Q & A
1 Question:
I just bought Master Hon's new book on Taoist Qigong. Having just returned from a medical Qigong study trip in China ...I was delighted to find Master Hon's book on the shelf in the bookstore where I work. I have read about a third of it, have gone on-line to hear the correct pronunciation of the healing sounds and really like Master Hon's approach to this practice.

I am confused by one thing he writes. In fact this has been confusing to me with a number of Qigong teachers I have studied with, and I'm wondering if you can give me some clarification here: On page 37 where Master Hon is talking about breath and movement he says, "In general, when doing Qigong, inhale as you stretch your arms away from the body. Exhale as you gather your arms, as if hugging yourself. Inhale as your body rises up. Exhale as you lower the body." He does go on to say there will be exceptions, which I of course understand. Later however, on page 64 he says, "The basic principle of Qigong breathing is that when you extend your arms outward, exhale; when you gather your arms inward toward your body, inhale."

So which is the GENERAL rule, taking into account that rules are often broken for good reasons?

1. Answer

On page 37, the principle of breathing coordination with movement in general applies to the wider field of overall internal practice--i.e. Taiji Quan, Qigong..
while on page 64, the direction for the coordination for breathing is specifically apply toward the Healing Sound Qigong. The omission of the qualifiers become confusing. But that is the complexity of breathing process. However, it is possible an individual would find an alternative breathing pattern of inspiration and expiration more natural then by all means, reverse it. Taoist qigong is a process of self discovery, and the guidelines are exactly that serving only as guide post, the practitioner must find her own natural way of free breath. Good luck in your journey of discovery.

2. Question:
I purchased a copy of your book and I am confused. Is this a "short form" version of Taoist Qigong or is Taoist Qigong supposed to be this short? I know there is a Wuji Qigong that has 18 postures. Your book only shows 6 which is very short compared to the Wuji style. Is that all there is?

It must be a shock for you to get an e-mail which basically says "this is too easy, give me more." Whatever the case, is there a long form of Taoist Qigong and are you planing to write a book for the long form?

Are the six exercises all there is? I mean, if six is all that is needed to have vigorous health and attain the Tao then, thank you very much! If there are more than six postures.... master Hon, please, share more knowledge please.

2. Answer:
The Six Healing Sounds are only a small component of the whole Taoist Qigong which according to the Taoist Canon, Tao Zheng, there are approximately 3,000 various different styles and practices of Qigong. For example, the Five Animal Frolic is another set of the Taoist Qigong which models after the movements of the animals.
Taoist Qigong are categorized in two major groups: Stillness and Movements.
Stillness Taoist Qigong consists of meditation and internal circulation of the qi, vital force, in the various energy channels: Micro-cosmic Orbit and Macrocosmic Orbit are two of the most common ones.
Movements Taoist Qigong involves the integration between motion and breath, visualization and mudra--hand gestures, the Six Healing Sounds belongs to this movement Taoist Qigong group.

3. Question:
What is your view on legends? I have heard that Taoist masters have the ability to project their Qi and knock down objects that are five feet away. Are these exaggerated stories of charlatans or is there any truth in them? Please, don't get me wrong, I'm just curios. I know it sounds ridiculous but, is there a possibility that Lao Tzu is still alive and that he did not die at all? I mean, if he achieved a profound level of Tao, then, isn't there a possibility he is alive? I think he is alive. He has to be. It would be preposterous if he wasn't. If there is any truth in the claims regarding Taoist healing arts, then he has to be alive.

I know that seeking immortality is the wrong reason to practice Qigong. One should do it first to heal. Then, one should do it, to improve. After one has improved, one should do it, and perfect it. When a certain competence has been reached, one should share it with many people, as many as possible to help heal humanity. Then, if one fails in attaining the Tao, one should pass on the knowledge to a disciple, in the hopes that the disciple will achieve what the teacher in question could not. So, is that the true purpose of Taoist philosophy then? The selfless learning, practicing, perfecting, and passing on of knowledge all the while not really caring whether or not one becomes an immortal?

3. Answer:
The legends are interwoven from both actual experiences and myths. The Empty Force--the ability to project qi to move object in a distance, this has been documented with Master Yan Xin who could change the composition of chemical compounds in a test tube but when he tried to reproduce such experiment in Hong Kong, he failed.
Ah, the age old quest for immortality--the core of Taoist inner alchemy. The fact is that the possibility of immortality exists at the cellular level--cancer cells are immortal and can reproduce forever. Thus, it is quite possible that an accomplished immortal Taoist master does exist but he or she would not mingle with too many worldly people. Though, they may be immortal but they are still vulnerable and could be killed.

4. Question:
Do the legendary masters represent mythic ideals, or actual ideals that people can achieve with enough work?

4. Answer
Legendary masters point to the possibility of accomplishment. If a practitioner has the following perfect conditions then he or she could achieve the highest level of Taoist accomplishment:
Ideal conditions:
A. A healthy body/mind with exceptional brilliance of mind, heart and spirit.
B. Finding a true Taoist master who is willing to accept one as a student.
C. An extended period of 10 years in relative peace and harmony for the studies.
D. A clean environment free of pollution.
E. Luck and good fortune.

Please read the last chapter of the book, Taoist Qigong for Health and Vitality, on what one need to able to achieve mastery of Taoist Qigong practice--faith, perseverance and wisdom.

5. Question:
will performing Qigong 90,000 times over a period of 4 years help a man reach the Tao?
5. Answer:
Yes, if you do the 90,000 times with perfect awareness. No, if you do the 90,000 times just as mere repetition.

6. Question
Also, when a man reaches a certain level of knowledge, is it natural for that person to seek a "disciple," a "successor" if you will?

7. Answer
Since I have not reached this level of knowledge, I do not know whether it is natural for such master to seek a disciple. In my wandering and studies with the Taoist masters, it seemed that they will wait for the right disciple to come along. Most do feel a debt to their own teacher to pass the lineage and the great wisdom tradition of Taoist Qigong. As I feel that Taoist Qigong in healing is a treasure that belong to the human civilization , I have devoted my life to transmit the Taoist Qigong to the world to nudge its evolution toward a peaceful state of collective harmony.

6 Healing sounds

The therapeutic effects of the Healing Sounds:

Harmonize the organs
Open the throat and increase oxygen into the blood stream
Increase Qi flows

Sound and healing from the beginning of time, all animals have the use of sound to express, communicate and to defend themselves. In time of stress and sickness, we often emit different spontaneous sound that helps to heal and soothe us. The crying sound of sadness, the laughter of joy, the moaning of sickness, the cooing to baby. The therapeutic effect of those primordial sounds become buried with the excessive use of sound as speech and singing. People has forgotten how to use the Primal healing sounds to heal themselves and others with the exception of few remaining aboriginal tribal shaman in the Amazon who still chant their healing songs, and blowing away sickness.

In the development of the healing sounds, there are two currently contemporary practice that is available for student of healing. The studies of mantra from the yogic tradition and the Taoist 6 Healing Sounds. These two system each have developed to an extensive theory of interrelationship between the organs and the sounds.

The Yogic universal mantra AUM corresponds:

A to the physical body
U to the soul
M to the spirit.

For every mantra has four effects:

The sound effects
The meaning of the words
The mental image effect
The ‘spirit’ of the mantra itself.

Parallel to the development of the mantra, the Taoist healing dated from 200 B.C. expands into the therapeutic and physical effects of the sounds on the organs. The 6 Healing sounds corresponds to the organs:

Xu to Liver
Ho to Heart
Fu to the Spleen
Xi to the Lungs
Chu to the Kidney
Hey to the Triple Burner

The bases of the curative effect of the healing sounds are in its three major functions:

By using the throat and the esophagus, the Taoist releases excessive heat from the organs.
By the shaping of the mouth and tongue, the resonance of the sounds stimulates the internal movement of the organs.
By coordination of physical movement with the sounds, the Healing Sounds enable one to regain one’s natural freedom in breathing.

Releasing excessive heat cools the organs, while the vibrations of the sounds stimulate their functions. Regaining the spontaneous free breath release us from the conditional restricted habit of breathing, therefor, this allows us to increase the oxygen in our blood.

The Chinese system of organs are more than just the physical organs. For example, the heart is no mere pump but the seat of the consciousness. The organ, heart, has a more general function of the nervous system. While the Spleen not only responsible for the digestive system but also control and effect the overall muscular system of the body.

The inter-relationship between the organs and the neural, endocrine, muscle skeletal systems and the immune systems are the distinctive characteristic of Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) practice. The TCM principle of treating sickness has become widely accepted in the USA and Europe.

The 6 Healing Sounds serves as the triggering point for twigging the organs into balance and indirectly deal with the other body systems.

Disclaimer:
As with all physical exercises, caution must be taken before the exercise is started. You should consult your physician before starting any exercise program, including Tai Chi, Qigong. Persons with conditions such as heart disease, respiratory conditions, asthma, and other dangerous conditions should exercise extreme caution and consult with their physician before starting any exercise, including Tai Chi and Qigong Any information given on this site "www.erols.com/dantao/index.html", "www.dantao.com" and all internal links within should be read and followed at the reader/viewer's own risk. Sat Hon and all other persons associated with the creation and maintenance of this web site "www.erols.com/dantao/" and other related links by Sat Hon shall not be held liable for any damage including physical or mental damage caused by the viewing/reading of this web site. All material contained within this web site should be taken with extreme caution at the reader/viewer's own risk.

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6 HEALING SOUNDS Audio Files & FAQ:

1. Answer