ChiDragon

These three terms are in three different languages. Theoretically, these three terms are suppose to have the same basic meaning. However, due the difference in each linguistic interpretation, the basic meaning of the terms have been altered and diverged quite drastically. Was there really a language problem or something got lost in the translation or misinformed from one or the other in the first place.....??? Anyone wants to give it a shot....???

Inspire the mind The mind got a mind of its own. In Neigoong, while performing the UMB(the ultimate method of breathing) and the slow movements; all the focus was on the dan tain and the movements of the muscles. Subliminally, the mind was already inspired and cultivated by focusing on all the internal activities. The fast reflexes of the movements was done by the focus on every muscle. The first focus is to sink Chi to the dan tian, then focus on the next moves of arms and legs. The mind will direct which muscle to be moved to where and how. If one want to do a punch, then the focus is on the hand to make a fist and how the punch was performed. Here is the sequence of events. While taken a deep breath and sink chi to the dan tian, hold a fist and start moving it toward the hitting target by the arms. The arms are relaxing at the beginning, then progressively increasing the internal force as they are moving forward. By the time the fist hits its target, the full power was already applied to the fist. Neigong gives one the ability to exert the maximum body power at any circumstance. It was designed and done by the mind focusing on the breathing and body control. Hence, the focus of the mind gives the accuracy of the breathing rhythm in sync with the body movements. The integration of these three criteria are required for the body to react, at its maximum efficiency, in any unexpected adversity.

Just act like a Buddhist.

I am not a Buddhist but it just happens to be that I had brought up and understand some of the Buddhist philosophies. I know I can say this. Everybody has a will. As a Buddhist thinking, his will is not to live for himself but selfless(the not I am) and only concern for other. I believe that the "not I am" was referred as being "selfless".

That is not my assumption. If you really understand the classic text of the TTC, I bet you will not find a phrase that supports your claim. Do you have a good reason why shamanism doesn't violate wu wei at all....??? What is your definition of Wu Wei as compared to the definition in the TTC...???

The three broken line trigram is the symbol of Earth, the most Yin or the yinest of the eight trigrams. Therefore, it goes to the most yin position which is the bottom of the Ba Gua(八卦). The bottom position is the most yin is because of the following: 1. It is the lowest point below one's feet which where Earth belongs. 2. It is in the north direction. 3. It is the darkest and coldest position in the night which made it the yinest position. 4. It is the winter position.

The mentioning of shamanism is the violation of the concept of Wu Wei. The TTC is an atheist document because Lao Zi is an atheist and a naturalist. Shamanism must be considered an outside influence of the TTC.

Now, we got the part on "regulating the breathing" out of the way. It is time to enhance the body. As soon Chi can be sunken to the dan tain, 氣沈丹田, then it is ready to begin with the Neigong practice. That is when the body moves slowly and in synchronize with the breathing. Start inhalation when the hands are raising slowly. When the hands are at the peak point, the Chi(breath) should be sunken to the LDT. When the hands are starting to lower, exhalation should be start taken place. Continuing with this moving and breathing process, the body muscles and joints will learn to adjust and get use to the applied stress slowly. Through the diligent practice, the muscles will become firm and flexible with the increase in strength. Thus the body strength was developed by the biophysical loops, inside the body. It is because the bio-loop was induced by the combination of the movements and breathing. The bio-loop was being taken place in the body without the realization of the practitioner. The practitioner only felt that the body strength had been increased tremendously. For that being said, we can distinguish the difference between Chi Kung(氣功) and Neigong(內功). The breathing part is the Chi Kung. The body movements in conjunction with Chi Kung is Neigong. Hence, Chi Kung is the prerequisite for Neigong(inner strength). Tai Ji Quan has the combination of Chi Kung and Neigong. That is why Tai Ji is so effective which may kill two birds with one stone. Practicing the Tai Ji movements, the practitioner is learning to breathe and building the muscle tone at the same time. After a prolong practice, a practitioner has built up lot of jin(勁). To issue the Jin, it becomes very natural to breathe and moves the arms and legs spontaneously and swiftly. One who can tell if a person has been practicing Tai Ji or not is by observing the swift moves and feeling the strength with a hand shake.

The three solid line trigram is the symbol for Heaven(天), the most Yang or the yangest of the eight trigrams. Therefore, it goes to the most yang position which is the top of the Ba Gua(八卦). The top position is the most yang is because of the following: 1. It is the top which where Heaven belongs. 2. It is in the south direction. 3. The sun is the brightest and hottest at high noon which made it the yangest position. 4. It is the summer position.

Now, we have drawn the trigrams. The next thing is to find out why they were configured the way as shown in the early version(pre-heaven) Ba Gua.

The result is able to Sink Chi to the dan tian.

Tao manifested itself as One. Tao is the One. Tao is You(有) at the beginning of all things.

The folks are getting the results from just a deep abdominal focus.

That means it doesn't matter how one thinks but it's free for all.

Let's follow the Yi Jing. Wu Ji => Tai JI Invisible(Tao) => Visible(Tao) Wu(無) => You(有) 0 => 1 Tao => One

震 is a name designated for Thunder. It also means vibration. The two top broken lines symbolize lightning striking the ground(the solid line). Thus we have the symbol as Thunder. 震, Thunder ___ ___ ___ ___ _______

巽 is a name designated for Wind. The two solid lines at the top symbolize Heaven. The broken line symbolize something soft beneath the surface of Heaven. The wind can be easily seen by the moving tree top. 巽, Wind _______ _______ ___ ___

坎 is name designated for Water. The two broken lines symbolize the river beds. The solid line symbolize the flowing motion of water in a river. Thus was have a symbol for water. 坎, Water ___ ___ _______ ___ ___ The Water symbol also represents the Moon.

Yes, still is Yin and motion is Yang.

離: is a name designed for Fire. To set a camp fire, our ancestors are the experts. They set the sticks vertically, so the air goes through them and burns better with more heat. The two solid lines symbolize the sticks and the broken line symbolize the fire burning inside. The symbol had been turned horizontally for simplicity. Another way of looking at it is that the fire is burning in a wood burning stove. The solid lines are the bricks of the stove and the broken line is the fire burning inside. 離, Fire _______ ___ ___ _______ The Fire symbol also represents the Sun.

艮 is a name designated for mountain. Two broken lines at the bottom symbolizing water and lower lands. The solid line symbolize highrise which is mountain. 艮, Mountain _______ ___ ___ ___ ___

澤, Marsh ___ ___ Soft water _______ Higher(lands) _______ Solid(ground) It was the attributions of higher and solid which are contributed to the lines to be Yang.

I am sorry, that was a bad start. Let me rephrase that. This is only to establish the attribute to the lines, so we can draw the symbol. Please do not apply any theory to confuse ourselves at this point. A broken line represents an indentation. A solid line represents "tall"or highrise.

Zanshin and all others.... Thank you for you patience. The reason I have created the thread was to go over the basic fundamentals of the Yi Jing. Most People who study the Yi Jing probably don't know why are the trigrams had drawn that way; and start making interpretation of the Yi Jing. I was a little bit upset about that. I was just wondering how can people do not have a thorough understanding about the Yin-line and the Yang-line and the trigram symbols; then start talking about the heart of the Yi Jing. Sorry to say, some of the things that you read were written by the people who do not know what the symbols mean in more refine details. They probably did not have the information available to them at the time. I have found that there were more books, written by knowledgeable native scholars, about the Yi Jing in the last two decades. IMO Those who know about the Yi Jing should be able to draw the trigrams at any instance or by heart. If you want to ask somebody about the Yi Jing, the first thing you should ask is "do you know what are the meanings of the trigrams?" Most importantly, why are they had drawn that way? To study the symbols of the trigrams, we need to learn it from scratch and disregard what we had read in the past. Indeed, it will save us alot of time and confusion. We need to know what the symbols actually mean rather than following some misguided information. With all respect and no offense.

Great..... Okay! It says a lot with great understanding, but what is "just that"....??? What have you done in the Chi Kung practice...???