Subject: Qi and Tao

From: [email-masked] (Pankaj Seth)
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 1995 12:38:07 +0500

To further fuel stimulating discussion, I have attatched below the course
description of one of the courses offered at the Renaissance Naturopathic
Centre (Toronto).  I hope that it will offer clarification of my views on
the concepts of Qi and Tao. 
 
Pankaj Seth, N.D. 

Taoist Yoga Philosophy - T 03 

The Taoist tradition traces its roots to the 3rd century B.C. with Lao
Tze's text, Tao Te Ching.  Since that time many other literary works have
been completed elucidating the cosmology and philosophy of Taoism.  Other
works, including The Secret of the Golden Flower, focus on internal ritual
which aims to strengthen the practitioner s connection with Tao (manifest &
unmanifest reality).   
 
The first literary work on traditional Chinese Medicine emerged in the 3rd
century B.C.; The Yellow Emperor s Classic of Internal Medicine is itself
steeped in the philosophy of Taoism.  The ancients  understanding of
body/mind was energic as well as physical and the Taoist conception bears
an influence from the native Chinese tradition as well as the Yogic
tradition of India.  In Taoist Yoga the meridians of traditional Chinese
Medicine as well as the Chakras (centres of consciousness) from the Indian
tradition are utilized.  In Taoist Yoga, the flow of Qi in the body/mind,
is modulated.  Qi inter-connects the various components of body/mind as
well as connecting the human with the cosmos.  Proficiency in modulating
the flow of Qi is a fundamental aim of both traditional Chinese Medicine
and Taoist Yoga. 
 
The movement of Qi is discerned via body-centered sensations as well as by
attendant changes in awareness.  Qi is a concept which connects mind and
body *since Qi is discernible via both avenues*.  The correlations between
these two types of self-awareness are the key to repairing any mind-body
split caused by current models of reality.  It follows also that the flow
of Qi may be modulated via both body-oriented and mental techniques.  The
techniques in The Secret of the Golden Flower utilize both avenues of
Qi-modulation. 
 
Chinese medicine concerns itself primarily with treatment of disease; i.e.,
the movement from illness to health.  Taoist Yoga is an extension of this
process where one aims to move from health to  radiance .  The focus of
Taoist Yoga is on an accumulation and modulation of Qi with attendant
changes in awareness as one moves from one level of proficiency to another.
 The description of these states of body/mind awareness is perhaps the most
mystified aspect of Taoist Yoga.  Classical texts provide the means by
which the outlined practises may be understood and The Secret of the Golden
Flower is perhaps the most accessible of these texts. 

"The True man of ancient times did not rebel against want, did not grow
proud in plenty, and did not plan his affairs.  A man like this could
commit an error and not regret it, could meet with success and not make a
show.  A man like this could climb the high places and not be frightened,
could enter the water and not get wet, could enter the fire and not get
burned. His knowledge was able to climb all the way up to Tao like this. 
 
The True Man of ancient times slept without dreaming and woke without care;
he ate without savouring and his breath came from deep inside.  The True
Man breathes with his heels; the mass of men breathe with their throats. 
Crushed and bound down, they gasp out their words as though they were
retching.  Deep in their passions and desires, they are shallow in the
workings of heaven. 
 
The True Man of ancient times knew nothing of loving life, knew nothing of
hating death.  He emerged without delight; he went back in without a fuss. 
He came briskly, he went briskly, and that was all.  He didn't forget where
he began; he didn t try to find out where he would end.  He received
something and took pleasure in it; he forgot about it and handed it back
again." 
 
                                                                  Chang-Tzu
(3rd century B.C.) 

This course is an in depth study of the classic treatise on Taoist Yoga,
The Secret of the Golden Flower.  In this course we will explore the Taoist
world view including its understanding of body/mind.