Why Jing, Qi, and Shen are the Secrets to a Powerful Qigong Practice.

The Three Treasures in the tradition of Qigong relate to our most precious resources within… our Jing, our Qi and our Shen.

The Dao De Ching describes the Three Treasures as the virtues of compassion, frugality, and humility. These Three Treasures are also known as, The Three Flowers, The Three Jewels, and The Three Herbs. They are interconnected with all aspects of existence: Body, Mind, and Breath, which are the foundational principles of Qigong; the sun, moon, and stars, representing the treasures of the cosmos; water, fire, and air, symbolising the treasures of the earth; and Jing, Qi, and Shen, embodying the treasures of the human being.

Understanding Jing: The Fundamental Essence

Jing is our fundamental essence, the material foundation of the physical body. This essence includes the vibrational frequency passed to us by our parents at conception, serving as a blueprint for our Constitution and generative energy. Sometimes called primordial Qi or pre-natal Qi, Jing is considered the most tangible and dense of these three treasures. It comprises three components: sexual secretions, blood and bone, and developmental processes. The treasure of Jing is stored in the kidneys and the lower dantian.

The quality of our Jing is influenced by several factors, including genetics, the conditions of conception, astrological alignments, and previous soul incarnations. Some traditions hold that Jing is finite, acting as the fuel for our life span, and once depleted, it signifies the end of our incarnation. Others believe this vital essence can be replenished, emphasizing the importance of kidney health and internal alchemy. Similar to the roots of a tree, Jing provides nourishment and substance to our body.

The Vital Energy of Qi

Qi is our life force or vital energy. The ancient character for Qi 氣 translates to air, gas, or breath. In general, Qi can be understood as an energetic vibration or frequency that carries information and is present in all things, including living beings, inanimate objects, and the atmospheric environment we navigate daily. There are various types and qualities of Qi, and it possesses both electric and magnetic properties, experienced through a range of sensations.

The treasure of Qi is stored within the middle dantian. It is not just energy, but a vibrant aliveness that combines Jing, the Qi from the food we consume, the Qi from our breath, and the Qi generated by mental activity, emotions, interactions with others, relationships, and the environment. This intermingled Qi circulates throughout the body and flows through the meridian system.

Qi is considered an extension of the mind and an aspect of consciousness, it is the motivating force of thoughts, emotions, and intentions. A basic premise of Oriental Medicine is that the body is a manifestation of the nature of the mind. The activity of the mind, intentional or unintentional, influences the Qi. The body adapts to the Qi, its flow, excess, deficiency, or otherwise, and our health and state of being are influenced accordingly.

Exploring Shen: The Energy of the Spirit

Shen is the energy of the spirit. It refers to the overarching spirit or oversoul and also an aspect of the mind. It is the most subtle and non-material type of energy. The treasure of Shen manifests in both the heart and the upper dantian. The Shen residing in the heart primarily governs emotions, consciousness, and intuitive connection. The Shen associated with the upper dantian relates to transcendent experiences and higher consciousness. It is said that the Shen rooted in the heart acts as a key communicator to the heavenly realm. Achieving alignment and awareness of this energy is often described as heartmind alignment.

Achieving coherence of heartmind cultivates holistic well-being and guides Qi. It's understood that Shen interacts not just with personal Qi, but also with the etheric Qi permeating the space between Heaven and Earth. In heartmind alignment, one gains mental clarity, emotional stability, and spiritual insight, enhancing capacities for compassion, love, joy, and overall emotional well-being. Maintaining heartmind coherence requires ensuring the heart isn't overwhelmed by emotions and desires — the practice and devotion of Shen Gong.

The Interconnection of Jing, Qi, and Shen

The three treasures — Jing, Qi, and Shen — interact and depend on each other. Jing influences Qi, and Shen also influences Qi. It is said that Jing and Qi must unite for there to be Shen. Shen is an essential part of our vitality and our connection to that referred to as the divine, God, oneness or Yuan Shen.

This interconnectedness is fundamental to understanding and achieving holistic well-being in Daoist philosophy and classical Oriental medicine. At its core, this involves preserving and nurturing Jing and cultivating Qi. Doing this is quite simple, but maybe not easy! It often requires lifestyle changes and transforming long-standing habits, which can be challenging.

How to preserve Jing:

• Minimise overworking

• Avoid constant busyness

• Maintain healthy menstrual cycles

• Conservation of sexual fluids

• Get proper rest and avoid chronic stress

• Engage in meditation, stillness and quietening the mind

Embracing the Essence of Qigong

Practitioners of Qigong aim not only to engage in the movement therapy aspect of the practice but also to cultivate Qi through Yang Sheng Fa, which translates to Nurturing Life Practices. The foundation of this approach is to live in harmony with nature and its cycles, recognising that energy is cultivated from all activities—breath, food, movement, environment, relationships, and spirit. When we rely primarily on the Qi that we actively cultivate for day-to-day life we conserve our precious treasure of Jing.

It is said that when Jing and Qi are strong and abundant, Shen will be joyful, balanced, and inspired. However, if Jing and Qi are depleted, Shen will suffer, leading to states of depression, anxiety, mania, or spiritual disconnection.

At the heart of Qigong, it is not merely about performing deliberate movements or creating aesthetically pleasing shapes with the body. It is about connecting the three treasures—body, mind, and spirit—through conscious engagement with the vital energies of life: Jing, Qi, and Shen and the simplicity of Nurturing Life Practices.

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