What is the biggest secret of pile driving?
The Function of Nei Jia Zhuang Gong
The function of Nei Jia Zhuang Gong is as follows:
- Initial Stage: Cultivating the original essence and nourishing the qi, dredging the meridians.
- Intermediate Stage: Training the qi to transform into strength, progressing from qi to spirit.
- Advanced Stage: Transcending the spirit, reaching a state of extraordinary sensitivity and becoming one with the divine.
Zhan Zhuang, or standing meditation, is a practice that will take you into an unknown realm, allowing you to find a “sense of self,” which is essentially the awareness of your own physical condition. For example, when someone is sick, if the doctor asks where they feel uncomfortable, they may respond that they feel discomfort everywhere, indicating a serious illness. On the other hand, those who have experienced standing meditation have a keen sense of their own body, with flexible movements, a strong sense of bodily position, and heightened awareness of movement and vibration. Whether it is static or dynamic, their sense of self far surpasses that of an ordinary person!
In martial arts, the requirement is for the body to respond instinctively, without conscious awareness, to the dynamic or static movements in its environment. This is what martial arts refer to as a highly instinctive reaction. Only when this instinct can be applied freely at any time and in any situation can one truly excel in martial arts.
Standing meditation is a physical exercise that stimulates the energy within your body and muscles that have not been previously activated.
In contrast, activities such as running, climbing, playing ball games, and weightlifting, which are mechanical in nature, can also strengthen your muscles, bones, and tendons. However, they are vastly different from standing meditation. Standing meditation not only stimulates your bones, muscles, and tendons, but it also generates a magnetic field and an aura, transforming your own bioenergy into a powerful magnetic field. After standing for a long time, you develop a magnetic quality that can influence others' magnetic fields. Each time you practice standing meditation, you expand and consciously stimulate this magnetic field. It is truly an extraordinary phenomenon!
The human aura is invisible, but its power is immense, similar to the force of gravity. Our personal aura, which is constantly influencing our lives, is influenced by our own concepts, beliefs, environment, friends, breath, food, desires, rest, and sleep. These auras shape our temperament, luck, and destiny.
Standing meditation is like giving your body a good sweeping, where positive energy naturally emerges, attracting good people, events, and things. For example, if a room is your body, your consciousness is the person cleaning and tidying it. A room that has not been cleaned for a long time can be made fresh and new by removing any waste and rearranging the items.
When the internal space and channels of the human body are cleansed, the vital energy, or “qi,” can circulate smoothly throughout the limbs, organs, and meridians. Once the energy flows smoothly and stably, it can achieve yin-yang balance, promote the circulation of qi and blood, and fill the body with internal energy, resulting in a state of full vitality.
Authentic vitality comes from the heart. When the heart is at peace, the body remains healthy. This is a principle repeatedly emphasized in ancient classics on health preservation. It admonishes people to have a clear mind and few desires, to avoid excessively disturbing oneself, and to maintain a state of tranquility and emptiness. Standing meditation mainly adjusts the form but ultimately cultivates the mind. It is a process of inner spiritual cultivation and an excellent practice for nurturing the mind. For thousands of years, many intellectuals and warriors have used this method to cultivate their minds and refine their character.
Standing meditation is marvelous because it requires no external objects; only your own body weight and the force of gravity from the earth are needed. It is a method of harnessing the power of heaven and earth, enabling the integration of intention, strength, energy, spirit, and form. All health problems related to emotions, tension, and anxiety, such as cervical spondylosis, lumbar spondylosis, insomnia, forgetfulness, and depression, can be resolved through standing meditation.
After practicing standing meditation, one will possess vitality, abundant energy, focused attention, integration of internal and external, serenity, calmness, tranquility, relaxation, and a renewed sense of being. When the heart and mind are united, and the body and mind are open, the vibration frequency becomes stronger. It becomes attuned with the consciousness and information of the heavens and the earth. The human body becomes a highly sensitive field, constantly exchanging information and energy with the external world.
Standing meditation can improve a person’s temperament, appearance, mental state, and aura, attracting positive events and good luck. Conversely, if a person’s aura is not harmonious, they may appear dull and lackluster, be listless and ineffective in their actions. If their aura is even worse, they may encounter a string of bad luck, with unfavorable things always happening to them, and nothing seems to go smoothly for them. In their daily lives, they will encounter numerous “negative energy” people. Occasionally, they may come across people with strong positive energy, who always exude positivity and optimism, radiating influence. Such people may be admired and deeply attracted to, as one hopes to become like them.
Many people practice Tai Chi, Xing Yi, and Bagua standing meditation, but few truly understand the importance of starting with Hun Yuan Zhuang (Mixed-Origin Standing Meditation). Unfortunately, many people overlook this form of standing meditation, thinking it is of little use. In fact, Hun Yuan Zhuang is a great secret; it’s just that they have not enlightened to it. If the method of standing is correct, with time and practice, one can reach a state where their feet are rooted, their qi is abundant, and their spirit is vibrant—the state of complete harmony between body, qi, and spirit.
When practicing Hun Yuan Zhuang, attention should be focused on the visual, auditory, and breathing senses, all centered on the Dantian, or lower abdomen. Gradually, the scattered and chaotic energy throughout the body is collected and returned to the Dantian. After a long time, innate Qi will arise, and emptiness and tranquility will lead to forgetting oneself and merging with nature, bringing about the return to one’s original innate essence and the spontaneous expression of instinct.
Standing meditation can generate true yang within the kidneys, which circulates automatically throughout the body. Although practicing martial arts involves movement, the techniques focus on being dynamic within the stillness. While the external appearance is dynamic, internally, one is calm and at rest, with an inner tranquility. Starting with movement, one eventually enters a state of stillness, reaching a profound realm where the true yin within the heart is cultivated. In the internal martial arts, this is known as “going with the flow,” where the internal and external become unified, and the flow between stillness and movement is harmonized. The interaction between pre-heaven and post-heaven is essential to transform both body and mind.
Taking Hun Yuan Zhuang as an example, it consists of five small sections that build on the foundation of stable rooting and nurturing the essence. These sections are:
- Hun Yuan Lower Qi Standing: Cultivating the lower energy field.
- Hun Yuan Body-Binding Standing: Coordinating the body and binding the energy.
- Hun Yuan Holding the Treasure Ball Standing: Holding and moving the energy.
- Hun Yuan Embracing the Ball Standing: Embracing and balancing the energy.
- Hun Yuan Heart and Mind Unity Standing: Unifying the heart and mind.
Although there are only five sets of movements, they encompass the three-step training method, allowing practitioners to fully understand and experience the variations of relaxation, tension, and movement in standing meditation. Each movement and method emphasizes different aspects, such as relaxation for overall physical and mental health, tension for the six-directional forces and structural integrity, and movement for a state of “giving it all.” These three-step training methods complement each other, enabling practitioners to easily achieve the goal of health preservation and find the path to internal martial arts! (For more content, please follow the “Xiu Xing Quan” public account.)
The function of Nei Jia Zhuang Gong is as follows:
- Initial Stage: Cultivating the original essence and nourishing the qi, dredging the meridians.
- Intermediate Stage: Training the qi to transform into strength, progressing from qi to spirit.
- Advanced Stage: Transcending the spirit, reaching a state of extraordinary sensitivity and becoming one with the divine.
The Secret of Zhan Zhuang: Trustworthy Masters
The biggest secret of Zhan Zhuang is the transmission of authentic knowledge. Authentic knowledge is the foremost aspect of Zhan Zhuang.
There are many versions of Zhan Zhuang on the market. Although there are numerous versions, based on the experiences summarized from thousands of measurements of Zhan Zhuang both domestically and internationally, they can be classified into three levels: Lower Level, Middle Level, and Upper Level.
The Lower Level version of Zhan Zhuang has no effect on the body and may even have side effects. This kind of Zhan Zhuang was popularized in two waves several decades ago and several years ago, resulting in many originally healthy people developing health issues.
The Middle Level version of Zhan Zhuang has average effects on the body. It has a slight effect on health, but due to the time and operational costs being relatively high and the effects being relatively low, it only provides some health benefits. However, due to insufficient research on the exercise methods, although there may be initial progress, it is ultimately impossible to break through one’s own limitations and reach a higher level. This kind of second-rate Zhan Zhuang is more commonly seen in parks.
The Upper Level version of Zhan Zhuang can achieve high exercise effects with minimal time and cost. It not only improves physical and mental health at a fast pace but also allows for continuous advancement and transformation. Because of its effectiveness, many detailed operations are needed to control the energy. The saying “the greater the energy, the greater the responsibility” applies to this situation.
Wuji Tai Chi Standing Meditation
The details, essentials, principles, and taboos of the Upper Level Zhan Zhuang are the biggest secrets. These secrets are so significant that they cannot be openly shared. Why is this so?
Once key details are missing or incorrect, it is very easy to fall to a lower level, and the exercise method is ruined, like a precious pearl gathering dust.
This is a mild consequence. If the practitioner has a poor temperament and does not understand or follow the taboos of Zhan Zhuang, it may even pose a risk. In order to avoid such risks, teachers will rigorously select and emphasize the taboos when selecting students.
If a student only learns the Upper Level technique but fails to follow the taboos, irreversible consequences can occur. However, if the teacher had given prior warnings, the karmic repercussions would be less severe. If the teacher did not emphasize the taboos during instruction and the student encounters problems, the teacher themselves must bear the responsibility.
Therefore, there is an ancient saying: “A teacher imparts knowledge, solves doubts, and teaches by example. The prerequisite of teaching is to first achieve ‘the Way.’ Teaching without ‘the Way’ will only lead to distorted and limited knowledge. During the practice of Zhan Zhuang, teachers must also guard the students at all times.”
So why are 99% of the Zhan Zhuang methods on the market of low quality? On the one hand, those who truly understand do not want to be involved in karmic entanglements. There are all kinds of people online, and based on my personal experience over the years, many have average temperaments or even changed the methods for their own gains. On the other hand, the writing abilities of the authors are lacking, and even the ancestors once said, “Upper Level techniques cannot be expressed in words.”
If you ask me what the biggest secret of Zhan Zhuang is, I would answer: “Authentic transmission is the foremost aspect of Zhan Zhuang, so find a trustworthy master.”
The Secret is Perseverance and Persistence
Persevere! Persistence is the greatest secret.
The Magical Effects of Exercise
The more secretive something is, the simpler it actually is. Focus your energy and you will achieve it.
One type of exercise targets the nervous system, while another targets the endurance of muscle contraction and the function of capillaries.
In fact, these effects can also be achieved through strength training, running, and meditation.
The nervous system, capillary microcirculation system, and fascia system are spread throughout the body. Regardless of the exercise method, at least one of these systems must be strengthened in order to feel the effects of exercise.
The combined effects of these three systems result in the ability to exert strength.
The loss of strength is essentially the loss of vitality. The ultimate manifestation of vitality is the ability to exert strength and speed.
Relax and Let Go
There’s no secret, just relax and let go.
Guidance Needed for Training
Do not believe in any secret transmission, there is no trick to standing in zhan zhuang. The so-called secret is just these requirements: “six harmonies and nine essentials”.
However, even though the six harmonies and nine essentials are written in books and can be easily searched on Baidu, one cannot practice them without a teacher guiding them.
Adjusting Oneself
A little secret.
Closing your eyes is better than keeping them open.
The second secret is easy to talk about but difficult to implement.
Relax every part of your body.
Clear your mind of all distractions.
Once you enter the state,
You will know how to adjust yourself,
No need for others to teach you.
Doing this stance is not much different from meditation.