How to regulate rapid breathing?
Q: When doing the lower abdomen breathing, I feel that my qi is rushing about and hard to control. How can I adjust it?
A: In this situation, it is because the mind has not been able to enter tranquility, and the mind is still chaotic, unable to control the qi. The qi is uncontrollable, like a runaway horse, running without restraint, so it feels rushed. The first thing to do is to seek tranquility of mind. When the mind is tranquil, the breath will calm down. Then, after that, you can do the lower abdomen breathing, and you will be able to achieve the state of “continuous flow”.
There is one major prerequisite for practicing qi circulation that cannot be departed from, and that is the principle of “quietness”. All qigong exercises are quiet exercises, and doing the lower abdomen breathing is no exception. The ordinary person's breathing is quick and short, which is not in line with the innate state. Cultivation is to adjust the breathing so that it reaches the lower abdomen, so that the circulation is in line with the innate normal way.
Observe all the images in nature, and you will see that they all come from the natural emptiness and quietness. Observe the hen incubating eggs, she must be at rest; animals that prowl at night are gentle and contained; the spring breeze sways the willows, and the flow of the river is slow and measured. All of this is the work of nature, rooted in stillness. As a way of cultivating the truth, it is even more important to be in line with the natural order of things. The Book of Changes says: “The sage knows that the way of nature cannot be violated, and thus he makes it the way of stillness.” This is also one meaning of “unity of man and nature.”
Therefore, when practicing, one must eliminate the wandering mind and first seek tranquility. After the mind is calm, one then uses the calm mind to control the qi machine, and then the qi machine operates, still even though it is moving, in line with the “natural true firewood”. By doing so, one practices the lower abdomen breathing, and there is absolutely no worry about the qi becoming chaotic and rapid. The ancient book of Dan says, “If you take in qi, you will not live long; to live long, you must suppress qi.” The method of suppressing qi must be in line with nature, following the example of nature, which is the supreme method.
气机急促当如何调之
问：做丹田呼吸之时，感觉气机急促，不好控制，当如何调之？
答：此种情况，乃是心中未能入静，自心尚乱，无法驭气之故。气无心驭，如同脱缰之马，运行无度，故觉急促。做功首当求得心静，心静则气息平定，尔后再做丹田呼吸，自可达到“绵绵若存”之境界。
对于行炁的功夫，有一个大的前提，不可离开，就是必须合乎“静”的原则。丹道一切功法均属静功，做丹田呼吸也不例外。普通人呼吸急促而短，不合先天，修炼通过调整呼吸使之达于丹田，令其运行合乎先天之常道。
观察自然界一切物象，莫不从自然虚静中来。试看孵卵之鸡，必安然静息；动物夜行，乃柔缓含藏；春风拂柳，而摇摆依依；小河流水，则潺缓有度。此皆自然造化，根源于静。作为修真之道，更须合乎自然天机，经曰：“圣人知自然之道不可违，因而制之至静之道。”此亦“天人合一”之一义。
故此做功必须扫除妄心，先求入静，心静之后，再以静心统驭炁机，而后炁机运行，虽动犹静，符合“天然真火候”。如此去做丹田呼吸，绝无炁乱急促之忧。丹书云：“服气不长生，长生须伏炁。”伏炁之法，须合自然，师法自然，即无上上法。