Tag Archives: Qi Gong

Neijia

JingQiShen (精氣神)

JingQiShen are the three treasures in Daoist internal arts that one must constant nurture, cultivate, and balance for a long and healthy life. These three compliment and rely on eachother–if one is weak, the others will suffer, advancing age and increasing the likelihood of disease and sickness.

Jing (精):  In English this Chinese term is known as essence.  It’s a physical matter that is believed to be stored in the kidneys (yin in nature, apart of the water cycle).  It flows throughout your body to keep it strong, healthy and young.  It’s the primordial energy given to you by your mother and father.  It helps create marrow and semen and aids in the development of bones, hair and teeth.  As you age you “use up” your jing.  It is important to understand the seven desires and six emotions as these will hasten the loss of Jing resulting in physical decay (i.e. hair loss/greying; weak bones/connective tissue; teeth issues; dull mind; etc).  If you Jing completely depletes your body dies.

Qi (氣):  In this reference Qi is defined as the life force that enables your body to move and focus. When your body is strong (strong jing) your Qi will be abundant and circulate freely.  Qi is connected to the blood  and air and thus thought to be the result of lungs and spleen.  Qi is also associated with Yang and Fire cycle.  It circulates through your 12 meridians and 100 vessels.    If there is an imbalance, blockage or disruption then one can get sick, injured, or die.  When Qi strongly circulates a person’s fu organs will be nourished and healthy, they will move energetically and their si shou will be fully developed and strong.

Shen (神)  can de defined as spirit.  It is the energy behind mental functions and spiritual awareness.  To develop a strong shen one must have  strong qi and solid jing. Shen is housed in the heart and is another reason a person must conquer their emotions and desires, becoming centered and balanced.  To be centered and calm a person gains the ability to convert and consolidate shen in their Upper Dan Tian.   Shen will primarily be observed through the eyes (yangshen 眼神), through a strong and radiant gaze.

Overall the three treasures nourish eachother and are developed or used mutually.   A strong JingQiShen creates a strong and healthy ming (life).  If a person develops and cultivates these treasures they will slow aging (cellular decay is slowed), will have a tranquil peace of mind, and have abundant vitality.  Through Daoist concepts they may be able to develop a connection back to the void and expanded consciousness.  Now this is easily written but to truly have a strong JingQiShen  one must live a regimented lifestyle often antagonist to work and relationships.

Can I not have a strong JingQiShen then?  Yes, not as strong as the monks and martial artists of old but still strong enough to live a healthy, mobile, and happy life.  You must guard your treasures, nourish them, and cultivate them.  Do not let your desires scrape your bones, your procrastination strip away your youthfulness, and your idleness rob you of your mind.

Consistent (Daily) and focused practice will allow gains to slowly and surely be made.  Over time, this compounds, and resulting in real and recognizable gains in strength, health, and mental clarity.   Again, the ideals are easy to discuss and understand but true discipleship in this method takes dedication and patience.

8 Methods, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba 8 Methods– 2nd Method: Bone

Da Mo aka Bodhidharma, transmitter of Buddhism to China and creator of Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing

The second method is Bone: gu骨.  Its states Bone power collects internally– gu jing nei lian (骨劲内敛).   On the basic level this method is associated with proper movement and alignment of structure.  Head up, chin in, back straight, your joints aligned and working in harmony.  If one part moves everything moves; if one part is still it is all still.  Many internal martial arts talk about 3 tips, 3 external harmonies, 9 joints, 3 hearts and within some Liu He Ba Fa lineages masters talk of the 9 joints and 5 hearts.  The intent of all these ideas are the same.  To move in a coordinated manner to create maximum force in the most effective manner.  Whether moving fast, slow, soft, or hard all effort must be made with all parts of the body in the correction direction.  If you hand falls but your  foot does not its incomplete.  If your foot falls but your hand does not the same inefficiency happens.  Everything must be coordinated.  Some internal arts fall with a flat foot during certain movements and others use a heel to toe effect.  In the end if your dan tians (upper, middle, lower) are in line and your hands and feet, knees and elbows, shoulders and kua move in unison you will find the harmony in your body. These harmonies can also be broken down farther into sections like shoulder, elbow, wrist and farther still into wrist, palm, and finger.  The more micro you can make it and feel it connected the more connection you will potentially make.  Some Liu He Ba Fa move their body in total unison while others follow more of a water principle and have a wave like effect among their joints.  I will not say one way is more correct than the other as long as in the end they work towards such jins as Hua Jin, Lou Shan Jin, and other energy expressions.

Yet there are deeper levels as well. Some sources talk of bone marrow as a source of Qi production due to the fact your first treasure (Jing) is used in TCM to make bone marrow. It is said when you are born your marrow is full, as one ages Yuan (pre-natal) Qi and Yuan Jing are gradually consumed and depleted.  So one must return to their origin and nourish the marrow.   Even Qigong sets are conducted with this process of renewing and rejuvenating bone marrow — i.e.  Marrow washing (usually associated with muscle/tendon changing qigong).  If your Qi is abundant it will naturally fill your bones and will be identified with a person having strong teeth.  Back in the turn of the century, masters with their Si Shou filled could tear metal with their teeth; something not readily seen now-a-days.  It helps to conduct Qi Gong or Liu He Ba Fa  with an inward intent at some point in your training, towards your bones and dan tian.  Working on condensing and expanding your qi with your breath.  The movement of Qi into the bones will strengthen them, rejuvenate them, and help rid your body of potential disease and illness.

8 Methods, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 8 Methods — 1st Method: Qi

Daoist Immortal Chen Tuan – Sleeping Qi Gong and Spirit Traveling

The first method is qi(气 ).  It is written Circulate qi, collect spirit –xing qi ji shen  (行气集神).  In Chinese culture Qi is a foundational substrate to all living things.    It circulates the whole body.  In very simple terms within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), if there is a blockage, imbalance or disruption this is how you get sick, injured or die.  A person must keep their Qi circulating freely to keep healthy and strong.  Within internal martial arts the person looks to guard and improve their Qi.  They look to gather their pre-heavenly (essence from parents) and post-heavenly (food, water, air)–note this is an oversimplification of Qi and many books have been written about this deep subject.

This first method looks wants the person to learn to use their intention to circulate the Qi (beginning with the Ren and Du meridians), to build the dan tian (via water and fire cycle), and make the Qi abundant throughout their bodies; especially their 5 zang organs, 6 fu organs, and 100 meridians.   Once your Qi is abundant your Si Shou (4 extremities) will be naturally filled and expressed via hair, nails, teeth, and flesh.

Once your Qi is in abundance you can then start to work on the Shen (spirit).  The Shen is nurtured and supported by the Qi (relighting the cauldron) and vice versa.  This mutually beneficial relationship will strengthen the body, resist illness, and increase longevity.

The Shen will follow Qi.  It will follow it up into the spirit valley and with consistent practice it can be filled and opened.  It must also follow the Qi into every pour of a person’s body, every fiber and hair.  There it can be used to radiate outward and connect with the greater world.  Once it connects with the void, wondrous things become possible and viable.

6 Harmonies, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 6 Harmonies: 6th Harmony– Combine Your Movement (Action) and the Void (Emptiness)

The 6th Harmony is:  Combine Movement (Action) and Emptiness (Void)

dong he yu kong 动合于空

The final harmony in Liu He Ba Fa.  Also the most abstract and esoteric.  Now that your shen reaches every fiber and hair of your body, expand beyond it.  Work to feel your surroundings, to become aware on a different level.  You will look as calm, poised, you will radiate energy but every movement you make, feeling you have, will be subconsciously occurring based on the environment around you.  You will not have to think it, you will just do.  The expansion you experience will be great, possibly even frightening.  You will be like a baby again, in a whole new world of details and feelings but once you learn to control it, you can become part of a greater whole.

This harmony starts when a person grows around them as they do the form.  The energy radiates around the person and expands their movements into the surrounding environment.  They may be small in stature but they exponentially grow as they conduct the form.  A person watching them will “feel” them in a way they cannot explain and wonder how the person got so “big.”

You must remember this form is a means to the end.  Once you have reached this level in the form it must be spread and developed in all facets of life.   There are also levels within levels of this harmony; expansion, consistency, then concealment — i.e. you must contain everything yet appear empty working towards a true wuji state.

Few ever reach this level.  You must find the right instructor to lead you through the harmonies ontop of the daily dedication and resolve.  It becomes a way of life as all facets drive towards this goal: sleep, nutrition, activity, recovery…everything.  The form was the beginning– the gateway drug to a greater path.  You will find peace, harmony, health, and happiness that spreads to everything but allowing that to happen is up to you and your mindset.  The form will give you health and strength but the harmonies will give you true fulfillment and happiness in life, a goal worthy of chasing.

16 Principles of Tai Chi

[11] Concentration Depends on Your Ears

Have you ever been trying to perform a task, especially difficult, that requires a lot of concentration and right before knocking it out of the ballpark something distracts you and the grandioso attempt comes crashing down? The same is true for tai chi and all internal martial arts. Concentration and focus in task are required. Many people just do the form, thinking of random things or distracted by random noises and after 10 years of walking through the movements, they have very little to show for it. A person needs dedication, they need to work their intent, and they need to concentrate on the effort!
So why the ears? The ears are one of the easiest access points for distraction for obvious reasons. But what should we listen too to stop this distraction? In internal martial arts its not the outside noises – NO it’s the inside ones. Inside ones? Yes! You must learn to focus inward, listen to your heartbeat, your blood flow, and your energy move! You must clear your mind, shed off the day, forget what is happening around you and go in. Once you have mastered your in can you then work your way back out (but not with your ears!)
Another advantage of listening inward is the ability to better seal your body. What does that mean? As your focus and intent goes inward and becomes intense your skin has the potential on a cellular level to seal and contain your inward thoughts and energy. You will be able to create that cauldron that will turn essence into energy and eventually energy into spirit. Why do monks like to sit in caves and face walls? No damn distractions! With no distractions this process can become easier and the body can evolve quicker.
Modern society may not have that luxury. You may have to put in earplugs, find a quiet corner in your apartment or house or anywhere really and do your best. Whatever your situation, learning to listen inward is key into developing the rest of your skills and energy.
Now going back to working your way back out. Once you have listened inwards and your ears are not distracted with outward noises and your skin has sealed then it will become sensitive. This sensitivity will allow you to listen and react with your skin (and eventually shen). This listening is an important step in your training. You cannot skip or neglect it and think you will come to some amazing results. All these steps work towards that greater goal of developing your shen and gaining true skill and without molding each cog first you will never be able to truly build the wheel!
* Interesting side note – Scientists have even developed earphones that artificially create this environment and allow your focus to be amplified on your task and proven that it exponentially increases ability and function (https://www.haloneuro.com/science).

16 Principles of Tai Chi

[10] Arriving is a Matter of Your Spirit.

The Spirit again!  As discussed in principle 3 the Shen is what gives us the ability understand our surroundings, decipher our opponent, and perceive their intentions without giving anything away.  Your ability to develop your spirit, through slow and deliberate processes can give you a great advantage and open up a whole new world.

Boxers, mma figthers, etc… the great ones are able to see the micro-movements in their opponents and counter or move first off that, disrupting and ultimately overcoming their counterpart’s strategy.  The greats like Li Nengran, Dong Haichaun, and Yang Luchan were able to do this on a different level; through the feeling of another’s energy and spirit.  How is that possible? It’s a different level that takes dedication, years of practice and refinement, and even then only 1 in 10,000 can reach it.

To reach this goal you must develop your Qi into Shen, raise it up into your Upper Dan Tian and develop your Shen valley (part in-between your two brain lobes).  You must open your upper valley to perceive all things (third-eye concept).  This is where it will get weird and will require your already top-notch very knowledgeable instructor to help you!  The sensations and perceptions you will experience will be nothing like you have ever had before (like a baby coming into a new world) and others will have thought you lost your mind.  A instructor will have to guide you back and show you control and understanding.  Last thing a person wants is to be perceived looney yet just be on that next level with no way to get it under control 😉

This concept is where you have to truly believe in the deeper levels of internal martial arts.   Some people consider it laughable, that is fine and I will never begrudge a person who thinks so; the rarity and dedication to this concept seems to have escaped modern times.   However like other esoteric concepts (example- an after life) what does it hurt to go after this level?  Even if you don’t reach it the benefits you will reap from the prior levels will be amazing for mind, body and soul, giving you a long and hopefully happy life!