Author: Puja Shah
Some of us would consider ourselves incredibly lucky to reach the age of 80 and still be alive, let alone in good health.
If so, Li Ching Yuen may have been the luckiest man to ever live, as he was reported to be 256 years of age at the time of his death in 1933.
What was his secret? He claims it was a simple formula:
“Retain a calm heart, sit like a turtle, walk swiftly like a pigeon and sleep like a dog.”
How true is this story? Well a professor of Chengdu University discovered Imperial Chinese government documents from 1827 congratulating Li on his 150th birthday… as well as further records congratulating him of his 200th birthday in 1877.
Was This Sorcery Or Science?
Li Ching Yuen reportedly began his herbalist career at the age of 10, where he gathered herbs in mountain ranges and learned of their potency for longevity.
For almost 40 years, he survived on a diet of herbs such as lingzhi, goji berry, wild ginseng, he shoo wu and gotu kola and rice wine. In 1749, at the age of 71, he joined the Chinese armies as teacher of martial arts.
Li was said to be a much-loved figure in his community, marrying 23 times and fathering over 200 children.
And Apparently, He Couldn’t Care Less About His Age.
According to one of Li’s disciples, he had once encountered an even older 500-year-old man, who taught him Qigong exercises and dietary recommendations that would help him extend his lifespan to superhuman proportions.
Apart from Qigong and a herb-rich diet, what else can we learn from this Master of Longevity? How about this:
On his death bed, Li famously said, “I have done all that I have to do in this world”.
Could his peaceful last words also hint at one of the biggest secrets to a long and prosperous life?
It’s interesting to note that in the West, we’re often taught to believe that aging is something that must be “beaten” with high tech infrared devices and state of the art medication.
Are You Surprised That Billions Of Dollars Of High-Tech Equipment And Medication Still Can’t Give Us The Health & Longevity We Seek?
We have yet to hear any medical studies of people living far beyond the “normal” human lifespan… yet these reports are often heard in the traditions of China, India, Tibet with yoga, meditation and Qigong, as practiced by Master Li.
Regardless of the accuracy of these claims, the benefits of a healthy diet and mind-body practices like Qigong are undeniable.
Qi Gong Grand Master Li Hongzhi in his “Zhuan Falun” once said,
“In India there are many Yoga masters who can sit in water or be buried under the ground for many days. They make themselves completely tranquilized, and can even control their heart beats. Suppose that one’s cells divide once a day. A practitioner may make the cells in the human body divide once every two days, once every week, once every half a month, or even once in a longer period of time. Thus, he has already extended his life. This only refers to those cultivation systems which cultivate nature without cultivating life. They can also reach this step, and prolong their own lives. Some people may think: Aren’t one’s life and lifetime pre-determined? How could one live much longer without cultivating his life? Yes, because the life of the practitioner will be extended by reaching the level beyond the Three Realms though he will look quite old from his appearance.”
Zhuan Falun, Lecture Nine, Part 1, paragraph 4
And so here is some ancient wisdom from the learnings of these masters on longevity:
-Find calm in all moments.
-Remember that life is not a race.
-Stay determined in all that you do.
-Rest your mind and body daily.
-Be grateful, always.
Now how about you tell us:
“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?”
Leave a comment below and contribute to the discussion!
