Chapter 21 Shouqiao and Qi Refining

From the point of view of the alchemy of Taoist cultivation, "keeping the orifices" and "refining qi" are not the same thing. "Keeping the orifice" is to use the function of the conscious mind. "Refining Qi" means exercising breathing.But no matter what the similarities and differences between "keeping the orifice" and "practicing qi" are, it is inseparable from the relationship of "preservation". Generally, people who are engaged in Taoism or meditation, no matter whether they start with "keeping the orifice" or "practicing qi", "Starting from the beginning, it is believed that Qi and meditation, Qi and Dao, Qi and the art of immortal health are absolutely related.Especially those who specialize in practicing "Qigong" and "Yoga" pay more attention to "Qi".In the sixty years from the end of the Qing Dynasty to the present, due to the widespread popularity of internal Taijiquan, the so-called Taijiquan principle of "sinking Qi to the dantian" has almost become a household term. To guide the breathing air to the "dantian", hoping to "sink the qi into the dantian" so that one can enter the Tao.

In addition, there are many people who practice different kinds of qigong and even different kinds of Taoism. They often come to ask what method or how to practice to make the "qi mechanism" stay in the "dantian"?Or ask how to stop the Qi machine in a certain place?I find these questions very interesting, and I often ask them back: For example, if there is a hollow leather bag, or a hollow leather ball, you have injected air into it, and hope that the "air" will only stay in this leather bag Or somewhere on the ball, can you do it?It is undeniable that everyone will answer: that is absolutely impossible.From this answer, we can also understand the human body. Although there are bones and internal organs inside, it is still like a hollow leather bag or ball. "Qi machine" is an expert, it is omnipotent, and it flows freely everywhere. "Qi mechanism" only stays in a certain part of the body, unless the internal physiological function has already been obstructed, it can only happen to people who are seriously ill, and it is absolutely impossible for a normal and disease-free person to do so.

If it is said that some people who are engaged in "keeping the orifice" or "refining Qi" can indeed do it, it is not impossible.Well, I can tell you that it is an illusion caused by one's own psychological consciousness, and it is not that there is really a "qi" staying there.At the same time, what he feels and what he sees in the body is only the effect of nerve and blood vessel congestion, which is related to the relationship between the psychological consciousness guiding the concentration of the mind, rather than the retention of "Qi".Because when the psychological consciousness is focused on a certain part of the body, the nerves, muscles, and blood will all work with the concentrated power of the consciousness. Let it stay there obediently.Then, is the Taoist saying of "refining essence to transform qi, refining qi to transform emptiness, and refining spirit to return emptiness" completely false?otherwise!otherwise!That is also a real thing, but can we really understand exactly what "Qi" is?That's the most pressing question.