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THE CHI KUNG BIBLE: MASTERING PERSONAL POWER by Gary J. Clyman CHAPTER #2 - THE PHYSICAL NATURE - GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF "THE TECHNIQUE" There are 4 basic categories that each individual Chi Kung technique falls into. Many techniques do indeed fall into multiple categories, but all are clearly members of one primary type. I have included this section so you can understand and get an overview of Chi Kung more fully. It will assist in understanding "The System" the way I teach it. The following is a list and explanation of the 4 basic categories in my "Chi Kung" system. #1 THE CONDENSING PRINCIPLE - This is the single most important ingredient and the first principle to understand. Condensing Breathing is the source of all the energy cultivation exercises. Without practicing this, there will be no "alchemical agent" or "essence" to be circulated. Practicing Condensing Breathing is a meditation that will cause consolidation on all levels. This practice can and will aid in the transformation of one's constitutional properties. #2 TORSO CIRCULATION - The Micro Cosmic Orbit or The 10 Step Cycle. This principle is used in regard to Chi circulations limited to the torso only. #3 MACRO COSMIC CIRCULATION - Combining the whole body as a single unit. Each body part is in communication with each other body part. This term is used when relating the extremities and the torso as a single unit with intimate communication. A) Mother Meditation B) The Macro Cosmic Orbit C) The Tai Chi Connective Meditations #4 PROJECTING - IMPREGNATING THE UNIVERSE - Sending your SPIRIT out, into the world. Practicing the following exercises in the prescribed order will produce profound results, immediately. These practices are distinctly diff- erent from other affirmations and visualizations in that they are performed after practicing Condensing Breathing. They are linked to your body and will manifest in a real, physical, and obvious way when applied. A) Affirmations B) Visualizations C) Projecting into the Universe CHI KUNG TECHNICAL OUTLINE WORKSHOP I. THE BASIC TRAINING MATERIAL 1) PREPARATION FROM TAI CHI INCLUDING DETAILS 2) CONDENSING BREATHING 3) BASIC PATH TRAINING 4) BREATHING TRAINING A. OUTSIDE AIR B. INSIDE AIR 5) SITTING FORMS WITH THE MIND TRAINING 6) PALMS ON KNEES MEDITATION 7) STILLNESS SITTING WITH CONDENSING BREATHING 8) THE MICRO COSMIC ORBIT / AKA - THE 10 STEP CYCLE 9) CLOSING THE CIRCUIT 10) HEAVEN AND EARTH MEDITATION 11) CREATING DAILY AFFIRMATIONS 12) CREATING VISIONS COMBINED WITH AFFIRMATIONS 13) PROJECTING YOUR WILL / IMPREGNATING THE UNIVERSE 14) LAYERED CONDENSING THE TECHNICAL INGREDIENTS OF CHI KUNG DEFINITIONS & REASONS WHY: 1) PREPARATION FROM TAI CHI INCLUDING DETAILS What it is... The warm up exercises from Temple Style Tai Chi. What it's for... To loosen each joint and body part, individually, prior to practicing Chi Kung. Long term implications... To consistently help your body relax and release tension as well as gauge your relaxation progress. 2) CONDENSING BREATHING What it is... The most important part of Chi Kung. The precursor for all the circulation practices. What it's for... To compress your being into a more dense space, increasing your intention, WILL, concentration, and vibration capacity and velocity. Long term implications... Continual increase of your energy levels, awareness, decision making abilities, and general performance. 3) BASIC PATH TRAINING What it is... Tai Chi conversion meditations used to orientate your mind in and with your body. What it's for... To develop basic "Energy Pathway Circulations." Long term implications... Constant increase of your BODY/MIND relationship and connection. 4) BREATHING TRAINING A. OUTSIDE AIR What it is... Basic abdominal breathing found in many other disciplines. What it's for... Used for comparison purposes only. This never has to be practiced. Long term implications... Calming effect only. B. INSIDE AIR What it is... Basic mind training in how to direct your energy circulation in a gross, single direction. Up and down ONLY. This method of breathing is also known as "pre-natal breathing" or "fetal breathing" because it is the same way you were breathing while in your mother's womb. What it's for... Important preparation for "The Micro Cosmic Orbit." THIS MUST ALWAYS BE PRACTICED PRIOR TO DOING "THE MICRO COSMIC ORBIT." Long term implications... Puts a snap in many of your circulations. Develops internal coordination and improves your posture when not practicing. 5) SITTING FORMS WITH THE MIND TRAINING AKA / 6 FORMS AND 7 CIRCULATIONS What it is... Movements performed in a sitting position, using the arms in connection with the torso. These are used to create the pathways the energy flows through. Remember, the energy circulations are more important than the actual physical movements. Don't be con- cerned with the correctness of the movements. Be more concerned with your intention in circulating your energy through these specific pathways. Don't forget any internal details. What it's for... Connecting the body as a single unit. To create com- munication with all your cells. Long term implications... Helps to "bore out" and increase the energy pathways. These circulations are unique to "Chi Kung" and should be practiced for many years. 6) PALMS ON KNEES MEDITATION What it is... Connecting meditations through your knees and your palms. What it's for... Connecting your condensing breathing through your arms and legs. This opens your major energy channels. Long term implications... Helps to create "a vacuum" in your body for storing and attracting more energy. 7) STILLNESS SITTING WITH CONDENSING BREATHING What it is... Condensing breathing without the effort placed on the physical body. Done in a sitting position, the is also to reduce the harmful effects of gravity. What it's for... Another version of condensing breathing. Long term implications... Great for increasing internal sensitivity and rooting for "The Micro Cosmic Orbit" and your affirmations and your visual- izations. 8) THE MICRO COSMIC ORBIT / AKA - THE 10 STEP CYCLE What it is... Major torso circulation at the heart of "Chi Kung." What it's for... increasing vital force and transmuting cultivated sexual energy (Jing) to spiritual energy (Shen). Leads to long term constant accumulation and circulation of cultivated sexual energy. The width and velocity of your pathway will increase with consistent practice. 9) CLOSING THE CIRCUIT What it is... The final step or conclusion of "The Micro Cosmic Orbit." The downward drop of your energy and return to "Tan Tien" (3 inches below your navel). What it's for... The return home of your essential energy where it is stored in "Tan Tien." Long term implications... Absolutely necessary to preserve your Jing. 10) HEAVEN AND EARTH MEDITATION What it is... Condensing in from the top and in from the bottom. It is also called "Twin Tornadoes Meditation" signifying the purpose. What it's for... Embodiment. To add an added dimension to your Condensing Breathing. Long term implications... Adds density to your Condensing Breathing and roots your affirmations and visualizations to your body. 11) CREATING DAILY AFFIRMATIONS What it is... An important ingredient in acquiring your dreams. Extracting the exact words, lead to accepting your vision. What it's for... Clarification of your dreams and visions. Long term implications... Updating and integrating your dreams into your LIFE. 12) UNITING VISION WITH AFFIRMATIONS What it is... Just what it's name denotes. What it's for... Actualizing your vision and your affirmations to each other and cultivating your own reality. Long term implications... Trimming the fat off your picture. Keeping negative influences to a minimum distraction. PROJECTING / IMPREGNATING THE UNIVERSE What it is... Formatting your own future. Connecting your visualizations, affirmations, and your Condensing Breathing, physically. What it's for... Implanting or setting up your environment the way you want it. Releasing your dreams into the universe. Long term implications... Strengthening all your Chi Kung practices. The final connection to your own reality. External actualizations. 14) LAYERED CONDENSING What it is... Calling you own energy back to you. It is like the opposite of an onion skin. The more you can "fit in," the better and more valuable this technique will prove to be. What it's for... Regrouping after "Impregnating the Universe." Long term implications... Your Personal Power can be multiplied by ending your Chi Kung practice with "Layered Condensing." ***THIS IS THE END OF THE DAILY PRACTICE ROUTINE*** 15) AUXILIARY EXERCISES / COOL DOWN (OPTIONAL) CLEANSING THE BONE MARROW / LIGAMENT STRETCHING EXERCISES, HEAVENLY DRUM (49 TIMES), HEAVENLY WATER (36 TIMES), ETC. What it is... Optional cooling off after practicing. What it's for... Reducing culture shock prior to returning to "normal," daily activities. Reduces the stiffness associated with prolonged sitting. Long term implications... Keeps you loose and aids in improving your blood circulation. CHI KUNG DEFINITIONS: BASIC TRAINING ENERGY CULTIVATION EXERCISES 1) PREPARATION: These are exercises used to help your bodies learn to relax and release tension. These exercises are done in a circular fashion and a specific order. These exercises can be performed at any time and any place, with or without other techniques. 2) CONDENSING BREATHING: This is, in my opinion, the single most important part of Tai Chi, Chi Kung, and other related internal medit- ation, and energy cultivation exercises. Incorporating "condensing breathing" into your daily practice will increase your energy levels, chi awareness, personal power intensity, and spiritual stamina. 3) BASIC PATH TRAINING: In order to prepare you for the upcoming training and work, I have incorporated into the training basic Tai Chi forms. These exercises are to help beginners with no previous experience to express themselves and become more present. These exercises have been incorporated to help keep you grounded as well as give you a physical vehicle to build your Chi Kung practice upon. These exercises are designed to teach each practitioner the location of the basic channels, their doors, which are the specific location in which the chi enters and leaves the body, and the directions and pathways the energy flows through in the body. 4) BREATHING TRAINING There are only two basic breathing techniques. A. OUTSIDE AIR: This type of breathing has also been referred to as stomach or abdominal breathing. This is very similar to the breathing done in Zen meditation. This will be used for comparison purposes only. B. INSIDE AIR: This type of breathing is very special and important. This particular technique has also been referred to as "pre-natal breathing" or "fetal breathing." This is a type of breathing that does not rely upon the lungs and general circulation for air, but refers rather to the breath as used in your mothers womb, before you were born. "Inside air "is an internal system of breathing which should be at the heart of "Chi Kung." 5) SITTING FORMS WITH THE MIND TRAINING / AKA - 6 FORMS AND 7 CIRCULATIONS: These exercises are what I consider the heart of "CHI KUNG." These are the exercises that make "CHI KUNG" an internal exercise system. It is important to understand that these are not just physical movements, and that there are very specific chi circulations involved in each exercise. 6) THE MICRO COSMIC ORBIT / AKA - THE 10 STEP CYCLE: This is the most important part of the "CHI KUNG" system. This is directly related to how you cultivate and circulate your chi, and is one of the most sought after techniques, by both meditation and TAI CHI students alike. 7) STILLNESS SITTING WITH CONDENSING (TAOIST MEDITATION): This is a general term used to describe many of "The Chi Circulations" practiced in this Chi Kung system. There are many techniques that can be as specific as possible. 8) CLEANSING OF THE BONE MARROW / LIGAMENT AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE EXERCISES: The major reason for practicing this set of exercises is to prevent problems associated with sitting for long periods of time. These exercises are not for stretching your muscles, but are more for exercising your sinews (ligaments, tendons, and cartilage tissue). 9) HEAVENLY DRUM (49 TIMES): This is an exercise used to help you realize your chi. By practicing heavenly drum, you become more aware and sensitive to the flow of your internal energy. This exercise help to calm you, and create your own personal space. This is a very well known exercise and has been written about in many books. 10) HEAVENLY WATER (36 TIMES): This is an exercise to help you feel your own internal heart. This is also helpful in strengthening your teeth and gums, and improving your digestion. (CHAPTER #3 IS THE TECHNICAL CHAPTER. Please use the Chi Kung Video Instruction Program for detailed instruction.) |