 AN INTERVIEW ABOUT CHI GUNG WITH BURGS
Burgs, tell us about Chi Kung (also spelt Qi Gong, Chi Gung)?
Chi Kung, quite simply is the cultivation of ‘Chi' or life force within the body. How is it done? Through various physical movement and meditation techniques. These techniques allow you to develop your internal awareness of the subtle energy structures and systems within your body. What does this movement and awareness through Chi Kung practice, bring? Through the practice of Chi Kung we simply re-organise. We clear any inherent or acquired blockages, tone up, harmonise and synchronise. This is to facilitate, firstly an increase in the body's energetic capacities and secondly, raising up the body, mind, and spirit complex towards a realised state (Tao). There are a number of ways to practice Chi Kung, aren’t there? Essentially there are three ways to practice Chi Kung: Firstly, through diligently learning and perfecting the external form. This cultivates strong awareness and mindfulness of the body and the body's Chi systems begin to develop. This is the slowest way to develop but suits those who are attracted to external form. Secondly, through bringing a strong internal awareness to the body while engaging in various exercises. Here the emphasis is on the Energy pathways and systems in the body, and the practice works towards the development of improved quality and flow of Chi. This way of practicing brings quicker healing results and has a stronger re-organizing effect on the body. It is harder to grasp initially but suits those who have some discipline in meditation. Here the Mindfulness and calm concentration skills are the major catalyst to establishing successful cultivation of Chi. And finally, to do nothing and connect to the body's own intelligence which will do everything perfectly for us. This is the highest level of Chi Kung. Here it doesn't matter what is happening externally. Such practice is based on recognizing that the body has within it a higher intelligence than our own lower and interfering mind. If we are able to disengage and become a truly detached observer then the “Body Automatic” will reorganize everything perfectly for us. It sounds simple and it is, but the success of the practice hinges upon two elements: a) How much we are willing to let go with the lower mind and trust this higher intelligence. b) How deeply can we become attuned to the higher vibrations and Chi Fields that we might find around us. This practice is usually undertaken initially under the guidance of, and within the powerful Chi field of an attained Master or Healer who can both transmit the essence of the teaching, and generate a powerful Energy Field to support the practitioner as they go through their own attunements. Which is your approach to teaching Chi Kung? The second and third approaches. “The simultaneous Bottom up, Top Down approach.” In essence “DO nothing and Get Everything.” It can take a lifetime of practice following the first path to achieve any significant results at an energetic level with Chi kung. But if one can come to Chi Kung knowing nothing but be open enough to receive the “Heart Essence” of the teaching from the beginning, the student becomes very quickly attuned to the higher Chi Field of the Teacher. By plugging or “Tuning” in, at the group level the “Body Automatic” begins to take back control of a process that the lower mind has been running obsessively for many years. Because we are so obsessed with ourselves and insist on projecting our ego or idea of ourselves into our practice, the lower mind has the habit of constantly interfering and getting in the way. The very essence of Chi Kung is to let go enough of our accumulated Energy structures and layers to let the pristine ever perfect essence of our being re-emerge. Chi Kung should simply be a process of letting go of old patterns, thus allowing a natural response to the ever greater flow of Chi to do all the work for us. All our efforts should be geared to cultivating our attunement to the Higher Energy Forces that surround us and are within us. The second and third approaches to Chi Kung are simultaneously working from the bottom up, by gradually introducing the student to the fundamentals of Chi and Chi Kung, whilst introducing them at the very beginning to the end result… “The realized state of Union of our own bodies' Chi field with the vast, perfect and undefiled Chi Field that underpins all of Creation around us”. In Taoist terms , this IS the TAO itself. This is the higher intelligence that is always perfect and can never not be and yet sits deeply within us at all times and would perfect everything for us if we would listen. In this sense when we really do learn to do nothing (i.e. get out of the way), we really can have everything. What tips can you give new practitioners of Chi Kung? Key to this Chi Kung state of mind is the process of Letting Go our clinging and attachment to unhealthy or dysfunctional energy patterns in the body. As we become attuned to this higher state either through our own meditative awareness or through transmission from the teacher, we enter into a powerful process of healing and release. Over the Chi Kung sessions we will work on the following: 1. Posture (both static and dynamic) 2. Breathe work for the purposes of purification and concentration 3. Energy (Chi) attunement both internally and in connection to the greater energy field we live within. The teachings also focus on developing spontaneous movement Chi Gung and introducing practices to support and supplement energy as well as release blockages. Breathing techniques will be taught that will help to further purify the subtle anatomy of blockages and restrictions. Thank you Burgs |