INTRODUCTION
There are
probably a few thousand styles of qigong in China. Among these, Zhineng Qigong
stands out as one of the most effective in improving a person's health and
nourishing his body with vital universal energy. Translated literally, Zhineng
Qigong means "Cultivating Intelligent Energy".
Zhineng Qigong was created by
Pang Ming , a gifted
Qigong teacher with training in Chinese and Western medicine and who had
received tutelage from 19 Grandmasters in qigong and martial arts since his
early childhood. With the creation of Zhineng Qigong, he has combined the
ancient Chinese internal cultivation of Qigong as a healing art with the modern
science knowledge of the body and mind. Qigong practice which has been kept
secret in China for over 5000 years within families and esoteric schools, has
now been made available to the general public and benefiting millions of people
around the world. Dr. Pang also founded the largest medicine-less hospital in
China , where Zhineng Qigong was used to study mind-body science and its
applications to self-healing. He has set up training centers in China that have
trained thousands of qigong teachers, most of whom have chosen to dedicate their
lives to share and teach qigong to the public.
Purpose of Qigong Practice
The purpose of
qigong practice is to improve human life, such as improving physical fitness,
enhancing creativity, uplifting emotion and uncovering hidden potential. Qigong
offers a path to liberate us from our own limitations and social conditioning
and rediscover a higher state of freedom based on consciousness and wisdom.
Through qigong, we learn to cultivate chi in our daily practice to progressively
synchronize the physical and spiritual elements of our being.
Qigong is
different from other exercises such as sports. In qigong you direct your mind
inwards while in most exercises the mind is directed externally upon the
competitors instead of the activity within the body. Qigong emphasizes
cultivating virtue, refining consciousness, regulating breath, and moving the
body, while sports are mainly focused on bodily movement. In moving the body,
qigong uses the mind to direct chi, chi to direct the body, the movement of the
body to serve the spirit, mind and chi, and experience mystery of the body in
total relaxation. In sports, one is trained to focus on physical form while the
mind is not directed internally, instead towards the movement of the body or
tools. The mind becomes the servant to facilitate and synchronize a sequence of
movements, moving muscles, tendons, etc.
In terms of
regeneration within the body, sports promote the consumption of energy to
accelerate this process through triggering the movement of muscles and
transforming chemical energy into mechanical energy. Therefore, it requires
extra nutrition and more rest to recover the energy. In other words, sports and
exercise is designed to amplify the quantity of life energy that comes into and
flows out of the body. In contrast, qigong training reduces the consumption of
energy, slowing down the process of regeneration. It regulates the order of
internal life activity and reorganizes the biological structure, therefore
increasing life vitality.
Two Systems of Qigong
There are two
systems of qigong, the closed system and the open system. The closed system
emphasizes the elimination of external interference by isolating oneself from
the environment. This practice focuses on the internal regulation of energy,
mind and spirit. All attention is turned inwardly and all bodily senses are
reduced to the minimal in the process in order to achieve greater concentration.
The practice requires absolute isolation
Zhineng Qigong
is an open system. It emphasizes the connection between the individual and the
environment, between the human internal chi and universal external chi. The
practice applies the universal chi to strengthen the person's Jing, Chi, and
Shen. It also encourages the practice of Qigong through daily living. And it
stresses the importance of interaction between human and his environment.
Both systems and
the thousands of schools of teaching share the same goal of enhancing the
vitality of life, exploring potential intelligence, and improving the quality of
life. As a beginner, it is important to choose a suitable method according to
one's own preference. Eventually, through practice of one particular form and
based on a strong foundation, one will be prepared to understand and incorporate
different teachings in order to progress.
Three Levels of Practice
Zhineng Qigong
is currently formulated into three levels of practice. These levels are
summarized below:
Level 1
Lift
Chi Up and Pour Chi Down (Peng Qi Guan Ding Fa) - This is the basic
form of the Level 1 practice and consists of a series of gentle body movements,
synchronized with meditative visualization to open any blockages inside and
promote the exchange of Chi between the body and the Universe. The three
sequences in this Form are designed to gather Chi into the three Dantians.
Three
Centers Merge Standing Method (San Xin Ping Zhan Zhuang) - This method utilizes a proper alignment of body and centering of mind
into a powerful posture designed to root the body into the earth, connect the
three main meridians and collect Chi at the Dantian. The method can quickly
attain strength and balance of energy.
Stretching
Chi (Chen Qi) - This is an effective method to stimulate and
mobilize internal physical chi and unify chi within the entire body as a whole.
Wall
Squatting (Dun Qiang) - This involves a gentle up-down movement
of the body while facing a wall. The practice corrects the spinal structure and
relaxes the whole body. It is a very effective stress reduction method and also
gives a strong feeling of Chi. With daily practice, it can lead to a high level
of Qigong cultivation.
Level 2
Body &
Mind Method (Xing Shen Zhuang) - This is the basic form of the Level 2
practice, comprising 10 steps. It works with the internal chi within the body,
to open joints and meridians and accumulate Hun Yuan (universal) chi throughout
the whole body, from skin to bone. It is a discipline designed to unite the mind
with the body and enhance the mind's ability to command the body, thereby
integrating mind and body.
Level 3
Five
Elements Unified Method (Wu Yuan Zhuang) - Using sound, movement, and
breathing techniques, the method is to activate and balance the internal Chi of
five organs thereby unifying the essential Chi of the internal organs into the
middle Dantian. It helps to achieve physical cleansing as well as emotional
balance.
