Author: Samuel Beasley

I'm just a fellow traveler on the path.

The Flame of Life

There are several definitions for the word Alchemy. The most common is the process that has been in various cultures around the world where there were attempts to transform common metals into gold. Throughout antiquity, there have been fountains of youth and elixirs of immortality. Still, there is another perspective and definition that we will be using here and that is:

“A power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way” 

Another word that might give a slightly different view is the modern “Synergy.” 

Synergy is defined as an interaction or cooperation giving rise to a whole that is greater than the simple sum of its parts. 

The internal alchemy of Qigong is the harmonizing of the Three Treasures of Qigong to create and sustain the flame of life

Harmony is not just a feel-good word. It is certainly not a cliché as it is often used in modern culture, especially in the western hemisphere. Harmony is a creative force that gets released when certain elements and their relationship to each other come into balance. In Tai Chi there is a saying, “Tai Chi happens where Yin and Yang come into balance. The state of your longevity at any given time is a reflection of your inner harmony. Physical harmony reflects your spiritual harmony.  When spiritual elements come into cooperative harmony with each other and everything is exactly right, creative energy is released.

Here is an example. We all know about fire. We all have a basic idea of how a flame is created by combining three elements: heat, oxygen, and fuel.  

  • There must be suitable fuel. 
  • There must be enough heat so that the fuel ignites. 
  • There must be enough oxygen to enable the heat and fuel to ignite. 

The flame of fire will only ignite if the conditions between the three elements are exactly right. If the fuel is not exactly right, being too wet, then no flame. If there is not enough heat to ignite the fuel, there is no flame. If there is not enough oxygen for the fuel to ignite, there is no flame.  

But when these conditions become exactly right, then you have convergence which ignites the flame. The term “just right” signifies the ignition point created in the harmonious balance of the three conditions. Harmony is an enormously powerful creative force in nature.  

Another example could be observed through listening. Imagine a group of musicians with different instruments. Each instrument can make sounds that have the potential to sound pleasing. Each instrument must have its own harmony. It must be in good working order. It must be tuned in such a way as to make a pleasing sound. It must be operated in such a way to sound pleasing. This is brought together by the musician who cultivates the ability to play the instrument in a pleasing way. 

When the musician brings the instrument and joins with others, they must all cultivate the ability to play at the same time to create something that sounds pleasing.  If they each have the wrong rhythm, it is uncoordinated with the rest and not pleasing. 

If each of them plays sounds not in harmony with the others, it is disharmonious and not pleasing. If they are not playing the same notes, it is disharmonious and not pleasing. But when they play the same notes, all coordinated, and in harmony, something special happens. They create music that is very pleasing to listen to. Music is synonymous with ‘flame’. The basic elements come together in a harmonious way to create something more than the individual parts. Disharmony is noise, harmony is music. The pattern is just another fractal edge of the mysterious and unknowable Tao. You can observe this pattern all throughout nature.

Think of a cataclysmic storm such as a Hurricane or a Tornado. Elements of Air, Heat and Moisture come together. When and if the elements are just right, a storm of great power if formed. There is a great sustained energy released until the harmony becomes out of balance and it becomes dispelled, disappearing into blue clear skies.

On a cosmic scale, consider the big bang theory. The universe was in a hot dense state. When the elements become just right, Bang and everything we know came into existence. The universe is still the expansion part of its life cycle. Everything follows the Tao, even the universe, which will one day in the future will stop expanding and become so dispersed that it disappears like the storm. Slowly it will begin to collapse until it conditions become just right (in harmony) and bang! It will happen again.

Life follows the same cycle. The conditions of environment, sperm and egg find harmony and life is conceived. You can see it happen when a seed, water and light come together in harmony, and it sprouts. We are conceived, we live out our lives and then we die. If conditions stay just right the cycle will stretch out until it can go no further, and then it returns to its creative source.

Physical life is sustained through internal and external harmony. Our job as Tao cultivators is to support and sustain balance and harmony, first spiritually then outward physically. Internal Yin, balancing with external yang. Longevity happens where the two meet in Harmony.

Qigong is a synergetic phenomenon that cultivates and sustains the Flame of Life. Roughly translated, it means energy – cultivation. The “flame” in Qigong is life force-energy, or vital energy or Qi (chee). Another good description would be “vital energy” and “life-force energy”.  For the newcomer, it is best to begin by bringing the three elements of “The Three Treasures” into harmony to produce a strong vital life force so that you nurture a robust vital force for the duration of a long life (Longevity).  

Internal Alchemy, as the name implies, is the cultivation of the internal vital energy, Qi. When we are born, we come preloaded with robust vital energy and the ability to continue producing it. This incredibly special life energy that we inherit from our parents is called prenatal Qi. The infant has an abundant amount of the original energy to carry it a long way in life. Yet it is extremely important to nurture and protect it. Once the umbilical cord is cut, the source of the prenatal energy is gone so the infant must protect its original energy and immediately begin producing its own. This self-made energy is called post-Natal Qi.  

The miracle of birth includes the miracle of energy production. All living lifeforms have this aspect of life, of being born already preloaded with internal instruction and the ability to adapt to the environment it finds itself in. This is enough for most non-human lifeforms because they have not evolved to a point where they self-destruct.  

In United States and other countries around the world have something called a “seed vault”. In these vaults, seeds are collected and stored in case of a doom’s day scenario happens and there is a need to start agriculture over again. The interesting thing is that seeds can be stored for years. These seeds can be planted again in some future date. Like the candle of life, all they need is harmonious conditions to come alive and sprout. Seeds need three basic elements for their alchemy to activate their inherent Qi to mobilize and begin growth. There must be suitable soil, suitable temperature, and adequate moisture. When they are just right something wonderful begins to happen. They begin to have life. A small acorn from an oak tree can lay dormant for a long time, then activated it can grow into a huge three that will become an eco-zone giving shelter to animals and birds, food for wildlife and building material for humans. The same principle is already at work in your body. You must keep the “just right” conditions in harmony and balance for the life force energy, Qi, to keep your body alive so that your spirit can continue to experience life.

The effort for cultivating the internal alchemy is to harness the creative energy of the Tao in the form of Qi. The intention of the Qigong practitioner is to take what was given and conserve it with all their ability. Qigong uses the natural [principle of life energy to sustain your flame of life, physical consciousness. It is quite simple. Stop interfering with the life process and create a harmonious relationship with nature which is a manifestation of the Tao.

 Humans have a choice. They can choose to embrace the alchemy of life, or they can embrace the self-destructive ways of the ego. One is the way of death, and one is the way of life.  

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Meditation and Longevity

In holding the soul and embracing oneness

Can one be steadfast, without straying?

Verse 1, Chapter 10, Tao Te Ching

An Introduction to Meditation

A simple definition of meditation would be a “heightened state of awareness”. Further distinction reveals that meditation is a stated of being where the practice of meditation is a state of doing. Thus, the one cultivates a heightened state of awareness through the practice of focused concentration in a heightened state of awareness. Through practice a transcended state of awareness is the realized by the observing true self. In the heightened state of awareness, the true-self becomes aware of the influence of mind and mood instigated by the ego-mind hence “self-awareness”.

Once in a Dharma lesson, our teacher instructed us to imagine that a loudspeaker was attached to our head and everything that we thought would be broadcast out into the open for all the world to hear. It was part of a mindfulness lesson where we were learning to practice the awareness of what we are thinking. If the world could hear your thoughts, what would they sound like? If you answered chaos, then you are not alone.

I believe most people live in a shifting state of attention. We spend most of our time in either a distracted state or in seeking sources of distraction. Distraction here is defined as the inability to pay attention and experience the present moment. Distraction is a state of mind where attention is absorbed by both internal and external sources. In the modern age, we are conditioned from our earliest days to allow our minds to become absorbed somewhere else. We suspend our ability to be present and allow our minds to be captivated by someone or something else. One example would be television.

Television and videos have become a distraction that absorbs our attention. Even worse, our own cognitive processes are superseded by the content. Perhaps that is one reason the content is called programming. The programming not only induces distraction but also confuses the viewer into believing a false reality. I have been told that there are even television shows that are called reality tv.   When we allow our attention to become absorbed by Television we are lost to the present reality and substitute it for the programmed reality. By the time a person is 20 years old, it is likely that their ability to pay attention is very weak and the reality they do perceive is defined by years of artificial experience. When reality does not align with the false reality that they have been conditioned to expect, life becomes problematic. Then real life does not meet the expectations implanted by the programming. In this distracted state, one cannot find and know their true self.  

If you spend most of your time distracted, you are not paying attention to the true reality and most importantly, lost to the present moment. So how can you be able to implement a successful life strategy with a foundation of self-control? Specifically, how can you implement self-discipline when you are trying to change bad habits.? And importantly, what if a “successful life” is defined by unrealistic expectations by years of unrealistic conditioning. You cannot remain present and paying attention if you are continuously lost in distraction. This is the first area to work on as you become a cultivator of successful living. You must learn how to wake up and become present to the choices you are making that create your destiny (Longevity).

Self-awareness is our consciousness residing in the present moment and aligned with reality. This is developed through meditation. You must rise above distraction which is a process called transcendence. When your consciousness is absorbed by something else, you are not aware. Most importantly you are not self-aware. By transcending the captivating mindstream that constantly captivates your mental focus from the present. When you are awake you are present. Your attention is right here, right now. It is only and always now. It is in the present moment that you construct destiny by the choices you make. 

This brings us the most common distraction which is thinking and being lost in run-away thought. Thinking can resemble a quiet and lazy stream one day and a raging torrent the next. Your mind will often be chaotic constructing mental ‘what if’ scenarios of what might have happened or what might happen.  Guided by fear, anger, greed, desire, and a whole bunch of other inappropriate emotions, the mind carries our attention to places that cause high levels of stress and anxiety. These ‘what if’ thinking episodes can often become loops or a voice that plays over and over in your head. This is a very stressful state of distraction where you can become lost in the illusion of something in past or something in the future. Either way, it is either over and done with or it has never happened yet. You must wake up and orient at this moment and this current reality. 

Meditation is the higher state of consciousness. When consciousness is absorbed by any distraction, whether it is incessant thinking or watching hours and hours of television, we enter a state of distraction which is a much lower state of awareness (consciousness). With practice, you can learn to keep your attention and awareness present and observing. This state of being is meditation. Meditation is not so much as something you do as it is being in a state of presence and observing. 

Meditation is the practice of concentrating awareness on a point of observation where you can observe what is going on in the mind. When you are focused and observing, you are doing so from a subjective point of view. The observer is the subject and the content that is being observed is the object. In meditation, you become the observer, and thinking is ‘observed’. Now you can see and observe that you are not your thoughts. This observer is the true self and is above the thinking mind and able to both observe and manage your life. And most importantly distraction is the state of being where attention is lost or absorbed in thinking. Lost in distraction and is unable to change perspective. Hence the term “lost in thought”. This is not a bad thing when it is a deliberate contemplative process that is seeking clarity. But when your attention is captivated by thinking (an internal source of distraction) and you cannot free your ‘self’ it generates a lot of stress and anxiety. When our attention is captivated by television we are distracted by external sources. When you transcend distraction, you become the observer (true self). As the observer, you can control attention and keep it present in the now. This is done by concentrating the focus on a particular element in the present. The most common focal points are breath (the experience of breathing) or by repeating a mantra. As you observe either one, the attention is kept in the now, in the methodology. It is common, especially for beginners, for the mind to wander constantly and it is important to not react but just return the attention back to the intended focal point. It takes an everyday practice but over time you will be able to cultivate a sense of detachment and find stillness.

Meditation is the realization of the spiritual self (true self), experiencing life in the physical realm. Thus, for the awakened being, life is a meditative balance between being and doing. Too much sitting can be as unhealthy as not enough. One very effective technique is to take up types of moving meditation such as Yoga and Tai Chi. When enough skill has been cultivated, the person can remain in the transcended state which enable many skills for creating longevity. In the transcended state it become possible to practice several important techniques that bring about dynamic healing and restoration.

Before you begin to build your own longevity program, you must learn to manage ego and control desire. As you have read in previous chapters in this book, self-discipline is the Tao principle of Sovereignty. Without this foundation of spiritual discipline your chances of success are greatly reduced if not impossible to achieve. Here is the step by level by level to cultivate as you begin to change your life.

To begin with, in my experience, it is impossible for most people to make themselves stop thinking and destroy desire.  For so many people this why they fail at the very beginning. Rather than actively making war on thinking and desire, the lesson to learn, the skill to cultivate is stillness. When the mind is still and spirit is fully realized, thoughts will diminish natural along with desire.  Once the mind is still and calm you will be able to observe and find clarity on what is causing the disturbances, causes, and sources of thoughts and desire so that they will diminish.  You as the true self and observer can explore and contemplate how you arrived in the destiny you are currently living.  Then you can begin the process of stopping the choices and behaviors that karma had created in your life.  The process meditative process is as such:

  • Stillness (Transcendence) Meditation
  • Mindfulness Mediation
  • Contemplative Meditation
  • Healing Meditation (found in the healing and restoration protocol section)

The lessons in this book share many times that your destiny is not predetermined and that in each now, each moment of perception, you are creating your destiny. We all create them by the choices that we make over and over. The realization of these choices is a result of cause and effect. There is a natural law of cause and effect (karma) to which Tao cultivators pay very close attention. This is the foundation for staying on the longevity path. The meditative process of being in unity with the natural order of existence is known as “oneness with the Tao”. The following chapters will explore the four meditations above so that you can begin to bring the miraculous power of inner harmony to realize a long successful life. This is the Tao of Longevity.

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Your Destiny Is Not Predetermined

Set course on your true path

For newcomers to Tao study, the first question may be to ask, “what is the Tao of Longevity?”. let’s break it down. The Tao is pronounced “Dow”, with a “D”, which translates as ‘the way, or “the path”. From the ending of the ice through the period of neolithic China more than five thousand years ago the tribal people of China learned to live by the patterns of nature. Tribal shamans and the people of those days begin to notice patterns in nature and the cosmos. Those who learned to live in harmony with these natural patterns seem to thrive over those who did not. The source and causation of these patterns seemed to be a supernatural phenomenon that to be incorporated into all aspects of life, permeating everything. It was mysterious, enigmatic, sometimes harsh, sometimes benevolent, they found it impossible to explain. Later they simply called it Tao, a word that means the way or the path, while admitting that words could not fully cover all its meanings.  Even today, words cannot convey just how mysterious and deep it goes. Yet, humanity has recently been able to have a few glimpses through modern science and quantum physics. For the sake of language, we call it Tao, which is only a word we use for conversational applications.

 

When one hears or reads the words “The Way” they cannot but wonder, “What is it the way of?”   After you go down this list, think of some aspect of life and add it to the end of the phrase: “The way of”.

  • It is the way of reality
  • It is clarity for universal truth
  • It is the way of being
  • It is the way of existence
  • It is the way of successful leadership
  • It is the way to prosper
  • It is a guidebook for how reality works
  • It is the way of living successfully without self-induced pain and suffering
  • It is the way of living in harmony with the physical world and nature
  • And for our purposes in this book, it is the way of living a long successful life, with contentment, spiritual awakening, and wellbeing.
  • You can also consider the Tao as a Journey. A journey is defined as the passage of time, of experiencing a physical life as a spiritual being. The sacred journey of life.


Spiritual Longevity.

            With this mother principle of power [sovereignty], one can be everlasting  

This is called deep roots and firm foundation 

 The Tao of longevity and lasting vision  

Chapter 59, Tao Te Ching 

Chapter 59 in the Tao Te Ching is titled “Longevity”. Even some scholars do not realize that each chapter in the Tao Te Ching has titles, yet they do. The chapter title gives the student the first hint of what the chapter is about. The first thing you must understand about this chapter both in the Tao Te Ching and this book is that the Tao of Longevity is about Spiritual Longevity. Before you can have physical longevity, you must first cultivate spiritual longevity. All Tao teachings are rooted in spiritual lessons that lead to success in the physical world. This is Tao (the way) cultivation.

Tao Cultivation. One does not have to be or identify as a Taoist to benefit from following the Tao, or The Way. Learning the way of reality and the path to enlightenment is a spiritual path, thus it is called “the way”. Tao cultivation is, not a religion but a spiritual practice as well as a spiritual discipline. Cultivating the Tao is directly about spiritual awakening and longevity so that you will experience an easier and more successful long life.

In ancient times, Chinese people worshipped various deities and ancestors, so it began as religion. Even today there are still some who do treat Taoism as a religion. For the most part, modern Taoism is a spiritual-philosophical discipline. The path to enlightenment is one of awakening to the core of your spiritual being, the true self. Awakening from the distracted state of pure ego mind is the first step. Implementing and living life from this enlightened state of being is the intent and purpose of cultivating the Tao. Henceforth in this book, the term for those who seek to walk the higher path will be known as “Tao Cultivators”. The Tao Cultivator knows that destiny is not fixed and can be determined by avoiding self-destructive choices and mistakes and works on living life in an easier successful way with minimal effort (without striving). Anyone who cultivates this ability regardless of religion is a Tao Cultivator. Cultivating the Tao is cultivating Longevity by transcending the ego mind and finding the true path.

It is good to think of the term Destiny which may be defined as that which will happen or what you will experience in the future. This program’s slogan is “your destiny is not predetermined”. This is to say that much of your future has not been decided yet and you have the opportunity right now to shape it into the future or destiny that you would rather experience. Of course, death awaits us all which none of us can avoid, but the when and how of your return to the Tao is something you can determine.

You may be still deciding whether you want to opt-in or not for what the Tao of Longevity has to offer. The first thing you should realize and accept is that you are already on this path whether you want to be or not and whether you even realize it or not. When you are not consciously aware of how your choices and actions are creating your future, the neglect will contribute to atrophy with Longevity being cut short.

Atrophy is anti-life. A general definition of atrophy is the wasting away of the body and mind due to various causes. Specifically in this book, the intent is to bring awareness of how our lifestyle either contributes to well-being and longevity or to decline and atrophy. In this sense atrophy is anti-life which is a force of nature. All of us are fighting for our life from the moment we are conceived. There are many causes that happen naturally, so the first step is to stop contributing to existing and future atrophy by what you are doing in the present moment. Thus, in every moment you are making choices that lead to longevity or early suffering and death. There is always a moment of choice if you are present and able to take hold of it. In every moment of every day, you are creating your destiny.

Hopefully, you are here reading these words because you are seeking a means of creating a better destiny for yourself.  The information on this site is here for that very reason, to help you create a destiny that is not just longer, but with success, contentment, fulfillment, and wellbeing.  I have developed a protocol that has served me well in changing my uncertain destiny to being able to not only survive longer but to realize a sense of joy and contentment that eluded before cultivating the Tao. You can read my Bio to see the situations (heart disease and cancer) that I was able to get control over and am still working through. So, I am sharing it with you on these pages with step-by-step practices to cultivate your own longevity path. The keyword here is “cultivate” which means to develop a skill”. Your job is to become highly skilled at being successful in life. Here are steps in cultivation.

Tao (The Way) cultivation has some key principles:

  • Meditation – attaining oneness with the Tao by transcending the ego self and awakening as the true self (spirit).
  • Mindfulness – paying attention to the mind with detached observation
  • Sovereignty – the principle of the spiritual discipline of Willpower and Self-control (ego management)
  • Accumulating Tao Virtues – by implementing Tao lessons into the choices and actions in every minute of every day that results in lasting wellbeing.
  • Lifestyle Changes – living your life in accordance with the Tao, and in harmony with nature.


Those who set out to accomplish this are called Tao cultivators. While cultivation does not have to follow a linear path, it should begin with learning or improving these principles above principles. The best time and place to begin is right here and right now. Through the karmic result of cause and effect, extraordinary results will begin to happen.

You, We, everyone is on the longevity path whether realized it or not. Up to now, you may have been blindly stumbling through life, making yourself sick and using up life force (Qi) faster than you can replenish it. Or maybe you have begun the change but are ready for the next step. Perhaps you have been given a death sentence by the medical community and want to fight for your life. Whatever your story is, this path can maybe buy you some more time. How much time is dependent on your circumstances and how deep atrophy has become entrenched?  If your time is running out, maybe this can help you find contentment to accept and deal with what you have left. Time is running out for all of us, and no one knows when the end will catch up. That said, it is never too late to wake up and become your true self and be the spirit you are.

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The Tao of Life and Death

THE TAO OF LIFE AND DEATH     

Be the One

“Coming into life, entering death

The followers of life, three in ten

The followers of death, three in ten

Those whose lives are moved toward death

Also three and ten

Why? Because they live lives of excess

I have heard of those who are good at cultivating life” …

Excerpt from Chapter 50, Verse 1 – 7, Tao Te Ching

The world’s biggest killer is ischemic heart disease, responsible for 16% of the world’s total deaths. Since 2000, the largest increase in deaths has been for this disease, rising by more than 2 million to 8.9 million deaths in 2019. Stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are the 2nd and 3rd leading causes of death, responsible for approximately 11% and 6% of total deaths respectively. WHO (World Health Organization)

In the verses listed above, Lao Tzu is sharing his observation that nine out of ten people are not good at cultivating longevity or not good at cultivating life.  All are fear driven. The first two are reactionary due to fear.

In verse two, “followers of life” are three in ten people who live a fear-based life. Their default is to retreat into safety. Their fear reaction is to avoid anything that may be unsafe or unpleasant. These are people who fear death and are so reserved and careful they become weak from avoiding the challenges that make us stronger. These are people who avoid getting dirty or taking a risk or facing a necessary challenge to get ahead and become stronger. They are too conservative.

Examples might be people who never get dirty, and are vulnerable to bacteria and pathogens that they might normally have a natural immunity to. They lived secluded lives only grudgingly interacting with other people, never being exposed to germs that can build up a strong immunity, they never take chances and are afraid to take advantage of opportunity when it shows up. They are afraid of change and new ideas, so their knowledge is limited. They survive but die off easily. Because they never did the things that could make them strong. They endure but never seem to get ahead, afraid to experience what all life has to offer.

In verse three the next three are those who are “followers of death”. Opposite to followers of life, followers of death are risk takers. Their fear reaction is to be reckless with an intent to prove to themselves that they are not filled with fear, so they are compelled to take unnecessary chances. Perhaps they desire attention so that show off taking dangerous actions to people will admire their bravery. Taking risky chances too many times leads to loss, injury, and death.

In verse four, “those whose lives are moved toward death” Lao Tzu is talking about a fear reaction of overindulgence. They worry about not having enough time to experience all there is. Their mindset that death is stalking them at every turn and that time is running out leads to a feeling that death will soon show up to take everything away from them, so they live it up to excess. A life of overindulgence is one of self-destruction including chronic disease, financial hardship, and depletion of resources including life itself. They are overweight, don’t get enough sleep, too busy indulging to exercise to remain healthy. Their perspective becomes a self-fulfilling destiny of suffering and early death.

Finally, in verse seven, Lao Tzu tells us “I have heard of those who are good at cultivating life”. The first three groups who are dominated by fear, a total of nine out of ten people which leaves ‘the one who is successful at life, which is the way of Longevity.

  This person is the one Lao Tzu says, “are good at cultivating life”. Cultivating life is cultivating longevity. Free of fear reactions and being self-aware, they consciously make lifestyle choices that promote harmony and balance both internally and externally. They understand the power of moderation as a means of staying on the true path. They face challenges with wisdom and succeed because they can deal with life’s challenges in such a way that it becomes a benefit to their endurance.

Being “the one” means to be the Sovereign. Awake, aware, and controlling strong emotions, desire, and the ego so that they consistently make wise choices that sustain their well-being. Sovereignty provides the spiritual discipline to reign in and controls the ego which is what drives the choices of the nine in ten.

Inspiringly, there are communities where the nine in ten number is reduced to a much lower ratio. Dan Buettner’s book on “Blue Zones” gives detail on how the communities have cultivated a society of longevity with many Centenarians living long happy lives.

If you are serious about cultivating Longevity, then you must begin right away by examining your life and where you are today. Consider how you may be exhibiting fearful reactions that lead to self-destruction and suffering. Think about how your choices have played a role in your destiny. Looking forward to thinking of goals, considering what lifestyle choices you must let go of and ones you must embrace to endure for the long haul. Are you sometimes portraying fearful reactions that lead to disharmony? The Tao lessons in this book are intended to help you become the one “who is good at cultivating life”. That is the Tao of Longevity.

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Misfortune and Fortune

Misfortune is what fortune depends upon  

Fortune is where misfortune hides beneath 

Who knows their ultimate end? 

They have no determined outcome 

Verses 5 – 7, Chapter 58, Tao Te Ching 

Just before our Tao class studied this Chapter, I received some unwelcome news from some blood tests that I had received. I must admit that it shook me hard to realize that once again I was facing my mortality before I was ready. I was already cautious with the pandemic in full swing. So, I was kind of depressed when I sat down for Sunday’s Tao lecture. When we got to the verses above and our instructor (Derek Lin) begins to explain to us how the Tao cultivator looks at Misfortune and Fortune, I listened intently. 1 

You may notice that when you see or hear the word Misfortune, there may be a subtle stigma associated with it. Probably because no one likes to get misfortunate news or experience something misfortunate. And it can just as easy to see how the opposite response is apparent when someone reads or hears the word fortune. No dark stigma here, everyone wants to have some good fortune. Yet there is another perspective for those who seek a deeper insight into both. That deeper insight can be realized when one can look for both fortune and misfortune in many situations. 

The Tao lesson begins with the understanding that all things, including misfortune and fortune, follow the yin–yang pattern. Look at the Yin Yang symbol (below) where you can see the two “fish”. White is the yang, and black is the yin. In this, complementary duality, you can observe that within the black fish there is a small circle of white. This represents a small rising yang. On the White Yang fish, there is a small circle of black representing the rising yin. The White fish (Yang) has a small black circle (Yin) diminishing. Each fish holds the seed of the opposite duality. Each moving toward the other seeking balance. In life’s situations, misfortune and fortune follow the same pattern.

Misfortune and fortune can be seen in either role, depending on the perspective of every individual. Relatively speaking, one person’s fortune is another person’s misfortune. Either way, there is the appearance of one being good, the other not good. A Tao cultivator will look for both. Hence the verses above: “Misfortune is what fortune depends upon”. With the realization of something probably unfortunate is happening or has already occurred, look for the fortunate circumstance from which misfortune came from. Then also look for the potential fortune that misfortune might give rise to. Specifically, look for the potential within the dire situation. I know that it is hard to do. This is a practice and discipline to cultivate through training. 

 Things may seem impossible but look for them anyway, if for no other reason than to find clarity within the chaos. But what you may also discover is hope. When I got the results from several lab tests that I “probably have” cancer, all I could think of was the worst-case scenario, the end.  When I was listening to this lesson, I immediately thought of the situation I was in. Along with a burst of hope, there was also the other mind (ego) saying what’s the point, it’s all going to end. And these don’t work, woe is me. Yet somehow, I was able to dismiss the ego’s doom and gloom and began to look for the seed of fortune that was promising that fortune was hiding within.  

There is a part two to this lesson (of course because everything follows the yin/yang). Part two is of course looking for the misfortune in the fortune.  In this perspective, the Tao cultivator is experiencing fortunate times and circumstances. Life is great, and everything is going well, so why worry yourself over what might go wrong, right? Not so fast. The Tao cultivator knows very well that nothing stays the same, including fortune and misfortune. So, things might be great right now but the potential for disaster is hiding within. Thus, the Sage knows to be vigilant in watching out not to make poor choices that will invite misfortune to rise. This is specific to guarding your Sovereignty. That is, be mindful of ego and the emotional traps and costly mistakes that can lead to disaster. In this way, you can avoid misfortune and continue the cycle longer in fortune. 

How powerful and important is cultivating Sovereignty?  

“When there is nothing that one cannot overcome 

One’s limits are unknown 

The limitation being unknown, one can possess sovereignty 

With this mother principle of power, one can be everlasting 

This is called deep roots and firm foundation 

The Tao of Longevity and lasting vision 

Verses 8 – 11, Chapter 59, Tao Te Ching 

Then the last verse above is where hope awaits. It says, “They have no determined outcome”. It means that your destiny can be affected by the choices you make now. This is where hope creates the motivation for action. In either case, misfortune or fortune you know that you are crafting your future and act accordingly.  

This practice is what helps me from hitting the panic button when things are going wrong. When things go right, I try to “ride the wave” paying close attention to my ego-mind so as not to stray off the path.  

In the case of my unfortunate lab results, I found fortune by using the fear of cancer to improve my fitness through self-care protocols and Qigong. Now that the lab reports a return to a normal level, I am in good health once again, and my longevity looks promising. If I had not heard this lesson, I may never have found the path to recovery, especially if I had given up.

The misfortune is that I first realized the deadly disease in my body that presented a clear and present danger to my longevity, hid the fortune of learning how to heal, and bring my fitness to a whole new level. I can say without exaggeration that I feel better now than I have in many years. The ‘misfortune’ news made me wake up and take charge of my life. Now I can pay attention and make sure my lifestyle choices do not contribute to the return of heart disease and cancer growth. The misfortune of the unwelcome news was a sign that I was negatively affecting my longevity. Now that I have a bit of fortune, I plan to take care of keeping myself healthy for as long as possible. I keep reminding myself that I must be ever vigilant in being Sovereign (ruling my ego) and to always be on the lookout for the seeds of misfortune as they will inevitably approach.2 

You can get started in several ways. Step one is to work on your ‘self’ first which means your Sovereignty. This means learning to control your ‘self’ through spiritual self-discipline. Your true self is the boss of the ego and only uses it when it needs to. Your true self is the Sovereign over your life. Cultivate the awakening from ego to spirit so you can choose the way to success. 

Step Two: I recommend in your next meditation, try a contemplative meditation, and focus on past, present, and future events. If you are not meditating and cultivating mindfulness you risk getting lost on the side paths and making costly mistakes. When you can focus your mind and contemplate your life without losing your thoughts in distraction you create the potential for managing your destiny.  

When contemplating the past, perhaps you can see from the present the fortune and misfortune that you failed to notice. Try to learn from it. Then consider your present circumstances, and find the misfortune, and fortune perspectives. With this clarity, you can determine how you should proceed. Contemplating the present moment and the choices you are about to make will automatically connect to your longevity destiny. While considering the fortunate/unfortunate of the present, consider how they will play out in the future, especially with how they will affect longevity. 

But don’t forget the other side of the coin. “Fortune is where misfortune hides beneath“

When you are riding high with fortune don’t become blind to the misfortune hiding in bad choices or choices that can change good fortune into bad. The ego is always ready to sneak in through the doors of vice. Ego, greed and vices are poisons that can quickly change fate and take fortune away. So, take heed and not fall into the traps of arrogance.

 Look for the potential for fortune in the current misfortune. When you see fortune, look for the potential for the misfortune that is hiding for you like an ego trap baited and waiting. If you can avoid an unnecessary, not-wise choice, you may be able to keep fortune working for you a while longer. Look where you are, where you are heading, and ride the longevity wave as far as it will take you. This is the Tao of Longevity, staying on the path for the long haul. Don’t stray from it and get lost on the side paths and you may be successful in keeping your life going. 

Look for the potential of misfortune within the fortune you are experiencing. When you notice yourself about to stray, take a breath, become present and detach from the lure of the bad choice. Remember that there is probably a trap door waiting to open and swallow you up into misfortune again.

1. I encourage you to watch the lecture here on YouTube

2. For more on Sovereignty, please consider my book: Sovereignty – The Tao Principle of Spiritual Discipline  

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The Tao of virtue

“Submitting early is called emphasis on accumulating virtue”

Verse 4, Chapter 59, Tao Te Ching

In the Tao of Longevity, you learned that your destiny is not predetermined and that you can and should be shaping your future that has a foundation in longevity. You learned that the complement of creation, Atrophy, is in constant motion taking back the life presence that you were given. You learned that Longevity is the battle to ward that off and keep staying present and experiencing life in the way that you planned.

In the chapter of, The Tao of Life and Death you learned that only one and ten people can be successful of longevity. And their skill and ability to rule over their life with successful results is called Sovereignty. You learned that through Sovereignty you can stay on the path and not let the ego distract you and lure you off the true path.

Longevity has been defined as the way of living a long successful life. This requires an actionable method of staying on the path that takes you closer to that success and not further away. Unity with the Tao means to be living in harmony with the natural order of the universe. That is the way. Being in disharmony with that order is to move against the creative flow of nature principles of how the universe works. What most people do not seem to know or care about is that they, you are already in the flow and every choice made is creating the future.

To unify with the flow of reality and life you must become aware of and pay attention to the principle of cause and effect, or Karma. Your choice today will have an effect somewhere in the future.

The Principle of Karma

Karma has many perspectives that vary from culture to culture. For our purposes here we can keep the concept simple, and you will quickly appreciate its direct effect on reality. You can begin with the simple view of cause and effect. More specifically you could say actions have consequences. If you can, filter out value judging by everything as either good or bad. Just observe that the creation is happening. Consider now, what initiated that creative force or action? What is the causation of the product that was created?

After you understand your role in initiating karmic actions then you value judge, by determining if your creative choice is good or bad. In the case of longevity, creating harmony is a causation that results in good consequences and life goes on in a pleasant way. However, if choice and karmic result is disharmony, then the creative results is atrophy (the way of death).

Karma is an active principle where we observe the Tao responding to our actions of thought word and deed. What goes out will return, what goes up will come down and of course, what goes around comes around. The way becomes clear that great care must be taken when dealing with karma. This book mentions over and over that all of us are on this path whether we realize it or not. Everyone is in a relationship with karma. Those who can wake up and be self-aware and Sovereign will benefit from karma. Those who cannot end up suffering and finally dead. Maybe it is why the ancient Chinese called karma “the great executioner”.

When you start becoming awake and aware and really trying to do the right thing in that moment of decision, you will find your ‘self’ wondering how to make the right choice. You sincerely want to know but may not be sure and you want to get it right. This is where the understanding of the power of virtue becomes a game changer.

Virtue (Because of)

When you read the common definition of virtue you find it having to do with behavior and morality. There is a deeper view. It is the ancient Chinese perspective that lies in its karmic affect. Choices made in alignment with virtue will result in positive consequences. When a virtue is applied to choices, karma responds in kind. Here is an example to see how this plays out. Like so many words or phrases we say each day, the phrase “because of” doesn’t seem to carry much weight. However, like so many seemingly obscure principles, once understood the importance becomes quite clear. It is as simple as looking at a result, good or bad, and considering how it came to be. When you consider something that resulted from cause and effect you simply state that it happened “because of” ______________.

“Because of her strong virtue of patience, she was able to not eat the cookie before mealtime. Eventually through this continued action she lost fifteen pounds.”

And:

“Because of her strong virtue of sovereignty, she was able to remain detached from her cookie cravings and soon her diabetes got better.”

“Because of” your choices, you are experiencing your current situation or destiny. When considering your lifestyle, which is the methodology of how you live our life, think about how through cause and effect you have your current conditions. This principle is embedded in everything in your life from health to wealth. Through self-awareness (mindfulness) and self-discipline (Sovereignty), you can choose the actionable virtue to create the future condition that provides success. In every mindful moment you must consider which virtue/s to apply.  There are many virtues to learn and become familiar with such as moderation and harmony. The challenge is to practice a virtue over and over in everyday life to the point that it becomes second nature. When you are automatically implementing a virtue all the time in everyway you will notice significant changes in your life situation. This is called “accumulating virtue”.

In the first at the beginning of the chapter the phrase submitting early is good advice to take up virtuous choice as soon as possible. The sooner one implements virtue the sooner they change their fortunes.

 Lao Tzu and other Tao cultivators of his day had three virtues that they felt were important enough to call “treasures” because when they were used often, they created powerful successes.  The three virtues that he discusses Chap 67 of the Tao Te Ching are: Conservation, Compassion and Humility, [1]

The Virtue of Conservation

As a term, conservation can be applied to many areas of life. To conserve is to protect and preserve, therefore it is easy to see how important it is when the focus is on quality of life. It is such an obvious wisdom that it would seem that everyone would practice taking care of resources and preserving a smooth existence. But as we have seen in our own lives and those of others living to excess is part of the American dream. The obvious question is why? The answer is simple, because of a lack of control of the self (ego). With a little Sovereignty (spiritual self-discipline) the wise person can stay on the path and preserve life by implementing the virtue of conservation.

Conservation applies to everything in life. When we look at what our important resources are, the obvious ones come to mind first. Financial resources are important to thrive, so using them up frivolously in pursuit of ego desire is a bad move. When thinking about Longevity, one must consider preservation of health. Most of us are born healthy with everything we need to live a long life free of self-caused disease. Yet instead of preserving our original health, our original Qi, we mindlessly destroy it through lifestyle choices such as diet, lack of exercise, and exposure to harmful elements in the environment.  So conservation of health is another important aspect of conservation for longevity. The most important realm to practice conservation is in spirituality. Because wisdom is sourced from the true-self, Spirit, it becomes clear that one must preserve self-awareness and Sovereignty so that the ego can be reigned in. Conservation begins within, then extends outward through the moment-by-moment choices we make in every hour of everyday.

With inner harmony, it becomes possible to conserve the other important areas of life in each moment.  Think about your life and how well you are practicing conservation of some personal resources. You will benefit from occasionally noticing how much waste you have of time, energy, natural resources such as water, finances, inner peace and especially your good health.

Don’t forget to use the “because of” principle to see clearly about the virtue of conservation.

Example: Because of his practice of conservation of financial resources he had plenty of money to pay his medical bills brought on by the pandemic. 

Example: Because he was mindful of his emotions, he was able to avoid and not get caught up in unnecessary drama at work which led to a more calm and peaceful life.

 For Longevity, you must learn to be present and preserve your life through conservation practices on all levels beginning with spirit.

The Virtue of Compassion

Compassion is defined as having care and concern for others. In Eastern Philosophy, it is taught that all people are connected to each other in many ways. So that when you take care of a neighbor or others in your community or even the world, you are helping to take care of yourself too.

When you add Karma (cause and effect) to this insight, you will find that the old saying, what goes around, comes around is a fundamental truth. How you interact and treat others will create your social well-being. The ego is self-serving and narcissistic which is always noticed by others. When the time comes for a helping hand, people will remember how they were treated in the past. Even if people don’t remember, Karma does, so it might be payback time. Do you know someone in our life that seems to always be compassionate? How do people respond to them? Think abut parents, teachers, bosses, and leaders and you feel about the ones who were compassionate and the ones who were not. I can almost guarantee that at some time in your life you will need to rely on the compassion of others which can directly affect your longevity and quality of life.

But compassion for others is just one side of the coin. What self-compassion? Part of self-destruction comes from those moments that we abuse ourselves through the coping and desire of ego. Virtue arises from spirit; indifference rise from ego. Self-abuse through over-indulgence directly affects longevity. About 85% of older adults have a chronic disease, while 60% of seniors have two or more. [2] The most common reasons for Chronic Disease in the United States are:

Tobacco use

Poor Nutrition

Lack of Physical Activity

Excessive Alcohol and Drug use

All of these are lifestyle choices that are self-abusive and the perfect reflection for self-compassion. Why do we do these things to ourselves. If you read my bio, you will see that I suffer from two diseases: Heart Disease  and Cancer, both of which I did to myself through a lack of self-compassion. Fortunately, through Tao practice and the discipline of Sovereignty, I have been able to reverses these and buy more time. Which is a good place to look at the “because of”.

Because I was able to learn mindfulness and sovereignty, I was able to reverse two self-caused deadly diseases and restore a sense of well-being and contentment.

Because she was so caring and compassionate for others, the community rallied around her and helped her get back on her feet when her house caught fire and burned down.

Don’t underestimate the power of compassion and remember that NO ONE escapes karma. Compassion or the lack of is a big factor in longevity.

The Virtue of Humility

 last virtue of the three treasures is Humility. The simplest definition for humility is to not put yourself first. It is to avoid taking on a role of self-importance. Humility is the opposite of ego which is self-serving. It may not readily appear how self-importance plays a role in longevity, that is, until you consider the principle of karma.

The cause and effect plays out in several different ways that initiate the destiny creating force of karma.

First of self-importance is an ego trait that comes with another negative virtue (sin) which is a since of entitlement and deserving.

Accumulating Virtue. In the Tao Te Ching verse at the top of this chapter Lao Tzu says, “submitting early is the emphasis of accumulating virtue”. Submitting early means to transcend the ego and find oneness with the Tao (the way). When you become awakened and self-aware wisdom, not ego, chooses virtue as a means of resolving life’s challenges and problems. Through cause and effect of karmic action, the results are being in unity with the Tao and success at life. Success in life means to live longer, better, with more contentment and satisfaction. The power of virtue is realized in all levels of life and is always employed right here, right now. The Tao cultivator is one who accumulates virtue. That means to keep practicing using them in your choices until it becomes second nature. As you accumulate more virtue you will notice how life begins to flow in a lot smoother fashion. Life becomes simpler and less complicated. Eventually your lifestyle become integrated with virtuous choices and the feeling of contentment increases. This is the Tao of Virtue.

[1] For more on karma, virtue, and other sovereignty, please consider my book: Sovereignty, The Tao Principle of Self Discipline which can be found the Tao of Longevity Website: https://thetaooflongevity.com/books

[2] NCOA National Council on Aging

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Lifestyle Choices Matter

Every moment of everyday life, you are making choices that affect your destiny and your longevity, and the quality of life you hope to enjoy. Those choices matter a lot.

Sovereignty, the Tao virtue of self-discipline is how you control desire and ego traits that can lead us down the wrong path. The right path, the true path, is before you in every moment of choice.

Examples of Lifestyles That Promote Longevity

Blue Zones.

In November 2005, National Geographic Magazine featured an article titled “Secrets of Long Life”  by Dan Buettner who went on to publish a book titled: Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way. Since then, more books and articles all point to communities worldwide that have shown to have an unusual number of Centenarians and long-life people. The data from his reporting has shown how specific lifestyle choices in these communities significantly affect longevity. Another interesting note is that some things that contribute to longevity are not what you would not expect. 

China.

In 1677, a man named Li Ching-Yuen was born Sichuan Province, China. He died in 1933, making him 256 years old! The old master of Taoist Internal Alchemy and herbologist practiced what would later evolve into the energy cultivation now called Qi Gong or Chi-Kung. He is the best-known example of extreme Longevity that we know of. It shows what is possible.  

Both longevity examples above indicate that a long life is possible when we learn to live so that self-destructive practices are minimized. Not only can we stop lifestyle choices that cause earlier-than-expected death, but we can also add positive lifestyle choices that can extend the lifespan longer than expected. 

Cultivating Life (Longevity)

Be The One
“I have heard of those who are good at cultivating life” Verse 7, Chapter 50 Tao Tè Ching.
Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Tè Ching more than 2500 years ago, which indicates that people were cultivating the alchemy in his day. It is thought that the roots of Taoist Internal Alchemy can be traced back to the time of The Yellow Emperor, Huang Di, from the 26th century BC. Longevity traditions can be traced back in other cultures and are just as old.  These ancient principles are as powerful and relevant today as they were back then. The ancients would not have used the word ‘lifestyle’, but they understood there were ways to live better, longer lives. Unlike today, only the rich had the luxury of having so many choices to pick from. Today we have enough freedom and choices that we often self-destruct due to a lack of self-restraint. If you are not mindful and paying attention (distraction), you won’t be able t control desires and impulses that directly affect your health and well-being.

Your Destiny Is NOT Predetermined

Who knows the ultimate end They have no determined outcome. Verse 7 & 8, Chapter 58, Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu refers to the Misfortune and Fortune that come and go in our life and that our destiny is not predetermined. How you deal with these occurrences will determine your longevity fate. The Alchemy of life is cultivated and protected in how you live your life, which you should and can control with Sovereignty. 


This blog is about Lifestyle choices and how to cultivate longevity as well as a destiny of well-being and joy. It examines various Lifestyle elements and how they play a role in your personal longevity. The alchemy of life is either nurtured or hampered by how you live.  
What and how much you choose to eat matters. How much sitting or exercise you get matters, how much stress or relaxation matters, and most importantly, how much spiritual cultivation matters. Your lifestyle choices matter. Consider these lifestyle choices that may help lead to a greater understanding of your longevity and a longer, more successful life. 

Please consider my book on how to cultivate Sovereignty. You can read the book for free if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited.

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YOUR DESTINY IS NOT PREDETERMINED

Much of the time the work of longevity is that of stopping self-destructive habits

 For newcomers, the first question may be to ask “what is the Tao of Longevity? “So, let’s break it down. The Tao, pronounced “Dow” with a “D” best translates as ‘the way’, meaning the way of doing, the way of living, or the path or even the journey of life. And Longevity is simply a long life. Simplified, The Tao of Longevity is the way of living a long successful life. That is the surface level or beginning level of understanding so we can start here. For a brief history and description of Taoism, read this.

It is good to think of the term Destiny which may be defined as that which will happen in the future. This program’s slogan is “your destiny is not predetermined”. This is to say that your future has not been decided yet and you have the opportunity right now to shape it into the future or destiny that you would rather experience. In another post, I write about how you are on this path whether you want to be or not and whether you even realize it or not. Hopefully, you are here at this site reading these words because you are seeking a means of creating a better destiny for yourself. The information on this site is here for that very reason, to help create a destiny that is not just longer, but with success and wellbeing. Along with these, you will hopefully find contentment and some degree of fulfillment. I have developed a protocol that has served me well in changing my uncertain destiny to being able to not only survive longer but to realize a sense of joy and contentment that I had always longed for. You can read my Bio to see the situation that I was able to get through. So I am sharing it with you on these pages with step-by-step practices to cultivate your own longevity path. The keyword here is “cultivate” which means to develop a skill”. Your job is to become highly skilled at being successful in life. Here are steps in cultivation

  • Cultivate the ability to wake up and become aware in the present moment (Meditation)
  • Cultivate the ability to stay present as much as possible (Mindfulness)
  • cultivate internal alchemy (Qigong) to restore and maintain a healthy mind, body, and spirit. 
  • Cultivate a Lifestyle  by making choices that restore and maintain your health and vitality so that you will have Longevity
  • Cultivate the ability to find and return to your true path when you stray away (called “side paths”)

While cultivation does not have to follow a linear path, it should begin with learning or improving meditation and mindfulness. Being awake and aware is the foundation for managing the ego and making wise choices. It also means learning to curb distraction so that you do not become lost from your true path. With a foundation of self-awareness, you cultivate longevity each day as you make choices that create a sense of harmony in your life. This is done through the way you live, or Lifestyle choices which really matter. This harmony that you are cultivating is a result of living in such a way as to be in unity with the way nature works. Much of the time the work of longevity is that of stopping self-destructive habits which are driving ego-desire. A simple but effective view is to notice how much stress you are living with. It becomes critically important to create less stress and live with more harmony. As you will learn, Harmony is a powerful virtue that through the cause and effect of karma will ignite the fire of vitality and nurturing. The state of being of controlling the ego and self-destructive choices is called “Sovereignty”. Included on this site are lots of helpful strategies and resources including, books, videos, and articles that all point to ways of cultivating longevity and wellbeing. So ready to begin? If so start here.  Then work your way through Qigong and Lifestyle for Longevity. Put them all together as a way of life.
 

 “This is to say that your future has not been decided yet and you have the opportunity right now to shape it into the future or destiny that you would rather experience. In another post, I write about how you are on this path, whether you want to be or not and whether you even realize it or not. Hopefully, you are here at this site reading these words because you are seeking a means of creating a better destiny for yourself. “

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