THE THREE POWERS:YIN AND YANG AND LIFE FORCE
The Taoists are known to be keen observers of nature. Knowing the great influence nature has on people, they make sure not to transgress its laws. Their system of belief, world view, and way to life harmonizes with nature, and their principle of the Three Powers is an example of such conformity to the laws of nature. The influence of these three powers (heaven, earth, humans) on man is not to be set aside since they intersect and interact spinning the mental and material web of life into the twist and grunt of human body and mind.
From heaven, man is the recipient of the treasure of the spirit and awareness connected with it.
From the earth, he acquires the essential elements comprising his body. When human energy harmonizes with the forces of heaven and earth; it flourishes and protect human health. On the other hand, if the heaven’s and earth’s laws are neglected, human energy is depleted, degenerates, and eventually perishes. Destiny refers to the laws of heaven, and nature to the laws of earth. Exactly, how did the Taoist come to be aware of these Three Powers?
Long ago, Taoist sages observed an essential difference in the energy emanating from the sky and the energy radiating up from the ground. They labeled these two opposite yet complementary forces as the yang and yin, and named its origins as “heaven” and “earth”. The sages discovered that haven and earth project their influences into the human dimension as highly functional pure energy. The yang of heaven and yin of earth constitute the dynamic polar field affecting the functions of human energy.
According to the Internal Medicine Classic, “The principle of yin and yang is the foundation of the whole universe and the basic of all creation. Heaven was created by the accumulation of yang. Earth was formed by the accumulation of yin. Yin and yang are the primal sources of all power and the wellsprings of all creation".
The Three Powers are no esoteric gibberish. They are influences dominating man, showing his vulnerable position.
“Heaven” refers to the sky, stars, moon, planets, and cosmic energies that fall like rain from the celestial sources. The gross manifestation of the force of heaven is the weather condition.
Science like astrology and divination shows us the tremendous pull the heavens have on us. It is no accident either that we are under the influence of certain stellar arrangements. This comes about through the boomerang law of nature known as karma; what you do comes back to you. Heaven rules not only human life but its very thought and consciousness.
Earth power is the scope of such disciplines as the science of nutrition and medicines, physical exercises and tantra yoga, geomancy and geophysics. All speak of the fundamental energy coming from the planet itself. Earth energy forms the very lifeblood of our physical bodies and the wellspring that produces our food, water and air.
Humanity, the third power, includes the totality of the human condition along with its various physical and spiritual manifestations. Human energy is said to be covered by the heaven above and supported by the earth below. Human heritage and genetic attributes gives us a distinction mark from among the other species with which we share the earth. Our energy is expressed through humanity and it is also the medium by which we interact with heaven and earth.
Man is the middle ground where the yang of heaven and yin of earth is balanced; although heaven and earth influence animals and planets, they only adapt to these powers by their instinct for survival and propagation of species. Since man possesses higher intelligence, he has both the basic instinct for survival as well as spiritual insight. His ability to search for the deeper meaning of existence gives him access to the transcendental powers of heaven. Even if the Three Powers control him, his conduct of life is still made out of his own free will.
The forces of the Three Powers are manipulated in internal alchemy as Nei gung. In the body, the head represents the spiritual and cosmic forces of the heaven. The sacrum holds the vital essence and draws up the energies of the earth. The chest shows the human energy through the breath, speech and emotions.
Heaven and earth is like water and oil which can never mix. Religious and mystical traditions separate heaven and earth into two irreconcilable paths, forcing man to choose one over the other. This action forfeits the opportunities man can derive from the other. A person who has perfected his connection with the heavens is revered as a saint in heaven and deprived of the pleasures of earth. A hedonist is a sinner wallowing in earthly pleasures and denying his berth in heaven. The Taoist regards this dualistic division as going against the grain of human nature, neglecting the chance to develop his full potential.
Splitting up humanity into hostile camps of sinners and saints, the faithful and the faithless is borne of an adequate understanding of the value of everything around us, making our life more meaningful. We have material as well as spiritual needs. If, by your own karmic reactions, you are experiencing a comfortable life, fine. Just don’t forget that man lives not by bread alone. That spiritual anxiety gnawing inside us, seeking some fulfillment in the material, will not get us anywhere. Life becomes a sham and a waste – full of frustrations.
The Taoist adept establishes a path that harnesses and balances the Three Powers.
Note: Remember, life is temporary but we (life force), in essence are not. The body is just a vehicle to seek our own perfection, which can only happen if are linked, in yoga, with the Supreme.
Reference:
Ronthoughts Journal – Spirituality
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