In Satoshi Koto's "Secret Techniques! Introduction to Superpower Xian Dao," the stages of Xian Dao practice are introduced. There is an interesting description of the practice methods of the most popular Northern school, "Wu Liu School." The overall flow is "Small Zhou Tian -> Big Zhou Tian -> Entering Samadhi -> Integration with the Tao." Since providing detailed explanations would deviate from the purpose of this article, I will assume that you will read the same book or "Esoteric Yoga" (by Hiroshi Honzan) for information on "Small Zhou Tian." Regarding "Big Zhou Tian," there are various theories, but for now, it is sufficient to think of it as a practice related to Kundalini and Sushumna.
What I found interesting was the section "The Actual Appearance of Big Zhou Tian," which is similar to the content of Kundalini Yoga. The key reason I thought so was the second description: "Bai Yin Zang Xiang (Bai Yin Zang Xiang) - When Qi does not transform into Jing, the testicles and penis recede inward, like a child, and the reproductive function disappears. At this time, Qi circulates within the body in the Big Zhou Tian."
This is exactly what happened to me suddenly when I had my second Kundalini experience. Previously, I often struggled with sexual issues, but now I can consciously control my sexual function. To avoid wasting energy, I generally avoid sexual sensations and focus my energy on the upper part of my body, preventing energy from flowing to the lower part of my body (Muladhara and Swadhisthana). In the past, this control was not perfect, and sexual desires would sometimes arise, but now I can almost completely control them, and even if the balance seems to be disrupted, I can easily restore it through meditation. My sexual energy is not completely zero, and if I receive sexual information from my eyes, it can activate sexual vitality, but the control is much easier than before.
In the first of the eight limbs of yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) described in Patanjali's "Yoga Sutras," there is "Brahmacharya (Brahmacharya) - Celibacy." I now think that true Brahmacharya cannot be achieved without experiencing Big Zhou Tian or Kundalini (or other states?). At least, this is the case for me.
Previously, I thought that Brahmacharya was about suppressing sexual desires with willpower to prevent sexual problems from appearing, and that was Brahmacharya. However, after my second Kundalini experience, Brahmacharya has become much easier, and I feel that Brahmacharya is the natural state. When I was struggling with sexual issues, I suppressed my sexual desire with willpower, reducing it from 100 to about 60. After the second Kundalini experience, my sexual desire is around 10, and I can activate it with willpower when necessary, but I am generally in a state of low sexual desire. This is not a loss of vitality, but rather the energy has moved above Manipura, and the energy flowing to Swadhisthana is controlled, so sexual desire does not run wild. Because the energy is concentrated in the upper chakras, I am in a more positive energy state, so it is not that vitality is lost because sexual desire has disappeared, but rather that the energy that was previously used for sex is converted into positive energy, which reduces wasted energy and, as a result, my vitality is definitely more fulfillment.
In terms of Taoist explanations, it would be about "whether to use energy for 'qi' or 'jing'," or "the energy conversion between 'qi' and 'jing'." Some Taoist schools interpret this as "using energy for 'qi' instead of 'jing'," while others interpret it from a different perspective as "converting 'jing' energy into 'qi'." Although I am not an expert in Taoism, based on what I have read, the idea of "converting sexual energy into 'qi'" feels somewhat unnatural. It seems more appropriate to think of a fundamental energy and whether to use it for 'jing' or as 'qi' to create an aura. However, interpretations likely vary greatly depending on the school.
This book also describes other requirements for the "Great Cycle," and it seems that these principles can be applied to Kundalini Yoga as well. The basic concepts are the same. Although the expressions are different, similar things are said in yoga, and by looking at it from a different perspective, I feel that I have discovered something that I am lacking. In that sense, this Taoist practice is interesting and educational.
In Taoism, "Shu-shen" refers to manifesting one's own avatar. However, simply reading about it makes it sound like a strange and special story. When related to yoga, it seems that this is not a physical avatar, but rather equivalent to the "stage of projecting one's subtle body from the Sahasrara chakra" in yoga. In "Esoteric Yoga" by Honzan Hiroshi, Mr. Honzan Hiroshi describes his experience of exiting his body from the Sahasrara chakra, and it seems that he is at a similar stage of practice. If that is the case, it is interesting to think that there are similar stages of practice, even though the expressions are different, and that the fundamental principles are common in both Taoism and yoga.
■"Overcoming Vitality" as described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
Similar descriptions can be found in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Here are excerpts from three versions.
- - (Chapter 2, Verse 78) The signs of perfection in Hatha Yoga are as follows: (I) The body becomes flexible, (II) The face glows, (III) Clear speech, or the sound of the inner self (Anahata sound) becomes audible. (IV) Vision becomes clear. (V) One is freed from all diseases of the body. (VI) Semen is controlled. (VII) The fire of digestion is stimulated. (VIII) The Nadis are purified. (Hatha Yoga Pradipika, by Swami Vishnu-Devananda)
- (Chapter 2, Verse 78) The signs of success in Hatha Yoga are: (1) The body becomes thin, (2) The complexion becomes bright, (3) The mysterious sound becomes clearly audible, (4) There is no cloudiness in both eyes, (5) Health, (6) Overcoming of Bindu (semen), (7) Vigorous digestive power, (8) The channels are not blocked. According to commentators, "overcoming of Bindu" means a state where there is no loss of energy. One translator interprets it as "concentrating semen." (Yoga Fundamental Textbook, by Tsuruuji Saho)
- (Chapter 2 Verse 27) Hatha Yoga is achieved when: The body becomes thin. A serene expression. The manifestation of the inner sound. Clear eyes. Health. Control of Bindu (semen or egg). Active digestive fire. Purification of the Nadis. (Hatha Yoga Pradipika, by Swami Muktibodhananda, supervised by Swami Satyananda Saraswati)
Each of the similar items, when grouped together and expressed in easy-to-understand words, would be as follows.
- - The body becomes flexible. The body becomes thinner.
- The face becomes radiant. The complexion becomes clearer. A calm expression.
- The sound of "Nada" or "Anahata" becomes audible.
- The eyes become clear and bright.
- The body becomes stronger.
- Achievement of natural (effortless) Brahmacharya (abstinence).
- Improvement in digestive function.
- Purification of Nadis (energy channels/prana/qi pathways).
If these things appear, it is a sign of the completion of Hatha Yoga, which means there is still more beyond Hatha Yoga. Generally, this may be more than enough to allow society to live healthily and energetically.
(Postscript)
I thought this story was over, but after that, my sexual desire decreased even more dramatically. For details, please see [Separate article: The tornado of Wind Rune changed the dominance from Manipura to Anahata].
As I wrote in the "separate article" above, there is a continuation of this. In the second attempt with Kundalini (this article), my sexual desire decreased to one-tenth, and in the experience described in the "separate article" above, it decreased to one-tenth again, totaling one-hundredth. However, it did not completely eliminate my sexual desire. But, in terms of the basic direction, I think this is similar to what Ma Yin Zang said. Similarly, the state of my physical body is not completely withdrawn, but it has withdrawn to a considerable extent, in proportion to the decrease in sexual desire.
Related:
- Ma Yin Zang and Mula Bandha
- Ma Yin Zang deepens, and sexual desire further decreases.