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POST 444 18 April 2020

EXERCISE
SON-THAN KHAI-QUAN

The Mountain Guardian

The aim and benefit of this exercise: facilitating a good flow of blood and inner energy through the whole body, becoming stronger.
Self-confidence; open-mind.

This exercise SON-THAN KHAI-QUAN also implies five related aspects as in the previous exercise.

1. Physical form- SON-THAN KHAI-QUAN is an immobile stance as shown in the picture KHAI-QUAN at the beginning of this chapter. While in this stance, the whole body structure is still except the arms which will slightly move inward and outward according to exhaling and inhaling respectively. Eyes are half-closed.
Physiology- Luc phu ngu tang is - a Vietnamese medical term standing for “the six internal organs – viscera, the five internal parts - innards” also stimulated. This physiological effect is due to the breathing technique tho vo-nin-ra, and an intensive inner-working exercise as described below

2. Breathing method- Tho vo-nin-ra is a specific breathing technique consisting of these three steps :

a) Inhale, by nose, with wide thoracic movements. Simultaneously with inhaling, slowly move arms inward while keeping the whole body including legs, arms and fists relaxed.

b) Hold the air flow for the same length of time as in the inhaling phase while very firmly contracting muscles in whole parts of body including legs, arms and fists.

c) Exhale, by mouth, with a strong pressure on dan-dien (belly) and lungs while continuing to keep muscles, legs, arms and fists very firm until the end of exhaling time.

This process of breathing and exercising through the whole body is called an intensive inner-working exercise (van noi-cong chi-luc).
You can do this SON-THAN KHAI-QUAN exercise nine times then take a break before starting another round.

3. Inner-energy and vital points- In term of inner-energy (noi-khi), the goal of this movement SON-THAN KHAI QUAN is to facilitate a good flow of blood and inner energy through the whole body. Moreover this is a dynamic exercise on the Conception Vessel and Governor Vessel.
Vital points- For those who are familiar with acupuncture it is good to know this exercise is related to the following vital points:

-Conception Vessel: V1 (hoi-am), V6 (khi-hai), V24 (thua-tuong)

-Governor Vessel: VG26 (nhan-trung), VG20 (ba-hoi), and VG4 (menh-mon)

4. Mind and Thought- Diseases, such as cancer, can be considered as a result of some disorder throughout the human body. In many cases a strong will can help the brain in issuing powerful order to maintain balance, strengthen defence system, and even to heal diseases. This exercise re-educates the brain, the mind, and the body to develop their hidden power and make use of it.
During the breathing exercise of this movement SON-THAN KHAI-QUAN you should focus all your attention to your body and mind; do not let anything from outside, such as telephone, T.V, music distract you. While inhaling you strongly feel you are a very happy person and your body is in very good shape. While exhaling force your brain to give orders to your whole body to clean all impure elements.

5. Symbolism- The SON-THAN/ Mountain Guardian symbolizes Protection, Strength, and Quietness.

Behavior- Be Strong, Be Happy, Be Helpful.

SON-THAN KHAI-QUAN is a training technique for developing Inner-Force and Inner-Power. This is one selected technique from the eight techniques in a series called “Son-Than Bat The”. It was thought that the training of “Son-Than Bat The” had originated in the school of Tam-Su (School of Three Masters) under the authority of master Nguyen-Minh-Khong who was born in the eleventh century, under King LY-Nhan-Tong (1072-1127). According to the authors of LINH NAM CHICH QUAI/Record of Southern Land Extraordinary Stories (written in 1492 by Vu-Quynh and Kieu-Phu) master Nguyen-Minh-Khong was a monk of the Quoc-Thanh pagoda in the district of Dai-Hoang (near Hanoi); he was a disciple of master Tu-Dao-Hanh.

SON-THAN KHAI-QUAN is a condensed term, and it is not easy for the general public to understand its deep meaning.
SON: mountain.
THAN: guardian angel, deity, or god.
KHAI = open.
QUAN = door, gate.

SON-THAN can be translated in English as Guardian-of-the-mountain, or a mountain deity, mountain god. But here, SON-THAN stands precisely for TAN-VIEN SON-THAN, a famous deity among the most famous deities of Vietnamese Shinto (Than Thanh Viet). According to the belief of Vietnamese people, he reigns over a high mountain called TAN-VIEN (about 60km north-west of Hanoi) to protect his people. The TAN-VIEN mount is also known as BA-VI mountain. In 1947, as an eleven year old boy, I had the opportunity to live for a relatively short period in this beautiful but very dangerous mountain TAN-VIEN, since tigers and snakes were not uncommon to see around. I have learned a great deal of many things from this place.

The term SON-THAN KHAI-QUAN can be interpreted as ,the Mountain Guardian opens his gate and allows us to explore the secret of his mountain, or in another way, ,the teaching of the Mountain Guardian helps you open the gate. In term of acupuncture, khai-quan also means stimulating vital points, and in this sense SON-THAN KHAI-QUAN could be understood as inner-training method of Mountain Guardian to stimulate the circulation of energy through vital points of the body . The Exercise SON-THAN KHAI-QUAN would require from you much patience and persistence.

STORY
I have heard a nice story and I like to share it with you: One day a man who was suffering by his impatience climbed a high ladder up to the sky. There, when he saw God he exclaimed with excitement for his persistent request: God, please give me patience. Give me patience, right now!