6

Supporting Your Inner Alchemy Practice

The ancient Taoist masters meditated in mountain caves, where the disturbances of daily life could not be felt. Retreat from society and the womblike experience of these caves are part of what enabled these masters to attain such deep states of meditation. Like hollow bones, caves contain the earliest information of life on Earth and the vital essence of earth power. While few of us have access to such remote caves, it is possible to recreate some of the essential characteristics of retreat in the modern world.

RETREAT

The most important aspect of retreat is the retreat itself—the leaving behind of daily life and its many claims on our attention. While powerful meditation can certainly be a part of regular life, the sustained hours of concentration required for the Kan and Li transformations are not practically achievable in the course of a normal daily experience. Therefore, it is helpful to attend a structured retreat where appropriate food and other daily needs are provided for you and external distractions are consciously removed.

DARKNESS

The darkness of the caves was another important element of the ancient practices. A total darkness environment changes the body’s chemistry, affecting the pineal, pituitary, thalamus, and hypothalamus glands. In darkness, the mind and soul can begin to wander freely in the vast realms of psychic and spiritual experience where you are reunited with the true self and divinity within.

The Tao says, “When you go into the dark and this becomes total, the darkness soon turns into light.” When you return to nature’s original darkness, you return to the womb of the universe. The deepest centers within the brain—the glands of the Crystal Palace—are activated in the womb of darkness, enabling a connection with the Wu Chi, the original Source. Darkness actualizes successively higher states of divine consciousness, correlating with the synthesis and accumulation of psychedelic chemicals in the brain, including melatonin and DMT.

The Kan and Li meditations can be practiced either in a dark room or a cave, or in a normal place with very little light from windows. Sources of electricity should be eliminated as well, to limit light and create a purer environment. Traditionally, the practitioner should start with seven days in the darkness and gradually increase to twenty-one days, as additional benefits accrue from the meditations between fourteen and twenty-one days. Another alternative is to stay in the dark during the day and come out of the darkness at night to receive the energy of the moon and the stars.

FOOD CHI KUNG

We eat for many different reasons, but we rarely pause to wonder about the drives that compel us toward the particular foods we choose.

Instinctive: A natural response to hunger without regard to the nature or results of eating the food.

Epicurean: Eating for the appreciation, texture, aroma, and visual charm of a dish; based on gourmet qualities.

Sentimental: Eating based on good past memories or romance.

Cerebral: Shaped by nutrition experts or scientists. One eats a type of food based on authority.

Societal: Eating with a social awareness of the earth and all people. Based on empathy for all sentient beings.

Religious: Eating a diet in accord with a religious or spiritual teaching or for ontogenesis and self-improvement.

Supreme: Autonomous eating based on profound wisdom and comprehension of self and others.

Eating Can Help Us Attune to Nature

The best method for getting tuned in to nature is to eat foods that are fresh, in season, organic, and local. They should be chosen to balance your own unique circumstances and requirements.

Whole Grains: The cornerstone of every meal should be 50 to 60 percent whole grains. This includes health-giving whole grains such brown rice, millet, barley, rye, whole wheat berries, oats, corn, and buckwheat. It also includes items such as whole grain noodles, corn grits, quinoa, amaranth, bulgur, oatmeal, sourdough whole wheat bread, and chapatis.

Soup: Vegetable soup, perhaps one or two bowls, should make up about 5 to 10 percent of daily food intake. The soup should be made with both land and sea vegetables, as well as miso or tamari—an excellent, mild seasoning that also provides a big nutrition boost.

Vegetables: Organic vegetables that are fresh should constitute about 25 to 30 percent of a basic diet. They can be steamed or stir-fried, cooked into stews, or served fresh in salads. Vegetables are critical for good health.

Beans: A first-class protein, mineral, and fiber source, legumes and bean products should comprise 5 to 10 percent of one’s daily food intake. Beans are hearty and delectable, and they can be prepared together with sea vegetables and grains, as well as used in soups and salads.

Sea Vegetables: Sea vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals and supply significant nutrients not present in most American diets. Sea vegetables should make up approximately 5 percent of a person’s diet, and they can be included in bean dishes, soups, vegetable recipes, and even desserts.

Seeds and Nuts: Sesame, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds should be a part of any good diet. They supply valuable minerals and high-powered proteins. Nuts and nut butters should be used sparingly.

Fish or Meat: A reasonable amount of white meat or fish and seafood (3–5 ounces) is good for some people once or twice a week. It can be more if a person has special requirements. If you are eating these proteins, try to include three times more vegetables than fish or meat in your meal.

Desserts and Sweeteners: Use fruit juices or grain-based sweeteners like rice syrup, barley malt, and amazake. Pies, cakes, cookies, puddings, and gelatins made with these sweeteners can be eaten in small quantities.

Fruits: Local fruits in season are encouraged in moderation contingent on one’s condition, needs, and climate.

Cooking Oil: Naturally produced, cold-pressed vegetable oils are suggested for cooking.

Condiments: The best condiments are gomashio or sesame salt, umeboshi plums, tekka, and sea vegetable powders. Sea salt is best but should be used in moderation for cooking. Be knowledgeable about its effects, and don’t overdo it.

Pickles: Fermented (pickled) vegetables can be eaten every day. They are a natural digestive aid and good overall alkalizers.

Beverages: Spring or well water is suggested for both drinking and food preparation. Bancha and nonstimulating herbal teas are appro priate. Avoid ice cold drinks.

Cooking: Cooking with a flame, including a gas stove, is important. Don’t use electric or microwave cooking.

Diets that include animal foods like fish, chicken, meat, cheese, and eggs require more liquids to equalize the high protein, sodium, and toxicity they contain. If you are often thirsty, it would be wise to take a look at your intake of protein and salt. A grain-and-vegetable-based diet requires less liquid because vegetables and cooked grains have a lot of water content: whole grains have as much as 70 percent water when they are cooked and vegetables can contain 85 to 95 percent water.

In general, food should be consumed warm or at room temperature, especially if one is a cool sort of person. A “cool type” is one who has a general dislike for cold weather, catches frequent colds, and often has cold hands and feet. “Hot types,” on the other hand, love cold weather, always have warm hands and feet, and sweat easily. Hotter people can do fine with cooler foods like salads, particularly in hot areas.

Frozen or icy foods, however, are not recommended even for hot types. These foods can cause cramps or even paralysis in the stomach. In the event that the stomach becomes too cold from icy foods and beverages, the stomach secretes excessive gastric liquids, which cause indigestion.

CHEWING CHI KUNG

In serving the goal of intelligently transforming the physical body into the spirit body, we must pay careful attention to eating and digestion. We need to understand how to change food into energy and what foods furnish the most therapeutic power. We must also recognize that how we eat is as crucial as what we eat. If we take smaller meals and eat fewer times during the course of a day, this aids in improving the body’s immune system and increases vitality.

Eating Schedule

As a general rule, you should have an empty stomach before adding additional food to the digestive system. A good rule of thumb is to wait a minimum of three hours and ideally wait five hours after a meal before beginning the next meal. This assists in the proper function of the digestive organs. In addition, it forestalls temporary loss of strength, stomach upset, bloating, and cramps. Of course, those with medical conditions may need to adjust this scheduling: individuals with hypoglycemia, for instance, may need to eat every two hours. They also should generally eat in smaller quantities until they are healthy.

For those who eat three times a day, the best times are 7:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 6:00 p.m. For those who eat twice a day, the first meal should be between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and the second meal between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Preparing Yourself for a Meal

If you have been out of the house a lot during the day, the best way to get ready for eating is to take a shower and put on light, fresh clothing. It is best to be free of body odors; at a bare minimum one should wash the face and hands prior to eating. Cleaning up purifies and stimulates the body and puts a person in the right mindset to get the maximum benefit from eating.

Scientists know that additional oxygen in the cells assists with digestion and the absorption of food. This means, in practical terms, that some light exercise before a meal will improve digestion and reduce the overall quantity of food needed. Good choices are Chi Self-Massage or three to five minutes of yoga stretching, deep breathing exercises, or jumping on an exercise trampoline. You need sufficient movement to start the oxygen and energy flowing, but not so much that you become overstimulated or excited.

image  Before Meal Exercises

Perform each exercise 3 to 7 times. While exercising, make sure to breathe in via the nose and breathe out via the mouth.

  1. Sit in a comfortable fashion with good posture. Look straight ahead. Stretch one arm toward the ceiling while breathing in deeply. Follow this by breathing out while lowering the arm. Place an emphasis on the expiration of breath. Continue with alternating arms for 3–7 rounds.
  2. Reach out and stretch both arms slowly toward the ceiling, looking up. Breathe in and hold the breath. Bring the chin in a bit to straighten the spine. Visualize a string attached to the crown of the head, pulling up. Breathe out while slowly lowering the arms to the side.
  3. Breathe in deeply and hold the breath. Keeping the spine straight, breathe out while lowering the head to the left shoulder. Breathe in while bringing the head back to center. Breathe out while allowing the head to go down backward, then inhale again and bring the head back to center. Breathe out and lower the head to the right shoulder, then inhale back to the center.
  4. Rub the palms together briskly until there is a feeling of warmth. Put the hands on the kidneys (low back region) and rotate the spine around, breathing in while rotating to the back and breathing out while rotating forward.
  5. Sit down with a straight posture and with the knees up: feet flat on the floor. Inhale and put the right hand on the left knee. Exhale and turn to the left while looking to the back, then return to center. Repeat with the left hand on right knee, turning toward the right.
  6. Put both hands onto the thighs. Inhale and retain the breath, then exhale while bending forward. Follow this by inhaling while coming up and exhaling when bending forward.
  7. Inhale deeply and hold the breath while relaxing. Exhale completely and permit the tension to sail away with the breath. Cleanse.
  8. Align your posture by straightening your spine as you sit. Stretch your arms up over your head several times. Tuck your chin slightly and breathe deeply as you free your buttocks and spine from tension.
  9. Rub your palms together briskly until they grow warm: this initiates a stream of energy all through the body. Relax your arms and clasp your hands comfortably on the lap, breathing deeply for several minutes.
  10. Close your eyes and send loving sentiments from the top of your head throughout your body. Send them down to fill the arms, chest, and abdomen, then send them down the legs and into the feet. Keep this up until the entire body is at ease. Transmit loving power to every organ and to areas that need extra healing. Reach out and send the love to family, friends, home, and the entire world. Let it extend to the whole earth and into the endless heavens and finally return to you.

Giving Thanks

Prior to eating, remember to give thanks. Convey gratitude to the environment, God, the cosmos, to all those who provide food for the human race. In particular, do not forget the food itself—a gift from the Mother Earth. Speak to food as though it has life, because it actually does. You can consider foods as small spirits on your plate: they enter your body and do amazing things.

You can say, for example, “I give thanks to the universe, for providing everyone life, for invigorating us and leading us. Thank you for our mother and father, neighbors and friends, and all who are part of our lives. I give profound thanks for the food we are about to eat. Thank you to those who brought us the food, including the farmers, transportation workers, and shopkeepers. In particular, I thank the cook who made this food. May the food that we eat go into our bodies and assist in bringing health, happiness, and balance. Let it cleanse us, enabling us to be better people and have a greater awareness, so that perhaps the world is more healthy, happy, and peaceful. Amen.”

Food experiences the appreciation and will react. After giving thanks, it is okay to begin eating.

Breathing Mechanics

In order to get the most out of your food, it is important to breathe correctly as you eat. Proper breathing increases oxygenation of the blood, which in turn helps the digestive system to absorb and utilize the energies from food more efficiently. Consequently, meals will be more satisfying. Practice abdominal breathing during the course of the day, particularly at mealtimes. Abdominal breathing causes the abdomen to move outward with each inhalation and inward with each exhalation. The outward breath should be emphasized to eliminate toxic air from the body.

Improved breathing produces clearer cognition and activates the release of neurochemicals.

Energetic Considerations

The human body receives downward-moving energy from the heavens via the crown of the head. At the same time, the earth force spirals upward through the soles of the feet and the genital region. Heaven and Earth energies meet in the mouth when we chew, connecting the Governor and Functional Channels: the entire body is thus a providential, living receptor and a source of electromagnetic energy.

Flowing downward from heaven is a contractive energy, which forms the uvula. This is the cone-shaped piece of tissue that hangs down at the back of the throat. The expanding energy from the earth spirals up via the tongue. When food is chewed, the uvula and tongue together provide a charge to the food. This creates a transformation of energy. Subtle changes in our posture, positioning, and behavior during eating can affect this energy in many ways.

Positioning

Walking is the worst way to eat because energy exits the gastrointestinal tract and disseminates all over the body. Standing while eating causes energy to go to the legs. If one sits, or better, kneels down, the energy centers more efficaciously, collecting in the lower tan tien and digestive tract, including the stomach and intestines. You can sit in a chair with good posture and the legs down, or cross your legs and sit Lotus style.

Alternatively, try kneeling. In a kneeling position, you will consume less food and gain additional energy. This is due to the fact that the energy is not broadcast through the arms and legs but remains centered in the hara, which attaches us to Mother Earth. In a manner akin to meditating, you can kneel down on a soft cushion. An additional cushion can be used for the knees if desired. This assists in making the position more comfortable and therefore less distracting.

Upon kneeling to meditate, pray, or eat, the big toes should be crossed on the back and the fingers held together in a relaxed manner on the upper side of the thighs. This position improves the flow of energy from one side of the body to the other and creates equilibrium in the right and left sides of the brain.

Whenever one foot contacts the other at the same time that one hand contacts the other hand, there is a potent circulation of energy all over the body. Energy begins to stream down both legs, across the toes, down both arms, through one hand to the other and then up the other arm. Energy then disseminates from one side of the body over to the other, and finally converges at the hara. You can actually recharge while eating.

Regardless of the position you choose, you need to keep your pos-ture and the energy flow in mind. Sit up straight and focus on the mouth or the lower tan tien. Remember to breathe slowly and deeply.

Hand Positions

The hands and fingers can be placed in one of several meditative positions, including touching the fingertips together (fig. 6.1a), linking the fingers (fig. 6.1b), or a combination position (fig. 6.1c).

image

These positions relax the shoulders and, by touching the thumbs together, complete a circuit that fortifies the lungs and consequently the breath. Moreover, the Large Intestine meridian runs through the forefingers: energy originating in the lungs travels to the large intestines, influencing the entire alimentary canal.

Setting the Tone

Use healthy tableware for your meals: there is a better flow of energy through natural materials like wood, which carry a stronger stream of energy from nature to the food and into the person. Metal utensils should be avoided when possible. In their place, use cooking utensils, tableware, and plates made from wood, bamboo, ceramics, or clay.

Of course the dining table should be clean and free of distractions such as papers or mail that one might be tempted to read. A lovely view of nature or flowers is a plus, and a candle is appropriate for the evening meal, as it might encourage meditation. The table should be set in an attractive and appealing manner: the appearance of the meal nourishes us just as much as its nutritional or energetic value. Along with attractive, simple dishes, one senses love and care.

Color is a particularly powerful aspect of the table settings, which can be used to encourage general well-being and balance specific conditions. Red creates a warm and stimulating feeling. Earthy colors like brown, gold, and russet provide warmth and constancy. Cool and calm feelings are generated by blues, greens, and pastels. White is neutral. The season of the year should also be taken into account when choosing colors for the table.

Plate Arrangement

Food should be arranged on the plate with an artistic frame of mind, as though you were painting a picture. This permits the energy of the food to enter through the eyes as well as the nostrils and tongue, and makes the entire body feel better.

Grains should be on the plate nearest the diner, with beans, meat, or fish to the left. On the right of the grains are the root vegetables. Vegetables from the sea should be on the left above the beans while pickles are on the right above the root vegetables. Leafy greens should be placed on the top of the plate directly opposite the grains. Adding special side dishes as well as condiments permits variety and makes the total eating experience more meaningful.

Affirmation

Prior to eating, try to visualize your goals for the meal. Then make a positive affirmation of your goals, like the following: “I am becoming completely healthy, more positive and self-assertive, more calm and tolerant. I am reaching my perfect weight, growing spiritually, and having more enjoyable and loving sex. I am also studying more effectively and completely. I know this is all due to chewing each mouthful 100–150 times and becoming wholly liberated from everything.” If you make this affirmation before and throughout your meals, it will be bound into the food and stay with you as long as the food is there.

Quietude

While eating, focus your energy on the oral cavity. Don’t watch television or read during a meal, or the energy from your food will go into the television or book. Talking while eating tends to move energy from the mouth to the throat or brain. This creates a detachment of energy in the body and interrupts digestion. Individuals who speak when consuming food often require greater amounts of food and have more frequent indigestion. You are better off staying silent when eating, or at least talking as infrequently as possible between bites.

If you have to talk socially during a meal, it is best to discuss pleasant subjects. Anything negative charges the food with unpleasant energies, which are then carried to the internal parts of the body. Food should be filled with strong thoughts, happiness, and gratitude, because it influences who we are.

Even high-quality food can become indigestible if you are tense or upset when eating; a calm and relaxing time for meals is essential for that important recharge. The glands in the mouth make two types of saliva: the large salivary gland produces a watery saliva that contains digestive enzymes, while the smaller salivary glands release thicker saliva that is without digestive accelerators. During moments of stress, the thicker saliva dominates, and it will reduce your ability to properly digest your food. Timing your chewing with the breath in a manner akin to meditation will help you to maintain an easygoing mood all the way through the meal.

Proper eating sequence

Eat the soup first. Soup is usually somewhat salty and this induces the flow of saliva and enzymes in the mouth. These enzymes assist in the predigestion of carbohydrates and also trigger the stomach’s digestive fluids. You can eat all of the soup before the main meal or sip during the meal in place of a beverage.

When the soup is finished, a teaspoon to a tablespoon of whole grain can be taken. The most beneficial fuel for people is whole grains because they are complex carbohydrates, which are rich in fiber, low in fat, and are balanced nutritionally. Whole grains assist in making the glucose in the blood more stable. Chewing such grains while properly breathing provides more energy. In fact, the Chinese character for chi joins the characters for both rice and breath.

Eating the meal in stages from the more concentrated foods to the more expanded ones promotes better digestion and elimination. Put the tableware down on the table between bites. Masticate the food very well and swallow. Following the grain, eat a spoonful of beans, fish, or meat. Put the utensil down once again. Chew the food thoroughly prior to swallowing. Go back to the grain, put down the utensil, and chew. Follow that with a bite of root vegetables. Put down your utensil and be sure to chew very well again.

Take turns between bites of grain and portions of the different foods in the following order: First, grain–beans–grain–roots–grain. Next, root vegetables–grain–sea vegetables–grain–leafy greens. Proceed with this optimum eating cycle, switching back to grain between each spoonful of food. Keep in mind that the tableware needs to be put down between every bite. Also remember to breathe deeply while chewing. This method will help you eat more patiently and will provide the utmost benefits from the meal.

After the main meal, have a piece of pickle to help with digestion. Bread and salad should follow the main part of the meal. Lastly, desserts should be eaten at the conclusion along with a beverage. It is best to drink beverages after a meal because they can otherwise dilute vital digestive enzymes. Water is the best thirst quencher. Chew liquids twenty-five to fifty times for best results.

Those who are inclined to develop flatulence or gas ought to delay dessert for at least fifteen minutes. Grains ought to be taken during the entire meal. This boosts proper absorption of assorted foods and essentially does away with chronic constipation. Eating grains properly is the single most significant thing one can do to promote good health.

Chew Consciously

Carnivores have teeth designed to tear, and herbivores have teeth designed to grind. Human beings are omnivores who can both tear and grind food. However, it should be noted that of the thirty-two teeth humans have, only four are designed to tear: the rest are for chewing.

Mastication is the first step in the process of digestion. It also fortifies our immune system and promotes vitality. The most substantial animals on earth—those with the most stamina—consume vegetation, which they chew thoroughly. Chewing well makes us more powerful and changes the food into energy. Chewing can be compared to making a fire, which must be laid carefully in order to burn well. If we set a match to a pile of paper under three or four big logs, for instance, the paper flames up, the logs turn black, and then the fire goes out. No matter what kind of log we use in this scenario, it is unlikely to catch fire. The situation is quite different, however, if thin kindling is used for the fire. With kindling, the logs will almost certainly catch, burn, and generate heat and energy.

Chewing food properly is akin to using kindling. It creates a digestive flame that is able to release the energy soaked up by the plants from the sun, earth, moon, and stars. In the process of masticating pure vegetarian foods, the energy from the universe is freed to furnish the power needed to fire up a healthier, more vital life.

Chewing stimulates the production of saliva, which has many healing properties independent of its digestive enzymes. Consider a dog that licks its wounds: saliva accelerates the healing process. There are antibacterial qualities in saliva that prevent even the AIDS virus from tainting the white blood cells. Furthermore, chewing stimulates the parotid glands, which are located on each side of the jaw toward the back of the ears. These glands release the parotin hormones, which help the thymus to create T-cells—the guardians of our immune system. In short, chewing ignites one’s internal fire. Individuals who masticate more are stronger, healthier, and happier.

If the teeth are damaged or are missing, it is very important to have them fixed: you should be able to chew food thoroughly. In the event you puree your food, it should also be blended well with saliva.

Chewing and Carbohydrate Digestion

The human stomach is not capable of completely digesting carbohydrates: the process of digestion must be partially completed in the mouth, where proper chewing allows the digestive enzyme ptyalin to mix with carbohydrates. Ptyalin breaks the carbohydrates down, initiating the important process of changing food into energy.

It is very important to chew grains thoroughly. Grains that are not completely chewed cannot release the nutrients, proteins, and starches from the fiber. When this insufficiently chewed material is swallowed, the pancreatic enzymes are unable to reduce it to its basic constituents. In such cases, the nutrients will be only partly assimilated by the intestines. Unabsorbed, partially digested food particles move to the large intestines where intestinal bacteria begin to ferment them. Such fermentation gives rise to excessive carbon dioxide and sometimes methane, which can have a bad odor. Consequently, there is gas and bloating.

Vegetables also need to be masticated very well in order to handle the hard cellulose fibers that wrap around a plant’s nutritious center. Each bite of food should be chewed until it is liquefied in our mouth. Without proper chewing, even the best diet can create gas, weightiness, irritation, and lethargy. Food that is not properly digested can, at times, produce psychological and emotional fallout including pettiness, ill humor, and even anger.

The Ideal Number of Chews

In order to start a good digestive fire and produce powerful energy, it is helpful to chew at least 100 times. Those who are sick or are seeking extra powerful energy should chew 100–150 times. To assist in recuperating from a severe malady or chronic disease, or if one is taking drugs or radiation therapy, it is necessary to chew each mouthful 150–200 times.

A good rule of thumb is to chew the drink and drink the food: liquids are chewed essentially like solids, while solid food is masticated until it becomes liquid. Upon chewing 150 times, there is actually nothing remaining to chew. The food is totally liquefied and blended with the saliva. Essentially, the food is predigested in the mouth, so the intestines do not need to work as hard.

While chewing, it is helpful to articulate a positive statement in the rhythm of your movement. An example might be, “Every day in every way I feel better and better.” You can say this affirmation mentally while you chew. It is easier to keep track of the number of chews if you count up to ten on each of your fingers. Alternatively, you can chew each bite for a certain amount of time.

The most significant point is to chew the food substantially. Quite clearly, there are no teeth in the stomach or intestines. This means that one must chew in the oral cavity—fifty times for each mouthful at bare minimum. Increased chewing aids in mastering the philosophy of longevity and rejuvenation.

Antonio Stanchion’s Story

During the Second World War, an Italian man named Antonio Stanchion was sent to a German concentration camp. His diet largely consisted of chicory coffee and a slice of bread in the morning, and a vegetable soup for dinner. People were starving every day and life was a battle to stay alive. In the winter, there were frequent deaths because of weakness coupled with exposure to the elements.

One cold winter month, Antonio Stanchion discovered something that would save his life: when he was thirsty, he began to hold cold water in his mouth and chew it to warm it up. Generally, he chewed ten or fifteen times. If the water was particularly cold, he chewed it up to fifty times. This not only quenched his thirst, but also provided him with surprising energy. Even he himself found this hard to believe, so he did some individual experiments. He tried chewing the water seventy-five, one hundred, and more times. He saw that chewing water actually gave him more energy, and he determined that chewing 150 times was the point at which there began to be a steady increase in his level of energy.

He would put about a tablespoon of food or liquid in his mouth and chew, counting while doing so. He shared what he had learned with his friends and they too had increased energy, suffering less than those around them from hunger. They were even warmer. After two years in the concentration camp, Antonio was liberated by U.S. soldiers and returned home—thin but very much alive. Of the thirty-two crewmembers on his ship when it was captured, only Antonio and his two friends survived the concentration camp. Antonio believed that this was because of the chewing practice he had developed, so he carefully taught it to his family.

In 1949, Antonio’s son Lino Stanchion was living in Yugoslavia. The country was in political turmoil, and the communist government forbade Italian citizens from traveling to Italy. Lino tried to escape and was captured, then sentenced to two years of hard labor. Remembering his father’s instructions, he began to carefully chew his meager food, 150 times or more with each bite. This seemed to fill him up. If he chewed it right, he discovered that it gave him a lot of energy as well as an unusual sensation of assurance and courage. He did not feel afraid of anything.

Lino also began to close his eyes while he ate. This meant he successfully avoided his negative and depressing environment. This internalized his vigor and gave him more strength. Years later, Lino immigrated to America. There, of course, he did not fear starvation and stopped his chewing regime. Many years went by and he began to suffer damaging effects from his high-stress life. He realized that he was going to die from his diet and eating habits. He became aware that his food could save him and he transformed his life again by correct chewing.

Ideal Rate of Chewing

Practitioners who are slow and lethargic can regenerate their metabolism by consciously speeding up their chewing pattern. On the other hand, those who want to be calmer should deliberately slow their rate of chewing. Background music and lighting can be a great help in these adjustments: bright lights and spirited music hasten the frequency of eating, while dimmer lights and slow music encourage a more sedate rate of chewing. The speed at which one masticates food impacts the energy in the entire body.

Advanced Chewing Techniques

Chewing with a spiraling motion facilitates the best outcome in digestion and vitality. At first this can feel odd, because most of us masticate with an up-and-down motion. A little self-training, however, will help a person learn to push the food with the tongue, moving it from left to right. The food should be moved from one side of the mouth to the other approximately each twenty-five chews.

The entire experience actually becomes more pleasant, albeit monotonous at first. Eventually, chewing feels calming and relaxing. The eyes can be partially or even completely closed as you repeat your affirmation and visualize a good life, imagining your dreams and hopes becoming a reality. With time, you can begin to be aware of your whole body, and the heat everywhere.

Some practitioners describe a kind of high that they experience at about two hundred chews. They sense a radiance and tingling sensation over their entire body, which feels intoxicating. This is a body energy glow that is akin to the athlete’s “rush.” Brown, natural rice is the food that provides the most beneficial high. This is because the rice transforms into a natural sugar, which contains the greatest life energy.

Food and Water Quantity

Eating too much causes an imbalance because more enters the body than leaves it. Overeating draws blood to the lower digestive area; consequently, blood is taken from the brain. Overindulgence thus impairs clear thinking.

In a body that is healthy and functioning correctly, the stomach is approximately the size of a fist; this is the ideal amount of food to eat at a given meal. To put this in perspective, that is approximately the size of an average soup bowl. While a serving like this should have all the nourishment one needs, very few individuals are actually satisfied with such a small amount of food. Most people want to eat at least two fist-sized meals and the average is probably about three or more. Consequently, a lot of people have enlarged stomachs.

Overindulgence causes stagnation of the life-force energy and damages the body. Each body is capable of digesting only a limited amount of food: excess food is stored as fat or toxins. When such fats and toxins are released, they can become pimples, cysts, boils, or other issues. In the event they are blocked up inside they can create internal cysts, tumors, and fatty layers around the organs. Overindulgence of liquids impacts the kidneys. They are small organs approximately the size of a person’s ears and have the huge task of filtering all the soft drinks, hard liquor, and fruit juice consumed in modern society.

Mind the old saying of not biting off more than you can chew: consuming too much spoils the benefits of even the healthiest foods. Do not eat much. If you eat only until the stomach is three-fourths full, it will slowly shrink to a smaller and healthier size. Eventually, you will start to be full with a smaller quantity of food. Attempt to chew each mouthful three hundred times and be astonished at the quantity of energy and awareness it produces. It is possible to be satisfied while eating smaller quantities.

Some individuals are overweight but do not overindulge themselves while others are slender but eat too much. It is possible to discover how to heal attitudes, fears, and personal traumas through meditation, support groups, and workshops. Mastication can start you on the path to nutritional gratification and the correct weight. Chewing assists in the reduction of body fat in addition to reducing the obsessive cravings for food. Picture the body fully filled, resonating with life energy, perfectly nourished and unstrained, but nonetheless keenly aware. Envisioning is the initial step.

Post-meal Practices

When you eat it is not wise to fill up on food, rather it is better to leave the table slightly hungry. After eating, you should feel light, energetic, and buoyant—as if you were sailing in the air. There is a feeling of extreme satisfaction and happiness just in being alive; a gratitude for all that you have, and particularly for the food that was just eaten.

Upon completing a meal, stay at the table for ten to twenty minutes to permit the food to start its transformation into energy. If you get up immediately after eating, the energy enters the moving parts of the body. Instead, hold the energy in the alimentary canal for as long as possible to maximize the complete absorption of the entire meal. Carry on breathing deeply. Send loving thanks to the food for joining together with your body. Perhaps linger and drink tea while having a pleasant conversation. Remember, though, that words and thoughts have energy and power. They deeply influence a person, particularly during and after meals.

Following a brief period of relaxation at the table, get up and move around. At that time the dishes and the dining area can be cleaned up. Go slowly and easily, and make sure to continue breathing deeply. Oxygenation of the blood is accomplished in this manner. An excellent way to help the body absorb food and accomplish good digestion is to take an after-meal walk. A ten-minute stroll is often enough, although half an hour is even better. If you work indoors, going outside for a walk after lunch to get fresh air helps improve digestion. In addition, walking is a great way to do deep breathing, which helps burn food efficiently and release additional energy. Walking is a highly efficient exercise that a person can safely do regardless of age.

Avoid Sleep after Eating

Sleeping after a meal is probably the worst thing to do for health and energy. If you need a nap after lunch, it is best to wait at least one hour. After dinner, wait a minimum of three hours before going to bed. Five hours is better, and the best of all is to wait until the food is totally digested and the stomach is empty. A great deal of the body’s regeneration and healing takes place during sleep, but only with an empty stomach. So for example, if you go to bed at 11 p.m., you should have completed your meal by 7 p.m.

Eating right before retiring has an effect similar to eating animal foods: it produces poor digestion and causes gas, emotional heaviness, and overall fatigue. Bodily energy becomes backed up and blocked, which can lead to serious imbalances. You may wake up in the morning feeling torpid, irritable, or clouded after sleeping badly or for too long a period.

image  Summary of the Eating Practices

  1. Do light exercise utilizing Chi Self-Massage, yoga, and Tai Chi Chi Kung, etc.
  2. Bathe, shower, or at minimum wash the face and hands.
  3. Turn off electronic devices, including the telephone.
  4. Locate a sanitary, calm location to eat.
  5. Use candlelight or play soft music if desired.
  6. Do table exercises if there has been no exercise.
  7. Use good posture and sit with a straight spine.
  8. Convey appreciation or read a statement.
  9. Start conscious respiration.
  10. Put a bite of food in the oral cavity.
  11. Put tableware down (assume hand position with fingers together).
  12. Start masticating and deep respiration.
  13. Focus on the mouth or lower tan tien.
  14. Actually see the food or some appealing object.
  15. Repeat steps 10–14 until the meal is finished.
  16. Following eating, say a word of appreciation.
  17. Rest or talk pleasantly for 10–15 minutes.
  18. Take an after-meal walk.

Real Benefits of Chewing

  1. Provides for better digestion: The more you chew, the less agitated you are during meals. Your attitude improves and food is digested and assimilated better.
  2. Improved absorption: Chewing well allows the digestive tract to absorb nutrients, which in turn gives rise to more energy and endurance.
  3. Additional satisfaction: The act of chewing in and of itself has a powerfully tranquilizing, comforting effect. When people chew very well, they are generally contented with half the usual quantity of food.
  4. Greater relaxation: Stressed, busy people often eat too much. Chewing brings a relaxing feeling to the body and encourages quicker healing.
  5. Encourages forbearance and self-control: Chewing requires discipline and patience. Practicing these qualities helps develop them still further.
  6. Reduces need for food: Hunger is frequently a result of swallowing large, unchewed mouthfuls into the stomach. Those who chew more get additional nutrition from what they eat and therefore require less.
  7. Better thinking and improved mental health: If a person eats less and chews more, thinking improves and the brain performs better, particularly if such a one breathes deeply when eating. Most of the oxygen taken in goes to the nervous system and brain. This assists with digestion. The combination of less food along with additional oxygen brings about an improved flow of energy. More significantly, this aids the food in changing into glucose, which provides the body with energy.
  8. Increases effects from any diet: Carbohydrates are broken down with the help of the ptyalin enzymes in the saliva. Clearly, the more nutritious the diet, the better the consequences.
  9. Reduces expenses: One starts to become more satisfied with the reduced intake of food and consequently spends less money on groceries; costly medical bills are minimized as well.
  10. Lowers desire for sweets: Those who eat complex carbohydrates experience the inherent sweetness of these foods and therefore are able to reduce their craving for sweets. The more one chews, the sweeter the food tastes.
  11. Improves the taste of food: Chewing brings out the real taste of food, and real food tastes better the more it is chewed.
  12. Minimizes gas: There are two types of gas. One kind of flatulence has no smell and occurs due to inadequate mastication and overeating. If you chew peacefully and quietly, you will eat less and cut down gas. Smelly flatulence happens with individuals who have bad digestion because of an unhealthy diet, bad food combinations, incorrectly cooked foods, or insufficient chewing. Masticating allows for clear answers to overeating, dyspepsia, incorrect food combinations, and incorrect mastication.
  13. Promotes relaxation: A lot of individuals are tense and experience a great deal of stress. Being calmer at meals brings about a more peaceful energy. This continues on throughout the day. When chewing is practiced as a meditation, meals become a potent, relaxing, and healing time that can be enjoyed two or three times each day.
  14. Minimizes bad breath: Most individuals who have chronic halitosis eat too much or eat too frequently. Before even digesting one meal they move on to more food. They eat snacks and have bits of food between meals. During the course of the day they might have breakfast, then a coffee break, a midday meal, a snack, supper, and then an additional snack prior to going to bed. Three meals a day should be enough if one eats correctly. A lot of individuals are happy with two meals a day. Everyone has the choice of putrefying or purifying his or her gastrointestinal system. A healthy system usually means a healthy mind and body. Sweet breath means a sweet temperament.
  15. Stimulates glands: The jaw motion of chewing influences the entire endocrine gland system. It activates all the glands, including the pituitary and thyroid as well as the pancreas, spleen, and gonads. Sexual organs become more aligned. The gland that has the biggest change is the thymus, which produces the T-cells required for a healthy immune system. The parotin hormone that one excretes while masticating increases T-cell output. Chewing well is therefore critical, particularly for individuals with a degenerative disease.
  16. Increases alkalinity in the body: Saliva is essentially alkaline. When it mixes with food it alkalizes the food that is swallowed. Even grains have an ability to create an acidic condition if not masticated well.
  17. Assists in healing ulcers: Chewing improves both the quantity and the quality of saliva. This performs a healing process for all tissue; both internal and external. Those with stomach or digestive problems need to keep a pickled plum (umeboshi) pit or clean small smooth stone in their mouth to bring on the development of saliva. Saliva is an alkaline and excellent natural medicine that has the ability, if swallowed, to neutralize too much acidity in the stomach, and it therefore alleviates ulcers.
  18. Forestalls death by choking: Choking is sometimes called a café coronary. It is one of the primary causes of accidental death in the United States and generally happens when people swallow a piece of food that is too big. Clearly, chewing 100–150 times can prevent many of these unnecessary deaths.
  19. Strengthens teeth and gums: Increased mastication improves the flow of blood and energy to the teeth and gums.
  20. Reduces cravings: A healthy diet that is thoroughly chewed will reduce cravings for unhealthy foods.
  21. Assists creativity: Relaxed, reflective eating and chewing helps you become a calmer, clearer, and more inspired person. The starving artist often produces his or her best work while poor and eating a minimal diet. Small amounts of food permit a stronger stream of chi through the body, while too much food causes stagnation in the body, mind, and creative energy channels.
  22. Improves marriages and relationships: When families eat separately, discontent and division are brought about. Those families that eat relaxed, healthy meals together invariably become more centered, stronger, and calmer. In all probability they have an increased chance of staying together in a world where so many split apart.
  23. Encourages rejuvenation: The more you chew, the more parotin is released by the parotid glands, which sit behind the ears. If you do not chew enough, the hormone is swallowed and deactivated in the stomach. Chewing properly, on the other hand, induces the parotin hormone to get absorbed via the lymph system. The hormone regenerates the cells, influencing the entire endocrine gland system and restoring the entire body.
  24. Improves development of psychic abilities: When food is eaten correctly, in a relaxed, thoughtful fashion, with good posture and deep breathing, powerful modifications occur in the mental and spiritual regions. Stagnancy breaks up and energy channels clear, inspiration flows, and intuition is improved.
  25. Improves sexual ability and vitality: Sexual issues such as impotence, infertility, lack of orgasm, and PMS are usually caused by blocked energy and bad nutrition. Chewing is a useful exercise. Proper breathing, diet, and calmness all aid in improving circulation, energy, stamina, and sexual gratification.
  26. Benefits all organs: Chewing assists with bringing about total health, whatever the diet is, because it brings more energy to the organs. That is an important step toward facilitating longevity and health.
  27. Improves efficiency: Taking the time to chew allows one to accomplish things more quickly because of the increased level of energy and concentration.