The Nei Kung: Snipets From Saturday Night

Each semester, I introduce the safe and gentle Nei Kung practice (as presented in Justin Stone’s Meditation for Healing) to my beginning T’ai Chi Chih students about halfway through their semester-long class. In so doing, the Nei Kung has proven to be very helpful in cultivating the students’ relationship with the Chi.

Indeed, the Nei Kung is one component of what Justin called his “Maximum Chi Program,” especially beneficial for athletes towards the end of their careers. The four components include T’ai Chi Chih; tappings (from Seijaku); tonings (from Seijaku); and the Nei Kung (also found in Justin’s book, The Joy of Meditation).

In preparation for a presentation on the Nei Kung for our recent 2018 TCC teacher conference in Philadelphia, I perused my journal in which I had taken many notes each Saturday night at Justin’s home as we gathered there after dinner for the weekly tesho or spiritual talk. What pearls of wisdom might reveal themselves?

In reference to the first affirmation of the Nei Kung, Justin commented one Saturday night: “What is ‘Original Face’? I would have to say, Chi is the Original Face.”

Another night Justin discussed learning: “How you learn depends on what you give to it. In learning something, motivation is everything. Put that in your minds: motivation. The opposite of motivation: impatience. The thing that keeps you from being motivated is impatience. If people doing TCC would realize what the real meaning of it is,” said Justin, “I think they would be more motivated.”

Here are a few more quotations from Justin to encourage and inspire us as we deepen our relationship with the Chi, whether through the Nei Kung, TCC, Seijaku or other meditation practices:

“Have patience and courage (the courage to doubt your own doubts.)”

“Have confidence in yourself as being Divine. Each person must develop their own relationship to the Divine.”

”If you have confidence in the Chi as being in your corner, you’ll be taken care of.”

“Whether you know it or not, you are made of light.”

I firmly believe the depth of Justin’s offerings is available to all to embody and realize. The key word is embodiment.