16. Shifu, how do we do well in both dynamic qigong and meditative qigong ?
It all depends very much on the individual. Some individuals may be suitable to do both while others may only be good in either form – the dynamic qigong (with fluid movements) or the meditative qigong .
Ideally one should reach the state where one is able to practice moving meditation where there are movements and a calm mental mind that focus on guiding the qi within the body. The concept is profound and it takes a lot of practice to understand or to fathom.
17. Shifu, most meditation practices emphasize on being in the state of `emptiness’ before the mind and the heart can enter the state where “I” is non- existent. Is this the highest level of meditation?
Emptiness is synonymous with nothingness and yet at the same time, it is everything in that space. The purported emptiness they talked about is not the real state of emptiness for `I” is still very much present or in existent. It is precisely that the `I` is present that they are aware if they have or have not enter into the state of emptiness
18. Shifu, what is considered real Emptines?
Real emptiness is when in the stillness and silence, scene/scenes appear where the inherent `I’ is non-existent.
19. Shifu, for the few Qigong seminars cum performances that we attended, we witnessed Qigong practitioner, without physical contact, exacting a pull or push force onto fellow performers standing near him. The Qi can even penetrate through objects placed between them. In one performance, the performer was encircled by a few others and using his qi he exerted a force so great onto them that they were ` thrown’ backwards simultaneously. We have also seen practitioners levitating while meditating. According to them, some learnt to levitate just after a few days, while others took weeks or months, and yet some others took a few years. Is it possible to accomplish such a feat in such short time?
Qigong in recent times has become commercialized. It has also become an opportunity for some individuals to exploit. It is true as to what and how much qi can do but most of these performances have over exaggerated it. As with any other show, most of these qigong performances are well-rehearsed with all the appropriate props in place and a concerted effort amongst performers to produce a certain impact to capture the audience attention. The authenticity of the prowess of their qigong forms can only be verify when they allow you to be the volunteer to test out their stunts. Hence you should take such performances with a pinch of salt. In the case of levitation, individuals who are very sensitive to qi (especially qi entering via the Hui Ying gateway) and those who pracitse concentration meditation are more likely to learn to levitate. But these individuals are few and far between.
20. I have noticed many Tai-Chi practitioners, though from the same clan are displaying different styles. The differences can be subtle and great as well. Why is it so?
In the 1960s or 1970s, we learnt and practised traditional martial arts. Though some steps/strokes are highly difficult and daunting, we persevered to master it. Hence the outward display of strokes remained constant. Martial arts teachers of today know very well if they were indeed teaching martial arts or just merely teaching the students to mimic the strokes. Thus, the differences appear. It is also hard to find martial arts masters who are truly well-versed in traditional martial arts these days.