Let's continue reading about the Daoist understanding of consciousness. In the previous session, it was mentioned that Daoism divides consciousness into several levels. The first and foremost is the primordial spirit(YUAN SHEN). The second is " Conscious Spirit(SHI SHEN): Refers to the mental activities and thought processes developed after birth (including the emergence of various emotions)." The third is "True Intent(ZHEN YI): The primordial spirit remains unmoving as the essence, while true intent operates through resonance and connection. The primordial spirit and true intent are fundamentally one. True intent refers to the correct awareness within emptiness..." Dr Pang points out here that the primordial spirit should not be equated with true intent. He explains, "In the relationship among the primordial spirit, the conscious spirit, and true intent, the primordial spirit is the state of consciousness without mental activity, or the most primitive and fundamental state of the conscious spirit. When various thoughts have not yet stirred, that special condition is called the primordial spirit. Through practice, one can gradually sense and recognize it—a neutral state devoid of all emotions. The conscious spirit refers to the everyday activities of the mind. When the conscious spirit becomes tranquil, the nature of the primordial spirit can manifest. When you are in a state of profound emptiness and tranquility, the function through which you perceive the 'nature of the primordial spirit' is called 'true intent,' which is entirely different from ordinary mental activities. Ancient philosophers regarded the primordial spirit and the conscious spirit as opposing forces. They believed that practice should involve eliminating the conscious spirit to return to the primordial spirit. However, our Zhineng Qigong does not hold this view."

The Buddhist definition of "consciousness." (PIN YIN“YI SHI”) Buddhism holds that "mind"(YI) and "consciousness"(SHI) have distinct meanings: "mind"(YI) refers to the human “think” state; "consciousness"(SHI) refers to the ability to discern, differentiate, and comprehend things. Both mind and consciousness are functions of the heart-mind, reflecting the workings of mental states. Although heart-mind, mind, and consciousness differ, they are ultimately one. When combined, mind and consciousness form the specific term "consciousness." In Daoism, there is no exact equivalent for the term "consciousness." Related concepts include the primordial spirit (YUAN SHEN), the conscious spirit (SHI SHEN), and true intent (ZHEN YI), which are elaborated below. 1. "Primordial Spirit 元神（YUAN SHEN): What is the primordial spirit? It is when internal thoughts do not emerge, external thoughts do not intrude, and one remains in sovereign clarity—this is called the primordial spirit." "The primordial spirit exists in a state of neither movement nor stillness, yet is vividly alive. It is innate, and all mental activities are grounded in it." Let’s pause here for now. Please reflect carefully on the Daoist concept of the primordial spirit, which closely resembles the nature and state of the "true self"——YI YUAN TI 意元体as discussed in ZHI NENG science...

如何在阅读中获得更大的收益： 在读庞老师的著作以及其他修行类型的著作时，我们首先应该把头脑彻底放空，里面不要有以往的经验，或者你的期望，也就是说，你希望看到什么...因为所有的这些预设都将限制你，让你无法真正地与经典所要表达的信息相连。你完全放空，然后将文字提供的信息在更大的广阔背景里阅读体会。尤其这种形容状态的内容，反复读反复体会，就是理即是法，非常高妙的练法。有时候你会当下有醍醐灌顶的感受。我就是在这样的阅读中与智慧者深入沟通，并觉得心心相印的。 When reading the works of Dr. Pang and other writings related to spiritual cultivation, we should first empty our minds completely, setting aside past experiences or personal expectations—such as what we hope to find in the text. This is because all such preconceived notions can limit us, preventing us from truly connecting with the message conveyed by the classics. With a completely open mind, we can then read and reflect on the information provided by the text within a broader background. This is especially true for content that describes states of being. By repeatedly reading and contemplating such passages, we come to understand that the principles themselves are the methods—an exceptionally profound way of practice. At times, you may experience a moment of sudden enlightenment, as if a flood of insight washes over you. It is through reading in this way that I have been able to engage in deep communication with wise minds and feel a heart-to-heart connection.

Updated: Sep 18 The thyroid gland may be small, but its influence on nearly every system in the body is profound. This butterfly-shaped gland nestled in the neck regulates metabolism, energy, temperature, growth, and more through the hormones it produces. When thyroid function becomes imbalanced, whether through hypothyroidism (underactive) or hyperthyroidism (overactive), the effects can be far-reaching and significantly impact quality of life, While conventional medicine typically addresses thyroid disorders through hormone replacement or suppression, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers complementary natural thyroid remedies that address the root imbalances underlying thyroid dysfunction. By working with the body's innate healing abilities, TCM provides gentle yet effective approaches to restoring thyroid health. Understanding Thyroid Disorders Through a TCM Lens In Western medicine, thyroid disorders are generally classified as either hypothyroidism (insufficient thyroid hormone production) or hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone production). These conditions are typically diagnosed through blood tests measuring levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). In TCM theory, the thyroid region is associated with the "Sea of Qi" (Qi Hai) and is influenced primarily by the Kidney, Spleen, and Liver organ systems. These aren't just the physical organs as understood in Western medicine, but functional systems that govern various physiological and energetic processes in the body. Here's how these systems relate to thyroid function in TCM: The Kidney system is the foundation of health in TCM and governs growth, development, and reproduction. The Kidneys store essential life energy (Jing) and are closely related to thyroid function. Kidney deficiency often underlies hypothyroidism, particularly in cases with symptoms like fatigue, cold sensitivity, and low libido. The Spleen system is responsible for the transformation and transportation of nutrients in TCM. It generates Qi and Blood from the food we eat. Spleen Qi deficiency can contribute to hypothyroidism, especially when symptoms include digestive issues, fatigue, and weight gain.

Next, Dr.Pang elaborated on the concept of consciousness from various perspectives, including philosophy, psychology, medicine, Buddhism, and Taoism. We have distilled the content relevant to our practice for everyone to understand. Today, we will focus on the definition of the subconscious from a psychological perspective, which is highly insightful. The original text from the book reads as follows: "The term 'consciousness' emerged after Buddhism was introduced to China. Before that, ancient China referred to it as 'mind' or 'spirit,' broadly meaning advanced neural activities." "Psychology: Consciousness is considered the sum total of all psychological activities. Psychological activities refer to emotions, moods, temperament, thinking, memory, abilities, etc. All these activities take place against the background of consciousness." Additionally, psychology defines the subconscious as follows: "Primordial Consciousness Layer: It resides at the most 'fundamental level' of all neural activities. Under normal circumstances, it is obscured by the conscious layer and submerged by conscious activities. Only when conscious activities cease can it manifest. It does not rely on conceptual activities but directly aligns with information. Hence, it is non-analytical and non-conceptual. When concepts come into play, conscious activities begin." Please take the time to reflect deeply on this definition of the subconscious. By doing so, we can better understand when we might catch glimpses of our subconscious in daily life—that hidden force that silently influences and controls our life activities. Furthermore, we can explore the principle of how the subconscious emerges and flows during our practice of “Do-nothing” meditation.