Mind, body and spirit

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There is another way not openly taught in Western society traditionally created and nurtured in philosophical and spiritual traditions of the East, namely Chinese Taoism which emphasizes on three different aspects: jing (essence), chi (life force) and shen (spirit). By manipulating these factors we will enjoy health and psychic levels never experienced before. Trust me, 5,000 years of Taoist knowledge and practice can't be wrong.

In Taoism they are also called the "The Three Treasures" (or San Bao) and they need be considered if one has to succeed in Chi Kung (or Qigong using pinyin nomenclature). Buddhists do not pay too much attention to this topic since they indirectly work on them through the mind, which is also an effective way of training the body-mind-spirit concept.

Taoists on the other hand, pay the utmost attention to these components since they are directly related. In here a practitioner learns how to firm his "Jing" and how to convert it into "Chi" (Qi in pinyin). Then the final process would be directing "Chi" to the head and convert it into "Shen" (spirit). Converting is more a process of nourishing or "feeding" the spirit in order for it to grow strong; that is, refining the spirit to end human (emotional) nature.

If you take a look around the world where you live you will realize that this world is emotional, ridden with passion and attachments (delusional) which lastly deviate our true nature from the ultimate reality (Nirvana, Moksha, returning to the source, etc.), which is indeed a state where the mind is stripped leading the spirit to that final state.

This process is tedious and lengthy but according to a famous Taoist saying "The journey is the reward". If you think to much of the outcome or any goal for that matter you will give up no matter how hard you try. Just sit down, relax and enjoy the hard (but of course discipline and effort is required if we are to succeed).

If you keep these three elements strong and healthy, you will live a long and healthy life. If you neglect or abuse them, you will be sick frequently and will age fast.

Jing in Taoist practice is considered the "essence" that is the primal substance from which things are made. When this concept is used in reference to animals or humans, it translates as the very original and essential source of life. When you are born the "original jing" is the root of your life and it is what allows you to grown stronger and bigger. After your birth you start to absorb "jing" through the food and air, converting it into "chi" which supplies your body's requirements.

Taoists believe that the quality of the "jing" you receive depends on your parents' health and living habits before you were born, and therefore it will vary from person to person according to that. If you take a look around you, you can easily detect differences between humans due to the quality of the "jing" received before birth. However, Taoists also believe that you cannot alter the quality of the "jing" you received but Chi Kung training will allow you to improve its quality.

I will discuss in the next post the concept of "chi" (Qi).