I had a comment related to class about “belief”. The comment held the idea that a certain “level of belief” was necessary in order to be successful in class. This touches on many points that are critical to internal arts practice, so I wanted to take the opportunity to explain and expand on the original comment. The implication of the comment was that the internal practices would only work and/or be effective if a certain level of “belief” could be generated. As if the benefits of practice were somehow “all in your head” and “belief” was the only way to make them real. This is not accurate.

Here are some of my thoughts on belief and how it relates to the work we do in the Wild Goose system. These thoughts apply to everything we do – qigong, meditation, healing and partner work.

Starting with a definition - Merriam-Webster states the following:
be•lief \bə-ˈlēf\
1: a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
2: something believed; especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
3: conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence

I hope that as an instructor I inspire at least some level of trust and confidence, so that aspect of belief toward the instructor and the material presented is reflective of our class environment. That is why I deliberately work with seeing and feeling the effects of internal work, so that it becomes a tangible thing – a real experience. However, the context of the comment was along the lines of “belief” more as an act of faith. This view of belief strays from truth and reality – this a place we do not want to go in our practice. Our practice needs to be based on sound principles and fed by the results of our own experience. To move further here, we need to look at the broader foundations of the internal arts.

The foundations of the internal arts are based on the principle that “everything is energy”. There is a 5000 year positive history that backs this approach. And just as important, this principle is consistent with modern quantum physics. If we look at Einstein’s famous equation E=MC2, we can see both energy and mass on opposite sides of the equal sign. Again, everything is energy. What is “everything”? It is literally everything. You, me ceiling, floor, sky, animals, buildings – you name it, and it’s energy in some form. The essence of illness / disease is as an energetic imbalance. This fact is recognized in all forms of medicine – Eastern or Western it makes no difference. (Likewise, the essence of all martial arts is to create an energetic imbalance.)

What is unique about the approach of Eastern and Traditional Chinese Medicine is that it includes a direct approach to energetic balance, right at the energetic level. It is not just physical (massage, chiropractic, surgery) and not just molecular (herbs, prescription drugs), but it directly accesses the energetic flows in the body. How does it do this? - By using the mind with awareness and intention. And this brings us to a place where belief does matter. When it comes to using the mind, if you believe you can’t do something you are correct, and if you believe you can do something you are also correct. Belief does effect what you can accomplish mentally.

So, while belief may help us exercise the laws of quantum physics, it does not alter them. Each of us has the innate ability to impact the energy balances in our body and in our environment. To effectively use any internal system you must have an open mind to both the historical and scientific evidence of energy work. With an open minded approach, you build your own experience and “belief” through your practice.