Transformative Effects Of Taoist Meditation
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org, please feel free to visit the school website)
Through centuries of discovery the Taoists found that the microcosmic
orbit and guarding the one produced profound physical, mental, and spiritual
transformations. Experiential learning has always played a major part
in Taoists spiritual understanding. Teachers often lead students through
the practice, but the ultimate confirmation comes through first-hand experience.
There are numerous Taoist schools, and almost every one of them talked
about the microcosmic orbit, guarding the one and why it is necessary
to cultivate them.
According to Mantak Chia in Awaken Healing Light Of The Tao (1993), one
of the first signs of transformation for someone meditating on the orbit
is a physical sensation of energy. While meditating on the orbit, Taoist
teachers say that often chi is strongly felt in the area around the navel,
the head, the tongue, and spine. Sensations such as warmth, coolness,
tingly feelings, electricity, movement, and others are confirmatory signs
that chi is present. Once chi can be felt, a meditator is then advised
to move awareness along different points in the orbit. After proficiency
in this is gained, an extraordinary transformation awakens within a person's
mind, which is the ability to consciously direct chi to any point along
the orbit. The Taoists do not consider this ability to be superhuman,
or only able to be done by some. They believe that everyone has this ability,
and that it can be awakened through practice.
Through dedicated practice with the orbit meditation the physical structure
of the body is being changed. Normally people depend on food to keep them
energized and healthy. In Awaken Healing Light Of The Tao (1993), Mantak
Chia says that once the microcosmic orbit is open and in a state of constant
unimpeded flow that humans require less food energy (27).
Instead, the orbit naturally recycles its own internal energy and the
energies inherent in space are more easily absorbed. This is done without
conscious intention. It becomes the natural state of the human body. Yet,
it can also be even further enhanced through conscious intention. There
are many stories of Taoists who have become breatharians. Breatharians
no longer need to eat food. This may be hard for the western rational
mind to accept, but the Taoists time and again claim this to be true and
can explain how it works through their own experience.
Another physical transformation that takes place through practice of the
orbit meditation is increased health. In Qigong Empowerment (1997), Master
Shou-Yu Liang says, “When qi circulates without obstruction in these
two vessels (the microcosmic orbit), the flow of all other channels will
also be enhanced and flow smoothly without obstruction.” (94) Thus,
the orbit meditation can bring the needed energy to fight illness and
relieve any stagnation points. Also, with the ability to direct chi wherever
one desires, a person can simply concentrate on any point of the body
that feels weak, feel the chi move there and heal it. Another reason for
ill health is said by many Taoist teachers to be a lack of jing, or sexual
chi. The microcosmic orbit runs right through a person’s sexual
center. By moving chi to this area, and stimulating the jing, it becomes
enhanced. Once it is enhanced, it is then circulated in the orbit, which
even further enhances its quantity and quality according to Shou-Yu Liang
(Qigong Empowermen,t 1997). The microcosmic orbit works to transform the
body and mind so that greater levels of health, empowerment, and understanding
are actualized.
Once again, as valuable as these things are, the Taoists wanted to take
their practice even further. Like Chi Gong and T'ai Chi Ch'uan, the highest
state of the microcosmic orbit practice is of a spiritual nature. As explained
before, the Taoists believe that the patterns of the cosmos are reflected
within the human body. This is because both originate from the same source,
which is Wu Chi or the void. In Awaken Healing Light Of The Tao (1993),
Mantak Chia describes the spiritual process of microcosmic orbit practice
as follows: “All living creatures absorb the three main forces in
accordance with the earth's orbit around the sun. The earth's motion through
the universe, making a full orbit every 365.25 days, is part of the Macrocosmic
Orbit of the Universal Force, which causes the four seasons and associated
changes in the earth's energy. If our principal force (Original Chi) is
not abundant enough to draw and absorb the Universal force, we receive
less energy than we expend in our daily lives, thereby depleting our bodies
and promoting the onset of old age, sickness, and death. By opening the
Microcosmic Orbit (Smaller Heavenly Cycle) within our bodies, we can develop
a connecting link to the Macrocosmic orbit (Greater Heavenly Cycle) of
the universe, through which we can tap into and absorb the original source
of all power.” (24-25)
When Mantak Chia talks of the three main forces he means the universal
force (heavenly force), which is the energy we receive from planets, stars,
and galaxies, the earth force, and cosmic force, which is the wisdom and
energy of the spirit. By circulating chi in the orbit all of these forces
are naturally drawn to the body and brought within. When Mantak Chia talks
about Original Chi, he means the energy we received from our parents at
conception. This force is also stimulated and enhanced through the orbit
meditation. The basic principle is that by circulating energy in the orbit,
all of the energies in the universe are harmonized and moved within. Thus
the human body becomes a mini universe, and realizes that it is in fact
no different from the outer universe. The notion of oneness would well
describe this spiritual transformation.
Another more esoteric spiritual transformation that comes about through
the orbit meditation is the idea that an immortal body can be developed
within, and that at the time of physical death this immortal spirit body
can travel back to the void or move on in the universe to have new experiences.
In Richard Wilhelm’s book The I-Ching or The Book of Changes (1950),
an ancient Taoist Master named Lu-tsu is quoted from The Secret of the
Golden Flower and tells how the creation of this immortal body takes place;
“when the light (chi) is made to move in a circle, all the energies
of heaven and earth, of the light and the dark, are crystallized. That
is what is termed seed-like thinking, or purification of the energy, or
purification of the idea. When one begins to apply this magic it is as
if, in the middle of being, there were non-being. When in the course of
time the work is completed, and beyond the body there is a body, it is
as if, in the middle of non-being there were being. Suddenly there develops
the seed pearl. It is as if man and woman embrace and a conception took
place” (30-31).
Through uniting the forces of the universe within, a realized being or
immortal body, is born inside the physical body. A being has then become
liberated and is free to do as they wish. For many Taoists this is the
highest transformation that is possible. Transformation of the body, mind,
and spirit can also be elicited through the Taoist meditation, guarding
the one, which involves focusing awareness on the primordial state of
great unity, Wu Chi. A deeper understanding of guarding the one is shown
by a Taoist master in Livia Kohn's book Taoist Meditation And Longevity
Techniques (1989); “Guarding the one and not losing it is at first
very hard to attain. Myriad thoughts follow one another in quick succession
which cannot be interrupted for even an instant. However, once the flow
of thoughts has been interrupted for a short moment, evil will be opposed.
Once evil has been opposed, the screens (of the mind) will be set right.
Once the screens have been set right, the gateway (to the Tao) will be
established. Consciousness and spirit will be activated and one will attain
enlightenment and go beyond all. The consistent practice of this method
for a long period will bring about a state when the energy of the one
inundates the whole body. As body and spirit deeply pervade the universe,
one will radiate with light and undergo transformations without end. This
is the benefit of knowing how to properly guard the one.” (150)
This meditation is designed to transform the ordinary mind of constant
mental fluctuations to a state of concentrated one-pointedness. When this
happens, realization of the Tao will spontaneously arise. Then this realization
must transfer to every part of one's body. All parts of the psyche and
all energetic systems within the body become harmonized through this practice.
The natural state of the Tao is one of harmony. Reflectively, when this
state is brought within, humans become one with the Tao and see themselves
simultaneously as a part and as the whole. This is shown in the previous
quote by the statement, `body and sprit deeply pervade the universe.'
Just as with the orbit meditation, this is the highest level of transformation
that one should desire to accomplish. Once established in realization
of the Tao, through practice in guarding the one or the microcosmic orbit,
one will be enlightened and have no chance of transforming back into ignorance.
Taoist meditations such as the microcosmic orbit and guarding the one
are designed to progressively transform different levels of a being. First
this happens physically, then mentally, and finally spiritually. By doing
this meditators are reversing the process of cosmic manifestation, which
went from wholeness to separation. Meditating and engaging the perception
of the Tao, which is of wholeness and perfection, can transform the view
of separation.