Chi
Kung Culture Society of TAIPEI
Usually the discussion of chikung includes two types of meditation: the physical movement style meditation and the sitting style of meditation. The physical movement meditation (also known as meditation in action) has the characteristics of yang forces which represent the power of the I Ching‘s chien°® hexagram while the sitting meditation represents the operation of yin forces which refers to the power of the kun ©[ hexagram in the I Ching. The chien(°®) forces are important to the operation of our meridians and chakras which are controlled by the movements of our body (instead of our mind) while the kun(©[) forces refer to the operation of our mind to trigger the internal system which uses our mind to open up and links our forces with the natural forces around us. So we may say that chien (°®) forces represent our mind while kun (©[) forces represent our body.
This is understandable from an ordinary physical point of view. However, when we talk about the forces from metaphysical and abstract points of view, then the chien forces will represent the bright or positive side which has as a physical image a dragon representing the actual forces of our body. On the other hand, the kun forces represent the dark or negative side and the subconscious interaction with our mind seen in things like arrogance and stubbornness symbolized as a dragon-horse. Therefore, we may say that the movement type of chikung which provides strong forces of concentration, stability, and balance belong to the yang-type of chikung while the chikung which uses visualizations fits in with those soft and relaxed movements. Although it‘s a type of movement chikung, still we regard it as a yin-type of chikung because the focus is put on sensory feeling instead of strengthening the operation and circulation of the meridians and chakra systems within our body,not to mention the internal organs, the muscles, the tendons, and skeleton in which the yang-type of chikung emphasizes all things in order to provide the body with a much higher and stronger physical condition. The body is then able to tolerate high pressure, difficulties from the physical, mental and spiritual realms, and even from psychic or supernatural forces from different dimensions. The yin-type of chikung by providing training to our thoughts and spirit allows them to have a much bigger space and to open more channels for observation, inner experience and enlightenment, but does not strengthen our body, mind or spirit. In other words, only when the yin-type of chikung is linked together with the yang-type of chikung (which acts as the background, foundation, or the supporting pillars for the yin-type of chikung,) will it be useful and provide any benefit for us. If we just practice the pure yang-type of chikung, we may neglect the importance of our mental and spiritual parts; if we only practice the “ppure yin-type of chikung, we may lose the balance and fundamental forces of our life. In this way, if we just practice the pure yang-type of chikung, we may create too much fire or too much yang energy which acts like a bomb affecting our emotions, our mind, and our meridian system, etc.; if we just practice the pure yin-type of chikung, we may create in our mind too many illusion, false feelings, wrong sensations, unstable compassion, rigid ideology, fluctuation, frustration, arrogance, stubbornness, or over-sensitivity to things that are not so important. This is what we call a state of deviation. If we understand such a situation, we may know how to choose the best way to enter into the world of chi: the holistic-type of yang-style chikung would be the safest way of promoting our body, mind and spirit together.
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