Learning Taoist Meditation

I have been learning and practicing the Inner Smile since January 2017. Below is what I have gathered from Grand Master Chia’s workshop, books by Mantak Chia, and from The Professor who is a senior certified UHT instructor. When I was studying from The Professor, he was kind enough to let me record our sessions. I used those recorded sessions as guided meditations, which were very helpful. I have created my own guided meditations, that are much more concise and tailored for my own learning practices. The Inner Smile is a basic level one meditation / qigong practice in the Universal Healing Tao (UHT) system. When I first started learning the Inner Smile I found it hard to get into it, but one day I noticed something very different. I could very distinctly feel my 3rd eye pulsing, which was something I have never experienced before. I was an eye opener (see what I did there). I think it was that point in which my opinion of this simple meditation grew, and as I took this practice more seriously, I started noticing other sensations in my body that helped confirm to me that this meditation was doing something very positive inside me. This “simple” meditation is in fact very powerful. The theory behind the Inner Smile is that our organs can store our emotions, and the goal of the Inner Smile is to transform any negative emotions into positive emotions. For example the Liver stores the positive emotions of kindness and generosity while on the flip-side, can also store the negative emotions of anger, frustration, jealousy, and envy. By directing your attention to your body you can clean, transform, and energize your organs with positive virtues. It is a great way to start your day. There are three paths or lines in the Inner Smile. The front line (Functional channel) focuses on your organs, the middle line works on your digestive system, and the back line (Governor channel) on your central nervous system. In order to do the Inner Smile Meditation properly, you need to know what and where you are smiling to, which gives an excellent opportunity to test your knowledge on your body and appreciate the hard work that your organs do for you every minute of your life. Once you know what your organs look like and where they are located, it makes it possible to make a connection to them. When you can make a connection to them you can heal them.

Anatomy Refresher

[fruitful_tabs type=”accordion” width=”100%” fit=”false”] [fruitful_tab title=”Third Eye”] I use the third eye interchangeably with the mid-eye. Some say they are the same thing, and some say otherwise. Mantak uses the term mid-eye, which is located between the eyebrows. In this article I use the term third eye, because more people know what the third eye is. Many spiritual practices regard the third eye as the center of inner perception and psychic powers. Taoist believe this center can be used as a means of communication by sending and receiving energy. [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands”]

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located between the larynx and the trachea–just below the larynx, and sitting on top of the trachea. The parathyroid glands are four small glands located on the back of the thyroid gland; two on each lobe. The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating the body’s metabolism. When the thyroid is happy, it gives out the correct amount of hormone that your body needs. If it is unhappy, it might not produce enough, slowing down your bodies functions. If your thyroid is overactive, it could lead to goiters and Graves’ disease. The parathyroid glands regulate the blood calcium levels. Calcium balance is extremely important for the functioning of the heart, nervous system, kidneys, and bones. With thyroid-disrupting endocrine disruptors (environmental estrogens) on the rise, it is important to keep these glands happy. [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Thymus Gland”]

Your thymus is located between the heart and breastbone. The pinkish-gray organ has two thymic lobes. Your thymus develops and trains your T cells, which are white blood cells that defend against deadly pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. When the thymus gland is under stress it can shrink up to 50% within a week, thus decreasing its ability to regulate the immune system. [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Heart”] The heart is about the size of a fist, and behind the breastbone, slightly to the left. The heart pumps blood through the cardiovascular system. Recent scientific discoveries have proven that the heart has its own functional “brain” that it uses to communicate with the brain and most of the body’s major organs. The Chinese have known this for a long time. They regard the heart as the Emperor and houses the mind. The body is like a kingdom and at the center is the heart which rules the other organs, who govern  their own territory, and have unique roles in helping maintain the kingdom. [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Lungs”] The lungs are a pair of spongy, air-filled organs located in the chest, which provide the body with vital oxygen while also removing carbon dioxide before it can reach hazardous levels. [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Liver”] The liver is located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen (under the rib cage), below the diaphragm, and on top of the gallbladder (underneath the right side) and stomach (mostly underneath the left side). The liver weighs about three pounds and is a dark red/brown cone shape. The liver’s primary function is to filter blood from the digestive tract to the read of the body. The liver can regenerate if you treat it well. Some other functions include:

• Stops bleeding by blood clot regulation
• Produces bile for digesting and detoxification
• Converts excess glucose in to glycogen for energy storage

[/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Spleen”] The spleen is located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen (under the rib cage), and to the left of the stomach. It is purplish in color and is about 5 inches wide and 6 ounces. The spleen’s main role is to filter the blood by recycling damaged and dead cells. The spleen also helps fight bacteria. [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Pancreas”] The pancreas is located in the abdomen behind the stomach and next to the small intestine. It is about six inches long and is connected to the first section of the small intestine called the duodenum. The pancreas is actually two glands that are intimately mixed together into one organ. The pancreas produces hormones (endocrine function) and enzymes (exocrine fuction). The production of hormones (insulin and glucagon)  go into the blood stream regulate the blood sugar levels. The production of enzymes, which are really powerful, help with the digestion of food, which makes the pancreas an integral part of the digestive system. [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Adrenal Glands”] The adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney. Their functions are extremely important to our well being as they play a vital role in producing much needed hormones. The adrenal gland has two distinct components, the outer part called the adrenal cortex and the inner part called the adrenal medulla. The adrenal cortex creates three hormones:

1. Mineralocorticoids: Aldosterone helps maintain the body’s salt & water levels, which in turn, regulates your blood pressure and keeps the kidney hydrated.
2. Glucocorticoids: Cortisol is known as the stress hormone, because it is released during times of stress (fight or flight). Cortisol helps regulate blood sugar levels, metabolism, and help reduce inflammation.
3. Adrenal androgens: DHEA and Testosterone are sex hormones. They play a role in early male sex organ development. Women use these hormones predominately during puberty.

The adrenal medulla secretes:

1. Epinephrine: Adrenaline boosts your strength and performance, as well as gives you heightened awareness. The ability to feel pain is also reduced.
2. Norepinephrine: Noradrenaline increases alertness, and focuses attention.

[/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Kidneys”] The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs found on the left and right sides of the body at the back of the abdominal cavity, one on each side of the spine. The right kidney is slightly lower and smaller than the left. The kidneys move down upon inhalation. Adult sized kidneys are about four and a half inches in length. Men can feel their kidneys by gently rubbing their testicles. The kidneys collect waste and extra water from the blood that gets flushed out of the body as urine. The kidneys also create hormones that help regulate blood pressure, create red blood cells, and strengthen bones. [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Genitals”] The Sexual Palace is an area that both men and women have. The Sperm Palace for men, is located at the base of the penis, behind and below the pubic bone (approximately 1.5″ inside the body). The Ovarian Palace for women, located above the pubic bone. Women can locate it by placing the tips of their thumbs to together at their navel, then touch their extended index fingers together to form an upside-down triangle with their hands. Where the index fingers join marks the spot. Men’s prostate gland is located just below the bladder and it is about the size of a walnut. The Skene’s gland or female prostate gland is located around the lower end of the urethra. [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Food Pathway”] Food and liquids enter and exit your body in this order. This information is useful for the middle line.

1. Mouth
2. Pharynx & Esophagus
3. Stomach
4. Small Intestine
   1. Duodenum
   2. Jejunum
   3. Ileum
5. Large Intestine
   1. Cecum
   2. Ascending colon
   3. Transverse colon
   4. descending colon
   5. Sigmoid colon
   6. Rectum
   7. Anus

[/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Thalamus”] [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Hypothalamus”] [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Pineal gland”] [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Cerebellum”] [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Cervicals”] [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Thoracics”] [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Lumbars”] [/fruitful_tab] [fruitful_tab title=”Sacrum”] [/fruitful_tab] [/fruitful_tabs]

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