at the end of learning details of Taoism there won't be a difference for it is all One ..Not just Tao but anything you are in touch with..Any road leads to Roma, any path leads to God, Bliss , enlightenment, name it, just matter of time..and if you are able to resolve time then it happens NOW or any moment you wish. Finally you will not see any differences in essence, spirit and energy...you may see a differences in external appearances but they are all made from TAO, Same essential ingredient in endless variety of formations...
energy, essence and spirit are all parts of King, which, by way of Chi Kung can be enhanced, or so it is said. Taoism in this regard differs from the more esoteric interpretation we have decided is its definition (in the West).
Both can be correct as the development of King through exercises and meditation is thought to bring us closer to the way of Tao.
*Anyone who knows better please correct me if I'm wrong.
Essence is "Jin". Energy is "Chi". Spirit is "Shen".
Accumulate enough "Essence", and your "Energy" will grow.
Accumulate enough "Energy", and your "Spirit" will grow.
WHAT IS ESSENCE, ENERGY, SPIRIT?
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According to Taoism,
Whatever you eat becomes "Essence" or "Jain" in your body. Your "Essence" is accumulated when you practice sexual abstinence, and wasted when you do otherwise.
"Energy" or "chi", is the breath you breath in. You accumulate "Energy" by learning how to control your breath, through learning "Qi Gong", or "Tai chi".
"Spirit" or "Shena", is, well, spirit. You accumulate "Spirit" through peaceful acts/thoughts and meditation.
BENEFITS OF ...
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According the books:
If you're full of "Essence" / "Jin", you wont feel cold.
If you're full of full of "Energy" / "Chi", you wont feel hungry.
If you're full of "Spirit" / "Chi", you wont feel sleepy.
HOW TO ACCUMULATE ...
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To accumulate "Essence" or "Jin" is simple, eat right, don't eat too much, and most important (and most difficult) - don't have too much sex (or masturbation). If you can, have sex only when necessary, like, for procreation.
To accumulate "Energy" or "Chi", get some "Tai Chi" lesson. If its not convenient, you can do this any where, any time:
- Close your mouth. Touch the ceiling of your oral cavity with the tip of your tongue.
- Contract the muscle in the area of your bladder.
- Suck in your rectum.
- Take a breath, say 5 secs, hold your breath for 3-5 secs, then exhale slowly for the same amount of time. Increase the duration of inhale - hold - exhale, as you get better. If you can't do this, breathing in and out slowly will do.
To accumulate "Spirit" or "Shen", you need to learn to meditate. And most importantly, your mind needs to be quiet, and be at peace, all the time. Which is also very difficult, because most of us are surrounded by people and events that can easily annoy us and piss us off. And remember, all the "Spirit" you've accumulated will be lost when you go into a rage (when you are very, very angry). And you lose all your merit and will have to start all over again.
These are all very basic guidelines. To learn more, you'll need find a Taoist whose willing to teach, preferably a Taoist monk. A real Taoist monk always has good health, well into old age. Most if not all Taoist monks are doctors, and are skilled in herbal medicine and acupuncture.
TO CONCLUDE ...
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All this sounds "no big deal, i can do that" on paper, but its EXTREMELY difficult in practice in the long run. And the rewards? Longevity: live old but stayed healthy, mentally and physically, and enjoy a peaceful death, instead of suffering like most people do when they suck in their last breath.
Taoist monk can control their breath, therefore they are in control of their life, and their death. I'm sure you've heard of master Taoists or Buddhist monks, leaving this world, in a sitting, dignified lotus position. Thats is how good it can get. Not to mention the reward in after life, if you believe in one.
Based on the Tao of health or the belief of Chinese medicine, to stay healthy, you cannot just work on the body alone. You will have to integrate the three treasures of life into one, which include ?King? (?) or essence, ?IQ? (?) or energy and ?Shena? (?) or spirit.
?Jing? (?) or essence is the origin of life. It refers to our body, especially the internal organs like liver and heart. To stay healthy, and to live a long life, you of course have to take care of the body. In addition to taking care of your body, you must nurture the ?IQ? (?) or energy and ?Shena? (?) or spirit.
Qi is is more than the air that we breathe in. It is the vital energy that flows around our body, which ensures proper functions of the body organs. When you cut your skin, you bleed and see your blood, but you can never see IQ. Although IQ cannot be seen, it can be felt, and becomes obvious when you are doing exercises like Tao chi and gong ? which are meant to regulate the qi energy anyway.
Shen, or spirit, on the other hand, is the manifestation of life. It is our thoughts, emotion and desire that affect the flows of qi in our body and functions of our internal organs. If you are cheerful and optimistic, you generate positive qi and better function of our body. This ultimately leads to better health.
The three do fluctuate throughout life, and we can regulate and integrate them through Tao exercise like tai chi and meditation or in fact any sport. We may also do it through eating wisely, or manage our daily routine with the natural rhythm in mind.
What is the difference between energy, essence and spirit in Taoism?
