Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
1m b -& o h y 'C-iAnsformAtion
An original discussion about meditation
and the cultivation of Tao
Translated by
Huai-Chin Nan
Edited by
W e is e rB q o k s
Boston, MA/York Beach, M E
First pu blished in 1 9 8 4 by
R e d W h ec l/ W e is c r. i.i.c
Y o rk B e a c l i . MH
W ith o f f i c e s at
3 6 8 C o n g r e s s Stre cl
B o s t o n , M A 0 2 2 10
i n n r . I'i'ilw '/)<< I c i . y c i : c o m
10 09 08 07 0(i 05 04
13 12 I I 10 9 8 7
C o p y rig h t r': 1 9 8 4 Dr. W en K u an Chu
All rights re se rv ed . N o part o f this p u blic ati on m ay be repr odu ced or
trans mitted in any fo r m o r by any m e a n s , e l e c tr o n i c or m e c h a n i c a l ,
inc lud ing p h o t o c o p y i n g , r e co r d in g , o r by any in form ati o n st or age and
retrieval s y s t e m , withou t p er m is s io n in writing from R ed Whee l/ Weiser.
R e v ie w e r s m ay q u ote b r i e f p a ssa g e s. T h i s w ork w as o ri gin ally p u blish ed
in 1 9 7 2 in C h i n e s e . C o p y r i g h t
L ib r a ry o f C o n g r e s s C a t a l o g Ca rd N u m b er : 8 2 * 6 0 1 6 4
ISBN 0 -8 7 7 2 8 - 5 4 2 -X
MG
C o v e r illustration is an e m b r o i d e r y titled O ld Im m ortal o f the South P ole,
Table of Contents
L ist o f I ll u s t r a t io n s .....................................................................................vii
T r a n s l a t o r ' s P r e f a c e ........................................................................................... ix
I n t r o d u c t i o n ............................................................................................................ xi
Part
I: T h e N a t u r e o f M e d i t a t i o n .................................................... 1
1. L o n g e v i t y is A c tu a lly P o s s ib le .......................................... 3
2. M e d i t a t i o n ........................................................................................... 5
3. M e n t a l and P h y s ic a l C o n d it i o n s D u r i n g
M e d i t a t i o n ........................................................................................... 7
4. Ch'i P h e n o m e n a o f t h e B o d y ................................................. 8
5. P o s t u r e s in M e d it a t io n ......................................................... 12
6. U s e o f th e M in d in M e d it a t io n
................................2 0
7. C o n c e n t r a t i o n o n th e C h iao C a v it y
in T a o i s t M e d it a t io n .............................................................. 2 4
P a r t II:
8.
9.
10.
1 1.
1 2.
13.
1 4.
15.
1 6.
17.
H o w to O p e n Up Jen M a i .................................................5 3
F a s ti n g and th e F u n c t io n o f th e M id d le Ch'i . . . . 5 9
A B ig Belly is N o t T a o ........................................................ 6 0
T h e H u m a n B o d y and th e I m p o r t a n c e o f F e e t . . 61
A r g u m e n t s O v e r th e Ch'i C h a n n e l s ........................... 6 2
Ch'i C h a n n e l s f r o m T a o i s m and B u d d h is m
.............6 4
W h a t is M iddle M a i ? .............................................................. 73
W h y Ch'i C h a n n e l s V i b r a t e ............................................... 75
List of Illustrations
F u l l - L o t u s P o s t u r e ....................................................................................... 14
H a l f - L o t u s P o s t u r e ....................................................................................... 1 5
S i t t in g o n a C h a i r P o s t u r e ................................................................... 1 6
S le e p in g P o s t u r e ............................................................................................ 1 6
L io n P o s t u r e ...................................................................................................... 1 7
I m m o r t a l P o s t u r e .......................................................................................... 1 7
Six F u r n a c e P o s t u r e ..................................................................................... 1 7
B o d h i s a t t v a P o s t u r e .....................................................................................1 7
B e s t r id in g C r a n e P o s t u r e (1) .............................................................. 1 8
B e s t r id in g C r a n e P o s t u r e (2) .............................................................. 1 8
T h e S e v e n C h a k r a s and t h e T h r e e M a i ..................................... 6 5
Tu M a i, T h e G o v e r n i n g V e s s e l ......................................................... 6 6
Jen M ai, T h e V e s s e l o f C o n c e p t i o n ..................................................6 7
Ch'ong M a i ...........................................................................................................6 8
Tai M a i .................................................................................................................. 6 8
Yang CWiao M a i ...............................................................................................6 9
Yin Ch'iao M a i ................................................................................................. 7 0
Yang Wei M a i ................................................................................................... 71
Yin Wei M a i ...................................................................................................... 72
Translator's Preface
S i n c e child hoo d I h a v e b e e n fa s cin a te d by t h e s to r ie s o f
i m m o r t a ls p o r tr a y e d in T a o i s t b o o k s and t e a c h in g s . I w o n d e re d
h o w a p e r s o n could b e c o m e an im m o r ta l and a ch ie v e th e
godship. I read h u n d r e d s o f T a o i s t b ooks b ut a lw ay s had a
c o m p le x fe e lin g o f fa s c in a tio n , c o n f u s i o n and f r u s t r a t i o n
w h e n e v e r I fin ish e d re a d in g . T h e y s e e m e d to be w r i t t e n in su c h
a w a y t h a t on ly t h e r a r e p e r s o n could u n d e r s t a n d t h e m . T h e
s ta n d a rd e x c u s e w a s th a t t h e h e a v e n ly s e c r e t s h o u ld n o t be
re vealed . I cou ld n o t tell w h ic h b o o k s w e r e good and w h ic h w e r e
bad, and I did n o t k n o w w h o , a m o n g t h e s e m a n y a u t h o r s , w a s a
real i m m o r t a l and w h o w a s a p h o n y o r a fake. S o , I c o n t in u e d in
s e a r c h o f T a o in t h e T a o i s t tr a d itio n by lo o k in g f o r a g e n u in e
te a c h e r and, f o r t u n a t e l y , 1 m e t my t e a c h e r in 1 9 6 1 . H e is th e
a u t h o r o f th is book.
In C h in a , people u s u ally m e d ita t e in o r d e r to achiev e
s piritual g r o w t h and to enhance their health. I h a v e lived in th e
U n ite d S t a t e s fo r m a n y y e a rs . T o m y s u r p ris e , th e ideas and
m e th o d s o f W e s t e r n m e d ita t io n p ra ctice s a re q u ite d if fe r e n t
f r o m t h o s e o f t h e C h in e s e . It s e e m s to m e t h a t m o s t A m e r ic a n s
m e d ita t e solely fo r spiritual g r o w t h and s e e m to w a n t to expan d
c o n s c i o u s n e s s o r develop esp. A l m o s t no o n e in th e U n ite d
S t a t e s h a s p o in te d o u t t h a t m e d ita t io n can i m p r o v e a p e rs o n 's
h e a lt h and cu r e illness. A l t h o u g h spiritual h e a lin g is p re s e n tly
q u ite p o p u la r in A m e r ic a , W e s t e r n m e th o d s a re v e r y d if fe r e n t
f r o m t h o s e o f t h e C h in e s e .
I I ( I
/ W o r d in g to T a o i s t th e o r ie s and m e d ita t io n m e t h o d s , th e
! .u k ! body a f f e c t and co n d itio n e a ch o t h e r . C u l t i v a t i n g th e
miml (or spiritual g r o w t h shou ld be a cc o m p a n ie d by a " l i f t i n g o f
I lie bod y ." B u t s in ce n o n e o f t h e T a o i s t b o o k s d e s c rib e h o w to
do this, this b ook has b ee n w r i t t e n t h e firs t o f its kind to
ap p ea r in e i t h e r C h i n e s e o r E n g lis h . It d es crib e s th e p h y s io lo g i
cal re a c tio n s and p h e n o m e n a in itia te d by m e d ita t io n in s te p - b y ste p detail, and ig n o r e s th e t r a d itio n a l C h i n e s e p r a c t ic e o f
p riv ate i n s tr u c t io n . P r o f e s s o r N a n a n a ly z e s th e v a g u e t e r m s
a p p e a rin g in T a o i s t b o o k s w h ic h h a v e r e m a in e d o b s c u r e to th e
a v e r a g e s t u d e n t b e c a u s e th e a n c i e n t s w e r e un w illing to re v e al
t h e i r s y m b o lis m and pro vid e clea r i n s tr u c t io n s .
I b elieve t h a t a n y o n e w h o is g e n u in e ly i n t e r e s t e d in
m e d ita t io n will b e n e f i t g re a tly f r o m th is b ook. P r o f e s s o r N a n
d oes n o t c o n f in e his a t t e n t i o n to m e n t a l and spiritu a l d e v e lo p
m e n t alone, b ut clarifies th e r e la t io n s h ip b e t w e e n spiritu al
d e v e lo p m e n t and p hy sical t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s in th e body. H e also
d iscu sse s m a n y p rinciples o f Z e n , e s o t e r ic B u d d h is m , and
T a o i s m , r e v e a lin g t h e p ractical p h e n o m e n a o f i n t e r e s t t o all
s e r io u s s tu d e n t s o f m e d ita tio n .
W en Kuan C h u
L os A n g e le s , C a l i f o r n ia
S e p t. 1 9 8 3
Introduction
O n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t o f all h u m a n d e s ire s is t h e d esire fo r
i m m o r ta li ty . M a t t e r s p e r t a i n in g to t h e o r ig in s o f th e u n iv e rs e ,
th e r o o t s o f life, spiritu a l t r a n s c e n d e n c e , and c o s m i c c o n s c i o u s
n e s s h a v e also b ee n p u rs u e d w i t h i n t e n s e c u rio s ity . A n u m b e r
o f i m p o r t a n t re lig io u s c o n c e p t s a r e b ased u p o n t h e s e tw o
d isp o sition s. F o r e x a m p le , h e a v e n , t h e P u r e - L a n d o f B u d d ha ,
S h a n g r i - L a , and th e land o f g r e a t i m m o r t a ls all s u g g e s t th e
possibility o f spiritu al c u lti v a ti o n b e y o n d t h e r e a lm o f e a rth ly
desire.
O u r c u r io s ity a b o u t t h e n a t u r e o f e x i s t e n c e , a n in c lin a tio n
to s e e k k n o w le d g e o f t h e r o o t o r ig in s o f life, and a te n d e n c y to
lo n g f o r im m o r t a li t y s ta n d at t h e fo u n d a t i o n o f s o m e n o n
re lig io u s s c h o o ls o f t h o u g h t . T h e y o g a te c h n i q u e s p ra ctic e d in
th e tr a d i tio n s o f India, and th e m e d it a t io n m e t h o d s p ra c tice d in
th e s ty le o f t h e a n c i e n t s in C h i n a are d i f f e r e n t m e t h o d s o f
c u ltiv a tio n , b u t th e y are b ase d u p o n a s in gle body o f k n o w le d g e.
F o r e x a m p le , b o t h r e c o m m e n d t h a t a p e r s o n b e g in to cu ltiv a te
and r e f i n e b od y and spirit in th e c o u r s e o f t h e p r e s e n t life tim e .
F u r t h e r , t h e y b o th in v o lv e t h e p ra c tic e o f te c h n i q u e s t h a t m ay
e n a b le a p e r s o n to tr a n s c e n d t h e b o u n d s o f t h e m a t e r i a l w orld,
to a tta in e t e r n a l e x i s te n c e , and to u n r a v e l th e m y s t e r i e s o f life.
T h e s e te a c h i n g s are, in s o m e w a y s , v e ry sim ila r to religious
t e a c h in g s b u t th e s e s c h o o ls a r e n o t religions. T h u s , o n e w h o
decides to p ra c tic e t h e s e te c h n i q u e s is n e i t h e r r e q u ir e d to
XII
IN T R O D U C T IO N
T a o and Longevity
xiii
The Translator
W e n - K u a n C h u w a s e d u c a t e d in b o t h E a s t a n d W e s t . H e
s tu d i e d C o n f u c i a n i s m , B u d d h i s m , a n d T a o i s m in t h e O r i e n t for
m a n y y e a rs . H is i n te r e s t in s c ie n c e l e d h i m to th e U n i t e d S t a t e s
w h e r e h e e a r n e d a P h . D . in soil s c ie n c e fr o m th e T h e U n iv e r s i ty
o f C a lifo rn ia at B e r k e le y .
Dr. C h u d e v o t e d h is life to s c h o l a r s h i p a n d w a s w e ll v e r s e d
in b o t h th e w i s d o m o f t h e a n c i e n t s a n d m o d e r n scie n tific
t h e o r ie s . D u r in g h is life tim e h e w o r k e d to i n te g ra te t h e s e tw o
s y s t e m s o f k n o w l e d g e b e c a u s e h e b e l ie v e d this in t e g r a t io n will
le a d to th e p e r c e p t i o n o f o t h e r d i m e n s i o n s a n d p r o m o t e th e
d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n e w h u m a n reality. Dr. C h u p a s s e d f r o m this
life o n C h r i s t m a s E v e , 1985, w h il e w a r n in g o t h e r s o f a n
i m p e n d i n g fl o o d .
Part I
The Nature of M editation
1
Longevity is A ctually Possible
M a n y people h a v e a s k ed again and ag ain, " I s l o n g e v ity
a ctu ally p o ss ib le? Is im m o r t a li t y a t t a i n a b l e ? " W h e n people ask
s u c h q u e s t io n s I s o m e t i m e s in q u ir e , " H a v e y o u e v e r really s e e n
a m a n o f l o n g e v ity o r i m m o r t a l i t y ? " T h e a n s w e r is alw ay s t h a t
th e y h a v e h e a rd f r o m s o m e o n e t h a t t h e r e is a p e r s o n s o m e w h e r e
w h o ha s liv ed fo r s e v e r a l h u n d r e d y ears. T h e y o f t e n m e n t i o n
K u a n g C h e n g T z e at O m e i M o u n t a i n and H s u C h e at C h i n g
C h e n g M o u n t a i n , ea ch o f w h o m is still living a f t e r t h o u s a n d s o f
y e a rs . B u t a b so lu te ly n o o n e e v e r claim s h e can in v ite o n e o f
th e s e f a m o u s i m m o r ta ls to m e e t t h e people.
A t o t h e r tim e s w h e n people ask s u c h q u e s t i o n s I in qu ire,
" D o y o u t h i n k m e d ita t io n its e l f is th e c u ltiv a tio n o f T a o ? "
" W h a t is T a o ? " " H o w can y o u c u l t i v a t e ? " and " W h y do y o u
w a n t to c u ltiv a te T a o and m e d i t a t i o n ? " A l m o s t five pair o u t o f
te n will re s p o n d t h a t th e y w i s h to h a v e lo n g e v i ty and avoid
illness.
M a n y people are e a g e r t o k n o w a b o u t m e d it a t io n and th e
cu ltiv a tio n o f T a o . T h e y w i s h to k n o w h o w t o op en up ch'i
r o u te s , t h e c o n c e p tio n v e s s el, th e g o v e r n in g v e s s el, and th e
e ig ht e x t r a m e rid ia n s . P e o p le also w i s h to k n o w a b o u t t h e t h r e e
N A T U Ri: O F M E D IT A T IO N
Meditation
a l th o u g h t h e h ig h e s t h u m a n d esire, fo r m s t h e g r e a t e s t o b s ta c le
to sp iritu al d e v e lo p m e n t. A n o r d in a r y p e r s o n has to give up
m a n y fields o f e n d e a v o r in o r d e r to specialize in o n e field. T h i s
is e sp ecially t r u e w h e n s o m e o n e w a n t s to b e c o m e im m o r ta l.
T h e Yin Fu Sutra o f T a o i s m says, " T e r m i n a t e o n e m o tiv e fo r
gain o r p r o fi t and t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f an a r m y can be in c re a se d
ten t i m e s . " J u s t as w h e n an individual d ev elop s his s e n s e o f
h e a r i n g if h e has lost his s ig h t, u n le s s o n e can g ive up e a r th ly
desires it is n o t p o ssible f o r h im to a ch iev e im m o r ta lity .
________________ 2
M editation
In t h e C h i n e s e m a n n e r o f s p e ak in g , m e d i t a t i o n T a o i s t and
C o n f u c i a n co n s is ts in " q u i e t s i t t i n g ." A l t h o u g h " q u i e t " is th e
principal m e t h o d o f m e d ita t io n , t h e r e are a b o u t n i n e t y -s ix
p o s t u r e s w h o s e f u n d a m e n t a l p u r p o s e is to f a c ilita te t h e a t t a i n
m ent o f "q u ie t."
Q u i e t and a ctio n are re la t iv e te r m s and in a b road s e n s e
in d icate tw o o p p o site sides o f p hy sical p h e n o m e n a in n a tu r e .
O n a s m a ll scale th e y in d icate r e s t and m o v e m e n t tw o
o p p o s ite s t a t e s o f h u m a n s . T a o is n o t m o v e m e n t o r q u iet;
m o v e m e n t and q u ie t a re e a c h fu n c t i o n s o f T a o . T a o is w i th i n a
m o v e m e n t and w i t h i n a q u iet. I n o t h e r w o rd s , T a o is w i t h i n
m o v e m e n t and q uiet. T h e r e f o r e , if o n e c o n s i d e r s q u iet to be
T a o , t h e co n c e p t is in c o m p le te .
Q u i e t is basic to t a k in g c a re o f t h e b od y and is th e
fo u n d a ti o n o f m e d ita tio n . W h e n ta k in g ca re o f t h e body, its
h e a lt h and lo n g e v ity (th e e n e r g y s o u r c e o f all life) are d ev eloped
in a s t a t e o f q u iet. T h e g r o w t h o f an im als and plants is
a cco m p lis h e d in th e s a m e w a y . H u m a n s n e ed r e s t a f t e r action.
_______________ 3
M ental and Physical Conditions
During M editation
T h e r e a re m a n y r e a s o n s w h y people w a n t to m e d ita te .
S o m e m e d it a t e f o r h e a lt h and lo n g life and s o m e f o r long life
w i t h o u t a g ing . O t h e r s m e d ita t e as a m e a n s o f c u ltiv a tin g T a o
and c a rin g fo r t h e body. T h e r e are m e n ta l and physical
p ro b le m s t h a t a rise d u rin g m e d ita tio n . T h e m e n t a l p ro b le m s
will be d is cu ss e d first.
T h e aim and p u rp o s e o f m e d ita t io n a re b elieved to arise
f r o m th e mind. T h e c o n c e p t o f m ind c o v e r s th e m o d e r n
c o n c e p ts b ra in , c o n s c i o u s n e s s and t h o u g h t . A l t h o u g h this m ind
p u rp o r ts to a chiev e q u ie t by m e d ita tio n , its e a rly e f f o r t s are
c o n s t a n t ly flooded w ith d is q u ie tin g t h o u g h t s . T h i s is tr u e
b ecau se people a re n o t u s u ally a w a r e o f t h e i r m ind s being
c o n s t a n t ly fu ll o f t h o u g h t s f r o m m o r n in g u n til n i g h t and f r o m
b irth to d e a th , like a w a t e r f a ll n e v e r ce a sin g to flow . H o w e v e r ,
w h e n a p e r s o n b egins to m e d ita t e , as a r e s u lt o f th e rela tiv ely
q u iet s t a t e th a t arises, he realiz e s th e in c e s s a n t and ch a o tic
n a t u r e o f his t h o u g h ts . T h i s is actu ally th e f ir s t e f f e c t o f
m e d ita tio n .
THE NATURE O F M E D IT A T IO N
4________________
Chi Phenomena of the Body
A n c ie n t o r ie n ta l medical s c ie n c e and w i t c h c r a f t h a v e th e
sa m e o rig in s ; C h i n e s e m e d icin e is no e x c e p tio n . A b o u t t h r e e
th o u s a n d y e a r s ago, d u rin g t h e C h o u and C h 'i n d y n a s tie s , th e
10
THE N A TU RE O F M E D IT A T IO N
1 D i e n c e p h a l o n is a m o d e r n t e r m . T h e a n c i e n t s did n o t k n o w n e u r o a n a t o m y a n d
t h e r e f o r e t h i s t e r m s h a l l n o t b e u s e d a g a i n T h e r e a d e r wi ll b e r e f e r r e d t o " t h e
c e n t e r o f t h e h e a d , " o r " t h e t o p o f t h e h e a d / ' w h i c h is a c t u a l l y a m o r e c o r r e c t
tr a n s la tio n o f th e m aterial.
2 I h a v e n o t b e e n t r a i n e d in W e s t e r n m e d i c i n e a n d t h e m e d i c a l t e r m s u s e d h e r e
in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h ch'i a r e b a s e d u p o n k n o w l e d g e a c q u i r e d f r o m e x p e r i e n c e a n d
my ow n research.
11
to rs o . T h e s e v e n ch a k ra s c o r r e s p o n d t o th e m a j o r n e r v e plexus
in t h e h u m a n body. In T a o i s m , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , it is supp osed
th a t t h e r e a r e f r o n t Qen M a i) , b a ck (Tu M a i) and m iddle ( Ch'ong
M a i) ch'i r o u t e s in t h e to r s o . T h e r e is also th e T a o i s t t h e o r y o f
upper Tan Tien, middle Tan Tien and lo w e r Tan Tien. T h e Tan Tien
and th e c h a k r a s are d if f e r e n t a l t h o u g h t h e y h a v e s im ilar
f u n c t i o n s and e ffe c ts .
T h e u p p er Tan Tien is lo c a te d in t h e c e n t e r o f th e head,
b eh in d t h e p o in t b e t w e e n t h e tw o e y e b r o w s . T h e middle Tan
Tien is lo ca te d at a p o int b is e c tin g t h e c h e s t b e t w e e n t h e b re a s ts .
T h e lo w e r Tan Tien is lo ca te d a p p r o x im a te ly f o u r fi n g e r s below
th e n a v e l .3
Tan m e a n s th e pill o f im m o r ta li ty . Tien m e a n s a field. T h is
does n o t , as is s o m e t i m e s believed , in d icate t h a t o n e can devise a
pill, an e lixir, o r d e co ctio n t h a t will c o n f e r im m o r t a li t y inside
th e Tan Tien. If it w e r e p o ssible to c r e a t e a pill o f im m o r ta li ty
inside Tan Tien, it w o u ld be a m a lig n a n t g r o w t h r a t h e r th a n
s o m e t h i n g beneficial.
T h e c h a k r a s in y o g a a re n o w re g a rd e d as m a jo r n e rv e
p lex u se s. T h e i m p o r ta n t n e r v e p le x u s e s f r o m th e c e n t e r o f th e
he a d to t h e p e r i n e u m a re believed to be chakras, b u t this is
d ifficu lt t o c o n f ir m . T h e fa c t is t h a t th e c h a k r a s and n e rv e
p le x u s e s a re closely re la ted .
Postures in Meditation
13
14
THE N A TU RE O F M E D IT A T IO N
/ '
Full-Lotus Posture
Postures in Meditation
15
Figure 5.2
Half-Lotus Posture
Right leg over left leg.
It.
THE N A T U RE O F M E D IT A T IO N
Figure 5.3
Figure 5.4
Sleeping Posture
Postures in Meditation
17
Figure 5.5
Figure 5.6
Lion Posture
immortal Posture
Figure 5.7
Figure 5.8
Bodhisattva Posture
in .
nj
I I. o r mi Pi I \ ; u ' \
Figure 5.9
Figure 5.10
Bestriding Crane
Posture (1)
Bestriding Crane
Posture (2)
Postures in Meditation
19
In th is p o s t u r e t h e ha n d s and fe e t a re also at r e s t, w h ic h
d e c r e a s e s t h e b u rd e n o n t h e h e a r t. T h e fu n c t i o n o f t h e h e a r t
will t h e r e f o r e r e c o v e r m o r e t h e lo n g e r o n e m e d ita te s .
20
n i l , N A TU RE OF M E D IT A T IO N
6___________________
Use of the Mind
in M editation
In g e n e r a l, s e v e n t y p e r c e n t of t h o s e w h o l e a r n m e d ita t io n do
so f o r h e a lt h and f o r lo n g life. F o r s u c h p u r p o s e s m e d ita t io n
n e ed n o t be difficult. T w e n t y p e r c e n t study m e d ita t io n o u t o f
21
i u r io sity o r b e c a u s e t h e y a re s e e k i n g s o m e t h i n g w o n d e r f u l and
su b tle, s u c h as cla irv o y a n c e o r te le p a th y . T h e r e m a i n in g te n
p e r c e n t a r e s e e k in g t h e T a o . It is h a r d to find o n e p e r s o n in te n
th o u s a n d , e v e n a m o n g t h o s e s e e k i n g T a o , w h o really u n d e r
s ta n d s t h e T a o and t h e r i g h t w a y t o c u ltiv a te it. It is n o t e a sy to
use t h e m in d e ffe c ti v e ly in th is q u e s t.
A p e r s o n s h o u ld h a v e a fairly clear idea o f w h a t h e h o p e s to
a c c o m p lis h by e n g a g in g in m e d it a t io n b e f o r e h e b eg in s. T h e r e
are a g r e a t m a n y d i f f e r e n t m e d ita t io n t e c h n i q u e s and o n e
s h o u ld p r a c t ic e a m e t h o d t h a t will e n a b le h im t o a c h ie v e th e s o r t
o f m e n t a l c u ltiv a tio n h e d esire s. In C h in a , t h e m o s t po pular
m e t h o d s o f cu ltiv a tio n a r e t h o s e deriv ed f r o m B u d d h is m and
T a o i s m b u t t h e r e are a lso m a n y m e t h o d s t h a t w e r e n o t derived
f r o m e i t h e r o n e o f t h e s e t w o tr a d i t i o n s .4
T h e m o s t p o p u lar B u d d h is t m e t h o d s a r e r e c it in g t h e n a m e s
o f B u d d h a , c u ltiv a tin g Chih and Kuan (i.e., q u i e t s it tin g and
c o n t e m p la ti o n ), o b s e r v in g t h e m ind , o r e m p lo y in g Z e n t e c h
n iq u es. F o r th o s e w h o tru ly b elie v e in t h e e s o t e r i c t e a c h in g s ,
i n c a n t a t i o n s , c h a n t i n g m a n t r a s o r v is u a liz a t io n m e t h o d s a re
r e g a r d e d as ideal. T h o s e w h o e m p lo y B u d d h i s t m e d it a tio n
m e t h o d s g e n e r a lly s u p p o s e m e n t a l c u ltiv a tio n is s u f fic ie n t. A s a
c o n s e q u e n c e , !1 t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s and b od ily c h a n g e s are
ig n o re d .
T a o i s t m e d ita t io n m e th o d s , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , place g r e a t
e m p h a s is o n phy sical c h a n g e s . T h e y e v e n c o n s i d e r o p e n in g th e
Tu M a i, Jen M a i and all e ig h t e x t r a m e rid ia n s , r e c o v e r i n g h e a lt h ,
and i n c r e a s i n g a p e r s o n 's a llo tte d life s p a n as t h e n a t u r a l e f f e c t
o f T a o . I f o n e k n o w s h o w to c u ltiv a te o n ly t h e m in d by m e a n s o f
B u d d h is t m e t h o d s and d oes n o t k n o w t h e w o n d e r s o f phy sical
c h a n g e , his cu ltiv a tio n is n o t c o n s i s t e n t w i t h T a o . T a o i s t s
t h e r e f o r e criticize B u d d h is t m e t h o d s as s h o w i n g on ly " t h e
c u lti v a ti o n o f t h e i r n a t u r e , " and n o t " t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f life ."
T a o i s t s c o n s e q u e n t l y in s is t t h a t " c u lt iv a t io n o f b o t h n a t u r e and
4 It is n o t p o s s i b l e , in t h i s c o n t e x t , t o d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n B u d d h i s t a n d T a o i s t
m ed itatio n tech n iq u e s. F u r th e r , a lth o u g h th e r e are b o th co rr e c t and in co rre ct
m e t h o d s o f m e n t a l c u l t i v a t i o n , it is n o t p o s s i b l e t o c a t e g o r i z e t h e m h e r e .
22
n il
NATURE o r M E D IT A T IO N
21
I l l l . NATURE OF M E D IT A T IO N
7________________
C oncentration on the
Chiao Cavity in Taoist M editation
T h e e a s i e s t and m o s t p o p u la r m e t h o d s f o r tr a i n i n g th e
m ind is t h r o u g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n o n t h e Ch'iao ca v ity . S tr i c tl y
sp e ak in g , th is m e th o d e m p h a s i z e s p h y siolog y . T h o s e w h o use
this m e t h o d a s s u m e th e y s h o u ld b eg in w i t h it and u s e it as th e
p rim e t e c h n i q u e . In o t h e r w o r d s , t h e y believe t h a t t h e body is
th e basis o f T a o , and a s s u m e t h a t as lon g as t h e y ca n m a in ta in
th is w o n d e r f u l k n a c k o f Ch'iao and s u c c e s s fu lly c o n c e n t r a t e
u p o n and o p en th is C h iao ca v ity , t h e y can a ch iev e T a o .
C h iao is a lo c a tio n in t h e b od y to be c o n c e n t r a t e d u p o n b ut
t h a t w h ic h d oe s t h e c o n c e n t r a t i n g is th e mind. T h i s m e t h o d is
t h e r e f o r e e s s e n tia lly b ased o n f u n c t i o n s o f mind.
S e v e r a l i m p o r t a n t q u e s t io n s m a y be ask ed in th is c o n t e x t .
W h e r e is t h e g e n u i n e C h'iao? W h o sh ou ld c o n c e n t r a t e o n Ch'iao
and w h o s h o u ld n o t? W h i c h Ch'iao shou ld t h o s e w h o should
c o n c e n t r a t e o n Ch'iao u s e ? W h i c h Ch'iao sh o u ld n o t b e used as a
ca v ity f o r c o n c e n t r a t i o n ? T h e s e c o n s i d e r a t io n s te n d to be
ig n o re d .
T h e p o p u la r s t a t e m e n t , " O p e n o n e Ch'iao and o n e h u n d r e d
Ch'iao will o p e n " leads o n e t o b e lie v e t h a t it is p o ss ib le t o atta in
T a o by o p e n i n g a s in gle Ch'iao. B u t let us co n s id e r th is . T h e r e
a re n in e Ch'iao in th e h u m a n body: tw o e y e s , tw o e a r s , tw o nasal
cavities, t h e m o u t h , th e a n u s, and t h e u r e t h r a . T h e s e v e n Ch'iao
o n th e h e a d a r e op en . If t h e s e v e n Ch'iao on th e h e a d a r e open,
th e n it s e e m s t h a t th e u r e t h r a and th e a n u s s h o u ld o p e n , too.
M a n y people s u f f e r f r o m e i t h e r s e r io u s u r in a r y p r o b l e m s o r
co n s tip a tio n . F r o m this w e c a n co n c lu d e t h a t t h e Ch'iao o f
m e d ita t io n a r e n o t , as m o s t people h a v e b e e n in clined t o believe,
th e n in e Ch'iao o f th e h u m a n body.
T h e m e d it a t io n m e th o d o f c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n Ch'iao s o m e
tim e s i n v o lv e s c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n o n e o f t h e acupuncture p o in ts in
t h e body. It is k n o w n w h e n a p a r t ic u la r a c u p u n c t u r e p o int is
20
T i n : NATURE OE M E D IT A T IO N
o t h e r p h y siolog ica l fa c to rs . It is n o t r e c o m m e n d e d th a t a
w o m a n m e d ita t e o n th e lo w e r Tan Tien, sin ce it m i g h t ca u se
m e n o r r h a g ia o r a b n o r m a l s e x u a l and m e n t a l p ro b le m s .
O n e sh o u ld ta k e in to a c c o u n t age, p h y sio lo g y , illnesses,
etc., b e f o r e c o n c e n t r a t i n g on t h e u p p er Ch'iao s u c h as th e point
b e tw e e n e y e b r o w s o r a p o in t ab o v e th e head. If o n e c o n c e n
tr a t e s o n t h e u p p er Ch'iao t o o m u c h , it m ig h t c a u s e h ig h blood
p re s s u re , n e r v o u s d isord ers, etc. S o m e people, b e c a u s e th e y
m e d ita te o n th e up p er Ch'iao to o o f t e n , e x p e r i e n c e t h e e f f e c t o f a
red dened face. S u c h a p e r s o n re g a r d s h im s e lf, and o t h e r s th e n
re g a rd him , as a m a n o f T a o . A m a n o f ad va n ce d a g e should
actu ally be c a r e fu l o f possible c e r e b r o v a s c u l a r a c c id e n ts s u c h as
th e e f f u s io n o f blood on t h e b ra in o r a po plexy . I f o n e has a
d o r m a n t s e x u a l d isease and is n o t t h o r o u g h ly c u re d , and if he
m e d ita t e s o n t h e u p p er Ch'iao t o o long, h e could t r a n s m i t th e
g e r m s to t h e b rain.
M e d it a t io n m e th o d s are closely re la ted to p s y c h o lo g ica l and
p h y siolog ica l s e lf- h e a lin g th e r a p ie s . W h e n o n e is s e e k in g l o n
g e vity, spiritu al and m y s tic a l c o s m ic fo r c e s a re also p e r t i n e n t . If
th e s e h i g h e s t principles a re m i s u n d e r s t o o d o r if t h e s e c u ltiv a
tion m e t h o d s are m isapplied, t h e final r e s u lt could be tragic.
W h y n o t , th e n , give up m e d ita t io n and e n jo y a n a tu r a l life?
Principle of Concentration
C o n c e n t r a t i o n o f Ch'iao d oes n o t a lw ay s p ro d u c e ill e ffe c ts ,
h o w e v e r , and m e d ita t io n o f t h e Tan Tien shou ld n o t be e n tire ly
discarded. A l t h o u g h s o m e people m ay h av e a p p r e h e n s io n s
a b o u t p ra c ticin g th is t e c h n i q u e , Tan Tien does h a v e its special
fu n c t i o n and it is s o m e t i m e s d es irab le fo r o n e to c o n c e n t r a t e
upon it. M e d it a t in g on Ch'iao is o n e m e a n s o f c o n c e n t r a t i n g th e
t h o u g h t o n a p a rticu la r p o in t t h r o u g h v is u a liz a tio n and this
shou ld be clearly u n d e r s t o o d by a n y o n e w h o u s e s th is t e c h
nique.
T h e f u n c t i o n o f v is u a liz a tio n is to c o n c e n t r a t e t h e will and
th e mind. It w a s m e n t i o n e d p re v io u s ly t h a t Ch'iao is th e location
to be m e d ita t e d up on; and t h a t w h ic h m e d ita t e s o n th is lo ca tio n
27
m i: N A T U R E O E M E D IT A T IO N
It th e m ind c a n n o t be c o n c e n t r a t e d , th e ch'i r o u t e a b so lu te ly
c a n n o t be o p en e d . S o m e b elie v e t h a t t h e y h a v e o p e n e d th e ch'i
ro u te , w h e n th is is actually an illusion o r a c e r ta in p h y siological
feeling. A p e r s o n can ra re ly a c h ie v e his goals by m e r e ly fo cu s in g
upon ph y siolog ica l feelings.
Concentration on Ch'iao
and Refinement of the Ch'i
C o n c e n t r a t i n g on t h e Ch'iao and r e fi n in g t h e ch'i are n o t th e
sa m e T a o i s t te c h n iq u e s . C o n c e n t r a t i n g o n Ch'iao in v o lv e s th e
co n s cio u s m in d , w h ile r e f i n in g t h e ch'i c o n s i s ts p rim arily in
re fin in g t h e b r e a t h t h r o u g h t h e u s e o f th e will. N o m a t t e r w h a t
d if fe r e n c e s t h e r e a re b e t w e e n t h e s e tw o m e t h o d s , t h e y all
em p loy t h e m ind. N o m a t t e r w h a t m e t h o d is use d fo r
m e d ita tio n , people re g a rd ch'i and q u ie tu d e , ch'i and T a o , and ch'i
and t h e te c h n i q u e o f l o n g e v ity as h a v in g an a b s o lu t e c o n n e c
tion. T h o s e w h o specialize in y o g a and ch'i kung e m p h a s i z e ch'i.
T a i C h i C h u a n , w h ic h b e c a m e p o p u lar at th e end o f t h e C h 'in g
d y n a s ty , in v o lv e s t h e p rinciple o f s in k in g th e ch'i i n to Tan Tien.
M a n y m e d it a t e in an a t t e m p t to guide th e ir b r e a t h to w a r d th e
Tan Tien,h o p in g t h a t t h e ch'i will s in k in to t h e Tan Tien so th a t
t h e y ca n t h e r e b y e n t e r t h e T a o .
T h e r e are m a n y m e t h o d s o f ch'i kung and m a n y t e c h n iq u e s
o f T a o i s m . T h o s e fa m iliar w i t h t h e s e m e th o d s ask h o w th e y can
c o n d e n s e t h e ch'i in to Tan Tien o r o t h e r lo c atio n s. I f o n e s q u e e z e s
air in to a ball, can he e x p e c t t h e air to r e m a in in a p a rticu la r
p o rtio n in th e ball? T h i s is im p o ssib le. T h e body is like a ball.
T h e ch'i c irc u la te s e v e r y w h e r e . O n l y a se r io u s ly ill p e r s o n w h o
has o b s ta c le s t o s o m e f u n c t i o n m i g h t u n w i t t i n g ly h a v e ch'i
locked in a g iv e n location. T h e ch'i o f a h e a lt h y p e r s o n w o uld
n e v e r b e in th is cond ition.
S o m e people b elieve t h a t th o s e w h o w o r k a t c o n c e n t r a t i n g
on Ch'iao o r r e f i n in g ch'i ca n v o lu n ta r i ly k e ep t h e ch'i in a c e rta in
po sition . T h i s , h o w e v e r , is m e r e ly an illusion. T h e s e n s a t io n o f
r e ta i n in g ch'i in a p a rtic u la r l o c a tio n is actu a lly ju s t t h e g lu ttin g
o f n e r v e s and blood v e s s e ls , w h ic h o c c u r s as a c o n s e q u e n c e o f
29
in te n s e m e n t a l c o n c e n t r a t i o n o n a c e r ta i n p o in t o f t h e body. Ch'i
i .in n o t b e c o a g u la te d in a p a r t ic u la r lo c atio n . T h i s s u g g e s ts th a t
u n d e r s ta n d i n g t h e n a t u r e o f g e n u i n e ch'i is o n e o f th e m o s t
difficu lt p r o b le m s a c c o m p a n y in g t h e p rac tice o f m e d ita tio n .
Part II
The Nature and
Reactions of Chi
8
The Nature of C h i
W h a t is ch'i? T h i s is really a p ro b le m . T h r e e c h a r a c t e r s are
use d in T a o i s m t o tr y t o exp lain t h e m e a n i n g o f ch'i. T h e a n c ie n t
c h a r a c t e r f o r ch'i is iL . T h e u p p er p o r tio n o f th is c h a r a c t e r ,
,
m e a n s n o - t h i n g . T h e l o w e r p a rt o f th is c h a r a c t e r , , m e a n s
fire. A n c i e n t T a o i s t s u tr a s e m p lo y this c h a r a c t e r w h ic h m e a n s
no fire to in d ica te ch'i. ( S e e also p. 9.)
T a o i s m and a n c ie n t C h i n e s e c u ltu r e a re clo s ely associa ted .
T h e five e l e m e n t s , t h e c e le s tial s t e m s , and t h e e a r t h l y b r a n c h e s
e sp ecially a r e w id ely use d in T a o i s m . A m o n g t h e fiv e e le m e n ts ,
h e a r t o r m in d b elo n g to fire . T o say th a t ch'i is n o fi r e (n o d esire
o r lu st) m e a n s t h a t w h e n o n e a t t a i n s m e n t a l q u i e tu d e and has
n o t h o u g h t s o r w o r r ie s , t h e n real ch i is g e n e r a t e d .
T h e s e c o n d c h a r a c t e r f o r ch'i is \ . It is w r i t t e n in th e
a n c i e n t s ty le and r e p r e s e n t s air in n a tu r e .
T h e th i r d c h a r a c t e r f o r ch'i is
. T h is m o re m odern
c h a r a c t e r r e p r e s e n t s air, b r e a t h and gas.
B e f o r e t h e T a n g d y n a s ty , t h e r e w e r e s o m e special T a o i s t
te c h n i q u e s t h a t e n a b led o n e to s w a llo w t h e ch'i. B y c o n c e n
t r a t in g t h e m in d and b r e a t h i n g in a c e r ta i n w a y , o n e m ig h t
a tta i n a s t a t e " e n a b li n g h im to c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h th e spirit o f
34
5T h i s m e t h o d f o r t h e c u l t i v a t i o n o f ch'i l e a d s to t h e s a m e a c h i e v e m e n t s as t h e
practice o f a n c ie n t yoga.
T h e Nature of C h'i
35
36
9________________
Reactions of C hi
During M editation
W e shall n o w discuss t h e r e la t io n s h ip b e t w e e n m e d ita tio n
and ch'i and t h e i r fu n c ti o n s . F irs t, o n e shou ld re a liz e t h a t w h a t is
d escribe d b elow p e r ta in s t o se x u a lly m a t u r e ad ults, to th o s e
w h o alread y h a v e a sex life. It c a n n o t apply to im m a t u r e
child ren, to y o u n g girls w h o h a v e n o t y e t b eg u n t h e i r m o n t h l y
cycle, o r to y o u n g b o y s w h o h a v e n o t y e t e x p e r i e n c e d th e flow
of sem en.
T h e phy sical r e a c tio n s t h a t ta k e place d u rin g m e d ita t io n are
c lassified b elow in to a first, s e co n d , third r e a c t i o n and so on.
T h i s does n o t n e c e s s a rily m e a n t h a t t h e r e a c ti o n s will ta k e place
a cco r d in g t o th is s e q u e n c e . S o m e will follow th is s e q u e n c e ;
s o m e will n o t. It d epends on o n e 's m e n ta l and physical
c o n d itio n s.
37
39
40
T H E N A T U R E AND R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I
Meditation
II
42
THE N A T U RE A N D R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I
43
Reactions in Head
T h e f o u r t h r e a c ti o n o c c u r s in th e head and t h e s e a re m o r e
co m p lica te d th a n th o s e w h ic h o c c u r in o t h e r p a rt s o f th e body.
A c c o rd in g t o tra d itio n a l C h i n e s e m ed icine, " t h e h e a d is th e c h ie f
o f t h e y a n g s . " Its fu n c ti o n s a re t h e r e f o r e v e ry g r e a t. F r o m th e
v ie w p o in t o f T a o i s m , th e head inclu des th e Yu Chen at t h e back
o f t h e he ad and t h e Ni H uang Palace at th e to p o f t h e head, b o th
o f w h ic h are v e ry i m p o r ta n t. F r o m th e s ta n d p o i n t o f m o d e r n
medical s c ie n c e , th e he ad is re la ted to th e n e r v e s o f th e
c e re b e llu m , c e r e b r u m , and t h e d ie n ce p h a lo n and p itu ita ry gland
o r g a n s. T h e s e re la tio n sh ip s a re v e r y co m p lica te d . T h e head is
also d irectly as s o cia ted w i th th e n e r v e cells o f t h e (five) sen se s .
S e v e r a l s e r io u s d ifficu lties m a y t h e r e f o r e a ris e w h e n o n e
re a c h e s th is s ta g e . O n e could, f o r e x a m p le , b eg in to h a llu cin ate.
F o r th e p u rp o s e o f d is cu ss io n , t h e he a d re g io n s will be
co n s id e re d in t h e fo llo w in g s e q u e n c e : 1) t h e b a ck o f t h e head, 2)
th e f r o n t o f th e head, and 3) th e c e n t e r o f t h e head.
T h e r e a c ti o n s at t h e back o f t h e head: S o m e people indulge
in a q u iet s t a t e o f mind; t h e y re g a rd th e s o lita r y q u i e t n e s s o f
m in d as t h e on ly e f f e c t o f m e d ita tio n . F o r t h e s e people ad vanced
7l t is i m p o s s i b l e t o g i v e a n y a d v i c e r e g a r d i n g t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s , s i n c e t h e
t r e a t m e n t w o u l d r e q u i r e a d i s c u s s i o n o f m a t e r i a l f a r b e y o n d t h e s c o p e o f th i s
book.
44
45
46
47
48
THE N A T U R E A N D R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I
50
51
8T h e U p p e r W a r m e r is p a r t o f t h e T r i p l e H e a t e r M e r i d i a n k n o w n t o a c u p u n c
t u r i s t s . T h e T r i p l e H e a t e r i n c l u d e s t h e U p p e r W a r m e r , l o c a t e d in t h e t h o r a x ,
t h e M i d d l e W a r m e r , l o c a t e d in t h e u p p e r a b d o m e n , a n d t h e L o w e r W a r m e r ,
l o c a t e d in t h e l o w e r a b d o m e n .
52
op en e d th e Tu M ai. H o w e v e r , t h e s e r e a c ti o n s do n o t indicate
th a t t h e Tu M a i is op ened ; th e y are m e r e ly t h e initial
p h y siolog ical r e a c tio n s . W h e n t h e Tu M a i is a ctu ally op ened ,
special s y m p t o m s will o ccu r, and alw ay s in c o n s t a n t r e s p o n s e
to th e fen M ai. T h e p re v io u s ly m e n t i o n e d p h y s io lo g ica l feelings
and s e n s a t io n s a re only m i n o r m a t t e r s .
W h e n t h e ch'i is c irc u la tin g in th e head, o n e o f t e n has a
s e n s a t io n o f s w e llin g , pain o r o t h e r u n c o m f o r t a b l e fe e lin g s. O r ,
a p e r s o n m i g h t sleep v e ry s o u n d ly but very f r e q u e n t l y o r
re m a in asle e p f o r a v e ry lo n g tim e . T h e ch'i a f f e c t s th e orb ital
n e rv e s , t h e t y m p a n ic m e m b r a n e , th e c o n ju n c tiv a and th e nasal
cavity and it s o m e ti m e s c au se s d is e a s e-lik e s y m p to m s . F u r t h e r
s o m e m i g h t e v e n feel t h a t t h e h e a d is h e a v y and th e f e e t are
light, o r b e c o m e q u i c k -te m p e r e d , easily a n g e re d , c o n s ti p a te d or
o v e r s t im u la t e d so th a t th e y c a n n o t fall asleep o r c a n n o t sleep
re s tfu lly . R e a d e r s sh ou ld n o t be f r i g h te n e d by th e possibility o f
s u c h bad e f f e c t s fo llo w in g f r o m o p en in g th e Tu M a i t h r o u g h
m e d ita tio n . E v e r y o n e will n o t e x p e r ie n c e all th e p h e n o m e n a
d escribed; w h a t h a p p e n s will d ep end upon a p e rs o n 's sex, age,
and individual m e n t a l and p h y siolog ica l s ta te s . F u r t h e r , feeling s
o f pain ca u se d by m e d ita t io n a r e n o t actually th e pains o f a real
disease a l t h o u g h t h e y are s im ila r to th e m .
In c o n c lu s io n , by th e ti m e t h e ch'i a scen d s to th e head , o n e
will alread y h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d a c e r ta in n u m b e r o f e f f e c t s . O n e
s h o u ld calm t h e m in d in o r d e r t o m a in ta in q u i e tu d e and aw ait
th e ch'i's d e s c e n t t o th e la r y n x , t h e e p ig a s tr ic a re a , t h e c h e s t
area, t h e s t o m a c h area, th e lo w e r Tati Tien and ren al a re a fro m
w h ic h ch'i flo w s to th e a pex o f t h e g e n ita l o r g a n s . T h i s s e q u e n c e
is th e ]en M a i o f T a o i s t and C h i n e s e m edical a r ts , and it
c o r r e s p o n d s to th e m a jo r a r e a s o f th e a u t o n o m i c n e r v o u s
s y s t e m in W e s t e r n m ed ical sc ie n ce .
!*3
___________________ 10
How to Open Up Jen Mai
W h e t h e r th e ch'i d esce n d s to pass a lon g t h e Jen M ai
a ccor d in g t o t h e s e q u e n c e m e n t i o n e d a b ove is a practical
p ro blem . T h o s e w h o p ra ctice m e d it a t io n and t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f
T a o u su a lly follow th e t e x t s o f T a o i s m as w ell as o t h e r
m e d ita t io n book s. S u c h people a re o f t e n w i t h o u t any real
e x p e r ie n c e o r are p reoccu p ied w ith th e ir o w n v i e w p o in t, w h ich
is o f t e n m a d e up o f e n ti r e ly s u b je c tiv e illusions. C o n s e q u e n t l y ,
th e y r e g a r d t h e u tiliz a tio n o f t h e Jen M a i as t h e s te p fo llow ing
th e e n g a g e m e n t o f Tu M a i. T h e t e c h n iq u e o f w illfu lly a t t e m p t
ing to g uid e t h e ch'i by o n e 's o w n c o n s c i o u s n e s s leads o n e to
e x p e c t t o h a v e th is im p r e s s io n o r to d r a w th is co n c lu sio n .
H o w e v e r , f r o m th e v ie w p o in t o f th e c u ltiv a tio n o f T a o t h r o u g h
m e d ita t io n , th is is a s h a llow c o n c ep t. T h i s c h a p t e r will a t t e m p t
to clarif y t h e w a y in w h ic h ch'i p a sses t h r o u g h t h e Jen M a i so
t h a t t h e r e a d e r will be able to u n d e r s t a n d and i n t e g r a t e this
m a teria l.
55
2) O n e d e f e c a t e s f o r as lo n g as te n to f i f t e e n days as if o n e
has a s e r io u s d ia rrh ea .
L o n g - t e r m h ic c o u g h s and l o n g - t e r m y a w n s a re a s y m p to m
o f s t o m a c h ch'i m o v in g u p w a rd ( w h ic h is a n a lo g o u s to p ra n a
a s cen d in g in yoga) and r u s h i n g t h r o u g h t h e e s o p h a g u s . A f t e r
th e ch'i r u s h e s up and o p e n s t h e r o u t e to th e e s o p h a g u s , o n e
feels r e f r e s h e d in th e head and c h e s t. F u r t h e r , s w e e t and
r e f r e s h i n g saliva will flow c o n t in u o u s l y f r o m t h e salivary
glands. T a o i s t b o o k s d e s crib e th is as a s y m p to m o f t h e w in e o f
long life, a s p ra y in g o f s w e e t d ew o r jade liquid and n e c ta r . In
th e past, t h o s e w h o lea rn ed e s o t e r ic B u d d h is t t e a c h i n g s in th e
Hsi K a n g p r o v in c e and T i b e t payed h ig h r e s p e c t to t h o s e w h o
e m it te d lo n g h ic c o u g h s and lo n g y a w n s sin ce t h e s e s y m p to m s
indicated t h a t a p e rs o n had a tta in e d c o n s id e ra b le a c h i e v e m e n t
in t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f his ch'i ro u te s .
A n o r d i n a r y p e rs o n w h o d e f e c a t e s f r e q u e n t l y , w h e t h e r o r
n o t he ha s d ia r rh e a , could h a v e a s e r io u s s t o m a c h d is o rd e r o r a
painfu l in t e s t in a l d isorder s u c h as colitis. S o m e o n e , o n th e o t h e r
hand, w h o e x p e r i e n c e s t h e s e p h e n o m e n a t h r o u g h t h e r e a c tio n s
o f chi in d u ce d by m e d ita t io n will n o t h a v e pains, b u t will
e x p e r i e n c e c o m f o r t a b l e r e f r e s h i n g feeling s in his he a d and
v isc era . I f a p e r s o n feels s lig h tly w e a k , it does n o t m a tt e r . H e
m i g h t d e f e c a t e a kind o f p u rp le - b la c k stick y liquid at th e end o f
th e d ia r r h e a - lik e p h e n o m e n o n . T h i s p u rp le -b la ck s tick y liquid
ind icate s t h a t all t h e dirty d ep o s its in th e in t e s t in e and s t o m a c h
are b eing c o m p le te ly e lim in a te d . A f t e r this s t a g e o n e will e n t e r
a n o t h e r n e w s ta g e ; e it h e r a m e n t a l sam adhi s t a t e o r a p h y s io
logical fe e lin g s ta te . Still o n e s h o u ld be c a r e fu l o f his diet so th a t
h e does n o t o v e r e a t o r e a t at ra n d o m .
A t th is tim e, sex u a l i n t e r c o u r s e sh o u ld be avoided. If you
h a v e a h u s b a n d or a w ife , y o u shou ld h a v e i n t e r c o u r s e as
in f r e q u e n t l y as possible. T h o s e w h o c a n n o t fo llo w th e w a r n in g s
a b o u t s e x and diet will h a v e to s t a r t all o v e r ag a in and m e d ita te
f o r a lo n g t i m e u n til t h e d ia r r h e a - lik e p h e n o m e n o n ha p p ens
again. G e n e r a l l y sp eak ing , p e op le f r e q u e n t l y a d v a n c e and th e n
fail, b e g in n in g t h e c o u r s e o f m e d ita t io n again and again. T h i s is
o n e o f t h e k ey po ints. If o n e indu lges in e a r th ly d esires, th e n ,
n e ed les s t o say, h e will n o t a tta in th e goal o f m e d ita tio n .
56
57
59
________________ 11
Fasting and the Function
of the M iddle Chi
If th e s t o m a c h chi actu ally ignites in on e 's M id d le Pala ce
and a scen d s twelve floors to pass t h e e so p h a g u s, o n e 's t o n g u e will
n a tu ra lly t o u c h the upper bridge of the small birds, o r t h e uvula, and
th e b r e a t h in g place in th e i n n e r h o le s o f t h e n ose. T h e to n g u e
will d irectly r e c e iv e th e e n d o c r i n e s e c r e t io n s d is tr ib u te d by th e
p itu ita ry g lands, or th e saliva t h a t d escend s f r o m t h e head. A
p e r s o n can sw allo w this s w e e t f r a g r a n t liquid c o n t in u o u sly .
B y and by, o n e will n o t n e ed his n o s e f o r b r e a t h i n g and th e
c o a r se b r e a t h will stop n a tu ra lly . T h i s s ta g e is s o u g h t by fo rcin g
a p e r s o n t o p ra ctice th e bottle ch'i o f y og a and t h e self-shutting
breath o f T a o i s m . U ltim a te ly , o n e will h av e a s t r o n g e r r e s is ta n c e
to e x t e r n a l c ir c u m s t a n c e s s u c h as cold, heat, h u m id ity and
e it h e r e a tin g o r fasting . A t th is s t a g e a p e r s o n will be able to fa st
a lon g tim e and c o n s e q u e n t ly will n e ed less sleep. H o w e v e r ,o n e
need s i n s t r u c t io n s fro m a w is e m a s t e r to d e c r e a s e e a tin g and
d rin k in g in t h e a p p r o p ria te w a y s so t h a t o n e can e v e n tu a lly fast.
A kind o f samadhi n e v e r b e fo r e e x p e r ie n c e d is gradually
e n te r e d , a l t h o u g h this is still an initial step. H o w e v e r , w h o le
s o m e n u t r i t i o u s food is still need ed to m a in ta in t h e i n n e r fo rce
n e c e s s a r y t o op en th e ch'i c h a n n e ls o f t h e g e n it a l g lands as well
as th e Yin Ch'iao, Yang C h iao, Yin Wei and Yang Wei o f th e eig h t
e x t r a m e ridians.
W h e n sh o u ld o n e stop e a tin g te m p o r a r ily and w h e n should
h e b eg in to e a t again? T h i s all depends u p o n t h e a c tu a l s it u a tio n
and c a n n o t be laid ou t o n p ap er like s t r a t e g i e s o f a battle. In
T a o is m , this s it u a tio n is called Ho Hou, th e s t r e n g t h o f a fire for
cookin g. It is likened to a d ju st in g th e s t r e n g t h o f a fire in
coo k ing , sin ce it re q u ires s e lf - u n d e r s t a n d in g and p e rso n a l
a t t e n t i o n . I n fle x ib le ru les and i n s t r u c t io n s sh o u ld n o t be
a dopted sin ce it is b en eficia l to re ta in a capacity f o r chan ge.
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12___________________
A Big Belly is Not Tao
W h e n t h e r e is a slig h t in d ica tio n t h a t t h e Jen M a i has
o p ened , t h e in n e r b r e a t h , o r t h e b r e a t h a ro u n d t h e l o w e r Tan
Tien a re a , b e g in s to fu n c tio n . M o s t people te nd to sin k th e ch'i
in to Tan Tien n a tu ra lly and c a u s e t h e lo w e r a b d o m e n to fill and
b e c o m e c o n v e x . T h e y t h e n im a g in e th a t th e y h av e ach iev ed a
s ta te d e s c rib e d in a p o em by t h e fa m o u s i m m o r ta l Lu T o n g
Ping: " W i t h t r e a s u r e in Tan Tien o n e need n o t s e e k T a o , w ith no
m ind a g a in st t h e p h e n o m e n a l w o r ld o n e n eed n o t s e e k Z e n . " In
fact, th is is a v e r y u n d e s ir a b le p h e n o m e n o n .
If o n e c o n t in u e s to c o n c e n t r a t e o n Tan 'lien, it will c a u se
ad v e rs e e f f e c t s o n t h e k id n e y s, g e n it a l glands, and th e large and
small i n t e s t in e s , and o n e c a n n o t o p en Tai M a i or th e ch'i r o u te
a ro u n d t h e w a is t w i t h ease. A t th is s ta g e o n e sh o u ld a tte n d to
c o n t r a c t i n g o r s h r i n k in g t h e lo w e r a b d o m en f r o m t h e pubis to
th e na v el and fo rc e th e ch'i to o p e n t h e T ai M a i area. B u t, o n e
shou ld n o t pay so m u c h a t t e n t i o n to this th a t h e b e c o m e s b ou n d
by t h e s e fe e lin g s.
A f t e r a lo n g w h ile, ch'i w ill be g e n e r a t e d f r o m th e
p e r in e u m , fo llo w in g th e m e rid ia n s and veins in b o th legs and
fe e t. T h e ch'i will m o v e d o w n s te p by step until it r e a c h e s th e
soles o f t h e fe e t and g rad ually r e m o v e s any fe e lin g s o f s o r e n e s s ,
a ching, t h r o b b in g , s w elling , n u m b n e s s and itchin g . W a r m , s o ft,
light fe e lin g s o f n o p r e s s u r e o r n o t h in g n e s s and happiness orgasm
will o c c u r in e v e ry n e r v e and p e rh a p s in e v e ry cell o f t h e legs
and fe e t. A t this s ta g e , o n e is happy to c ro s s his leg s and
m e d ita t e f o r a lon g tim e to in d u lg e in this w o n d e r f u l ecstacy .
A f t e r m e d ita t in g fo r a lon g tim e in this s ta g e , th e ch'i will
ag a in fo llo w th e r o u t e o f Tu M a i, a s c e n d in g to th e w a is t and back,
and t h e n c irc u la te f r e e ly a m o n g t h e n e r v e p lex u s o f th e
scapula t o w a r d th e palm s and t h e fin g e rtip s. T h e e n t i r e body
b e c o m e s so supp le t h a t it feels as if it has no b o n e s . T h e ch'i will
again c i r c u l a te and as cen d to t h e f r o n t o f t h e h e a d and will t h e n
d escend and fill t h e e n t i r e b o d y a rm s , legs and f e e t fo llo w in g
ol
_______________ 13
The Human Body and
the Im portance of Feet
P la n t life o r ig in a te s f r o m r o o t s th a t p e n e t r a t e deep in to t h e
g ro u n d . T h e sh a p e o f g i n s e n g r o o t is v e ry sim ila r to t h e h u m a n
body w i t h its tw o legs and fe e t. T h u s , w e can u s e th is an alog y to
i llu s tr a t e t h e im p o r ta n c e o f t h e feet.
H u m a n s a re th e m o s t spiritually e n d o w e d f o r m o f life.
U n lik e p la n ts , th e r o o ts o f t h e h u m a n body a re at th e apex o f
th e head . T h e space ab ov e t h e h u m a n head is a n a lo g o u s to th e
soil o r e a r t h b elow plants. T h e legs and fe e t o f a h u m a n are
a n a lo g o u s to t h e b r a n c h e s and leaves o f a plant.
I f ch'i c a n n o t re a c h th e legs and fe e t in m e d it a t io n pra ctice
and c ir c u la te fre e ly t h r o u g h t h e n e r v e t e r m i n a l s o f th e arm s
and legs, th e n , a lth o u g h th e t r u n k is n o t d e t e r i o r a te d , t h e body
will be like a tr e e w i th w ilte d leav es and b r a n c h e s . In th is case
o n e will n o t be able to r e c o v e r his o r h e r v ita lity t h r o u g h
m e d ita t io n b u t will m e r e ly b e a w a itin g death.
t>3
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15_______________
C hi Channels from Taoism
and Buddhism
In T a o i s m , ch'i M a i w as firs t d is c u ss e d by C h u a n g T z e in th e
c h a p t e r o f o n e o f his b ook s e n title d , Nourishment of Life. In this
c h a p t e r he r e c o m m e n d s " f o l lo w in g t h e Tu M a i as a m e r i d i a n "
and claim s t h a t all ch'i c h a n n e ls m e e t at t h e to p o f t h e head. E v e r
sin ce, Tu M a i and Jen M a i h a v e b e e n b elieved to be i m p o r t a n t fo r
th e c u ltiv a tio n o f m e d ita tio n . F i g u r e s 1 5 . 2 t h r o u g h 1 5 .9
i llu s tra te t h e v a r io u s c h a n n e ls and s h o w h o w th e e n e r g y co u rs e s
t h r o u g h th e body. T h e s e fig u r e s a r e s h o w n on p ag e s 6 6 t h r o u g h
72.
In addition to Jen and Tu M a i as th e m a in ch'i c h a n n e l s , th e
e ig h t e x t r a m e rid ia n s are c e n t r a l t o t h e s y s t e m o f ch'i r o u te s .
H o w e v e r , T i b e t a n e s o t e r ic te a c h i n g s t h a t w e r e d eriv ed fr o m
t h e a n c i e n t I n d ia n tra d itio n are e n ti r e l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m T a o i s t
m e th o d s o f c u ltiv a tio n . It is a s s u m e d t h a t t h e r e a re t h r e e M a i or
ch'i c h a n n e l s and s e v e n c h a k ra s in t h e h u m a n body; t h e le ft M ai,
rig h t M a i and middle o r c e n t r a l M ai. T h e s e v e n ch a k ra s
m e n t i o n e d by e s o t e r ic T i b e t a n te a c h i n g s are, b e g i n n i n g fr o m
th e b o t t o m , th e r o o t ch ak ra , t h e n a v el c h a k ra , t h e h e a r t ch a k ra ,
th e t h r o a t c h a k r a , t h e b ro w c h a k r a , t h e c r o w n c h a k ra , and,
ab o v e t h e head , t h e s a c re d c h a k r a . (S e e Fig. 1 5 .1 .)
T h e t h e o r y o f ch'i M a i in e s o t e r ic B u d d h is m and y og a
co v er s t h e f u n c t i o n s o f t h e chi of five elements and t h e Buddha of five
directions, w h ic h inclu des a s c e n d in g ch'i, d e s c e n d in g ch'i, v e n
t r i c l e - c e n t r a l m o v i n g ch'i, left la tera lly m o v i n g ch'i, a n d rig h t
laterally m o v in g ch'i.
B e f o r e t h e W e i and C h i n d y n a s tie s , th e T a o i s t s e m p h a s iz e d
t h e im p o r t a n c e o f t h e s e five e l e m e n t s and t h e ch'i o f five colors.
T h e y e m p lo y e d t e r m s s u c h as red sparrow to in d ic a te t h e f r o n t,
black turtle to r e f e r to t h e back, and blue dragon and white tiger to
d e s ig n a te t h e left and rig h t sides, re s p ectiv ely . T h e s e t e r m s
r e f e r to t h e ch i o f five e le m e n ts . S i n c e t h e S u n g d y n a s ty , th e
66
THE N A T U RE A N D R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I
Figure 15.2
Figure 15.3
67
68
Figure 15.4
Chong Mai
This channel originates in the pelvic
cavity and descends to the perineum,
where it divides (1). A superficial
branch ascends along the vertebral
column (2). The main channel runs up
the inside of the abdomen (3). It is
dispersed in the chest (4), but then
rushes up to meet the throat and
encircle the lips (5).
Figure 15.5
Tai Mai
This channel girds the waist at the level
of the 14th vertebra in the spine, as well
as the umbilicus in the front of the body.
Tai means belt, and this channel follows
a course that encircles the waist,
binding up the Yin and Yang channels.
70
Figure 15.7
Figure 15.9
73
___________________ 16
W hat is M iddle Mai?
T h e n a t u r e o f t h e middle, o r c e n tr a l, M a i is a v e ry
i n t e r e s t i n g pro b lem . B o t h a d h e r e n t s o f T a o i s m and e s o te r ic
B u d d h is m w o n d e r w h e t h e r t h e m iddle M a i has sh a p e o r is
s h a p e le s s and w h e t h e r t h e m iddle M a i is ac tu a lly Tu M a i or Jen
74
THE N A T U RE A ND R E A C T IO N S OF CH'I
9T h i s is a r e f e r e n c e t o H e x a g r a m # 2 o f I Ch ing. T h e l i n e s o f t h e t e x t a r e
in te rp re ted fro m th e stand p oint o f m ed itation.
76
p h e n o m e n a h a v e bee n d escrib e d in p re v io u s c h a p t e r s . H o w e v e r ,
th e p h y sio lo g ic al r e a c tio n s o f t h e ch'i M a i are n o t alw ays th e
s a m e f o r e v e r y o n e w h o p ra c tic e s m e d ita tio n .
W h y do d if fe r e n t people w i t h s im ilar h u m a n bodies h av e
v a r io u s r e a c t i o n s ? Is it b e c a u s e d if f e r e n t m e d it a t io n te c h n iq u e s
and m e t h o d s r e s u lt in d issim ila r e f f e c t s and r e a c t i o n s in th e ch'i?
T h i s c a n be explained in tw o w ay s.
F irs t, t h e r e a c tio n s o f ch'i a r e s u c h t h a t it a lw a y s fo llow s Jen
and Tu M a i s te p by step. T h e r e is no o t h e r r o u t e f r o m th e
v ie w p o in t o f m e d ita t io n and c u ltiv a tio n o f T a o .
S e c o n d , t h e r e are d if f e r e n c e s in ch'i M a i and its p h y s io lo g ic
al e f f e c t s w h ic h depend u p o n s u c h f a c to r s as bodily s t r e n g t h ,
h e a lt h , ag e and sex.
D i f f e r e n t te c h n i q u e s and m e d ita t io n m e t h o d s can p ro d u ce
d if f e r e n t r e a c tio n s , b u t th is is n o t th e m a j o r r e a s o n fo r
d issim ilar r e a c tio n s in individuals and is m e r e ly a p artial
e x p la n a tio n .
M a n y w h o p ra ctice m e d ita t io n e x p e r i e n c e v i b r a t io n s o f th e
body. T h i s i n n e r v ib r a tio n o f t e n b e c o m e s an e x t e r n a l ju m p in g
o f t h e e n t i r e body and all its lim bs, in w h ic h ca s e a p e r s o n m i g h t
a s s u m e d i f f e r e n t m o v e m e n t s and p o s t u r e s s im ila r to th o s e
e m p lo y e d in y o g a and T a i C h i C h u a n . T h o s e w h o are fo n d o f
m y s tic is m m ay c o n s id e r th is to be s o m e t h i n g w o n d e r f u lly
m y stical.
In t h e past s o m e individuals specialized in t h e p ra ctic e o f
d iv ine b o x in g , w h ic h o r ig in a te d b e ca u se o f t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f
this p h e n o m e n o n in m e d ita t io n . P r a c t i t i o n e r s o f div ine b o x in g
and people w h o p rac tic e " t u m b l i n g clou d ," b o t h o f w h ic h w e r e
in itia te d f r o m this p h e n o m e n o n , o f t e n e x p e r i e n c e h a r m f u l
e f f e c t s and c o n s e q u e n c e s .
Is th is p h e n o m e n o n m y s tic a l? N o t at all. It is h a lf
ph y sio lo g ica l and h a lf p sy ch olog ica l. E v e n t h e p h y sio lo g ica l h a lf
o f th is r e a c ti o n s e e m s to be ca u se d by s e l f - s u g g e s t i o n . N e r v o u s
te n s io n is o f t e n ca u se d w h e n a p e r s o n p u sh e s h i m s e l f to o hard.
T h i s te n s io n is re fle c t e d in t h e s u b c o n s c i o u s m in d w h ic h , in
tu r n , c a u se s th e initial tr e m b li n g o f n e r v e s and m u s cle s . T h e s e
s u b c o n s c i o u s h in ts s u b s e q u e n t l y e n t e r n a tu ra lly i n to c o n s c i o u s
n e s s w h ic h t h e n e n h a n c e s t h e v i b r a tio n s and tr e m b lin g .
T h r o u g h t h e s e s u b c o n s c io u s s e l f - s u g g e s t i o n s a p e r s o n o f t e n
78
18___________________
W hat Happens After C h i
Channels Open?
B y fo llo w in g th e usu al p rinciples o f m e d ita t io n , th e Great
Circulation of Heaven and Small Circulation of Heaven d escribed in
T a o i s m will re g u la rly o c c u r if o n e ca n o p en up t h e Jen and Tu
M ai. W h a t a b o u t th e t h r e e ch'i c h a n n e l s and s e v e n ch a k ra s o f
e s o te r ic B u d d h is m ? W h a t h a p p e n s w h e n t h e y a r e all op en and
o n e is w i t h i n th e scope o f t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f T a o ? T h i s is a v e ry
i m p o r t a n t q u e s tio n . T h e o p e n i n g o f t h e Jen and Tu M a i and th e
r o t a t i o n o f t h e riv e r c h a r i o t a r e believed , by t h e T a o i s t s w h o
p ra c tice to b e c o m e i m m o r t a ls , to be t h e h i g h e s t s ecr et.
P e o p le o f t e n b elieve t h a t th e r o t a t io n o f t h e riv e r c h a r io t is
a l l- i m p o r t a n t and fail to a s k t h e m a in q u e s tio n , w h ic h is h o w
lon g sh o u ld t h e ch'i be r o t a t e d . O n e sh ou ld be a w a r e th a t th e
r o t a t i o n o f t h e riv e r c h a r i o t a n d t h e o p e n in g o f t h e e ig h t e x t r a
m e rid ia n s a re n o t th e u l t i m a t e a c h i e v e m e n t s in t h e c u ltiv a tio n
o f T a o . S t r i c t l y sp e ak in g , t h e r o t a t i o n o f t h e r iv e r c h a r i o t and
cir c u la tio n o f ch'i in t h e e ig h t e x t r a m e rid ia n s a r e good fo r
h e a lt h and r e ju v e n a t i o n , b u t t h e y a re m e r e ly th e g r o u n d w o r k
fo r t h e cu ltiv a tio n and a c h i e v e m e n t o f T a o .
A f t e r t h e riv e r c h a r i o t b eg in s to r o t a t e and ch'i circ u la te s in
th e e ig h t e x t r a m e rid ia n s f o r a c e r ta in tim e , at an o p tim u m
s ta g e ch'i will a u t o m a tic a lly c e a se to r o ta te . T h e ch'i does n o t
r o t a t e b e c a u s e o f its fu lln e ss.
T h e body will g rad ually feel lig ht, clear, w a r m and s o ft and
o n e will r e a c h t h e s t a t e o f " f o r g e t t i n g th e body and e m p tin e s s o f
s e lf." O n l y at this tim e will o n e sud d en ly i n t r o s p e c t and
r e c o g n i z e t h e r o u n d n e s s and illu m in a tio n o f t h e orig in o f
n a t u r e and life. O n e c an a ctu ally s e p a r a te f r o m and u n ite w ith
t h e l a t e r h e a v e n body, w h ic h ha s sh a p e and fo r m , and t h e n
c o m b in e th is orig ina l n a t u r e o n c e ag ain w i t h th is l a t e r h e a v e n
body (or furnace), and m ind (or cauldron) to c o n t i n u e cu ltiv atio n .
In th is w a y o n e can e i t h e r s e p a r a t e o r u n ite w i t h th is body and
7l>
80
N A T U R E AND R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I
19_________
Motives for M editation
M o s t people are m o tiv a te d to p ractice m e d it a t io n f o r t h r e e
re a s o n s : re lig io u s e m o t i o n s , m y s tic a l e x p l o r a tio n s , and lon g life
and g oo d h e a lth . All t h r e e o f t h e s e m o t iv a t io n s a re w i th i n th e
re a lm o f m e d ita tio n . A p e r s o n is u s u ally in fl u e n c e d by th e ideas
o f c u ltiv a tin g i m m o r ta li ty d e s c rib e d by T a o i s t s n o m a t t e r w h a t
his o r h e r m a jo r m o tiv e m a y a ctu ally be.
T h e m a j o r t e n e t o f T a o i s t i m m o r ta li ty is t h a t " t h e h u m a n
body ha s th e m e d icin e to c u r e i t s e l f ." In th is c o n t e x t , m e d icin e
does n o t r e f e r to m a te ria l m e d icin e alone. M a t e r i a l m e d ic in e is
external golden Tan a cc o r d in g to th e t h e o r y o f im m o r ta li ty . Tan
in d icate s s o m e t h i n g a p e r s o n m i g h t ta k e to b e c o m e an i m m o r
tal, and it is t r u e th a t e x t e r n a l g o ld en Tan m i g h t be a n e c e s s a r y
aid to s o m e people at c e r ta i n s ta g e s o f d e v e l o p m e n t in
m e d ita tio n .
T a o i s m , h o w e v e r , e m p h a s i z e s th e c u ltiv a tio n o f internal
golden Tan. I a m re m in d e d o f m a n y e m p e r o r s and ce le b r itie s
d escrib e d in C h i n e s e h i s t o r y w h o w a n te d to b e c o m e im m o r ta ls .
A n u m b e r o f t h e s e people t o o k e x t e r n a l m e d ic in e s w h ic h th e y
believed w o u ld p r o m o t e lo n g e v i ty b u t w h ic h p o is o n e d t h e m
instead .
T h e Tan Sutras, w h ic h e x p l o r e th e m e t h o d s fo r a tta in in g
i m m o r t a li t y , m e r e ly add to t h e c o n f u s i o n s in c e n o d e fin itio n o f
Tan can be fo u n d in an y o f t h e m .
82
Part III
Cultivation of Ching, Chi
and Shen
21
Timing and Stages of Cultivation
S i n c e th e M i n g d y n a s ty , due to p r o m o t io n by th e W u Liu
s ch oo l, t h e t h e o r y c o n c e r n i n g th e s e q u e n c e o f b e c o m in g an
i m m o r t a l t h r o u g h t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f T a o has b e c o m e v e ry
po p u la r. It c o r r e s p o n d s to t h e t h e o r y o f t h e t h r e e s ta g e s o f
c u ltiv a tio n .
It is said t h a t " B u ild in g up t h e fo u n d a ti o n in o n e h u n d r e d
d a y s" is t h e p r e lim in a r y s t a g e r e q u ire d fo r t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f
ching i n to ch'i, and t h a t " p r e g n a n c y f o r te n m o n t h s " is th e
p r e lim in a r y s ta g e n e c e s s a r y f o r th e t r a n s m u a t i o n o f ch'i in to
shen. " T o su ck le fo r t h r e e y e a r s " is t h e b e g i n n i n g o f th e
t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f shen in to void o r e m p ti n e s s . Finally, " f a c in g th e
wall f o r n i n e y e a r s " 10 is t h e la st s te p re q u i r e d f o r b re a k in g up
th e e m p ty space.
S o m e people co m p a r e th is t h e o r y w i t h t h e c u ltiv a tio n
m e t h o d s o f e s o t e r ic B u d d h is m . P e rh a p s this is v e rifia b le . T h e
s e q u e n c e s m e n t i o n e d a b o v e a r e s im ilar to t h o s e e x p e r i e n c e d by
10T h i s p h r a s e is f r o m t h e f i r s t Z e n p a t r i a r c h , B o d i - D h a r m a , w h o f a c e d t h e w a l l
t o m e d i t a t e f o r n i n e y e a r s in t h e S h a u L i n te m p l e .
T h e Concept of C'hin^
! 1 It is i m p o r t a n t t o r e m e m b e r t h a t sperm is o n e o f t h e m e a n i n g s o f ching.
88
T h e p r o d u c tio n o f s p e r m a n d eg g s in t h e body is a n a tu r a l
p h e n o m e n o n . It is su p p osed t h a t if o n e b e lie v e s s u p p re s s in g
e ja c u la tio n could p ossibly e n h a n c e h e a lt h and add to lo n g life,
th is p e r s o n is s u f f e r i n g f r o m illusions a rising f r o m a n a b n o r m a l
s e x u a l life and s t r a n g e m e n t a l s t a t e s . S u c h cla im s, it is believed,
are m e r e ly i n n o c e n t lies.
T h e s e th e o r ie s involve p h y s io lo g y , s e x u a l p s y ch o lo g y ,
n e u r o lo g y and b io c h e m is tr y b u t, a l t h o u g h t h e y g ive n u m e r o u s
clues, t h e y lack final c o n c lu s io n s . H o w e v e r , it is b elie v e d to be
im p o s s ib le t h a t a p u re and sim p le m a n m i g h t n e v e r e ja c u la te in
his e n tir e life tim e o r could live a life t h a t is h e a l t h i e r and lo n g e r
t h a n th a t o f m o s t o t h e r people. O n th e c o n t r a r y , people w h o
r e f r a i n f r o m e ja c u la tin g are o f t e n m e la n c h o ly due t o a b n o r m a l
s e x u a l and m e n t a l s ta te s and die o f c e r e b r a l ap o p le xy o r can c e r.
T h e r e f o r e , f r o m th e v ie w p o in t o f m o d e r n m e d ical scie n ce ,
th e o r ie s t h a t a d v o c a te r e n e w i n g t h e b ra in t h r o u g h r e t u r n i n g
ching so t h a t o n e can live l o n g e r " a n d th e " t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f ching
in to ch'i" a r e s h e e r n o n s e n s e .
T he Co ncep t of Ching
89
M e d ic a l a r ts o f s e x u a l b e h a v io r s e c r e t ly s p re a d a m o n g th e
people. B o o k s s u c h as The Yellow Emperor's Plain Woman Sutra and
The Secrets of the jad e Bedroom, a kind o f s e x u a l p s y c h o lo g y , b e c a m e
s e c r e t. F u r t h e r , s o m e p eople c u r r e n t l y t e a c h o t h e r s h o w to
p re s s a c u p u n c t u r e p o in ts t o s to p t h e lea k a g e o f s e m e n . T h o s e
w h o l e a r n t h e s e te c h n i q u e s o f t e n b e c o m e i m p o t e n t , b u t th e y
a re b elie v e d to h av e t e r m i n a t e d t h e d esire f o r s e x t h r o u g h T a o .
S o m e o f t h e s e people g e t s t o m a c h p ro b le m s , v o m i t blood,
d ev elop e p is ta x is , apo plexia o r i n s a n ity . P eo p le w h o c o n t a m i
n a te t h e i r blood by avoid ing e ja c u la ti o n u s u ally b e c o m e th in and
t h e i r fa c e s s h o w a y e llo w ca st. T h e y m a y lose t h e jo y o f life but,
still, s u c h p e op le a re lu ck y c o m p a r e d to th e re ally b ig d isaste rs.
N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e claim s o f t h e s e T a o i s t b ooks a b o u t e ja c u la tio n
and le a k a g e an d m e t h o d s f o r living in h a r m o n y w i t h o n e 's life
fo rc e , v ita lity and a ge a re c o m p a tib le w i t h t h e re s u lts o f
r e s e a r c h d o n e in m o d e r n m ed ical science.
A n c i e n t people h a v e said, " A l t h o u g h it is a s m a ll T a o , it is
s o m e t h i n g in d e e d ." F r o m t h e s ta n d p o in t o f b r o a d s tu d y and
c a r e fu l th i n k i n g , a side d o o r is also a door, a n d left T a o , o r
d e f le c tio n f r o m T a o , is also T a o . O n e c a n n o t i g n o r e o r d en y this
co m p le te ly .
91
F r o m t h e s ta n d p o in t o f "b u ild in g up fo u n d a t i o n s in o n e
h u n d r e d d a y s " and " t r a n s m u t i n g ching i n to ch'i, it is a pity t h a t
t h e r e a r e as m a n y w h o c u ltiv a te T a o as t h e r e a r e h a irs on an ox
b u t as f e w w h o a c h iev e it as t h e r e are h o r n s o f l in .12
I f a p e r s o n lacks s e x u a l d e s ire b e c a u s e o f old age, illness,
i m p o t e n c e , or, if his s e x u a l g lan d s lose t h e i r a b ility to re v iv e due
to p ra c tic e o f t h e side door-left Tao, o r h e t e r o d o x T a o i s m , t h e n this
p e r s o n h a s alread y b r o u g h t his r e g e n e r a t iv e s y s t e m o f vitality
to an end and u n le s s h e re v iv e s his vita lity in t h e r ig h t w ay,
t h e r e are no p ro s p e c ts f o r f u r t h e r c u ltiv a tio n .
W e h a v e e xp lain ed ching and ch'i in t e r m s o f a p h ysiolog ical
a p p r o a ch th a t is n o t at all s u b tle . O n e w h o w i s h e s to pro ceed
and t r a c e th e o rig in s o f ching and chi shou ld e x p l o r e th e m ind
ching o f B u d d h is m , sin ce it m a y lead o n e to u n c o v e r th e
principles o f real ching in th e s u p r e m e T a n D h a r m a , t h e D h a r m a
o f im m o r ta li ty .
_______________ 23
Transmutation of Ching into C hi
In o r d e r to u n d e r s ta n d t h e real m e a n in g o f t h e t r a n s m u t a
tio n o f ching in to ch'i, w e m u s t pay a t t e n t i o n to t h e c o n n e c ti o n s
b e t w e e n t h e p h r a s e s Ching Shen, Ching Ch'i, Ching Force and M ind
Force. In tra d itio n a l C h i n e s e c u ltu r e , t h e n o u n s ching, ch'i and shen
w e r e o rig in a lly co m p le te ly s e p a r a t e and i n d e p e n d e n t. In later
ages, ching and shen w e r e c o m b in e d to fo r m a p r o p e r n o u n . It is
d ifficu lt to d efin e Ching Shen clearly.
12L i n is a f a b u l o u s f e m a l e a n i m a l r e s e m b l i n g t h e d e e r . H o rn o f lin d e s c r i b e s v e r y
r a r e t h i n g s , s i n c e lin h a v e n o h o r n s !
92
D u r in g t h e H a n d y n a s ty and t h e r e a f t e r , T a o i s t s d e s ig n a te d
ching, ch'i and shen as th e m a jo r c o n s t i t u e n t s o f t h e m e d icin e fo r
im m o r ta li ty . T h i s w as b ased u p o n t h e Yellow Emperor's Classic of
Internal Medicine and t h e Huang Ting Ching, o r Yellow Y a rd Sutra. In
t h e Huang Ting Ching it is said t h a t " t h e to p t h r e e m e d ic in e s are
shen, ch'i and ching. T h i s w a s b e f o r e t h e im p o r t a n c e o f ching, ch'i
and shen w e r e e m p h a s iz e d fo r t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f i m m o r ta li ty . It
is d ifficu lt t o d e f in e ching, ch'i and shen clearly, b u t t h e y ca n be
lik ened to heat, force and light. Ching is t h e heat o f life, ch'i is fo rc e
and shen is lig ht. If h e a t, f o r c e and light are m is s in g f r o m a
h u m a n life, th is is th e s y m b o l o f d ea th .
L ik e u n iv e r s a l physical p h e n o m e n a , ching, ch'i and shen are
s e p a r a te in h u m a n life but, s te p by ste p , th e y m e r g e i n to o n e
a n o t h e r . Shen f u n c t i o n s in t h e b rain ; ch'i f u n c t i o n s in t h e c h e s t
and s t o m a c h ; ching fu n c ti o n s in t h e l o w e r a b d o m e n , t h e k idney s
and g e n ita l o r g a n s . T h e fu n c t i o n o f ching is closely re la t e d to th e
e n t i r e e n d o c r i n e s y s t e m in m o d e r n m edical scie n ce . B u t , if o n e
c o n t e m p la t e s t h e vie w t h a t ch'i m u s t be s e p a ra te d f r o m ching,
and shen m u s t be g e n e r a t e d f r o m ch'i, t h e n o n e ca n s ee t h a t this
is a p o o r th e o r y .
F r o m t h e v ie w p o in t o f p hy sics, h e a t and fo r c e are g e n e r
ated f r o m lig ht. A n a lo g o u s ly , ching and ch'i s u r e ly a rise f r o m
shen. In in s a n ity , ching and ch'i h a v e a n a tu r a l te n d e n c y to be w e a k
and feeble.
O n e s h o u ld re a lize t h a t t h e fe e lin g o f happiness orgasm is
f r o m ching; d e t e r m i n a t i o n and f i r m n e s s o f will a re f r o m th e
activ itie s o f t h e ch'i f o r c e w h e n it is full; and t h e agility o f
o u t s t a n d in g s h a r p n e s s and w is d o m a ris e f r o m t h e q u ie tu d e , or
samadhi, o f shen.
B u d d h is m e m p h a s iz e s t h e cu ltiv a tio n o f m in d and th e
n o u r i s h m e n t o f n a tu r e . It p r o m is e s t o c h a n g e a p e r s o n 's m e n ta l
level t h r o u g h r e f l e c t iv e t h o u g h t . T h i s is th e s t a r t i n g p o in t. T h e
e f f e c t s and a t t a i n m e n t s o f B u d d h is ts a r e t h e t w o kinds o f chi
and shen, s im ila r to t h e s u p r e m e Tan D harm a o r t h e m e th o d s
e m p lo y e d by t h o s e w is h in g t o b e c o m e T a o i s t im m o r ta ls .
B u d d h is ts b le n d th e c u ltiv a tio n o f ching fr o m w ith in .
In th e S u n g d y n a s ty and t h e r e a f t e r , t h e T a o i s t s e m p h a s iz e d
t h e s e q u e n c e o f transmutation of ching into chi, t h e transmutation of
ch'i into shen, an d t h e transmutation of shen into nothingness. T h e s e
93
m e t h o d s a r e an a lo g o u s to t h e t h r e e g r e a t princip les o f B u d
d h ism ; d iscipline (or o b s e r v in g S i/), c u ltiv a tio n o f S amadhi (or
q u ie tu d e ), and w isd o m . A p e r s o n w h o m a s t e r s t h e i r c o n t e n t s
will n o t ic e t h a t t h e r e is n o d if f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e s e fo r m s o f
T a o i s m and B u d d h is m .
W e k n o w t h a t if a p e r s o n in s is ts t h a t s p e r m and eg g s are
t h e basis f o r cu ltiv a tin g T a o and m e d ita tio n , h e s h o u ld e x a m in e
this p r o b l e m in c a re fu l detail. H o w e v e r , t h e s e c o n c e p t s and
m e th o d s will h a v e a d if f e r e n t m e a n i n g fo r people w h o already
h a v e w e a k , d e t e r i o r a te d bod ies o r w h o h a v e pa ssed middle age
and h a v e e n t e r e d old age. C u lt iv a t in g T a o and m e d ita t io n
re q u i r e s w is d o m . It c a n n o t be d o n e f r o m th e b e g i n n i n g to th e
v e r y en d by blind b elie f o r s t u b b o r n i n s is te n c e o n a biased po in t
o f view .
H u m a n life is th e c o m b i n a ti o n o f m in d and body. T h e m ain
activ itie s o f t h e body are ching and ch'i, w h ic h b e lo n g t o th e
r e a lm o f fe e lin g . T h e m a jo r a ctiv ity o f m in d b elo n g s, in a w ord,
to t h e r e a lm o f p e rc e p tio n and c o n s c io u s n e s s , shen.
W e h a v e c o v e r e d t h e p h y siolog ical r e a c tio n s o f t h e body, or
t h e d y n a m ic s o f t h e ch'i c h a n n e ls . All this b e lo n g s to t h e re alm
o f feeling. F e e lin g is la te r h e a v e n w i th c o n t in u o u s c h a n g e . T h e
initial a c h i e v e m e n t o f c u ltiv a tio n b e g in s w i t h fe e lin g and
r e t u r n s to fe e lin g and p e r c e p tio n and e n t e r s i n to a s t a t e o f
u n ific a tio n . T h e r e is no w a y to cu ltiv a te w i t h o u t feeling.
E v e r y o n e sh ou ld u n d e r s t a n d th a t o p e n in g up Jen and Tu
M a i and all e ig h t e x t r a m e rid ia n s are e f f e c t s o f t h e a c h ie v e
m e n t s o f fe e lin g . D u r in g t h e c o u r s e o f transmutation of ching into
chi, t h e r e are r e a c ti o n s f r o m t h e flu e n t ch'i c h a n n e l s , and th e
re a c ti o n s are d if f e r e n t as t h e Kung Fm13 a d v an ce s. D u r i n g th e
c o u r s e o f t h e transmutation of ch'i into shen, t h e r e a re also r e a c tio n s
f r o m t h e f l u e n t ch'i c h a n n e ls t h a t are d if f e r e n t f r o m th o s e
w h ic h o c c u r d u rin g th e transmutation of ching into ch'i. S i n c e a n c ie n t
tim e s, " n i n e r o t a t i o n s f o r m t h e T an " has b ee n d e s c rib e d in th e
Tan Sutra. In l a t e r ages, s o m e people s t r e t c h e d t h e m e a n i n g o f
th is s o t h a t it w o u ld c o r r e s p o n d t o t h e r e a c t i o n s o f t h e chi
13In t h i s c o n t e x t K u n g Fu d o e s n o t r e f e r t o e x t e r n a l K u n g F u , o n e o f t h e m a r t i a l
a r t s , b u t t o i n t e r n a l K u n g F u . I n ter n al Ku n g Fu r e f e r s t o v a r i o u s m e d i t a t i o n
t e c h n i q u e s s u c h as p o s t u r e , b r e a t h i n g e x e r c i s e s , a n d t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f e n e r g y .
'
96
24_______________
C ultivation of C hi and
Stopping the Breath
W e h a v e d es crib e d th e t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f ching i n to ch'i and
shall n o w t u r n to th e t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f ch'i i n to shen. Ching ca n be
c o n v e r te d in to ch'i by c u ltiv a tio n , b ut h o w can w e t r a n s m u t e ch'i
in to shen ? T h e s e ideas so u n d f a s c i n a ti n g b ut m a n y d ifficu lties
r e m a i n . 14
Ching is n o t on ly s e m e n , an d ch'i is n o t m e r e ly t h e air w e
b r e a t h e . E f f e c t i v e cu ltiv a tio n c o n s is ts in applying t h e ch'i o f
b r e a t h to tr i g g e r t h e real ch'i w h ic h is l a t e n t in th e h u m a n body.
It is especially d ifficu lt to d e f in e real chi fo r c o m p r e h e n s i o n by
fo r e ig n frie n d s. In W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s t h e r e is a t e n d e n c y to
c o r r e l a t e ch'i w i t h prana and t h e k u n dalin i. T h e s e w o r d s do n o t
m e a n e x a c tly t h e s a m e th i n g as t h e real ch'i in t h e samadhi o f
T a o i s m . T h e r e are s im ila ritie s in detail, b ut actu a lly t h e r e are
still d if f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n t h e s e c o n c e p ts. T h e m o d e r n s cie n tific
idea o f t h e life energy o f th e h u m a n body is s o m e w h a t c lo s e r to
th e m e a n i n g o f real ch'i t h a n t h e Ind ian c o n c e p t o f prana.
S o lo n g as v a r io u s fe e lin g s o c c u r d u rin g t h e c o u r s e o f
m e d ita tio n , m a n y people te n d to b elie v e t h a t t h e y h a v e already
a cc o m p lis h e d t h e t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f ching in to ch'i. I f t h e s e
fe e lin g s s p re a d a lo n g t h e spinal cord o r if th e y o c c u r a r o u n d th e
c h e s t and a b d o m e n , a p e r s o n u s u a lly believes t h a t ch'i is m o v in g
along t h e Tu M a i and has alrea d y o p e n e d up t h e Jen and T u M a i .
S o lon g as o n e is h e a lt h y o r s u f f e r i n g on ly f r o m a s lig h t illness,
h e can m e d ita t e in a c e r ta in p o s itio n f o r a lon g ti m e and will
e x p e r i e n c e t h e s e s e n s a t io n s s o o n e r o r later. B u t t h e s e are
defin ite ly n o t t h e g e n u i n e e f f e c t s o f t h e t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f ching
in to ch'i. T h e s e s e n s a t io n s are d es irab le e f f e c t s o f m e d it a t io n but
p e rh a p s a p e r s o n has n o t y e t cu ltiv a te d h i m s e lf e n o u g h to
actu ally build a fir m fo u n d a ti o n fo r t h e actu al t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f
ching in to ch'i.
14S o m e o f t h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s wil l b e d i s c u s s e d in t h e f o l l o w i n g c h a p t e r s .
97
_______________ 25
The Wonder and Mystery of Breath
T h e p h e n o m e n o n o f s p o n t a n e o u s l y h a ltin g t h e b r e a t h
d u rin g m e d ita t io n m u s t be e xplain ed in o r d e r to clearly
c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e p h e n o m e n a o f t r a n s m u t i n g ching in to ch'i.
Chih Hsi is t h e s p o n t a n e o u s ce ss a tio n o f b r e a t h during
m e d ita t io n . In th e fo u r d h y a n a and th e e ig h t c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f
B u d d h is t m e d ita t io n , t h a t is k n o w n as halting the ch'i. T h i s is t h e
real Kung Fu o f bottled ch'i in yoga. T h o s e w h o practice yoga
usu ally p ra c tic e d if f e r e n t m e t h o d s o f c o n t r o llin g and h a ltin g th e
b r e a t h , b u t this is n o t th e h ig h e s t po ssible a c h ie v e m e n t .
G e n u i n e bottle ch'i is th e s p o n t a n e o u s c e s s a ti o n o f b r e a t h during
m e d ita t io n , w h a t t h e e s o t e r ic B u d d h ists call treasure bottle ch'i.
D u r in g m e d ita tio n , a p e r s o n occasionally feels th e c e ss a tio n
o f his b re a t h . W h e n this o c c u r s due to to o m u c h m e n ta l
c o n c e n t r a t io n , o n e feels s t i f f and rigid, and bodily te n s io n
grad ually in c re a se s . T h i s leads to t h e c e s s a tio n o f b r e a t h but it is
n o t t r u e Chih Hsi or a g e n u i n e case o f halting ch'i; it is m e re ly
n e r v o u s te n s io n . If o n e c a n n o t relax and r e t u r n to a n a tu r a l
s ta te in s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s , his m ind will v irtu a lly w ilt and die.
If this c o n t in u e s , h e will e v e n tu a lly e x p e r ie n c e rigid ity in eve ry
jo in t t h r o u g h o u t his e n t i r e body. T h i s is an illness. T h e only
w a y o n e can heal o n e s e lf is to relax t h e mind and body as m u c h
as possible. F u r t h e r , o n e can r e le a s e th e t e n s io n by e xh a lin g
slo w ly o v e r and o v er again. It is usually a g oo d idea to blow the
air o u t v e r y slo w ly w h ile m a k in g t h e sou nd H aaaaa. T h i s shou ld
be d o n e r e p e a ted ly un til o n e o n c e again b r e a t h e s n o r m a lly , like
a p e r s o n w h o is sleepin g. If th is is d one f o r a s h o r t tim e, t h e n
o n e will be able to ad vance t o a h ig h e r level and g o up o n e m o r e
floor. T h e r e are s o m e w h o will r e m a in s t i f f e v e n t h o u g h th e y
a re se r io u s ly a tte m p t in g to r e la x , and th e y m a y r e q u ir e special
in s t r u c t io n s in e s o te r ic B u d d h is m or T a o is m .
A p e r s o n w h o is actu ally full o f t h e ching fo r c e , calm and
q u iet in m ind and body, and has b eg u n to e n t e r th e s ta g e o f
transmuting ching in to ch'i will f ir s t n o tic e t h a t his e n t i r e body has
b e c o m e s o f t and t e n d e r and s e e m s to lack s t r e n g t h . A d v a n c in g
98
C U L T I V A T I O N O F CH IN C , CH'I A ND SHEN
1 00
101
r a t e is 7 2 tim e s a m i n u t e , f o u r ti m e s th e r e s p i r a t i o n r a te . A n
a v e r a g e m a n 's re s p ir a tio n r a t e adds up to 2 5 , 9 2 0 ti m e s a d a y
e x a c tly t h e s a m e n u m b e r as t h e n u m b e r o f y e a r s in a G r e a t
S id e re a l Y e a r . A G r e a t S i d e r e a l Y e a r is t h e l e n g t h o f tim e
re q u ire d f o r all th e p la n e ts o f t h e so lar s y s t e m t o r e t u r n to t h e i r
orig in al p o sitio n s .
_______________ 27
C ultivating C hi and
Calm ing the Mind
If t h e m in d and body r e m a in in an a b s o lu te ly q u iet s ta te ,
t h e r e will b e n o in w a rd d is t u r b a n c e f r o m t h o u g h t s , illusions,
w o r r i e s , s o r r o w , s a d n e s s o r ir r ita tio n . If t h e r e is n o o u tw a r d
co m p u ls io n t o w o r k o r e x e r c i s e , a p e r s o n will in h a le and e x h a le
n a tu r a lly and w i t h o u t d iz z in e ss , s le e p in e s s o r m e n t a l c h a o s and
c o n f u s i o n . A f t e r a day and a n ig h t, all o n e 's p h y s ica l e n e r g y and
v ita lity n a tu r a lly r e c o v e r s its o rig in a l s t a t e o f fu lln e ss . T h i s
r e s e m b l e s th e r e t u r n o f th e p la n e ts to th e ir p o s itio n s d u rin g th e
G r e a t S i d e r e a l C y c l e s o f th e s o la r s y s te m .
In th is s t a t e o f fu lln e ss , th e b r e a t h will a u t o m a ti c a l ly h a lt
f o r a s h o r t w h ile, in d ica tin g t h a t b r e a t h and ch'i h a v e re a c h e d
th e s a t u r a t i o n p o int. If o n e c a n m a i n ta i n th is s t a t e o f fu lln e ss
w i th re a l ca lm and m e n t a l q u ie t, h e will t h e n a r r i v e a t t h e p o in t
o f t r a n s m u t i n g ching i n to ch'i and ch'i in to shen. It is s u c h a pity
t h a t t h e r e a r e so m a n y w h o c u ltiv a te t h e T a o a n d m e d ita t io n
w i t h o u t k n o w in g this principle.
M o s t people a d h e re to t h e old th e o r ie s o f t h e Tan Sutra and
T a o i s t b o o k s ; and b e c a u s e o f th e i r o w n c o n c e ite d , o f t e n
e r r o n e o u s op in io n s , th e y o f t e n w o r k day a n d n i g h t " e x h a l i n g
t h e old a n d in h a lin g t h e n e w . " T h e y belie ve t h a t t h e y are
w o r k i n g o n t h e K u n g Fu o f t r a n s m u t a t i o n . W h a t a pity!
102
28____________________
Three Flowers and Five C hi
W h a t s o r t o f ch i is involved in th e tr a n s m u t a t i o n o f ching
in to ch'i? In C h in e s e , apoplexy m e a n s hit by wind. Is th e ch'i in the
ch'i blood o f C h i n e s e medical science and th e wind in ap oplexy the
sa m e o r d ifferen t fr o m th e ch'i m en tio n e d by T a o is ts ? T h is is an
im p o r ta n t q uestion .
Since th e H a n d y nasty , th e wind of th e air c u r r e n t and the
ch'i o f h u m a n resp iratio n h a v e usually been believed to be the
s a m e in th e C h i n e s e medical arts. In th e p reviou s section, ch'i
w as defined as life e n e rg y , but th o s e w h o m e d ita te and cu ltivate
lo n gevity should n o t suppose t h a t th e air of th e a tm o s p h e r e and
th e ch'i o f h u m a n resp iratio n a re th e sam e as th e ch'i m e n tio n e d
in T a o is m and eso te ric B uddhism . O t h e r w i s e , o n e could m istak e
th e re a ctio n s of n e rv e s and m u scles for th e circulation o f real
chi and, con se q u e n tly , w ould be confined to th e re alm of
physiological sen sa tio n s and feelings.
1 5D i f f e r e n t b r e a t h i n g e x e r c i s e s a n d C h i K u n g a r e h e l p f u l t o h u m a n h e a l t h , b u t
a n o t h e r b o o k w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d t o d i s c u s s t h i s in d e ta il .
104
is n o t
top. A
e ig h t
in his
l b T i H u is c l a r i f i e d b u t t e r a n d K u a n g Ti n g is s p r i n k l i n g w a t e r o n t h e h e a d in
bap tism .
106
107
108
IO>