Shifu Lin - Training Tips for Level 2 of the Mo Pai Nei Kung System

Training Tips for Level 2 of the Mo Pai Nei Kung System

By Shifu Lin

1996-2012. All Rights Reserved.

Preface

It has been some time now since I first was convinced to offer instructions and training assistance to those who have been immersed in Mo Pai Nei Kung training, as well as those interested in learning. Anyone who has read my first booklet Beginning Mo Pai Nei Kung understands many of my reasons and motivations for teaching the system, insofar as I know it: through the first four levels (1, 2a, 2b and 3). Today I am very much immersed in what was initially my goal with studying Mo Pai Nei Kung : that is the so-called Golden Elixir of Yin Yang Kung. My only wish is that I would have had access to such insight for this advanced level of training much earlier in life. While I have studied with very advanced masters from all over the world, most employed a traditional o rthodox Taoist approach of fusion of Yin and Yang gradually, in the process of True Yang absorbing from inside the Hui Yin region over time. Mo Pai Nei Kung is not entirely unique, and those who believe it is believe so because they have not extensively studied other systems. What does make it u nusual since the days of Taoisms o rthodoxification centuries ago, is that in Mo Pai training, we focus on two big no-nos.

The first untraditional, unorthodox method of Mo Pai used to be practiced by various heretical forms of Taoism, until it was brought under orthodox: that is the building up of energy in different centers of the body. While this continues to be practiced in o rthodox forms of Taoism, steps are taken which ensure the qi is also circulated , not just accumulated and charged up . Today, to my knowledge, o nly Mo Pai tries to limit the circulation in many ways, even from level 1 where we force the qi to the Dan Tien by preventing circulation in its normal ways of flowing. This method, in level 1, however, is not itself unusual at all. What is more important is consolation and guidance from a knowledgeable teacher who has been there and done that than is the detailed instructions for level 1. As we continue on through the next three levels, the methods of forcing extreme concentrations qi to the Dan Tien become increasingly divergent from modern Taoist orthodoxy.

The methods of level two in Mo Pai Nei Kung are characterized by force, and dynamic tension to concentrate the yi. As I have explained in the past, we have a saying in Chinese Medicine that Yi Tao, Qi Tao, meaning that where the yi goes, the qi will go. Furthermore, we understand in Chinese Medicine that qi moves the blood . While this may sound very esoteric to Westerners, o f course qi moves the blood! Sh ould this be any big surprise even for Westerners? No! What could move anything but energy? This is only logical; but from these simple realizations comes profound insights.

The second unorthodox Taoist method in Mo Pai that is quite untraditional today is in fact this dynamic tension. Why did Taoist orthodoxy shun these methods? On one hand, i t is quite simply because they cause an incredible amount of pitfalls. In fact, because of studying Mo Pai Nei Kung for many years, I have come to appreciate the more orthodox approaches that I was once frustrated by the limitations of. I now understand that while they too were often rigidly holding to prohibitions that were far too sweeping, the intentions of these masters of generations past was to spare future generations of Taoists the pitfalls that nearly all Mo Pai practitioners encounter in level 2, if not long before in level 1.

Because of this, I have continuously stressed for my students the importance that Mo Pai is not enough. That is, you must engage is some form of qi cultivation to supplement Mo Pai Nei Kung that provides for the nourishment and circulation of qi to the extremities and more immediately importantly to the organs. This is clearly a topic unto itself. For my part, I have tried to provide assistance to those who have already created states of deficiency or stagnation in their bodies as a result of Mo Pai Nei Kung practice, in my book Overcoming Sickness With Nei Kung: Why do so many Mo Pai practitioners get seriously ill? What you can do to prevent it. Furthermore, for my personal students, who learn from me directly (whether those in person who knew me before and outside of the context of teaching Mo Pai Nei Kung, or those who I communicate with remotely), I often instruct herbal supplementation that, if not deviated from, will restore the balance.

Level 2 of Mo Pai, however, usually makes or breaks the individual. In most cases, it simply breaks them. It is my firm belief that it was primarily due to my knowledge of Chinese Medicine, my training with other advanced, often more orthodox, branches and lineages of Taoist Nei Kung, and my daily practice totaling several hours of Nei Jia Kung Fu practice, that I did not experience the problems that usually break Mo Pai practitioners. For this reason, I was urged by students who had studied with me and with other Mo Pai teachers, that I should offer help, as almost no one was getting correct results, and some were not even teaching Mo Pai in a complete way (teaching 80% in some cases, but missing important details, often dealing with alignment or positioning of the arms, or even other unseen things that one should be instructed to do in level 1, which almost none taught by other teachers have been properly instructed in for whatever reason).

Once some students who had gotten to level 2 under myself and other teachers had come to me for help on this second level of Mo Pai Nei Kung, instructions quickly accrued, and some of them wished to have other recommendations that I had sent to their fellow students compiled for their study. With that said, it should be understood that this booklet is for them and them alone, along with other practitioners who have gotten to the second level of Mo Pai. This is not a format to teach people level 2, nor is it something that all Mo Pai students should be reading if they are not already at this level. If you do that, I cannot stop you, but for that reason my explanations and instructions will only make sense to those who have already received the precise movements of Mo Pai Nei Kungs second level. You may, however, read this in preparation for that level, if you have already experienced the first sign of level 1 and would like to internalize these important tips for when you do finally get to the next level. You should not, however, ask me to elaborate on anything until you actually are at that level.

The Second Level: Iron Wire Qi Kung in Mo Pai

First and foremost, it should be explained that the Mo Pai method for the second level is composed of two parts that have very similar movements in some ways. Level 2a and 2b are the second and third levels, respectively. The second level is performed standing, while the third level is done sitting for many hours, off and on, throughout the day until the signs for completion of that level have been received. The third level is done in this way in order to sever the cords holding the Dan Tien in place in the abdomen. After it is completed, you can move the Dan Tien very far in the abdomen. Before that, if you have trained correctly, particularly if you have practiced Chen Taijiquan and other Dan Tien-focused methods of Nei Jia Kung Fu, then you will have been able to move the Dan Tien just a little in different directions. After this level, the third level, you will be able to move it much further, and hold it away from the region where it naturally rests. This is essential for the all-important fourth level of completing Yin Yang Kung.

The second level is done standing, and involves both forced tension and breath, as well as external movements. Throughout systems of Kung Fu we have methods just like this level which are called Iron Wire. You are free to look these up if you are not aware of them. You will find them very famously in the Gar systems. There is even an advanced healer who lives in Los Angeles who developed his Yang Qi very strong through such training, done in just slightly different ways.