Understanding the San Bao— The Three Treasures by Lyla May Yip, Dr.TCM ody, mind and spirit is a phrase used by many complementary or alternative practitioners of health care. This phrase is similar to the san bao, or the Three Treasures in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), representing jing (nutritive essence), qi (vital energy) and shen (spirit, mind). In Taoist philosophy, jing refers to the physical body, qi or vital energy is the primordial life force activating both voluntary and involuntary functions of our body, shen or spirit relates to the mind, including awareness and knowledge, thoughts and feelings, willpower and commitment.
encourages us to get ahead in life by working hard, and to accomplish this we need to use our mind to become educated. Once we’re making a living, we look after our body (or jing), by eating well and exercising. This may well build up our body qi or energy, but if that qi is not flowing freely, imbalances develop resulting in health issues. There never seems to be enough time in a day to allow one’s body and mind to fully unwind, which would allow one’s qi or vital energy to flow freely. The free flow of qi allows nutrition to reach all parts of the body and also to remove metabolic waste products (detox the body), both of which are essential in restoring a healthy balance.
Unwind and let qi flow
Nurture our spirit
In North America, people tend to live in the fast lane. People study hard in order to obtain employment, where they work hard as well. In order to “relax,” they are busy exercising or playing sports. Family life can involve driving children to and from sports and activities. Holidays and vacations end up being stressful with travel, time and climate changes and culture shock. The North American or western lifestyle
The last of the three treasures is the most important of the san bao, namely the shen or spirit. The shen involves an awareness of our subconscious self, our emotions, thoughts and feelings. In simple terms, it is our attitude towards life, our relationships and our respect we have towards others and to ourself. Nurturing the shen is to become more aware of the negative attitudes and emotions
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Know Thyself by Trish Lim-O’Donnell, CCP
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ome 2,400 years ago, Socrates walked barefoot through his beloved streets of Athens teaching his philosophy of life. Blessedly, one of his teachings included this wise advice: know thyself. As a young woman growing up, I always understood the importance of knowing myself so I could successfully speak with those I love about what I needed, what hurt me or what was “me.” As a matter of course, I ended up helping others express themselves through my interaction with them. Being a natural leader who loves to bridge gaps between people, I excelled in this area. Now, as a relationship coach and spiritual guide, I have the privilege, purpose and joy of helping individuals get to know themselves in their everyday ego-personality as well as to cultivate a sense of their Divine Self—almost always operating at the same time—when they are awakened. The inner life is of the utmost importance to those who simultaneously seek enlightenment and detachment of our egopersonality. It becomes a double challenge for those of us who are ready to work at it
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Health Action | www.hans.org
“It is surely inconceivable that any living thing could be beautiful were there not a Life Absolute of a wonderful, an ineffable, beauty.” – Plotinus every day on a conscious level—that simply means you have your inner and outer life to contend with. The sweet comfort is that you get to practice with all the people you deal with in an authentic, decent way that you envisioned your earth to be. In other words, you act out your vision of what “heaven on earth” looks like to you with all others. This is your life, your game, your challenge, your possibility—no one else’s. Each time you interact, you will get a sense of where you are at in your wheel of becoming. There is no shortage of work to do here—to follow this magnificent, spiritual path. It is not for all; it really depends on your individual makeup and your hunger.
You can start by getting to know yourself, your thoughts, feelings, and your motives in doing things the way you do and the fears that drive your actions and way of being. You do this through daily journaling in order to cultivate an inner acceptance of your strengths and flaws. When you accept the unacceptable in yourself you begin to cultivate compassion and, therefore, space in your heart for others. Through writing, you get to look at what it is you give to your world that is of value and importance to you. You need to be at home in it so you can speak to it eloquently when the opportunity arises. This part fosters a steady self-esteem, which is necessary for our earthly life. Our journey on earth is a journey of love into the divine—the infinite—of which we are a part. To experience you in me and me in you takes great effort and perseverance. The God Essence is everywhere and in everything and calls us. Hear it! Trish Lim-O’Donnell, CCP, is a relationship coach and spiritual guide, writer, vocal coach, and E.Q. Music recording artist with 28 years of personal and professional life-coaching experience. www.trishlimodonnell.com
Taking stock
in our life and then trying to redirect these attitudes and emotions to become more positive. Self-reflection, meditation, professional counselling or even talking with friends or relatives may help you become aware that you harbour bad attitudes or emotions. In my practice I have come to realize harbouring excessive emotions can result in many health issues that may have started from childhood and then developed into bigger health problems in adulthood. Although the study of TCM does not include instructions in psychology or psychiatry, TCM has known, for thousands of years, the effect harbouring excessive emotions can have on the human body. Just as we exercise our physical body and mind, we need to exercise our spirit. One technique I teach my patients is called the emotional freedom technique. With a better understanding of our shen or spirit, we can all obtain a healthier life both physically and mentally. Lyla May Yip, Dr.TCM, was among the first graduates outside China as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in 2003 in Vancouver, B.C. She is also active in the practice and instruction of tai chi and qigong for health. Dr. Yip recently moved to Red Deer, Alberta, and is on the Member Services Committee with the College and Association of Acupuncturists of Alberta.
n, professional counselling or even t o i t a t i alking , med n e l p h y y a o u o m b i e s t c e o c v m i t e aware Self-refle or rela s d n e w i t h fr i our bad at titudes or emotions. b r a h ou that y Health Action | www.hans.org
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