Zen Wind

My teacher, Zen Master Seung Sahn, developed a form of Qigong in the 1980’s that he named Soen Yu or Zen Wind. When a student had too much thinking, was suffering psycho-emotionally (emotional problems), and/ or was having difficulty sitting for longer periods and retreats, they were given teachings on Soen Yu practice. Zen Master Seung Sahn developed mystical powers, reminiscent of the force, with intensive practice that he would do for a couple hours at midnight.

Problems with thinking manifest in our conscious mind, but have their roots deeply embedded in the unconscious. While we are focusing on deep, relaxed breathing from our lower belly, tanjeon, or energy center, we begin to access and heal unconscious trauma. Traditional Zen practice focuses on the breath to ground the awareness and uses mantra to help clear the consciousness. Zen Master Seung Sahn called it mantra consciousness.

With Soen Yu our breathing is made deeper by focusing on, feeling, and being aware of the tanjeon (dantian or second chakra). Moving your arms slowly, in a syncopated motion (up and down, circling at your sides), allows for a deeper intake/ exhalation of breath and moves the Qi in the body. Typically, a longer exhalation is recommended. Let your breathing become relaxed and natural.

Zen Play

If a student finds it too difficult to use mantra certain visualizations are recommended especially for the lying down practices. For example, you are on a beach watching a seagull flying out above the water. It takes off right in front of you, you can hear him squawking and see each of his feathers clearly. As he gets farther way the sounds start to fade until he’s finally just a little dot on the horizon. Then he turns around and flies back towards you until you can hear him, then see his feathers, and finally he flies right over your head. Squawk!

Our conscious mind is kept busy with the seagull while our breathing becomes deeper and the second chakra, lumbar nerve plexus, or tanjeon is activated; rooting us deeper in the present moment, accessing the unconscious mind, and allowing our awareness to heal the trauma.

Epilogue

Here’s one story that I heard from a teacher who was present when it occurred. Several of Zen Master Seung Sahn’s senior students were standing in a semi circle when Seung Sahn Sa-nim walked into the room. He waved his arms and they all felt a powerful force that knocked them over. When they asked him about it he said, “That’s the Zen wind!”

Keep those arms waving and breathe deeply..,