| Feature Article
Living a Spirited Life
–
Chief Instructor Brett Wagland
Chinese culture has experienced thousands of years of
health and healing. Traditional Chinese medicine, in the form of
acupuncture, tui na (medical massage) and herbs, spread around the
world. Many people are still skeptical of traditional Chinese medicine
because of its theory on energy, causes and treatments of illnesses.
With the emphasis on energy meridians, its geography of the human body
is very different from Western medicine.
One of the main lessons we can learn from Chinese health
systems is the importance of the spirit in treating illnesses. Good
medicine treats the whole person. In the martial systems of Tai Chi, Ba
Gua and Xing Yi, letting the spirit rise is considered one of the
highest achievements. When a master demonstrates his skill, his level
can be seen in the spirit generated by his performance. The photographs
of Grandmaster Feng Qiang Zhang (founder of the Hun Yuan system)
performing the sword in particular reveal his spirit.
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| Qing Cheng Shan (Green
City Mountain), Sichuan Province |
In martial arts, although you may have power, skill and
technique, your application will not be truly effective unless you have
spirit. In our Wu Dao Gong martial arts classes, founder Fei Wang tells
the story of the famous hero, Li Guang. While Li was resting late one
afternoon, he saw a tiger on the hillside. Being a good archer, he took
aim and released his arrow. On inspection, he was surprised to see that
his tiger was a stone and his arrow had imbedded itself in the stone.
He attempted to replicate the feat. However much he tried, his arrows
either bounced off or broke on impact. This story is an example of the
mind-spirit overcoming matter. A person who is spirited is not afraid
to attempt difficult tasks. He welcomes challenges and uses them as
opportunities to grow.
In Tai Chi, we talk about xin yi, heart-mind. When we
practise, we aim to feel what we are doing instead of merely performing
mechanical movements. We put our mind on the task. With practice, our
once empty movements will begin to be more alive and powerful.
Traditional Chinese medicine defines good health as an
abundance of jing (essence), qi (energy) and shen (spirit). A strong
spirit will influence essence and energy. The spirit plays a very
important role in determining one’s outlook which will have a big impact
on one’s health and healing. We have all heard of the placebo effect of
people becoming pain free or recovering from their illnesses after
taking sugar pills, with a genuine belief that they are taking the
appropriate medication. The mind is so powerful that it is able to
produce the necessary chemical changes in the body for us to become
well, based on a belief. The opposite is the nocebo effect. People
display symptoms of ill health when they are wrongly told that they are
suffering from certain disease, even though they are perfectly healthy.
All Chinese internal arts and healing systems emphasise
the spirit-mind-body connection. Don’t underestimate the power of your
beliefs. You write your destiny by what you believe and tell yourself
every day. A strong spirit and positive mind will go a long way in
keeping you happy and healthy!
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