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Bruce often talks about the non-linear progression of learning the 16 part neigung, but he has also said that the order isn’t random and the list does correspond generally to the overall learning progression. I’ve found this to be clearer for latter parts of the 16 neigung than the earlier components.
For example, I found that you can’t work strongly and clearly with the left and right energy channels until the spine is very, very stable. That material is the subject of neigung part 10. I’ve posted one way I approached this material on the Hsing-i forum. I believe the first steps are taught in Core IV, Bend the Bow and Shoot the Arrow. However, I extrapolated (for good or bad) from the Bend the Bow material to the legs, head, and lower tan tien. In the end I feel like I as able to control the spine significantly more clearly and precisely than just doing what was taught. IMHO, there are a bunch of pieces that are implied but explicitly missing. It was this material that finally stabilized my lower spine enough to protect the sacrum from the pressures of working directly with the left and right energy channels.
So, the point is there’s a clear learning progression. You need to master part 10 to prepare your body to learn part 11 which prepares you to learn about the central channel, part 12.
That’s interesting, James. Lately, my direct feeling perception of the central channel has grown very strong. I’ve been working with it in my sitting, breathing and in the long form. I haven’t worked much with the side channels as such, so my experience is perhaps a little different from yours. I’m mostly doing the qigong sets and the Wu long form now as my moving practice and they support the activation of the central channel. I’ll reconsider this as I move forward.
best wishes,
Matthew
Sorry, I posted the wrong number for the neigung element I was referring to. I meant neigung part 11 not part 10. Part 11: Awakening and controlling all the energies of the spine.
The main point is that you have to develop the stability of the spine before you work strongly with the left and right channels, part 12.
Part 10, Learning to move chi to any part of the body at will, is arguably the foundation for connecting the arms to the spine, the legs to the spine, the head to the spine, etc.
The progression is still clear – 10, 11, 12, 13, 14…
Matthew,
Nice to hear from you. I’ve been making a distinction between the central channel and the core channel lately. The core channel is in the bone marrow in the center of the bones. When practicing Bagua I maintain this throughout the arms, legs, torso,and head. I’m constantly paying attention to it being connected and without gaps.
I’m using the term central channel for something broader. For me, the central channel is non-local and is both inside and outside the body. The central channel is used, for example, to disperse throughout the entire field. It includes the core channel. I posted about this in “Heaven Trigram” on the BMP forum. Bruce showed me this in 2010. I didn’t have a clue at the time. It has taken me quite a while to understand how it works even though I could replicate it almost immediately.
I’m curious, by this definition, are you working with the core channel, central channel, or both?
Take care,
Jim
Ah, got it now. No problem. This is fun stuff, isn’t it? Learning all these things and having them become real in the body? I;ve been doing the EA training circle and it has been really good for both my sitting and taiji.
cheers,
Matthew
Based on my current practice, I think you have to have full access to first fifteen neigung components to do the mother palms. I’ve always thought the mother palms were a quality or frequency of energy, but now I think that comes later.
While you work through neigung parts 14 and 15, the mother palms are very distinct ways to use the lower, middle, and upper tan tiens that correspond to the symbols the trigrams represent.
The chi progression described in BMP module 8 (particularly the progression of levels 4, 5, 6, and 7) supports the progression I’ve described. It further illustrates how the SPC can be a container for all of the 16 part neigung.
The problem I think everyone will encounter is Level 5 of BMP module 8. What are the “different ways of working with the body’s left and right energy channels…”?
Hi, James.
I agree. For me the central channel is more of an energetic core of my entire being and is different from the core channel. My awareness has really expanded and grown as I work on my sitting meditation and the long form. It’s really cool what’s happening internally: I’ve been working on using yi to move qi to move the body. It’s happening in a very fluid and organic way. Can’t really describe it…
Anyway, even though I’m not doing bagua, I keep reading these posts. I’m finding the EA Training Circle materials really helpful for the taiji and sitting meditation.
Take care and I’ll keep an eye on your posts. Best,
Matthew
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