A Student's Question:
Bonjour,
I just bought your new program about aging well and I have a question about movement number 3 "Improve Sexual Energy": In France we generally think that sexual energy must come out, ejaculation is good for the body because it allows to evacuate what can stagnate in the genitals. But Christians and Catholics advocate total abstention. I'm not Catholic, but their arguments are quite powerful. I would like to know the point of view of Master Zidong on this subject. Second question: I am 58 years old, how many times and how often should I ejaculate? Is it dangerous according to TCM to not ejaculate ? Thank you for your clarifications.
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On the path to health and longevity, we often fall into the trap of extremes: either indulging in desires or strictly suppressing them. Taoist philosophy teaches us that true wisdom lies in finding the "Middle Way," in balance and harmony. Today, from a Taoist perspective, we will explore the management of sexual energy—neither wasting it through leakage nor forcibly suppressing it. Instead, by "guarding the center," we achieve a state of harmony, allowing the life force to flow naturally and nourish both body and mind.
Before we begin, let us first clarify a few core concepts, the foundation of our discussion.
Life Energy / Vital Force: This is the fundamental energy every person is born with, jointly bestowed by parents and nature, stored in the Dantian (the lower abdomen). It is the driving force behind our life activities. When abundant, we are full of vitality; when depleted, we age; when exhausted, we die.
Sexual Energy: This is a crucial branch of life energy. If life energy is a lake, sexual energy is a river flowing from it. It emerges from the perineum point, flows through the vagina, uterus, and ovaries in women, and through the testicles, penis, and prostate in men. It then ascends to the breasts, throat, and circulates around the lips.
• It governs the growth, development, maturation, and aging of sexual organs. The functionality and health of sexual organs are determined by sexual energy.
• Its strength directly affects sexual function, fertility. Additionally, it can delay the onset of menopause, prolong the reproductive cycle, and thereby slow down the aging process. When sexual energy is deficient, sexual organs decline prematurely, leading to accelerated aging of the body.
• Life energy and sexual energy share the same origin; they flourish together and decline together. When life energy is abundant, sexual energy is also abundant. When we enhance sexual energy through practice, life energy is also elevated.
Libido / Sex Drive: This is the body's desire and ability to reproduce, an external manifestation of the abundance of sexual energy. When sexual energy is sufficient, it produces an adequate amount of sperm and eggs for reproduction, resulting in a stronger libido. Conversely, when sexual energy is deficient, the quantity or quality of sperm and eggs diminishes, often leading to a decrease in libido.
With this understanding, we can answer the core question: Is ejaculation ("leaking") beneficial or harmful to the body?
For the vast majority of people, following nature's course is the "Way."
Sexual energy produces sperm. Moderate ejaculation is part of the body's natural cycle, an innate instinct for reproduction, and does not harm the body in itself. Forcibly suppressing desire often backfires. As the saying goes, "A full cup overflows." The body automatically maintains balance through nocturnal emissions, it does not accumulate extra through suppression.
However, "natural" does not mean "indulgent." The key is "moderation." If ejaculation ("leaking") is too frequent, the river of sexual energy flows too fiercely, causing the water level of the lake (life energy) to drop. Sexual energy is forced to work overtime to produce sperm, leading to excessive depletion and premature aging of sexual organs. Ultimately, life energy must be diverted to compensate, resulting in fundamental depletion, leading to fatigue and premature aging.
How to find your "Middle Way"? There is no fixed standard, as everyone's energy levels differ. The best guide is your body's feeling: If you feel fatigued in your daily life and work after ejaculation, this is a signal that your sexual energy and even life energy are overdrawn. You need to reduce the frequency until you find a balance that feels comfortable and energizing. This is "guarding the center."
For the Taoist practitioner, however, the goal is different. they walk the path of "reversal to become immortal." Through secret, ancient methods passed down for millennia (such as "refining essence into energy"), this method actively redirects the flow of sexual energy, reclaiming, refining, and transforming it to nourish life energy, making it immensely abundant and even qualitatively transformed, aiming for the sublimation of life. This method is extremely difficult and subtle, must be practiced under the guidance of an enlightened teacher, and is far beyond mere blind abstinence for ordinary people.
Our "30+3mins Daily Routine • Delaying aging and beauty" course is designed precisely as a method of "guarding the center" for ordinary people. It does not require extreme abstinence. Instead, through special exercises, it helps you enhance and transform sexual and life energy, allowing it to better nourish your internal organs and sexual system, restoring the body's balance and harmony ("achieving harmony"). This naturally delays aging and maintains youth and health.
In summary, the great Tao is simple; its value lies in balance. Do not blindly "leak," nor deliberately "suppress." Understanding your own body, respecting the laws of energy, and finding your unique "Middle Way"—this is the wisest approach to wellness.