activa-t Chapter 218 The Invisible Within
Chapter 218 The Invisible Within
Inside the spacious and brightly lit classroom of the Tianxin Sect, soft light streamed through the huge crystal windows, casting patches of light on the floor. The new disciples sat neatly on their prayer cushions, their eyes fixed on Jasmine, who stood on the platform, their gazes filled with curiosity and anticipation, as if waiting for a mysterious journey to begin.
"Students, we have already learned about the tangible muscle and blood tissues of the human body, which are the foundation for our cultivation. Today, we will delve into the more mysterious second system of the human body—the intangible system within." Jasmine's voice was clear and gentle, yet it carried an irresistible allure, slowly echoing in the classroom.
Yi Chen sat in the front row, leaning slightly forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He had always been eager to explore the deeper mysteries of cultivation, and now, finally able to delve into the invisible system within his body, his heart was filled with anticipation. Meng Li, sitting beside him, appeared somewhat nervous. She gently bit her lower lip, her hands unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes, both expectant and afraid that she wouldn't be able to grasp this mysterious knowledge.
Jasmine gently closed her eyes, her hands slowly forming a mudra in front of her chest, and a faint golden light emanated from her body. This light, like the warm sun in spring, was gentle and warm, instantly illuminating the entire classroom and the disciples' hearts filled with doubt.
"Everyone, close your eyes, calm your mind, and clear your thoughts," Jasmine gently guided. "Imagine your body as a vast universe, and in this universe, there are countless mysterious channels that intertwine and run through your entire body. These are our meridians."
Yi Chen quickly closed his eyes, eagerly following Jasmine's instructions to sense the meridians. At first, he was a little impatient, trying hard to immediately detect their presence, but the more anxious he became, the less he could feel them. His brows furrowed, and a sense of anxiety welled up inside him, worrying that he was falling behind his classmates.
Mengli carefully cleared her mind, her breathing becoming rapid, her heart filled with unease. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to sense her meridians, afraid of being ridiculed by her classmates. Just when she was about to give up, she suddenly felt a faint tranquility, as if a gentle force was soothing her.
"Slowly, focus your attention on your abdomen and feel the warmth there. Then, imagine a faint current of air rising gently from your abdomen and flowing upwards along the central axis of your body." Jasmine's voice, like heavenly music, softly rang in the disciples' ears, guiding their perception.
Yi Chen took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down and focusing his attention on his abdomen. Gradually, he felt a faint warmth, like the first gentle breeze of spring, caressing his body. A slight smile appeared on his lips, and a surge of joy welled up in his heart, instantly dispelling the anxiety caused by his impatience.
Mengli also focused her attention on her abdomen, and her breathing gradually became steady. Suddenly, she felt a warm current slowly flowing through her body, a feeling that filled her with novelty and excitement. Her eyes snapped open, sparkling with surprise, and all her previous tension and unease vanished.
"I feel a warm current flowing through my body!" A disciple named Xiaofeng excitedly opened his eyes and shouted. His voice was full of surprise and excitement, as if he had discovered a whole new world.
Jasmine smiled and nodded, her eyes full of approval: "Very good, Xiaofeng. This is your initial perception of the flow of Qi and blood in the meridians. Meridians are the channels through which Qi and blood circulate, like highways connecting all the organs and tissues of our body. When we can perceive the flow of Qi and blood in the meridians, it means that we have taken the first step in exploring the invisible system within our body."
Encouraged by Xiaofeng, the other disciples tried even harder. Some disciples showed expressions of surprise, clearly feeling the flow of qi and blood; others frowned, still trying to find that subtle feeling.
“Don’t rush, everyone. Perceiving the flow of meridians and qi and blood takes time and patience,” Jasmine continued. “It’s like acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine, which regulates the flow of qi and blood in the meridians by stimulating specific acupoints, thereby achieving the purpose of treating diseases. Through meditation and special exercises, we can also actively perceive and regulate the flow of qi and blood, and improve our spiritual cultivation.”
As she spoke, Jasmine demonstrated several simple meditation postures and breathing techniques, which the disciples eagerly imitated. Following Jasmine's guidance, they adjusted their breathing rhythm and felt the flow of energy within their bodies. As their breathing deepened, some disciples found that their perception of the flow of qi and blood became clearer.
“Next, we will further explore the mysteries of essence, energy, and spirit.” Jasmine’s voice became more mysterious and profound. “Essence is the basic substance of life, containing powerful energy, just like a seed contains the power of life. Energy is the driving force of life activities, propelling the circulation of blood and maintaining the normal functioning of our body. Spirit is the master of life activities, controlling our consciousness, thoughts, and emotions.”
"Teacher, how should we perceive and cultivate our essence, energy, and spirit?" a girl named Ling'er asked, raising her hand.
Jasmine smiled and replied, “Perceiving and cultivating essence, energy, and spirit also requires meditation and special techniques. When we can clearly perceive the flow of qi and blood in the meridians, we can try to focus our attention on the dantian area. The dantian is where essence, energy, and spirit converge, and it is known as the body’s ‘energy center’.”
She explained in detail how to gather scattered vital energy into the dantian through meditation, and how to use special breathing techniques to nourish and strengthen vital energy. The disciples listened attentively, asking questions from time to time, which Jasmine answered patiently one by one.
“Everyone can try to focus their attention on the dantian and feel the warmth and fullness there,” Jasmine guided. “Imagine a golden light emanating from the dantian, illuminating the entire body. This light is our essence, energy, and spirit, full of vitality and life.”
Yi Chen closed his eyes again, focusing his attention on his dantian. His heart was now filled with peace and concentration; his previous impatience and anxiety had vanished. He could almost see the golden light flowing slowly through his body, brimming with power.
Mengli was also immersed in exploring the essence, energy, and spirit, her face radiating peace and joy. She felt an unprecedented tranquility and fulfillment, as if she had become one with the whole world.
"I feel a warm current in my dantian, and it's getting hotter and hotter!" a disciple named Yu Xuan said excitedly.
“Very good, Yuxuan. This shows that you have begun to perceive the existence of essence, energy, and spirit.” Jasmine encouraged, “Keep it up, keep exploring and cultivating, and you will find that the power of essence, energy, and spirit is becoming stronger and stronger.”
As the course progressed, the disciples gained a deeper understanding of the invisible systems within their bodies. They not only perceived the flow of Qi and blood in the meridians but also developed a preliminary understanding of the mysteries of essence, Qi, and spirit. Throughout this process, their emotions constantly evolved, from initial anticipation and tension to anxiety and joy during the exploration, and finally to peace and focus. Each emotion became a valuable asset on their spiritual journey.
"That concludes today's lesson. Everyone should continue practicing after you return home and constantly explore the mysteries of your own bodies," Jasmine said with a smile. "Remember, spiritual practice is a long journey, and every step requires us to feel it with our hearts and water it with our sweat."