Centers of Emotion

Centers of Emotion...

Qigong teaches there are Two Minds and Three Centers: Wisdom Mind, Emotional Mind and then Three major areas where Qi is stored: Upper, Middle, Lower Dan Tian.

The Lower Dan Tian is considered MOST important for our physical Health and WellBeing. So emphasis is placed on Sinking Qi into the Lower Dan Tian.

Qi can become Dan (The Elixir of Life) in these areas. Emotions must be mastered effectively to accomplish this with skill.

The Nature of most of our human emotions is usually to rise up. Some call this Kundalini. Like a Cobra rising on it's tail and flaring it's hood. This is an ancient belief.

Ancient Kundalini practitioners were not householders or family men. They had few responsibilities if any. If they became mad--that was not really a problem. The yogis were not too concerned about the aftermath of this experience. But the Chinese Sages discovered what rises up must also fall. AND OFTEN WITH VERY HARSH CONSEQUENCES.

So Taoists developed the Micro-Cosmic Orbit Method of Circulating the Energy internally through Meditation... Balancing the Conception and Governor Meridians--Ren Mai and Du Mai... Their tongues pressed firmly against their upper palates...

Too much Qi in the Head and also too much Qi in the Heart are both considered Illnesses... Qi Derangements...

This rising of emotional energy raises our Shen--our Spiritual Energy--and like a Cobra, Shen will always fall back to the earth.

Emotions can make our Qi run Hot or Cold. They can trap and stagnate Qi in certain centers because of stress, over-thinking, or too much emotional disturbance... Poor health and burn-out may result...

SO... The Heart Must Be Tempered. Over-ruled by the Wisdom Mind. This is an old belief.

The Wisdom Center is considered the Third Eye--between the eyebrows. Sometimes spelled the 'Yintang' or 'Yin Tang' Point. (Our 6th Chakra in yoga science.)

"Use your Yi (Wisdom) to guide your Qi (Energy)" is the old Qigong Saying.

Some emotions can flood the upper centers and deplete our energy in other ways. Then we are spending our Qi too quickly, not cultivating or conserving our Qi.

We suffer from: 'Too Much Qi In The Head' ...STRESS.

'Too Much Xin Qi--(Emotional Heart Qi)' ...PASSION.

Our Organs suffer. We block proper circulation. We lose our calm; our clear center and our energetic grounded-ness...our connection to the Earth. We lose contact with reality and we can become consumed by emotions. It exhausts us.

When our Qi rises with too much force we can lose vital power if we do not replenish it...

We must learn to Calm the Storm--Walk on Water as Christians say... Otherwise: We can unconsciously squander our vital energy and we can deplete ourselves quickly or else slowly slowly over time... We may become Ill and Die too young... We can lose our proper perspective, become overwhelmed, act rashly and unwisely...

Some of this knowledge comes from Confucian Qigong where the point is Being Centered at all times and immune to upsetting emotions... Self-Mastery: Maintaining Center and Ground...

Emotions can disturb our well being. Even too much Happiness is considered unhealthy! (Something we in the West have a hard time accepting! 'Let the Good Times Roll!')

Some of it comes from Taoist Qigong where the effort is on Longevity of Life.

And other thoughts for meditation practice and self-mastery come from Buddhist and Medical Qigong where the goal is Enlightenment and Personal and Relational Health--Our Physical / Spiritual / Emotional / Psychological / Karmic--Health...

Unfortunately Calm and Centered is seen by many people as boring. Or else cold and detached. Especially among the young.

We like our highs and hate our lows. Drug and alcohol abuse are rampant at these ages. When we think we will live for ever then being bi-polar--celebrating our highs and eschewing our lows--seems to the more immature to be what Life is actually all about.

But live long enough, mature some, and you begin to see the wisdom of mastering our emotions.

It turns out a Saint or a Sage or a Master is really just a matured person. That is why I have personally come to enjoy the old Spiritual: O When Those Saints Go Marching In--in a whole new way. 'Lord how I want to be in that number...' An authentic Grown Up! Hao la!

When I was 28 and learning meditation to manage my volatile emotions because of an ugly divorce, my first meditation teacher gave me a copy of the Tao te Ching. I read it and was instantly inspired. It seemed to point to a way out of suffering.

'Don!' I said... 'I want to be a Sage.'

Don smiled sympathetically and said: 'Oh my dear Lamb... That is what the rest of your Life is for! Even if you become a Sage now, at 28, you will have to become a new Sage at 38, and 48, and 58, and 68, and 78... 88? 98? 108? We never really arrive David. So Life is really about the Journey. Not the Destination. The Questions. Not the Answers. It's about the moments and the experiences of aliveness and Love.'

Hao la!

--Pahka Dave