Taoist Healing Arts & Their Transformative Effects
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
Introduction
Review Of Literature
What Is Chi?
What Is Qigong?
Transformative Effects Of Qigong
What Is Tai Chi Chuan?
Transformative Effects Of Tai Chi Chuan
Taoist Meditation Forms
Transformative Effects Of Taoist Meditation
Discussion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Introduction
Written by Tristan Anderson
Where did the universe come from? What is its activating principle? How were beings formed? What is a human's purpose? How can humans achieve this purpose? These are questions that humans have struggled with from time immemorial. Religion, philosophy, science, and other branches of human understanding have all shared their insights into these questions with the hope of finding meaning in life. There seems to be a common thread among humans throughout time that links people in a profound search, a search for an understanding on how to live in harmony with the universe. The Taoists in China, who first theorized over five thousand years ago, were some of the originators of the above questions and found their answers through centuries of looking within and without the body. Today, Taoists still seek to refine their understandings, which have been passed down over millennia.
Once the Taoists had found their answers to these questions, they wanted to share them with others to help them find meaning and harmony. In doing so, they found that most people did not have meaning in their lives and did not live in harmony with the Tao, which is the natural way of the universe, Taoist's discovered. The philosophy they shared was inspiring for people, but it was not enough to keep people always in harmony with the Tao. This could only be achieved through a personal transformation of body, mind, and spirit into the body, mind, and spirit of the Tao. With this realization, the Taoists began to formulate practices, which anyone could do, that would elicit this transformation. These practices are known today as the Taoist healing arts. This course will explore and define three of these healing arts: Chi Gong, T'ai Chi Ch'uan and meditation. It will also show what Taoist teachers have said about how these practices transform the body, mind, and spirit.
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Review Of Literature
Mantak Chia, who is a Taoist master, has written several books about Taoist healing practices. Mantak Chia studied with Taoist and Buddhist masters and then synthesized their spiritual techniques into his own teachings. Chia's book Awaken Healing Light Of The Tao (1993) was one of the main books used in writing this course. This book offers a comprehensive overview of how to cultivate healing light and how to circulate it in the body. The main forms of energy cultivated are from the earth, universe, spirit, and the human body. These energies are circulated in an energy current called the microcosmic orbit.
Another book used in writing this course is Y.K. Chen's book T'ai-Chi Ch'uan: Its Effects And Practical Applications (1979). Y.K. Chen is a master of T'ai Chi. His book overviews the subtle energies involved in T'ai Chi and how these energies affect the physical body. This book is an easy to follow guide for people of all levels of experience.
Cheng Man Ch'ing wrote the book Cheng Tzu's Thirteen Treatises On T'ai Chi Ch'uan (1985). This is a beautiful book with large, clear pictures of the T'ai Chi Ch'uan forms that are especially useful for practitioners. This book also outlines some of the main principles involved in the practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.
Thomas Cleary translated teachings of Taoist women into the book Immortal Sisters: Secret Teachings Of Taoist Women (1989). In this book, the female practitioners describe how to condense energy into the body in order to ultimately create an immortal spiritual body. These female practitioners use allegorical language in order to make it so only experienced practitioners could understand their teachings. Yet this book portrays some of the beautiful, poetic experiences that practitioners may have.
The Way Of Qigong (1997), written by Kenneth Cohen, is an extensive resource on how to develop a Chi Gong practice. Kenneth Cohen describes the various stages that one might go through and how to overcome blocks that hinder development. Cohen has studied with many teachers and is a scholar of Chi Gong history, which gives him a broad framework from which to describe this practice.
Another book used for this course is The Healing Promise Of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong And Tai Chi (2002). This book is written by Roger Jahnke. Jahnke gives many examples of people who were transformed through Chi Gong and T'ai Chi. The beginner is given a solid ground to begin practicing from.
Livia Kohn edited the book Taoist Meditation And Longevity Techniques (1989). Kohn teaches at Boston University. She focuses on mysticism in China and on Taoist mythology. This book contains essays by a variety of professors. Many topics are covered, including longevity techniques from Japan, visualization techniques, the Taoist meditation called Guarding the One, gymnastics, and drug taking.
Qigong Empowerment (1997) was written by Shou-Yu Liang. Liang is considered one of the master teachers of Chi Gong in China. This book gives a thorough explanation of Chi Gong practices from the most basic to the most advanced. There are also many pictures, which give further depth of understanding.
Martin and Emily Lee's book, Ride The Tiger To The Mountain: T'ai Chi For Health (1989) is a practical guide to the twelve most basic T'ai Chi exercises. This book offers a program for relaxation and rejuvenation through greater mind-body awareness. In the words of Herbert Benson, M.D. and author of The Relaxation Response, "Dr. Martin Lee has given us an excellent theoretical and practical guide to T'ai Chi and Ch'i Kung. I recommend it to all those interested in the combination of meditation and movement."
The book The Essence Of Taiji Qigong (1997), written by Yang Ming, gives many pictures of T'ai Chi and Chi Gong practices. Ming gives a detailed explanation of the history of these practices and how they can be applied in modern times. This book also details some of the transformational processes that can occur through practice.
Another useful book in writing this course was Alternative Healing Therapies (1999), written by Norman C. Shealy. This book gives a very general overview of the practices of T'ai Chi, Chi Gong, and meditation, along with many other healing therapies. The healing benefits of these practices are outlined as well. This is great guide for those wanting to briefly understand many types of healing techniques and gives pictures to accompany each.
Richard Wilhelm translated the I-Ching and gave a commentary on it in his book The I-Ching Or The Book Of Changes (1950). Wilhelm lived in China for more than 20 years and was in contact with some of the major Chinese intellectuals during the early twentieth century. The I-Ching is the root of Taoism. This book gives some of the foundational knowledge from which Taoist practices were later built on.
Taoism (1997), written by Eva Wong, was a very helpful book for understanding the history of Taoism. Eva Wong is both a practitioner of the Taoist healing arts and a translator of Chinese texts into English. Her book gives an understanding into all of the topics covered in this course.
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What Is Chi?
To understand what the Taoist healing arts are and how they are transformative, it is imperative to first look at the concept and reality of chi. The Chinese have documented their studies of chi since around 3,000 B.C. when the I-Ching, a book about the patterns of the universe, was beginning to be formed. Five thousand years later in modern day China, chi is still being studied and plays a major role in people's understanding of the universe, from the formation of galaxies to the functioning of cells within the body. The depth of understanding that the Chinese have come to realize about chi has fascinated other cultures all over the world. Through their discoveries and explanations of their findings a beautiful gift has been given to the world to help people re-envision the world.
In Chinese the character for chi simply means air or breath. The deeper meaning, however, is the activating force of the universe. Chi has its origin in what is known to Taoists as Wu Chi, which is roughly translated as `The Great Void' Wu Chi consists of chi which is unmoving and unchanging. From Wu Chi the cosmos was birthed. When this happened chi divided and started moving. Chi is the source of all movement within the universe. It is also the energy inherent within all things and its animating principle. Everything in the universe has become in a constant state of change and fluctuation. This is due to chi and its many possibilities for transformation. Chi is said to condense and disperse in alternating cycles of negative and positive energy, also known as yin and yang, which then materializes in different ways and forms. It can neither be created anew nor destroyed. Instead, the inherent chi transforms itself and reappears in new forms. Everything that people see and experience is therefore a temporary manifestation of chi.
Taoists described three main types of chi within the universe, which are heaven chi (heaven refers to the sky or universe), earth chi, and human chi. Heaven chi helped create the stars and planets, and the combination of heaven chi and earth chi helped create human chi. The human body is greatly influenced by heaven chi and earth chi, and for humans to live in harmony with the Tao (natural Way of the universe) they must work with these flows and understand their dynamics.
Once the human body is formed it then goes through many changes as chi moves within it and transforms. Mantak Chia, a modern Taoist teacher who brought Taoist healing practices to the West, describes the major types of chi within the body in his book Awaken Healing Light Of The Tao (1993). First there is the chi people receive from their parents, called prenatal chi. Also within the growing human body is meridian chi and pulsation chi, which are the energy channels chi and biorhythm chi respectively. Then the body begins to absorb breath and food chi. Present throughout this whole process are also the energies that enter the body from outside the body, which are earth chi, heaven chi, spirit chi, and Wu Chi.
Chi is therefore within us and around us. It is the life principle and activating force, which can be cultivated by the right methods. Taoists have formulated intricate practices that are designed to enhance chi and bring transformation to the body, mind, and spirit.
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What Is Qigong?
After the Taoist masters had formulated their understanding of chi and how it functions, they began to cultivate methods by which they could strengthen their internal chi and have it living in harmony with heaven chi and earth chi. These practices became known as Qigong. As stated earlier, chi is the energy or activating principle of the universe. In The Way of Qigong (1997), Keneth Cohen loosely translates Gong as work or benefits acquired through perseverance and practice. Qigong is, therefore, working with chi over a long period of time to acquire benefits. It is also a holistic system of self-healing that is said to have transformative effects on the body, mind, and spirit.
Today there are many forms of Qigong all based on similar principles such as balance, relaxation, breathing techniques, and posture. Among these many forms there are three main types of Qigong, which are all applied for their transformative effects. There is martial Qigong to become a better fighter, medical Qigong to assist in creating health, and religious Qigong to become enlightened. All of these practices are based on the presence of chi and its dynamic interaction with a being.
Through Qigong practice one can become extremely proficient in the understanding of chi and its processes, and thereby live in an optimal state of health and happiness. Master Yu-Liang describes the process of Qigong in his book Qigong Empowerment (1997) as follows: "To return to the Dao (Tao) one first must have an abundance of energy and a strong, healthy body to attain longevity. Daoism values life. They also believe that old age and sickness can be avoided, and immortality can be attained, provided one continually cultivates and engages in learning about living harmoniously with nature. Ignorance and lack of discipline are the reasons for not being able to master one's life and determine one's destiny." (4)
The fundamental principle of Taoism is that if people align themselves with the natural way of the universe they will live with healthy bodies and clarity of mind. Also, everything will happen in an effortless way, also known as Wu Wei. This principle has been described by many Taoist teachers, and implies that once one knows the way of the universe and of chi, that all actions become perfect and spontaneous, never swerving out of alignment and therefore seeming effortless. Another way to describe this would be that the universe moves you rather than the ego. You have become the way. Taoists preferred the simple life of cultivating the Way and watching nature unfold. Unfortunately, however, the Taoists noticed that most people did not live in harmony with the Tao and therefore needed to be taught how to re-align themselves. People were constantly wasting their chi and consequently getting sick and frustrated and eventually dying. Because of this, it was now necessary for humans to work very hard to come back to their natural state.
Qigong became a way to help people learn to live naturally. In today's modern world of constant distractions and never ending desires, chi is constantly being drawn out of the body. The Taoists say that outer desire driven impulses will never be satisfying because ultimately they are depleting a person's energy. They also realized that to perform no outer action was impossible, so what was needed was to build up a strong reservoir of chi that would not run out. The cultivation of chi is Qigong. Qigong is quite simple and can be learned by anyone who is willing to dedicate the needed time to feel the energy and then apply the techniques. For many it is a life long practice with ever-new unfoldments. The transformative qualities that unfold during this practice are due to concentrated self-effort and reliance on the abundance of energy, which is within the reach of every being.
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Transformative Effects Of Qigong
Dr. Jwing-Ming Yang, a Chinese Qigong teacher, describes the process of Qigong practice in The Essence Of Taiji Qigong (1997), "Taoist Qigong aims for longevity and enlightenment, but to reach this goal you need to be in good health and know how to cure sickness," (10) This statement shows Qigong's many possibilities for transformation within the mind, body, and spirit. Qigong is designed to work on all of these levels to bring back harmony within one's being.
Many of today's societies, particularly those in North America, have moved into the belief that a person does not have the power to heal or transform himself or herself without the assistance of an outside force. This has led to enormous health corporations and hospitals. The modern world has made multitudes of new discoveries about health, yet so many people are still sick and don't know how to heal themselves. Consequently, people give away their power to doctors and believe that is the only way they will be healed. The Taoists have a much different perspective. Over thousands of years of internal sciences such as meditation, Qigong, and T'ai Chi Ch'uan, the Taoists found that the body, mind, and spirit, when in harmony, have the ability to cure any sickness. Most people do not know this, though, because they have become so out of tune with the whole self, and also because the media has gotten so large and powerful that it has the ability to shape a person's mind. Through the practice of Qigong the Taoists have known that it is indeed possible to take control of one's health and that the power to do this comes from within. This is an extremely profound perspective that has given inspiration not only to Taoists, but also to a modern world that is searching for new ways of healing.
Qigong healing is based on the existence of chi. Within every being is a certain amount of chi. A normal individual receives chi from food, air, sunlight, etc., and then uses this chi to perform actions. In Awaken Healing Light Of The Tao (1993), Mantak Chia states that most people use more energy than they cultivate and that over time they are constantly getting weaker and less healthy. Chia then goes on to say that from the Taoist perspective, health and healing depend on the quality and quantity of chi in the body (37). Qigong is designed to increase the amount of chi in the body so that there is always an abundance of good healthy chi.
It is also believed by the Taoists that all sickness and dis-ease are a result of either a lack or stagnation of chi. If there is a lack in chi, then bacteria and viruses have the ability to affect people. If there is stagnation in the flow of chi through the body's energy channels, then certain parts of the body won't have the needed energy to heal itself. Through practice in Qigong enough chi is cultivated to transform these problems. Roger Jahnke, a western scholar and practitioner of Qigong has described the process in The Healing Promise Of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong And Tai Chi (2002); "By using Qigong to cultivate and enhance the Qi, the most highly refined resource the healer within—is being created and circulated to foster maximal healing." (15) Highly advanced practitioners of Qigong can gauge the level and flow of chi within their bodies. If any place is lacking in chi, through simple movements, or the lower mind, chi will move to that area and restore it back to harmony. Where in the western world are such amazing feats such as these heard? People have to consult a doctor to find out the level of their health and how to fix it. Qigong practitioners have learned to sense their inner bodies and how to transform them. The western world is lost in frustration and confusion because its inhabitants have become extremely disengaged from internal processes.
Qigong is a highly refined practice, which has been tested over thousands of years. According to the Taoists, it has the ability to empower an individual and restore perfect health, so that a person can have a long and happy life. This in itself is a lofty and worthy goal. However, the Taoists took their practice one step further by searching for enlightenment through Qigong practice. Master Shou-Yu Liang, a highly advanced Qigong practitioner and teacher, began studying Qigong at the age of 6 and is considered one of China's top Coaches of Excellence. In Qigong Empowerment (1997), Shou-Yu Liang describes Taoist cosmology, Qigong practice, and its ability to transform an individual spiritually; "To return to the Dao one must first have an abundance of energy and a strong, healthy body to attain longevity. Daoism views the existence of the Small Cosmos (human body) through this process: `Void changes into Spirit, Spirit changes into Pure Energy, Pure Energy changes into Pure Essence, and Pure Essence produces the physical body.' Based on this belief, in order for humans to reunite with the Dao, humans will have to reverse this process to become free from this physical existence and achieve immortality. Thus, the process of cultivation will start from training the physical body, training jing (essence), training qi (energy), training shen (spirit), and finally returning back to the Void and uniting with the Dao." (90) Qigong works on all these levels. The void refers to what birthed the cosmos. At the deepest level of Qigong practice this void can be intuited. Spirit is said by the Taoists to be that which controls and regulates life, and also that which gives rise to higher realization. This spirit is within each being, and by practicing Qigong and internalizing awareness one can find this presence and learn from it. If people only engage in the rational and intellectual mind they will not find this spirit or higher mind. Chi, our innate energy, is experienced, developed, and understood through Qigong practice. Jing, or essence, refers to the sexual energy within the body. The Taoists highly valued their sexual energy and noticed that it depleted during sexual emission in males, and menstruation in females. They therefore developed Qigong practices that would increase the sexual energy, and also developed ways to control emission and menstruation (sexual Qigong). Lastly, yet still highly valued, the physical body could be maintained and healed through Qigong practice. Through cultivation of chi the physical body always has enough energy to work with to maintain health. Also the slow moving Qigong poses keep the body exercised and supple. By working on all these levels and through dedicated practice, Liang says that a person will awaken realization of the process of cosmic manifestation and how to reverse that process and achieve the highest Taoist state, immortality. This is how Qigong practice becomes a search for enlightenment.
Qigong practice elicits awareness of all parts of the self, both physical and spiritual. The transformative effects of this practice are numerous and quite profound, such as healing the body and mind, achieving long life, and awakening the spirit to the Tao. On a very practical level these practices can bring awareness to the lost inner world that so many are seeking.
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What Is Tai Chi Chuan?
For centuries in China, Taoist monks performed movement exercises to increase their chi flow and to remain in good physical health. Also within Taoism were many martial artists who practiced movement exercises to become stronger and more capable fighters. Out of these two exercises was born a practice known as T'ai Chi Ch'uan. This section will focus on the aspect of T'ai Chi Ch'uan that relates to chi cultivation and healing.
It is not known exactly when T'ai Chi Ch'uan originated. Yang Ming, a Chinese master in both T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Chi Gong and a great scholar in the history of China, points out in his book The Essence of Taiji Qigong (1997) that there is evidence of T'ai Chi Ch'uan originating around 500 B.C. or 1100 B.C.. It is then known that in the 17th century B.C. a man named Chen Wang Ting learned the art of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and refined it into a series of continuous movements. (14) Today there are four main styles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan named after the master that developed it, and they are Chen, Yang, Sun Wu, and Woo. There are three main principles in relation to the healing aspect of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. They are the existence of chi and its ability to be cultivated, Taoism, and yin-yang. In the practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, one is concentrating on the chi within the body and chi coming from outside the body into the body. Through practice one gains the ability to feel the presence of chi, learn how it moves, and direct the chi wherever they wish. The movements in T'ai Chi Ch'uan are designed to help chi move freely and unobstructed through the body's energy channels.
This art originated among the Taoists and so takes on the frame that these people had. As stated earlier, the Taoists believe that the universe is imbued with the presence of chi and that to live in harmony with the Tao one needs have a harmonious relationship between their internal chi and external chi. T'ai Chi Ch'uan is designed to help connect the human microcosm with the universal macrocosm.
Yin-yang is a basic Taoist principle and plays a major role in Taoist understanding of the universe. In Taoist cosmology, first there was Wu Chi, which is the great void where creation sprang from, and then there was T'ai Chi. T'ai Chi, the supreme ultimate, is a name for the first step of universal manifestation. Out of T'ai Chi was born yin-yang. T'ai Chi is therefore known as the mother of Yin-yang. Yin and yang are co-dependent; one cannot exist without the other. The universe is the ever-flowing dance of these two energies. Yin is said to relate to softness, inflowing, emptiness, female, and other things. Yang is said to relate to hardness, out-flowing, fullness, male, and other things. Within the human body these two energies are constantly in relation and interaction. In T'ai Chi Ch'uan, yin and yang movements are performed to elicit a sense of understanding of each and how they are dynamically harmonious.
Martin Lee, a highly experienced teacher and practitioner of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, describes the practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan in the book Ride The Tiger To The Mountain: T'ai Chi For Health (1989), "T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a set of slow, continuous, evenly paced and carefully patterned natural movements based upon the principle of shifting one's weight while keeping stable and upright. The movements are connected by smooth, even breathing. They are characterized by circularity of motion and relaxation of tension. In T'ai Chi Ch'uan, the mind has a double role. It is the source of intention, directing and controlling movement, and attention, monitoring the effects of movement. Someone watching T'ai Chi Ch'uan sees only the slowness and the beauty of the movements. Someone doing T'ai Chi Ch'uan is wholly involved in guiding a stream of energy and enjoying an experience of attentive awareness." (16)
T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a beautiful exercise, which anyone can perform if he or she has the time for practice. It is also an extremely sophisticated art that has been developed over many centuries of study into the nature of the universe. Through practice in T'ai Chi Ch'uan many possibilities for transformation awaken within an individual.
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Transformative Effects Of Tai Chi Chuan
Within the slow and intentional movements of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is encoded an extremely sophisticated way of transforming the body, mind, and spirit, which is a basic goal of the Taoists who originated this movement meditation. T'ai Chi Ch'uan has been practiced in China for centuries, and recently it has gained even more popularity. Today in China, and all over the world, millions of practitioners use this art to heal and enlighten themselves.
There are many possibilities of healing transformation through practice in T'ai Chi Ch'uan. In T'ai-Chi Ch'uan: Its Effects And Practical Applications (1979), Chen states that on a physical level the movements of T'ai Chi Ch'uan are designed to keep joints lubricated and unrestricted, regulate breathing, promote digestion, lower blood pressure, regulate breathing, promote digestion, lower blood pressure, regulate blood circulation, cleanse toxins, improve the flow and amount of chi, and many other things. In a natural state where one is attuned with the Tao, the physical body is perfected and free from disharmony. T'ai Chi Ch'uan was designed to bring the physical body back into harmony. Obviously it took effort to do this though, and so the Taoists practiced to live unceasingly in accord with the Tao.
In The Essence Of Taiji Gigong (1997), T'ai Chi Ch'uan master Yang Ming says that as one begins to cultivate health in the body through dedicated practice, a new level of mental functioning opens up. This state is realized when a being feels that the mind has become clarified and able to feel and direct chi. Feeling chi takes practice but can be done by anyone. T'ai Chi Ch'uan is designed to open up the chi channels so they can flow smoothly. Once this happens, sensations of movement occur and one begins to experience the presence of chi and how it functions. Teachers of this art say that feeling chi is a necessary pre-requisite for further advancement. Certainly benefits will occur physically even if a practitioner doesn't feel chi, but in order for the mind and spirit to be developed one must be able to feel chi.
Once chi is felt, the next transformation that occurs is a process of learning that the mind can direct the chi. In Chinese this is called yi leading the chi. Yi refers to the intention or concentration of the mind. In The Essence Of Taiji Gigong (1997), Yang Ming states that yi means through conscious intention a being can lead chi to wherever she or he concentrates. By teaching T'ai Chi Ch'uan, the Taoists showed the world how they could connect the mind to the body. The mind is not only in the brain, according to the Taoists, but extends to every part of the body and beyond, in advanced practices. When yi has been cultivated to a high level, a practitioner can gauge the level and flow of chi within their body. If places are stagnant or weak, chi is then directed to that area as one moves through the T'ai Chi Ch'uan form.
Once the chi is there, its natural function is to restore balance to the area. In this way people can learn to heal themselves in their body and mind, and create a dynamic harmony between the two. If people want to take their practice even further than this, T'ai Chi Ch'uan can also enliven them spiritually.
Like Chi Gong, the ultimate goal of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is of a spiritual nature. Yang Ming describes this in The Essence Of Taiji Gigong (1997), "The ultimate goal of Taiji (T'ai Chi) practice is to lead you into the domain of emptiness where your whole being is in the Wuji (Wu Chi) state. When you have reached this goal, the Qi (Chi) in your body and the Qi in nature will unite and become one, and all human desires will gradually disappear." (34) T'ai Chi Ch'uan master named Martin Lee adds to this description in Ride The Tiger To The Mountain: T'ai Chi For Health (1989); "Equally, the exercises of T'ai Chi Ch'uan helped humans reconstruct within themselves the equilibrium of T'ai Chi, a physical state in which yin and yang, emptiness and fullness, perfectly intermingle." (21)
As stated earlier, Wu Chi is the state of non-differentiation from which the universe sprang. T'ai Chi represents the first split in Wu Chi, which created yin and yang. Within the universe the harmony of yin and yang stays in perfect order. In an unenlightened being the state of yin and yang is not in harmony. However, this state can be transformed by performing the movements of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, which are designed to be a flow of yin and yang movements. When humans constantly live in harmony within themselves, they reflect the perfect harmony within the universe. By reflecting this pattern, a being becomes enlightened, the culmination of practice has been reached, and union with the Tao can never be lost. T'ai Chi Ch'uan has been practiced for centuries and has been refined for a modern world. The Taoists have provided for the world a system that can help enliven life and bring peace within. This happens by realizing that our body, mind, and spirit need to be in harmony to be happy and that this is a state that can be reached if one is willing to practice, cultivate, and allow the transformations to unfold.
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Taoist Meditation Forms
The Taoists have always had a contemplative instinct. They feel that by looking within oneself an entire world opens up that previously may have not been known. It is essential to know this inner world if one wishes to live in harmony with the universe. The universe is not only external, but it is also internal. A basic Taoist belief is that the patterns of the external world also play themselves out within the human body. In this sense the inner world is a microcosm of the outer macrocosm. A beautiful picture drawn by an unknown Taoist around one thousand years ago shows how the human body works like a mini universe. In the lower part of the body are the waters of sexual energy. Above this in the navel region is a vast land where earth energy is stored. The heart is seen as luminous star of exploding fire energy. In the head are the towering heights of spiritual experience represented as mountains. The Taoists did not see themselves as separate from any part of the universe, for in essence they are the universe.
There are numerous Taoist meditation forms, which elicit profound meditations, such as realizing oneness with the universe. Every meditation form has a different goal, yet each is specifically designed to transform a part of one's being. Because humans generally do not live in the accordance with the Tao it is essential to do the inner work necessary to bring about this shift in consciousness. This paper will explore two of the major forms of meditation in Taoism, which are the microcosmic-orbit and guarding the one.
The microcosmic-orbit meditation is extremely sophisticated and beautiful. It is also the foundation meditation for inner alchemy, and an important physical practice to connect with the universe and become immortal. Mantak Chia states in Awaken Healing Light Of The Tao (1993) that through practice in this meditation one develops the power of the mind to control, conserve, recycle, transform, and direct chi through the body's primary energy channel (the orbit). In Immortal Sisters: Secret Teachings Of Taoist Women (1989), Thomas Cleary, a great Taoist scholar, states that ordinary people are subject to compulsions of senses and objects, so chi drifts and disperses externally. Cleary goes on to note that the Taoist inner alchemy approach is to turn the light of consciousness inward so that these energies are preserved.
The orbit is an energy channel in the body, which is actually made up of yin and yang channels that a practitioner brings together and harmonizes to create one flowing channel. The yang channel begins at the perineum and travels up the spine, through the head to the forehead, then down to the top of the palate. Placing the tongue to the roof of the mouth connects this channel to the next channel. The yin channel begins at the bottom of the mouth and travels down the front of the body to the perineum. From there, the channel splits off into the two legs and travels down the back side of the leg, through the bottom of the feet, then around the top of the feet, and up the front of the leg back to the perineum. The goal is to open up all the points along this channel so that energy can travel smoothly and unobstructed through the whole channel and circulate over and over. In advanced orbit meditations the practitioner brings heaven and earth chi into the orbit and circulates them. In this way the energies of the universe become part of the physical human structure.
The next meditation practice this paper will explore is guarding the one. In Taoist Meditation And Longevity Techniques (1989), Livia Kohn states that guarding the one involves constraining awareness, or holding the mind under control. In all forms of Taoist meditation the power of the mind has to be thoroughly developed. Nothing can be accomplished if the mind wavers and is drawn away by random thoughts. Taoist teachers describe that it is difficult to calm the mind, but can be done by repeated conscious intention. Through the practice of guarding the one amazing powers of mental concentration arise. Guarding the one is an essential preliminary practice before any other form of meditation is practiced.
The one is the state of non-differentiation of the universe, the primordial state of great unity, Wu Chi. Eva Wong, another great scholar of Taoism, describes the practice in Taoism (1997): "The key to this meditation lies in dissolving the duality between the self and the world so that oneness can be attained. In the early stages, the practitioner first stills the mind and body so that no thoughts, emotions, or sensations arise. Once the stillness is attained, the 'mind of the Tao' will emerge. The mind of the Tao is consciousness that is rooted in the Tao and sees all things as one. With continued practice, the experience of oneness will take hold, and the union with the Tao is achieved." (25)
The one is both the center of a being and its circumference. It is the place from which all life has arisen and it is the place to which all life should aspire to return in Taoism. Therefore, the highest state for the mind to be fixated upon is the one. If humans can constantly maintain awareness of the one they will never stray from it. It will become the guiding principle and the essential life force. The meditation of guarding the one like the microcosmic orbit, is a scientific method where through experience and investigation into the laws of the body and the universe, a being realizes the truth of being and how it is connected to the great source, Wu Chi. The Taoists say this truth becomes lost because of erroneous perceptions and inflation of the ego, but can be remedied through dedicated practice of going within and listening to the guidance of chi and the higher Self.
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Transformative Effects Of Taoist Meditation
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 Empowerment, 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.
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Discussion
I was raised with a completely non-religious background. My parents never talked about greater forces, God, or anything of a spiritual nature. I attended church a few times with a friend of mine and that was the extent on my religious knowledge. It was not until a high school humanities class that I got my first chance to look at religious texts. The Christian material didn't hit home on my level, Buddhism was inspiring but too lofty for me, but the Tao Te Ching, a Taoist text written by Lao-tsu, spoke to my heart and soul like nothing else before. This text seemed so simple and natural, yet so profound. My spiritual/religious quest soon began with amazing vigor after I opened up to the wisdom and practices of Taoism.
In college I decided to be a religious studies major because I wanted to better understand the religious impulses that were welling up inside me, and because I wanted to see how religions affected the world throughout history and especially in the present. In Taoism I began to see a beautiful vision of the world where humans were intimately linked to the cosmos. In my vision of the world at this time, I saw a place where humans were extremely disconnected from their environment and especially from the wisdom of their higher Self. Taoism teaches that it is essential for humans to be in touch with the Tao (universal way) in order for there to be harmony within themselves and the universe. Such a beautiful reminder this was for me. But how did one achieve this? As I began to further my studies in Taoism, I found a variety of amazing healing practices, such as Chi Gong, T'ai Chi Ch'uan, and meditation, that were designed to restore balance within. By creating harmony within, the Taoists said that living in the outer world becomes natural, spontaneous, and blissful.
I felt within myself during my college years that I didn't have this harmony with my Self or nature, and I desperately wanted to retrieve it. Where had it gone? It had fallen into unconscious because of my lack of cultivation and because our society in general doesn't teach us to connect to something deeper than our ego. Soon I began to seek out teachers of Chi Gong, T'ai Chi Ch'uan, and meditation. Amazingly I found the little town of Arcata, California to be full of practitioners and teachers of these arts. Also I began to read books by modern Taoists who were able to clearly describe the practices, which were often clouded in secrecy in the past. My first experience in Taoist healing arts was in the practice of Chi Gong during my sophomore year of college. I practiced with a western man who had studied in China and had started a center in Arcata called the House of Chi. When I met him he seemed to be radiating a subtle energy. I felt like I could almost see a glow or aura around his body.
The Chi Gong I began to learn was called The Twelve Jewels, and consisted of twelve different movements designed to increase the amount and flow of chi within the body. I had always been fascinated by the stories of Taoists who said they could feel and even see the chi moving in themselves and nature. I wanted this experience and believed it was possible. Of course there was some degree of skepticism, but that was simply because I had never felt chi before and because no one around me talked about it.
The teacher then gave a simple overview of what we should be concentrating on as we did the movements and some hints on what chi might feel like. He said to feel for sensations like electricity, warmth, movement, and pulsing. I began to get extremely excited at this point and knew something amazing was about to happen. Then the movements began. They were very simple, such as raising the arms out in front of the body and holding them there for some time, or standing poised and relaxed and concentrating on the hands to feel the chi move there. I began to feel myself drifting deeply inward. My mind felt like it reached into every part of my body searching for that intimate connection with my whole being. Soon I noticed my whole body radiating a soothing warmth sensation, especially in my hands. Next we were instructed to feel our feet and how they felt against the ground. I felt rooted to the earth and full of life. Subtle sensations of energy seemed to be pulsating around my feet.
One of the first principles in Chi Gong is to be grounded to the earth and open up the feet energy centers so that earth chi can flow into you and be part of you. I had always thought of the earth as a big ball of energy, but for some reason I didn't think about how I was connected to that energy right below and around me. Those perceptions quickly shifted when I suddenly felt like I was energetically linked to a mass of energy so huge that my mind couldn't conceptually understand it. This was a life changing experience for me. A new connection with the earth was born in me that I knew I wanted to keep with me throughout life. This connection was not intellectual either, which is what it was prior to this, but it was experiential and sensational.
The feeling sensation of chi is something very hard to describe and yet the Taoists so wanted to inspire people that they tried their best to describe a seemingly ineffable experience. The true profoundness of their statements for me though, was how they said so honestly that they felt chi and that so could anyone if they try these simple techniques. I soon found this to be true. I felt chi and all it took was concentration and some simple exercises. Chi is always available for exploration if one simply focuses one's awareness on it.
The next practice we did in the Chi Gong class was to open up the energy center on the top of the head, which was said to be the place where chi from the universe enters. Placing my mind on the top of my head was easy enough, and once again I felt a tingly warmth sensation. The chi had moved there because my mind moved there. This is another basic Chi Gong principle: energy moves where the concentrated mind moves. Feeling the energy of the universe was harder for me because it seemed so abstract. I didn't have any physical connection to the energies of the universe like I had with the earth, which was easily felt because it was touching me. With time I began to visualize this energy coming into me and I felt like a beautiful little vortex of energy that was a link between the chi of the earth and the chi of the universe. This was an awe-inspiring feeling and was by far the deepest connection with my surroundings that I had ever felt.
After several times practicing Chi Gong I then wanted to try Taoist meditation, which is very similar to Chi Gong but requires no physical movements. My mediation training was learned from the books of a modern Taoist teacher named Mantak Chia. His words were incredibly inspiring and opened me further to the potentials of the human connection with spirit and matter. I decided to practice the most basic, yet amazingly profound, meditation practice called the microcosmic orbit. This is the foundational meditation for all further Taoist meditations. Because Chi Gong had opened up in me the feeling sense of chi, I felt like I was ready for this practice, which as earlier stated is to feel and direct chi in an orbit through the body. Moving awareness to different points on the orbit first starts the meditation. Then once all the points are familiar, you are advised to intentionally move chi to each point in succession and eventually have the chi running smoothly through the orbit without obstruction.
After many months of practicing this meditation I finally was able to feel the chi move continuously along the orbit. It felt incredibly erotic, stimulating, and blissful. All of the energies in my body were swirling together and harmonizing into a unified energy. This was extremely transformative physically, mentally, and spiritually. My body had new levels of energy to work with, my mind was clear, lucid, and uplifted by being intimately linked to my body, and spiritually I began to feel like I was connected to a vast sea of energy that was so much larger than me. I was grateful that this experience was possible and that the Taoist teachers weren't lying.
During my senior year of college I decided I wanted to bring my Taoist inspired practice back into movement, and so I took an introductory level T'ai Chi Ch'uan class. I had seen pictures and movies of people doing T'ai Chi Ch'uan and always thought it looked so graceful and beautiful. In the class we learned the entire Wu form of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, which is one of the main four styles. Performing the movements and feeling my body memorize the form was an amazing experience. All parts of my body were being worked in a slow and gentle way. It didn't seem to be a vigorous exercise, yet after each class I could definitely tell I got a work out.
Having previous knowledge and experience with energetic channels added greatly to my experience with T'ai Chi Ch'uan. When I performed the movements I would move chi into different body parts and also try to feel how the chi moved naturally. I also began to get a sense for the dynamic interplay of the energies yin and yang and how they related to different body movements. This practice further enriched all parts of my being. Also I learned experientially how the concepts I learned through reading actually applied to the body, mind, and spirit. Today, near the end of my senior year in college, I still practice Chi Gong, T'ai Chi Ch'uan, and meditation. These arts have been experientially validated through my own awareness, and I believe they can also be validated by anyone who takes time to study the theories and practice them. My life has been enriched in innumerable ways because of these practices. I am so thankful to all the teachers who have helped me on my path. Also I am thankful for the inspiration these practices have brought to a modern world so out of balance, which is desperately seeking deeper meaning and connection in life.
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Conclusions
The Taoists have said that by looking inside and outside the body, and understanding the relationship between self and the universe, one can then live with meaning, peace, and harmony. This takes effort though. From a Taoist perspective it is every individual's job who wants this state to actively seek it and make it part of every aspect of life. Taoists also say that there is a greater power than the ego, which people can tap into and learn from. This is the mind of the Tao. The mind of the Tao seeps into the human mind when beings engage it and let it flow through them. This takes great courage because the ego has to lose dominance. The Taoists were willing to surrender to this force because when they experienced it, they felt perfect harmony.
The transformational experiences of Taoists have been recorded throughout history and continually show that profound shifts can happen within an individual. However, one does not have to be Taoist to experience what they have felt. The Taoist perspective is that anyone can tap into the Tao by cultivating it. This can be done through the Taoist healing arts or by some other form. Modern Taoists such as Mantak Chia say that all religions are pointing toward connection with a higher force and that all forms of practice that seek this connection are valid. Taoist practices are one of many, and can awaken beautiful transformations of the body, mind, and spirit, as well as bring answers to the questions humans have sought throughout time.
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