wudangspirit

Thanks Dao Zhen good idea! CTA Member: 1. Where do you see the future of Daoism and do you think it is getting diluted due to the business-like structure of modern times? 2. Do you ever see the CTA opening a Daoist College for Westerners? 3. Is the CTA ever going to publish a completely translated Daoist Canon in English. Daoist Master: 1. Is it possible to still reach the high levels of internal accomplishment while living in modern society without the serene and tranquil atmosphere of temple life? 2. Do you recommend fasting (cai) once in a while? 3. Do you prefer abstainance or sexual cultivation methods for alchemy practice as I know the Dragon Gate Sect is more of a monastic sect? Wudangspirit

Thanks for your reply. Bing is doing fine. Yes, my Master was filming on behalf of the Wudang Taoist Association. They want to distribute a film in the US on Wudang. My Master has a non-profit organization in order to raise funds to build a temple in Colorado. 2 Summers ago he held a Taoist Summit in Boulder where several of the priests came and performed blessing ceremonies and played music along with several of the kung fu guys. It was nice. I really enjoy your comments and discussions. You have a good heart and it's in the right place. Good luck on your practice. Keep in touch. Tao Bless, Wudangspirit

WYG, Taoists don't use "OM" in chanting. Taoist chants are used in ceremony as song. Taoists don't chant during meditation practice as a general rule because it is about detachment and stillness. We do use sometimes visualization but that two has to be done in a "see but don't see" type of practice. Tao Bless, Wudangspirit

Buddy, Great article and website! That system seems very effective and true to "real" Gong Fu. There are very few very traditional or should I say "real" Gong Fu teachers out there who can teach principles to the original ways that really produce quality martial arts. Thanks for sharing! Wudangspirit

Well all this long email (greatly appreciate though) can be summed up in one word according to Taoism.... NON-ATTACHMENT. When you attach to things your mind will manifest it. Tao Bless, Wudangspirit

Pietro, Most important are the one's without names! The nameless are the true followers of Tao.... dao ke dao, fei chang dao; ming ke ming, fei chang ming. wu, ming tian di zhi shi; you, ming wan wu zhi mu. gu chang wu, yu yi guan qi miao, chang you, yu yi guan qi jiao. ci liang zhe, tong chu er yi ming. tong wei zhi xuan, xuan zhi you xuan, zhong miao zhi men. Wudangspirit

Great topic! This is so true. My Master and Grandmaster experienced this during the cultural revolution at Wudangshan. My Master, being the youngest one to be accepted at Wudangshan, hid from the red guard. However, because of their ages, my Master being six at that time and Grandmaster being almost 100 nobody really bothered them much. That is some strategy, huh?! So they were able to practice and cultivate until my Master attained the level the was satisfying to my Grandmaster Li and was sent out to the West to teach the rest of us. So the lineage at Wudangshan continues..... Wudangspirit

Chanwu, Point taken. I am always pro "truth". We are all, I think, searching for "truth" whatever that may be. I guess you just want people to think about it before they join. Sunshine has a point too. What problems do you have with their claims? what claims do they make?

Ah from Qinghai-Tibet? The fairyland of the Taoists. Love to hear more about it. Wudangspirit

Chanwu, Although your point may be a good one in respect to a lot...okay a majority of groups out there are just there to take your money, but we all need teachers or should I say guides to show us something we don't know or something that may already be in front of our noses. I don't think we need to use our forum to bash other websites or forums. This is a place of learning. At least that's why I am here. To learn or listen to something or someone with some insight. We can go on and on bashing others because it is obvious that there are scammers out there however we are here to have fun and talk. Do we make snide remarks sometimes..."yes". Do we seem to correct each other or debate..."yes". But our intentions are good I think. Not here to ruin other's reputation. Our Tao is Our Tao and that is just for us and no one else. We have Masters or teachers to help guide us to see our own path. There are many ways to see that. Some techniques or lineages may be more efficient than others based upon our personal experiences. But that is just it! It's for ourselves. In Taoism there is a saying...."We are here to be entertained by life not to entertain life." So lets just enjoy our forum! Wudangspirit

Steve, To assume that what you see in the open is nationalized or modernized forms from Wudang is correct to a certain extent. The schools there are promoting just like Shaolin very commercial now. However, the Temple school still carries on the traditional teachings behind close doors. There are two types of schools at Wudang...actually three. One is the traditional Taoist Temple School which you have to be in the Taoist school to learn. The other are the popular schools springing up from the demonstration team members...(perfomrance art mostly, some good stuff) and others who say they are disciples in the city part of Wudang who are scammers making money. This is very unfortunate for most martial arts in China now. There are not many "real" gong fu schools anymore. Wudangspirit Steve, Another note is that the traditional teachings of Wudang are based on immortality and longevity. We practice these as a part of our daily routine combined with meditation and qigong to cultivate ourselves in order to reach immortality. This is the foundation for internal practice. Those other "broken" lineages or recreations do not focus on that. That is the difference and you won't see completed forms from that tradition. For instance, the Zhang Sanfeng 13 Original Posture Taiji... If you see that on youtube or another place by a Wudang master... he will leave out parts of it and stop the form short. My lineage uncle Master Zhong Yun Long, demonstrates it on youtube (not to his knowledge may I add) but he leaves out sections on purpose. Wudangspirit

Cool form. I like that.

That would be great! Who's your teacher?

Well that holds true for Qigong and the original Zhang Sanfeng Taiji. Also there is forms that are Wudang originals like Xuan Wu Chuan, Baxian Sword and Form, Fangbian Shovel, Tai Yi Wuxingquan and others. Good point.

Buddy, That is Zhong Xu Chao's website however, what he means is that those schools are the originals ones taught at Wudangshan. Doesn't mean they all originated there. Thanks for the link. I'm checking that out now

Yeh, I'm not in favor of those "toy" swords either. Traditional straight swords have flexibility to them however they aren't tin foil. hahhahaah.

Correct. That is my Taoist brother Zhong Xue Chao doing that form. He lives in the US now. I wasn't really questioning the form itself from that youtube video, just how it was performed. There is a lot of information out there on Wudang and Wudangshan. Yes, General Li was one of the most revered swordsman of his time. I repect other lineages and forms. Just as I also teach Wudang and Yang Styles however, the forms need to be done correctly and follow internal principles whatever lineage or style a person comes from. Agree? Wudangspirit

Buddy, You can go to www.wudangdao.com and see how traditional wudang sword is performed. I didn't mean to be bashing anyone on my ealier comment or mean to be egotistical. I just know what Wudang sword looks like and I just don't want anyone to get the wrong impression of my lineage. Thanks, Wudangspirit

Well... for someone to call it a Wudang form it needs to be done correctly...according to principles and foundation. I come from the direct line of Wudang disciples. There are only 15 generations thus far and those sword forms are passed down from generation to generation. My point was that the form that guy was doing is not done correctly. It violates principles of internal work. He's not smooth, very jerky and his transitions are not done correctly. Not to mention he has no root in his foundation. Oh..btw I am also an international wushu kung fu federation internal arts judge and I've seen many championship forms and masters perform and I have also performed on the international level and won the world championship against some of china's top competitors. Hope that help clarify. Tao Bless Wudangspirit

Buddy, Sorry, had to laugh at that guy. Definitely not a Wudang sword form. Wudang is known for it's swordsmanship and it's powerful yet graceful movements. This guy's form has neither. Anyway just my 2 cents worth. Thanks for sharing! Wudangspirit

Just wanted to say hello to everyone. My name is Wudangspirit. I'm a 26th Generation Taoist initiate in the Wudang Longmen Neidan Pai (Dragon Gate Internal Elixir School) under Master Yun Xiang Tseng (Chen) who is a 14th Generation Wudang Zhang Sanfeng Taoist Priest and 25th Generation Longmen Pai Priest.

Adam, Unfortunately this is something very sacred within our sect. I cannot go into any elaboration or details about that. However, I can tell you that it's very intense and takes much discipline. It cannot be taught in a book or video and takes time to perfect. Could take you a lifetime or if you're lucky could be shorter. Depends on the individual. Sorry I cannot talk about that. If you want to learn more about that you can go to www.wudangtao.com or get into contact with my Master. He's the only one that can really talk to you. Tao Bless, Wudangspirit

Brian, I agree with your approach to Bagua. Bagua is a martial art and deals with the interchange of energies between you and your opponent. Traditional Bagua contains the elements of Xing Yi, Tai Chi and Liang Yi. Using those elements in connection with Bagua theory combined with explosive "Fa Jing" movements, Bagua is a fantastic combat art. You should take a look at Wudang Bagua on youtube. At Wudang all the internal arts are explosive and combative...not just form. Wudangspirit