Cultivating the Three
Hidden Treasures
–
Chief Instructor Brett Wagland
To discover a treasure, we need to dig deep. It is not easily found.
Traditional Chinese medicine talks about jing, qi and shen as being the
body’s three treasures. Jing is associated with the body’s essences,
such as hormonal fluids, blood and biochemical substances. In both Tai
Chi and Qigong, jing relates to the Dan Tian situated a few centimetres
below the navel and inside the body. Qi is a more subtle energy drawn
from the air and nutritional intake. In Tai Chi and Qigong, qi also
includes the refinement of jing as a result of our practice.
In the old texts on Taoist meditation, the character for the word qi
symbolises vapour and fire. Concentrating the mind on the Dan Tian in
the abdomen is analogous to boiling a pot of water. The concentration
of the mind is the fire, the pot is the Dan Tian and the water is the
jing. As the jing is heated, it produces the refined energy of qi.
Through continuous practice, qi is further refined to produce shen (the
spirit of vitality) which indicates a higher level of awareness and
consciousness. Often jing, qi and shen are referred to as body, mind
and spirit. In traditional Chinese medicine, the Dan Tian in the
abdomen is associated with jing, the Dan Tian at the centre of the chest
is related to qi and the Yin Tang point (third eye) is connected to shen.
Unless you practise Tai Chi or Qigong, you will find it hard to
appreciate the significance of the three treasures and how they can be
enhanced through diet and certain practices. In order to feel qi, you
need to be relaxed. Tension restricts the flow of this energy and
reduces sensitivity. For example, if you are tense because you are
holding a heavy weight, you may not feel the weight of a feather against
your body.
Regular practice of Tai Chi and Qigong builds qi. The stronger your qi,
the healthier you will feel and the happier you will be. Good
energy allows you to feel good and feeling good leads to happiness.
When you have little energy and you feel low, you will find it hard to
be positive. Practising Tai Chi and Qigong can help you to change your
energy from negative to positive. In China, Qigong (energy work) has
been used to treat all kinds of illnesses. If you would like to use
Qigong or Tai Chi to improve your health, you have to be willing to work
hard at it and be persistent. Results will come but you have to make
the effort. Qi is life energy. When conditions are right, the energy
will become abundant and your health will improve. If not, illness will
thrive.
Tai Chi, Xing Yi and Ba Gua are all internal arts and follow the
principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Tai Chi emphasises being
relaxed and soft like water. Sometimes, we interpret this as being
weak. However, softness means that you can flow with life’s
difficulties without losing your centre. If a large wave comes, you can
catch it, dive under it or be knocked over by it. Being soft and
flexible means that you have enough wisdom to adapt to circumstances.
It also implies being gentle with ourselves when we are faced with a
difficult task. Sometimes we need to see that we are doing the best
that we can at the moment. Before we can love others, we need to love
and accept ourselves. We may think we are not good enough, but our
weaknesses can be our greatest teachers, just as an illness can teach us
about balance, patience, kindness and endurance.
To improve the three treasures, eat nutritious unprocessed food, get
plenty of rest, find balance in work and play and avoid excessive
drinking. To correct imbalances, do more Tai Chi and Qigong. This is
the most effective way to directly improve the three treasures. Other
activities are reading good literature, listening to inspiring music,
painting, gardening and enjoying nature. All these things will also
help to maintain and nurture the treasures.
When we begin to practise Tai Chi and Qigong, we experience an inner
world. We gradually see that in order to improve the outer world, we
need to work on the inner world. If we are unaware of our behaviour
towards ourselves, it will be almost impossible to know our weaknesses
in relationships. Training in the internal arts develops our awareness
of the body and mind. This new-found self awareness can now be applied
to other areas of our lives. It is only when we become aware of a
situation that we are able to do something about it. Ignorance is not
bliss.
As we become more conscious of how we
can improve our quality of life, we will do more to cultivate the three
treasures. Taoist masters believe that destiny is in our hands. It is
up to each of us to take responsibility for our lives. There are many
wonderful things in life. However, if we do not see with wisdom, we
will not be aware of the value in something that appears grim when it is
actually beneficial for us. In Chinese culture, the lotus is a sacred
flower. Its beauty captivates everyone who sees it, yet it arises out
of mud. Don’t underestimate the value of mud in your life. Without it,
we are not challenged to reach our full potential to reveal our inner
greatness.
