Vol 8, Issue 2/2002

"Theory without Practice is Idle, Practice without Theory is Blind"

Comments on some basic Qigong concepts. By Edith Guba

The translation of Chinese expressions, in particular those with a philosophical background, is always a difficult undertaking. Despite this – or perhaps precisely because of it –, those practising Chinese arts of movement should engage themselves with central concepts in order to attain a deeper understanding. Following her teacher Guo Bingsen, Edith Guba explains the difference between Wuwei, which she understands as the spontaneous, non-wilful motivated occurrence of unforeseen events, and Youwei, to which all the systematized and teachable guidance in Qigong belong. Exercises in youwei are accordingly the prerequisite for events of Wuwei occurring. In addition, the Qigong teacher explains what is to be understood by the "latent human potential", Ren De Qian Neng, the concept of De, often translated as virtue, as well as Xingming and Ling.

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