The western medical fraternity has always maintained that
masturbation is harmless.However,
Taoism,and even modern TCM,hold that masturbation
is not without harm,though the latter may take time
to manifest.
In Taoist internal alchemy,the practitioner focuses on
three things,viz "jing","qi" and "shen"
which all reside inside us."Jing" has two forms,
visible and invisible.The invisible form is produced from our
nutriment,the food and drinks
we ingest and digest.When the sexual urge comes,
this invisible "jing" partly changes into the
visible form,which is the semen in males.In the
female,it is the liquid produced during sexual
arousal.
In the ordinary person,where sexual thoughts
and acts are frequent,a part of our nourishment
keeps going to produce the semen and the "liquid",
resulting in very little invisible "jing" even in
the healthy individual.This can result in a weak
immune system,and the person can get sick easily.
Even a common flu could progress to some serious
condition unexpectedly,if the immune system is
overly weak due to weak invisible "jing".
In the Taoist practitioner,it is totally
different.By consciously abstaining from all
sexual thoughts and acts,he or she,via certain
meditational and breathing techniques,attempts
to transform the great amount of invisible "jing"
into "qi",then "qi" into "shen",then "shen" into
one(union) with the cosmic consciousness.When the
sexual urge arrives,the ordinary person will seek
release through sex or masturbation,but not the
practitioner.It is the time to "harvest the medicine"("cai yao")
when the urge comes,sublimating this urge into "qi" first via
certain techniques of meditation and qigong.When
all the "jing" has transformed into"qi",the person
will have a ruddy countenance and a healthy glow
in the face,like some Buddhist monks and nuns.He
or she always feel energetic,seldom tires,and very
peaceful within.Food and drinks intake,and sleep
are reduced.Even during very cold conditions,he or
she almost never feels any coldness.The feet and knees always feel
warm,unlike the frequent
masturbator,who also experiences frequent lower back pains.In
TCM,this is a sign that the kidneys
are turning weak,as they store the invisibe "jing".
If one isn't careful,then dialysis is the only way
out.
For the practitioner,eyesight will also improve,
even becoming perfect if the "qi" is full and bouncy.At this stage
he or she almost never falls
sick,unless because of advanced age.
The next level(stage),transforming "qi"into "shen" is
even more difficult.Deep meditation is
involved here,along with some dangers if the
meditator starts to have stray thoughts or attachments.An
experienced teacher,not any Tom,
Dick,Harry meditation teacher,is needed here.Some
blokes in Singapore can become mediation teachers
after meditating for a while.I find this amazing.
When things go awry,they don't know how to handle.
When you try to warn them,they brush you aside.Hence don't just
join any meditation class,even if it is free.
This stage is itself "subdivided" into several
stages,like the first,second,third jhanas of Buddhist
meditation.The names are different,but
the realities are the same.The final stage is
"san hua ju ding,wu qi chao yuan" in Taoist terms,
loosely rendered as"The Three Flowers gather at the
top of the head,and the Five Qis return to the Origin."At this
stage,no harm can come within 3
feet of the practitioner.So no need to worry about
Sars or dengue fever or earthquakes or cyclones.
The final process also involves "pi gu",avoiding
all solid food for a certain period.Something like
fasting for 40 days and 40 nights.Anyway,there is
very little craving for food now,due to the strong
"qi"and "shen".This is the direct opposite to the
average person,who always feels hungry after sexual
activities.At this stage too,the saliva becomes sweet,there is
brightness when both eyes are shut,and
he or she can see very clearly in pitch darkness.
All these we can validate for ourselves if we practise.The
practioner will also feel no sadness,
worry or anxiety with regard to his or her own
living conditions.His or her so-called"soul" can
also separate from the physical body at will,going
anywhere,even to deep outer space.
Hogwash?
Read up carefully on the Buddhist and Taoist
Canons,preferably in Chinese.
Those who masturbate frequently not only will
get ill easily due to weak immune systems,they may
become "empty shells" because of depletion of "jing","qi" and
"shen".This may not be known from
appearance,but a spiritually advanced person can
discern it.Furthermore,"empty shells" have higher
risks of encountering"shas",accidents,or problems
with the "low spirits" realms.Just one visit to a
hospital could also make that person sick.
So,please don't keep thinking of sex.Just don't
think of it and occupy yourself with other activities,such as
reading a good book,or go jogging.
The Little Wooden Hut
of
Madhyamaka-Yogacara
