Book Review : Fountain of Youth by Peter Kelder

This book makes some outrageous claims and I have not tried the exercises yet, the so called "5 Rites." It seems harmless enough though, and just a few minutes a day to do, so I will write it up and try it for myself!

The body has seven energy centres which in English could called vortexes. The Hindus call them chakras.

These are they:

(1) The Root Chakra - located at the base of the spine.

(2) The Sacral Chakra - located in the area of the lower abdomen below the navel.

(3) The Solar Plexus - located above the navel and below the chest.

(4) The Heart Chakra - obvious where this one is located.

(5) The Throat Chakra - again obvious.

(6) The Brow Chakra - located at the centre of the forehead, between the eyebrows.

(7) The Crown Chakra - located at the crown of the head.

The quickest way to regain lost youth, health and vitality is to get these energy vortexes spinning normally, extending outward from the flesh.

There are five simple exercises that will help accomplish this. Any one of them is helpful, but all five are required to get the best results.

These five exercises are not really exercises at all. The lamas call them rites, so let's refer to them that way.

Mental attitude is very important too. If you are able to see yourself as young, in spite of your age, others will see you that way too.

RITE NUMBER ONE

The first rite is a simple one. It is done for the express purpose of speeding up the vortexes. Children do it all the time while playing. If an older person truly wants to grow younger, they must think, act, and behave like a younger person and eliminate the attitudes and mannerisms of old age.

All that you do is stand erect with arms outstretched, horizontal to the floor. Now, without wandering from the spot you are in, slowly spin around until you become slightly dizzy. One thing is important : you must spin from left to right. In other words, if you were to put a clock on the floor faceup, you would turn in the same direction as the clock hands.

At first most adults will be able to spin around only about half a dozen times before becoming quite dizzy. As a beginner, don't attempt to do more. Lie down if you happen to get too dizzy. To begin with, practice this rite only to the point of slight dizziness.

Also, in order to lessen dizziness, you can do what dancers and figure skaters do. Before you begin to spin, focus your vision on a single point straight ahead. As you begin to turn, continue holding your vision on that point as long as possible. Eventually, you will have to let it leave your vision, so that your head can spin on around with the rest of your body. As this happens, turn your head around quickly and refocus on your point as soon as you can. This reference point enables you to become less disoriented and dizzy.

see photo p.17

RITE NUMBER TWO

Lie flat on your back on your yoga mat, faceup. Once you have stretched out, fully extend your arms along your sides and place the palms of your hands against the floor, keeping your fingers close together. The raise your head off the mat, tucking your chin against your chest. As you do this, life your legs, knees straight, into a vertical position. If possible, let your legs extend back over your body, toward your head; but do not let your knees bend.

Then slowly lower both your head and legs, knees straight, to the floor. Allow all of your muscles to relax and then repeat the rite.

During each repetition, establish a breathing rhythm : breathe in deeply as you lift your legs and head; breathe out fully as you lower them. Between repetitions, while you're allowing the muscles to relax, continue breathing in the same rhythm. The more deeply you breathe, the better.

see photo p.20

RITE NUMBER THREE

The third rite should be practiced immediately after Rite Number Two.

All you need to do is kneel on the floor with both knees bent and the trunk of your body erect. Your hands should be placed at arm's length against your thigh muscles.

Now, incline your head and neck forward, tucking your chin against your chest. Then gently move your head and neck backward as far as they will go, and at the same time lean backward, arching the spine. As you arch, brace your arms and hands against your thighs for support. After arching, return to the original position and start the rite all over again.

As with Rite Number Two, you should establish a dynamic breathing pattern. Breathe in deeply as you arch your spine. Breathe out as you return to an erect position. Deep breathing is most beneficial, so take as much air into your lungs as you possibly can.

see photo p.23

RITE NUMBER FOUR

First, sit down on your mat with your legs straight out in front of you and your feet placed apart about the width of your shoulders. With the trunk of your body erect, place the palms of your hands on the floor alongside your buttocks, fingers pointing towards your toes. Then tuck your chin forward against your chest.

Now let your head sink backward as far as it will go. At the same time, raise your body so that your knees bend while your arms remain straight. The trunk of your body will be in a straight line with your upper legs, horizontal to the floor. And both your arms and lower legs will be straight up and down, perpendicular to the floor. Then tense every muscle in your body. Finally, relax your muscles as you return to the original sitting position and rest before repeating the procedure.

Again, breathing is important in this rite. Breathe in deeply as you raise your body. Hold in your breath as you tense your muscles. And breathe out completely as you come down. While you rest between repetitions, continue breathing in the same rhythm.

see photos p.26-27

RITE NUMBER FIVE

When you perform the fifth rite, your body will be facedown on you mat. Throughout this rite your hands should be positioned palms-down to the floor, and your feet should be in a flexed position, toes-down to the floor. Both your feet and hands should be shoulder width apart, and your arms and legs should be kept straight.

Start with your arms straight, perpendicular to the floor, and your spine arched, so that your body is in a sagging position. Now, gently move your head backward as far as possible. Then, bending at the hips, bring your body into an inverted V position. At the same time, bring your chin forward, tucking it against your chest. Return to the original position and start the rite all over again.

By the end of the first week, the average person will find this rite one of the easiest to perform. Once you become proficient at it, let your body drop from the raised to a point almost, but not quite, touching the mat. Tense your muscles for a moment both at the raised point and at the low point.

Follow the same breathing pattern used in the previous rites. Breathe in deeply as you raise your body. Breathe out fully as you lower it.

see photos p.31

The real benefit of the rites is to normalise the speed of the spinning vortexes. It starts them spinning at a speed which is right for, say, a strong and healthy man or woman twenty-five years of age.

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS:

HOW MANY TIMES A DAY IS EACH RITE PERFORMED?

To start with practice each rite three times a day (three repetitions of each rite) for the first week. then, every week that follows, increase the daily repetitions by two until you are performing each rite twenty-one times a day. In other words, the second week, perform each rite five times; the third week perform each rite seven times; and so on. In ten weeks time, you'll be doing the full number of twenty-one rites per day. After two years, you will see a much more pronounced change.

WHAT TIME OF DAY SHOULD THE RITES BE PERFORMED?

They can be performed either in the morning or in the evening, whichever is more convenient. By the way, you may skip one day a week, but never more than that.

ARE EACH OF THE RITES EQUALLY IMPORTANT?

The Five Rites work hand in hand with each other, and all are equally important. Just remember that under no circumstances should you ever strain yourself. Stick to the plan.

CAN THE RITES BE PERFORMED IN CONJUCTION WITH OTHER EXERCISE PROGRAMS?

Yes. If you already doing certain exercise programs, continue them. Any form of exercise - but especially exercise that gives the heart and lings a good workout - will help the body maintain a youthful equilibrium. In addition, the Five Rites will help to normalise the spinning vortexes, so that the body becomes even more receptive to the benefits of exercise.

CAN YOU GIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BREATHING DURING THE RITES?

Actually between the rites, it would be helpful to stand erect with your hands on your hips, breathing deeply and rhythmically several times. As you breathe out, imagine that any tension which may be in your body is draining away, allowing you to feel quite relaxed and at ease. As you breathe in, imagine that you are filling yourself with a sense of well-being and fulfilment.

ANY OTHER TIPS?

Yes. Take a tepid bath or a cool, but not a cold one after practising the rites. Or go over your body with a cool wet towel, and then a dry one.

RITE NUMBER SIX

If you want to completely restore the health and appearance of your youth, there is a sixth rite which you must practice. First though, you need to obtain good results with the other five.

The sixth right contains a restriction that most people are unwilling to accept.

It is necessary to become celibate, so that reproductive energy can be rechannelled to a higher use.

This rite is easy to perform but should only be practiced when you have an excess of sexual energy and an urge to express it.

Stand up straight and slowly let all the air out of your lungs. As you do this, bend over and put your hands on your knees. Force out the last trace of air, and then, with your lungs empty, return to a straight-up posture. Place your hands on your hips and press down on them. This will push your shoulders up. As you do this, pull in the abdomen as much as possible and at the same time raise your chest.

Now hold this position as long as you possibly can. When you are finally forced to take air into your empty lungs, let the air flow in through the nose. When your lungs are full, breathe out through your mouth and relax your arms, letting them hang naturally at your sides. Then, through either your nose or your mouth, breathe in and out several times. This constitutes one repetition. About three repetitions are required for most people to redirect the excess sexual energy and turn its powerful force upward.

see photos p.50-51

Remember that in order to perform the rite, it is absolutely imperative that an individual has an active sexual urge. It is impossible for someone who is not horny to perform this rite! He or she could not even attempt it because it would only lead to discouragement and more harm than good. Instead, such an individual, regardless of age, should first practice the other give rites, until they regain their libido.

When this is achieved, he or she may then go into the business of being superhuman.

The sixth rite is only for those who feel sexually complete and who have a real desire to move on to other goals. For the great majority of people, however, a celibate life is simply not a feasible choice, and they should perform the first five rites only.

You have to be prepared to leave your physical needs behind in exchange for true master ship.

FOOD:

The lama monks who practice the five rites are vegetarian, but not strictly so. They do use eggs, butter, and cheese in quantities sufficient to serve certain functions of the brain, body, and nervous system. However, they do not eat flesh, for the lamas, who are strong and healthy and who practice Rite Number Six, seem to have no need of meat, fish, or fowl.

Different types of food - for example starches (potatoes, rice and pasta) and proteins - require different digestive processes in the stomach. So if a starch such as bread is eaten with a protein such as meat, each one interferes with the digestion of the other. The end results is that neither the bread nor the meat is fully digested; a good part of the food's nutritional value is lost; bloating and physical stress occur; and valuable energy, which could be put to a better use, is depleted in the process. If this state of affairs is permitted to continue over a period of years, your digestive system will begin to decline, your general health will suffer, and your life will be shortened.

Sometimes the lamas eat a meal consisting only of bread. At other times, nothing but fresh vegetables and fruits. And at other meals, cooked vegetables and fruits. I am not suggesting that you limit yourself exactly in this way.

But I would recommend that you keep starches, fruits and vegetables separate from meats, fish, and fowl at your meals. It is alright to make a meal of just meat if you wish. In fact you could eat several kinds of meat in one meal. And it is alright to eat butter, eggs, and cheese with a meat meal or dark bread and, in moderation, tea or coffee.

Butter seems to be a neutral. It can be eaten with either a starchy meal or with a protein meal. However fats in general should be avoided, though not completely eliminated from the diet. The harmful fats are those from animal sources, while the beneficial ones are those contained in seeds, grains, fruits, and vegetables.

White sugar, as well as all foods containing white sugar, should be consumed sparingly. Honey and natural sweets should be used instead, and even they should be used in moderation.

Eggs should be eaten whole only after vigorous exercise. Otherwise one should frequently eat raw egg yolks, discarding the whites.

YOUR FOOD SHOULD BE MASTICATED THOROUGHLY. IF YOU GULP DOWN FOOD, BYPASSING CHEWING, IT IS LITERALLY DYNAMITE WHEN IT REACHES THE STOMACH.

There are plenty of other points to learn about food of course but just bear these five things in mind:

(1) Never eat meat and starch at the same meal, though if you are strong and healthy, it need not cause you too much concern now.

(2) If coffee bothers you, drink it black. If it still bothers you, eliminate it completely.

(3) Chew your good to a liquid and cut down on the amount of food you eat.

(4) Eat raw egg yolks (if you trust the source) once a day, every day. Take them either just after or just before meals - not during.

(5) Reduce the variety of foods you eat in one meal to a minimum.

OTHER HELPFUL ADVICE:

When a man's voice is high and shrill, it's an indicator that his sexual vitality is low. And if it's low there, you can bet it's low everywhere else in the body too.

In order to combat this, you simply need to consciously make the effort to lower your voice. Listen to yourself speak, and if you hear yourself becoming higher or more shrill, adjust your voice to a lower register. Listen to men who have good, firm speaking voices and take note of the sound. Then, whenever you speak, keep your voice down in that masculine pitch as much as possible.

Before long the lowered vibration of your voice will speed up the vortex in the throat. That, in turn, will help speed up the vortex in the sexual energy centre, which is near the body's doorway to vital life energy.

Here is a simple voice exercise that is very effective:

Whenever you are by yourself or where there is sufficient noise to drown your voice so you won't disturb others, practice saying in a low tone, partly through the nose, "Mimmmm-Mimmmm-Mimmmm-Mimmmm." Repeat it again and again, lowering your voice in steps, until you've forced it as low as you possibly can. It's effective to do this first thing in the morning when the voice already tends to be in a lower register. Then make an effort to hold your voice in a low pitch for the rest of the day.

Once you start making progress, practice in the bathroom, so you can hear your voice reverberate. Then try to get the same effect in a larger room. When the vibration of your voice is intensified, it will cause the other vortexes in your body to speed up, especially the second one in the sexual centre and the sixth and seventh in the head.

The lamas chant in unison, sometimes for hours, in a low register. The significance of this is not the chanting or the meaning of their words. It is the vibration of their voices and its effect on the seven vortexes.

Posture:

Straighten up! Think about your posture as you go about your daily activities. Straighten your back, throw your chest out, pull in your chine, and hold your head high. Right away you have eliminated twenty years from your appearance and forty years from your behaviour!

Also, get rid of the mannerisms of old age. When you walk, know first where you are going, then start out and go directly there. Don't shuffle or drag your feet. Pick up your feet and stride. Keep one eye on the place where you're going and the other on everything you pass.

THE LOST CHAPTER

There is a slight difference between the words mantra and mantram. Both are take from a Sanskrit word meaning instrument of thought. The difference is this:

A mantram is a vocalized instrument of thought, while a mantra is silent.

The joy of the superconscious (higher order) mind is to take thought, which is pure energy, and give it a physical shape in the material world.

Change your thought patterns, and you change your life.

Sit down and make a list of the things you desire most. Do it quickly. Everything that comes to mind.

Now examine your list carefully and ask yourself what rewards each of your stated desires must bring you. The rewards are what you're really after, so write them down too.

Perhaps you want a bigger pay check and the feeling of security that comes with that.

The rewards you want should always be expressed in terms of feelings.

In your lists, search for just two or three words or phrases to summarize everything. In other words, separate your desires into two or three groups and find a word or phrase to encapsulate each one.

For example, if you desire a house or a car, the fundamental goal is abundance or prosperity.

By now you should have a clear picture of your fundamental goals, so put them all together and state them in a concise positive command.

For example, "I demand happiness, power and prosperity right now". Use it!

When it is spoken aloud it becomes a mantram.

The word "power" is a good one, because it will help bring about health, sttength, and bitality in your physical body.

Saying "right now" at the end of your command tells your superconscious mind when you want things to happen : NOW. It tells your superconscious mind to get busy immediately manifesting your desires.

Now that you have a mantram, putting it to use is as simple as can be. All you need to do is speak it aloud with conviction.

Speak your mantram just before going to sleep at night and upon waking in the morning. Then form the habit of repeating it at regular intervals throughout the day. If you find yourself in front of a mirror, gaze directly into the reflection of your own eyes and repeat your mantram with firm confidence.

Change your thought patterns, and you change your life. If you think thrilling thoughts, the superconscious mind will flood your life with thrilling things, instead of the mundane.

As you grow and evolve on your journey, it's important for your mantram to do the same. So whenever you feel that your personal growth has led to changes in your goals and objectives, revise your Mantram to reflect these changes.

There is a particular word which comes from the East that has a magical effect upon the superconscious mind and also upon the brain and the central nervous system. The word is OM. Actually, it's not so much a word as a sound, for its value is in its tonal vibration, not in its meaning.

The use of OM - I shall call it Rite Number Seven -can produce exceptional results in the right individual.

Do not attempt, however, to practice Rite Number Seven until the first five rites have helped elevate and attune your physical and mental being. your vibration must be sufficiently high, so that you are beyond the use of all habit-forming drugs, including alcohol and nicotine in any and all forms.

You should avoid sweetenings of all kinds too, since sugar is a first cousin to alcohol.

The average healthy person should drink about three litres of pure water daily. If you are not drinking that much, then increase your water intake now very gradually over the next sixty days.

RITE NUMBER SEVEN

To practice this rite, stand on the floor or sit in a comfortable armchair. Relax completely, but do not slouch down. Keep your posture erect and hold your chin up, so that your vocal chords are not restricted in any way. You can even lie flat on your back on a firm bed or on the floor, if you wish, but do not prop a pillow under your head. That would thrust the head forward and cramp the vocal chords.

OM is pronounced like the word home, but without the h. To intone this magical sound correctly, begin by taking a very deep breath, but don't fill your lings so much that they are bursting with air.

Then, using a good, deep, full-bodied voice, sound the vowel "Oh-h-h...." Your jaw should be halfway open; your lips should be in a rounded position; and your tongue should be retracted and low in the mouth, but elevated toward the rear of the mouth. Sustain the "Oh-h-h...." sound for about five seconds. Then continue sounding your voice as you close and relax your jaw, close and flatten your lips, and relax the tongue in a flat position, forming the sound "M-m-m-m-m-m...." Sustain this sound for about ten seconds.

When you sound the "Oh-h-h...." you should feel your voice resonate through the chest cavities. When you sound the "M-m-m-m-m-m...." you should feel it resonate through the nasal cavities. When done correctly, the two will blend together in one continuous "O-h-h-M-m-m-m-m-m...." sound.

When you are finished, relax and take one or two deep breaths before repeating OM. Three or four times in succession is quite sufficient. And stop if you ever feel the least bit light-headed or dizzy. After an hour or so, perform the OM's again several times.

It is best if you do not speak your mantram and perform Rite Number Seven in the same session. Rite Number Seven should only be performed when the mind is quiet and free from thoughts. However, you can combine Rite Number Seven with a mantra to excellent advantage. When you are sounding the "Oh-h-h...." part of OM for five seconds, allow your mind to be thoroughly still and quiet. Them, as you into "M-m-m-m-m-m...." for ten seconds, repeat your mantra several times.

The mantra should be prepared before you begin, and it may be the same as you mantram.

Because this rite is so powerful, it is intended for mature individuals only.