Recently, Master Li was in New Mexico teaching a two-day qigong intensive. He was interviewed by Lorena Monda, DOM, a student and certified teacher of Sheng Zhen.
What is Sheng Zhen Wuji Yuan Gong?
Sheng Zhen means sacred truth or unconditional love. Wuji refers to the time before taiji time, before yin and yang, when everything was one. Yuan means source, gong is work or practice. This qigong connects us to that source of oneness we believe is unconditional love.
Sheng Zhen is a system of qigong, which has three functions
So Sheng Zhen is medical qigong, emotional qigong and spiritual qigong. From Chinese Medicine we know that medical qigong has two aspects: physical and mental. Sheng Zhen also has a spiritual aspect, where you merge with nature, the universe, and with the source of unconditional love that created the whole universe. Many kinds of qigong talk about receiving qi, and eliminating unhealthy qi. Sheng Zhen qigong is also about cultivating the natural qi and qi exchange between the universe and us.
Why is Sheng Zhen good for the physical body?
Sheng Zhen has a number of standing forms and nonmoving sitting postures. Like acupuncture and tuina, qigong stimulates qi to flow. The movements make the body looser, more relaxed. This opens the channels, allowing qi to flow naturally. At the same time Sheng Zhen teaches people to synchronize their bodies, so that the whole body moves in harmony. Qi is the essence and origin of life, the movements allow more healing qi into our bodies. But more qi does not necessarily mean more health. Qi must also be balanced in our bodies; there must be balance between yin and yang, and the five elements. The practice brings more qi, stimulates the qi to flow, removes unhealthy qi, and makes qi in the body balanced. Balance and harmony are the essence of health.
Please say more about balance and harmony.
Through Sheng Zhen practice, yin and yang balance. Our qi merges with the universe. In the universe or in nature, qi is balanced. Human problems make qi unbalanced. Maybe a person cannot relax, or their emotions are not good, or they have a disease, or their qi is stagnant or murky. When our qi and the qi from the universe become one, our qi naturally becomes balanced. Qi becomes clean and even in the whole body.
What do people experience when they practice?
My students tell me that they feel happier, they enjoy life more. Some people say, “I just feel yummy!” Because people relax more, their emotions become better. Some people can feel right away the power of qi. Some people are more sensitive and feel qi more easily. Some people are not as sensitive, but they feel comfortable, and feel their emotions are good. After some people practice, their friends and family members notice that they are different. Some people have diseases that become better. Students have noticed that their blood pressure is lower, pain is better, and cough or asthma are better. Some people with cancer have gotten better. In Austin, they are practicing and doing research on this qigong at Seton Hospital, using qigong for respiratory and heart patients.
How does Sheng Zhen affect the mind?
Many people become sick because the mind has problems—the mind affects the physical body. The persons relationships are difficult, their environment is difficult, they have difficult experiences from their past. Many times external things cause problems. Often it is difficult to change those external things. Through Sheng Zhen practice we change the internal. We help people to understand life. The movements are not only beautiful, each movement has a meaning, has a life philosophy. Through the practice and the meaning, people can understand life better. We understand that human life is a colorful life, an “up down” life. We understand the full picture and the long term. When you understand life, internal change happens. Your heart opens more, your attitude changes and you can erase many problems. This brings balance and makes it easy to keep good health.
How did Sheng Zhen change your life?
Before, I was a martial arts coach, and I studied many forms of qigong. Our team was number one in Beijing for many years. Before a competition, my stress was very much; I was not physically relaxed. Many people say I’m softer than when I was younger…happier. When I did kung fu, it was very easy to become angry, because kung fu makes qi go up. Now I am less angry, more calm. Chinese pay a lot of attention to face—not losing face. Before I was more rigid, now I am more flexible, natural. This qigong can help people become healthy, happy, and remove stress. Stress is a big killer. Now, the world is changing too fast. People are too competitive and stress is too much. People’s nervous systems can’t handle it. This qigong helps relax the body, relax the mind, and change one’s life. Sheng Zhen is unconditional love. In the world there is not enough love; people are too selfish. There is too much hatred, too much anger, and too much sadness. We believe qi is never separated from love. Love is powerful for the long term. Unconditional love is the best medicine, the best power for everything.
Master Li Jun Feng, is the principal teacher of Sheng Zhen Wuji Yuan Gong, and teaches worldwide. Currently he lives in Austin, Texas where he teaches medical qigong at the Academy of Oriental Medicine. He serves as the advisor to the World Academic Society of Medical Qigong and the Qigong Research Association of China. Leading qigong masters have described Master Li as a movement genius and an extraordinarily gifted teacher. Master Li will return to NM in December to teach Breath of Life Qigong for the lungs. For more information about Sheng Zhen visit www.shengzhen.org.
Lorena Monda, DOM teaches Sheng Zhen qigong classes in Albuquerque. These classes are appropriate for practitioners of all levels. The forms can be modified easily for patients with movement limitations. For more information about weekly classes, and intensives with Master Li, call 505 867-8623.