Chapter 47 The magic and mystery of breath

When we really talk about the phenomenon of "refining and transforming Qi", we can only use the state of naturally stopping breathing during the meditation process to explain it, which is more accurate.But before making this explanation, there are two necessary explanations for the state of stopping breathing.First of all, you need to know that in the progress of meditation, the so-called natural cessation of breathing is called "stopping" in terms of general monastic work.In the progress of four rows and eight definite steps in Buddhism, it is also called "qi dwelling".In the practice method of yoga, it is the real "bottling of gas".For ordinary yoga practitioners, the method of intentionally controlling breathing and stopping it, although it is also called "bottling gas", is not considered a top-grade achievement.If you stop breathing naturally when you reach the level of stillness, that is the real state of "bottle gas".So Tantra named it "Aquarius Qi" separately.

Secondly, in the progress of meditation.Because the mind is too focused, occasionally I feel that my breathing is almost stopped.When this state occurs, sometimes the whole body will feel stiff, with a slightly stiff feeling.In fact, this is because the intention is too focused, which gradually promotes the tense relationship in the whole body.This kind of effect similar to stopping breathing is not really the state of "stopping breath" and "holding breath".Strictly speaking, this is due to excessive nervous tension.In the cultivation environment, too much attachment, unable to relax and return to nature, will often make the mood dry and lifeless.Even more serious, it will make the joints of the body and limbs enter a state of stiffness and morbidity.Although it is not a fire demon as the novelist calls it, at least it has made him sick.If you reach this state through meditation, the only way for self-healing is to relax your body and mind as much as possible, even try to exert your strength, relax yourself, and enter natural breathing at will, just like the state of ordinary people during sleep.In this way, it only takes a short time to "go to the next level" and enter a new progress.If some people who have been working for too long, despite trying to use this method, the stalemate still remains the same, then the only way is to use the special teaching method of Tantra and Taoism.

Thirdly, if you are really calm and relaxed due to the effect of energetic and quiet body and mind, and reach the state of "refining and transforming qi", the first step must be the phenomenon that the whole body is soft and weak, and the next level, you Then you will feel "soft as boneless", and the whole body is full of energy in a state of no feeling.What Mencius said: "The face is smooth and the back is smooth in the limbs." What Laozi called: "Concentrating on Qi makes a soft baby!" The situation is naturally experienced.The realm at this time can really forget the feelings of body and mind, as if the world, earth, people and me are all in a state of confusion. The so-called "mud stew" in the "Danjing" and Taoist scriptures, and the actual situation of "destroying limbs and dethroning wisdom" in Zhuangzi's words, can be experienced to know that they are indeed true, not hypothetical empty ideals.After calming down like this, at first I felt that the breathing in the nostrils weakened to a slight degree, and then the breathing in the lungs almost stopped, and the "dantian" inside the small membrane began to have the effect of shrinking (shrinking and relaxing like breathing).The so-called "fetal breath" or "inner breath" in Taoism is such a phenomenon.Once again, after the qi mechanisms in all parts of the internal organs are fully enriched, a series of autonomic nerves along the throat of the esophagus and up to the tip of the tongue are naturally relaxed and comfortable, and the internal breathing of the "dantian" gradually stops from being weak. .At this time, the "youth glands" that had sunk in the abdomen for a long time resumed their active functions, just like the desireless and ruthless involvement in childhood, they can spontaneously produce the extremely pleasant "inner touch joy".The air mechanism of the reproductive organs following the contraction of the testicles upwardly follows the "Ren Vessel" and makes the tip of the tongue rise up naturally, sealing the part of the small tongue, and naturally stops breathing.This can be regarded as the initial real state of "refining and transforming gas".