Recovering JING for men

[speed_of_dark]

Hi all,

I have a keen interest in Chinese Medicine and Kung Fu and health. However, at the age of 26 I am deeply concerned that I have exhausted almost all of my jing. I am wondering if there are specific techniques that I may learn as part of your Shaolin Cosmos Chi-Kung that will speed up or facilitate the recovery of my -greatly- missed jing or if it is lost forever.

I have been reading Sifu Wong's home page, question and answer pages, and the forums with interest. His explanation for question 4 on:

http://shaolin.org/answers/ans04b/dec04-2.html

greatly inspired me and made believe that all is not lost. However I still have my doubts as this loss of jing and consequently loss of self-confidence and ability to even be happily social with others have been hugely impacted.

If there any stories of men who have experienced this problem and successfully recovered from it, I would love to hear them. Suggestions, and / or input welcome.

Best regards,

[Andrew]

Welcome to the forum. Before launching an answer .... what do you mean by the term Jing in this context?

Andrew

[Zhang Wuji]

While waiting for clarification, I thought I would jump in. In my view, Sifu's answer succintly answers your question.

Maybe I can elaborate by repeating what Sifu once told us. As humans, we are made up of jing, qi and shen. The three are not distinct from one another and should not be rigidly classified as such. Deficiency or abundance of any of them affects the other two, much like how a person who is physically ill is also affected spiritually.

You would note that Sifu stresses wholesome sex. To me (and I believe, to Sifu also), this means sex with one's spouse in a monogamous relationship. (I make absolutely no judgment on those who engage in pre-marital sex, by the way). The point is, when one engages in sex the way God or nature intended, it is good and desirable.

While it is true that jing or sperm is lost, one obtains pleasure from the unitive act of sex with a loved one, and that nourishes the spirit. One does not seek jing for its own end but for what it does, that is, to enrich life. If nourishing the spirit achieves the same ends as having plenty of jing, then perhaps you need not fret about having less jing.

It seems to me that the problem is not so much loss of jing as guilt or other karmic effects. If so, then the first thing to do is to stop doing what is causing the guilt. For example, and I mean this only as a generic example, make a conscious effort to engage in torrid and execessive sex with multiple partners.

[Ronan]

make a conscious effort to engage in torrid and execessive sex with multiple partners.

Did you mean to say "make an effort not to engage in torrid and excessive sex with mulyiple partners"?

[Zhang Wuji]

Oops! Thanks for catching that one.

[Antonius]

You don't need any specific exercises. Just practice Shaolin Cosmos Qigong and you will naturally and gradually restore your jing. Simple.

At the age of 26, you may have drained a lot of your jing, but certainly, all is not lost. You are still young. You could not possibly have drained all of your jing. If you did, you'd be dead.

Many people over-indulge in things in their 20s. I know I did. I did too many drugs, drank too much alcohol, smoked too many cigarettes, and had too much sex. (I was also clinically depressed.) If I had not done those things, I would be more powerful today. On the other hand, if I had not done those things and drained my energy reserves, I might not have been attracted so strongly to chi kung.

So take heart. Do something about your bad habits, make some effort to take on some good habits (like practicing chi kung), and you'll gradually repair whatever damage has been done. In the long run, this could be a blessing in disguise. I know that it was for me.

[Akemi]

Some more reccomendations

I am deeply concerned that I have exhausted almost all of my jing.

Hello. As an acupuncturist, I am curious as to what makes you believe that you have exhausted almost all of your jing. Did an acupuncturist diagnose you? Do you mind sharing some of your symptoms?

It would be very very very very difficult for you to exhaust your jing at such a young age. You might be very deficient in yin and yang-qi. You would have to be constitutionally deficient in the first place. The symptoms for this would be perhaps chronic respiratory problems at an early age, neurological problems, learning disabilities, MS, scoliosis, etc.

If you are jing deficient, which plenty of us are, then I would do exactly as Sifu Anthony prescribes:

Just practice Shaolin Cosmos Qigong and you will naturally and gradually restore your jing. Do something about your bad habits, make some effort to take on some good habits (like practicing chi kung), and you'll gradually repair whatever damage has been done.

Dr. Leon Hammer, the founder of Dragon Rises College states that the fastest way to build jing is by practicing medical qi-kung. I have prescribed Shaolin Cosmos to quite a few of my patients with wonderful results. They feel better, stronger, and their pulses (one of my main methods for diagnosis) respond quickly. I have seen jing-deficient qualities slowly dissipate.

Another safe way for you to replenish your jing is via diet. Eat whole organic foods. Meats, such as beef and lamb are wonderful. Drink whole milk (raw, preferably). Eat some bone soup. Fish, like salmon and tuna are good for you as well.

I have one more reccomendation that is usually hard to follow. Sleep! For every hour you sleep before midnight, it takes 2 after midnight to get the same benefits.

I hope this helps. Enjoy your practice.

Sincerely,

[Kevin]

Just a quick question--slightly off-topic--but regarding something stated in this thread.

Zhang Wuji, you stated that "..when one engages in sex the way God or nature intended, it is good and desirable." I'm curious to know how someone finds out, how they know, what God or nature intended in this case?
You state that you believe wholesome sex means sex with a spouse in a monogamous relationship. So I assume you believe this to be what God or nature intended. How is this determined?

You state you make no judgement of those who have pre-marital sex, but logically if you think that wholesome sex is only sex between monogamous spouses, then any other type of sex would thus be unwholesome.

I appreciate your response and anyone else who wants to give their ideas/opinions on this. And let me say that I'm not attacking Zhang Wuji or trying to get a debate going over what is right or wrong. Not at all.

I'm simply wanting to learn and understand how others come to their particular, personal beliefs and ideas on topics such as this.

Hope everyone is doing well,

Kevin

[shaolin_mike]

Many people over-indulge in things in their 20s. I know I did. I did too many drugs, drank too much alcohol, smoked too many cigarettes, and had too much sex. (I was also clinically depressed.) If I had not done those things, I would be more powerful today. On the other hand, if I had not done those things and drained my energy reserves, I might not have been attracted so strongly to chi kung.

Thanks for that Anthony, these are words I needed to hear

[speed_of_dark]

Thank you all for your kind words and interest. Overall, I understand that I don't need to doubt as much and will continue training and have a little trust and faith in my training. I've realised there is a part of me that believes that I can get back to my powerful self and there is unfortunately still a part of me that believes I never will.

There is a lot I have to say so I am just going to start typing...forgive me if my sentences seem a little disjointed...

Sifu Anthony, I agree wholeheartedly with Shaolin_Mike. Thank you.
What you said regarding your excesses as a younger man, "If I had not done those things, I would be more powerful today.", touches on what I am concerned with - (and hopefully this will answer Sifu Andrew's reply) and that is, the loss of yuan chi, the essence you inherit from your parents.

So what happens if you feel you have exhausted too much of your yuan chi? I understand that it is possible to recover "post-birth chi" by, as several have mentioned: chi kung, good sleep, food, wholesome sex (where possible and in moderation!), and meditation, but what about yuan chi?

To illustrate my question, one year ago when I would meditate, I would "tap into" a strength that would stay with me through the day where I felt supremely confident, and would appear attractive to the opposite sex (this is not meant to sound egotistical). Lets call it a bio-battery. I also believe that this bio-battery enabled me to withstand the extreme amounts of alcohol I consumed, as I know without a doubt that I would not be able to drink as much as I used to now.

However now when I meditate it feels very much like that the Tiger has gone. I don't seem to have that raw masculine strength that carries me through the day, females no longer seem to notice me, etc. I also seem to doubt myself and worry a lot more. I am wondering if this is my bio-battery, or "yuan-chi" that is the key component that is missing?

If it is missing and if I am still young, is it possible to FULLY compensate for this through training / strong chi, etc?

I.e, can I FULLY recharge my battery? Sifu Anthony I know you have already said it is possible to recharge jing, so I apologise if some of my statements seem redundant.

Also note that I am visiting a chinese Doctor who prescribed some herbs for my Kidneys (he said my Kidney Yang Chi was weak), and he emphasised my state of concern when he said, "...you need to relax. You are MUCH stronger than you think" (he said this very firmly)... But somehow I still have my doubts!

I hope this makes sense. Some of my statements may overlap but I thought I would just type it all out.

Vanessa - I will reply to your post in my next reply....

Best regards,

[Zhang Wuji]

Zhang Wuji, you stated that "..when one engages in sex the way God or nature intended, it is good and desirable." I'm curious to know how someone finds out, how they know, what God or nature intended in this case?
You state that you believe wholesome sex means sex with a spouse in a monogamous relationship. So I assume you believe this to be what God or nature intended. How is this determined?

You state you make no judgement of those who have pre-marital sex, but logically if you think that wholesome sex is only sex between monogamous spouses, then any other type of sex would thus be unwholesome.
Kevin

I have always tried to stay clear of this topic and unfortunately I have been embroiled in it now. First, let me address the question above. I do not think it is logical that just because I think marital sex is wholesome that any other type of sex is ipso facto unwholesome. Notice that I prefaced my statement with "To me". This means that if I were to engage in extra-marital sex, that would be unwholesome for me. I do not however purport to say it is unwholesome or otherwise wrong for any other person or at all times. There are many situations when a couple can have sex without having first gone through a formal sacrament or ceremony, such as in the time of my grandparents who lived through wars and riots and such ceremonies were simply out of the question.

As to how to determine what wholesome sex is, I am guided by both my culture modified by my religion. Both my grandfathers wer polygamous, and being a Catholic, I obviously do not subscribe to that tradition. My own belief when it comes to sex is that it is (a) unitive and more importantly (b) pro-creative. I have always agreed with the idea that sex is not done solely for its own pleasure it gives, any more than one should live just to eat. As for pre-marital sex, my own values on this is based on the belief (which I stress is far from universal) that chastity is one of the greatest gifts one can give to one's spouse.

I hope this clarifies my comments, and fervently hope I do not offend anyone with my opinions.

[joko]

Sleep! For every hour you sleep before midnight, it takes 2 after midnight to get the same benefits.

This is very interesting. Could you elaborate on this, please?

I found that I am in my best shape when going to bed at 9pm, and then wake up at 3am to start the day.

Thanks, Vanessa.

Joko

[speed_of_dark]

Vanessa- thank you for your kind words and suggestions.

Ive also been told that an hour's sleep before midnight equals two. Thanks.

All up, I definitely need more of: sleep, Chi Kung, and... beef.

As I said I saw my chinese doctor who I have no doubt in his ability. He trains in and teaches Shaolin kung fu and, as others have attested, looks incredibly young and vital for his age. As I said, he diagnosed me as having deficient Kidney Chi, on the yang side.

My symptoms (which I had also looked up in the book - the Web that Has no Weaver by Ted Kaptchuk) were: low back pain, weak knees, diminshed libido, and low confidence (I had trouble disagreeing with people). The diminshed libido really damaged my self-esteem )

My doctor agreed. He kept telling me to relax. Relax. He gave me two weeks worth of Kidney yang herbs and told me not to drink alcohol AT ALL as it affects both the liver and the kidney and they were both weak. Unfortunately I had a friend's farewell one week followed by another friend's birthday the next and I didn't say no to beer either time...

And this is where I am currently. Also, when you refer to medical Chi Kung, does this include Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung?

Zhang Wuji - thank you for your advice. I have recently broken up with a girlfriend about whom the relationship was mainly based on sex. Initially it was...beautiful...but then I felt obliged to have sex with her most of the time even when I was tired. It didn't take me long to realise that this is not good. In addition, at this stage the sex (for me) wasn't spirit nourishing. It was a very vicous cycle which I am happy to be out of.

and Sifu Andrew - thanks for the welcome!

[Andrew]

Sounds like you don't have that much to worry about in reality. There was a thread a while back about recovering pre-natal chi. You might like to do a quick search for it (I'm in a rush right now).

Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung is one of those "strange systems" which incorporates all levels of Chi Kung:
- Medical
- Chi Kung for health and vitality
- Chi Kung for Scholars
- Chi Kung for Warriors
- Chi Kung for Monks

As you will see, medical Chi Kung is the "lowest" level. This does not mean it is "low level" in that it is purely physical exercise. It means that it takes care of the most basic needs of practitioners.

Andrew

P.S. It is possible to work at any (or all) of these levels with just a single exercise. Great isn't it!

[Kevin]

Thanks for your answer Zhang Wuji.
Your opinions didn't offend me at all.

Kevin