effilang

I was referring to Daoist Internal Alchemy, by Jerry Alan Johnson.

It is not absolutely useless, in fact, not at the least. But in the context of Yang Shen being the final goal of this part of the practice as described in this book, the author emphasized this on purpose; so as not to let the practitioner become entrapped in the wonders and skills produced at this stage of development, of which there are many; such as spirit projection, and like Joe said, it is a measure of progress.

It is different with internal work. Some transformations can be reversed, others are permanent reactions of the formless and alter you without a direct possibility of return. Thus there is that which can be lost; that which is local and there is that which cannot; which is without location. It is not like remembering and forgetting with the brain.

That is an understatement : ) It's called The Inner Teachings of Taoism by Zhang Boduan. While you're on that wavelength, also grab the Wuzhen Pian.

There are quite a few spontaneous movement practices out there, some very similar to what we experience in terms of physical manifestations. However, we do not consider manifestations like Yoga asanas or spontaneous mudras or fully body sexual arousal to be really spiritual, let alone "even the most" spiritual. These are still adjustments on the physical and energetic level, which most practitioners can do on their own, albeit without the clairvoyance of Fu Fa Shen (Hu Fa Shen), to guide you, so that everything done is catered to your needs. Additionally, many of the practices we do are designed to create a bridge in the body for the divine energy, so that it can be absorbed and processed by the body more efficiently. There are really two ways one can practice. The first is for a practitioner to cultivate on their own until their awareness can break through Taiji and enter Wuji where it can begin to communicate with spirit guides. This is how most schools and practitioners achieve this level. The second is when a spirit guide is directly connected to the practitioner and can begin guiding them from day one. Fu Fa Shen doesn't just tell you when to breathe, which meridian to move energy through, what poses to do and when to practice, but it also guides you in refining the personality and the Yin aspects of the whole complex. It gives you advice on what do to in life, gives you tips and guidance and reveals information to help you take advantage of worldly life so that you can derive the most benefit from it. If you read the stories of even some of the initiates from this weekend, you will see they are already speaking with their FFSs, having long debates, exchanging humorous remarks and learning directly about how one can attain their level. Your teacher becomes like a close friend. It will warn you of dangerous situations before they happen so you can protect yourself, heck it even gives you advice on what to eat!! This is not, something that you get through a typical spontaneous Qigong initiation. The authority of our school; Xiao Yao Pai, in the non-physical dimension is different and during the initiation we make a request directly to Tai Shang Lao Jun to receive our Fu Fa Shen. After we gave out some educational material, one of the new Tao Yu, came to me in excitement, exclaiming that their Fu Fa Shen, was the one in the picture, which he had never seen before. Er Lang Shen, directly came to his initiation to become his Fu Fa Shen, what a wonderful achievement! Many of the spontaneous Qigong systems that are available nowadays and the majority of Tao Yin arts, which people call stretching and guiding and Taoist Yoga, in their authentic form, really have nothing to do with the guiding or stretching of the Qi or limbs respectively. The root meaning of "guidance" in these arts refers to divine guidance by a spirit immortal. Jiu Tian Xuan Nu, one of our teachers, guided the legendary Yellow Emperor of China; Huang Di (黄帝) during his fight against the tribal leader Chi You (蚩尤) in the legendary battle of Zhuolu. The emperor Huang Di also practiced Tao Yin Shu (the divine guidance art), which he inherited from the hermit Guang Zheng Zi of Kong Tong mountain. Later, when he retired, he built and established Xiao Yao Guan (The Xiao Yao Temple) in China, where he achieved Immortality. This temple still stands today. Our art was kept secret for thousands of years and only passed down to royalty and the high ranking officials and ministers. Nowadays when our Grandmaster Lie Shang Hu, goes to one of the Temples in China to initiate the priests, they can hardly believe that they are witnessing the presence of an inheritor of the divine guidance art (Tao Yin Shu 導引术), which most people who have received genuine transmissions will know about and believe to be long extinct, whilst others will never have heard of the art. Recently the Chinese government through the Taoist Association of China made an official effort to recover the lost information of China's ancient clans in order to preserve it's history. In their findings they discovered Xiao Yao Pai to be listed in 33rd place in order of foundation. The list can be found in White Cloud Temple (Bai Yun Guan). Anyone who is initiated can find out the history of the school directly through their Fu Fa Shen. Hua Tuo, who invented the 5 Animal Frolics, which is a form of spontaneous Qigong, also practiced Tao Yin Shu, our schools divine guidance art. He was renowned for his expertise in Chinese medicine. You can read more about Wu Qin Xi here: http://www.qigongchinesehealth.com/fiveanimalsplay http://www.qigongchinesehealth.com/5apqigong_casehistories However, if you read everything there, you will still find no evidence of a direct connection to a spirit immortal. I do not know why, perhaps the art was stripped and they cannot communicate with their teacher? I'm not sure... Our school doesn't boast in anyway, we say what we know to be true and anyone who has any doubts is more than welcome to evaluate us so they can verify our claims for themselves. Nothing beats direct personal experience.

Another one: Bill's patience and dedication is being tested by his Fu Fa Shen. There are many cases like this. Some people don't move for 3 years, then suddenly they move and leap beyond the achievements of others. Fu Fa Shen approaches everyone's refinement differently depending on what they need, often this is beyond our scope of understanding, as we have become too comfortable with our flaws to realize they are there, just like we do not stop to realize our fingers are at the end of our hands or that our head is on our shoulders.

And another one: Apparently Henry didn't like the chairs.

: )

Another testimonial from one of this weekends newly initiated:

Another testimonial from one of last weeks initiated:

“Chen Niwan said: Al right. I’ll tell you about this. There are three levels of the teaching for attaining immortality; there are three realizations of the fusion of the elixir. Those who have acquired the way of the Celestial Immortals can make transformations and metamorphoses and to ascend. Men with higher abilities can learn this. They regard the body as lead, the heart (consciousness) as mercury, and concentration as water and wisdom as fire. While tasting the food they can conceive (the immortal fetus) and the fetus matures for 10 months. This is the higher method for the fusion of the elixir. In its base there are no trigrams and their lines, also no pounds and ounces. This method is simple and easy, that’s why it is transmitted through the heart (consciousness). It’s very easy to succeed in it. Those who have acquired the way of the Water Immortals can come out and in, disappear and appear. Men with middle abilities can learn this. They regard Qi as lead, Spirit (Shen) as mercury, the earthly branch Wu (No. 7) as fire and the earthly branch Zi (No. 1) as water. During 100 days they can mix and fuse everything; after 3 years the image will be realized. This is the middle method for the fusion of the elixir. Although in it there are trigrams and their lines, still there are no pounds and ounces. This method is mysterious, that’s why it is transmitted orally. One can certainly succeed in it. Those who have acquired the way of the Earth Immortals can leave their body and be in the world. The common men can learn this. They regard the sperm as lead, the blood as mercury, the kidneys as water and the heart as fire. For 1 year it is possible to produce (the fetus), after 9 years success can be achieved. This is the lower method for the fusion of the elixir. In it there are trigrams and their lines, and also pounds and ounces. This method is complicated and difficult, that’s why it is transmitted by letter. I am afraid that it is difficult to succeed in it. The higher method for making of the elixir regards as ingredients of the medicine Jin (Vitality), Shen (Spirit), Hun (Human Soul), Po (Animal Soul) and thought, they regard as heating time (Ho Hou) movement, staying, sitting and lying, as circulation – Qing Jing (Purity and Clearness) and Zi Ran (Naturalness). The middle method for making of the elixir regards as ingredients of the medicine heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys, it regards heating time as years, months and days, it regards circulation as “embracing the primal” and “guarding the One”. The lower method for making of the elixir regards as ingredients of the medicine sperm, blood, marrow, breath and bodily juices, they regard as heating time detention (of breath), swallowing, massage, pressure, they regard as circulation actualization (visualization), contemplation, raising and descending”.

A testimonial from one of this weekend's newly initiated Tao Yu.

Pictures from the 2014 Initiation, which took place yesterday: FB Gallery

Hi Ronko, There is a basic level, a first level, a second level a third level and a fourth. The transitions between levels take different amounts of time, 1 to 3 years, 3 to 6 years, 6 to 10 years, or anything between those or beyond. It really depends on how often you practice. Most Tao Yu (initiates) put in between 30 and 60 minutes of practice per day. When a student feels he is ready, he may ask his Fu Fa Shen (护法神) to be considered for examination, or if his Fu Fa Shen deems the student to be ready, he may recommend him/her for examination. If the recommendation is accepted, then a different, examining Shen Xian (神仙) will carry out the examination, not your Fu Fa Shen. The examination lasts between 4 months and 5 months and includes questions from the examining immortal or other immortals that may come to test you. The examination also involves, a comprehensive overview of your nature; your life, your attitudes, your mind and your overal level of wisdom attainment, that you may be allowed to progress. Your development is assessed in many ways, but all very closely related to your state of zi ran (自然 - naturalness), wu wei (无为 - non-action and effortlessness) and qingjing (情静 - clarity and purity). All these evaluate the level of your progress back to the state of the original mind. If you pass, you will inherit a new 20 skills in addition to the 4 acquired during the initiation. You can register for the examination with your Fu Fa Shen, after 3 years of cultivating through Tao Yin Shu (導 引 术). If you then pass again to the next level, yet another 20. These skills include, healing systems, feng shui, divine skills, special skills pertaining to our school etc. You Fu Fa Shen is your teacher, and you can always contact him/her, anytime of the day. If you'd like to contact another practitioner you're more than welcome to do so. You will receive the contact details of the priests who perform the initiation after the initiation, and you can contact them if you have any additional need for guidance. They are normally level 2b and level 3 or higher. Our FB open group is here. It is a mixed group of uninitiated and initiated cultivators: https://www.facebook.com/groups/734405999957734/ Our closed group is for Tao Yu only (initiated cultivators with a Fu Fa Shen) and I'll add folks to that after the initiations. I can put you in contact with a higher level practitioner if you like, just pm me. Unfortunately our Grandmaster, Lie Shang Hu Tao Se, doesn't speak English, but many others, including some of the highest level practitioners of our school, do. Our community is a vibrant and thriving one, so there are many Tao Yu you can speak to, and a lot you can learn form the experiences of others, even those below you.

There are pre-heaven San Bao: Original Jing, Original Qi and Original Shen. There are post-heaven San Bao: Jing, Qi and Shen. There are two ways. The forward way and the reverse way; the human way and the heavenly way. The former creates the corporeal birth of the physical body, which is temporary, while the latter the birth of the non-physical body, which is immortal. The pre-heaven San Bao are formless. In stillness they reverse on the path of creation and unite. The 3 unite into the 2, the 2 return to the one, the one becomes one with everything: Jing, Qi, Shen > Taiji > Wuji > Tao In movement (of the acquired heart/mind) the pre-heaven San Bao create the post-heaven San Bao. Original Jing gives birth to Jing; the physical body, hormones, chemicals, sexual essences, bones, tendons, muscles etc. Original QI gives birth to the Qi within the meridians that animate and maintain the human complex. Original Shen gives birth to Shen, the acquired-mind (Zhishen) Post-heavenly Jing, Qi and Shen are interconnected. They support each other and one creates the other, all three nourishing and maintaining one another. The same goes for post-heaven Jing, Qi and Shen. Within the core of the post-heavenly manifestation of the pre-heavenly San Bao, lies a spark of the pre-heavenly. It is in this way that we can start from where we are, the physical, the formless, the post-heavenly; and revert back to the pre-heavenly. If the post-heavenly San Bao are not regulated, purified, and strengthened; the pre-heavenly will constantly be in motion, constantly in use, untill their dissipation, which will lead to the physical death. By regulating the post-heavenly Jing, Qi, Shen ie: Jing, through exercise, Qi through Qigong, Shen through stilness meditation, we can still the post-heavenly, which in turn will still the pre-heavenly. It is only in this stillness, that the path can be reversed. Tao > Wuji > Taiji. Because the post-heavenly Jing, Qi and Shen are of the body, energy and acquired-mind, they are of FORM, they are thus resident in the domain of Taiji; duality. First you must strengthen the post-natal in order to create a solid foundation. This allows for the body to become a sturdy container for the future alchemical transformations of spirit. It must be clean, like a laboratory beaker must be cleaned. Post-natal JING, Post-natal Qi, Post-natal SHEN = TAIJI DOMAIN Post-natal Shen is the most refined energy in Taiji (Duality), but the coarsest energy of Wuji (Non-Duality) Thus, in order for a practitioner to begin cultivating Wuji (emptiness, non-duality), they must first reach SHEN. Everything before this, is a post-heavenly Taiji practice, which is of the form and of the body and of the corporeal and temporal condition. To perfect Taiji will not grant you immortality. After one reaches Shen, then they can start cultivating Wuji. Different practices start in different places. A traditional Hou-Tian practitioner will first work with Jing, Qi and Shen. His body, will become strong, his Qi will become strong, his mind will become strong. These are all strengths of the physical realm. When he reaches Shen, he will start the real spiritual cultivation. Some other schools, will first activate their Shen, then their Qi, then their Jing. Other schools will do all 3 simultaneously and some concentrate only on 1. No matter how much you practice, if you restrict yourself to developing only the post-natal Jing, Qi and Shen, you will always be stuck in Taiji. You may achieve Yin Shen; corpse freed immortality and wonderful skills, but you will not be complete Yang and you will not have complete wiped out the mundane and conditioned Yin aspects of your entire existence. Genuine alchemical practices cultivate the formless and reverse the path of creation, however the spark of the formless is within the form of the body. Why else would we be birthed into a physical body in the first place if not to utilize it as a vessel for transformation. Thus, we use the post-natal to illuminate the pre-natal, then use the pre-natal to completely erradicate all traces of the post-natal Yin condition. To think that you can go to the gym and build muscles to be come an immortal is stupid; this is cultivating post-natal Jing. To think that you can practice Qigong and Pranayama and become an immortal is stupid; this is cultivating post-natal Qi. To think that you can practice puzzles and games to train the mind and become an immortal is stupid, this is cultivating post-natal Shen. These are the forms of the formless pre-natal, pre-heavenly Jing, Qi and Shen. The most important thing to understand is that the body should not be treated as something which must be gotten rid of. The body is our one very precious tool, which we must use in order to reinvigorate the pre-natal and plant the true seed, so that the internal, reverse birth of the Xian Tian path can be created and the immortal can be born. At what time you start practicing in your life, will determine whether you can directly begin refining Shen to leap over Taiji and enter Wuji, or if you will first have to start with the physical, body, physical energy and physical mind, before you can start refining pre-natal Shen to Wuji. Realization and non-self cannot be found in Taiji, they are a product of the refined acquired consciousness and pre-natal Shen, entering Wuji in union. This is where the voidless emptiness can be witnessed, the unborn potential of all creation.