Looking For Li

Looking for Li.

Taoist thought, the philosophy behind the foundation of Chinese/Asian medicines, has a simple saying, “Li precedes Qi." Meaning intention (or thought) precedes action and manifestation.

At any moment you can ask yourself — what is my motivation or intention behind what I’m doing?

That’s your Li.

And I’m not buying it that you don’t know what you are up to. The exception might be for the very young or those with a mental disability. You know what you are doing, you may simply not care about what you are doing, or your actions are guided by vice such as anger, vengeance, hatred, or greed.

It’s your intention that leads to the manifestation of Qi which is form and/or structure. That’s what you bring forth and present to the world — does it come from a place of vice or virtue?

In the US many health and medicine studies are funded with the intention of profit vs the health of the person. I often look at the practices and treatments of countries that have socialized medicine to see their practices. The Li behind their recommendations and practices generally comes from the intention of keeping people healthy, vs profiteering off of disease. Two very different concepts, two very different results.

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You can apply these principles to every aspect of your life, whether you are looking at politics, global and social concerns or building a practice.

I try to instill this principle in students and clients when they need to sort out information around treatments, studies, and fads.

Here’s an example of the prompts I give to students and practitioners that I mentor.

Where are you at? 

We can recognize practitioners of Asian Bodywork (or any practice, really) in three general levels -

• Student

• Practitioner

• Scholar/Master

We need to meet people where they are at

Will you ever stop being a student?  In life?  Hopefully not, when people stop continuing to learn they stagnate. Yet you need to shift roles and learn how to develop a clientele and maintain relationships appropriately within your chosen profession.  

I have seen many people who chose not to pay attention to this aspect and sabotage their practices by getting too involved, getting wrapped in collusion, not maintaining appropriate boundaries, and getting frustrated because clients weren’t doing what they wanted them to, etc.

You Get the Practice You Build

Again — Li precedes Qi. 

Your thoughts and intentions are the blueprints for your manifestations. It is very important that you know your attitudes of why you are choosing to get into this line of work.

Personally, I have found that applying the virtues of the 5 Elements is invaluable in all aspects of my life, whether I am trying to assess and establish boundaries with friendships or for business planning and goals.