Daoist Meditation Lesson Eight Theory: Golden Fluid

& The Micro-Cosmic Orbit

Contents [hide]

1 Saliva: Elixir of Immortality

2 Science & Saliva
3 Ren and Du & The Micro-Cosmic Orbit
4 Important Du Channel Acu-Points
5 Important Ren Channel Points Acu-Points
6 Circulation of the Micro-Cosmic Orbit
7 Waxing and Waning of Yin and Yang in the Micro-cosmic Orbit
8 Hormones, Jing, and The Endocrine System
9 Notes:
10 You might be interested in:

Lesson Eight of Nine Lessons on Daoist Meditation: A Theoretical Discussion of

Micro-Cosmic Orbit Meditation.

Saliva: Elixir of Immortality

Saliva is a key element in Daoist meditation and internal alchemy. Swallowing saliva is a
part of virtually every Daoist exercise, including many forms of Nei Gong. Hence saliva
is referred to by many names in different Daoist texts:

Golden Fluid jin ye

Golden Elixir jin yi
Jade Dew yu lu
Jade Fluid yu ye
Jade Juice yu zhi
Jade Beverage yu yin
Divine Juice ling zhi
Heavenly Dew tian lu

As we shall see in this lesson, production of saliva is one sign that the meditation is being
performed correctly. When Jing is concentrated in the lower abdomen, transformed into
Qi/Breath and moved upward, saliva is secreted and then descends to replenish Jing.

The tongue (known as the red dragon) is sometimes used to further stimulate the
production of saliva, as is the action of clicking the teeth. Isabelle Robinet tells us that the
center of the mouth, where the saliva accumulates, called the Jade Pool, is the upper-
body equivalent of the lower Dantian where the sexual essence (Jing) accumulates.[1]
According to Chinese medicine, saliva is made up of two basic parts. One part is more
pure and refined. It is associated with the kidneys and therefore the Jing. This portion
moistens and nourishes the teeth, themselves extensions of the kidneys. The other part is
associated with the organs of digestion, particularly the stomach. This more turbid, less
refined portion is related to digestive juices of the stomach and aids in breaking down
food. Proper performance of Reverse Breathing and the Micro-Cosmic Orbit, which we
cover in this lesson, promotes the production of a sweeter, thicker, more nourishing
saliva, associated with the Jing. This golden fluid is then swallowed so that it can sink
to Dantian.

Saliva flows from two channels under the tongue. If it is swallowed properly it can enter
the Ren Mo (conception vessel), which runs down the center of the body to the
Dantian, genitals and perineum, thereby returning to the Dantian. If not swallowed
properly, it descends to the stomach. The proper method of swallowing the saliva is to
have the tip of the tongue touching the upper palate. When the mouth fills with saliva
(from correct practice of the micro-cosmic orbit), one must straighten the neck and
swallow the saliva. [2]

Science & Saliva

Modern science has discovered that saliva has many important properties. Studies in
Japan have shown that saliva contains various enzymes and hormones that help to aid
digestion, maintain health and prevent disease. The digestive enzyme Ptyalin begins the
process of breaking down carbohydrates. Other substances in saliva detoxify and protect
against toxic substances in foods. There is some indication that saliva may even contain
substances that fight cancer. Parotin, a hormone found in saliva, has been found to
strengthen the activities of the muscles, maintain the blood elasticity of the vessels,
maintain the elasticity of the skin and strengthen connective tissue, cartilage, bones and
teeth.

Nutritionist Lino Stanchich, tells the amazing story of his father who, during WWII was
taken prisoner in Greece and sent to a concentration camp in Germany. It was a work
camp. His father was cold and hungry all the time and received only a slice of bread and
coffee for breakfast and soup for lunch and dinner. He discovered that by chewing is food
and even his water many times, it actually seemed to increase his energy. He shared his
discovery with two other prisoners and the three of them all felt warmer and more
energized after chewing their food an water as much as 150 times before swallowing it.
In the end only these three survived. [3]

Ren and Du & The Micro-Cosmic Orbit

The Ren and Du Vessels run along the midline of the body. The Ren Mo (conception
vessel) runs along the front midline of the body from the Perineum to the chin and
mouth and the Du Mo (governing vessel) runs along the back midline of the body from
the perineum to top of head and then down through the forehead and nose to the inside of
the upper lip and upper palate. Both vessels originate in the kidneys. It is important to
remember when looking at the pictures of their pathways, that Du Mo passes through the
interior of the spine and Ren Mo passes through the interior of the abdomen.

Important Du Channel Acu-Points

Du 1 Chang Qiang (Wei Lu) Long Strong (Turtle Tail)

Du 4 Ming Men Life Gate

Du 10 Ling Tai Spirit Tower

Du 11 Shen Dao Spirit Path

Du 14 Da Zhui Great Hammer

Du 16 Feng Fu Wind Mansion

Du 17 Nao Hu (Yu Zhen) Brain Door (Jade Pillow)

Du 20 Bai Hui Hundred Meeting

Du 24 Shen Ting Spirit Court

Extra Yin Tang (Zhu Qiao) [4] Seal (chop) Hall (Ancestral Aperture)

Du 26 Ren Zhong Human Center

Important Ren Channel Points Acu-Points

Ren 24 Tian Chi Celestial Pool

Ren 23 She Ben Tongue Root

Ren 17 Shang Qi Hai Upper Sea of Qi

Ren 12 Zhong Wan Central Cavity

Ren 8 Shen Que Spirit Gate

Ren 6 Qi Hai Sea of Qi

Ren 4 Guan Yuan Original Pass

Ren 1 Hui Yin Meeting of Yin

Du Mo is the sea of all the yang vessels (meridians) in the body. It connects these vessels
and ties them all together. Ren Mo is the sea of all the yin vessels. The true breath arises
from the Ren and the Du and they are at the same time active expressions of the true
breath.[5]

The two vessels of Ren and Du are but two branches with a single source. One travels
along the front of the body and another travels along the back of the body. A persons
body has the Ren and the Du, just as heaven and earth have midday (zi) and midnight
(wu), which may be perceived as divided and united. Divide them and it is apparent that
their yin and yang [aspects] cannot be separated. Unite them [and] it is apparent that
they are coalesced without differentiation. The singular is plural and the plural is
singular. [6]
Ren Mo and Du Mo are where Kan-Water and Li-Fire intersect, where water and fire
ascend and descend. Because of the relationships of these two vessels with the other
meridians and their role in the transformation of water and fire, it is said that: If a person
can open these two vessels than all of the hundreds of vessels can all be open.[7]

The Microcosmic Orbit, or Small Heavenly Circulation (Xiao Zhou Tian), is a method of
Daoist meditation that attends to the circulation of the Qi/Breath through Ren Mo and Du
Mo. In the Treatise of Affirming the Breath and Making the Soul Return, it is described as
follows:

The jing transformed into qi rises up toward the heights;

If the qi is not strengthened, the jing becomes exhausted.

The qi which becomes the saliva, descends to the depths;

If the Jing does not return, the qi is altered.

It is like water which one heats in a tripod;

If at first there is no qi,

How will qi be produced?

Because it descends and cannot escape.

By rising, water becomes qi,

Qi in turn becomes water when descending.

They rise and descend in endless rotation.[8]

By gently letting the breath sink to Dantian, Qi/Breath begins to flow up the Du channel
to the top of the head. Acu-points in the head allow the Qi/Breath to enter the brain and
then descend down into the mouth, where saliva is produced and where there is a
connection with the Ren channel. From there the Qi/Breath (and the saliva) flow
downward to the Dantian and the cycle is repeated. The Qi/Breath rises with inhalation
and descends with exhalation. Through this process Jing is transformed into Qi/Breath
and Qi/Breath in turn nourishes the spirit (Shen). The Shen guides and harnesses the
Qi/Breath to replenish the Jing. Through this process, one is reconnected with the true
breath the primordial yin-yang current that flows between Heaven and Earth. This not
only invigorates the body by allowing the Qi/Breath, blood and Jing to enter the bone
marrow, tendons, ligaments, flesh and muscle, restoring the pliability of these structures,
it also reconnects us with our own innate wisdom, thereby re-inciting the life that is
within us. Francois Jullien explains the importance of these channels as follows:
The principle artery or du, which irrigates the back from bottom to top and is the vessel
through which energy flows. Why does our attention, once liberated from the endlessly
spendthrift thirst for knowledge, focus on this artery as defining the line and rule of life?
Because, as we have already discussed, this median artery has a regulative capacity that
ensures respiratory constancy. And what is this respiration but a continual incitation not
to dwell in either of two opposite positions inhalation or exhalation? Respiration
allows each to call upon the other in order to renew itself through it, thus establishing the
great rhythm of the worlds evolution. Thus respiration is not only the symbol, the image
or figure, but also the vector of vital nourishment.[9]

Circulation of the Micro-Cosmic Orbit

As you inhale and the breath rises, the ribs in the back open. With the perineum (and
anus) lifted, the tailbone sinking and the vertex lifting upward, the Qi/Breath is able to
ascend through the spine. The chin is slightly held in, allowing the points at the base of
the skull to open so that Qi/Breath does not block at these points and thus it enters the
brain rises to the top of the head.

With the exhale the Qi/Breath is able to sink because the tongue tip touching the upper
palate connects Ren Mo and Du Mo. The lifting of the head, the position of the neck and
the open ribs allow the Qi/Breath to drop downward to return to the Dantian. As the
Qi/Breath sinks it seems to exhale not through the nose but down into the Dantian. The
Dantian then naturally has a feeling of expanding as one exhales (the reverse breathing
we practiced in the previous lesson). The flow of air is continuous even and smooth like a
thread being wound smoothly around a spindle.

As you inhale visualize the Qi/Breath sinking to the Dantian and then, by keeping the
perineum lifted (the lower magpie gate), and the tail sinking, the Qi/Breath rises
through the tailbone to the Ming Men (Du 4: life gate) and up through the center of the
back to acu-point Du 16 (Feng Fu). Here Qi/Breath enters the brain. Qi/Breath then
passes through Du 17 (Jade Pillow) at the occipital protuberance. From there, it
continues to rise to Bai Hui (hundred meeting; Du 20) point at the vertex, and moves
forward to Shen Ting (spirit court; Du 24) before beginning to descend with the
exhalation.

As you exhale the Qi/Breath moves into the mouth and connects to the Ren Mo via the
tongue (the upper magpie gate), and then passes down the front of the body. Rather
than passing out the nose or mouth, the Qi/Breath descends through the throat to enter the
chest behind Ren 17 (Upper Sea of Qi) and then down into the abdomen passing
through Ren 12 (Central Cavity). From here the breath returns to the navel (Shen Que;
Spirit Gate) and then to the Dantian.

Circulation of the Qi/Breath in Ren Mo and Du Mo is a bit like an electrical circuit. The
two ends of the vessels must be connected for there to be an uninterrupted flow. The
upper Magpie Bridge is the tongue, and the tongue touches the upper palate to link with
Ren Mo and Du Mo in the upper part. The lower Magpie Bridge is in the perineum and
links with the Du Vessel and Ren Vessel in the lower part. Thus, the Ren and Du are
linked and the Heavenly Circle flows.

Waxing and Waning of Yin and Yang in the Micro-cosmic Orbit

Yang Qi gathers as the Qi/Breath rises up the back and Yin Qi coalesces as the Qi/Breath
sinks back to Dantian. Thus on the inhalation, yang waxes and yin wanes. On the
exhalation and yin waxes and yang wanes. Similarly Qian-Heaven and Kun-Earth wax
and wane just as day becomes night and night becomes day in endless cycles. In Qian
there is opening an opening of the gates for Qi/Breath to flow and change and
transformation to occur. In Kun there is reception, closing and consolidation. Inhalation is
opening and exhalation is closing, like a bellows pumping. The changes and
transformations, the opening and closing are a product of Heaven and Earths breaths,
which also flow through us. The diagram below uses hexagrams from the Yi Jing (I
Ching: the Book of Changes) to show this dynamic process. These twelve hexagrams are
sometimes called: The Waxing and Waning Hexagrams, or the Twelve Sovereign
Hexagrams They are also used to describe the waxing and waning of yin and yang over
the 12 months of the year.

The hexagrams change from the bottom up, the yin lines pushing out the yang, beginning
at the summer solstice and the yang lines returning at the winter solstice. During Micro-
Cosmic Orbit Meditation, these same yin-yang transformations occur inside us. As we
inhale, yang begins to grow rising from kidneys and the perineum, and moving up the Du
vessel until yang peaks just before reaching the top of the head. Then yin returns and
begins to grow at Bai Hui. Yin gathers until all the lines return to yin again at the
perineum.
Drawing adapted from The Complete System of Self Healing: Internal Exercise, by Dr.
Stephen T. Chang. San Francisco: Tao Publishing 1986, p. 200.

Hormones, Jing, and The Endocrine System

Modern Chinese physicians sometimes relate Jing to hormones and the endocrine system
and some believe that microcosmic orbit breathing activates, stimulates and regulates the
endocrine system. When Jingqi from the kidneys moves upward to nourish the brain and
the spirit, it may be that it connects the adrenal glands with the hypothalamus which lies
just above the brain stem. The hypothalamus has direct connections with the pituitary
gland which is also located in the brain. The hypothalamus not only links the nervous
system to the endocrine system, it also regulates secretions from the pituitary and co-
ordinates many hormonal and behavioral circadian rhythms. Endocrine glands that signal
each other in sequence to produce hormonal triggers are referred to as an axis. One
such axis is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis which increases production and
release of corticosteroids.[10] Dr. Tian Helu of Shanxi province in mainland China
points out that the hypothalamus and pituitary are in the Upper Dan Tian and the adrenal
glands and gonads whose hormonal secretion is also controlled by the pituitary) are in the
Lower Dan Tian. Furthermore, Dr. Tian feels that practice of the micro-cosmic orbit
directly effects the endocrine system, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
axis. He attributes many of the health benefits ascribed to the Micro-Cosmic Orbit to its
stimulation and regulation of the endocrine system.[11]

Notes: