On Healthcare Thought and Practice in Records of Mind Cultivation and Life Sustaining：Focus on Chi-touring

• Main Authors: Tsou, Meng-Chun, 鄒孟君
• Other Authors: Chen, Jen-Kuen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/w8m99g

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 哲學系碩士班 === 104 === Our stability in life depends on our control over the rhythm of body and mind. To pursuit a healthy life, we have to know how to eat properly, keep regular hours, exercise regularly, live a simple lifestyle, keep a good mood and take the right action. How can we put them into practice? Through the study on Records of Mind Cultivation and Life Sustaining, I hope to discuss the forefathers’ wisdom on healthcare and sum up those which can be applied in the modern life. First of all, after organizing the healthcare thought and practice in Records of Mind Cultivation and Life Sustaining, I have concluded the two major elements: “Unity of Man and Heaven: the harmony between human and nature” and “Body Disciplines and Mind Cultivation: the integration of body and mind.” How can we achieve the level of “Unity of Man and Heaven?” As the saying goes, “Heaven’s way lies in nature; humans’ way, themselves,” which indicates the importance of being accordant with the rhythm of nature (heaven’s way, heaven’s time) and of exerting the humans’ subjective initiative (My destiny doesn’t depend on fate but myself). The two perspectives support each other to achieve the interchange between body and mind and correspondence between man and universe. How can we discipline our bodies and cultivate out mind? “Overuse of mind will lead to exhaustion, while overwork of body will lead to death.” The top priority of adjusting both body and mind is “modesty without hurt,” which means to preserve the harmony and achieve the level of “Zhonghe.” Secondly, I will illustrate the healthcare content and praxis of the guiding art of chi-touring. This section will be divided into two major parts: chi-touring regimen and massage of guiding art. “By chi(material force), it means the charge of the body.” The chi (material force) in human bodies is connected with that of the earth. Through the inhalation and exhalation of breathing methods, we can exhale the dirty chi in our bodies and inhale the fresh chi on earth. Through breath-holding and air flow, the sluggish part will be dredged to smoothen the chi and body function and to achieve the effects of keeping the body health, extending life, and curing diseases. “Guide the chi and make it peaceful, while guide the body and make it soft.” The body movement, massage, rapping, inhaling and exhaling in breathing, and meditation will help guide and harmonize the chi in the human bodies, benefit muscles and bones, dredge the channels and collaterals, activate blood circulation and facilitate chi, and welcome the good and expel the evil to achieve the purposes of strengthening bodies and extending life. Lastly, supported by the studies on modern science and medicine, I will make a conclusion that “The Guiding Art of Chi-Touring = Chi-touring + Chi-guiding.” Chi-touring is the interchange between the inner chi and outer chi of human bodies. The point lies in the connection to the positive energy of cosmos to bring the resonance to the organs. Chi-guiding is to apply the Chi Kung in the movement and the Chi Kung in the stillness. Through the functions of adjusting the body, the breath, and the mind, human bodies will more effectively and more efficiently absorb and transform the energy of cosmos to make the resonance of the body organs, chi, and blood reach the most harmonious and ideal state. The final purpose is to go back to the initial origin of life and the Nature in the process of the synchronization and reunion between body-mind-spirit and universe. In this way, we will understand the essence and meaning in life and return to the real life of peace, freedom, and joy.