discover the clarity that arises in stillness.
If you're curious about how to begin or how Taoist practices can support your meditation journey and inner peace, I welcome you to explore my offerings at AWiseAndHappyLife.com.
Together, we walk gently.
With respect and gratitude,
Your friend, Bob
