In ancient China, "Alchemy" was originally a search
for immortality through various drugs, herbs, and chemicals. This is
known as Wai Tan (External Alchemy). It was developed probably around the 4th
century BC, half a millennium before the earliest reference to alchemy
in the Western world.
Alongside, a little later, was developed Nei Tan (Internal Alchemy), which was actually a sort of Taoist Yoga or
Internal Meditation practices, not unlike Indian Tantra. It
resembled external alchemy only in its terminology (the alchemical terms
having a symbolic rather than a literal meaning). Internal Alchemy had
as its aim the cultivation of the life-force, and the consequent
attainment of Immortality of the personality.A basic premise
of the the esoteric or Nei Tan Taoist Alchemy is that man has
only a limited store of vital-force (Original Yuan Chi). This
leaks away through day-to-day activities, and when it's all gone, the
person's dead. But it is possible to make the Chi go back inside,
rather than outwards, and then up the spine to the crown of the head.
Taoist practitioners of "Internal Alchemy" (Nei Tan) refer to a
continual circulation of the Chi (vitality) up the primary Yang
(positive), back or Governor Channel (Du Mo) and down the primary Yin
(negative), front or Functional Channel (Ren Mo) of the body. This has
similarities to the Tantric Kundalini. In ascending, the Chi
progresses through various stations, which are given exotic names like
the Elixer-field, the Yellow Hall, the Heaven. The difference with
Shakta based Tantra is that reaching the top of the head, the Chi then
descends down the front of the body, down to the navel, and then around
again, forming a complete circuit. This circuit is known as "Circulation of the Light" or "Microcosmic Orbit".
The Microcosmic Orbit contains and stores the Chi of the Energy Body. It
is a dynamic meditation creating a balanced Yin/Yang flow of perpetual
Chi, circling around the spine and chest. Also known as “Embryonic
Breathing”, this meditation balances the pre-natal Chi (from Heaven)
and post-natal blood (from Earth Body and Ancestors) and stabilizes all
Yin/Yang Chi flow in the meridians.
This is a tradition of transformation of the vital force, the so-called
"Inner Alchemy" because it uses alchemical metaphors and is a
quest for Immortality. It is this esoteric Taoism which
constitutes the native Chinese counterpart to Indian and Tibetan Tantra
and Western Qabalah. |
