a lucky few only, hidden from other seekers by vague poetry or the
arcane symbols of ancient writings. Master Chia sees that the age
has come when the public needs and deserves a clear teaching of
this healing power, which was shrouded in China by the same se-
crecy that surrounded medieval alchemy in Europe. This historical
similarity is no accident, as the Taoist “Microcosmic Orbit” is a
process of human alchemy, the first step towards transformation
of human energy into its purest form. This distillation of a healing
energy was perfected by generations of sages who spent their
entire lives refining its many applications.
These applications to daily life are indeed enormous. It is not an
exaggeration to say the circulation of human energy or “chi” through-
out the body is also the key principal functioning behind much Chi-
nese genius. It is responsible for Chinese achievements in medi-
cine (acupuncture), the martial and meditative arts (Kung Fu, Tai
Chi Chuan, Pa Kua Palm, Hsing I Chuan, Inner Alchemy),inspiration
for a vast treasure of poetry and philosophy (I Ching, Tao Te Ching).
It could be argued that the increased health and creative intelli-
gence of the Taoist practitioners helped stimulate the impressive
early Chinese advances in technology and government. Confucius
was well versed in Taoist philosophy and expressed great admira-
tion for it; he may well have been a practitioner of the art as well.
Since publication of the first edition of “Awaken Healing Energy
through the Tao”, students of various Chinese arts have come to
Mantak Chia and confessed they were shocked to see his book
sold in a store. Its information was taught to them only after years
of dedication and discipline in their practice, be it Tai Chi, medita-
tion, or martial arts. They were told circulation of the microcosmic
orbit was the “highest secret” to gaining internal power in the mind
and body, and not to be revealed to those outside the “inner circle”.
Having mastered many different systems of esoteric Chinese
knowledge. Master Chia’s perspective is different from most other
teachers. For Master Chia, education begins with the awakening
of this healing energy. It is the most important building block. If you
master the circulation of your energy, growth in other disciplines
proceeds more quickly. Opening the main channel of energy circu-
lation in the body (referred to as the “Microcosmic Orbit” in this
book) is analagous to a first grader learning to write the letters of
the alphabet.Introduction