Master Vi-Kien answers questions about the Cyclical Breathing Without Retention.

(Vô Vi Convention in Alaska, "Hùng Vĩ Giao Liên", 1998)

Question: When doing the Cyclical Breathing Without Retention, do we need to think about inhaling through our nose?

Answer:

We inhale through our nose so that the brains are in control, the breath starts entering the abdomen, then it moves to the kidneys, then with help of the kidneys, it circulates via the Yang Meridian up to the head. From the head, it travels down the Ying Meridian, which starts from the lower lip down to the anus. When both Yin and Yang Meridians are flowing freely, the breath will circulate in an energy cycle to help us ascend higher in order to open our enlightened spiritual heart.

Question:
When doing the Cyclical Breathing Without Retention, should we pay attention to breathing through the top of the head?

Answer:
This is not needed. We need to do it only when practicing the technique of Nurturing and Invigorating the Pure Vital Breath. With the Cyclical Breathing, we breathe through the nose, fill up the navel, up to the chest, up to the head, then the top of the head will open up automatically.

Question: 

While doing the Cyclical Breathing Without Retention, if we inhale to the maximum, then exhale immediately, should we try to breathe in a bit more?
 

Answer: 

When we inhale, we should inhale to our maximum capacity, then we should exhale slowly, and not in one shot. When we exhale immediately, it means that our breathing is still weak. How much we inhale, we should exhale equivalently, only then will we be strong. The slower we exhale, the flatter we pull in our abdomen while exhaling, the stronger we will be.