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Master Huai Chin Nan

1m b -& o h y 'C-iAnsformAtion
An original discussion about meditation
and the cultivation of Tao

Translated by

Wen Kuan Chu, Ph.D


From the original Chinese by

Huai-Chin Nan
Edited by

Karen Allen, Ph.D.

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

1972 Huai-Chin Nan .

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,

Sym bol o f Longevity b y the fam ily o f M a d a m Han H s i - m e n g , the w if e o f


Ku S c h o u - e h ' i c n , m id dle and late M i n g dy na st y. U s e d by kind p e r m i s
sion o f the Natio nal P a la c e M u s e u m . T a ip e i . T a iw a n . R e p u b li c o f C h i n a .
Printed in the U nite d S t a te s o f A m e r ic a
T h e pa pe r used in the p u blic ati on m eets the m i n i m u m re q u irem en ts o f
the A m e r ic a n N ation al St and ard for P e r m a n e n c e o f Pape r for Print ed
Lib r a ry M ate rials Z 3 9 . 4 8 - 1 9 9 2 ( R 1 9 9 7 ) .

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.

T h e N a t u r e and R e a c t io n s o f Ch'i ...............................31


T h e N a t u r e o f Ch'i .................................................................. 3 3
R e a c t io n s o f Ch'i D u r in g M e d it a t io n
........................3 6

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

a b a n d o n any o f his re lig ious b e lie fs n o r re q u ire d to p o sit and


a d h e r e to any ad ditional beliefs in o r d e r to begin.
S i n c e a n c i e n t tim e s, a g r e a t m a n y b o o k s a b o u t i m m o r ta li ty
h a v e been w r i t t e n and ca re fu lly stu d ied . B u t w h o is a real
i m m o r ta l? S in c e it s o m e t i m e s s e e m s u n r e a s o n a b l e f o r o n e to
e x p e ct to live a lon g life, it is n o t at all i r r a tio n a l to s u s p e c t th a t
th e th e o r y o f im m o r t a li t y is based u p o n a lie. T h i s s o r t o f
su sp icio n is n o t m e r e ly a m o d e r n o n e . S o m e o f th e a n c ie n t s
a p p a r e n tly e n t e r t a i n e d v e ry sim ilar d o u b ts . F o r e x a m p le , C h i
K a n g , o n e o f th e s e v e n w is e m e n o f th e b a m b o o g ro v e ,
d eveloped a t h e o r y o f r e g im e n in w h ic h he a t t e m p t e d to
r a tio n a lly p ro v e t h a t i m m o r ta li ty ca n be a ttain e d . S i n c e C h i
K a n g lived and w r o t e d u rin g t h e C h i n d y n a s ty , it s e e m s as if he
m u s t h av e d ev elop ed his t h e o r y in an a t t e m p t to d e m o n s t r a t e
t h e t r u t h o f t h e t h e o r y o f i m m o r t a li t y to m e n living at th a t
tim e.
C h i K a n g a r g u e d t h a t f o llo w in g a r e g im e n fo r a tta in in g
i m m o r t a li t y is a p p r o p ria te since th e w a y o f i m m o r ta li ty e n a b les
o n e to t r a n s c e n d w o rld lin e s s and a t t a i n G o d s h ip . A l t h o u g h we
m a y n o t be able to e i t h e r c o n f ir m o r d eny C h i K a n g 's
a s s u m p tio n t h a t it leads to sp iritu al tr a n s c e n d e n c e , at t h e v e ry
l east w e c a n n o t d en y th a t fo llo w in g th e w ay o f i m m o r ta li ty is
e x t r e m e l y h e lp ful. S i n c e fo llo w in g a r e g im e n o f this s o r t p ro ves
to be o f c o n s id e r a b le a s s is ta n c e to th o s e involved in th e C h i n e s e
m ed ical a rts , as well as to th o s e e n g a g e d in m o d e r n p s y c h o
a na ly sis, phy sical th e r a p y , and h o listic h e a lt h p ra ctice s , it is well
w o r t h p r o m o t in g .
A t h e o r y w h ic h ha s b e e n t r a n s m i t t e d fro m o n e g e n e r a t i o n
to a n o t h e r f o r th o u s a n d s o f y e a r s m u s t su rely h a v e s o m e
validity. A l t h o u g h t h e t h e o r y o f i m m o r t a li t y may n ot be easy to
u n d e r s ta n d , w e a re n o t t h e r e f o r e e n title d to believe t h a t it is
m e r e ly n o n s e n s e . In s te a d , w e sh ou ld a t t e m p t to d is c o v e r w h y
th is t h e o r y a p p e a rs to be in c o m p r e h e n s i b l e . T h e r e a r e a n u m b e r
o f f a c to r s w h ic h c o n t r i b u t e to o u r initial d ifficu lty . F irst,
a l t h o u g h th e a n c i e n t s w e r e n o t fo o lis h , t h e r e a r e v a s t d i f f e r
e n c e s b e t w e e n t h e t e a c h in g m e t h o d s t h e y e m p lo y e d t h e n and
th o s e w e a re a c c u s t o m e d to today. S e c o n d , t h e n u m b e r o f
people w h o h a v e in v e s tig a te d i m m o r t a li t y in d ep th a m o u n t s to
no m o r e th a n a h a n d fu l sin ce th is s o r t o f r e s e a r c h r e q u i r e s

T a o and Longevity

xiii

s tu p e n d o u s e f f o r t and an ability to w o r k a lo n e . C u lt iv a tin g


im m o r t a li t y is n o t as s im ple as a g e t - r i c h - q u i c k s c h e m e . T h o s e
w h o a re d ed icated to t h e re g u l a r p ra ctice o f c u ltiv a tin g body and
mind will b e n e f i t f r o m its tr e m e n d o u s s e l f - h e a l in g e ffe c ts ,
w h ile t h o s e w h o p ra c tice on ly in e m e r g e n c ie s will not.
A c c o r d in g to th e t h e o r y o f " r o o t b o n e ," t h o s e w h o w is h to
e x p lo r e t h e m y s t e r i e s and tr a n s c e n d th e w o rld sh ou ld h a v e a
n a tu r a l g ift fo r l e a r n in g im m o r ta lity . D u r i n g th e C h 'in g
d y n a s ty , C h a o 1 w r o t e t h e fo llo w in g poem : " I had d ifficu lty
w r itin g ptoetry. W h e n I w as y o u n g , I t h o u g h t it w a s b e c a u s e I
w a s u n r e f i n e d and had n o t y e t p e r fe c te d m y skill. I w a s v e ry old
b e f o r e I finally realized th a t this c a n n o t be a c c o m p lis h e d by h ard
w o r k alo n e . T h r e e t e n t h s o f it d ep en d s u p o n m a n 's e f f o r t b ut
th e r e s t is up to h e a v e n ." P o e t r y is a sm all T a o in l ite r a tu r e , b ut
s o m e o f t h e h ard s h ip s o n e m u s t e n d u r e to a tta in it a re d escribe d
in C h a o I's p o em . It is v e ry d ifficu lt to c h a n g e o n e 's t e m p e r a
m e n t in a s h o r t tim e , and th u s to gain all th e w o n d e r f u l n e s s o f
Tao.
I w i s h to t h a n k m y s t u d e n t s fo r a sk in g q u e s t io n s and
p o sing p r o b l e m s a b o u t m e d ita t io n t h r o u g h o u t th e y e a rs . I hope
t h a t th is b o o k m ay help to a n s w e r s o m e q u e s t io n s and c o r r e c t
s o m e u n d e s ir a b le m e d ita t io n p ra ctice s . I also h o p e to clarify
s o m e o f th e a b s t r u s e p o in ts and o b s c u r e c o n c e p t s th a t appear in
t h e Tan Sutras on im m o r ta li ty . A l t h o u g h th e a n c i e n t s m ay hav e
b ee n u n w illin g to re v e a l a s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d and co m p le te
a c c o u n t, I h o p e this p r e lim in a r y s k e t c h o f m y r e s e a r c h will not
only be h e lp fu l to th o s e i n t e r e s t e d in d ev elop in g a r e g im e n b ut
th a t it will also be a f ir s t s te p fo r additional r e s e a r c h in to th e
ways o f Taoism .
In th is c o n t e x t , th e e x p r e s s io n " f i r s t s te p " is a c a r e fu l ch oice
o f w o rd s and n o t used as a c o n s e q u e n c e o f m o d e s ty . T h i s b ook
d oes n o t c o n t a in an i n -d e p th a n a ly sis o f th e T a o i s t th e o r y o f
i m m o r ta li ty , but it d es crib e s s o m e o f t h e p h y sio lo g ic al and
p s y ch o lo g ical t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s t h a t n a tu ra lly o c c u r d u rin g th e
p ro p e r p ra c tic e o f m e d ita tio n .
Ta ip ei, 1 9 7 3

About the Author


T h e au th o r, H u a i - C h i n N a n , h a s s o u g h t th e o r ig in a n d
s o lu tio n o f life a n d t h e u n iv e r s e s in c e h i s y o u th . H e h a s tr a v e le d
all o v e r C h in a a n d T i b e t in s e a r c h o f tr u t h a n d h a s i n h e r it e d th e
D h a r m a o f Z e n , T a o i s m a n d e s o te r ic B u d d h i s m . I n o r d e r to
cu ltiv a te a n d v e r ify t h e s e t e a c h i n g s , h e r e m a i n e d in s e c l u s i o n in
t h e O m e i M o u n t a i n s in t h e S z e c h w a n P r o v in c e fo r t h r e e y e a rs
a n d t h e n s p e n t s e v e r a l y e a r s in t h e L u M o u n t a i n s o f C h i a n g H s i
P r o v in c e . H e h a s s p e n t h a lf h is life a s a h e r m i t; h e h a s also
t a u g h t p h i l o s o p h y in u n iv e rs itie s . H i s k n o w l e d g e is m a n i fo ld
a n d h is w i s d o m is b rig h t. H e h a s w r i t t e n m a n y b o o k s o n Z e n ,
B u d d h i s m , T a o i s m a n d C o n f u c ia n i s m .

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 .

A Note on the Translation


T h e w o r d Z en h a s b e e n u s e d t h r o u g h o u t th e te x t s in c e it is a
t e r m fa m iliar to m o s t W e s t e r n r e a d e r s . It s h o u ld b e n o t e d th a t
Z en is a ctu ally a J a p a n e s e w o r d a n d Ch'an is th e c o r r e c t C h i n e s e
t ra n s la tio n . R e a d e r s s h o u ld u n d e r s t a n d th a t t h e t e r m s are
in te rch an g e ab le .

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

ch'i r o u te s and th e se v e n ch a k ra s in y o g a and e s o te r ic B u d d h is m .


T h e y usually fo r g e t th e h ig h e s t principles, o r
t h e basis o f
philosophical th e o r y behind t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f T a o and th e
o p e n in g o f th e ch'i r o u te s fo r lo n g e v ity . If s o m e o n e cu ltiv a te s
Tat) for p e rso n al lo n g e v ity , it is t h e e x t r e m e m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f
th e s e l fi s h n e s s in h u m a n n a tu r e .
If o p e n in g t h e ch'i r o u te in th e body is th e fru it o f T a o , t h e n
this I'ao is still th e cry s ta l o f m a te r ia lis m . Is
T a o m in d o r
m a t t e r ? M o s t people d o n 't th in k a b o u t th is v e ry deeply.
D o e s this m e a n t h a t t h e r e is n o po ssibility fo r l o n g e v ity ?
N o! No! A t firs t w e h av e to u n d e r s ta n d tw o i m p o r t a n t p o in ts , l )
L o n g e v ity c o n s i s ts o f m a i n ta i n in g o n e 's h e a lth , s lo w in g d o w n
th e ag ing p ro c e s s , liv ing w i t h o u t illness and pain, and d ying
pe a cefu lly w i t h o u t b o t h e r i n g o t h e r people. 2) I m m o r t a l i t y does
n o t m e a n i n d e fin ite physical lo n g e v ity ; it indicates t h e e te r n a l
spiritu a l life. W h a t do w e m e a n by " t h e spiritu a l life " in this
c o n t e x t ? It is b e y o n d m in d and m a t t e r , and it is t h e p rim itiv e
b e g in n in g o f life.
T h e f u n c t i o n s and p h e n o m e n a o f th e spiritual life m a n i f e s t
t h e m s e lv e s in t h e p hy sical body and c o n s c io u s n e s s . Its n a t u r e is
v e r y co m p lic a te d and will be d is cu ss e d in la te r c h a p t e r s . S in c e
a n c i e n t tim e s, t h e u l t i m a t e g oa l o f all re lig io n s is th e s e a r c h for,
and th e r e t u r n to , an e t e r n a l s p iritu a l life. B e c a u s e o f d i f f e r
e n c e s in la n g u a g e and c u ltu r e t h e m e a n i n g o f " s p ir itu a l life " h as
b e e n e x p r e s s e d in d i f f e r e n t w a ys.
I f T a o c an be cu ltiv a te d , is l o n g e v ity actually p o ss ib le ? I
w o u ld d are to say t h a t T a o can be c u ltiv a te d and t h a t l o n g e v ity
is possible. H o w e v e r , o n e m u s t re a liz e t h a t this is n o t m e r e ly an
e a r th ly e n t e r p r i s e s in ce it in v o lv e s g o i n g b ey o n d e a r th l y th in g s .
If s o m e o n e w i s h e s b o th to s a tis f y his e a r th ly d esire s and to
a ch ie v e im m o r t a li t y , his e f f o r t s w ill be in vain.
T h e r e is t h e old s to r y o f a f a m o u s m an in a v e r y h ig h
g o v e r n m e n t p o sitio n w h o h e a r d o f a T a o i s t w h o had lived m o r e
th a n tw o h u n d r e d y e a r s and still look e d y o u n g . W h e n a s k ed his
s e c r e t t h e T a o i s t a n s w e r e d , "I n e v e r a p p r o a ch e d a w o m a n . " T h e
official w a s d isappo inted , e x cla im in g , " T h e n w h a t is t h e u s e o f
cu ltiv a tin g t h e T a o ? "
In addition t o s e x u a l d esire h u m a n s h a v e o t h e r d e s ire s, o n e
o f th e m b e in g t h e d es ire fo r i m m o r ta li ty . S e e k i n g i m m o r ta li ty ,

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.

Mental and Physical Conditions During Meditation

perp lex e d and a n n o y e d t h a n w h e n th e y w e r e n o t in volve d in


m e d ita tio n . C o n s e q u e n t l y , th e y m i g h t th i n k t h e y sh o u ld n o t
m e d ita te . O r , b eing in flu e n c e d by C h i n e s e le g e n d s and c h iv al
rous n o v e ls , w h ic h o f t e n m e n t i o n g e n e r a t i n g p o w e r s t h r o u g h
m e d ita tio n , b e g i n n e r s a re s o m e t i m e s a p p r e h e n s iv e o f b ein g led
d ow n d a n g e r o u s paths. T h e s e f e a r s actu ally a ris e f r o m m i s
u n d e r s ta n d in g s .

_______________ 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

W h e n a glass o f w a t e r is tu rb id n o d ust is o b s e r v e d in it. B u t


if a cla rify in g a g e n t is added w h e n t h e w a t e r is still, th e d u s t can
be o b s e r v e d to p re c ip ita te to th e b o tto m . T h i s d u s t is n o t
p ro d u ce d m e r e ly b e c a u s e t h e g lass o f w a t e r is in a s t a t e o f q u iet:
it w as t h e r e all t h e tim e. O n l y in th is q u iet s ta te is th e p r e s e n c e
o f d u s t d iscov ered . Sim ila rly , w e do n o t usu ally s ee d u s t in a
r o o m u n le s s s u n s h i n e su d d en ly p a s s e s t h r o u g h th e w in d o w s,
w h ich e n a b les us to see d ust fly in g e v e r y w h e r e .
A l t h o u g h w e o b s e r v e th e m in d 's " d u s t " in m e d ita t io n , it is
n o t n e c e s s a r y to r e m o v e it by an y p artic u la r m e th o d . B y ju s t
k e e p in g q u iet and n o t s h a k in g o r m o v in g so as to n e i t h e r
in c r e a s e n o r d e c r e a s e it, this m e n t a l d ust will n a tu r a lly stop
flyin g aro u nd .
T h e s e c o n d p r o b le m m o s t likely to a rise is t h a t a p e rs o n
g e ts sleepy w h e n e v e r h e is in a re la tiv e ly q u iet c o n d itio n and
m a y fall a sleep u n w ittin g ly . I f th is h a p p e n s , he sh o u ld c a re fu lly
c h e c k h i m s e l f to d e t e r m in e w h e t h e r his sleepy co n d itio n is f r o m
phy sical o r m e n t a l fa tig u e. If so, h e sh o u ld go t o sleep
im m e d ia te ly . A f t e r s u f fic i e n t sleep, w ith vitality r e n e w e d , he
s h o u ld t h e n m e d it a t e again. I f h e finds, h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e r e is
n o f a tig u e in m in d o r body, it is b e t t e r to g e t up to do a little
e x e rc ise . T h e spirit t h u s ro u s ed , h e will be able to m a i n ta i n an
a p p r o p ria te and s ta b le s t a t e o f q u ietu d e.

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

Ch'i Phenom ena of the Body

p r a c t iti o n e r s o f t h e C h i n e s e m edical arts t u r n e d f r o m w i t c h


d o c to r p r a c t ic e s and s h a m a n i s m to t h e m e t h o d s and te c h n o l o g y
o f T a o i s m . C h i n e s e m ed ical scie n ce , t h e t e c h n o l o g y o f T a o i s m ,
and t h e m e t h o d s o f Ind ian y o g a all r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e s o u r c e o f
h u m a n life is in t h e in fin ite s t o r a g e o f ch'i, t h e p o t e n t ia l e n e r g y
la te n t w i t h i n t h e body. In a n c i e n t T a o i s t s u t r a s t h e p rim itiv e
c h a r a c t e r / L is u se d to r e p r e s e n t ch'i. I f w e d is a s s e m b le this
c h a r a c t e r , ^ t h e a n c ie n t c h a r a c t e r f o r J k - , m e a n i n g n o n e . T h e
" has t h e s a m e m e a n i n g as / fire. In o t h e r w o r d s , ch'i, ,. ,
m e a n s no fire. W h a t is m e a n t by fire ? S e x u a l d e s ire s, lust-fille d
a f f e c t i o n s and a t t r a c t io n s , r e s tle s s , b u s tlin g t h o u g h t s and a
r e c k le s s m in d are all c o n n o t e d by fire. In th e a b s e n c e o f this
rapidly b u r n i n g and all c o n s u m i n g fire, o n e w o u ld be filled w ith
vitality. In C h i n e s e m e d ic in e , fire t h a t is m o v i n g r e s tle s s ly is
called secondary fire, w h e r e a s fire in th e c o r r e c t p o sitio n and
p ro p e r c o n d itio n is k n o w n as ruling fire. W h e n o n e h a s ru lin g fire
and is full o f p o te n tia l e n e r g y , t h e l a te n t ch'i can t h e n be
induced.
T h e t e r m s la te n t e n e r g y , kun dalin i, etc., a re w e ll k n o w n in
y og a, e s o t e r i c B u d d h is m and T a o i s m . H o w e v e r , m o s t w h o
e n g a g e in t h e s e p ractice s m i s u n d e r s ta n d th e n a t u r e o f this
l a t e n t e n e r g y o r ku n d alin i, and t h e r e f o r e m a y die o f h ig h
blood p r e s s u r e , c o n g e s t i o n in t h e brain, o r sen ile p s y c h o s e s s u c h
as s c h iz o p h re n ia . T h e y do n o t k n o w th a t th e s o -ca lle d k u n dalin i
is th e w a r m t h p h e n o m e n o n o f th e h e a t Dharm a, w h ic h in
B u d d h is m is t h e firs t s ta g e o f catus-kusala-mula (th e f o u r good
r o o ts o f s p rin g fru it o r t h e s o u r c e s o f d e v e lo p m e n t). It is e a sy to
m is ta k e t h e feeling o f w a r m t h o r h e a t a r o u n d t h e lo w e r
a b d o m e n o r p e r i n e u m f o r t h e a w a k e n in g o f ku n d a lin i. T h i s is
o f t e n an evil fire, r a t h e r t h a n a g e n u i n e a w a k e n i n g o f t h e la te n t
energy.
T h e a n c i e n t C h i n e s e m e a s u r e d tim e by t h e m o v e m e n t o f
th e su n and m o o n and t h e y divided a day i n to tw e l v e h o u rs .
E a ch C h i n e s e h o u r is d ou b le, e q u iv a le n t to tw o s ix t y - m i n u t e h o u rs . T h e tw e lv e C h i n e s e d ou b le h o u r s c o r r e s p o n d to th e
tw e lv e m e rid ia n s , i.e., th e c h a n n e l s th r o u g h w h ic h vital e n e r g y
flow s in a liv ing body. T h e p ra c tic e o f a c u p u n c t u r e is based
up on th e prin cip le th a t chi (or vital e n e r g y ) is f lo w in g t h r o u g h a
specific c h a n n e l d u rin g e a ch d ou b le h o u r.

10

THE N A TU RE O F M E D IT A T IO N

T h e tw e lv e m e rid ia n s are i m p o r t a n t in m edical s c ie n c e but


t h e r e are a d ditional ch'i r o u te s , n o t included a m o n g th e s e
tw elve, th a t a r e i m p o r t a n t in T a o i s m . T h i s involves t h e chi ching
pa mat, o r th e e ig h t e x t r a m e rid ia n s , w h ic h a re th e Tu M ai, Jen
M ai, Ch'ong M ai, T ai M a i, Y ang Wei, Yin Wei, Yang Ch'iao, and Yin
Ch'iao.
T h e Chuang Tze m e n t i o n s t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s b e t w e e n th e
Tu M a i and t h e h u m a n body. T h e Tu M a i c o r r e s p o n d s to th e
spinal cord o f t h e c e n tra l n e r v o u s s y s te m . Jen M a i co r r e s p o n d s
to t h e a u t o n o m ic n e rv o u s s y s t e m and t h e visceral o r g a n s . Tai
M a i c o r r e s p o n d s to th e k id ney n e r v o u s s y s te m . Y ang Wei and
Yin Wei h a v e a close re la tio n s h ip w i th th e c e r e b r u m , c e re b e llu m ,
and d ie n c e p h a l o n 1 n e r v o u s s y s te m s . Y ang Ch'iao and Yin Ch'iao
c o r r e s p o n d to th e g e n ita l n e r v o u s s y s te m , in clu d in g th e
p r o s t a t e gland and t h e n e r v e f u n c t i o n s in t h e h a n d s and fe e t. It
is d ifficult to d e f i n t Ch'ong M a i b u t w e can say th a t it flow s
s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n th e c e n tr a l and a u t o n o m ic n e r v o u s s y s
te m s , a l t h o u g h it has no fixed p o sition o r ran g e . It s ta r ts
b e t w e e n th e t e s t e s and th e penis in a male and b e t w e e n the
v agina and t h e u t e r u s in a fe m a le . It r u s h e s u p w ard to pass
t h r o u g h th e s t o m a c h and t h e h e a r t and th e n r u s h e s to w a r d th e
c e n t e r o f t h e head . O n ly a p e r s o n w h o o p en s up s o m e ch'i ro u te
and actu ally e x p e r i e n c e s th e c irc u la tio n o f ch'i will be c o n v in ced
t h a t ch'i and ch i c h a n n e ls are r e a l . 2

Tan Tien and Chakras


In e s o t e r ic B u d d h is m and Ind ia n yoga, it is s u p p o s e d th a t
t h e r e are t h r e e ch'i r o u t e s and s e v e n c h a k ra s . T h e t h r e e ch'i
r o u t e s a re t h e left, rig h t and m iddle ch'i c h a n n e ls lo c a te d in th e

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.

Ch'i Phenom ena of the Body

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 .

Meditation and the Ch'i Route


D u r i n g m e d ita tio n o n e b e c o m e s m e n ta lly q u i e te r , and
th in k in g slo w s d ow n o r ce a se s . T h e circ u la tio n o f t h e blood
b e c o m e s s lo w e r , so th e b u r d e n on th e h e a r t is d e cr e a s e d . W h e n
o n e m e d it a t e s in a c o r r e c t p o s t u r e , n o t e x h a u s t i n g e n e r g y
t h r o u g h a c tio n , th e e n d o c r i n e s e c r e t io n o f t h e p itu ita r y gland is
e v e n ly d is tr ib u te d , g rad ually c r e a ti n g th e fe e lin g o f b ein g full o f
ch'i. T h e m o s t n o tice a b le s e n s a t io n s o c c u r in th e c e n t r a l n e rv o u s
s y s te m , at t h e end o f th e spinal cord and in th e k id n e y s , and o n e
m ay feel t i g h t n e s s or s w e llin g at t h e s e places. T h e ch'i gradually
3T h e r e is a n o t h e r T a o i s t p o i n t ca l l e d C hon g K u n g ( l i t e r a l l y m e a n i n g , m i d d l e
p a l a c e ) , w h i c h is l o c a t e d b e t w e e n t h e s t o m a c h a n d t h e d i a p h r a g m .

Postures in Meditation

13

inclu ding s o m e s leep in g p o s t u r e s . T h e m o s t p o p u la r p o s t u r e in


B u d d h is m is c r o s s in g t h e legs in t h e h a l f - l o t u s o r fu ll-lotu s.
T h e r a t i o n a l i s t s a f t e r t h e S u n g d y n a s ty s t a r t e d th e i r o w n
m e d ita t io n m e th o d s , w h ic h w e r e in flu e n c e d by B u d d h is m and
T a o i s m . C h 'e n g M i n g T a o p r o m o t e d t h e idea t h a t o n e should
cu ltiv a te o n e 's n a t u r e and m e ta p h y s i c s in q u ie tu d e . H is b r o th e r ,
C h e n g I C h 'u a n , added th e m e t h o d o f " C h u n C h i n g " (to
c le a n s e t h e m in d t h r o u g h a s e r io u s a ttitu d e ). C o n f u c i a n i s t s
h a v e p ra c t ic e d m e d ita t io n e v e r sin ce, by sim ply s it tin g se r io u s ly
o n a c h a ir w i t h t h e h a n d s o n t h e k n e es.
T a o i s m u s e s t h e lo tu s and s leep in g p o s t u r e s . D e p e n d i n g on
p hysical d e m a n d s and c u ltiv a tio n o f th e ch'i r o u t e , d if f e r e n t
p o s t u r e s a r e s o m e t i m e s used.

The Lotus Postures


T h e lo tu s p o s t u r e is also called t h e seven branch sitting
m e th o d , b e c a u s e it in v o lv e s s e v e n k ey p o in ts o f th e body.
1) C r o s s b o th legs (lotu s p o stu re ). I f o n e c a n n o t do this,
t h e n c r o s s o n e leg, e it h e r w i t h t h e rig h t leg o v e r t h e le ft leg, or
w i t h t h e left leg o v e r t h e r ig h t leg. I f o n e c a n n o t e v e n m a k e a
h a l f-l o tu s , o n e can ju s t c r o s s t h e legs ta ilo r fa s h io n .
2) T h e he ad , n eck , and s p in e m u s t be k ept v e rtica lly in a
s tr a i g h t line. I f o n e is w e a k o r sick, do n o t try v e ry h a rd to be
a b s o lu te ly s tr a i g h t.
3) R e s t t h e rig h t h a n d o n t h e le ft hand , p alm s u p w ard , w ith
t h e tip o f t h e t h u m b s to u c h in g , and r e s t t h e m in th e lap. T h i s is
called t h e samadhi seal.
4) K e e p t h e s h o u ld e rs e r e c t w i t h o u t te n s io n ; do n o t let th e
s h o u ld e rs d ro o p o r fall fo rw a rd .
5) S t r a i g h t e n th e head , pull b ack t h e chin to p r e s s th e tw o
(left and rig h t) larg e a r t e r i e s a s lig h t bit.
6) O p e n t h e ey es slig h tly , s e e in g w i t h o u t look in g. Fix y o u r
sig h t a b o u t s e v e n to e ig h t f e e t ah e a d o r f a r t h e r . F o r t h o s e w h o
u s e t h e i r e y es a g r e a t deal it is b e t t e r to clo se t h e e y e s firs t in
m e d ita tio n .
7) P u t y o u r t o n g u e t o t h e sa liv a ry gland o f t h e incisor
g u m s. T h i s is t h e w a y a b a b y w h o has no t e e t h sleeps.

14

THE N A TU RE O F M E D IT A T IO N

/ '

------- -Figure 5.1

Full-Lotus Posture

Additional Directions and Postures


1) R e la x th e body, b rain and n e rv e s . A lso lo o s e n th e
m u s cle s so as n o t t o be u n d e r an y te n s io n . S m ile a little, b e c a u se
a p e rs o n 's n e r v e s a r e at e a se w h e n smiling.
2) B e g i n n e r s shou ld n o t m e d ita t e to o s o o n a f t e r m eals,
sin ce this m i g h t c a u s e in d ig e stio n . A lso, do n o t m e d ita t e w h e n
y ou feel h u n g r y ; it m ig h t d is tu r b y o u r m e d ita tio n .
3) S o m e v e n ti la t io n is d es ira b le , b u t o n e sh o u ld n o t let th e
air blow d irectly o n th e body.
4) D o n o t m e d ita t e in a d a rk place; o t h e r w i s e , y o u m ig h t
te n d to fall asleep. D o n o t m e d ita t e u n d e r b r ig h t lig h ts e ith e r;
y ou m ig h t te n d to be u n d e r t e n s i o n as a c o n s e q u e n c e .

Postures in Meditation

15

Figure 5.2

Half-Lotus Posture
Right leg over left leg.

Left leg over right leg.

5) B e g i n n e r s shou ld n o t try to m e d ita t e t o o long; r a t h e r ,


m e d ita t e f o r on ly a s h o r t ti m e and m e d ita t e m o r e o f te n .
6) A c u s h i o n shou ld be used . A d ju s t th e h e ig h t individually.
T h e ru le is t o be c o m f o r t a b l e . T o o h ig h o r to o low a c u s h io n can
ind u ce t e n s io n . T h e f i r m n e s s o f a c u s h i o n also has to be sele c te d
for com fort.
7) W h e n th e w e a t h e r is cold, u s e a b la n k e t to k e ep y o u r
k n e e s and n e c k w a r m . O t h e r w i s e , y o u will be a fflicte d by a cold,
and t h e r e is n o m e d icin e to cu r e th a t. T h i s is i m p o r ta n t.
8) W h e n you are fin ish e d w i t h y o u r m e d ita t io n , y o u shou ld
u s e y o u r p a lm s to m a s s a g e y o u r fa c e and fe e t b e f o r e arising. It
is also b e n e fic ia l to do s o m e s u ita b le e x e r c i s e a f t e r m e d ita tio n .
If y o u c a n n o t a s s u m e th e h a l f - l o t u s p o s t u r e , o r if y ou
m e d ita t e in h a l f-l o tu s u n til t h e f e e t go to sle e p and w a n t to
c o n t in u e m e d ita t in g , c h a n g e to o n e o f th e p o s t u r e s indicated in
fig u res 5 .3 t h r o u g h 5 . 1 0 on p ag es 1 6 - 1 8 .

It.

THE N A T U RE O F M E D IT A T IO N

Figure 5.3

Sitting on a Chair Posture

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

Six Furnace Posture

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)

Hand PositionsMudras or Signs


In g e n e r a l, t h e spinal c ord is th e c e n t e r o f t h e n e r v o u s
s y s t e m o f t h e h u m a n body, w i th t h e n e r v e s d is tr ib u te d to th e
left and rig h t, and in te rla ce d . T h e y a re s o m e w h a t like th e
b r a n c h e s o f a t r e e , d is tr ib u te d a lo n g th e c e n tr a l tr u n k .
T h e lo tu s (s e v e n b ra n c h ) p o s t u r e c r o s s e s and in te r la c e s th e
h a n d s and fe e t. It has t h e e f f e c t o f c o m m u n i c a t i n g t h e ch'i fr o m
left to r i g h t and f r o m r ig h t to left, and t h e n r e t u r n i n g it to th e
c e n te r . In o t h e r w o rd s , t h e e n e r g y o f th e left side (y a n g ) and th e
rig ht side (yin) can c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h e a c h o t h e r . T h is
th e r e f o r e d e c r e a s e s th e s c a t t e r i n g o f e n e r g y ; each side ha s th e
fu n c ti o n o f a d ju s t in g t h e o t h e r and r e c o v e r i n g t h e prim itive
vitality.

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 .

Effects on HealthThe Head


In th e lo tu s p o s t u r e t h e h e a d is in th e p ro p e r p o sition , th e
c e r e b r u m is s lightly b a c k w a rd so t h a t th e p i tu i ta r y gland will
n o t be p r e s s e d and will be able to r e c o v e r its n o r m a l fu n c tio n .
T h e u n i f o r m e n d o c r in e s e c r e t io n o f th e p itu ita r y gland will th e n
re c o v e r t h e n o r m a l fu n c t i o n s o f t h e th y r o id gland, ly m p h nod es,
and a d re n a l glands. T h e chin is n e x t pulled b ack a bit to put a
slight p r e s s u r e o n th e tw o la rg e a rte rie s . T h e p u m p in g o f th e
blood to t h e b rain is t h e r e f o r e s o m e w h a t s lo w e d d ow n. T h i s
en a b les o n e to d e c r e a s e n e r v o u s t e n s io n and t h e m ad c o u r s in g
o f t h o u g h t . It is also h e lp ful f o r n o r m a liz in g blood p re s s u re .

Effects on HealthCrossed Legs


S o m e people f e a r t h a t c r o s s i n g t h e legs in m e d ita t io n n o t
only c o n s t i t u t e s a h a z a rd t o h e a lt h , b u t th a t t h e p r e s s in g o f th e
blood v e s s e l s o f th e legs m a y lead to a s e r io u s illness s u c h as
phlebitis, etc. T h e r e f o r e , a d is a g re e a b le tin g lin g o r n u m b n e s s in
th e legs d u rin g m e d ita t io n c a u se s s o m e p eople to b e c o m e
a p p r e h e n s iv e . T h i s is a m is u n d e r s ta n d in g . A c tu a lly , o n e 's
h e a lt h has an i m p o r t a n t r e la t io n s h ip w i th o n e 's legs and fe e t.
(For e x a m p le , a to x ic c o n d itio n in t h e s y s t e m m i g h t w ell b e a
c o n t r ib u t in g fa c to r to p h le b itis in t h e legs.) A n c i e n t C h i n e s e
T a o i s t m ed ical t h e o r y holds t h a t "v ita lity is g e n e r a t e d f r o m th e
soles o f t h e f e e t . " T h is is v e r y tr u e . O n e 's h e a lt h and lon g life
h a v e a d irect re la t io n w i th t h e c o n d itio n o f his f e e t and legs.
B a b ie s and tin y to ts m o v e t h e i r f e e t and legs c o n s t a n t ly . A f t e r
middle ag e, o n e feels less s t r e n g t h b e n e a t h t h e w a i s t and likes to
raise t h e fe e t, e.g., w h e n sittin g . D e t e r i o r a t i o n and d ea th
usu ally o r ig i n a te in th e f e e t and legs and g ra d u a lly m o v e
u p w ard to t h e t r u n k and head. I f o n e 's legs fe el u n c o m f o r t a b l e

20

n i l , N A TU RE OF M E D IT A T IO N

and n u m b and go to sleep d u r in g m e d ita t io n in t h e c ro ss e d leg


p o s t u r e , it s u g g e s ts th a t t h a t o n e has la te n t h e a l t h p ro b le m s
and in d ica te s t h a t t h e n e r v e s and blood v e s s e ls in t h e legs are
not in g oo d con d ition . (S e e p. 3 7.)
A f t e r f r e e in g t h e leg s and w a itin g u n til t h e tin g lin g and
n u m b n e s s h a v e subsid ed o r ab a ted , o n e feels a k ind o f e u p h o ria
n e v e r b e f o r e e x p e rie n ce d . I f y ou ca n p e rs is t in m e d ita t in g u n til
y o u r ch'i and blood flow fre e ly t o th e legs, y o u will h a v e a s t r o n g
i n te r n a l o r g a s m f r o m y o u r fe e t and legs u p w a r d t o y o u r w a is t
and back, and e v e n t h r o u g h o u t y o u r e n t i r e body. R e s t assured .
Y o u w o u ld t h e n n o t w a n t t o r e le a s e y o u r leg s a n d s to p y o u r
m e d ita t io n p r e m a tu r e ly .
T h e h u m a n body can be c o m p a re d t o a tr e e . A t r e e sin ks its
cro o k e d r o o t s in to t h e g ro u n d . W i th s u n s h i n e , air, and n u t r i t io n
f r o m t h e soil it ke ep s g ro w i n g . M a n , o n t h e o t h e r h an d , has his
r o o t s in his head. H is soil is in space. M a n 's f e e t a re like th e
b r a n c h e s o f g in se n g . C r o s s i n g t h e legs is t h e r e f o r e t a n t a m o u n t
to b e n d in g th e b r a n c h e s o f g i n s e n g o r a pine t r e e w h o s e c ro o k e d
b r a n c h e s f o r m in to k n o t s so t h a t its g r o w i n g f o r c e will n o t be
s c a t t e r e d ou tsid e . It ca n t h u s r e t u r n t o its o r ig in a l s o u r c e fo r
c u ltiv a tio n and c o n s e q u e n t l y b e c o m e s t r o n g e r .
C r o s s i n g th e legs d oes n o t b o t h e r o n e 's h e a lth . In fact, if
o n e p ra c t ic e s c o r r e c t ly , it will help his h e a lt h and lo n g e v ity .

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

Use of the Mind in Meditation

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

life" is thi' g e n u i n e T a o and believe t h a t t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f life


wit hout th e c u ltiv a tio n o f n a t u r e is a m a jo r m is ta k e . It has been
said t hat " B y c u ltiv a tio n o f n a t u r e only, w i t h o u t t h e c u ltiv a tio n
ol life, t h e yin spirit will n o t b e c o m e a s ain t in te n th o u s a n d
k a lp a s." In his c o m m e n t a r y o n I Clung, C o n f u c i u s says t h a t we
sh ou ld " P r o b e th e principle t o t h e d ep th s, a tta i n t h e w h o le
n a tu r e , and t h e n e x p e r i e n c e th e c u lm in a tio n o f life .
W h e t h e r o n e is B u d d h is t o r T a o i s t , t h e r e is o n e q u e s tio n
re g a rd in g m e d ita t io n t h a t s h o u ld b e asked: " I s t h e r e any
m e th o d t h a t n e g le c ts o r a b a n d o n s th e p h y sica l body, th e
s e n s a t io n s , e m o t i o n s , m e n t a l s t a t e s o r t h o u g h t s a s s o c ia te d w ith
it?"

Visualization and Refinement of Thinking


F r o m t h e C h 'i n and H a n d y n a s tie s to th e W e i and C h in
d y n a s tie s v is u a liz a tio n and im a g in g c o n s t i t u t e t h e m a in m e th o d
o f T a o i s m . A n c i e n t T a o i s t s u t r a s s u c h as Huang T'ing Nei W ai
Chin Ching, u s e v is u a liz a tio n and im a g in g s as t h e i r c e n tr a l
principle. C h a n g T a o Ling in t h e H a n d y n a s ty , t h e c r e a t o r o f
T i e n S h u T a o , K o u C h 'i e n C h u ( a n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t fi g u r e o f
T i e n S h u T a o ) in th e N o r t h W e i d y n a s ty , and th e f a m o u s T a o i s t
T a u H o n g C h i n g in th e S o u t h d y n a s tie s , u se v is u a liz a t io n and
im a g in g s as t h e i r principal m e t h o d s . O t h e r s , s u c h as e s o t e r ic
B u d d h is ts , e m p lo y v is u a liz a tio n as a principle o f t h e i r te a c h in g .
F u r t h e r , c o n c e p t u a l iz a ti o n s and im a g in g s r e g a r d in g t h e e x i s
te n c e and n a t u r e o f gods o r G o d a r e used in t h e p r a y e r s and
ritu a ls o f m a n y relig ions.
T r a n s c e n d e n t a l th i n k i n g is also m e n t i o n e d in a n c ie n t
T a o i s m . T r a n s c e n d e n t a l t h i n k i n g and v is u a liz a tio n a r e q u ite
d if fe r e n t . V is u a l i z a tio n is a m e t h o d o f c u ltiv a tin g t h e spirit or
a ttitu d e . T r a n s c e n d e n t a l th i n k i n g is a m e th o d o f c u ltiv a tin g
w isd om . Z e n B u d d h is m w a s e s t a b lis h e d in t h e S o u t h d y n a s tie s
and c o n t i n u e d u n til t h e S u i and T a n g d y n a s tie s . D u r i n g th e
S u n g and Y u a n d y n a s tie s t h e H ua and o t h e r m e t h o d s w e r e
developed. H u a is a Z e n B u d d h is t p rac tic e m e th o d . T h e firs t

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

Co ncen tratio n on the Ch'iao Cavity in Taoist Meditation

27

is th e m ind . T h i s ind ica te s th a t by t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f th e


mind, o n e a t t a i n s th e s t a t e o f u n ific a tio n o f spirit. P o in ts o n th e
body can be u se d fo r m e n t a l c o n c e n t r a t i o n f o r tw o r e a s o n s :
f irst, e v e r y o n e loves his o w n body and w is h e s to im p r o v e it; it is
a s t r o n g r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f ego. S o , people are e n c o u r a g e d to
w o r k ha rd w h e n th e y b e g in m e d ita tio n . By w o r k i n g o n th e ir
bodies t h e y h a v e a c h a n c e to a tta i n lo n g e v ity . S e c o n d , p s y c h o
logical and p h y siolog ical fu n c t i o n s a re t w o a s p e c ts o f a single
thing. M i n d a f f e c t s body, and th e body also a f f e c t s t h e mind.
T a o i s m , t h e r e f o r e , m a k e s u s e o f this b o d y -m in d re la t io n s h ip at
th e o u t s e t . T h e point o f c o n c e n t r a t i o n on Ch'iao develops
c o n c e n t r a t i o n itself. A n individual shou ld a t t e m p t to c o n c e n
tra t e his e n t i r e mind. If h e can really c o n c e n t r a t e , t h e n th e
p u rp o s e o f c o n c e n t r a t i o n can be achiev ed . F o r e x a m p le , supp ose
s o m e o n e ha s pu t a larg e a m o u n t o f gold, silv e r and o t h e r
t r e a s u r e s in f r o n t o f y o u and asks y ou to c o n c e n t r a t e up on
g u a r d in g it. Y o u m ay f o r g e t to sleep o r eat, and m a y e v e n f o r g e t
y o u r s e l f m in d and b o d y to c o n c e n t r a t e solely u p o n w a t c h in g
th e s e p rice le s s t r e a s u r e s .
C a n t h o s e w h o le a rn q u i e tu d e and th e c u ltiv a tio n o f T a o
really do w e ll by c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n t h e Ch'iao? N o , v e r y fe w can
do it well. M o s t people g e n e r a lly c a n n o t c o n c e n t r a t e e n tire ly
u p on th is p o in t. N e r v o u s r e a c ti o n s could c a u s e fe e lin g s and
s e n s a t io n s at p articu lar p o in ts, b ut c h a o t ic t h o u g h t s and
illusions m a y c o n t in u e to flow , th u s p r e v e n t i n g t h e c e n t e r i n g o f
th e mind.
W h y d oe s this p h e n o m e n o n o c c u r? B e c a u s e t h e m ind is
s tr a n g e : t h e m o r e o n e a t t e m p t s to c o n c e n t r a t e it, th e m o r e
s c a tte r e d it b e c o m e s . T h i s ca n be illu s tra te d w i t h a n e x a m p le
fr o m p hy sics. W h e n c e n tr i p e ta l fo r c e is c o n c e n t r a t e d to its
m a x im u m p o int, t h e c e n tr i f u g a l fo rc e will n a tu r a lly re a ct. O n
t h e o t h e r h a n d , w h e n c e n t r i f u g a l fo rc e r e a c h e s its m a x im u m
p o int, t h e c e n tr i p e ta l fo r c e will be pro d u ce d n a tu ra lly . A n a lo
g ou sly , if y o u g ra s p y o u r fist v e ry tig h tly , t h e r e a c t i o n o f th e
n e r v e s will c a u s e t h e f i n g e r s to lo o s e n n a tu ra lly .
T a o i s m , t h e r e f o r e , c o m p a r e s m e n t a l activ ity to m e rc u ry .
M e r c u r y te n d s t o be s c a t t e r e d and dispersed. L ik e w is e , it is n o t
e asy to a c h ie v e u n ific a tio n o f spirit by c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n e 's
a t t e n t i o n o n t h e Ch'iao.

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

Concentration on the Ch'iao Cavity in Tao ist Meditation

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

in i'. N A TU RE AND R E A C T IO N S OF CH'I

h e a v e n ,ind e a r t h . " 5 T h e s e te c h n i q u e s evolved i n to t h e m a n y ch'i


kung m e th o d s o f a la te r age. T h e aim o f p ra c tic in g c h i kung
m e th o d s is to a r o u s e th e l a te n t e n e r g y o f g e n u i n e ch'i. B u t if o n e
a tte n d s solely to th e b r e a t h in g e x e r c i s e s , h e will n e v e r a tta in
th e h ig h e s t a c h i e v e m e n t s o f ch'i kung and body y og a.
W h a t is g e n u i n e ch'i? It is d ifficu lt to d escrib e . In y o g a it is
called spirit e n e r g y (shak ti); t h e s e r p e n t p o w e r (ku nd alini). In
T i b e t a n e s o t e r ic te a c h in g s it is called spirit fo r c e o r spirit h e a t.
In m o d e r n te r m i n o l o g y w e can call it th e p rim e e n e r g y o f life or
e n e r g y . H e r e e n e r g y does n o t m e a n t h e physical e n e r g y w h ic h
m a n y people b elie v e to be e le c tric al e n e r g y o r e le c tric it y . T h i s is
a m i s u n d e r s ta n d in g , since th e u l t i m a t e n a t u r e o f e n e r g y is n o t
th e fu n c t i o n o f a m a te ria l th in g . B u t , d is c u ss in g this f u r t h e r
w o u ld in v o lv e us in th e c e n t r a l d isp u tes o f p h ilo s o p h y and
s cience w h ic h c a n n o t be r e s o lv e d h e re .
G i v e n th is , it m a y s o u n d as t h o u g h t h e r e is no re la tio n s h ip
b e t w e e n m e n t a l q u ie tu d e and ch'i. T h i s is n o t t h e case. In th e
C h i n e s e c u ltu r e , quiet sitting is a g e n e r a l te r m . T h e g r o w t h and
d e v e lo p m e n t o f a h u m a n body can be c o m p a re d to th e g r o w t h
and d e v e l o p m e n t o f a pine tre e . T h e tr u n k , b r a n c h e s , c lu s te r s o f
n eed le sh a p e d leav es, and th e c o n e s develop f r o m a g e r m i n a te d
seed and u n fo ld in an o r d e r ly s e q u e n c e . A l t h o u g h a p ine can be
d w a rfe d (by g r o w i n g it in a sm all s h a llo w pot), o r cu ltiv a te d in to
o r n a m e n t a l s h a p e s (as in t h e ca s e o f a bonsai), t h e g r o w t h and
d e v e lo p m e n t o f all pines is b asically th e sa m e. S im ila rily , th o s e
w h o w o r k h a r d and p ra ctice r e g u la r ly will n o tic e t h a t m e d ita
tio n leads to ph y siolog ica l m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f ch'i. T h e p h e n o m e
na o f c h i v a r ie s fo r d if f e r e n t p e r s o n s b u t it u s u ally r e s u l t s in th e
p r o d u c tio n o f m e n ta l im a g es . A l t h o u g h d i f f e r e n t people will
h a v e d i f f e r e n t s o r t s o f m e n t a l im a g e s , n e a rly e v e r y o n e will h av e
to deal w i t h t h e a p p e a ra n c e s o f im a g e s and illusions.
If o n e is m o r e o r less fa m ilia r w i t h t e r m s s u c h as t h e e ig h t
e x t r a m e rid ia n s , larg e c i rc u la tio n , small c i r c u l a ti o n (i.e., th e
c irc u la tio n o f ch'i alon g ]en and Tu M a i) , K 'a n ( ^ ^ ) and Li ( = ^ ) ,
lead and m e r c u r y , d ra g o n and tig e r , yin and y a n g , etc., th e s e

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

v a g u e c o n c e p t s will c o n d itio n th e n a t u r e and q u a lity o f o n e 's


illusions. W h e n t h e r e a c t i o n s o f ch'i b eg in , t h e y a r e n a tu ra lly
in flu e n c e d by a p e rs o n 's p r e c o n c e p t io n s w h ic h lead h im to
e x p e r i e n c e u n fa m ilia r fe e lin g s w h ic h will c o n f o r m to his
p a rticu la r s t a t e o f mind.

Ch'i Relates to Air


M o s t people w h o l e a r n m e d it a t io n te n d to a s s o cia te
b r e a t h in g w i t h ch'i. T h e y t h e r e f o r e a s s u m e th a t air is t h e c e n t e r
o f i n t e r n a l ch'i in th e h u m a n body. F r o m t h e v ie w p o in t o f
m e d ita t io n t h e e f f e c t o f b r e a t h i n g is lim ited to th e u p p er p a rt o f
th e d ia p h ra g m . T h e r e a c t i o n o f ch 7 inside th e body is n o t m e r e ly
c o n n e c t e d w i th b re a t h .
T h e f u n c t i o n o f b r e a t h i n g is well k n o w n . F o r th o s e w h o
cu ltiv a te ch'i, air is like th e m a te r ia l used to kindle a fire. T h e
la t e n t in fi n ite e n e r g y o f t h e body is like a p r im itiv e t r e a s u r e : it
c o m e s w i t h life. B u t u n le s s it is re fin e d in a r e a s o n a b le w ay, this
la te n t l if e - e n e r g y will n e v e r be kindled and will d issip ate at
death.
T h e dhyana te a c h in g s o f H in a y a n a B u d d h is m classify th e
b r e a t h in g o f air and th e l a te n t e n e r g y o f th e h u m a n body in to
t h r e e o r d e r e d c a te g o rie s .
1) V\/ind T h i s indicates t h e o r d in a ry f u n c t i o n o f th e
r e s p ir a t o r y s y s t e m and air. In o t h e r w o rd s , people d ep end on
b r e a t h to m a i n ta i n life. T h i s is t h e s ta te o f air k n o w n as w in d ."
2) Ch'i T h i s ind icate s t h a t a f t e r r e f i n e m e n t t h r o u g h m e d i
ta tio n , t h e b r e a t h per se b e c o m e s light, easy and slow .
3) Hsi T h r o u g h t h e h ig h ly ad van ce d r e f i n e m e n t o f m e d ita
tio n t h e b r e a t h b e c o m e s so s lig h t th a t it a l m o s t s to p s. A t this
s ta g e t h e in w a rd and o u t w a r d m o v e m e n t o f t h e r e s p ir a t o r y
s y s t e m ce a se s to fu n c tio n . B r e a t h i n g t h r o u g h o t h e r p a rt s o f th e
body, h o w e v e r , is n o t c o m p le te ly stop ped . A n a tu r a l b r e a t h
s t a r t s to f u n c t i o n f r o m t h e lo w e r a b d o m e n to t h e lo w e r Tan
Tien. T h i s is Hsi. L a te r , t h e T a o i s t s call it T ai Hsi (th e b r e a t h in g
o f an e m b r y o in th e w o m b ). S o m e s c h o o ls o f t h o u g h t e v e n
believe t h a t m ind and Hsi are i n te r d e p e n d e n t.

36

THE N A T U RE AND R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I

T h e s e prin cip le s and p ra c t ic e s w e r e d ev elop ed f r o m th e


dhyana cu ltiv a tio n m e th o d o f H i n a y a n a B u d d h is m d u rin g t h e Su i
and T a n g d y n a s tie s . T h e y w e r e a b s o rb e d by th e T i e n T a i sect,
in cluded in t h e Chih and Kuan c u ltiv a tio n m e th o d s , and w ith
m o d ific a tio n s and c h a n g e s added, r e ta i n e d p o p u larity . A l t h o u g h
th e p ra c tic e m e t h o d s o f T a o i s m b e fo r e th e S u i and T a n g
d y n a s tie s also e m p h a s iz e d c u ltiv a tio n o f ch'i, t h e r e w e r e no
th e o r ie s a b o u t t h e i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n s o f T ai Hsi, m in d and Hsi
at t h a t tim e . S o m e p s e u d o - T a o i s t s u tr a s p u rp o r te d to be s u tr a s
o f t h e W e i and C h i n d y n a s tie s , occasiona lly m e n t i o n t h e s e
t h e o r ie s . T h e s e s u tr a s , h o w e v e r , are d ece p tiv e and sh o u ld n o t
be tr u s te d .

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.

Reactions of Ch'i Du ring Meditation

37

Numbness or Swelling in Legs


T h e f ir s t r e a c ti o n a p e r s o n feels at t h e b e g in n in g o f
m e d ita t io n p ra c tice is t h a t h e c a n n o t calm his m ind , and he
e x p e r i e n c e s s t r a n g e s e n s a t io n s f r o m pu rely p h y sio lo g ica l r e a c
tions. T h e m e n t a l as p e c ts o f m e d ita t io n a re n o t c o v e r e d in this
b o o k s in ce t h e d is cu ss io n is lim ite d to p h y s io lo g ic a l r e a c tio n s .
A c c o r d in g to s ta tis tic s , e ig h t y to n i n e t y p e r c e n t o f b e g i n
n e r s fir s t e x p e r i e n c e a n u m b n e s s o r s w e llin g o f t h e legs. T h i s
will c a u s e o n e to feel ach e s o r s o r e n e s s , and e v e n d isq u iets th e
mind. F r o m t h e s ta n d p o in t o f c o m m o n s e n s e , m o s t people
a s s u m e th is is cau sed by t h e c o m p r e s s i o n o f t h e blood v e s s e ls in
th e legs and t h e r e f o r e it is u n d e s ira b le.
F r o m th e s ta n d p o in t o f e m pirical o b s e r v a t i o n and th e
p rinciples o f m e d ita tio n , t h e s e p h e n o m e n a are n o t, h o w e v e r ,
c a u se d c o m p le te ly by t h e p r e s s u r e o n blood v e ssels. In re ality
t h e y r e s u l t f r o m th e r e s p o n s e and m o v e m e n t o f th e ch'i.
B e c a u s e t h e ch'i c a n n o t flow f r e e ly b e t w e e n t h e blood ve ssels,
m u s c le s and te n d o n s , o n e s o m e t i m e s e x p e r i e n c e s n u m b n e s s ,
aches and s w e llin g in t h e legs. T h e s e s e n s a t io n s indicate t h a t
t h e r e a r e o b s ta c le s in t h e ch'i r o u t e s o f Yin Ch'iao and Y ang Ch'iao.
W h e n o n e ca n n o lo n g e r e n d u r e this feeling , h e can lo o s e n th e
legs. A f t e r aw h ile h e will e x p e r i e n c e fr e s h , u n fa m ilia r , c o m
f o r ta b le fe e lin g s. W h e n o n e ha s ad vanced to a c e r ta i n s ta g e in
m e d ita tio n , no m a t t e r w h e t h e r h e c ro ss e s his legs o r n o t , h e will
a lw ay s e x p e r i e n c e t h e s e f r e s h and w o n d e r f u l e u p h o r ic feeling s.
A t th is s ta g e , a p e r s o n will be able to cro ss his legs t o m e d ita t e
fo r lo n g period s w i t h o u t fe e lin g any o b s t r u c t io n s . T h i s c o m
f o r ta b le fe e lin g o f e u p h o ria o r e csta cy gra d u ally b e c o m e s
s t r o n g e r and s t r o n g e r .

Strengthening of Genital Functions


H e r e w e sh o u ld d is tin g u is h b e t w e e n l ) re n a l o r kidney
f u n c tio n s , and 2) g e n ita l fu n c ti o n s . F o r an adult, t h e seco n d
r e a c ti o n t o m e d ita t io n will g e n e r a lly s ta r t f r o m t h e re n a l p a rts
(includ ing t h e loin s and w a is t) and, a fte r a ti m e o f p ra ctice , th e

Reactions of Ch'i During Meditation

39

te s ticle s, and a v ib r a tio n m a y b e fe lt in th e p r o s t a t e gland and


p e r i n e u m area. F o r w o m e n , fib r illa tio n o r c o n t r a c t i o n o f th e
u t e r u s and sw e llin g o f th e b r e a s t s s o m e t i m e s o cc u r. A c c o rd in g
to s o m e T a o i s t sch o o ls, this ind icate s t h e r e t u r n o f y an g . T h u s ,
o n e could apply his o r h e r m in d to s o m e b r e a t h in g e x e r c i s e s to
g uide c ir c u la tio n o f t h e yang .
I f o n e does n o t c o n n e c t t h e physical p h e n o m e n a o f
m e d ita t io n to s e x u a l fa n t a s i e s o r l u s tfu l c r a v in g s , t h e n th e
s e x u a l m a n i f e s t a t i o n s could in d ica te a v e r y g oo d co n d itio n . T h i s
s h o w s t h a t o n e 's p itu ita ry , a d re n al, and g e n it a l glands h a v e
b e c o m e m o r e vita l and c o m p le m e n t t h e h e a lth .
R e g a r d l e s s o f g e n d e r o r age, a lm o s t e v e r y o n e has s e x u a l
im pulses tr i g g e r e d by this p h e n o m e n o n . T h e s e s e x u a l im pulses
m ay t h e n c r e a t e fe e lin g s o f l e th a r g y o r t u m e s c e n c e in t h e head,
o r an a n n o y in g feeling in t h e c h e s t, etc. I f o n e has s e x u a l
i n t e r c o u r s e w h e n this o c c u rs , h e o r s h e will n o t on ly w a s te all
th e b e n e f i t s o f p re v io u s m e d ita tio n , b u t m ay also c a u s e d a m a g e
as a c o n s e q u e n c e o f in c re a se d vitality. If o n e ha s no s e x u a l
fa n t a s y o r s e x u a l activity, th e n w h a t Lao T z e said a b o u t a baby
is g e n e r a lly applicable, " T o n o t k n o w th e i n t e r c o u r s e o f m ale
and f e m a l e and y e t h a v e an e r e c tio n , this is th e a ris in g o f ching."
T h i s t r i g g e r s t h e la te n t life fo r c e and in itia te s t h e d e v e lo p m e n t
o f ch'i. In g e n e r a l, a lm o s t e v e r y o n e a d v a n ce s to th is ste p and
t h e n e n c o u n t e r s g r e a t d ifficu lty p a ssing b e y o n d it. I f o n e does
n o t k n o w th e m e th o d fo r r e m e d y in g this, e v e n if h e ca n re p re s s
h i m s e l f f o r a lo n g tim e, it will e v e n tu a lly d ev elop i n to illness o r
d is -e a s e .
A b o u t th i r t y y e a rs ago, a m id d le-a g ed m a le frie n d said th a t
h e m e d ita t e d w ith his w i fe at n ig h t. W h e n e v e r t h e p h e n o m e n o n
o f s e x u a l a ro u s a l o c c u rre d as a c o n s e q u e n c e o f m e d ita tin g , he
felt h is w i fe w a s m u c h m o r e a t tr a c tiv e t h a n u n d e r o r d in a ry
c i r c u m s t a n c e s . H e t h e r e f o r e c h o s e to e n jo y s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e
r a t h e r t h a n to s e e k t h e r e w a r d s o f sex u a l c o n t in e n c e . A n o t h e r
m a n , in his six ties , w h ile m e d ita t in g in t h e m o u n t a i n s , tried to
6T h e d a m a g e is s i m i l a r t o t h a t c a u s e d by a v o i d i n g e j a c u l a t i o n d u r i n g
i n t e r c o u r s e . B e i n g a b l e t o m e d i t a t e f o r a l o n g t i m e w i t h o u t a n y r e a c t i o n s in t h e
g e n i t a l o r g a n s i n d i c a t e s t h a t s u c h a n i n d i v i d u a l ' s l i f e f o r c e is c l o s e t o b e i n g
ab ated . A f t e r a w h ile a p e rs o n 's m in d b e c o m e s a s t a g n a n t pool and his body
becom es w ithered.

40

T H E N A T U R E AND R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I

allay his s e x u a l fe e lin g s in m a n y w ay s in clu d in g i m m e r s io n in


cold w a t e r . T h e m e a n s he s e le c te d pro ved i n e f f e c tiv e , so he
a b a n d o n ed his m e d ita tio n in fa v o r o f th e re lie f w h ic h re la tio n s
w ith his w ife could a ffo rd . T h e s e tw o cases cle a rly illu s tra te
h o w m e d ita t io n in cre a se s o n e 's s e x u a l d esire s and t h e y led m e
to s e a r c h fo r s o m e so rt o f s o l u ti o n to this c o m m o n pro b lem .
T h e re m e d y for th e r e a c ti o n o f th e g e n it a l o r g a n s d u ring
m e d ita tio n is very c o m p lica te d . F o r th o s e w h o a re w illing to
fo c u s th e ir tim e and e n e r g ie s o n m e d ita tio n , t h e m o s t sim ple
and e f f e c t i v e m e th o d o f alle v ia tin g t h e s e p r o b l e m s is to d e c r e a s e
th e a m o u n t o f food o n e eats. E v e n a fa s t f o r a s h o r t period can
be help ful. O n e o f t h e p r e c e p ts o f B u d d h is m is n o t to e a t a f t e r
n o o n . T h i s p re ce p t is n o t deriv ed m e r e ly f r o m a s ta tic
re g u la tio n . A C h i n e s e p r o v e r b say s, " ' O n e s t a r t s to t h i n k a b o u t
sex w h e n o n e is w a r m and fu ll o f fo od; o n e t e n d s to th i n k o f
s te a lin g w h e n o n e is cold and h u n g r y . " H o w e v e r , fa s tin g o r
e a tin g less is n o t easy.
E d i t o r ' s N o t e : S i n c e W e s t e r n r e a d e r s m i g h t o t h e r w i s e b e d i s c o n c e r t e d by t h e
p o s s i b l e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f t h e a u t h o r ' s r e m a r k s o n s e x u a l i t y , it s e e m s a p p r o p r i a t e
to cla rify his v iew s.
T h e a u t h o r is n o t a g a i n s t s e x u a l a c t i v i t i e s a n d d o e s n o t b e l i e v e s e x u a l
p r a c t i c e s a r e i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t h e c u l t i v a t i o n o f T a o . T a n t r a , f o r e x a m p l e , is a
c u l t i v a t i o n m e t h o d t h a t i n v o l v e s ( a n d is p r i m a r i l y b a s e d u p o n ) s e x u a l u n i o n .
T h e m a i n p o i n t h e r e is t h a t o n e ' s v i t a l i t y is g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d by m e d i t a t i o n
p r a c t i c e . F u r t h e r , s i n c e o n e ' s v i t a l e n e r g y is c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h o n e ' s s e x u a l
e n e r g y ( i f t h e y a r e n o t in f a c t t h e s a m e ) , i n c r e a s e d v i t a l i t y wi ll i n c r e a s e o n e ' s
sex u al d esire an d urges. T h u s , se x u a l u rg e s arising fro m m ed ita tio n practice
e x c e e d o n e ' s " n o r m a l " r a n g e . W h e n a p e r s o n r e a c h e s t h i s p o i n t in m e d i t a t i o n
p ractice h e has tw o choices: he can re lea se th e a cc u m u late d e n e rg y by e n g a g in g
in s e x u a l a c t i v i t i e s ( a n d s i n c e h i s u r g e s a n d d e s i r e s wi ll b e u n u s u a l l y s t r o n g , h e
wi ll h a v e a t e n d e n c y t o o v e r i n d u l g e , d i s p e r s i n g t h e e n e r g y it h a s t a k e n h i m so
l o n g t o a c c u m u l a t e ) ; o r h e c a n u t i l i z e t h i s e n e r g y t o a d v a n c e t o a n o t h e r l e v e l in
m e d i t a t i o n . T h e d e c i s i o n is e n t i r e l y u p t o t h e s t u d e n t , b u t s i n c e P r o f e s s o r N a n is
p r i m a r i l y i n t e r e s t e d in m e d i t a t i o n h e w o u l d , if a s k e d , p r o b a b l y r e c o m m e n d t h a t
t h e s t u d e n t u s e t h i s e n e r g y t o a d v a n c e in m e d i t a t i o n .
W e s t e r n s t u d e n t s a r e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e id e a t h a t s e x u a l e n e r g y c a n b e
t r a n s f o r m e d in to spiritual e n e r g y n u n s , m o n k s, bish ops, cardin als, and m an y
religio us lea d ers a r e dedicated to th e p r a c tic e o f c e lib a cy f o r th is v e r y re a so n .
A nd W e s te r n stu d e n ts are also fam iliar w ith th e F re u d ian v iew th a t su b lim ated
s e x u a l e n e r g y c a n be t r a n s f o r m e d in t o c r e a t iv e e n e r g y a n d u tilized for
ad van cin g o n e 's w o rk.
W e a re a w a r e o f spiritu al an d c r e a tiv e a d v a n ce s th a t a p p e a r to h a v e been
m a d e as a c o n s e q u e n c e o f s u b l im a t in g s e x u a l e n e r g ie s . S im ila rly , t h e a u t h o r
s u g g e s t s t h a t s e x u a l e n e r g y is a f o r m o f v i t a l e n e r g y t h a t c a n b e u s e d t o a d v a n c e
to a h i g h e r level if o n e r e f r a in s f r o m s e x u a l a c tiv itie s d u r in g c e r t a i n s t a g e s o f
m editation.

Reactions of Ch'i During

Meditation

II

Reactions on Back and Scapula


In t h e c o u r s e o f m e d ita t io n p rac tic e , o r at an y o t h e r time,
o n e m a y e x p e r ie n c e h e a v i n e s s o r a ch in g in t h e back o r scapular
re g io n s , o r s e n s e t a u t n e s s o f t h e n e r v e s a r o u n d t h e s e areas.
T h i s is t h e th ird r e a c t i o n to m e d ita t io n and t h e r e a re tw o main
c au se s: T h e ch'i is a s ce n d in g t h r o u g h Tu M a i t h e g o v e r n in g
v e s s e l t h e c e n tr a l n e r v e s y s t e m in th e spinal cord, o r it is a
r e a c t i o n o f an illness.
1) T h e r e a c ti o n s o f illness: T h i s applies t o t h o s e w h o are
w e a k and h a v e illn esse s o r t o t h o s e o f a d v a n ce d y e a rs . T h e s e
illn e s s e s include lu n g d isea se, g a s tric and h e p a tic d isord ers,
card iac d ise a se and v a r io u s o t h e r la te n t co n d itio n s . I f a p e rs o n
has t h e s e d iseases, at a c e r ta i n s ta g e o f m e d it a t io n h e will feel
a c h in g and h e a v i n e s s like a s t r o n g p r e s s u r e on t h e back,
flaccid ity and lack o f s t r e n g t h o r a ch in g a r o u n d th e w aist.
C r a m p s o r c o n v u ls iv e c o n t r a c t i o n s m ay o c c u r in t h e back, or
c o n g e s t i o n m a y o c c u r in t h e s h o u ld e r, o r a c h in g m ay o c c u r
ca u s in g o n e to p e rs p ire, feel chills and fe v e r.
If t h e s e p h e n o m e n a o c c u r , o n e sh ou ld u n d e r s t a n d t h a t this
t r o u b le is n o t pro d u ce d by m e d ita tio n . T h e q u iet in m e d ita t io n
is, a f t e r all, a m e a n s o f r e s t. N o o n e is apt t o g e t sick fr o m
m e r e ly ta k in g re st. O n e s h o u ld be glad, h o w e v e r , b e c a u s e
w i t h o u t th e te s t o f m e d ita t io n , o n e m ig h t n o t h a v e re alized t h a t
o n e alrea d y had s o m e s o r t o f disease. T h e pains o n e feels s h o w
th e s e l f - h e a l in g e f f e c t o f in c re a s e d vitality and in d ica te t h a t th e
d ise ase is still cu ra b le and h a s n o t p r o g r e s s e d t o th e e x t e n t th a t
t h e r e is n o r e m e d y in g it. F o r ex a m p le , a m a n m ay n o t initially
feel a n y pain f r o m a v e ry s e r io u s w o u n d and y e t w h e n th e
w o u n d b eg in s to heal, h e will. Sim ilarly , w h e n a m a n first
c a tc h e s a c o m m o n cold, t h e g e r m s o f t h e cold a re still la te n t;
t h e r e are no s y m p to m s . W h e n th e s y m p t o m s o f th e cold are
e v id e n t, t h e cold is a lread y g o in g away.
I f t h e s e p h e n o m e n a a p p e a r in t h e c o u r s e o f m e d ita tio n
p ra ctice , o n e sh o u ld ta k e m ed ical t r e a t m e n t s in addition to th e
h e a lin g in volve d in m e d ita t io n . S o long as o n e has t h e will to
p e rs is t t h r o u g h t h e s e cris e s , t h e crises can lead to a h e a lt h ie r
c o n d itio n .
2) T h e r e a c ti o n s o f ch'i: I f o n e is n o r m a l and h e a lt h y , a fte r
t h e f ir s t and s eco n d r e a c t i o n s m e n t i o n e d above, o n e will

42

THE N A T U RE A N D R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I

n a tu ra lly e n t e r t h e s ta g e o f fe e lin g a sw e llin g s e n s a t io n a ro u n d


th e back and s c ap u la r areas. O r , o n e m ay h av e t h e fe e lin g th a t
t h e r e is a s t r o n g fo rc e m o v in g w i th d ifficu lty alon g t h e spinal
cord w h ic h is p r e v e n te d f r o m p u sh in g u p w ard . O n e m ay also
h o p e t h a t t h e s e f o r c e s will p u s h t h r o u g h th e o b s t r u c t i o n so th a t
o n e can finally fe e l re la x e d and c o m fo r t a b l e . In T a o i s m , this
p h e n o m e n o n is called t h e R i v e r C h a r i o t w h ich rolls to th e
lo ca tio n o f t h e Chia Chih. T h i s o c c u r s d u ring t h e p ro ce s s o f
o p e n in g t h e Tu M a i, T h i s is t h e s ta g e w h e r e th e ch'i s t a r t s to
re a c h t h e H u a n g Y a n g point.
If o n e c a n n o t re le a s e his m ind and a ttain th e s t a t e o f
f o r g e t t i n g t h e body, th e p r e s s u r e will b e c o m e s t r o n g e r and
s t r o n g e r . W h e n e v e r this p h e n o m e n o n o ccu rs , a p e rs o n 's a t t e n
tio n will a u t o m a tic a lly fo cu s o n t h e back and o n e m ay a t t e m p t
to u s e t h e fo r c e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s o r im a g in a tio n to pu sh th e
p r e s s u r e up w a rd . B e c a u s e o f t h e c o n c e n t r a t io n o f a t t e n t i o n
h e re , t h e b rain and s t o m a c h n e r v e s will b e c o m e t i g h t e r and
t i g h te r . T h e h e a r t will c o n t r a c t and th e u n c o m f o r t a b l e feeling
in t h e b ack w ill be increased .
S o m e s c h o o ls o f T a o i s m t e a c h o n e to g uide th e ch'i w ith
c o n s c i o u s n e s s , to p u sh it t h r o u g h o r to drive it. S t u d e n t s are to
im a g in e t h e p r o g r e s s i o n o f t h e R iv e r C h a r io t and e n g a g e in
ta k in g deep, long, b ut tiny b r e a t h s (6 * o, th i r ty - s i x deep
b r e a t h s ; o r 9 * 9, e ig h t y - o n e deep b re a th s ) w h ich n u m e rica lly
m a tc h th e B ig and S m a ll circ u la tio n s o f h e a v e n . O r th e y are to
u s e s o m e T a o i s m o r y o g a e x e r c i s e s to guide t h e p a s s a g e o f ch'i
t h r o u g h th is location.
A l t h o u g h t h e s e d ir e ctio n e x e r c i s e s hav e a te m p o r a r y e ffe c t
and m a k e o n e feel t h a t s o m e t h i n g passes t h r o u g h th e Chia Chih
to r u s h up to Yu Chen (i.e., t h e b ack o f head), it is only t h e m e n ta l
fo r c e th a t c h a n g e s this physical feeling , but it is definitely not the
phenomenon of chi passing through the Chia Chih.
I f o n e can a tta i n th e s t a t e o f " f o r g e t t i n g his o w n b o d y ," or
apply his w i s d o m in an a t t e m p t to f o r g e t his fe e lin g s and re m a in
q u ie t w i t h o u t ta k in g any m e n t a l action, t h e n t h e r e will be a
m o m e n t w h e n sud d en ly , like a s w itc h m a k in g a c o n t a c t, all th e
t e n s io n is g o n e and t h e m ind and body are lo o s e and at ease.
F r o m th is t u r n i n g po in t o n e will e x p e r i e n c e th e s t a t e o f b r e a d th
and b r i g h t n e s s o f m ind and fu lln e ss o f spirit. A p e r s o n w h o s e

Reactions of Ch'i During Meditation

43

back is h u m p e d at this s ta g e will n a tu ra lly s t r a i g h t e n his w a is t


and back, s t r e t c h his c h e s t, and his b r e a t h will b e c o m e
s m o o t h e r . F o r th o s e w h o a re b o r n w i th a d v a n ce d scoliosis or
w h o h a v e it as a r e s u lt o f a n e x t e r n a l w o u n d , th is is a d ifficu lt
s itu a tio n .7
A t th is s ta g e a p e r s o n will be so ch a rg e d t h a t he will n o t fall
asleep easily. S i n c e he m a y be use d to s leep in g at a fixed tim e, he
m ig h t a s s u m e t h a t h e has i n s o m n ia and feel f r i g h te n e d . It
sh ou ld be u n d e r s to o d t h a t this is n o t th e i n s o m n i a o f o r d in a ry
people. O n e sh o u ld let n a t u r e ta k e its co u rs e . I f o n e c a n n o t fall
asleep, ju s t d o n 't go to bed.

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

THE N A T U R E AND R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I

d is c u ss io n is n o t fe asible. Physical reactions are a necessary concomitant


of meditation. A f t e r th e s ta g e s w h e r e t h e ch'i p a sses th e ge n ital
o r g a n s , t h e w a is t and t h e back, t h e ch'i will n a tu r a lly a scen d to
t h e back o f t h e head. T h e m o s t c o m m o n r e a c tio n w h e n t h e ch'i
re a c h e s th is p o int is th a t o n e will n o t feel c o m p le te ly clear and
b r ig h t m e n ta lly , but e x p e r i e n c e a kind o f l e th a r g y e v e n to th e
p o int o f d oz in g but not s leep in g . F o r B u d d h is ts w h o p ractice
dhyana o r Chih and Kuan, this p h e n o m e n o n is c o n s id e r e d o n e o f
th e o b s ta c le s to th e c u ltiv a tio n o f T a o , b e c a u se in Chih and Kuan
it is believed th a t o n e shou ld k e e p o n e 's m in d b r ig h t and clear all
th e time.
S o m e s ch o o ls o f T a o i s m m i s u n d e r s t a n d this p h e n o m e n o n
and ta k e it to be th e s ta te o f Hung Tu n g t h a t is, t h e b r e w in g o f
th e life fo r c e in its p rim itiv e s ta te . O r th e y ta k e it to b e Tso
W an g th a t is, s ittin g in a m e n t a l s t a t e o f a b s t r a c t io n , f o r
g e t t i n g o n e s e l f and e v e r y t h i n g else. T h i s s ta te is n o t, h o w e v e r ,
really Hung Tung o r Tso Wang, a l t h o u g h it is sim ilar to th e m .
B e c a u s e T a o i s t s e m p h a s iz e t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f t h e body, th e y
ta k e th e p h y sio lo g ica l life e n e r g y to be t h e s t a r t i n g p o int, and
t h e r e f o r e b elie v e this s ta te o f l e t h a r g y is a w o n d e r f u l p h e n o m
enon.
T h e B u d d h is t b egin s c u ltiv a tio n by w o r k i n g o n his mind,
i n te n d s t o d rop t h e satkayadrsti, i.e., t h e illusion th a t his body or
self is real, and h o p e s to e n t e r O r ig in a l N a t u r e directly.
C o n s e q u e n t l y B u d d h is ts r e g a r d d ozing , as w ell as r a m p a n t
th in k in g , as a h i n d r a n c e to t h e b r ig h t and cle a r p h e n o m e n a o f
th e ir O r i g in a l N a t u r e . T h e y a s s u m e t h e s e c o n d itio n s are
o b s ta c le s to t h e i r goal. A s lo n g as o n e u n d e r s t a n d s th e
principles, it is n o t i m p o r t a n t to decide if th e y a r e r i g h t o r
w rong.
T h e b asic d if fe r e n c e s b e t w e e n B u d d h is m and T a o i s m h av e
to do w i t h t h e i r s t a r t i n g m e t h o d s and initial aim s, w h ic h a re n ot
t h e sa m e . O n e c a n n o t avoid t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e r e la t io n s h ip
b e t w e e n t h e m ind and body. E v e n if o n e does n o t e m p h a s iz e
body w h e n e n t e r i n g i n to a s t a t e o f q u ie tu d e , bodily activities
c a n n o t be ig n o re d . O n e m u s t d ep end u p o n t h e body if o n e
hop es t o b r e a k t h e shell o f its b o n d a g e . T h e r e f o r e t h e t h e o r y o f
" u s i n g t h e fa ls e body t o c u ltiv a te t h e re a l" w a s p r o m o t e d by
T a o i s t s d u rin g t h e S u n g and Y u a n d y n astie s.

Reactions of Ch'i During Meditation

45

W h e n ch'i ascen d s to t h e back o f th e head , o n e feels


leth arg ic. A p e r s o n m ig h t fall asleep if h e d oes n o t hav e
s u f fic i e n t bodily s t r e n g t h , o r if h e is phy sically and m e n ta lly
tired, and h e m i g h t n o t be able t o r e ta i n th e m e d ita t io n p o stu re .
T h i s m a y o c c u r b e ca u se o f in s u f f ic i e n t o x y g e n in t h e brain.
Y a w n i n g n a tu r a l ly a c c o m p a n ie s t h e s t a t e o f b e in g tire d and
dozing. I f o n e ha s e n o u g h bodily s t r e n g t h and t h e ch'i a scen d s to
th e b a ck o f t h e head, o n e m a y n o t ic e d a rk n e s s in f r o n t o f th e
ey es w h e n h a l f asleep. G r a d u a lly a d re a m lik e s t a t e o c c u rs , and
i m ag es e v e n tu a lly appear. T h i s h a p p e n s b e c a u s e ch'i a f f e c t s th e
n e r v e s at t h e b a ck o f t h e head , w h ic h t h e n a f f e c t th e optic
n e rv e s . M a n y people h a v e d re a m im a g e s a c c o m p a n ie d by
fe e lin g s o f lo v e and jo y o r s a d n e s s and dread. T h e s e im a g e s and
fe e lin g s m a t c h s u b c o n s c io u s fu n c t i o n s w h ic h give ris e to one's
m e n t a l s t a t e s , t h o u g h t s and c o n c e p ts. S t a t e s o f M ara, or
d e m o n ic d elu sio n , m ay o c c u r at this s tag e . T h e s e s t a t e s depend
u p o n o n e 's w is d o m , t h o u g h t , p e rs o n a lity , p s y ch o lo g ica l p r o p e n
sities, and p h y sio lo g ic al co n d itio n . T h e y are v e r y com plicated.
W i t h o u t t h e g u id a n ce o f a v e r y p e rce p tiv e m a s t e r , an d in th e
a b s e n c e o f s e l f- c o n fi d e n c e , h e a lt h y in te llig e n c e , and c o r r e c t
th in k in g , a p e r s o n m a y be led d o w n th e w r o n g road.
W h e n a p e r s o n u n d e r s t a n d s this, h e can i g n o r e p h e n o m e n a
o f th is s o r t , k n o w in g t h a t lig ht fo llo w s t h e d a r k n e s s . A f t e r
p a s s in g t h r o u g h this s t a g e o n e fe e ls s o m e w h a t m o r e aw ake.
P o in ts o f lig ht, like a f l u o r e s c e n t sta r, m ay ap pear in f r o n t o f
y o u r e y es, s p a rk lin g in d i f f e r e n t shap es and colors. T h e s e colors
and lig h ts a r e c o n n e c te d w i t h y o u r p h y s io lo g y and will be
d iscu sse d l a t e r in m o r e detail.
If o n e is n o t i n te r n a lly h e a lt h y , has a l a t e n t b ra in illness,
d is o r d e rs in any o n e o f t h e five s e n s e o r g a n s , in d ig e stio n ,
i n f l a m m a t i o n o f t h e i n t e s t in a l tra c t , in te s t in a l and s to m a c h
d iso rd e rs o r s o m e o t h e r d isea se, t h e n this m e d ita tiv e s t a t e could
c a u s e r e d n e s s o f th e c o r n e a o r a rin g in g o r fe e lin g o f p r e s s u r e in
th e ears. T h o s e w i t h bad t e e t h m a y fe e l pain o r s h a k in g in th e
te e t h . L a t e n t colds and o t h e r p r o b le m s could e r u p t, s u c h as
i n f l a m m a t i o n o f t h e ly m p h n o d e s o r pain in s o m e r e g io n o f th e
brain. B u t , e v e r y o n e s h o u ld re a liz e th a t l a te n t d is e a s es m ay be
d isco v e red , b u t are n o t a ctu a lly c a u se d by m e d ita t io n . In other
words, meditation increases inner vitality and begins to heal the body. B y

46

THE N A T U RE AND R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I

p e r s is te n t m e d ita t io n and a p p r o p ria te medical t r e a t m e n t , o n e


can r e c o v e r o n e 's h e a lth . T h e r e f o r e , since a n c ie n t tim e s it has
b een believed t h a t a p e r s o n w h o cu ltiv a te s th e T a o sh o u ld also
u n d e r s ta n d m edical science.

Reactions in Back of the Head


B y t h e ti m e ch'i r e a c h e s t h e back o f t h e head, o n e will hav e
m ad e g r e a t a d v an ce s in m e d ita t io n and shou ld feel jo yfu l. T h i s
is th e f i f t h r e a c ti o n ; it is a co m p lica te d s t a g e and is o f te n
a cc o m p a n ie d by a g r e a t deal o f tro u b le . E v e r y o n e sh o u ld
e x e r c is e c a u tio n and good ju d g m e n t d u rin g this s ta g e . It m ay
also help to s tu d y s o m e a u x ilia ry m e th o d s o f m e d ita t io n and
cu ltiv a tio n , s u c h as th e ch'i r o u t e , a c u p u n c tu r e , and m edicinal
drugs. T h i s s ta g e is jo y o u s , h o w e v e r , b e ca u se a f t e r p assing it
o n e can o p e n th e ch'i r o u t e o f t h e c e n tr a l n e r v o u s s y s t e m and
c e r e b r u m . B u t , th o s e w h o h a v e a d e t e r io r a te d physical c o n s t i
tu tio n , b ra in disease, o r m e n t a l illness tend to g o in t h e w r o n g
d ir e c tio n a t th is s tag e . A m id d le-a g ed o r eld erly p e r s o n m ig h t
h a v e u n c o m f o r t a b l e fe e lin g s sim ila r to h y p e r t e n s io n . H o w e v e r ,
t h e r e is a b s o lu te ly no possibility t h a t this s t a g e is th e actu al
ca u se o f h y p e r t e n s io n . I f a p e r s o n a t t e m p t s to c o n c e n t r a t e on
th e u p p er Tan Tien, t h e n his fa ce will b e c o m e red, a s y m p t o m o f
h y p e r te n s io n . M o s t people te n d to a s s u m e th a t a re d d e n e d face
is th e e f f e c t o f t h e cu ltiv a tio n o f T a o , b ut o n e s h o u ld n o t believe
it.
W h e n ch'i r e a c h e s t h e b a ck o f t h e head, a p e r s o n m i g h t h e a r
w o n d e r f u l i n n e r s o u n d s o r e x p e r i e n c e rin g in g o r p r e s s u r e in his
ears. T h i s p h e n o m e n o n is pro d u ce d by ch'i w o r k i n g to o p e n th e
ch'i r o u te in t h e brain. T h e v i b r a tio n o r tr e m b li n g o f ch'i c a u se s
s o m e b ra in w a v e activity. If o n e 's in te llig e n c e is n o t clear and
b rig h t e n o u g h , t h e n illusions deep inside th e s u b c o n s c i o u s will
result.
O n e w h o has deep re lig io u s b eliefs may h a v e illusions o f
h e a r i n g t h e vo ic e o f G o d o r B u d d h a . O f t e n t h e vo ice will speak
o f th e p a s t o r f u tu r e , and th is a priori i n f o r m a t i o n m a y be q u ite

Reactions of Ch'i Du ring Meditation

47

c o r r e c t , at l e a s t in small th in g s . T h u s , o n e m i g h t b elie v e h e has


clairau d ie n c e . W h a t e v e r is h e a r d is a ctu ally ju s t a big a s s em b ly ;
it is a m i x i n g o f p re v io u s e x p e r i e n c e w h a t h a s b e e n s ee n ,
heard, t h o u g h t and k n o w n b e fo re . T h i s kind o f clairau d ie n c e
could be u s e d to pred ict sm all m a t t e r s , b u t it will n o t w o r k on
big e v e n t s at all. If o n e clings to t h e idea t h a t t h e s e v o ice s are
real, h e will fall in to a s t a t e o f M a ra , o r illusion. T h i s s h o w s th a t
th e m in d is re c e p tiv e to im p r e s s i o n s b u t this is n o t a g e n u in e
in s ta n c e o f clairau d ie n ce . A p e r s o n sh ou ld n o t be puzzled o r
m o v e d by this re a c tio n . I n s te a d , h e sh o u ld s o m e t i m e s sw allow
th e saliva and r e le a s e t h e fe e lin g s in his head. T h i s re q u ir e s a
s t r o n g m in d and a p e r s is t e n t will. B y guid ing th e ch'i d o w n w a r d
o n e will pass th is s ta g e and e n t e r t h e n e x t.
Ideally, o n e shou ld u se t h e T a o i s t 's i n te r n a l Kung Fu, em ploy
th e special body e x e r c is e s and a d ju s t m e n t s o f y o g a and e s o te r ic
B u d d h is m and h av e r e q u ire d m edical t r e a t m e n t s w h e n n e c e s
sary.
W h e n e v e r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s o f ch'i o c c u r d u r i n g v a rio u s
s ta g e s o f m e d ita t io n , a p e r s o n 's a t t e n t i o n will o f t e n be fo cu s e d
on his fe e lin g s . W h e n th e ch'i re a c h e s th e b rain, a t t e n t i o n to
t h e s e fe e lin g s b e c o m e s esp ecially s tr o n g . T h i s m a y c a u se a
c o n t r a c t i o n o f th e l o w e r a b d o m e n , an u p w ard c o n t r a c t i o n o f t h e
d ia p h ra g m , o r a loss o f a p p e tite and t e m p o r a r y c o n s tip a tio n . It is
all r ig h t t o u s e an a n t i - i n f l a m m a t o r y a g e n t o r c a th a r tic
o ccasion a lly . It is b e tt e r , h o w e v e r , to h av e s o m e k n o w le d g e and
e x p e r i e n c e o f m edical s c ie n c e r e g a rd le s s o f w h e t h e r it is
C h i n e s e o r W e s t e r n fo lk m ed icin e .
A c c o r d in g t o C h i n e s e m ed icin e , th e lu n gs and th e large
in t e s t in e a re closely re la ted to e a ch o t h e r . T h e h e a r t , sm all
i n t e s t in e , and bladder a re also b elieved to be c lo s ely re la ted
to e a c h o t h e r . S o m e t i m e s o n e ca n use b r e a t h i n g e x e r c i s e s to
s m o o t h t h e ch'i in t h e lu n g s to help cu r e c o n s tip a tio n . T o o m u c h
t e n s i o n in t h e h e a r t m a y c h a n g e th e blad d er; s o m e t i m e s
a b n o r m a l u r in a t io n , s u c h as i n c o n t i n e n c e in t h e cas e o f e x t r e m e
frig h t, will o c cu r. T h i s v e r ifie s t h e fa c t th a t m e n t a l s ta te s can
a ff e c t p h y s io lo g y . T h u s , if a p e r s o n c a n n o t find a w is e m a s t e r
f o r i n s t r u c t io n , h e sh ou ld r e f e r t o m ed ical s o u r c e s in an a t t e m p t
to help h im s e lf.

48

THE N A T U R E A N D R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I

Reactions in the Front of the Head


A f t e r t h e ch'i passes th e b a ck o f th e head, it r e a c h e s th e
fr o n t o f t h e head. T h e s ix th r e a c t i o n to m e d it a t io n is n o t as
co m p lica te d as th e fi f th w h ic h w e ju s t discu ssed . T h e m o s t
typical p h e n o m e n o n is a fe e lin g o f s w e llin g in b o th t e m p le s and,
again, a d e s ire to doze. T h o s e w h o s e s t r e n g t h and ch'i are
re la tiv ely a b u n d a n t, o f t e n e x p e r i e n c e a s w e llin g s e n s a t i o n o r
slight s t i m u l a t i o n at th e to p o f t h e n o s e , and at t h e c e n t r a l p o int
b e t w e e n th e e y e b r o w s . H o w e v e r , t h o u g h t s and im a g e s will
n a tu ra lly be d e cr e a s e d and w e a k e n e d . A l t h o u g h o n e m a y fe el
s lig htly le th a r g ic , p h ysiological an d m e n ta l p r e s s u r e s a r e c o n
sid era bly less th a n th o s e s y m p t o m s d escribe d in p reviou s
p a ra g r a p h s . H o w e v e r , d is c o m f o r t could be ca u se d by po ssible
c o n g e s t i o n in th e e y es and red t h r e a d s in th e c o n ju n c tiv a .
W h e t h e r a p e r s o n o p e n s o r clo ses his ey es, he will s ee lights
like t h e s u n o r m o o n o r e v e n f l u o r e s c e n c e . T h e light will be
e it h e r s t a t i o n a r y o r fla sh in g . S o m e t i m e s o n e can o b s e r v e people
and e v e n ts o c c u r r i n g insid e th is lig ht and o n e will re a liz e w h a t
will h a p p e n in th e f u tu r e . S o m e people th i n k this is cla ir
v o y a n ce . S o m e , t h r o u g h m i s u n d e r s t a n d in g th e t e a c h i n g s o f
B u d d h is m , b elie v e t h a t this p h e n o m e n a o f light is th e lig h t o f
th e i r O r i g i n a l N a t u r e . Z e n B u d d h is t s d e n o u n c e this as t h e
d elusion o f lig ht, and T a o i s t s also re g ard this as illusion. T h is
light is actu a lly due to t h e f l u c t u a t i o n s o f ch'i in th e b ra in th a t
indu ces t h o u g h t s o r im a g es and a lte r s brain w a v e p a t t e r n s . T h i s
p h e n o m e n o n is on ly t e m p o r a r y and should n o t be co n s id e re d
real.
S e e i n g u n c e r t a in and c h a n g i n g colors, e i t h e r in v isio n s o r
d re a m s , m a y be due to l a te n t d is e a s e s in th e v is c e r a . If t h e kid
n e y s and r e la t e d g e n ita l n e r v e s d e t e r i o r a t e o r are w e a k e n e d and
diseased, th is will be r e f l e c t e d by t h e p h e n o m e n a o f light s e e n in
th e f o r m o f black p o in ts o r solid black. If t h e liv er is diseased,
th e c o lo r will ap p ea r to be blue; if t h e h e a r t is d iseased , t h e color
s e e n will b e red; if t h e lu n g s are n o t h e a lth y , th e co lo r o n e sees
will be w h it e ; if t h e spleen o r s t o m a c h are d isea sed , t h e color
s e e n will be ye llow ; if th e g allb la d d er is d isea sed t h e co lo r s ee n
will be g r e e n .

50

THE N A TU RE AND R E A C T IO N S OF CH'I

sud d en ly realized t h e po ssibility o f in h alin g and s w a llo w in g th e


m u c o u s as a m e a n s o f t r e a t i n g th e p ro b lem . A f t e r t r e a t i n g it in
this w a y I w as able to a d v a n ce f u r t h e r . M y e x p e r i e n c e m ig h t
p ro ve to be va lu a b le to t h o s e w h o a re a p p r o a c h in g th is s ta g e in
this m e d ita t io n . A f t e r o n e p a s s e s this s ta g e , o n e will b eg in to
sm ell f r a g r a n c e s . T h e s e a re n o r m a l f r a g r a n c e s f r o m o n e 's
v is c e r a and n o t m y stica l fr a g r a n c e s f r o m t h e e n v i r o n m e n t .

Reactions in the Top of the Head


A t t h e ti m e w h e n ch'i p a s s e s b e y o n d th e f r o n t o f th e head
and r u s h e s t o t h e n o s e (k e e p in m ind th a t o n e can d irect it back
at will) it will r o t a t e like th e s h a p e o f ^p. In this s e v e n t h r e a c tio n
it c o m e s to t h e c e n t e r o f t h e c e r e b r u m and c e r e b e ll u m b e f o r e it
m o v e s u p w a rd to th e top o f t h e head. W h e n this o c c u rs o n e
n a tu ra lly s t r a i g h t e n s o n e 's p o s t u r e and e x p e r i e n c e s a g r e a t
samadhi.
T a o i s t s call t h e top o f t h e he ad N i Huang Inlace and yogis call
it The Crown. S o m e T a o i s t s b elie v e t h a t this is t h e p h e n o m e n o n
o f o p e n in g up th e Tu M a i co m p le te ly . B u t, this is n o t t h e case.
T h e s e a re m e r e ly c h a n g e s a lo n g th e Tu M a i th a t a cc o m p a n y th e
initial o p e n i n g o f th e c e n t r a l n e r v o u s s y s te m . T h i s is fo llow ed
by s t i m u l a t i n g th e f u n c t i o n o f t h e top o f th e head to e n h a n c e
t h e u n i f o r m d is tr ib u tio n o f e n d o c r i n e s e c r e t io n s . H o w e v e r , at
this ste p s o m e people will h a v e te m p o r a r y pain o r a h e a v y
s e n s a t io n at t h e top o f th e hea d , as t h o u g h it w e r e b ein g p re ssed
by s o m e t h i n g , o r th e y m ay feel e x t r e m e t i g h tn e s s . T h i s is due to
th e fac t t h a t t h e ch'i r o u te in t h e head is n o t c o m p le te ly op en, o r
b e c a u s e o n e 's a t t e n t i o n is u n d u ly a tt r a c t e d to fe e lin g s and
s e n s a t io n s and o n e is p re o ccu p ied w ith t h e m . If o n e can d iv ert
his a t t e n t i o n and fo r g e t his he ad and let it be n a tu r a l, th e n a
v e r y c o m f o r t a b l e and r e f r e s h i n g fe e lin g will g rad u a lly be
g e n e r a t e d and will m o v e d o w n w a r d fr o m th e to p o f th e head.
T h i s p h e n o m e n o n is th e f o r e r u n n e r o f Ching A n, w h ic h m e a n s
lig h tn e s s and ca lm n e s s , in B u d d h is t m e d ita tio n , in clu d in g Chih
and Kuan. A t th is sta g e , t h o u g h t s and illusions a re w e a k e n e d
and t h e r e f o r e o n e e n t e r s t h e firs t step o f samadhi.

Reactions of Ch'i During Meditation

51

If s w e e t cool saliva d esce n d s, it is th e e n d o c r i n e s e c r e t io n


f r o m t h e p itu ita ry gland. It is d escribed by T a o i s t s as T'i Hu
Kuang Ting, an i n a u g u r a ti o n o r c o n s e c r a t i o n by s p rin k lin g a rich
liq uo r s k im m e d fr o m boiled b u t t e r o n t h e head. It is also
s o m e t i m e s r e f e r r e d to as a " S w e e t dew sp ra y o v e r M o u n t a i n
S u m e r u , " o r " T h e n e c t a r o f liquid ja d e ." T a o i s t s re g a rd this as a
to n ic w i n e fo r r e ju v e n a t i o n and lon g life. A l t h o u g h this s o u n d s
v e r y m y s tic a l o r h y p o th e tic a l, it really has t h e e f f e c t o f he a lin g
d isease and c o n t r ib u t in g to a lon g life. It m i g h t s t i m u l a t e one's
ap p e tite , and a p e r s o n m a y find th a t h e can readily d ig est and
c o m p le te ly a b s o r b th e n u t r i e n t s o f food, e v e n a f t e r e a tin g to o
heavily. A t t h e s a m e tim e , o n e will fe el v e r y little h u n g e r e v e n if
he g o e s w i t h o u t e a tin g , o r else h e will be able to sw a llo w air to
dispel his h u n g e r . O f c o u rs e , at this s ta g e a p e r s o n is full o f
spirit w h ic h will be evid e n ce d by his s h in in g c o u n t e n a n c e .
In addition, w h e n th e ch'i is really p a ssin g t h r o u g h t h e head
t h e r e w ill be s o u n d s like " P i Pi Pai P a i" in t h e head. T h i s is th e
r e a c t i o n o f n e r v e s induced by th e ch'i w o r k i n g to o p e n up th e
paths. T h e s o u n d is n o t h in g s tr a n g e ; it is like th e s o u n d o n e
h e a r s w h e n h e co v e r s his e a rs w i t h his palm s and h e a r s his o w n
h e a r t and t h e c ircu la tio n o f blood. H o w e v e r , if o n e 's a t t e n t i o n is
a b s o r b e d by t h e s e s o u n d s o r if t h e r e is s o m e l a te n t d isease in
U p p er W a r m e r , 8 t h e n o n e will w a n t to s h a k e his head q u ite
o f te n . I f a p e r s o n does n o t k n o w th e t r e a t m e n t f o r this, o r if he
c a n n o t d efle c t his a t t e n t i o n f r o m it, it will b e c o m e a kind o f sick
s ta te . O n th e o t h e r hand , if t h e m e d ita t o r k n o w s h o w to be calm
and q u i e t and ca n ig n o re th is feeling, t h e n h e will n a tu ra lly
a tta in t h e Ching A n d es c rib e d above. T h e r e a re s o m e people w h o
e x p e r i e n c e this p h e n o m e n o n in th e i r y o u t h w i t h o u t prac tic in g
m e d ita t io n . O n e m i g h t th i n k o f it as a kind o f n e u r o s is b u t if it is
n o t s ti m u l a te d by o t h e r f a c to r s , it is n o t a disease.
If t h e r e a c ti o n s in v o lv in g t h e w aist, back, back o f th e head,
top o f t h e head, and th e a re a b eh in d th e e y e b r o w s in t h e c e n t e r
o f t h e he ad ta k e place, s o m e o n e m ig h t s u p p o s e t h a t h e has

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

THE N AT U R E AND R E A C T I O N S OF CH'I

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 .

How to Open Up Jon M.u

!*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.

The Center of Jen Mai


is "Middle House"
A c c o r d in g to T a o i s m and t h e C h in e s e m edic al a r ts , " M id d le
H o u s e " is an a b s t r a c t te r m . T h e m a j o r a re a o f its o p e r a t io n is
th e s t o m a c h w h ic h b elo n g s t o e a r t h . T h i s is d eriv ed f r o m th e
a b s t r a c t c o n c e p t s o f yin y a n g , and t h e e ig h t t r i g r a m s o f t h e 1
Ching, o f t h e five e l e m e n t s w a t e r , e a r t h , fire , w o o d , metal.
T h e r e w e r e tw o sc h o o ls o f C h in e s e m e d icin e d u rin g th e
C h i n and Y u a n d y n a stie s. O n e em p h a s iz ed t h e t r e a t m e n t o f
s t o m a c h ch'i. T h e o t h e r u su a lly em p h a s iz ed th e n o u r i s h m e n t o f
th e k id n ey s, w h ic h w e r e a s s o c ia ted w i th th e e le m e n t o f w a t e r :
K an. T h e s e p rim itiv e c o n c e p t s are all d erived f r o m t h e a b s t r a c t
s y m b o lis m o f ying y a n g and th e e ig h t t r i g r a m s . T h e fo u r
d ia g ra m s and five e le m e n t s are all based o n e a r t h . T h e nine

How to Open Up Jen Mai

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

THE NAT U R E AND R E A C T I O N S OF CH'I

Initiation of the Stomach Ch'i


T h e p h a r y n x is co m p o s e d o f th e e s o p h a g u s in t h e back
w h ic h leads to t h e s to m a c h , and t h e tr a c h e a in th e f r o n t w h ic h
leads t o t h e lung s. If s o m e o n e has a d isease in t h e tr a c h e a l
s y s te m o r c a tc h e s a cold o r t h e flu, c o u g h in g o c c u rs . T h e r e are
tw o k ind s o f c o u g h s ; o n e is a dry c o u g h w ith no p h le g m and o n e
is a c o u g h w i t h p h le gm . A dry co u g h is usu ally due to
b r o n c h itis . S o m e p h le g m c o u g h s a re related to th e d ise a ses o f
t h e s t o m a c h w h ic h is c o n n e c t e d w ith th e e so p h a g u s.
A p e r s o n w h o p ra ctic e s m e d ita t io n a f t e r th e in itia tio n o f
th e s t o m a c h ch'i and th e p h e n o m e n a o f p e r s is te n t h ic c o u g h s and
long y a w n s m ay fe el s o m e t h i n g blocked in his c h e s t t h a t he
w is h e s t o v o m i t o u t b u t c a n n o t. I f h e w a its until he is full o f
a s cen d in g ch'i, h e will su d d en ly v o m it ou t d e n se p h le g m o f a
tu rbid d ark g ra y color. T h i s in d ica te s th e initial o p e n i n g o f th e
ch'i t h r o u g h th e e so p h a g u s. T a o i s t s r e fe r to this as th e " t w e lv e
r e it e r a t e d f l o o r s . " E s o t e r ic B u d d h is ts calls it th e t h r o a t ch a k ra.
A c tu a lly , b o t h e x p r e s s io n s r e f e r to th e s y s te m fro m th e la ryn x
d o w n t h e e s o p h a g u s to t h e s to m a c h .
T h e p r a c t it i o n e r s o f e s o t e r i c te a c h in g s o f t e n b elie v e th a t a
p e r s o n will s to p b ein g tr o u b le d by illusions a f t e r his t h r o a t
c h a k r a ch'i r o u t e is op en. T h i s is u n c le ar. A f t e r o p e n i n g th e
t h r o a t c h a k r a , o n e 's th i n k i n g will d e cr e a s e , and tr o u b le s arising
f r o m e m o t i o n s and w o r r i e s can be q uieted . B u t this will n o t
e n a b le a p e r s o n to a tta i n " n o illu s io n s " c o m p le te ly , sin ce it
c a n n o t be a tta in e d w i t h o u t th e p ra ctice o f m e n t a l samadhi.
Is t h e e s o p h a g u s v e r y i m p o r t a n t to m e n ta l and p h y s io lo g i
cal h e a l t h ? Y e s , it is e x t r e m e l y i m p o r ta n t. S i n c e it is t h e m ain
r o u t e o f fo o d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , fo od r e f u s e is d e p o s ite d o n th e
w alls o f t h e e s o p h a g u s . T h i s r e f u s e is n ot a u t o m a ti c a l ly cleaned
o u t by p h y s io lo g ica l f u n c t i o n s alone. D a y by day d ep osits
a c c u m u l a t e o n th e walls o f t h e e s o p h a g u s and m a y e v e n tu a lly
c a u s e m a n y t r o u b le s , s u c h as c a n c e r o f t h e e s o p h a g u s . F o r
e x a m p le , if a glass is filled w i t h milk, no m a t t e r w h a t h a p p e n s to
t h e milk, s o m e fin e p a rticle s o f m ilk a d h e re to th e w alls o f th e
glass. S o m e y og is t r y to c le a n t h e e s o p h a g u s and s t o m a c h by
s w a llo w in g a lon g cloth . B u t , c le a n in g t h e e s o p h a g u s t h r o u g h

How to Open Up Jen M<ii

57

as c e n d in g ch'i is m u c h m o r e re fin e d t h a n cle a n in g it u sing this


m e th o d .

The Taoist "Upper and Lower


Bridges of Small Birds "
A f t e r t h e e s o p h a g u s is o p e n e d by th e a s c e n d in g s to m a c h
ch'i, t h e c h e s t feels o p e n e d and b ro a d e n e d . W h e n people are in a
s t a t e o f e x t r e m e q u iet, t h e y m a y e v e n h e a r c ra c k lin g s o u n d s
a ro u n d t h e h e a r t . T h e n t h e ch'i e n t e r i n g in to t h e l o w e r a b d o m en
will c a u s e tw o a lm o s t s p o n t a n e o u s r e a c tio n s : a fe e lin g o f
s o m e t h i n g s in k in g d o w n , and th e c u rlin g up o f t h e t o n g u e . O n e
o f th e b asic m e d ita t io n m u d r a s , in B u d d h is m , T a o i s m , and th e
e s o te r ic te a c h i n g s o f y o g a , is to cu rl t h e t o n g u e to to u c h th e
in c is o r g u m . G e n e r a ll y s p e a k in g , th e p u rp o s e o f to u c h i n g th e
in c is o r g u m is to s tim u la te and fa cilita te th e s e c r e t i o n o f saliva.
P a r t o f t h e saliva is s e c r e t e d by t h e p itu ita ry g la nd and it e f f e c t s
r e ju v e n a t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , in m e d ita t io n , o n e can fill t h e m o u t h
full o f saliva by p u ttin g his t o n g u e to th e s a liv a ry gland o f t h e
in cis o r g u m s ; this saliva sh o u ld be s w a llo w e d o f t e n . S o m e t i m e s
it e v e n t a s t e s s lig htly s w e e t and a ro m a tic.
W h e n t h e s t o m a c h ch'i a s c e n d s to pass t h r o u g h th e
e s o p h a g u s , t h e la ry n x s p o n t a n e o u s l y p r e s s e s d o w n w a r d and
t h e t o n g u e cu rls up to t o u c h t h e uvula to clo se t h e la ry n x . A t
this s t a g e o n e 's b r e a t h , i n h a la t io n and e x h a l a ti o n , a lm o s t stops.
T h i s is d e s c rib e d as h a r n e s s i n g t h e "u p p e r b rid g e o f sm all b ird s"
and " c l i m b i n g t h e ladder o f h e a v e n . " In y o g a it is called bottled
ch'i. T h e p h e n o m e n o n o f a " c o n d o r cry in g a t t h e b ack o f th e
h e a d " is p e rce iv ed as clicking s o u n d s. W h a t is k n o w n as th e
"g o ld e n lig h t ap p e arin g in f r o n t o f th e e y e s " will b e c o m e c le a re r
and c le a re r. O n e 's m ind will be m o r e q u iet and be w i t h o u t
illusions.
S p e cia l a t t e n t i o n is re q u ir e d f o r th e d e s c e n d in g ch'i th a t is
g e n e r a t e d f r o m th e s t o m a c h to re a c h th e lo w e r Tan Tien. F o r a
child w i t h n e i t h e r s e x u a l k n o w le d g e n o r e x p e r i e n c e w h o

Fasting and the Function of the Middle Ch'i

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.

60

THE NA T U R E AND R E A C T I O N S OF CH'I

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

T h e Human Body and the Importance of Feel

ol

a v e r y tin y b r e a t h . A p e r s o n a lm o s t feels as if his body does not


exist.
A s L a o T z e said, " O n e can w o r k o n ch'i to s o f t e n h i m s e l f
like a b a b y !" A t this s ta g e , o n e has a c h ie v e d t h e initial o p en in g
o f J en and Tu M ai. F o r a h e a lt h y lon g life o r t h e advanced
c u ltiv a tio n o f T a o , th e i m p o r t a n c e o f o p e n in g t h e ch'i r o u t e s in
b o t h legs t h r o u g h d e s c e n d in g ch'i is no less i m p o r t a n t th a n
o p e n in g t h e Jen and Tu M a i. O n e w h o has n o t e x p e rie n c e d
happiness orgasm, w a r m t h , s o f t n e s s , and l ig h t n e s s in th e legs
s h o u ld n o t s u p p o s e t h a t h e h a s o p en e d th e Jen and Tu Mai.

_______________ 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.

Argum en ts O ver the Ch'i Channels

t>3

T h e p r o c e s s e s and r e a c t i o n s o f o p e n in g t h e Ch'i M a i are


d if f e r e n t f o r d i f f e r e n t people, d ep en d in g u p o n s e x and a ge and
th e s t r e n g t h s and w e a k n e s s e s in t h e body. F u r t h e r , d if f e r e n t
people will e x p e r i e n c e d if f e r e n t fe e lin g s in this p ro ce s s due to
d if f e r e n c e s in th e i r in te llig e n c e and s ta te o f m ind. H o w e v e r , th e
principles and p r o c e s s e s d escrib e d a b ov e a re g e n e r a l e n o u g h to
apply to ju s t a b o u t e v e r y o n e .
In ad dition to t h e Tu M a i and Jen M a i o f T a o i s m , e s o te r ic
B u d d h is m and Indian y o g a also e m p h a s iz e th e im p o r t a n c e o f ch'i
r o u te s . H o w e v e r , th e l a t t e r e m p h a s i z e t h e t h r e e M a i and fo u r
ch a k ra s o r th e t h r e e M a i and s e v e n ch a k ra s , w h ic h are very
d if f e r e n t f r o m t h e e ig h t e x t r a m e rid ia n s o f T a o i s m .
T h e r e h a v e a ris e n a r g u m e n t s , r e f u t a t i o n s and f l a t-o u t
c o n t r a d ic ti o n s b e tw e e n t h o s e w h o p ra ctice T a o i s m , e s o te r ic
B u d d h is m and yoga. T h e key p o in t h e re is t h a t t h e s e people
h a v e n o t t h o u g h t deeply e n o u g h to c o m p r e h e n d all sides o f th e
dispute. W h e t h e r a p e rs o n is s tu d y in g T a o i s m , e s o te r ic B u d
d h is m o r y og a, h e shou ld u n d e r s ta n d t h a t t h e on ly w ay to
c o n f ir m t h e s e t e a c h in g s is to s u p p o s e th a t t h e m in d and body
are to o ls fo r e x p e r i m e n t i n g w ith th e s e m e t h o d s and p ro ving
claim s o f a c h i e v e m e n t . T h e r e is n o o t h e r way.
S i n c e w e are e m p lo y in g t h e m ind and body in p rac tic e , is it
po ssible, b e c a u s e o f o u r u s e o f t h e s e d i f f e r e n t m e th o d s , to
r e a r r a n g e t h e p o sitio n s o f th e v is c e r a , n e r v e s and s k e l e to n in to
v a r io u s f o r m s ? O f c o u r s e n o t! T h e r e a re n o t c o n c r e t e fa cts
w h ic h p r o v e t h a t t h e r e a re a ctu a l d if fe r e n c e s b e t w e e n t h e s e
d i f f e r e n t s choo ls. H o w e v e r , t h e th e o r y a p e r s o n a cce p ts tend s
to i n f l u e n c e his o r h e r c o n c e p t s and fe e lin g s and pro d u ces
c o r r e s p o n d in g h a llu c in a tio n s. I f o n e in sists t h a t t h e r e are real
d if fe r e n c e s , th is is b e c a u s e h e a tte n d s to c e r ta i n fe e lin g s and
e m p h a s iz e s p a rtic u la r c o n c e p t s , b u t this d oes n o t m e a n th a t
o n e 's m in d and body can actu a lly be a rra n g e d in v a r io u s fo rm s .

64

THE N A T U R E AND R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I

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

Tu Mai, The Governing Vessel


The Tu Mai starts in the pelvic cavity, passing through the tip of
the coccyx and ascends up the middle of the spinal column
(1). It moves up the back, communicating with the kidney in
the lumbar region (2) and continues up the spine (3). It passes
through a point that is level with the top of the ears (4) and
reaches the top of the head (5). From here, it descends
downward in the middle of the forehead (6), moves toward the
tip of the nose (7), and ends below the septum under the upper
lip (8).

Ch'i Channels from Taoism and Buddhism

The Jen Mai originates in the


perineum (1), and moves
across the pubic region (2),
ascending upward along
the midline of the abdomen
and chest (3). It then moves
upward across the sternum,
rushing to a point above the
th ro a t (4). From here it
ascends to a point just below
the lower lip (5) and flows
around the mouth (6) before
terminating at a point in the
center of the gums just under
the upper lip (7).

Figure 15.3

Jen Mai, The Vessel of Conception

67

68

THE N A T U R E AND R E A C T IO N S OF CH'I

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

THE N A T U RE AND R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I

Figure 15.7

Yin Chiao Mai


This channel originates at a
point below the internal
malleolus (1) and moves
around the inside of the
ankle, to a point at the
bottom of the leg (2). It
ascends along the inside of
the leg and the inner thigh
(3) and traces a path be
tween the genitals and the
breast (4). It then courses
inward toward the throat (5)
and runs across the cheek
bone before it reaches the
inner edge of the eye (6).

Figure 15.9

Yin Wei Mai


This chan nel originates
about five inches above the
malleolus on the inside of the
ankle (1), a n d ascends
along the inside of the thigh
to a point in the lower
abdomen (2). It runs along
the abdomen and crosses
the right half of the chest
before slanting inward to
cross the upper chest, mov
ing at a diagonal to reach
the edge of the laryngeal
prom inence (3). It finally
moves across the chin and
cheekbone and ascends
toward the forehead (4).

What is Middle Mai?

73

T a o i s t s h a v e b a sed t h e i r t h e o r i e s o f c u ltiv a tio n o n Jen M ai, Tu


M a i and t h e e ig h t e x t r a m e rid ia n s . T h e y h a v e also e m p h a s iz ed
t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e f u n c t i o n s o f t h e le ft and rig h t, o r blue
dragon and white tiger, ch'i ch a n n e ls .
If o n e a c c u m u la te s and u n ite s th e s u p e r i o r v ie w s o f ea ch
s c h o o l t h r o u g h broad s tu d y , c a r e fu l e x a m i n a t i o n , deep t h o u g h t
and clear u n d e r s ta n d in g , h e will k n o w th a t a f t e r s o m e o n e
actu a lly o p e n s t h e Jen M a i and Tu M a i in t h e c o u r s e o f
a d v a n c e m e n t t h r o u g h m e d ita t io n , h e will n a tu r a lly d is co v e r t h e
im p o r t a n c e o f t h e left and rig h t M a i and th e m iddle o r c e n tr a l
M ai.
I f o n e d oes n o t actu ally o p en th e left and r ig h t M a i and t h e
m iddle M a i, t h e n it will be ab so lu te ly im p o ssib le f o r h im to e n t e r
i n to g e n u i n e samadhi, o r e x p e r i e n c e th e c o n d e n s in g o f shen and
a c c u m u l a ti o n o f ch'i and t h e cu ltiv a tio n o f ch'i to t r a n s m u t e it
in to shen to e n t e r th e s t a t e o f T a o i s m r e f e r r e d to as heaven inside
heaven. In o t h e r w o rd s , a f t e r t h e Jen M a i is o p e n e d up, t h e left
and r i g h t M a i o f e s o te r ic B u d d h is m and y o g a will n a tu ra lly
o p en and, c o n s e q u e n tl y , t h e ch'i can c ircu la te w i t h o u t o b s t r u c
tion. A t th is s ta g e o n e b eg in s to e n t e r t h e T a o and m o v e s
b e y o n d t h e p ra ctice o f t h e t e c h n i q u e s o f m e d it a t io n alone. O n e
will also b eg in to see s o m e h o p e o f o p e n in g t h e m id dle o r c e n tr a l
M ai, w h ic h re m a in s .

___________________ 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

M ai. S o m e p e op le believe t h a t on ly th o s e w h o p ra c tic e e s o te r ic


B u d d h is m a ctu ally u n d e r s ta n d m id dle M ai. T h e y b elie v e th a t
th e a n c i e n t T a o i s t s did n o t k n o w o f th e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e middle
M a i and t h e r e f o r e th in k t h a t th e T a o i s t m e th o d s o f p ra c tic e are
im p e rfe c t.
T h e s e a r g u m e n t s o v e r t h e m iddle M a i w e r e c a u se d by a
m i s u n d e r s ta n d in g . It is t r u e t h a t T a o i s t b ook s a p p e a rin g d u ring
and a f t e r t h e S u n g d y n a s ty failed to m e n t i o n t h e m iddle Mai.
H o w e v e r , th e Huang Ti Nei Ching, o r th e Yellow Emperor's Classic of
Internal Medicine, and t h e Huang Ting Nei Chin Ching, o r Yellow Y ard
Inner View Sutra, o f a n c ie n t T a o i s m do include d is c u s s io n s o f this
s u b je ct.
In t h e Nei Ching, t h e t h e o r y o f middle M a i ( + / ) w as
p re s e n te d . H o w e v e r , it w a s called Ch'ong M a i ( - t i ; /. ). T h e Huang
Ting Nei Chin Ching p re s u p p o s e s t h e i m p o r ta n c e o f t h e c e n tra l, or
middle palace; it ju s t does n o t e m p h a s i z e th e c e n t r a l M a i th e w a y
e s o te r ic B u d d h is m and y o g a do.
A f t e r o n e u n d e r s ta n d s th is c o n c e p t and t h e n s tu d ies th e
m a i n s t r e a m o f T a o i s m in tra d itio n a l C h i n e s e c u ltu r e , it is
ob v iou s t h a t t h e Tu M a i and t h e Jen M a i are n o t c o n s id e re d to be
t h e m iddle M a i. T h e r e f o r e , t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e m iddle M a i need
n o t be d e fen d e d . T h e T a o i s t s u t r a s and b ook s t h a t appeared
d u rin g t h e S u n g d y n a s ty and t h e r e a f t e r s e e m b iased and m ay
m e r e ly r e p r e s e n t th e ideas o f t h e i r a u t h o r s . T h e r e f o r e , th e y do
n o t d e s crib e t h e e n tir e s p e c t r u m o f m a i n s t r e a m T a o i s m . T h i s
f a c t s h o u ld n o t be m is u n d e r s to o d . I f a p e r s o n h a s n o t a tta in e d
t h e ac tu a l s t a t e o f " T h e middle p a lace ch'i w h ic h r e s u l t s in peace
and h a r m o n y " and th e s t a t e k n o w n as " W h e n t h e m iddle ch'i is
h a r m o n i z e d , ch'i is sta b ilize d n a tu r a lly and shen will be c o n
d en sed in t h e r ig h t place. B e a u t y is w i th i n and flo w s to th e
li m b s , " 9 t h e n h e will be e n g a g e d in e m p ty ta lk w h e n h e claim s to
h a v e o p e n e d t h e e ight e x t r a m e rid ia n s m e n t i o n e d by T a o i s ts .
O t h e r w i s e , o n e c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e actu al p h e n o m e n o n o f
o p e n in g t h e middle M ai.
If a p e r s o n o p en s t h e e ig h t e x t r a m e rid ia n s , t h e n h e will
h a v e a tta i n e d t h e s t a t e C h u a n g T z e d es crib e d as, " N o fe e lin g s

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

THE N A T U R E AND R E A C T I O N S OF CH'I

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

THE N A T U RE AND R E A C T IO N S O F CH'I

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

What Happens After Ch'i Channels Open?

7l>

m ind and th u s build a solid fo u n d a ti o n fo r t h e cu ltiv a tio n o f


T a o . A t th is s ta g e o n e ca n g e n u i n e ly claim t o h a v e t h e initial
fruit.
T h e s ta g e and s it u a t i o n a f t e r 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 and circ u la tio n o f ch'i w a s b elieved to h a v e b e e n a
m y s tica l and h e a v e n ly s e c r e t and th u s has n o t b e e n m e n tio n e d
in T a o i s t b o o k s and s u tr a s . " T h e s ta r s o f t h e u n iv e r s e stop
w h e e li n g , t h e s u n and m o o n a re u n ite d ," has b e e n u se d to
d e s crib e t h e end o f ch'is r o t a t i o n and th e c la rity and e m p tin e s s
o f m in d and body. In l a t e r ages s tu d e n t s failed t o u n d e r s ta n d
t h e m e a n i n g o f th is and b e c a m e c o n f u s e d , n o t k n o w in g w h a t to
believe. It s e e m s p a rad o x ical t h a t th e a n c i e n t s w h o had re a c h e d
s o m e d e g r e e o f a c h i e v e m e n t w a n t e d to help o t h e r people and, at
th e s a m e tim e , w a n t e d to k e ep e v e r y t h i n g a s e c r e t.
T h e s e p a r a tio n and u n ific a tio n o f th e o r ig in a l n a t u r e and
th e b od y h a s n o t b ee n explicitly d esc rib e d in T a o i s t books. A t
m o s t , sim p le e x p r e s s io n s s u c h as " r e e n t e r t h e f u r n a c e and th e
c a u ld r o n " o r " r e o r g a n i z e Ch'ien ( ^ = ) and K'un (= = )" w e r e
e m p lo y e d as v a g u e im a g e s and allusions. O n c e again, th e typical
e x c u s e w a s th a t m e n o f a c h i e v e m e n t fe a re d h e a v e n ly p u n is h
m e n t u p o n re v e a lin g t h e s e c r e t. B u t , h e a v e n ha s t h e v i r tu e o f
h e lp in g life. E v e n if a p e r s o n is p u n is h e d by h e a v e n fo r
c h e r i s h i n g and c u ltiv a tin g g o o d n e s s , h e sh o u ld still dare to help
o t h e r s . O t h e r w i s e , isn 't a m a n m e r e ly s e lfis h ?
V e r y fe w can a c h ie v e g e n u i n e r o t a t io n o f th e riv e r c h a r i o t
and c ir c u la te ch'i a m o n g th e e ig h t e x t r a m e rid ia n s . E v e n f e w e r
really u n d e r s ta n d th e s t a g e o f s e p a r a tio n and u n ific a tio n o f
body, m in d and th e o r ig i n o f N a t u r e . T h e r e f o r e , e v e n if o n e
s in c e r e ly w a n t s to te a c h th is, a s t u d e n t w i th t h e a bility to re ce iv e
this s u p r e m e i n s t r u c t io n is ra re . A f t e r this s ta g e , a p e rs o n goe s
b e y o n d e a r th l y th in g s and e n t e r s in to t h e m e ta p h y s ic a l realm .
E v e n if a t e a c h e r w is h e d to d e s crib e this in detail, a s t u d e n t w ith
th e w is d o m and e x p e r i e n c e to r e c e iv e t h e s e i n s t r u c t io n s b ey o n d
th e r e a lm o f t h e h u m a n w o rld w o uld be e x ce p tio n a l.

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

NAT URE AND R E A C T I O N S O F CH'I

leak in g o f Tan." T h e a s s u m p tio n is th a t no leak in g o f ching is th e


basis fo r Sila. (In C h in e s e , s p e r m is o n e o f t h e m e a n i n g s o f ching,
and Sila r e f e r s to s e x u a l c o n t in e n c e .) T h e k ey p o in t is u n d e r
s ta n d in g real ching and t h e re la t io n s h ip b e t w e e n s p e rm , eggs
and ching in c o n n e c ti o n w ith t h e t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f ching in to ch'i.

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^

Ching in Traditional Taoist Medical Arts


T h o s e w h o p ra ctice m e d ita t io n fo r lo n g e v i ty and r e ju v e n a
tio n and t h o s e w h o p ra c tic e a n c ie n t C h i n e s e m edical arts
c o n s i d e r ching, as it o c c u r s in t h e h u m a n body, t o b e t h e m o st
e s s e n t i a l e le m e n t o f l i f e . 11 T h e T a o i s t m e t h o d s fo r im m o r ta lity
s u p p o s e t h a t the transmutation of ching is t h e m a in cu ltiv atio n
r o u t e . T h e f o r e f a t h e r o f C h i n e s e m ed ical t e x t s , The Yellow
Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, su p p o s e s t h a t th e cu ltiv a tio n
o f ching is t h e basic m e t h o d f o r " n o u r i s h i n g life and lo n g e v i ty "
and " s t a y i n g a w a y f r o m illness and p r o lo n g in g l if e ." It says,
" T w o s pirits roll o v e r e a c h o t h e r and m e r g e to f o r m shape. T h a t
w h ic h is b o r n b e f o r e t h e b od y is called ching." F u r t h e r , t h e b ook
s t a t e s t h a t " I f o n e d oes n o t s t o r e up ching in t h e w i n te r , o n e will
be ill in t h e spring. If o n e d oe s n o t s t o r e up ching in t h e s u m m e r ,
o n e will h a v e a b o w e l d is o r d e r in t h e fa ll." T h i s i llu s tr a t e s th e
i m p o r t a n c e o f ching f o r n o u r i s h in g life.
T h i s c o n c e p t w a s d ev elo p e d f u r t h e r by t h e T a o i s t s in th e ir
m e t h o d s f o r d ev eloping i m m o r ta li ty , w h ic h e m p h a s iz e d r e n e w
ing t h e b rain t h r o u g h r e t u r n i n g ching as t h e b asic r e q u i r e m e n t
fo r a c h ie v in g lo n g e v ity and r e ju v e n a t i o n . T h e w a y s in w h ich
o n e s h o u ld w o r k t o r e n e w t h e b rain t h r o u g h r e t u r n i n g ching and
th e n a t u r e o f ching h a v e n e v e r b e e n clarified and t h e r e are
n u m e r o u s th e o r ie s a b o u t this.

Ching in Modern Medical Science


M o d e r n m edical th e o r ie s a b o u t e ja c u la tio n and s ex u al
i n t e r c o u r s e are ju s t t h e o p p o s ite o f T a o i s t th e o r ie s . A cco rd in g
to m o d e r n m edical sc ie n ce , a n o r m a l adult sh ou ld e ja c u la te at
c e r ta i n in te rv a ls o f tim e, and it is believed to be h a r m f u l w h e n a
m a n s u p p r e s s e s his sex u a l b e h a v io r and tries to r e fr a i n fro m
e ja cu la tin g .

! 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

C U L T I V A T I O N OF CHI NG, CH'I A N D SHEN

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 .

Side Door-Left Tao, or Heterodox Taoism


In ad dition to m a i n s t r e a m T a o i s t m ed ical s cie n ce , t h e r e are
s o m e s c h o o ls t h a t d iffe r f r o m t h e " c le a n c u ltiv a tio n s c h o o l,"
w h ic h r e q u i r e t h a t t h e r e be n o m e d ita t io n o n sex . T h e y re g a rd
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 a n d t r a n s m u t i n g
ching in to ch'i as i n d e s tr u c ti b l e principles. Special, t h o u g h
n o r m a l, t e c h n i q u e s o f s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e a re re q u i r e d so th a t
o n e c an " r e t u r n ching" to r e n e w t h e b rain. T h e p h r a s e in th e I
Ching c o m m e n t a r y , " O n e Yin and o n e Yang are called Tao" is
applied h e r e , and its m e a n i n g is o f t e n s t r e t c h e d to i n flu e n c e
people t h r o u g h fl o w e r y l a n g u a g e c o n c e r n i n g m e d it a t io n o n sex.
D u r i n g th e T a n g d y n a s t y and sin ce, t h e r e h a v e b een
m e th o d s o f a " l i v i n g - i n - f i r e - T a o i s t " f o r m e n w h o h a v e w ives.
T a n t r i c m e t h o d s o f sex u a l m e d it a t io n in e s o t e r ic B u d d h is m
h a v e b e e n p o p u la r in T i b e t and M o n g o lia . T h e s e t w o m e th o d s
are v e r y sim ilar.

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 .

Recognizing Real Ching


A r e t h e o r i e s t h a t a d v o c a te r e n e w i n g t h e b r a in t h r o u g h
r e t u r n i n g ching and s t r e s s t h e t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f ching i n to ch'i
ju s t n o n e x i s t e n t f a n t a s i e s ? It is n e c e s s a r y to u n d e r s t a n d th e
co n c e p ts o f t h e old and n e w T a o i s t te a c h in g s and medical
s c ie n c e s and t h e n to r e t u r n to t h e s e th e o r ie s f o r d is c u ss io n . T h i s
is th e b e s t ap proach.
In T a o i s m , p rim a ry ching is d efined as " t h e o rig in a l and
n a tu r a l v ita lity o f life ." L a o T z e 's d es crip tio n o f a baby boy
provides us w i t h th e b e s t e x p la n a tio n . H e says, " N o t to k n o w
t h e i n t e r c o u r s e o f m a le and fe m a l e and y e t to h a v e an e r e c t io n is
t h e a ris in g o f ching." F o r e x a m p le , w h e n a g r o w i n g baby boy is
asleep, h e h a s a b so lu te ly n o c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f s e x u a l d esire s b ut

Transm utation of Ching into Ch'i

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

C U L T IV A T IO N O F CHING, CH'I A ND SHEN

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

Tra nsm utation of Ching into Ch'i

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 .

C U L T I V A T I O N OF CHI NC, CH' I A ND SHEN

ch a n n e ls. T h e y d escribed h o w o n e shou ld r o t a t e t h e ch'i a ro u n d


Jen and Tu M a i to m a k e up t h e n u m b e r n i n e ti m e s nine.
A l t h o u g h it s o u n d s s o m e w h a t fa r f e t c h e d , a p e r s o n could
em p loy this idea to explain t h e trip le cu ltiv a tio n o f ching, ch'i and
shen, w h ic h u n d e r g o in n e r c h a n g e s ste p by step. O n e c a n n o t
d e n o u n c e this.
In o r d e r to r e c o g n iz e t h e Kung Fu o f t h e transmutation of ching
into ch'i, a p e r s o n sh o u ld u n d e r s t a n d th e n a t u r e o f real ching,
shou ld n o t co m p le te ly den y t h e fu n c t i o n o f t h e la te r h e a v e n
ching force, and shou ld n o t in c o r r e c t l y id e n tify t h e la te r h e a v e n
sp e rm and e g g s w h ic h a re t h e a b s o lu te r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f ching.
T h e la te r h e a v e n ching force is a ctu a lly t h e m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f real
ching. In o t h e r w o rd s , t h e s o u r c e o f a n e w life fo r c e has an
a b s o lu te re la t io n s h ip to th e t h y r o id , p itu ita ry and sex glands.
W h e n t h e sex glands are a ctiv e and o n e d oes n o t e x p e r i e n c e
th e s li g h te s t s e x u a l desire, at t h a t m o m e n t h e is v e r y clo se to
real ching. I f th is s ta te can be r e t a i n e d fo r a tim e , t h e n a fo r c e will
be pro d u ce d n a tu ra lly w h ic h will m o v e to th e r o o t o f t h e n e rv e s
at t h e b ase o f th e spine due t o t h e fu lln e ss in t h e activ ity o f th e
sex u a l glands. T h i s fo r c e will a s ce n d step by s te p u n til it m o v e s
d o w n w a r d f r o m t h e top to s t i m u l a t e t h e r e g e n e r a t i v e fu n c t i o n
o f th e p itu ita r y gland. T h e s a liv a r y gland will be s tim u la te d ,
w h ic h will e n h a n c e t h e a ctiv ity o f t h e th y r o id gland. T h e h e a r t,
m in d and c h e s t will feel jo y fu l a n d op en. It is d ifficu lt to d escribe
this e x p e r i e n c e o f h appiness.
T h e s e initial p h e n o m e n a c h a r a c t e r i z e o n e s t a t e d u rin g th e
c o u r s e 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 a lo n g t h e Tu M ai.
T h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f T a o does n o t end h e r e . F o r a m a n o f
p ractical Kung Fu, all t h e cells o f his body will c h a n g e and his skin
will be t e n d e r and fair. T h i s is m o s t o b v io u s in t h e cells and
m u s cle s o f t h e face. If y ou lo o k at s u c h a m a n ca re fu lly , y o u will
n o tic e an in d is tin c t s h in in g o n his face. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , if
t h e cells o f t h e facial m u s c le s s h o w no o b v io u s c h a n g e and a
p e r s o n ha s a re d d e n e d face, th is is a kind o f fo r k e d ro ad and o n e
sh o u ld b e w a r e o f th e possibility o f h ig h blood p r e s s u r e . T h i s
could be ca u se d by s t r o n g a t t a c h m e n t s o f t h e m ind , th e
migrations of auxiliary fire, o r it m i g h t be due to s e x u a l desires.
T h e o p e n i n g o f Jen M a i, w h ic h in clu d e s o p e n in g th e
a u t o n o m ic n e r v o u s s y s te m , m ay o c c u r a f t e r t h e s t u d e n t has

Transmutation of Ching inlo

'

a b s o r b e d all th e e x p e r i e n c e s w e shall n o w d escrib e . F u lln ess in


th e middle palace s t o m a c h ch'i will c a u s e a s in k in g feeling . At thi*,
s ta g e , if a m a n can c lean his mind, w ait q u ie tly f o r s p o n t a n e o u s
c o n t r a c t i o n s o f th e te s tic le s and p e r i n e u m , o r if a worn.in
e x p e r i e n c e s c o n t r a c t i o n s o f t h e u t e r u s and r e a c t i o n s in the
b r e a s t s , h e o r s h e will feel as if t h e r e is a line o f fo r c e t h a t m o v e s
t h r o u g h th e inside o f t h e pubis, r u s h in g up to t h e lo w e r I an
Tien, and m e e t i n g th e ch'i w h ic h d es ce n d s f r o m t h e middle palate.
T h i s will su d d en ly re v iv e t h e a ctiv ity o f t h e youth gland o r the
a b d o m e n , and a t r e m e n d o u s o r g a s m t h a t e x c e e d s s e x u a l o r g a s m
will o c c u r . T h i s o r g a s m will flow along t h e i n n e r legs and feet
and r e a c h t h e soles o f t h e fe e t and t h e to es. A t this ti m e t h e joy
and p l e a s u r e is like t h a t e x p e r i e n c e d by a p e r s o n w h o d rink s
good v i n t a g e w in e . O n e will fe e l v e ry c o m f o r t a b l e and e a sy g o in g .
T h i s is really t h e fir s t s te p o f a c h i e v e m e n t in t h e t r a n s m u t a t i o n
o f ching i n to ch'i.
D e p e n d i n g up on s e x , age, s t r e n g t h and w e a k n e s s in th e
body and v a r io u s n a tu r a l e n d o w m e n t s , t h e r e will be m a n y
d i f f e r e n t c h a n g e s and r e a c t i o n s t h a t ta k e place fo r d if fe r e n t
p eople. A t this s ta g e o f Kung Fu, t h e r e is a po ssib ility th a t th e
Kung Fu m i g h t be lost at an y m o m e n t due to s o m e u n k n o w n
s o m e t h i n g . I f a p e rs o n is n o t c a u tio u s , fails to s a f e g u a r d h i m s e l f
o r fails to develop w is d o m , e v e r y t h i n g will end as if it w e r e
m e r e ly an i n t e r e s t i n g g a m e .
T h e t r a n s m u t a t i o n o f ching in to ch'i is o n e s te p o f Kung Fu
th a t u n tie s t h e k n o t o f t h e y o u t h gland. N o o n e s h o u ld be s m u g
and c o m p la c e n t a b o u t s u c h a sm all a c h i e v e m e n t . T h e s e s it u a
tio n s all b e lo n g t o t h e r e a lm o f fe e lin g and are, at m o s t , evid e n ce
o f t h e e f f e c t s o f p r o c e s s in g Kung Fu. T h e r e is still a long w a y to
go b e f o r e r e a c h i n g th e T a o . N e v e r t h e le s s , if o n e re a c h e s this
s ta g e , r e ju v e n a t i o n fo r a lo n g life w i t h o u t illness will be no
p ro b le m .

96

C U L T I V A T I O N O F CHING, CH'I AND SHEN

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 .

T h e Wonder and M ystery of Breath

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

f u r t h e r , o n e will fe el as if h e h a s n o b o n e s. T h e ch'i is filling and


s p re ad in g t h r o u g h o u t t h e body in th e a b s e n c e o f t h e s lig h te s t
feeling.
L ao T z e asked, " C a n y o u c o n c e n t r a t e o n ch'i and b e s o ft and
t e n d e r like a b a b y ? " His q u e s t io n c h a r a c t e r i z e s th is s t a t e w h ic h
w as also d e s c rib e d by M e n c i u s w h e n h e said, " T h e f a c e is b right,
t h e b ack {Tu M a i) is op en and o n e is fluid in t h e lim b s ."
In this s t a t e a p e r s o n f o r g e t s m e n ta l p e r c e p ti o n s and
physical s e n s a t io n s and fe e ls as if h e and th e u n iv e r s e b lend in to
one. T h e Hung Tung d escrib e d in T a o i s t s u tr a s will be e x p e r i
enced , and C h u a n g T z e 's s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e r e is n o fe e lin g in
th e body and a b so lu te ly n o illusions in t h e m in d , can be
c o n f ir m e d . T h e s e s t a t e m e n t s will m e a n m o r e t h a n ju s t an
e m p ty ideal.
A t t a i n i n g Samadhi and r e m a i n in g q u iet in this w a y , o n e will
feel th e b r e a t h m o v in g t h r o u g h his n o s tr ils b e c o m in g w e a k e r
and w e a k e r u n til th e b r e a t h in t h e lu n g s n e a rly stop s. T h e Tan
Tien, w h ic h is w i t h i n th e lo w e r a b d o m e n b elow t h e navel, will
b eg in to f u n c t i o n like th e lu ng s. T h i s is in n e r b r e a t h in g , o r th e
p h e n o m e n o n o f T ai Hsi. T ai is an e m b r y o and Hsi is b r e a t h , and
th u s T ai Hsi r e f e r s to e m b r y o n i c b r e a t h in g o r b r e a t h i n g like an
em bryo.
T h e e s o p h a g u s and th e a re a f r o m th e b r o n c h ia to t h e tip o f
t h e to n g u e , will be loose, fluid and c o m f o r t a b l e w h e n th e
in te r n a l o r g a n s are full o f ch'i. A t t h e s a m e tim e , t h e in n e r
b r e a t h o f Tan Tien will b e c o m e w e a k and c o m e to a stop. T h e
y o u t h gland, w h ic h has b e e n d o r m a n t, will r e c o v e r its activity
and o n e will be as h e w a s as a child, w i t h o u t lust o r p a s s io n . T h i s
will g e n e r a t e an in c o m p a r a b ly s t r o n g o r g a s m . T h e te s tic le s will
c o n t r a c t and t h e ch'i will m o v e up t h r o u g h Jen M a i and c a u se th e
tip o f t h e t o n g u e to roll up to c lo se t h e uvula. W h e n t h e b r e a t h
ce ase s s p o n t a n e o u s l y in th is w a y , t h e initial p h e n o m e n o n o f
t r a n s m u t i n g ching in to ch'i has b e g u n .

1 00

C U L T I V A T I O N O F CHING, CH'I A ND SHEN

p re cio u s ti m e and spirit by e n g a g in g in a b s t r a c t, r a t h e r th a n


p ractical, Kung Fu.
T h e p rim itiv e scie n c e s o f t h e past o f t e n e m p lo y e d th e
a b s t r a c t n u m b e r t h e o r ie s o f a n c i e n t a s tro lo g y and I Ching. M a n y
Tan Sutras and T a o i s t b ooks e x p la in ed t h e fu n c t i o n s o f t h e ch'i
ch a n n e ls in t e r m s o f th e five c o n d itio n s , six ch'i, t h e t h r e e
h u n d r e d and s ix ty d eg ree s o f h e a v e n and t h e s i x t y - f o u r
h e x a g r a m s o f I Ching. As a c o n s e q u e n c e , people c e n t u r i e s la ter
a tte m p t e d to live in a c c o r d a n c e w i th t h e s e a n c i e n t th e o r ie s .
T h e s e a n c ie n t n u m b e r th e o r ie s are n o t on ly v a g u e , b u t m ay
m islead m o d e r n s c h o lars .
F o r e x a m p le , in a n c ie n t a s t r o lo g y it w as claim e d t h a t th e
ro u n d h e a v e n is t h r e e h u n d r e d and s ix t y - f iv e and o n e q u a r t e r
d eg ree s. T h e s u n r o t a t e s a ro u n d t h e e a r t h o n c e a day and m o v e s
o n e d eg ree . O n e y e a r c o n s is ts o f t h r e e h u n d r e d and s ix ty -f iv e
days and t w e n t y - f i v e Ke. O n t h e a n c ie n t C h i n e s e ti m e scale, o n e
day is o n e h u n d r e d Ke. It ta k e s o n e y e a r fo r t h e s u n to c irc u late
a ro u n d t h e h e a v e n . In e v e ry f o u r y e a rs an e x t r a day a c c u m u
lates. S i n c e t h e h u m a n body is a m i n i a t u r e o f h e a v e n and e a rth ,
t h e n u m b e r o f t h e m o v e m e n t s o f ch'i c h a n n e l s s h o u ld also
follow t h e s e ru les.
A c c o rd in g to t h e s e a n c ie n t t h e o r ie s , " t h e p u lse m o v e s t h r e e
tsun ( a b o u t 1/10 fo ot) in o n e i n h a la t io n and t h r e e tsun in o n e
e x h a la tio n . In o n e b r e a t h t h e p u ls e m o v e s six ts'un. In o n e day
and n i g h t a m a n b r e a t h e s t h i r t e e n th o u s a n d five h u n d r e d tim e s.
T h e pulse t h u s m a k e s fifty cy cles o f t h e b o d y ." T h i s is
e q u iv a le n t to s a y in g t h a t " d u r in g t w o h u n d r e d s e v e n t y b r e a t h s
t h e p u lse m o v e s th i r ty - s i x chang (slightly m o r e th a n te n feet)
and t w o ch'ih (slig htly m o r e t h a n o n e fo o t) in a s in gle cycle. Fifty
cycles a ro u n d t h e body will be co m p o s e d o f t h i r t e e n th o u s a n d
five h u n d r e d b r e a t h s , w h ile t h e p u lse will m o v e a b o u t e ig h t
h u n d r e d and e le v e n chang."
T h o s e w h o cu ltiv ate th e T a o o r m e d itatio n o fte n p ractice
th eir b re a th in g e x ercise s a cco rd in g to th e principles o f th ese
th eories. A ctually, th e clepsydra m e th o d of m e a s u r i n g tim e
u sed by th e a n cien ts is n o t quite a c c u ra te . T h e n u m b e rs
em ployed in th e se th e o rie s should be q u e stio n ed an d n o t taken
for g ra n te d . A c co r d in g to m o d e r n m edicine, th e m e a n n o rm a l
resp iratio n r a t e is 1 8 times a m in u te ; th e m e a n n o r m a l pulse

Cultivating Ch'i and Calming the Mind

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

C U L T I V A T I O N OF CHI NG, CH' I AND SHEN

" W e a l t h and high position a re just like d re a m s. T h e r e is no


im m o rta l w h o does not stu d y ."
I sincerely believe th a t cu ltiv atin g b reath in g e x e rc is e s and
Ch'i Kung a re n o t as beneficial as calm ing th e mind. By calm ing
th e mind a p erso n can attain a s ta t e th a t enables him to probe
th e v ery r o o t s of Original N a t u r e to effect th e t r a n s f o r m a ti o n
o f life.15

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

C U L T I V A T I O N OF CHING, CH'I AND SHEN

W h e n it is said th a t t h e five ch'i g o t o Yuan, w h a t is m e a n t is


th a t th e ch'i o f t h e v iscera r e t u r n s to its s o u r c e o r orig inal
p o sition . It b e c o m e s w h o le , equ alize d , h a r m o n iz e d , and it
blocked.
F irs t, I w a n t to explain t h e three flowers assembling on the
p e r s o n g rad u a lly fo r g e t s his bodily fe e lin g s w h e n t h e
e x t r a m e r id ia n s are op en and f l u e n t and he ha s a d v an ce d

is n o t
top. A
e ig h t
in his

m e d ita t io n to t h e s ta g e o f t r a n s m u t i n g ching i n to ch'i. T h e body


b o t h a p p e a rs to e x is t and ap p e a rs n o t to e xist. T h e o n ly fe e lin g s
o n e e x p e r i e n c e s at this tim e a r e th o s e re s u ltin g f r o m r e a c tio n s
in th e head . Q u i e t u d e gives rise to t h e p h e n o m e n o n o f selfre f l e c t in g v isio ns; th a t is, t h e e y e spirit s h o o t s in w a r d r a t h e r
t h a n o u t w a r d and o n e su d d en ly e n t e r s in to a s t a t e o f f o r g e t t in g
h im s e lf. T h e Baihui (i.e., th e to p o f th e head ) feels as if it is a h ig h
w in d o w w i t h s u n s h in in g u p o n it; it is o p en and cle a r as well as
i n c o m p a r a b ly coo l and p le a s a n t. It s e e m s as if a s t r e a m o f cool
air ha s d e s ce n d e d and p e r m e a t e d th e e n t i r e body. T h i s p h e
n o m e n o n is d e s crib e d in t h e T a o i s t te x t , T 7 Hu Kuang T in g.lb
T h e u n f o r t u n a t e th in g is t h a t people o f t e n fail t o u n d e r
s ta n d th e t h e o r y and h a v e v a g u e c o n c e p ts. If o n e ha s th e
s li g h te s t illusion, a s t r o n g re lig io u s c o n s c ie n c e , o r hold s to so m e
s u b c o n s c i o u s id eolog y , t h e n h e could h av e an a s tra l trip at this
sta g e . M a n y e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t s e e m to be m y s tic a l will te n d to
o c c u r in c o m b i n a t i o n w i th o t h e r illusions, b u t p h e n o m e n a o f
this s o r t s h o u ld be e ra d ica te d so th a t o n e will r e f r a i n f r o m
fa lling b a c k w a rd , and a d v a n ce to h i g h e r levels.
S e c o n d , I w a n t to e xp la in th e p h e n o m e n a o f five ch i going to
Y u a n : A p e r s o n will feel his b r e a t h , in clu d in g th e b r e a t h o f th e
lo w e r Tan Tien, su d d en ly h a l tin g w h e n , o r a s h o r t ti m e a f t e r , th e
three flowers have assembled on the top. T h e e n t i r e body will b e c o m e as
s o f t as c o t t o n and o n e will feel w a r m and p le a s a n t w i t h o u t t h e
r e s p ir a tio n o f l a t e r h e a v e n . T h i s s t a t e re m in d s m e o f th o s e
p le a s a n t tim e s o f day w h e n e v e r y t h i n g is calm and q u iet. T h e
m in d and b od y , inside and ou ts id e , h e a v e n and e a r t h , and
e v e r y t h i n g e ls e s e e m to o ccu p y th e ir o w n c e n t e r o r to be in a
n e u t r a l p o s itio n ; this is a s t a t e o f a b s o lu te peace and h a r m o n y .

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

C U L T I V A T I O N OF CHI NG, CH'I AND SHEN

Su M a C h ie n , a fam ous h is to ria n of th e H a n d y n a sty , and


his son, Su M a T a n , c h a ra c te r iz e d th e T a o is t co n c e p tio n of shen:
" T h e first p rim itive force to g e n e r a t e h u m a n life is shen and life
depends o n f o r m . . . .Shen is th e origin of life and fo r m is its
e x te r n a l shell. . . .Shen em p loys ch'i; ch'i takes f o r m . . . . W i t h o u t
th e intelligence and wisdom o f a saint, w h o can g r a s p t h e shen of
the u n iv e rse and use it to c r e a t e ? "
The Yellow Y ard Sutra, w h ich ap peared d urin g th e H an and
Wei d y nasties, associated shen w ith each and e v e r y o r g a n of the
h u m a n body. In each o rg a n and cell th e re exists ash en . G iv en all
this it should be clear th a t th e shen of T a n T a o is n o t m e rely a
religious co n cep t, but is closely associated w ith th e biological
sciences as well.

Transforming Chi into Shen


A f t e r o n e attain s " t h r e e flo w e rs assembling o n th e to p " and
th e "fiv e ch'i goin g into y u a n ," he will natu rally e n t e r the p hase
of cu ltivatin g shen. Since t r a n s f o r m i n g chi in to shen is m u ch
m o r e subtle th an t r a n s f o r m in g ching into ch i, o n e could be
misled at this sta g e of m ed ita tio n . T h e p ro ce ss of tr a n s f o r m in g
ch i in to shen is usually acco m p an ied by th e o c c u r r e n c e of m en tal
sta te s and psychological p ro ce ss e s th a t closely resem ble n e u r o
ses, p sy ch o ses, and so on. T h u s , th e d a n g e r is th a t o n e m ig h t
m istak e s o m e fo r m of p sychosis for a su p e r n a t u ra l p o w e r and
u n w a r r a n t e d s e lf -c o n g ra tu la tio n fo r this m ig h t ultim ately lead
to one's o w n self-undoing. O n e should n o t, h o w e v e r , becom e
ex cessiv ely w o rrie d o r frig h te n e d ab o u t this possibility. Instead,
it is m o r e im p o r ta n t to k n o w t h a t th e possibility e xists, so as to
be able to distinguish b e tw e e n n e u r o tic o r p sy ch o tic sta te s and
th e m e n ta l p o w e rs w hich a c c o m p a n y th e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f ch'i
into shen. It should be easy to avoid th e pro b lem s since o n e will
n a tu rally ten d to develop th e rig h t s o r t of w isd o m as he
p ro g re s s e s in m editation.
T h e real w is d o m of T a o is cultivated by doing good deeds
and p racticin g v irtu e . Since th e seeds of t h e w isd o m o f T a o

Meditation and Cultivation of Shen

107

c a n n o t b e planted u n le s s o n e has p ra ctice d good deeds and


a cq u ire d v ir tu e , th o s e w h o fail to assist o t h e r s and m e d ita t e
solely f o r s e lfis h r e a s o n s will h a v e a tta in e d n o m o r e t h a n a bit o f
e x t r a k n o w le d g e .
V e r y fe w actu a lly r e a c h th is s ta g e o f t r a n s f o r m i n g ch'i in to
shen. B u d d h is t b ook s and T a o i s t s u tr a s o f t e n d iscu ss th is ph ase
o f m e d ita t io n by u s in g riddles o r o t h e r i n s c r u t a b le s t a t e m e n t s .
T h e idea s e e m s to be t h a t it is n o t n e c e s s a r y to d e s c rib e it
clearly, s in ce a deity is e x p e c te d t o appear t o i n s t r u c t t h o s e w h o
re a c h th is level o f a t t a i n m e n t .
In o r d e r to b rin g t h e d is cu ss io n o f t h e p s y c h o lo g ica l e f f e c t s
o f m e d ita t io n to a close, p e rh a p s it will be h e lp fu l to a n s w e r
s o m e q u e s t io n s a b o u t w h a t m ay hap p e n d u rin g th e t r a n s
f o r m a t i o n o f ch'i in to shen.
W h a t indicates t h e b e g in n in g o f th e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f ch'i
in to shen? A p e rs o n w h o actu ally a tta in s t h e " t h r e e flo w e r s
a s s e m b l in g on t h e t o p " an d t h e " f i v e ch'i g o in g i n t o yuan" d u ring
m e d ita t io n will u n d e r g o b o th p s y ch o lo g ica l and p h ysiolog ical
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s . F o r e x a m p le , t h e e n t i r e body m a y fe el w a r m ,
like sp rin g , and s o ft as a cloud. It m ay s e e m as if o n e 's body has
actu ally disappeared , and th e p e r s o n f o r g e t s h i m s e l f e n tire ly .
T h e r e is n o p a in on ly o v e r w h e l m i n g p le a s u re . M i n d and body,
b o th insid e and ou ts id e , a re s o a k e d in illu m in a tio n . T h e e x t e r n a l
w o rld s h r i n k s and m e lt s w i th i n , w h ile t h e s p h e r e o f th e i n n e r
e x p a n d s in all d ir e c tio n s and e v a p o r a te s in to in fin ite space.
C o n s c i o u s n e s s and all th e c o s m o s m e r g e to f o r m an indivisible
u n ifie d w h o le . T h i s s ig nals th e b e g in n in g o f t h e p ro ce s s o f th e
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f ch'i in to shen.
D o e s t h e spirit actu a lly lea v e t h e body d u rin g t h e t r a n s
f o r m a t i o n o f ch'i i n to shen? T h e Tan Sutras and m a n y T a o i s t
b ook s c o n t a in vivid and fa n c ifu l d e s c rip tio n s o f t h e spirit
lea v ing t h e body. S i n c e t h e ti m e o f t h e M i n g d y n a s ty , t h e W u
and Liu s ch o o ls h a v e placed a g r e a t deal o f e m p h a s is upon
m e th o d s o f cu ltiv a tin g th is p h e n o m e n a . T h e r e a re m a n y
d e s c r ip tio n s o f being p r e g n a n t f o r te n m o n t h s , su ck lin g t h e
baby f o r t h r e e y e a rs , and fa c in g t h e w all f o r n in e y e a rs th a t
h a v e led s o m e people to belie ve t h a t s u c c e s s fu l m e d ita t io n m u s t
in volve a s tra l p ro je c tio n . T h e s u p p o s itio n is t h a t t h e spirit o r
d iv ine s e l f has a fe ta l body o f its o w n w h ic h u ltim a te ly s h o o ts

108

C U L T I V A T I O N OF CHI NG, CH' I A ND SHEN

o u t o f th e to p o f t h e head and a s c e n d s in to h e a v e n itself. T o


b elie v e th a t th is is a w a y o f t r a n s f o r m i n g ch'i in to shen is a
se r io u s m is ta k e .
A c c o r d in g to t h e T a n T a o s ch o o l, yang shen (or po sitiv e
spirit) and yin shen (or n e g a tiv e spirit) m ay b o th a c c o u n t fo r th e
p r o je c ti o n o f t h e spirit f r o m o u t o f t h e body.
Yang shen can leave th is body o f flesh and blood, and y e t it is
a physical body w i t h m a te ria l f o r m and a visible a p p e a ra n ce . It
can b e h a v e e x a c tly like an o r d i n a r y h u m a n body b e h a v e s and
y e t it is a spiritu al body w i t h a p h y s ica l f o r m and an in d e p e n d e n t
e x i s te n c e . It is b elieved to be t h e p r o je c t i o n o f t h e re a l spirit.
A p e r s o n w h o says t h a t h e has an invisible and im m a te r i a l
body, w i t h o r w i t h o u t fo r m , t h a t leav es and e n t e r s his physical
body a t will is sp e a k in g o f t h e body o f yin shen. Yin shen is sim ilar
to th o s e bodies a p p e a rin g in d r e a m s , b u t it is m u c h c l e a r e r and
m o r e d istin ct t h a n o r d in a ry " d r e a m " bodies. T a o i s t s m a in ta in
th a t t h e p r o je c t i o n o f yang shen is t h e u l ti m a te a c h i e v e m e n t o f
m e d ita t io n and t h e c u ltiv a tio n o f T a o . B u t if o n e i m a g in e s t h a t
th e p r o je c t i o n o f yin shen is th e u l t i m a t e goal o f T a o , t h e n h e is
e i t h e r an o r d i n a r y p e r s o n o r in t h e yin s ta te o f a spirit o r a g h o s t.
T h o s e w h o m e d ita t e and c u lti v a te t h e T a o will n o t h a v e any
difficu lty p r o je c t i n g yin shen o u t o f t h e body. S o m e m ay h a v e an
e x p e r i e n c e o f th is s o r t lon g b e f o r e r e a c h i n g t h e s t a g e o f
t r a n s f o r m i n g chi in to shen. F o r e x a m p le , w h e n t h e c o n n e c t i o n
b e t w e e n th e spirit and t h e body has d e t e r i o r a t e d and g r o w n
w e a k , th e p r o je c t i o n o f yin shen m a y o c c u r s p o n t a n e o u s l y . T h i s
can h a p p e n to q u ite o r d in a ry p e op le w h o are n o t m e d ita t in g , fo r
it h a p p e n s w h e n o n e is ill, n e a r i n g d e a th , o r b o r d e r in g on
s c h iz o p h re n ia . I f this can h a p p e n by its e lf u n d e r s t r e s s f u l
c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e s t u d e n t s h o u ld u n d e r s t a n d t h a t , w i t h t r a i n
ing, t h e e x p e r i e n c e will c o m e m u c h m o r e easily and w i t h o u t th e
n e ed f o r s tre s s.
S o m e t i m e s people w i t h n e r v o u s t e m p e r a m e n t s w h o e n g a g e
in t h e p r a c t ic e o f m e d ita t io n m a y e x p e r i e n c e t h e p r o je c t i o n o f
yin shen. T h i s p h e n o m e n o n is o f t e n in flu e n c e d by t h e s u b c o n
scio u s m ind, w h e n it is a t t u n e d t o th e ch'i a s ce n d in g t o t h e head.
A p e r s o n w h o is w ell v e r s e d in p s y ch o lo g y , and w h o i n tr o s p e c tively r e f l e c t s u p o n his s u b c o n s c i o u s m in d n e e d n o t d eceive
h i m s e l f a b o u t this. H o w e v e r , s o m e are n o t infallible. A p e r s o n is

Meditation and Cultivation of Shen

IO>

seld om c h e a te d by o th e r s in life b ut h e o fte n fools him self with


his th o u g h t s , feelings, em o tio n s, and actions. A p erson can
deceive h im self w h e t h e r he is living an o rd in a ry life or
cu ltivatin g th e T a o o f im m o rta lity .
Is th e cultivation of shen a valid p ro c e s s ? T h e o r e tic a l
r e s e a r c h , as well as firsth an d e x p e rie n ce , co n v in ces m e th a t the
cu ltivation of shen is valid. H o w e v e r , in o rd e r to p articip ate in
this p ro ce ss, o n e should be com p letely his o w n m a s te r.
M e r g i n g w ith th e c o s m o s is a n e c e s s a ry p re co n d itio n for
re cog n izin g one's o w n spirit o r divine self. T h is is w h a t enables
a p e rso n to ad vance. It enables o n e to c o n d e n se shen and
assem b le ch'i; to pro ject o r re fra in fr o m p ro jectin g ; to discern
th e size o f th e p rojected body, and to leave an d r e t u r n to the
physical body at will. It enables o n e to w o r k on t h e cultivation of
shen and to ach ieve th e T a o by m ean s of m ed ita tio n . W it h o u t
p e rfe c t w isd o m , v irtu e, h a r m o n y , and blessedness, th e re is no
going b ey o n d this.

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