I often say, human aging and death starts with the legs – both legs become too heavy to move, and you've already been dead for half the time.A cultivator, if they still exhibit this later, means they haven't made any progress. Thinking about enlightenment at that point is self-deception. Just like elderly people, if they can't walk anymore and are aging, when the vital energy truly opens up, the body becomes light as a leaf, walking as fast as a galloping horse. Don't practice lightness techniques – it's natural for them to walk quickly. So, hasten your cultivation or take medicine; death comes from the bottom up – this is the principle. The Taoist saying is 'essence originates from the soles of the feet.' Vital energy also originates from the soles of the feet. The two acupoints at the bottom of the feet, the 'Shuǐqúan Chánh', are the source of life; conversely, a person's fear of the cold also begins with the soles of the feet. Elderly men and women, if the bottom of the feet are warm, they are not afraid of the cold, and walk with swift, effortless strides, that's a sign of longevity. Sixty-seven-year-old friends would come to me and ask, 'Teacher, I have constipation. I say congratulations! At seventy years old, you still have constipation – this shows the vital energy is still flowing, and is specifically released as gas.' Although constipation in old age is painful, the vital energy is still present and full. If, after getting old, you only release gas, that's a sign of decline. You must understand this principle. Seeing these seemingly trivial things are closely related to life, especially for cultivators, it's important to note. essence originates from the soles of the feetTherefore, I often say, look at elderly people – if the two acupoints at the bottom of their feet are warm and comfortable in the winter, and their legs are very flexible and strong when walking, it's a sign of longevity. Aging begins from the bottom up. A child loves to kick their feet, lying down and kicking back and forth. As they grow older, they love to run. By the age of six or seven, dogs would complain if he isn't allowed to run. This is because in their growth, they are full of energy. By the age of twenty-five, you shouldn't be sitting in coffee shops and doing nothing. By forty-five, you should be able to lift your legs and let them dangle. At sixty, your feet should be even higher when you're sitting, and that's when it's truly comfortable, because your legs won't bend like hard rods anymore. Therefore, when meditating, you won't be able to sit still, and your legs will naturally feel numb, because the lower body has already been transferred to the realm of Hell.
