Relax . . . Let It Go

Expelling Unhealthy Qi, 4th movement of Heaven Nature Heart Mantra

Originally published May 9, 2017, updated Jan. 2020

Master Li tells us all the time, “Relax.”
“Relax your whole body.” “Loosen your body.” “Relax more.”

According to traditional Chinese medicine, qi flows best when the body is relaxed. Conversely, lack of flow can cause qi to become stuck and murky, which leads to pain and disease.

By relaxing, we improve the flow of qi in our bodies. Everything flows freely, smoothly. By relaxing, we tap into the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Another way to say relax is, “Let go.” Let go of the tension; loosen the tightness.

Not just in the body – but also in the mind and the heart too.

Master Li also says, “Relax your mind.” “Open your heart.”

We hold on to emotional and spiritual pains also. The actions or words by others or ourselves that have hurt us; that have caused us injury.

We tell others of our pains or hardships, the cruelties we have suffered. And we repeat these stories over and over. We choose to replay it again, like a record that skips or a tape loop. But we can stop this; stop the never-ending loop.

Everyone’s life has ups and downs. This is normal. It’s normal to experience unpleasant feelings from a hardship, a cruelty or an injustice – sadness, anger, frustration, resentment, loneliness, grief.

To be human is to experience these injuries, and we have all have had times when these emotions were so strong that the pain was indeed physical. We hurt inside. We hurt all over.

To live is to experience these pains. And they are not fairly distributed, as some of us experience many more pains and far more severe injuries than others.

To live sensibly is to learn from these experiences. BUT, we don’t need to keep dwelling on them. To keep experiencing the pain again and again. Let it go.

This too is stuck qi, and it’s unhealthy.

Relax the pain’s hold on you. Let it go. Heal yourself.

Then help others. This is Sheng Zhen.