ChiFusion Tai Chi and Qigong Blog: The Mind Directs the Chi

In my last blog posting (click here), I talked a little bit about being able to "mentally" direct chi to any part of your mind/body/energy system.

One question students sometime ask is, "Why does the mind have to direct the chi? Isn't chi circulation a natural process? Do we really have to direct it?"

Well, the answers to those questions actually depend on how you look at, think about, and experience chi.

If you've read our Four Treasures of Tai Chi special report, you know that our definition of "chi" is quite different from what you find in other Tai Chi courses and books.

Many instructors define "chi" as "energy" of some type. But in the ChiFusion course, we take a different approach to chi.

As you'll read in the Four Treasures report, yes, we sometimes define "chi" as "energy", and yes, in our courses we do show you how to use "energy pathways" in your Tai Chi and Qigong. But when we get down to it, we like to define chi in terms of processes and actions, rather than in terms of energy. (If you haven't read our special report, click here to get your copy.)

Some students have asked us about this definition of "chi", and how it fits in with this concept of the "mind directing the chi."

Energetic Flows - Focusing on Natural Processes

The concept of the "mind directing the chi" actually gets to the heart of our approach to chi in our courses.

Like in last month's blog posting, I sometimes use phrases like "directing the chi" or "circulating the chi". But in actuality, I really don't think of this process as "directing". Instead, I think of it more as "becoming aware".

In Level 3 of the ChiFusion Complete Course, I wrote about how I actually look at, think about, and feel this process. In the sections on Energetics in Level 3, I wrote:

So I actually don't think about this as "directing." Instead, it's more as if you are using your mind to become aware of natural processes that are already happening.

This is very similar to breathing. Breathing is an unconscious activity most of the time, but we can focus our awareness on it, and consciously change how we breathe.

Working with chi is much like that. Chi is a natural process that is always there. But you can become aware of it, and consciously change these energetic flows. You'll find that as you become aware of them, you can also "amplify" them - make them stronger, make them more pronounced, or change the rate at which they occur - much like breathing.

The results will feel as if your mind is directing the chi, much like you can "direct" your breathing. You can become aware and get some conscious control over the natural chi processes that are already occurring.

Take These As Descriptions, Not Rules or Principles

When you hear Tai Chi masters talk about "the mind directing the chi", it's important that you don't take these statements too literally. Too many students and instructors take these statements as principles to follow, or even as 100% iron-clad rules.

As I mentioned in my blog posting on Tai Chi Classics - click here, these statements aren't rules, they aren't principles, and they aren't guidelines. Instead, they are descriptions.

These statements describe what certain masters experience inside. They are not so much as "goals" to strive for, but descriptions about what happens when you "do it right". Many times, they are metaphoric - even poetic - descriptions of how the process feels.

In the simplest terms as possible, you should approach these types of statements as if they begin with "It may feel to you as if ..." .

For example, the "mind directs the chi" would be interpreted as "it may feel to you as if the mind directs the chi".

And of course - going back to what I quoted from Level 3 - that's exactly how it will feel if you tune in your mental focus to those "natural processes" that should be happening from proper instruction. You will feel as if your mind is directing your chi.

Confucius, Lao Tzu, and Directing the Chi

Instead, these statements are descriptions of what to look for, what to think about, and what to feel in your practice. They give you pointers to the natural processes that are already happening, so that you can become aware of them. Like the old Zen saying, these statements are like "someone pointing at the moon". You aren't meant to look at the person's finger doing the pointing (the statements). Instead, look at the moon it points to (your experience).

If you can approach your practice that way, you'll be better able to build "chi skills" instead of just having a head full of principles. And when that happens, long after you've forgotten these statements, you can still use the chi skills to make yourself healthy and happy for the rest of your life.

Your Comments

From: Bob Hughes, 14 May 2008, 17:59:

Thanks Al,
I like your point about being aware of the qi.

Monk Dogen might have liked it, too.

He liked “not thinking.”
Kim explains “not thinking” as
that which is beyond comprehension.

We trap ourselves when we think in terms of “up” and “down.”
When “Lifting Water” does the qi flow “up” or “down?”
Well, from the “taiji symbol” we can see that in every “up” there is a little “down” and vice versa.

Our normal “thinking” mind can’t be aware of both occurring at the same time.
But “not thinking” can comprehend the natural process.

Actually, in my mind, use another symbol along with the the “taiji symbol.”

You could call it the “taiji cube.”
Draw a cube on a piece of paper.
It’s easy.
Just make two overlapping squares, then connect the corners (its just 8 dots and 12 lines.)
When we stare at this 2-dimensional graphic, the 3rd dimension pops out in our mind.
Fantastic!
A 3rd dimension is created by our mind from a flat piece of paper!
And the cube will oscillate from an up-to-down orientation to a forward-to-back orientation with a blink of the eyes.

Sensing that third dimension is like becoming aware of the qi.

And you could place this in your dantien and let it become your internal guide.

(Dang you Bill, based on your suggestion, I signed up for Bill Harris’ HoloSync. It’s pretty neat.
Now I can project from the dantien that 3-dimensional space as a holographic map of self and the world—
ala Prigogine’s bifurcating chaotic, unstable dissipating structures —

all it takes is synchronizing brain waves left and right.

So the qi flows internally and externally (interanl tai ji cube and external tai chi cube) in all directions at one without “thinking” by “nonthinking.”

“Bad Bob”

From: Tyciol, 18 May 2008, 19:22:

This has been a very interesting article to read.

I can see what you mean about the taoist interpretation. This said, it doesn’t seem that Confucius’ and Taoists’ stances regarding words conflict at all.

Taoists recognize words’ limitations. I think Confucius also did, which was why he sought to define them so that their limitations would not be as bad as they usually are.

The Mind Directs the Chi - Or Does It?

Energetic Flows - Focusing on Natural Processes

Take These As Descriptions, Not Rules or Principles

Confucius, Lao Tzu, and Directing the Chi

Your Comments

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