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The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity by Daniel Reid

The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity by Daniel Reid

by Parker · 290 things on Twos

Tao is the primal power that forges all phenonoma in the universe, from the infinite to the infinitesimal
Those who learn to harmonize themselves with Tao may harness that power to enhance and prolong their own lives
There was something formless yet complete that existed before heaven and earth; without sound, without substance, dependent on nothing, unchanging, all pervading, unfailing. One may think of it as the mother of all things under heaven. It’s true name I do not know; ‘Tao’ is the nickname I give it
Those who till the soil of Tao with daily practice and self-discipline will surely harvest these luscious fruits
Doing only those things that really need to be done and doing them in a way that does not run counter to the natural order of Tao and the pattern flow of cosmic forces. It means engaging only in spontaneous, unpremeditated activity, doing things purely for their own sake rather than trying to conquer nature
I’m Buddhist and Taoist tradition, the non-activity of meditation involves a conscious effort to completely empty the mind, rather than fill it with intellectual profundities. This sort of meditation is both relaxing and highly invigorating, for it dredges from the mind the incessant internal chatter that burdens and belabors the spirit during normal activity
The highest good is like that of water. The goodness of water is that it benefits the ten thousand creatures, yet it does not scramble for attention, but it content with places that men disdain. It is this that makes water so near the way
To be stiff and hard is the way to death; to be soft and supple is the way to life
The very need for rule by law and threat of punishment indicates that society has already reached an advanced stage of decay
People everywhere are the same. When happy and healthy, they naturally treat each other with kindness and respect. When hungry and oppressed, they naturally become cruel and unruly
True sages rule the people by rearing them and feeding them but not laying claim to them, and by eliminating the sources of strife rather than punishing the consequences
If we stop looking for persons of superior mortality to rule there will be no more jealousies among the people. If we cease to place value on products that are difficult to obtain there will be no more thieves
Clear the mind of all discursive thoughts, so that intuitive understanding of the Tao may arise spontaneously. A cluttered mind obscures Tao, whereas an empty mind reflects Tao like a mirror
The sage ruler endeavors to keep his subjects minds as empty as possible of artificial ideas and desires, for these serve only to confuse people, create conflicts and distract attention from Tao
Balance and harmony among opposites form the philosophical key to all mysteries and the practical foundation of all avenues to health and longevity
Man knows very little about the great mysteries of the universe and occupies only a tiny, insignificant niche within the great scheme of things
Contentment is a state of mind achieved by simply being content, not a process of material acquisition
A truly good physician first finds out the cause of the illness, and having found that, he first tried to cure it by food. Only when food fails does he prescribe medication
Food and sex, which are nature’s two strongest drones and the only two instincts any species requires for survival and propagation, are the two keys that unlock the gates to health and longevity. Conversely, when these two natural instincts are abused purely for pleasure, they pave the quickest way to the grave
Yin is the shady side of a hill. It represents darkness and passivity, and is associated with the qualities of yielding, softness, and contraction. It moves downward and inward, and its primary symbols are women, water, and earth. Yang means the sunny side of the hill, represents light and activity, is associated with resistance, hardness and expansion, moves naturally upward and outward, and is symbolized by man, fire, and heaven
Change is cyclic rather than linear
Because of the ceaseless flux of yin and yang, the primary attribute of the way is constant change, not stasis
You’ll never reach the goal just by thinking about it
The four energies in food are hot, warm, cool, and cold. These categories define the nature and the intensity of energy released in the human system when food is digested
The five flavors of food are sweet, bitter, sour, pungent, and salty
Cool and cold foods are soy beans, bamboo shoots, watermelon, white turnips, cabbage, pears, squash, and lemons
Warm and hot foods are beef, mutton, chicken, alcohol, mango, and chilies
Eat sparingly, and you will live a long and healthy life. The basic Taoist measure is to eat till you are 70-80 percent full
Chew food throughly before swallowing it. This applies especially to carbohydrates
“Drink your food and chew your beverages” - Gandhi
Avoid extreme hot and cold temperatures in foods and beverages
Any beverage taken in large quantities together with food dilutes the gastric medium and impairs digestion. Wine and beer, however, are exceptions because they are fermented and thus they actually assist digestion when taken in moderate quantities
Meat and milk must never be consumed at the same meal
Protein and starch is the worst possible combination of foods to mix together at a single meal
Rule: eat concentrated proteins such as meat, fish, eggs, and cheese separately from concentrated starches such as bread, potatoes, and rice
Rule: eat only one major type of protein at a single meal. Avoid combinations such as meat and eggs, meat and milk, fish and cheese
Rule: eat starches and acids at separate meals. For example, if you eat toast or cereal for breakfast, skip the orange juice as well as eggs. If you’re eating a starch based meal of noodles or rice, avoid vinegar as well as concentrated protein
Rule: avoid combining concentrated proteins and acids at the same meal
Rule: eat concentrated proteins and fats at separate meals. When you cannot avoid mixing them, eat plenty of raw vegetables to assist their digestion and passage
Rule: avoid consuming sugars and proteins at the same meal
Rule: eat starches and sugars separately
Rule: eat melons alone or leave them alone
Rule: drink milk alone or leave it alone
Rule: eliminate pasteurized and homogenized milk entirely from your diet. If raw certified milk is available, consume it as a whole food in itself, not in combination with other foods
Rule: avoid sweet starchy desserts, as well as fruits, after large meals of protein or carbohydrates
Eat nothing unless it will spoil or rot, but eat it before it does
It is best to separate the protein and starch meals by 10-12 hours
All carbohydrates should be chewed well and thoroughly ensalivated before swallowing
Fats may be consumed in combination with carbohydrates, vegetables, and fruits, but should be avoided with concentrated proteins; with light proteins, fat is relatively compatible
Avoid all margarines and other butter substitutes and all hydrogenated oils
The best fats are butter and cold-pressed vegetables and nut oils in their fluid state
Eat a large salad of fresh raw non-starch vegetables every day, preferably just before the main protein or carbohydrate meal
The chronic craving for sweets is a clear-cut sign of nutritional starvation
The human digestive tract evolved around a diet of fruits and their close relatives, nuts and seeds
It is a biological fact that fresh raw fruits and nuts contain all the vitamins, minerals, natural sugars, and amino acids required for human nutrition
We have found functional mental illness to be a reflection of disordered metabolism, principally involving the malfunction of enzyme systems
The brain can burn only glucose, which is also known as blood sugar
Concentrated proteins: meat, fish, fowl, eggs, milk, cheese
Light proteins: nuts, beans, peas, soy beans, avocados, whole grains
Starch: peanuts, banana, potatoes, pasta, rice, breads, cakes, pies, cereals
Sugar: whole, brown, cane, fructose, honey, maple syrup, dried sweet fruits (dates, raisins, figs, prunes)
Animal fats: butter, cream, lard, tallow, fatty meats
Vegetable fats: olive, soy bean, sunflower seed, sesame, safflower, corn, and all nut ouls
Acid fruits: orange, grapefruit, lime, lemon, berries, cranberry, pineapple, tomato
Sub-acid fruits: apple, pear, peach, cherry, grape, apricot, nectarine, plum
Food combination chart
Fasting is the worlds most ancient and natural healing mechanism
It takes at least 24 hours for the body to commence detoxification and start pouring toxins into the bloodstream for elimination
In order for any fast to work, you must go through this two-or-thee day period of cathartic discomfort; otherwise, you’ll carry these poisons with you right into an early grave
Going on a once-a-week mini-fast of 24-36 hours is an ancient oriental health practice that is still quite popular among enlightened circles in the east
Tao is the universal and enduring Way of Nature
Arthur Waley, the way and its power
The way that can be spoken is not the real way. The name that can be named is not the real name
The way that can be organized is not the real way
Tao is a way of life, not a god or religion. It literally means ‘Way’ or path—a trail on the journey through life which conforms to nature’s own topography and time-tables
Tao views man as a tiny, vulnerable creature within the grand scheme of things and suggests that our best hope for survival is to live in harmony with the great natural forces that formed us as well as our environment
We reap what we sow without our own lifetimes
The major hurdle is mental, not mechanical, and the most essential requirement in performing the entire is to keep calm and keep your mind on what you’re doing
Owing to laziness, ignorance, smoking, pollution, constipation and other factors, adults these days invariably become shallow chest breathers, rather than the deep abdominal breathers we were meant to be
Stand like a pine, sit like a bell, lie like a bow, and walk like the wind
The mind is a slippery little devil with a very short attention span and a song penchant for drifting aimlessly in ever-shifting seas of thought snd fantasy
Mind is the leader of energy. Where your mind goes, energy follows
Keep spins erect but not rigid at all times. Cramped or stooped spines block energy along the spinal channels, thus preventing free flow of energy from the sacrum up to the head. It’s especially important to keep the back of the neck stretched, for that’s where the energy enters the brain from the lower centers
Commence a slow inhalation through flared nostrils, drawing air deep down into the bottom of your lungs by expanding the diaphragm downward and letting the abdomen balloon. When the lower lungs are full, continue inhaling smoothly and let the ribcage expand to fill the mid lungs, then inhale a bit more to fill the top.
About 2/3s full is the right messer of inhalation
Focus your attention on the lower abdomen and you will eventually learn everything there is to know about your body
Try not to grimace. Tense facial muscles construct the nasal passages and cramp energy channels in the head
Energy follows where mind leads
One should not stay still for too long
To be hard and rigid is the way of death; to be soft and flexible is the way of life
Complete physical relaxation is an absolutely prerequisite for proper breath control and energy circulation, which in turn is essential for cultivating strong spiritual and mental powers
“Only the man who learns how to relax is able to create, and for him ideas reach the mind like lightning.” - Cicero
Learning martial arts means self-assurance, not arrogance. It is not the boxer who is dangerous, rather, it is the weakling. Insecure, the latter must constantly prove himself
The best fighters never have to fight
Cracking along your spine is your vertebrae realigning itself into proper position
Spinal vertebrae frequently falls out of line during the day, especially for people with sedentary lifestyles
Warm up exercises:
Spine and torso twist: use only the thighs for torque, twist the trunk and torso. Let your arms flail out loosely to the sides by centrifugal force. 50-60 twists per set
Windmill and reverse windmill: 20-30 swings. Keep your shoulders loose
Chest expander: palms up when back, down when forward. Keep arms parallel to the ground. 20-30 times per set
Forward bend: cross your arms loosely across your chest. Bend forward with your folded arms handling loosely. Thrust down with folded forearms rocking gently up snd down. Keep your head and neck loose. 12 rhythmic dips, the shift torso right and repeat, then left, then back to the central position
Abdominal lift: lean forward with your fingers on the inside of your thighs. Forcefully expel breath completely, pull abdominal wall back toward the spine and up into the diaphragm. Hold the abdominal wall contracted for 5-15 seconds. Relax the wall and then commence a slow, deep inhale. Repeat 2-3 times
Proceed slowly, deliberately, and gently with each stretch. First empty the lungs, then commence the stretch until you have reached your limit of flexibility. Pause briefly to relax and inhale, then try to stretch just a little bit further on the next exhalation. While holding the fully stretched posture, breathe slowly and rhythmically, but do not retain the breath
Focus mental awareness on the specific muscles and tendons being stretched in each posture. This will increase your capacity to stretch snd enhance the flow of blood and energy there, because energy follows where mind leads
Stretches:
The plow: lie down flat on your back, palms on the floor, lift your legs with your abdominal muscles, swing them over your head until they touch the floor behind your head. Breathe deeply. Hold for 1-2 minutes
The cobra: lie down flat on your stomach, palms flat about shoulder level, raise your head and look up, raise your torso using only your back muscles, push up with your hands until your spine is fully arched. Keep your lower abdomen on the floor. Do not straighten your elbows. Hold for 30-60 seconds
The forward bend: sit on the floor with legs in front of you. Stretch spine and neck, slowly bend forward at the waist as you exhale. Try not to curve the spine until the very end. Grasp the soles of the feet snd pull the torso forward. Aim for forehead to knees. Keep your legs locked. Hold for 1-2 minutes
Single leg forward bend: stand in front of a table. Put leg on the table. Bend forward from the waist. Wrap fingers around toes. Forehead on or below the knees. Pull the toes back toward the head. Perform 6-10 slow deep breaths
Double team back bends
The pylon: feet splayed out in opposite directions, thighs parallel to the ground, calves perpendicular. Place hands on thighs. Spine erect, head straight, and butt well tucked in. Squat. Hold until your thoughts tremble
Dip splits: stand with feet together. Take one giant step forward and dip down into a split. Rock gently up and down 5-6 times
Loosening exercises
The pendulum: stand with feet shoulder width apart. Bend at the waist until your back is parallel to the ground. Relax the neck. Using your hips and lower back muscles only, start twisting the entire torso causing arms and head to swing back and forth. After a dozen full 180-degree swings, stop propelling the torso and let’s the pendulum gradually decrease. Repeat 2-3 times
Shoulder roll: roll the shoulder up, back, down, and around. Roll them in as wide an arc ad possible. Then reverse the direction
Upper back loosened: clasp your hands behind your back with palms together. Interlace the fingers. Stretch the neck up, roll both shoulders backwards, and try to bring your elbows together. Hold for 3-5 seconds, then relax shoulders and arms and roll them forward again. Repeat 3-6 times
Long-life exercises
The head
Face and throat stretch: tilt the head upward and stretch the face vertically as much as possible. Then contract the facial muscles into a grimace. Repeat about 12 times
Eye roll: open eyes wide and start rolling them clockwise in a wide arc, gradually increasing speed. Do 2-3 dozen times, then repeat in the other direction
Pressing vital head points: make a fist with both hands, with the knuckles of the index fingers protruding. Press these knuckles firmly against the vital points at the temples, about 1.5 inches back from the outer corners of the eyes. Press and hold for a few seconds, then release. Repeat 3-4 times
Ear press and skull drum: press palms tightly against ears, then pull palms away abruptly. Repeat 3-4 times
Teeth and gum grind: clamp jaws shut. Grit the teeth and grind them together causing g the jaw muscles to bulge at the temples. Release and repeat as often as desired
Tongue stretch and roll: stretch the tongue out of the mouth as far as possible, retract and repeat 5-6 times. Then roll the tongue around the mouth clockwise along the external gum line, then repeat counter-clockwise
Face rub: rub palms together to generate heat, the rub the index and middle fingers in circles around closed eyes a dozen times. Then recharge and run around ears
Head and neck twist: stretch the neck up. Turn 90 degrees right and then left. Repeat 10-20 times
Abdomen, waist and lower back
Spine and torso twist from earlier
Back bows. Hands and feet. Arch spine upward and push back on hands, bending neck and head downward between the arms. Then arch the back down toward the ground stretching the beach and head up. Repeat 10-15 times. Martial artists do this in their fingertips
Arms and hands
Pressing the hands galley of harmony points: on the back of the hand by the bones of the thumb and index finger, about 1 1/2 inches up from the webbing that connect them. There is a point that is sharply sensitive to pressure. Press this point hard a dozen or so times on both hands
Pressing the wrists inner gate points: located 2 inches up from the wrinkle that marks the boundary between the bottom of the hand and the inner surface of the wrist, and directly between the two central tendons of the wrist. Find the point that is sharply sensitive to pressure. Apply deep pressure a dozen times or so
Legs and feet
Foot and ankle flex: lay down. Raise one leg a few inches off the floor. Bend the foot at the ankle as far forward as possible, then retract and bend it back as far as it will go. 20-30 times on eat food. Then swivel each foot around in circles from the ankle joint 20-30 times
Pressing the gushing spring point on the feet
Pressing the supreme thrust point on feet
Total relaxation
The corpse: lay down. Breathe through your nose, breathe deeply and slowly from the abdomen. Close your eyes and focus your mind on the riding and falling of your abdomen. Unwind the muscles in your body toes to head and then fingers to head
The head hang. Lie on your stomach on your bed. Hang you head freely over the edge. Hold for 5-10 minutes
You must abstain from food for at least 12 hours before blood-sugar levels drop low enough for the body to switch over to fat for fuel
“Before an omen arises, it’s easy to take preventative measures. What is still soft is easily melted. What is still small is easily scattered. Deal with things in their formative state; put things in order before they grow confused
“To administer medicine to a disease that has already started is like trying to suppress a revolt that has already begun. Such an approach is comparable to the behavior of a person who starts digging a well only after he is thirsty, or who brings to forge his weapons after he is already engaged in battle. Would these actions not be too late?” - Chi Po
All diseases are rooted in a basic imbalance of Yin and Yang and other energies within the human system, and all therapies must therefore aim at reestablishing the natural primordial harmony of essence, energy and spirit that the body requires to protect and cure itself
In almost all cases the use of drugs in treating patients is harmful. Drugs often cause serious side effects, and sometimes even create new diseases
Disease can be cured through the proper use of correct foods
The true cause of disease is cellular pathology caused by internal conditions of toxemia, due mostly to incorrect dietary habits
Patients are responsible for their own condition and must correct them mainly through self-discipline - a fact modern man and women are loathe to accept, much less put into practice
No one is more familiar with your body than yourself
Western patients come to rely entirely on doctors for every sort of ailment great and small, and blindly accept their advice about everything. When the doctors advice fails, they blame him as a convenient scapegoat, rather than facing the fact that the main cause of their condition is a failure to protect themselves with preventive measure. Such an attitude can never lead to health and longevity
5 primary therapeutic methods to prevent and combat disease, maintain energy balance, regulate the vital organs and harmonize the three treasures of life
Herbs and diet
Breathing and exercise
Acupuncture
Massage
Heliotherapy (sunlight therapy)
Try to get some daily exposure of bare skin and naked eyes to direct sunlight. Avoid sunburn. Sunscreens are not the answer, they block ultraviolet radiation from the skin
Watch tv as little as possible, or not at all
The male belongs to Yang. Yang’s nature is such that the male is easily aroused but also quick to retreat. The female belongs to Yin. Yin’s nature is such that the female is slow to be aroused and also slow to be satisfied
The retention of semen is highly beneficial to mans health
A man who maintains consistently high levels of testosterone, sperm, semen and other male-essence by practicing ejaculation control will experience an overwhelming enhancement in his love and affection for his woman
Foreplay should commence at the body’s extremities, not at the genitals. Start by massaging the hands and wrists, feet and ankles, and working your way up the arms and shoulders to the chest and up the legs and thighs to the abdomen and waist
A male who desires intercourse must first pass through four stages of attainment: elongation, swelling, harness, and heat
The five signs: 1. her face reddens (place organ gently over her mound of venus) 2. her nipples harden and beads of sweat appear around her nose (ready for the man to insert the jade steam slowly into the jade gate) 3. parched throat, dry lips, and difficulty swallowing (man should begin agitating more vigorously inside) 4. the jade gate is wet and slippery (man should thrust fully to the hilt and move about deeply inside the celestial palace) 5. thick viscous fluid dribbling down the inside of the woman's thighs (she has experienced her high tide and it is time for the man to stop thrusting and slowly withdraw)
The five desires: 1. Intent towards sexual intercourse occurs during initial foreplay and is reflected by short, shallow breathing and a rapid pulse 2. Awareness, she wishes for the man to touch and stimulate her genitals (indicated by flared nostrils and parted lips) 3. her Yin fluids are brimming over and she approaches her peak of passion (her entire body shakes and shimmies with excitement, and she clutches her man closely) 4. concentration comes at orgasm (breaks into a warm sweat that dampens the sheets) 5. her body straightens out and grows rigid, her eyes close, and she clamps her thighs tightly together around the man, as if trying to draw him in deeper
The ten indications: 1. the woman embraces the man with both hands and feet and presses their bodies together (she now wishes for their genitals to make contact and rub together) 2. she arches her buttocks (urgent desire for more direct stimulation at the jade gate) 3. she stretches her torso and spreads her thighs wide (she wants the man to waste no more time making his entry) 4. arms quiver, shoulders shake and buttocks move about in joy (she is feeling deep pleasure) 5. raising both legs, twisting her ankles. and clasping the man's body tightly with her feet (she wants the man to thrust more vigorously inside the Celestial Palace) 6. straightens legs and crosses them behind the man's calves, clamping her thighs together in order to grip the man's jade stem more firmly inside (mounting itch of sexual ecstasy is growing unbearable inside, her tide is rapidly rising, and the man must not fail her now) 7. rocks her hips from side too side (thrust more deeply to the left and right) 8. she raises up her entire body and presses it tightly against the man (her orgasm is now within reach) 9. she straightens out her body full-length again and her limbs grow rigid (she is now fully immersed in her high tide and that she feels waves of pleasure down to her hands and feet) 10. slippery fluids flow from the jade gate and her vital-essence has been released (he performed the act flawlessly, her orgasm was complete and satisfying, and he may now rest and gradually withdraw his implement from the flowery battlefield
Women reach orgasm more slowly and with more difficulty than men
The five virtues: 1. Benevolence - approaching intercourse with a spirit of kindness, generosity and self-sacrifice 2. Justice - neither partner forces intercourse when the man is not up to the task or the woman simply doesn't feel like it (it is a virtue of appropriate timely action) 3. Courtesy - self-restraint on the man's part so that the woman may enjoy her full measure of pleasure (mutual respect between man and women and reverance for the sexual act itself 4. Honesty - frank and open attitude regarding sexual relations (appraising oneself and one's partner objectively and not trying to hide one's week points 5. Wisdom - use your head as well as your hormones in sexual relations (partners should know themselves and get to know each other before steering their relationship to bed
It is just as beneficial for a man's health to make love with one healthy women three or four times in an evening as it is for him to make love with three or four different women, and, since the 'water' stays hot once the 'fire' brings it to a boil, it is much easier to perform the former than the latter act
In traditional oriental societies, both past and present, married men are not expected to remain monogamous, and discreet outside liaisons usually pose no threat to marriage. If domestic and financial circumstances permit a man to make love regularly with several different women, and if this is done according to Tao rather than as reckless self-indulgence, the benefits to his health and happiness are certainly manifold
The Chinese view sex as a basic human function similar to eating, sleeping, and so forth, and they cultivate it as an art and a pleasure, as well as an adjunct to health and longevity
The Taoist way of sex enhances both the health and happiness of both partners, regardless of the social and historical background
The Tao offers the one and only 'way:' prolonged intercourse with male retention of semen and complete female orgasm, repeated as often as required or desired
Western tradition regards sex as either sacred or profane, not as a legitimate and effective means toward health and longevity
The greatest single threat to matrimonial bliss is sexual dissatisfaction and boredom
"Women do not have to have fine looks and seductive beauty. The most desirable types are young, amply fleshes, and have not yet borne children." - Peng-Tze
The great liberations of the three peaks: the top peak is Red Lotus Peak, its essence is Jade Spring and it flows from two ducts beneath the woman's tongue. The man should lick this secretion with his tongue and swallow it, for it is extremely beneficial to health. The central peak is called Twin Peaks. Its essence is White Snow and it secretes from the woman's nipples. It is white and sweet tasting. Of all three liberations, this one is far superior, especially if the woman has never lactated. The lower peak is the Dark Gate. Its essence is Moon Flower and it is locked deep within the Palace of Yin. When the essence pours forth, the man should withdraw about one inch and continue thrusting, while at the same time kissing and licking her lips and sucking hard on her nipples