I consider meditation an important aspect of Qigong. Qigong is both movement and meditation. By training the mind separately through various forms of meditation, you improve your Qigong practice—and the results you aim to achieve through Qigong. It is difficult to move correctly so that the Qi flows properly while simultaneously the mind is focused correctly on the movement.
I used to train a lot in Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art, and for a few years in Iaido, a Japanese sword form. Styles in which you are primarily focused on keeping external attackers at bay. I didn’t find it that difficult to imagine enemies outside of myself and defend against them. I stopped training in martial arts because I discovered that to become a whole and healthy person, you need training that takes place much more internally.
So I chose to specialize in Qigong and meditation. The attackers from within: thoughts and emotions. Unconscious processes—that’s what I wanted to learn to defend myself against, and it turned out not to be simple at all. Thoughts are like wild horses; they go in all directions if I don’t give them a direction. Positive directions, creative ideas, but also negative thoughts arise spontaneously.
And when they’re completely out of control, unhelpful emotions follow. That’s why it’s so important to practice meditation and learn to keep your mind in balance.
Meditation
Meditation teaches you to turn your attention inward and calm the mind. A meditative state of mind leads to greater depth and better results in Qigong practice. The meditations teach you to calm the energy system and let go of unnecessary thoughts.
In Tibetan Buddhism, I find a wealth of knowledge about how the mind works and how you can use meditation to bring your mind to a state of calm and happiness.
Exercises
Drawing in meditation
Buddhist concentration meditation
The return journey meditation
The three dantian meditation of the energy system
Three centers merge meditation
La chi meditation
Crane’s walk