Inner-Outer Balance
Way of Taiji & Yoga
Naturalness and balance are central Daoist ideals, with Mother Earth as the model. Naturalness refers not to external ease or lack of effort, but to perfect inner attunement to the Deep Inner Essence of both ourself and the wider world. The initial method is to gather and refine energy (Qi), externally through physical movements and breathing exercises, internally by concentration of the Deep Mind on and within the body and energy field.Deep Mind
exists within the Etheric, Astral and Celestial realms (Lower Energies = Jing, Qi and Shen or Deep Body, Deep Emotional and Deep Mental). Beings express themselves simultaneously within these 3 levels. Humans are based (essential existence) on the Deep Mental level, develop consciousness within the Deep Emotional level (initially sub-conscious) and are fully functioning on the physical level. Because the lower levels of the Etheric appear to the brain consciousness as physical and the upper levels of the Deepmental receive the influence of the Spirit, these 2 parts may be considered separately - then the division into the 5 aggregates appears.Deep Mind Sphere
The mind – utilising "mind" in its widest sense, including but not limited to its common meaning of the brain functioning – from its most superficial to its deepest and most subtle essence - which is the point of connection with the Spirit - is central to the understanding of life and the path of internal refinement. Consequently, a small error in its use will interfere significantly with the learning process. While our Spirit may be the ultimate, it is the mind that must travel the Way. Our Spirit, in the highest sense is already there, while our body, including our brain, is merely the tool of the mind. At death, nothing dies. The mind in its essential form simply abandons the body. Energy follows the mind and the body, de-energised, decays back into its constituent parts. The Spirit was neither in the body during life, nor has need to leave it at death. Neither was the mind within the body – more accurately, the body existed within the mind.Brain versus Mind
There is a recurring debate throughout history of whether the brain generates the mind or the mind generates the brain. Neither of these beliefs is simply correct. Both are true. The mind is a mixture of Deep Mind that preceeds the brain and superficial-mind which is generated by the brain when it is activated by the Deep Mind. The consciousness of untrained people is mostly from the superficial-mind (based on brain consciousness), with a small component from the etheric level, an even smaller component from the astral level and a tiny component from the heavenly (Deep Mental) level. these are intermingled so they feel like one. With training the deeper levels will strengthen and gradually be distinguishable.Undeveloped Deep Mind
The Deep Mind of an undeveloped person, in its projection into the three worlds of human existence, is weak in the sense of consciousness, will and intelligence. When out of the body, before or after death, it is relatively powerless. While in the body its power is magnified and possibilities for change appear. Through great effort to change in the physical world, gradually the power of the Mind is increased on the deeper levels. When the strength of the Deep Mind is sufficient, the cycle of return to the body is broken and the True Self is free within the 3 worlds of human existence.Strengthen Deep Mind
The question becomes how to strengthen the deeper aspect and lessen the superficial aspect of consciousness. The influences on the energy sphere (3 levels) of the Deep Mind are always a mixture of Deep Mind Intelligence and the body (including the endocrine system and brain). The way to the Deep Mind Intelligence and back is through the Deep Emotions. While sitting quietly, going deeper, some deep contact may be established after years of practice. But when moving about in life, the unrefined body systems, under the pressures of life, re-assert control of the energy sphere, interfering with the deeper contact.Attempting to remain in a deeper state while handling the difficult situations of life is the most important method to gradually purify the deeper energy patterns, bringing them more under the control of the Deep Mind Intelligence and less under the body. Interpersonal relations are the most useful source of difficult situations. Attempting to remain deeply calm but fully involved, never blaming the other for your internal disturbance, never justifying the negative states that arise, change yourself while understanding others. Retreating from life, to quietness, external or internal, is a mistake.
Use "Daily Dying" to go back over those difficult interactions, while in a deeper state. Then your common unrefined reactions and their causes should become clearer to you.
The Soul
The Soul forms within the sphere of the Deep Mind. The state of the energy on each of the 3 levels along with the minds ability in its 3 aspects - consciousness, will and intelligence - on each of the 3 levels, is the ground condition in which the Soul may grow. The seed to the Soul is the Deep Mind Intelligence or the lowest aspect of the Spirit.Practical aim is to connect Mind-energy-body. Distant intention is to connect Spirit-Mind-body. Meditation is of two types; Mind to energy [Qigong] and Spirit to Mind [Neigong]. Practically speaking, find Deep Mind and all above will be included in that. Train Deep Mind and its surrounding energy body. Deep Mind is Buddha Mind – look deeper in yourself for it.