My experience of thirty years in qigong training is summarized as a poem of eighty characters, arranged into four verses -- four lines to a verse, and five characters to a line.

1. Aspiration, interest, endurance, advantage, commitment.

   • Aspiration (Zhi4): When learning qigong, have lofty aspirations and ambitious goals. Understand that qigong practice is a way to:
     • Preserve health -- preventing diseases and pursuing longevity;
     • Regulate the function of the internal organs; and,
     • Bring all limbs and bones to an ideal condition.

     Going a step further, one can advance to a higher mental state with extraordinary capabilities, for example, one may:

     • View objects at a distance with the heavenly-eye;
       
     • See through an object with the wisdom-eye; or,
       
     • Move an object with the dharma-eye, and even achieve a miraculous skill.

     Knowing about these outcomes can strengthen one's commitment to oneself; otherwise, one may miss the opportunity to find a master, not discover the qigong phenomena around oneself, and soon abandon his course.

   • Interest (Qu4): Cultivate interest for qigong practice. Practicing qigong is not like dancing, martial arts, or aerobic exercises, because of its dullness, simplicity, and unpleasant posture. There are no obvious external and internal effects for a long time. The state of the subconscious may be clear, but is not clear; may be real, but is not real; or, may be understood, but is not understood.

     There are two important things to note here. First, the bored feelings can lead to impatience. Second, the lost of interest will lead to abandonment of practice. Avoid carrying emotions and never force oneself to practice.

     How does one cultivate interest?

     • Learn the advantageous effects of other people's experience by listening and reading stories, which are related to qigong phenomena.
     • Perceive all the special phenomena in the environment, which are extraordinary.
     • Recall memories of good qigong practice.
       
     • Do not deny the unthinkable phenomena.
       
     • Always assess beneficial effects and feelings for qigong practice.
       

   • Endurance (Ku3): Dare to endure all hardships while learning. As a beginner, each individual can bring the state of his mind to its mundane excellence. When advancing to an intermediate level, greater pain and hardship is inevitable for gaining substantial changes internally. For instance, standing to practice qigong for a half hour is not easy -- not to mention 10 hours. During the practice, one may suffer severe heat throughout his body. If one is not prepared for this challenge, then it will be very difficult to advance to the next level. Furthermore, to obtain the best results, select a difficult time to practice, such as when one is tired and hungry.

   • Advantage (Yi4): Confirm the beneficial effects in qigong practice when one is getting stronger and arousing one's awareness and wisdom. Therefore, put serious effort into training.

   • Commitment (Ye4): Qigong is a worthy career undertaking. Incorporate its practice as a part of one's daily life, work and study.

2. Preparation, understanding, persistence, awareness, virtue.

   • Preparation (Qian2): Emphasize the idea before, and do qigong before all activities -- before going to work, lecturing, meals, bedtime, etc. This is the timesaving way for linking to a 24-hour qigong state. The manner of linkage can be accomplished formally and informally -- formal meditation with formal ending, or informal meditation with an informal ending. For the informal style, imagine oneself practicing qigong before an activity or take a deep breath to maintain your qigong state. Similarly after an activity, imagine that you are closing and visualize an ending.

   • Understanding (Wo4): By doing this, one is sure to regulate the movement of the internal and external qi in oneself and one's surroundings. Pay attention to your inner world by how you think and act. Be alert for sensitive internal points related to the surroundings. Try to find out which environment, object, plant, or anything which has special effects for you. Be aware of the time relationships like the biological clock. During certain hours of the day, one may be sensitive and active, during others hours, listless and passive. Therefore, choose your biological time for your best practice. Considered the qi which contains substances, messages, and energy, and which continuously communicates with your subconscious. And, in doing so, one will find the time, at which one probably can absorb the most qi to enhanced his practice.

   • Persistence (Yi4): To master the essence of qigong, have persistence and never grow inattentive to learning. Practice qigong on a 24-hour basis, 365 days a year.

   • Awareness (Wu4): To know qigong well, study the characteristics of qigong theory. Continuously investigate and analyze what is occurring during and after a qigong practice. Perceive the higher awareness as one's mental perception becomes more acute. One can open the door of mind to sense the answer and interpret what the answer will be. Plainly show the profound significance and provide oneself with his inner potential. By approaching one's sensitivities to the environment, one can experience thrilling ecstasy while practicing qigong under a pine tree. Others may have strong feelings of joy by the beach. Some may have delightful sensations at a particular time during the day -- generally, around midnight (11 pm to 1 am), sunrise (5 am to 7 am), noon (11 am to 1 pm), and sunset (5 pm to 7 pm). Or, one may reach the highest level of refinement during holiday, such as New Year's Eve.

     How can one decide the right place and right time? One must exercise his knowledge of qigong. It will depend on how much one understands. In most cases, one practices qigong intentionally, but one can only succeed unintentionally.

   • Virtue (De2): Anyone learning qigong should hold tightly to the protection of high moral principles. Respect others and always do good, by all means, on any account, anywhere, and at all times. Emphasize virtue as the key to rising to next level of the qigong state.

3. Broad-mindedness, scholarship, Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism.

   • Broad-mindedness (Guang3): Have noble conduct, be broad-minded, and be generous in all respects for entering into the gateway of the qigong state. One must be freed of oneself to absorb the good from other schools and to enhance one's qigong practice. Travel to different places, such as the beach, mountain, desert, forest, and the many abandoned settlements, sites, towns, etc. -- to experience the subtlety of oneself. Practicing at a particular site may easily bring one into a state of a stillness and harmony, which is intensely pleasurable.

   • Scholarship (Cai2): Refer to the classics of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism as a guide to qigong practice.

   • Confucianism (Ru3): Confucianism stress the development of moral character and responsibility. Their moving qigong practice is very elegant and incorporates moral characteristics, often merged into their poems and paintings.

   • Buddhism (Shi4): Buddhism emphasizes cultivation of one's wisdom and capacity for great benevolence. Their philosophy teaches that one should not kill and that one accumulates moral character. Their qigong training is incorporated as a part of one's career.

   • Taoism (Dao4): Taoism focuses on development of one's latent potential through moving qigong practice. Their techniques emphasize that one can gain internal calmness (jing4) through movement.

4. Respect, search, teacher, school, timesaving.

   • Respect (Gong1): Respect everyone in the family or those living in the surroundings while striving to succeed in qigong. Respect the teacher or master sincerely in thought, word, and action.

   • Search (Xun2): Who is a master? Everyone is a master. All things on earth can be masters, including one's sensitivities for time, place, animals, plants, and minerals, which have some functional energy that one's body needs. There are signals of masters in the outer space of the universe. If one has superb skill in qigong, it will be easy to find a master.

   • Teacher (Shi1): The teacher is a master, including everything, living or non-living, within the universe. For instance, if one sees a person or an object, and one immediately feels severely hot or chillingly cold; then, one should treat the m as one's teacher. Broadly speaking, everybody and everything are masters, not only the qigong master.

   • School (Men2): A school includes all sects or groups of learning because each school has its own way and each way, its own school. One begins to learn qigong at the threshold of a school. Do not criticize this school or that school, becaus e another school may be better than yours. Attend instead to one's state and moral conduct as a qigong practitioner.

   • Timesaving (Jie2): Such attention will lead one in finding a timesaving path. Never go by a roundabout way!

5. Difficulty, easy, is, not, self.

   • Difficult (Nan2): When practicing qigong, it is difficult to get the qi flowing through the ``small heavenly circuit'' around the midlines of the front and back of the body. It is especially difficult to get the qi flowing through the acupuncture points of the coccyx, clipping spine and the ``jade pillow'' in the ``du channel'' or control course and the forehead, chest and the stomach, in the ``ren channel'' or involuntary course.

   • Easy (Yi4): Easy and difficult are relative terms. Once a difficulty is overcome, then it will be easy. One can learn from his experience and undergo fundamental changes with his character, moral conduct, and health. Thus, one can reach another level of qigong practice.

   • Is, not (Bu4, Shi4): The ideas for ``there is'' and ``there isn't,'' or ``emptiness'' and ``fullness,'' are often mentioned in Buddhism teachings. The words ``there isn't,'' emphasizes that one should suspend the superficial activities that condition one's everyday life. One should have different points of view from ordinary people with regards to personal benefit, fame and wealth. Then, one probably can enter the qigong state.

   • Self (Shen1): Self means that one has to change. If one isn't self-centered, then one is no longer the same person.

6. Intention, in, emptiness, fullness, difference.

   • Intention, in (Yi4, Zai4): In practicing qigong, one's mind should be focused at a certain part of the body or at a particular acupuncture point. The subconscious will come after one's mind enters into tranquillity.

   • Emptiness, fullness (Wu2, You3): In the state of deep calmness (jing4):, one's awareness of the subconscious for place, time, and mindfulness, will draw one into vague perceptions, for which either ``there is'' or ``there is not'', or both ``there is'' and ``there is not'' -- can coexist.

   • Difference (Bie2): Realize that impermanence as seen in one's emptiness of mind leads to the attainment of deliverance and the qigong state.

7. Character, life, generosity, joy, righteousness.

   • Character (Xing4): Through qigong practice, one can purify and illuminate all aspects of his/her personality's emotion, compassion and goodwill and can mobilize his/her intention with dignity and skill.

   • Life (Ming4): Life means self, life of spirit, and destiny. As long as one practices qigong persistently with an understanding of qigong theory, one can cultivate his life with love, wisdom and will. Then, he/she can alter his/her destiny in a positive direction -- heading toward longevity.

   • Generosity, joy, righteousness (Li4, Le4, Zhen4): The attitude of one's generosity must be assiduously cultivated like all the positive qualities. Whether one wholeheartedly feels like it or not, one should develop the habit of helping and giving to others, so that he can have a genuine spirit of generosity and loving kindness toward others, which will bring back joyfulness. This is called righteousness, which enables one's skill to be enriched and nourished.

8. Life, death, love, words, renunciation.

   • Life, death (Sheng1, Si3): A qigong practitioner should have a correct perceptions about life and death. When one is not self centered in life, one will not be afraid of death. According to Buddhism, there is neither life before birth nor after death, or life before birth but not after death, or life after death but not before birth, or there is life before birth and after death. (To be born many times is no more miraculous than to be born once.) When one understands the true meaning of living and dying, one's philosophy will reflect that transcendence.

   • Love (Ai4): One's natural sensitivity to others should guide one's action and empathy for one's feeling of love, self-regard, Nature, and all people. Such sensitivity will expand one's love (agape) to embrace all creatures in all directions of the universe.

   • Words (Yu3): Words are language signals with love and compassion, which can transmit and embrace humanity and everything in Nature
     

   • Renunciation (She3): (One who is honest with himself knows that without sacrifices, one will not obtain his concentration.) One has to renounce life, death, love, emotion and even oneself. Only an empty mind can be penetrated by enlightenment. At this stage, the total energies of a whole being are united in full consciousness to focus at a higher level of refinement.

9. Method, foundation, consolidation, transformation, return.

   • Method (Fa3): There are specific methods for learning qigong. No methods evolves constantly without modification. As a beginner, however, one needs to learn the rudiments of one method from beginning to end. Above all, it is essential, to sense the subtlety of qigong. For advanced stages, ten thousand methods will either merge into one, or into the ancestral clan system. In fact, the methods actually merge within the body's most refined substances, such as the body itself or the body's functional energy. Generally speaking, natural relaxation, maintenance of mental calmness, good breathing technique, and good body posture are essential. Also, understand the technique of maintaining a 24-hour qigong state.

   • Foundation (Ji1): Building a foundation is essential for success in qigong training. There are four elements to be observed:
     • One must be free from disease to have a good foundation for advanced learning.
     • Select a qigong method which is most suitable for oneself.
     • From the selected method, continuously build a strong foundation.
     • During basic training: train the qi, refine it, accumulate it and store it within one's body.

     During basic training, it is recommended that one not indulge in wandering from place to place and time to time for practice. Otherwise, the basic training must start all over. Usually, one needs 100 to 120 days or may be even 10 months to shape one's strong foundation through an intense training period. All these factors depend upon one's response and the degree of difficulty of each method.

   • Consolidation (Ning2): During training, one absorbs refined energy from the environment, which is being stored and accumulated in the ``cauldron" (Ding3) or energy reservoir. Where is the energy reservoir? It is in the area where one's mind has been focused on during the training. It can be the lower dantian (elixir field -- located below the navel), or the mingmen (gate of life -- located below the spinal process of the second lumbar vertebra), or the yongquan (bubbling spring -- at the center of the sole). For the practical point of view, one should concentrate at the most sensitive area of his body. The process is called as cultivation of alchemy (Dan1).

   • Transformation (Hua4): The cauldron (energy reservoir) is the primary staging ground from which qi is further refined and distributed to every part of one's internal organs, and other parts of the body for better functioning results. One may connect with true nature and thereby receive and evoke the response of positive energy and information from the universe. It is equivalent to the process of spiritualization as the refinement of physical essence or sexual energy for transmutating into mental energy and purification of mental energy for transforming into spiritual energy.

   • Return (Huan2): Doing just transformation is not enough. The refined qi in the cauldron (energy reservoir) must be returned to the prenatal genetic code, or the eighth dimension of conscientiousness which stores the knowledge, the wisdom, and the wit of one's ancestor. It is a very difficult process, but it is essential for gaining one's ability for extraordinary functions and longevity.

10. Theory, training, essence, qi, spirit.

    • Theory (Li3): After successful development of the qigong foundation, one must continue to study qigong theory for advancing to the next level of training. The fundamental principle in the qigong training process are as the following:
      • Refinement of physical essence into Qi (Lian4 Jing1 Hua4 Qi4);
      • Purification of Qi into spiritual energy (Lian4 Qi4 Hua4 Shen2);
      • Training of spiritual energy to return to the void (Lian4 Shen2 Huan2 Xu1); and,
      • Cultivation of the void to emerge with the Tao (Lian4 Xu1 He2 Dao4).

    • Training (Lian4): As far as qigong theory is concerned, each process has its own methods. It is worth mentioning that qigong training is not exclusively still meditation all the time.

    • Essence, qi, spirit (Jing1, Qi4, Shen2): All these substances can be further refined into qi, which is much like the neutron particle of high energy physics studies. Essence, qi and spirit cannot be isolated, nor be described by shape or weight.
      

11. Regulation, exercise, accumulation, control, change.

    • Regulation (Tiao2): In pursuing qigong practice, adjust oneself by fine tuning oneself to the environment which surrounds us, relatives to the universe which embodies us. Then, one can regulate and tap into one's qi from the surroundings and the u niverse to accomplish one's intent.

      I once observed a young qigong master with very high qigong skills, displaying his technique. It was about to rain at the time of a demonstration. He assigned four persons to stand at each corner of a basketball court. The result was that there was no rain drops in the court, while it was raining outside the court. This is a very high level of qigong technique -- to manipulate the qi between himself and the universe.

    • Exercise (Xing2): The goal of exercising one's genuine qi should include internal and external energies. One should be able to exchange genuine qi between oneself and the nature.

    • Accumulation (Ju4): Once one has developed the inner force in perfect equilibrium with the environment and the universe, then one should become skilled at accumulation of qi brought back from nature and the universe.

    • Control (Kong4): The best way to check whether one's skill has improved or not is to see if one can control the qi within oneself. Suppose, you are healing someone's sickness with the qigong technique, you should not ask whether he has the feeling of hot or effect. One who has self-control of qi should be able to know whether the process is effective or not.

    • Change (Bian4): Just having self control is not enough. One should be good at integration and differentiation of internal energy with respect to the method and place.

12. Yin, yang, prenatal, postnatal, level.

    • Yin, yang (Yin1, Yang2): Qigong generalize the whole universe as yin and yang aspects. Everything that exists in nature is a projection yin and yang energies. The nature is expression of the interplay and alteration of these two activities.

      From the view of qigong training, one can harmonize himself internally and externally with nature and mankind in order to reach another plateau. With respect to oneself, train the yin aspect then the yang aspect. With respect to Pa-kua, refines postnatal nature to reconnect prenatal nature. With respect to time, practice day and night. With respect to space, absorb yang energy from the sun and Yin energy from the the moon. When one trains both yin aspect and yang aspect, one trains oneself.

      According to this theory, when the yin-yang temperament within oneself is united, completed, balanced, then one has full potential to provide unlimited power for unsurpassed skills. Everything within the universe or under the sun, organic or inorgani c, living or nonliving are classified either as yin or yang. The coexistence of these two entities exist everywhere in humanity and Nature, including the external and internal parts of the body.

    • Prenatal, postnatal (Xian1, Hou4): Through qigong training, one can reconnect himself with the original nature or the prenatal genetic code which constitute one's ancestors' knowledge, wit and power. Prenatal nature cooporates with postnatal nature, the one's potential power can be enlarged and strengthened. Furthermore, be aware of the processes in getting and refining the substance into qi, then transform them into functional energy. In dong so, one can climb up the qigong ladder.

    • Level (Cheng2): According to the traditional format, there are three levels of training in Buddhist qigong: elementary, intermediate and advanced. Learn in a sequential order.

13. Mathematics, technique, fix, root, skill.

    • Mathematics (Shu4): When one advances to the highest level in qigong practice, the mathematical law and its effects become apparent on the human body. Each individual has his own mathematical code, which is closely related to the mathematical law of the universe such as 7, 24, 36, 49, 72, etc. For instance, when one practices qigong on odd days, one's internal potential may be enhanced, whereas on even days, the characteristics of one's body substances are negatively affected. The explanation of this mystery with a mathematical formula is to be explored.

    • Technique (Shu4): If one has not mastered the technique for healing others through the qigong method, it is advisable not to use it because it may cause disturbances and misunderstanding for others and himself.

    • Fix (Ding4): While practicing qigong, the visualization or image, one has been focused on, may appear and disappear from one's inside vision. Strive for stabilizing this capacity through intense training.

    • Root, ability (Geng1 Tong1): After stabilizing one's ability, he will elevate to experience the vibration of his six roots -- eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and emotion. At this time, one's abilities for extraordinary perception are available. For instance, the wisdom eye can see an object during day or night, and far or near. All six abilities of extraordinary perception can be reached.
      

14. Extreme, void, mysterious, miraculous, heart.

    • Extreme (Ji2): After attaining the six abilities, it is wiser to say one's skill is not extremely good. Qigong skills are unlimited.

    • Void (Kong1): The void is not empty. Rather refined substances within are free from wastes and impure materials. Through qigong practice, the substance is purified and changed. For instance, transport of substance is from void to void. The comp lexity of transporting substance can be explained as a way of manipulating one's subconsciousness and mental emptiness. In terms of physics, transporting can be explained as the structure of molecules being changed and reappearing as another form. When one's qigong skill is extreme good, one enters the sphere of the void. The deeper one penetrates into the void, the more he is purified through the emptiness of the mind, the emptiness of oneself and the emptiness of everything in the universe. Then, subs tance can be transport -- and one can even walk through a wall.

    • Mysterious (Xuan2): In a qigong state, initially, there is a sense that one can not touch and see something. When entering a deep mental state, one has a vague perception such as `there is' but `there is not' or `it is real' but `it is not real.'

    • Miraculous (Miao4): After the mysterious, follows the three wonders -- the sensation of pleasure, feeling of emptiness, and mental transport capability.

    • Heart (Xin1): The heart signifies not only one's physical but also mental aspects too. When one's mind has purged, tempered, and cultivated to achieve discernment, one can freely regulate and improve his energy and functions.

15. Opened, closed, often, study, real.

    • Opened, closed (Kai1, He2): When one's extra ordinary capacity has matured, one possesses the capability for control of his intention.

    • Often, study, real (Chang2, Xue2, Shi2): After gaining the capability of controlling his qi, one's skill still needs to be enriched, consolidated and elevated for tapping his pure qi into greater levels.

16. Puzzles, enlightenment, wonder, able, true (succeed).

    • Puzzles (Mi2): When one arrives at the advanced level of Qigong training, one can clear away the confusion of the phenomina that once was vague, inarticulate and even mysterious. The understandings of Qigong phenomina will enlighten our heart, open up our minds and give us more room to expand.

    • Enlightenment (Du4): If one is enlightened, then he can teach Qigong, enlighten other people and contribute qi to mankind.

    • Miraculous (Qi2): At this stage, the legends of miraculous Qigong phenomena and marvelous skills have succeded and have become reality, just as Taoist qigong masters' saying, "No effort is expended, yet all have been accomplished'' (Wu2 Wei2 Er2 Wu2 Bu4 Wei2)

    • Able, true (Neng2, Zhen1): With such miraculous skill and energy, one will certainly make wonderful contributions. Only at this stage has one succeeded or reached the final state of qigong accomplishment.

This poem of eighty characters also emphasizes the word reality. Qigong training leads to the real attainment of perfect and favorable health, mind, skill and power. Qigong is real, not imaginary or wishful fantasy.