Chi, or original breath, is the foundation of life. The heart is the source of the foundation, and original nature is the prerequisite for building that foundation. The distance between Heaven and earth is said to be eighty-four thousand miles. The distance between the heart and kidneys is eight and four-tenths inches. The kidneys here are the "internal" kidneys - that is, a region three inches below the navel. Here all channels of the body meet. Let the breath hover there, and all channels will open when you exhale and close when you inhale. The mysteries of Heaven and earth are all embodied in inhalation and exhalation. If breathing involves the region of the body between the heart and kidneys, then your blood will be healthy and the circulation will be smooth. Sit cross-legged on a cushion or on a blanket. Let your breathing be natural. Each exhalation and inhalation should be unhurried. Let your eyes drop and focus on the region three inches below the navel. Sit for a period of one incense stick. - From *The Seven Taoist Masters* - A Chinese Folk Novel.