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We live in a field of Qi, or ‘life energy’, but like a fish in
water or a bird in flight, we are unaware of the medium that
supports us. Qigong means ‘working with Qi’. It is the ancient
Chinese art and science of becoming aware of this life energy and
of learning how to control its’ flow through the body - to flow
with it and to use it. Practising Qigong is like stepping into a
river of Qi - it is ‘a Portal to Presence’.
Zi Ran (spontaneous) Qigong is around 7000 years old. The ancient
Qigong masters became aware of the movement of Qi within their own
bodies, and from this developed the map of the body's Qi meridians
(Jing Luo). From the practice of Qigong therapy, came the
awareness of blockages and points in the body where the
application of pressure could relieve certain symptoms. At first,
pressure was applied with the fingers. Later, according to the Di
Wong Shi Ji (a book on Chinese Medicine written about 2000 years
ago), this pressure was applied with sharpened stones. The use of
acupuncture needles came much later.
Over the next 2000 years, the practice of Qigong spread into
several different aspects of Chinese society. Taoism or ‘The
Way’ was begun by Master Lao Tse (577BC), who was the founder of
the ‘breath’ school of Qigong. His book ‘The Tao Te Ching’
had a distinctly and profound effect on both Chinese thought and
society, and continues to do so. Qigong is both a spiritual
practice and a practical skill for use in everyday life. It moves
in various directions depending on the interests and needs of
those who practice it. Qigong also influenced Chinese art in the
Tang dynasty (581-960 AD), and the work of artists like Wang Wei
and Bai Ju Yi are good examples of this. This style of art is
known as Ch'an (or Zen in Japanese).
Ch'an - Original Mind
Ch'an is an attitude of spirit (Jing Shen), arising from the
awakening (Chu Xing) of Yuan Qi or original energy. It precedes
Chinese Buddhism and is Taoist in origin. The Chinese will tell
you ‘if you have Ch'an then you can know it; if you do not have
Ch'an then you cannot know it’. Lacking this we remain trapped
by the educated mind (Guan Nian). Ch'an is, by its’ nature, a
mystery. Neither Ch'an nor Qigong can be acquired intellectually
for they are beyond the mind. Qigong moves directly to awaken the
original consciousness that exists within us all. Ch'an is
achieved through the Qigong exercise together with the exposure of
the student to the Qi of the Master.
The Zi Ran Qigong exercise is essentially different from the
Shaolin exercises (which are also known as Qigong). They are more
familiar in the West and also practiced by many Chinese. Shaolin
Qigong developed much later. It too stimulates personal Qi, but
has no connection to the original Taoist exercise of a spontaneous
action caused by the Yuan Qi. Whereas the Shaolin style includes
the educated mind, the Taoist form is quite natural and its
movements are directly connected to the Yuan Qi and to the force
of nature.
Why learn Shuichuan Qigong?
Shuichuan Qigong is a Taoist movement meditation and healing art.
Unlike other forms of Qigong, which are more familiar in the West,
the movements are truly spontaneous. This occurs when the student
receives the Chu Xing attunement from the teacher. This is a
transmission of energy which rekindles a sleeping connection to
the Da Qi, the Universal Life Force. This connection goes more or
less to ‘sleep’ during the education process and with life’s
experiences when growing up.
Qigong balances, harmonises and energises, both within and without
on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual planes. By
practising Shuichuan Qigong regularly you can expect the following
benefits:
Your mind will quieten and you will feel more peace and ease,
internally and externally. With this you will become healthier and
you will become more able to deal effectively with stressful
situations. Your intuition will become finely tuned. Decision
making will become more certain as you become adept using
Shuichuan divination.
Spontaneous effective self-defence responses when under threat
will come from within. You will experience better health and
vitality. You may even find that corrective osteopathic movements
‘spontaneously’ occur as necks click into place and hips
adjust and realign naturally.
You will have much fun as you practice the games and exercises
which are designed to focus your awareness on the conscious
movement of energy and achievement of the state of Wu Wei (doing
without doing or non-effort). By surrendering to the Da Qi (the
Universal Life Force) through Shuichuan Qigong your emotional,
mental and physical bodies will come into alignment. Relationships
will improve and your life will be more balanced as it flows with
greater harmony. Your spiritual connection to the Da Qi will be
more noticeable as you harness the powers of the universe and
unlock your powers within.
You will also learn to open to your own innate healing ability for
yourself and others (Wai Qi healing). Shuichuan is very easy to
learn as it doesn’t involve the educated mind. It can be done
alone at home or in a group situation, and once mastered it is
there for you throughout the day, whenever you are in need of the
connection. You can work in that state, cook or go for a walk - it
is always there.
Life becomes easier as you make fewer ‘mistakes’.
Life begins to reappear as a ‘game’.
Elisabeth Rusch
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