In the previous post, I introduced the ‘Three Treasures”: Shen or Spirit, Qi or Energy, and Jing or Essence. To make sense of how to work with these, it is helpful to know the basic principles of the Taoist model of longevity and enlightenment which involves the integration of the functioning of microcosmic human body with the macro-cosmic Universe.
In Taoism, the ‘heart’ or fundamental nature of the Universe, known as the Tao, is ultimate mystery that beyond all capacity to be named or described. However, the Tao can be ‘realized’ through immediate direct experience, by returning ‘home’ to our ‘true nature’ and awakening to the creative impulse of our Soul. This is also the fundamental statement of Buddhism, Vedanta, Yoga and other mature Spiritual traditions. Taoism gives us an embodied bio-physiogical path to discovering this mystery and guidance on longevity so we may continue to bring the fruits of our unfolding into the present functioning of the planet. Based upon deep observations of the natural world and the inner workings of the human body, this path has clear steps and stages that can be tasted, developed and integrated into our lives and they fundamentally involve the integration of Shen, Jing and Qi.
Shen or ‘spirit’, the light of the candle flame, is the inner voice, or driving force, arising from
mystery and calling us to return home, to our natural wholeness. We can find many analogies in other cultures of this link between the human and the divine, such as the ‘Holy Spirit’ of Christianity. Shen requests us to abandon our divisive, ego-centric or self-centered beliefs and behaviors that waste our Qi, our life energy. Shen encourages us to cultivate a presence that includes joy, generosity, compassion, curiosity, truthfulness, serenity, and creativity. In other words, to be a light in the community.
From an embodied perspective, Shen is centered in the upper dantien, in the center of the brain and is asscociated with the sixth chakra. But interestingly enough, Shen is divided into 5 branches to animate/activate different levels of the human body and the primary of these, also known as shen, is centered in the heart, the seat of the fire element.
Jing or essence, the foundation substance or matter of our embodied presence, is centered in the lower dantien. Pre-natal jing is the core or constitutional energy that we have been given through genetics to accomplish the goals our Soul has set for us in this lifetime. This pre-natal Jing is supported by the post natal Jing we are constantly creating from our intake of food and drink and healthy digestion. Jing is the wax and wick of the candle.
Qi, centered in the middle dantien, is our life energy that moves us and moves through us as dynamic action. Our physical, physiological, emotional and psychological processes are all Qi in action. This is the flame of the candle. When Shen or spirit meets Jing or essence, then our Qi is directed toward spiritual action, within and without.
The Practice
In a comfortable sitting pose, let your attention move into your heart center and imagine light radiating outward into the world, as if you are sitting in a sphere of light. Now, without losing awareness of the light, let you attention move to the breathing in the heart space where shen meets the qi. Visualize the breath bringing light into the body and distributing it to all the cells of the body. Now visualize the breath moving in and out of the bone marrow of the legs, lower spine and pelvis (and any other bones you can find), as if the light and breath penetrate into the interior of the bones. Bone marrow is created by the jing, so we are now penetrating this treasure with shen and qi. Feel the three treasures as a single vibrant presence.
To strengthen the jing even further, feel the breath originating in the kidneys, as if the kidneys are helping to draw the in-breath all the way down to the root. This is called ‘kidneys grasping the qi’ and helps revitalize the kidneys and stimulate the creation of kidney jing.
Now, remaining open and relaxed, connect your whole body, through CV-1, the seat of yin, deep into Mother Earth, letting gravity and the three treasures intermingle as a single vibrant energy field. Reggie Ray, in his somatic pure awareness meditation teaching, calls this the ‘primordial soma’, or what the Yoga Sutras call ‘prakriti’. As you surrender into the field, feel the infinite space that is the source of the field, sustains it and yet is infinitely still and unbounded. Rest here.
Before you transition out, feel the cells, the fluids and organs alive, vibrant and bathed in light. Imprint this, and then go out and enjoy the rest of your day.