Welcome back to the second part of our in-depth guide on Bigu, the Chinese energy fasting. If you missed the first part, we encourage you to go back and read it to gain a foundational understanding of the topic. In this installment, we’ll delve deeper into the levels of Bigu and the secrets to mastering this technique.
The Levels of Bigu
Base Level
In the realm of Bigu, beginners typically start at what’s known as the base level. Here, you consume a modest amount of food—think an apple or some fruit juices—and drink water. The focus, however, remains on daily practices that channel Qi into the body. You can stay in this phase for a wide range of time—from two days to several hundred days, and sometimes even years.
Intermediate Level
The intermediate level takes things up a notch. At this juncture, you’ll only consume water, while continuing your daily energy absorption practices. This stage further conditions the body to rely on alternative energy sources, setting the stage for more advanced practices.
Advanced Level
The advanced level represents the pinnacle of Bigu practice. Remarkably, neither food nor water are consumed during this period. However, daily Qi gathering practices still continue, essential for sustaining life. This phase lasts a minimum of 49 days and can extend far beyond that timeframe.
The Secrets to Mastering Bigu
To excel in Bigu, it’s essential to focus on a few key principles that set the stage for a fruitful practice.
1. Inserting the Right Programming: Switching Your Energy Source
Bigu isn’t about eliminating energy consumption; it’s about changing the source of that energy. Think of your body as a biological machine operating on two systems: a dominant one (the conscious or Yang) and a hidden one (the subconscious or Yin). Entering the correct ‘commands’ into your dominant system can activate the hidden system, unlocking the innate human ability to draw the necessary energy from Qi. It’s crucial to understand that the goal is to ‘practice Bigu,’ not merely to fast. Incorrect commands can result in ineffective practice, a situation where neither energy supply is functioning, which could be dangerous and lead to starvation.
2. Mastering the Energy Gathering Technique
Bigu is all about mastering the art of energy absorption. To begin, you need to understand the types of energy that exist. Energy can be categorized into two main types:
- Later Heaven Energies: These are energies posterior to the creation of Yin and Yang. They come from natural elements like plants, rivers, mountains, and celestial bodies. This types of energies re gathered in basic and intermediate stages of cultivation.
- Earlier Heaven Energy or Innate Qi: This energy is anterior to Yin and Yang and form the foundation of all creation. Running out of this energy is synonymous with the end of life. One learn to gather this type of energy in the advanced stages of cultivation.
Learning to Gather Energy: Step by Step
Gathering energy is not an arbitrary task; it requires specific techniques. A wide range of methods, classified as initial, intermediate, and advanced, are taught by EACT. For example, during the initial and intermediate stages, we teach Efficient Energy Gathering Method (高效聚能法), Qi Eating Technique (食气法), Light Gathering Technique (采光法), Method to Gather the Essence of the Sun and Moon (采日精月华法), Cyclical Energy Gathering (循环采能法), Opening and Closing Energy Gathering (开合采能法), Heat Energy (热能), Cold Energy (冷能), Special Sound Energy Gathering (特殊声能采能), among other energy-gathering methods.
In the advanced stages, we teach Embryonic Breathing (胎息), Method of Gathering Energy Through Bathing and Nurturing (沐浴温养采能法), Gathering Innate Qi from the Void (虚空先天一炁采能法), and in the ultra-advanced stages, we teach the Method of Energy Gathering in the Great Concentration within Emptiness (虚空大定采能法), Turtle Breathing (龟息), Body Breathing (体呼吸), Hibernation Breathing (冬眠呼吸), and Cessation of Breath (断息).
The most advanced level of energy absorption involves a person’s spiritual body—once purified and cultivated—leaving the physical body to gather Qi from the universe’s multidimensional space, known as 出阳神采能法. The benefits of gathering energy this way are unparalleled, completely transcending conventional methods.
That’s all for this second part of our comprehensive guide to Bigu. In the next and final segment, we’ll discuss the effects of Bigu and what to bear in mind as you embark on this transformative journey.
