Falun Gong Exercise 5: Strengthening Higher Powers

Strengthening Higher Powers Strengthening Higher Powers is the fifth exercise of Falun Gong. It is Falun Gong’s other meditation exercise. The exercise utilizes Buddhist mudras, or hand signs to turn the Falun in ways that strengthen one’s higher powers as well as extrasensory abilities and spiritual power. It is a multi-faceted exercise. Strengthening Higher Powers should be done in the full-lotus position. While this position is preferred, half-lotus is also acceptable. However, one eventually needs to sit in full-lotus. During the meditation, the flow of energy is strong, and a large field of energy forms around the body. The hands should move in accordance with the energy mechanisms bestowed by the practice’s Teacher. When strengthening higher powers, keep the mind empty, with a slight focus on the palms. The centers of the palms may feel warm, heavy, prickly, as if a weight is present, or other sensations. But don’t try to bring these about—just let things happen naturally. How long you can meditate for will depend on the foundation you have built. The longer you meditate, the faster the energy grows. Don’t think about anything when doing this exercise. No thought should be involved. Begin to quiet your mind. Then, from a calm but somewhat dynamic state, enter into deep meditation but maintain awareness that you are here meditating. You yi wu yi Yin sui ji qi Si kong fei kong Dong jing ru yi Now, Teacher Li will show us how to do the exercise. To prepare, place the legs in the lotus position. For males, the left leg is inside and the right leg outside. In other words, first lift the left leg up into position, and then move the right leg up over the left. For females, it's the opposite. Keep the back and neck straight. Tuck the chin in slightly. Gently close the eyes. The face should have a peaceful expression. Conjoin the hands in Jieyin at the lower abdomen, and begin to quiet your mind. From Jieyin, move the conjoined hands upward. When the hands are above the head, release Jieyin, and turn the palms upward. Next, separate the hands, and rotate them toward the sides of the body, until they are at the sides of the front of the head. Lower the hands, holding both elbows inward in front of the chest. The palms should face upward, with the fingertips pointing forward. Next, straighten both wrists and allow the hands to cross in front of the chest. For males, the left hand goes outside and the right hand inside for females, the right hand goes outside. Move the wrist of the outside hand upward and outward to the side while turning the palm face up, with the fingers pointing back. With the inside hand, after crossing the other hand, turn the palm downward, and then slowly turn it to face forward. The lower hand should be at the lower front, above the calf. Then, move the upper hand downward on the inside. Move the lower hand upward on the outside, while turning the palm inward. In other words, you will be switching the hand positions by repeating the previous movements with the opposite hand. Now, straighten the right wrist for males (or the left for females) with the palm facing the body. After crossing in front of the chest turn the inner palm downward and extend it until it reaches the lower front, slightly off center, above the calf. At the same time, turn the left palm for males (right for females) to face inward, and bring the hand upward. After crossing the hands, males move the left hand to the front of the left shoulder while females move the right hand to the front of the right shoulder. Turn the palm face up, with the fingertips pointing forward. Then switch the hand positions using the previous movements. When doing the mudras, the movements should flow continuously and be uninterrupted. Now, the upper hand should move down on the inside, and the lower hand up on the outside. Males turn the right palm, and females the left, to face the chest while moving downward. At the same time, males lift the left palm up, and females the right palm up. Once the forearms reach the chest and form a horizontal line draw the hands outward to the sides and slowly turn the palms downward. Keep the hands at the level of the waist, with the forearms and wrists at the same level. Relax the arms. This position brings internal energy outward to the hands, for the purpose of strengthening higher powers. When powers are being strengthened, the palms may feel warm, heavy, prickly, as if a weight is present or other sensations. But don’t try to bring these about—let things happen naturally. The longer the position is held, the better. Hold it until you are too tired to endure it. Next, males will move the right hand downward to the lower abdomen, and the left hand upward to the chin. The right palm faces upward, while the left palm faces downward, such that the two palms face each other. For females it will be the reverse. In both cases, the lower hand should be placed at the lower abdomen area and the forearm of the upper arm should be level with the shoulders. This strengthens higher powers, too. One needs to sit for quite some time. The longer, the better. Next, switch hands. The upper hand draws a half circle in front of the body, moving downward to the lower abdomen. At the same time, lift the lower hand upward while turning the palm downward. When this hand reaches the chin, the arm should be at shoulder height. The palms should face each other. This strengthens higher powers, too, only the hand positions are reversed. The longer the time one holds this position for, the better. After doing the strengthening movements the upper hand draws a half circle in the front of the body, moving downward to the lower abdomen. Conjoin the hands in Jieyin, and begin to meditate serenely. Enter into a deep meditative state. The longer you sit for, the better. When practicing our meditation exercises, the mind is not utilized to direct anything. Yet you must remain aware that you are meditating. When the exercise is finished, move both hands to the Heshi position. Come out of deep meditation.