Pearls of Wisdom

Training for Life

Inside Kung Fu July 2000

by Grandmaster Doc Fai Wong

Just knowing how to do qigong meditations and exercises isn’t enough to make your qigong practice worthwhile and beneficial. You must also know and employ certain physical and mental practices before you can control your qi (chi) energy’s direction and flow throughout your body. No matter what qigong style you practice, you must first understand a few basic principles of correct qigong practice.

Here are five rules that apply to most qigong styles.

1. Don’t expect too much too soon. This is one of the easiest mistakes for beginners to make. When people start studying qigong they are always eager and enthusiastic. However, not everyone learns at the same rate. Sometimes students don’t learn as fast as they would like and become impatient, comparing themselves to others and trying to force things to happen that need more time.

Sometimes people set up schedules for themselves, such as, “Today I want to make my dan tien (pressure point located three fingers’ distance below the navel) warm, tomorrow I want to get my qi flowing through the tailbone cavity,” or by such and such a day I want to complete the small circulation. This is the wrong way to go about it.

Qigong is not like an ordinary exercise or task you set for yourself. You cannot make a progress schedule for qigong. Qigong benefits depend on your initial health, mental state, ability to relax and other factors. Therefore, everything happens in qigong when it is time for it to happen. If you attempt to force it, it will never happen.

2. Don’t dwell on attachments and sensations. When you practice, do not place your attention on the various phenomena or sensations that may occur. You should always be aware of what is happening, but keep your mind centered on what it is supposed to be for the exercise you are doing. If you let your mind dwell on something you feel is interesting or new, your qi follows your mind and interferes with your body’s natural tendency to rebalance itself.

Do not expect anything to happen, and don’t let your mind wander around looking for the various phenomena. Furthermore, don’t start evaluating or judging the phenomena, such as asking, “Is my dan tien warmer today than it was yesterday?”

Don’t ask yourself, “Just where is my qi now?” When your mind dwells on your qi, your yi (intention) is with your mind. This stagnant yi will not guide the qi toward its destination. My qigong teacher, professor Peng Si Yu, always emphasized, “Be aware of what is happening, but do not pay attention to it.” If you feel something during one meditation session and expect it to happen the next time, not only will it probably not happen, but also you will have blocked beneficial qi flow with your conscious attempt to make something happen.

3. Avoid conscious thoughts that distract you from your purpose. The mind is strong, with every idea still strongly connected to its origin. If you cannot cut the ideas off at their source, your mind is not calm and empty and you cannot regulate your qi.

You may also find that even though you have stopped the flow of random thoughts going through your mind, new ideas are generated during practice. For example, when you discover your dan tien is warm, your mind immediately recalls where this is mentioned in a book, or how the master described it, and you start to compare your experience with this. Or you may start wondering what the next step is. These thoughts lead you away from peace and calm, and your mind ends up in what ancient qigong practitioners referred to as the domain of the devil. Then your mind is confused, scattered and very often scared. You will tire quickly and may not want to continue with your qigong practice.

4. Shen (spirit) should not follow the external scenery. This is also a problem of regulating the mind. When your conscious mind and emotions are not controlled, any external distraction leads your thoughts away from your body (qigong practice) and toward the distraction. You must train yourself that noises, smells, conversations and other distractions do not disturb your concentration. It is alright to be aware of what is happening, but your mind must remain calm, peaceful and steady on your qi cultivation.

5. Physical considerations are also important. Don’t be too warm or too cold during your practice sessions. The temperature of the room in which you are training should not too hot or too cold. You should practice in a comfortable environment that does not disturb your mind and cultivation.

Don’t wear tight clothes or tight belt. Always wear loose clothes during practice because this helps you feel comfortable and allows your qi to flow naturally. Keep your belt loose. The abdomen is the most important area of qigong practice. You must be careful not to limit the movement and comfort of this area. Don’t practice when hungry of full. When you are hungry it is hard to concentrate, and when you are full your practice affects your digestion.

These are only five of a long list of rules passed down by generations of qigong masters. They are based on much study and experience and should be carefully observed if you want positive results from your qigong practice.

Grandmaster Doc Fai Wong is a columnist for Inside Kung Fu.

To learn more about Tai Chi or Qigong visit: whitedragonmartialarts.com

Tags: Training for Life

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