Turning the waterwheel is the ability to separate jing (精) and qi [氣] (from the breath) whilst continuing to circulate this substance through the Governing and Conception Vessels (and beyond). The breath continues the take-in of qi, and to provide the muscular ripple that travels up the spine, over the head and down the face, mouth (with tongue touching the upper palate), throat, sternum, abdomen and groin, etc., but the ‘intention’ of the mind now drives the rarefied and highly condensed jing-qi and shen (神) admixture into a new and extensive orbit that reaches tremendous speeds whilst sat in cross-legged meditation. This can work whilst performing martial arts forms – but only in the highest levels of spiritual self-development. Generally speaking, for the maximum health benefit, the breath must be deep and full and coordinate with all the martial arts movements. The waterwheel can be applied to a combat situation so that deep breathing is not required, and techniques ‘lash’ out at tremendous speeds and cannot be anticipated or countered by an opponent. This mastery is achieved whilst engaged within seated meditation, and not moving meditation (or martial training), but it can be expressed in martial practice after the fact. This is like when the breath ‘ceases’, although of course it does not really ‘cease’, but becomes so subtle that it is hard to discern.
ACW - 釋大道 (8.9.2019) UK Qianfeng Sub-Branch of the 千峰先天派 (Qian Feng Xian Tian Pai) - Thousand Peaks Prenatal School (Beijing)