activa-t Chapter 222 Ancient Wisdom
Chapter 222 Ancient Wisdom
Inside the spacious and brightly lit classroom of the Tianxin Sect, soft light poured in through the huge stained-glass windows, casting golden spots on the floor. Jasmine, dressed in a simple white robe that fluttered in the breeze, stood quietly on the platform like a wise sage from ancient times. Before her was a huge Bagua diagram, exuding a mysterious and ancient aura.
Below the stage, the disciples sat upright, their eyes fixed on Jasmine, filled with curiosity and anticipation. They knew that Jasmine was about to unveil the mysteries of ancient wisdom passed down for millennia, wisdom that might become a key guide on their path of cultivation.
"Students," Jasmine's clear and melodious voice echoed slowly in the classroom, "We have come a long way to explore the mysteries of the human body and perceive the power of the elements of the universe. Today, we will step into a more profound hall of wisdom—the Tai Chi diagram, the Hetu Luoshu, and the Bagua. These ancient symbols and patterns contain the laws governing the operation of all things in the universe and are indispensable guides on our path of cultivation."
The disciples' eyes lit up instantly, and they whispered amongst themselves. Yi Chen leaned forward slightly, his hands clenched tightly, his face filled with focus. He had always longed for ancient and mysterious knowledge, and now, it was as if a door to an unknown world was slowly opening for him. Meng Li gently bit her lower lip, her eyes sparkling with tension and excitement. She both anticipated grasping the essence of this ancient wisdom and worried that she wouldn't be able to comprehend its profoundness.
Jasmine gently raised her hand, pointing to the Bagua diagram on the blackboard: "Look, everyone, this is the Bagua diagram. It consists of eight trigrams: Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui. Each trigram is closely connected to our human body, nature, and even the universe." Her finger landed on the Qian trigram. "The Qian trigram represents heaven; it is strong and powerful, corresponding to the head of our body. In our body, the head is the meeting place of all Yang, just like the sky, governing the Yang energy of the whole body. When we cultivate, paying attention to the nourishment of the head can stimulate the Yang energy of the whole body and improve our cultivation state."
"Elder Jasmine, what about the Kun hexagram?" Xiaofeng eagerly raised his hand to ask, his eyes sparkling with a thirst for knowledge.
Jasmine smiled and moved her finger to the Kun hexagram: "The Kun hexagram represents the earth. It is gentle and inclusive, corresponding to the abdomen of our body. The abdomen is the center of the body, just as the earth bears all things, it contains our internal organs. In cultivation, we nourish the abdomen through specific exercises and breathing, which allows the internal organs to be better nourished and strengthens the foundation of the body. This is similar to the emphasis in traditional Chinese medicine that the spleen and stomach are the foundation of acquired constitution. The health of the abdomen is crucial to our body."
The disciples nodded in agreement, diligently taking notes on Jasmine's explanations. In their minds, a mysterious connection between the human body and the Eight Trigrams began to form.
“Next, let’s look at the Tai Chi symbol.” Jasmine said, drawing a Tai Chi symbol on the blackboard. The black and white colors blended together, like the Yin and Yang poles of the universe rotating. “The Tai Chi symbol contains the mystery of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are opposites, yet interdependent, like day and night, sun and moon. In our bodies, Yin and Yang also exist in every cell and every meridian. When Yin and Yang are in balance, our bodies are healthy, and our spiritual practice is smoother; but when Yin and Yang are out of balance, all sorts of problems arise.”
"Elder Jasmine, how can we use the principles of the Tai Chi diagram to regulate the Yin-Yang balance in our bodies?" Ling'er asked curiously, blinking her big eyes.
Jasmine patiently explained, “We can achieve this through meditation and special exercises. For example, during meditation, imagine your body divided into yin and yang poles, with the top of your head as yang and the soles of your feet as yin, allowing yin and yang energies to circulate within your body. When you inhale, imagine yang energy flowing in from the top of your head, nourishing your whole body; when you exhale, imagine yin energy being expelled from the soles of your feet, carrying away the turbid energy in your body. Through this practice, you gradually achieve a state of yin-yang balance. This is similar to the yin-yang harmony theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine, using various methods to achieve harmony and unity between the yin and yang of the body.”
The disciples closed their eyes and, following Jasmine's guidance, began to try to feel the flow of Yin and Yang in meditation. The classroom was extremely quiet, with only the soft sound of breathing. Yi Chen's brows furrowed slightly as he tried to construct a picture of the Yin-Yang cycle in his mind. Gradually, he felt a warm energy flowing slowly down from the top of his head, while at the same time, a cool energy surged upward from the soles of his feet. The two energies converged in his abdomen, giving him an unprecedented sense of comfort and tranquility.
Mengli was struggling; her breathing was slightly rapid, and the images in her mind were difficult to stabilize. Jasmine noticed her distress and gently approached her, saying softly, "Mengli, don't rush. Relax your mind and body, focus on your breathing, and slowly feel the presence of Yin and Yang. Everyone's pace of understanding is different; as long as you persist in practicing, you will definitely be able to experience its mysteries." Encouraged by Jasmine, Mengli took a deep breath, closed her eyes again, and tried to calm herself down.
"And the Hetu and Luoshu also contain endless wisdom," Jasmine continued. "The Hetu uses ten numbers to represent the five directions, the five elements, yin and yang, and the images of heaven and earth; the Luoshu uses nine numbers arranged vertically and horizontally, with yin and yang intertwined, containing the mathematical laws of the universe. They echo each other with the Eight Trigrams, together revealing the laws governing the operation of all things in the universe."
She explained in detail the correspondence between the numbers in the Hetu and Luoshu diagrams and the Five Elements and directions, as well as how to use these relationships to understand human physiology, pathology, and the mysteries of spiritual cultivation. The disciples listened attentively, asking questions from time to time, which Jasmine patiently answered one by one.
“After class, everyone should study these ancient wisdoms in depth and apply them to their own cultivation,” Jasmine said. “These wisdoms cannot be grasped overnight; they require us to think and practice continuously.”
After the class ended, the disciples did not leave immediately. They gathered around the blackboard, pointing and discussing the Bagua and Taiji diagrams. Yichen and Xiaofeng huddled together, debating the effects of the Qian hexagram on the human body under different cultivation states; Mengli, meanwhile, pulled Ling'er aside to share her insights into Yin and Yang during meditation.
Back in his meditation room, Yi Chen eagerly began cultivating according to Jasmine's instructions. He sat on the futon, closed his eyes, and imagined his body merging with the Bagua diagram, feeling the flow of energy within him. He discovered that when he focused his attention on the head, corresponding to the Qian trigram, a powerful force surged from the top of his head, making his thoughts clearer and his spiritual energy flow more smoothly.
Mengli, meanwhile, was repeatedly drawing the Tai Chi symbol in her room, each stroke filled with devotion. As she drew, she recalled Jasmine's explanations, trying to grasp the mysteries of Yin and Yang in the process. Her eyes were filled with determination; she was confident that as long as she persevered, she would be able to unveil the mysteries of this ancient wisdom.
Inside the Tianxin School classroom, the Bagua and Taiji diagrams still hang quietly on the blackboard, as if awaiting the disciples' next exploration. The ancient wisdom they contain will guide the disciples on their path of cultivation.