Answers to the Health Qigong – Liu Zi Jue
1. Where does the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue originate?
Liu Zi Jue, which is also called Liu Zi Qi Jue, is one kind of traditional health-care methods that is mainly exercised by ways of inhaling and exhaling. Liu Zi Jue has very long and widespread history and cab be recorded back to the Southern and Northern Dynasties (A.D402-581). During its widespread transmission, Liu Zi Jue has been replenished and consummated by medical practitioners or regimen practicers of different dynasties.
Based on the traditional Liu Zi Jue, Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue is invented and arranged by means of modern scientific theories and methods. In order to make it more scientific and reasonable, the order of the six words Xu, He, Hu, Si, Chui, Xi, their pronunciation and the form of mouth are modulated and regulated during its invention and arrangement.
2. What are the characteristics of the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue?
Each word of the six words of Liu Zi Jue is one part of the integrity and also has its own solitary feature. There is systematic and standard pronunciation and the type of mouth when it is practiced together with simple guiding action. In all, as one of the regime including inhaling and exhaling and guiding, the characteristics of Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue can be generalized as follows: inward and outward exercising, flexible, slow and graceful actions, dynamic and static combination, being simple and easy to be studied, safe and effective.
3. What are the body-building actions of the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue?
Scientific research test demonstrate that the total life quality of the practicers can be boosted after the exercise with the ameliorated tendency of physiological and psychological state as well as more harmonious interpersonal and family relation. What’s more, the result of investigation about the disease rehabilitation in the subject group show that the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue is effective for the middle and aged people on relieving some chronic diseases to some extent.
4. The Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue is a little unique among the four kinds of Health Qi Gong, why?
It is different from the other three kinds of Health Qigong that the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue takes breathing as the mainstay and simple guiding movements accompanying the breathing routines such as Xu, He, Hu, Si, Chui and Xi to regulate the function of the liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney, Sanjiao and strengthen the bone and musculature, enhance the health and recover the diseases. The guiding movements must be relaxed, gentle, flexible and slow. Breathing and pronunciation can’t be disturbed by the guiding movements. It is why the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue is different from the other three kinds of Health Qigong.
5. Why must the reverse abdominal breathing be applied during the exhalation in the practice of the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue?
There are two common breathing training methods including thoracic breathing, which is mainly characterized as the intercostals muscle movement, and abdominal respiration which is characterized as the diaphragmatic muscle movement. The latter includes abdominal breathing and reverse abdominal breathing. The natural breathing method is taken in the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue in most time. But reverse abdominal breathing is taken during the exhaling pronunciation in each time, that is to say, the lower abdomen is mildly adducted in the course of the inhaling and relaxed in the course of exhaling to let it naturally pluck up.
According to the theory of the traditional Qigong, when you inhale by ways of reverse breathing, congenital vital Qi is heaved from your lower abdomen to your chest; in the meantime, fresh air in the nature is absorbed in your chest and then the former and the latter are mixed there. Then turbid air is exhaled outside your body and enriched vital Qi are descended to your lower abdomen. This way of breathing can practise Qi, cultivate Qi and make your body healthy but also prevent dry mouth and tongue, dizziness, head distension or even fatigue from incorrect pronunciation. It is also one kind of practicing methods that is concerned with Kan Li intersection, heart and kidney in balance, heart and kidney intersection with markedly body-building effect in the traditional Qigong theory. That’s why it must by used in the course of exhaling and pronunciation in the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue.
6. How to make pronunciation and reverse abdominal breathing match well in the exercise of Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue?
It is one of the keys to make expiration and pronunciation and reverse abdominal breathing match well in the exercise of Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue. Otherwise the effect of practice will be impacted or dry mouth feeling or fatigue is possible to ensue. You must pay your attention to feel the gradual relaxation and enrichment of Qi from your mouth, throat, chest, to your abdomen step by step rather than to the breathing in the course of pronunciation and exhalation. That is the method called mind participating with Qi, mind following with Qi and Qi storing in the Dantian.
7. Why is it that mind should be combined with breathing and body in the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue?
As breathing is the mainstay accompanying with movements in the exercise of Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue, so strong mind and thought maybe result in rigid movements, which is easy to cause rapid breathing or even affect the quality of three kinds of regulation function. Then the practicers can’t get to the state of relaxation and quietness. Internal balance of the body will be destroyed and disorder of movement of Qi will be likely to ensue. Therefore the practicer should make his mind fit with breathing and movements and pay attention to be relaxed, harmonious and natural, not forgetting nor helping. He can’t intend to prolong the slow exhalation and pronunciation as well as gentle movements nor make mind scatter to separate it from breathing and movements.
8.What are the methods and main points of the breathing in the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue?
The method of breathing is mainly reverse abdominal breathing, in which the chest is slowly expanded and the abdomen is mildly abducted while the air is absorbed in the nostril and vice versa while the air is exhaled in the mouth. This kind of breathing can increase the amplitude of the rise and fall of the diaphragm and be able to promote the whole circulation of Qi and blood and act as health protection for Zang and Fu.
In the breathing of Liu Zi Jue, mild rather than strong mind should be paid attention just like to be a little on purpose or a little by accident. Breath should be fine and long during the exhalation. It should be weak and natural and not straining while the air is absorbed through the nostril. Expanding or retracting the abdomen on purpose is not suitable.
9. What is the body-building theorem of the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue in Chinese medicine?
According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, man is one part of the universe and human as well as heaven and earth is integrity. So man’s physiological function and health will be affected by nature. It is correlated and corresponded among the man’s Zang and Fu that include liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney and five elements that include wood, fire, earth, gold and water and the pronunciation of six kinds of mouth form such as Xu, He, Hu, Si, Chui and Xi.
So the pronunciation that the six sounds are uttered is used to regulate the corresponding Zang and Fu according to the corresponding relation between the five Zang and five kinds of sounds in the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue, that is to say, Xu can regulate liver, He can regulate heart, Hu can regulate spleen, Si can regulate lung, Chui can regulate kidney, Xi can regulate Sanjiao. The practicer can expire the turbid air produced by the Zang Fu in the course of uttering and exhalation and absorb the fresh air in nature in the course of the corresponding movements and inhalation. Such course can regulate the circulation of Qi and blood of the practicer and make Yin and Yang of five Zang and six Fu balance and then play the role of body-building, health-care, get rid of diseases and prolong the lifespan.
10. How does the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue reduce the body fat of the middle and aged people?
The ratio of the body fat is the index reflecting the component of the body, it is usually 20-30% for the adult female and it means obese over 30%. The study show that the ratio and weight of body fat of the practicers are drastically decreased after exercising the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue for half a year, that is to say, it can prevent obesity and make their configurations more favorable for the middle and aged practicers.
Reference:
Answers to the Health Qigong –Liu Zi Jue Chinese Health QiGong Association
Books:
Liu Zi Jue: Six Sounds Approach to Qigong Breathing Exercises (Chinese Health Qigong Associat)
by The Chinese Health Qigong Association
ISBN 1848190069
Appearance, Sound, Breathing, Spirit and Verve of Health Qigong – Liu Zi Jue
Appearance, Sound, Breathing, Spirit and Verve of Health Qigong • Liu Zi Jue
The Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue is a set of Qigong exercises with the characteristics of being easy to learn, remarkable efficacy, unique style and strong Qigong features. It is mainly dealing with the inhaling and exhaling breathing, and at the same time coordinating with six unique pronunciation methods of Xu, He, Hu, Si, Chui, and Xi. In addition, it is supported by corresponding movements and mental ideas to adjust the five primary systems of human beings such as the liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney as well as San Jiao and the vital energy’s function. By means of these above-mentioned principles, it can achieve the purpose of softening tendon & strengthening bone, improving organs, adjusting physical health and rehabilitation.
With the gradual popularity of Health Qigong, the Liu Zi Jue has won favor by the ever-increasing number of people. However, due to the simple actions of Liu Zi Jue, and every movement should be repeated 3-6 times, beginners as well as those practitioners that are unfamiliar with it can not help but think it a little bit of boring. In fact, as long as practitioners can gradually improve from the five aspects of appearance, sound, breathing, spirit and verve, they will gradually appreciate the wealth of essence and its serene charm. Naturally, when demonstrating Liu Zi Jue, the skilled practitioners can convey the integration of appearance, breathing, spirit and verve with the unique Qigong features.
Appearance- postural movements
With regard to the postural movements, it is necessary to be generous stretch, slow and soft, adept and natural, serene and smooth like floating clouds and flowing water, with harmonious ambience between human beings and breathing flow, which fully reflect the radiant charm of the unique tranquility and gentle beauty.
It is required that all the actions and movements especially elbow and knee should be relaxed as much as possible. In particular, it is prohibitive to violate the fundamental requirements for expiratory and respiratory functions as well as the even, small, gentle, flexible and long characteristics of pronunciation.
It is required that the connections between individual action, the cohesion of the rhythm of breathing and even the conversion of ideas when practicing should regard the navel as the focus. From this perspective, it is conspicuously showed in the demonstration of specific actions, which all require both hands should keep the same height with the navel, especially the “Lao Gong Acupoints” of the palms should be at the same height with the navel.
Sound—Pronunciation, shape, breathing and vocalizing
The pronunciation, shape and breathing are the Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue unique practicing methods as well as the core, difficulties and key points needed to be specially paid attention when practicing Liu Zi Jue. According to the verification and research by the experts in the fields of Qigong, Chinese traditional medicine, phonology and other related literature, it has been proved that the six characters of Xu, He, Hu, Si, Chui and Xi all have the radical of Kou, which means a specific state of pronunciation. For instance, taking the character of Xu Zi Jue as example, when we just finished a very stressful job, we would instinctively pronounce Xu in order to ease the depressed mood and feel relaxed and relieved. While if under this occasion, we only read the character Xu in the way of Putonghua or Pinyin pronunciation, it is difficult to achieve the health effects of fitness, because only in a particular state and exclusive pronunciation, shape and breathing can play the particular role, so as the Lu Zi Jue. It is specially needed to note that it is far from enough just relying on the Putonghua and Pinyin to pronounce Liu Zi Jue. It is necessary to find the particular shape and breathing in the particular state. Only in this way can we achieve the purpose of health preserving and care.
The steps for learning pronunciation, shape and breathing are as following. In the first place, it is necessary to use pronunciation-correcting method to achieve the initial purpose of standardizing mouth, and then use the standardizing shape of mouth to control the expiratory and respiratory breathing. According to the differences between the thickness, degree and phonation places, it is necessary to adjust the corresponding the body organs involving with phonation.
With regard to the degree of phonation, for beginners, it is advised to practice out loud at first and then whispered. After skilled practice, it is natural to gradually change into a low voice practice. After practicing long time and mastering in proficiency, you can switch into the phase of “silent” practice with only breathing but without any phonation and gradually achieve to the level of ancient people as “silent voice means vocalizing, and vocalizing equates with silent voice.” At the phase of practicing vocalizing, the essentials for phonation are low, vibrated, and penetrated, which is just like the temple bell and drum.
Breathing—the expiratory and respiratory functions
The basic requirements in terms of breathing are: even, fine, gentle, and long. At the same time, it is necessary to comply with the step-by-step principle and should not pursue deliberately and mechanically.
Natural breathing: apart from respiratory phonation method, the Liu Zi Jue mainly employs the natural breathing methods using nasal breathing. In other words, the overwhelming time of practicing the whole set of Liu Zi Jue, it is required to use the nasal breathing method. Otherwise, it is easy to generate the polypnea caused by tension, which should pay special attention to avoid.
3, Reverse abdominal breathing: it is a way of breathing that when expiratory breathing, it is necessary to slightly draw the abdomen, while respiratory breathing, it is necessary to naturally protrude. The Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue regularly employs the reverse abdominal breathing method with nasal inhaling and mouth exhaling. The reasons for employing this special breathing method are that when respiratory breathing, the innate vital energy rises to the chest through lower abdomen, while at the same time the acquired vital energy from the nature is been inhaled to chest by nasal, which can incorporate the innate and acquired vital energy in body. When expiratory breathing, the flatus discharged can exhale out of the body, and the vital energy full of nutrition can be absorbed into the Dantian. It is not only beneficial to interact the essence of vital energy and enhance the health preserving and care but also positive to avoid thirsty, dizziness, fatigue caused by incorrect pronunciation. It is also a traditional theory on improving the body immunity as well as enhancing the heart and kidney functions.
Spirit-the spiritual idea
It is necessary to concentrate on practicing and avoid drowsy lethargy and absent-mindedness.
. The focus should be on the coordination between action, breathing and phonation.
It is prohibitive to over emphasize the spiritual ideas but rather it is advised to maintain balance and natural manner. Otherwise, with the too strong spiritual idea, it is impossible to achieve the requirement of relax and natural.
It is required to maintain relax and natural manner. After the actions achieve the norms, it is advisable to pay less attention to the movements of limbs. If you pay too much attention to movements of limbs, it may lead to rigid movement and irregular and short breathing and other relevant problems.
Verve—the verve of Qigong
1. It is required to highly integrate the appearance, sound, breathing, spirit and verve when practicing. It is better to match the appropriate music to enhance the integration of emotion.
. The Health Qigong is a quiet and comfortable way to keep fitness. Therefore, when practicing, it is positive to exert every effort to experience the atmosphere of serene, joy and warm.
Health Qigong is a way of exercise with the characteristics of compatible dynamic and static. Although there is the charming of feminine and gentleness, we should pay attention to the interactive dynamic and static features.
If you can achieve the status of highly integration of appearance, sound, breathing, spirit and verve when practicing, it is naturally to demonstrate unique and elegant charming for both individual as well as the Health Qigong. As far as the practitioner is concerned, it is beneficial to enhance the health from outside facial appearance to the internal organs.
Zhang Mingliang
Reference:
Appearance, Sound, Breathing, Spirit and Verve of Health Qigong • Liu Zi Jue Chinese Health QiGong Association
Books:
Liu Zi Jue: Six Sounds Approach to Qigong Breathing Exercises (Chinese Health Qigong Associat)
by The Chinese Health Qigong Association
ISBN 1848190069
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Answers to the basic theoretical knowledge of the Health Qi Gong
Zhang Zheng
12.What is meridian?
In Chinese medicine, meridian is the network of running the Qi and blood, connecting the Zang and Fu and the other parts, regulating the body function. Jing means the meridian and vessels. Luo means the collaterals and subcollaterals. Regular and complicated intersection of the meridians connects the five Zang and six Fu, limbs and all bones, five sensory organs and nine orifices, skin, muscles, tendons, bones and vessels and turns them into one whole body to guarantee the formal life activity.
13.What consists of the meridian?
The meridian consists of the meridian and vessels, collaterals and subcolaterals as well as their annexed structures. The meridian and the vessels are the longitudinal trunk line and the collaterals and subcolaterals are the branch network of the former whose physiological function is clinically called the meridian Qi of which can act as communicating the different parts of the body, running the Qi and blood, nurturing the Zang and Fu, responding and conducting, keeping and regulating the balance of the body.
The meridian can be divided into twelve regular meridians, which include three yin channels of hand( the lung channel of hand taiyin, the heart channel of hand shaoyin, the pericardium channel of hand jueyin), three yang channels of hand( the intestine channel of hand taiyang, the sanjiao channel of hand shaoyang, large intestine channel of hand yangming), three yin channels of foot( the spleen channel of foot taiyin, the kidney channel of foot shaoyin, the liver channel of foot jueyin) and three yang channels of foot( the bladder channel of foot taiyang, the gall bladder channel of foot shaoyang, the stomach channel of foot yangming) and eight extra meridians of which include the Du meridian, the Ren channel, the Chong meridian, the Dai meridian, the yinwei meridian, the yangwei meridian, the yinqiao meridian and yangqiao meridian.
The collaterals and subcollaterals consist of fifteen larger collaterals of which are the meridians branched out of the twelve meridians and run interior and exterior along with collaterals of ren meridian, du meridian, and larger collateral of spleen), minute collaterals of which is the branch of the larger collaterals, superficial collaterals of which are minute collaterals located at the surface of muscle. The annexed part of collaterals and subcollaterals consist of tendons, skins, branches of the twelve channels.
14.How is the theory of meridian doctrine applied in the Health Qi Gong?
According to the theory of Chinese medicine, all diseases result from the imperforation of the meridians. No pain will occur when the meridians and the circulation of Qi and blood is unblocked and vice versa. The blood will run smoothly under the condition of the heat and condense of the cold. Therefore unblocking the meridians is common precautions taken against diseases in the exercise. For example, minding on some acupoints or parts make it heat to dredge some meridians and nurture the corresponding Zang and Fu. In addition, the exercise can play a role in stretching, dragging, turning and kneading some acupoints and meridians to prevent the diseases as the meridian runs through the four limbs. The action is the same as for the four sets of the Health Qi Gong.
15.What consist of five Zang and six Fu?
It is the summarization of the visceral organs in the doctrine of visceral state in Chinese medicine. The five Zang is the most important system acting as producing and storing the essence including heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney. Six Fu act as transporting, digesting the food and drink and discharging the waste including gall bladder, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, Sanjiao and bladder.
16.What is main function of five Zang?
The heart is the master of visceral organs and in charge of the blood vessels and mind. It has its outward manifestation in the face or complexion and its specific opening in the tongue. Its corresponding secrete of body fluid is perspiration.
The liver is in charge of storing the blood and soothing the emotions and assisting the digestion and absorption of the drink and food as well as all the tendons. It has its outward manifestation in the nails and its specific opening in the eyes with tears as its corresponding body fluid.
The spleen is in charge of the transportation of the essence of drink and food and transmitting and distributing the fluids. It can govern and keep the blood and distribute the clear refined substance. It is also in charge of all the muscles. It has its outward manifestation in the lip and its specific opening in the mouth with saliva as its corresponding body fluid.
The lung, which is compared to a canopy, is in charge of respiration, keeps the pathway of air unobstructed and disseminates vital energy throughout, cleanses the inspired air and keeps the Qi flowing downward, opens up and regulates the water course. It has its outward manifestation in the skin and hair and its specific opening in the nose with nasal discharge as its corresponding body fluid.
The kidney stores the congenital and acquired essence and is in charge of the reproductive development, bone and marrow, and regulating the water and fluid metabolism and Qi transformation. It has its outward manifestation in hair and its specific opening in the ears and two lower orifices. Practicers of Qi Gong think highly of the kidney as it is the foundation of the inborn constitution. The essence of the kidney is divided into the kidney yin and kidney yang.
17.What is the main function of six Fu?
Six Fu consists of gall bladder, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, bladder and Sanjiao. The gall bladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine are digestive organs. Bladder is urinary organ and Sanjiao is one specific Fu of which is only used in Chinese medicine with multiple functions.
Gall bladder has the relation of being interior and exterior with the liver and it is annexed to the liver and called the hollow organ containing refined juice as it stores the bile. Man with exuberant gallbladder Qi is courageous and man with deficient gallbladder Qi is timid and overcautious as it manages decision.
The stomach is interior-exterior relation with the spleen and in charge of the intake and digesting the food with its upper orifice called upper Wan, the middle part called the median Wan and the lower orifice called the lower Wan. It is preferable to descending and also called the sea of food and the foundation of the acquired constitution along with the spleen. It plays an important role in taking in the essence of food and drink and nurturing all the body.
The small intestine connects the stomach in the upper part and the large intestine in the lower and is in charge of separating purity from turbidity of which the purity is transported to the spleen and the turbidity is to the large intestine and bladder as the waste. The small intestine is interior-exterior relation with the heart and can be affected by the disorder of it.
The large intestine is in charge of transporting the discharges and interior-exterior relation with the lung. Dysfunction of transportation is likely to result in the diarrhea, dysentery, constipation and dry stool. Disorder of the lung is able to affect the large intestine.
The bladder is in charge of the body fluid metabolism along with the lung, spleen, kidney and Sanjiao and storing and discharging the urine. It has the interior-exterior relation with the kidney.
The Sanjiao is the passage of the energy Qi and body fluids with the function of transporting them. Qi deficiency in some parts is likely to result from the obstruction of the Sanjiao. The dysfunction of Sanjiao transporting the body fluids is likely to cause the disorders of oliguria and edema etc.
18.How to comprehend the basic meaning of the essence, Qi and spirit?
The essence, Qi and spirit are three treasures of human body in Chinese medicine. All those nutrients and substances constructing the body are involved in the scope of the essence such as the blood, fluid, sperm, liquid, the skin and hair, tendons and bones, muscles etc with the yin characteristics. Qi is the active essential substance warming and nurturing the body and the basic dynamic power promoting the life activity. Spirit is dominating and embodying the life with the function of reining the essence and Qi. Its meaning is extensive including all activities of Zang and Fu, meridians, Qi, blood, fluids and their outer manifestations besides from the psychological activity.
19.How to comprehend the Qi and blood and fluid?
The Qi, blood and fluids run all over the body through the meridians to keep the life activity in Chinese medicine. Qi has multiple physiological function such as promoting, warming, guarding, holding and transforming of Qi characterized as yang. Xue is basically the blood itself with the main function of nurturing and enriching the body. The fluids is generalized concept of all normal liquid inside the body including the inner body fluids of visceral organs and all normal secretions. Its main physiological function is to enrich the skin and hair, orifices such as eyes, nose and lips etc. It is closely relative with the health, weakness and diseases as it is the basic substance constituting the blood.
20.What can the exercise of the Health Qi Gong do for the Qi, blood and fluids?
The exercise can strengthen the waist and kidney to play a role in refining, nurturing and holding the essence. It can enhance the production and transportation of vital Qi to have got enough rest for the brain and body and the health effect of balancing the yin and yang. It can improve the activities of all systems including the nerve, respiration, circulation, digestion, motion, uropoiesis, reproduction and endocrine and turn them into the stable dynamic equilibrium, which can play an active in inducing, arousing and enhancing the vital Qi, as it can decrease the base metabolism and the oxygen consumption and increase the energy storage. Therefore, the practicer is able to rid of the diseases by ways of running the Qi in the opinion of the ancient people.
21.What are outer cold caused by yang deficiency and inner heat caused by yin deficiency? What can the exercise of the Health Qi Gong do for the condition?
Generally, the body is in a state of balance of yin and yang, integrity of figure and spirit, and whole harmony. Diseases will ensue as soon as the balance is destroyed. Yang deficiency is a state of decline of vital gate-fire, insufficiency of vital yang and decline of function and manifested as chilliness, pale facial complexion, lassitude, loose stool, clear urination, deep, thready and feeble pulse. The practicer should mainly do the active Gong of which can produce the Qi and yang to dredge the meridians.
Yin deficiency is insufficiency of yin fluids of which can result in the water being unable to press the fire to cause the inner heat. It commonly manifests as baking-fire, being fidgety, dry mouth, constipation, palpitation, insomnia with much dream. The practicer should do the quiet Qi Gong to increase and nurture the yin and fluids and get the effect of ridding of the diseases and health-keeping through the exercise of combination of motion with quietness.
22.What is the Sanjiao in Chinese medicine?
Sanjiao is one specific word in Chinese medicine including the upper, middle and lower jiao and subject to six Fu. Generally, it is considered as one Fu containing all visceral organs as well as the basic concept dividing the part of the body, that is to say, the part over the diaphragm is upper jiao containing the heart, lung; the part between the level of the diaphragm and the umbilicus is middle jiao containing the spleen and stomach; the part below the umbilicus is the lower jiao containing the liver, kidney, bladder, small and large intestine etc. Its function is to dominate the Qi transformation and the passage of the nutrients and fluids.
23.What is six Yin in Chinese medicine?
Yin is over or excessive by word. The change of six kinds of climate including the wind, cold, summer, damp, dryness and fire in nature is called the six Qi in Chinese medicine. They are called the six Yin as soon as they become the etiological factors under the condition of abnormal and abrupt change. They are called the six evils when they attack the body and cause the exogenous diseases. The common characteristics of the diseases caused by the six evils are as follows: It has relation with the season; for example, there are more diseases caused by wind in the spring, summer-heat diseases in the summer, damp diseases in the long summer, dry diseases in the autumn, cold diseases in the winter; the six evils can simultaneously attack the body such as the wind and cold causing the common cold, the wind and damp causing the arthralgia, damp and heat causing the diarrhea, etc. The six evil can be transformed each other. For example, the cold evil can be turned into the heat evil inside the body; prolonged summer-heat can injure the yin due to the production of dryness. The common passage is from the surface of the skin and the mouth or nose. So we should guard the body from the invasion of the six evils according to the different seasons.
24.What do the seven emotions consist of?
The seven kinds of emotion of human body are called the seven emotions including happiness, anger, sorrow, anxiety, sad, horror and terror. Generally speaking, the change of emotion is psychological activity of which won’t cause diseases under the normal condition. Only sudden, drastic and prolonged bad emotion stimulation will result in the diseases when it is beyond the modulation of body.
Different emotional change will affect different organs just as it is recorded in Huangdi’s internal classics•plain questions•discussions of yin and yang classification: anger will injure the liver, happiness will injure the heart, anxiety will injure the spleen, sorrow will injure the lung and terror will injure the kidney. It is called internal injury of seven emotions as it directly injures the Zang and Fu.
25.What is the main mechanism of seven emotions injuring the five Zang? What does the exercise of the Health Qi Gong do for that?
Abnormal seven emotions mainly affect the activities of Qi to result in the disorder the Qi and blood circulation and abnormal ascending, descending, coming-in and going-out of Qi. Anger drives qi upward. Rage will cause the disorder of the soothing of liver Qi and result in the upper punch of blood and Qi of which will block the upper orifices and cause the coma. Over happiness will cause the scatter of the heart Qi, absentmindedness and abnormal mind. Over anxiety will cause the block of the middle Qi activity and result in the digestive dysfunction and insomnia. Over sorrow will cause low-spiritedness and the exhaustion of the lung Qi and result in fatigue and lassitude. Over horror or terror will cause the cave-in and weakened renal qi and result in urinary and fecal incontinence or even abnormal mind.
The exercise of the Health Qi Gong is able to keep the practicer calm, happy, open-minded and rid of the disturbance of abnormal seven emotions to enhance the health of the body and mind.
26.What are five kinds of strain and seven kinds of impairments?
Five kinds of strain means that prolonged watching will injure the blood, prolonged sleep will injure Qi, prolonged sitting will injure the muscles, prolonged standing will injure the bone and prolonged walking will injure the tendons written in Huang Di’s internal classics-the plain questions-the extrapolation of five Qi. Sometimes five kinds of strain still mean five kinds of strain of liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney of which is closely related with man’s seven motions. Seven kinds of impairments are generally thought to be satiation injuring spleen, rage causing Qi reverse to injure liver, overstrain weight lifting and prolonged sitting in the wet injuring the kidney, chill and cold drink injuring the lung, sorrow and over-thinking injuring the heart, wind, rain, cold and dampness injuring the body, great fear injuring the mind recorded in the general treatise on the etiology and symptomology of diseases. However, it is also thought to be that over seven motions injure five Zang.
27.Why is it said that prolonged watch will injure the blood?
The so-called prolonged watch injuring the blood means that prolonged watching something will not only result in the fatigue of both eyes and vision reducing but also the damage of blood. According to the theory of Chinese medicine, Liver can store the blood and regulate the blood volume to nurture the whole body and suppress the flare-up of liver Yang; in the meantime, it can regulate the distribution of different parts of body and transport the blood to where it is needed. It is thought to be that the outer connected orifice of liver are eyes and eyes are the outer demonstration of liver as the meridian of liver is connected with the eyes and man’s vision depends on the soothing of liver Qi and nurture of liver blood. Therefore the overstrain of eyes will injure the liver and further affect the regulation of the blood. That is why prolonged watch will injure the blood.
28.Why is it said that prolonged sleep will injure Qi?
The so-called prolonged sleep injuring Qi means that lying in bed for a long time will result in mind stupor and dispiritedness and Qi scattering unable to transform into the spirit for a longer time. That is why prolonged sleep will injure Qi.
29.Why is it said that prolonged sitting will injure the muscles?
Prolonged sitting injuring the muscles means that immobility with sitting for a long time will wound the muscles and textures in the neck and back etc to result in the local fatigue. As muscles in the neck and back must keep tension to balance the body when man is seated, sitting for a long time will certainly cause the fatigue of muscles in neck and back. In addition, that blood circulation in the muscle texture pressed by body and limbs is bad will result in the regression of their function even the muscle wasting in the long run.
30.Why is it said that prolonged standing will injure the bone?
Prolonged standing injuring the bone means that bones of human body will strain because of supporting the body with immobility of long standing. Generally, moderate standing will be helpful to increase the density and enhance the rigidity of bone. That bone can’t be stimulated by propping without some standing activity will be likely to cause osteoporosis. But long standing will cause the fatigue of muscles propping the bone and result in the development malformation or dysfunction of bones or joints.
31.Why is it said that prolonged walk will injure the tendons?
Prolonged walk injuring the tendons means the prolonged walk will cause the injury of tendons and muscles. As walk mainly depends on the pull of tendons and muscles for the bones, prolonged walk will be likely to cause the injury or strain of the soft tissue such as ligament, tendons and fascia etc around the joints of lower limbs.
32.What is the relation of five strains with seven emotions?
Five strains are separately overstrain of the liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney. Seven emotions are seven kinds of feeling display including happiness, anger, sorrow, anxiety, sadness, horror and terror. There is close relation between the five strains and seven emotions of which means that roused seven emotions will cause the injury of five Zang. In the Chinese medicine, the activity of seven emotions will directly affect the five Zang. That is to say, anger is liable to cause the upward invasion of liver-Qi and pain and distension of head; happiness is liable to cause the scatter of the heart-Qi and absentmindedness; horror is liable to cause the entanglement of heart-Qi; sorrow and anxiety is liable to cause the stagnation of spleen-Qi and digestive dysfunction; sadness is liable to cause the exhaustion of lung-Qi and fatigue and short breath; terror is liable to cause the descending of kidney-Qi and unconsolidation of kidney-Qi.
33.What consists of the human body in anatomy?
The human body consists of the head, neck and nape, the trunk and four limbs.
34.What consists of the human body physiologically?
The body consists of nine systems including the locomotor system, alimentary system, respiratory system, circulation system, uropoiesis and reproduction system, nervous system, endocrine system, sensory organs and immune system.
35.What consists of the locomotor system and what is their function?
The locomotor system includes the bone, cartilage, joints, muscle, ligament and tendon etc of which constitute the basic sketch and can sustain and protect the visceral organs.
36.What consists the human alimentary system and what is their function?
The alimentary system is divided into the alimentary tract and digestive gland. The alimentary tract starts from the oral cavity and runs to the throat, oesophagus, stomach, intestine, colon, and rectus and till the anus. The digestive canal includes salivary gland and many glandules in the liver, pancreas and the wall of alimentary tract. The basic function is to take in the food and decompose and absorb the nutrient and discharge the waste.
37.What consists of the respiratory system and what is their function?
The respiratory system consists of the air passage including nose, throat, larynx, trachea and bronchus and the lung and the assistor including the pleural membrane and pleural cavity. Its main function is to inhale the oxygen in the air and exhale the carbon dioxide inside the body.
38.What consists of the circulation system and what is their function?
The circulation system consists of the heart, artery, capillary vessel, vein and lymphatic vessel. Its main function is to transport the nutrient, oxygen and hormone to the organs and tissue for metabolism and discharge the metabolite and carbon dioxide through the lung, kidney and skin.
39.What consists of the nervous system in the body and what is their function?
The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord and cranial nerve, spinal nerve and nerve ganglia annexed with the brain and spinal cord. It is the main system dominating the activity of other systems. Firstly, it control and regulate the activity of other organs and systems; in the meantime, it make the body reactive to the environment through the analysis and synthesis of the nervous system.
40.What consists of the uropoiesis and reproduction system and what is their function?
The uropoiesis and reproduction system consists of the kidney, ureter, bladder and urinary canal. Its main function of the uropoiesis system is to discharge the internal metabolites and the function of reproduction system is to multiply.
41.What consists of the endocrine system and what is their function?
The endocrine consists of those glands distributed all over the body and their function is to regulate the function of the organs, tissue and cells through the hormone and the relative substance secreted from the glands to keep the internal environment stable.
42.What consists of the sensory organs and what is their function?
The sensory organs are the specific organs connected with the sensory nerve ending and consist of the organ of vision, vestibulocochlear organ, organ of smell, organ of taste and skin as well. Their main function is to receive all the stimulus and transform it into the nerve impulse and transport to the nerve center through the sensory conduction passage to produce varieties of sense.
43.What consists of the immune system and what is their function?
The immune system consists of immune cells, which include lymphocyte, plasma cell and macrophage etc, lymphatic tissue and lymphatic organs. Lymphocyte include T cell, B cell and NK cell. The main function of the immune system is to produce the immune response reaction to educe the function of immune protection, immune surveillance and immune homeostasis through identifying the self and non-self.
Reference:
Answers to the basic theoretical knowledge of the Health Qi Gong(second part) Chinese Health Qigong Association
Answers to the basic theoretical knowledge of the Health Qi Gong(third part) Chinese Health Qigong Association
The concordance in the exercise of the Health Qi Gong Yi Jin Jing
Posted by thomas in Uncategorized on June 23rd, 2009
Physical institution of Wu Han Lei Bin, Shi Ai Qiao
The Health Qi Gong Yi Jin Jing is able to regulate the balance of five Zang and promote the potentiality to strengthen the body and prolong the lifespan through the motion of limbs and visceral organs guided by the turning and extending of the backbone. The basic characteristics is gentle, slow, smooth and consistent, rhythmic combination of relaxation and strength and of dynamism and inertia. So the practice of the concordance of movements is basic requirements and important point to correctly grasp the technical routines and improve the practicing ability of the Health Qi Gong Yi Jin Jing.
Main factors affecting the concordance of the movements
The requirement for the act concordance is very strict as they are complicated and exquisite, for example, varieties of motions are needed to stimulate the body due to the complicated joint structure of backbone and motor directions. Therefore, only concordant guiding movements can regulate the essence, Qi and mind of the body. It is called that let the figure direct the Qi, let the mind and Qi run together, combine the body with mind, the upper part with the lower part etc. Improvement of the concordant ability is the basic work and physical quality for the exercise of the Health Qi Gong Yi Jin Jing. Many factors can affect the concordance of the movements such as the inheritance, age, locomotive trait, psychological features, etc. According to the characteristics and requirements of the movements of the Health Qi Gong Yi Jin Jing , the factors affecting the concordance can be generalized as the following two aspects:
Firstly, it is the extent of understanding and grasping the routines. The important factors affecting the movement concordance include the extent of understanding the connotation of the Gong and grasping the running line, technological specification and the practicing methods. The routines of the Health Qi Gong Yi Jin Jing are comparatively complicated and hard to exercise for the practicer. For example, just like in the routine of three plates falling on the floor, it is required for the practicer to squat down looking straight ahead and down, pronouncing the sound of Hai without uttering with palms pressing down to lower the vital qi to decrease the inner pressure of the abdomen and be able to effectively prevent the increase of the blood pressure. Hands raise up and guide the Qi ascending just like leading by Baihui acupoint while standing up to make the movements of the practicer with the internal Qi and blood circulation into unity. Therefore, the correct understanding of the Gong and proficient grasping the routines are important premise to ensure the concordance of the movements.
Secondly, it is the transformation of the relaxation and toughness of the movements and combination each other. Regardless of the step-by-step or consecutive routines, they are accomplished by means of contracting one part of muscles and relaxing the other part. In the consecutive movements, the transformation of relaxation and contraction of muscles is key to the completion of the movements. Any movement contains the coordination of nerve, muscles and kinetics in the aspect of movement training. Nerve coordination embodies the combination of the excitement and inhibition of nerve process in the course of the movement completion. Muscle coordination means the reasonable exertion of muscles and the strength of which is up to the muscular and myofibrillar amount partaking in the movement. Kinetic coordination means the spatial and temporal combination of all parts of the body to adjust the functional condition of which is up to the message provided by the proprioceptive sense. So the transformation and combination is the key skill for improving the concordance. For example, in the routine of bowing down in salutation, it is required that the joint of the backbone is pulled up knob-by-knob and curved like a crook. Over relaxation or toughness is unreasonable for the correct pulling-up. Only appropriate tenacity and combination can accomplish the movement and get the corresponding effect.
Main ways of improving the concordance of the actions
In order to make the actions concordant, unreasonable tension of the muscles should be avoided in the exercise of the Health Qi Gong. The practicer should try his best to increase the stability of the actions and find the feeling of keeping a sound mind and the integrity of muscles. Main ways for the exercise are as follows.
Repeated practice
Ways: Repeatedly do the single routine for ten times and four routines or do the whole set of Gong for four times in each exercise.
Effect: To form deeper impression of the routine in your head to rid of unnecessary actions and overcome unnecessary tension of the muscles.
Key points: Pay attention to the procedure of the routine and the transformation of the relaxation and tightness in the exercise.
The exercise of standing Zhuang
The health qi gong yi jin ying consists of twelve routines of which can be separately used as one routine of Zhuang for practicing for five, ten or thirty minutes in each time according to the condition of oneself.
Effect: The exercising time is relatively prolonged as it is static action. So the practicer can get clearer feeling of the relaxation, tightness, extension and tension of muscles, which is helpful for the memory and repetition of the routine next time. In addition, it can improve the ability of the integrity of three regulations and the stability of the routine.
Key points: Calm the mind and relax the body with appropriate relaxation and tightness, regular and gentle breath, moderate amplitude of the actions.
The exercise of hoisting and open and close
Methods: Stand up just like the ready position and regulate the breath with calm mind and then lift the left foot and stand with feet apart in the line with the shoulders, slightly bend down the knees and squat down in a high horse stance with palms facing each other and holding like a ball in front of the abdomen, look straight ahead and downward with calm mind on the Dantian. Slowly stretch the legs as lead by Baihui acupoint and laterally raise the arms in the direction of paralleling with the floor, slightly bend the elbow with palms obliquely forward and hold the hands like a ball leveling with the shoulder. Bend the knees and hold hands like a ball in front of the abdomen and then do the same set of actions repeatedly for some time according to one’s own condition. The closing action is the same as in the health qi gong yi jin jing.
Effect: The form of the motion of Qi is ascending, descending, coming-in and going-out inside the body. The repeated exercise of this action can improve the ability of coordination of the essence, Qi and spirit with the figure and actions.
Key points: Slow and steady action and coincidence of the upper and lower, the interior and exterior, natural combination of breath with the action.
Free exercise
Methods: Take the same set of routine as the health Qi Gong Yi Jin Jing. The practicer can freely choose the connecting actions and some routines in each time or do one same routine repeatedly as one like.
Effect: To overcome the concordant obstacle and improve the dynamic stability of the postures and sensitivity of proprioceptor and cultivate the spontaneous coordination.
Key points: The connection of main routines is natural, stable, slow and easy.
Announcements for improving the concordance
Enforcement should be avoided in the exercise of cultivating the concordance. The principles of the Health Qi Gong are to stress the concordance such as the integrity of mind and Qi, figure and mind, the nature and the human body etc. That is not to say to obtain the integrity of mind and body etc by way of exercise. The calm mind is the instinct of each man and the aim of the exercise is to help us to find it. But the extent of the integrity is different for different individual. Therefore the exercise of the concordance should be up to the physiological condition and one’s own ability of the practicer.
The exercise should be done with some aim step by step. The practicer should do some simple exercise at first and gradually do more difficult actions according to one’s own age, sex, constitution, kinetic trait etc. Appropriate methods and amount of exercise should be chosen to do to improve the concordance.
Reference:
The concordance in the exercise of the Health Qi Gong Yi Jin Jing Chinese Health Qigong Association
Links:
Step-by-Step Description of the Routine of Yin Jin Jing Chinese Health QiGong Association
Books:
Yi Jin Jing: Tendon – Muscle Strengthening Qigong Exercises 
ISBN 1848190085
Qigong, the Secret of Youth: Da Mo’s Muscle/tendon and Marrow/brain Washing Classics
ISBN 1886969841
Five Steps for Learning Yi Jin Jing
In order to learn and practice Health Qigong Yi Jin Jing, I have worked out five steps to insist on practicing and have achieved a relatively desirable fitness effects.
Repeatedly Watch:
By means of repeatedly watch the wall charts of Health Qigong Yi Jin Jing, I have developed a profile and basic outline of the overall routines and initially master the key points of practice.
Imitation, Learning and Practicing
Every day, I persist in imitating and practicing one action, remembering the name of the routine and mastering its essentials. By means of repeated and assiduous practice, I try my best to break through and master this routine.
Multi-Movements Practice
Every time when I learn the new action, I will practice the previous actions with the new one and insist on repeated practicing until I am adept in completing the whole set of exercises. In addition, when you are in the preparation of next multi-movements practice, it is necessary to review previous actions.
Consolidation of Practice Effects
Before getting up every morning, I will at first memorize and practice the previous studied actions and movements in my mind. Sometimes if one action still skips in my memory, I will continue to memorize the next one until complete the whole set of Health Qigong Yi Jin Jing. After getting up, I will at first go through the wall chart of Health Qigong Yi Jin Jing and review the forgotten actions. Through the wall chart, I have deepened my understanding and memorizing overall set of routines.
Later Period Perseverance
At first, it is indispensable to insist on indoor- practice. If it happens to one action failed to remember, you can immediately check the wall chart of Health Qigong Yi Jin Jing. After skilled mastery, you can persist in practicing at the park every morning.
Through persistent practice, I basically master a full set of Health Qigong Yi Jin Jing. At present, I still insist on practicing twice in the morning and at night. Sometimes due to the inclement weather I fail to practice at park, I would carry out indoor-practice. Until the weather improved, I would go to the park for further practice.
There are three major benefits for practicing at park. The first one is that you can breathe fresh air and achieve the purpose of refreshment, which will contribute considerably to your health. The second one is that you can enjoy sufficient sunlight. The sunlight exposure can assist in the absorption and transformation of calcium for the human beings. The third one is when practitioners practice in public, they can improve with others and exchange the difficulties of specific actions with other practitioners, which can provide timely guidance for the non-standard actions. In addition, it is useful to expand the influences of the Health Qigong Yi Jin Jing exerted on the public practitioners, which contribute substantially to the promotion of the Health Qigong.
Zhang Zhongbin
Reference:
Five Steps for Learning Yi Jin Jing Chinese Health Qigong Association
Links:
Step-by-Step Description of the Routine of Yin Jin Jing Chinese Health QiGong Association
Books:
Yi Jin Jing: Tendon – Muscle Strengthening Qigong Exercises
ISBN 1848190085
Qigong, the Secret of Youth: Da Mo’s Muscle/tendon and Marrow/brain Washing Classics
ISBN 1886969841
George Xu: Biggest Mistake
Posted by thomas in Martial Art, principle on June 21st, 2009
George Xu (Xu Guoming) talking to Scott P. Phillips about the biggest mistake he make in his training.
He then answers the questions what is purpose of sparring and how important is ground fighting?
Below:
George Xu (Xu Guoming) talking to Scott P. Phillips about the differences between predators and humans. Xu explores the implications of these differences for martial arts training. The Chinese four-word phrase mentioned is from the Taijiquan Classics.
The discussion begins with the idea that the body should be what leads the movement. The whole torso should move first. Humans generally move the hand first.
The second part of the discussion deals with the idea that predators do not rely on strength for stability. Instead they use balance. This is a corollary to the idea that humans carry their weight with their legs.
He then goes on to discuss the idea that a predator’s mind does not dwell on its body but on the wildlife around it; its outdoor “refrigerator.” A predator is quiet (yin) while being in action (yang).
And:
George Xu (Xu Guoming) talking to Scott P. Phillips about the meaning of Taijiquan Classics, being quiet and in action, being a big meatball in the sky, and how to become a transformer.
Reference: George Xu http://www.mastergeorgexu.com/
Links:
George Xu: Differences between Predators and Humans (part 1) youtube.com
George Xu: Biggest Mistake youtube.com
George Xu: Becoming a Taijiquan Transformer youtube.com
Discussion:
http://northstarmartialarts.com/blog1/
The Heat of Movement the coldness of stillness
Posted by thomas in Classic, Meditation, Mindset, Philosophy, principle on June 18th, 2009
by Liu I-Ming
Generally speaking, when people are active, this gives rise to heat; when people sit quietly, this gives rise to cold. When one is cold, if one moves about this will again produce heat. When one is hot, if one sits still this will again produce coldness. In other words, cold and heat do not depend on the weather but on the person.
What I realize as I observe this is the Tao of taking over the creativity of yin and yang. That which is strong is associated with yang, that which is yielding is associated with yin. If one is strong but not aggressive, humbly lowering oneself, then one will not be irritable but will be peaceful, and equanimous. If one is yielding but not weak, deliberate in action, then one will not be ineffective but will ascend to high illumination.
Able to be strong, able to yield, according with truth and according with the time, knowing when to advance and when to withdraw, able to be great and able to be small, able to stop and able to step down, able to be passive and able to be active, one can thereby take over Creation, turn around life and death, reverse the mechanism of energy, leave death and go to life. This is like activity producing heat and quiet sitting producing cold; human power can reverse nature.
Reference:
Awakening to the Tao
by Liu I-Ming translated by Thomas Cleary, Shambhala Publications Inc.,U.S., 2006.
ISBN: 159030344X
p. 20-21
Mind Exercising of the Health Qigong
Posted by thomas in Mindset, Philosophy, principle, qigong on June 15th, 2009
The Health Qigong is one kind of Qigong exercise combining the mind, Qi and body exercise rather than the single muscle exercise. Regulating the mind, breath and body, called as three regulations in the following, are three basic elements of practicing the Health Qigong. The key word for three regulations is to regulate and adjust the body and mind intentionally. Therefore the spiritual activity is needed to be done in three regulations with the active mental activity. Yi generally means the consciousness or thinking of which is the functional activity of the brain. Mind exercise is to concentrate the mind on some points or something, which is called Zhuyi in Chinese words. In fact we use the mind exercise in doing everything but it is different in the exercise of the Health Qigong.
Man often initiatively think about something apart from his own body with mind activity, which is exterior. It is just in contrary with the former that the practicer concentrates the mind on his own life activity, which is interior. The practicer should cut off the connection of the sensory organs with outer world and initiatively control himself with consciousness and gain the gnosis for the relation of the life and nature. The process is called the introspection. Interior mind application is basic characteristics for exercising the Health Qigong. Correct and appropriate understanding the criteria of mind application can overcome or surpass the routine skills taken the movements as the main ways of the exercise. The healthy effect of the Health Qigong is mainly embodied in the mind exercise. For this reason, the practicer should aim at exercising the mind and get oneself into the state of natural relaxation of which is inner active and outer quiet by ways of regulating the breath and body in order to obtain the target of strengthening the body and prolonging the life. Mind application should be set in the first position and kept in the whole course of the exercise. The contents and orders of mind activity can be different at the different stage of the exercise.
The stage of stressing on the body instead of the mind
The Health Qigong is one kind of Gong emphasizing both the body and mind. But it is hard for the beginners to understand and grasp the actions of the Health Qigong and impractical for them to lay stress on the mind activity. In this stage, the attention of the practicer should be paid to imitation and exercising the body movements rather than the mind regulation, which is not specially emphasized. However, it is required that the practicer should concentrate on the routine itself such as the change of the direction and line, how to move the hands and feet, the main points, how to connect the different parts, etc. The mind is concentrated on some point, line or part with relaxation of other parts to form one natural and relaxed moving body. The first task for the beginners is to learn and correctly and proficiently accomplish the routine. It is one kind of mind activity of low level as the mind is concentrated on the figure itself and aimed at learning and grasping the routines. Practice makes perfect. The routines can be correctly and proficiently grasped after the repeated exercise. Thereafter the practicer can start to concentrate on the mind itself and get into the next stage. It is one kind of the gradual comprehension for the practicer.
The stage of emphasizing both the body and mind
On one hand, the practicer should lay stress on the specifications and standard of the routine and deformation is unacceptable in this stage; on the other hand, the practicer should explore the inner essence and quintessence of the Health Qigong and regulate the mind in high level. The basic style of mind activity is inward vision and imagination such as inner vision of the Dantian, inner vision of the Qi and blood circulation, imagination of entrance of some mental state, etc. The practicer can harmoniously combine the inner mind with the body to make more proficient and standardized routines, further know the meaning of the movements and store the inner strength based on the transformation of motion and quietness, opening and closure, being imagined and factual, being hard and soft, yin and yang and twist etc. The routines can be done in the state of running like flowing water without interruption. The practicer can gradually attain the aim of running the Qi by heart and running the body by the Qi and eventually reach the stage of interior and exterior integrity, body and spirit containing for the Health Qigong.
The stage of emphasizing on the mind instead of the body
The practicer naturally gets into the stage of emphasizing on the mind instead of the body with the automation of the routines after the long-term exercise. Routines are already automatic for the practicer just like walking after the repeated exercise in the long run. The practicer has already comprehended the essence of the movements and coordinately combined the body, mind and outer world according to his own characteristics and understanding for the Gong and had his own gnosis. The routines won’t deviated from the basic principles even the practicer doesn’t pay attention to the movements themselves any longer in this stage. Therefore, the practicer lays stress on the exercise of the inner mind and concentrates on the genuine mind of which is self-consciousness under the condition of quiet consciousness. That it should be stressed is to pay attention to the moderate degree in the mind activity as the mind is like water and fire, water can carry and capsize the boat; the fire can warm the man or burn the fire-player to death. The practicer should abide by the rule of mind activity, which is not to intentionally or absent-mindedly seek for the mind activity. Intentional mind activity will deviate the body, being absentmindedness will be fruitless.
The stage of emphasizing on neither the mind nor the body
The Qi flowing is sloshing all the body instead of the feeling of the figure in the brain of the practicer when the exercise is done to the highest level. That is called the state of non-body. At that time, the brain naturally is entering the state of unconsciousness (non-mind) without any distracted thoughts. In fact, the state of non-mind and non-body is the stage of forgetting the body and obtaining the mind of which is the milieu of the Health Qigong that the vital Qi flows normally with tranquilized mind. It is said that consciousness is unconsciousness, which can produce the genuine consciousness in the narrations of the Quan (one kind of traditional boxing skills). That is to say, unconsciousness is not to stop mind activity but the true knowledge of the essence of the mind. The practicer needn’t adhere to the concrete actions in the stage of getting mind essence. It is also the stage of forgetting the body just as it is said by Lao Tzu( a renowned philosopher and the founder of the Taoism) that the great Tao is formless. The practicer can be thought as comprehending the essence of the Health Qigong only when he can reach the stage of free receiving and dispatching without body or mind restriction. The practicer can gradually feel the delicate alteration of the nature and bring about the essential change in the body and mind and concentrate on the state of reversion to the baby-like innocence, which can sublime the constitution, disposition, personality, and accomplishment to the state of elegance at last.
Above all, the Health Qigong can regulate all the unreasonable nervous state deviated from the physiological characteristics and bring into the potentiality constrained by the nervous state full play. Therefore, mind exercise should be strengthened in order to improve the effect of the Health Qigong.
(Writing/ normal university of inner Mongolia Zhang Cai Qin)
Reference: Mind Exercising of the Health Qigong Chinese Health Qigong Association
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