Who can teach me how to learn Taoist Qigong?

Taoist health-preserving cultivation methods According to statistics from Li Daochun of the Yuan Dynasty, there were more than 3,000 health-preserving cultivation methods circulated at that time, while only about 200 were recorded in Taoist books. To sum up, they can be roughly divided into into ten categories.

1. Daoyin Massage

This type of exercise is for the purpose of fitness and strengthening the body, including Daoyin, massage, acupuncture, and tooth tapping. , drum gargling method, singing Tiangu, dry combing hair, dry face washing, rubbing ears and eyes, spreading water with crane, rubbing soles of feet, pocketing kidneys, spontaneous stimulation, whole body tapping, etc. Most of them use shaking of the limbs as a method, combined with persuasion and meditation to form a series of exercises.

2. Breathing, breathing and moving qi

This type of exercise uses breathing as a method to achieve the effect of prolonging life with full energy, sufficient energy and vitality, and can release internal energy. Qi is altruistic and beneficial to others. Such methods include collecting Qi, eating Qi, holding Qi, refining Qi, spreading Qi (generating Qi), fetal breathing, regulating breath, Liu Zi Jue, etc. Generally speaking, it can be classified into four types: taking external Qi, swallowing vitality, thinking about it, and mobilizing internal Qi.

3. Mind cultivation

Among the Taoist Qigong in my country, apart from "Inner Alchemy", it is the only method. There are many methods, such as Xu Jing Technique, Shen Shen, Vipassana, Contemplation, Meditation, Keeping the Center, Silent Thought, Sitting and Forgetting, Keeping the Aperture, Cumulative Thought Technique, etc. But these methods can be boiled down to one point, which is mainly mind cultivation. , therefore, it can be summed up in one word as "mind cultivation", and is therefore three in number with "inner elixir of heaven" and "exhalation and movement of qi".

The three major categories of Taoist exercises are enough to summarize all the static exercises in our country's Qigong. Among them, "Qi movement" is mainly about breathing practice, and "Ideology practice" is mainly about thought practice; however, both of them are different. It's not that the water in the river does not interfere with the water in the well, and the Jingwei River is distinct, but that there is me in you, and you in me, and they complement each other. "Qi moving" exercises often need to be coordinated with mind activities, and "mind cultivation methods" also indispensable involve breathing, but each has its own specialization and different emphasis. The technique of "Inner Alchemy" combines "breathing" and "thoughts", grafting and gestation, and showing new features, thus becoming an eternal unique skill in Chinese Qigong.

4. Neidan Zhoutian type

This refers to a systematic cultivation method that uses one's own innate energy and spirit as "medicine" and refines "alchemy" in the body. Among the various methods of Taoist cultivation, the theory of inner alchemy is the most exquisite and the methods are the most sophisticated and mature. It can be called the representative and essence of Taoist Qigong.

The schools of inner alchemy are divided into the Southern School, the Northern School, the Central School, the Western School, the Eastern School, the Sanfeng School, and the Qingcheng School; there are more than ten methods of cultivation, but they are all based on the word Xing Ming. For Gangzong. As far as the order of cultivation is concerned, there is a sudden method of cultivating one's nature and then one's life, and there is also a gradual method of cultivating one's nature first and then one's life, and one first one's life and then one's nature.

The method of cultivating one's nature and ending one's life naturally, also known as the "Highest-quality Pill Method" and "The Supreme Vehicle", is a fusion of the way of refining the spirit and the Zen of Zen Buddhism. , ruthless forgetfulness, clear mind and nature.

Cultivation of one’s nature first and then one’s life is advocated by the Northern Sect of Quanzhen Taoism. This method starts from eliminating emotions and desires, calming the mind and stopping thoughts, clarifying the mind and seeing one's nature, ending with mindfulness of the heart and breath, and then the life-clearing technique in sequence. The practice of this alchemy method is divided into four stages: the first stage is to build the foundation for a hundred days and refine the energy to transform into the spirit, also known as Xiao Zhoutian; the second stage is to nourish the fetus in ten months and refine the energy to transform into the spirit, also known as It is the Great Zhoutian; the third stage is three years of breastfeeding, practicing the spirit to return to the void; the fourth stage is nine years of facing the wall, practicing the combination of the void and the Tao.

Cultivation of life first and then nature is advocated by Nanzong. The method starts from the traditional method of inner alchemy of the Zhonglu School, which involves keeping the orifice and regulating the breath, refining the Qi step by step, refining the Qi to transform into the spirit, refining the spirit to return to the void, and at the stage of refining the spirit, studying the principles of Zen Buddhism, in order to "break the void". when".

In terms of cultivation methods, Neidan is divided into two schools: Qing Xiu and Dual Cultivation. The Qing Xiu School believes that yin and yang are sufficient for oneself, and one can only Qing Xiu by oneself. This is the mainstream of inner alchemy. The Dual Cultivation School believes that yin and yang exist in the body of the opposite sex, and advocates that men and women practice together and take medicine from "the same kind of medicine." This type of method is indeed a further development of intragastric surgery since the Qin and Han Dynasties.

Taoism also believes that men and women have different physiology, so the methods of alchemy should be different. Since the Song and Yuan Dynasties, many "female elixir" cultivation methods have emerged, generally starting from the "body training" of Yishoutanzhong.

5. Bigu fasting type

Bigu is also called "quenching the grain", "resting the grain", "cutting the grain", "breaking the grain", etc., that is, within a period of time, even Not eating vegetables, cereals and fireworks for a long time. The origin of fasting in our country is very early, and it did not come about after Taoism. After the rise of Taoism, it took over the method of fasting and not only pushed the practice of fasting in depth, but also gave the theory a mysterious color.

Bigu can be roughly divided into three types: taking qi after bigu, drinking water after bigu, and taking medicine after bigu. Among them, there are hundreds of ways to take medicine. These three methods of fasting grains are generally combined with static exercises such as Qi Convincement.

6. Nutritious food intake

This type of health-preserving practice method is also called "taking food" and "taking food". The things taken can be roughly divided into herbal and stone medicines. Taoism claims that taking elixirs made from gold and stone can lead to immortality, but this has been proved to be a fallacy. However, most of the herbs and other medicines taken have nourishing effects. If taken properly, they are certainly not useless.

For example, taking an appropriate amount of jujube, Ganoderma lucidum, flax, Acanthopanax bark, Poria cocos, wolfberry, rosin, Schisandra chinensis, ginseng, dried rehmannia glutinosa, etc. has a nourishing effect on everyone.

7. Health care in the intercourse

Chinese medicine refers to the sexual life of men and women as intercourse life, also called intercourse, intercourse or intercourse. All methods related to medical health care were called "Fangzhongshu" in ancient China. The ancients believed that "things in the house can give birth to people, and they can also kill people." Therefore, Taoists pay more attention to the research on health preservation in the house. The health-preserving cultivation method in the room is the health knowledge and exercise methods in sexual life. Focusing on the process of "nourishing, consolidating, and preserving essence", we have explored and summarized how to communicate without leaking, and to make the essence flow upward to replenish the brain. Specific methods include "lying alone method", "nursing technique", "collecting tactics", "collecting tonic technique", "four seasons sexual desire method", "seeking children technique", "taboos in the house", etc. There are more than ten methods in the Fang. Whether it is to repair injuries, attack and treat various diseases, or to extract yin and replenish yang to increase longevity, the key lies in "returning essence and replenishing the brain."

8. Daily life and health care

In addition to inner elixirs, qi movement, meditation, feeding, housework, and guidance, Taoist health cultivation techniques also include The method of maintaining health in both the mental and physical aspects involves miscellaneous practices in walking, sitting, lying, daily life, diet, language, emotions, etc. This is the daily life-preserving cultivation method, which can be described as broad, profound, and all-encompassing. It includes the four seasons maintenance method, the emotion adjustment method, the diet maintenance method, the daily maintenance method, etc.

9. Fragrant soup bathing category

Among the various and colorful Taoist cultivation methods, there is another category that is not noticed by the outside world, but it does have certain special features in health cultivation. The most effective health practice is bathing in fragrant soup.

The so-called "fragrance soup" is warm bath water mixed with various fragrant medicinal materials. The function of bathing with fragrant soup is not only to cleanse the body and remove dirt and greasiness, but also to use the enlightening influence of washing body dirt, which in turn plays a certain role in cleansing the heart. A person's demeanor is naturally clear, which is conducive to health preservation and cultivation. In Taoism, people should bathe in fragrant water before practicing Taoism. This has its own truth.

Five kinds of fragrant soup are commonly used for bathing. The so-called "five spices" are the general name for five kinds of fragrant herbs or spices: Angelica dahurica, peach bark, cypress leaves, Lingling and Qingmuxiang. Among them, Angelica dahurica contains a large amount of volatile oil and has a fragrant smell. According to Taoist secrets, it has the effect of warding off evil spirits and removing three corpses. Peach bark is the bark of the peach tree after the cork has been removed. Because the peel contains naringenin, citrin, etc., it has a fragrant smell and has a strong brain-invigorating effect. It can kill various sore insects and relieve Sha Qi. Cypress leaves have the effects of lightening the body and replenishing qi, making people resistant to cold and heat, removing dampness and numbness, and quelling hunger. Linglingxiang has good curative effect on bad gas, toothache and nasal congestion. Qingmuxiang has the effect of lifting and lowering, and promoting vomiting. It can also wake up pores and promote blood circulation in subcutaneous capillaries, making bathers feel comfortable all over.

The fragrant soup must be made according to a certain amount and heat, as well as special water, bath beans, honey soup, etc. Those who prepare soup have immeasurable merit.

10. Fingerprint spells and spells

Taoism, like Buddhist Tantra, also has fingerprints and spells. Taoist handprints are called "Jue" and "Shou Jue", and the gesture of making the Jue with the fingers is called "Pinch Jue". There are dozens of types of formulas, and their functions are the same as those of Buddhist mudras, but the rules of finger coordination are different. The Taoist mantra is called "zhu" or "curse". There are approximately three forms: the first is rhyme, the second is unrhymed phrases, and the third is taken from Buddhist mantras.

In Taoist practice, mantras are often used, especially those such as thinking and subduing external energy. When starting to perform exercises and finishing the exercises, you must chant the incantations. Mantras are also often used in inner alchemy practice. When reciting the mantra, you not only need to pinch the formula, but also think about it. The combination of thinking, chanting mantras, and kneading formulas at the same time is like the correspondence between the three secrets of Buddhism. The Taoist Fu-Zhuan sect often writes talismans when practicing. There are many types of talismans, each with its own use. Although summoning gods and controlling ghosts is nonsense, the actual use of talismans and seals is closely related to Qigong practice.

In the past few years, when people mentioned pinching, chanting mantras, or drawing talismans, they were naturally associated with feudal superstition. With the in-depth development of Qigong science and the popularization and increase of Qigong practice, people began to notice that there are actually many articles in these strange phenomena such as formulas, mantras and talismans. In particular, the promotion of the Three Secrets of Tantric Buddhism and its recognition by the human body science community have made people re-examine the secrets, mantras and talismans in Taoism. Of course, it will take some time to wipe off the dirt. But some have been liberated, such as the six-character formula of "blow", "he", "hush", "呞", "hu", and "hee", which have been recognized for their remarkable effects in treating diseases and maintaining health, and are widely used. ; The mudra of "holding firm" can unify the heart energy and ward off evil and poisonous energy, which is also recognized; the mudra of "sword finger" is also recognized and widely used for its significant role in generating energy and curing diseases.

How to appreciate the ten major categories of Taoist cultivation methods? How to judge its level? In the article "Zhongheji·Touchstone", Li Daochun proposed the method and standard of classification, that is, the cultivation methods are divided into three levels: the ninth level of the next door, the third level of the gradual method, and the highest level.

Take the Dun method (refining the spirit in the mind cultivation method), which directly cultivates the nature and returns it to emptiness, as the highest vehicle.

Neidan Zhoutian is divided into three vehicles of gradual method, and the three vehicles are divided into the first vehicle, the middle vehicle and the superior vehicle.

In the hundred-day foundation-building stage, you can refine the Qi and transform it into human immortality, and you will get the golden elixir, which is the first level; in the ten-month pregnancy-raising stage, you will refine the Qi and transform it into gods, and you will get the divine elixir, and you will be the Earth Immortal Zhongcheng. Intermediate level; after practicing Shenxu for three years during the lactation stage, he also cultivated to become a heavenly immortal, and obtained the great elixir, which is the superior level.

11. All other cultivation methods are side doors that cannot be entered into. To put it in modern terms, this kind of method is a popular fitness-type Qigong or health-preserving method, and it is not qualified to talk about cultivation, and it is not high enough.

Li Daochun's evaluation method is representative in Taoism and is basically recognized by various schools.