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QiGong
(a.k.a. Chi Kung) &
the
Balancing of Yin and Yang
by
Larry Johnson, O.M.D., L.Ac.
Throughout
history, peoples in many parts of the world
have sought ways to develop their energetic
potentials for improved health, martial power,
and to bring themselves closer to the divine.
In China these practices are called QiGong.
Man
is a complex organism whose life is supported
by countless metabolic changes. These changes
are described as the interaction between Yin
and Yang.
QiGong
systems are composed of psycho pneumatic
exercises that seek to balance these
interactions through the regulation of the
body, breath, and mind. It is believed that
the correct regulation of body, breath, and
mind will harmonize yin and yang, balance Qi
and blood, clear the energy/information
channels, increase vitality, improve
resistance to disease, and transform
pathological energy patterns thereby
prolonging life and nourishing the spirit.
QiGong
primarily trains the flow of Qi (vital energy)
in the body. As Qi is the commander of blood,
regulating the Qi will regulate the blood.
Regulation of the body, breath, and mind
utilize the complex energy systems of the body
to vitalize the flow of Qi and blood.
QiGong
can enhance other therapies, prevent
reoccurrence of many disharmonies, shorten the
duration of treatments for many illnesses,
consolidate results of treatment by other
modalities, involve patients in their own
healing process, and be used as a primary
therapy.
Foundation
of QiGong
QiGong
has been practiced for at least 4000 years in
China. It is believed that 18 Buddha Hands
QiGong was developed by Bodhidharma, the
originator of Zen Buddhism, in the 6th century
AD. Bodhidharma traveled from India to the
Shaolin Temple in China. He found the routine
of the monks at the temple to have left them
in such a weakened state that they could not
successfully complete their Spiritual work.
After meditating for 9 years he developed
three sets of QiGong exercises to augment
their Spiritual practices as well as to
increase their physical vitality. 18 Buddha
Hands is one of those sets of exercises.
Because
18 Buddha Hands drastically increases the
circulation of vital energy, several styles of
Chinese Martial Arts adapted the system to
develop internal power and enhance physical
health. For the same reasons, healers and
people on a variety of spiritual paths can
make use of these exercises to augment their
practices while others can use them to help
prevent illness and increase vitality.
The
original set had 18 exercises. The set
presented in
my book has 18 sections of from one to
three exercises each with a standing
meditation position at the end of each. These
additions to the original were made by past
masters to add depth and balance to the
practice.
Following
the axiom, "TO FIND STILLNESS IN MOVEMENT
AND MOVEMENT IN STILLNESS", the current
version offers both dynamic movements with
coordinated breathing and static standing with
quiet mind.
18
Buddha Hands QiGong affects many different
levels in the human being. Suitable for
beginners and advanced practitioners alike, it
positively affects the physical form of the
body as well as the energy channels, organ
systems, Chakras, Essences, and Spiritual
qualities. It particularly works on linking
the three Tan Tiens (energy centers
corresponding to three of the chakras) and
opening the Eight Extraordinary Vessels (these
act as reservoirs of Qi and Blood in the body,
absorbing excess and repleting deficiency).
Prenatal
and Postnatal Qi
Qi
is defined as vital energy -- in the large
sense the "stuff' underlying all
manifestation in the universe. Qi inside the
human body is both a carrier and a message. It
transfers both energy and information. Qi
emitted from a QiGong Master contains infrared
radiation, particle streams, static
electricity, etc.
There
are two general classifications of Qi inside
the body, Prenatal and Postnatal.
Prenatal
Qi (Source Qi) refers to the vital energy
given to the human at birth from both parents.
It is the basic matter (Essence) and native
force that support the body's tissues and
organs. This Qi is directly related to Ming
Men (the first and most important energy
center in the body) and the Eight
Extraordinary Vessels of the body.
Postnatal
Qi is a combination of Qi derived from the
food we eat and the air we breathe that
sustains our vital functions. This Qi is
directly related to the 12 primary
meridian/organ systems of the body.
Together
the Prenatal and Postnatal Qi form the True Qi
of the body. True Qi is the source of energy
used in daily life.
QiGong
was developed to balance, harmonize, and
enhance the True Qi for health and longevity
and to transform the True Qi for Spiritual
Development. QiGong exercises can also
directly impact Prenatal Qi, Postnatal Qi,
Essence, and Spirit -- that which directs our
life activities and links us to the divine.
Yin
and Yang
Yin
and Yang are the two opposing, yet
interdependent and complementary aspects of
all existence. They can be used to describe
the relationships between
the qualities of all things. Imbalances in any
one or more of the Yin/Yang aspects of our
being results in illness. Yin/Yang balance on
the other hand promotes wellness.
The
basic properties of Yang are likened to fire
and the basic properties of Yin are likened to
water.
Yang
qualities are hot, bright, rising, expanding,
daytime, Spring, Summer, external, etc. In the
human body Yang relates to the top, back, left
side, and exterior. The bowels are considered
Yang inside the body and Heaven is Yang
outside the body.
Yin
qualities are cold, dim, sinking, contracting,
night-time, Fall, Winter, internal, etc. In
the human body Yin relates to the bottom,
front, right side, and interior. The viscera
are considered Yin inside the body and Earth
is Yin outside the body.
Because
Yin and Yang are so closely connected and
interdependent, any imbalance in one of them
will soon affect the other. They are involved
in a constantly changing energetic play called
life. The play is staged within certain limits
called balance. When these limits are breached
by either Yin or Yang, there is sickness.
Death, signifying the total divorce of the
Yin/Yang relationship, is the end of the play.
QiGong
for Spiritual Development
The
purpose of Spiritual QiGong, from a Taoist
point of view, is to reach ENLIGHTENMENT; from
a Christian point of view is to become ONE
WITH GOD' from a Buddhist point of view is to
reach BUDDHAHOOD' and from a Yoga point of
view is to reach TRANSCENDENTAL UNION. All
these terms refer to the same condition --
singularity -- the state beyond subject and
object, yin and yang -- beyond all duality.
This is the goal of spiritual development.
The
tools we have for evolving to this state are
the body, mind, and spirit. The techniques we
have are our energetic practices whether they
be called QiGong, Meditation, Yoga, or Prayer.
As
humans we all have certain obvious common
physical features and less obvious common
energetic/spiritual features.
If
we decide to develop our gross physical bodies
we can engage in a wide variety of physical
disciplines such as weightlifting, swimming,
calisthenics, etc. Each will develop our
physical form somewhat differently depending
on how it is done. However, there will be
common benchmarks throughout the process. Our
legs will get stronger, our arms will become
more muscular, etc. If we recognize a lack of
development in one area -- due to our
ignorance or our participation in an
incomplete system -- we can supplement that
area with more exercises from our present
discipline or with exercises from another
discipline.
The
same is true with our spiritual/energetic
development. If we decide to develop our
spiritual/energetic presence, we can engage in
disciplines such as Yoga, Buddhist or Taoist
QiGong, etc.
Each
of these systems are complete in themselves,
if the whole system is transmitted to the
student. If for some reason the teacher is
unable to transmit the whole system to the
student it is sometimes possible to utilize
parts of other systems to augment a partial
system.
The
techniques vary from discipline to discipline
and each student is a unique individual so
development will vary in some ways but there
will he common benchmarks along the way.
These
complete systems are designed to provide a
path for the student to reach his goal.
Because they evolved in different cultures.
times, and places, each system places a unique
emphasis on various aspects of the
spiritual/energetic body and uses its own
terminology to describe the process of
cultivation, but the goal is the same.
 This
article is excerpted from the book 18
Buddha Hands Qigong, ©, by Larry
Johnson. Reprinted with permission of the
publisher, White Elephant Monastery. http://www.virtualguild.com/elephant.
For
more info or to order this book.
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