The 5 Elements and the Path of Accomplishment
According to Zhi Chang Li
Zhi Chang Li grew up in the tradition of Chinese medicine and Qi Gong, which was already passed on to him by his grandparents and parents. He worked for many years as an acupuncture doctor in Beijing. Since 1989 he has lived in Europe, where he founded the Institute for Silent Qi Gong in Munich.
Traditional Chinese medicine is completely linked to and rooted in the wisdom of nature, hence all the laws of macrocosm are reflected in the microcosm. The alternating and interactive play of yin and yang can be found in the natural rhythm of the year and the day.
It can be seen in the polarities of North and South, East and West, winter and summer, moon and sun; it also manifests as female – male, cold – hot, below – above, inside – outside, passive – active. We find the number five in the elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water as well as in the organs, the sense organs, the tastes, seasons (the fifth season is late summer), to name but a few. The Chinese also know five celestial directions with the centre constituting the fifth celestial direction. The twenty–four hours of day and night were divided into twelve sections which are associated with the five pairs of organs and the two main functions of the metabolism and blood circulation. Correspondingly, there are twelve meridians which run through the body and conduct the life force of the five pairs of organs and the two major functions of the metabolism (“Triple Heater”) and the circulation (“Master of the Heart”) through the body. According to the alternating rhythm of yin and yang, the life force of Qi flows through all organs every two hours to regulate the entire body. Likewise, the year with its twelve months offers us the opportunity to regulate and reinforce the twelve “organs”.
The Organ Clock System:
Every element is associated with a yin organ (storage organ) and a yang organ (hollow organ). The Qi remains in each organ for two hours and can activate and strengthen this organ and the related meridian during that time. Since every element is associated with two organs, the Qi passes on to the next element after four hours. It moves from the region with the highest activity to that with the lowest, which is just vis–à–vis on the organ clock system.
Picture: organ clock
Here is an example:
The time of the wood element is between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. It is the period, when the gall bladder (yang organ) is most active, followed by the liver (yin organ). Later on, the activity of the wood element is slowly decreasing and reaches its lowest level between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., i.e. in the fire element.
For treating the liver with acupuncture, the time around 2 a.m. would be most appropriate. As this is hardly practicable, it is recommended to perform Qi Gong exercises during that time in order to optimise the response to Qi. Alternatively, one may use the opposite time from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the period of the fire element, by taking a rest after lunch and allowing the liver to store blood for digestion.
In this context, Zhi Chang Li said:
“Who gave us the organs? They were given to us by the Universe. We received them from God. Even the life force is a gift. As we use up our life force through emotional fluctuations and varying weather conditions, our body functions are impacted. If the related organ does not get regulated in the associated period of time, our body may fall sick. However, we may utilize our abilities to regulate our body within the 12 periods of time. Every organ can be filled with Qi in the appropriate time and hence regulated. The aim of TCM is to strengthen the regulating force of the meridians. This can be achieved by applying herb teas, acupuncture, acupressure, massage or Qi Gong. When we follow this path we will be sure to experience a tremendous development. This treasure does not belong to the Chinese people, but this treasure is rather needed by the entire mankind. If we are able to reinforce this regulating power, we are practicing TCM. There is a remedy for every disease. Qi is available everywhere, and we can learn this method by applying the five elements. My methods are in accordance with the five elements.”
The following exercise, given by Zhi Chang Li, is accompanied by a mantram. In this exercise our attention, and likewise also Qi, is travelling through our organs. They represent the five elements and the five celestial directions. In the Chinese view, the centre forms the fifth celestial direction.
Exercise:
1. Entering the Qi Gong state
- Body posture
The state of deep rest is called the Qi Gong state. Rest rules over unrest, and silence takes the place of constantly moving thoughts. Our body is upright, regardless of whether we are seated or standing. The vertebra are expanded upward and downward, as if drawn by two magnets, just from inside without employing any force. Our feet are in contact with the floor, the chin is slightly drawn back and bent towards the breastbone.
Observe the movements of your body, caused by the breath, without changing respiration. When the belly expands while breathing in, it stretches in all directions – downward, forward, upward, and, above all, backward. This helps to make up the physiological hollow–back in the lumbar spine, and the vertebra are stretched even further. Our inner perception is focused on linking up to heaven and earth through the spine by stretching out from the centre of the earth up to the “roots” of heaven.
- Relaxing between the eyebrows
Get aware of the region between the two eyebrows, relax and broaden this region. Then move your attention two or three fingers behind your front. Look with your spiritual eye, which is also called the eye of heaven, far into space, come back, and look out again. By doing so your front starts to “widen” and produce an agreeable sensation in the region of the front. Then the inner look turns backward and observes the inner side of the head. Don’t have any expectations, do not try to force anything! Slowly you will begin to realize the vastness, peace and brightness inside.
- Listening into the cosmos
Our inner awareness turns to the endless space. Man is part of this space. We perceive the noises around us and then listen far into the distance. We begin to feel the peace of mind, and our thoughts, which often resemble a herd of wild monkeys, slowly subside. Then we return our attention and quietly listen inside. Our respiration is getting more regular, softer, until we finally forget about breathing.
- Extending a smile
When silence increasingly replaces unrest, and our thoughts begin to settle down, we will be able to better experience ease and serenity. We can extend a smile which comes from the heart and spreads through the whole body. In the language of Qi Gong “a smile” means that Qi is flowing. It is a smile that can be seen and yet not seen, it happens intentionally and yet completely unintentionally. In this way, the vertex may “smile”, our face carries a little smile, the throat “smiles”, even the breast, the back, the belly, the bottom and the joints “smile” until the inner smile permeates the whole person. Zhi Chang Li speaks of the “clarity of the heart” that is achieved by performing this exercise. “Without the clarity of the heart it is impossible to reach the path.” (Zhi Chang Li, quoted by Ulli Olvedi, in: „Das Stille Qi Gong nach Meister Zhi Chang Li“, München, 1994, S. 152)
2. The path of the exercise in the body
Our attention first focuses on the region of the navel, three or four finger width behind the abdominal wall, and slightly moves on to the left side, to the spleen and the pancreas, and from there upward behind the front, then on the right side down to the liver, and further down to the pelvic floor (about two finger width beyond). From there our attention travels along the mid–line of our body upward until below the vertex and again downward along the mid–line of our body to the Lower Dantien. (The Lower Dantien is the energy centre in the abdomen, about three to four fingers below the navel). At this point the exercise is concluded.
The exercise thus runs along the mid–line of the body and moves upward on the left side, downward on the right side, and then moves upward and downward again through a central channel.
This direction of the movement imitates the course of the sun. As in the traditional Chinese medicine the order of the celestial directions starts in the South, instead of the North, the left side of the body corresponds to the East, the top to the South, the right side to the West, and the bottom to the North.
Picture: OM Mani Patme Hum
3. Mantram: Om Mani Padme Hum
This well-known Buddhist mantram can be uttered while performing this exercise. Mantras are sacred sounds of universal meaning. Sound is “the voice of silence”, as Dr. K. Parvathi Kumar puts it in his book “On Healing” (Visakhapatnam, 1995). If they are uttered in a low voice in the beginning and subsequently in silence, the vibration of the sounds will permeate the whole body. The silence will get more profound with each repetition of the exercise.
Here is the complete sequence of the exercise:
Enter the “Qi Gong state”. Let your attention softly glide behind the navel. Utter Om three times. Utter the sound Ma when you move left to the spleen and the pancreas, move upward to the head with the sound Ni, to the liver with the sound Pa, to the pelvic floor with the sound Me, along the mid–line of the body upward to a point just below the vertex, and come back again to the Lower Dantien while uttering the sound Hum. The pelvic floor stands here for the urogenital tract, including the kidneys.
It is recommended to repeat this exercise 108 times a day or do it even three times 108 daily.
The effect of this exercise
Zhi Chang Li summarized the effect of this exercise in the following words, the gist of which is given below:
This exercise indicates a way, which is the path to accomplishment. The objective is to achieve emptiness, clarity and vastness. The clarity of the heart makes it possible to better understand and analyse our own problems, and increase our tolerance. With the help of the mantram we grow closer to the life force of the Universe. The Universe has bestowed life upon us, and at some time we will give it back to the Universe. But before we want to walk the path of accomplishment.
Compiled by Brigitta Pflüger-Meienberg.
Taken from Paracelsus Health & Healing, I/10
Photo: © Pixabay
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