What's the difference between Ki/Chi/Chakra?

[StrawHatPro]

There are many words people use and I'm confused as to wether they all reference the same thing? If so, why are there so many names?

[IA56]

In my understanding the KI or Chi is the life force what fills us....and the Chakra is the storage place for energy in our bodies...

Love
ia

[CFTraveler]

Almost.
Ki/Chi/Prana is vital energy- or just energy.
Chakras (the word means 'wheels') are energy vortexes that help regulate energy flow through the meridians or pathways.
So you have chi or prana flowing through your pathways, and the chakras help channel it to where it should be going.
You store energy in the energy storage centers, which are slightly above the belly button chakra and heart chakras. I believe they may also be known as 'stones'.

[ButterflyWoman]

why are there so many names?
Because people around the world speak different languages and have different cultural understanding. The basic experience of spiritual energy and the momvement of that energy is universal, but the interpretation of it and the models used to describe it vary.

[CFTraveler]

Yep.
Prana is Indian (sanskrit)
chi is taoist (chinese?) and ki is the japanese name for the same thing. You see, chi is pronounced ki in some chinese dialects, and the japanese, always practical, just use the didactic ki.
That's why it's translated to 'vital energy', it's easier to remember. But people that study the traditional (Indian) systems, usually use the sanskrit names- prana and chakra (wheel).

[StrawHatPro]

Thank you for all of this information! This has really cleared up everything quite a lot :) So chakra helps channel the ki to where it's supposed to go. I didn't know this either so thank you for that extra information!

[CFTraveler]

:thumbsup: