Q&A with Jiaoshi Andrea & Felipe (USA): Practical Spirituality, Mental Clarity, Presence

One of the most common pitfalls when beginning a spiritual journey is the tendency to approach it intellectually—trying to understand experiences through the lens of ideas or concepts. While ideas can be valuable, they can also become barriers, filtering life through our own biases and limiting our ability to see things as they truly are. In this way, we often end up seeing only our own ideas reflected back at us rather than experiencing life itself.

For those of us searching for deeper meaning, this distinction is crucial. Many people attempt to grasp spiritual concepts purely with the intellect. However, our intellect is inherently limited—it can categorize and interpret, but it cannot fully experience. Listening to someone else's description of an experience, no matter how vivid, will never equate to living it. The Nei Qi Gong system is built on this principle: the importance of direct experience over intellectual understanding.

The Value of Direct Experience

Consider this example: learning about swimming by reading or hearing about it is fundamentally different from the feeling of water against your skin. True comprehension comes from firsthand experience. However, many of us struggle to direct our awareness inward, as our senses are naturally attuned to the external world. This is why engaging with practices like Nei Qi Gong, which guide our attention within, can be transformative.

In a recent conversation with Felipe, one of my students from the United States, we discussed this "inside-out" approach to spiritual practice. Felipe shared his journey of learning to prioritize experience over ideas. Instead of trying to turn intellectual concepts into imagined experiences, he first lives the experience and then discusses it with me. This allows him to confirm, clarify, and better understand the nature of his own discoveries.

Nei Qi Gong: A Pathway to Self-Discovery

The Nei Qi Gong system embodies this experiential approach. It's easy to talk about various concepts—meridians, levels of reality, the interplay of Yang and Yin, or the essence of Jing, Qi, and Shen. But these discussions are merely background; true value lies in the personal experience. By moving from experience to understanding, students can avoid intellectual traps and instead ground their practice in what they themselves have felt and observed.

With Nei Qi Gong, if you dedicate yourself to the practice, the path will reveal itself through your own efforts, with guidance from your instructor. This shift from ideas to experience enables a more profound form of growth. Rather than following stories or theories, students find the answers within themselves.

Practical Steps for a More Experiential Spiritual Journey

For anyone interested in adopting this more experiential approach, here are a few practical steps to start with:

1. Begin with Open Awareness: When practicing Nei Qi Gong or meditation, set aside expectations or preconceived ideas. Allow yourself to observe whatever arises naturally, without trying to interpret or label it.

1. Engage All Your Senses: Rather than relying on imagination, focus on what you actually feel in your body. This grounding in sensation helps reinforce genuine experience over mental projections.

1. Reflect and Discuss Afterward: Once you’ve had an experience, take the time to reflect on it. Discussing it with an instructor can help you gain clarity and avoid misunderstandings that may arise from an isolated experience.

1. Trust the Process: Nei Qi Gong is a highly effective system designed for gradual, experiential growth. As you progress, trust that you will understand more deeply in time, without needing all the answers right away.

1. Be Patient: Developing this approach takes practice. Allow yourself to move at your own pace and be patient as the experiences unfold.

   
   

Conclusion:

Embarking on a spiritual path like Nei Qi Gong is about shifting from ideas to real, lived experiences. By approaching the practice from a place of openness and self-discovery, we can truly connect with the essence of spiritual growth. Let your journey be one of personal exploration, where each experience deepens your understanding of both yourself and the world around you.

Start Your Nei Qi Gong Journey Today

If you’re ready to embark on this journey of energy cultivation, there are several ways to begin:

➤ Discover Nei Qi Gong Online: Explore our online programs to begin your practice from anywhere.

➤ Receive 2 Free Basic Exercises: Sign up here for free exercises and experience the foundational practices of Nei Qi Gong.

For any questions or to learn more about Nei Qi Gong practices, feel free to leave a comment or reach out. Join us on the path to uncover the profound potential of Chi emission and internal energy cultivation.