CHI GONG AT THE TIBETAN HEALTH CENTER
Stephen Rush, L. Ac.
Every living, breathing, human body has “Chi”. In my opinion, the best definition of Chi is in terms of function. Chi could therefore be defined as the capacity of the individual’s body/mind system to maintain its’ integrity, to resist the forces of entropy, which if unchecked, will result in the disintegration of that person’s body/mind, leading to disease, and ultimately their death. As such, Chi does not have to be thought of in some mysterious, fantasy-like aspect, as it is not necessary for the hands to emit beams of multicolored light, or for the “Third Eye” to appear open and bright, for an individual to experience good health, good spirits, longevity, and good “Chi”.
Therefore, in the best sense of the term, "Chi" is quite ordinary, quite everyday, a virtually ubiquitous phenomena to be found among all the living beings and creatures in this universe.
Chi Gong is the practice of becoming aware of one’s natural, innate, potential to heal, enhance longevity, and even to develop specific abilities, encompassing the entire continuum of Human interests in that respect.
As such, Chi Gong is especially noted for its’ value in the development of the activities which one might say “bracket” that continuum of Human affairs: at one end, healing: :(giving/restoring of life) . At the other end of that continuum sits the Martial Chi Gong: (concerned with combat-specific skills, arguably about the taking away of life).
However, as in the Yin/Yang paradigm, two seemingly complete opposites combine to make one whole. In fact, in the center of the largest part of the dark Yin half of the symbol, we see a tiny white speck of Yang. And in the center of the Larger section of the white Yin half, a speck of the black Yin. So it is said that Yin begets Yang, and Yang begets Yin.
In keeping with this observation, it is perhaps not too surprising to find that some of the “Martial” Chi Gong practices do, in fact, have a remarkably beneficial health effect on those who learn and practice them. After all, one of the critical systems in the human body for maintaining life is the Immune system, which works by identifying and killing invasive microbes, and mutated body cells.
The Chi Gong that I teach at the Tibetan Center is rooted in three lineages, of which I am a teacher. The first lineage is from the Tong Shao Tao association, of Taiwan, which was headed by the late Master Hsu Hong Hsi. He was as renowned for his skill in combat as he was for his skill in healing, particularly the art of “Jing Ku”, or Traditional Bone-Setting.
The second was the lineage of the Six Harmonies and the Eight Methods, which was taught to me by the late Dr. Loo, York Y. (Dr. Loo was also my first acupuncture teacher. I began learning the art of needling from him, in his living room, in 1980. ). Although Dr. Loo spoke very little English, and I spoke virtually no Chinese, he was able to teach me via an almost intuitive bond that developed between us. In many ways, Dr. Loo was the most profound and influential teacher I have had the privilege of studying from.
The third lineage i teach from is one that I am not allowed to reveal the source of, aside from mentioning that it is, in all likelihood, historically the oldest of the three. I believe its roots extend back into Chinese/Tibetan Prehistory, but that is about all I’m willing to say about it. Sorry!
From these three sources, Ii have compiled a series of incremental, methodical, exercises and practices, to be done on a daily basis by my students. I allow people to learn at the pace/level that they are comfortable with......I do not try to impose a pace upon them.
The practices that I have acquired from these three traditions are quite compatible with each other, but I make no claim or pretensions to have absolutely “mastered” any of them. Instead, I regard them as Treasures, with many facets that have yet to reveal themselves to me. Bit by bit, i have added to my understanding of them through my practice over the last few decades. These things are as much a “work in progress” for me as they are for my most beginning-level students, and I feel that is as it should be. I simply have a thirty year head-start on the beginners, is all.
However, experience, in Chi Gong practice, in healing, and in combat, too, DOES make a difference, and i am more than willing to openly share my experiences, for the most part, with my students.