Neidan Training: The Practice Of Internal Cultivation

Neidan 内丹 practices with true depth are often encoded and taught to those with prior cultivation training.

What Is Neidan?

Nèidān (内丹) is usually translated as ‘internal alchemy’ and refers to the Daoist art of internal energetic cultivation. These guarded practices go well beyond nourishing health to actually cultivating and preserving life.

Neidan is an advanced progressive process with diverse and intensive practices. The desired outcomes range from significantly increasing personal levels of Qi to the Daoist concept of immortality.

Neidan (pronounce: Neigh-Don) is comprised of the two characters nèi 内, meaning ‘inner’ and dān 丹, which translates as ‘cinnabar.’ The latter references a mineral substance of great cultural significance and was utilized in schools of metallurgical alchemy.

The esoteric practices of Neidan cultivation were often encoded in the language of Wàidān 外丹 (external alchemy). The usage of the character dān 丹 alludes to this process, suggesting a method of refinement through cultivation.

Sometimes separated as Nei Dan, this term also shares etymological significance with the concepts of Neigong Training (internal skill) and Dāntián 丹田 (translated as cinnabar field—denoting places within the body where vital Qi, or energy, naturally accumulates).

Neidan vs. Neigong

These two practices—both often misunderstood—regularly get confused. To briefly clarify:

Nèi gōng (内功) is “internal skill.”

Nèi dān (内丹) is “internal alchemy.”

Both concepts share the character nèi 内, which denotes something “inside” and is often translated as “interior.”

Both have a relationship to deep internal processes of Qi 气 and involve exponentially increasing the skill of a practitioner.

As a basic differentiation, nei gong training is about mastery of the subtle internal mechanics of Qi manipulation and transmission within (and also to the exterior) the body. Nei dan practices on the other hand, are designed to transform and transmute the Qi (as well as Jīng 精 and Shen 神) of the practitioner.

While related, the practices themselves, and the eventual outcomes are distinctly unique.

Neidan Cultivation Training

Neidan Training consists of a range of physical, mental, and spiritual Daoist practices designed to promote longevity and even immortality.

However, the Daoist concept of immortality is often misconstrued by laypersons and debated by scholars.

While practices and understanding vary, in the present context, immortality usually refers to the practitioner’s consciousness transcending the limitations and transitory life-cycle of the physical body.

Longevity is sought for the purpose of having the lifespan necessary to achieve this ‘immortality.’

The process of Nèidānshù 内丹术, or Neidan training methodology, is a highly refined and involved practice. The practices are generally quite specific in nature and often obscured in archaic allusion, requiring a knowledgeable teacher to offer guidance.

Misunderstanding in translation and nomenclature has sent many seekers down erroneous and tangential pathways in search of alchemical treasure.

Neidan Meditation

Meditations specific to concepts of neidan practices absolutely exist. However, it is important to know that the process of “Internal Alchemy” requires shifts in mental / spiritual constructs, a practitioners “energy,” as well as their physical body.

Meditation practices are only a part of the experience and process. Any practice claiming otherwise, or being offered as a singular vehicle deserve to be scrutinized with a critical eye.

How To Learn Neidan Practices

You do not need to be a Daoist to practice Neidan.

However, it is necessary to have an understanding of the underlying theory and lexicon of Daoist cosmology.

Much of the information regarding the practice comes from arcane and encoded sources—and is traditionally transmitted directly from teacher to student. It is therefore imperative to find a knowledgeable, qualified teacher to safely and effectively learn these practices.

Neidan Training Courses

Practices are often exacting and sequential in nature—beginning with the appropriate cultivation of Qi, or vital energy.

Neidan is generally regarded as an advanced practice—and a good teacher will reveal training secrets to students who are ready.

Your time and energy can be wasted pursuing advanced applications if foundational preparation and skill-sets are not properly in place.

And please be aware! Advanced stages of training can also be potentially dangerous without proper guidance and due preparation.

For this reason, you should approach Neidan openly taught as a singular commodity with apprehension.

Think of it in this way: Would you trust a surgeon who never learned human anatomy?

How To Begin Your Training

The study and application of Yǎng Shēng 养生 or Qigong practices are a key component of foundational Neidan training.

The process of becoming adept at Neidan can require significant physical and physcological stresses on the body. Qigong can strengthen the body to mitigate these stressors and act as foundational preparation for deeper cultivation.

Proper cultivation through Qigong practice requires both knowledge and proficiency of the external practices of Wàigōng (外功) and the internal practices of Nèigōng (内功).

Once sufficient resource has been internally gathered, then one can begin advanced Neidan training.

Neidan may also be employed as a method to increase and sustainably maintain personal energy and vitality.

It is for this reason that all students of our Medical Qigong Certification program are introduced to Neidan techniques.

The core curriculum at Red Thread is structured around the principles of Neidan—starting from day one of foundational training and through advanced studies. How far this opportunity is explored and experienced is up to the interest—and discipline—of each individual student.