If you don't understand the cultivation methods of inner elixirs, you mustn't use your mind randomly

Teacher Kong De: Hello! I am passionate about Qigong. A few years ago, I practiced it blindly on my own, but ended up going astray and harming myself. I sincerely hope you can offer me guidance in your busy schedule and relieve my pain. The process of deviation is roughly as follows: The mind focuses on the dantian, and as soon as there is a slight internal qi, it guides downward. As a result, one feels a sudden heat in the inner thighs, and the qi in the body's Yin meridians is not in good condition (the mind cannot control it). One feels that the internal qi is like an upturned bucket, causing the qi to disperse. In the future, in order to correct the deviation, I changed my mind to focus on the Baihui point (seemingly to focus but not exactly to focus), and I clearly felt that the intention to focus on the yin-yang points was repelled from that of focusing on the Baihui point. After many days like this, the result was that the deviation was even more severe. Now, I feel that a "qi ring" has formed in my body, which neither dissipates nor retract, guiding me towards my feet. It can't be guided any further. It's too late to regret! In recent years, although I have read a large number of Qigong books, consulted experts and tried various corrective methods (such as the Qigong practice, etc.), to no avail, I have been in great pain both mentally and physically. Please bestow upon me a good method to relieve my journey through the sea of suffering! Among Qigong enthusiasts, some have "broken the rules" and even "lost their temper", and some have even "gone insane". However, some qigong practitioners do not admit to "going off track". Even if they admit all kinds of strange deviations, in their eyes, they seem very easy to correct. However, those who truly go astray always feel like they have reached a dead end, unable to find a good way to correct their mistakes. I wonder what your opinion is on "going crazy". Could you please reply and offer your guidance? Please don't disturb me. I'm looking forward to your reply. Teacher Kong De replied: After reading your letter, I feel that the problems you have encountered are quite common among some Qigong enthusiasts, which is very distressing. The root cause of this is the inevitable consequence of having little or no knowledge of Qigong and blindly practicing it. If one does not look for the cause from this root, even if one seeks a temporary solution, in the end, it will still be like a blind person riding a blind horse, inevitably going astray again and again, and eventually being beyond redemption. Therefore, I suggest that after I tell you the correction method and solve the current problem, you should not practice such internal alchemy exercises for the time being. Instead, you can first practice some dynamic exercises with false intentions and Tai Chi and other martial arts. As for the internal alchemy cultivation method, one should first read some relevant books and read more articles published in this journal and other similar publications. Only after understanding the principles and the practical skills should one proceed with the cultivation. Although you said that in recent years you have read a large number of Qigong books and consulted many experts, it has had no effect on correcting the deviation. I really doubt that you are the kind of person who buys books but doesn't read them, reads books but doesn't delve into them, and delves into books but doesn't understand them. And when seeking advice from experts, it is unknown whether these experts are genuine or fake, and whether the advice is genuine or fake. You said, "Concentrate your mind on the dantian and guide it downward as soon as there is a slight internal qi," which led to a deviation. You have no idea at all how to focus your mind on the dantian or how to guide the internal qi. It can even be said that you don't understand exactly what internal qi is. But he knew he had gone astray, yet he didn't know the way to correct it. How dare he still follow Ueda's method? He's really playing with his life and the great art of cultivation! Over the years, the articles published in Wudang have all discussed and introduced these issues. As someone who has read a large number of books, periodicals and articles, have you not even understood these basic common sense? Now I only offer one method for your reference: When practicing every day, first let go of distractions. You can stand or sit as long as you feel relaxed. There is no need to focus on other parts of your body; just focus on your breathing. There are three methods for concentrating on breathing, and these three are also three steps that must not be confused. The first step is to relax both physically and mentally and breathe naturally. After breathing smoothly, focus your breath on the area just one inch in front of your nostrils, regarding this place as an empty circle. It seems that each inhalation and exhalation takes place within this circle. After a long time of walking, eventually this circle and the body merged into a chaotic great circle, and the breath was also within this chaotic great circle. The second step is that when in the state of the chaotic great circle, one can imagine that my breathing connects with the universe and nature through the pores all over my body. My breathing is the breathing of nature, and the breathing of nature is my breathing. The third step is that when in the breathing state of the second step, there is a sense of self blending with the natural universe. At this time, the sensation of the blood vessels pulsating within the body is particularly distinct. There is no need to distinguish where this pulsation occurs; it only feels as if it takes place at the center of a vast and chaotic universe. So, breathing is attached to the pulsation of this blood vessel without any interference, allowing the two to proceed naturally. This method can be practiced for a long time. When performing these three-step breathing techniques, there are two crucial issues. One is to be neither overly cautious nor overly cautious, neither forgetting nor assisting. A slight deviation from this principle will lead to problems. Second, only when the first step is successful and free can one proceed to the second step. Only when the second step is successful can one proceed to the third step. If this sequence is not followed, problems will still arise. The above three-step breathing method, as long as the first step is done well, can solve the problem of your internal qi disorder. When performing the three-step breathing method, never pay attention to any changes in the flow of qi in your body. When there are distractions, they should be eliminated. If your mind just won't calm down no matter what you say, then no matter how good the method is, it will be of no use. This three-step breathing method can be practiced by all those who want to practice Qigong but are too afraid to do so. It can ensure no deviation and treat conditions such as rheumatism, overwork, hypertension and various chronic diseases of internal organs. Many health benefits are also included in it.