Taoist Yoga (性命法诀明指）by Master Zhao BiChen (趙避塵) of the Wu-Liu School (伍柳派) was translated by Zen master Charles Luk (encouraged by Carl Jung to translate classic Chinese texts on Enlightenment for the benefit of Western readers). One significant feature of the Wu-Liu school is its use of sublimation of sexual energy in its practice (some details of which I discussed in previous posts). The essence is before our sexual drive tips us over to erotic thought, a practitioner shall sublime such energy for spiritual use. The essence is "No erotic thought". Not that "erotic thought" is anything essentially bad, but that it is an insurmountable obstacle DURING meditation. Can one "refrain" from erotic thought during masturbation (or corporeal sex)? The answer is negative. Hence, the teaching of classic Taoist meditation is clear!
It is therefore unfortunate that translator of Taoist Yoga Charles Luk (he himself a Zen master rather than a Taoist master) either had a misunderstanding or did a wrong translation. In Zhao's book, it was mentioned that even very old people could have their latent energy stirred up. It is through stirring up their sexual impulse - BUT up to the point of having erotic thought. The difference is like a "hot lady" versus a "hooker". The former belongs to cultured entertainment (like present day fashion catwalk and sports cheering team performance) while the later belongs to pornography. Different period/culture will have different definition of pornography; stirring up of one's erotic thought will be a good definition of pornography. And classic Taoist master knew the difference, hence their stand against the arousal of erotic thought during meditation was adamant.
Anyway Charles Luk mistranslated the text into: old people "may use artificial means (e.g. masturbation) to arouse the genital organ" (page 14), and it made all the difference and misunderstanding.
One last question: How should we suggest our older folks (say 60+) to do in view of their losing vitality? Probably the best advice will be for them to do some zhan zhuang (standing or sitting) and/or tai-chi (Well, perhaps viewing some cheerleading performance on TV is not a bad idea too...:):)
Hilarious and cute at the same time. But I actually just pulled a masturbation and meditation move only to find this article's attempt to guilt me (who told me to go searching for a confession board). I don't recall if I had an erotic thought :-) but if so, call me bad if don't achieve what I was focusing on, which was the success of blog and housewarming invitation. Is that erotic enough?
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This post is actually one the hottest (or most erotic?) articles around here. The reason for the lack of discussion on this topic (not that there are many discussions on any topic here) seems to have surfaced..."Confession as a road to spirituality has become a dying industry"
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Taoist cultivation relies on transfer of jing to qi and qi to shen. In solo "Northern" school, yes, it is about transmuting that sexual energy (jing) without over-exciting the senses sensuously. But in dual "Southern" style, it is about doing this with a skilled partner. Try doing that without any sexual feeling. The idea is not to "squash" the feeling - but how to USE it without it using you. The result? 2 happy people sharing cultivation and transmuting their energy together - reinforced and balanced. It's all energy and all energy is transmutable. And yes, solo cultivation WILL increase one's sexual ability, control and pleasure - let's not be Victorian about this - it's part of healthy, normal life. The idea is that YOU use it instead of it using you - as is with the uncultivated person. If you believe in energy, then understand that humans are energy too - feelings, and all. We are not separate from the rest of the physics of the universe.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in the post readers who are interested in sexual chi kung can consult Mantak Chia's books on the subject. Of course, we have long passed the Victorian era, as His Holiness the Dalai Lama commented sneezing, yawning and sex (among other things) can be conducive to Enlightenment (or energy to Enlightenment). the choice is up to each individual. But I suspect most modern men interested in sexual chi kung are more interested in sex per se then any higher level of Enlightenment. Of course, such interest is valid and commendable in its own right.
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