PRACTICING QIGONG AND NOT GENTLE PHYSICAL EXERCISE
The basic of kungfu techniques is for combat
Question
How do we know we practice qigong and not gentle physical exercise?
— Nicolas, Spain
Answer
An excellent way is to check whether we get the results practicing genuine chi kung will give. All genuine chi kung overcomes illness and gives good health, vitality and longevity. Low-level genuine chi kung gives little results after a long time, whereas high-level genuine chi kung gives a lot of results after a short time.
If after practicing chi kung techniques for some time, say about 6 months, a practitioner is still sick, he can rightly conclude that what he practices is gentle physical exercise and not genuine chi kung. If he is healthy but after practicing chi kung for a few months, he does not see any noticeable improvement in his vitality, he can conclude that what he practices is gentle physical exercise and not genuine chi kung.
This method of checking whether we get the result practicing an art will give, is excellent not only for chi kung but for any arts, especially arts that come from the East like kungfu and meditation. It is just shocking that many kungfu and meditation practitioners spend years practicing external forms but missing the essence.
The basic purpose of practicing kungfu, including Taijiquan, is for combat. If after practicing the art for some time and a practitioner cannot use kungfu techniques for combat, though he may lose to a better fighter, he can conclude that what he has been practicing is just the external form of kungfu and not genuine kungfu. The basic benefit of practicing meditation is relaxation. If after practicing the art for some time and a practitioner is still stressful, he can conclude that what he has been practicing is just the external form of mediation and not genuine meditation.
The above is taken from Question 2 January 2019 Part 1 of the Selection of Questions and Answers.
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