Melting the Five Elements (Part 8) - Transformation of the Five Senses of Taste

Today we will talk about the five senses of taste. As you know, the taste can be salty, bitter, sour, spicy and sweet. The five senses of taste form the basis of Taoist dietetics. Modern Taoists speak of the five senses of taste as the “cuisine of the five elements.” Yes, yes, each taste sensation corresponds to an element and, therefore, to a specific internal organ.

The balance of the five senses of taste provides the path to inner harmony. Each of us has our own favorite taste. In the same way, there are taste sensations that we can put up with, although we are not delighted with them. There are also those who are disgusting to us.

You should know that very few people have a balanced taste structure. On the contrary, many people strive for taste delights. I am not going to influence your culinary preferences, but I will teach you how to harmonize the five taste sensations in the process of “melting the five elements.” I believe that at this stage of training you will not find the exercise too difficult. Once you have tasted the major internal organs, you will direct these sensations to the appropriate collection points, then mix and harmonize them in the front bagua (star).

After practice, you will find that your taste preferences have changed somewhat. Your body will demand exactly what it needs. The transformation of the five taste sensations is an integral part of the process of a person acquiring his true nature. I would add that Taoism is based on the

such joys of life as owning good things and enjoying a fulfilling family life. The same principle applies to eating. If we consider food from the perspective of the yin-yang theory, then meat is considered yang, and almost everything else is yin. However, if you are a vegetarian, then the system of correspondences between yin and yang is slightly different from the one given in this book. As already stated, the main idea is to achieve a balance of the five senses of taste through the process of “melting the five elements.”

1. 1. Sit on a chair, place your hands together and press the tip of your tongue to the upper palate. Imagine your body bathing in colors that correspond to the elements. Start with red. Then surround the body with a yellow, white, blue and green aura.
2. 2. Smile with your eyes (if you wish, you can perform the “inner smile” exercise along the front, middle and back lines).
3. 3. Create a front “bagua” or “star in a circle.”
4. 4. Listen to your kidneys or simply focus your attention on them.
5. 5. Feel the salty taste in the kidneys. Think salt or something salty. Project this feeling onto your kidneys.
6. 6. Send the salty taste to the "collection point" of the kidneys.
7. 7. Feel the connection between your tongue and your heart. Feel the bitter taste. Imagine a bitter fruit or drink and feel its taste in your heart.
8. 8. Send the bitter taste to the heart's collection point.
9. 9. Simultaneously send the bitter and salty sensations from the heart and kidney collection points to the front bagua (star).
10. 10. Feel the connection between the eyes and the liver. Imagine the sour taste of, for example, a pickled cucumber. Feel a similar sensation in your liver.
11. 11. Direct the sour taste to the collection point of the liver.
12. 12. Inhale and as you exhale, feel the connection between your nose and lungs. Imagine a pepper with a spicy taste. Feel the pungent taste in your lungs.
13. 13. Direct the pungent taste to the collection point of the lungs.
14. 14. Simultaneously direct the sour and pungent sensations from the collection points of the liver and lungs to the front bagua or star in the circle.
15. 15. Feel the connection between the mouth and the spleen. Imagine the sweet taste in your mouth and lips. Think of sugar or sweet candy. Feel the sweetness in the spleen.
16. 16. Direct the sweet sensation from the spleen to the front bagua.
17. 17. Mix the taste sensations in the front "bagua" or "star". Imagine the taste of several dishes you are familiar with. Focus on the mixed taste sensation until the imaginary food tastes the same. The taste should become neutral and harmless.
18. 18. Create the image of a back “bagua” (“star”).
19. 19. Spiral the mixed taste sensations from the front and back "bagua" into the "cauldron" of the lower tan tien.
20. 20. Create and direct spiral energy from the left and right “bagua” into the “cauldron”.
21. 21. Create and direct spiral energy from the upper and lower “bagua” into the “cauldron”.
22. 22. Concentrate your energy to create a “pearl”. Imagine how the “pearl” turns all negative emotions into positive ones.
23. 23. Send the “pearl” into a “microcosmic orbit”. Let it make several turns. Help the movement of the “pearl” by “rotating” your eyes.
24. 24. Return the “pearl” to the “cauldron” and accumulate energy in the navel area.