Centuries ago, Taoist sages in ancient China understood the workings of the
Universe, and knew how to look after their physical health, wealth and
happiness. By studying nature they saw that a human being was a miniature of
the universe, and that by learning to harmonize and balance the forces of
nature within themselves they could grow old and stay healthy. Over time, they
directed their consciousness inwards and developed a number of practical
techniques with which to do so.
Did you know that in ancient China your doctor was considered a failure if
you became sick? The best doctors therefore trained their patients to prevent
illness by maintaining a high level of health. The promise of these ancient
healing techniques still available today is to reveal the methods of how to
bring one’s various bodily energy systems into balance and manage one’s own
health. For some this can be a major revelation.
For centuries the practices were passed down from teacher to student and
taught mainly in monasteries. However, over time they have been brought to the
mainstream, initially in practices such as Tai Chi and martial arts, with which
most people are already familiar. Then, in the 1970’s, a complete and
integrated system of self-healing and spiritual development called the
‘Universal Healing Tao’ was brought to the West by Master Mantak Chia.
Recognized very early as having great potential for spiritual development,
Mantak Chia was initiated into meditation practices by Buddhist monks at the
age of 6. While studying in Hong Kong, he learned Tai Chi Chuan, Aikido and
Kundalini Yoga from a variety of teachers. His pursuit of Taoist teachings lead
him to meet the White Cloud Hermit, Master Yi Eng, a Taoist Master originally
from Central China, living at that time in the mountains not far from Hong
Kong: Master Yi was to become Master Mantak Chia's principle teacher.
Over a period of five years, Master Yi transmitted to Master Mantak Chia the
most sacred and closely held Taoist practices and formulas of internal alchemy.
Master Chia also learnt the ancient art of Chi Nei Tsang abdominal healing from
a Thai healer called Dr Mui. He was so intrigued by the technique and by how
profoundly it seemed to heal so many ailments in the body that he spent 3 years
watching him with patients and also studied gross anatomy at Bangkok
University.
Mantak Chia is one of the first Chinese masters to arrive in the west with a
comprehensive mastery of both traditional Chinese healing arts, nutrition,
herbs, Tai Chi and massage, combined with the more esoteric meditative aspects
of these practices. According to Chia “There are no ultimate masters or gurus
in Taoism because we become our own Masters, capable of controlling our own
destinies and knowing who we really are as we explore the marvelous powers
hidden within the Tao of humanity”.
The goal of these ‘Chi Kung’ (energy management) practices is to learn how
to manage and master your Chi (life force). Unfortunately in our society many
of us are not aware of the energy which underlies our physical, mental and
emotional health, and we can inadvertently waste it. However, the quality of
our Chi is the source of our health.
The first step for a beginner is to learn how to conserve this
precious life force. According to Master Mantak Chia, “when a battery is
drained it is harder to charge. Money makes Money. Chi makes Chi. Conservation
of Chi will help gain more Chi.” He maintains that we unwittingly leak energy
in 3 major ways: (1) negative emotions, (2) constantly turning our senses
outwards and (3) menstruation and sexual activity.
In the beginning practices we learn Iron Shirt Chi Kung to
root to the earth and build a good energetic structure. According to Master
Chia, just like a tyre needs to have the correct psi, we need to maintain a
good level of Chi pressure inside the body. This protects our vital organs,
keeps them healthy and ensures they stay in their correct position.
Through sitting meditations such as the Inner Smile and
Six Healing Sounds we learn how to clear negative emotions which may
be stored in the organs and we bring our outer senses inwards to rest. Each
major internal organ has a propensity to store certain emotions: for example,
anger and frustration affect the liver, worry upsets the stomach and spleen,
grief is stored in the lungs and fear is found in the kidneys. Left
unaddressed, these energies can build up to create physical problems.
We also learn to balance our Chi, which needs to flow freely
through the body’s energetic pathways (meridiens), like water in a river, in
order for us to have good health. Unfortunately, due to habits and lifestyle,
our Chi can become stagnant, blocked, excessive in some areas and deficient in
others, affecting all levels of our being. So for example, a build up of heat
in the heart will result in feeling impatient and hasty and may even lead to
heart attacks, whilst an imbalance of cold in the reproductive system can
result in infertility. With the Inner Smile, Six Healing Sounds and
Microcosmic Orbit meditations we free up and circulate our Chi flow
around our body.
Once we have started to conserve and balance our life force, we can then
learn how to transform it into more beneficial Chi. It is a scientific fact
that energy can never be destroyed, only transformed. In the next level of practice,
the Fusion of the Five Elements we journey through the organs
collecting any negative emotions or imbalanced energy and purify them through
an internal alchemical process. This Chi is then recycled through our being to
nourish our body and mind.
Time is also spent on the Sexual Alchemy practices, where
one learns to conserve energy which is lost during sex and menstruation. By
saving this energy, and recycling it within ourselves, it can be used for
healing and maintaining good health.
According to Mantak Chia “at progressive stages, dedicated practice of this
ancient esoteric system eliminates stress and nervous tension, massage the
internal organs and restores health to damaged tissue”. He adds, according to
the ancient sages “long-term practice beyond two years and most effectively if
practiced life-long, reportedly could retard the various degenerative changes
associated with old age, such as skin changes, senility, slowed reaction time,
impaired memory, ambulatory impairment and the frequency of various diseases
common at old age. A diligent practitioner often lives to ninety years of age
and remains healthy and alert, is able to jog, run and climb mountains with
ease and continues to enjoy life more fully than most people. Many reportedly
could forecast their own time of death and pass on peacefully and gracefully in
the posture of meditation”.
Chi is not only the foundation of our health, it is also the basis of
spiritual development in the Tao. At first the Universal Healing Tao practices
are aimed at enhancing our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. A major
focus is learning how to manage our emotions rather than having them manage us.
This is a great first step to personal freedom and also avoids the onset of
many physical problems. In the process of creating a solid foundation of
health, the basis for developing ones spiritual independence is also created.
Whether you are looking to work on yourself at an emotional, mental, physical
or spiritual level, these practices really are a toolbox for health.