| Consider what the cave man might have thought of | | | | In qi gong, the power is the chi. This ancient Chinese |
| the airplane or car. He would believe it mystical, be | | | | belief comes through Chinese mythology and the |
| frightened or consider it a new type of animal. We, | | | | Yellow Emperor, Huang Di, that as legend explains, |
| however, are unimpressed since we know on some | | | | first discovered formalized the Chinese medicine. It |
| basic level how these methods of transportation are | | | | was in the book, “Analects of Confucius” |
| made. The automobile, for instance uses an engine to | | | | which was written after Confucius’ death in 479 |
| rotate the wheels and move it. It, however, would | | | | B.C., where the term “Qi”, we call chi |
| go nowhere if there weren’t some type of fuel | | | | appeared first in writing. It is often called the natural |
| to power the engine. It might be a gasoline or solar | | | | energy of the universe and which gives life force and |
| powered engine, but the fuel still makes the car | | | | power to humans. |
| move. | | | | Just like the power for the motor of the automobile, |
| Today, the same might be true of psychic skills. | | | | if it’s not harnessed properly the vehicle will not |
| Many see these abilities as something supernatural | | | | move. If the motor receives the energy, but there is |
| and yet, they are skills acquired like any other type | | | | no working control mechanism, the vehicle again does |
| of ability. Just like the automobile, even if the human | | | | not move but simply runs. If the control mechanism is |
| form has all the necessary equipment to create | | | | in place and allows the vehicle to move, but there is |
| them, the psychic abilities need a fuel to attain the | | | | no driver direction the vehicle or a driver is available |
| higher level. | | | | but does not take the steering wheel, then the car |
| The fuel in most cases comes from the various | | | | moves out of control and may eventually crash and |
| techniques that those that have honed the powers | | | | burn. This scenario is much like the power within each |
| learned through diligent practice. Each type of belief | | | | individual. If the person chooses not to take the |
| names the power and finds ways to harness and | | | | wheel of their life, then the potential for a crash is |
| control it. | | | | great. |
| In yoga, the name of the power is prana. The basic | | | | Learning not only to fill the body’s tank with the |
| prana comes into the body through breathing and | | | | energy force but also controlling that force once it |
| circulates through the system with each breath. | | | | fills the body is what many of the ancient disciplines |
| Another prana is the apana, which controls the | | | | teach. These methodologies show the practitioners |
| elimination of waste. The udana controls the ability to | | | | how to achieve many supernatural feats through the |
| create sound. The Samana controls digestion and | | | | control of their life force and energy. It is through |
| metabolism. The final prana is the vyana, which has | | | | breathing exercises, the practice of quieting the mind |
| domain over the voluntary muscles. These energies, | | | | and meditation that the student learns to increase |
| when controlled allow the yogi to hold dominion over | | | | the body’s energies so they have the ability to |
| his body. | | | | perform the extraordinary. |