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<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nOne of my favorite longevity qigong forms is Primordial Wuji Qigong. The form I practice is technically mine in origins, but the philosophy behind it belongs to a long tradition of qigong cultivation. I became interested in it during the early 2000\u2019s. At that time, I was studying the writings of a variety of qigong teachers: Roger Jahnke, Jerry Alan Johnson, Michael Winn, Daniel Reid, Solala Towler, and Ken Cohen. Several of them had written extensively or produced videos on the Primordial qigong. They referred to it in a variety of names: Hunyuan Gong, Primordial Qigong, Hundun Qigong, or \u201cTaiji Hunyuan Nei Gong (Undifferentiated Primordial Inner Work).\u201d [1]<\/a> I was mysteriously drawn to it, even though I did not have any direct experience of its form. From the descriptions I read about it, I deduced that it consisted of a lot of circling and spiraling movements. Roger Jahnke described it as a returning and moving in reverse to the natural pattern of things. I started creating my own form, using some of my favorite rolling and spiraling qigong movements, and deepening my understanding of key principles of the Primordial philosophy.<\/p>\n At the 2001 National Qigong Association conference in Rhinebeck, N.Y., Omega Institute, just after the 9\/11 tragedy, I spoke with Roger Jahnke. I believe it was the Saturday afternoon when we ran into each other outside during the break between workshops. We talked for about fifteen minutes or longer, and spent a fair amount of time on my interests in learning more about Primordial Qigong. He was supportive, however, in directing me to continue developing my own version of it. As much as I can remember now, seven years later, he seemed to be saying that the external form was not nearly as important as the internal transformation of returning to the One \u2013 the undifferentiated unity of all things. This last part was not his; I forget the exact words he used.<\/p>\n A recent article in \u201cThe Empty Vessel\u201d magazine has an in-depth analysis of Primordial Qigong. Ken Cohen, the author of the article, explores the philosophy, the history, the benefits, and the practice of \u201cHunyuan Qigong.\u201d[2]<\/a> I particularly like Cohen\u2019s discussion on how Primordial Qigong belongs to the Daoist qigong category because it uses concepts and practices from Daoism.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cxing ming shuang xiu \u2018body and spirit cultivated in balance,\u2019 shui huo xiang jiao \u2018fire and water meet,\u2019 and lian dan \u2018cultivating the elixir.\u2019\u201d[3]<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n These concepts are key ingredients for the understanding of the internal transformation I referred to earlier. When I talked about the importance of the inner work over the external movements, it was concepts like these that I had in mind. Cohen supports my claim: \u201cExternal movement is always accompanied by internal movement, and for this reason Primordial Qigong may be considered \u2018inner work.\u2019\u201d[4]<\/a> In fact, a couple years ago, I wrote to Ken Cohen and asked him if he had a video\/DVD on Primordial Qigong I could purchase. He wrote back and said he had an old video on it, but it was not an instructional video. It did not explain the internal meditation, which is the heart of the form. Needless to say, I didn\u2019t purchase the video.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before I move onto my explanation of how to practice Primordial Wuji Qigong, I want to highlight another point Cohen made in his article. He says, \u201cOne of the most interesting aspects of Primordial Qigong is that it can, according to master Feng\u2019s book, strengthen the prenatal primordial qi.\u201d[5]<\/a> I agree with Cohen on this point completely. It confirms what I have read from other sources that according to a Daoist perspective, our constitutional nature or qi, which we acquire at birth via our parents, ancestors, and even the environment at the time of our birth, can be altered if we \u201cchange our relationship to Heaven and Earth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Primordial Qigong exercises and meditations teach the student to blend the subtle qi of the universe with the denser qi within the body.\u201d[6]<\/a> This is a major point in discussing the benefits of Primordial Qigong. It explains how an ordinary person can align himself or herself with universal energies, and become more like the universe. This is the path to immortality, isn\u2019t it? Making the body\u2019s qi as subtle as the qi of the universe. I am reminded of another ancient phrase \u2013 To live as long as Heaven and Earth \u2013 another reference to immortality. Aligning oneself with the universe may contribute to longevity and spiritual cultivation, but many people want to know if the practice will help them recover from cancer or some other serious condition. I personally feel the answer is \u2018yes\u2019 and even Cohen in his article provides a short story of people recovering from cancer who took his workshops on Primordial Qigong. I quote, \u201chas the most dramatic effect on cancer.\u201d And he adds, \u201cto correct all sorts of imbalances \u2013 from too much yang, autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, or too yin, immune deficiency or depletion.\u201d[7]<\/a><\/p>\n Primordial Wuji Qigong: The Philosophy<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Primordial Wuji Qigong is based on reversing time and returning to the Source, or Dao. It is based in the tradition of Inner Alchemy of cultivating the Five Elements and transmutation of the Three Treasures: vital essence, jing; vital energy, qi; and spirit, shen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The form combines a deep qigong meditation while moving the body gently. The circulating of the hands is like gathering in of universal life forces. Moving in reverse with the seasons, starting with spring, there is a turning back of time. Energetically, this reversal of time takes you back towards your prenatal original qi \u2013 the primordial qi state of pure health, pure spirit, and undifferentiated unity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Furthermore, as you perform this form, you are aware that although you may have health problems on one level of your physical self, on a deeper level, the energetic or spirit level, you know you are already healed, whole, and united in harmony with nature or Original Nature. In this heightened state of illumination, you absorb the primordial energies deep into your body and mind. Your qi meridians and dantian qi fields are filled. Gradually, your focus of healing shifts from the physical to the spiritual.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The goal of Primordial Wuji Qigong is to return to the ultimate nature or source of the universe. This may be described as emptiness, or the view that all things are not separate from other things. This ultimate state is beyond intellectual comprehension, and can only be experienced directly. The Buddhists and Daoists describe this state as being already within us, and it is a process of clearing the illusions so we can clearly experience our Original Nature. The ancient Daoists called this Original Nature, the Dao. Those who achieve this level of realization are sages or immortals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The following quote explains this interaction of what is known as the Zuowang View and Method and the Daoist Inner Alchemy tradition. It deals directly with the two traditions of alchemical change processes and the meditative traditions of an original perfected state of being already present within us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Quote from The Dragon\u2019s Mouth, Autumn 2002, British Taoist Association<\/p>\n \u201cQuestion to Liu Ming: What about the more \u2018active\u2019 practices like alchemical meditation? Isn\u2019t that based on \u2018producing an elixir\u2019?<\/p>\n Liu Ming: It seems that way but, in fact, nothing is produced. This is an excellent point for the importance of the connectedness of view and method. The common misunderstandings of Daoism in modern times are based on poor translations and inexperienced teachers. The basis (View) of inner alchemy (neidan) is found, not produced. The action (Method) of inner alchemy is natural, not forced, and the result (Fruit) is the revelation, the revealing of things as they actually are. This revealing process is based on relaxing, not producing, on letting go, not acquiring. In that sense, there is no \u2018producing the elixir\u2019, there is only finding it. If our view tells us it has always been there, finding it is not really very \u2018spiritually exciting\u2019 or extraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Method: Phase One<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Primordial Wuji Qigong begins by standing still and facing East. Next, start opening and closing your hands in front of your Lower Dantian. Think of the Earth Element and the ground beneath your feet. Gather the Earth energy up from the ground and imagine it flowing into your stomach and spleen organs. Cultivate the qualities of nourishing, supporting, and life giving with the yellow earth energy. Visualize the Yellow Dragon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Expand the open and closing movements to rolling the ball movements. Feel you are pulling in Earth energies and circulating them throughout your body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You now transition to the Wood Element and nourish the organs of the liver and gall bladder, still facing East. Cultivate the spring<\/span> qualities of new growth, new beginnings, creative energy, and expansion. As you roll the ball, you can turn to your left and feel as if you are gathering the Wood energy from all around you, BUT, especially the East direction. Visualize the Green Dragon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Turn towards the north direction, and focus on gathering in the energies of the Water Element. Cultivate the winter<\/span> and Water qualities of flowing, fluidity, dormancy and storing. Harmonize the kidneys and bladder with the dark blue and black energies of the Black Tortoise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As you continue to roll the ball, focus on the west direction and the Metal Element. This is the season of the fall<\/span>, nourishing the lungs and large intestines with the white metal energy. Cultivate the qualities of substance, strength, structure, harvest, hardening and condensing. Visualize the White Tiger.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lastly, turning and rolling to the south, focus on gathering the Fire Element to nourish the heart, the small intestine, the pericardium, and the triple warmer meridian. This is the summer<\/span> season with healing red energy benefiting these organs. Cultivate the qualities of warmth, light, vitality, energy, and luminous and full growth. Visualize the Red Phoenix.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Complete the turning and rolling the ball by coming back to the east and standing still, hands on Lower Dantian. Be mindful of all the energies you just gathered in, and allow them to sink deep inside you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Method: Phase Two<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Begin this next phase by imagining holding a qi ball in your hands, and moving them up and down in a small circle in front of your waist. The hands move up, close to the body, and away from you, as they descend. Imagine one hand is the yin hand and the other one is the yang hand. They represent all the Five Elements you just gathered, but now simply as the water and fire energies. Think of the earlier quote by Ken Cohen, \u201cfire and water meet,\u201d and realize that you are now blending your own fire and water qualities.You are mixing these two vital ingredients in the cauldron of the Lower Dantian. The water energy, which normally flows downward, you are now raising up, and the fire energy, which normally rises, you are sinking downward. By blending them together, you are cultivating the Three Treasures of jing, qi and shen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proceeding in this alchemical transformation, you become more and more aware that there are no longer two elements, two things, you are blending; they have become one element, one undifferentiated unity. You finally realize, that is, you wake up to the truth that it was a process of clearing, of forgetting the illusions of separateness. You realize that there was never anything to produce, you just needed to relax, let go, be open as the universe, and accept Primordial Nature as your own Original Nature.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Method: Phase Three<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The hands come to rest again on the Lower Dantian. Your mind is full of clarity and stillness. In a spontaneous burst of energy, you move into the wuji palms facing heaven qigong movement, turning towards your right. You are now moving in the field of Hundun, the chaos of the universe. Internally, you are in harmony with the universe, and externally, your chaotic, circling movements are in harmony with Chaos. And, as I said earlier in quoting Cohen, Primordial Qigong is blending \u201cthe subtle qi of the universe with the denser qi within the body.\u201d There is no effort, no producing at this point. You are manifesting the true state of Wu Wei, naturally doing using no force.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Method: Closing Phase<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Slowly return to facing east. Your movements ease back into opening and closing, and then gradually, just resting the hands on the Lower Dantian, again. At this point, there is very little to say about your experience. You have gathered all the energies of the universe. You blended them all into a unity within you. You played in the field of Hundun. You dissolved into the nothingness of Primordial Oneness.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I forget where I found the following description of the dragon and the pearl, but it sums up the whole process of Primordial Qigong.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Primordial Qigong is symbolic of the immortal dragon chasing after the pearl of immortality. Once found, the dragon ingests the pearl and lives forever in the immortal realms of Primordial nature, flowing endlessly toward the Source.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a>\u00a0Hunyuan Qigong: Tracing Life To Its Root, Ken Cohen. The Empty Vessel: A Journal of Daoist Philosophy and Practice, Winter 2008 pgs. 10-16.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid., pgs. 10-16.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid., pg. 15.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid., pg. 15.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid., pg. 15.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid., pg. 16.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a>\u00a0Ibid., pg. 14.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Michael Rinaldini 2013<\/p>\n Bio:<\/p>\n Michael Rinaldini (Li Chang Dao)\u2013is the Director of Qigong & Daoist Training Center, and a 22ndgeneration Longmen (Dragon Gate) Daoist priest. Shifu Michael founded the American Dragon Gate Lineage with the support of Master Wan Su Jian from Beijing, China. The Lineage is a non-monastic community of members devoted to the spreading of Daoism and the cultivation of the Dao. He offers Qigong Certification Programs for Advanced Trainings, local, national and international. Shifu Michael\u2019s first book was published in May, 2013 and focuses on the practices of a modern day western Daoist: A Daoist Practice Journal: Come Laugh With Me<\/b> which is available on Amazon.com www.qigongdragon.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n