SirPalomides

To throw a wrench in here, the Tai Shang Gan Ying Pian (a hugely popular treatise in Chinese religion) teaches you can achieve immortality by accumulating good deeds.

Now that I've discovered the wonder of Taobao I'm noticing an overwhelming amount of Taoist paraphernalia being sold to the public. There are consecrated swords, amulets, talismans, and lots of statues and images. One thing I noticed were the seals showing the names of various deities. A lot of them are made of peach wood, which I'm guessing has some special significance. A few seals are two- or six-sided with a different deity on each side (e.g. Jade Emperor, Xiwangmu, Wenchang, Jiutian Xuannu). What are these for? Are they for stamping talismans? Can anybody use them or are they something only a daoshi should be using?

I believe “The rule of law is like the wet and dry island” is a quote from Han Feizi in the lesser known “read Laozi on shrooms” phase of his career.

The tongue on the roof of mouth closes the microcosmic orbit and keeps stuff circulating properly.

Generally it is recognized that the bodies of even great adepts will break down at some point, but if the three treasures are properly cared for and the mind is in accord with the Dao, the personality will somehow continue spiritually without dissolving and enduring another rebirth. And there is not such a sharp distinction between physical and spiritual.

I've got complicated news for you.

My impression of Center of Traditional Taoist Studies, from very brief email interaction, is that they don't do distance learning of any sort- that is, if you want to learn anything from them, you have to be able to show up at the Temple. The Daoist Foundation has graciously provided me some beginners' pointers when I asked them via email. Parting Clouds Daoist Education says they are offering a distance course- contact them for details. I've emailed them but haven't heard back- that was a few weeks ago. It might be a busy time for them. These Four Dragons guys also offer a three year online training course for ordination into Zhengyi or Quanzhen based on your preference.

For those of us living in Western countries, is there an easy way to donate, directly or indirectly, to help struggling monasteries and temples in China? Years ago there was the Taoist Restoration Society but for some unknown reason they closed shop and I haven't seen anything comparable. I know some associations like Parting Clouds will distribute some of their funds to various temples but that is not the dedicated purpose of donations to them.

Years ago I had the privilege of making a visit to Taishan. One of the Zhengyi monks was exceptionally friendly and struck a conversation with me. In my very bad Mandarin I asked him for some advice on spiritual practice. He told me to chant "Namo Amituofo." I was surprised that a Daoist would advocate a Buddhist practice but I probably shouldn't have been- an ecumenical attitude is more common in Chinese religion than sectarianism, it seems. But it did get me thinking... while I feel a lot more attuned to the Daoist worldview than Buddhism, I do admire the way the Buddhist Pure Land school advocated a very popular practice that was simultaneously profound, an "easy path" accessible to busy, stressed, ordinary people while containing the entire teaching. Has Daoism ever had an "easy path" comparable to the Pure Land doctrine? That is, a simple practice anyone could do, any time, but with promises of the highest attainments (eventually)? Thanks.

True, the karmic consequences would be incalculable. I hereby withdraw my irresponsible suggestion with trembling hands.

While we're banning obnoxious people, shouldn't there be an automatic ban for people coming on and offering spiritual advice for money, like that full lotus fortune teller guy?

I am terrified of corduroy. Touching it gives me chills as I feel, or imagine feeling, it get under my fingernails. The very thought of corduroy sends a shudder through my frame. Ugh.

Thanks, Walker. I know that the symbolism here is related especially to marriage, relationships, etc. Some of the other fox incantations are geared toward exorcism or wealth. I also notice that the first 6 or 7 prayers are also at the beginning of the standard Quanzhen morning ritual, so I guess this scripture is meant to be a sort of prayer rule, with the fox incantations taking the place of the Qingjingjing and other standard scriptures.

My interest was sparked in Chinese fox cults and after running down that rabbit hole I found out about a number of Taoist temples devoted to the Fox Immortal/ fairy/ goddess. One devotional text I saw for sale is this 狐仙金科玉律真经, which I think translates to something like, "the Fox Immortal Golden Law Jade Register True Scripture" or "true book of the Fox Immortal's golden law and precious rule." I see it for sale on Taobao and the text, or part of it, seems to be online here. It looks like it contains a bunch of mantras and prayers addressed to different aspects of the fox immortal. I'm guessing this is a text of fairly recent and local provenance... does anyone know where it might have come from, who was the writer (or medium), etc?

Based on my experience visiting Christian monasteries in Russia, I'm guessing bored monks and nuns scrolling on their phones at tourist sites is a global phenomenon. When I lived in China, smartphones weren't on the scene yet but I also noticed young monks at Baiyunguan, Huashan, and Taishan kicking rocks, whittling, or goofing around on the flute. I think dealing with the tourists is probably an obedience usually assigned to novices to test their patience. I hope the present re-assertion of anti-religious attitudes in the CCP blows over. To a certain extent I can understand the PRC's paranoia about foreign funding- the US and other Western countries have a nasty habit, in the Middle East and Latin America, of exploiting NGO's, religious groups, charities, etc. as vectors of influence or destabilization. This does not justify the harassment and repression of China's indigenous religions.

Feel free to answer by PM (or not at all) as you see fit... is your teacher part of an ordained Daoist lineage or some kind of lay lineage? How did you find your teacher? Where I live (northeast US) every kind of Daoist training anywhere near me is connected to martial arts. Don't get me wrong, I think martial arts are cool and I love kung fu movies but that's not what drives my love of Daoism.

It says 臣弼林 Chenbilin at the top which I think is a brand name. Then I got too lazy to figure out the rest. My Chinese reading skills aren't great but knowing how to look up characters by radicals in an online dictionary like this one could help you.

Anyway I've come across the following US organizations that seem legitimate as far as I can tell, and which accept donations: www.daoistfoundation.org (affiliated with Dr Louis Komjathy who strikes me as a sincere and kindly scholar-practitioner) www.partingcloudsdaoisteducation.com https://tao.org/ If anyone wants to chime in, feel free.

As a non-gringo I suspect I can safely steer clear of the hairy gringo in the Andes yelling through his keyboard. I guess basic honesty is one of those stupid rules reserved for the monks and the chumps who respect them.

A hermitage is where hermits live. The term is often used in Christian circles to designate a type of monastery, stricter than a skete or coenobium. Lots of “stupid” rules and anal retentiveness. If you’re dicking around on the internet soliciting funds and shitting all over the genuine monastic tradition that has done so much to cultivate and protect spiritual traditions while appropriating their good name to line your pockets I think it’s safe to say you are not a hermit.

A really good point. My thought was that USD can go a very long way in China but authentic Taoist teachers in the US could use plenty of help too.

I know what is and isn't a monastery. That you would describe your place, cool as it may be, as a monastery when you well know it isn't one, doesn't inspire great confidence. And for what it's worth, I think monks and nuns are cool.

I’ve been meaning to ask- what do y’all make of the claims that some of the Shangqing scripture revelations were facilitated by cannabis?