Microcosmic orbit 1

Microcosmic orbit

"Gathering the Light", Taoist meditation fromThe Secret of the Golden Flower

The Microcosmic Orbit also known as the 'Self Winding Wheel of theLaw' and the circulation of light is a Taoist Qigong or Taoist yoga Qienergy cultivation technique. It involves deep breathing exercises inconjunction with meditation and concentration techniques whichdevelop the flow of qi along certain pathways of energy in the humanbody which may be familiar to those who are studying TraditionalChinese Medicine, Qigong, T'ai chi ch'uan, Neidan and Taoistalchemy. The exercise can be performed usually at first in a sittingposition, but it can also be practiced standing as in Zhan zhuang orwith movements included as with T'ai chi ch'uan. The clearunderstanding of the microcosmic orbit technique is very important notonly because of its historical context in the story of Chinese alchemybut because it is at the heart of many Taoist forms of exerciseperformed throughout the world by many millions of people today.

History

Microcosmic orbit

The history of the Microcosmic orbit dates back to prehistoric times inChina, and the underlying principles can be found in the I Ching whichaccording to legend was written by the Emperor Fu Xi approximatelyfive thousand years ago or at least two centuries before the time of theYellow Emperor Huang Ti. For example the Chinese character for the IChing hexagram number 5, Waiting, depicts a person sitting inmeditation and the commentary pertains to the flow of energy from oneof the psychic energy channels to another during meditation:

The commentary on the Image for hexagram 5 reveals theentire process of meditation. "The clouds rise up toheaven" symbolizes the meditator's energy rising upwardas it evaporates into the head, where it is distilled into asaliva like nectar (referred to in the phrase "the superiorman eats and drinks"), which returns to the abdomen. " Itfurthers one to cross the great water" alludes to crossingthe great water of the abdomen and mouth.[1]

Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu have also alluded to the technique ofmeditation and encouraging circulation of energy through the psychicmeridians in their writings. For example Chuang Tzu's chapter entitled Yang Sheng Chu or"Principles of Health and Longevity" states: "Use your mind to carrythe vital energy along your Tu Mo upward constantly"[2]

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A stone carving in the White Cloud Temple in Beijing which bears an inscription "the sixth month of the yearPing-hsu of the Kuang-hsu era" (1886) contains a pictorial representation of some of the symbols which describe theprocesses involved in the microcosmic orbit meditation technique. These particular techniques are derived from theTaoist Patriarch Lu tung pin who was born in 798 AD.[3] Lu tung pin was one of the Eight Immortals.

Lu tung pin and his teacher, Chung-li Ch'an, were two of the "Eight Immortals, pa-hsien. While afugitive after an abortive Chinese military expedition against Tibet, Chung-li Ch'uan encountered MasterTung-hua. He "earnestly begged for the secrets of immortality. Master Tung-hua thereupon imparted tohim not only an infallible magic process for attaining longevity, but also the method to produce thePhilosopher's Stone." [4]

Practice

Building the bridge with the tip of the tongue touchingthe palate

The exercise itself usually begins with preparation designed torelax the physical body and develop the ability to concentrate.Students may indeed be encouraged to practice Taoist Yogaexercises or T'ai chi ch'uan as a way of building enough energy tobegin performing the Microcosmic orbit exercise as it can induce astrain on the nervous system and cause energy depletion ifpracticed without adequate preparation.[5]

To begin with the student is encouraged to develop deepabdominal breathing into the primary Dantian or Taoist energycentre to develop heat and pressure in the lower abdomen or"Golden Stove". A preparatory exercise known by some as theLesser Heavenly circulation[6] involves moving energy betweentwo areas known as the seat of fire near the heart or the solarplexus where a psychic centre symbolised by the trigram Li fromthe I Ching is located, and the seat of water in the area of thekidneys where a psychic centre symbolised by the trigram kan is

located.

Normally essence or Jing can flow either way through the eight extra meridians or energy pathways in the body, butin the microcosmic orbit meditation exercise Jing is encouraged to flow upwards along the Governor vessel duringinhalation and then downwards along the conception vessel returning to the Dantian on the exhalation.[7] This meansthat energy flows from the Dantian downwards to the base of the spine then up the back along the centre line of thebody to the crown of the head, then over the head and down the front centre line of the body and back to the startingpoint again making a full circle or orbit.[8] This prevents the body's natural essences from becoming depleted as theynormally flow downwards from the brain or 'sea of marrow' and are lost during ejaculation or menstruation duringthe reproductive processes. It is this Jing or essence which is responsible for the reproductive processes in the bodywhich allow the body to rejuvenate itself as well as for the reproductive processes which give rise to offspring,essence is also an important component in the manufacture of qi which can be translated into English as vitality orenergy, the primary motive force which is life itself. This raising and lowering Jing through the Microcosmic orbitand returning it to the Dantian purifies the essence and transforms it into Qi or vitality.The tongue is placed into the roof of the mouth known as the 'Magpie Bridge', which acts as a kind of switch whichcompletes the energy circuit so that too much energy cannot build up in the head which can lead to headaches oreven hallucinations. This practice of tongue in the roof of the mouth also encourages the flow of saliva which has acooling effect when swallowed which helps to offset the physiological heat of the exercises, but which can also bepurified and transmuted into the 'Nectar of Heaven' which alchemists claimed will lead to immortality.

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As well as the lower dantian or cauldron there are other important points along the circuit of energy flow whichinclude the 'three gates' which are areas where it is considered that energy may stagnate, these are the Wei-lu orTailbone gate, the Dorsal gate on the back roughly level with the heart, and the Jade pillow on the back of thehead.[9] Other important areas include the Ming Men or gate of fire on the back about level with the kidneys and theBaihui or Niwan which is directly on top of the head.[10]

The microcosmic orbit should be viewed in the context of a variety of Taoist exercises and techniques designed topurify the body physically, mentally and spiritually, improve health and longevity, and prepare the way formeditation, and also including other techniques such as the Macrocosmic orbit which means circulating energy intothe other psychic energy meridians which flow around the torso and out into the arms and legs. These types ofexercises are best practiced under the guidance of suitably qualified teachers who can help the beginner avoid anypitfalls and misunderstandings along the way rather than copied from books, especially if the subject may have ahistory of mental illness or emotional imbalance. For example according to Lu Kuan Yu:

It is harmful to pinpoint places in the body, the very idea of which should be relinquished since ithinders the course of the inner fire and of vitality.[11]

References[1][1] Dau Liu: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Meditation page 10, Shocken Books 1986 ISBN 0-14-019217-4[2][2] Da Liu: T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Meditation (pages 12 and 16), Shocken Books 1986 ISBN 0-14-019217-4[3][3] Spiritual Disciplines edited by Joseph Campbell page 76 "Spiritual Guidance in Contemporary Taoism" (1933) by Erwin Rouselle ISBN

0-691-01863-4[4][4] The Eight Immortals, by T.C.Lai, Hong Kong, 1972[5][5] Stephen Chang The Complete System of Chinese Self-Healing Tao publishing 1986 page 200 ISBN 0-85030-771-6[6][6] T'ai Chi and Meditation by Da Liu page 73[7][7] Lu K'uan Yu Taoist Yoga Rider 1970 (page xii)[8][8] The Taoist Art of K'ai Men by Chee Soo, (pages 46-47) Seahorse books 2006 - ISBN 0-9545244-1-1[9][9] Liang and Wu: Qigong empowerment page 94, Way of the Dragon publishing 1997 ISBN 1-889659-02-9[10][10] Da Liu: T'ai chi ch'uan and Meditation page 93, Shocken Books 1986 ISBN 0-14-019217-4[11][11] Taoist Yoga by Lu Kuan Yu - Rider 1970 page xviii

Further reading Yu, Lu K'uan (1970). Taoist Yoga. Rider. ISBN0-7126-1725-6. Yu, Lu K'uan (1964). Secrets of Chinese Meditation. Rider. ISBN0-09-069111-3. Liu, Da (1986). T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Meditation. Shocken Books. ISBN0-14-019217-4. Soo, Chee; Chris Simpson (2006). The Taoist Art of K'ai Men (http:/ / www. seahorsebooks. co. uk). Seahorse

Books. ISBN0-9545244-1-1. Chang, Stephen T (1986). The complete system of Chinese Self Healing. Tao publishing. ISBN0-85030-771-6. Jefferson, R.B. (1982). [ Full text here (http:/ / duversity. org/ elixir/ ) Doctrine of the Elixir]. Coombe Springs

Press. ISBN0-900306-15-7. Chia, Mantak (1983). Awaken Healing Energy Through The Tao. Aurora Press.

ISBN[[Special:BookSources/0-943358-07-9 0-943358-07-9 [[Category:Articles with invalid ISBNs]] Check|isbn= value (help).

Yang, Jwing-Ming (2006). Qigong Meditation: Small Circulation. YMAA Publishing. ISBN1-59439-067-3.

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External links Tao Directory (http:/ / www. taodirectory. co. uk/ the-microcosmic-orbit. html)

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