The Way to Long Life

The Yellow Emperor approached from below upon his knees. 

Kowtowing twice upon the ground, he said, "I am told that you are in possession of perfect Tao. 

May I ask how to order one's life so that one may have long life?"

Kuangch'engtse jumped up with a start. "A good question indeed!" cried he. 

"Come, and I will speak to you of perfect Tao. 

The essence of perfect Tao is profoundly mysterious; its extent is lost in obscurity. 

See nothing; hear nothing; guard your spirit in quietude and your body will go right of its own accord.

Be quiet, be pure; toil not your body, perturb not your vital essence, and you will live for ever.

For if the eye sees nothing, and the ear hears nothing, and the mind thinks nothing, 

your spirit will stay in your body, and the body will thereby live for ever.

"Cherish that which is within you, and shut off that which is without for much knowledge is a curse.

"Then I will take you to that abode of Great Light to reach the Plateau of Absolute Yang. 

I will lead you through the Door of the Dark Unknown to the Plateau of the Absolute Yin.

"The Heaven and Earth have their separate functions. 

The yin and yang have their hidden root. 

Guard carefully your body, and material things will prosper by themselves.

"I guard the original One, and rest in harmony with externals. 

Therefore I have been able to live for twelve hundred years and my body has not grown old."

The Yellow Emperor kowtowed twice and said, "Kuangch'engtse is surely God.

"Come," said Kuangch'engtse, "I will tell you. 

That thing is eternal; yet all men think it mortal. 

That thing is infinite; yet all men think it finite. 

Those who possess my Tao are princes in this life and rulers in the hereafter. 

Those who do not possess my Tao behold the light of day in this life and become clods of earth in the hereafter.

"Nowadays, all living things spring from the dust and to the dust return. 

But I will lead you through the portals of Eternity to wander in the great wilds of Infinity. 

My light is the light of sun and moon. 

My life is the life of Heaven and Earth. 

Before me all is nebulous; behind me all is dark, unknown. 

Men may all die, but I endure for ever."

Chuang-Tzu

Photo by Albert Vila

Advice for Sadhana by Amma

“We are like pure rainwater that has become impure by falling in the gutter. The water in the gutter needs to be cleaned by connecting it to a river, and this is what sadhana does. Even though we are, in reality, the untainted Atman, because we are bound to the gross, physical world, there are impure vasanas (tendencies) present within us. We have to purify our minds by discriminating between the eternal and the ephemeral, and through meditation. And as we are purified by meditating, we grow strong.”

Amma Embracing the world for Peace and Harmony

Energy Centres in the Body

Hello Everyone,

I've recently been writing about the chakras in the human body. Kind of filing information for myself and you.

If you'd like to learn a bit more about them, take a look here -

Chakra Basics - beginners questions answered.

Root Chakra - about grounding, your tribe and belonging.

Sacral Chakra - about creativity, sexuality.

Solar Plexus Chakra - about feelings of self esteem and control.

Heart Chakra - about love and forgiveness.

Throat Chakra - about communication and will power.

Brow Chakra - mental abilities and vision.

Chakra Reading List - want something more to read?

Asanas as a means to help Spiritual Emergence

Lately I’ve discovered how important asana practice is in helping the body assimilate the energy shifts in spiritual awakening.

This is not the same as kundalini yoga.

This is not the same as healing by using anana practice.

People all across the planet are awakening. There is something happening to the world. Its everywhere. People talking about 2012, strange dreams, weird sightings of spirits and increased clairvoyant activity.

I don’t know what’s happening to the world. I don’t claim to have a higher source of information. I only know that many people are talking about their spiritual emergence, their awakening.

Awakening to what? To another life beyond the constant round of shopping trips, and materialistic gains, and entertainment. A life that points at possible fulfilment on a spiritual level. At something more profound, more deep, more lasting.

But to get to such a place, we need to drop our little bag of knowledge. We need to give up a big part of our known, so that we can see into the possibility of the unknown.

People are struggling with the inner self and the outer self. They have headaches, sweating, pain, random itching and when the go to the doctor, as they should, for their check up – the doctor says, well, you can have a few (expensive) tests, but it looks like there’s nothing wrong with you. Possibly, you take the tests, and still, there’s nothing wrong with you – nothing that the medical profession can pin point.

What’s happening?

Some say its kundalini rising. Some call it spiritual awakening. Some say it’s the flowering of human consciousness. I don't know what to call it.

Remember, we are all changing. All of us have been afraid and fearing our own madness.

There is a template that can help us through this. It’s the chakra system. Feel free to read about what I wrote on suite101 about the Chakra Basics.

Now I’ve been practicing a mixture of yoga and qigong and meditation since 1989. Its not that long in a life time, and I’m the first one to say I’m still learning. But there is something I have discovered.

And that is asana practice and qigong can help keep the body open to the flow and changes of energy within the body. The energy moves – people feel it – and if your body is open, strong and flexible – it doesn’t block the flow. The asana practice keeps your body from holding the pain of spiritual emergence.

Everybody’s body is different. Ask your yoga teacher for help, if you think these symptoms sound like yours. Otherwise feel free to contact me.

Remember, you are highly recommended to visit your doctor first, before you try alternative therapies.

Spiritual Crisis - an interview with Christina Grof

Signs of Spiritual Awakening on Spiritual Blessings Forum