Nei kung the secret teachings of the warrior sages danaos, kosta

accompanies his flock [of gazelles] to the drinking trough, let her remove her robe. Let him take his pleasure of her.

Once this is done, Enkidu is powerless; upon seeing him in this state, his gazelles flee. He returns to sit at the harlot’s feet, where she completes his taming with flattery: Thou art beautiful, Enkidu, thou art like a god.

Why doest thou roam the desert with wild flocks?

Come! I shall lead you to Erech within the walls. . .22 And so, without resistance, Enkidu meekly allows himself to be conducted to the city of Erech, where he becomes semi-civilized.

The goddess Athena shows yet another example of the power of nei kung as practiced by the warrior elite.

In the Acropolis museum there is a statue of her defeating a giant in battle (figure 29). Snakes—as we have seen, a symbol of the power of ch’i—fly from her outstretched hands to topple her enemy. Even further, it seems no coincidence that Athena is a virgin goddess, free from the power drain of orgasmic sex.

There is an interesting point to be made in asking why it is that these heroes were deified in ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, Babylonia, China, and India. One possible answer, viewing the circumstances through the lens we have set up, is that in practicing nei kung to gain power in their earthly life, they were able to take their yang with them when they died. I will bring to your attention once again the stanza in the Tao Te Ching: Those who retain their center endure.

Those who die but continue to exist are immortal.