Illustrated – Yellow Court Classic (Huang TingJing) - Tao and Yoga
Shuang
Yan Guan Zhu
Ger Hung (283-363A.D.) said
“Medication is the foundation of longevity. The concomitant practice of Qi, the
benefit is quickly realized.” Using Qi practice, Sun Shi Miao, a medical doctor
(7th century) lived to 101 years, the late Zen master Hsu Yun (20th
century) lived to 119 years and a common Taoist Li Chan-Yuen (18th
to 20th century) lived to more than 200 years of age.
On the contrary, the two pranic
healing Guru, Master Choa Kok Sui and Swami Sahajanada, died at 54 and 48
respectively. Was the death of Master Choa related to Prana or Qi? Did he die
of Prana depletion or from absorption of bad karma (Qi or Prana)?
I have pursued Qi practice for over
twenty years. Now I am over seventy, and I am still actively in searching for
answer “whether Qi practice can improve cognition and ambulation in elderly?”
Personally, I believe that with right Qi practice, one can improve health and
can also prolong life. I am a realist, I want to be in good health and make
more contribution to our society. Everyone will face death, it is a question of
time.
For the last twenty years, I have
read a lot of books on Qi. However, I pass and neglect the 《Yellow
Court Classic – Huang Ting Jing》. It is because the 《Yellow Court Classic》is full of parables, metaphors and similes. Even the best Asian scholar
may not understand it.
Recently, I came across the translation of 《Yellow Court Classic》(the classic) by Imios Archangelis. It ignited my interest again in 《Huang Ting Jing 》 (the Classic).
The Classic said: “Reading it
10,000 times, its meaning will emerge” and “Chanting it 10,000 times will ascend to the three pure heavens.”
However, most of the ancient annotations on this classic were full of mistakes
and sometimes were meaningless.
In this article, we use diagrams and illustrations to explain the key
concepts in the 《Yellow
Court Classic》. Most of these figures
are also the practice experience of the author himself.
Roughly, the Classic’s approach to practice of its doctrines involve
seven steps:
- Breathing exercise or Qi movement
- Focus meditation
- Preservation of vitality or swallowing of oral secretions
- Tranquility and contentment
- Abstain from cereal food
- Qi swallowing
- Without desire and focus on voidness
This Classic divides the human body into three parts, and each part has
eight regions and each region has eight Gods. The upper part chamber relates to
the upper Dan Tien. The middle chamber corresponds to the middle Dan Tien, and
the lower Dan Tien relates to the pancreas rather than to the lower Dan Tien.
We will discuss the body organs later.
On the question of microcosmic and macrocosmic circulation. ( The water
wheels)
- Importance of brain
The Classic says:
「The truth
of Tao is eternal. Every section of the brain (Ni Wan) has its own inherent
spirituality.」
The above verses clearly explain the importance of the brain.
【From Classic:
Chapter 2, Section 7 (1,2)】
- Importance of the Coccyx ( The coccygeal foramen)
In the Classic, it describes that:
§ With zealous practice, one can open up the
coccygeal foramen (Qi can go through)
§ Meditate day and night, one will achieve the true
Tao
§ One’s spirit remains calm in the midst of powerful
thunders and lightings
【From Classic:
Chapter 2, Section 3 (5,6,7)】
In the above, it discusses the opening up
of the coccygeal foramen. So micro and macro cosmic circulation can be
achieved. The thunders and lightings are phenomena occurred with the
practitioner’s body during the process of opening up the chakras or spiritual
knacks.
- The Cosmic Circulation (Water Wheel) Phenomena:
The Classic says:
§ Six visceral organs and five solid organs provide
spirit for the body and soul
§ Their spirits circulate in concord with the cosmic
circulation
§ Maintain this order days and nights to longevity
【From Classic:
Chapter 2, Section 8 (8,9,10)】
§ A young maiden shines through a screen of clouds.
(Qi)
passing through the pagoda (the trachea) in all directions with elegance.
【From Classic:
Chapter 2, Section 4 (8,9)】
§ If one secures the three palaces (Dan Tian) and
retains the golden elixir, the primordial Qi settles at the Kunlun Mountain
(Brain)
(Qi) passing down steps by steps through the 12 story pagoda. From top
to bottom, resides the truemen (Qi). In the regions of the heart and abdomen,
consist of many mysterious palaces. By cosmic circulation, the splendid Qi
flows like precious jade elixir.
【From Classic:
Chapter 2, Section 19 (1-7)】
§ If one guides the feather clothes (Qi) , the right
way through the coccygeal foramen (the Qi will be raised automatically through
the eight holes) and steers the three color clouds in the early morning. As if
the golden carriage in the center is accompanied by the jade sedan chairs on
its sides.
§ 【From Classic:
Chapter 2, Section 24 (7,8,9)】
The third stanza above clearly delineates
the pathway for micro and possibly macro circulation.
- The Three Water Wheel Phenomena (Qi, Jade Elixir and Gold Elixir)
《Huang Ting Classic》did not
deal with the three water wheel phenomena directly. However,
from the text, it
was evident from the Qi movement, focus meditation, breathing exercise,
preservation of vitality and swallowing of oral secretions that the three water
wheel
phenomena did exist.
i. Swallowing of Qi; Yu Ying (Primordial Qi) – Qi
(air)
ii. Embryonic fluid; Jade nectar (gemlike cream, jade
lotion) – Fluid
iii.Moving pearl; a pearl-shaped fine stone - Solid
From the above, it is inferred that from vitality changes to Qi, Qi to
jade nectar and jade nectar to fine stone (solid); that means from gas →
liquid→
solid.
That is the three stages of the water wheel.
【The Active Hour of Tsu】
1.
The Classic says:
During the act of absorbing Qi, one needs to be at the hour of tsu.
【From
Classic: Chapter 2, Section 21 (8)】
2.
The script
says that the true man needs to gather the primordial Qi.
【From
Classic: Chapter 2, Section 28 (5)】
Tan Yuan noted that the first active hour of tsu is called the
primordial Qi.
【Gathering Golden Elixir Seven Days】
- One meditates for seven days and nights without sleep
【From
Classic: Chapter 2, Section 29 (5,6)】
- One can achieve the above, one will achieve eternity
- Extermination of all visual desires forsake a hundred illness.
- Similarly, continuous meditation for seven days will create surplus of Qi
【From
Classic: Chapter 2, Section 11 (7-10)】
- The Three Water Wheel Phenomena (Qi, Jade Elixir and Gold Elixir)
《Huang Ting Classic》did not deal with the three water wheel phenomena directly. However,
from the text, it was evident from the Qi movement, focus meditation, breathing exercise,
preservation of vitality and swallowing of oral secretions that the three water wheel
phenomena did exist.
i. Swallowing of Qi; Yu Ying (Primordial [yuan] Qi) – Qi (air)
ii. Embryonic fluid; Jade nectar (gemlike cream, jade lotion) – Fluid
iii.Moving pearl; a pearl-shaped fine stone - Solid
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