Chiyang Daoren, Eastern Taoism
(What follows is a folk legend.)
Seeing the scholar's eyes thirsting for knowledge, Li Xuanzhen said slowly: “The Scripture of the Yellow Court (Huangting Jing) says: ‘The mouth is the Jade Pond, the Palace of Supreme Harmony; rinse and swallow the numinous liquid, and calamity will not intrude.’ These twelve characters are the core secret of clicking the teeth and swallowing saliva.”
“‘The mouth is the Jade Pond, the Palace of Supreme Harmony’ speaks of the important place of the mouth in the body. Taoists hold that the body has three elixir fields: the upper dantian in the head, the middle dantian in the chest, and the lower dantian in the abdomen. The mouth is the hub linking the three dantians, and is called the ‘Palace of Supreme Harmony.’”
“‘Supreme Harmony’ is taken from the I Ching (Book of Changes): ‘Preserve and unite the supreme harmony; then there is benefit in firm correctness.’ The qi of supreme harmony is the most harmonious and balanced qi between heaven and earth. The mouth can harmonize the qi of the whole body and bring it to the state of supreme harmony.”
“‘Rinse and swallow the numinous liquid, and calamity will not intrude’ speaks of the function of saliva. In the Taoist classics saliva is called ‘numinous liquid,’ ‘jade liquid,’ and ‘golden saliva and jade liquid,’ and is considered the most precious substance in the body. Frequently swallowing saliva keeps a person free of all illness and safe from calamity.”
The scholar suddenly understood: “So that is how it is! But why does clicking the teeth produce saliva?”
Li Xuanzhen explained: “For that we must start from the body's system of meridians. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic (Huangdi Neijing) records that the body has twelve regular meridians, two of which are closely connected with the mouth: the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming and the Heart Meridian of Hand Shaoyin.”
“The Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming begins beside the nose and passes through the upper gums. A divergent branch of the Heart Meridian of Hand Shaoyin also reaches the mouth. When the teeth are clicked, the upper and lower teeth strike each other, stimulating these two meridians and speeding the flow of qi and blood.”
“The Stomach Meridian governs digestion, and the Heart Meridian governs the spirit and mind. Clicking the teeth mobilizes both meridians at once, strengthening digestion and also calming the heart and spirit. When digestion is good and nutrients are fully absorbed, qi and blood are naturally ample; when the heart and spirit are calm, there is no excessive expenditure, and one naturally lives long.”
“The vibration produced by clicking the teeth also stimulates the salivary glands to secrete. Modern medical research has found that saliva contains many enzymes and immune substances that aid digestion and strengthen immunity. Although the Taoist sages of old knew nothing of modern medicine, through long practice they had long since discovered the wondrous effects of saliva.”
Li Xuanzhen paused, then went on: “There is another important reason why clicking the teeth and swallowing saliva should be done in the early morning. Taoism emphasizes ‘midnight-noon ebb and flow’ (ziwu liuzhu), holding that the body's qi and blood flow into different meridians at different double hours of the day.”
“At the Mao hour in the early morning (5 a.m. to 7 a.m.), qi and blood flow into the Large Intestine Meridian and the Stomach Meridian. Clicking the teeth and swallowing saliva at this time accords exactly with the movement of qi and blood, and achieves twice the result with half the effort.”
“The Mao hour is also the time of day when yang qi is first born. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic says: ‘When yang qi is overtaxed it swells; essence is exhausted; if this accumulates into summer, it causes a person to suffer scorching collapse.’ This means that yang qi must follow natural laws and must not be overspent. In the early morning yang qi is first born; practicing at this time nourishes and protects the yang qi and makes it full.”
The scholar asked again: “Master, you say the teeth should be clicked thirty-six times. Is there any significance in this number?”
Li Xuanzhen smiled: “A good question. The number thirty-six has special meaning in Taoist culture.”
“Taoists hold that heaven has thirty-six Heavenly Ladle (Tiangang) stars and earth has seventy-two Earthly Fiend (Disha) stars. Thirty-six is the number of the Heavenly Ladle, representing the laws by which the Tao of heaven moves. Clicking the teeth thirty-six times is to follow the Tao of heaven and borrow the power of heaven and earth to nurture oneself.”
“Thirty-six can also be broken down as nine times four. Nine is the utmost of the yang numbers, and four represents the four seasons. Nine times four means one must persevere in practice through all four seasons of the year for the yang qi to become full.”
“The rhythm of clicking the teeth also matters. It must be neither too fast nor too slow. Too fast, and the qi and blood have no time to be mobilized; too slow, and the mind easily wanders. The best rhythm is coordinated with the breath: click the teeth as you breathe in and pause as you breathe out, and repeat, so that breathing and the flow of qi and blood move in harmony.”
“The force of the clicking should also be moderate. Too light, and it does not stimulate the meridians; too heavy, and it can easily damage the teeth. The best force is one where you can hear a crisp clicking sound without feeling any pain.”
Having said this, Li Xuanzhen added: “Swallowing the saliva after clicking the teeth also has many finer points. The saliva should be swallowed in three gulps, and each time you should imagine it flowing into the dantian.”
“With the first swallow, imagine the saliva flowing from the throat into the chest, moistening the heart and lungs. The heart governs the blood and the lungs govern qi; when the heart and lungs are moistened, qi and blood become full.”
“With the second swallow, imagine the saliva flowing into the abdomen, moistening the spleen and stomach. The spleen and stomach are the root of later heaven, the source from which qi and blood are generated. When the spleen and stomach are strong, qi and blood are naturally ample.”
“With the third swallow, imagine the saliva flowing into the lower abdomen, moistening the liver and kidneys. The liver stores blood and the kidneys store essence; when the liver and kidneys are moistened, essence and blood become full. When essence and blood are full, one's years are extended.”
“These three swallows correspond to the body's Triple Burner. The upper burner is like mist, the middle burner like a soaking vat, and the lower burner like a drainage channel. When saliva moistens the Triple Burner, the qi and blood of the whole body are harmonized, reaching a state of balance between yin and yang.”
The scholar listened raptly and asked again: “Master, having practiced this method for many years, what insights have you gained?”
Li Xuanzhen pondered for a moment and said: “I have practiced this method for more than ten years, and my greatest insight is this: the way of nurturing life values perseverance and depends on a still mind.”
“Many people practicing a method always want instant results, wishing that what they practice today would show effects tomorrow. This attitude is wrong. The Tao Te Ching says: ‘The difficult things of the world must be done while they are easy; the great things of the world must be done while they are small.’ Nurturing life is a gradual process that requires accumulation day by day and month by month, and perseverance.”
“When I first began practicing, I too doubted the effectiveness of this method. But I thought: since Master Qingxuzi could return from old age to youth, why couldn't I? So I gritted my teeth and persevered. Only after a hundred days did the effects gradually appear.”
“A still mind is also very important. People today live at a fast pace under great pressure, their minds always full of distracting thoughts. Practicing a method in such a state greatly reduces its effect.”
“Clicking the teeth and swallowing saliva seems simple, but it is not easy to do it with an undistracted mind, focused on the present moment. Each time I practice, I first do a moment of seated meditation to let my heart and spirit settle, and only then begin clicking my teeth. That makes it much more effective.”
“Taoism emphasizes ‘clarity and stillness, and non-action (wuwei).’ Clarity and stillness does not mean doing nothing at all, but having no distracting thoughts and acting with focus. Non-action does not mean inaction, but following what is natural and not forcing things.”
“Clicking the teeth and swallowing saliva is just such a method of ‘clarity and stillness and non-action.’ It does not require you to perform any complicated movements or spend a great deal of time; it only requires you to persevere for a few minutes each morning and do it with an undistracted mind.”
At this point Li Xuanzhen looked at the scholar and said earnestly: “Young man, your coming to me today for instruction shows that you are aware of nurturing life, which is very good. But I must tell you that nurturing life is not the preserve of the old; the young should pay even more attention to it.”
“The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic says: ‘The superior physician treats disease before it arises, not disease that has already arisen.’ This means that a skilled physician prevents illness before it occurs, rather than waiting for it to occur and then treating it.”
“Nurturing life follows the same principle. If you pay no attention to caring for yourself when young and wait until you are old and frail to make amends, it is too late. When the young practice the method of clicking the teeth and swallowing saliva, it strengthens the body and prevents illness; when the old practice it, it slows aging and extends one's years.”
“However, I must remind you that, good as life-nurturing methods are, they cannot replace normal healthy habits. Regular hours of work and rest, a sensible diet, moderate exercise, and a cheerful mood are the foundation of nurturing life. A method is only the icing on the cake; do not put the branches before the root.”
After listening, the scholar bowed deeply to Li Xuanzhen: “Thank you for your guidance, Master. This student has benefited greatly.”
Li Xuanzhen waved his hand: “No need for formalities. Taoism holds that ‘the Tao follows what is so of itself,’ and so it is with the way of nurturing life. Just remember: follow what is natural and persevere, and you will gain health and long life.”
The scholar took his leave, and as Li Xuanzhen watched him go, he was filled with emotion.
He recalled the scene years ago when he had sought instruction from Qingxuzi. He too had been full of doubt then, not knowing whether such a simple method could really work. Now, more than ten years later, he had not only regained his health but had also come to understand many truths about life.
The way of nurturing life is really the way of being a person. Perseverance, following what is natural, an undistracted mind, clarity and stillness and non-action—these are not only the secrets of nurturing life but also the wisdom of how to conduct oneself in the world.
Li Xuanzhen returned to his meditation room, sat cross-legged on his rush cushion, closed his eyes, and rested his spirit. Outside the window, the morning bell of Qinghua Temple rang out, its long, lingering tones echoing through the valley.
He knew that tomorrow morning, as always, when yin and yang of heaven and earth were changing over, he would click his teeth with a still mind and swallow his saliva. He had kept up this simple practice for more than ten years, and he would keep it up still.
The Tao follows what is so of itself; life goes on generating without end.