Inner alchemy

Whether sitting for long periods without lying down or whether engaged in walking practices throughout the six division of the day, the vital breath must always be made to fill the space between the navel and the lions. Even though one may be hemmed in by worldly cares or tied down by guests who require elaborate attention, the source of strength two inches below the navel must naturally be filled with the vital breath, and at no time may it be allowed to disperse. This area should be pendulous and well rounded, somewhat like a new ball that has yet to be used.

It is essential always to keep the upper parts of the body cool and the lower parts warm. You must know that to nourish the body, it is imperative that the vital energy be made to fill its lower part. Frequently people say that the divine elixir is the distillation of the five elements, but they are unaware that the five elements, water, fire,earth,air and ether earth are associated with the five sense organs: the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body. How does one bring together these five organs in order to distill the divine elixir?

For this we have the law of the five non-out followings: when the eye does not see recklessly, when the ear does not hear recklessly,

when the tongue does not taste recklessly, when the body does not feel recklessly, when the consciousness does not think recklessly,

and then the turgid primal energy accumulates before your very eyes. This is the last physical energy?of which Siddhas speak. If you draw

this energy and concentrate it in the space below the navel; if you constantly, then before you know it the elixir ?oven is overturned

and the whole universe become a mass of this great circulating elixir. Then you will awaken to the fact that you yourself are a divine sage with true immortality, one who was not born before heaven and earth were formed and who will not die after empty space has vanished. Now you can churn the ocean into curds and change earth into gold. For this reason it is said: the circulation of one drop of this elixir can change metal into gold.?

Ancient Siddhas have said: ?The essential thing for nourishing life is to strengthen the physical frame. The secret of strengthening the

physical frame lies in concentrating the spirit. When one concentrates the spirit, the energy accumulates. When the energy, accumulates the elixir is formed. When the elixir is formed the physical frame becomes firm. When the physical frame is firm the spirit is perfected.?

But above all, one must realize that this elixir is by no means something outside one's own body For example, there are jewel field

and there are millet fields. The jewel fields produce jewels; the millet fields produce crops. In man there are the Manipoorakam and

the Mooladharam. The Manipoorakam is the treasure house where that vital energy is accumulated and nurtured; the Mooladharam is the

castle town where the divine elixir is distilled and the life span preserved. A man of old has said: The reason the great rivers and

seas attained to sovereignty over the hundred other streams was that

they had the virtue of being lower than the others.? The oceans from

the outset occupy geographically a position lower than all other

waters; thus they receive all these waters but never increase or

lessen. The Manipoorakam is situated in the body at a position lower

than that of the five internal organs and ceaselessly stores up the

true energy. Eventually the divine elixir is perfected and the

status of an immortal is achieved.

The Moolam (source centre) is located in three places in the body, but the one to which I refer is the lower moolam. The manipoorakam is located in the navel; Manipoorakam is situated in the navel, the mooladharam below it, and it is in this area that the true energy always accumulates. When the body and mind are attuned, they say that even if one is a hundred years old, the hair does not turn white, the teeth remain firm, the eyesight is clearer than ever before, and the skin acquires a luster. This is the efficacy of nurturing the primal energy and bringing the divine elixir to maturity. There is no limit to the age to which one may live; it depends only on the effectiveness with which the energy is nurtured. The inspired doctors of old effected cures even before a disease made its appearance and enabled people to control the mind and nurture the energy. Quack doctors work in just the opposite way. After the disease has appeared they attempt to cure it with external varma theraphy, pukai theraphy (moxa treatment), and pills, with the result that many of their patients are lost.

Generally speaking, essence, energy, and spirit are the foundation stones of the human body. The enlightened man guards his energy and does not expend it.

The enlightened man allows the vital breath to a accumulate fully below. Therefore there is no room for the misfortunes to operate, nor can the evils invade from outside. The circulatory organs work efficiently and the heart and mind brim with health.

For the mind that is master of true meditation, the space below the navel is as firm as though a huge rock were settled there, and when this mind functions in its awesome dignity, not one deluded thought may enter, not one discriminating idea can exist. Heaven and

earth are one finger; all things are one horse.