Definitions of Qi - A way to honour all integrally

[Guest guest]

Some of you may remember I posted my ideas on what Qi was, co-

incidentally much similar to 's and also based on Ken

Wilber's

ideas. I have gone a step further and thought someone might be

interested in having a look, so I could get your thoughts and

criticisms.

 

http://forums.acupuncture.net.au/viewtopic.php?t=218

 

Cheers

Lionel

 

PS. If you are from Australia and didn't know about it, we now have

forums at acupuncture.net.au , free to register. Please feel free to

join us in the local CM community!

 

 

 

Recently I discussed the concept of Qi with two highly experienced

individuals – a Zen Master in Kyoto Japan and my father. They both

had slightly different approaches but I will try to give a synopsis

of their comments and a few of my own understandings.

 

Reality can be expressed through the symbol of the Tai Chi – the Yin

and the Yang. These are `forces' or interactions that are occurring

within the infinite Tao. These are not `things' these are

relationships within aspects of the Tao to other aspects of the Tao.

These are not separate realities they are a way of describing

the `all' the infinite undefined, unlimited state of being that the

Chinese call the Tao. As modern research has demonstrated there are

no `things' or `objects' there is only the Tao – this is a field of

infinite being which has no beginning and no end. Because we humans

are limited in our perceptions by our limited sensual field we

perceive reality as though it were an object or a thing but it is

not - it is a field of something the Chinese call Qi. This has often

been called `energy' – meaning that reality is a field of energy –

but this also is an illusion.

 

When the expansive, dispersing quality interacts with the

contracting or solidifying quality – the Yang with the Yin – then

there is created an internal tension within the One – the Tao – this

tension is called Qi. Although energy is assumed within the concept

of Qi it is incorrect to call Qi as `energy' simply because that

concept is limited – and does not include all aspects of `Qi'. Qi is

not a substance it is in the commonly referred sense - a perception.

It is the `intensity' or `subtlety' of perception. We humans only

perceive the differentiated world through our senses or perceptions.

 

The Zen masters who spend their life studying the Qi have equated it

to `concentration'. Meaning as the tension within the Yin and Yang

shifts we perceive this as more or less of something. It is the

fluctuations between the rising and falling `intensity'.

 

My father says Qi because it is not a thing can not be directly seen

or described (this is why it is difficult to express what it is) but

it's movements and intensity can be `felt' or perceived by the

senses. We do this in various ways and for various reasons – as an

example - if the mind is clear and sharp as opposed to dull or murky

then the mind can be said to have more Qi (righteous Qi) – we can

feel Qi as stagnation or blockage – sometimes we perceive

the `energy' in the surface sometimes in the interior – sometimes it

feels like it `flows' - sometimes we feel nothing. The Master

says `there are really only three types of perception – attraction,

aversion, and no feeling (in technical meditation terms this is

called ignorance or lack of perception) – the degree of perception

is Qi – the object of perception is also Qi. Since reality occurs in

waves or frequencies the alignment of the mental Qi with the Tao

(full or completed Qi) – then this is enlightenment or direct

perception of the `Truth' – or `Clear' perception of the Qi'.

 

In our tradition of Ayurveda we call Qi as Prana – and it is

frequently thought of in this way. The infinite Brahma – the `One'

contains within in it all that will ever be – but this is always

shifting, moving, and rearranging itself – in the same way that the

sun rises or the weather patterns form or the blood courses through

the body, etc, infinitely etc.! This is called Prana it is an aspect

(in this sense) of movement. Ayurveda postulates that all of reality

is made of two cold elements one is empty and cold like space or the

ether (in Sanskrit this is called Vata or Vayu) – the other force

cold and contracting and solidifying – like ice or stones (In

Sanskrit this is called Kappa) As these forces interact a third

force is created called heat – the formation of heat in this sense

is similar to friction – (in Sanskrit this force is called Pitta) .

In other words heat is created because of a tension between two cold

forces the both of which are inert in themselves – but as they

interact they create heat or activity – and this is what is called

Prana (Qi) – so Prana has an active quality since it symbolizes

motion (this is why it is seen as part of the Yang – but of course

the yin also has Qi in it – it is a matter of intensity or density –

Yin has Yang within it just as Yang has yin – if it were not so then

there would be no inherent activity). Meaning that reality manifests

out of this movement – some motion is contracting some expanding –

all `objects' or manifestations are simply relative states of this

heat and movement within the inert substances – in otherwords –

reality manifests as varying intensities of heat and movement –

this is of course relative as the terms heat and cold and inert and

active only have meaning in a relative anthropomorphic manner. These

terms relate more to us as human beings than to the absolute nature

of reality. This is one reason why sensual perception often seems

inadequate – because it is – the senses and the analytical mind can

only perceive a portion of the `truth' and even that is perceived

through the filter of the ego (Sanskrit Ahimkara) in otherwords

personally interpreted (this is why there seems to be a

different `reality' for each individual) because the organs of

perception and interpretation are different for each of us.

 

I quoted Lao Tsu before but would like to repeat him here – `The Tao

being full of itself becomes the Two – the Two becomes the Three and

the Three becomes the Ten Thousand.' In this couplet the

word `becomes' refers to the action of the Qi. All of existence

is `becoming' – and the symbol of this becoming – from every atom to

every galaxy – is Qi.

 

Jack has a thread on his (Aetheric) right now that is

discussing the structure of these `energy' fields – through the work

of Buckminster Fuller – I Jing – etc. for those interested in going

deeper into how the Tao organizes itself.

 

Also I would like to thank Rob and Lionel for their postings. Rob's

posting of links to www.itmonline.org were very welcome. I would

recommend all students to study the essays of Subhuti Dharmananda –

since his knowledge is extraordinary – he is a true master herbalist

having in depth understanding of many schools – including Western,

Ayurveda, and TCM. An authentic genius.

 

I am writing a piece that gives what I think are some important

points concerning Liver disease – we need more time to do everything

we would like.

[Guest guest]

Vinod:

 

Thank you for your excellent description of Qi-Prana.

Would you mind if I cross-posted to the Aetheric list?

 

Regards, Jack

 

--- Vinod Kumar <vinod3x3 wrote:

 

> Some of you may remember I posted my ideas on what

> Qi was, co-

> incidentally much similar to 's and also

> based on Ken

> Wilber's

> ideas. I have gone a step further and thought

> someone might be

> interested in having a look, so I could get your

> thoughts and

> criticisms.

>

> http://forums.acupuncture.net.au/viewtopic.php?t=218

>

> Cheers

> Lionel

>

> PS. If you are from Australia and didn't know about

> it, we now have

> forums at acupuncture.net.au , free to register.

> Please feel free to

> join us in the local CM community!

>

>

>

> Recently I discussed the concept of Qi with two

> highly experienced

> individuals ?a Zen Master in Kyoto Japan and my

> father. They both

> had slightly different approaches but I will try to

> give a synopsis

> of their comments and a few of my own

> understandings.

>

> Reality can be expressed through the symbol of the

> Tai Chi ?the Yin

> and the Yang. These are `forces' or interactions

> that are occurring

> within the infinite Tao. These are not `things'

> these are

> relationships within aspects of the Tao to other

> aspects of the Tao.

> These are not separate realities they are a way of

> describing

> the `all' the infinite undefined, unlimited state of

> being that the

> Chinese call the Tao. As modern research has

> demonstrated there are

> no `things' or `objects' there is only the Tao ?>

this is a field of

> infinite being which has no beginning and no end.

> Because we humans

> are limited in our perceptions by our limited

> sensual field we

> perceive reality as though it were an object or a

> thing but it is

> not - it is a field of something the Chinese call

> Qi. This has often

> been called `energy' ?meaning that reality is a

> field of energy ?

> but this also is an illusion.

>

> When the expansive, dispersing quality interacts

> with the

> contracting or solidifying quality ?the Yang with

> the Yin ?then

> there is created an internal tension within the One

> ?the Tao ?this

> tension is called Qi. Although energy is assumed

> within the concept

> of Qi it is incorrect to call Qi as `energy' simply

> because that

> concept is limited ?and does not include all

> aspects of `Qi'. Qi is

> not a substance it is in the commonly referred sense

> - a perception.

> It is the `intensity' or `subtlety' of perception.

> We humans only

> perceive the differentiated world through our senses

> or perceptions.

>

> The Zen masters who spend their life studying the Qi

> have equated it

> to `concentration'. Meaning as the tension within

> the Yin and Yang

> shifts we perceive this as more or less of

> something. It is the

> fluctuations between the rising and falling

> `intensity'.

>

> My father says Qi because it is not a thing can not

> be directly seen

> or described (this is why it is difficult to express

> what it is) but

> it's movements and intensity can be `felt' or

> perceived by the

> senses. We do this in various ways and for various

> reasons ?as an

> example - if the mind is clear and sharp as opposed

> to dull or murky

> then the mind can be said to have more Qi (righteous

> Qi) ?we can

> feel Qi as stagnation or blockage ?sometimes we

> perceive

> the `energy' in the surface sometimes in the

> interior ?sometimes it

> feels like it `flows' - sometimes we feel nothing.

> The Master

> says `there are really only three types of

> perception ?attraction,

> aversion, and no feeling (in technical meditation

> terms this is

> called ignorance or lack of perception) ?the degree

> of perception

> is Qi ?the object of perception is also Qi. Since

> reality occurs in

> waves or frequencies the alignment of the mental Qi

> with the Tao

> (full or completed Qi) ?then this is enlightenment

> or direct

> perception of the `Truth' ?or `Clear' perception of

> the Qi'.

>

> In our tradition of Ayurveda we call Qi as Prana ?>

and it is

> frequently thought of in this way. The infinite

> Brahma ?the `One'

> contains within in it all that will ever be ?but

> this is always

> shifting, moving, and rearranging itself ?in the

> same way that the

> sun rises or the weather patterns form or the blood

> courses through

> the body, etc, infinitely etc.! This is called Prana

> it is an aspect

> (in this sense) of movement. Ayurveda postulates

> that all of reality

> is made of two cold elements one is empty and cold

> like space or the

> ether (in Sanskrit this is called Vata or Vayu) ?>

the other force

> cold and contracting and solidifying ?like ice or

> stones (In

> Sanskrit this is called Kappa) As these forces

> interact a third

> force is created called heat ?the formation of heat

> in this sense

> is similar to friction ?(in Sanskrit this force is

> called Pitta) .

> In other words heat is created because of a tension

> between two cold

> forces the both of which are inert in themselves ?>

but as they

> interact they create heat or activity ?and this is

> what is called

> Prana (Qi) ?so Prana has an active quality since it

> symbolizes

> motion (this is why it is seen as part of the Yang

?> but of course

> the yin also has Qi in it ?it is a matter of

> intensity or density ?

> Yin has Yang within it just as Yang has yin ?if it

> were not so then

> there would be no inherent activity). Meaning that

> reality manifests

> out of this movement ?some motion is contracting

> some expanding ?

> all `objects' or manifestations are simply relative

> states of this

> heat and movement within the inert substances ?in

> otherwords ?

> reality manifests as varying intensities of heat

> and movement ?

> this is of course relative as the terms heat and

> cold and inert and

> active only have meaning in a relative

> anthropomorphic manner. These

> terms relate more to us as human beings than to the

> absolute nature

> of reality. This is one reason why sensual

> perception often seems

> inadequate ?because it is ?the senses and the

> analytical mind can

> only perceive a portion of the `truth' and even that

> is perceived

> through the filter of the ego (Sanskrit Ahimkara) in

> otherwords

> personally interpreted (this is why there seems to

> be a

> different `reality' for each individual) because the

> organs of

> perception and interpretation are different for each

> of us.

>

> I quoted Lao Tsu before but would like to repeat him

> here ?`The Tao

> being full of itself becomes the Two ?the Two

> becomes the Three and

> the Three becomes the Ten Thousand.' In this couplet

> the

> word `becomes' refers to the action of the Qi. All

> of existence

>

=== message truncated ===

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.fengshuiphoenix.com/chen_wenjun_services.htm

 

Qi Men Dun Jia / Chinese Divination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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