Page 10 - Ron Teeguarden's Baker's Dozen

Golden Air TM $23.00
#151

My mother had tuberculosis when she was a young woman. She recovered after a two-year battle
for her life. When I was born 10 years later, I tested positive for TB. Though I never had any symptoms,
it was a concern during my childhood. To top it off, my father died from lung cancer at a relatively
young age (he smoked a pipe). I live in Los Angeles, which is not pristine, though living where I do,

in the higher altitude hills surrounded by nature and trees, is helpful. I have always believed that it is
best to cover your weaknesses in life. Obviously, my lungs have always been a target of my attention.
Furthermore, as I have learned in many ways, “breath is life.” Almost all of us have heard of his famous
Zen koan: “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” It was the great Zen master Hakuin who created
this koan. His practices still form much of the core of Zen Buddhism as it is practiced in Japan and
around the world today. Hakuin also taught a meditation routine that included these words:

“Upon a single breath repeat three times the words: ‘Of

the essentials of preserving life, nourishing the breath has no

peer. When the breath is exhausted the body dies’.”

All the gurus and masters throughout history have
concurred and present the same simple truth. It is

clear that every spiritual practice on earth has involved
deep breathing, whether it be through breath control,
chanting or the singing of hymns or sutras. I believe
that mastering one’s breath is a key to mastering life.
Through our breath, we can control our emotions. As a
practitioner of Asian-style “life cultivation,” and “Taoist
inner yoga,” I know that my lungs are the primary organ

system that produces Qi in my body. This Qi feeds my
consciousness and my life force.

I consciously and proactively nurture my lung health,
breathing power and breath-control every day of my life.
I do about 15-30 minutes of concerted, focused deep
breathing every day, sometimes much more (weekends
and vacations). To support this, I take tonic herbs that

benefit my lungs every single day. Golden Air™ is my

10 Your health deserves cultivation TM