Qigong and Meditation


“The Elixir is within yourself"

The Jade Emperor's Mind Seal Classic

It is estimated that Qigong is practiced by up to 60 million people in China every day, for its many benefits to health and a long life1. Qigong is known in its martial art form for the almost supernatural displays masters can show of breaking bricks with their hands, steel bars by their heads or having sharp objects all but pierce the body, all demonstrated by Shaolin Temple Performance teams. It is not however only these wondrous feats for which Qigong is becoming known across the world. The benefits available to practitioners are believed to be widespread and reportedly include: increased well-being and peace of mind, deeper levels of sleep, higher energy-levels, improved blood-circulation, clearer skin, stronger metabolism as well as the more profound changes related to personal spiritual development2. Qigong lies at the core of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a system that works with understanding the functioning Qi has in the body. In the last twenty years, a growing body of empirical research has started to investigate the ancient practice of meditation. For scientists and skeptics alike, the results have been startling.



Early research by Wang et al.(1993)3 studied patients suffering from hypertension and vulnerable to strokes. As part of their treatment, as well as taking their usual drugs, participants practiced Qigong to see what benefits they could receive. The study then compared the group to a control. At the end of the 30-year research, the Qigong practicing group showed important differences in their health: they were half as likely to have died, half as likely to have had a stroke and equally less likely to have died from a stroke. This increased longevity correlates with stories of the ancient Chinese Buddhists and Taoists who used Qigong as a method to prolong their lives and live ones of excellent health; the legends of the Taoist masters record many of them to have lived well-over a hundred years of age.



Research is showing that the health benefits of Qigong however stretch further than specific medical cases. Evidence suggests that Qigong can be healing and preventative for both heart disease and cancer sufferers: together with strokes, the top three leading causes of death in the western world4. Research into using Qigong for cancer by Feng (1988)5 found that practicing Qigong improved the patients with advanced states of cancer's strength levels by 80% (in comparison to 10% in the control group); their appetite and ability to gain weight increased equally dramatically and their immune system improving to a positive functioning state. In contrast, the group taking only drugs had only slight improvements and a decrease their immunity levels.


“We practice meditation in order to see ourselves as we truly are and life as it truly is."

The Buddha

In the modern world then, the practice of Qigong and meditation, like the appreciation for Traditional Chinese Medicine as an effective treatment can be now be more widely accepted as a beneficial aid to health. Qigong may also be marketed as a means of relaxation or stress-reduction. These are likely benefits of practice, but meditation is intertwinedly and ultimately of course, a spiritual means of development. "Meditation brings wisdom" the Buddha put simply. Practitioners find their meditation can bring them an inner balance; one that can then have the potential to be transformative in the rest of their lives. 'Practice' becomes an effective method to rejuvenate the mind and body and create the conditions for a greater sense of awareness and ease in the rest of life. Ultimately finding balance and harmony in oneself and so acting in the world around.



“The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind"

Atisha






  1. 1. Kenneth M. Sancier (1996) Alternative Therapies Journal, January 2(1):40-46.
  2. 2. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-twelve-benefits-of-qigong.html
  3. 3. Wang C, Xu D, Qian Y, Shi W. (1993) Effects of qigong on preventing stroke and alleviating the multiple cerebrocardiovascular risk factors: a follow-up report on 242 hypertensive cases over 30 years. Proceeding from the Second World Conference for Academic Exchange of Medical Qigong; Beijing, China;123-124.
  4. 4. World Health Organisation (2002) The Top Ten Causes of Death: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310.pdf
  5. 5. Feng L. (1988) Effect of emitted qi on human carcinoma cells. Proceedings from the First World Conference for Academic Exchange of Medical Qigong: Beijing, China; 1-4.