Qigong Meditation: Embryonic Breathing

Rating:
Summary: The missing key to Buddha's enlightenment
Review: "Pay attention to your breath".

So often, this sentence is the only guidance given regarding the importance of the breath during relaxation and meditation practice, especially in the West.

In his new book, Qigong Meditation, Dr. Yang explodes this sentence, as he instructs Embryonic Breathing, the missing key to modern mediation practice. These Qigong breathing techniques and Qi energy circulation practices are an essential part of sitting meditation, as it was taught in ancient times. This important information was passed down by Buddha, and by subsequent masters over the centuries, but has nearly been lost due to language barriers and the difficulty of understanding the deeper aspects of the training.

When meditation travelled out of India and China, and especially as it made it's way into western societies, this essential key has often been neglected, and new schools of thought developed. Some people have had success in re-opening the third eye and attaining enlightentment with other methods, but traditionally those who achieved this were Qigong masters.

Thank you Master Yang for translating most of the available ancient documents on this training - their profound content is now available to so many more people, and your excellent commentary is invaluable. I share your hope that more people strive to continue this research so that we may gain a modern scientific understanding of the Human Body, Mind and Spirit, and of the universe we inhabit.

As the word 'enlightenment' gets thrown around more and more casually in the West, it is important that we truly seek the roots of this precious learning, which has been passed down to all of us, with humble and open minds.

Rating:
Summary: A treasure
Review: A very important book, especially for Qigong teachers. I doubt there is anyone at any level of practice who will not find something eye-opening and new in this book. Along with this one , his other two books, "Root of Chinese Qigong" and "Secret of Youth", belong on the shelves, no, in the hands of every practitioner who takes his/her Qigong even remotely seriously. I'm looking forward to his forthcoming Qigong books.

I should mention that there is a lot of repitition in Dr. Yang's books, this one is no exception. However, the repeated material is the foundation of the training and Dr. Yang re-writes everything fresh, putting everything into proper perspective for the current topic. There's no copy/paste work being done at YMAA :-)

Rating:
Summary: theory not practice
Review: I am disappointed with newest Jwing-Ming book. There is a lot of scientific and theoretical reflections about all stages of Qigong, unfortunately practical ground is covered only at the beginner level.
There is almost nothing written about practice of "Kan-Li" (i.e. conceiving the Spiritual Embryo by mixing fire and water Qi at Huang Ting cavity to produce Elixir). Author just sends you to his next book. I am probably not the only one who waited especially for this issue! Regarding practice - you will find detailed description of reversed and normal abdominal breathing plus its variations (Griddle and Marrow breathing). You will not find anything more (practical) in this book. There is also nothing about practicing "internal vision". I would like to cite example of how Jwing-Ming writes about recognizing Yin Center of Upper Dan Tian "To recognize this point through feeling, you must first rid yourself of all emotional disturbances and also the external attractions of your mind. In this case, your mind will be easily search for the location. If you search for it sincerely, it will take only a few days for you to recognize this point" (p.330). That's all, but how can I find this point if I don't know what feelings are associated with it? Recognizing feelings play special role in Tai-Chi or Qigong. Why are they not covered? Summarizing, this work is too much academic for me.
Citations from old scriptures are major advantage of "Qigong Meditation", however I would like to read more ancient Qigong classics instead of mere repetitions of what was said before in previous interpretations.
Conclusion: If you look for theoretical background of Qigong practice, you can buy this book - it's probably best in this field written in English, but if you are mainly a practitioner and you look for "Kan-Li" or anything else, and you know other Jwing-Ming books, then you can skip this one.


Rating:
Summary: An essential key to understanding
Review: The form of Chinese meditation called Qigong is based upon the fundamental lessons of internal Elixir Qigong - and the first step in learning this process is to absorb Embryonic Breathing theory and techniques which were long kept secret within Buddhist monasteries. Dr. Yang translates and discusses most of the documents available on this arcane process, providing a summary of the practice and an important analysis of the breathing technique which is essential to the study of this ancient Buddhist discipline. An essential key to understanding.

Rating:
Summary: Well Rounded, and Supported by Modern Physics
Review: This book is well written and covers both theory and practice. I read many books that pertain to consciousness, and I have found parallels between the concepts in this book and those in works such as "Stalking the Wild Pendulum" (Bentov), "The Physics of Consciousness" (Walker), and "The Dimensional Structure of Consciousness" (Avery). In addition to works of physics, support for these concepts can be found in Jungian Depth Psychology, especially Alchemical Studies. Also, there is a strong similarity between Qigong and Kundalini Yoga. Of course, Qigong and Yoga have been around much longer than depth psychology or modern physics. Read this book, as well as other books by Dr. Yang; you may even want to read "The Root of Chinese Qigong" before reading this book.