When I was learning Wing Chun Qi Gong directly from Sifu Greg, he used to say to me, "Use the Mind". But what does this terse sentence really mean when practicing Qi Gong?

One vs Two

In Western Dualism, you have Mind and Body as separate. But in Taoist Philosophy, as well as Buddhist Zen, it is Monistic - it's all just mind stuff.

Let's explore this "mind stuff" further...

Jing, Qi, Shen

I've spoken previously on the Three Treasures. But as I have said, their meanings are multifaceted....

They can all be seen as one thing, which are in three separate states. For example, water. It can be solid ice, liquid water, or steam! But it is all H2O.

So too with Jing being body, Qi being bio energy and Shen being mind. They're just three different states of "mind stuff". And that is why mind can control body. The body is simply a further condensation of thought.

Intent (Yi) Moves Energy (Qi)

Yi moves Qi is a well known statement in Qi Gong. It is what my Sifu was saying to me during practice.

See it like this...

If you want to pick up a cup, but only think of doing it, then that is imagination. But if the body moves to pick it up, then that is 'intent' or Yi moving the 'energy' or Qi that moves the physical body.

For those unaccustomed with the feeling of Qi, they miss sensing the Energy step because they don't feel it anymore. It has become a habit to move and they cannot remember the hours practicing how to move when they were a baby.

Qi Gong is about rediscovering this subtle Biological Energy.

Up Voting

Hit the upvote button if you like this post, or this post has helped you in anyway. This not only helps me, but also helps more people to learn about Wing Chun Qi Gong.

Sincerely,
Sifu Jordan
(Don't Worry, Relax, Be Happy, Concentrate and Do Your Best)