Seven Decreases and Eight Increases:

[Taomeow]

So... has anyone here encountered, learned, and practiced any of the dual cultivation techniques as presented in the twenty-six volumes of the Yin Doctrines of Rong Cheng, Secret Principles of Sexuality, Divine Notes, Sunu Notes, Orthodox Prescriptions, Valuable Prescriptions, Effective Prescriptions, An Encyclopedia of Useful Prescriptions For Women, Guangsi Essentials, Sexual Techniques, The Principles Of The Universe?

 

Most of these texts are tres esoteric, but when compared to each other, they appear to be pretty consistent and non-contradictory. E.g., The Principles Of The Universe, discovered in the 70s on bamboo plates found in a tomb in the Ma Wang Dui Han ruins in Changsha, talks about the "seven decreases and eight increases" which are supposed to be the key to mastering taoist anti-aging strategies, one's jing, and one's destiny, to say nothing of one's sexuality. Sunu Notes also describe these techniques. Bao Pu Zi, written by Ge Hong in the Jin Dynasty, details a similar increase-decrease strategy. So...

has anyone ever practiced the Seven Decreases and Eight Increases techniques?

Thanks for all possible returns.

[Trunk]

So... has anyone here encountered, learned, and practiced any of the dual cultivation techniques as presented in the twenty-six volumes of the Yin Doctrines of Rong Cheng, Secret Principles of Sexuality, Divine Notes, Sunu Notes, Orthodox Prescriptions, Valuable Prescriptions, Effective Prescriptions, An Encyclopedia of Useful Prescriptions For Women, Guangsi Essentials, Sexual Techniques, The Principles Of The Universe?

I hadn't even heard of those texts before... Do you have links to the books? (I tried the first one at amazon and yahoo: no search matches.)

[Spectrum]

1 step forward 2 steps back, 7-8 lay straight. I'll ask around.

[Taomeow]

I hadn't even heard of those texts before... Do you have links to the books? (I tried the first one at amazon and yahoo: no search matches.)

 

Yang Li, "Book of Changes and Traditional Chinese Medicine," Beijing Science and Technology Press, 1998, Beijing No.3 Printing House

 

It is an awesome book in a horrible translation. This is the only source I'm aware of. I can handle it because I used to edit technical translations (other languages than Chinese, alas) and am used to guessing what the translator means when he or she is translating into, rather than from, a foreign language (the book was translated by two dozen Chinese translators who don't seem to have ever been exposed to live English or to the way taoist literature is usually translated by anyone whose first language is English). The book has won "The World Golden Prize of Taiji and Science (Medicine)" in 1993.

[gendao]

E.g., The Principles Of The Universe, discovered in the 70s on bamboo plates found in a tomb in the Ma Wang Dui Han ruins in Changsha, talks about the "seven decreases and eight increases" which are supposed to be the key to mastering taoist anti-aging strategies, one's jing, and one's destiny, to say nothing of one's sexuality. Sunu Notes also describe these techniques. Bao Pu Zi, written by Ge Hong in the Jin Dynasty, details a similar increase-decrease strategy. So...

has anyone ever practiced the Seven Decreases and Eight Increases techniques?

Very interesting, do you have translations for these? What are the Seven Decreases and Eight Increases techniques? I'd like to learn more about this.

[Taomeow]

Very interesting, do you have translations for these? What are the Seven Decreases and Eight Increases techniques? I'd like to learn more about this.

 

The Seven Decreases refer to sexual practices that are really bad for one's physical, mental and spiritual health. I can give you an overview if you're interested. (Tomorrow perhaps, it's pretty late here now.) The Eight Increases are rather arcane sexual techniques that can both correct the damage once it has been done and propel one's cultivation to a whole new level. These, you can't possibly benefit from unless you hook up with a like-minded taoist gal, so I won't go into too many details. In any event, one would have to start with eliminating the Seven Decreases before proceeding to the Eight Increases.

[gendao]

The Seven Decreases refer to sexual practices that are really bad for one's physical, mental and spiritual health. I can give you an overview if you're interested. (Tomorrow perhaps, it's pretty late here now.) The Eight Increases are rather arcane sexual techniques that can both correct the damage once it has been done and propel one's cultivation to a whole new level. These, you can't possibly benefit from unless you hook up with a like-minded taoist gal, so I won't go into too many details. In any event, one would have to start with eliminating the Seven Decreases before proceeding to the Eight Increases.

Sounds interesting.. I would like to hear what these are from curiosity alone.

 

BTW, a Chinese doctor said that Viagra is bad for your health. Don't know why - but I'm guessing that it (like most allopathic meds) is a band-aid that may drain a weakened system even more. Anyone else hear this?

[Spectrum]

It draws chi from other meridians.

[rain]

............

Edited April 18, 2008 by rain

[Pero]

First of all I really liked Taomeaows explanation of chi not equal to prana.

 

Where is this explanation?

[rain]

Where is this explanation?

 

 

se link under thread "what are the right Questions?".

[Trunk]

In any event, one would have to start with eliminating the Seven Decreases before proceeding to the Eight Increases.

Sounds like info that'd be clarifying for this community. (No offense meant.)

[Pero]

se link under thread "what are the right Questions?".

 

Thanks. It`s actually in Taomeow`s sig.

Interesting forum and explanation Taomeow...

[Taomeow]

Thanks. It`s actually in Taomeow`s sig.

Interesting forum and explanation Taomeow...

 

Thanks, bums! By the way, it will be joinable in a day or two if anyone is interested (our techno whiz is working out a minor bug today).

 

As for the Seven Decreases, they are:

 

intercourse with a reluctant or unwilling partner;

rough movement just for one's own pleasure;

intercourse after exhaustion or hard labor;

indiscriminate sexual indulgence;

intercourse after heavy sweating;

premature ejaculation;

irregular breathing during intercourse;

intercourse while the penis is not fully erect.

 

"Before intercourse, the couple should regulate their breathing, stretch their tendons to obtain comfort and peace. They can eat a little if necessary to gather strength. The man and the woman should caress each other for sexual stimulation. When lovemaking begins, the movement should be gentle and slow. At this time, the couple should achieve body relaxation with their breathing and guide the qi to the lower part of the body. Penile movenent should not be too frequent for the sake of sperm preservation. After ejaculation, the couple should stop and rest peacefully and warmly. There should never be a second forced ejaculation. The mastery of these techniques is good for health."

 

"Qi has eight increases and seven decreases. If a person cannot make use of eight increases and abstain from seven decreases, he will only have half of his Yin Qi left at the age of forty, and his life begins to decay..."

 

 

As for the Eight Increases... very arcane, and I don't think it's even realistic for an uncultivated man to be able to get that going... veritable superman techniques! In any event no one would be able to do that before the Seven Decreases are completely eliminated. Whoever has completely eliminated them and wants to move on better schedule a long vacation...

[gendao]

It draws chi from other meridians.

You mean Viagra does?

 

BTW, I've also heard that you shouldn't eat/drink anything cold for about 4 hrs after sex. Because your qi has just been activated and the cold kind of stops it in place? Or drink alcohol either, I think. Since I believe that strains your kidneys...which just got strained from sex?

 

Anyone else hear these?

[The_Search_for_Tao]

BTW, I've also heard that you shouldn't eat/drink anything cold for about 4 hrs after sex. Because your qi has just been activated and the cold kind of stops it in place? Or drink alcohol either, I think. Since I believe that strains your kidneys...which just got strained from sex?

 

Anyone else hear these?

 

I AM a "health freak" by all means, and many others that walk the "conventional path" would say we are just making our lives more complicated, but still, if I would think about "not drinking cold liquid after sex because my qi would get stuck somewhere" I'd just get dehydrated and die(:

 

(maybe then will I finally reach the much sought after "enlightment"?)

 

Alcohol is another issue.. sex while intoxicated would probably be one of the unlisted seven decreases(:

 

No offence or anything, just my 2 cents

[eye_of_the_storm]

I am interested in the Eight Increases, if timely.

Kind regards,

WWROA

[Daeluin]

I wonder if Taomeow has made any more discoveries on this in the seven or so years since the last post.

 

Does (almost) seven years of silence count as seven cycles of reduction?

[BaguaKicksAss]

Has anyone been practicing the decreases for the past 7 years?

[GrandmasterP]

Eight Increases here.

Then I discovered WeightWatchers.

Edited July 3, 2014 by GrandmasterP