Energy Work, Enlightenment, and Spiritual Practice: Insights from Steve Gray
Steve Gray, a respected figure in the realm of internal energy arts and Energy Work, had a profound understanding of spiritual practice and energy cultivation. His teachings reflected both his journey and the wisdom passed down from his master, Fook Young. Gray encountered various popular methods and practices throughout his life, including visualization techniques often promoted as paths to psychic or spiritual development. However, he was cautious about such approaches and frequently advised his students against using them.
Critique of Visualization Practices in Energy Work
Gray once received a message from a student who had read about a practice called Zhan Zhuang. Which involved bringing energy into the crown of the head. And then channeling it down through the body. To enhance psychic abilities. According to Gray, this kind of mental exercise often became a form of “mental masturbation”.—A distraction rather than a genuine path to enlightenment. Drawing from his own experience and the teachings of his master, Gray argued that visualization could create artificial energy channels. Which might feel real but ultimately served no practical purpose.
He believed that energy should be allowed to flow naturally within the body. Going where it was needed for healing or development. Gray emphasized that forcing the energy through mental intent could lead to unnecessary complications. Such as creating sensations in areas that didn’t require energy. In his words,
“Congratulations, you’ve created a new energy channel, but what good is it?”
Wisdom from Master Fook Young in Energy Work
Gray often referred to his own master, Fook Young, to highlight the difference between mental exercises and true internal energy work. Master Young had always discouraged using intent or visualization to manipulate energy, teaching instead that energy would naturally flow to where it was needed. Gray recalled how, early in his training, he had been tempted by visualization techniques. But was quickly corrected by Young, who had little patience for such distractions.
According to Gray, real progress in energy cultivation came from simplicity…
The energy, once brought into the body through correct practice, would distribute itself naturally. Without the need for mental intervention. Gray believed that trying to control energy flow through the mind was counterproductive, a lesson he had learned through years of dedicated practice.
The Role of the Hands in Energy Work
One aspect of Gray’s teachings that set him apart from many other practitioners was his emphasis on the hands in energy work. He believed that using the hands to move energy was far more effective than relying on mental visualization. Unlike many traditional practices that kept the hands below the neck, Gray advocated for using the hands around the head. And crown to stimulate spiritual growth. In his experience, the hands could become powerful tools for moving energy. Amplifying it in areas like the crown point and supporting the natural flow of energy throughout the body.
Responding to Questions About Spiritual Practice and Energy Work
In one of his later teachings, Steve Gray addressed a series of questions from a friend about spiritual practice. Including the role of ascended masters, the process of enlightenment, and communicating with spirits. The questions were based on the experiences and stories associated with Gray’s teacher, Fook Young. And one of Gray’s students who had achieved enlightenment after just seven months of practice.
Gray explained that Fook Young had a dragon spirit within him. An energy that stayed with him throughout his life. And possibly in previous incarnations. After his death, it was revealed through a skilled channeler that Young’s vibration was too high to communicate with this level of existence.—A sign that he had become immortal. Gray emphasized that such beings, having reached a state of enlightenment so profound, are no longer concerned with the earthly realm. Instead of becoming part of the eternal light.
Enlightenment and Its Challenges through Energy Work
Gray also spoke about one of his students who had reached enlightenment after seven months of intense practice. The student initially experienced physical and emotional distress, which Gray likened to a “healing crisis.”
This was followed by a period of bliss, during which the student’s thinking stopped, and he began to see spirits. Gray explained that enlightenment often comes with both blissful and disconcerting experiences. Especially when it happens so quickly, as it did for this student.
He described two types of enlightenment:
- The Hindu style, where energy rises suddenly to the head, often causing intense physical reactions and the
- Daoist style, which is more gradual and balanced. In the Daoist system, the energy flows up and down the body in a more controlled manner, leading to smoother progress and fewer unsettling side effects.
While the student’s experience was profound, Gray cautioned that enlightenment is not the end of the spiritual journey. After the initial experience, there is often a period of intense learning and adjustment. Enlightenment, in Gray’s view, is not just about the cessation of thought or the experience of bliss—it’s the beginning of a deeper alchemical process that continues to unfold over time.
The Expansion of Wisdom After Enlightenment with Energy Work
Gray also touched on the nature of wisdom and how it evolves after enlightenment. He believed that the enlightenment experience itself does not impart wisdom directly. Instead, it opens the door to a deeper understanding of truth. As enlightened individuals move forward, they begin to accumulate wisdom through realizations and insights, particularly in the realm of philosophical or spiritual truth. Gray explained that wisdom comes with time and experience and is not to be confused with the initial enlightenment experience itself.
Communicating with Spirits while Doing Someone’s Energy Work
One of the final topics Gray addressed was the ability to communicate with spirits. Gray shared that he had also communicated with spirits on occasion. Explaining that it involved focusing on the spirit in question and being open to receiving answers. He described his surprise when he once communicated with Mahavatar Babaji. Receiving an immediate response to a request for assistance.—A moment that confirmed for him the reality of the spiritual realm.
Trust in the Natural Flow of Energy
Steve Gray’s teachings serve as a reminder of the importance of Simplicity in spiritual practice and Self-Honesty. Whether discussing visualization techniques, enlightenment experiences, or the role of hands in energy work, his message was clear:
Trust in the natural flow of energy.
Rather than getting lost in mental exercises or seeking shortcuts, Gray encouraged his students to let go of control and allow the energy to move where it was needed. His journey, guided by the wisdom of Fook Young, had taught him that true progress comes not from forcing outcomes but from patience, practice, and surrender to the natural intelligence of the body.