Hi Rich,
I wanted to get back to your original topic, sensing energy, and a couple of other points. You have already been given good feedback...
Qigong, by general definition, is simply a state of being. If someone is practicing qigong, one needs to further define what that is. You could be practicing a given exercise called qigong exercise, or even a set, and it doesn't necessarily mean it is complete, or balanced, or even focused on self healing. Most systems or exercises out there, are not complete, not balanced, and the focus is all over the place, or what the exercise encompasses, is very minimal. Just because you , or your friends are practicing energy sensitive games or exercises, doesn't mean you are opening up, releasing blockages, and opening channels. It takes a good system, and a complete system to achieve maximum results. Also, your focus and intention on that. Usually, in martial practice, the qigong exercise doesn't focus on healing, and healing isn't always a side effect to that energywork. Sometimes energywork is directed more towards aquiring a specific technique, or ability. The intention behind the technique, may be aligned with a lower purpose, or application. Sometimes, the involvement can almost be looked at as karmic, in the sense of you recycling an experience with that energy..Just because one works with energy, healing and raising one's consciousness doesn't automatically follow. Everything is energy, and in a sense, everyone is working with it, conscious or not. Within this picture, there are levels, pretaining to all aspects of it.
Martial qigong and medical qigong, and spiritual qigong, are very different as singular 'extremes'. Systems can be specific , or mixes of these types, and or sources of qigong method.
Over the past years I have focused on spiritual energy and healing energy, in my qigong practice. SFQ is a wonderful, complete system that addresses both, on a very high level. It lays out a path too, that goes off to the horizon. I was a very serious martial artist at one time, and had very good information, in the qigong sense, to support that endeavor. I also worked with a master, in the sense of 'the master's energy' during that time, so I also had a spiritual source to draw on. Physically, I was stronger at that time, versus where I am now, in specific physical ways. (I was also younger!) I am actually healthier now though, focusing on SFQ. The way I moved through my life's experience, at that time, was very different. The way I held energy, projected myself to others,,,,how I walked into a room, what my mind's eye was looking at...
The ability to kill someone, or hold that intention, is a state of being. From my current perspective, I can't imagine going there. Your post stuck out to me, as it connects to a mild, but real aspect of this energy.
In a complete martial system, your salutation, identifies your system, and, connects to lineage in that system. It is a key or password, just like merging with the universe...There can be alot of spilled blood, and bad feelings, mixed in that energy, as it goes back, and continues to recycle, going forward. I spent some years, working with my master's energy, in the spiritual sense of master's energy, to transform the warrior energy within the relationship. Warrior energy 'is' in there. No judgement, just fact, it is, what it is...
It is a choice to engage with it. What you feel, and what you nuture, are specific, within that experience. It is hard to mix that with higher levels of spiritual qigong, or healing in the fullest sense of what the concept of healing can entail. Interestingly, an aspect of that master(master's energy), was interested in my transformation, away of being a warrior. I am talking about a martial deity here... It was spiritual focus that brought about this insight and experience, not martial. It was funny to me at that time, to think of this deity, common on other martial altars, and speculate about the idea of whether or not they knew what this deity was up to! :-)
Anyway, what I am getting at, is that you are mixing alot of stuff together. Stuff at extremes of the spectrum..If you want to heal, and raise your level of consciousness, focus on SFQ. There are levels of awareness too. It is very different to experience 'the truth of the universe', for instance, as a type or level of awareness, rather than sense a killing intention in someone else. The latter, is more on the level of practice, like sensing a blockage in someone, but not as high as that, in the healing or spiritual sense, in purpose. Please don't misunderstand my ramblings. I make no judgements, and as I said, I have worked with people, as a healer, that I have shown exercise to from martial source, as , this is what would help them at that time. It also aligns with transforming that energy, by aligning it to a higher purpose. I have found too, that at times, I have occassionally brought in that martial intensity, into positive spiritual or healing work,,,, and warrior energy,,,, can be utilized to feed will power, initiative, focus,,,,lots of good things. I have found though, that in doing healing work, and focusing on raising my level consciousness, I have moved farther and farther away from it, over time, as a 'source' for energywork. It is an incredibly good feeling to walk the earth as a healer and helper. People look at you, and smile. The sources, or many manifestations of the creator, we refer to as the master's energy, or spiritual energy, is the most powerful energy you can tap into. The higher level work you do, the more power you receive, to do your work. Self defense, is not an issue, you have skills and awareness to take care of yourself. Healing work, and spiritual work, are higher up on the list, than fighting, or killing, or , learning how to work with that energy. I do think it is possible to engage in a martial art, and base yourself in a higher purpose than the fighting aspect. It can provide a source of really good physical exercise,,,the best, perhaps.. Grounding that practice in a higher spiritual and/or healing purpose is better. Not always easy to do, if you have to spend time in an environment that focus's elsewhere. I think it may be difficult for you to mix SFQ with warrior energywork and intentions. It is different ,to say, practice a tai chi form as just energy, for self healing purpose and self realization, than to practice it connected to fighting technique. There are of course, all shades of gray. Often, if I revisit doing a martial form, I will connect to an aspect of where the form comes from and the teacher that taught me, and strike a new relationship based in healing. It is good for the source I connect to, and good for me. I 'choose' not to connect to the other, darker aspect. I have always found, that the higher aspect exists, within everything, and you can expand, that part,,, benefit, and experience the benefits of being a healer or spiritual worker, within that experience. I hope my post makes you think about what you are doing, and hopefully inspires you to consider a different focus to your practice, or make you think about what you are connected too, and how you are working with energy.
love,
gallen
