QiGong, Now & Then

Qi Magazine (1991)

by Sue Johnson

Qigong can trace its history back over 3000 years. How can exercises formulated so long ago still have a place in the modern world in which we live?

Today, Qigong is recognised by many as an effective means of maintaining good health and curing disease. Even in the time of the Spring and Autumn, and Warring states (770-221 BC), Qigong had a high level of importance. The Yellow Emperors Manual of Internal Medicine written in the fourth century BC refers to Qigong. Qigong exercises were already being practiced when Greece was holding its first Olympic Games (776 BC), whilst the Celts were invading Britain (800 BC) and even before the birth of Confucius (551 BC). Developed by the early Taoists, Qigong evolved through careful study of the natural surroundings and wildlife. The gait of the bear the tiger prowling ,the bird stretching its wings etc.

The Ancient Taoists observed that the animals were able to keep themselves healthy. This observation coupled with a knowledge of internal energy (qi), they devised exercises to regulate breathing in coordination with the movements of the body. It was found that exercise alone could not bring about balance and harmony within the body. Following the principal of Yin and Yang, if movement is Yang, then stillness being Yin is necessary to achieve the balance. Stillness in the form of meditation.



Gaunzi, a book, written in 300 BC notes:

“achievement of meditation will improve the general fitness of the four limbs, and this in turn accumulate abundant energy and vigour in the body. “

What role if any, can exercises formulated in these ancient times play in our world, steeped in science and technology? Is there a place for ancient healing exercises or have they been overtaken by the wonders of modern medicine?

For those who are healthy, modern medicine offers little or nothing to maintain a healthy balance. Without some form of maintenance the body will eventually become weak and unhealthy. It is only when we are ill that we go and see a doctor. We never go when we are healthy! With the wide spectrum of drugs and medicine available today, there are still many conditions and illnesses that are incurable. Many drugs have side effects, so whilst curing one problem they create another. Better to not fall ill in the first place!

Daily practice of the Qigong exercises and meditation build up the qi and can keep the body in balance and prevent illness. Our modern lifestyle creates stress and tension. Coronary heart disease is common in this country. The effects of Qigong have been proven to be beneficial to patients suffering from angina and also those suffering from Hypertension (high blood pressure).

There are even optimistic reports that the condition of some cancer patients can be improved! Insomnia, Lumbago, Hepatitis and other conditions have been eased and alleviated by performing Qigong exercises. Qigong is an excellent way of keeping fit and improving ones health. It is suitable for all, young, old, weak or strong all can benefit. It has been described as a process of “self rejuvenation”. Now, as much as any other time in our history we need to turn to the healing art of Qigong. In order to go forward, we must first go backwards. By using this ancient skill we may prepare ourselves for the stresses of living now and in the future.

For more information about Qi Magazine

Qi Magazine Archives

In the coming weeks, we will be featuring material from deep within the Qi Magazine archives. Qi Magazine was a newsstand periodical launched in the mid-1990s to cover the world of qigong and inform the English-speaking world of the spectrum of practice and thought being offered by various master practitioners in the West. Each issue of Qi Magazine is built around a number of short feature articles that provide insight from the wisdom of one of the more notable qigong masters, introduce an element of basic practice, or discuss the value of a form of Chinese medicine. Many of these are illustrated with detailed diagrams of the body or of the movements being discussed. There is a large letters-to-the-editor column in which readers are invited into a lively dialog with the editorial staff. The magazine grew from a small black and white booklet to a proper magazine that was distributed all over the world. Sadly Qi Magazine has now ceased production, but not after 18 years and 90 issues all packed with rare and unique articles covering all aspects of Chinese Qigong, martial arts, culture and philosophy. 

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Qi Magazine First Issue (1991)

Dear Qigong Supporters,

Firstly, I wish to thank all of you for supporting Qigong and chinese health exercises, over the past three years since my arrival in England. I have decided to publish this new magazine devoted to Qigong and related Chinese arts because I want more people to understand and to get benefit from Qigong, by improving their health and develop to their full potential. A lot of people who practice Qigong have questions, but are unable to find the answers. Sometimes they are mislead by books written by people who do not fully understand Qigong, consequently some practitioners consider quitting! On the other hand there is not much literature or information on Qigong, and this magazine aims to change that by revealing the secrets of Qi internal development and health.

Why do some people live longer?

Why do some people get ill very easily?

Why do many people get old at only 40 or 50?

If we can understand our Qi we can all live much longer lives. I believe that the 90's is the decade for health. We should try to understand our health potential and search for long life. I want everyone to have more information and contact with each other, and I hope that his magazine will attract other Qigong or Taiji masters, who have similar aims of promoting awareness and development in these arts. I sincerely hope that Qi Magazine attracts a worldwide readership and results a greater understand and discussion of Qigong.

Qi Magazine will be distributed in Great Britain, United States, Sweden and Canada, and translated into German for readers in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. I hope that it will become known as an unbiased magazine and raises the awareness of the general public and the knowledge and skills of Qigong practitioners everywhere.

Yours Truly,

Michael Tse

The Ermei Sudden Enlightenment School

Reprinted from Qi Journal - Winter 1997

An uncle who had disappeared returned on the day on which Fu Wei Zhong was born in 1949. This uncle, now a monk, blessed Fu Wei Zhong and took him under his care. By the age of six his grandfather and several other masters began training him in Chinese medicine, internal alchemy and the martial arts. By the age of ten, Fu Wei Zhong became a traditional Chinese doctor. By the age of twelve he opened his own practice.

During the Cultural Revolution Master Fu was sent to Manchuria where he worked as a doctor. Traveling the country, he treated patients on his government-issued mule. His patients were not only the people of those areas but also horses, hens, pigs, and cows. Upon his return to Beijing, his one and only recurring dream since childhood of a monk, saw its fulfillment at Guan Ji Temple. There, for the first time, he met His Holiness Ju Zan, the abbot of Guan Ji Temple.

His holiness said, "Ah, you have arrived. It is now time to start your training." Out of a class of approximately ten students for a period of two years, all except Master Fu were sent away. In 1984, after eight years of training, His Holiness Ju Zan empowered Master Fu with the mind/heart transmission; thus making him the thirteenth Lineage Holder for the Er Mei Sudden Enlightenment School which has been handed down from master to student since 1227 AD. Master Fu Wei Zhong was also given the sacred bowl, the sacred staff, and the sacred book of the style.

During the spring of 1985, Master Fu taught his first Er Mei Diagnosis Treatment class with hundreds of masters/doctors in attendance. He continued teaching publicly until 1989, when he then went into retreat for three years. He has successfully treated many Chinese government officials as well as its masses.

The Er Mei Sudden Enlightenment School is one of the most comprehensive mind-body-spirit systems ever created. With a foundation of Wudang Taoism, Er Mei Qigong rests in the heart of the mahayana/ vadrayana tradition of Buddhism. It was formulated during the Southern Song Dynasty a thousand years ago, in the Lin Ji sect of Er Mei.

     

The system provides health care for the injured and sick by transmitting Qi (energy) directly to them or by teaching them specific Qigong techniques to treat their ailments. Health, Healing and Enlightenment are the key elements of this school. There are over one hundred such clinics throughout China and the Far East that use Er Mei techniques and over two thousand master/doctors that are applying them on a daily basis. Er Mei Mountain, located in Sichuan Province on the Tibetan plateau in China has a long history of sages. White Cloud, a Wudang Taoist priest settled on top of Er Mei Mountain during the end of the Song Dynasty (960-1279AD). After his conversion to Buddhism, he became the abbot of the Golden Summit Temple.

Thirteen lineage holders during the last one thousand years have devoted their lives to this school of thought. It has established a medical institute, a Qigong academy, a college of advanced Er Mei training, some in-patient and out-patient clinics, and a medicinal factory. There are now over two million practitioners world wide.

The method by which the lineage holder was selected was changed by the tenth lineage holder Yong Nian. Now, the lineage holder is alternated between a monk and a layman so both may take the knowledge into the world to help the sick, yet preserve the rituals and knowledge.

His disciple Zhou Qian-Chuan became the first secular lineage holder. He took this knowledge out to heal the masses. Master Zhou Qian-chuan passed the lineage to His Holiness Ju Zan, the Supreme Buddhist Abbot of China. His Holiness Ju Zan then passed the lineage to a secular student, Master Fu Wei Zhong. Master Fu's mission is to take it out into the world to help alleviate the sickness which seems to permeate society.

Er Mei Qi Gong has branched off to its own science. The threefold methodology consists of motion and movement, quiet and meditation, and a combination of motion and meditation. In this way it can address the health concerns of the practitioners through their personal energy cultivation as well as the health concerns of the masses. Physical, emotional, and spiritual diseases can be treated. We look at the human body holistically instead of dividing it into compartments. We become sick when we have exhausted our energy.

This can be prevented through cultivation of knowledge by allowing our innate congenital Qi potential to re-arise in our beings. We can also generate our health to a state where you are immune to diseases. This is possible by learning how to cultivate qi in one's own body as well as how to accumulate qi in the dantiens for use either within internal organs or use to externally treat others. This training is combined with the use of sound.

Proper form, proper breathing and proper mental state is essential. These are the basics for good health. The Er Mei school emphasizes the cultivation of energy, the transmission of energy; clinical application of external energy diagnosis and treatment. Acupuncture, moxibustion, opening Heaven's door, opening the meridians, collaterals and spiritual channels, and traditional Chinese medical theory are also employed. This includes tongue diagnosis and pulsology.

Special abilities are yet another level. Some of the special abilities which have been cultivated by Master Fu Wei Zhong are extra sensory perception, clairvoyance, telekinesis, telepathy, divination, energy feng shui, Aura diagnosis, hand sensitivity diagnosis, Third Eye Diagnosis, astronomy, mathematics, divine mapping, iron body and the taming of demons.

There are over 300 techniques of health, healing enlightenment in the first three levels which Master Fu is currently teaching the public. Master Fu has been teaching publicly for ten years at major universities and hospitals, treating Chinese government officials, clergy and an international clientele from President Deng Xiaoping to the common man. James and Ben Taylor traveled to China to study with him.

Documentation shows that he is a famous life scientist. He has been credited with numerous accolades such as "one of the top external energy therapist" and "The Er Mei Wizard" by the Chinese Society of Qigong as a result of his continued commitment and contributions in establishing the "external energy diagnoses and treatment system." People have come from Russia, Europe, Australia, Asia and the United States to study, to seek blessings and, or treatment from him. The sun truly is shining on him and those his energy has touched.

More than twelve of Master Fu's works are published in Chinese. In 1989 the Beijing College Press published The Finger Pointing Techniques of Er Mei. The Chinese Qi Gong Science & Research Institute in 1989 published Er Mei Lin Ji "Wai Qi" Book I as well as Books II and III. In 1993 The International Er Mei Lin Ji Medical Center published two additional books. The 18 Movement Form & Medicinal Recipes was also published. These have been translated into English and now only await publication.

Master Fu is currently conducting seminars throughout the United States where students can begin to learn the three levels of Er Mei Spiritual Essence and Mind Enlightenment. These seminars are scheduled in a number of states including California, Florida, Georgia, as well as Massachusetts, Texas, and New York.

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For information write: Er Mei Sudden Enlightenment, P.O. Box 690121, Flushing, NY 11369 or email: canebvi@aol.com or ermeiqi1@juno.com

Frequency Adjustment

To Join the MIT Qigong Mailing List: http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/qigong

Date: 7/25/10

From: Jim info@apricotforesthall.com

Subject:  Frequency Adjustment

Hello,

     The two most common reasons for people to test out Qigong is to heal some sort of physical ailment (pain) and the other would be to help with an over active mind (anxiety/stress). So, lets talk a little bit about the arts thoughts on the mind and what it takes to have a little frequency adjustment. Traditional Chinese theory divides human emotions into seven categories: joy, anger, worry, over-thinking, grief, fear and shock. Each of these emotions effect ones energy and over all well being:

Joy: Makes energy relax

Anger: Makes energy rise

Worry: Makes energy low

Over-Thinking: Makes energy knot

Grief: Makes energy vanish

Fear: Makes energy descend

Shock: Disorients energy

     Zhan Zhuang is the game of awareness. Part of this tuning of your awareness is the study of Non-Attachment. By keeping light awareness on these three keys, Posture, Relaxation & Breathing one can begin to avoid attaching to random thoughts that are with all of us. During the practice of Zhan Zhuang one is not expected to "zen out" and not have any thoughts coming in! This is not realistic but what one must understand is that awareness of the breath has a gentle massaging effect on the central nervous system which gradually relaxes your entire system. This is one of the reasons why they state: The primary purpose for Lower Abdominal Breathing is to quiet the mind.   

     If one is struggling with many thoughts during practice all you need to do is not attach to them by keeping light awareness on the three keys. The stronger you attach to these thoughts later turn them into feelings, emotions or desires which disturb your whole system. In Zhan Zhuang when you begin to drift you tend to tense up by losing focus on what is the important. So, anytime your drifting off or day dreaming during Zhan Zhuan just return to the 3 keys of awareness. (Is my posture ok?  Am I loose/relaxed?  Is my dan tien breathing light and natural?)  This is one of the reasons natural Qigong say; In Qigong all we can do is aid in the breaking of physical and mental obstructions which allow the mind and body the heal, strengthen and unite thru tranquility.  

     Zhan Zhuang is a powerful lab for growth. Like any art, the more you put into it the more you will get out of it and its wonders are truly profound! Equilibrium (Zong Ding) is a gradual and smooth process but thanks to the core nature of this Zhan Zhuang Qigong platform we can directly cultivate and heal our entire being with minimal effort. Those who have come to MIT Qigong looking for a little Frequency Adjustment have found the simplest and most effective method known to humanity. All it takes is a little effort!

***

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  I look forward to a nice work out tonight.  

Peace,

Jim 

www.ApricotForestHall.com  

Monday Qigong Schedule

Year One Exercises

5) Small Vibrations

5) Gathering Qi

5) Crane (L)

5) Crane (R)

5) Turning Cow 

5) Gathering Qi

15) Natural Post

5) Low Post

Seal/Wash

Stiff Spines will Loosen Over Time

Spinal Twists in Qigong Benefit the Body by Stephanie Churchill

Adapted from: http://www.totallyzen.com/spinal-twists-in-yoga-and-qigong-benefit-the-body.html

Our spine is the axis in which our body is supported between Heaven and Earth. It allows us the mobility and freedom to move and express ourselves. Our arms and legs extend from this beautiful stack of vertebrae that are tenderly placed one on top of the other. The spine is a work of art and sheer mechanics at the same time.

Keeping the spine supple, maintaining its alignment and its straight form to live actively and pain-free are great goals. They may require a bit of effort but the benefits far outweigh the costs. Stiff spines will loosen over time!

When we perform spinal twists we are releasing trapped energy along the spinal column. After we have twisted to engage the body/back, we breathe to clear the old energy out. Think of collecting the old energy with the movement and releasing it with the breath. Instantaneously you feel more open and at ease. Like wringing out a wet towel.

The benefits of spinal twists are immense:

• Increased flexibility

• Increased circulation

• Increased energy

• Digestion

• Strengthening the muscles through breath and repetition

When our spine is not healthy we may not be able to feel comfortable or able to move with ease. We can slowly improve the spine with conscious spinal twists and lessen back pain or discomfort.

Qigong Spinal Twist:

Try standing feet hip width distance apart; take your arms with fists or simple palms for your hand positions. Begin with moving the right arm in front, left in back as you twist from your foot, ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, neck to the back. The head follows the twist from side to side. Breathe in as palms swing open through middle and out as they collapse on each side. This should allow for the body to warm slowly and feel wonderful.

20 Minutes of Zhan Zhuang Training

Links to other MIT Qigong Videos:

Low Post in Cape Cod

Gathering Qi in Cape Cod

Making Yourself at Home with Acupuncture by Ken Rosen

Acupuncture is both clinical and mysterious. It has a long lineage practiced differently around the world by different schools of practice – five-element, Chinese, Korean hand, and Japanese Toyohari to name but a few. I recently found out that there are 30 different schools of acupuncture in Japan alone. And, of course, acupuncture is practiced differently still by individuals. The big point here is that people are getting relief; no matter what style of acupuncture or what individual. 

Acupuncture is rooted in a larger system of medicine which is known globally as Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM. Traditional Chinese Medicine comprises five distinct branches of medicine to help people govern their health. The five branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine are exercise, nutrition, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and structural medicine like massage. Acupuncture, as a branch, has grown globally as well. I have met TCM practitioners from far-away places like Norway, England, India, America, Germany, Israel, Iceland and Thailand, to name a few. People from all over the world are finding relief from serious physical and mental illnesses with this ancient therapy. Acupuncture treatment most likely started with people poking each other in places that hurt with tools in a form of crude massage, or as way to lance boils. Eventually, the Chinese mapped rivers of energy called meridians, or channels, on the body. Much the way energy flows down a river, the same is true in the body. Energy moves quickly in some places, deeply in others, and also stagnates in common acu-point locations. As time passed, the ancients refined specific points on these meridians that created a broad range of action on both physical and emotional conditions. Needles used to be made from bones, then eventually metal. Today, they are made from stainless steel, making them also sterile and disposable. What Happens During an Acupuncture Treatment? After a series of questions, a practitioner of Chinese Medicine will look at your tongue, feel your pulse, and reach a diagnosis. Then an acupuncture prescription will be matched to your diagnosis. The combination of acupoints are needled and heat therapy (moxibustion) or mild electrical stimulation may be added to the needles. Needles are retained in the body for a period of 20 to 30 minutes. During that time, the nervous energy of the whole body tries to push these needles out and tunes into itself for healing. When the needles come to equilibrium with the body and mind, a healing message has been received. Unlike a needle that takes blood out of your body, an acupuncture needle is solid. It is not designed to cut through flesh. It is like putting a chopstick into a bowl of noodles. Instead of cutting into your body, it pushes tissue aside, letting your body’s nervous system grab it, reject it, accept it, and thereby reboot your whole system. This is how acupuncture is able to treat such a wide range of conditions. Needles vibrate within your body to help bring you into balance. The needles vent out built-up qi, which could be manifested in muscular pain, emotional tension, or a chest cold. Ultimately an acupuncture treatment should catapult your whole being into a deep state of ease so your body and mind can overcome energy imbalances, pain and disease.

The soft overcomes the hard – Tao Te Ching

These words from this ancient classic remind me of the tremendous power of acupuncture. Hard needles go into tight or hard acu-points or muscles, but it is the power of your soft body rejecting and then accepting these needles that makes the treatment effective. Your body has to become soft in the reaction to the hard needles. It is only natural.