For those who practise Kundalini Yoga

[kakarukeys]

I would like to share with you an interesting fact about Kundalini Yoga.

First take a look at the the process of Kundalini Awakening
[http://swamij.com/kundalini-awakening.htm]

1) Prana usually flows in Ida or Pingala
2) Prana is made to flow in Ida and Pingala
3) Prana is made to flow in Sushumna
4) Kundalini energy is awakened
5) Kundalini is led upwards
6) Kundalini rises to Sahasrara

Kundalini Yoga as well as the above sequence of energy flow was established in 1970's by the founders.

However the history of Chakra system and breathing exercise of Yoga can be dated back to the time of Vedas and Upanishads (1800–700 B.C.).

Now look at this photo


This is a jade discovered, to be made at the time of Warring States in China (500~200 B.C.)

Note that there was absolutely no connection between Ancient China and Ancient India at that time. The first connection was made at about 1~200 A.D. in Han Dynastic period of China.

Major cultural influences occurred hundred years after that (around 500 A.D. onwards)

The writings on the Jade are the following: (the translations are done by me)

《 行 氣 銘 》 ：
The Script of energy channeling:

「 行 氣 ： 深 則 蓄 ， 蓄 則 伸 ， 伸 則 下 ，
Channel the energy: Breathe deeply then accumulate , accumulate then extend, extend then flow downward,

下 則 定 ， 定 則 固 ， 固 則 萌 ，
flow downward then concentrate, concentrate then condense, condense then awaken,

萌 則 長 ， 長 則 退 ， 退 則 天 。
awaken then grow,  grow then withdraw, withdraw then (reach) Heaven.

天 機 舂 在 上 ， 地 機 舂 在 下 。
I am not sure of the term '天 機 舂'
but '天' means 'Heaven', '在 上' means 'on top'
'地' means 'Earth', '在 下' means 'at the bottom'
'天 機 舂' and  地 機 舂' could mean the Crown and Root Chakras.

順 則 生 ， 逆 則 死 。
follow (the sequence) then have life, reverse (the sequence) then have death.

The writings bear striking similarity with the teaching of Kundalini Yoga. The energy flow, chakras, sequence of practice, objective are the same. This writing was the earlist Daoism spiritual practice in China.

[Rob]

That is amazing! Wow, I am impressed. I love the movements, I know what he means, will have to try that method. Infact, I'm going to save it on my computer, so thanks!!

Rob

[kakarukeys]

I am a learner of "Small Circulation" practice in Daoism and noticed Kundalini Yoga just recently. The writing on the Jade was the foundation of "Small Circulation". The latter is simply an improvement of the former and established itself during later dynastic period in China.

However "Small Circulation" and Kundalini Yoga are not entirely similar, I will show you their differences.

Why is it called "Small Circulation"? Because there is another larger circulation called "Large Circulation". I must admit "Circulation" is a poor translation of the original Chinese word. Perhaps "Heavenly Circle" is a better translation but I find it too lengthy.

"Small Circulation" is simply a loop connecting 12 Chakra points in human body, 7 of which either coincide or are very close to the 7 Chakras in Kundalini Yoga. Especially the 1st (Crown), 2nd and last (Root) Chakras, they are exactly the same.

Through breathing exercise like what written on the Jade, a practitioner endeavors to convert the raw energy in his body, the 'refinery' that this conversion took place is in the Root Chakra.

Daoism classifies energy into 5 classes. Each one is more sublime than the other. In the first practice of "Small Circulation", one is to convert crude energy (1st class) into a refined state (2nd class).

Here is the first difference, Daoism does not believe in a large reserve of untapped potential in body (Kundalini). The potential is gained through many months of energy refinement process with breathing exercise as catalyst.

When the density of refined energy is high enough, the practioner may withdraw it to Crown Chakra, through the other path of "Small Circulation" connecting another 7 different Chakras located at the back of human body (spine). The refined energy is put to circulate through this loop of 12 Chakras, hence the name "Small Circulation". The Circulation involves going down from Crown to Root via the 1st path, and back to Crown again via the 2nd path and repeats countless number of times.

Daoist Masters have warned their students against activating the "Small Circulation" prematurely (that is when the density of refined energy in Root Chakra is not high enough). This could bring physical damage to the practioner's body.

Interesting enough, Yoga masters also warned students against awakening the Kundalini prematurely. But a premature Kundalini arousal could bring mental damage as well, that is far more serious than Daoism.

The most significant difference between Kundalini Yoga and Daoism is that Daoism put refined energy into Circulation. And Yoga master believes the goal is that the Kundalini Energy has reached the Crown, it means unification with the Divine.

[Tom]

I've heard that the taoist perspective on Kundalini is that it is only good for heating up the room as the excess energy escapes through the crown chakra.

[kakarukeys]

I've never heard such comments before.
I find "Small Ciculation" much safer, the refined energy is enormous and could bring damage to body if not controlled well. By continuously circulating through a loop of Chakras, the stress of the energy is evenly distributed. That should bring no harm to the body.

[Tom]

That is why the microcosmic orbit is safer than Kundalini and other similar yogic routes: the energy is recycled instead of being allowed to drain out. Kundalini is more like trying to heat a house in winter with all the doors and windows open. At least, according to some authors on chi kung.

The nice thing about the microcosmic orbit is that it unblocks areas with too much energy by taking the excess over to places which don't have enough energy. The most important thing I learned was that it is only necessary to guide the energy in the beginning and after the energy starts to flow on its own it is better just to follow it. Instead, I kept trying to make the energy flow the way my books and my teacher told me it was supposed to. Eventually, my teacher told me that part and that he had left it out because he didn't think any of his students would actually get to that point, where the energy would take the lead.

[kakarukeys]

Microcosmic orbit and "Small Circulation" are the same thing. The name is an astrological term.

[Tom]

The microcosmic orbit is also described in "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramhansa Yogananda. He says that a single time through the orbit of 30 seconds is equal to 1 year of natural evolution. Specifically, this is because of areas on the orbit being equated with astrological constellations.

[CaCoDeMoN]

Thanks for posting this. I'll do more research on "Small Circulation" today, it seems to be an interesting technique.

[Hagcin]

iv been playing around with the microcosmic orbit for a while, and I have had good times and bad times with it....at first when I opened the orbit I got sick for two weeks, so I took a break. Then I felt bi-polar for a while, so I figured I was doing it wrong, took another break. Started getting much less sleep every night for a while, and still felt great, but I figured I was doing it wrong again and took a break. Now I think I am finally getting it right, and have been easing into it much slower, and not putting quite as much energy through the orbit as I used to. I used to be really sweating after doing the orbit. Now I appear to be free of side effects.

But all the problems I guess where to be expected when learning a meditation from a book....Anyway, I think I have it now, I just wanted to ask a few technical questions:

do all your chakras have to be open before you start circulating in the orbit?

and should you pause on each chakra, or just loop around with a constant flow?

Aslo, does any one use to orbit to induce and OBE? I have seen pictures in in old books of Taoist leaving through he crown, after doing a meditation which seemed quite similar to the orbit....any one tried it?

[kakarukeys]

"Small Circulation" can be realized without a physical teacher, I mean you can have a spiritual teacher.

Normally the energy will be strong enough to travel up the "Governor's Vein" and trigger a circulation after 100 Days of breathing and refining exercise.

Anything faster than that is dangerous and not encouraged.

I'm not qualified to answer your first two questions.

>Aslo, does any one use to orbit to induce and OBE?

I learnt that it is possible from a teacher, but with very good visualisation technique. Western theories / methods of OBE are obviously better than Daoists'.

[CaCoDeMoN]

Hey, could anyone provide links to good sites with info on this "small circulation"? I'd like to try it, but I am afraid that It can be somewhat distorted on some web pages.

[kakarukeys]

Most "Small Circulation" websites are in Chinese Language.
If you do find one, let me see if the translations are exact.

[element14]

kakarukeys, could you post some links to some chinese sites? ( i read chinese )

(or at least, could you post the chinese of this "small circulation" so i could search on it myself?)

Thanks~

[kakarukeys]

Sure.

"Small Circulation" OR "Microcosmic orbit"

http://www.chinaqigong.net/mltyqg/problem/qwd1.htm
http://www.chinaqigong.net/xlxd/qmdzt.htm

[element14]

Thanks!!

[andonitxo]

Hello,

For those of you which want more information on microcosmic orbit chanel you should read Mantak Chia's book on sexual alchemy and taoism.

He explains quite well all the theory you could need to practice it. Anyway no new point is presented, you know, the classic path from muladara up to the crown and down again to it.

Maybe the main differences are:
1.It seems he considers as equal muladara zone and belly zone too. Other writings consider them as separate chakras.
2.He includes the sexual factor as the energy to ascend through the path.

[kakarukeys]

 sexual factor

Daoists use arcane terminology.
Things like "Dragon and Tiger have sex", "mix Lead and Mercury" simply mean various types of transformations of energy in the body.

Microcosmic orbit has nothing to do with sex.

[andonitxo]

 sexual factor

Daoists use arcane terminology.
Things like "Dragon and Tiger have sex", "mix Lead and Mercury" simply mean various types of transformations of energy in the body.

Microcosmic orbit has nothing to do with sex.

I cannot enter into a discussion because I've just joted down what I read in Chiak's books. Indeed there're different kinds of energies: prana, sexual one, cosmic,... and someones can be transformed in others (as sexual energy into spiritual one, in ojas).

And although you can use "common" energy (as in NEW) to move along the microcosmic path, you can also introduce in it the sexual one. I know this because I practiced it. I mean, look for some sex arousal without ejaculating and move that energy from your gonnads into the path.