Primary Health Preservation

Xuefeng

The ultimate goal of life is to create the necessary conditions during our limited time on Earth to extend our lives into higher LIFE spaces. Achieving this requires a healthy body, and health preservation serves this purpose.

Humans are conglomerates of LIFE composed of 130 trillion individual lives with nearly ten thousand distinct characteristics. On average, from birth to the age of 100, approximately 25,000 of these life units die within our bodies every minute. The more life units that perish, the weaker and less agile our LIFE conglomerate becomes. When the number of dead life units reaches a critical level, the heart loses the ability to beat, the brain ceases to think, and the entire LIFE conglomerate can no longer function effectively. Consequently, other living units in the body, deprived of energy replenishment, will die off en masse within days. Some life units with specific characteristics may take months or even years to die, and there are several other kinds that may survive for decades or even centuries unless the body is cremated or chemically treated.

The life units that die within the body initially remain inside it, gradually being pushed out by living units. When the living units are unable to expel the dead ones, the affected areas begin to feel numb, swell, ache, discolor, or become emaciated. When the number of dead life units in a specific area reaches a certain level, that area first feels weak, numb, or uncomfortable, with occasional dull pain. If not promptly treated, the area becomes a hidden danger or the root of illness, its mobility compromised. Neglect can lead to further death of life units in the affected area, impacting the vitality of the entire body.

The causes of the weakening and death of life units (excluding abnormal phenomena) are listed below in descending order of their destructive power:

1. Mental activities triggered by the seven emotions and six desires.

2. Diet.

3. Daily routine.

4. Work or labor.

5. Exposure to the elements (wind, frost, cold, heat).

6. Air quality in the surrounding environment.

7. Noise.

8. Cosmic forces (geomagnetic fields, gravity, radiation, various rays, and waves).

"Longevity or early death depends not on fate but on personal cultivation."

Every word and action of a person is closely related to their LIFE. A turbulent mind with countless worries leads to countless cycles of life and death. Life and death are decided in a single thought. Dying of anger, laughter, or shame is not uncommon. Examples abound: someone dying of rage, turning gray overnight from worry, blowing their top in anger, crying their eyes out, trembling lips from fury, turning pale from fright, staying awake all night from excitement, speaking incoherently from joy, clenching teeth in hatred, or losing their appetite from overthinking. The damage these emotions cause to the body is obvious.

However, most psychological activities inflict imperceptible damage to the body and are easily overlooked. People only recognize physical death but fail to realize that numerous life units die with every fluctuation of emotion. Most people focus on large, visible factors while neglecting the small, subtle, and invisible ones. While they know that a drop of water wears away a stone over time and that three feet of ice does not form overnight, they rarely apply this understanding to their own physical maintenance. They are accustomed to witnessing the inevitability of ripened fruit falling and water flowing naturally but overlook the process leading to these outcomes.

Health preservation should become a long-term habit in our journey of self-improvement and cultivation. Therefore, I have summarized the health-preservation tips of ancient sages along with my own insights for reference.

Principles of Health Preservation

· Maintain health.

· Attain longevity.

· Shed mortal body constraints.

· Ascend to celestial being.

"As long as the green hills remain, there's no fear of running out of firewood. As long as health remains, there's no fear of a short life. As long as longevity remains, there's no fear of failing to achieve the state of a celestial being. As long as spirit remains, there's no fear of losing life force.”

1. Without knowing the path to longevity, one's body is but a walking corpse.

The primary focus of health preservation lies in nurturing essence, qi (vital energy), spirit, and form.

A skilled health preserver addresses illnesses before they arise.

Those who excel in the art of nurturing life know how to remain hidden within themselves without revealing their presence and how to integrate with others without drawing attention.

Those who excel in nurturing life focus on preserving their physical form, and those who excel in preserving their physical form further cultivate their vital energy (qi).

The first step in health preservation is to eliminate nameless worries. The second is to let go of greed for alcohol, sex, wealth, and fame.

· Few words conserve internal qi.

· Controlling temperament nurtures spirit.

· Light tastes nourish blood and qi.

· Refraining from anger nourishes lung qi.

· Regulated diet nurtures stomach qi.

· Less overthinking nurtures liver qi.

· Fewer cravings nurture heart qi.

· Restraining sexual desires nurtures essence qi.

Mental and Emotional Discipline:

"If one desires to cultivate their body, they must first calm their mind." Avoid distraction, worry, obsession, delusion, greed, and indulgence. Seek inner peace and dispel external desires.

Balanced Lifestyle:

· Overeating weighs down the body.

· Indulgence in sensory pleasures clouds the spirit.

· Excessive thinking unsettles the mind.

· A restless heart dulls the spirit, and without a sharp spirit, the Tao cannot be achieved.

Overexertion Weakens Vital Energies:

· An overburdened mind leads to exhaustion.

· Excessive physical exertion weakens the body.

· Overworking the spirit depletes its vitality.

· Draining too much qi leads to collapse.

Restrain Overthinking, Preserve Vitality:

· Avoid overthinking, and the spirit will remain whole.

· Speak less, and your qi will stay intact.

· Refrain from lust, and your essence will remain sufficient.

Emotional Impact on Vital Energy:

· Anger drives qi upwards.

· Joy relaxes qi.

· Sadness dissipates qi.

· Fear causes qi to sink.

· Cold constricts qi.

· Heat causes qi to escape.

· Shock scatters qi.

· Overexertion depletes qi.

· Overthinking knots qi.

· Stillness regenerates qi.

Balance in Daily Activities:

· Prolonged watching harms the blood.

· Lying down for too long weakens qi.

· Sitting for too long harms the muscles.

· Standing for too long weakens the bones.

· Walking for too long strains the tendons.

Moderation and Consistency:

Eat in moderation, maintain regular routines, and avoid overworking.

Internally, do not overstrain your heart and mind; externally, do not exhaust your physical body.

Mindfulness and Emotional Balance:

· Fear and excessive thoughts harm the spirit.

· Overindulgence in joy scatters the spirit, making it hard to preserve.

· Sorrow blocks the flow of qi.

· Anger leads to confusion and impedes healing.

· Fear disturbs the spirit, making it difficult to calm and contain.

Living in Peace and Simplicity:

With simplicity and tranquility, worries cannot intrude, and negative energies cannot assail.

Guidance for Physical and Emotional Well-being:

· Regular physical activity ensures a healthy body.

· Curbing desires preserves spiritual vitality.

· Speaking less helps maintain your blessings.

Sensory Moderation:

· Shield your eyes from improper sights.

· Guard your ears against unclean words.

· Avoid inhaling foul odors.

· Refrain from consuming overly pungent or harmful foods.

· Keep your mind free from deceitful thoughts.

Emotional Moderation:

When you love someone, do not love too deeply; when you dislike someone, do not hate too intensely.

Balance in Speech, Diet, and Activities:

Speak less, eat less, and have fewer concerns in your heart, resulting in less sleep at night.

Avoid Overindulgence:

Excessive sleep dulls the spirit, frequent intoxication scatters qi, excessive sweating depletes blood, and overexertion weakens the body. Constant movement disrupts qi and startles the spirit. Climbing to great heights can scatter your soul and make your spirit flee in fear.

Moderate Physical Effort:

Do not spit far, as it depletes energy. Do not walk hastily, as it harms the tendons. Do not gaze intensely, as it diminishes your essence.

Emotional Stability:

· Remain calm in the face of both honor and disgrace, and your liver will remain at ease.

· Act with reverence in both stillness and motion, and your heart will be steady.

· Eat in moderation, and your spleen will not be overburdened.

· Practice controlled breathing and speak less, and your lungs will remain intact.

· Cultivate tranquility and avoid desires, and your kidneys will be nourished.

Moderation in Diet and the Harm of Overindulgence:

· Eat before you are too hungry, but stop before you are full—overeating harms the spleen, while hunger harms the stomach.

· Excessive thirst damages blood, and overdrinking harms qi. Avoid overeating or drinking when extremely hungry or thirsty to prevent bloating and injury to the heart and lungs.

· Avoid sitting or lying down with wind blowing at the back of your head; exposure to wind in this way shortens life.

Effects of Emotions:

Anger weakens qi, making it easier for illness to invade. Overthinking exhausts the spirit, leaving the heart vulnerable.

· Avoid extremes of joy and sorrow.

· Maintain a balanced diet.

· Take extra care to avoid intoxication at night; most importantly, never allow yourself to succumb to rage in the morning.

Mindful Living:

· Do not let your eyes gaze upon improper sights.

· Do not let your ears hear improper words.

· Do not let your mouth speak improper language.

· Do not let your mind dwell on improper thoughts.

Simplicity and Tranquility:

· Purify your heart and limit your desires. Maintain tranquility and clarity, achieving stillness within motion.

· Keep your heart at peace and nurture your kidneys, living your years in contentment and ease.

Maintaining Vitality:

· Consolidate your liver’s essence, or your eyes will become dizzy and lose clarity.

· Consolidate your lungs’ essence, or your muscles will weaken and atrophy.

· Consolidate your kidneys’ essence, or your spirit and qi will diminish.

· Consolidate your spleen’s essence, or your teeth will loosen, and your hair will fall out.

Balance Activity and Rest:

· Avoid overwork, as it depletes qi.

· Avoid complete inactivity, as it causes blood and qi to stagnate.

Importance of Movement:

Movement generates vitality; life originates from movement.

Guidance for Longevity:

· To live a long life, do not overstrain your body or deplete your essence.

· Let your eyes look without seeing and your mind remain free of excessive thoughts. By conserving your spirit in this way, it will protect your body and prolong your life.

Appropriate Living Environment: There are eight unsuitable places for living:

· Areas that are dirty or cluttered

· Locations with excessive noise

· Places rife with arguments and disputes

· Crowded, bustling areas

· Elevated or protruding ground

· Dark and damp environments

· Spaces with poor ventilation

· Locations near graves or temples

Dietary Choices:

Meat eaters are heavy (dull); vegetable eaters are light (clear); grain eaters are wise; qi eaters are spiritual.

Cultivating the Spirit:

Be pure and unmixed, still and unchanging, indifferent and inactive, moving in harmony with natural laws. This is the way to nurture the spirit.

Respecting Life:

Those who value life do not harm their bodies through indulgence, even when wealthy and powerful. Similarly, they do not exhaust themselves pursuing profit, even when poor and humble.

Value of Life Over Profit:

Value life over profit, and the pursuit of profit will become insignificant.

Calm Desires to Clear the Mind:

By dispelling desires, one naturally finds inner calm. By purifying the heart, the spirit becomes clear.

Solitude for Health:

The superior sleeps alone; the average shares a bed. Taking a hundred medicines is not as beneficial as sleeping in solitude.

Harm of Extreme Emotions and Desires:

Excessive contemplation and overexertion of memory harm the mind. Worry, intense emotions such as elation, sadness, and grief also take a toll on the mind. Immoderate fear, unresolved anger, and obsessive longing for unfulfilled desires cause further harm. An imbalance of Yin and Yang disrupts the body and mind.

Avoiding Harmful Desires:

· Do not be overly eager in pursuing desires, and do not harbor intense resentment, as both shorten life. If these can be avoided, longevity is possible.

Three Major Warnings for Health:

Great anger, great desires, and great intoxication.

Avoidance and Moderation:

· Avoid wind as you would avoid arrows; avoid lust as you would avoid chaos.

· Adjust your clothing according to the seasons and eat less after the evening hours.

Cultivating Body and Spirit:

· If one can align their body and soul through self-cultivation, true essence and spirit will riside within, giving rise to great talent and virtue.

The Principle of Essence:

· Water has its source, so its flow will reach far.

· Trees have their roots, so their leaves will grow lush.

· Houses have foundations, so their pillars will stand firm.

· People have essence, so their lives will be long.

Pillow Height:

A pillow should neither be too high nor too low. If it is too high, it may constrict the liver; if too low, it may constrict the lungs.

Leakage of Vital Substances:

· Tears from the eyes indicate liver leakage.

· Mucus from the nose indicates lung leakage.

· Saliva from the mouth indicates kidney leakage.

· Sweat while awake indicates heart leakage.

· Night sweats indicate small intestine leakage.

· Drooling while asleep indicates brain leakage.

· Dreams of intimacy with ghosts indicate spirit leakage.

· Lustful behavior leads to bodily leakage.

A Warning on Lust:

A beautiful woman of sixteen is as soft as butter, yet she wields a sword to slay foolish men. Though no heads visibly fall, she secretly drains their vitality and withers their bones.

Fullness and Desires:

· One with a full spirit does not desire sleep.

· One with full energy (qi) does not desire food.

· One with full essence does not desire lust.

Seasonal Dietary Guidance:

· In spring, eat less sour and more sweet.

· In winter, eat more bitter and less salty.

· In summer, increase pungent flavors and reduce bitter ones.

· In autumn, reduce pungent flavors and add a little sour.

Taboo Behaviors:

· Daily: Avoid overeating.

· Monthly: Avoid excessive drunkenness.

· Yearly: Avoid overworking and excessive anger.

· Lifetime: Avoid enduring frequent frustrations in the morning.

Inner Peace:

· Embrace simplicity, maintain inner harmony, avoid scheming, and curb excessive thinking.

The Interdependence of Form and Spirit:

· Spirit gives birth to form, and form completes spirit. Without spirit, form cannot live. Without form, spirit cannot manifest. Form and spirit must harmonize, mutually supporting and enhancing each other.

Emotional Impact:

· Grief causes tears, bitterness causes a runny nose, anger leads to goiters, and rage causes deep-rooted ulcers.

· Qi follows the desires of the heart and gathers where the heart lingers, nurturing or harming as a result.

· Therefore, wise individuals regulate their grief and bitterness and avoid anger.

The Path to Longevity:

The way to nurture longevity is simple: avoid harming the body.

· Being warm in winter and cool in summer, while maintaining the harmony of the four seasons, benefits the body.

· Beautiful and virtuous companionship, coupled with serene and enjoyable pastimes, prevents the confusion of desires and fosters spiritual clarity.

· Adorning oneself with dignified attire and riding in majestic carriages, while remaining content and free from excessive desires, fosters a focused and steadfast mind.

· Pleasing the senses with music and beautiful colors nourishes the heart. All these contribute to longevity, but those who fail to balance them may hasten their decline.

Importance of Yin-Yang Harmony

A lack of physical union between Yin and Yang (man and woman) can result in illnesses caused by blood stasis and qi stagnation. Those who live in isolation without sexual interaction are more prone to illness and may have a shorter lifespan. Conversely, excessive indulgence in sexual desire also shortens life.

Risks of Improper Sexual Practices

When a person is angry, their blood and energy are unsettled. If they engage in intercourse, it may cause abscesses. One should also avoid holding in urine during intercourse, as it can cause painful and swollen genitals and a pale complexion. Engaging in intercourse after traveling far or being fatigued leads to five types of fatigue and reduced fertility. Intercourse during menstruation can cause leucorrhea. Mercury should not come into contact with the genitals, as it causes shrinkage. Deer and pig fat should also not come into contact with the genitals, as they can lead to impotence.

The Effects of Excess and Imbalance

Excessive ejaculation shortens life. Overeating blocks energy and veins, excessive drinking stresses the bladder, extreme cold harms the muscles, and consuming cold food causes blockages and diseases. Coughing and spitting result in the loss of bodily fluids. Prolonged use of vision weakens the eyes, prolonged listening dulls the intellect, and prolonged crying saddens the spirit. Sudden loud calls frighten the soul, internal anxiety causes distraction, and excessive joy or anger unsettles the spirit.

The Power of a Calm Mind

A calm mind leads to life; a disturbed mind leads to death.

Embracing Emptiness to Achieve Clarity

Abandon fame and profit, forget emotions and desires, and the mind becomes empty. When the mind is empty, energy stabilizes; when energy stabilizes, the spirit becomes clear.

Moderation in Sexual Activity

When Yin and Yang are harmonized, and intercourse is moderate, one can extend life. Entering the bedroom with proper techniques enables one to forget external surroundings and prolong life. Avoid indulgence in young maidens or attachment to young male concubines, as this can prolong life. Refrain from greed for sensual pleasures and from allowing the mind to become disturbed; this too can prolong life. Avoid fantasies and dream-related intercourse to prolong life. In youth, do not overindulge in pleasure; in old age, practice restraint to prolong life. Avoid lust as though it were your enemy, and discipline desire to achieve longevity.

Dietary Recommendations for Longevity

Rich and greasy foods can cause digestive issues and lead to phlegm production. To maintain good health: Eat a light breakfast early, a substantial lunch to feel full, and a small dinner. By following these practices, one can enjoy a long, illness-free life into old age.

Maintaining a Healthy Living Environment

In a closed room, avoid drafts; a high bed prevents ghostly influences. Preserving essence brings benefits, and maintaining energy prevents the loss of life. Control emotions and avoid excessive desires for fame and profit.

Caution in Food and Activities

Be cautious with raw, cold, and hard foods; sour, salty, and pungent flavors are unsuitable. Stop work during rain, clouds, and wind; postpone activities during thunderstorms. Avoid stale and foul-smelling items, as they are harmful. Dead and decaying items produce foul air and offer no benefit.

Seasonal and Daily Rhythms

Avoid anger in the early hours, as it damages the lungs and liver. In summer, rise early; in winter, sleep late. Gradually reduce padded cotton clothing in spring and slowly add layers in autumn.

Sleep at 9:30 PM and wake at 5:30 AM, following the natural order of Yin and Yang. Avoid staying up late and overworking. The body aligns with the cosmos. Maintain this habit consistently to achieve health and happiness every day.

A Carefree and Balanced Life

Live a leisurely and carefree life, free from desires and constant striving. Whether active or at rest, be content in the moment.

Preserving Essence, Energy, and Spirit

If you avoid overexerting your kidneys, your essence will remain whole. If you refrain from overworking your body, your energy (qi) will stay intact. If you do not overburden your heart, your spirit will be preserved. When essence, energy, and spirit are each perfectly preserved, one naturally becomes a celestial being.

Perseverance and Natural Harmony in Pursuing the Tao

“A rope can saw through wood, and dripping water can wear down stone. Pursuers of Tao must consistently apply effort. When water flows, channels form; when fruit ripens, it falls naturally. Those who follow Tao will achieve it effortlessly by aligning with the natural order.”