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Qi Gong (Chi Kung) :

In remote areas of China, Buddhist and Taoist adepts sought to increase

their internal energy and keep it flowing freely throughout their long days
of seated meditation.

Some say that an Indian Buddhist named Bodhidarma (or Tamo, or Damo)
first brought Qi Gong to a Taoist temple in China. This would suggest that
Qi Gong's roots are in India. Then again, others say that Qi Gong was first
created in China. The offical stance of Acupuncture.com is that Qi Gong is
something that any human being can discover within him or herself.
Witness a child running onto the warm sands of the beach sometime.
Notice how deeply they breath in the salty air or how their arms open wide
to embrace all the fun that lies before them. This is Qi Gong in its purist
form. Children have a natural relationship with the energy of their
environment. Adults have to learn what comes naturally to our offspring.
Any argument as to where Qi Gong was "invented" misses the reality of
what Qi Gong really is.

The word Qi (Chi) is used to describe breath, vapor, air, and of course, the
internal energy that Chinese medicine is so adept at strengthening. Gong
(Kung) means work, or achievement.

Qigong, or breath/energy work is an art formand system of exercises that

are unique to China. It has a history of over 3000 years. There exist
hundreds, if not thousands, of styles of qigong in use today. Qigong
methods can be used to treat simple complaints like colds and headaches,
to more serious issues like certain forms of cancer. The Theory of Qigong is
based upon the deliberate and willfull development of Qi. Qi, according to
the ancient texts, exists within all things. without it there could be no life.
Qi is gained daily by the consumption of food stuffs, water, and the act of
breathing air, as well as being in the sunshine.
While there may exist many different sytles of qigong, all share the very
same, basic training theory:

Control the Posture

Regulate the Mind
Conserve the Breath
Catagories of Qigong may be further delineated into Static, Dynamic, and
combined methods. There are generally 5 schools of qigong that are
recognized: They are:

Taoist
Buddhist
Confucian
Medical
Martial

Taoist school stresses the preservation of the physical body Buddhist school
aimed at liberating the mind Confucian school dwelled on attaining higher
moral character Medical school emphasized wild parties and cheating on
exams just a joke to make sure you were paying attention.

Medical school taught patients how to help take control of their own
illnesses, and also how to prevent them. that emphasis was hygienic in
nature. It also taught medical people how to use the inner qi in a dynamic
way for healing the aches and pains of others.

Martial arts school trained for protecting the body from sword cuts, blunt
trauma from other-than-edged weapons, and safety from attack by fist or
foot. Such methods included Iron shirt, golden bell type methods. It also
trained the body to deliever fatal blows that were enhanced with Qi, such
as is found in Burning Palm, or Iron Palm methods.

As to the various types of qigong, you will find very simple and easy to do
sets, such as taiji qigong, 8 pieces of brocade, to more complicated methods
such as wild goose qigong and falun gong.

The overall effect from qigong training is gained through persistent and
dedicated practice over months and years. Since there are so many
methods out there, it is generally advisable to pick one type to start with,
and to gain the benefits that are promised from its practice, before moving
onto another more complicated method. You should also know that it is
inadvisable to train in two types of qigong that are not congruent with one
another, that is to say, do not mix hard and soft qigong methods. when you
train in qigong, you are making changes to your energetic system and also
your endocrine system.
Improper practice can mess you up big time.

Some types of qigong are very dangerous to train in, but people are willing
to take the potential in risk in order to satisfy their goals. For example:
Iron Shirt, which stems from the warring states period of ancient china, is
an excellent method to practice, but not to show it off by having your
friends break their louisville slugger baseball bats over your head. That
method takes energy that is reserved for later life and converts it to "use
now" energy. If the method is demonstrated to an extreme, it can wind up
causing the death of the practitoner early in life, either from heart attack,
stroke or organ failure.

Other types of qigong require the steady use of herbs to help mold the
energy to its desired end, and if the herbs are not taken, insanity can result.
Other methods can result in sterility as a by product of that method's
practices. But these examples are really extreme. As a whole, qigong can be,
and is, a most enjoyable way to enhance health, longevity and energy!

Qigong has withstood the test of time, and is Internal Kung Fu of the
Highest order.

"Qi gong" (literally "breath exercise"), an invaluable component of traditional Chinese medicine,
has its origin in ancient times. Its primary stimulus was the search for longevity with the ultimate
aim of immortality, which has so entranced the Chinese mind from ancient times. The records
shows the exercises to help the "qi" (the human body's vital energy) circulating freely and to
nourish the internal organs dated to the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th centuries B.C.). The actual
practice of "qigong" began in the fourth century A.D. Since then the search by physician and
patient for greater health, techniques of religious cultivation and the martial artist's quest for better
training methods all contributed greatly to its development and enrichment over the following
centuries. The Taoist, Buddhist, Confucian, Medical and Martial schools of practice developed.
"Qigong" has been passed down from generation to generation.

Generally, "qigong" is divided into two types. One is the quiescent type ("jing-gong"), which is
meant to be performed standing, sitting, or lying down using special breathing techniques by which
the practitioner learns to focus his mind. The other one is the mobile type ("dong-gong"), which
practices a set of movements and massage while keeping a proper balance between mind and
emotion, "qi" and strength. Internally, "qigong" can enhance the spirit, the "qi" and the mind.
Externally, it can strengthen the tendons, bones and skin. The structure and style of "qigong" has
close relations with the introspective observation that is typical of Chinese culture. For example
"qigong" takes harmony as its guiding principle, classical Chinese philosophy as its theoretical
base, the use of will power as its fundamental means, a combination of "dong" (motion) and "jing"
(stillness) as its form of expression, man's longevity as its goal.

"Qigong" has had various forms, and its name and emphasis may have varied according to the
form. However, its oldest and most diverse form is daoyin, which holds an important position in
the traditional Chinese art of preserving one's health. "Dao" refers to the fact that physical
movements are guided by the strength of the mind and in turn stimulate the internal flow of "qi"
within the body. "Yin" means that with the aid of physical movements, "qi" can reach the bodily
extremities (for example, the fingers, feet and head). In this way the flow of "qi" links the "zang"
(solid organs) and "fu" (hollow organs), before returning to its starting point. When practiced for a
period of time, one can become aware of a stream of heat (vital energy) or "qi" being transmitted
through the body. Sometimes this can be released from the body, and ten it is known as external
"qi".

The basic methods of "daoyin" are "kai" (opening), "he" (closing), "xuan" (rotating), "rou"
(rubbing), "tui" (pushing), "an" (pressing), and "fen" (separating). There are many postures
and movements in "daoyin" exercises, but the emphasis is on achieving a state of harmony
between body and mind. This can be done with the help of the movements, not solely because
of the movements themselves, and when you reach a certain level in practice, you can even
forget what you are doing, and this is "gaining the true essence of 'qigong' and forgetting
physical movements." This state of harmony culminates in the practice of "jinggong" (static
exercises).

"Daoying" has many differences from gymnastics and other modern sports, as "daoyin" exercises
are based on mental activity and therefore it is possible to accumulate and conserve one's energy
whilst practicing "daoyin" exercises. However, the practice of modern sports requires showing off
one's strength and skill, and therefore the consumption of energy.

Another form of "qigong" exercises is "tuna" (exhaling and inhaling), otherwise known as "tiaoxi"
(regulating breath) or "shiqi" (absorbing "qi"). This is a synthesis of different breathing skills. The
basic train of thinking for these exercises is that as far as possible one should expel the stale and
stagnated air and inhale fresh air, thus improving the functioning of the internal organs to resist
senility and prolong life.

"Tuna" skills can be divided into three basic categories: "Koubi huxi" (breathing through the mouth
or nose), "Fushi huxi" (abdominal breathing), other methods of breathing and regulation in
conjunction with mental activity such as "chongqi" (filling the body with "qi"), "dantian huxi"
(directing "qi" to "dantian," a region two or three centimeters below the navel), "zhongxi"
(directing "qi" to the heel), and "quixi" (breathing like a tortoise).

Unique to China only, Qigong has become an integral part of the the Chinese culture. Qigong
exercise can produce a myriad of beneficial effects, of which the most common are preventing and
curing diseases, strengthening the constitution, avoiding premature aging, and prolonging life.
Qigong exercise requires one to relax, to be calm, natural and free from distractions, so that it can
remove "stress," and dispel tension. Qigong exercise helps to keep the main and collateral channels
in good shape to establish harmony between vital energy and blood, to balance between Yin and
Yang, and improve coordination of the nervous system, so that protective inhibition of the cerebral
cortex can be enhance. Qigong exercise helps to reduce fundamental metabolism, increase the
capacity of storing energy, apply massage to the abdomen and improve appetite and brings good
digestion. Qigong exercise helps to tap the body potentialities, stimulate positive factors, and
enhance one's self-control. Therefore, it becomes an effective measure to attain health and
longevity. Qigong masters and medical practitioners have developed a theory from a wealth of
experience and practice of Qigong over many centuries. The modern scientific research and
evaluation of qigong exercise has attracted increasing attention from academic unintellectual
circles around the world. This may bring the benefits of qigong intellectual to light, but it may
leave mechanistic dogmatism to Qigong phenomena.

In Chinese kung fu, however, a distinction is made between "external" and "internatl" kung fu. It is
said that "In external kung fu, you exercise your tendons, bones, and skin; in internal kung fu, you
train your spirit your qi, and your mind." In addition to training to achieve a strong body and
nimble limbs, there is also an "internal" training to adjust body and mind, strengthen internal
organs, and increase circulation of one's qi, or flow of vital energy. Progressing from movement to
stillness, from firmness to softness, the older one getes, the more adept one becomes at kung fu.
And the higher one's level of achievement in kung fu, the better one is at maintaining good health
and living a long, active life.

Qigong can be translated as "energy work" as it focussed upon activating the qi and moving it
along the body's network of meridians (energy channels). Qigong achieves health and well-being
by balancing the many systems within the human body. It removes heat, toxins, cold and so forth.

Qigong practice comes in many forms; sitting meditation, breathing exercises, stretching and Taiji
Qigong. It can be divided into two types: internal (Nei Dan) and external (Wai Dan).

When practicing Qigong, the most important consideration is relaxation, the mind and body must
be relaxed in order to practice correctly.

DanTian (Chi source)

Masters have always spoken of certain times when practice is not recommended, such as adverse
weather (storms, heat waves etc.). Conversely, there are times when practice is recommended, such
as midnight and early in the morning.

There are many schools of Qigong, including Daoist, Buddhist, Medical and Martial. Each school
focuses qigong upon different areas of the existence. The Daoist school is wholistic and practices
means of harmonising one's mind, body and spirit; the Buddhist school practices a lot of sitting
meditation and focuses upon enlightenment; the Medical school focuses on health and the Martial
school focuses on methods on improving their martial arts skills. (Although the distinctions aren't
often that clear.)

There are countless Qigong forms, exercises, and sequences that may be divided into five schools:
Taoist, Buddhist, Confucian, martial arts, and medical. And each master has his or her own form of
qigong. Master FaXiang Hou (pronounced fah-SHANH ho) specializes in cancer and women's
health. His brand of Qigong, a legacy of five generations of family study and practice, translates
into English as "green dragon and three secret acupressure points."

His ancestors became interested in the healing effects of Qigong, he says, because they were
plagued by a very short life span. "All died early, in their 50s. My grandfather of five generations
ago wanted to change this. He went to Tibet; he practiced Buddhist meditation," he says. "After 12
years, he came home. He started a Taoist practice. The next generation started integrating
meditation with herbs to treat people. The third generation added acupuncture. Each generation, we
increased the life force."

It's difficult, if not impossible, to estimate the number of Qigong masters in China. Perhaps 50 to
75 true masters have emigrated to the United States and Canada, says Dr. Chow, herself an
acknowledged master and certified acupuncturist. "Master" is an acknowledgment of status,
however, there is currently no independent certification source in America to guarantee a level of
standards.

Anecdotal testimonials credit qigong with assuaging diseases, relieving chronic pain, even curing
cancer. Research in China has reputedly found qigong effective in mitigating the effects of aging,
asthma, and hypertension. Not many well-funded studies have been done in the United States,
however, since qigong has become popular here only recently. But under the aegis of the Office of
Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, qigong and other healing therapies are
now undergoing an increasing number of clinical trials designed to test their efficacy by the
rigorous standards of Western scientific methods.

Research indicates T'ai Chi and Qigong may boost the immune system and slow the aging process.

Qi (or Chi) [Art of Breathing] [Body - Energy - Spirit] :

Qigong?
It is awareness of suchness! Of this very moment beyond time and Space. Then the simple act of
standing in this vivid awareness is Qigong. The awareness will serve like a golden light that will
dispel the darkness of sickness and despair from your mind/body.

Qi Gong practitioners have an enhanced slow breathing technique, which although does not
improve the cardio-vascular system, slows down the metabolic rate.
This allows the person to live longer, appear younger and have lasting abundance of energy
and vigour.

Qi Gong (or Chi Kung) pronounced

" Chee/Chi Gong " is an ancient method of using one's breath and movement in a slow gentle
manner that offers preventative measures against disease.

Chi Meridians

It is a soft and gentle way to maintain and improve your health, and has been practised in China for
at least six thousand of years by forward thinking and concerned individuals.

This knowledge which had been kept in a most esoteric format and remained purely Chinese in
origin and which has been in practice for a very long time, is now yours, you can avail your self of
the spirituality that comes with peace of mind and a health body.

Qi Gong combines slow, meditative movements, with deep primordial breathing, which will
produce a tranquil mind and a healthy body.

Expertise gained by patience and longevity of practise of Qi Gong, when performed in the correct
environment, provides both internal and external bio-chemical energies, that are able to enhance
our inner systems.

Qi Gong practitioners move slowly and gently through old tried and tested formal exercises.

While movement and stance are important, it is the numerous benefits gained from the breathing
parameters that practitioners find so highly rewarding and also empowering.

Performed in this way, Qi Gong becomes a deeply absorbing and relaxing experience, with many
health benefits.

If a practitioner has a particular health problem he/she may be given one or two additional and or
more complex exercises to practise daily.

It is difficult to say how old the practice of Qigong is. Some believe it goes back further than 5,000
years. The word literally means "energy work," but the actual practice is far deeper than its
description.

Qigong is a powerful energy healing system that can help connect the body, mind, and spirit so that
practitioners can gain control of and direct the healthy flow of their Qi, of life force, for self-
healing. Perhaps its biggest benefit is that it helps develop intuition so that the practitioner can
understand the world in a different way, one that goes beyond the five senses.

There are several distinct Qigong traditions: Taoist, Confusian, Buddhist, martial arts, and medical.
Most of us understand Qi as "vital energy," but it is far more than that. Qi is not only the animating
force or power within the body, and throughout nature and the Universe. Qi also carries a message,
or organizing information. Here's a way to understand the intelligent, though intangible, force.
Think about a computer. Even with the power on it is useless without a program. Even if the
program is installed, what else does it need? It needs the operator. The operator provides the spirit,
or the organizing force, to make the computer perform its necessary functions. Now you have it all
the power of the computer; the genius of the program, the will and spirit of the operator. Qigong
works in much the same way. Qigong is the true foundation and secret behind traditional Chinese
medicine (TCM)

Mind and Body

In Chinese philosophy within the cornucopia of Chinese medicine there is a saying:

"there is no dichotomy between mind and body"

What this signifies is that when an individual's mind and or body appears to be in a state of trauma,
stress, or disease it will have a significant bearing on the persons spirit (spirit as in energy, not as
that as per a religious connotation).

One's spirit is best represented from a visual viewpoint as being the mental, physical or
metaphysical behaviour of the individual, e.g. moving in a brisk, strong, healthy manner, or in a
shambling gait, tottering or a general state of malaise.

This would depict two different types of spirit, one being robust and healthy, the other weak
impoverished and or diseased. This situation may come about when both/either of mind/body is
impaired.

As sentient beings we should regard ourselves as being made of material of the stars, and therefore
when one's spirit is said to be powered up and one's level of Qi is in a state of good balance the
energy of the stars can be said to be within our grasp.

This may be achieved by a primordial breathing technique, which is part of the repertoire of the
practice of Qi Gong.

Qi Gong Methods for working with life energy or A way to the true center :
Balanced Nutrition opens your body, mind and spirit for successful Qigong
By regularly practicing special movements and thoughts, there is a way to bring your body, mind
and spirit into harmonic balance.

This means having calmness amidst everyday stress, and greater defense against illnesses, and the
possibility of easier cure when illness occurs.

Here is the principle, the background of this way:

The World is a Wholeness, a oneness of polar patterns.

One uses this principle by:

Setting-up - becoming conscious of polarity.

Then you find oneness in polarity

by leading the flux of energy
between the poles.

Qi (Life energy) follows attention.

This generates a pulsating which harmonizes .

The polarity becomes a balanced whole.

Tensions release.
The energetic fields in the body become filled.

Observation of nature
teachs us that
all life events represent a dynamic balance.

There are many Qi Gong exercises.

Tai Ji Quan is a well known example.

Qi Gong leads to the very principle of nature:

Oneness - polarity - oneness.

Qi Gong is practiced
Dao De Jing.

After practising Qi Gong for some time members can become interested in the Chinese philosophy
which complements Qi Gong.
This covers aspects such as Yin Yang theory, the five elements, and so on.

It is not necessary to study philosophy, but many of our members find it an enjoyable and
rewarding pursuit.

How Qigong works :

According to the Chinese model, sickness, pain, and other health anomalies are caused when Qi
energy is blocked. When Qi cannot flow through the body, two things happen:

First, excess Qi builds up where it is not needed or wanted. This is like water damming on a river
and flooding a neighborhood.

Second, other parts of the body do not receive enough Qi. This is like the riverbed drying out on
the other side of a dam, destroying river life.

Qigong exercises remove blocks and increase the flow of energy through your body. When it flows
free, Qi energy heals and restores the body

Quote:
Calm the mind, avoid worrying about worldly cares, and zhèngqì (vital energy) will be able to
travel smoothly along the channels; concentrate your thoughts, and the body will not be invaded by
diseases....
—Plain Questions of Internal Cannon of Medicine

Toughen my sinews, harden my bones,

Make my blood flow freely,
I will then be young forever
In touch with the realm of goads.
— Canon of Great Void

Breath, short life. No breath, death.

Since the practice of Qigong can be translated literally as Breath Work,

the technic of breathing is an integral part of Qigong practice.

The history of working with the breath is universal.

In Yoga, working with the rhythm of breathing is called Pranayama and
involves inhaling then pausing, exhaling and pausing. In Kundalini
Yoga, there is the Breath of Fire which involves rapid breathing.
In Tibetan Yoga, there is a holding in of inhaled air, called the Vase
Breath, to create tremendous inner heat.

Breathing is our gateway to our voluntary and autonomic nervous

systems. Respiration can be conscious or unconscious, as when you are
asleep or have fainted. For Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or Cot
Death, there is very strong evidence that very small babies die from
their bodies forgetting to breathe in their sleep. This is tragic and
explains why in the Chinese culture one finds a family bed. Allowing
the mother to sleep with the new-born baby can be one possible
preventive measure against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Since breathing involves both the voluntary and the involuntary

nervous systems, Taoist masters shrewdly observed that our emotions
influence the way we breathe. When we are angry our breathing
becomes heavy. When we are sad our breathing becomes choked. When
we are happy our breathing becomes fluid and smooth. When we are
peaceful, our breaths become long and quiet.

In Taoist and Buddhist training, breath is divided into four levels:

Windy Breath: As the name implies, this type of breathing is when we

physically exert ourselves and get winded. Windy Breath can easily
cause fatigue.
Raspy Breath: In this form of breathing others can hear the sound of our
breathing. This is usually due to disturbed emotions or sickness. Raspy
breath can cause tension and blockage of the Qi.
Qi Breath: This breathing is so quiet that it can be heard only by one's
self. Qi breath can lead to stupor or sleepiness.
Resting Breath: Only this last form of breathing is so quiet that one
cannot even hear one's own breath. This is the true Qigong state of
breathing. Only when one achieves this level of breathing of total
smoothness and velvetness can one consider to have really attained the
beginning level of Qigong practice.
In Taiji practice, the common state of breath is the Raspy breath or even
the windy breath, only rarely do I encounter a practitioner who has the
Qi breath. In my more than 30 years of practice and observation, I have
met only a handful of masters with the ability to maintain a flowing
state of Resting Breath while practicing Taiji or Qigong forms.

Resting Breath can be experienced more readily when one is doing

seated meditation. Once one has reached the level of deep theta brain
waves or the deep samadhi state the sound of one's own breathing
disappears. At this point, one no longer notices whether one is breathing
or not. The student will have very concrete physical manifestations to
bring to her/is teacher for confirmation. Caution, one should not try to
arrest one's breath deliberately. Attempting to do so can cause great
harm to any novice.

The training of breathing involves a personal guide who has attained

mastery of at least the fourth stage of breathing. It is no wonder that
most students are given the simple advice in regards to breathing in
Taiji -- " breathe naturally".

" Breathe naturally" is not bad advice but it is not good advice, either.

" Breathe naturally" to most beginners simply means that they continue
to breathe according to their personal habits. To really begin breath
training, one has to observe dysfunctional breathing habits inside
oneself. Pay close attention to the upper torso, the shoulders, the upper
back and neck region. The training of breathing does not involve
artificially superimposed patterns from the outside. Even the esoteric
master, G.I. Gurdjieff, was once told by his teacher that he should
abandon all his learned breathing techniques; they do more harm than
good. The different stages of breathing occur naturally as one gains
awareness and mastery over one's Taiji movement and respiration.

The purpose of breathing is to bring vitality and oxygen into our blood
stream. But there are also many other crucial aspects in breathing: such
as assisting the heart's pumping action, the flow of endocrine hormonal
emission from the organs as well as the movement of the cerebral spinal
fluid in the spinal cord.

Uninhibited free breath is rare. If one has the good fortune to

experience such free breathing, one feels deep, widening waves of joy
spreading slowly over the whole body. This bliss of free breath is more
intense than sexual orgasm. To free the breath involves retracing the
trauma of our birth. For most of us our first breath was filled with pain
and fear. Usually a doctor gives the baby a good wack on the back or
bottom. Emerging from the warmth and darkness of the womb, we took
our first breath out of shock and pain. No wonder so many of us gasp
every inhalation as if it were our last breath. This conditioning alters
and imprints the breathing pattern for the rest of our life. (Now, if you
happen to be born in a swimming pool or come from Dr. Larma's clinic,
you are one of the lucky few who were born and breathe without pain.
Accordingly, babies who were born without pain and allowed to breathe
their first few breaths on their mother's belly with the umbilical cord
still attached tend to do better in life.)

Remember: before there is the spoken word, a breath must be taken. So

breathing even comes before the act of creation. Truly then, breathing is
taking in the spirit of life, inspiration.

Meditation and Qi Gong for Self-Healing :

I breathe; soft, slow, and deep. My body begins to relax everywhere from my head to my toes. I
feel Qi, the energy of life, riding along with my breath and filling the inside of my being. It feels
warm, like the velvety smoke from incense, spreading throughout me. I concentrate my mind on
my breath and the beautiful way this energy flows, letting my mind empty except for this moment
of stillness and peace. I take this time to notice how I feel, both physically and emotionally. It’s
honest time with myself, time to allow myself to truly feel whatever I do, and time to accept myself
fully and unconditionally in the same way a parent loves their child. I sit like this, calm and at
peace in a way that cannot be explained, only experienced.

Now I’m ready to begin my Qi Gong exercises. These are Taoist exercises done in a meditative
state. They are used for self-healing, health maintenance, and to bring a sense of spirituality into
our lives. We use the mind, the hands, and the breath to guide our Qi along various pathways, to
different energy centers or "chakras", and to specific organs or areas within ourselves that need to
be healed.

I bring my hands together, palm up, in front of my lower abdomen where I have been building and
accumulating the Qi. Still breathing soft, slow, and deep, and moving with my breath, I inhale and
gently allow my hands to drift upwards towards my heart center. Qi follows my hands, moving
internally up my spine. I turn my palms over and as they slowly float back downwards, the Qi also
follows them, this time descending down the front of my body along a meridian channel. I continue
this movement several times, until I feel the warm, tingling sensation of the Qi moving on it’s own,
circulating in the pattern I’ve created for it. Then I pause, my body settles and I imagine that my
bones are like a sponge, absorbing and sucking in all of the Qi I just created with the exercise.
Research has shown that, in fact, the number of T-cells will have increased, strengthening my
immune system.

I practice a few more exercises in the pattern that I follow each morning, creating more Qi,
absorbing the Qi, improving my health, and quieting my mind. About 45 minutes has gone by. I
feel incredible - invigorated, yet still; alive, pure, and whole. I take a few minutes to revel in this
condition. Each day it becomes easier and easier to make this my normal state of Being, and to be
able to recall the feeling when I need it later.

What is this "being centered" all about? :

Imagine that you walk into work one morning. People are rushing about in an obvious hurry to get
something done, your boss is yelling, and your computer system is down. Imagine that you breath
slowly, deeply into yourself. You are calm as you look around and assess the situation. You quietly
walk to your office and put your things down. You sit in your chair, take a slow, deep, full breath,
and it suddenly becomes very clear what you need to do to handle the situation. You don’t feel
anxious, your stress level doesn’t rise, and you proceed to do one thing at a time. The madness is
happening around you but you aren’t consumed by it. You are acting in it but without letting it
affect your calmness. The external circumstances don’t upset your internal sense of Being. Now
imagine doing this with other situations in your daily life. It’s a very powerful way to live.

Qigong and Yin-Yang Theory :

To followers of the yin-yang wuxing theory, everything in the world is either yin, the negative and
feminine force, or yang, the positive and masculine force. The two forces complement and oppose
each other. It is not difficult to understand yin and yang, if we think of "the complementary
opposites" such as heaven and earth, positive and negative, male and female, life and death.

Wuxing which arises from yin-yang refers to the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water)
and their different characteristics. It is said that wood arises from water and prevails over earth; fire
arises from wood and prevails over metal; earth arises from fire and prevails over water; metal
arises from earth and prevails over wood; water arises from metal and prevails over fire.

The five organs of the human body are compared to the five elements and are said to behave
likewise:

Liver (wood) complements the heart (fire) and opposes the spleen (earth); the heart complements
the spleen and opposes the lungs (metal); the spleen complements the lungs and opposes the
kidneys (water); the lungs complement the kidneys and oppose the liver, the kidneys complement
the liver and oppose the heart.

Yin-yang wuxing formulates the theory of the jing-luo -- that the human body contains vertical
trunks (jing) and branches (luo) made up of 20 invisible passages, 12 meridians (zhengjing) and
eight pulses (qijing). They are different from the nervous system known to modern medical
students. These passages are divided into two groups: yin and yang. In each group there are six
meridians which extend into four limbs and four pulses which are distributed in the body. The
internal ones are called yinyang, and the external ones the yang-jing. These meridians and pulses
carry a "life force" through the whole body. If the "life force" cannot flow easily in the passages,
the body becomes ill. The balance of yin-yang wuxing is essential for peace, harmony and health.
Diseases and ailments of the body occur when the balance of yin-yang wuxing is upset. For
instance, if the fire element in the heart is too strong for the metal element in the lungs, the
physiological balance cannot be maintained. The dominance of heart over lungs can cause the loss
of weight, general lassitude, and a pain in the chest. Qigong breathing exercises can help restore
the balance.

Since these passages are anatomically invisible, their existence remains a matter of dispute.
Although the theory seems to "unscientific", its principles are precise and based on a belief that
man has a spiritual as well as a physical existence.

Breathing exercise
Qigong is the Chinese terminology for the system of breathing-control exercises. Literally, qi
means "air", which implies a "life force". Gong means an art. Qigong is the art which
benefits health and prolongs life.

Qigong is not a religion, it is based on the philosophical principles derived from the theory of
yin-yang wuxing in the Book of Changes. In traditional Chinese medicine, yin refers to the
tangible body and its blood circulation; yang, the invisible qi and the spirit.

There are three stages in practicing qigong:

1) Deep breathing-control
Qi moves in jing-luo, the passages of meridians and pulses, just as blood flows through blood
vessels. The qigong state of deep breathing is similar to fetal breathing in the womb. The fetus
cannot breathe externally, it breathes internally and there is a movement of qi.

Breathe gently through the nostrils with mouth shut, so as to put the qi into motion. The aim is to
achieve proper control of and the ability to trace qi in your body. To imagine this, think of the
movement of qi as follows: First, the qi rises from the baihui point and moves downward past both
ears. Next, the divisions of qi meet at the throat and separate again at the naral and go down to the
huiyin point. After this, they separate to travel along the collar bones to the chest. They then meet
again once more to flow along the inner legs to the feet. Finally, they rush into the ground through
the yongquan points.

2) Sitting in meditation
Sit on a stool upright with the baihui and huiyin points on a line and your eyes downwards,
imagining they are closed. Imagine there is something over your head at the baihui point, but don't
put any force on it. Let it go gently. Hold your legs comfortably, stretch your arms downwards and
curve your thumbs and forefingers a little imagining that they are touching one another. Separate
the middle, ring and little fingers gently.

There are two steps leading to meditation:

One is to remain calm and collected. This does not mean to stop thinking, but implies making your
mind concentrate on only one thing without random thoughts. The other is to achieve total
emptiness and calmness. This refers to a higher state of serenity, in which one thinks of nothing.

3) Dantian gong
Apothecaries of antiquity believed that longevity could be enjoyed if pills were prepared in a
special way, but others held that the so-called pills of longevity were in reality in the human body.
In Chinese, the pill is known as dan. Dantian means the pill region, a region three fingers breadth
below the navel in the lower part of the abdomen, located between the bladder and rectum. This
area is known as qihai, the sea of air, because all the passages meet there just as all the rivers flow
into the sea.

Dantian opens when there is qi and closes when there is none. The qi may descend into it during
exhalation. If you are able to deliver qi into dantian through the achievement of breathing-control
art, you will be as pure as a piece of white jade and as serene as a lake without a ripple. You will
feel as light as a feather and that the qi inside the body is linked with the universe and is limitless
as the sea and sky. You will be imbued with a spirit as the rainbow spanning the sky.

According to physical fitness experts, the best exercises consist of slow, continuous and rhythmic
movements. Examples of these are walking and swimming. They also emphasize what they call
forced breathing, which exercises the diaphrahm and increases blood flow.

With its flowing and rhythmic movements and its emphasis on breathing, Taijiquan fills the bill
perfectly. Taijiquan also calls for complete mental concentration. In fact, at the ideal level, all
Taijiquan movements originate in teh mind. It is believed that mental concentration can mobilize
an internal energy current called, which in turn guides the physical movements. In other words, the
movements-for instance, the lifting of an arm or the bending of a knee-are no longer the results of
conscious physical effort but the effect of mental concentration. It is both mental and physical
exercise.

To a Westerner seeing taijiquan for the first time, it looks like a ballet in slow motion. It consists of
a sequence of forms involving practically every part of the body and executed in a highly stylized
yet natural manner. You stand straight but not stiff. You are relaxed. Your body is supple but not
limp. Your movements are slow but steady, poised and powerful. The aim is to train yourself to be
physically as soft as an infant, as resilient as a twig in the wind, sensitive to the slightest pressure
on and part of your body, and mentally alert.

It is believer in Taijiquan that one's physical energy originates in the feet and spread into the arms
from the waist. Thus the waist plays the role of commander-in-chief sending energy where it is
needed. Every movement of the arms calls for close co-ordination with the waist. This is one of the
basic principle of Taijiquan, which can be applied in everyday life-for instance, in picking up heavy
objects.

A second basic principle is synchronization of movement. Practically all movements involve every
part of the body, though each emphasizes some specific part. The whole Taijiquan sequence
unfolds itself in a uninterrupted continuity. There is an imperceptible pause at the end of every
form, which occurs when the various parts of the body should come to a simultaneous stop.

While Taijiquan is basically an exercise for health, its various forms are designed for self-defense.
The foremost principle is never to attack first and, when attacked, never to counter force with force
but instead to make use of the attacking force to defeat the attacker. Suppose a man throws a punch
at you, instead of countering it, you dodge and grab his fist, throwing him in the direction of his
momentum. If he tries to retreat, throw him in the opposite direction he is headed.

Taijiquan, both as exercise and as an art of self-defense, reflects a way of life, a philosophy. The
standing posture and the movements symbolize a personality of straightforwardness and integrity,
serenity and dignity. They indicate a man of mental balance and emotional stability as well as
physical well-being. The emphasis on suppleness and resilience points to a friendly disposition and
absence of aggressiveness. The coordination and synchronization of movements illustrate a basic
attitude toward one's work and responsibility, thoroughness, whole heartedness and diligence.

In summary, Taijiquan aims at developing a wholesome man (within himself), a friendly man
(toward others). A conscientious man (about his work and his responsibility) - a man at peace with
himself and with the world.

Taijiquan is a form of shadow boxing. It was created by a martial arts master of the Ming Dynasty,
Chen Wangting. Chen was a general and a government official of the Ming Dynasty and originally
came from the town of Chenjiagou in Henan Province. Chen had studied Kung fu and after the
Ming Dynasty was overthrown by the Qing, he returned to his hometown and immersed himself in
studying boxing. From his studies, he created Taijiquan.

Immune System:

Our immune system inculcates our lymphatic system, digestive system, reproductive system,
musculo-skeletal system, and cardiovascular and pulmonary systems.
Therefore it is obvious to comprehend the Chinese philosophy, that you are what you eat.

The practice of Qi Gong's version of

'Wild Goose Qi Gong', can, will and have provided rectification with regard to immune system
problems, a correspondence course, that take approximately 10 months duration, to complete
starting from a novice level, this will be available shortly in the new year,i.e. 1998.

The course will consist of all the benefits, e.g.

Colour visualisation principles, Primordial breathing technique and mediation, in a BI-lingual

format, video recorded for ease of practice, the instructional procedure is of very simplistic
presentation, in this the complete long form of Wild Goose Qi Gong

The air you breath if polluted or impure will damage your health.

Qi Gong improves and maintains our health, is the ultimate preventative medicine, acts as a
diagnostic tool to the highly initiated.

Because of it's activation of our lymphatic system it encourages cleansing and purifying of our
life's blood.

Our immune system is similar to the defensive system or mechanism of a country. It has an army
that we refer to as antibodies. These identify, locate and destroy foreign invasion (infection,
disease).

Qi Gong assists our immune system by providing an environment that is hostile to primitive micro-
organisms.

What is Taijiquan?

Taijiquan is an ancient healing and martial art developed in China. The purpose of Taijiquan is to
develop a more specific personal relationship between the practitioner’s body, mind and spirit.
Effective Taijiquan practice can reduce the likelihood of sickness and stress and aid in the
prevention of disease. Effective practice means a strong understanding of basic hand and foot
movements coupled with an understanding of internal principles. These internal principles are
defined as: Stillness, Patience, Diligence, Continuous and Exactness. Taijiquan is a safe, effective,
natural way to improve one’s life.

Taijiquan is an elaborate method of Qigong and what makes it more useful is that it can be applied
as a method of self defense. Instruction combines not only learning a series of forms, but the
principles of internal energy development as well as the weapons and push hand exercises
associated with those styles, providing the opportunity to engage in basic as well as in-depth
learning.

Legend One: The Taoist Cheng San Fung, Master of the Three Peaks, was inspired to create the
Taiji Quan form from observing the fighting between a crane and a snake. He noticed the soft
movement of the snake was very effective in warding off the attack of the hard strike. Notice how
soft the Taiji movement is.
Legend Two: Cheng San Fung, of the Ming dynasty (1600 AD) has a dream in which the immortal
warrior taught him the Taiji Quan. After one night of dream learning, he achieved mastery and used
the Taiji to defeat the bands of bandits that surrounded his monastery.
Legend Three: Chan village originated the Taiji Quan from their ancestor who was a small Ming
general. Upon retirement he created Taiji based on another great Ming General's booklet on the Art
of War. This claim gives rise to the idea that the oldest version of Taiji is from the Chan village.
Yang Style: It is true that master Yang was a serf with the Chan family. and learned the art secretly
until his master died and his widow was the same age as Yang. Master Yang went to Peking
(Beijing) to seek his fortune. He was introduced to the imperial family of the Manchu 13th prince.
He was hired as the martial instructor for the prince's personal bodyguard. Master Yang used to
carry a small spear and was honored with the title of "undefeatableYang". His family was able to
pass down the art to the present day.
The Chen style is too compact and vigorous and can cause damage to beginners.The Chen family
assimilated all the arts they practiced and created their own version of the predominant art Cannon
Pounding (Pao Chui), derived from the original Shaolin Cannon Pounding art. Sung Tai Zhu Chang
Chuan formed a major part of this new art and there were elements from Shaolin Red Fist in it.
The Wu style is also good for beginners but it tends to have a tilted forward stance. Wu Jian Quan
style Taijiquan is second in popularity only after the Yang style of Taiji Quan. It is in fact
representative of the Yang style Small Frame which was developed and taught by Yang Lu Chan,
the founder of the Yang style, for the students in the Imperial Court
The Dan Tao School's Taiji Quan is from the lineage of Master Ham King Koo who from the age of
eight had studied it with an imperial ex-official in the 1900's. It is a proto-Taiji form which comes
directly from the very first generation of Yang Lu Chan himself. Master Koo always referred to the
form as the Primal Wudang Neigong Taiji Quan.
Dragon Style Taiji Quan: one of the oldest Taoist forms that has become like the Panda of China.
Its rarity is due to the difficulty of finding a teacher, and also competent students to carry the
lineage forward. The Dragon Style is the proto taiji, the Great Grand Mother of all Taiji forms. Its
emphasis is on the opening of the Eight Minor Energy Channels of the body.
The Wudang Taiji Quan is very complex and you would probably not find a teacher of this style..
The Wudang style has much jumping and stamping as well as many low crouch positions.

Forms :
Guo Ling
After unsuccessful Western treatments for cancer which spread throughout her body, Grandmaster
Guo Ling created this Qigong system which prolonged her life for more than twenty years. In
consists primarily of standing, breathing, and walking methods.

Dayan (Wild Goose) Qigong

Handed down from ancient times among exclusive circles of the Taoist Kunlun School, this Qigong
set imitates the movements of a wild goose from the time it awakens until it sleeps. It helps
promote complete circulation of blood and clears the passages through which Qi flows.

He Xiang Zhuang (Soaring Crane) Qigong

Combining a crane’s graceful, peaceful and relaxing movements with specific attention focused on
therapeutic points, this form of Qigong is subtle and powerful. It is quiet and reflective for most of
the exercise, then engages in a self-activated meditation to free blockages and engage the body,
mind and spirit, and ends with a calm, relaxed closing.

Wei Tuo Qigong

One of the Shaolin Temple’s secret internal energy systems, this is an ancient bone-marrow
cleansing form of Qigong. It combines breathing, movement and meditation to harness life energy
and combat disease, tension and stress while easing aging. It is a harder style consisting of six
sections: Commencing Form, Eagle, Dragon, Crane, Tiger and Meditation.

Taiji Qigong
This simple form combines Taiji and Qigong movements. It is especially effective for people with
time constraints who want to practice some Taiji and Qigong.

Way to Eternity :

Once before, Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, respectfully addressed his father, saying that he
had long cherished four desires: the first is no disease, the second no aging, the third retaining
youth, and the last no death. Lao Tzi, the founder of Taoism as well as the most inscrutable thinker
in Chinese history, once said that the heaven and the earth will converge upon you if your heart
remains purged of all stray thoughts and ideas and continues to be empty and still. Also, Confucius,
the most prominent thinker in Chinese history, left with us some words beyond ordinary men's
depth that all things can be achieved by the means of cleansing heart of all desires and emotions.
Nowadays, one time after another, most people keep skipping and jumping about with joy in
witnessing so many inventions arising in rapid succession and heartily become marveled at
mankind's wisdom and imaginative power, while they take a passive attitude in accepting all those
descending upon them---the birth, the death, the aging as well as diseases, which make up part of
fate in their transient lifetimes. Some saints like the three above mentioned, however, have
projected their thoughts into far off, and, following their respective roads, have reached the same
destination to become sole arbiter of man's destiny, which was called Tao by Lao Tzi, Infinite
Nirvana by Sakyamuni and Infinite Emptiness by Confucius.

People have always been sparing no effort in searching for or creating medicines of various kinds
to deal with diseases of various sort, while constantly overlooking one medicine existing in their
own bodies ever since their births that is capable of curing almost all diseases (including cancer
and AIDS) and uprooting all root causes in case they "administer" it in a proper way. They are
congenital fertilizing fluid, congenital vita-vapor and yang congenital mind-will, with which you
can not only get out of entanglement by diseases, but renew your youth, achieve no birth and at last
become the master of your destiny.

There are all together nine kinds of senses, of which the first eight kinds have their origins
respectively from eight yin congenital mind-wills---which are also called Cognitive mind-wills by
Sakyamuni and Nine Caldrons by Yellow Emperor, who is recognized as a common ancestor of all
Chinese. The first yin congenital mind-will charges itself with the task to produce sense concerning
sight, the second hearing, the third smell, the fourth taste, the fifth touch, the sixth---the most
important and intelligent one---of producing all consciousness. The seventh, in charge of carrying
on communication between the first six yin congenital mind-wills and the eighth, is very slow in its
movement, and often mistakes the eighth yin congenital mind-will for that producing
consciousness for itself. The eighth yin congenital mind-will serves as the origin of all mind in the
world, and is the master of the first six yin congenital mind-wills and possesses the "seed" of all
phenomena. It is the eighth yin congenital mind-will that takes charge of the birth and death. The
ninth, never falling into contact with anything and being free from all cause and effect for its
existence, is the fountainhead of sudden understanding or inspiration. The first five yin congenital
mind-wills are of the nature like wind---always drifting away nowhere, the sixth the nature like a
train of waves, the seventh the nature like an individual wave, the eighth the nature like a
boundless sea. All dreams come from seven yin souls. In this regard, the theory by Fleud---who is
an Austrian neurologist and famous for his psychoanalysis---only touches phenomena rather than
essence.

The eight kinds of yin congenital mind-will will dominate over you from your cradle to your grave.
As a result, your yang congenital mind-will, coming from infinite emptiness and holding the birth
and death of all things at its mercy, will become obscure and be buried in oblivion from time to
time. The yang congenital mind-will, in general, hardly presents its existence in man's daily life
except when people are having sexual intercourse and climaxing---people will get excited mostly
because yang congenital mind-will is stirring---and when people are passing away. We all know
there is a halo surrounding Sakyamuni's head and Jesus's, yet lack in the knowledge about what it
is. In fact, when yang congenital mind-will has been "unearthed" and shines brilliantly as it should
do the yin congenital mind-wills will turn into that halo and play a role as like that of a bodyguard.

Tao, also called Infinite Nirvana by Sakyamuni and Infinite Emptiness by Confucius, is so vast that
it has no limits to confine it. In the meanwhile, it is so minute that there is no the interior to fill it. It
extends itself far away beyond the limits of the universe and exists long before the beginning of the
time, for it is capable of exhausting infinitude and dates back to the time when there is no
beginning whatever and there is no time.

On account of the infinite emptiness the congenital mind-will came into being, and then turned into
vita-vapor which, once getting together, will split into two parts: yin and yang. Only by this time
the time and the space begin to come into being. Once yin and yang have come into being they will
react upon each other in a way of alternate motion and stillness, and in consequence, Qian Trigram
and Kun Trigram will take their places. With alternate motion and stillness continuing incessantly
the four emblematic Symbols will come forth. The four emblematic Symbols will produce eight
Trigrams when yang develops in one direction and yin in opposite direction. The six Trigrams
beyond Qian and Kun trigram, in fact, are six kinds of vita-vapor which, when they have
intercourse in their particular way, will produce five elements. When the five elements have come
into being, they will get involved in their own motion. As a result, all things will come into being,
and all kinds of innate or inexorable laws emerge and take their places naturally. So, looking up,
you can behold spiraling nebulas spreading throughout the universe, and looking down you know
that the myriad of things are constantly striving to satisfy all their "desires."

The five elements---wood, fire, earth, gold and water---have nothing to do with the composition of
the material world as most people claimed before, and function in all levels and in all directions.
With the interaction taking place constantly between five elements one form and another form, one
thing and another thing are always having direct or indirect relations with others and thus the
transformations and changes persist in everything in the universe. All myriad of things owe their
births to existence, which owes its birth to nonexistence. Existence and nonexistence intermingle
with each other persistently, and depend upon each other for their respective existence as like the
interior and the exterior.

Pursuing their evolving courses to their very beginning in a reverse direction, you are sure to find
out that the vita-vapor is at the very root of the myriad of things, and following their development
courses to their deaths you are sure to draw a conclusion that under no circumstances there is even
one thing that remains unchanged in its form. Hence you know the myriad of things derive their
existence from nothing but form and vita-vapor, both of which derive their existence from nothing
but congenital mind-will. Congenital mind-will is of the nature of infinite emptiness while Tao of
infinite nonexistence. And in them both sixty-four Hexagrams are perpetually engaged in their
particular motion.

The heaven and the earth are the most mammoth in terms of the substance and space they contain,
while humankind, taking his place between them, are the most ingenious in terms of the
endowments Providence if any) has granted. Humankind is always communing with the nature and
every individual is a universe in miniature. The vast expanse of the universe can be turned into one
thing resting in your hand and the transformations and changes persisting in all things have their
origin in your physical form.

Humankind takes one place among the three while the heaven and the earth taking the other two.
Becoming emptier and emptier your heart can contain all things in the world; becoming more and
more silent you will become aware of all things that will take place, are taking place and have
taken place. Emptiness is capable of accommodating all things while stillness of being perceptive
of the minutest detail. Stillness and emptiness continuing for long something divine will come on
the scene.

The heaven assumes the semblance of emptiness while the earth of stillness. On account of
emptiness the heaven can exert itself constantly and on account of stillness the earth can burden
itself with humankind and other things. The vastness and the boundlessness are, to some extent,
indicative of the emptiness of the heaven, while the great expanse and the roundness the stillness of
the earth. So the inexorable law the heaven and the earth abide by is nothing but emptiness and
stillness. Therefore, when you constantly remain still and empty the heaven and the earth will
converge upon you.

No vita-vapor no your life force, no congenital mind-will no your congenital nature and
constitutional nature. Congenital mind-will takes up residence in your heart, imperceptibly and
intangibly, while vita-vapor in your physical form, with Tao exerting its influence with them both.

"Would you please tell me what the death is about, my master?" asked Zhi Loo, a disciple of
Confucius, once before.

"Without the least knowledge about the birth how could you understand the death? " Confucius
replied.

There exists the birth there exists the death. Conversely, when there is no birth there is no death.
Because humankind almost exhausts all means to honor and pamper births their deaths look much
more insignificant. When a man wants to shake off the pursuit by the death angel he must at first
strive to achieve no birth.

The transformation from vita-vapor to form brings about birth. There is birth there is death. This is
an inexorable law all things in the region of existence must abide by. Conversely, the
transformation from form to vita-vapor results in no birth. There is no birth there is no death. With
neither birth nor death the congenital mind-will lasts forever.

The transformation from vita-vapor to form, to some extent, is similar to the formation of the earth,
while the transformation from form to vita-vapor to the formation of the heaven.

Cleansing the heart of all desires and emotions and remaining silent in the depths of emptiness and
stillness but not an insensate blank, the wise replenish vita-vapor and restore congenital mind-will
resolutely and constantly. So, out of spontaneity, the golden elixir pellet---also called the Great
Unification, and is formless and beyond the range of the time and space and can be seen or
perceived only through silent exercise which this book will present to you---will eventually come
forth. Still, he persists in doing this way and slides deeper and deeper in the depth of emptiness and
stillness. The golden elixir pellet, existing in his body yet never to be found inside and outside his
body, will gradually build up its own special constitution out of emptiness and stillness, though it is
beyond the range of existence. At last he will "conceive" the fetus of his true self in his middle
elixir field, then he can let the fetus go out to become an infant of his true self.

When your heart has become empty enough all substantive things will never stand the least chance
to impede as well as disturb your heart; when you remain still for long enough, you will give up all
desires and emotions. The farther one goes to bring his acquired talents into play, the less one
knows, the more he loses.

Congenital mind-will depends upon Tao for its existence, vita-vapor depends upon congenital
mind-will for its existence, form depends upon vita-vapor for its existence, and life depends upon
form for its existence.

Once you have given up all desires and emotions and slip deeper and deeper in the depths of the
emptiness and stillness as like a dead man ( your mind-will never drifts away but remains
motionless upon emptiness) your physical form will be brought to a constant standstill, which will
cause vita-vapor to come to be at a constant standstill, which will cause congenital mind-will to
come to be at a constant standstill. By this time, your heart beats no more, your pulse throbs no
more, your blood flows no more. When congenital mind-will has come to be at a constant standstill
the nonexistence will be brought into a constant standstill---Tao comes on the scene.

That after catching sight of something then you begin to gain some knowledge should not be
recommended as the most proper way of knowing. That things are accomplished after efforts were
made should not be recommended as the most proper way to act. That after something has given
signs then you begin to respond mentally or physically should not be recommended as the most
proper way to respond. Conversely, to accomplish all things before you going to or intend to
accomplish them is the most proper way to do things; to know all things well before you are
intending to know is the most proper way to know; to be aware of all that will to take place, have
taken place, are taking place far before the showing of any signs is called serene
comprehensiveness.

Nowadays, most people spare no effort in advocating democracy, yet few people know they are just
inwardly the victims under the dictatorship of their yin congenital mind-wills, like a puppet.

Your congenital nature is taken captive by your worldly heart while your life force at the mercy of
your physical form. All you senses come from yin congenital mind-wills, which occasion your life
force to be encumbered with your physical form. On account the heavy encumbrances by your
physical form there come the death and birth for your life; on account of slavery in which your
congenital nature is taken by your worldly heart there come the comings and goings of congenital
nature. Hence you know your physical form and your heart are places in which your life force and
congenital nature take residence, respectively.

As far as mankind is concerned, the state before a sperm combines with an ovum is similar to the
Great Unification in an emblematic sense, while the state that your physical form has come into
being with your congenital nature and life force taking residence in it is, in an emblematic sense,
similar to that of two elementary Forms (yin and yang) coming forth from the Great Unification.
The state when your physical form and constitution and your constitutional nature and your
disposition have fully developed is, in an emblematic sense, similar to that of four emblematic
Symbols. The state when fertilizing fluid, yang congenital mind-will, three yang souls, seven yin
souls, the sixth yin congenital mind-will, the vita-vapor, the physical form and the heart have fully
developed is, in an emblematic sense, similar to that of the eight Trigrams which come forth from
four emblematic Symbols.

With the knowledge that just depending upon the emptiness the heaven can exert itself incessantly
you can realize that just because your heart is exerting itself continuously by remaining still and
empty that the heaven has become what it was, what it is and what it will be, for all sights and
visions are nothing but your heart. Knowing, that on account of stillness the earth can burden itself
with so many things always striving to satisfy all their "desires," you can understand that in case
your body constantly remain still you can always respond to all things, for you are a universe in
miniature. Thus, letting your heart follow the example of the heaven you will become emptier and
emptier, and letting your physical form follow the example of the earth you will fall deeper and
deeper in the depths of stillness. So long have you remained in this state that something divine will
arise, which comes from the Mysterious Pass---the very center of the heaven and the earth and in
which the Great Unification takes residence.

By this time there comes the tangible medicine, there comes the formless medicine, there comes
the Upper Caldron established in your upper elixir field, there comes the Lower Furnace
established in your lower elixir field. With your pure mind-will functioning like fire you can set
sail against the life current---which, in an emblematic sense, is similar to the process of going back
through eight Trigrams, the four emblematic Symbols, the yin and yang, and the Great Unification-
--to transform your form into fertilizing fluid, transform fertilizing fluid into vita-vapor, transform
vita-vapor into congenital mind-will, and bring your congenital mind-will back into infinite
emptiness.

Then open up the vast achromatic chaos to recreate a set of new heaven and earth. With the new set
of heaven and earth serving as its Qian Trigram and Kun Trigram respectively, the fetus of your
true self will be conceived. When the fetus of you true self ---which is formless and lies outside the
region of existence, as like one idea being in bud in emptiness--- has fully developed you should let
it go out of your body, and train him and nurse him from time to time till he can in no time come
through nonexistence and existence( let alone go far away beyond the boundary of the universe),
and in no time turn into hundreds of thousands of forms which belong either to existence or to
nonexistence and of various features and shapes. By this time you begin to realize how poor
humankind's imaginative power is. Yet that is not the end. You should bring the fetus of your true
self back into your upper elixir field, then you should drift deeper and deeper in the depths of
stillness and emptiness till you bring your body and the infant of your true self into "golden light"
and let your brilliant light fill up the infinite emptiness so as to possess the same body with Tao.
Then and only then you have become Sakyamuni, Lao Tzi, Confucius and other saints, you are the
creator, you are God, you are the sole arbiter of your destiny.

The very foundation upon which the heaven is built up is nothing but yin and yang, while the very
foundation upon which the earth is created is nothing but flexibility and hardness, the very
foundation upon which a true man can be achieved is nothing but beneficence and generosity.

What the things receive from Tao is called Te. As for humankind, Te, to some extent, is equivalent
to virtues. Without Te you are advised not to be a practitioner engaged in pursuit of Tao, for you
can receive nothing but calamities. Nor should you have any motives or other that are popular in
the region of covetousness to become a practitioner in pursuit of Tao, as nothing will wait for you
but disasters.

Lu Xun, the most prominent contemporary writer in Chinese history, once said that Taoism is at the
very root of Chinese culture. and from this naturally you will know its significance. The book aims
at showing readers as many theories and concrete methods as possible, so as to help you
understand or practice the age-old Chinese-yoga or Qigong---though the two names are not

Quotes:
I sing the body electric - Walt Whitman

There are energies that move in our body. No one knows whence. They come from something
transcending our consciousness. We can't even conceive of them.
-- Joseph Campbell

Modern physics now agrees with the ancient teachings that what we think of as solid mater is really
energy in constant motion. The natural energy of the universe has been called by many different
names--vital force, prana, orenda, shakti, and spirit are just a few. The ancient Taoists called it qi
(chi).

As Hua Ching Ni says: "How can the universe be alive? Because it is the continual transformation
of primal chi, the pivotal energy and living soul of the universe. By understanding that all things in
the universe are just different expressions of chi, one can see why the sages have always said, 'All
things are one, and on is all things.'"

Qi can be thought of as basic life force. Ted Kaptchuck calls it "matter on the verge of becoming
energy or energy on the pint of materializing." Mantak Chia describes it as "the glue between our
body, mind, and spirit, the link between our perception of the inner and outer worlds." Qi may also
be thought of as electricity. It can't be seen, yet it can most certainly be felt.

In some ways, it is the very stuff of life. It is what animates us, what gives us life in the energetic
sense. It warms us, keep our organs in their places, and directs all of our movements.

There are different kinds of qi with different jobs to do. There is protective qi , or wei qi , the
Chinese version of the immune system. It lies like an invisible electrical shield between the skin
and the muscles. Its job is to keep out invading pathogens. When our wei qi is low, our resistance to
colds, flus and more serious viral invasions is weakened.

Another type of qi is organ qi . This type of qi is responsible for maintaining the strength and
integrity of each organ in our body. When this type of qi is weakened, our organ functions suffer
and we are likely to have trouble breathing, digesting our food or sleeping. We may also feel a
general feeling of fatigue.

Yet another type of qi is meridian qi , which travels the pathways (called meridians or channels)
throughout our bodies, linking organs with each other and to organ systems and helping the blood
move and stay within its channels. Meridian qi is what acupuncturists tap into when they insert
their needles.

The human body is in reality an energy system. You can even think of the body's meridians as an
electrical system, complete with junctions, fuse boxes and miles of wiring, all connecting up in one
great multi-dimensional energy circuit.

Since the entire universe itself is made of the very same qi of which we are made, we can utilize
the energy of the universe in our own healing work. This is the premise of qigong , the ancient
Taoist art of energy work. By tracking and building up our own internal energy and then mixing it
with the "heavenly" energy as well as the "earthly" energy, we can become more vital, more
healthy and more spiritually realized beings.

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of different qigong exercises. Many of these are
integrated into a whole system, usually called by an evocative and poetic name such as Soaring
Crane Qigong, Wild Goose Qigong etc. But all involve some sort of special breathing, specific
movements and an inner visualization of where the energy is focused or moving.

Through qigong , as Bob Flaws says: "we can manufacture qi more efficiently, store qi more
effectively, and circulate our qi more smoothly. In addition, we can circulate our qi to particular
places or organs in our body to bath those areas in healing, revitalizing energy."

Qigong can be done in a moving form, such as in Taiji Quan, or by sitting or even lying down.
There was a famous qigong master in China in the 800's named Chen Tuan who perfected a sort of
sleeping qigong . He was said to be able to sleep for months at a time, neither eating nor drinking,
then awaken perfectly refreshed and energized!

An important facet of qigong is that while there are often outer movements, at least 75% of what is
going on is on the inside. Visualizing the energy flow, meditating on certain energy centers or
spiritual centers (such as tien mu , the third eye or bai hui, the crown chakra or dan tein , in the
lower abdomen) is just as important, if not more so, than doing outer movements. In the beginning
the practitioner guides the qi with his or her mind in a relaxed, non-forceful manner. It is said that
qi follows yi , or that energy will follow the mind. (Western medicine is discovering this also as the
relatively new branch of medicine called phsyconeuroimmunology.) Eventually, the qi will move
on its own without the practitioner needing to guide it.

Until very recently in modern China, qigong was very popular, with millions of people practicing it
daily, but mainly for health benefits. Only recently has the spiritual aspects of qigong been taught,
although traditionally qigong has always been used for both physical and spiritual growth. Here in
the West people are, of course, interested in both. But traditional Taoist wisdom teaches that it is
very difficult for one to do intense spiritual work when one's energy or health is compromised.
There is simply not enough qi to do practices or even to read and understand inspiring books.
Therefore, the first step is to do qigong to raise the energy level in order to become a healthier,
more vital person. Then one can begin deeper self cultivation practices.

Essence Qigong

Standing with my feet rooted to the earth and my head in heaven, I am relaxed and natural, like the
pine tree. I am at one with the universe. I am a channel between heaven and earth.

So begins my practice of Essence Qigong, an extremely simple yet sublimely powerful form. As I
slowly relax-my muscles, my nervous system, my thought forms, my breath-I feel myself enter
deeply into the qi state, a state of complete peacefulness and harmony. It is a state that I will go in
and out of over the next forty five minutes of my practice, as I am more and less successful at
letting go of thoughts, conceptions and emotions and instead flow gracefully and deeply into the qi
state.

Slowly my palms come up in front of me, holding an invisible yet very real qi ball. They come
together over my head, at my bai hui point and down the front of my body then up the back-
smoothing, combing and energizing the qi channels there. Then they come out to two sides, like the
wings of a great bird, come together again over bai hui and then descend down the back and up the
front of my body-again smoothing, combing and energizing. Then up at a forty degree angle and
along the outside of my body and up the inside of my legs.

Now I stand within the qi field that I have created and massage the five major organs, hands lightly
over the body-opening, harmonizing, healing the liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys.

Then, holding six points on the front of my body I beam white light into them, opening them,
relaxing them, balancing the three centers of the body.

Later, while I stand in meditation posture and feel the waves of energy flowing over and through
me I give thanks for this simple yet vital practice. the "formless form" as my teacher, Chen Fu Yin,
calls it. It is in letting go of the mind, letting go of the expectations, and letting go of the goals that
I can benefit the most from this revitalizing and harmonizing practice.

"We access the qi," says Chen Fu Yin, so that we can allow for the emergence of the shen or spirit".
In this way qigong becomes a deeply spiritual practice. The benefits of better health, more vitality,
clearer emotions, and stronger immune system are all doors into the great realm of the spirit, where
true healing lies.

This extremely simple yet very powerful qigong practice sustains me, opens me to new
experiences, and harmonizes my being. It has made me intensely grateful to be alive and to be a
part of this great unfolding dance of Tao that swirls all around and within me.

What To Expect From Essence Qigong.

If practiced at least once daily (30-45 minutes) you can expect to feel a rise in vitality, a stronger
immune system, a more balanced emotional life, a greater sense of peace and well-being and more
stamina in everyday activities.

Our workshops generally run from ten in the morning to five in the evening one the first day, with
plenty of time for breaks and lunch. The second day is generally a half day. We also will practice a
sitting meditation as well as a lying down meditation.

Note: If you are having health issues or have infirmities please do not worry. We do not run the
seminar like a drill sergeant and any time you feel the need to sit out, you may do so. Everyone
moves at their own pace. We have people of all ages and health levels attending our seminars and
we try to accommodate them all. Essence Qigong may even be practiced by people in wheel chairs!

An Example Exercise : Heavenly Cloud Hands -

Heavenly Cloud Hands is one a considerable repertoire of basic Qi Gong exercises, which are
taught to new students so as to kick-start their internal systems, thereby powering up their immune
system and also providing them with he mechanism to radiate health, be in a state of calm, reduce
stress levels and also increase their spirituality.

This slow and gentle exercise is a form of preventative medicine and thus helps to prevent the
onset of future illness.

Key Points of the Exercise

You must use abdominal breathing, called primordial breathing in Qi Gong. The breathing is the
most important part of the exercise.

The movements are completely relaxed.

The movements are very slow. After some practise, one complete movement should take about half
a minute or more.

Keep the movement in harmony with the breathing.

Place the tip of the tongue to the front of the palate, against the roof of the mouth. Keep it there
throughout the exercise.

Close your eyes. Visualise that you are drawing a rainbow with your hands.

We are performing part of the movement/form known as 'Heavenly Cloud Hands'.

Begin with the feet together. Place the hands together.

Close your eyes, relax completely. Place the tip of the tongue against the roof of the mouth.

Slowly raise the hands. Slowly.

Simultaneously breathe into the abdomen. Therefore, the abdomen will expand while the chest
remains still.

At the half way point turn the hands over and begin to breath out.

Keep breathing out, stretch the hands up over the head. Move slowly throughout.

At the top, turn the hands to face outwards, and begin to breathe in, into the abdomen.

Separate the hands, slowly breathing in.

As the hands pass halfway begin to breathe out.

Keep breathing out until the hands reach the bottom. You have now completed the exercise, but
you can repeat it as many times as you like.

However, we recommend that you do not overdo it initially.

Qi Gong is a very powerful form of exercise. Consider it to be a kind of medicine. As with any
medicine, treat it with respect. If you have a serious health problem, consult your doctor before
trying Heavenly Cloud Hands.

This exercise will stimulate the internal organs. You may find it does you more good than hours of
aerobic exercises.

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