goals in SanTi practice

[Anonymous]

Hi,

In the chapter on Hsing-I in Bruce’s book, he mentions 5 sets of goals for the practice of SanTi:
-developping the breath
-strengthening the legs and waist
-strengthening the arms
-unifying one’s external physical connections
-using the gaze to unify one’s internal connections

I would like to know whether this is a fixed sequence of goals (ie : one first goes through the whole methodology of develloping the breath, then goes on to focus on the legs and waist, then the arms, etc.) or if they are five sets of goals, each with its own internal sequence of intermediary goals, that are followed in parallel.

In the first two DVD sets, Bruce mentions an optimal sequence of intermediary goals in the practice of SanTi, but he doesn’t specify what it is, except for the first goal, which is to be able to stand in SanTI with a minimal amount of relaxation. Does he detail that full sequence somewhere in the DVDs, along with the exact signs to look for in order to know when a goal has been reached ?
If not, I believe this would make a great addition to the program. Maybe it is planned for the eBook ?

Regards,

Erwan

[Anonymous]

Hmmmm,
maybe I should have opened this thread in the PiChuan/Santi section of the forum…

[Anonymous]

Goal overall is to unify all the points you mentioned. All this contributes to focused power aka xing yi. when it’s all online, it’s the same as being in the zone. you are focused on the one point but are aware of your total surroundings at once – front back and sides, below and above…
in this practice of santi we are aiming to engage all this at once. we become hyper-aware but calm with laser focus: precise, appropriate and immediate action to any given situation. Hit hard and fast… Next, Next, Next! No stop. Just… Next! Always ready. Cocked and loaded. Think in fighting concepts, but it can superimpose over various life scenarios especially goal oriented high pace type situations.

peace
steve

[Anonymous]

Thank you all,
Much appreciation …. the part I seem to be missing is ( 1st DVD I-chuan ) in the standing posture ! Gathering chi from feet/earth and heaven/head and bring to lower tan tein , ok I got this …. but chi is also lead to hands ! This is gathering part, now BKF say to move chi up along spine and into arms …. into arms ? is not the chi still there from pervious movement ? ;-/ then up to head …..
I wish he could have e-book for us just on the gathering and releasing,
that has writen down with picture/diagram of where the chi is going .
He stresses the point of not muddeling things up hahaha …. if only I could get this part down .
Best Regards
Erich

[Anonymous]

I’ve been an acupuncturist for 14 yrs and I’ve been following Master Bruce’s methods for almost 20 yrs.
So, in terms of the standard qi flow based on acupuncture channel theory:
Qi moves from the earth through the foot from K1, the big toe, and the arch of the foot where the greater concentration of yin qi gathers via the Liv and Sp channels (notice the arch of the foot in its most natural position is up off the ground as opposed to the rest of the foot that has a more definitive connection to the ground)
Yin qi moves from the foot, up the leg to the dantian along the yin paths (inside of leg) through the perineum to lower dantian and culminates with mingmen. It then moves up the spine along the du channel (governing channel). Either simultaneously with the feet or about the same time the energy hits the lower dantian begin to draw the energy in through the fingers along the dorsum of the hand along the yang channels of the arms, to the shoulders, to the upper back to culminate with the movement of qi up the spine to the crown of the head at Du20 (baihui). So actually qi is not just moving along the du but also along the muscles up the back from the hips and lower back to the shoulders, neck, and head. From the top of the head the movement the qi.continues along the du channel, connecting to the ren channel (conception channel) technically where the tip of the tongue meets the upper palate inside the mouth. As the qi moves along these channel pathways it also moves along the muscle pathways from the head, down the face, along the stomach channels and all the other yang and muscle channels of the face, to the collar bones into the chest muscles and into the axilla. As the movement of qi continues down the chest to the front and lateral abdominal regions, it also moves from axilla into the inner arms along the yin pathways all the way to the palms and out through the fingers. In a neutral standing posture the qi will connect to the earth from the fingers as well as from the feet of course. Depending on the various I chuan postures, qi from the hands can have varying trajectories. Ergo the multiple postures and their functions.
As energy moves down the front of the body, back to the lower dantian, it then spreads to the hips through the kwa into the yang channels of the legs starting at ST30 and to the lateral hip muscles and into the gluteus Maximus, down the front, sides, and back of the legs, to the feet, back into the earth through the portion of the foot that is most connected to the ground having the greater concentration of yang qi as opposed to the yin portion of the foot where K1 starts along with the rest of the yin channels that have their greater concentrations in the arch of the foot. Repeat infinitude.
This is what I do. Based on Bruce’s lessons and what I know as an acupuncturist and what I experience from this practice, I can say that this is pretty definitive.
Hope this helps.
Steve

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