Taoist Shen Gong
Qigong for Meditation
A Complete Exercise Based Health Training Manual
RF Smith Publishing
Scranton Pennsylvania
Taoist Shen Gong Qigong for Meditation
A Complete Exercise Based Health Training Manual
publisher
RF Smith Publishing
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18505
Author
RF Smith
Author / Editor / Translations/ Book Layout / Cover Design
Sal Canzonieri BGT ENT
Taoist Shen Gong Qigong for Meditation
Original text written by Zhang Dun Xi as Jin Shn Jbn Gng F ( - )
Copyright 2020 RF Smith. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
No portion of this book, except for brief review, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without permission of the publisher.
For information contact:
RF Smith - Scranton, Pennsylvania 18505
PLEASE NOTE: The creators and publishers of this book disclaim any liabilities for loss in connection with following any of the practices, exercises, and advice contained herein. To reduce the chance of injury or any other harm, the reader should consult a professional before undertaking this or any other martial arts, movement, meditative arts, health, or exercise program. The instructions and advice printed in this book are not in any way intended as a substitute for medical, mental, or emotional counseling with a licensed physician or healthcare provider.
First edition: March 2020
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN NUMBER: 9798615176753
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to:
Lin Chih Young, Winston Peng-White, Family Performers Bobbi-Rose Smith, Shawn Smith and Photographer Jamie Collins..
Table of Contents
Foreword
When I first got started training in martial arts at the age of 12 for the first four years, I never heard the term Taoist. At the age of sixteen, I was in a history class and the teacher asked me if I had heard of that term. I became embarrassed and admitted I did not know the term. His reply was to me I do not know how you are studying martial arts and not understanding Taoist principles He was just a history teacher, teaching in America. Why didnt my existing Karate teacher tell me about this? I had no idea. Since then I studied everything I can about the Taoist sciences. I am a Catholic and people in the West are living under the illusion that Taoist is the same as Taoism the religion. It is true that the religion was born from the science/philosophy, but they can be practiced separately without interference.
Taoist health practices focus on the entire mind, body, and spirit. They are designed to keep people healthy and to extend their lives. In the West, most people exercise to sculpt their bodies and then hope the by-product will be good health, when in fact this should be reversed. An individual should exercise for health and if the bodys appearance improves then this is an extra. This backwards mentality gave birth to many exercise routines in the West that are harmful to the body and cause the immune system to weaken. CrossFit is an example of this. Why you may ask?
When a person is born, they receive an innate energy (This is related to genes, God, etc.), called Jing. This innate energy is affected by the way we live our lives. If you are stressed or overworked, including overworking the body with exercise, it takes away from this innate energy. In Taoist science, it is called your Pure Yang energy. Anything that over exerts the body physically, emotionally, mindfully robs the body of this innate energy. We lose this energy just by aging a little each year. So, what is a person to do?
Besides building up an abundance of Qi internally via Qigong, a person should moderate their exercise, their eating habits, and all activities to live a healthy abundant life. The Taoist sciences have known this for 1000s of years. No one should exercise after the age of 25 with a No pain, No Gain attitude. This will take years off your life by using up your Jing reserves. Furthermore, excess exercise causes the body to require more air (oxygen). When this breathing is pushed to extremes it changes the process values for oxygen converting to carbon dioxide, which increases the value of carbon monoxide in your body. Carbon monoxide in your body is naturally occurring due to the exchange of gases when breathing. This has been linked to energizing the existing cancer cells in your body. This is something everyone should be concerned about. After all, we all react when there is a chemical spill or when we find out there is a carcinogen in our food. Why not when we are causing a chemical by-product in our bodies?
Through my studies over the past forty-seven years, I have read many books on Taoist training. They all have had good points and some bad. One thing I never found was a book that simply tells what to do, how much to do, and gives you everything you need to begin living a healthy happy life and exercise correctly. This book does accomplish this through the exercises presented within.
If you are a martial artist, it will help you learn more about your qi. It will also teach you to control your qi. All of the attached work is important to develop the practice of iron palm, iron vest, and Dian Xue (more commonly known as point hitting skills or Dim Mak).
When I was sixteen, I would have been ecstatic to find a treasure like this book to begin my practice. I hope after following the instructions in this book, it lives up to the expectations you might have. The key is consistency and patience. Do not expect immediate results. After time you will look back at the way you were and realize these exercises changed your health immensely. Even some common disorders that are pre-existing may go away.
This book pretty much covers it for a beginner. And if you are advanced, I am sure you will find new and refreshing methods to work with.
Robert F. Smith - author
Chinese Martial Arts Instructor
Specializing in the Internal Martial Arts
2019
Foreword
I have a few decades of experience with Chinese Qigong and Internal Arts, as such I found the material in this book to be of great use for both quieting the mind in preparation for Shen Gong work but also to condition the body for stamina, internal strength, and qi development.
These are very useful and unique exercises that are rarely if ever found in the West. Hence, the main reason for translating the original book from Chinese into English. Adjustments have been made to the language to make it easier for people to understand who are new to this type of information and exercises.
Care has been taken to preserve the foreword material that master Zhang wrote for his original book. Zhang studied with many teachers who instilled in him advance knowledge of not only the Chinese martial arts but of Taoist meditation and self healing. The original Chinese text is a rare book with which this English translation preserves a great historical document.
Also, the material in this book is a great tie in with Taiji Quan practice. The exercises have been proven to be beneficial for health enhancement and for calming the mind and bringing tranquility. Zhang practiced both Yang Taiji Quan and also Tong Bei Quan, a historical combination, where Tong Bei has been the back up style for many an old master.
The exercises and movements may seem simple, which is a good thing, but they are great in their ability to create beneficial changes to the body and mind.
Sal Canzonieri author-editor / translator
Chinese Qigong & Martial Arts Instructor / Energy Healer
Specializing in the Internal Martial Arts and Shaolin Martial Arts