No. You need a teacher for learning this stuff. You will only mess yourself up trying to do what's in a manual or on a video. Go to a school, or stick to reading. Practicing from what you've seen or heard, but not been truly shown is potentially dangerous to your health and could prevent you from being able to train later.
Jesse

It's true to an extent. Focusing on emitting energy and empty force and such is a sure way to burn yourself out, and burn up all your own energy. It is best to focus on relaxation, peace of mind,naturalness, spirituality and being a good person. Most people will practice for many years to build up a little bit of energy before using it. Spiritual practice however, can acheive high abilities,( although the power manifested will not mean much and have no value in terms of gain or wealth in society, the meaning behind the event when an ability comes out is really special.)


My qigong teacher was talking about wrong methods recently, and some points I remember emphasized was healers who use up their own energy and make themselves sick, and methods which don't use the universal energy flowing always through them.

[This message has been edited by serious pain (edited 12-23-2004).]

I'm on the same page as Jesse here I believe, and I'll take it one step further.

In regards to ANY energy work training, you need to have direct transmition. Whether it be qigong, taiji, bagua, xingyi or whatever.

Without the proper instruction, you will not reach your full potential, and you may end up injuring yourself or worse, cooking your mind in the process.

The mind and nervous system functions are nothing to be toyed with!!! They can be developed through training, but you need to have someone there besides yourself to help you check your work. Obviously a book or video cannot provide this.

Chris