Visitors in The Night

[Nick Jones]

Greetings and a Happy New Year to All!!

I had a slightly unsettling experience last night and I'm not sure whether or not it was real. I'm also unsure if it is alright to start a new thread despite there already being threads on nightmares and ghosts As this experience could be related to nightmares, ghosts, neither or both

It was a cold winters night... and I'd had a great training session, I felt buzzing with energy afterwards, almost like I had to much energy. Anyway I think this experience must have been at about 3 or 4 in the morning though thats just a guess. I'm afraid this might sound a little weird however I "awoke" to find myself being leered at by a crazy semi transparent 'being' standing right next to my bed. I could 'see' him and 'leer' is the only word that comes to mind as to what he was doing. Though he was the only one I could see I'm could sense others around me. I tried to move and found that I was completely paralysed. It felt like this 'being' wanted something of mine. I started to panic and despite not being a Christian I called out to Jesus for help. I immedietly "awoke" again this time i could see no one though I could still vaguely sense a presence. I was still very afraid though no longer paralysed and i started asking for Guan Yin's protection and silently chanting her mantra (Om Mani Padme Hum) repeatedly. I think I also mentally told them about the Pure Land and asked for Amitabha Buddha to help guide them there. This is my last memory of the event, though I have a vague recollection of having some strange dreams afterwords.

Ordinarily I would assume this was a nightmare however I can remember it so well! I almost felt as if I had left my body in the night, though I have no previous experience of this with which to compare it. Another factor which makes me wonder is that I have had a previous experience of ghosts since joining Shaolin Wahnam, where I could sense two near me when trying to practice. I became so fearful that I was unable to practice at night for a few days. However with Sifu's(Jordan) guidance, Sukhavati, and Guan Yin's help I was able to help them (I think) by praying to Guan Yin and reading them the Heart Sutra. That experience however was very different in that I couldnt actually 'see' anything.

I understand that many students have had similar experiences and I will be sure not to dwell on or to become attached to this. However I think sharing this will help me to let go of it and was wondering if anyone had any advice, hopefully along the lines of "very good carry on"

Thankyou for your time spent reading this!
Nick Jones

Namo Amitabha Buddha Namo Amitabha Buddha

[Zhang Wuji]

Hi Nicky

I hope my post will be followed by more knowlegable ones but this is my own experience and view.

I have always been attacked by "unclean things" (don't want to give details here) from young. When I learnt Taijiquan qigong, I was told that an increase in my level of qi will repel the spirits, because the abundance of yang qi will be like fire to these yin spirits.

Unfortunately to date, I still get occasional attacks. Sifu's advice is as always simple, direct and effective: Pray to God and ask for His blessings (Sifu gave this advice rather than pray to Guan Yin because I am a Catholic). Now, in fact, before i practice, I dedicate the practice session to God. Not only do I feel more secure, my practice is enhanced.

I have posted in another thread that the time of your practice makes a huge difference. Practising in daylight as opposed to late in the night can help ensure that you minimise or eliminate such visitors in the night. There is something in the universal belief that with daylight, vampires and other bad things retreat. Every culture I know finds a comfort zone in daytime.

My theory is that as we begin qigong, our bodies are altered in very significant ways, on a physical as well as spiritual level. We are in effect becoming different from other human beings. We also become far more attuned to the unseen aspects of our universe which includes spirits. At the same time, because we stick out from the crowd, it is easier for the spirits to zoom in on us. Yet, there is nothing to fear. If they could, the spirits would have harmed you already. In my society (Chinese and Asian), we have many people who are weakened or harmed by spirits they cannot see or believe in. The most recent example is a friend's wife who could not conceive until a temple medium told her that spirits were following her husband home and making her "cold". Sifu said in his "Art of Chi Kung" that inability to conceive may be a result of a cold womb.

So, you see, whether or not you can see or sense them, spirits are all around us and some of them are not nice. It is often said the biggest threat to security is to think there is no threat. At least we who practice qigong are aware of the existence of other beings. But we are cultivating spiritually and have nothing to fear from them. Masters can repel spirits with their powers or even better pray for them and win them over with compassion and love. My own view is that as novices, we are at that uncomfortable level where we can see, sense and feel other beings but are as yet unable to interact with them comfortably. But "carry on with your practice and the benefits will come" (there! I have said it)

Just a small point though. Maybe you want to be consistent about who you ask for help. I recall that scene in Fright Night (a dumb show but there is some silver lining in every thing) where the victim takes up a cross and the vampire says "You gotta have faith". Funny that a B-grade horror flick can get a profound statement across so vividly that I still remember it today. If you believe in Jesus, call on Him. If your trust is in Buddha, then call on Buddha. I am sure that God doesn't draw distinctions but I think it is kind of hard to focus if you call all the gods and buddhas to your door (a Chinese saying).

(P/S - my friend's wife safely delivered a very healthy baby after following the medium's advice).

[Antonius]

Hi folks.

Personally, I don't think that practicing chi kung makes us any more attractive or visible to ghosts. I think it's the other way around. I think chi kung makes us more AWARE of them. In this regard, I think it is the "mind" aspect of chi kung that is most important, not the "energy" aspect.

That is just my opinion.

Best,

[Akemi]

Protection

Dear Nick,

I don't have much experience with Chi Kung, but I do have some experience with 'energy attacks.' I think it was wonderful that your first reaction was to call for help from a Higher Being.

Recently I had a similar experience in which I was asleep and suddenly concious of a 'being' standing about 2 feet away from me, also 'leering' with what I would feel where bad intentions. I believe these beings desire one thing: qi. You are a spiritual being, and are also cultivating energy with your practice. There is no need to fear as you are a being of Light. I think it is a blessing that you were able to see this energy vampire (I don't know what else to call it), because you can protect yourself against it.

One thing I have trained myself to do is to be concious of my energy field. As often as I can (every few minutes to every hour), I retreat from my physical senses and firmly and conciously state "I close my aura. I close my aura. I close my aura." I can immediately feel any 'holes' sealed. I also ask for protection from Buddha. The night that the being visited me, I became aware of it but before any concious thought entered my mind I felt my Self automatically seal my energy field and the being was paralyzed. The next day I cleansed myself and chanted some mantras, and a friend chanted in the room for me as well. No midnight visits ever since!

I think you're doing a good thing by chanting, and the only thing I reccomend is that you would seal yourself from any negative vibration. I believe Guan Shi Yin has already shown Her protection by allowing you to 'see' what was happening to you. I think this is an opportunity to take more control of and responsibility of your energy (you are already on this path because of your Chi Kung practice).

Be well.

Love and Blessings,

Vanessa

[Nick Jones]

I just realised the post is a little misleading. I wasn't practicing at 4am. I had had a kung fu lesson and had gone to sleep and woke up to see this ghost at 4am or so.

Originally Posted by: Antonius

I think chi kung makes us more AWARE of them.

Originally Posted by: Zhang Wuji

My own view is that as novices, we are at that uncomfortable level where we can see, sense and feel other beings but are as yet unable to interact with them comfortably.

Yes my very slight experience confirms this also. At times I feel like I am almost becoming aware of such beings, or of something at least. I just dont really understand what it is that I can almost sense. On balance however I figure(or hope) that each such experience will make any others that may or may not occur easier to deal with. A slight concern I have is that after only 6 months practice I dont really feel ready for experiences like this.

Originally Posted by: Vanessa

I reccomend is that you would seal yourself from any negative vibration.

Thankyou for your insightful comment! I think(maybe my seniors can confirm?)
that high level Chi Kung will do this. Perhaps this is similar to our Chi being like fire to hungry ghosts?

Originally Posted by: Zhang Wuji:

But "carry on with your practice and the benefits will come" (there! I have said it)

Thanks

Originally Posted by: Zhang Wuji:

Maybe you want to be consistent about who you ask for help.

Point very much taken! I was also suprised at first calling out to Jesus. Though I do believe in him, as aforementioned I wouldnt count myself as a Christian and haven't prayed to him since childhood. I guess my trust is in Buddha and I have certainly developed an affinity with the precepts of Buddhism over the last year that I believe is more than just fancy. The Buddhist teacher at my class once talked about the "spheres of influence" of high level beings and that by praying to them you become more within these. I think this is the case for me with Amitabha Buddha and Guan Shi Yin over the past year.

Zhang Wuji I am very much looking forward to meeting you in a few weeks and sharing a pot of green tea

Blessings and Thankyou
Nick