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  • Shaolin Eight Eye Techniques or Exercises

    Dear Family and Friends,

    Please familiriaze yourself with Sigung's excellent eye exercises if you hadn't done it before.

    Question 4

    Please let me know if the training dates are firmed. I will need to make reservations for flight and accommodation, as well as to reschedule a non-critical eye operation.
    — Ho, Singapore

    Answer

    My secretary told me that you would reschedule a non-critical eye operation to attend my Intensive Taijiquan Course.

    I believe that if you practice the Shaolin Eight Eye Techniques, you may improve your eye conditions sufficiently so that the operation may not be needed. These Eye Techniques have helped many people with eye problems, including myself and my children who were told by eye specialists to wear glasses but did not need to do so after practicing the exercises.

    Not only the Eye Techniques are highly effective, they are also safe to be practiced on your own without a master's supervision. These wonderful Shaolin Eight Eye Techniques are as follows. All the exercises are performed while standing upright in a relaxed manner. Those too weak to stand, may sit upright.

    Technique 1 — Counting Leaves.Stand a comfortable distance from a tree or plant and count its green lieaves with your eyes. Start with 50 leaves, then gradually increase the number to 300, increasing a few leaves after a few days.

    Technique 2 — Rolling Stars.With the eyes open, roll both eyeballs in big circles (as big as possible) 10 times one side, and then 10 times the other side.

    Technique 3 — Angry Eyes.Open both eyes as big as possible, then shut them as tightly as possible. Repeat about 10 times.

    Technique 4 — Far and Near.Stare at a distant object, like a cloud or a tree on a faraway mountain, for a few seconds, then stare at a nearby object, like the tip of your nose or some grainds of sand on your feet, for a few seconds. Repeat about 10 times.

    Technique 5 — Focusing One.Gently stare at a point about 5 to 10 feet in front of you with steady eyes as long as you can, which may range from a few seconds to a few minutes. At first your eyes will become tired or painful, and tears may roll down. This is part of the training or recovery process. Initially when your staring time is short, you may repeat the exercise a few times, but as your eyesight improves gradually you can stare at the point for many minutes comfortably and steadily.

    Technique 6 — Nourishing Spirit.Gently close your eyes and let your chi (energy) nourish your eyes and spirit. At first you may feel your eyes itchy. This is a good sign indicating that chi is working at your eye problems. As you progress, you will find your eyes restful and your mind fresh. (Note: “Nourishing Spirit” may appear similar to but is actually different from “Standing Meditation”. But students need not worry about the differences.)
    Technique 7 — Point Massage.Massage the face with both palms and then using your fingers massage energy points around the eyes, at the base of the nose, at the temples (here, use the base of the palms to massage) and behind the ears. If you do not know where the energy points are, just massage the face, round the eyes, nose and ears.

    Technique 8 — Heavenly Drum.Close your ears firmly with your palms and strike the back of your head with your fingers 24 times. You should hear inside your head sounds like a resonating drum.

    Practice once every morning. At first, start with Technique 1 and complete with Techniques 7 and 8. After about a week or two of daily practice, add Technique 2, then Technique 3, and so on. Then practice all the Eight Techniques in that order in one session.

    Like all other chi kung exercises, these Shaolin Eight Eye Techniques are not just for those with eye problems. Those with healthy eyes will also gain much benefit from these techniques. Not only their eyesight is good (even at an elderly age), but also their spirit is fresh. The saying that the eyes are the windows of the soul is not just poetically but also factually true.
    SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
    October 2004 (Part 2)



    Question 5

    Regarding the Shaolin Eye Exercises, is it better to do the counting leaves exercise without wearing corrective lenses?
    — Richard, Singapore

    Answer

    It is better to perform the eye exercises without wearing glasses or contact lens. Initially, if it is difficult to see without glasses or lens, you can use big-sized leaves or have the leaves near to your eyes. Gradually reduce the size and increase the distance.

    Question 6

    For extreme nearsightedness, do the exercises change the football shape of the eye back to its normal round shape or do they just train one to focus enough to overcome the nearsightedness caused by an elongated eye?

    Answer

    Besides improving eyesight, the exercises also change the distorted shape of the eyeballs back to their normal shape. It is because these are chi kung exercises, not just gentle physical exercises. The energy flow as a result of performing the chi kung exercises resrtore both the function and the shape of the eyes to their healthy condition.
    SELECTION OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
    JUNE 2012 PART 2



    I started doing the eye exercices about five weeks ago. Now I'm counting up to 100 needles on corniferous trees each morning and Rolling Stars 10 times each direction. My only grievance is that I didn't try Counting Leaves any earlier.

    I have a few eye issues, though nothing serious at the moment: persistent tension around the eyes, floaters, "grainy" vision against monochrome backgrounds, and some mild myopia in my left eye. I wish to recover completely from my internal injury and its effects, as I reasonably suspect it to have caused some of these eye issues, and I also wish to be pre-emptive and keep my eyesight in good shape.

    Benefits that I can confirm through direct experience:
    + helps you with eyesight and eye issues in general
    + refreshes your spirit (it's like cheating and having a third Chi Kung session in a day, which is a huge bonus )
    + completely free and costless to learn it
    + very safe
    + relieves tension in the face, especially around the eyes
    + may cause gentle chi flow in the chest and hands (this is probably related to my internal injury)

    There is only one negative that I can think of:
    - It takes dedication to schedule and commit to it in the morning during sunrise, but luckily those of us living near the polar circle may enjoy an extended period of morning twilight

    Looking forward to reading what others may have to say!

    With sincere respect,
    Olli
    12
    Yes, even though I have perfect vision
    0.00%
    0
    Yes, still improving my eyes
    16.67%
    2
    No, but I have done them regularly previously
    41.67%
    5
    No, but I have been considering them
    41.67%
    5
    No, not interested at all
    0.00%
    0
    No, I prefer my eyeglasses and their stylistic flair
    0.00%
    0

  • #2
    Visual greetings to everyone! o\

    I had agreed to participate in a scientific experiment involving virtual reality goggles, and I was very eager for it because I hadn't tried that technology before. Yesterday when I went to the scene the preliminary checkups brought up a surprising flaw in my stereovision: it wasn't good enough for the experiement. Therefore I discovered new motivation for improving my eyesight.

    Many people have now voted for having tried the eye exercises. Would any of you care to share us how did they benefit you and why did you discontinue?

    With sincere respect,
    Olli

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi Olli,

      Some years ago my eyesight appeared to be degrading and I was given a minor prescription for glasses, mainly for reading/computer work (close up).

      I practiced the eye exercises for some time, I can't remember exactly how long but probably a couple of/few months after building up to all the exercises. My eyesight got better and I discontinued using the glasses. After some time I stopped practicing the eye exercises too.

      Recently I've noticed that at the end of a day if I am reading, or looking at my watch (particularly the date on my analog watch), or reading in dim light, I am doing a double-take where my eyes are not seeing as easily as they might, or once did.

      I haven't yet re-introduced the eye exercises as I've considered it just being "tired eyes" after a long day of computer work or simply being tired. This thread has reminded me I could restart the exercises, and I'm confident my eyesight would once again improve. It's just a matter of deciding to do it and integrating it into my training program.
      With love and Shaolin salute /o

      "Your purpose in life is to find your purpose & give your whole heart and soul to it." - Buddha

      Gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhi svāhā.

      Comment


      • #4
        Sigung has advised me to practice them, so I shall do so.
        Shaolin Wahnam USA

        "Every morning you are born again. What you do today is the most important thing".

        Comment


        • #5
          These are indeed fantastic exercises. I have not practiced them extensively myself as I was happy With my eyesight, but I have been considering picking them up again lately. I believe Darryl from the Netherlands practised the exercises for a good while with high dedication.

          During Sifu's visit to Norway this summer I asked him if he had ever considered teaching the eye exercises to the Public in course form, seeing how a lot of people today develop weaker eyes due to prolonged use of computer and cellphone screens at a static viewing distance and light levels.

          He said it was an interesting idea, so lets see what the future brings.
          Last edited by Omar; 24 November 2016, 12:11 PM.
          When one door closes, another one opens.

          Comment


          • #6
            Dear Sisook and Sihengs,

            Thanks for sharing your experiences! I wonder what kind of transmission Sigung's eye course might provide? Maybe we would learn to shoot light beams from our eyes? Seriously enough, the course idea is excellent, and a price tag might actually bait people more to try these wonderful exercises. Thematically the eye exercises course could also fit into a more inclusive package with other morning practices such as training Dragon Claws. Then it would cover both medical Chi Kung and high-level Kungfu.

            As a mildly funny and misfortunate sidenote, one of my Finnish seniors has practiced the eye exercises wrong for a whole month and gotten so far little to no benefit. He told me that he felt no refreshment, in contrast to that I experienced immediately in my first time. I had posted the link to the exercises to many people and encouraged everyone to pick it up, but his mistake was modifying Counting Leaves into counting leaveless tips of tree branches in the dusk. Luckily he mentioned to me about what he was doing, so I could tell him to stop wasting his time with faulty practice.

            It might sound silly and random as to why count green leaves in the morning, but as usual, it's essential to follow the instructions just as they say.

            I'm quite sure Sigung has mentioned somewhere that there is something healing to the eyes in the morning sun, but unfortunately I can't find a quote right now. My guess is that green leaves are also particularly resonating with morning's healing energy.

            With sincere respect,
            Olli

            Comment


            • #7
              Dear everyone,

              I asked Sigung about the morning sun's importance, and he kindly shared his thoughts on the matter.

              I am not sure whether the morning sun is beneficial to the eyes, but it is beneficial to the body, especially the fingers. Hence, in Dragon Claw training, a practitioner wakes up at sunrise and absorbs the morning sun into his claws.

              Green leaves, especially in the morning, are beneficial to the eyes. Hence, a very important part of the Shaolin Eight Exercises is to count green leaves in the morning.
              It is all very clear now. Thank you Sigung!

              I do know that in some traditions there are sungazing techniques that are commonly utilized in the morning when the sunlight is not so strong, although I can't make any reasonable estimation how these might benefit anyone's eyesight. It is certain now that in my previous post I had confused some similiar sounding concepts which Sigung has elaborated before.

              With sincere gratitude,
              Olli
              Last edited by understanding; 25 November 2016, 07:32 AM. Reason: clearer wording

              Comment


              • #8
                At night chi returns to the liver and directly after getting up the chi is still there. Liver and eyes are connected in TCM (with the color green) it is best to do the eye exercises in the morning directly after getting up. When you strained your liver in training (for example tiger Kung Fu, Fierce tiger cleanses claws, ..) it can be beneficial to do some eye relaxing exercises as well.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Bright and Healthy Eyes Are a Heavenly Gift to be Forever Grateful for

                  Dear everyone,

                  My eyes are definitely getting brighter and brighter. I find it much more easier to let go and express myself with my increasingly clear and light eyes.

                  As of today I am now counting 170 leaves and doing all the exercises. It has been wonderful fun increasing my commitment gradually in a leisurely pace of three months. It will take me about three additional months until I reach counting 300 leaves.

                  The eye exercises feel really nourishing and refreshing as ever. I realized a week ago that the periphery of my field of vision persistently remains in broad and inclusive awareness despite often having to keep my focus on close-by visual objects. It should be a definite boon to anyone, especially martial artists, that they get rid of any trace of tunnel vision, but along with that has also come deeply satisfying awakeness and alertness. I feel that there is still room for improving the peripheral awareness, but the benefit is already quite astounding. I did not expect this, so another bonus crept in just like that.

                  As my health still isn't quite recovered, I have had to deal with very heavy drowsiness during daytime. To my absolute delight, this has now improved tremenduously through the eye exercises. The tension around my eyes and facial muscles is almost gone, so opening the eyes wide (Angry Eyes) now instantly dispels almost any fatigue. Likewise, I feel that briefly shutting the eyes tightly but relaxed also helps falling asleep easier.

                  Thank you Sigung for teaching these amazing eye exercises!

                  Dear Fräänz Siheng,

                  Thank you for educating us on the TMC perspective of chi circulation, liver, and eyes. Could you tell us more why Tiger style Kungfu would especially strain the exponent's eyes? Which of the Shaolin Eye Exercises would you recommend doing for relaxing the eyes?

                  With sincere gratitude,
                  Olli
                  Last edited by understanding; 2 January 2017, 11:26 AM.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Dear Olli,

                    when I practiced the Taming the tiger set I felt that when going a bit too fierce, that this fierceness stayed on after the set. I felt my vision changed and my liver. Doing "Punshing with angry eyes" and chi flow gave a better relief than any other Chi Kung pattern in my case.

                    I don't have much experience in the eye exercises. However, I found Rolling Stars beneficial.

                    More I cannot answer, for I don't know.

                    I wish you a happy new year!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Dear Fräänz Siheng,

                      Thank you for your new year wishes. I wish you the same!

                      Originally posted by Fräänz View Post
                      when I practiced the Taming the tiger set I felt that when going a bit too fierce, that this fierceness stayed on after the set. I felt my vision changed and my liver. Doing "Punshing with angry eyes" and chi flow gave a better relief than any other Chi Kung pattern in my case.
                      Interesting, thank you for sharing. It is indeed listed in the special benefits of Punching with Angry Eyes and Turning Head techniques from 18 Lohan Hands that they are relatively helpful for eyes. Practicing these exercises might be a good supplement if anyone wants to treat their eyes with the usual Chi Kung techniques in our school. However, it bears to emphasize that doing the Shaolin Eight Eye Exercises is the foremost recommendation for overcoming chronic eye problems and improving eyesight.

                      Originally posted by Fräänz View Post
                      I don't have much experience in the eye exercises. However, I found Rolling Stars beneficial.
                      I really like Rolling Stars. It can be technically the most challenging of the exercises if you try to roll your eyes as smoothly as possible. Together with Angry Eyes it's the most efficient exercise with relieving tension in the eyes and the face.

                      Dear everyone,

                      I missed eight days of eye exercises because I caught a cold. I am dedicated, but not enough to want to spend standing about 20 minutes outdoors while feeling already mildly chilly. My return back to the exercises was smooth and pleasant. It has been as if I didn't miss anything at all.

                      A good news is that my left eye is finally starting to show definite signs of easing its slight myopia. The effect is not entirely stable yet, but unmistakenably there is some improvement.

                      Nourishing Spirit is really lovely and stimulating exercise. Previously I had gotten splendid results from the eye exercises, but after adding that the eye exercises have felt even better. Almost every time after finishing up I smile and laugh spontaneously from the heart and a tremendous spiritual uplift carries throughout the day. Why aren't you already doing the eye exercises?

                      With sincere respect,
                      Olli

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Dear everyone,

                        Yesterday something shifted in my field of vision when I was doing Focusing One. The transition was over so quickly that I couldn't identify what it exactly was, but when I was doing Nourishing Spirit soon after, I started to feel sadness and elation at the same time. I cried many times during the day, and in the evening there was a liberating occasion when my eyes felt totally disconnected from all tension. I cleansed a lot, especially from shoulders up, and feel much more lighter and purer now. Good stuff.

                        I had mentioned about peripheral vision earlier, and to my delight I discovered a nice article explaining its use in a family type Baguazhang. Please enjoy!

                        With sincere respect,
                        Olli

                        Comment

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