I did training based on the small universe - using the book "Taoist Yoga: Alchemy and Immortality" as the main text.
So when I posted on this text on thetaobums forum - people emphatically stated that the book was "too dangerous" and therefore should not be read.
So I didn't really study the book like I should have. I committed the main error in the training - which is described as "evil fire" in the Taoist Yoga: Alchemy and Yoga book.
So I was feeling energy - but because I had not studied the energy channels enough - and the dynamics - as Kevin Wallbridge states - the "orbit" actually refers to something greater than just a channel - especially once the macrocosmic orbit is opened up.
So it is especially the energy interaction with other people where things get very interesting - and this is really where I messed up in the small universe training.
So then if you see commentary on the small universe - some people insist it should not be practiced since it is too dangerous. Another point emphasized is that most people never really open up the "real" small universe and instead just feel the heat of the yin qi energy.
So I point out that the book "Taoist Yoga: Alchemy and Immortality" that is completely based on the small universe - it describes these different levels of the small universe meditation training.
The book details the problems that can arise - but the book really has to be studied in detail. I mean every word has to be considered and the terms have to be cross-correlated - as the different levels of training overlap.
I returned to study the book - only after the qigong master read my energy long distance to inform me, as I said, in fact it was going up the front of my body - when I thought the energy had been going up the back of my body.
Another point about the small universe practice is that it is supposedly a later derivation - from after the Song dynasty I think or even later. But as Kevin's article shows - in fact it is as far back as the Yellow Emperor Classic.
And fascinatingly - Kriya Yoga has a very similar meditation to the small universe - and Kriya Yoga seems similar to the oldest philosophy of India based on the "three gunas."
In my research I have determined that music theory is what correlates the Taoist philosophy with the "three gunas" of India - and the 12 points of the small universe actually are tied to music theory as well. I go into this in the free pdf I linked before -
https://www.pdf-archive.com/2017/04/10/ ... t-alchemy/So the other point is - Kevin mentions a high level teacher who says if you're alive then the small universe is open!
So this belies all the claims that the small universe is dangerous to practice and only is really open until an advanced level, etc. So as Kevin's article details - the Yellow Emperor Classic book then corroborates that claim by tying the meridians to the small universe.
So the other thing is the teacher I trained with who teaches the small universe through
http://springforestqigong.com - he says how in full lotus meditation then the small universe will run on its own. He also says to "let the light guide the small universe." So this fits with Kevin's clarification of the very common claim that the mind leads the qi - when in fact as Kevin documents the real meaning is the shen leads the mind which leads the qi.
So the book Taoist YOga: Alchemy and Immortality goes into detail about the role of the shen in the small universe meditation. It is quite fascinating because the "evil fire" is when the energy goes up the front and out of the eyes - the eye balls actually pulsate from the shen going out along with the yin qi - via the pineal gland. This pulls up the small intestine anaerobic bacteria. So the acupuncture meridians confirm this fact of the front channel.
But in contrast when the energy builds up through the skull then it overflows out of the sinus cavity - with the tongue against the roof of the mouth - the cerebrospinal fluid is swallowed into the stomach, and it is ionized via the pineal gland, from where the yuan qi emanates from out of the heart. So this great heat of qi-cerebrospinal fluid is then absorbed back into the small intestines. This is why no food is to be eaten a half hour before and after the small universe meditation.
I'm just giving some examples - but as I said I greatly appreciate Kevin Wallbridge's analysis of the small universe meditation. I can't say I still practice this appropriately - I still suffer from the "evil fire" qi as I still transmit qi out of my eyes via the front channel. haha.
I'm just trying to recommend people closely study the book "Taoist Yoga: Alchemy and Immortality" - it is a free pdf online. It is an intense read. Some people try to dismiss it as missing some information. But I have not seen - if they state it is missing info then no one has provided the missing info that I can find. I will look into this.