The Internal Arts and Ch'an Buddhism

Post Date:November 07, 2009

The Internal Arts of Qigong (Chi Kung) and Taiji (T’ai Chi) have a long-standing connection with Taoism and Buddhism in China. They are founded upon the principles of the I-Ching (Book of Changes), Taoist Philosophy and Buddhist Sutras. Internal Arts were originally thought of as skillful means on the path toward enlightenment, and for thousands of years have been used to enhance the practice of meditation.

In order to more fully understand the relationship of Internal Arts to Ch’an practice, it is necessary to have a fundamental understanding of the principles that inform the Internal Arts as a whole. In brief, the body is comprised of three distinct but interrelated parts:

1. Jing, the physical body with its muscles, organs and genetic make-up (DNA) that has been passed down from generation to generation.

2. Chi, the energy of the body and the driving force behind the cardiovascular system, the nervous system, the brain, the organs, and all of the muscles, tendons, and sinews.

3. Shen, literally “Spirit,” but more accurately described as “consciousness and intentionality.”

These three elements are inseparable, and they act as adjuncts to one another. For example, the idea to pick up an apple from a tabletop begins as an intention (Shen) that requires energy impulses (Chi) to move the muscles of the arm and hand (Jing) in order to lift the apple. While this example may seem to oversimplify the relationship of Chi, Jing, and Shen, it demonstrates the inseparability of the three as well as how each is at work in all activities from the most mundane physical movements to the most profound intellectual efforts—including all aspects of the Meditative Arts.

All Internal Arts practices cultivate Chi—energy—which in turn feeds Shen and nourishes Jing. A healthy body and mind is a result of the harmonious flow of Chi. When the Chi of the body is unbalanced, illness or disease can occur. From a general standpoint, the Internal Arts are health maintenance exercises which have their roots in Daoyin—literally “healing exercises” that are sometimes known as Taoist Yoga. In this respect, Internal Arts are valuable ways to maintain, promote or re-establish health.

Internal Arts exercises are invaluable tools for Ch’an “health” as well. At the physical level, the exercises are comprised of gentle stretches and movements that prepare and condition the body for the rigors of seated meditation. Qigong exercises have been a mainstay of monastic practice in China for many centuries, and Bodhidharma is often attributed with the creation of two such sets of exercises that were intended to bolster the overall health of the monks at the Shaolin Temple and to increase their stamina for sustained Buddhist practice.

In addition to the obvious benefits of increased flexibility and strength, the physicality of the practice enhances body awareness—the shifting of weight, the ebb and flow of inhalation and exhalation, and the pulsing of muscles as they perform a particular move. The attention to the workings of the body during Qigong and Taiji mirrors the effort of walking meditation as one maintains awareness of the body as a whole. The emphasis upon maintaining sustained attentiveness demonstrates how both Internal Arts and Meditation cultivate Shen as the concentration of the intentional mind.

Perhaps most importantly, Taiji and Qigong amplify the body’s energy for sustained Ch’an practice. Meditation, gong-an (J. koan) work, and hua-t’ou practice require immense pools of concentrated energy. Taiji and Qigong are means to not only generate Chi but also to focus that energy for spiritual ends. The Internal Arts were in fact developed as tools for spiritual enhancement, and Taoist masters would generate Chi in the Field of Elixir (Tantien) so that it could be transformed into the spirit essence of enlightenment. For Buddhist practitioners, the cultivation of Chi was not a goal in and of itself, but rather a byproduct that fueled practice.

Spiritual pursuits are at the core of the Internal Arts practices. As the T’ai Chi master Wang Tsung-Yueh once wrote: From mastery of the postures, you will gradually awaken to interpreting energy. From interpreting energy, you will arrive at spiritual insight. However, without long arduous practice, you will not suddenly make this breakthrough.

To someone who has spent time with the “arduous practice” of seated meditation, the spiritual insight that Wang Tsung-Yueh describes will seem familiar since “sudden insight” is the result of sustained and concentrated meditative practice. The key ingredient to such insight is the awakening and concentrating of energy, and it is in this respect that the Internal Arts are absolutely invaluable for Ch’an practice.

While many contemporary practitioners of the Internal Arts—particularly in the West—have distanced Taiji and Qigong from spiritual practices, CloudWater Zendo and its affiliated Sanghas are dedicated to the authentic roots of the Internal Arts and incorporate Qigong into their standard offerings.

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