Monday, October 17, 2016

Grandmaster Wang Yan: How to regain your youth

This is a partial reprint from the website of my friend Violet Li,  Violet Li Tai Chi website.  Please click the link for more info on Grandmaster Wang Yan.

“During the 17th World Congress [on Qigong] held in San Francisco, CA, Grandmaster Wang Yan held a few workshops to share several Medical Qigong techniques. At age 80, she had a full head of naturally black hair. She suffered from no jetlag and energetically participated in all the activities. At the Opening Ceremony [09/03/2016], she shared a Medical Qigong formula to rejuvenate the body and mind so people can return to the childhood energy level. There are three parts of this Medical Qigong form: meditation, breathing techniques, and gentle exercises. You can watch the attached video for the explanation and demonstration.”

The Practice Description (quoted from above site) :


Meditation:
People should put hands in front of Dan Tian, with eyes gently closed and breathe through the nose naturally for two minutes. This will provide an amazing result of deep relaxation. The key is that the mind should focus on Dan Tian and not think about anything at all.

Breathing techniques:
Inhale through the nose to bring hands above the waist [while making the sound of long E - Eeeeeeeee] and exhale through the nose to relax hands on the waist. Inhale again slowly and raise the heels at the same time. Hold breath while lowering the heels a little bit and contracting the anus and the private area for 6 or 7 times, better yet 8 times. Exhale through the nose slowly to lower the heels down onto the floor. Inhale through the nose quickly and exhale through mouth and make [hahhhh] noise. Repeat the last part three times.

Gentle Exercises:
The first exercise: kick one foot at time while swinging the arms. Repeat ten times and change to another side. You can hold on to a chair or table for stability if needed. The second exercise: Raise both arms overhead and raise the heels up; then let the gravity takes as you drop down the heels and swing the arms down. Repeat ten times.


She advised people to do this Qigong program three times a day in the morning for the first week and take a two-minute break in between sets, then 2 times in the second week, and then once a day from the third week on.

* End quoted material *


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Cultivation of the Nine Hearts 修九心 xiu jiu xin

This post came from my friend Annie Pecheva who graciously gave her permission to share it from her Facebook page, posted August 11, 2016 Thank you, Annie!


Daoist Master Zhuang 莊陳登雲 (19111976) is one of the most highly respected Daoists in the history of Taiwan. Here are his excellent commentaries on the Cultivation of the Nine Hearts 修九心 and their symbolic meaning in the Luoshu 落书 (magic square) and Hetu 河图 (magic circle), shared with us by prof. Michael R Saso:
MAGIC SQUARE, MAGIC CIRCLE

修九心 xiu jiu xin – cultivate the “nine hearts”

1. 公平心 gong ping xin –let the heart treat all with just compassion
2. 平等心 ping deng xin – let the heart treat all with love
3. 忍辱心 ren ru xin – the Dao realized heart loves those who scold and revile us
4. 包容心 bao rong xin – the Dao realized heart forgives everything
5. 慈悲心 ci bei xin – the Dao realized heart is filled with mercy for everyone
6. 救苦心 jiu ku xin – the Dao realized heart alleviates all suffering
7. 布施心 bu shi xin – the Daoist heart gives good things to everyone
8. 忠孝心 zhong xiao xin – the Dao heart is loyal to friends, filled with love for family, benevolent to all neighbors, prays for the deceased. (忠孝仁仪礼)offers food, drink, and respect to everyone.
9. 智慧心 zhi hui xin – The Dao of wisdom heart is aware of the needs of “now” reality.
(Nine is the symbol of the Magic square 落书, the dance that Yu the Great used to stop the floods. The Magic square becomes a Magic Circle 河图 of ten(completion) when Dao presence is felt.
10. 无为道,在下丹田 -Ten is the symbol of the Magic Circle, ie when the nine steps are realized, then the Wuwei Dao is felt as present in the very center of all human beings.

For more, see chapters 5 and 6 in the book "Teachings of Daoist Master Zhuang" by Michael R Saso, Oracle Bones Press,2012.