Visualization

They study mantras at night and practice Dharma during the day.

Time is of the essence, and there is no room for complacency.

Master Luo finished reciting the incantations, it was already dawn. Su Ziyang could only sit aside, close his eyes, and regulate his breathing to recover his energy.

An hour later, Master Luo was going to talk to Su Ziyang about Visualization.

The term "Visualization" refers to "contemplating one's spirit" and "contemplating one's body."

Of course, it can also be understood as imagination now, but this imagination is not just random daydreaming, but rather the act of Visualization something specific.

The method of Visualization is involved in various schools of thought and is a relatively widely used method. For example, the famous White Skeleton Contemplation and Contemplation of Impurity are forms of Visualization.

Visualization: When you practice a certain Dharma method, you should have the image of that patriarch, or the image of that deity, Buddha, or Bodhisattva in your mind. When you Visualization their appearance, it means that you can receive their "blessing."

Therefore, Visualization has a prerequisite: you must know what the founder of the Dharma you are practicing, or what the deities or bodhisattvas of a particular Dharma are like.

This is why some methods are passed down in secret. In ancient times, information was not as readily available as it is now. Unlike today, where you can find anything online with pictures and videos.

In ancient times, one was written language, and the other was portraits.

If you don't know what the patriarch looks like, then your Visualization the Dharma will not succeed.

Therefore, by secretly transmitting images or telling you what to think, you can cultivate accurately and precisely.

"Come, sit in front of the statue of the Patriarch."

Master Luo found a straw mat and had Su Ziyang sit cross-legged. Then he lit incense in front of the portrait of the ancestor.

"Look at the image of the patriarch."

Master Luo put his arm around Su Ziyang's shoulder and showed him the portrait of the Su Ziyang. Su Ziyang could see the yellowed portrait through the rising smoke.

Close your eyes. Keep the image of the patriarch in your mind.

This was not difficult for Su Ziyang. Su Ziyang had a foundation in cultivation, and his meditation skills were quite advanced; he could easily enter a state of tranquility or even samadhi.

As he opened and closed his eyes several times, the images flickered. In a daze, Su Ziyang suddenly found himself standing with his patriarch. The patriarch was holding a large seal in one hand and stroking his beard with the other, looking at him with a smile.

"Um..."

Su Ziyang stared blankly at the imposing patriarch, and in a moment of distraction, he suddenly awoke from his inner meditation.

When he opened his eyes, he found that the incense from the ancestral master had burned out, and Master Luo was looking at him with a smile.

"Not bad, you got it after just a few tries. Mengfei wasn't lying to me, you're a real talent!"

Master Luo seemed very pleased, and patted Su Ziyang on the shoulder with a smile.

"From now on, when using Zhuyou Technique, whether writing talismans or chanting spells, you can Visualization the Patriarch. You can also Visualization the Patriarch when you are in danger, and the Patriarch will protect you!"

Master Luo told Su Ziyang to get up and move around a bit, stretch his legs and relax.

Then he made Su Ziyang sit cross-legged.

"Listen, I'll teach you a Visualization. This method is very powerful. Don't use it lightly. Once you've mastered it, you can imprison all animals within a fifty-mile radius, including mountain spirits and ghosts. However, this method is also very difficult to learn and requires daily practice."

After giving his instructions, Master Luo told Su Ziyang to close his eyes, "Listen to me, do one step at a time. Don't rush."

Su Ziyang nodded, indicating that he understood.

First, imagine your heart as the sun, radiating boundless golden light.

After Master Luo finished speaking, he paused and stopped talking, giving Su Ziyang enough time to react.

Su Ziyang closed his eyes, gently adjusted his breathing, and silently imagined a sun shining with golden light in his heart.

The first step was somewhat similar to the simple self-protection method that Master Luo had taught him, so it wasn't difficult for Su Ziyang to do.

You are currently facing due south, with east to your left, west to your right, and north behind you.

"Now, the energies of your five internal organs are converging. First, imagine the green energy rising from your liver. Then, this green energy will drift to the left and east. Finally, the green energy will take root and transform into lush, verdant trees."

After saying this, Master Luo fell silent, this time for an even longer pause. Su Ziyang realized that this step was difficult. Visualizing the liver as green qi was not difficult, but how to transform it into forest trees?

About ten minutes later, sweat beaded on Su Ziyang's forehead, showing that this visualization method was extremely taxing on his energy and spirit.

Ten minutes later, Su Ziyang finally succeeded; a grove of trees appeared faintly to his left.

As if he could see it all, Master Luo Master Luo continued speaking as soon as Su Ziyang visualized the forest.

"Now visualize white vapor rising from your lungs, drifting to the right and west, transforming into weapons and armor on the left."

Weapons and armor...

Su Ziyang racked his brains to recall the ancient dramas he had watched, and finally came up with a set of weapons and armor.

"Then imagine crimson energy rising from your heart, traveling south, hovering above your head, transforming into flames, and burning everything."

"Visualize black energy dissipating from your kidneys, flowing northwards, descending, and transforming into a vast ocean, upon which you sit."

"Imagine yellow energy emanating from your spleen, surrounding the center of your body; this yellow mist serves as a protective shield."

After reciting the five visualization techniques, Su Ziyang's relaxed expression turned into a furrowed brow, with sweat dripping down his forehead.

Moreover, Su Ziyang suddenly discovered something: every time he visualized a new energy, the previously visualized image would disappear...

"When you can simultaneously Visualization these five elements, then this technique will be considered a minor success. According to my master, who is also your grandmaster, someone once cultivated this technique to its peak, and could even visualize Azure Dragon divine beast within the water they contemplated, and could intricate patterns on the weapons and armor they visualized. If you can cultivate it to that level, then no magic in the world can harm you."

Master Luo was talking to himself when he turned around and saw Su Ziyang. He noticed that Su Ziyang's brows were furrowed and sweat was dripping from his forehead. Upon seeing this, Master Luo suddenly banged on his pipe.

"He's awake! He's awake! Wake up!"

Su Ziyang heard three thunderclaps and suddenly woke up from his inner vision, his body instantly covered in sweat again.

"Sigh, being too smart isn't always a good thing."

Master Luo packed a bag of cigarettes, took a puff, and sighed as he looked at Su Ziyang.

"Master." Su Ziyang wiped the sweat from his forehead and called out softly.

Su Ziyang has just entered a very dangerous situation.

Some people say that learning magic can lead to demonic possession, turning one into a vegetable, or causing mental illness; this is exactly what happens.

The fundamental characteristic of such a person is that he believes in the reality of magic, which is the basis for him to become possessed by evil spirits.

If you don't believe it in a lighthearted and joking manner, then you're unlikely to become obsessed.

Why?

Because if someone who believes in it fails to perform the ritual once, they will try it again and again, and from then on, they will get stuck in a rut and can't get out. This is what is meant by going astray in spiritual practice.

But if you're already skeptical and approach it with an experimental attitude, reciting a spell once and saying it doesn't work, then you're really not in danger.

But let me elaborate on the concept of "going astray in cultivation" here, as a way of clearing up some confusion.

Is it because people are stingy or something that they don't share the techniques online? Actually, no.

It's best to have someone personally guide you during this practice to ensure it's done properly and prevent you from going astray or developing demonic possession.

However, to elaborate, going astray in cultivation is not the same thing.

Why does "walking through fire" involve fire? In some guiding exercises and breathing techniques, the effective practice is called "entering fire" or "entering the talisman."

Fire is divided into gentle fire and fierce fire. That's why I wrote about the Eight Methods of Withdrawing the Talisman at the beginning of this book. Since you're entering the fire, you must retreat the fire first. That's the correct way (I'm talking about the general situation. Family traditions and secret traditions may be different. No arguing though).

"Going astray" refers to a deviation in your practice of a movement or breathing technique. This is relatively mild, such as involuntary muscle twitching, and most commonly, gastrointestinal symptoms like acid reflux and heartburn. More severe cases may involve dizziness, headaches, and a variety of other symptoms. In such cases, medical examinations often fail to identify the cause, and it is eventually classified as either functional or neurological.

In such cases, adjusting the prescription with a decoction can be effective. That's why Tao Hongjing, the prime minister in the mountains, wrote a book called "Secrets for Auxiliary Practice), which was used to treat some strange symptoms and to assist people in their spiritual practice.

Becoming possessed by a demon is a more serious matter; this is what people often refer to as developing a mental illness from practicing qigong.

Of course, the symptoms vary. For example, I've seen people with schizophrenia who talk to themselves. Others frequently say that someone is talking next to them...

This is difficult to handle. As the saying goes, a mental illness is hard to cure. Therefore, some people say that illnesses caused by practicing qigong are difficult for even a deity to cure.

So let me just tell you the truth.

If you are interested in guided exercises, whether you practice Eight Pieces of Brocade, Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic, Five Animal Frolics, or some online-circulated Padmasambhava Dynamic Qigong, Eight Sections of the Vajra Art, True Qi Circulation Method, or other more niche exercises such as Zhan Zhuang, Wild Goose Qigong, or Spirit Particle Technique...

These exercises are generally fine, but to determine if they are suitable for you, consider the following points:

First, after practicing, does your mental state improve?

Secondly, is your appetite and digestive ability getting better and better?

Thirdly, have any pre-existing chronic illnesses or conditions improved to any extent?

If none of the above three points apply, then you might as well give up on training altogether. You might as well just play badminton, go for a run, or go swimming.

Okay, we've gone off-topic...

Su Ziyang slowly got up. Because he couldn't get his hands wet or take a bath for the past few days, and because there was some herbal soup on his hands, when Su Ziyang wiped away the sweat, it smeared all over his face like camouflage.

"I've passed this technique on to you. If you can't master it, I won't force you. Because I didn't master it myself. So I won't ask you to; I'm just saying that my master passed it on to me, and I'm passing it on to you!"

Master Luo tapped his pipe bowl again.

Having recovered from the shock, Su Ziyang looked at Master Luo and asked, "Master, what are you best at?"

"Haha, you can't get fat overnight. Take it slow. Of course, I'll pass on what I'm best at to you! Pack a bag."

Master Luo handed his tobacco pouch to Su Ziyang Su Ziyang smiled and packed it for Master Luo.