Wudang Guixi Gong

The Turtle Breath Technique is a kind of cultivation method for intensively refining internal energy in the Wudang Taoist school. It is also known as "Xuanwu Ding" or "Turtle Breath True Concentration Technique", consisting of four parts: concentrating the mind, latent breath, true concentration, and emerging concentration. The methods of cultivation are listed below: First, concentrate. Concentrate, that is, regulate the mind. This is a preparatory practice for the Turtle Breath Exercise. Beginners should sit cross-legged, keep the upper body upright, and make sure the whole body is relaxed and natural. When relaxed, the qi will flow smoothly and all the meridians will be unobstructed. The "Ziwu" technique involves bending the left thumb and pinching the middle finger's midpoint (the uppermost part), inserting the right thumb into the circle of the left thumb and middle finger and pinching the base of the left ring finger, and pinching the right middle finger facing each other. Place both hands in front of the lower abdomen. The "Ziwu" technique can help reduce distractions and achieve a state of tranquility. With eyes lowered behind the curtain, he gazed at his nose. Observe the nose at the mouth, the mouth at the heart, the tongue against the upper hip, and the heart, spirit and will at the navel, ensuring that the mind remains focused. Over time, I felt as if my heart was following my will. My head and hands were like nothingness, and I only felt a faint true breath coming and going from my navel, motionless. At this point, the first step is successfully taken. Second, taking a deep breath. A deep breath is called a turtle's breath, which is the beginning of one's correct practice. The sitting position is the same as above. At this moment, vibrate your nasal cavity and take a deep breath. When inhaling qi, place it in the navel of the abdomen. Take out about 80% of the air, but do not fill it up. After the qi enters the abdomen, the mind moves downward again, just like the above posture, calming the mind and calming the qi, and holding the breath. When taking a breath, one can use the counting method (not the number of breaths), but only count silently. For beginners, those who are still breathing will surely not be accustomed to it. They will immediately feel their breath suffocating, their sensation rising, their breath floating up, and the waste gas about to escape, feeling suffocated in the chest and throat. Beginners can take a breath and then inhale as before. The longer one practices martial arts, the longer one's patience and energy become. At this moment, if you feel that your breath is about to be released, relax your lower abdomen, let your mind drop, and your breath will also drop. The feeling of oppression will disappear, but it will soon return. Follow the method to relax your lower abdomen again and lower your mind. If you feel that you can't hold your breath when you first start cooking, let out a breath. As the practice time increases, the number of repetitions of ascending and descending can also gradually increase. But remember not to hold back your initial learning for too long. You should always proceed step by step. Each time you inhale, exhale once, that is, hold and release once, it counts as one breath. After exhaling, regulate your breathing and then inhale again. Each practice session should involve at least seven breaths and at most forty-nine breaths. When one cultivates to the point where the breath descends into the human abdomen without haste or restraint, and remains calm and composed for a long time, the second step is accomplished. Third, true concentration: Only when the above two methods are accomplished can one truly suffer from human concentration. You can sit or lie down in any position. Inhale and descend the breath, focus the mind and mind on the navel, until the mind and breath are completely forgotten, leaving only one spiritual sense remaining in the hollow orifice inside the navel, remaining motionless for a long time, gradually entering true concentration. True concentration is the superior practice of turtle breathing, but it is not easy to master. The Daoist "Taiji Men" states: "To be still in non-existence, to be naturally stable, to have a spirit in ignorance, this is the true concentration of a person." Only those who have been through it can truly understand the essence of the world. Fourth, when the practice reaches the "state of concentration", the method of concluding the practice should be mastered through the "method". The method of delivering on time is also very simple. Each person has 22 key points on their hands: the joint at the base of the ring finger is the key point at the hour of Zi, the joint at the base of the middle finger is the key point at the hour of Chou, the joint at the base of the index finger is the key point at the hour of Yin, and the second joint of the index finger is the key point at the hour of MAO. The third joint of the index finger is the key point of the Chen hour, the tip of the index finger is the key point of the Wu hour, the tip of the ring finger is the key point of the Mo hour, and the tip of the little finger is the key point of the Shen hour. The third joint of the small cuo is the key point of the you hour, the second joint of the little finger is the key point of the shu hour, and the joint at the base of the little finger is the key point of the Hai hour. If you plan to practice exercises at a certain time to "break out of concentration", you can make fists with both hands, place the tips of the thumbs on the key point of that time, and lay them flat on your legs. Then one can accurately "exit the samadhi" and conclude the practice. Note: After achieving a state of concentration through the practice of this skill, due to the forward guidance of true qi and the practice of storing the mind and breathing, it is common to see the body leaning forward, with the palms overlapping and resting on the forehead in a turtle position. This is a normal phenomenon. Let it be as it is. It is of great benefit to the cultivation of qi. Don't be frightened. Excerpted from "A Hundred Martial Arts Schools - Wugong Secret Blemished Network"