After completing a four-month qigong course offered by the Buddhayana Mahayana Zengong Association (BMZA) eleven years ago, Chen Wu-yueh was admitted into the Buddhayana order and moved on to more advanced courses. The physical-oriented initiation process distinguishes this religious sect from more traditional forms of Buddhism that emphasize the spiritual dimension of humanity. Buddhayana combines Zen Buddhism with traditional Chinese exercises that cultivate the qi, or vital energy. Through the BMZA, established in 1989, the order has emerged as one of the newer forms of belief that is managing to gain a foothold in Taiwan's modern secular society. "We've been criticized for blending Buddhism and qigong," Chen Wu-yueh says. "But Buddhist law has always been our primary concern. Qigong is only one way to channel it."