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CHAPTER 8

THE SECRETS OF SEMEN RETENTION

"Reject all reasoning about sex; practice special exercises. To be able to make love and not emit is the secret of returning the semen. Increasing and aiding the semen is the way of the life-force."

—Plain Woman's advice to the Yellow Emperor 2nd century B.C.

In the centuries past, the Emperor of China invariably called in the court sages, usually Taoist, to get advice on his sex life. Before accepting the advice of any sage, so the story goes, the Emperor required any prospective master to prove his sexual control. He did this by offering the would-be advisor a full glass of wine and demanding the sage insert his penis into it. If he was truly a master, he could absorb the wine into his penis, and then release it back into the wine glass. This was taken as absolute proof that the sage could also absorb a woman's sexual fluids, her yin essence, and therefore knew the secrets of Immortality.

This practice of absorbing fluid into the penis is quite real, and can still be seen on the streets of India today. One enterprising yogi in Bombay sucks up oil into his penis in private and then publicly lights it on fire as he urinates it out, claiming it is divine fire. Amusing, but not very inspiring as a model for the transformation of sex energy. This yogic suction technique is one that many people confuse with the true practice of semen retention.

plished by creating a vacuum in the bladder through certain physical exercises. It is a dangerous practice because it is easy for the male prostate or bladder to become infected by the inhaled fluid, especially female sexual fluids drawn during love-making from the highly bacterial culture of the vagina. Some yogis have become ill from this practice, and thus all methods of semen retention have gained a reputation in some circles as being unhealthy and leading to impotence and prostate problems.

I warn my students never to suck in a woman's fluids. The Taoist method of semen retention I teach is directed towards a single goal—the transformation of sex energy, or ching, into higher levels in the body, mind, and spirit. The sperm seed is held only so its essence is not lost outside the body. The method is useless unless the ching is withdrawn from the seed and pulled up and circulated throughout the body. There is no need to draw in a woman's sexual fluids inside your body; the head of the penis glans is specially designed to absorb the woman's powerful essence directly through the skin.

But by far the most powerful exchange with this Taoist method occurs on a level of subtle energy. That is why I teach all my students to circulate their chi in the microcosmic orbit as the prerequisite to understanding the cultivation of ching from the raw physical level of sperm to the refined subtle energy of a shien, or spiritual being. When they have opened their microcosmic orbit, it is already a minor enlightenment. The mind has begun to realize it has control over its own subtle energy. Ultimately you learn that all mind is the movement of subtle energy.

LEARN TO CIRCULATE YOUR "CHI"

IN THE MICROCOSMIC ORBIT

The methods of chi cultivation explained in detail in this book— from Testicle Breathing to the Big Draw method to the valley orgasm—all involve drawing sexual energy stored in the testicles up the spinal column and into the brain. When full, this energy will come down the front into the throat, heart, and navel. The brain and pituitary gland will aid in distributing this powerful energy to wherever it is needed, whether for fighting off illness, answering a child's question, painting, or making love. This is a unique at-

tribute of sexual ching over other types of chi with special functions, such as liver chi. Sex energy is extraordinarily versatile, and can be transformed into many different functions. This is one reason it is so nourishing to our spiritual being. It can easily digest it, almost as if it were baby food.

It is much easier to cultivate your energy if you first understand the major paths of energy circulation in the body. The nervous system in humans is very complex and is capable of directing energy wherever it is needed. But the ancient Taoist masters discovered there are two energy channels that carry an especially strong current.

One channel is called the "Functional," or "Yin" Channel. It begins at the base of the trunk midway between the testicles and the anus at a point called the perineum. It goes up the front of the body past the penis, stomach organs, heart, and throat up and ends at the tip of the tongue. The second channel, called the "Governor," or "yang" channel, starts in the same place. It flows from the perineum upwards into the tailbone and then up through the spine into the brain and back down to the roof of the mouth.

The tongue is like a switch that connects these two currents— when it is touched to the roof of the mouth just behind the front teeth, the energy can flow in a circle up the spine and back down the front. The two channels form a single circuit that the energy loops around. This vital current circulates past the major organs and nervous systems of the body, giving cells the juice they need to grow, heal, and function. This circulating energy, known as the microcosmic orbit, forms the basis of acupuncture, Western medical research has already acknowledged acupuncture as being clinically effective, although scientists admit they cannot fully explain why the system works. The Taoist, on the other hand, have been studying the subtle energy points in the body for thousands of years and have verified in detail the importance of each channel.

It is this loop of energy about the body which also carries the sexual current from the testicles and spreads the vitality to other parts of the body. This has a profound effect on ycur health, as it triggers the glands to release the sex stimulating hormones that regulate body chemistry and ultimately affect your ability to do any thing. It has an especially strong influence on the quality of your love-making, as on the biological level sex is largely a question of hormonal balance.

The sexual energy that moves in the microcosmic is a primordial energy. Human life begins with the piercing of an egg by a sperm cell. This is the original act of Kung Fu in the battle of yin and yang. Sexual Kung Fu is the recreation of that act within the male body. Only instead of forming a foetus from a fertilized egg growing inside the woman's womb, the sperm energy penetrates to higher energy centers inside the male body and gives birth to man on a spiritual level. It is drawn upward by the microcosmic channel where it literally gives a man a rebirth, a "new life"—the confidence of controlling a powerful flow of creative energy and the satisfaction of a deep sense of harmony. Whenever you are "in love" with a woman or with life at large, energy is flowing into your microcosmic orbit. It is the feeling of intense connectedness, of being centered in the warm flowing current of life.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MICROCOSMIC ORBIT

By opening this microcosmic channel up and keeping it clear of physical or mental blockages it is possible to pump greater amount of sexual energy up the spine. If this channel is blocked by tension, then during the sexual excitement of love-making the hot sperm energy will seek the quickest alternate escape route and go out the penis. The sexual power is then lost until the body goes through the long and physically taxing process of manufacturing more sperm. Some of man's power of magnetic sexual attraction is temporarily lost by this discharge of sperm. There are some methods of kundalini and tantric yoga that devise a very powerful flow of energy up the spine to the head, using mantra, breathing techniques, yogic postures and locks to channel the sperm power upwards. Leaving to circulate the microcosmic orbit is an important step to sealing this energy within the body so it will circulate and revitalize all parts of the mind and body. Otherwise when intense pressure builds in the head much of it escapes out the eyes, ears, nose and mouth and is lost. This is like trying to heat a room with your body heat while all the windows open—you're going to have a very high fuel bill. You'll spend a lot of sperm energy that isn't recoverable for immediate practical use, such as sharing it with your lover.

The easiest way to open the microcosmic energy channel is by simply sitting in meditation a few minutes each morning and relaxing. Allow your energy to automatically complete the loop by let-

118 Taoist Secrets Of Love

ting your mind flow along with it. Start in the eyes, and mentally circulate with the energy as it goes down the front through your tongue, throat, chest and navel and then up the tailbone and spine to the head.

At first it will feel like nothing is happening, but eventually the current will begin to feel warm in some places as it loops around. The key is just to relax and try to bring your mind directly into the part of the loop being focused on. This is different from visualizing an image inside your head of what that part of the body looks like or is feeling. Do not use your mind as if it were a T.V. picture. Experience the actual chi flow. Relax and let your mind flow with the chi in the physical body along a natural circuit to any desired point e.g. your navel, perineum, etc.

Those interested in fully mastering this method of relaxation and opening the microcosmic orbit can refer to my first book "AWAKEN HEALING ENERGY THROUGH THE TAO." The best lover is a fully relaxed man who understands what is going on inside him. The man who masters this easy flow of energy inside the body's microcosmic orbit will find tapping into his sexual powers a simple and natural step.

Experience has shown that the Sexual Kung Fu practices taught in this chapter were quickly and effortlessly mastered by students who first studied the microcosmic orbit and opened its two channels of energy flow. So study of the microcosmic orbit is highly recommended to all students of Sexual Kung Fu who seek to truly master the techniques taught here. Progress to the higher levels of transforming sexual energy without first learning the microcosmic is very difficult. Many people may already be "open" in these channels and simply need to be told where the energy flows in order to do it. Others get it simply by being very relaxed and living close to nature. The benefits of the microcosmic orbit extend beyond facilitating the flow of sexual energy, and include prevention of aging and the healing of many illnesses ranging from high blood pressure, insomnia and headaches to arthritis.

Mastering the microcosmic current also prepares the serious student for utilizing other energy-conserving techniques that complement Sexual Kung Fu such as "Iron Shirt Chi Kung I, II, III," a method of packing and storing chi energy into vital organs. Another powerful technique is Tai Chi Chi Kung, a condensed form of Tai Chi Chuan that circulates chi energy between body, mind, and

EXTERNAL LOCKING: THE THREE FINGERS METHOD

Three Fingers Method of seminal retention has been practiced in China for more than five thousand years. It is so easy and simple that anyone can learn it quickly and with considerable effectiveness. The method seals in the vital fluid from the outside with fingertip pressure. It requires slightly more coordination than stepping on a garden hose to stop the flow of water.

The Three Fingers Method involves essentially this: Several seconds before the moment of ejaculation, press the mid-point between the anus and the scrotum with the three longest fingers of the right hand. This seals in the fluids and much energy.

THE PRACTICE:

1.Locate The Point: Apply the pressure at the mid-point between the anus and scrotum. This point, which lies at the very bottom of the trunk, is a "door" through which energy enters and leaves the body.

2.Apply pressure: Apply pressure neither too hard or too light. The proper amount of force must be found with experience. Generally speaking, the stronger the finger tips, the less pressure needs to be applied to halt the fluid.

DIAGRAM 25

Bladder

Ductus Deferens

Seminal Vesicle

Anal Ring

Contractions

Scrotum

External Locking Method

Several seconds before the moment of ejaculation press the mid-point between the anus and scroturr with the three longest fingers of the right hand

3.Use Three Fingers: The passage through which the semen travels tends to slide away from one's fingers. Two fingers cannot hold the tube and block it at the same time. We use the second and fourth fingers to press both sides of the urethra and anchor it in place. Then the middle finger presses directly on the urethra itself, which doesn't slip away because it is pinned on both sides by the other two fingers. The fingers should be curved slightly. The middle finger is a little more bowed than the other two in order to provide a solid, even wall through which the fluid cannot pass.

4.Timing: As soon as you feel the inevitability of ejaculation, apply the fingers for External Locking. If you wait too long, no force can stop the flow. When you know that ejaculation is imminent, apply the fingers. The locking should be applied before, during and after the contractions. Lock until you are certain that the pumping has ceased completely.

The net result of locking in the semen is that much fluid flows back to the reservoirs from which it came. There is no harm whatever done to the bodily organs, for the tissues in this region are highly elastic and accept the fluid which returns when you reverse the flow.

It might seem that the seminal reservoir cannot hold fluid beyond a maximum level. This would be true if the male reproductive system were a simple hose and tank. This it is not. When the fluid reaches a high level, several things happen.

First, production of sperm automatically declines. This saves the energy and materials needed to produce the nutritionally-rich sperm. Second, there is a natural tendency for the body to reabsorb these fluids spontaneously. Third, the Taoists have perfected a system for "steaming" the seminal power up to the higher vital centers, thereby reducing pressure in the lower sperm ducts and prostate gland. This involves transmuting the liquid sperm to a higher energy state. It is somewhat like boiled water becoming a gas, a property which allows moisture to travel upward to the sky while still retaining the essence of water. The liquid ching is likewise transmuted into a different and more mobile energy form that retains the creative essence of ching.

Remember that the force of the seed is more than mere chemical analysis can explain. Any scientist can stew together the ingredients of the sperm. But inspiring them with the power to re-