Frank的癌症相當嚴重,已經做了化療,因為小便不順,經常跑廁所,又容易疲倦,因此心情很差。上第四堂課(每週一次)見面畤,滿臉笑容,歡歡喜喜的説:「有夠奇妙!我心情已經真久沒這麼好了,這禮拜,我親像古早的我,有精神、活跳跳,小便真順,也不免一直跑便所」(This is wonderful! I haven’t felt so good for so long. I am back to my old self now, more energetic and more active. I can pretty much empty my bladder, and I don’t have to go restroom so often)。
(2)Lee, Ching-Tse & Lei, Ting. QiGong, a chapter in “Essentials of Complementary and Alternative Medicine”. Edited by Wayne B. Jonas, M.D. and Jeffrey S. Levin, Ph.D., M.P.H. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1999.
(4) Lei, Ting, Askeroth, Cecilia, & Lee, Ching-Tse. Indigenous Chinese Healing : Theories and Methods, in Handbook of Culture, Therapy, and Healing. Edited by Use P. Gielen, Jefferson, M. Fish & Juris G. Draguns, Lawrence Erlbaum Associate Publishers, pp. 191-212, 2004.
Have you ever felt tired or exhausted? Here is a series of exercises to jump-start your Ki-energy!
In this modern day of high-energy-demand society, we need to effectively manage our Ki-energy expenditure. Otherwise, long-term energy drainage, energy imbalance or energy stagnation will inevitably result in health deterioration (1, 2). Three energy exercises below are designed to address this issue.
This series of exercise is also effective in healing and health improvement. The following was a case in point. John, a 40 year old man, had severe Bradycardia for a year with frequent episodes twice a week. The symptoms lasted for about 72 hours. He had visited 5 physicians and received medication to reducebradycardia. However, there was not noticeable improvement of the condition. He then consulted an energy healer. Advice of managing one’s own Ki-energy expenditure was given and practices of energy rejuvenation similar to the first exercise described below and sitting Energy Meditation were taught to John. John followed the instruction faithfully. Three weeks after the first consultation, “there was a big improvement”. The episode reduced to once every two weeks and it only last between 12 to 24 hours. Currently, he got it about once a month and would be completely gone after he woke up from sleep.
The exercises were designed by Lee and published in an article authored by Franny Heller Zorn (3). “The first exercise generates Chi, the second balances it and the third facilitates it.” This practice was also recommended as one of Reader Digest’s 37 Stress Management Tips from Experts (4). It is easy to learn and it is effective for managing your energy. “It does not require a lot of time. But it does demand total devotion of body, mind and spirit.”
You can follow the instructions below to learn how to jump-start your Ki energy. If you have any question about the exercise, please refer to the description in the article (See below) or leave comments.
Exercise 1: The Rejuvenator: Grand Ultimate Chi Gong—increase your energy level!
Standing in the Tai Chi posture with knees and head slightly bent*, placing palms facing each other in front of your body, eyes half closed, be aware of the Ki-energy between your palms. If you don’t feel Ki-energy, and then bring your palms closer to each other until you are aware of the warmth between your palms. Then gradually bring your palms apart, until you feel energy that is different from thermal sensation. If the energy activities are too strong, let the palms move away from each other. Within a minute or two, you will feel an increase in your energy level. Be one with your Ki-energy. The longer you practice, the more energy you will have. This exercise will rejuvenate your depleted energy.
Exercise 2: The Calmer: Harmonization Chi Gong—balance your energy!
After you have done the first exercise for 3 to 5 minutes, your body will be quite relaxed, and then be aware of your breathing. As you exhale your body will contract and the palms will get closer to each other. As you inhale, the body will expand and the palms will move apart from each other. Be aware of your energy between your palms and around your body. The energy may be warm or cold, stronger or weaker. Be one with the breathing and the energy changes. The longer you practice the more will the energy become even and more balance. This exercise will restore the energy to a balance and equilibrium state.
Exercise 3: The Energizer: Breathing Chi Gong—facilitate your energy flow!
At the end of exercise 2, without changing your posture, lower your hands to the side of your body. As you inhale, let your hands float up to your shoulder height, and then as you exhale, let your hands move out as though they are push out by your Ki-energy. As your hands are out straight, drop your wrists, then inhale. While you are inhaling, let the hands drop down. When the hands touch the trouser, exhale and let the hands drop all the way down. Repeat the sequences for 3 to 5 minutes. This exercise will facilitate your natural energy movement, and release your blocked energy.
If you are tired, depleted or exhausted, practice these series of exercises to jump-start your energy. You can practice each one of them for as little as one minute or as long as you feel comfortable. The longer you practice, the more energy you will have. You are in fact depositing Ki to your “Energy Bank Account” for future use.
*You can also bend your knees as low as to about 45 degrees angle. However it may be too strenuous for some people.
1. Lee, Ching-Tse & Lei, Ting. QiGong, a chapter in Essentials of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Edited by Wayne B. Jonas, M.D. and Jeffrey S. Levin, Ph.D., M.P.H. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1999, 392-409.
2. Schwartz, Tony & McCarthy, Catherine. Manage your energy, not your time. On Managing Yourself. Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2010, Pp. 61-78.
3. Zorn, Franny Heller. Chi Gong Ho. Longevity, 1994, Pp. 46-48, 84-86.
由於東方的修行者能發揮極爲驚人的心力,以心制身(mind over the body),以心制物(mind over the matter),以致部分西方學者認為非研究人類的意識狀態不可(Tart, 1975: Green and Green、 1977)。綜而言之,不論是採簡約學說,試圖把人的一切歸因到生物、生化甚至物理因子,或者採心物說,認爲心可控物,意識狀態是了解人類行爲、宇宙運行的根本,兩者皆逃不出生物體能量的組合模式與運用。從中國文化的角度來探討的話,重要的問題是氣這個涵蓋「能量」的概念、角色應在這個模式裡如何被定義、被界定下來?氣的自然科學機制爲何?氣的心理、文化機制又是什麼呢?
三、 相關研究與實驗研究(correlational and experimental)。人文、 社會學科包括心理學在內,往往在這兩個研究方法上有混淆認識不清的現象。相關研究主要在樹立甲與乙是否有相關,相關系數高代表兩者之間有相當高的關係,相關系數低代表兩者關係不深,而相關系數為零時,則甲、乙之間毫無關係。甲、乙兩者之相關系數高並不代表兩者之間有因果關係,因果關係必須以實驗方式來驗証的。
試問這個結論對嗎?沒有經過嚴格的實徵研究,這個結論只是tentative而已。病好了可能是碰巧而已,也可能是因爲師傅是非專業的心理諮商高手,解了病人心理糾纏長久的困惑,一下子這「心身官能症」就不藥而癒,也可能這僅僅是placebo effect(普拉西柏效應) 而已。總而言之,這種病人的見證,只能做爲研究的參考,不能做爲放諸四海皆準的通則。那麼如何才能確認那個師傅的氣的療法是確實有效?最嚴謹的公認方法是做雙盲的實驗來證明這個師傅的療效。這個問題是美國與歐洲互補及另類療法(complementary and alternative medicine)所遭遇的核心問題。即吾人如何確知這些療法有效而使之納入醫療系統?
這個情形在自然科學裡也經常遭遇到,譬如量子物理所研究的現象就不是在正常環境下可觀測到的現象,而必須在特定的實驗室裡才能做的研究。同理推之,氣的體驗雖然是少數人具有的經驗,只要擁有一套或數套練氣的方法,使氣的體驗能重覆被願意體驗到的人去體驗,那氣的科研的重覆性就可被確定下來。氣的練法、氣的體驗是漢人的文化財產,而所做的有關心理層面的科研,就是漢人本土的文化心理學(indigenous cultural psychology),其硏究結果歐美主流心理學(彼等之理學可稱之為歐美本土心理學)恐怕難以理解,那麼我們所呈現的結果只能宥於我們的文化理論裡才能了解嗎?歐美學者就難以一窺其秘嗎?
Robert Becker(1985)測量青蛙的大腿神經,證明感覺神經與知覺神經具有可測的直流電位,而且這個直流電系統,正如物理理論所示,可受電磁場的影響。人從頭、軀幹至末稍,也有可測之直流電路系統存在,後大腦,至前大腦亦可測出直流電位的存在。生物清醒時,這個電能系統有一恆定值,但迄近睡眠時,電位産生變化,趨近0,醒後又恢復恆定値。生物受傷時,受傷處之電位值也會變化生異態,傷痊癒後,又恢復原值。Becker的研究結果與理論與氣的學說不謀而合,特別是在陰陽二氣說,只是他沒有進一步的檢驗經絡學說之正確性,也沒有碰觸「外氣」、「外氣治病」的問題。
William Tiller(1997)從物理學、材料學的角度,經過多年的思索與實驗,認爲整體宇宙萬物是個鉅大、而含有規則網路結構的有機體(vast organism),它具有可見可聞的一面,但也有未見、未聞的一面,互爲表裡形成,是爲負向空間時間模式(negative space time model),而微能量(subtle energy, 氣)則以比光還快的速度穿梭其間,氣、意念(intention or thought energy)、愛心(love)在他的理論佔著非常重要的位置。具體而言由電磁能形成的「氣」,於人體內外皆可在正負向時空裡發生,在現實界可被瞭解與未被瞭解的各種影響,如能易於瞭解的傳統治病方式與不易被瞭解的「氣功」治病方法。如此,則物體、氣能、意識之間之訊息溝通、激盪則形成世界萬象。
氣的醫學既可包括歐美之能量醫療法,又可包括漢人特色的氣的療法,氣有顯而易見,也有隱而不見的部分,如何彰顯隱藏部分,就成爲學者的挑戰,筆者爲強調這點,故命築基於氣的療法爲「氣在療法」 (李淸澤,1998a)。以調整氣的方法來做治療的工作,氣在療法旨在喚起吾人了解氣的理論性與實踐性。 「在」 有兩個意義,一爲存在的「在」,西方醫學如承認氣的實存性,也就必須承認由此衍生出來的治療方法,而由前美國衛生署另類療法辨法室主任Dr. W. Jonas 主編,今年出版的” Essentials for Complementary and Altenative Medicine”一書中包括氣功一章(Lee & Lei, 1999a)可知氣在療法已被接受。「在」的另一意義以臺語而言是「有在無在」的「在」,也就是「穩不穩」的「穩」。故氣「在」的意義為氣在人在,氣亡人亡,氣穩人穩、氣亂人亂、氣健人健。氣在療法英文可模擬自我實現(Self Actualization)翻譯爲「Chi Actualization Therapy」(氣的實現療法),即能體驗氣、能實現的本來面目,即可有療效。
筆者曾於1997、1998年至高雄長庚醫院精神科以「氣與精神醫學」爲題演講,主張歐美精神醫學因對中國文化中「氣」的概念缺乏了解,故除了不能治療西人因氣引起的病外,更對中國人的病症歸因產生了誤解,認爲中國人是易於「身體化(somatization)其病症的族群」(Kleinman and Good, 1985),甚至本國學者也不加嚴謹思考、研究就支持此論。筆者與哈佛的Taylor與洛克裴勒醫學院的楊定一爲文主張將身、心醫學包括氣功回歸主流醫學系統(Taylor, Lee & Young, 1997)。茲舉三例說明:其一爲憂鬱症。憂鬱症之主要臨床症狀爲氣虛 (low energy) 以致病者不思動,常有疲倦感,歐美醫家對此症狀並沒有很好的解釋,以氣學的觀點來看,這是氣虛的標準症候,解釋何難?此症自可以「氣在療法」,補之以氣,氣要在、不自竄、不亂行,再加以安神劑與西醫標準療法,自有療效。
其二爲Hypochrodrasis ,此症被Kleinman(1985)稱之爲無病之病,蓋因病人整日爲病所困,幾乎三、兩天就必須找醫生看病才能心安,病人病情經常生變,今天可能頭疼,明天可能胃不舒服,後天可能心臟有問題。但是醫生卻老是找不出病因,故只好叫它爲無病之病。Kleinman還說要診斷此症,醫生必須說服自己曰:「病人之病是不存在的」,而筆者卻認爲這是體內之氣遊走不定,亂停亂竄所致,西之醫者聽之、觀之無法理解,嗤之以鼻,視爲幻覺,吾人一看這明明是氣行、氣竄,何來疑惑?何來難解之理?治病之方並不難求,能使氣循經做正常的子午流注的流動,循規蹈矩,按常態運行,則可療之,無病之病之說不攻自破。康乃爾醫學院的精神科主治醫生 Dr。 Jim Halper(1999),也認爲氣的理論是個很好的解釋模式,如能有更多的臨床與研究成果來檢驗這個模式更佳。
本節將檢視氣、身、心間一些關係。原則上我們可說三者之間有互動關係,或者三者之中之任何兩變數均可發生互動關係。我們將以文獻現有的資料來檢視氣如何影響身、心。歐美心理學自然不探討上述命題,但因它視身、心爲獨立單元,自然也就少談甚或不談心、身互動關係,因此發展心理學中論及個人的發展、成長時視身、心爲獨立單元,各自有獨立發展的時序(time course),互不相干、牽扯。最近因受東方思潮的影響而有身、心相聯(Mind & Body connection),甚至也發展出身心醫學(Mind- body medicine)或心理神經免疫學(psychoneuroimmunology),雖基本上承認身、心可互動、互控,但對於心如何影響身的發展的研究或身如何影響心的發展仍付之闕如。