Spotless

In the tradition of Shaolin Fohanmen, visualization is not part of the teaching. That should not be taken as a diss on visualization in general. I was once asked by my master to trace / feel the Du channel inch by inch from the perineum, up the back and the back of the neck and along the head and down to the mouth, then with a tracing that extended out to the left hand and back, and then down the REN channel back to the perinium. i was instructed to go very slowly, to feel this along the outside of my skin. Not to skip along but to move in very slow fully felt tracing. It was important to do this once. I was unaware of what this was for and did not know what the MCO was, or of the concept. Master Yao spoke no English, however a translator and student instructed me on the specifics and in particular the tracing from the mouth to the left hand and back. When this was done Master Yao appeared to have approved and it was noted that this did not need to be repeated as a practice. That it was only important to do it well once. As practice progressed, it became apparent that a great many of the movements initiated energies moving up the Du and down the Ren. It was a natural progression that led to the opening of the MCO as described in the previous postings.

In the physical practices of qi gong, nei gong, neidan, one is constantly initiating high and low pressures up the back channels and down the front. The importance of all 4 levels of breath, inhale Hold, exhale Hold cannot be stressed enough. Like the tides: high tide, slack tide, low tide, slack tide. each is a movement of energy, a transcendence, a pooling. skipping one is like skipping a track in a song. the “holds”allow for the finish of energy movement. This is of the utmost significance. Without this, it is like skipping out on the essence of the teaching. pumping up may feel like it’s the meat, and that Doing is where it all happens, but this is simply an allure, a fall back into your noise. you will outrun your body and the energies will be unable to settle, infuse and transform. This is the exquisite experience, it is skipped by most for a more martial experience. these subtle bodies will not dissipate in sickness or with lack of practice