rel="nofollow" href="#u737b1eb4-1fa0-560f-9e7a-4ebcf796388b">Holding the Warm Jade Pillow
PART I
THE CONCEPT OF BREATHING CONTROL
"In the beginning to learn the proper use of breath, one should inhale a breath through the nose. Stop up the nose and mentally count one's heart beats. The breath should be exhaled through the mouth. In this method of breathing, everyone should make it his aim that his own ears might not hear the sound of either inhalation or exhalation. The rule is to inhale generously and exhale sparingly. One should suspend the feather of a wild goose in front of the nose and mouth that the feather might not stir while the breath is being expelled should be one's aim. With gradual practice, One should increase correspondingly the count of the heart beats during which the breath is held. After a very long period of time, one should be able to count a thousand heart beats. When an old man has arrived at that stage, then he will be transformed into a young man... each day adding to the transformation." — Pao Po Tzu.
Dr. Ko Hung, 470 B.C.
Chapter 1: Body energy or the unseen life force
Everything created by the Tao is part of the unseen life force, and Tao is the creative and receptive principle in the universe. In the universe, there exists two primal forces—the negative and the positive, light and darkness—which make up the Great Whole or the Tao. These two forces exist in that which is microcosmic to that which is macrocosmic.
Energy flows from left to right and right to left unceasingly and is evidenced in changes. It flows like the flowing of a mountain stream. The Chinese consider blood circulation akin to a flowing steam. Only natural flowing water like a river can bring forth life and growth. The Chinese call flowing water, "alive," as water in a swimming pool, which does not flow is "dead." Nothing can be grown, and if the water is not changed, it will soon decay and bad elements like mosquitoes will be created.
The Chinese understood the Tao, or Nature, from which all beings are conceived. They understood that all life is embodied with an unseen life force—a force which can be cultivated and developed to enable one to live life more fully. Ch'i Kung seeks to nurture the unseen life force.
Our prehistoric ancestors, residing in the cave and the forest, lived in harmony with Nature. They watched the trees grow, and saw the animals at play. They watched the seasons pass, and listened to the flowing of mountain streams. By living in Nature, they understood the life-giving force of Nature. The life force was the source of all existence.
To our ancestors, life was a cycle of changes, coming and going like the four seasons. This understanding is recorded in one of the world's oldest books, the I CHING, OR THE BOOK OF ETERNAL CYCLES OF CHANGES:
"The Great Attribute, the Moral Character, or the Power of Heaven produces and reproduces the changes in the universe. Changes represent the unseen movement of the creative and the receptive forces. Because of the movement of the creative and the receptive forces, all things come into existence, change, and pass on into other forms. The inter-relationship of the two forces bring transformation of all things—a transformation which proceeds to fullness."
The art of Ch'i Kung is based on the Tao, or the Way of Nature. The first eight forms of Ch'i Kung, called the Eight Silken Forms, show this affinity with Tao. They give one the feeling of peace and tranquility, and of harmony with Tao.
The forms, and sequences of forms in Ch'i Kung open and close the doors between the creative and receptive forces. All things are created, changed and transformed by the movement of force through the doors. Closing the doors, between creative and receptive stops movement. Like stagnant water, stagnant force leads to decay. Opening the door leads to circulation of force and creation. By opening and closing the doors quickly, the unseen life force moves first one way and then the other way. This rapid circulation of force is called active involvement.
Change is caused by the process of opening and closing the door between the primal forces. The creative and receptive forces are virile and docile, respectively. One gives force while the other receives force. The creative force is the light element, which when dormant, is absorbed, and when active, moves forward and creates. The receptive force is the dark element, which when shut by the door, is dormant and inactive, and when opened, receives from the creative force and creates.
The process of opening