겨울냄새가 날 만큼 날이 많이 추워졌습니다. 그런 의미에서 한의사들조차 소홀하기 쉬운 양생에 대한 내용을 다뤄보도록 하겠습니다.

Eric: Dr.Lee! How can I live a long life?

Dr.Lee: What a stupid question! You already have the answer.

Eric: All that, “Eat properly and go to bed early” stuff? I’m sick and tired of that.

Dr.Lee: You want to live a long and healthy life, don’t you?

Eric: Of course. So please tell me something new to me.

Dr.Lee: I’ll tell you what might sound interesting to you.

Eric: Ok. Let me hear.

Dr.Lee: The basic principle to live a healthy and long life is 恬憺虛無, which means ‘emptying your mind’.

Eric: Same old stuff, doctor.

Dr.Lee: You’re the type who doesn’t listen to others, aren’t you? Listening carefully and not talking back to me right away is also a way to emptying your mind. Anyway, I’ll tell you about how to live along the four seasons then.

Eric: Sounds good.

Dr.Lee: This is a quote from 四氣調神大論 in Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine.
In the spring, things on the earth begin to grow. So you should live according to the qi (chi) of the spring. Go to bed early at night and get up early in the morning. Take a walk slowly with your hair running free and with your clothes loose. Things start to burgeon, so accordingly, you should not punish but reward, not deprive but give, not kill but resuscitate.
In the summer, it is the period of prosperity. Go to bed late at night and get up early in the morning. Do not avoid sunlight even though it’s hot outside. Don’t be caught up with anger and let things flourish. Enliven yourself, so that qi (chi) inside can set forth.
In the autumn, it’s the season of ripening. Go to bed early at night and get up early in the morning. Wake up to the sound of roosters, have a peaceful mind to ease the withering force of the autumn. Let your qi and spirit flow inward and be careful for them not to manifest outwardly to harmonize ‘Autumn-qi’.
In the winter, it’s the season of storage. The water freezes and the earth cracks. Don’t activate yang-energy because everything stops moving and developing. Go to bed early at night and get up late in the morning waiting for sunrise. Keep your qi and spirit hidden and stay away from coldness. Don’t drain your yang-energy by avoiding sweating.

Eric: What a good story! Thank you so much!

궁금하신 점이나 건의사항 있으시면 lsi99@hanmail.net 로 컨택해주세요.
Published by Lee, Sang-il
Edited by Anna Joy Toombs & Troy Flowers