| Qigong (a school of
movement in China)
A person practicing qigong might be very convinced that he/she is not practicing a religion. They would also not understand the concept of God as separate. They think of all that is less than ideal in their lives as simply a mismanagement of energy or qi. They do feel guilt for wrongdoing but I have not found evidence yet of how they define what is wrongdoing and how to tell wrong from right. I would suspect that they would define wrong as anything that disturbs the qi! The practical forms of this might be vague within the mind of one who practices qigong and they might not recognize a list like the ten commandments or have a written source specifically codified. (Doug and Esser p 66) Premature cut-offs would certainly occur if an appeal were to be made to some authority either book or historical figure. Though the writings indicate that there is a need to admit wrongdoing and to make up for those acts in order to free the flow of qi there is no indication as to how this is accomplished. I would envision a conversation going like this ----- XN How do you tell right from wrong? QG Whatever restricts the flow of qi is wrong. XN What should you do about wrongdoing? QG I should admit it and make up for it. XN How do you do that? QG I must do whatever is needed to release my qi. XN How do you know if you've done enough? QG My qi flows freely. XN Can you give me an example? ------ At this point there might be a chance to identify more specifics and get out of the realm of vague platitudes. The approach to a person who practices qigong would be difficult in that the world view is very different from one from the Judeo-Christian culture. Because of the close connection much of the approach to people practicing qigong would follow that for those who are Taoists. One should point to the uniqueness of the individual and the evidence of a God who is personal. Though practitioners of Qigong are endeavoring to enter into a state where Qi flows freely with the ultimate goal of uniting with the Tao. (Yan Xin p.i) However, it might be possible to transition to considering what it means to be perfectly at peace. This would seem to parallel the concept of freely flowing Qi, nothing disturbing the peace. A conversation might be something like this ------ XN When you are practicing qigong what are you trying to do? QG I am trying to free the flow of qi. XN What stops you in that? QG Whenever I am not at peace, when I have conflict or wrongdoing that must be corrected. XN Then you are trying to find a way to be without trouble and conflict? QG Yes, that is the goal. XN I have been like that many times in my life, too. Sometimes it seems like everything is upset and I just can't get things straightened out. But there is a way that we can have this peace and it isn't something we have to do ourselves! May I share a little about that with you? ------ Another conversation might be ------ XN When you practice qigong are you trying to get rid of bad things and focus on good? QG Not exactly, in qigong I am trying to focus on the flow of qi. Sometimes when I have done bad that gets in the way, the yin and yang are out of balance and I must make up for it. XN I have felt that way, too. But I don't think I could ever be good enough and resist bad thoughts and feelings completely so there would always be more to make up. I don't think it's possible to do enough good to balance out the bad. But there is a force that is greater than either the yin or the yang. May I tell you about that? ------ III. The point of contact with the practitioner of qigong seems to be the understanding of the need to make things right in relationship with people and with the world. This is a common belief for Christians as well. There is a failure that we each experience in our relationships with others, with God and even within ourselves. We also abuse our relationship with the world in many ways. All of this would be recognized by the practitioner of qigong as something that needs correction and for which there is a need to balance with good. The point to focus on would seem to be that we are not able to right all relationships and to correct and pay for all errors but that there is one who would pay (and has paid) for it all for us already. That is the one we want to share. That one is Jesus. XN What is it when you do not feel your energy flowing freely? QG That is when I have thought or done something that is not good. XN What must you do about that? QG I must make up for the wrong with good. XN My religion teaches that as well. We must make up for what we do not do that is right. But I often feel like I cannot do enough good to make up for bad thoughts and deeds. Do you ever feel like you cannot do enough? QG I must just keep working to do what is right. Someday when my qi flows completely freely then I will know that I have done enough. XN In my religion there is one who has already done everything right and has done right for us in our place. Would you like to hear more about him? Conclusion For practitioners of qigong the focus is the directing of their inner energy and finding an inner peace. There is a consciousness of needing to make up for what has been done that is wrong. Directing the attention to one who promises inner peace and has already made up for all wrongs would be the most likely link. Bibliography http//www.shaolin-waham.org/wkk.html Doug, Paul and Aristide H. Esser. 1990. Chi Gong The Ancient Chinese Way to Health. New York Paragon House. Eisenberg, David with Thomas Lee Wrigth. 1985. Encounters with Qi Exploring Chinese Medicine. New York Penguin Books. MacRitchie, James. 1003. Chi Kung Cultivating Personal Energy. Longmead, Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK Element Books. McGee, Charles T. eith Effie Poy Yew Chow. 1994. Miracle Healing from China Qugong. Coeur D'Alene, ID MediPress Wozniak, Jo Ann, Stevenson Wu and Hao Wang. 1001. Yan Xin Qigong and the Contemporary Schiences. Champaign IL Inernational Yan Xin Qigong Association (Station A, Box 2209, Champaign, Illinois USA 61825) Yan Xin. 1003 Basics of Yan Xin Qigong I & II Champaign, IL IYXQA.
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