Chi

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what is chi?

I have been asked this questions many times… let me start by saying that no one can really wrap their head about it. its a bit like using the question “who am I?” as an inquiry meditation.
But the conventional answer talks about Chi as a Concept in Chinese traditional medicine, that describes the life force that sustains the physical body. This means it is prior to the Physical Body and that by nurturing its qualities you can support the Body’s condition.
In Chinese medicine this is used in different ways by different branches of the system. according to their expertise the Chinese doctors can recommend using Nutrition and herbal medicine, Acupuncture, Chi gong or Massage (Tui na). All these methods support the flow and quality of the Chi, and by that bring better health and well being to the persons body and life.
This means Chi (the Vital force or life force) can be influenced.

An interesting article I once read, described “Chi” to be something in between energy and a substance. Therefor is the sensation or image that you can cultivate chi, manipulate it, direct it…

Can you really harness Chi? or is it the Chi that is harnessing you?

In Tai chi and Chi gong it is said that “the Chi follows the Yi” (Yi meaning our intention). so by using our intention and attention we influence the flow of chi in and around our body.
I can say for sure, that in these Chinese practices of medicine, the flow in the body, as a quality, is both strongly and gently influenced, by opening “channels” of flow (Meridians) and by “encouraging” or training the body into a gentle, soft, harmonic flow.

“Chi” is associated with a universal flow in nature, and so it is not just an individual energy that you collect and “use” for your own needs, but more a way of connecting with the universal flow of the universe.
Planets and Galaxies are rotating and moving hundreds of millions of Kilometres away from the earth and influencing our daily lives. Day and night, Winter and Summer, Birth and Death, Growth and Decay, are all part of this flow, and we are part of it.

I feel the concept of “Chi” needs to be referred to together with the concept of Consciousness, that might be even prior to “chi” or energy. another option is to reflect on them both as being one: “an energy that knows”.
then awareness is aware of itself, flowing from “nothing” into the realm of the world and then back into nothingness, into a vibrant emptiness.
I guess this is more like the approach of Taoism.

in any case, practicing and learning to work with Chi, with life, with the flow of things… is possible and real. you can increase the flow in your life, through movement, or improve certain qualities that are missing (like softness, directness, power, stability, patience, joy, openness, fastness…) through working with the elements of nature that constitute our bodies.
(in the Chinese system it would be the 5 elements- fire, water, wood, metal and earth, In the jewish system of the Kabalah it would be the 4 elements- air, fire, water and earth).

one way of doing so, that is what I work with, is movement (like Chi gong), I will add a link at the end of this answer, to my Youtube channel where you will find plenty of exercises that are easy to do, and that I experience bring much flow and joy to my life. this is something that I find is both immediate (I feel great during and after I practice) and also accumulated - effects my state of being in the long run.

As I mentioned before, to make a practice or a development complete, I recommend using it with the question “who” is it that wants to harness, use, manipulate life energy? is there a “real” entity there?
you might find out that the concept of “chi” and the concept of “I” are both as mysterious and etheric… not having real substance, but pointing to your true all pervading nature that is joy.

In the indian tradition this is called “Sat-Chit-Annanda” (being-awareness-bliss). but this is already for another article.

[peteyzen]

Very good article. I enjoyed reading this. I would only add, that every culture has their own name for this same energy, the Japanese call it Ki, the koreans Qi and in yoga it is known as prana.