yuan jing qi and shen.

[sillybearhappyhoneyeater]

This thread is just to quickly discuss the nature of the jing, qi, and shen that we use in neidan practice, as opposed to Qigong.

The Jing, Qi, and Shen that we use in Qigong are considered mostly as post heaven energies which can in some way to controlled by the mind.   The yuan jing qi and shen that we practice in Neidan are pre heaven energies and can only be indirectly activated by the mind.  They are not able to be led around like yi, qi, and li etc... can be.

 

Here is a short section from

金 丹 四 百 字 golden elixir 400 words.

 

 

精神魂魄意，相与混融，化之一气，不可见闻，亦名无状，故曰虚无。炼精者，炼元精，非淫泆之精。

jing, shen, hun, po, and yi should mutually mix and melt together.  transforming to one qi, it can't be heard, and it's name has no form, so it is considered quiet and empty.   the jing which can be refined is refined yuan jing, not the jing of carnal indulgence.

　　（淫泆所感之精，是漏精，非元精。）

commentary: the jing of carnal indulegence is the jing which can be felt.  it is the jing which can leak, not yuan jing.

　　炼气者，炼元气，非口鼻呼吸之气。

the qi which is refined is the refined yuan qi, it isn't the qi which is breathed through the mouth and nose.

　　（口鼻呼吸之气，是漏气，非元气。）

the qi which can be breathed through mouth and nose is leaking qi, no yuan qi.

　　炼神者，炼元神、非心意念虑之神。

the shen that can be refined is refined yuan shen,

not the heart and mind, feeling and thinking shen.

　　（心意念虑之神，是漏神，非元神。）

commentary: the heart mind, feeling, thinking shen is leaking shen, not yuan shen.

　　故此气神精者，与天地同其根，与万物同其体，得之则生，失之则死。

this qi, shen and jing meet and connect with the root of heaven and earth, meet and conncet with the bodies of all beings. achieving it will enable life, losing it will enable death.

 

 

So as we can see, the jing, qi, and shen used here are very different from the ones which we commonly attribute as being physically palpable and lead by the mind and breathing.

This type of material exists in what can't be seen or felt clearly.

Laozi said 視之不足見，聽之不足聞，用之不足既。 looking at it isn't enough to see it, hearing it isn't enough to register it, using it isn't enough to exhaust it.

 

This is the reason why many meditation practices require the meditator to "not look, not hear, not listen, not speak, and not move."

 

In my opinion, this practice is the real treasure which can help us transform our current situation into something better.  Qi gong, nei gong and jing gong are great ways to protect what we have already achieved through this beautiful silent meditation.

 

Feel free to add to this thread