My Odyssey Into The World Of Qigong
I have tried various forms of Qigong, starting with Mantak Chia's Taoist's basic meditation exercise where one tries to encourage the energy to go into the "Microcosmic Orbit." Here you attempt to lead the chi through various centers, starting in the abdomen, rising up to the top of the head, and descending down the back until it loops back under and up to the abdomen. This not only is said to be a superior way to move, or have the energy move, but also is claimed to afford many healing benefits within the body, and mind.I wrote to Mantak Chia after being impressed with his book and seeing the possibilities his Taoist teachings held for healing and balancing Kundalini energy. I found his method quite enjoyable to practice. After about 3 days of trying it, too much *Kundalini energy increased in me and I wrote Mantak Chia back to see if he had any further remedies for balancing the unruly Kundalini flow.
He was very gracious in answering my letter(s), but after several unsuccessful attempts, he suggested the TM organization that, in his words, had caused many problems with their techniques, should correct the problems. Sadly, this was the end of my attempts to fix Kundalini with his methods, though I respect him for at least being kind enough to try to help.
After this disappointing foray, I dug deep into the world of Qigong, reading every magazine article and book article I could find--given my limitations on reading, you can imagine how much time I spent researching the possibilities for Kundalini conditions Qigong seemed to offer.
I wrote to various Qigong Masters in America and in China. I contacted the American Qigong Association in California seeking a Kundalini cure, leaving no stones unturned in my far and wide search for effective assistance. The head of the Qigong Association referred me to a very helpful Qigong Master in California. His ideas were sound and safe, but did not work with balancing Kundalini in my case.
About a year ago, I met an elderly Chinese woman where I work who was involved in the highly respected Yan Xing Qigong with a local group that held weekly Meditation Meetings. I was impressed with this woman; she was a shining exponent of the teachings she was following. At her request I attended a meeting and found the method to be soothing, fun and easy to do (I remember having a laughing fit after the practice from the accumulation of a lot of chi energy which, according to the other participants, was a good sign). The group was made up mostly of Chinese people who were **sure their method would heal Kundalini problems, but this was not the case for me. I have found that Kundalni has a mind of her own and will not easily be controlled, coaxed, or forced to conform to a more agreeable and less limiting rising (though with time it gets better if you are undergoing a dramatically adverse awakening; my only complaint at this point is the waking in the night I have when I do a lot of focusing during the day, like with daily reading, a lot of writing, etc., not to mention with daily aerobic activity which moves a lot of it upward as well--every other day is fine).
I spent much time finding Qigong magazines and books, reading many amazing accounts of the extraordinary abilities of Qigong Masters, and the healing powers of Qigong. I sampled many techniques with the hope of hitting on the right one for Kundalini help. I remember especially the method "Standing like a tree" where you would stand absolutely still with your arms holding an imaginary beach ball. This simple practice was one of the most powerful and enjoyable ones I tried, but in the end, only served to rouse too much Kundalini like everything else I tried in my odyssey into the world of Qigong. I still think a possible curative exists somewhere deep within the Taoists tradition (I remember reading once a story called "Cave of the Tiger" where a famous Zen Masters with Kundalini problems was successfully helped by a Taoist hermit), but I never found it. All of the methods I tried only led to too much Kundalini streaming into my head and did not move it into the seemingly ideal "Microcosmic Orbit."
Bob Boyd
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