There are many ways of meditation for different purposes. Meditation includes concentration, feeling, sensitivity, imagination, thoughts, and insinuation. In the west, meditation is not necessarily part of Chi Kung. However, to a Taoist, meditation is a requirement for Chi Kung in order to bring out the effectiveness of Chi Kung for health benefits. Then, how does a Taoist do meditation? First of all, the highest goal in Chi Kung is to have the breath to reach the bottom of the abdomen, so to speak. This notion was inherited from the ancients. In reality, the breath does not reach the abdomen. Due to the lack of scientific knowledge, at the time, the ancient Taoists once thought that deep breathing was having the breath reached the bottom of the abdomen. Hence, it was said to be, 氣沉丹田 (chi chen2 dan1 tian2), that the air has sunk to the bottom of the dan1 tian2. In modern term, it was said to be abdominal breathing.
The definition of a Taoist pertaining to this article is a naturalist. His goal was to blend in with Nature to maintain a healthy body by eating a vegetable diet and practice Chi Kung. The Taoist definition of Chi Kung is the ultimate method of breathing and cultivated to its perfection with meditation. Meditation has to be taken place in Chi Kung; otherwise, it was not practicing Chi Kung. Hence, meditation is part of Chi Kung but not vice versa. It is because meditation is not necessarily Chi Kung.
Motionless Chi Kung is breathing while sitting down is called Static Chi Kung. Static Chi Kung was done with meditation. Meditation here does not mean to think deeply, but to concentrate deeply in breathing. Here is the meaning of Taoist meditation. When inhale, the practitioner just think of the air that was breathing in and going downward inside the body; and mentally follow every inch of where the air was passing through. When exhale, just think of the air that was breathing out and coming upward. Hence, the mind was fully occupied in following the movement of each breath which does not allow to think of anything else that might cause distraction.
During meditation, the practitioner shall have the eyes closed looking down toward the tip of the nose. While breathing slowly through the nose, one must be vigilant by paying attention to the quality of the air, and any noise in the environment. Detecting the quality of the air is to prevent from breathing any toxic gaseous substance in the air. Be aware of the noise in the environment is a sense of defensive alertness. Thus meditation was not just to follow the path of the breaths but also to be aware of all the activities in the environment to increase the sensitivity of all the senses.
The human body is a self efficient system; and it will carry out its function only with the proper provision of nourishment and the oxygen from breathing. The body will generate its own bio-energy to function holistically. The mind will be developed to be more alert from Chi Kung with meditation. Furthermore, the concentration in breathing will increase one's mentality and the body reflex.
If you are interested, do this exercise will help you to prevent hypertension.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iguwo9rFBOs&feature=channel_page
Please see the result of the body coordination from practicing the above exercise for only 3.5 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKqttj_rV9g&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
James S. Lee is a retired engineer and a practitioner of Tai Chi and Chi Kung for more than thirty years. Since Chi Kung has a great effect on the human body, he is searching for a possible scientific explanation of Chi Kung with Western science. He feels that the old Chinese concept about Chi Kung is very ambiguous. Therefore, there must be another way to explain it for a better understanding. Email: jlee1680@aol.com
Post new comment
Please Register or Login to post new comment.