CHAPTER 1
Subtle Signals
Good Feelings are Guiding Us
The secret of good health, happiness, and success lies in the Dan-Tien,according to ancient Chinese texts. Dan-Tien is the source of vitality and joy.We all possess this source, but we are seldom aware of it. We all have an innercompass that leads us to the good life and keeps us in tune with the cosmos.When we listen to its subtle signals we can look forward to a life that is richand rewarding and blessed with loving relationships.
This compass is so simple and foolproof that we tend to ignore it. Most of ushave even been taught to ignore it and to rely instead on complex theories,artificial rules, or belief systems. The concept of Dan-Tien reminds us that allgreat truths are simple and easily practiced in daily life.
East Asians have known for thousands of years that the core of our vitality andunconscious wisdom lies in our very center. In this area we can spontaneouslysense whether we are in tune with life at any given moment. When we think or dosomething that does not agree with our deepest feelings, we immediately get anunpleasant sensation in our center, in the Dan-Tien. This is a signal that tellsus that the way we think or act at this time is not quite right. If we fail tolisten to the signal, it will become stronger, to the point where we get a"knot" in the stomach. If we habitually ignore the message, we may end up with astomach ulcer or other psychosomatic complications.
But if we think and act in tune with the Dan-Tien, we notice a pleasantsensation in the belly area. We feel happy and enjoy inner harmony. In time wecan learn to cultivate this state, so that it becomes a pleasant habit. Mind andbody can thus function optimally and avoid needless stress.
Millions of Happy Minutes
There is a deeper reason why Dan-Tien makes us happy and successful: it connectsus with the cosmic life force. When we listen to the signals in our center andact accordingly, we harmonize with the primal force that is called divine. Wecan find true happiness only when we live in tune with our divine self.
Dan-Tien offers no philosophical systems, moral precepts, psychologicalanalyses, or intellectual explanations. Instead we receive helpful impulses frommoment to moment. Just like a child searching for Easter eggs is guided by callsof "warm" or "cold," so we can rely on the hints from our center in our searchfor happiness and success.
Through Dan-Tien we appreciate and enjoy the "here and now." When we can behappy here and now, when we can enjoy the next minute and the next minute, too,and so on, then we can enjoy the whole day. When we do this all week and throughthe months, we enjoy millions of happy minutes over the years. It is thatsimple.
Of course there will be minutes when we notice that something is wrong. Then wefeel unhappy until we remember our inner compass and follow its messages.Usually it turns out that we got lost in useless and aimless trains of thought,or perhaps we were doing something that did not fulfill the need of the moment.Instead of living here and now we worried about the past or the future. Insteadof sweeping in front of our own door we got involved in other people's problems.
But as soon as we realize that we are on the wrong track, we can change courseand restore the good feeling, usually in a matter of seconds or minutes. Ourgreatest source of happiness is the feeling of being on the right track, hereand now. We also feel good when we reach a goal, of course, but we do not reachgoals every day.
Divine Impulses
With our inborn Dan-Tien we have a proven system that has been refined overmillions of years. It connects us "on-line" with the great cosmic computer. Noman-made system can ever match its ingenuity and perfection.
The idea that divine impulses can be relayed through a nerve center in the bodydoes not agree with our Western concepts. We have been taught that the divinecan only come from above, through the head, the soul, or the conscience. We havebeen trained not to trust our "gut feelings" and to suppress our "lower animalinstincts." Many people still consider the body below the belt "dirty,"unspeakable, or the source of sinful urges.
But in such Western beliefs lies the root of our inability to enjoy day-to-daylife. People who reject their body and their emotions are called neurotic. Theymay get used to their split condition and endure life, but they cannot find realhappiness. They can harmonize with themselves and the cosmic whole onlyoccasionally and coincidentally.
They can console themselves with theories or religions that accept suffering asnormal, or they can deaden the pain through legal or illegal drugs. They can tryto divert themselves with ceaseless activity or noise, but they cannot findaccess to the secret that their remote ancestors still knew before they were"civilized" through unnatural teachings.
It is possible to drop unnatural habits. We can find our inner center and we canrediscover our ability to enjoy each minute. To do this we need no strenuousexercises or lengthy and costly analyses. All we need to do is trust our innerimpulses again and follow them.
In the following chapters we will see how we can practice the secret of Dan-Tienin daily life. But first let us take a look at its ancient origins.
CHAPTER 2
The Ancient Origins of Dan-Tien
The Best Place in the Body
The word Dan-Tien means "belly area," and ancient Chinese texts describe it as"the best place in the body." Sometimes it is also called the One-Point. InJapan it is known as Hara, which simply means "belly."
Taoist teachings reaching back four to five thousand years tell in great detailhow to be in touch with the center of vitality and joy, and how to use it as alink with the cosmic power Chi. Taoism is the Chinese folk religion that teachesthe "right way," the word Tao meaning "way" or "path." This is not a "fatherreligion" in the Western sense, but a practical philosophy of life withreligious roots.
The One-Point is said to be located just below the navel and about an inchinside the body. This point also happens to be just above the womb, the warm andprotected place where life originates. Here is the best place for the embryo togrow, where it is safely resting in the gravity center of the mother's body. Itis also surrounded by vital organs and has a good, dependable blood supply. Evenin the male anatomy, in the absence of a womb, this is the central core ofvitality. While the head, the sense organs, and other external organs areexposed and vulnerable, the One-Point in the belly is a sanctuary, a safe haven,a place where we can feel good.
Persons whose Chi energy is centered in the One-Point are said to be protectedfrom dangers of all kinds. The Dan-Tien can dissolve or "burn" strains, pains,diseases, and other hostile influences. A scattering or loss of Chi energytherefore opens the door to suffering and misfortune, while gathering the lifeenergy in the Dan-Tien brings happiness and good fortune.
Hara, the Japanese One-Point
Zen, the art of emptying the mind and finding the center within, is anexperience that cannot easily be described with words. But if Zen has anessence, it might be Hara, the equivalent of Chinese Dan-Tien.
The concept of Hara is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, religion, and dailylife. Most Westerners know the word only in connection with Harakiri, thecurious way of Japanese suicide. Samurai warriors resort to this way of takingtheir life because they believe the life energy Ki resides in the belly, not inthe heart or the head.
Even today, the Japanese tend to sit, stand, walk, and move in a quite centeredway. When they wait in line, for instance, they usually stand firmly on bothlegs, with a straight spine and relaxed arms and neck. Westerners in thissituation would tend to stand "relaxed" on one leg while resting the other,which creates a curve in the spine and a loss of Hara.
The emphasis on a centered posture and attitude is ingrained in the Japanesenational character. Persons who are not firmly settled in the Hara tend to beconsidered immature, unreliable, or confused. Even school children learn aboutthe importance of being centered in the Hara, the "belly brain," in school aswell as in daily life.
Most of the Zen meditations have one aim—to clear the mind of irrelevant chatterand to find the true self in the silent center. In the center we experiencebliss, while all suffering is only a sign that we have lost touch with our truenature, with Nature in general, and with the cosmic life force Ki.
Westerners who try the path of Zen tend to find the endless "sitting" (Zazen) soboring and painful that they soon give up. In chapter 6 we will return to thissubject and show a form of meditation that you will want to do often because itis so enjoyable.
The Dan-Tien Personality
People who live in tune with their center are said to have a "Dan-Tienpersonality," and this is considered a great honor. They are recognized by theircollected, responsible, helpful, and modest attitude. They are self-confidentbut do not seek the limelight, and they are not interested in impressing ordominating others. Yet they radiate quiet power and attract admirers andfollowers.
All aspects of their life harmonize with the Dan-Tien, from the smallest detailto their over-all goals. Their life has direction, and they seem to know themeaning of life. They are not afraid of obstacles, enemies, or death. They knowthat each obstacle can teach them a valuable lesson, and that each enemy is ateacher who can help them to eliminate their weaknesses. They do not fearillness, infections, or bacteria as long as they live in harmony with theuniversal life force.
They see the good side in every human being and do not exclude anyone. They knowthat all people like to harmonize with the life force, but many do not know how.When people do not know the secret of Dan-Tien, they easily become angry,greedy, envious, proud, depressed, perverse, jealous, lazy, or sick in mind andbody.
Dan-Tien personalities usually look younger and healthier than their age. Theycan run without losing their breath. They know which foods are good for them andhave no problems with digestion or elimination. They know how to gather theirenergies by sitting in silence with a straight spine. They breathe through thenose, in a quiet rhythm, slowly emptying the lungs with each outbreath. Theireyes are relaxed but alive and mobile, and their voice resonates from the belly.Their nasal passages are clear because the blood circulates freely through thewhole body. The head is cool and the feet are warm.
The body movements originate from the center, not from the head or shoulders.There is no fidgeting or nervous finger drumming. Each breath is a joy as wellas each step and each movement. Others sense this, and they enjoy the company ofthe Dan-Tien personality, although they may not be aware of the deeper reasons.
Dan-Tien and Breathing
Taoist masters say that breathing is the driving force for the circulation ofthe life energy Chi through the body. They know that superficial (upper chest)breathing is the beginning of most diseases. The entire immune system isweakened by poor breathing habits. An amazing number of illnesses and nervoustroubles disappear within weeks of adopting the habit of deep breathing.
In the West we know that breathing is necessary to take in oxygen and expelcarbon dioxide. But breathing accomplishes many other things that are vital toour health and well-being. With each breath we also stimulate the nerve centerin the belly, the Dan-Tien. We notice this when we take a "sigh of relief." Ourdigestion is also stimulated when we breathe deeply from the diaphragm. Manypeople suffer from constipation simply because their intestines are not massagedthrough rhythmic breathing. Even the blood and lymph circulation in this centralpart of the body depends on the rhythmic contractions of chest and belly.
While the average person inhales 16 to 18 times per minute, the rate goes downto ten or even six breaths after Chi Kung training. It is said that each personis allotted a certain number of breaths at birth. The slower the breath, thelonger will be the life. Deep breathing is accomplished by pushing out the airand emptying the lungs after each breath, until the next inhalation followsspontaneously. Slow breathing creates a collected state of inner rest, which inturn reduces the need for oxygen. This state can be further enhanced throughmeditation practices.
Healthy breathing rises and falls imperceptibly, effortlessly. Above all it is ajoy. Whenever we notice that our breathing has become hectic, irregular,nervous, shallow, or unpleasant, we know that something is wrong with the way wethink, feel, and act at the moment. In a matter of minutes or even seconds wecan feel better by first exhaling and then letting the air rush in. Suddenly theworld around us looks a little better. By making this a habit we can change ourlife.
Our Center of Gravity
Dan-Tien also happens to lie near our gravity center. When we feel good andcentered in the belly, this becomes apparent in our body coordination, bodyawareness, and body movements. All our movements then originate from the centerof gravity in our pelvis just below the navel.
In the Far-Eastern martial arts like Judo, Jiujitsu, Kung Fu, and especiallyAikido, this idea of centered balance is considered absolutely basic andessential. In past centuries these methods of self-defense were practiced as amatter of survival, not just as games, sports, hobbies, or fitness exercises.The fighter who did not know this secret and thought from his head (instead ofthe gravity center) moved clumsily and was easily knocked out and killed.
Far-Eastern medical traditions also emphasize the importance of the center,which is at the same time seen as the seat of Chi or Ki, the vital life energy.A person's individual Chi energy is in turn related to the cosmic life force ofthe universe. To be in touch with this force is said to assure health,happiness, and a long life.
All this may not at first agree with our idea of being an intelligent personwith a good head, or a loving person with a big heart. Nevertheless it is a factthat the movements of well-balanced and happy people originate from the hips.This is especially obvious with most children before school age, when they arestill moving naturally and spontaneously. We can easily see this when we watchyoung children at play. If we then watch the movements of "normal" grown-ups, wecan see the difference. The average Western adult moves nervously from the heador shoulders, without grace or spontaneous balance.
According to Chinese folk wisdom, a loss of contact with the center is the rootof all human suffering and unhappiness. It is also the main cause ofpsychosomatic illness and the countless "diseases of civilization" that now makeup over 90 percent of all our diseases. Unnatural habits of thinking and livingdestroy the family and spread through society, bringing decadence, hopelessness,hostility, and violence. Only by being in touch with the cosmic Chi through theDan-Tien can we turn these negative energies into vitality and joy.
Energy Channels
The life energy Chi is said to be at home in the Dan-Tien. From there itcirculates in the body through a complex network of channels or conduits, theso-called meridians. The life energy flows freely when we are in good health andfeel good. It supplies all organs, tissues, and cells with cosmic life force.Illness begins when the flow stagnates or when there is an excess of Chisomewhere in the body.
Techniques like acupuncture, acupressure, or foot reflexology can be used tostimulate or equalize the flow. Millions of Chinese are also practicing Tai ChiChuan (shadow boxing) daily to build up and maintain their energy. Theproverbial smile of many East Asians is partly explained by their belief thatjoy and bliss increase vitality, while bad moods, sadness, or melancholyattitudes decrease it.
The art of channeling the Chi energy is known as Chi Kung. Many Chi Kung masterscan project their energy to heal sick people without touching them. Others canmove inanimate objects at a distance, split blocks of marble with their fists,bend thick iron bars, smash boulders with their bare hands, let cars run overthem, etc. These are not legends, but facts documented by Western doctors andscientists.
While practitioners of western medicine rely almost entirely on technology andthe chemicals that they call medicines, healers in the Far East are firmlyconvinced that health depends on the flow of energy from the Dan-Tien.
We can benefit from this wisdom today. We can keep the energy flowing by lovingand appreciating all aspects of our bodily selves. We can resolve tensions byopening blocked energy channels. Whenever we notice that our mind is congestedwith useless and unpleasant thoughts, we can neutralize them by leading theenergy back into the Dan-Tien. Within seconds or minutes we can feel good againand think pleasant, useful thoughts.
