effilang

The Path of Dao Yin: From Divine Guidance to Modern Qigong ------------------------------------------------------------------ Dao Yin, as seen through the eyes of Xiao Yao Pai, is far more than a sequence of movements or a method for moving energy. It’s a sacred dance between the practitioner and the immortal beings—the Xian—who guide, heal, and transform. In its original form, Dao Yin was a direct communion with these immortals. When we say “Dao Yin” means “guiding,” we don’t mean merely guiding your own Qi or breath. No, it was about receiving guidance from the divine itself, allowing your energy body to be touched by the hands of immortality, led toward balance and spiritual awakening. However, as the ages passed, that connection was weakened, and the relationship between humans and the immortals dimmed. The art of Dao Yin began to shift. Where once the practitioner was led by the celestial, they now turned inward, relying on their own efforts to move energy and align their Qi. What was once a divine experience of Dao Yin became self-guided—less spiritual and more physical. This transition is echoed in the ancient Mawangdui Daoyin Tu drawings, which were discovered in the Mawangdui tombs in the 1970s. These images show over forty postures, illustrating Dao Yin’s evolution from a divinely-guided art to one where individuals used movements to maintain health and balance. These ancient postures marked the beginning of Dao Yin’s transformation into the modernised version of Qigong, which is what many people recognize today. In Qigong, the practitioner focuses on moving their own energy, cultivating health, vitality, and inner balance. It is an incredible tool for improving physical and mental well-being, but something sacred was lost along the way. Qigong, in its popular form, lacks the divine guidance that was central to the original Dao Yin. It is about self-guidance, rather than being led by the hands of the immortals. This is where Xiao Yao Pai steps back in. We continue to practice Dao Yin in its original form, known as Dao Yin Shu. We re-establish that sacred connection between the practitioner and the divine. In Dao Yin Shu, it’s not about you moving your energy alone—rather, you allow the immortal guides to work with you, to clear blockages, to balance your spirit, and to align you with a higher order of being. It’s a different experience entirely, where the practitioner becomes a vessel for celestial energy and transformation. The Mawangdui Daoyin Tu is an important historical artifact because it shows the early stages of Dao Yin’s shift toward self-guidance. But it also serves as a reminder of what was once possible. The discovery of these ancient drawings is a testament to Dao Yin’s rich history, but it is also a reflection of a time when humanity’s connection to the divine began to wane. What was once a practice of divine communion became more focused on physical health. The ancient art of Dao Yin Shu preserves the original intent: not simply health and longevity, but spiritual transformation, guided by the divine hand of the immortals. So when you hear the term Dao Yin, understand that it carries with it the memory of something far greater than simple breathwork or postures. It is an invitation to reconnect with the immortal realm, to allow yourself to be guided, healed, and transformed by forces far beyond the material world. It is a call to return to the original way, where the Xian themselves come to guide you on your journey. In the end, Dao Yin is about surrender—not just to the flow of Qi within, but to the celestial guidance that leads you toward your highest self. The journey is not merely one of health, but of awakening to something far greater. Through Dao Yin Shu, the bridge between human and immortal is restored, and we walk once more with the divine. Blessings, Xuan 🙏🏽✨

It is not nuts at all. It's quite common place in fact and a rather mechanical expression of merged souls. Thank you for being kind. I will ellucidate on the topic later for the sake of dispelling ignorance. Glad you're enjoying the sessions. Regards, Xuan

TESTIMONIAL: "We just ended the practice, and it was a very deep meditation for both of us. ANN felt guided from the beginning to take very deep breaths throughout almost the entire session. As she continued to breathe deeply, she noticed a single-pointed focus developing within her. Alongside this, she began to feel a slight pressure around her crown, as if a crown itself were resting on her head. It felt like hands were gently touching and holding all around her head, which surprised her. This experience led her to a state of deep tranquility and peace, a contrast to the more energetic sensations she felt during previous sessions. The peace she experienced this time seemed to affect her emotional body more profoundly. For myself, the experience was subtle yet profound. My head moved in slow, circling motions, accompanied by a lot of cracking and popping in the back of my head. As I settled into this serene state, I suddenly felt or thought of Jesus, sensing Christ's energy surrounding me—particularly from the back, moving towards the center and front of my body. It was as if Christ's Presence was being absorbed through all the pores of my being, becoming the shape of my body and mind as I meditated and relaxed in this soft vibration of energy. My hands became very heavy and warm with this vibration, and my arms moved forward as I bent all the way down while sitting cross-legged. My head hung down, almost touching the floor, with my arms resting on the floor and my hands palms-up. I felt Christ's Presence once more, conveying to me that I no longer have to try to control, fix, or carry anything on my own. I was to allow this Presence, this energy I was feeling, to do the work, assuring me that everything and everyone is within me, within this Presence, taking care of all."

Yes, he is Tai Shang Lao Jun, the Celestial head of Xiao Yao Pai.

TESTIMONIAL: "She felt a lot of lightness building up from the belly up to her head and all around her: she is still feeling this lightness sustaining her from the inside and also around her body, even after finishing the practice. As to myself, I had a lot of spontaneous movement with my hands, arms, head, neck, and spiraling feeling in the movement of my spine from base to neck and head: all of it with very strong contractions in my belly and strong breath with some sudden powerful movements. Tomorrow we hope to join again but much sooner when you start the session. As always, we will let you know. Thank you, Xuan. Much Love from us to you✨🙏✨

From Blame to Freedom ----------------------------------------------- He who blames others has a long way to go, He who blames himself is halfway there, He who blames no one has arrived. --- In the beginning, one blames the world, seeing fault in every shadow cast by another. The road is long and the burdens many. In the middle, one turns inward, confronting the tumult within. The trials and tribulations become mirrors, and in them, he sees himself. He walks closer to clarity, yet remains tethered by the echoes of self-judgment. At the end, one transcends both blame and blameworthiness. The heart rests in the silent harmony of the Dao, where the dust of judgment settles, and all is as it is—neither praised nor condemned. In this state, one has truly arrived, beyond blame, beyond form. Blessings, Xuan 🙏🏽✨

TESTIMONIAL: "A.N. and I just finished the practice, and it was a truly beautiful experience for both of us. A.N. was smiling big as I read your message earlier, and just now, she felt her entire right foot and toes become really warm and itchy in a way she hasn't experienced since the stroke. We really appreciate your compassionate, tender, and sweet feedback—it made today’s experience even clearer and stronger in our hearts. For A.N., the session was subtle yet profoundly beautiful. She shared that the gentleness of the energy was incredibly deep and moving for her, expressing how this subtlety was what resonated most. She realized that this is the type of energy she prefers—gentle yet profoundly deep. She described the experience as if she were in an underground cave deep within the ocean. It felt very profound, and she now feels a desire to connect even more through these healing sessions. In the beginning, A.N. was sneezing quite a bit, and by the end, she felt her head lower gently, almost in reverence of a higher energy. Shortly after, a significant amount of mucus was released from her nose. As for me, I felt a powerful yet gentle energy flowing within and around my head. There were warm currents moving through my brain, accompanied by deep dark purple and soft electric blue colors that felt like clouds behind my eyes. Strangely, or perhaps not, the energy resembled whales swimming in slow waves deep within the ocean. These currents also extended from my heart down to my arms and hands, resting gently on my knees. Much love from both of us to you, Xuan. We’re definitely looking forward to continuing these healing sessions. Thank you so much!"

From Blame to Freedom ---------------------------- He who blames others has a long way to go, He who blames himself is halfway there, He who blames no one has arrived. --- In the beginning, one blames the world, Seeing fault in every shadow cast by another. The road is long and the burdens many. In the middle, one turns inward, confronting the tumult within. The trials and tribulations become mirrors, and in them, he sees himself. He walks closer to clarity, yet remains tethered by the echoes of self-judgment. At the end, one transcends both blame and blameworthiness. The heart rests in the silent harmony of the Dao, where the dust of judgment settles, And all is as it is—neither praised nor condemned. In this state, one has truly arrived, beyond blame, beyond form. Blessings, Xuan 🙏🏽✨

That's very kind of you - thank you

No need to visualize anything. Follow the instructions in the description, and relax; everything else is taken care of. If you'd like to catch the longer session, I suggest tuning in to the Youtube stream, which starts at the same time, but ends much later. We do not perform initiations online, at this time. We prepare for the MCO and instruct on what to expect, but the MCO connection that is particular to our tradition is administrated by a Shen Xian, not done manually. I have yet to achieve this, mostly because I've diverted most of my attention away from the Xia Dantian and focused on work with the Zhong Dantien to affect faster emotional refinement. This was a change I made in mind of my commitment to cultivate a stronger vibration of love in my energy and to foster more heart-centered communication with others and the world around me. It has helped me tremendously in refining my energy sensitivity and allowed me to channel increasingly stronger flows of energy into my body. I was a long time practitioner of Hou Tian Daoism, before integrating Xiao Yao Pai into my practice. There, as I'm sure you're familiar–the the MCO is triggered manually and the flow of the refined jing-qi is supported in a direction up the spine, over the top of the head and down the front, or sometimes vice-versa. This I have achieved, but in Xiao Yao Pai, the flow of the MCO is simultaneously upwards in the Du and the Ren Mai, where it joins in union of Yin and Yang, but does not circulate per-se I'm quite familiar with all the expected energetic movements and manifestations related to work with the Xia Dantian, but when you root the consciousness into the centerpoint between the Shang and the Xia Dantians, the process of transmutation is very different and I'm finding it extremely fascinating, as a practitioner who has mostly followed the traditional route of LDT-centered work. Regards, Xuan.

We're live - feel free to hop in and relax.

The Harmony of Clarity & Stillness --------------------------------------------------------- In the vastness of the Dao, there lies an ineffable clarity, untouched by the dust of the world. It moves without moving, it acts without acting. In the silent embrace of the Void, the Great Dao births all things. From nothingness, the myriad forms arise; from stillness, all movement emerges. All things that follow the Dao embody both purity and turbidity; action and stillness reside within the same embrace. Heaven remains pure and active, while Earth stays turbid and still. From this balance, all creation springs forth—purity reaching the heavens, and turbidity anchoring the earth. Man is shaped from the essence of Qian Tao—pure Yang, vibrant and active. Woman arises from the depths of Kun Tao—pure Yin, settled and still. From the dance of these dual forces, the Great Dao weaves the fabric of the cosmos, allowing the myriad forms to emerge from unity into multiplicity. Purity is the wellspring from which even turbidity flows. Motion finds its true root in stillness. Therefore, to abide in constant purity and tranquility is to align oneself with Heaven and Earth, allowing their energies to flow harmoniously into your life. The foundation of stillness lies in action, yet stillness itself is the path to the most profound truth. The human soul yearns for purity, but the heart is often swayed by desires. The heart longs for tranquility, yet the grasping of the senses and the pull of the world’s illusions lead it astray. If one can cast off these desires, letting them fall away like autumn leaves, the heart will return to its natural stillness. In that stillness, the soul finds its way back to clarity, like a clear pond that reflects the moon’s light. If one can continually cast off these desires, the heart will naturally settle into tranquility; if the heart is rendered clear and calm, the soul will likewise return to its pristine purity. In this state, the Six Desires will no longer rise, and the Three Poisons will be extinguished. Yet, if one fails in this endeavor, it is because the heart remains clouded, and desires have not been fully relinquished. In this return to clarity, one aligns with the nature of Heaven and Earth, becoming like a mountain, unmoved by the passing winds, dwelling in the purity of the Dao. For it is in the stillness of the heart that the Dao reveals itself, not as a distant goal but as the source of all that is. When the heart is calm, the soul mirrors Heaven’s clarity. When the mind is undisturbed, the essence of the Dao flows unimpeded, and all things return to their original nature. ---------------------------------------------------------- Reference: Qingjing Jing ---------------------------------------------------------- Blessings, Xuan 🙏🏽✨

Desire and Simplicity ----------------------------------- Q: "Question about Taoism. In the first chapter of the Tao Te Ching, it talks about not having desire to understand the deeper mystery, but to have desire to see the manifest forms. It seems like desire forms an important part in our lives. I desire to not be in the cold, or the rain, or snow, so I build, or buy, or rent shelter. I desire to be well fed, so I buy food (because I'm too lazy to grow it myself). In fact, this group wouldn't exist at all if people didn't have a desire for computers, Internet, and Facebook. These are desires that would be unimaginable when Lao Tzu was alive. So my question is, how is this balanced from a Taoist point of view?" - Brian M Dean A: Ah, seeker of the Dao, your question dances upon the razor’s edge of a timeless paradox—the interplay of desire and the Way. You are right to observe that desire is woven into the very fabric of existence. Even the stone shelters itself beneath the earth, even the river seeks its course, and even the tree stretches toward the sun. Desire is neither good nor bad—it simply is. It arises naturally, as clouds form from vapor, as leaves fall with the wind’s whisper. Yet, the Dao De Jing speaks of a subtler distinction—desire that clings and clouds the heart, and the desireless awareness that reveals the uncarved block of pure mystery. Laozi does not reject the necessity of shelter or food; he does not condemn the tools and conveniences we create. Rather, he cautions against being ensnared by our own creations, trapped by attachments that grow like tangled roots, diverting the flow of life’s natural course. To build a shelter against the cold is aligned with the Dao—this is a practical response to the rhythms of nature. But if we become consumed by endless cravings, yearning for more and more comforts, luxuries, and distractions, then our desires have led us away from the simplicity that nourishes the spirit. The Daoist sage walks the middle path, where desires serve life rather than dictate it. Consider this: the sage, in wisdom, may build a shelter, but that shelter does not become his identity, nor does he seek endless expansions and embellishments. Desire arises and is met with balance, without excess or deficiency. The key is in returning to simplicity, where desires are few, clear, and serve the harmony of one’s being with the world. Even in this age of technology, the principle remains—tools are but means, not ends. The computer, the internet, even this very conversation can be expressions of the Dao, but only if we use them with awareness, not as chains to endless want, but as paths to insight and connection. So how is this balanced? Embrace the necessity of desire, but remain unbound by it. Use what is needed, but do not allow what you use to use you. In this dance of having and letting go, of engaging and withdrawing, the Dao reveals itself. Stay centered in simplicity, and desire will naturally find its rightful place—like water returning to its source, flowing freely, without hindrance, without grasping. This is the gentle way of the Dao—a balance that neither clings to desire nor denies it, but lets it ebb and flow, like the tides, in their natural rhythm. Blessings, Xuan 🙏🏽✨

The Silent Rythm of The Dao ---------------------------------------------- The root of disorder lies in chasing desires, for when one loses touch with their original essence, they stray from the Way. Such governance, whether over a kingdom or oneself, leads to disarray and defilement. Those who cannot hear the Way have no means to return to their true nature; those who fail to grasp the nature of things cannot attain clarity or serenity. The inherent nature of humanity is pure and uncorrupted, yet after long immersion in worldly entanglements, it becomes altered, leading us to forget our origins and conform to a distorted semblance of what is natural. Water’s nature is to remain clear, but when muddied by gravel, it loses its purity. Similarly, the human spirit craves peace, yet habitual desires cloud its tranquility. Only those who embody the Way can step back from the clutter of the world and return to their true essence. Such beings do not exploit knowledge for gain, nor do they allow desires to disrupt their harmony. They remain balanced—neither overly joyous nor excessively grieved—finding stability even in the most precarious situations. It is said, "When one lets go of contrivance, the people align with the Way naturally. When one releases striving, prosperity emerges on its own. When one resides in tranquility, harmony blossoms of itself. When desires are stilled, simplicity is restored." True virtue emerges from serene clarity. The Way manifests in yielding, in the quiet power of the empty and still. These qualities, when fully embodied, lead one into formlessness—a merging with the oneness where mind and world become indistinguishable. In this formless state, virtue flows without effort, power is wielded without force. It is invisible, yet forms emerge within it; silent, yet all sounds arise from it; tasteless, yet all flavors take root in it; colorless, yet all hues are born within it. Being arises from non-being, fullness from emptiness. Just as the variations of five notes, flavors, or colors are endless, the myriad forms of existence flow from a singular origin. Establish the One, and all things follow. The vastness of this One permeates heaven and earth, solid like an uncarved block, yet capable of dispersing into pure suspension, where clarity and emptiness merge and separate in turn. All things return to a single opening; their roots lie in a singular gate. True sages tread this path without deviation, relying on constancy, honesty, and guidance. Joy, anger, anxiety, and lamentation pull one away from the Way; habitual desires are burdens that bind life. When such disturbances are cast off, one merges with spiritual radiance. Inward clarity brings calmness, clear thoughts, sharp senses, and resilient strength. Such a being is firm yet non-contentious, strong yet inexhaustible. Water, though soft, embodies the Way—infinitely deep and boundless in reach, nourishing all without prejudice, returning to the heavens as rain, flowing through the earth as rivers, embracing life without expectation. Its subtle power remains undamaged even when struck, unbroken even when pierced. Water’s virtue is that it embodies softness, able to bore through stone and metal, penetrating the hardest forms. In its yielding lies supreme power; its formlessness makes it the ancestor of all being. The unspoken Way works quietly, guiding transformations without the need for command. It does not strive, yet nothing is left undone. Through this, one can find the end of the endless and touch the ultimate in the infinite, perceiving clearly without being blinded and responding effortlessly without grasping. True practitioners are gentle in their ambition, strong in their deeds. Their minds are open, responses timely. Rooted in humility, they rise above, embracing smallness to contain greatness. They are flexible yet firm, and thus no challenge can overpower them. Firmness is preserved by softness, strength by yielding. Accumulate flexibility to be unshakable; gather yielding to become indomitable. In strength lies the seeds of decay; in yielding, the path to life. Those who lead will exhaust themselves; those who follow the flow will find success. To master the Way is to harmonize leading with following, guiding people without force, and aligning with the times without haste. True sages understand the preciousness of time and remain faithful to the rhythm of the Way, valuing the moment over the rarest gem. Peaceful and easygoing, they secure themselves without struggle, defeating the strong not through force, but through the subtle power of yielding. Blessings, Xuan 🙏🏽✨ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reference: Wenzi (文子 / Tongxuan Zhenjing) --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Live on FB and Youtube, feel free to join in, follow the instructions in the description and relax: