Tag Archives: Microcosmic Circuit

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 Fa 8 Methods — 5th Method: Lift

Mount HuangShan. Resting place of Chen Tuan and birthplace of Liu He Ba Fa

The 5th Method is Lifting —ti (提). “The peak hangs on emptiness (ding xuan xu kong 顶悬虚空).”   Like a thread ontop of your head, holding it up and suspending the rest of your body.  Lifting the top of your head creates several mechanisms in your body.  First it creates proper alignment within your energy pathways and structure.  Your head is suspended, lengthening your neck and slightly tucking your chin.  It straightens your spinal column and Ren meridian. It allows your shoulders to hang and hollow out your chest.  Your Saliva and energy will have a better and straighter path towards your stomach and lower dan tian.   You have the ability to tuck your tailbone underneath you, engaging your kuas, and having the ability to move  in a flowing fashion.  The energy will naturally want to sink into your dan tian and your root.  This internal alignment is good for both health and fighting.

Secondly, by suspending your head you focus your energy and shen high as well.  Your upper body becomes light and mobile as air. It feels energized and engaged.    It may feel like buzzing, or raindrops but activity occurs and it is good thing! This engagement can calm your mind and raise your awareness.  Your mind can more easily find peace through emptiness.  Eventually it allows you to connect and become apart of the grander picture.

6 Harmonies, Liu He Ba Fa

Liu He Ba Fa 6 Harmonies: 3rd Harmony — Combine Intention with Qi

GM Wu Yi Hui – 20. Water Flows down the High Mountain

3rd Harmony: Combine your Intent and your Qi yi he yu qi意合于气

 

You have worked hard and you understand the movements internally and externally.  You have started to develop Nèiwài wéi yītǐ (内外为一体)!  Now the hard work comes in.  That intention must drive your internal energy throughout the form.  You must combine the inside with the outside and make it one.  Without your Qi there will be no true strength.  Now you may have some physical strength applied but that is not the intent with internal martial arts.  Physical strength can be strong but is considered a dead or stiff energy.  You need to develop that lively power; a person needs to relax their physical body, align it properly, and use internal principles to create Li (力).  Physical strength can decline quickly in older age (modern medicine and greater understanding of physical training has helped extend this to some extent though) but internal strength can stay with a person to the end of your days if properly maintained and practiced.  To be 90 years old but move like your 30 and hit like your 20 is possible.  It takes true dedication and understanding but yet still attainable.  It starts with this harmony.

Now a person must truly start to practice and dedicate themselves.  You have to make your energy abundant through diligent practice.  This can be accomplished in a myriad of ways, either through the form, zhan zhuang, silent meditation, other internal arts etc.  However the more you practice the one form (Liu He Ba Fa in this instance) and engrain the energy with it the better it will be.  Qi must be driven throughout your body; your 4 extremities filled evenly.  Your lower dan tian will become full and hard like a rock.  Once you have put the energy into thebank (so to speak) you can then withdrawal it, focus it throughout the form, and demonstrate true internal strength.  Once your internal energy combines with your external movements you will have true Fa li and your form will look relaxed yet very powerful.

16 Principles of Tai Chi

[12] Breathing Occurs Through Your Nose.

The obviousness of these next two principles give misconceptions about their true understanding.  First off — DON’T BE A MOUTH BREATHER!  Honestly though if one breathes through their nose they can refine it to be long, smooth, and relaxed.  Why long, smooth and relaxed?  Qi follows the breath and this is the way to get the maximum amount of energy through your body coordinated with the breath.

Now there are two primary ways to breath through your nose in internal martial arts; natural breathing or reverse breathing (now there are other breathing methods but most of those are very esoteric and require a great deal of training and belief ;).  In natural breathing the stomach goes out on the inhale and in on the exhale.  In reverse breathing the stomach goes in on the inhale and out on the exhale (reverse the natural breathing- genius name).  Your lineage and master is usually what dictates the method used; no way is better or worse for longterm benefit.  Through most Wudang lineages reverse breathing is preferred as it helps “roll the ball” back up the spinal column and to your headtop on the inhale; then helps draw the energy down into the Dan Tian on the exhale.  The Key point though is the breathing is centered around the lower Dan Tian.   You must draw the breath in deep and build the area.   The diaphragm must pull down, not up and out like most people breath as they get older.  By pulling the diaphragm muscle down you get air and energy into the lower lobes where the most efficient gas exchanges occurs and activates somatic relaxing affects in your body.  This action, along with pushing your belly in, helps squeeze blood into the lower stomach, massaging and nourishing your internal organs and creating a much healthier inside.  Once your nourish the organs and make the energy abundant you can then focus your intent into pooling energy within the lower Dan Tian, creating a powerhouse for health and martial action!

This all starts with the breath though, if your breath is incorrect then your blood will not flow right and your energy will stagnant.  Without all this internal coordination you will not progress very far.  PRACTICE!  Practice constantly – your sitting down at the computer, practice, your walking around, practice, your playing with your kids practice!  This type of breathing MUST become second nature if you truly want to get into the deeper levels of internal martial arts.

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!