| Summary: | 博士 === 國立中正大學 === 成人及繼續教育研究所 === 102 === The study aimed to investigate how elderly practitioners at Tai Ji Men (TJM) participating in its regular Qigong activities improved their spiritual health. Four purposes of the study are as follows: first, to investigate what motivated elderly practitioners at TJM to participate in regular Qigong activities; second, to discuss the process of regular Qigong activities of elderly practitioners at TJM; third, to explore the improvement of spiritual health of elderly practitioners at TJM after joining regular Qigong activities; fourth, to propose specific suggestions based on the study’s findings as a reference to the elderly regarding regular Qigong activities and the improvement of spiritual health. To achieve the aforementioned purposes of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted and purposive sampling and snowball sampling were adopted to interview 10 elderly practitioners at TJM who were at least 60 years old with at least two years’ seniority at TJM. National and international literature on Qigong and spiritual healthy was discussed at first, and the history and origin of TJM along with its current situations and issues were analyzed. Based on the Experiential Learning Theory, the improvement of spiritual health of elderly practitioners at TJM was examined through the discussion of motivation of joining regular Qigong activities, the process, and the five aspects of spiritual health. The sustained driving force and future expectations of joining regular Qigong activities were also discussed. The interview outline was accordingly formulated under this structure. Specific suggestions were proposed based on the findings of the study after they were obtained. With the integration of literature review and the results of the study, the following findings, conclusions and suggestions are presented.
I. Findings
1. There were five major motivations for elderly practitioners at TJM to participate in regular Qigong activities; the greatest motivation was to have good health.
2. Elderly practitioners at TJM prioritized steady practice in regular Qigong activities, while the second priority was to participate in TJM’s branch affairs for growth.
3. TJM’s Dong-gong (dynamic Qigong) helped relieve pressure and train the body; Jing-gong (still Qigong) helped people to calm, reflect and grow wisdom; Wen-gong (literary ability), TJM Energy Family website, workshops and exchanges shared people’s life wisdoms; Chang-gong (singing) and group practice helped cleanse people’s mind and develop a heart of happiness and a heart of excellence; gathering altogether for the activities connected the minds of practitioners and the shifu (master), allowing them to achieve real TJM kong-fu and even demonstrate the spirit of TJM.
4. Averagely, elderly practitioners at TJM practiced Qigong activities for at least 30 min per day at home; the most frequently practiced were Shou Dan (Keeping Dan-tien) and meditation, which helped bring calmness and allow introspection.
5. Elderly practitioners at TJM experienced Qigong and considered “qi” a kind of energy and magnetic field; practicing Qigong activities required relaxation, calmness, natural manners and joy so as to develop uprightness, mindfulness, righteousness, and in turn a positive energy.
6. After joining regular Qigong activities, one’s improvement of physical and mental health was well recognized.
7. After joining regular Qigong activities, one could realize, reflect, and practice one’s goals and meanings of life.
8. After joining regular Qigong activities, one could enhance the flexibility by thinking better with positive ideas.
9. After joining regular Qigong activities, one could feel the sense of unity of the universe and then pursue a harmonious life.
10. Participating in regular Qigong activities allowed one to surpass oneself constantly, achieve breakthroughs and overcome challenges bravely.
11. Participating in regular Qigong activities developed one’s potential constantly and brought spiritual growth with increased positive energies.
12. The sustained driving force for elderly practitioners at TJM to join regular Qigong activities mainly came from their lifelong friendship with the shifu.
13. Elderly practitioners at TJM should be joyful and at ease, cultivating self and helping others; in the end, they shall head to the road of the start without any apprehension.
II. Conclusions
1. There were five major motivations for elderly practitioners at TJM to participate in regular Qigong activities: having good health; family members’ support and encouragement; changing one’s temper through regular Qigong activities; being able to take care of themselves in the future and live with greater dignity; and having a good place to practice Qigong activities with a big family.
2. Elderly practitioners at TJM prioritized steady practice during the process of regular Qigong activities; the second priority was to actively take part in those activities and TJM’s branch affairs, and constantly accumulate positive energies through everyday’s solid practice with relaxation, calmness, natural manners, and joy.
3. After elderly practitioners at TJM joined regular Qigong activities, their spiritual health could be improved; they would be able to realize their goals and meanings of life, enhance their flexibility by thinking better, generate a sense of unity of the universe, surpass themselves constantly, and bring spiritual growth with increased positive energies.
III. Suggestions
1. Suggestions for elderly practitioners at TJM:
(1) Practice frequently and stably; visit the branch often and actively join the branch affairs and regular Qigong activities.
(2) Practice Qigong activities for at least 30 min per day at home; calm your heart and do introspection through Shou Dan (Keeping Dan-tien) and meditation.
(3) Surpass self constantly; be joyful and at ease by cultivating self and helping others; walk on the spiritual path from practicing individual love to great love.
2. Suggestions for TJM’s Qigong activity community:
(1) Followers of TJM shall be dedicated to glorifying it and extend its branches across the globe.
(2) National TJM branches shall increase daytime periods for Qigong activities.
(3) All TJM branches shall encourage practitioners to participate in regular Qigong activities and branch affairs to develop their talent and potential.
3. Suggestions for the mentor practitioners:
(1) Mentor practitioners shall be patient in listening to elderly practitioners’ sharing and understanding their needs.
(2) Mentor practitioners shall advance their ability through continuous learning.
4. Suggestions for other elderly Qigong practitioners:
(1) They should follow an enlightened shifu.
(2) They should join a Qigong activity community that has a core idea and positive philosophy.
(3) They should be persistent in practice, advance themselves through learning, and pass down cultures, experiences and wisdom.
5. Specific suggestions regarding subjects and the methodology were proposed for future researchers.
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