The bulk of the First chapter of the Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen, the foundational text of Chinese Medicine, is a discussion between the ancient sage and physician Huang Di and the "Heavenly Master" Qi Bo about why the people of antiquity were able to achieve great age well over 100 years . The answers that Qi Bo provides are of formidable wisdom and point to a expanded picture of health and wellness that spans many dimensions of who we are.
Essentially the first question Huang Di asked Qi Bo 2200 years ago was " why did the people of antiquity live well beyond 100 in both health and happiness"
In response to this question one may expect to hear dietary advice and some things to avoid.
Instead Qi Bo answers thus:
"...The people of high antiquity, Those who knew the Way. Modeled their behavior on Yin and Yang. And complied with the arts and the calculations.."
"...Quiet Peacefulness, absolute emptiness, the True qi follows these states,"
"...That by which all of them were able to exceed a lifespan of one hundred years, while their movements and activity did not weaken, [that was the fact that] their virtue was perfect and they did not meet with danger."
[Unschuld & Tessenow, 2011]
To me this means:
Those who live in health and happiness know the way of self cultivation. They recognize the flow of life and live according to the cycles within and outside of oneself.
Through the application of mindfulness of body and mind, the wise achieved states of health and peace. Empty of worldly desires and cravings that cause suffering, they knew and understood their own spiritual nature.
In alignment with their spirit, thought and action were virtuous and avoided that which depleted life.
What is astonishing to me is that the the first chapter of this ancient text ,a long and detailed discourse on medicine and healing , is focused on achieving alignment with the "The Way."
Taking into consideration Qi bo's advice, the process of longevity and healing involves not only treatment interventions like acupuncture and herbs, but more importantly the act of conscious self- transformation: the realization that each thought and action has an impact on our life experience. The process of health and healing then becomes a classroom where we learn to hold ourselves accountable in body and mind. This process catalyzes the unfolding our own wisdom, health and happiness.
Amidst changes in our personal worlds and at large at this time, this message of health as both cultivation of body and mind is of great importance and highly pertinent
This expanded view of health is what inspired us to study and practice this medicine and is why our services include not only treatment modalities like acupuncture, herbal medicine and Qigong therapy , but also education about self-cultivation, meditation and spiritual practice.
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References
Unschuld, P. U., & Tessenow , H. (2011). Huang di nei jing su wen: An annotated translation of huang di's inner classic - basic questions. (Vol. 1, p. 32-36). Berkeley: University of California Press.