Don’t try to be smarter than the master!
Respect the master!
Do as the master says!
Hopefully, you would tell me to get lost if I said those things. If not, if you would blindly follow me no matter what — well then I’m probably not the teacher for you.
Faith is important when learning Qigong (I’ll explain why later). But it’s certainly not blind faith. Here’s a quote that sums up my philosophy on faith: “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – Buddha
This is my approach to teaching. It’s the only piece of dogma that you’ll find in my school. In other words, if anything I say doesn’t agree with you, then go find something that does. I mean it. I just want people to be happy and healthy. Although I’m a passionate believer in the effectiveness of Flowing Zen, maybe it’s not for you.
But maybe what I say resonates with you. Maybe you’re ready to give Qigong a shot. Maybe you even want to learn from me.
If so, then you should follow my instructions. Follow because you consider me an expert in the field. Follow because I’ve gotten great results for myself, and because I’m able to reproduce those results in my students. Most importantly, follow because you believe that I can help you to do the same.
That’s the kind of faith that is important for learning Qigong.
Healthy Skepticism
Maybe you want to learn Qigong, but you’re still a bit skeptical. You don’t know if you believe in this stuff. To the skeptics out there, I have this to say:
Good for you!
I was skeptical in the beginning, and believe it or not (see what I did there?), I want you to be skeptical too! Just make sure that you’re what is known as a “healthy skeptic”.
If you’re a healthy skeptic, then you are filled with curiosity. You want to know about things. You are willing to explore, and experiment. And you enjoy getting clear answers about whether or not something works.
But if you’ve already made up your mind without doing any investigating, then you’re not a healthy skeptic. You’re dogmatic. It’s your choice, but please don’t pretend that this scientific. It’s not.
“Condemnation without investigation is the height of ignorance.” – Albert Einstein
Bad Science
Science should be about inquiry, investigation, and experimentation. That’s exactly what the ancient Chinese masters have been doing for thousands of years – investigating and experimenting with the art of energy cultivation for health, vitality, and spirituality. And that’s what I’ve done since 1992.
So let’s agree to something: If you don’t follow my instructions, and if you don’t practice daily for about 15 minutes, then you aren’t allowed to say that this stuff doesn’t work. Okay?
Years ago, I was talking with a woman about Qigong. “Oh, that stuff doesn’t work,” she said to me (not knowing who I was). When I inquired further, I found out that she had never tried the art, hadn’t done any research, and didn’t know anyone who had done it. And yet, somehow, she was able to conclude that the art doesn’t work!
In other words, a woman with zero experience in Qigong was trying to tell me (of all people) that the art she has no experience in doesn’t work.
That is not healthy skepticism. That is not science. That’s dogma.
The Qigong Experiment
At this point in my teaching career, I’ve got a reputation for getting powerful results in students. So it may be tempting to just follow me based on my reputation. But I’m specifically asking you to resist that temptation.
My reputation may be deserved, but you don’t know that yet. And you won’t know it until you run the Qigong experiment on yourself. Only then will you know based on your own, direct experience.
If you want to run the Qigong experiment on yourself, then it makes sense to follow an expert’s instructions. It’s really that simple. Follow his or her instructions sincerely, and find out whether or not this stuff works. (Just make sure it’s a good teacher because that is a critical part of the experiment.)
My upcoming ebook will be a great chance for people to put Flowing Zen to the test. Does it work? Well, if you follow my instructions, you’ll find out!
Drop me a comment below if you have questions. And if you’re interested in my upcoming book, then make sure to get on my mailing list. You’ll get a bunch of free stuff in the process too. Sign up here.
From the heart, Sifu Anthony
Well said! I believe we can’t heal if we can’t think for ourselves 🙂 I love your philosophy.
I’ve been a Reiki practitioner for a few years now and lately I’ve been feeling very drawn to practising Qigong.. so now is the time.Thanks for the free stuff by the way, very interesting and I want to know more, so no doubt you’ll be hearing from me again 🙂
Thanks, Emma. I look forward to meeting you. 🙂
I’m definitely a healthy skeptic who started regular practice just two months ago for mostly the spiritual meditative aspect of Qigong that I was pretty sure would work — I was the least skeptical about this. I was most skeptical about the healing benefits. In fact, I haven’t really been thinking too much about healing aspects, neither really questioning or doubting whether it was possible.
Well, I just noticed something yesterday. Been busting my butt doing yardwork and housework lately — bending and twisting and carrying, climbing ladders, trimming hedges — things that would usually cause a LOT of hip pain the next to the point of hardly being able to walk without my daily does of Aleve. Well, I haven’t taken any Aleve in about two weeks, and even with all the work I’ve been doing there is a HUGE improvement.
Reading in bed at night with pillow behind my head would usually cause my arms to fall asleep. That’s improved a bunch too. Oh, and I lost 13 pounds and have lost my desire to smoke cigarettes. Can’t wait til my quit dates gets here, truthfully!
I’m definitely more mindful during the too and catch myself easier when I get upset….but I totally expected that one.
Thank you, Sifu!
You’re welcome, Wendy! I like how you casually mention that you lost 13 pounds and lost your desire to smoke. No biggie!
Hahaha this made me laugh to tears 😀
This post was written for me! I have been trying to get into practice and can’t… Then, I realized why… I am not sure all of it is true. I believe in qigong being good as a type of meditation, but not for healing. But it is in accordance with some things I believe in. So, I decided to study it better and if I can understand it, I will be able to do a daily practice. I read one review on pubmed.com, but I decided that it would be better to buy a book about it. So, I am just waiting for Amazon to ship it. Bought it last week. I am a researcher, so it is not easy to just believe in things that people tell me. But I am willing to give it a try!
By the way, for a while I was practicing it (only for about 3 or 4 days). At the time, I didnt realize, but I was feeling better, happier and more energetic. I am not sure if it was because of the qigong, but there is a good chance 🙂
So, I will let you know how it goes when I read the book!
Hi Desyree. Assuming that you’re the Desyree who took my class, then you already have everything you need to run your own Qigong experiment. The book won’t solve the equation; practicing will! Remember to use a progress chart too. http://flowingzen.com/1894/8-reasons-to-track-your-progress/
Yes, that is me.
The reason I want to read the book is to understand how it works and why. Every time I think about practicing and sometimes during the practice, I keep thinking “but how lifting sky helps? what is with this specific movement that makes it easier for the qi to move? And the breathing? And the ending sequence? And how about other movements? Are they going to have the same benefits?”. And that goes on and on… That is why I decided to buy a book. If I know how and why, I will be able to be more into the practice without questioning everything…
But don’t you see, Desyree. All those thoughts are just Monkey Mind. Ultimately, you can’t quiet the Monkey Mind with more Monkey Mind.
My upcoming book will cover some of these issues. In the meantime, my free download “The Secrets of Mind-Body Healing” discuss this in depth. If that doesn’t quiet your Monkey Mind, then no book will.
You’re a researcher. Do your research! Just practice. And follow the instructions, including letting go of the Monkey Mind.
This article will be helpful: http://flowingzen.com/4645/the-3-golden-rules/
I see what you are saying! I will start my practice again and let you know how it goes.
By the way, I like the new schedule and I am thinking about going back to do some classes 🙂
Sifu,
thank a lot for the tip and courage that you have email to.me.In fact i have had started practising Chi kong (qikong) in 2009. The reason.why i joined the Chi Kong course was that i have a cardiac problem in which all of my three main blood vessel was blocked.One was totally blocked and rist are 85% and 50%.it really giving me a lot of problem.i was hospitalize several time.i was asked to undergone a cardiac surgery but i refused.Seen then i do practice regularly twice a day.At less 15 minutes for session.thank God.i dont have much problem now.i feel much much better now.i really admired the wonderful power of Chi.Kong.
I have been doing qigong and tai chi for a month and I honestly haven’t seen a positive change at all. If anything it has made my panic attacks worse as well as it has caused extreme exhaustion. I don’t mean any disrespect I kust think that perhaps ot isn’t for everyone
Hi Victoria. Sorry to hear about the panic attacks. Where did you learn qigong and tai chi? From me?
Just do qigong. Start out by just doing qigong. If qigong helps and you become healthier, whatever that means for you and you still want to do or try tai chi, then do or add tai chi.