Neidan Meditation / Inner Alchemy
One of the least known schools of esoteric wisdom, leading to the art of internal alchemy, is the secret tradition of the Daoist meditation known as Neidan. Neidan literally means internal – medicine or internal alchemy, and the ultimate goals of the practice are self healing by accelerating the natural bodily mechanics, harnessing and storing Chi energy, realization as an Immortal Soul, unison with the ‘Source’ of all creation, and other ‘extra-ordinary’ human capabilities. Neidan is the art of channeling the energies of the Universe and the body ‘machine’ that enables our souls to experience the 3rd dimensional ‘material world’.
The practice of ‘energy work’ like Reiki or Qi Gong is the practice of gathering and storing the different ‘Chi’ energies of the cosmos and within ourselves. There are many video examples of Chinese masters practicing these energies to pacify animals, germinate seeds in a fraction of normal time, igniting fires, throw opponents with no movement, and many other examples, all explained by controlling Chi energy. It is a power within us all, though we have forgotten it is there.
Neidan, or any inner alchemy teaching cannot be justly described by words or symbols alone. The texts and language can only be understood by the experiences which are being described. Inner alchemy is the process of observing, strengthening, and super-charging the body’s latent powers, like super-strength, self-healing, and other ‘super-human’ feats. These experiences have been described by ancient myths and legends across the globe, and always protected by certain ‘schools’ with rules. These super-human powers have been testified to by the Bible, Buddhist, Hindu, Chinese, Muslim, Egyptian, South American, Gnostic* and countless other distant cultures, all describing the same energies but with different languages and images..
Inner alchemy is the practice of tapping into the 93% unused brain matter and DNA, and controlling the subtle systems of the body, on command. These practices are only found in the human species, and it is said that our ‘consciousness’ created our bodies because our souls are ready for these spiritual Kundalini experiences. These realizations of God and super-human powers are in each and every person alive, but few will experience even a taste of what is within. These practices can only be understood with the different experience had by the practitioner, and only with continued practice can these gifts be activated. There are many subtle and intricate feelings that can help lead the way towards higher realizations, and more importantly, away from distractions of society, which keeps us ignorant of the spiritual dimensions we are in.
At the top level experiences of Neidan inner alchemy, they say our brains release a ‘sweet golden nectar’, which then flows down into the throat. In Indian the practice of Kachari, one lengthens their tongue to tickle the nectar out of the brain.. It’s been verified for thousands of years and in both India and China, they say it turns a human into an Immortal. This practice was introduced to the West and is well explained by Swami Yogananda, and also in Kriya Yoga practices introduced by Patenjali Sutra. The most probable physiological anatomical body part is probable the Substantia Negra of the Basal Ganglia, because it affects so many major systems and is basically pressing on the nasal passage way. This might be the reason the nose is a common way to consume drugs, and is ironic being called the Golden Nectar of Immortality, when it is black, filled with melanin.
Neidan is described by symbolic language, which tries to explain the deep physiological actions of our organs, nervous system, and endocrine system, the entire interactive physical and spiritual body, and how to tap into the wheelwork of universal energy. It is a practice of syncing the consciousness with the subtle body, and with the cosmic flow of the Universes’ energy. When experienced at the highest levels, the body transforms into an antenna which connects the soul with the higher dimensions, energies and spirits, as recorded by ancient and modern testimony. Neidan is a practice of understanding and manipulating the autonomic valves, levers and circuits of our mechanical bodies, which western sciences deems impossible.
For thousands of years in countless cultures, mystics have described the spiritual experience of witnessing the Spirit Realm or Heaven. These shamans, monks, gurus have been revered for witnessing these altered states of consciousness. In recent history, the discovery of mind altering drugs and other hacks, can now produce these same experiences by force. It has been written poetically and logically a thousand different ways to try to explain these experiences and the techniques on how the soul can recognize and transcend the physical body. But, it is also said that this experience of ‘The Dao’ cannot be described by mere words alone. It is said that the experience of the Spirit Realm can only be known by actual witnessing them. Our bodies already produce all the chemistry and mechanics to produce theses effects, and we can control them at will, but only with the correct knowledge and the will power!
The Ancients discovered that when you focus your consciousness to a high level of observation, to the most subtle interactions around you, in the body or the cosmos, then the mind can first feel, then strengthen and finally utilize the energy noticed by our consciousness to affect the other energies around us. It is the mysterious interconnection named by modern quantum mechanics as entanglement, the observer affect, gravity and other ‘mysteries’ of western science..
For thousands of years students would receive the direct training and translation of the true secret meanings of the traditions, learned only through a hierarchy from discerning masters to a deserving student. The texts have always been written symbolically and explained as different systems seen in everyday life, as a means to protect the tradition from corruption and misuse. This wisdom was kept hidden from common people because it can bring great harm to those who practice without knowledge or wisdom.
We are exposed to a constant barrage of ideas and imprints in modern life, the Hindu’s call these past ‘imprints’ on our souls our ‘Vasanas” from past karma. Everyone’s past and imprints are different, and only we can discover their purpose to where we are in this moment. We also create imprints on ourselves and others by the words and actions we us.
Finding time to focus on the finest subtle details or to the inter-connectedness of the Universe, is rare. But first with the right knowledge and understanding of how the mechanics operate, and then with time spent experiencing these subtle energies and reactions, we can slowly build the practice into unimaginable levels.
In an instant, the common People can also create a Heaven on Earth, if the super-consciousness of humanity can hear the call, and act towards a world where everyone has opportunities, then that world will be. … The world You live in is created by YOU.
The Scriptures
From what history has found, Neidan texts go back about 1000 years. But like we know about ancient cultures, they had traditional stories which some say start 1000s of years before. Modern western translations and commentaries about Neidan started to appear in the 1800’s with intellectuals like Richard Wilhelm and Carl Jung. The Secrets of the Golden Flower, the Yi Jing and others, are some of the earliest and best literal translations, from the ancient traditions. Modern masters like Charles Luk, Montak Chia and others, have explained the practice and benefits of energy work very well in their books, but Neidan specifically, remains a forgotten magic art.
Fabrizio Pregadio’s of Italy, is definitely the English reader’s most prolific translator and interpreter of Neidan. He has translated many of the ancient texts, and has probably the most well documented English catalog available on Neidan. He does a great job of organizing the history and language, and without his efforts, I would have no idea about this magic art.
But those works are mostly academic and literal in their translations, and are difficult to understand unless some explanation or experience is made first. But, with titles like ‘Awakening to Reality’, ‘The Way and Power’, ‘Cultivating the Dao’, or ‘Secrets of the Golden Flower’, these traditions have not lasted thousands of years for mere story telling. The practice of Neidan has many teaching which are still unrecognized as master works because of lost traditions.
Some scholars credit Lao Tzu as the creator of the Daoist philosophy when he wrote the Dao Di Jing, which means the Way and Power Classic’. That text is written as short saying and tales which tries to describe what Dao is or isn’t, but even says in the book that Dao is eternal, cannot be described, and is manifested in the unseen. Another poetic master is the imaginative writings of Chung Tzu, and the surreal reality of ‘knowing’.
There are countless saying which are still commonly used today, borrowed from the Dao Di Jing, like Bruce Lee quoting the book to ‘be like water’. Water in symbolic language is Yin, and is yielding to everything it encounters, but also fills all voids it encounters. If collected, Yin energy is responsible for the amount of Yang energy allowed. They say that Yin has influence over Yang, like a woman whose subtle influence, allows and invites a man to pursue her. Or, a container can only hold so much before it overflows. Another example, that the electron of light will travel forever, until it connects with the waiting plant, animal or inert material, and then creates the motion of Life. The electron symbolizes Old Yang, the material being empty Old Yin, which they then create a new energy.. Only by surrender to the higher power of the Universe/God, can that power be accepted or allowed into our body and soul.
The most comprehensive visual illustration of the Neidan alchemy machine is the Nei Jing Tu. This odd looking drawing is a picture of a symbolic fetus, but drawn with scenes from ancient Chinese life. To the ordinary observer the picture is too confusing to make much sense, but to a trained practitioner it is a map of the body and the stages of energy transfer. As well, the physical energy arts of Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Bagua Zhang and others specialize in different movement, which are used to help mobilize the Chi and Jing. These meditations involve observing the body while focusing attention to our body’s internal energy. With preparing the body to good health, and practice observing the energies flowing through our meridians, we can create bliss and carry it throughout our lives. Happy as can be and knowing why!
Another ancient text about inner alchemy is the Yi Jing. The Yi Jing or I-Ching is translated into ‘The Book of Changes’. It is said to be one of the oldest books of all humanity. And, at an esoteric level, symbolically explains the energy systems of the body and Universe. This secret coded language does little to explain Neidan meditation in any practical meaning. The Yi Jing’s esoteric meanings are not only words of wisdom to live by, by words that can allow us to become an Immortal.
The Yi Jing is not only a text of Life’s changes, but can also be played as a coin game for divination as it discusses the universal cycles of life, and at the allegorical level describes the process of Neidan alchemy. The Yi Jing seemingly talks about politics, family relationships and other metaphors, but for the initiated, the text explains the cycle of the breath and the energy sublimation of the Jing into Chi.
The Yi-Jing talks about the universal Yin Yang energies change from old to new and new to old as the Spirit and Material energies transmute forms. The Yi Jing is worded as symbols of the ‘civilized world’, and symbols in Nature like lakes, oceans, or mountains and valleys. Daoism noticed the patterns of the universe in numbers seen in Nature.
When the Book of Changes refers to the changing of hexagrams into other hexagrams, describing different conscious actions we live by, the book is also describing these Universal energies and how they interact with other energies. With these different reactions, we then utilize the different energies in different ways. We can also store these energies to strengthen both our ‘prenatal’ and ‘post natal’ Yin Yang energies. Naturally these systems striving for constant balance, and can be felt most at the extremes. It is the flow of Yin into Yang and vice versa that dictates our health and vitality.
A common number in esoteric traditions is 5. Patterns of five can be seen in plants across the globe, and ancient traditions of 5 ‘elements’, everything in the Universe is made from a mixture of these 5 elements: Wind, Water, Earth, Metal and Fire. These 5 elements are compatible with the New and Old Yin and Yang, and the Ether of consciousness.. Many of these symbols were the early influence of western traditions introduced to the ancient Greeks.
This system of 5 can be seen in the body microcosms of Zang Xiang Theory, where the organs are the ‘elements’ of the body, and represent an inter-connected cycle of energies in mutual checks and balances. There are Yin organs, and Yang organs, the Yin organs store the energies, and the Yang moves the energies. As well, Yin controls Yang. In a physical injury, the force of the injury is excessive Yang, which overpowers the Yin capacity of the flesh and bone. This causes inflammation which is also too much Yang. So the only way to heal that is to let the body rest and allow the yielding/no action force of Yin to heal.After the Yin of new tissue is strengthened, then the force of Yang can be strengthened. Basically, you can never heal an injury without the rest. These balances are extrapolated to Zang Xiang of Yin Yang organs.
One of the most revered texts in Neidan and a fundamental study of many martial arts including the Shaolin Monastery is the Yi Jin Jing. The name Yi Jen Jing is translated as the Changing – Tendon-.Muscle-Classic. A search for this term will pull up different physical exercises, but I found a breathing/ focus technique which physically excites the muscles during physical strain. The effect is isolating specific muscles to increase endurance of the muscle, which literally hardens the muscles. It takes some time to notice the very subtle differences that our consciousness has on the body, but each inhale and exhale are a window into the duality of the breath.
In TMC acupuncture, Chi Gong and other Chinese Arts, there are different layers of energy and the different channels (called meridians) that run thru the body. There are 12 different channels which carry the different forms of Yin Yang energies to different areas of the body, each transforming along the way to animate the different levels of Life.
NRG (energy)
Not only does Neidan meditation super-charge the chemical/electrical body, with the experience of observing the wheel-work of energies flowing thru the Universe, we can harness the subtle cosmic energies into every electron we are created from, uniting the super integrated conscious of multiple layers of conscious action. Once the cosmic macro and micro energies of the body and Universe can be felt, we can tune in the frequencies of each layer of Universal Shen, Xi, Jing, with our Jing, Chi, and higher Shen, summing these frequencies together, which amplifies the resonance of those energies. Plato famously called this the “Harmony of the Spheres’, and the Hindu’s say all vibrations resonate with AUM.
All the ancient texts agree to the same picture of the energy systems, which western media-medicine has yet to realize the full potential. The Hindu energy system of the Nadis and the Chinese system of Meridians, both describe the energies called Prana or Chi, and are identical in how they facilitate to elevate the body’s dormant abilities. The body’s billions of cells are preforming countless interactions at every moment, when you can differentiate a few important ones; an energy cycle is kick on inside the body. The literal circuitry and valves are physically opened up and resonate together. Your consciousness will perceive realities in which the ‘spiritual world comes alive.
In both ancient cultures, the trick to experiencing these divine powers are all found with the breath. The highest levels of introspective meditation are a practice of training the Consciousness to feel the many intricacies happening within and around us. Then we can sync the body’s systems to resonate together, exciting and strengthening our visceral systems. There is a certain training of multi-tasking to observe the chain reaction of our autonomic system, and so training the consciousness to passively observe the fine details of each sensation. These super-hero abilities are unique to each of our individual ‘soul missions’, of our spiritual journey as we progress through eternity. Each individual soul will sense different calling towards different abilities, and when we can work collectively as a species, and then humanity will know It’s Purpose too.
Nicola Tesla explained these multiple energy levels many times, and it was the secret to his inventions. Every object is created from energy, absorbs the energy around, and affects their environment with their energy. The different vibrations, even time and space, are tunable to a degree or resolution. This shift in energies, which shows vibrations compress and change, can be seen by the Doppler affect. The conscious energy we express and radiate determines countless interactions throughout our days. Like the energy of someone looking at you from behind, and our consciousness senses that energy thru the body. Try an experiment with smiling or frowning around strangers, and see what happens…
With practice, it is the breath that locks our body’s vibration in with the energies of the cosmos, to reach the higher levels of conscious experience. The ancients knew the material realm of existence has many limits, but the Reality within each of our souls is a unique Universe, with past lives’ Karma and experiences unique to everyone. Each conscious creature is at the center of their Universe and everything outside of our conscious is a projection from within upon the outer world, projecting upon the screen of God’s creation.
One main idea about the cosmic energy Neidan tries to capture, like the electron, is that it is mysterious how it is seemingly non-existent like salt ions in water, but at the same time can instantaneously materializing wherever it needs to be. This too is a visual symbol of the dissolution or disconjunction of certain Laws of the Universe, where solids de-materialize. It is at the intersection of colliding energies; conscious, electrical and more, which materialize into a form we can observe. As Schrödinger theorized that in the Universe, all possibilities scenarios are unreal, until the collapse of the senses and the sensed, materialize an event. With constant focus and progress, anything imaginable is possible. And that’s where meditation allows us to channel the different frequencies of the Universe and guide our lives on the Path we naturally feel from our sensor mechanical spacesuit.
Modern education places mental barricade of what our imagination can ‘see’. Modern science also always changes as new discoveries are made and the old limited view is discarded. All past ‘realities’ have evolved through history. Different beliefs around the globe were tried and true for those time, but all of them changed. The first thing to changing anything in Life is to focus attention to a goal. Concentration and effort will progress, and any goal can be reached. God loves YOU, and wants you to help make a better world for all.
The NRG of Consciousness
A central beliefs common to the ancient teachings of Daoism, Samkaya, Advaita, is they all say that consciousness is an inseparable part of Reality, and/or the material world, meaning all matter has consciousness. They believed that consciousness (spirit/soul) was the initiating energy source of the physical world and without consciousness to observe the material world, the material does not exist. This might be the question about the sound of a tree falling with no one to hear.
All of those individual and collective conscious decisions; the cells, organs, nerves and integrated systems make, can be focused upon with intention and observation. Place your intention on any part of the body and you will then feel the sensations of that part, which normally goes unnoticed. Without any mental distractions weighing on our soul, the consciousness can witness the separate mechanics of the body- our space/time machine.
The Hindu’s call all the individual elements of our lives, Vasanas, or imprints on our lives, past and present. We can never full realize every interaction of time and space, but by instinct have very specific drives and avoidance. Each contact with other people and things imparts residual energies and impression to our energy bodies. The Hindus and Chinese are very careful and mindful about how they spend their time, where to spend their energies, and are careful with whom and what they touch. This is because, that not only can we influence our own energy, but we can also influence the energy in the world around us.
These energies inside the body and throughout the cosmos were explained symbolically as Spiritual energies. These energies are the modern energies of physics which need very specific instrument to detect, to never ending absurdum. Neidan is the practice of focusing in and experiencing these subtle chemical, electrical, magnetic, and nuclear interactions, within and without, and our body is the instrument to measure the experience.
In Daoist philosophy, consciousness is a Spirit energy (Yang) which brings movement to the material world (Yin). A visual analogy of the electron, which is almost completely made of energy with an infinitesimal amount of mass, and the proton is basically all mass with almost zero conscious energy. But the two are held together in a mutual balance of equally opposing and attracting forces. So in the material/spiritual pair, our intention and concentration is our conscious energy, exciting the material world we witness.
The Universe’s actions, like our own are Yang energy, expelled outward like the rays of the Sun. Neidan is a Yin meditation where the body is in completely relaxed and yielding state, which allows the energies and experiences into our conscious senses. Only by the ‘non-doing’ of meditation allows the Yang to flow into our Yin. Neidan is an art to increase our Yin, which also increases our Yang. This is why many religions say that only when we surrender to a higher power, then does that higher power manifest.
Daoism and Vedanta (the Vedas) philosophies takes about 5 symbolic layers of our soul and body. In the Taittiriya Upanishad, it says that the material world is the furthest away from the Source energies, and the least stable. Out of the 5 layers it is our conscious which is the strongest energy layer of our existence. In Daoism too, the intersection where the spirit realm meets the physical world is at the least powerful energy levels of the Yang, and the densest level of Yin – So, our mental energy is more subtle than the physical energy bonds, if realized.
Daoism holds there are three levels of Yang and three level of Yin within all creation. The Yang levels are Shen, Xi, and Jing. The Yin levels are Jing, Chi and Shen, with our conscious at the intersection of Yang Jing and Yin Jing. It is the Shen level of both Yang and Yin which are less material and more spiritual edges of our Universe’s dimensions, our higher self and intellect, and the God scale of energies.
The art of Neidan describes the energy transmutation of the (Yang) Shen, Xi and Jing collapsing into the (Yin) Shen, Chi and Jing of matter/energy of the Spirit/ Material world around us. It is a system three different energies of the physical and spirit worlds, and all of those energies have a Yin Yang dual nature. As well, all of those Yin Yang energies are in constant transformation from New to old and into the next iteration. All these energies are transforming as they interact throughout the Universe on many different levels.
So in total there are three ‘Spirit’ (Yang) energy levels and three inert ‘Material’ (Yin) cosmic energy levels, and each has an inverse proportional positive and negative aspect, for 12 energy fields in total, corresponding to the 12 organ meridians of TCM.
Daoism says the physical body is born from this Yin Jing/Yang Jing collision, right at the Dantian/ umbilical cord, which becomes our predisposed energy level, considered our body’s metabolism we are born with. Neidan calls this material Jing ‘postnatal’, and the Yang ‘spirit’ Jing our prenatal energy, and is otherwise called our Essence. Neidan tries to strengthen this post-natal energy with nutrition, exercise and rest, and a happy environment, which satisfies all our human instincts towards happiness. All corporate owned processed foods are PRODUCTS not food… Cook for yourself and demand quality food farming. Btw.
Neidan is an effort to save both our spiritual and material Jing with physical, spiritual, intellectual and emotional calm. And by saving our post-natal Yang energy, we extend our prenatal life-force.
Throughout our lives we ingest food and nutrients which supply our Chi energy. Our mental and emotional energies are Yang in nature, our external energy sources are absorbed by our Yin. We need to protect our primordial energy by not expelling unnecessary Yang outward energy. As we live and age, we lose our prenatal – spiritual and material energies as they exhausts from our bodies after it as transformed into other the energies of effort and emotions.
Neidan is a practice of self-mastery of conscious living, which commands these spirit/material transitions and transforms the different energies by means of compression and expansion in rhythm with the Universe. It is the conscious intention which can harness these cosmic mechanics. Literally, with mindful observation, the Reality in our daily lives can resonate with the entire Universe.
Symbolic Medicine
Right now all the esoteric schools use symbolic language to describe these energies in and around us. Throughout ancient cultures, we are left stone carving of ‘gods’ holding a pine cone in one hand and a purse like bag in the other. The most accepted theory is that the pine cone represents the pineal gland, which also represents the endocrine system as a whole. This endocrine system is the chemical drugstore of our body.
Ancient statues show the ‘gods’ commonly holding a bag or purse in one hand. This bag does not have a theory that is well accepted. But, in Chinese TCM and Hindu Ayravedic medicine one of the major descriptions of the body is in describing the organs as containers of our life force powers. When our organs are healthy and active, they hold our vital reserves of blood, enzymes and other compounds needed for life saving situations. The representation of the handbag is most likely a symbol of our body’s organs, sometimes called the visceral body. With the practice of Neidan, our organs and endocrine systems are strengthened and packed to full reserve.
As well the ubiquitous ‘winged serpent’ is common to most ancient cultures. The Rod of Asclepius, or the Caduceus shows a serpent which represents a frequency of energy flowing up our spine and ancient inner reptilian brain, and the wings represent the soul escaping the body. The serpent also represents the stillness and concentration to focus in on the energies. The wings also represent the freedom the consciousness experiences without the restraints of the illusionary material dimension. This is the representation of the Kundalini experience as a symbol.
Many speculate that the symbolism of the Bible’s Tree’s of Life and Knowledge are that of the body’s blood and nervous systems, like in the symbolism of the Kabaalism sephirots . Kabaalism has many similarities with both ancient Hindu and Babylonian religions.
One of Traditional Chinese Medicine main theories of medicine is called Zang Xiang Theory, and classifies the body and Universal energies in a 5 part interactive cycle. The language and span of definitions is indeed complicated. It is a refined language and system which is binary in nature, with everything possessing a balance or dual nature for existence. Every time those binary reactions transform, new and old energies are transmuted into another cycle. When these systems are out of balance, then dis-ease of the body can be felt. Likewise, when the body is at elevated performance, and is known and controlled at the extreme levels, then extra-ordinary things happen.
Medicines like herbs or medications, acupuncture, moxibustion, massage and other externally administered medicines are known as Wudan, Wudan means external medicine. It is said that Wudan was created after Neidan was forgotten, but then rediscovered over thousands of years in the monasteries of the Daoists. Neidan is use to mentally strengthen the body and mind. It was discovered that with the correct intention, the body could heal, strengthen, and control our internal systems without any external needs.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient art which speaks the language of Neidan. TCM discusses medicine in symbols and systems which seemingly have no physical dimensions. TCM is comprehensive to all of the physical, emotional, spiritual and environmental qualities of disease and health, which simply cannot be pointed to. The ancient scriptures talk about both physical and spiritual energies of the body, Earth and Universe, but in modern times very little attention is placed on the Spiritual aspects.
In the physical realm of the human body, TCM as a well-organized and comprehensive system of energy pathways and processes, this is known and described by acupuncture. The energy body is divided into many layers, called channels or meridians, some store and others transport the different energies in the body.
Secondly, like TMC says, it is when we have a blockage or stagnation in the body or mind, then our blood and energy cannot flow properly in our bodies. Every cell in our bodies needs oxygen to feed the cells. When our capillaries are restricted from injuries, poor diet and not exercising then the cells are do not get invigorated with blood or the chemical communicators. If the cells have no oxygen, then they start metabolizing sugars to burn energy. The waste by product of cells that have no oxygen is lactic acid. Lactic acid then causes inflammation which further restricts blood flow. This is why exercise, massage, ice and heat and other manipulations of the body feels so good. By squeezing out the stagnation and uncirculated blood and lymph fluid, the cells are refreshed and feel good.
The body should be in perfect comfort and ease at all times, even under stress. Neidan is an art which gains strength by flowing with energy and absorbing it, like in yoga stretching, gradually easing yet gaining strength. As opposed to strength training which resist a Yang force, to force the expansion of Yin. It is Yang energy which causes injury, by Yang force over Yin weakness.
These blockages can be physical, emotional, spiritual or even intellectual (closed mind about the concepts), and it is only by releasing the blockages that the energy can flow. All of the internal martial arts teach that the only way to release the blockages is with soft and gentle easing. It is by small improvements, or the power of the small, that progress is made to repair what has been spoiled, as is described by the two hexagrams of the I Ching.
The different energy pathways vary according to the different chemical, electrical and subtle energies being distributed around the body. From the main Tu Mai and Du Mai meridians, to the other meridians, our bodies are super machines for our conscious souls to travel. These pathways and relating energies, by Nature are free from defect, and it is by our inattention which allows the balance to fall out of equilibrium.
The Jing is called our Essence, our fragile material existence holding on by the spirit of Life. Jing is our core energy body which sustains our physical existence. Our Jing is New energy of Yang and Yin and is short and limited at birth. The Chi energy of food, air and H2O maintains our Jing, facilitates our activities, sustains our body, and protects the core. The Shen level of our physical body is metaphysically Old Yang energy. It is more refined as our mental energy, which is given off into the Universe to facilitate other universal mechanics, like the shining Sun.
Each of these energies can be felt as different sensation during meditation. We can activate our subtle, visceral and spiritual bodies, but only after experience. Only when the body and mind is subdued and separated from the consciousness, can those subtle sensations of the spirit and material worlds can be felt and discerned.
The Parallel Opposites
Our brain and body can be divided into almost infinite individual parts. The body’s juggling act of dualities, the checks and balances between multiple inputs and variables, is too complicated to ever really understand. There are countless biological interactions happening within our bodies, from cellular to interconnected systems, each consciously working together towards a greater goal of equanimity. The trillions of individual cells all react to complicated electrical and chemical messages from our nerves, hormones, enzymes, and our consciousness, and they all are naturally ready for the excitement of stress, but work hardest to keep at rest.
But, if the body is looked as complimentary systems, with integrated interactions, then a very dualistic almost binary view can be seen. The body is already built as dualistic systems, like each of our endocrine glands have a direct counterpart. Duality is Nature’s default strategy for success. Like the duality of the brain; right/ left hemispheres, the front and back cerebral motor/sensory regions, and the very distinct inner and outer brains.
The inner brain oldest part of our brain and is found in almost every vertebrate animal. The inner brain is the command center of the body’s mechanical automation, controlling the internal body without thinking. It is the primordial brain which has existed for millions of years. Once the mind is cleared from the distractions from environmental sensations and our thinking memories, then the inner and older ‘reptilian’ brain can be observed by our soul/spirit, consciousness. Then we both realize our true nature, and can begin to take command control of our autonomic bodily reactions. Or as Stanly Kubrick knew, ‘our precious bodily fluids’. Imagine the synergistic chemical reactions of experience, when all of the body’s hormones are mixed at once! The experience is incomparable to any other experience.
In Neidan, one of the main dualities being exercised is the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which are in constant monitoring and reacting to our hormonal balance. Both the inhale and exhale breath are also working with each of those monitoring systems. This can be observed easily in the exhale, as in a martial arts strike, or a stress releasing sigh. The exhale transforms the new into old. The inhale resets our system, stores energy, and transforms the energies from old into new. Our nervous systems can be observed at the extremes of both the inhale and exhale.
Neidan meditation is a cyclical breathing exercise, which stimulates the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which hyper-activates the endocrine systems, with each inhale and exhaust. The endocrine system, tied in with the nervous systems, comprise the figurative energy meridians talked about in both Indian and Chinese traditions. The endocrine system is also the mechanism of our physical emotional experiences, and responsible for the body’s autonomic homeostasis. And when conditions are extreme, the body reacts more noticeably.
Concentration must be at very high levels to ignore the many imprints of our lives, which trigger re-actions and distract our spirit from feeling the material. Once those reactions can be ignored, then the inner brain and body can be distinguished. Neidan is the practice of experiencing the body’s subtle hormonal changes triggered by our unconscious reactions to our environment and previous imprints on our soul.
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Practically though, the basic idea is that our consciousness can observer our internal body, and the Universal energies, at such a fine detail that we become an antenna between the material realm and the spirit realms. And it is our consciousness which collapses these different dimensions of Reality, into the Reality of the physical world. It is only because of our conscious energy that the Universe materializes, which is identical to the ancient Hindu theory of Samkaya and Kabaalist traditions.
The idea is that the conscious/Spirit Realm (Yang) energies of Shen, Xi and Jing are the primordial ‘spiritual’ energy source of all creation within each material resolution. Our bodies are vessels which hold the primordial energy of our eternal souls. This energy is our spiritual and material Jing we inherit at conception, and is a splintered fraction from the Great Spirit. The spirit world energies of Shen, Xi and Jing, manifest into the different energies of the material world, but Spirit is still the foundation to everything.
Neidan tries to differentiate and connect our mortal body’s Yin (material energy) with spirit Shen (our consciousness energy) to utilize the body’s primordial and mortal fuel energies to live a long and happy life. It is an exercise to strengthen our (mortal/postnatal) Shen, Chi and Jing (Yin) energy of our bodies, to connect with the spirit (primordial/prenatal) Jing, Xi and Shen (Yang) energies of the spirit realm.
The meditation also allows the practitioner to harness Shen into Chi, and Chi into Jing to vitalize the body and spirit. As well, the opposite energy cycle can be performed to transmute our Jing energy to influence Chi and Shen. The energy of martial art is proven to be mostly mental energy, with knowledge and practice we can store and release these different energies in many ways upon the world around us. Call it what you want, but it is still explainable magic.
