Sexual Energy and Nei Gong: A Personal Reflection

Jiaoshi Andrea
13 minutes ago
3 min read

Introduction: A Student Question

This question came up again from the Discord group for my students: the topic of sexual energy and refraining from sexual activity. In particular, one student asked whether sexual retention is a requirement in Nei Gong.

The answer is simple: it is not.

One of the reasons I have always appreciated the Nei Gong system is that it does not impose a lifestyle change. There are no dogmatic rules, no religion, no beliefs, no mandatory codes of behavior. Nei Gong is more like a neutral tool, a practical system for cultivating energy and awareness, without forcing you to change your natural way of being.

Nei Gong and Sexual Energy

Some systems emphasize sexual retention, sometimes presenting it as essential to progress. Nei Qi Gong, however, does not. Even in the advanced programs, such as the Dian Qi Gong, where an electric machine is used to charge the Dantian with Jing(the essence responsible for vitality), energy is gathered quite efficiently. Sexual abstinence is not necessary to achieve this.

From the beginning, Nei Qi Gong is about working with what is already present. The system respects natural life, without imposing unnecessary restrictions or altering your normal way of living.

The Problem With Goal-Driven Practices

What I have noticed, and what I wanted to share with my students, is this: anything that forces us to go against our natural way of being reinforces the ego.

When we impose strict rules on ourselves, when we create goals that we think we must reach — whether it is sexual abstinence, mastery of energy, or any other “ideal” — we actually create inner conflict. We distract ourselves from what is natural and simple. We try to achieve something that exists only in our minds, and this can feel quite insane.

The right approach is to practice without forcing yourself, without turning the system into another goal-driven process. The more we practice Nei Gong in a natural, meditative state, the more we simply become more human, more aware, more simple.

Awareness Comes First

Nei Gong is not about doing or achieving. It is about becoming aware — physically, emotionally, mentally, energetically. Through practice, we come to understand what is good and natural for ourselves. There is no need to follow anyone else’s rules about diet, conduct, or sexuality.

At some point, through this awareness, a practitioner becomes a master of their own life. You begin to “just know” what is right for you. This is not arrogance or selfishness; it is a natural alignment with life itself, like a tree moving its roots around a rock rather than trying to break it.

Sexuality and Desire Are Natural

There is nothing wrong with sexuality. There is nothing wrong with desire. These are natural parts of life, as long as we do not become attached or dependent on them for our happiness. Spirituality and ordinary life are not separate; they are two expressions of the same reality.

Blocking natural biological processes unnecessarily may even be counterproductive. Nei Gong does not require this, and in my experience, attempting to impose strict rules on these aspects of life is not only unnecessary but also potentially harmful to the natural flow of energy.

Relax, Be Present, and Practice Naturally

My advice is simple: relax. Live a normal, grounded life. Stay in tune with yourself.

Do not turn Nei Gong into another goal-driven pursuit. When we are not fully identified with what we are doing, the meditative state arises naturally, and the practice becomes deeper, more effective, and more aligned with life.

In the end, whether your goal is Fa Qi, energy mastery, or any other achievement, these are small things. The real work is about discovering the essence of who you truly are.