{"id":7438,"date":"2013-03-15T00:08:21","date_gmt":"2013-03-15T04:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=7438"},"modified":"2016-05-31T01:34:11","modified_gmt":"2016-05-31T05:34:11","slug":"featured-nurturing-mind-is-the-core-of-yang-sheng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=7438","title":{"rendered":"Featured — Nurturing Mind is the Core of Yang Sheng"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nurturing Mind Is the Core of Nurturing Life <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

(<\/strong>\u990a<\/strong>\u5fc3\u662f<\/strong>\u990a<\/strong>\u751f\u7684\u6838\u5fc3)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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by Kevin W Chen, Ph.D. MPH<\/strong><\/p>\n

(A Presentation at the World Assembly of Yang Sheng, Dec. 28-30, 2011, Hangzhou, China)<\/p>\n

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Yang Sheng (\u990a\u751f)<\/strong> — nurturing life or cultivating health — may be the most important concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Chinese health culture.\u00a0 Yang Sheng inherently includes three interrelated components: nurturing body, nurturing mind and nurturing spirit, as all of these are necessary components of a healthy life.\u00a0 Here I would like to discuss the significance of nurturing mind in the process of nurturing life.<\/p>\n

The Concept and Definition of Nurturing Mind vs. Nurturing Life<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is Yang Sheng?<\/a> There are many different definitions out there.\u00a0\u00a0 According to Baidu, the most popular Chinese online encyclopedia and search engine “Yang-Sheng is composed of traditional Chinese health preservation methods that apply adjustments of spirit, dao-yin, seasonal adjustments, nutrition, and medicinal techniques according to Chinese medical theory.” \u00a0[1]\u00a0 (\u990a\u751f\u662f \u201c\u6839\u636e\u4e2d\u533b\u7406\u8bba\uff0c\u8fd0\u7528\u8c03\u795e\u3001\u5bfc\u5f15\u3001\u56db\u65f6\u8c03\u6444\u3001\u98df\u517b\u3001\u836f\u517b\u7b49\u65b9\u6cd5\u7684\u4e2d\u56fd\u4f20\u7edf\u4fdd\u5065\u65b9\u6cd5”).\u00a0 Do you find nurturing mind included in this definition?<\/p>\n

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Cover of the recent textbook “Life-Nurturing Science in TCM”<\/p><\/div>\n

According to the definition in a recent textbook on Yang Sheng, Life-Nurturing Science in TCM<\/span>,[2]\u00a0 Yang Sheng is \u201cthe type of subjective and objective behavior with which people consciously take care of their life through various means and methods. It is the application of their deep understanding of the laws that encompass all of life’s developments. …It is also a mind-body health activity achieved through material and spiritual unification.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 This definition does not really discuss the three levels of body, mind and spiritual cultivation.<\/p>\n

If you read only the definition of Yang Sheng, or just the table of contents of Yang-Sheng books, you may be easily misled on what Yang Sheng is really about. More than 90% of the contents in Yang Sheng books or Yang-Sheng programs are about physical health or bodily preservation, such as diet, environment, adjusting to climate, sexual activities, exercises, bathing, leisure activities, medicine, massage, techniques to take care of specific body parts and so on. Some even misspell Yang Sheng as nurturing the body (\u990a\u8eab).<\/p>\n

A famous Chinese scholar in the Qing dynasty, Liang Wenke, once said, \u201cnurturing life is mainly accomplished by nurturing one\u2019s mind. If the mind is calm and clear, the spirit is in a pure and healthy world, if the spirit is healthy, no illness can enter you.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 If we forget about the significance of nurturing the mind and spirit, the practice of nurturing life will become invalid or baseless.\u00a0 I would like to share some of my thoughts on this matter.<\/p>\n

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Calligraphy of Chinese character “Yang-Xin” (nurturing mind) by Mr. Zhiyang Xu.<\/p><\/div>\n

What is Yang Xin (\u990a\u5fc3) or nurturing mind?\u00a0 Baike at Baidu (Chinese online encyclopedia) defines it as \u201cnourishing and preservation of the mind and the will, the cultivation of personality, and reaching psychological balance.\u201d (\u6db5\u517b\u5fc3\u5fd7; \u517b\u6027; \u5fc3\u7406\u5e73\u8861).\u00a0 Meng zi, an ancient Chinese philosopher, considered \u201cNurturing mind as mainly about minimizing desires\u201d (\u517b\u5fc3\u83ab\u5584\u4e8e\u5be1\u6b32); the Yellow Emperor\u2019s Internal Classic<\/em> set the ultimate goal of nurturing mind as \u201ctranquil mind and nothingness\u201d (\u606c\u6de1\u865a\u65e0), implying a calm and peaceful mind state, being open and optimistic, and having \u00a0a self-entertaining mood with a concentrated but restful spirit.[3]\u00a0 In general, nurturing mind refers to the process or the activities involved in nourishing the mentality, cultivating virtue, balancing the personality, calming one’s mood and strengthening the will.\u00a0 In modern society, the training related to stress management falls into the category of nurturing mind.\u00a0 The concept of Emotional Quotient, or Emotional Intelligence (the ability or capacity to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions of one’s self, and of others) is primarily about nurturing mind in modern science and psychology.<\/p>\n

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Why is Nurturing Mind Most Important in Nurturing Life?<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Most physical illnesses are treatable, but not so for emotional or psychological illness. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The main purpose of nurturing life (Yang Sheng) is to maintain health and achieve longevity. According to TCM, good health is the result of harmony with heaven, the earth and humanity (\u5929\u5730\u4eba\u548c).\u00a0 To be harmonious with heaven, we need to change clothing and adjust to the environment to synchronize with different climates or seasons; otherwise, our body may be invaded by wind, damp, cold or heat qi and become sick. To be harmonious with the earth, we need to have a balanced diet, and restrain ourselves from any excessive consumption of the five tastes (sour, sweet, salty, bitter and spicy); otherwise, our body will lose balance, and develop illnesses such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.\u00a0 To be harmonious with our fellow humans, we need to adjust or constrain the five poisoning (negative) emotions \u2013 complaining (blaming), hatred, sorrow (annoyance), anger, worry (fear) (\u6028\u3001\u6068\u3001\u607c\u3001\u6012\u3001\u70e6) [1]<\/a> so that we can get along with others peacefully and harmoniously.\u00a0 Many sicknesses are the consequence of excessive emotions, which can be very difficult to treat by any known medicine or simple formula.\u00a0 Complaint hurts the spleen, hatred exhausts the heart, sorrow depletes the lungs, anger hurts the liver and fear\/worry affects the kidney.<\/p>\n

When our lives are in discord with heaven, we could catch a cold or suffer heatstroke, which can be easily treated.\u00a0 When our lives are in discord with the earth, we can have an imbalanced intake of the five tastes. We may end up with high blood pressure, high blood sugar and\/or high cholesterol — very common in modern society.\u00a0 We may also develop chronic sicknesses, which are more difficult to heal, but still treatable by medicine.\u00a0 However, when our lives are in discord with other humans due to the five poisoning emotions, it becomes a personality and character issue and there is simply no medicine or formula that can effectively treat these disorder(s).\u00a0 The only known way to treat the symptoms due to discord with humans is through mind-body cultivation, such as meditation, Qigong, Taiji, Reiki and Yoga practice, to develop a detached attitude and to cultivate an empty mind. In other words, one must learn to not attach to the outcome of a given situation; thereby become detached with respect to your attitude. Achieving such a state can be quite challenging.\u00a0 This is why there have been so many different mind-body cultivation traditions throughout Chinese history. Most of them tried to achieve balance and harmony with the inner self through cultivation.\u00a0 I have heard many stories of people experiencing personality changes after Qigong or mind-body practices.\u00a0 In the addiction treatment facility where I conducted my studies, counselors told me that the clients tended to be much less likely to become angry or to fight with each other after starting the daily Qigong meditation program.<\/p>\n

Some people may think that the development of modern clinical psychology should help reduce the occurrence of health problems caused by relationships and negative emotions.\u00a0 Theoretically, that should be what the clinical psychology is for, to solve emotional discomforts, and reduce mental health problems.\u00a0 However, I am not sure how true it is in reality.\u00a0\u00a0 Statistics show that, after WWII, the number of clinical psychologists in the U.S. increased by more than 50%. However, at the same time, the prevalence of anxiety disorders almost doubled.\u00a0 Currently about 18% of the adult population in the U.S. report some form of anxiety disorder in a given year [5].\u00a0 A similar increase was observed in the prevalence of depression, but with an earlier age of onset.\u00a0 From 1991 to 2001 the prevalence of major depression among U.S. adults increased from 3.33% to 7.06% [6]. The most recent data by CDC indicates that 9.1% of American adults report symptoms of current depression [7].\u00a0 An increase in the number of practicing psychologists did not slow down the growth of mental health problems in the U.S.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There is a Chinese saying, \u201cthe mind\/heart diseases need to be treated by mind\/heart.\u201d (\u5fc3\u75c5\u8fd8\u5f97\u5fc3\u6765\u6cbb) Among the ways to effectively treat the illnesses due to discord with humanity are self-cultivation and mind-body exercise, such as meditation, Qigong, taiji and yoga, as well as cultivation of a positive attitude and gratitude in daily life, or what we would call \u201cnurturing the mind\u201d.\u00a0 Gradually through these practices, a person can develop the ability to remain unattached to the outcome of situations, i.e. learn to have an unattached attitude toward life and the ability to cultivate a mentality of optimism and nothingness, which would protect them from discord with humanity.<\/p>\n

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2.\u00a0 Many physical health problems are the results of unresolved mental problems.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Stress and psychological distress is the number one cause of diseases in modern society. \u00a0\u00a0Recent studies (e.g. Sobel 1995) indicate that about 70% to 80% of all visits to primary-care doctors in the U.S. were related to chronic stress and psychological distress,[7]\u00a0 Stress-related health problems cost the U.S. about $200 billion a year.<\/p>\n

How is stress related to nurturing the mind?\u00a0 Stress is a feeling that’s created when we react to particular events or demands. It’s the body’s way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness. \u00a0Psychological distress develops when one remains under stress, over a relatively long period of time.\u00a0 Although the event or demand that generated the stress is objective, the feeling of stress or the degree of stress is completely subjective, and varies by individuals.\u00a0 Those individuals, who have had training in nurturing the mind by developing a detached attitude, would be able to manage the stress with calm and order, or perhaps they would not feel much distress at all under the same conditions.<\/p>\n

Many physical sicknesses are partially or entirely caused by psychological illnesses.\u00a0 For example, 70% of all cancer patients had emotional disturbances 2-3 years before their cancer diagnosis. \u00a0This suggests a strong connection between their \u00a0psychological problems and the development of the cancer. \u00a0Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the number one cause of human death around the world, while prospective studies [8,9] \u00a0show that anger, hostility and anxiety are highly correlated with the outcomes of CHD in both healthy and diagnosed CHD population. \u00a0These fatal diseases have a root in psychological illness with increased difficulty to treat or cure.<\/p>\n

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3.\u00a0 Healthy mind and an optimistic life-perspective is the best predictor for a long life<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

We know that the main purpose of Yang Sheng is to maintain health and achieve longevity.\u00a0 Nurturing the mind and developing an optimistic attitude may be the best way to attain lasting good health and longevity.\u00a0 A famous Chinese philosopher (Daoism) Zhuang Zi (lived to be 83 years old) shared his secret for longevity as \u201cwhen the mind is broad and level, Qi is full, and the spirit is calm; an easily-satisfied person will always be happy.\u201d \u00a0As the Chinese proverb says, \u201canger accelerates your age, while joy returns your youth.\u201d\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Danner and colleagues (2001) conducted a longitudinal study on the factors related to longevity by following 180 Catholic nuns over 60 years. By carefully analyzing the nun\u2019s self- descriptions of world-view or life perspective at the time of entering the church (around age 22) and many other relevant materials, they found out the best predictor of\u00a0 longevity among these nuns, given the similarity in most other living conditions, was\u00a0 having an optimistic life attitude at the time when entering the church.\u00a0 By age 85, 90% of the top quartile of those with an optimistic life attitude were still alive, while only 34% of those in the bottom quartile was still living.\u00a0 By age 94, 54% of the top quartile with an optimistic attitude survived, while only 11% of the bottom quartile survived.\u00a0 The difference is shockingly significant [10].<\/p>\n

Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes in human DNA. The scientific finding on the relationship between the length of telomeres and the aging process won the Nobel Prize of medicine in 2009.\u00a0 Cells age as telomeres get shorter, and conversely, they don\u2019t age when telomerase activity is high and protects telomere length.\u00a0\u00a0 A recent study by Epel et al (2009)[11] explored the relationship among cognitive stress, mindfulness, meditation and telomeres. This study found that long-term cognitive stress (feeling under stress) would accelerate the shortening process of the telomeres, while mindfulness, meditation, positive life attitude and relaxing life style would help reduce or stop the shortening of telomeres.\u00a0 Meditation can literately slow down the cellular aging process\u2026. This is a scientific verification of the significance of nurturing the mind for longevity in TCM.<\/p>\n

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Telomere, its length declines as we age…<\/p><\/div>\n

Therefore, Yang-Sheng or nurturing life should always consider the aspects of nurturing the mind since a healthy mind is the foundation of a healthy body.\u00a0 When we promote Yang Sheng or nurturing life in general, we should not ignore nurturing the mind and spirit.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the reality is the process of nurturing the mind has not yet been materialized into programs or products in the current commercial culture. The challenge will be to teach people how to nurture one\u2019s mind and have this fit easily into their daily lifestyle. There are not yet many companies that are able to market the techniques or products of nurturing the mind at this moment, so that most companies we see in this Yang Sheng assembly are dealing with products of nurturing the body. That is great to start with.\u00a0 However, Yang Sheng as an idea or a culture in health and living, we should never ignore the process of nurturing the mind and nurturing the spirit.\u00a0 Only if we will effectively nurture the mind can the real health and longevity be achieved.<\/p>\n

Of course, the more important question after recognizing the significance of nurturing the mind will be how to nurture the mind.\u00a0 That is the challenge we are all confronted with in our daily lives and I will try to write a separate article on that subject soon.<\/p>\n

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References:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. http:\/\/baike.baidu.com\/view\/6761.htm<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Liu ZW, Ma LG, et al. (eds) Life-Nurturing Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine. <\/em>Beijing: People\u2019s Medical Publisahing House. 2007.<\/li>\n
  3. The Yellow Emperor\u2019s Internal Classic <\/em>(Huang Di Nei Jing<\/em>, \u9ec4\u5e1d\u5185\u7ecf), Beijing: People\u2019s Medical Publishing House. 1963.<\/li>\n
  4. Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the national comorbidity survey replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry<\/em>. 2005;62:617.<\/li>\n
  5. Compton WM, Conway KP, Stinson FS, Grant BF.\u00a0 Changes in the prevalence of major depression and comorbid substance use disorders in the United States between 1991-1992 and 2001-2002.\u00a0 Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Dec;163(12):2141-7.<\/li>\n
  6. CDC (2010). Current Depression among Adults \u2013 United States, 2006 and 2008.\u00a0 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report<\/em>. Oct. 1, 2010.\u00a0 59(38):1229-1235.<\/li>\n
  7. Sobel, D. S. (1995). Rethinking medicine: Improving health outcomes with cost-effective psychosocial interventions. Psychosomatic Medicine<\/em>, 57<\/em>(3), 234\u2013244.<\/li>\n
  8. Chida Y. (2009). The association of anger and hostility with future coronary heart disease: A meta-analysis review of prospective evidence.\u00a0 Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 53(11): <\/em>936-946.<\/li>\n
  9. Kubzansky LD, Cole SR, Kawachi I et al. (2006). Shared and unique contributions of anger, anxiety, and depression to coronary heart disease: A persptctive study in the normative aging study.\u00a0 Annals of Behavioral Medicine. <\/em>31(1): 21-29.<\/li>\n
  10. Danner, DD; Snowdon, DA. Friesen, WV. (2001) Positive emotions in early life and longevity: Findings from the nun study. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology<\/em>, 80(5): 804-813<\/li>\n
  11. Epel E, et al. (2009) Can meditation slow rate of cellular aging? Cognitive stress, mindfulness, & telomeres.\u00a0 Annals of N Y Academy of \u00a0Science<\/em>.<\/a> 1172:34-53.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    \u00a0<\/address>\n
    \"\"<\/a>[Kevin W Chen, Ph.D., MPH<\/strong> is an associate professor at the Center for Integrative Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine (USA). \u00a0Dr. Chen was educated in the universities of both China and the United States, and has\u00a0years of experience and training in blending eastern and western perspectives, and in\u00a0the practice of life-nurturing methods. As a long-time practitioner of Qigong Yang Sheng, he is one of the few scientists in the U.S. to have both hands-on knowledge of mind-body practice, and an active research career in mind-body medicine, which is funded through grants by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and various foundations.\u00a0 Dr. Chen devotes his career and life to the practice of Yang Sheng, and promotion of self-healing and mind-body-spirit integration through the non-profit organization, World Institute for Self Healing (WISH).\u3000He can be reached by \u00a0Qigong4us at gmail.com]<\/address>\n

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    [1]<\/a> The five poisoning (negative) emotions and their effects on health are based on Wang Fengyi\u2019s (\u738b\u51e4\u4eea) theory of Personality-Law Healing Philosophy (\u6027\u7406\u7597\u75c5), which is slightly different from the popular TCM theory on the seven emotions leading to various sicknesses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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