Inner Guidance

Internal Guiding

The command to guide qi is gentle, the command to pull is soft.

General Principles

Guiding follows acupuncture methods. The general rule: Therefore, a skillful practitioner uses the needle to draw yang from yin and yin from yang, treats the left with the right and the right with the left, knows the other through oneself, perceives the interior through the exterior, observes excess and deficiency, sees the subtle signs of excess, and uses it without danger.

Both hands rest on the Ren (Conception) channel, harmonizing the whole body. If you feel any discomfort, refer to the general rule: place one hand in the center and the other slightly to the left or right.

The principle of consistent practice: “Do not be anxious, do not be fearful; act without thought or effort.”

Practice Instructions

1 | What Is Guiding
● Guiding (also called “press‑and‑step”) is one of the five traditional Chinese therapeutic methods recorded in the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) Suwen section, alongside acupuncture, moxibustion, bian (stone) therapy, and herbal medicine. Huangdi Neijing – Discussion of Unusual Methods: “The central region is moist and level, the source of all things. Its people eat a mixed diet without toil, so their illnesses are often weakness, chills, and fever. The appropriate treatment is guiding and pressing‑step, thus guiding and pressing‑step also originates from the center.”
● Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, yoga, etc., can be regarded as external guiding practices.
● This article introduces an internal guiding method discovered and recommended by Teacher Liu Lihong.

2 | Teacher Liu Lihong’s Recommended “Guiding” Method
● How to practice guiding:

1. Lie flat or sit upright—either is fine.
2. Bend both hands; except for the thumbs, bring the first and second knuckles of the four fingers together.
3. After the knuckles meet, all eight fingertips touch each other and are placed on the body’s midline (the Ren channel), e.g., at the Shanzhong point or anywhere along the Ren line where it feels comfortable—preferably a bit higher.
4. Once placed, empty your mind. No need to think of anything or focus on anything; simply feel the body, or even feel nothing—just let go.
5. Not feeling anything is still feeling; just relax and allow the body to settle naturally.
6. When finished, you may rest your hands on the Shenque point (navel) for a moment. For men, the left palm goes below and the right palm above; for women, the opposite.

● Guiding duration:

1. Prefer daytime practice—morning or noon. Avoid guiding right before sleep, as it may make you more alert.
2. The session can be short or long; if you have time, a longer practice is beneficial.

● Points to note:

1. Any sensation or change during guiding is normal—sudden sleep, heat, tingling, soreness, swelling, etc. Just observe quietly.
2. Consistent practice yields greater benefits.

3 | Guiding Videos
● Liu Lihong’s introduction video: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/L0cFiwDmU2GyNWoj9P‑knw
● Teacher Liu Liu’s discussion: Is Liu Lihong’s Guiding Course Worthless or a Priceless Treasure?

After each class I would lie in bed, hand on my chest, and fall asleep instantly, feeling a surge of enthusiasm. After a few days I stopped. The only result I could accept is that guiding is a sleep‑aid technique—falling asleep in three to five minutes works every time. I’ve even recommended it to many friends as a harmless sleeping aid, and everyone says it helps. I once wondered if the secret of self‑cultivation is simply “a good night’s sleep cures all ailments.”

When I’m alone with Teacher Liu we chat. I told him that my lifelong battle is my weight—my body is constantly at odds with my genes. He looked me over and said, “You’re nicely rounded, like a Buddha.” I got angry—being a Buddha isn’t my goal! “I want to be thin! Thin! Thin!” I shouted. He calmly replied, “Why do you want to be that thin?” I said, “You don’t understand the pain of being overweight. I’ve never been charming! If I don’t become charming soon, I’ll be old!” He laughed heartily—something I’ve never seen him do. He seems like a person sealed inside an iceberg: you know he’s compassionate, but it never shows on his face. Everyone approaches him with reverent trembling; as Haiqing describes, he gives you a glance at the corner of his eye after ten questions, his words never quite reach the ear. My only explanation: “Good medicine tastes bitter but heals; a stern doctor’s stern face benefits the heart.” For people with serious ailments, a few strict doctors are necessary; otherwise, who would obey? After laughing, Teacher Liu said, “I won’t treat you. I won’t take on your karma. Your intention is not right.” I replied, “If I get thin, I can better help others; a good mood improves my writing.” He laughed again, then firmly said, “Practice guiding! Guiding will make you thin.” I believed him. A meticulous person who never utters falsehoods, who loves every plant and animal, would not deceive me. So I began guiding exactly as he instructed. Four days later I lost three kilograms. After half a month, five kilograms. This is my happiest weight‑loss experience—my diet and life were untouched.

4 | Location of the Shanzhong Point

Reference: Guiding a Single Point Can Provide “Deep Regulation” for the Body

Theoretical Study

[Full Text + Video] Self‑Health, Complete Well‑Being – A Brief Talk on Guiding‑Press‑Step
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/IUHUqTNme75c‑o3J20IxDg

I’m grateful for the chance to share my experiences learning Chinese medicine. Today’s topic is “Guiding‑Press‑Step,” a vast subject. Strictly speaking, it cannot be fully explained in words because it is genuine kung‑fu that must be practiced to understand. Yet without some explanation, no one knows how to begin, so I’ll speak about it. This valuable opportunity brings together leaders from the Anhui Provincial Health Office, a Taoist master hosting a wellness course, and friends who have traveled from afar—so I hope to convey something meaningful.

Is there a portable method in the Neijing for personal stability? – A Brief Talk on Guiding‑Press‑Step
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ssBMBMm5za627GoOa83SEA

Chinese culture is a culture of feeling and connection. Whether you are a fellow practitioner of Chinese medicine or a fan of Chinese culture, “feeling” is indispensable. In this era of information overload, we all hope to find a method that can “heal the ruler’s ailments, rescue the poor and humble, and preserve one’s own health.” The “Guiding‑Press‑Step” described in the Huangdi Neijing may lead us toward the core of Chinese medicine and culture. It is not only a vital path to self‑governance of life but also a convenient way to perceive yin‑yang. Through it, achieving “the ordinary person does not fall ill” may be the original intention of the sages.

Test Your “Feeling”—the Most Crucial Part of Guiding
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9srYhhWGPaqvQw3X_Wgcsg

We press the front Ren and Qiao (the two channels) with our hands, drawing from yin; this “drawing from yin” inevitably produces a “guiding yang” effect. Guiding yang first activates the Du (Governing) channel, then all the yang channels. Once yang moves, it naturally generates a yin‑guiding effect, creating an interactive yin‑yang flow that maximizes efficacy. The key step in achieving this through guiding is “feeling.” Whether guiding‑press‑step reaches a higher level depends on the depth of that feeling.

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Originally written by Ping Xia (平侠) and published in Chinese on 研习录 (Study Notes). Translated and adapted for DriftSeas with permission.