A pathway to realization & Wisdom
What is REN XUE?
Ren Xue is the whole of the teachings of Yuan Tze, Ren Xue’s founder. The teachings include theories, nine Yuan Qigong methods, supplemental practices and supporting information to guide the practitioner along a path to health, harmony and wisdom. In Ren Xue, one’s own growth serves as the foundation for helping others and for transforming our world.
Learning and practicing are most effective when conducted with trust, openness, love, gratitude and respect. These qualities are nurtured as our practice and learning progress.
A basic understanding of Qi is central to understanding Ren Xue. Qi encompasses and embraces all manifestations of energy and is universal. So, working with Qi in your body, mind and heart has effects that not only affect you personally, but ripple out. Ren Xue’s mission, “Zi Du, Du Ren”, reflects that. It means “uplifting our own life and helping others to uplift theirs”. As a Ren Xue practice deepens, so does its impact on you, your family, your world.
What is Yuan Qigong?
The nine methods of Yuan Qigong are a system in themselves. The movements, postures and breathing techniques in Yuan Qigong are performed individually or with the help of a teacher. The first six methods address problems on the body and energy/Qi levels. The final three methods work on the heart and mind levels. The methods are safe, effective and form a comprehensive system for uplifting life. Yuan Qigong courses are available in our Learning Center.
Yuan Tze Teachings
Yuan Tze’s teachings address specific aspects of Ren Xue, such as how to maintain a healthy internal state not only during practice but also during each moment of life. Yuan Tze continues to add to these teachings. As new teachings become available, different aspects of Ren Xue are illuminated and help to deepen our understanding of the whole. Yuan Tze offers online events as well as in-person retreats.
Ren Xue Theories
Three theories underpin all of Ren Xue: the theory of Qi, the theory of consciousness and the theory of totality. Although beginning practitioners are probably unaware of it, even the most basic practices are supported by and steeped in these theories. (The theories are currently taught through the teacher training program. Eventually, each theory will be available as a book, with the first scheduled to be released in 2023)
Each person comes to Ren Xue with unique life circumstances and a preferred mode of learning. The first step along the path can look quite different from one person to the next. Feel free to explore the different ways of beginning with Ren Xue through the links above, through an individual teacher, a self-paced online course or through one of the books available in our store.
“The purpose of Ren Xue is to better align human life with its governing laws. When we follow the laws of life, we can be healthy. The more profoundly we follow the laws, the healthier we get.”
–Yuan Tze
Why Ren Xue?
Better physical health, improved energy and wellbeing, for oneself and others, are the key reasons for beginning a Ren Xue practice. These global benefits are often sought by those with very different, specific needs, including:
- Those seeking relief from illness, pain or discomfort
- Those faced with issues of aging, loss or death
- Those concerned about their relationships and other life problems
- Those wanting a more purposeful and meaningful life
- Parents hoping to raise their kids in the best possible way
- Qigong practitioners ready to broaden their perspective
- Seekers wanting to learn more about Qigong tradition and the ancient wisdom at its base
and also
- Medical practitioners frustrated with a piecemeal approach to health
- Scientists fascinated by the concept of Qi
Cultivating Healthy Patterns
In Ren Xue, patterns are recognized as a mechanism through which consciousness operates. These patterns determine our actions as well as our views, judgments, choices, decisions, and our responses or reactions to everything. In short, life is run by the patterns of consciousness.
Many patterns are formed in early life. Although they probably served a useful purpose at one time, if left unexamined and outdated they interfere with positive growth and can eventually cause damage.
The teachings of Ren Xue emphasize the importance of identifying problematic patterns underlying our health problems, reactive emotions that cause Qi to be depleted or disturbed, and negative thoughts that lead to unhealthy development and unsound decisions and actions.
Ren Xue provides strategies to help us understand and identify patterns. It also provides a path with steps that we can follow to change them.
In Ren Xue, working on patterns cannot be bypassed if we wish to be successful in clearing problems, raising the level of consciousness and changing our life. Pattern work leads not only to better health, but also to greater happiness, more freedom and wisdom and ultimately to the ability to more effectively master our life.
Understanding Qi
In Ren Xue, Qi is understood as the most basic building block of the universe. It consists of mass, energy and information. It is present everywhere and in everything. In humans , Qi can be seen as the force that sustains life.
While terms such as ‘vital energy’, ‘life energy’ or ‘universal energy’ are often used to describe Qi, there is no equivalent found in English. This is the reason in Ren Xue, we simply use the term ‘Qi’. Although Qi is a Chinese term, the concept of Qi is widespread and has rough analogs in many other cultures and languages, including Indian (prana), Greek (pneuma) and even English (bioelectricity).
Regardless of the definition, most people have an intuitive understanding of it as what we experience as our life force, what animates us. We can feel Qi, and we can certainly feel changes in it. We know that we have days when we wake up with high energy, feeling fit and ready to take on the world and others when we simply feel depleted.