Same same but different

Lao Tzu, one of the 'originators' of Taoism, writes in the Tao Te Ching : "From one came two, from two came three, and from three came the ten thousand things". In other words, before the 'undifferentiated everything' split into lots of individual people and things, there was unity. Interestingly, this cosmic phenomenon shares parallels with our development as children.

When we are babies we see the world as one big pattern of light and shade. Then we are taught the names of things (differentiation). Very slowly we become aware that we are separate from these things and that they are outside of us. We can act and be acted upon by them. Some of those named things create pleasurable sensations - ice cream - and some bring up unpleasant sensations - being told off - only marmite is both. Learning the difference between things is, of course, very important. Perhaps the most important difference that parents try to teach their children is between right and wrong. This is the basis of socialising a young person to function harmoniously, accept and be accepted within every culture (even if the values of what is wrong and right within each culture may differ).

Lao Tzu however offers a slightly different opinion: "Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right thing."! My understanding of this is that external restrictions are not necessary for harmonious behaviour. He ranks morals as lower than virtue ,where morals are seen as external, 'man-made' rules as opposed to true virtue, which comes from Heaven,  and is simply living in harmony with nature. An example of a culture where internal trumps external can be found in the following account from observers of a Native American tribe: Surprised that there were no  barriers between children and the campfire. When they asked members of the tribe "why was there no protection to stop the children walking into the fire" they were asked, "why would children want to walk into a fire?". To our health and safety conscious mind, this is a disaster waiting to happen, but perhaps trusting to our own natures is assurance enough without needing to 'legislate'.

So how do we live in harmony with our own natures? A quote from Taoist sources reads, "Only the infant and the sage (enlightened person) are able to move effortlessly through the transitions of life unencumbered by the fetters of self awareness." Erm, okay; but is it not a little odd that self-awareness is considered a fetter, an barrier, to grow as a person? Surely self-awareness is a good thing? How can we become powerful, loving and capable individuals if we don't have self-awareness? The distinction is between self (ego) and Self (higher intelligence/purpose). One aim of religious devotion in the Hindu tradition is to 'break the vessel' (between our self and God) to unify the 'substance' inside (self) and outside (God/Self).

The child does not differentiate between its self and the outside world, likewise the sage has transcended the barrier between their self and the world around him or her. And, like the Hindu idea that the inside and outside of the vessel are in fact the same, perhaps the Way (Dao) and our own Way (own nature) are indistinguishable. Or, as the 13th century Sufi poet Rumi wrote, “I long to escape the prison of my ego and lose myself in you.”.  

So why bother with all this soul-searching anyway? One source says that "the upper class of medicines govern the nourishment of destiny and correspond to heaven... If one wishes to prolong the years of life without ageing, one should use these". Sounds good. How's that work then? Lonny Jarrett, a Five Element practitioner writes  "Zhen-qi is the qi present when an individual is manifesting destiny by being true to the authentic self.". Jarrett goes on to quote Porkert, "This kind of energy not only sustains the integrity of an individual but protects and defends it against exogenous (from without) and endogenous (from within) attacks and disturbances." Hence, the term Zhen Qi contains the notion that an individuals health and integrity springs from the fulfilment of destiny.". This is pretty amazing. It basically says that if we do what we are meant to do in this life we'll be healthier and more resistant to disease from external and internal causes!

[As a side note Zhen  qi is also called "upright qi" and you can clearly observe its absence in city workers slumped on the tube at the end of the day! Although zhen qi keeps us upright it is different from a rigid forcing of our spinal column. Watch children under 7 sitting and standing still (all be it momentarily). Their spines are straight and relaxed at the same time. It is not simply their muscles keeping them upright but also their zhen qi. Hence doing what we love is also good for our posture!]

But how do we discover our own inner nature? "The way to understand heaven is through the exhaustion or utmost devotion of one's heart; on the other hand, the way to serve heaven is to preserve one's heart within and nourish one's own [original] nature. [emphasis added]". Interesting. To understand heaven, or our Self, we must pursue our heart's desire with a whole heart, to exhaustion! But to serve heaven i.e. fulfil our destiny, live forever, etc. we must preserve our heart. How does one preserve one's heart?

The Heart in Chinese Medicine is the organ of the element of Fire. It is the seat of passion and is stimulated by excitement and lust. Thanks to every ad campaign since the 50s featuring sexual excitement (sex sells!) our hearts are constantly stimulated by everything from cars to coffee to computers. We MUST HAVE the new… whatever. As Tyler Durden says in the film Fight Club, "Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need.". The Kidney on the other hand is the organ of the element of Water. It is the seat of willpower. It is the residence of our primary fuel, called in Chinese, Jing. The relationship between Fire and Water is the primary axis of creation. If you want something but don’t have the willpower to get it, then you'll never have it in your life. If you have buckets of willpower but are passionless you will not know in what direction to go; you will not be striving towards anything. There is a beautiful metaphor in Chinese Medicine to sum up the correct, healthy relationship between our Passion and out Will, our Heart and Kidney: "The Dragon lives under the water". Subsuming our passion to our will,  spending our Heart fire on the things we desire most for our soul 's purpose. This is preserving our heart.

As mentioned, the heart loves to love!  It fills itself with desires and emotions and thoughts all swirling around, crashing into each other and generally making a ruckus. It fills our vision (eyes are the windows to the soul!) until we can't see our long term goals and values in our day-to-day life. In order to preserve the Heart in our everyday life we can empty it of desire in the following, very simple, way.

Sit quietly, listen to the breath coming and going without need for change or judgement
After a few moments start to notice where you mind is - perhaps considering the shopping list or an argument with someone or a happy moment with someone else.
Gently bring your attention back to your breath
Allow your attention to rest in the centre of your chest
Visualise all the thoughts and desires you are currently aware of holding as a dark mass swirling in your chest centre
As you reconnect to the breath feel it come and go deeply and calmly
As you breathe out, visualise the dark swirling mass being absorbed into a pool o f gold becoming smaller and smaller
As you breathe in, relax
As you breathe out, visualise the dark swirling mass being absorbed into a pool o f gold becoming smaller and smaller
As you breathe in, relax
Breathing in and out, continue to see the dark swirling mass of thoughts, emotions and desires becoming smaller and smaller until all that is left is a pool of gold.
Spend as much time as you like looking into this viscous pool of gold, seeing only the reflections of your higher self, until you are ready to return, energised and refreshed to your everyday life.