Chapter II
HUMAN BEINGS NEED THE METHOD OF
“NURTURING HEALTH AND SPIRIT”
A. Humans in Oriental concepts
B. The living environment around human beings
C. Disease prevention
A. Humans in Oriental concepts
- Our body is a treasure of valuables of all kinds, just like the outside “great universe”, and for smaller we call “small universe”.
- The sky has: the Sun, the Moon and the Stars
- The Earth has: Water-Fire-Wind
- Man has: Essence – Vital Energy - Spirit
We have to take care of our three valuables so that they are not diminished and wasted foolishly. Otherwise, they will be all lost, and no way to survive them. What a pity then!
We should go straight into the root to find out the causes harming and destroying our treasure.
People are often impacted by surroundings. Their mind is extroverted and their spirit heads for the exits to the outside world, making their spirit reduced, their memory dull and energy weak.
The keen ears get in sweet words.
The nose smells evocative fragrances.
The tongue tastes indulging flavors.
The body touches and leans to attractive soft skin. Alas, so many tempting things, luring our mind and making us uncontrollably become extroverted and wasting energy.
Because the five senses are the gates for extroversion, are the outlets and the way for power consumption. When aware of the fact that their valuables are destroyed, some persons feel frightened and regard it as an obstacle. Then, their five senses become five extremely bother some “devils”. They then resort to worldly measures to eliminate frights by practising austerity and holding the five senses (blinding the eyes, stopping the ears, holding the mouth).
Thanks to vegetarian diet, keeping utterances “pure” and standing on one leg, they can avoid “desires” of the body and senses, and hope to easily control them. However, this practice can hardly help them to self-perfect because they cannot manage their senses but are permanently “regulated” by the latter.
Persons who practice this method of nurturing health and spirit must act in another manner. They must know how to regulate their senses and consider their “five senses” as their "good servants or subjects,” “whole-hearted assistants” who can help them recover their own “economy:” health and spirit.
The five vital energies hide in the five inner organs and reveal themselves in the five senses through “five perceptions:” visual (eyes), hearing (ears), smelling (nose), tasting (tongue), touching (body). We should convert our perceptions into mind to build our intelligence by enlightening our inside. (For example, when one sits in meditation, one must have a regular breathing; one's eyes are half-closed to “see inwards,” one's ears “hear inwards” and one's tongue “tastes inwards”). Then our five vital energies mingle to constitute the only predetermined energy that can nurture our spirit. And the five senses become five powerful generals to guard our whole body, keep our mind pure, and improve our health and spirit.
We should study the laws of nature, the reasons of living things to realize fully the complete “in-out” cycle of the operation of our own body-machine. According to Oriental concepts, the first-formed part of a man is his head which is of round shape, symbolizing “the prime being”. It is the headquarters taking in charge of the nervous system. It consists of face, eyes, ears, nose and mouth. The second are two arms (two principles), followed by the chest containing vital energies, then two legs (four forms) and the belly containing essences. We can image two following processes:
1. The human form takes shape - Going out - “Round” turns into “square” - Spirit is converted into essence.
Persons who practice the method of nurturing health and spirit must act in a contrary manner.
2. The nurturing of vital energies - Returning - “Square" turns into “round” - Essence becomes spirit.
“Essence goes back to spirit” to light the “spiritual lamp” because the “lamp is fueled with a great quantity of oil.” When vital energies are plentiful, man will be healthy, excited, optimistic and happy. It is a “miraculous medicine” for doing away with suffering and bringing about happiness.
Thus, this method is very essential to human beings' life.
B. The living environment around human beings
People are much interested in their living environment. At present, the environment (including food, drinks and air) is polluted by many toxins, exerting negative impacts on the human body, and causing the rise of many strange diseases.
This is a burning question to which scientists pay great attention. They have tried various measures to limit “environmental pollutants,” from toxic chemicals, and pesticides to industrial waste, but to little avail. Especially, in this period of industrialization, chemicals are processed in great quantities, exploited rashly and disposed so carelessly that they can penetrate into the human body through food and drinks and can be accumulated these.
The Earth, our common house, is being terribly polluted, which has led to a vast of unexpected effects, very dangerous for human beings and living things.
The first problem to be settled is to take all necessary measures to prevent environmental pollution. And when our body is poisoned, we must help it get rid of the toxins to limit the danger of fatal accidents.
Thus, the method of nurturing health and spirit enables us to “purify the body and makes it highly-resistant to diseases, and become healthier.”
It is also considered “a prescription” to help people exist and develop. Practitioners of this method can “breathe through their stomach, but not through the mouth or nose, to absorb and channel the sacred air throughout their body inside, provide a plenty of oxygen to cells, and reject all the miasma and toxicants, out of the body through sweat and urine.”
This is “the eradication of toxicants and circulation of serum” to reduce pollution in the body and facilitate people's adaptation to the environment.
Some people poisoned by pesticides, for example, feel unhealthy, uncomfortable and tired.
By “regulating the vital energy,” they can drive the poisons from their body through pores. Then, they are likely to get better and healthier.
This method enables people to adapt themselves to the outside climate and weather. In cold regions, they will not feel cold because they can warm themselves with the sacred fire of genuine Yang. They will feel warmth circulating in their blood vessels,
which makes them brimming with vitality.
In tropical zones with hot weather, the regulation of the vital energy with promote the perspiration, so cooling the skin.
The practitioner absorbs many essences from the surroundings, from light to sound, to facilitate his/her practice. Therefore, he/she can overcome all difficulties and challenges to adapt himself/herself to the changing settings.
C. Disease prevention
The most essential point is to practise the method of nurturing health in order to obtain a hale and hearty body, to endure and acquire high capacity of resisting diseases.
To prevent diseases, a person should know well his own health. He should not waste his energy so much that he can exhaust himself. Then, he cannot stand up to a number of diseases, which, like invisible enemies, can attack him at any time. Therefore, we should always take precaution and prepare ourselves to resist all negative effects on our health.
This is an effective method for us to adapt ourselves to daily activities because “it’s better to prevent rather than to cure diseases.”
At first, we must strengthen our health. This is a big “investment" necessary for us to avoid external negative influences malign to our health.
We have three valuables: “Essence – Vital Energy – Spirit.” Without one of them, our body will become weak and our health reduced, like an out-of-fuel machine.
Thus, the replenishment and protection of health must be done simultaneously,
then our health will be improved and the body is kept always strong.
To practise this method of nurturing health and spirit, at first, we should pay attention to the movements of “two legs” by crossing them at the ankles, a sensitive area to excite the sexual organs. The acts of ups and downs are aimed at producing and recovering the “essence.” Thanks to this exercise, the old aged, impotent or frigid persons can easily “recover their youth." Man's endocrine gland and woman’s ovary operate very moderately. Especially, the two legs are not paralyzed. The acts of “stretching and bending” arms combined with sound respiration will regulate the five innards and open all of the body's vessels and vital points to facilitate the circulation of vital energy. All cells are provided with oxygen, so the face skin can be kept very fine and in a good state. This circulation of vital energy can eradicate all skin and respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia, asthma, and make man healthy and lively.
The brain controls the five senses to gather the five vital energies, creating a high perspicacity, a powerful strength and a good complexion.
The rubbing of face and belly will facilitate and rehabilitate the inner organs' operation and functioning.
Thanks to this method, the body's strength is increased to be able to fight against most diseases.
Obviously, the method of nurturing health and spirit, which can prevent and cure diseases,
has become an indispensable instrument for your life.
Chapter III
PRACTICE
A. Improvement levels
I. Level I
II. Level II
III. Level III
B. Supporting facilities
C. Timetable for practice
D. Movements
1. Leg movement
2. Hand movement
3. Head
4. Rubbing the belly
5. Rubbing the face
E. Period of relaxation to nurture the spirit
A. Improvement levels
There are three levels of improving one's health, depending on each person's ability and circumstances. Each person can choose the method best suitable for him/her in order to practise, then shift gradually to higher levels.
I. Level I
A person who wants to practise this level (hereinafter called “practitioner”) must meet the following conditions:
1. Taking in plant-derived protein for 10 consecutive days a month.
2. Sex is allowed
II. Level II
The practitioner must meet the following conditions:
1. Always taking in plant-derived protein.
2. Sex is allowed.
III. Level III
The practitioner must meet the following conditions:
1. Always taking in plant-derived protein.
2. Sex is not allowed. His “energy”, which can be used for sex, should be spent on feeding his intellect and creating light that helps him reach perfection.
Every person has a “body" and a "brain”. In other words, according to Oriental philosophy, every person has a machine composed of two elements: “body” and “spirit”.
The wisest way is to invest in developing this machine but not let it run out of fuel.
Our body is considered a “perfect machine” when it is full of the five senses and limbs as well as other operating elements.
Handicapped people, who do not have all the above elements (they may be short-sighted, or deaf, or their nose cannot smell, or their limbs cut off), if strive to practise, can get certain results, not excellent but rather good.
Thus, practitioners must rely on themselves to start the “machine” standstill in their body.
In addition, the body needs to be provided with fuel. At higher levels, the practitioners should take in the purer plant-derived protein so that the machine in their body can run better. It is logical because good machines need good fuels. When following the above instruction, the practitioners will reach the results they want.
Next, practitioners' spirit must not be disordered so that they can master the instructions in order to practise the method of “nurturing health and spirit”.
When practising the above two domains, practitioners can restore the machine, however exhausted it may be. Yet, the pace of the recovery will depends on their efforts and determination.
B. Supporting facilities
I. A white blouse
The blouse, which is composed of four cloths linked to one another to form a square, symbolizes purity. The center of the blouse is cut into a cross shape (+) so that the practitioner can put it on easily. It helps keep the practitioner's body warm and protect him from the penetration of wind into his body through the sweaty pores of the skin during the session of practice. Moreover, it also helps him feel comfortable as he lifts his limbs and is not afraid of being seen by outsiders when practising (Figure 1).
(Figure 1)
II. A 1m2 - size cushion
This small cushion is used for sitting comfortably and keeping the lower part of the body warm. It also facilitates the operation.
III. A small kerosene lamp
When practising, the practitioner should turn the lamp down so that its light is suitable for his vision. Thanks to the light, he can “gather his spirit” and “direct his mind inwards” - “using the falseness to practise the genuine”. The “genuine fire” will create beneficent warmth.
IV. An incense burner
When practising, the practitioner should burn incense so as to produce fragrance in the room that helps him “rally the mind at the top of the head and prevent himself from “outward-bound uncontrolled thoughts”.
V. A clock
It helps the practitioner know time. He must start his “miraculous machine” on the fixed time. This is necessary for him because time measures his patience and endurance, which help his intellect, body and even soul get used to the practice. After a span of practice, this machine will automatically start on time.
VI. A chair
The practitioner had better sit on a chair so as to keep his body firm. Sitting on the chair also helps him avoid touching objects surrounding so that he can have comfortable movements and his spirit cannot be disturbed. Thanks to this, the limbs can be “up and down” and “in and out” in a harmonious way (Figure 2)
(Figure 2)
The above facilities are not expensive. Thus, every person can afford all of them in order to practise strictly following this method. Accordingly, they can gain good results.
C. Timetable for practice
The practitioner should reserve some time every day to practise in order to compensate for the lost energy spent on work. Thanks to this, the cells in the body will be provided with enough oxygen and the “impurities” will be accordingly discharged.
When the health is recovered, the spirit will be in a good state. Thus, the practitioner will feel comfortable and work efficiently.
Timetable
In the morning: From 5.00 to 7.00
At noon: From 11.00 to 13.00
In the afternoon: From 17.00 to 19.00
In the evening: From 23.00 to 1.00
The timetable is suitable for almost everybody because it is not working time. In a bid to improve his health and spirit, the practitioner should try his hardest to practise the exercises at the fixed time until he gets used to the timetable to start the practice quickly and exactly. In fact, at that time, the “miraculous machine” starts running. So, the practitioner must meet its demand and provide oxygen considered its “fuel”. It is the same as a child needs to suck when he is hungry. Adequate provision for the machine helps the practitioner feel comfortable and cheerful. Whereas, if he misses some stages of practice, he will feel very troublesome.
The duration of the practice depends on the level chosen.
D. Movements
At the fixed time, the practitioner should wear the blouse and sit firmly on the cushion placed on the chair. He must keep his spirit calm and pure. Then, he should prepare all parts of the body in a harmonious manner: from the limbs to the head and from the lower part to the upper part, transferring energy back to its source (Figure 3).
(Figure 3)
1. Leg movement
A movement of the right leg (belonging to the Yin) is placed 5 cm away from the low belly. The left one (belonging to the Yang) is placed over the ankle of the right leg, resembling the letter W (on the sex-stimulating zone). This movement is aimed to recover essence (Figure 4).
(Figure 4)
Figure 4b
The “essence recovery" movement is completely different from the “desire-stimulating” ones, which cause the dissipation of the essence. When the essence is dissipated, a short time of practice will be needed to recover it. This movement focuses on the lower limb of the body.
2. Hand movement
The thumb of the left hand (Yang) is put under the lower end of the ring finger, making a circle (Figure 5).
(Figure 5).
The forefinger of the right hand (Yin) puts into this circle, forming a rotating axis. The remaining fingers of the right hand encircle the remaining fingers of the left hand (Figure 6).
(Figure 6)
When the two hands are already in this configuration, it is time to harmonize “five energies” and to unify “Yin and Yang” (called kiết quả).
To put the back of the left hand at a point in the hollow part between the upper and the lower abdomen and keep this position stabled; then make the hand move “inward-outward” rhythmically to drill “the energy.” The “five energies” “come in” and “go out” timely and concertedly, together with the proper way of respiration will make a difference from the usual way of breathing through the nose and mouth.
Hấp is the process of taking the air from the stomach to the throat (the sound produced is impure) while hô is that of taking air into the stomach. These two acts of breathing should make a regular slow circle of breathing during the movements (Figure7).
Figure 7a
Figure 7b
Audio and video equipment may be used for teaching this method because they can show the results of proper movements at once. Hấp-hô is the key to the bridge spanning the “Yang - Yin” and to lead them to oneness.
This is also the staple “food” to foster health and mind. One should avoid hastiness because “uncooked rice” can hardly be “absorbed” fully by our stomach. Nutrient energies should be warmed up correctly for the sake of better digestion.
3. Head
Close the mouth, clench the teeth and put the tongue up to the upper jaw; after that close the eyes to an extent that is neither too wide nor too narrow. At the same time, imagine that you bring the “lamp” and then use it to illuminate inwards.
Now that all the parts of the “machine” have been installed properly, it is time to start moving two feet rhythmically to stimulate the sensational “essence-stimulating” zone to enrich vitality. The “cold water” under the effect of “evil” essence is now heated and becomes warmer and warmer (“heat” in “water”).
The cause of ailing people is mainly attributed to their extravagance of the “essence”. Thanks to this method, the essence in their body - the source of vitality – recovers, which helps rejuvenate their health.
Noteworthy is that the elderly should decide the tempo of the movement suitable to the condition of their health. To bring about the best results, the tempo should be neither too high nor too low. Youths, however, should have a quicker tempo and the movements should be stronger. Imagine, upon reaching the right boiling level, water will vaporize and automatically move to the source. The movement of the lower limb facilitates the process of regulating the essence, which will be recovered when needed, and transformed when it reaches an excessive amount. It also helps practitioners feel rejuvenated and a stronger love for life.
Remember to put the two hands in the fixed position while practising the “in-out" breathing method in a concerted way. The five energies, when well harmonized with each other, circulate throughout the whole body and break all blockades in the network of meridians. This will help promote the inner energy of the body and increase the strength of each and every part of it. The sufficient input of oxygen gives rise to a higher ratio of red corpuscles in blood, which, in return, helps bring about rosy complexion of the face and fresh skin of the body. When the energy reaches the brain, it will free the intellect and enlighten the mind. As a result, the practitioner will no longer feel headaches caused by lack of oxygen.
With regard to the brain, the nerve center, which directs all the operations of the body, the practice of “gathering spirit” is of great significance. One should not be careless or indifferent in this practice as it plays the vital role in “lighting our spiritual lamp”.
To obtain an effective result, carefulness and dexterity of the practitioner are required, just like those of the “Ai Da” lamp burner. On pouring the oil to the fixed level, the burner opens the valve to let the oil evaporate and get burned until the dark smoke disappears. The light then sparkles. It is also a case in point when lighting our inner lamp. The practitioner’s mind should be free from all dark thoughts; his sensory organs concentrated inwards in order to gather the spirit, receive the oxygen and harmonize the Yin-Yang elements.
All of these add up to the brightness of the inner lamp, the promotion of pure heart and intuition and the practitioner can see the truth, the genuine.
In this method, the process of practice connecting to the operation of the parts of the body is divided into three phases: essence drill, energy drill and spirit drill. These three phases should, however, be practiced simultaneously, timely and concertedly to ensure practical results.
The thing mentioned above is the movements of the parts of the body, which resemble those of a machine in operation. Each and every part plays an irreplaceable role. Sufficient fuel and uniform parts ensure the smooth operation of the “machine”, which will bring about unexpected miracles.
4. Rubbing the belly
After 15-minute practice of “essence recovery,” “energy mobilization” and “spirit gathering”, the practitioner puts his right hand at the left comer of the lower belly and rubs clockwise 36 times around the navel. At the 36th round, the hand should stop at the right corner of the lower belly. Then, the practitioner rubs his hand anti-clockwise 24 times and stops at the left corner of the lower belly (Figure 8)
Figure 8a
Figure 8b
5. Rubbing the face
The face is divided into three areas: across the mouth, the nose and the eyes. Face rubbing should be in an upward direction. Massaging the two hands together until they become hot, rubbing them on either side of the mouth 6 times. Then massaging the two hands again to make them hot before rubbing them on the nose 6 times; massage the hands again and apply them to the eyes, and then rub along the two sides of the forehead and the head 6 times.
After that, put the left leg over the right one, the left arm over the right one and rest for 2 minutes (Figures 9a and 9b).
Figure 9a
Figure 9b
Figure 9c
Figure 9d
Figure 9e
Figure 9f
Figure 9g
E. Period of relaxation to nurture the spirit
This period includes 3 positions – levels as follows:
The practitioner lies down, leaning on his right arm, with the left leg slightly curved up. The left foot rests on the ankle of the right foot. The thumb of the left hand presses against the ring finger. The two clasping hands then press against the right ear. The half-closed eyes turn to the light to “gather the spirit" for 5 minutes (Level 1) (Figure 10).
Figure 10a
Level 2: Massing the belly and rubbing the face to relax and nurture the spirit for 10 minutes. This is the end of a period of level-2 practice.
Level 3 will take longer time of practice. It should be done under the guidance of professional trainers.
Figure 10b
The meditation method of Bouddha Ngo Minh Chieu