Neidan refers to a series of mental and physical processes necessary to prolong life and achieve eternal life. Some even call it "the path of the golden elixir".
Last update: 24 March, 2022
Neidan is a concept of the Taoist tradition and is described as "internal alchemy". It refers to an inner transformation with the aim of developing "the elixir of immortality", according to Chinese belief.
From the mythological point of view, the person who has completed the path wins eternal life. From a more earthly perspective, it results in the activation of mechanisms that keep the body and mind healthy, therefore extending life.
Neidan, also written Nei Dan, is a Chinese word composed of the root "nèi" which means inside or inside, and the "dān", which refers to the concept of elixir or alchemy. This word is then translated as "internal alchemy".
“The real alchemy was love. Through it the fire is kindled in the hearts. Through it, thought is enlightened. Through it those who have gone are kept alive ”.
-Laura Esquivel-
The Neidan and the inner transformation
Through the Neidan various psychophysiological processes occur. The aim is to promote harmony of the body and emotions, by extension of life. This would lead to a state of serenity which Taoists call "in agreement with Heaven".
Internal alchemy must lead the human body to a primordial state, whose nature is spiritual. This is largely achieved through primordial medicine. Unlike traditional Chinese medicine, this does not use external elements, such as plants or certain practices, but elements that are intrinsic to it.
In other words, the processes that take place with Neidan cause the body to heal the body to heal the mind without the need for the mediation of an external factor. This is why it is called internal alchemy. How is this achieved? Through what are known in the Tao as the Three Treasures.
The triads of the universe
The Neidan starts from the idea that there is a correspondence between Heaven and Earth. According to this view, the human body would have a parallelism with the functioning of the entire universe. Therefore, each body is a small universe in which there are elements and rules of movement that coincide with those of the cosmos.
According to Taoism, there are three great attributes in the universe that define the future of everything: creation, destruction and balance. This would be the essential triad, manifesting in our world as Heaven, Earth and Humanity.
In turn, this trinity also has its expression in the field of energy. In that case, the three elements are Yin, Yang and Tao.
Yin is the essential feminine principle, darkness, passivity and the Earth. Yang is the essential male principle, the light, the active and Heaven. The Tao is the principle that contains and balances both energies.
The three treasures
It is in this logic of the triads that the Neidan or internal alchemy is composed. Every human being has three treasures which correspond to the three principles of energy, the world and the universe. Such treasures are Jing, Chi and Shen and they are present even before birth.
Jing is equivalent to essence, Chi to energy and Shen to spirit. When the person acquires a form in the world, that is, after birth, these three elements also do so and manifest themselves on different physical planes.
In this way, the Jing ends up being embodied or represented by the body in an integral way. Chi becomes the breath of the human being. Finally, Shen takes shape in the mind. The balance of these three aspects would result in "eternal life".
Inner alchemy or the Neidan
Everything about the Neidan is recorded in several books, some of which are very old. All indicate that theinner alchemy is achieved through the harmonization and balance between the Three Treasures.
According to the Book of Balance and Harmony, which dates back to the XNUMXth century, to achieve inner alchemy, and with it longevity and ultimately eternal life, the following dimensions must be developed:
- Essenza. It means satisfying the body to eliminate desire.
- Energy. It is obtained only after completing the essence. It involves nourishment of the mind, the elimination of thoughts.
- Spirit. It involves uniting the body and the mind through the absence of desire and thought to recover emptiness.
Conclusions
If the three processes are completed, and in addition a balance between yin and yang is achieved, health and longevity are achieved. The imbalance between these elements leads to illness and death according to the Tao.
