Ilchi Lee Educating Brain, Dahn Yoga

Exhale, and as you do so, lower your raised hand. As you inhale again, press upward toward the sky with your left hand and downward toward the ground with your right hand. As before, use only about 80 percent of your strength.

Inhale and press upward toward the sky with your right hand and downward toward the ground with your left hand while lightly flexing the Dahn-jon. Do not completely extend your arms at this time, but give your elbows a slight, natural bend, using only about 80 percent of your strength. Stop your left hand at the height of the Lower Dahn-jon.

Two Hands Press toward Heaven

Inhale and lift both of your hands, pressing them toward the sky. Use only about 80 percent of your strength at this time. Take care not to allow your buttocks to protrude, and lightly spread your palms to stimulate energy in your hands.

Ensure that energy does not rise upward as you lift your hands. The key is to raise your arms without using excessive strength, and to keep the mind centered on the Dahn-jon by Ilchi Lee.

When we train the Dahn-gong Ki Accumulation Form, our bodies overflow with life and vitality as they are filled to the bursting point with energy, like rubber balloons. In this state, our bodies move quickly and agilely with appropriate tension, and our concentration and awareness are deepened.

In the Ki Accumulation Form, the space between the legs and the degree to which they are bent varies according to the practitioner’s level of training. With greater proficiency, practitioners increase the space between their legs and the angle of their knees, working to develop flexibility, strength, and stability.

Progress in Kigong training depends on how constantly we practice. We will be able to achieve our desired goals if we practice ceaselessly, applying precise principles and methods.

Stimulating Energy

Before we begin the regular Ki Accumulation Form, we perform basic Ki-circulation movements for stimulating the energy in our entire bodies, including our hands and arms, chest, neck, and legs. Make Fists and Beginning Posture movements are performed as they are in the Dahn-gong Basic Form.

Continuing from the previous movement, cross your wrists over your head and then lower them to your Dahn-jon along a central line. (These lines are copied from Ilchi Lee’s book)

Inhaling again, spread your arms outward to the sides and raise your hands above your head.

Gather energy from your Baek-hoe to your Dahn-jon, exhaling as you lower your hands.

Clap your hands as you bring them together above your head.

Drawing a huge circle toward the outside with your hands, raise them ( above your head).

Bring your feet together and lower your hands, crossing them in front of your Dahn-jon.

Shift your weight to your left leg and, at the same time, cross your arms in front of your chest.

Bend your left knee and straighten your right leg as in the previous movement. At this time, the right hand extends downward and the left hand blocks upward. Its all about Ilchi lee’s experience.

The line from the Baek-^oe to the Hoe-eum should be kept perpendicular to the ground to prevent the upper body from leaning to the front or back.

Open the Ah-mun

Inhale as you raise your hands behind your head and cross them at the Ah-mun point.

Exhale as you slowly press your hands out ward to the sides.

Ah-mun Point: Located between the first and second cervical vertebrae. It is situated on the center line of the neck and head, in the depression where the neck and head meet.

Continuing from the previous movement, press forward with the center of your palm as you turn your body to the front. Look in the direction your hand is moving.

Exhale as you press forward fully with the center of your right palm. Bend your front leg and straighten your back leg. Stand straight with your upper body erect.

Of the six basic movements, this one trains stepping for the ll-ji Posture, which is also called a front stance. Now repeat the movement in the opposite direction.

Switching hands, repeat the previous movement.

Here is an other article by Ilchi Lee.

Beginning Posture is for initiating circulation of internal Ki in our bodies. Through this movement, we create respiration and energy conditions appropriate for doing Dahn-gong. The Beginning Posture movement promotes the flow of energy along the body’s vertical meridians.

The breathing method in Dahn-gong, except for the Beginning and final Breathing postures, involves exhaling with 30 percent of the breath left in the lungs. In the Beginning Posture, however, breathing is controlled so that 80 percent of the last breath is exhaled, with 20 percent retained by the lower abdomen.

Stepping in the Dahn-gong Basic Form generally employs movements trained in the ll-si and ll-bon postures.

Exhale as you lower your arms. Beginners may straighten and bend their knees as they raise and lower their arms to match their breathing. Once they develop strength in their legs, however, they should practice this in a horse stance, without moving the lower body.

Dr. Ilchi Lee writes in his book that let us think about what our soul really wants. Let’s think about what could propel us to overcome our personal boundaries and engage in fulfilling work. We can formulate a vision based on a lifetime, for tomorrow, or for the coming week, and so on.

It is necessary to take the following conditions into account when deciding on a vision. First, a vision has to be “visionary” and bright enough to fill you with great joy at just the thought ot it. Second, a vision must provide unending motivation worthy of your undying time and effort. Third, a vision must require you to use your energy and abilities to their limits. Fourth, a vision has to be appealing and attractive enough to hold your utmost attention. Fifth, a vision must be beneficial to others in order to gain approval and support. Sixth, a vision must be realistic enough to be evaluated by concrete methods. Always ask whether this vision comes from your True Self or your False Self. If your vision requires changing the life that you have led up until now, it will entail doubt and hesitation. However, thinking and worrying will not make your decision any easier. Ultimately, making a decision comes down to one moment of choice.

The question is quite simple, actually. What is it you really want? What fills your heart with joy and delight? Ask your heart,ask your soul… for there is no one who can tell you whether the vision you have chosen is correct or not. You have your own conscience to decide that for you.

If your heart tells you what you really want, then ask your brain how to go about getting it. Talk with your brain, have a spiritual heart-to-heart with your own brain. The brain is the tool given to us to complete our journey of spiritual growth. Vision Meditation is a way to converse with your brain in order to access strength and ideas necessary to make your vision come true. Our soul uses our brain to deliver its messages to us. When in doubt, we can always ask our heart whether the message is genuine or not.

Read more articles about Brain Respiration and Dahn Yoga.

Ilchi Lee’s prayer at the Opening Ceremony of the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders in the General Assembly of the United Nations on August 28th, 2000.

And not even to the indigenous gods of many nations
But to the divinity within that we all hold inside
That makes us all brothers and sisters
To make us truly a One Family
In the name of humanity.
I offer this prayer of peace
To the cosmic Oneness that is our birthright
And our privilege
And our strength
That should we let it shine and show us the way
Will guide us to the road of peace
Not the Christian peace
Not the Jewish peace
Not the Islamic peace
Nor the Buddhist peace
And not even the indigenous peace of many nations
But the human peace
That has a place in the hearts of all people
To become the children of one humanity
To allow us to truly fulfill our divine potential
I offer this prayer of peace
To allow us all to realize
The truth of our existence
To allow us all to discover
The sanctity of our lives
To allow us to all to seek
The spirituality of our beings
Please allow us to experience
With all our hearts and our souls
The intimate connection to the divine
That we all posses inside
For our bodies are the temples of worship
And our souls the altars
Upon which we shall stand tall
And live out the true meaning
Of our existence.

I believe that a habit of good breathing can prevent much unhappiness. So, if you become emotionally upset, do not try to analyze your situation by thinking. Instead, focus on your breathing. This is much easier and more effective. Stop thinking for a moment and concentrate on your breathing. Deep breathing will quiet your emotions and enable you to better assess your circumstances.

Now, that is such a simple suggestion that you may just have read right over it. So please allow me to repeat it.

Ilchi Lee believe that a habit of good breathing can prevent much unhappiness. So, if you become emotionally upset, do not try to analyze your situation by thinking. Instead, focus on your breathing.

Now, I want you to consider something that you may never have conceptualized or imagined before. Thoughts are the breath of the brain.

Just as we take air into our bodies, we are also allowing thoughts to be processed by our brains. Breathing is mechanical. You do not have to think about breathing, and you do not have to make yourself do it. It is an automatic action of the body. Breathing happens by itself. It is what the body does.

Thinking is also mechanical said Ilchi Lee. You do not have to think about thinking, and you do not have to make yourself do it. It is a routine of the brain. Thinking happens by itselt. It is what the brain does.

Of course, how the body breathes is another matter. That is something you can control—although very few people do. And how the brain thinks is another matter. That is something you can control—although very few people do.