Miss Lamb, could you please explain in short what the Namo A Mi Tuo Fo mantra does within ourselves?
Miss Lamb, could you please explain in short what the Namo A Mi Tuo Fo mantra does within ourselves?
It is a great purification, great karma reduction, great healing, great self-awakening, great achievement.
Does the mantra have to be said aloud Sifu Jenny or can it be intoned silently and internally.
It is best spoken, it says in the sutra. Also, one day my Celestial master said to me that they worshipped me. I said why worship me? You are the one to support me and help me for healing others, why worship me? You have a mouth to chant, we don’t.
Thank you Sifu Jenny. I just would like to ask: how to recognize a real teacher. I have had confusing experiences with people teaching dharma and because of that I am sceptical towards all teachers, but I am really longing to find one that I can really trust and that can show me all the way to total freedom and compassion. How can I recognise such a genuine teacher?
The pure heart provides pure intention, pure vision, pure devotion, and pure dedication. If your heart is not pure, how can you have a pure vision? To encounter a right teacher is your karma, but you can create this karma with your pure intention, not your judgment. How can you have a right judgment when your heart is impure? Even if you have a chance to meet one, you will not be able to recognize him/her. You are too much self-concerned with gain and loss. Be aware, it is not you who picks the teacher. It is the teacher who is willing to accept you. All you can do is to create chances for yourself in an absolute pure intention without selfish reasons or what you might lose. Without loss, you will not gain. People with a pure heart, always one opportunity leads to another.
Thank you Sifu. I request as well that you let people know (if they have an entity in body), otherwise we may never know.
Things happening have their reason. Once I saw a student who was in my seminar and was very sick because of an entity in the body. So I wrote to the student and told about the entity issue, but the response was: “I am quite upset, and wish that you hadn't said anything.” I learned my lesson. Not everyone wants to know the truth.
Hi Sifu Lamb, I was wondering whether you are able to help people who are far away, such as myself. I am in Malaysia and unfortunately am not able to travel.
Distance is not the main issue. It depends on your condition. Of course treating in person is more powerful and faster. Some severe conditions I have to treat in person. Others can be done from a distance. It is still effective, but requires more discipline and cooperation from patients. It may take a little longer. I have helped people from Europe. Faith, faith and faith. Have faith in me and faith in yourself. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes to help yourself. If you need my help, you can send me your information.
In the last year, I have noticed that most people whom I deal with on metals toxicity issues also have parasite issues, and it is hard to see which came first, since the parasites make you retain toxins, and the metals weaken your immunity to parasites. The entities you speak of are obviously energetic parasites. Interestingly, the physical parasites seem to create food allergies, which rapidly disappear when the parasites are eliminated, much the same as the man you cite. It is frankly scary how this seems to be increasing.
For the physical parasites, there seem to be several causes, including failure to nurture your central energy, plus, significantly, extensive electromagnetic pollution from our heavy wireless and electronic usage.
The cultural aspects you mention undoubtedly fit into the picture as well. In regards to psychic/energetic parasites (entities) you seemed to (maybe my interpretation) mention the entities ability to fulfill the spiritual ego's need for experience of the fantastic as a entryway to let them in.
This is often found in literature of magic, such as is the case of Aleister Crowley, who died miserable and insane, though was highly regarded by some for his psychic adventures. It is said that he went to see Gurdjieff late in life looking for help, and Gurdjieff dismissed him quickly and said something to the effect of, "You are beyond help now." Can you talk on factors that invite such being to take root?
The cause for the entity issues is very complex. What we know is still limited and on the surface level, because each individual is different. While I am helping people, I am also studying their commonality. The entities appear in different categories and under different names:
Finding a right guide is crucial and beneficial for anyone who is seeking a spiritual path.
Would you please share your criteria for attending the healer’s training program, I am interested and would like to know when it will start.
Many people are interested in my healer’s training program and want to know when it will start and qualifications required of the students. I don’t know when or if ever. I let celestial masters choose. I teach seminars to draw interested people. I teach retreats as a screening agent. To find 10 right people may be a wish too high, but if there is one right person comes to the door, I will be there to serve. If you just want to be trained as a skillful healer, take my retreats as much as you can as an opportunity. Every retreat will be a bit different from now on. But to be qualified as a ready student is a different issue. I am not easy to please. There is nothing you can offer me, other than your readiness, which will interest me.
Readiness:
Most people (that are interested in a spiritual path) are in the third category. Only the first and second categories of readiness count to be ready for walking on the true spiritual path. When you are ready, everything comes your way. You are honest and humble. You have a pure heart for all your passions. You have the ability to see your own faults. You are easily correcting yourself and moving on with your life. Your priorities are straight. You are not looking for personal gain to increase your individuality. You determine to change your karma with everything you’ve got. You are willing to use every breath to obtain your goal regardless of what comes. You are not bound by your personal issues or take anything personally. Your compassion and loving kindness is unconditioned but wise. You are able to see and accept the true as it is. You have a high goal. You are cultivating, cultivating and cultivating, regardless of the outcome.
When you are not ready, you are the opposite of readiness. You have a lack of faith, have doubts and regrets all the time, don’t trust yourself or others, have a hard time to accept truth and want to live on your own fantasized ideals. You are unable to see your own faults but complain about others for all your failures. You easily give up your effort for your goal. You prefer phenomena to reality. Your six senses are all outward and unable to turn around. Personal gains dominate your heart. You are always looking for results and returns and are always conditioned in your actions. You can only hear praise not criticism. You don’t really know what you want. Your actions are dominated by your emotions. You are not truthful to yourself. You willingly dwell on the illusions.
Everyone likes to hear the good about themselves but I am here to make myself very unpopular. Nevertheless, I am not trying to praise anyone or disparage anyone, but simply to share a truth for those who are longing to walk on the spiritual path. I do not mean to say that one that is not ready for one thing, is not ready for anything. It is just a straightforward response for those who have been asking me about readiness or want to know what my opinion of readiness is.
Through my experience of teaching and healing, I am starting to be aware that even when one wants to restore his/her health, he/she has to be ready for it. Meaning one has to set one’s priorities straight and be willing to do whatever it takes.
Dear Sifu Jenny, I appreciate what you wrote above very much so. I think it is true and well reasoned. My questions arise from wondering, what happens if you are in readiness states (3=possible) or (4=unready)? How can you move yourself to a different state? Is there any kind of (daily?) practice that can begin to prepare the student to move to a different state of readiness? In gratitude and thanking you for providing sincere food for thought.
Thank you for asking. To be able to move oneself up, the first thing is to be able to recognize where you are standing and have a wish to move up. This wish is not an empty thought but it carries determination and devotion.
The following is my experience to share as a student and as a teacher. Please do not take it personally if you feel it offends.
A true goal or a high goal motivates you. You know what you are really looking for and why it is so vital to you. You are willing to do anything and give up everything for it. You will not regret your effort whether it takes 10 years, 20 years or a lifetime. You will not complain about others for your failures, because the path you chose is not requested by anyone, or to impress anyone or win anything, but for the sake of improving your own being.
Trust is a bridge for teaching. Without trust the true teaching cannot be transmitted. It is not the teacher who does not want to help you. It is you who brings a full cup for more teachings. How can you fit more in when the cup is full with self-righteousness and doubts? Trust is a channel between you and your teacher. When the channel is blocked nothing can go through. You can bring the same question to ask every teacher you meet or anyone you know. If you are not ready to listen, you are no more than a spiritual shopper and not a true practitioner.
To be accepted as a disciple is not easy to achieve. It is not your apparent ability or your title or your money that your teacher is interested in, but your fundamental quality. That is your virtue and ability to let go of your ignorance and individuality. In short, if you can be taught.
To recognize self righteousness can be a touchstone for insight practice. The degree of self-righteousness can be observed through fluctuations of your emotions. How do you respond to the things that you do not like to hear or are not ready to hear or are opposite than your beliefs? Are you uncomfortable or angry or want revenge? If you consider yourself a practitioner, this is your practice moment by examining your emotions occurring from the ocean of your heart, whether it is a ripple, a small wave, or a surge. To be able to be aware, acknowledge, identify, accept and let go of it is the key.
Practice is not limited to watching your breath on your cushion, but to carrying your practice into your daily life. That is true practice. It is called 24/7 and will lead you to the next level of readiness.
We are doing constant healings for the people of Japan as well as the rest of the planet. So much happening now, just trying to stay centered and help people stay out of fear.... interesting times. Would love to hear your perspective or an email update to everyone from you about how you feel we can better assist others during these times.
Awakening Call
At this moment in time, what we saw happen in Japan should be a mirror to all of us. How fragile our lives are. No matter how much you possess, how powerful you are or how famous you want to be, everything can be destroyed in the wink of an eye. A catastrophe can happen to anyone at any time. As an individual, we should not let the grief or fear dominate us, but should let it help to liberate us from greed, hatred and delusion. We should learn from the phenomena of nature to restore our spirits with compassion and loving kindness, to share every moment we have with others, whether they are human beings or a life of another kind. We should work together to protect our planet with love and wisdom, and learn to share and live together in peace. May this disaster awaken a resolution to be a better person living in the world and take on our duty to make a great contribution to humanity! May those who lost their lives be reborn into a better world! May purifying our hearts be our primary practice, to illuminate our world!
Just something that came to me, I guess it comes to every practitioner at some point.... It has come to me many times. Simple answer could be keep practicing... I don’t know with any of the practice I am doing - if I am making any progress?
As a practitioner you have to have a goal and it has to be a high goal to give you motivation to continue. There are times in anyone's practice when they don't know if they are getting anywhere. You have to keep the goal in your heart and keep practicing anyway. Without a goal, it's easy to lose strength to persevere. Practice should not just be routine. You have to invest it with your mind and energy.
How does one know if one makes any progress or not? Check if your goal is fading away from your heart or not. Are you healthier, happier or wiser? Are the people around you inspired by you or not? Check my Q & A at my website about being a ready student as well.
From your Q/A section, "How does one know if one is making any progress on one's path? Check whether your personal needs are getting less; your living style returns to simplicity; your mind has no longer craving on your habits; your feeling is less extreme; it becomes easy to let go of anything; you enjoy practicing generosity; you are less judging of others and have the ability to see your own faults; you are honest to yourself and to others; and most of all that you have less ego. " Can you recommend any reading to support this inner spiritual process?
The inner spiritual process is not the result of reading, but practice by living it. Practitioner, in Chinese, is Xiu Xing Zhe 修行者, meaning one who corrects one’s own (wrong) actions or behavior. My favorite book is "I Am That" by Nisargadatta Maharaj.
I was happy to speak to you today. I think what you're doing to heal people is the most important thing you could do right now to serve humanity. I ask you to teach me to be a healer - even if no one else is ready. I will come to you, every other week. I will cook and clean for you, and pay you whatever you ask. I see such need in my own family, my own community. I feel a longing every day to help people.
I do trust that you know better than I about what is needed and about how to proceed. But I felt compelled to tell you what I'm feeling. There is a need that's not being met by our medical system. I see it every day. I am doing the best I can for those who come to me, but I know that I could offer much much more if I had a portion of your wisdom.
I know you're very busy with your work, and that you might not have the time to train me. If nothing else, I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me what to read, practice, and study. I have a handle on the information you've presented to us in your seminars and retreats. Is there something I could be working on, besides doing yigong and the mastering the information on channels and meditations you've given, to help me become a healer? I don't want to be an annoyance to you, and I will accept whatever you decide with grace and ease. But I want to make clear my intention to learn and serve humanity.
Thank you, Jenny, for the wonderful guidance you've given us, your devoted students. Much love and respect.
I know you are serious and dedicated. But training someone to be a great healer is not that simple by reading some books and doing more physical exercises. Both teacher and student have to build a strong trust bond with their lives, and both need to put tremendous time and effort toward this transformation. This healing training program will be offered one time only. It is not my call to select the students. Rather, my celestial masters will bring 10 students to me. When will it be? I don't know. When we have ready students, I will do my duty. The process of the program will be like washing gold from sand.
Be aware, this is not some side job to make extra money for the students. They have to be serious and cannot quit. It is a lifetime devotion to serve humanity. I will help to assist students to connect with celestial masters for healing abilities, but it is their merit and virtue that attract celestial masters to support them. Please read my Q & A on "be a ready student" on my website.
I have heard through the thetaobums forum that you are starting to train healers. I was wondering about the following. I am an MD, getting some training in acupuncture and recently did a workshop with Michael Lomax (Stillness movement) on medical qigong.
What does your training include? Is it meant as purely standalone training or can it be learned in addition to other training one is undergoing?
Currently I am resident in Ophthalmology but plans are made for starting an alternative oriental medical practice during the next 2 to 4 years.
My healer training course is nothing to do with MD or TCM. It is good to have a medical background, but it is not necessary. Sometimes too much knowledge of school education can be one’s obstacle to knowing. My healer training is challenging of medical science and to be able to treat incurable disease, cancer, or difficult problems, and especially related with spirit issues, possession or haunted by spirits.
The qualifications for this training are that one must possess a pure heart and be willing to serve humanity as a life duty. This is a job that one cannot quit. This is not something that when you need money you take a job and quit when you don’t. If one’s actions are the result of selfish reasons, one will not be protected from catching disease during the healing or will be troubled by evil spirits when one encounters them. Only selflessness gives you courage and fearlessness to help others. Only your compassion and selflessness will open your heart to see the truth and also will attract divine beings to support and protect you. Otherwise, one will not have such ability to achieve what I have described above, although you will still have a lot of knowledge and skills to do healing work.
The main training includes constantly purifying our heart, diminishing self concern and letting go of this individuality. Be able to go within and see within. Be able to make a transformation in ascending to a higher spiritual level of the universe. Be able to see the world from a different perspective. Develop the healing abilities. Have knowledge of cosmology. Knowing how we can balance our life though proper living and using our food to heal ourselves, and so forth.
Ordinary training obtains ordinary results. Whatever your other training is, if you are a healer or Qigong master, if you cannot heal yourself, the value of your knowledge is very limited. What you learn and what you become is related with your quality, your goal, your effort and the source of your knowledge. A small heart has a small achievement. A big heart has a big achievement. The quality of your nature determines the knowledge you can access. I am only here to serve.
I heard that you are offering healing sessions to help people. Please let me know how to go about getting such a session...
Yes, I am offering energy healing to help people. However, in order to help people effectively, I have to know your case in detail first. Good energy work is not simply, as people think, to put a hand on people waiting for an instant healing or an empty promise. The healing process is related to many issues, such as Yin and Yang, time and space, energy, knowledge of cosmology and so forth. Every condition and situation is different. Some need causal body repair, or physical body repair, or Jing, Qi, Shen repair (in Chinese), or dealing with spirits, etc. In order to help you, I have to know your full name, birthdate, where you are, your illness and how long you've had it, and history of your health, because some health issues are related to side effects from medicine taken for treating other issues. It would also be helpful to have a recent picture of you. After I know your situation and condition, I will know what will be involved in healing and will let you know how many sessions you need etc.
I have a client whose husband has IPF of the lungs. It is fibrotic cysts in the lungs that grow rampant. He is on oxygen and slated for a lung replacement. The doctor says he will not make it. They will be going to Ohio standing by for the lung replacement and I wanted to tell her about you in case they wanted treatment. …What do you think?
I will need more information about the patient with IPF. Such as the birthday, the history of his health, the current doctor’s diagnoses and treatment, and most of all, if the patient himself is willing to ask for energy healing. I don't want to treat those who do not want to be helped or do not want to make any effort towards his or her healing. That is my principle. It is also to respect the patient's wishes.
If he needs my help I will do my best to help him. But he may have to come to me. If he cannot leave because of medical reasons, for instance, he cannot get out of bed or needs to be hooked to a machine all the time, maybe it can be arranged for me to go to his home for the treatment.
It is human nature that what comes easy is easy to go. For those make great effort, the result will be great as well.
I received your DVD on Saturday and think it is wonderful. Thank you very much for your efforts. I have a simple question (hopefully not asked before - I didn't see it): do you have to part feet in between each of the Ten Essential Exercises, or if they are done in sequence, can you just do it at the beginning and end?
It is designed to part and close feet for each movement. The parting and closing feet movement itself is exercise for controlling the balance of the body. Not flopping over without knowing. It also helps your mind to be aware of the details of how the body shifts balance. If you prefer to do it at the beginning and ending that is fine.
I am a practising Buddhist, and i was wondering whether your yigong pratice was compatable with mantra [i use om mani padme hum] and the white skeleton visualization meditation.
I have to ask, because this mantra was incompatable with another type of qigong i was using, but i've stopped using it now.
Yigong does not conflict with your Buddhist practice.
I already practice 8 pieces of brocade sitting and standing sets, is it okay for me to also practice your spontaneous qigong along with my other exercises? The qigong i use now is very basic, just stretching really, but i just want to make sure it is compatible with your yigong system.
In general, I don’t know all other practices, cannot make individual comparisons and don’t want to waste time on that. Life is short. Why waste time on every possible choice. Instead, choose one practice that works for you and stick with it, in order to use your limited life span to obtain the most benefit and achievement.
Of course, it is your own decision to choose whatever you want to practice. Please read my comment on combining energetic practices from Q & A. Fundamentally speaking, there is no problem to combine eight pieces of Brocade Qigong or any other basic practice with Yi Gong. Remember the general principle, which is to drop what is harmful and keep what is beneficial.
I was just wondering about the energetic aspect of Yi-gong. I've been feeling this incredible surge of energy in certain areas (mostly in the back, between the shoulder-blades). The energy feels very "orgasmic". I was wondering if Yi-gong uses sexual energy or if not, what is this strong surge of energy from? Why does it feel so good?
Spontaneous Adjustment Qigong, Yi Gong level 1, opens all channels if you practice properly. All types of energy, sexual or not are produced from organs as the body needs them for its own purpose and are transmitted through channels to reach the surface of the body and produce emotions or feelings. Your having a blissful feeling is good, but it neither means the Yigong is using sexual energy, nor not using sexual energy. Yi Gong focuses on develop awareness and wisdom. That should be your core of practice. Don’t get stuck on a side attraction and lose the great goal. Look at the brightness of the moon, not the fingers. Keep moving on to deepen your mind development. That’s the meaning of Yigong.
I am interested in learning how we might work together. I'm interested in Qigong for health reasons. I am mid 60's age and taking no medications at all but recognize the loss of energy and vitality. I have begun the practice of dantien breathing and noticed remarkable results.
I am a Buddhist in the HsuYun/Linji lineage. My formal meditation practice is about 10 years. I've studied and contemplated the "Zen" sutras and others and also have studied and contemplated Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj for some time now. I have no doubts about the validity of Buddha's teachings or the nature of being within the teachings of the Mahayana. I am writing to you because I understand that you have a deep interest in Buddhism. I recognize in your words the same essential understanding as I have of the nature of perception and of mind. I think it would be helpful for me to study Qigong with someone who is familiar with Buddhist terms and practices.
Previously I've looked into Qigong as it is understood in Taoist symbols and culture and I can't make very much sense of the symbols as stated. My sources are limited to the teachers available on line and in publications in English and in the US. I simply cannot figure out what is legitimate. The problem for me is that I often seem to find that dualistic notions are being pointed to as ultimate spiritual truth. I've asked for clarification and have either been dismissed or found defensiveness. I really think that just a few words or pointers would clear most of this up for me. It is obvious to me that Qigong is a dualistic practice and is one for which clarifications can be found, however I need to be able to speak to someone who does not confuse the non-dual potential with the dualistic practice. This seems to be a problem with quite a few new Qigong teachers in the US. Not wishing to be critical, I'd really like to be able to sort this out for myself.
The Chan tradition as I have been taught rarely ever address the physical body as much of a door to awareness or higher samadhi. It is obvious to me that it is possible and I would look forward to learning how this is practiced with Qigong. I am very satisfied with the Buddhist meditation, huatou and awareness practices and am not looking for some other or better “spiritual” practice. I am not much of a “seeker” of exotic experiences or states of mind anymore. However if I am going to be doing this Qigong energy work for health reasons, It certainly does seem that they would be more effective if approached from the place of prajna wisdom. Perhaps you could assist with the understanding for that? I do not ask for teaching on your own tradition's spiritual practice.
Here is a quote from Yamaoka Tesshu (1836-1888) who expresses my understanding.
“How heal the phantom body of its phantom ill,
Which started in the womb?
Unless you pluck a medicine from the Bodhi-tree,
The sense of karma will destroy you.”
Even though Yamaoka may not have had Qigong in mind, it seems appropriate. I wish to learn the particulars of how Qigong might be practiced more effectively as medicine from the Bodhi Tree.
All methods are dualistic. There is absolutely no non-dualistic method. Anything you perceive is dualistic. The important thing is for those who are searching for non-duality should not to be caught by the idea of non-duality. Dualistic and non-dualistic are derived from same source. To realize that you cannot find non-duality without being in the existence of duality is crucial, because non-duality is not separate from duality.
Buddha-dhātu is non-duality, our mind is not. They co-exist in all of us. All sentient beings have this intrinsic nature or Buddha-dhātu, which gives us a potentiality to reach enlightenment. When you let go attachment of all appearances, even the ideal of non-duality, you are a Buddha, intrinsically pure. Don’t looking for Śūnyatā from elsewhere, but the intrinsic nature is within oneself.
You use Yamaoka Tesshu’s verse to support what your understanding is or the way you want to do Qigong, but I don’t think that you understand what his verse means. It has nothing to do with Qigong. He basically says that your body and its illnesses are phantoms, not real. How can you cure phantom illnesses? Only by obtaining enlightenment (plucking the medicine from the Bodhi-tree) can you escape your Karma. He speaks from an absolute point of view. I would suggest you to study two truths doctrine, the absolute truth and relative truth from Buddhism, which gives you more sense of Yamaoka Tesshu’s true presentation.
In addition, Prajñā, wisdom does not only come from Buddhism, it can be found everywhere in our daily life. Being a Buddhist should not separate ourselves from the world or dislike the world, but to accept who we are, and try to be a better person living in the world. Whatever reason makes you want to practice Qigong, try to make it simple, not complicate yourself and mix it with a doctrine that you don’t fully grasp.
Hello Sifu Jenny, I have a question about Celestial Masters. You refer to them in the Q&A section of your website and I keep wondering what they are, so finally decided to ask. At first, I figured they must be Taoist deities, but googling the term consistently brings up references to a sect of Taoists from long ago. Is that what (who) you're referring to (i.e., deceased Masters from that sect)?
Ok, that was a head question, now a practice related one. I've been doing Spontaneous Adjustment Qigong for two weeks now, and what I experience is nothing like what I see on the DVD. I tend to spiral (arms), flop back and forth (legs) and generally jerk about with rather spastic movements, sometimes at an alarming rate of speed. I know you've repeatedly cautioned that everybody's experience is unique, but I was wondering if this might be just a beginning, temporary phase. I'm not really worried - it's just what my body seems to want to do (also have had some emotional content come up) - but I thought I'd check since I was writing.
One other thing. Regarding writing, there's nothing above that I NEED to get an answer to, and you are probably getting LOTS of emails with the release of your DVD, so if you'd rather I write only when (if) absolutely necessary, I will definitely understand. Just let me know. Really.
The Celestial Masters what I referred to are not deceased Masters from a Taoist sect, but celestial beings (Tian Ren天人) from the Gods realm and some beyond that. There are six realms described in Buddhism. There are Gods, demi-gods, human, animal, hungry ghost and hell realms. The deceased masters from Taoism may be called Xian Ren 仙人, if he or she reached the Xian Jie 仙界 (the land of immortals according to Taoism. However Xian Ren is not really immortal). “Xiu Dao Cheng Xian 修道成仙” (to cultivate the Way to become an immortal) is commonly a goal in Taoism, but not necessarily is it the only goal. The cultural ideal or expression is very difficult to translate from one language to another. To know it properly, you may need to dive into the culture in order to fully understand the truth behind the beliefs.
Yes, the movements happening to you are the beginning stage. It will change accordingly throughout your progress. There is nothing to be concerned about if you feel benefit from the practice. Movement is movement. It doesn’t matter how it looks. The importance is what works for you, helps your healing and improves your wellbeing. Be patient, have faith in yourself and keep the perseverance in your practice. You will have a great discovery from your own experience.
Yes, I am very busy, especially, when I am doing my healing work. I want every treatment that I do to be successful. Success depends on concentration and devotion, even when one knows what to do. Please only ask questions related to your practice when absolutely necessary.
Hello Sifu, I am very interested in your Spontaneous Adjustment practice. I have not looked into the Kunlun craze because I do not get a good feeling from Max. Sorry to even bring that up. But I do get a good feeling from you, and I trust that your system is what you say it is. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
My questions are, how does your system fit into the Alchemical processes described in books like "Nourishing the Essence of Life" by Eva Wong and "Secret of the Golden Flower"? Is Yigong the same as Neigong/Internal Alchemy? Is it a part of this process?
Also, can your practice be used along side Zen meditation?
And finally, would I be able to practice this just from the DVD? I would love to take a seminar or retreat, and as you say direction from a teacher would be invaluable, but I do not have the time or money right now to travel. Would the DVD be a step in the right direction at least?
Thank you for having trust and faith in me, but please don’t bring other people into the discussion in the future. Try to be always in harmony with ourselves, with others and with surroundings. That is part of our practice.
I cannot compare the Yigong system with other’s books. I don’t do spiritual shopping and comparison. I am sure they are all great. Yet, life is short, why waste it on shopping, not practicing, when you know what you have is of immeasurable value. Yigong is not only nourishing, healing, purifying one’s life, it contributes to one’s spiritual ascent. Yigong works for me and contributed to who I am today. I appreciate all my lineage masters who developed and passed down this priceless system to me.
Yes, you can practice along with your Zen meditation. Remember, meditation should not be limited to the cushion. In fact, the spontaneous adjustment Yigong is a moving meditation. In Chan (Zen) tradition, a master often sends his students to work in a field to do meditation through their work. That is called 24/7 meditation.
Yes, you can practice Yigong starting with the DVD, it contains enough information for pointing you in the right direction. Of course, a live teacher will be the best choice.
Does your spontaneous qigong open up all the energy channels of the body?
I need a system that will open all the channels, to help my meditation. Because as master William Bodri says:
'When you cultivate meditation, you want to reach samadhi. You cannot reach samadhi unless your chi mai all open. So, many methods have the purpose of helping you clear your chi channels.'
Does your spontaneous qigong open up all the energy channels of the body?
Spontaneous adjustment Qigong does open up all the channels. Of course, the probability depends on one’s own effort. Anyway, samadhi should not be the goal of meditation. Samadhi is just a tool to help generate wisdom. Wisdom helps to lead to enlightenment. Enlightenment is the goal.
If I may ask, does the Maoshan lineage interact/ally with the nagas? And if so, are they just a part of the 'spiritual' side of yi-gong, or are they part of the system as a whole? I was curious as I remember seeing the book "The Return of the Serpents of Wisdom" book posted on your Facebook wall at one point and its mention of the nagas. Hope you are well.
I don’t mind answering people’s questions, when I have time and if my answer can be helpful to contribute their studies. But I don’t want to encourage people to go on and on with a question that leads them nowhere. I want to give them a guide to be able to search within, that makes my help meaningful. My advice for you is to stop caring about what is irrelevant to your practice. Otherwise, you will always be walking horizontally with six limited faculties. It gets you nowhere. Find a way to walk vertically, to see more and know more.
Thanks for the reply. I am not sure I understand your perspective concerning my inquiry. My question was mine, and concerned my individual experience. Besides being the only question concerning the practice that I have asked you, I also did not go "on and on" with that question as I only wrote you once about it, and then clarified why I was asking it in the first place. My concern was obviously very relative to this practice as the dream (which was unusual to say the least), which was specifically related to the question I posed, had disturbed me enough to sideline my study of yi-gong; and all I was looking for was a bit of reassurance about it. It is unreasonable to expect someone to stop 'caring' when an experience directly impacts their life. But it is your prerogative to interpret my question any way you wish. Good fortune in your travels.
I hope that my answer did not upset you. Please do not take it personally. You did not ask a direct question. First, why do the Nagas have anything to do with your Yigong practice? I never mentioned anything about Nagas through my teaching. Second, in your original question, you did not say anything about your dream, and why it disturbed you. Later you mentioned a dream but gave no details about it. If you need my help, because you dreamed Nagas that impact your life, you have to say so, so that I know what you are talking about. Not just a random question about Nagas. You stated that 'I was curious as I remember seeing the book "The Return of the Serpents of Wisdom" book posted on your Facebook wall at one point and its mention of the nagas.' I didn't post the book on the site and know nothing about it. I do not want to encourage curiosity for curiosity's sake. If you are concerned about your practice and want reassurance, make it direct and understandable.
I said that "I don’t want to encourage people to go on and on with a question that leads them nowhere", because "I want to give them a guide to be able to search within". I did not mean that it was you going on and on with your questions. It was a general statement about wandering mind. I spend time answering people's questions not only hoping to help the person who asked the question, but also to benefit others who have similar issues. Sharing is generosity. I'm sorry if I have not been very helpful to you.
If you want a more specific answer about Nagas in your dream, I need to know more about the dream and why it affected you.
If you want to keep your question and my answer for yourself, let me know. Otherwise, I may put it on the Q & A section on my website. It is good to share. It may help others to ask direct questions, if they want to be helped. No worries. I only share questions and won't show your name.
Hi Jenny. I purchased your DVD - it's great. I have a few questions about the "Spontaneous Adjustment" practice:
I have one questions if i may about my yigong practice. I practice the sitting spontaneous adjustment twice a day. Twenty minutes activation posture [holding a ball, heels raised] and then ten minutes sitting rebalancing, then all the tapping etc. Usually somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes in activation my kidneys begin to ache, sometimes bad. My chinese doctor says i have weak kidney chi [long before i begun practicing yigong]. I was wondering whether that ache was a sign of healing or something negative. I had the idea that the blissful/warm feeling generated by the yigong practice was caused by activating the original chi [yuan chi], or some other chi related to the kidneys, and that possibly this was weakening my kidneys further.
I have decided to move my dinner time to about 4pm so that i can practice during the kidney time [5-7pm] in a hope of strengthening them.
Would love to hear your input on this.
You have a kidney deficiency. If your practice does not make you feel better it may be because your kidneys are so weak you cannot handle any effort. I suggest you to take calm and restful nourishing methods first, such as: food therapy for nurturing Yang, make sure to get enough sleep every night and limit your sex or stop sex for awhile until your kidney is in a healthy condition. When you have no sign of back soreness when you bend from the waist and don’t have to urinate so many times at night, then you can try to practice again. See if it makes any difference.
A practice affects everyone differently. In the same way, how each one responds to the practice will be different as well. It depends on one’s health condition and body’s ability whether it can generate healing energy and repair sick cells quickly or not. Sometimes, you may also want to consider taking some energy therapy or treatment first, if your ability for recovering grows slower then you expected.
Hello there Sifu Jenny. I received my DVD and I'm really excited about it. Just a question though... How long do you recommend doing the Spontaneous Adjustment Qigong pose for? When I sit in the posture, my arms tend to tense up and I hold the posture very short. What length of time do you recommend starting off with?
Also, I am curious to know if Spontaneous Adjustment Qigong can help with rejuvenating the Glandular System?
For the "holding the ball" time, there is no fixed time. It should be held until you begin moving automatically. It could be less than a minute or you could stay in the initial position for the whole period. The practice affects and responds to everyone differently. For a beginner, I would suggest to practice at least 30 to 45 minutes.
If you notice your arms tensing and getting tired, try to relax your body, especially all your joints. Start from shoulders and move down to your elbows, wrists and fingers. The most important thing is that you have to relax your mind. Letting go all the thoughts. Movements arise after you empty yourself. Yin and Yang are co-existent. Moving and stillness are co-existent. Without stillness there would no moving and without moving there would no stillness. When the still phenomena become exhausted, the moving phenomena arise and vice versa. So don't worry if you are not moving in the beginning. Just keep with it. Keep yourself as witness, not affected by the motion and change, pleasant or unpleasant. Just be aware of whatever happens.
Spontaneous Adjustment Qigong has so many benefits, if it is practiced properly. Remember the principle of adopting any practice, to keep what benefits you and drop what does not. For all the benefits it has to wait for each individual to make his or her discovery.
I'm sure i read somewhere that you often get asked what is your level 2 qigong. You said that most people do not complete level 1 in their whole lives, so do not worry about level 2.
I was just wondering what are the signs of successful completion of level one?
I believe what I said is that level one is all you need. I have not seen a limitation of level one, so cannot put the word of completion on it. If you mean to ask what is the qualification for level two? Read my answer for being a ready student. Otherwise, knowing the form of level two or three is completely meaningless.
Without being ready, one’s heart is not opening. There is no way one will be prepared for any teachings. Great teaching is offering truth. The truth may not be something one wants to hear. Without humbleness, it’s easier for people to embrace self-ego than to take a great opportunity to diminish it. Recently, my honest answer did not satisfy someone’s ego. It made him so angry. It makes me realize the meaning of what my celestial master said to me, “your tradition will end at you…”
A question for you: For those of us that have shift-work (I sleep during the day and work 11pm-9am), does your "Time, Channels (Meridians), and Organs’ Correspondence Table" still apply, or does it shift to be in rhythm with our sleeping/waking schedules? Thanks!
The Time, Channels and Organs correspondence table is not my table but the table of human body correspondences with the universe. For those who have to work and sleep odd hours, does not mean your body organs action will adopt your sleep pattern spontaneously. Our body has limits for how long it can endure such upside down life style. To live this way too long can only exhaust your life force speedily. It is not a healthy way to live.
Look at those sports with energetic physical exertions. The athletes can only participate in them when they are young. After growing older they have to give it up professionally, otherwise it will shorten their lives. I suggest that you watch your health closely. If it affects your health rapidly to the downside, think about changing your job.
As tradition Chinese medicine is based on harmonizing the human body with one's natural element, which means to flow with the universe, our body has Yin-Yang cycles that reflect the Yin-Yang cycle of the universe. We cannot change who we are, but we can chose to live our life wisely and healthily.
I’m a student of Max (kunlun or the spontaneous neigong). Since past 2 months, my practice kind of introduced you to me. And its been continuous, so i thought of writing to you.
It all started in late august, when i would take up the posture on your site...hands wide apart...and sitting. This connected me to some higher realm energy...i could feel many masters (or whatever name is appropriate) and then it was like an introduction to you.
I saw you. Since then, whenever i do just level 1 i.e. spontaneous yi gong...i see you kind of guiding me (if i understand it correctly).
First of all i thank you for that.
Yesterday the experience moved to a new improvement. The emptiness lasted like forever & then i kind of lost sense of my body. My consciousness was still there but i hadn't had any body. I was still there...but i felt like consciousness floating around...without the constraints of our physical body. Could see emptiness all around...i saw you again then....and then i became you for smtime...soon my mind realized that m not you...the form changed & i became my wife...and then slowly back to myself...i became me.
then there were few clicking sounds in my head as if something going on...felt like my third eye opening (which i have been delaying for quite smtime)...then did lil prayer to gods to give me wisdom before opening anything so tht i can handle it...clicking died down in smtime....
Afterwards i closed down (left over right hand) for 20mins...but wasnt still back fully...again closed (right over left) this time..and i was back fast & felt grounded :-)
Are you consciously guiding me Or is it just the lineage energy who guides me taking your form? It's okay if you feel you shouldn't answer.
Yesterday's experience inspired me to write to you.
Thank you for your email. I would like you to take all the phenomena of your experience as an illusion. Let go of all the wondering and move on with your practice.
I have some questions that I am hoping you might shed light on for me.
I have been a students of Max's for a few years now. practicing Kunlun regularly. Daily infact for about two years. what is happening now is that I feel the Kunlun energy almost constantly. I have been practicing without the posture because it seems to happen anyway. My question is about he benifit or need to practice for a particular length of time.
I no longer do an hour its more like 15 to 30 minutes at a time. I wonder if ive reached a platue I mean I feel the sme things mostly and it never realy changes. I dont want to "try to hard" as that seems to be the oposite of what its about. But I do want to grow and progress....
I did the Facilitator training with Max and am begining to share the practice with others in my comunity.
any feed back you have would be greatly apreciated.
For any questions regarding Kunlun, I suggest you to go to Max. I do not teach Kunlun but Yigong. Yigong is aimed at developing awareness. It is a formless form. It should not contain the same movement all the time. Otherwise you are not making any progress. If you are interested in an Yigong perspective, you can go to Q & A at http://www.easterninternalarts.com/. There is a lot of information that can help you to understand what this ancient Yigong practice is all about.
Hello Sifu Jenny, I am really grateful I came across your site. It
has been very informative and enlightening. My question is a bit
off topic. I saw in the Q&A section on the site that as a reply to
a post, you said that a good teacher is easy to find but, a ready
student is rare. What do you consider a "ready" student to be?
Someone who has experienced intensive training in the Spiritual
Disciplines, or someone who is true to his/herself, is pure of
heart and is willing to move forward on the Spiritual Path as a
sort of "calling" in life? I apologize in advance if this
makes no sense and is irrelevant.
Thank you for your inquiry. It is good to see that you are interested
in being a ready student, otherwise you would not ask about it. Being
a ready student, means those who are ready and open to receive a
profound teaching. A teaching can change your life definitively.
When a student is not ready for it, the teaching carries no deep
and insightful meaning but are just words.
What are the qualities of being a ready student?
The first two are the most important among these. Without virtue the pure heart will not arise. Without devotion and dedication, no effort will be expended. Without determination, thoughts of quitting and giving up are always like a shadow following you. Without proper training, one does not know where to start. To be ready, right guidance is absolutely necessary.
It is easy to have a spark in life, but just to have a spark for taking on a spiritual journey is not enough. Sparks are like a twinkling star, bright but fleeting fast, same as transitory excitement, bravery and yearnings. If one has no solid foundation for one’s spiritual seeking, even the smallest unsatisfied situation arising will collapse one’s world.
To know who you are, what you want and selecting a suitable path is crucial. Many people think they are spiritual practitioners and know what they want. Ironically, they have no idea what they really want, because if they pay close attention to what they want, soon they will find out what they want keeps changing, and their desires are growing faster than they can satisfy them. They think they are spiritual practitioners by judging their effort of doing their daily meditation or physical exercises routinely, but they do not understand that self discovery is the result of pervasive effort on diminishing self-ego, which means practicing letting go is the direction, all day long, 24/7. Letting go of this individuality is to let go of self-desire, self-power, self-profit and self of everything. Spirituality is not to gain what you are longing for, riches, fame, power, or knowledge to satisfy one’s ego, and so forth, but to reach the highest attainment one’s life can be. That is fully awakening.
Many people believe that they are ready for training. Commonly they do not know what the training is about. They are longing for the highest attainment but do not want to let go of the attachment of self desire. They want all. As a matter of fact, often their actions speak their impurity and not readiness at all.
How does one know if one is making any progress on one’s path? Check whether your personal needs are getting less; your living style returns to simplicity; your mind has no longer craving on your habits; your feeling is less extreme; it becomes easy to let go of anything; you enjoy practicing generosity; you are less judging of others and have the ability to see your own faults; you are honest to yourself and to others; and most of all that you have less ego.
I have a question relating to my daily practice, I am wondering
if you have any words of advice on how to balance determination
in maintaining a daily practice while also being spontaneous
and not becoming to rigid in trying to force a regular practice
schedule into a hectic life schedule?
This has been my greatest challenge lately, finding the will to practice every day while also keeping up with all the responsibilities of work, family, and home, while not being too hard on myself when responsibilities take up all 18 waking hours of the day and I cannot practice.
Practice should not be limited to your chair or cushion. Even
you have time and can dedicate yourself an hour a day to your
routine practice, you are still one hour against 23 hours a day.
What are the odds for you to accomplish anything? For Yigong
practice, the mind training, you are practicing as you are living.
Pay attention to everything that you are doing, be aware of your
thoughts arising and of your decisions and choices. Practicing
letting go of your attachment, relax your body and mind, trying
to carry out awareness 24/7 as you live, this should be your goal
of true practice. When you can, you can refresh yourself with
spontaneous adjustment Qigong practice with full self involvement
(body and mind), relaxed and no hurry. Otherwise, the forceful
routine with exhausted body and rigid mind will not produce a
high quality of practice, which is meaningless. Your practice
should lead you to self-realization.
Sifu Jenny, Why do you never speak of bliss in your Yi Gong seminars?
I did not mention bliss because I do not want to encourage or
mislead people to take a momentary pleasant phenomena or
experience as the goal of one’s practice. The essence of Yi
Gong is to develop awareness. Without awareness, it is not Yi
Gong. Bliss is a side effect of the practice. There is no reason
to attach to a momentary happiness and make that your goal. It
is best not to attach to any momentary phenomena whether pleasant
or unpleasant. Experience comes and experience goes. People should
have a higher goal for their practice. Let developing wisdom be
one’s primary focal point.
Thanks Sifu Jenny. In terms of Buddhist practices, would you
term Yi Jong as leading to Shamata or Vipassana or more of a
cleansing technique? Do you also advise a Shamata/Vipassana
kind of routine with Yi Gong?
The first level of Yi gong has three main aspects: Purification,
Developing awareness and Teaching. It purifies one's body and
mind or, as you put it, has a cleansing role. It develops
awareness and for that aspect it is similar to Shamata or
Vipassana. It is a teaching tool, because it is a formless
form and is always manifesting according one's stage of body,
mind and spirit development. It gives you knowledge of the
function of each movement.
You could, if you want. You can combine your Yi Gong practice with your daily meditation, whether it is Shamata or Vipassana.
Many people on Taobums have been
practicing from the book alone. I was going to write this there but
would like to make sure it is ok with you first. Please let me know
if you would like to say anything else or correct what I have
written. There is a thread talking about showing the spontanous
practice or what may happen afterwards. And I wanted people on
Taobums to be clear about your thoughts on this.
Thank you for
your kindness and wanting to share your thoughts with others on
Kunlun practice in the Taobums forum. I do not have time to get
involved with people’s discussion on Kunlun practice. I’ve only taught
Spontaneous Adjustment Qigong to a very limited group of people,
which is now worldwide known as Kunlun practice level one. If I am
wrong, please correct me.
I shared my knowledge and experience with those who came to me for knowledge. I did not write a book about this practice. As you asked about whether people should just learn the practice from the book of Kunlun, I sincerely suggested that those who are interested in learning Kunlun practice, go to Max, who wrote the book. I do not suggest that people starting Kunlun practice from the beginning use the book alone. The reason is simple, as a beginner you need a proper guide. A good teacher can benefit you in many ways, such as clear your doubts, answer your questions, correct your movements, and so forth.
Each individual is different. A good doctor will not prescribe the same medicine for all of his or her patients, no matter how good the medicine is. I cannot urge anyone enough to consult with your teacher, whoever taught you, whether in person or the book. Kunlun practice is a formless form, itself evolving. Letting an experienced teacher guide you is necessary. It can help you to reach your goal of self-healing, self-discovery and self-realization faster. You do not need to rely on your teacher all the time. It is your own journey. A teacher can merely point a direction. The path is yours. It is under your own feet. Only you can make a difference. Good luck with the practice.
I really
don’t consider Spontaneous gong useful (for me, I learned from
another teacher) and I’ve never received any results from it but I’d
like to hear more from Jenny. Does she teach anything else?
Spontaneous
Adjustment Qigong is not for everyone. Especially, one should not
expect an instant spontaneous miracle. It may happen to others but
may not happen to you. Holding high expectations and competing with
the results of others is not a good way to go. Sometimes it becomes
an obstacle for you. On the other hand, a pre-existing judgmental
mind can only block one’s ability to manifest one’s own natural
healing and receiving benefits from it. Take your time, be patient,
open yourself up to it if you want to give it a chance. An insight
experience will lead you to a deep understanding. There is a reason
why the highest practices are not commonly accessible. It is not
merely because it is held in secret but rather it is not the right
person to receive it. The right teaching or practice, right time and
space, right mind, right effort, and right connection between teacher
and student inevitable affects one’s path and attainment. A proper
guide is incredibly important, but it is one’s own responsibility and
choice whether one wants to open up to it and has the ability to
digest it. Readiness holds the key for any practice or path. Merely
judging by appearances may fool you.
I teach many different techniques and practices as well, but fundamentally speaking, it is for sharing my understanding with those who are serious for their practice and to help them to get ready for finding their own path.
Does Jenny
say (like Max) not to combine Kunlun with other
energetic/kundalini/upward flowing practices? I don’t mean practiced
one after the other but more like one in the morning and one in the
evening?
For any higher
level of spiritual or energy practice, such as Yi gong (or you may
call it Kunlun), it is its own complete system, designed to achieve
its highest attainment. There is no reason one should mix it with
others, especially when one is not knowledgeable. More methods don’t
mean a faster result. If you believe this practice does not suit you,
find one that does and stick with it. Generally speaking, if you
throughly understand one you will understand all.
Different systems of energetic practice sometimes may conflict with each other, because the goal and the design to reach the goal are different, just as different herbs have healing power but can cancel each other out if using them at the same time. You do not want to see one practice cancel another.
My suggestion is, if one finds a practice that one is comfortable with, has faith in and has a good teacher to guide one, that practice should be one’s best choice to stick with it. Window shopping in spiritual or healing practices is fashionable today. However, just because there is more accessibility to any practice does not make one know more. Direct experience is the result of perseverance. To stick with one system is a wise choice. A good system, one door should open all doors. No need to waste time going back and forth. For beginners, if one wants to combine common practices into your main practice, such as stretching, opening channels, yoga, martial arts and so forth, it could be very helpful, in fact, to improve your main practice. The basic rule to follow is, if your practice causes you harm you should stop it right away and consult someone with more knowledge. A good practice should lead one to a healthy body and wise mind. It improves one’s life in positive ways, not the opposite.
How do these teachings
relate to the red phoenix practices?
Yi gong is not
related to the red phoenix practice.
Thanks for
all the posts on the development of this school of philosphy.
I still would like to understand what it means when Chinese President Hu Jintao exchanges formalities with Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou.
I have no idea.
Does Jenny give you a transmission,
and is there a lineage of Masters with Yi gong?
Yi gong has a
lineage of masters and a history. It is not my decision to reveal
them. When the time is right it will come out.
I do not give any transmission as most people think of it, as a transmission of supernatural power or power to permit you to practice. If there is a transmission from me, it is unconditionally offered to those who are willing to take it, and is transferred through my teaching. That is, to believe in oneself. Everyone has natural power to heal and wisdom to manifest. The problem is people do not commonly trust or have faith in their self, or have ability to access it. The blockage is a door only you can open, if you know how and believe that you can. If you don’t know how, but believe you can, you will find a way by being a good listener, a good observer, and a good actor who takes action on their beliefs.
The power that is not yours will not last. What can be given, can also be taken away. Hence, to rely on oneself is better than to rely on others. Therefore, a wise one tries to understand about oneself. There are many ways to do that. For instance, there is outer and inner access. One can try to understand oneself through understanding the universe, since the micro (human) cosmic is the epitome of the macro (universe) cosmic. By observing the universe one sees the natural law that corresponds with oneself, so that one knows how to live one’s life accordingly. Or one can deepen into insight meditation, in order to understand who am I, what am I. Traditional Chinese medicine has collected lots of knowledge of natural phenomena, which can help one to know oneself better, if that is what you want. These traditional healing methods are more earth grounding.
Looking for celestial masters or beings to come to teach you is harder than winning a lottery. It is not very practical if you put all your stakes in it. You can try, but don’t be attached. Otherwise you will be heartbroken. If there are celestial masters to teach, it’s unlikely that you can choose them, but they will decide who to choose. Ask yourself, do you have the qualities of determination, dedication and a pure heart?
Your discovery more likely comes from most unexpected ways. If one pays attention to one’s daily life closely, one may be surprised that teachings are actually pervading in everything and everywhere. They are waiting for you to discover them. A startling story may attract attention but only what benefits you is what counts and will be everlasting.
I have read here (on Tao Bums
and in reference to Kunlun) that traditionally a master whispered
instructions for this practice through a bamboo shaft to students,
and the students where then sent off for seven years to practice it
alone… Does Yi gong require guidance from a master? I heard
Jenny has been busy with school and writing a book, will Jenny be
available to provide guidance, or answer any questions if needed?
I will not
comment on anything that does not come from me. Proper guidance is
always good for any Qigong practice, especially when it has a
complete system. I will provide sufficient knowledge to support my
teaching. My teaching emphasizes the knowledge of Chinese medicine,
philosophy, healing, providing proper guidance for practice and
answering any questions related to my teaching.
Will
Jenny detail all levels of Yi gong in her book? Will she be teaching
Level II and Level III in the future as well? With Kunlun I heard
that you can move onto the different levels after 6 months of
practice so, in two years I’ll have completed all three levels.
Do I need to attend another workshop for each level, or will my body
naturally move onto the different levels without instruction?
A fixation on
anything is not good, because it is rigid and does not correspond
with the individual situation. Our world of duality is based on
individuals and their network with everything else. There is no fixed
time that a person should practice each level. How one develops is
unique to each individual and depends on their nature, determination,
etc. Someone may be ready for the next level in a few months and
another may take years or never be ready. Rushing to all levels does
not help one’s practice or knowledge. On the contrary, it may
limit one to explore the true value of each level.
People who have truly learned all levels will not ask me such questions. They should have a sufficient knowledge and deep insight of their practice.
I will teach the next level when the time is right and people are ready. To know a practice by form alone does not mean anything.
I will discuss
what’s in the book when it is complete.
Generally how does the releasing
process work with her practice? Will I be seeing and hearing things
and be unable to distinguish what is real and what isn’t? Does
Jenny provide any information at the workshop about this or about how
to best handle this part of it? Is this practice safe for everyone?
Yi gong practice
strengthens me both physically and mentally. It gives me the ability
to explore myself.
Yi gong practice makes one healthier and wiser and able to see thing clearly, not more dull.
Yi gong is not for everyone. I will not suggest that those who have psychiatric issues practice Yi gong. Whether the spontaneous adjustment Qi gong practice is safe, I have never heard of any of my students reporting any side effects, but only benefiting from it.
Seeing and hearing things is not the goal of practice and can be distracting. Let it go.
It has been mentioned that this
workshop will be a pre-requisite for future retreats. How long will
these retreats be? Where will they be held, will it all be taught by
Jenny, and what can I expect to learn there?
As for the retreats, this will only be an opportunity for those serious
practitioners who have studied with me and want to take their studies further.
It will be an intensive training with many aspects. I am not looking for
crowds, so these retreats will not be opened to the general public. Attendance
is by invitation only.
What are the benefits of practicing
Yi gong?
Yi gong is for
self-healing and self-awakening. As for its benefits, let the
practice reveal it to you.
A question came up recently on Tao
Bums about doing Yi Gong. The way most people have learned the
practice is to be barefoot and on a sheepskin or deerskin rug. But I
remember the way you practices at your seminar was with shoes on.
Is there any benefit to practicing without shoes? Or does it not matter either way. If you wear shoes should they be kung fu slippers?
It is a good
question. As a matter of fact, barefoot practice Yigong is good. Not
only that, general speaking, it is good for any Qigong practice. If
you can, barefoot walking at home is also good for you. It connects
your body with the earth and also under your foot there are many
channels and acupoints which reflects one’s organs. Intentionally
walking on certain spots or certain ways would improve one’s health
gradually.
At our seminar, I didn’t request everyone do that because it was winter. I am not sure how comfortable everyone would be with that. However, Yigong practice spontaneously moves the whole body, stimulating all channels. It is not so crucial to have to practice barefoot. But if you wear shoes, thin and soft bottom and tops is the best choice. Not necessary that it has to be kung fu slippers. Wear whatever you feel comfortable with. I prefer Aasics wrestling shoes. Those are my kung fu shoes.
…Are we permitted to
teach spontaneous qigong?
Choosing to teach
anything is one’s own decision and choice, but to be a qualified
teacher with the lineage is a different issue. I have only taught
physical aspects of Yi gong to limited people, not the spiritual
aspects (to anyone), which is the most important for the lineage.
Kunlun spreading worldwide was Max’s choice. Since he is training
instructors with his knowledge, I don’t want to interfere. I teach Yi
gong, not Kunlun. If you want to teach the Spontaneous Qigong, that
is your choice. If you want me to certify you, I do not easily give
certification to anyone. That is because I take my responsibility not
lightly. A qualification indicates intensive training, knowledge of
many aspects and understanding of one’s responsibility in the
world.
I hope that I answered your questions and didn’t leave you too disappointed. I will always support those who dedicate their lives to search for truth and to help others.
I have a question about the
relationship between Non duality and Qi gong healing. I do a form of
Healing called Bio Energy, basically combing the persons
electromagnetic field of stagnations and removing them outside of the
immediate field. At times the affect can be profound on a persons
health.
I am an acupuncturist, practice Qi gong with an interest in the Chinese Taoist classics. I see direct path teachings (Advaita, Zen, Dzogchen) as pointers of the absolute truth, and I invest much time in these simple profound teachings. I came across you on the internet as someone who might be able to help me understand the relationship between Qi gong Healing and Advaita.
Advaita is
non-duality. Anything that you can think of is duality, so is Qigong.
Non-duality is indescribable, inexpressible and unthinkable. There is
no reference point. Therefore, the Buddha can only point the
direction to those who are seeking enlightenment but cannot show them
enlightenment, because full enlightenment is non-duality. It is a
goal of Zen or Dzogchen, but it is not something that a Zen or
Dzogchen practitioner can hold onto. Anything that one can hold onto
is not Non-duality.
Qigong, generally speaking, is for healing. There is subject, the healer, and object whom to be healed, and a method used to heal. Therefore, it is not non-dual. From an absolute point of view, there is no method that is non-dual. However, any method can lead to non-duality, if you know how. Some methods may be better than others but it purely depends on an individual.
To understand the non-dual can be very beneficial to who studies and practices Qigong. Because those who are less attached to oneself, have more access to the cosmos. The more you understand the universe, the more you understand yourself. The more you understand yourself, the more power to heal. A good Qigong practitioner will not only limit oneself to the physical aspects but spiritual as well. They are compliments to each other. The highest Taoist practice should be towards the direction of non-duality, so to speak.
Your question is not something that can be explained in a few words, if you do not have much knowledge about what is non-duality. I can recommend a few books for you to read if you are interested in Non-duality.
My answer is merely a pointer and hopefully it will lead you in the direction of your research and of what you are seeking.
Thank you so much for your reply,
and the book reading suggestions, its very kind of you. I have
read quite extensively on Some of the great Advaita authors, and so
am familiar. Can I ask you, Is Lao Tsu’s ’Dao De Jing’
essentially pointing at, or talking about non duality in its own
unique way? Or particularly the first paragraph ’The way that can be
explained or said is not the way’. Or are there sources in Chinese
culture, Taoist or otherwise that recognise or point to the same
’oneness’ in their own way?
Yes, the first
paragraph of the Dao De Jing "Tao can be talked about, but not
the Eternal Tao. Names can be named, but not the Eternal Name"
is a Chinese perspective on Oneness. In short, Wu Wei (non-action) is
the highest state of Taoism. One can say it is a Taoist
interpretation of non-dualistic wisdom. Letting go is the key for all
practice to lead in that direction. As soon as you understand what
Advaita means, don’t waste your time on analyzing.
I heard from other Tao Bums that
Jenny is a Buddhist, and I’ve heard various accounts of Yi Gong being
an amazing practice. A year or two back, I tried Kunlun, learning
from the book, and it didn’t amount to much. I was seeking
experiences and couldn’t let go. Now I just do stillness meditation
and am beginning to learn taijichuan chen style, and am curious again
about spontaneous qi gong. The reasons being that I hear its great
for health, energy, and purifies the body and mind. What I wanted to
ask though, was how this practice relates to the goal of Buddhism, as
far as I know, no Buddhist teachers have ever used Spontaneous Qi
Gong. the only Buddhist tradition that I know of that uses energy are
the Tibetans. they are very secretive though :)
Yi Gong is one of
the highest Taoist practices, not a Buddhist practice. It wasn’t
known until recently by the public. I’m a Buddhist but I learned and
practiced in the Taoist tradition before I became a Buddhist.
Teaching self-healing is my profession. I always like to share my
knowledge with those who can benefit from it. To maintain one’s
health in this world does not conflict with Buddhism, although it is
not the goal of Buddhism. Don’t be caught by appearances. There are
different paths or different approaches for different people. The
important thing is not to mistake a tool as the goal.
Starting Yi Gong with a book alone is not a good way to go. You need a teacher to help you. Find a teacher that suits you and you feel comfortable with.
Just one additional comment, Enlightenment is not an experience. I suggest that you read "I Am That" by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.
I have some questions about the
practice that you teach. I’m Buddhist, took refuge with a Tibetan
Kagyu teacher but am non-sectarian. I’ve heard a lot about the Yi
Gong practice that you teach from some Taoist practitioners, but am
not familiar with any Buddhists that practice it. The Taoists tell me
that its very good at purifying the body, expelling disease and
sickness, and bringing peace of mind and clarity in thinking. This
seems very wonderful. I don’t know any Buddhist practices that works
the way Yi Gong does... Tibetans work with energy but mainly through
visualization not through shaking. Anyway my main question is this,
for someone on the Buddhist path to enlightenment.. realizing your
true nature for the sake of all beings.. is Yi Gong beneficial? Is it
a method that leads to enlightenment? Or are the benefits just on the
physical bodies health? I know that you market the seminars for
people interested in health benefits but for someone interested in
enlightenment what can you say about the Yi Gong practice? What is
its "spiritual" benefit in Buddhist, not Taoist, terms (not
too familiar with Taoist goals)
Enlightenment is
enlightenment. It has no differentiation for religion. "A person
is what his deep desire is. It is our deepest desire in this life
that shapes the life to come. So let us direct our deepest desires to
realize the Self." (the Upanishads)
As for
Enlightenment, it really doesn’t matter that much whether you
practice Buddhism or Taoism or Hinduism or Judaism or just simply
live your life with awareness. It is your intention and your effort
toward reaching your goal that matters. I am a Buddhist. To realize
the Self or Enlightenment is more important to me than a Ph.D or any
other titles. However, a true practitioner understands Enlightenment
does not come from a cushion or any particular method, but to let go
of all your attachments. As the true emptiness is to empty emptiness
itself. To go, go beyond one’s mind ......
As a matter of fact, any practice can help you to get Enlightened, including Yigong, if you know how. I was a Taoist practitioner before I became a Buddhist. As a Buddhist, I understand more about non-differentiation. I still practice Yigong and teach Yigong because it benefits me and other people on many levels, both body and mind. Its potentiality is far beyond most people’s understanding. I teach the physical aspect because most people are concerned with their health. Enlightenment is not the body, nor the mind, nor not the body nor not the mind. You can not separate mind from your body, as the Buddha finally realized the middle path before he reached Enlightenment. Don’t let a name or a form fool you.
I was wondering… if you teach the methodology of Taoist internal alchemy. I am
determined to learn an effective process to convert the jing to chi
to shen. I have made attempts using different practices but have
found that the sexual energy is too powerful for me to harness and I
end up succumbing to my primal desires…
Taoist internal
alchemy, as you put it, or the four stages of Taoist Neidan practice
are Zhu ji (or establish foundation), convert the Jing to Qi, convert
the Qi to Shen, and return the Shen to its origin (or unify the Shen
to the great void). The goal is not that simple to achieve as people
think. It is not a set of mechanical steps as the Western mind
commonly puts it. Most people neither care about establishing a
foundation nor know the meaning of the last step of returning the
Shen to its origin. I teach what suits people’s condition.
I don’t consider myself anything special, or have any special achievement, but I like to share my knowledge with those that have common interests. Of course, it has to fit them. These days a good teacher is not difficult to find but a ready student is rare.
Someone told me that I should pick either Tibetan or Yi Gong and not do both. According to him, the energies are different. Tibetan is Kundalini and Yi Gong has a different energy, so doing both can be dangerous. I’m not sure what to think about this because I’m not very experienced. You told me in the seminar that Yi Gong is Kundalini, but maybe you said that publicly because people really like the word kundalini, but maybe in reality things are more complex? Please offer me some advice about this because I was going to continue practicing Yi Gong while also doing Tibetan practices and learning some Tibetan Yogas such as Yantra Yoga (Trulkhor). Thank you :)
Neither Tibetan, nor Yi Gong is Kundalini. Otherwise they would be called Kundalini.
"Kundalini literally means coiled. In Indian yoga, a ’corporeal energy’ - an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force or Shakti, lies coiled at the base of the spine (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini, accessed 3/19/10)." Some refer its phenomena to pranic awakening. Prana is the vital energy or life force or Jing Qi in Chinese. It can be seen as an energy that works at one’s spine in a spiral course. Nevertheless, a human body is a human body, regardless of nationality or religion, humans have the same type of body. The potentialities are the same. The question is how to develop it, which leads to whatever works for you. It has no fixed type. The different cultures or religions may use different language or vocabularies to describe a path to reach the ultimate goal of awakening, don’t let words confuse you.
Yigong is a system of Taoist practices. Its physical aspects include three levels, the spontaneous adjustment, celestial master points the way, and great water fall. At the seminar, I taught the spontaneous adjustment Qigong. The spontaneous adjustment Qigong is a formless form. You asked me if the spontaneous Qigong is Kundalini. I told you that spontaneous adjustment Qigong does develop Kundalini. I did not say Yigong is Kundalini. Through my practice, I notice myself. I am sure many others who practice spontaneous qigong might have similar experiences that sometimes our body appears to do a lot of rotating movement like a spiral, the energy from the base of spine coiled up like a snake moving out of your Bai-hui or crow chakra. That spontaneous adjustment Qigong can develop Kundalini does not mean it is Kundalini. Since it is a formless form, whatever the movements appears is a response to the state of the body and mind. To some degree, it might not happen to someone yet or may never happen to some, it does not mean it cannot develop Kundalini or it is only for developing Kundalini. A formless form has no fixation. Everything is possible. Do not be rigid, holding onto anything that might happen or not happen. Experience yourself with an open mind. Don’t hold onto any thoughts or long for anything to happen when you practice. Thoughts are obstacles to your attainment.
The same with Tibetan Buddhist practice. Some techniques do develop Kundalini, such as powa practice, but some do not, for instance the Bodhisattva’s path. If one defines Tibetan Buddhism as Kundalini, it’s as if to declare one technique to be the whole of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. That is a big mistake. Don’t take a method to be the goal.
As for mixing practices, please take a look at the similar question above where I have answered regarding practicing different systems.
Your bio says you went from a practicing Taoist to practicing Dzogen Buddhism. If it is to personal, I apologize, but I was wondering what your reasons were, and what differences attracted you to change.
I began my spiritual journey with Taoist practice mainly through Qigong practice, because most of my teachers were Taoist. I began to know about Buddhism also because one of my Qigong teachers that I encountered is a retired Buddhist monk. He is very educated and very knowledgeable in Chinese culture. He taught me Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Chinese medicine, Martial Arts, the Art of war, Chinese poems, and so forth. The first thing that I learned from him about Buddhism is the Heart sutra, which is the core of Buddhism. It affected me deeply. Wisdom and compassion are the main reasons that drove me into Buddhism. However, my spiritual path today is very different than it was before.
Regarding the Spiritual Side of Kun Lun, you said it has not been revealed publicly. Is it something that may come to one when one is ready just by doing the normal practice without any special instruction.
I teach Yi Gong not Kunlun. The spiritual aspect of Yi gong is more regarding manifestation. It needs to be taught. It’s unlikely that it will ever be revealed to the public.
I am hoping that these practices will help, but aside from my health, ...... In essence, I may not have enough income to live. From your experience, are you aware of any prayers to help one to die consciously for a smooth transition to the after life? Hopefully it will not be needed for some time, but would like to be prepared.
Better than any mantra for this life or future lives is to keep your heart in a pure state. Desire and fear are pollution. Accept whatever comes to you, but don’t be lazy. Remember, you are not this body and you are not this mind.
Can you describe more
fully what Yi Gong means? I know you said mind training. Isn’t
there something like wisdom essence with the word Yi? Just
wondering if you can elaborate further for more description…
I know we cannot always accurately translate the
Chinese into English.
Yi Gong is one of the highest Taoist Maoshan esoteric practices. Its system
includes two aspects, spiritual and physical. The spiritual aspects have not
been revealed to the public. The physical aspects include three levels,
spontaneous adjustment, celestial master points the way, and great water fall.
Yi is mind. Gong is work, skill, method, effort, efficacy, and achievement. Yi Gong is mind training. It is techniques for awareness development. Through skillful techniques and cultivation of one’s mind, one is capable of reaching self-awakening. Self-healing or the appearance of supernatural powers are side-effects along with the body’s and mind’s awakening. They are not the ultimate goal for Yi Gong. Nevertheless, training one’s mind is a path to self-awakening. Yi Gong is a process of studying, practicing and harvesting. Realization is the result of that cultivation and self-awakening. Words cannot convey the knowing, the cognition, Gnosis or prajñȧ. For those who want to know, they must do their diligent practice. There is no other way.
Awareness is the core of Yi Gong practice. Practicing Yi Gong without awareness is not Yi Gong. If you learn the practice and do not develop your awareness, you have lost the essence of Yi Gong.
From your website Q/A "Choosing to teach anything is one’s own decision and choice, but to be a qualified teacher with the lineage is a different issue. I have only taught physical aspects of Yi gong to limited people, not the spiritual aspects (to anyone), which is the... most important for the lineage." Could you please explain what you mean by that spiritual aspects are the most important for the lineage.
In general, Taoist schools emphasize a unification of heaven, earth and the human realm. Each school contains a cosmology and knowledge of the relationship between macrocosm and microcosm. Chinese alchemy, astrology, feng shui, exorcisms, healing, Chinese traditional medicine, awareness development, food therapy, longevity, and so forth are all subjects of Taoist study. Each school has its own focal point. The Maoshan school (Yigong belongs to the Maoshan school) is the most mysterious, esoteric practice amongst all Taoist schools.
The spiritual aspect of Yigong is important to include when explaining a complete system of this lineage. It plays a very significant roll in distinguishing this lineage from other Taoist schools, but knowledge of the spiritual aspect is not necessary to achieve enlightenment. “Spiritual” may not be the proper word to use here. I reluctantly use the word “spiritual” to differentiate the physical aspect of practice, which I teach, from the the other aspects that involve Ling Jie 靈界 (the spirit world).
In short, the spiritual aspect of Yigong is the esoteric practice, related with manifestation. Those manifestations are phenomena caused by a methodology that describes certain actions of body, mind and spirit, in relation to time and space. A particular activity will cause a precise outcome. Such knowledge becomes a key that can open up the mysterious door of the matrix of the universe.
That the spiritual aspect of Yigong is important to distinguish this lineage from others, does not mean that the physical aspect is not spiritual, or imperfect, or that level one is lower than level two or that level two is lower than level three. Each level has its own aim. For most people, the physical aspect of Yigong level one is all one needs. It enhances one's health and develops one's wisdom. I am still practicing level one and love to practice level one, because the Spontaneous Adjustment Qigong continuously illuminates me.
Many people have showed their interest in studying the spiritual aspect of Yigong and some have voiced their concern about missing the spiritual aspect of Yigong, whether it will affect their attainment on their spiritual quest. Remember, you do not need the ability to manifest anything in order to get enlightened. It is your goal that shapes your path, not the lineage. To know your goal and persistently make an effort to achieve your goal is crucial. The essence of Yigong is to develop awareness. Awareness leads to awakening. It is contained in every part of the Yigong system, whether physical or spiritual.
To study the full system of Yigong requires the practitioner to possess a pure heart and great virtue. Perseverance, dedication and devotion to your practice are fundamental attributes. Respecting the lineage and one's teacher opens up the door to the essence of the true teaching. Calculations on gain and loss are on the opposite path. Arrogance and disrespect of the lineage of your study is self-destruction. Longing for power and fame drives people insane and is forbidden for true spiritual development. From the Yigong esoteric perspective, any action based on a selfish reason not only will harm oneself, but also could cause a disturbance to nature. That is not the purpose for any system to be developed. That is why the esoteric teaching is not for the public.
On a spiritual path, we should all have a higher goal for our life, to be Wu Wei 無為 and Wu Suo Bu Wei 無所不為. Wu Wei 無為 (non-action) is the highest state of Taoist practice. Wu Wei 無為 does not mean doing nothing or being lazy, but holding no expectation and being detached from any reference point while one cultivates body, speech and mind constantly. In that way, it brings the true manifestation of Wu Suo Bu Wei (nothing cannot be done) into existence. That is the true path of the Tao.