林愛偉

I haven't read up on Master Xu Yun's work, in depth and in its entirety. Can you please elaborate on this? If you can tell me the context in which he stated it, I would then better realize the method which he used such an explanation.

:-) Well, not really sad, just another method which works according to the capacity of living beings here. chan was a great method in the past, now its Pure Land, but Chan and Pure Land are like having a safety net for each other. If one isn't sufficient, the other will save you.. hahaha and reversed, the same. They compliment each other when together, and are just as great if cultivated individually. Chan is known as the "sudden" method, but sudden and gradual are just dependent on the practitioner. It is suitable for lay people..lol I have never heard of a Chan practitioner going for a state of doubt. It is the state of non-discrimination which is the idea. The reason why Chan is "difficult" is because it requires the cultivator to utilize concentration power, and undergo the experience of patience. This means they take a lot of pain from sitting, standing, walking or lying. Not only in the physical sense, but it is a direct "cutting off" of the views one holds about the world. Cutting off all the intellectualism that one has developed, and get right to the "source". Applying Chan practice in daily life is exactly how the lay practitioner accords with the method. Its not only about sitting and investigating the mind. It is about mindfulness in all one takes on, at all times in all activities. Heck, one could fall into samadhi right on the toilet bowl, or even eating soup. The only thing with Chan, is that one must have a good and wise advisor to guide them. Doing it alone, reading it from a book, will not get anyone anywhere unless they already had good conditions in past lives. If they investigated sutras and their commentaries and cultivated, that is fine too..but an advisor will never hurt anyone. There is so much to go into with Chan explanation. hahaha Picking my "brain" so much fun for me. hahaha

Both Pure Land and Chan are of the same manner. Single minded concentration. They go hand in hand. 9 out of 10 Chan cultivators don't succeed. 10 out of 10 PL do. If they are understood as being the same method with same functions, then 10 out of 10 Chan succeed.

:-) Just the wanting to do a sefless deed is simply the acts of the pure mind. Master Jing Kong is wonderful on Pure Land. It is said, do as a Bodhisattva, you are like a Bodhisattva. Do like a Buddha, you are a like a Buddha. Amituofo

Amituofo!

Hi There Adept! Pure Land, ripped from traditional cultures and views, is very direct in approach. Think of it as "one being a little bug caught trapped in a stalk of bamboo. It climbs its way trying to get to the top, and then realizes all it has to do is eat its way out from the left or the right. Then, it is free." - ( a nondirect quote from Master Xuan Hua. Some what worded slightly different from lack of memory) The Pure Land Dharma Door, spoken very briefly, cuts through the "dust" of the mind, and false views that were there, and or developed over time through and not through cultivation. Its not just recitation of the Buddha's Name (Amitabha), but a changing of one's habits, and being sincere in doing so. PL is nothing like the heavens of Christian, Catholic belief, in that it isn't a heaven, and not some place to get to when you have done enough good, or praise. For example, if the heart is sincere in practice, the mind focused on the goal, then there is re-birth, as long as the cultivator is in accord with the methods of practice for it. What is this re-birth? It is simply raising one's vibrational level to resonate with that of Amitabha, meaning the vibrational level that resonates with the proper and pure mind. Thus, a response is received. This response is a re-birth in Amitabha's Buddha Land. Has anyone ever seen it before? I could not say, but I will not doubt its place, due to my own experiences which mean nothing. If I were to even post them, but probably cause more false thinking. My experience living in a PL Temple in China for a few months: When those who were ready to pass on, who did not wish to be in a hospital, came to the temple, everyone, monks and lay people living there, placed the person in a room, and we recited for them until they were gone. On many accounts have I seen the actual arrival of the PL Triple Jewel come and guide the dying cultivator away. (The only time I will say this). After, the body of the deceased was warm, didn't smell, and was not stiffened, even after several days. After cremation, some of them left sharira, some didn't, but they all had the same response as a "proof" of being led to the PL of Amitabha Buddha. In terms of practice, many will hold their own views as to why they want to be born there. In truth, regardless of one's views, the method is quite direct, and as long as the cultivator is in accord with the method and its requirements, one will succeed. What it basically entails is vows, faith and practice. Vows means to take the vow that "I vow to be reborn in Amitabha's Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss'. Faith isn't blind faith here. It is faith in the Buddha's teachings, faith in one self having the Buddha Nature, and faith that one will indeed succeed. Practice means to actually practice the methods of single minded recitation of the Buddha's name, and carry such into one's daily life. Practice also means changing one's habits of body mouth and mind. If one is able to, Taking Refuge in the Triple Jewel is also advised, as well as taking the 5 Precepts. But remember, its if one is ready and able to. Don't take vows unless it can be upheld. Practice taking them for a while till there is strength in it, then consider taking them formally. There are many ways to apply the methods. Some use bowing, some use walking recitation, some use sitting recitation, visualization, mudras, and a combination of any of them, or all of them. The fact is that no matter the combination or not of any method within the PL teachings, single minded application of the mind is present in all of them and having already stated the vow to be reborn there, as well as having faith in the teachings, and oneself in practice, especially on the goal, one will get there. The 6th Patriarch, Hui Neng, stated the PL is right here. Meaning, it may be said to be millions of worlds away, but if the mind is pure, the land is pure. Thus, no reason to try to run away from this life. use it accordingly and things present themselves properly. Then the result will be realized. So much more on this. But lets get things moving first. :-)

:-) Check out the 50 Skandha Demon States section of the Shurangama Sutra. Preferably with the commentary by Master Xuan Hua (Hsuan Hua). It delves deep into the steps leading to enlightenment, as well as 50 general demon states that occur to the cultivator along the path. It also goes deep into what happens when breaking through each of the 5 Skandhas. I tried to attached it here for you. Its volume 8 of 8, of the Shurangama Sutra commentary by Master Xuan Hua.But, it didn't work. So here is the link to my website for this, and you got the whole entire 1-8 volumes. Click on the 8th one for the 50 Skandha Demon States commentary Gui Zhen Great Compassion Dharma Door

Awesome Joeblast! I was going to mention this in the practice instructions, but figured let it come out in conversation. HAHAHA Its always good to question and contemplate all details without throwing away the concept 100% joeblast said what I would have said. To add a bit to it, false thinking has no origination because an origin requires that something to go back to it. Thoughts don't go back anywhere, for if they did, we could find them, and we don't. They arise intertwined with emotions, which are also of no origin. Though we are not talking about annihilation, or impermanence here, it is just that if there was no cause, there would be no outcome. Thus a cause itself is also origin-less, so to are the outcomes. They come and go just like clouds in the sky. Female and male distinctions are only said to be such in terms of the way the conscious mind can understand. Also, knowing that these concepts are false, lets you realize that it is only a method to get deeper. Eventually, the concepts of male and female should be dropped as well.

Cutting them with the "mental sword" means to cut at the root. If you can reach the mind ground (8th consciousness) and find the root cause, then yes it is possible. hahahahaha Thoughts will pass through like unwanted guests no matter what you do. Tat is why you don't do anything with them when they come. Why? because the more you recognize you have the thoughts, of anything, they will remain, and multiply. Its best to contemplate: What are my attachments to these thoughts? who is attached to these thoughts? The reason for this is to realize that thoughts are like clouds, they will appear, but the more you think about the thoughts, the more thoughts are created. They are false to begin with, and we just add more to it by thinking more of it. Keeping yourself mindful of your breath is a good way to not get taken by those thoughts. Another way is reciting Namo Dabei Guan Shi Yin Pusa ( of Namo Guan Yin Pusa), even Namo Amitabha. But its not just so simple to recite this and that's it. You have to add mindfulness to the recitation, just as if you were just breathing and being mindful. The more you focus on your breath, in either recitation, and or just breath work, the more you will retrain the mind from jumping from thought to thought. Always investigate what attachments you have towards sexual desire; what led you to believe such things were pleasurable and you needed to have it? What led you to the views you hold about it? Once this understood, and or somewhat investigated, you will become more aware of your thoughts, regardless of what they are. Then, they will slowly disappear on their own. Sometimes they might return, but over time, it will be less and less. Also understand that thinking, feeling, and form go hand in hand. If you think it, your body will begin to act like it is real, and you will begin to feel the desire stronger and stronger, thus making more thoughts about it, and causing the body to act more so that it is real making it feel the desire even more. This lets you know that desire is false, thoughts are false, and even the body is false for it was made up of a mixture of both thought and emotion (which are both false) So when you have any thoughts that somewhat overrun your mind and body, simply realize they are as false as a reflection of a beautiful woman in the pond.

HAHAHA Right? Because there is much to consider when practicing neigong and the like. Ron is very very very knowledgeable in neigong and spiritual cultivation. We recently, before my move back to the Motherland, had good talks on intense meditation, OM and Astral Projection practices. I didn't have enough time to tell him things I have done, but we shared some interesting tales, and methods. My pleasure Fu_doggy. I figured, what the heck, if someone can find use with it, by all means enjoy. And I hope who ever decides to take this on corresponds with me along the way. This way, the fine tuning can become refined tuning.. hahaha Oh, and I don't charge for it either. How can one charge for cultivation... its not like just because you give money, you are guaranteed success...

I dont follow the list of religions I posted, but if ever brought to those places, I show resect to their traditions. *** Yes, this labeling is prevalent in the world. When I was at the NY Chinese consulate, I met up with one of the Consul's on Education and Culture. His friend came by and asked me what type of Buddhism I practice. I replied just Buddhism. He thought I didn't understand Chinese, so he said I practice Tibetan Buddhism. I replied, I know, I can tell, and you and I are the same, I practice Buddhism, and we are cultivation brothers. He was shocked, and smiled, and I smiled, and we chatted on. lol If we can just get past the labels within our practice, there is so much more to realize.

What happened to all the teachers on this board? All insight is always helpful. I think it would be great to have a teacher's section where cultivators of the way can request from specific teachers, that may be willing, and here, for guidance.

Put here for a read, and I attached the file for those who want to undertake this practice. :-) Above is the "extended version'. There is a shorter version, but this one develops more concentration strength, and builds more skill. Also goes much deeper into the workings. The "shorter" version requires more effort and longer time, since it would skip some of the above steps...and thus one would only get a semi-temporary benefit. Then there is another way of doing it altogether. HAHA And it is in methods of Buddhist practice, which can be discussed if requested. But I doubt many would want to undertake that route, for it only requires recitation and visualization, along with the above stated refraining from sexual stimulation...

Interesting indeed, the idea of such differentiation within the Buddha-Dharma is false thinking in and of itself. Theravadan, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Conscious-only, Secret School, etc... all these are just conceptualizations of a method. What is the method? Simply to investigate the mind. Find where it is, and see one's original nature. Like everything, there are different levels to reach before realizing the result. Just like school; one cannot go to University, unless they have been to high school, middle school, primary school. Unless they are geniuses in which they go from any grade level to the one fit for their abilities. It has happened in the Buddha Dharma as well, and during the Buddha's time. The use of the terms and methods within the different "schools" of Buddhist Education are only expedients for the mind cultivating. They don't exist. It doesn't matter if a "Theravadan" or "Mahayana" method gets one to their goal. It doesn't matter if the Buddha spoke first the "Theravadan" and then later spoke the "Mahayana" teachings. The fact is that these methods were expounded on, and they have merit to them. Has anyone actually ever sincerely and fully practiced the "Mahayana" ? Has anyone actually ever sincerely upheld and applied the methods within it? Read the sutras and commentaries and contemplated their meanings (of the "Mahayana")? If not, I understand all the bickering about this and that. If SO, then something was terribly amiss in one's guidance and contemplation. All Buddha's teachings point the cultivator inwards, ,to turn their senses inwards. Be it through bowing, recitation, contemplation, visualization, breath work, adorning the Buddhalands, Mindfulness of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Mantra, Mudra, and the various other methods ....They all point the cultivator to illuminate within. There should be no more discrimination on this and that school. It is all just false thinking. I'm not going to quote which sutra says what for this, simply because it doesn't matter. The underlying principle of the Buddha Dharma is such that the discriminating mind ends. I practice what people call the Mahayana, Theravada, Secret School, Chan, Pure Land, Tantric. How? Because it is Buddha Dharma, and all under one school, the school of non-discrimination. It was spoken by the Buddha, so be it. Who ever messed up the formations of this and that method is unimportant. What's important is one finds a good and wise advisor, and apply themselves in the cultivation of the way in which works according to their own capacity to understand. I go to a Daoist temple and show respect to the Gods and Immortals there, I go to a Buddhist temple and do the same for the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Dharma Protectors. I go to a Church, a mosque, a Temple (Judaism), Ashram, etc...and show my respects. Why? because there is nothing outside the Dharma-Realm. All things have the Buddha Nature. regardless of the method they utilize, one way or another they will be, or are already, realized Buddhas. It is quite amusing to see such discrimination about which school is proper, and which isn't. Remember, where ever the Buddha Dharma went, it took on the culture it met, so as to become accessible and understood (somewhat) by the locals of the land. The people themselves created hierarchy, rituals, and blended their culture with the Buddha's teachings. hence the Tibetan Tradition, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian, soon-to-be European and American versions. They all have benefit, as long as one can see past the superficial presentations and get to the "meat and potatoes" of it all. Or for all those Rakshasha out there...get to the "meat and bones". hahahahaahahahahaha When I was asked, at a Tibetan Buddhist temple back in NY recently, what tradition of Buddhism to I teach, I replied I speak on the Buddha-Dharma. They looked at me funny, (the lay people). And asked me again, but of what tradition, and I again replied, Its all Buddhism, there is only the fundamental principle. Then I played along and said, a tradition with no tradition. They smiled, and said when are you moving to our city? hahaha I was planning to, but decided to come back to China.

As I learned, both are under one banner, "Buddhism", meaning there should be no differentiation as in making schools, though people have done so any way. The Buddha taught according to the level of understanding of the people he met, and those who became his disciples. Some needed a certain way and others needed something else...like medicinal herbal concoctions. In order to get some to awaken, he taught one way, and then when their capacities increased, he taught another method to get them further. Whichever worked for the cultivator, he gave them the needed teaching method.

I love these stories! Here's one I haven't spoke of in a long time, and briefly in interview. This time around... When I was 3yrs old I began seeing ghosts and spirits, demons, etc. Got used to it, told my parents, and they just looked like this Then my 2nd eldest sister brought around astrology books when I was seven, betting my father I couldn't read anyof the words. In turn I read all the words they tested me on. My mother and a friend of mine when I was 7 played the oujia board, and let me watch, then suddenly our unplugged television in the kitchen went on to show an angel under a stream of light singing in a dark room on a semi pedestal. It lasted about 20 seconds. freaked them out, I smiled. At 8 my 2nd eldest sister taught me a meditation on telepathy and third eye awakening by focusing on the dantian (details not posted..lol) She was experimenting on something she just fond out in her research, she was into witchcraft and the like when she was 16 She had no clue what she was teaching/experimenting on me, but we did it for 3hrs in the living room, and surprised ourselves. From then, it has been meditation and this kind of practice till it broke open in my early teens and through meditation learned more methods of it, along with Qigong, tuina and Qigong for hands on healing..which I don't do now (because people just like to go back to their old ways and waste my time) I did the Qigong healing stuff all till I was about late 20s, now do it on request by random people if it fits for them. Found out my father, for yrs before I was born, studied the Dao De jing, but never told me about it till I questioned life and certain religions like Catholicism, etc..due to me going to a Catholic school growing up and always debating the nuns and priests on what they thought I should do and how God was going to view me. Once I brought up their money issue, they kind of hoped I would transfer. :-P (This is all in a nutshell by the way, leaving out loads of stories, things I learned, practiced, meeting accounts in terms of specific teachers..blah blah blah and adventures..lol) just fun food for thought When I was 24, I moved to China, met my Daoist Shifu at Taishan, Wang Mu Chi Daoist Nunnery, and a few other "free to go and come as they please" teachers. Spoke about what I had been taught since 8 and my teacher then tells me, "HAHAHA good stuff, keep doing it, its basically the stuff I would show you anyway." Then in 2005 met my Buddhist teacher, and BANG! It took everything sky high from there. So, that's basically how the cultivation of the way came about to me this time around. Peace, Lin

Zombies...hahaha you know, they are not like what we see in the movies..

The Tripitaka is of the Pali Cannon, speaking in terms of the Theravadan Tradition. The Buddha spoke expedients according to the capacity of those he taught. In the beginning of his turning the dharma wheel, it was one method, and in time he brought other methods of practice, with differing information due to the level of practice he was prepared to teach. Its quite unfortunate that there was a sectioning of Buddhist teaching. Simply because it all makes sense, and it all speaks to and according to the cultivator. I find benefit from the Buddha's earlier teachings as well as from his later teachings, and there is no contradiction. From one level of practice, to another within this school of Buddhism, the teachings are endless.

probably call them nutcases, and we would have re-runs of "One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" hahaha The capacity of the times now, is for those with true insight at the capacity of Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, etc, should be quiet, and teach according to how people can accept them. Perhaps being born and leaving the home life, in any tradition, and teaching through those means, perhaps showing up as presidents, or politicians, or teachers, or babies, or prostitutes, or drug dealers, or druggies, or alcoholics, or smokers, or... You get the point. They do, but its just so sublime and so "below" the radar, that it almost seems normal. Then, when it gets deeper, usually things become more clear as to who is who and what one is doing .

Over time, people became greedy: for power, lust, control, you name it. People can change anything they get their hands on in order to make others fall in line with their own wishes. Thus demons of all kinds latching on to a human and giving them powers, or even insight to show off to others, so they can get people to believe in them. It builds up their retinue and power. But once the demon is satisfied, and bored, it moves on leaving the person "on the side of the road" and that person with no power and insight gets taken by the law (of society), put in jail, and because of his "crazy, twisted" wisdom falls to the hells of his own mind and afflictions. hahaha not fun...lol

Actually, Gods who are still cultivating the way will maintain their states on their own. And because they cultivate the way, and have some wisdom, they do appear to various peoples in a way which those peoples can relate, teaching expedients based on their karmic conditions/capacities. They do that in order to teach them how to get to their heaven, because that is all those peoples can do, and then once they are there, they get a big smack of reality, and are taught deeper stuff...based on their capacities at that point as well. Like Shakra Indra, appearing as Allah, appearing as the Jade Emperor, appearing as "God" of Judeo-Christian, Catholic belief. Even Amitabha Buddha appeared as Agni, the god of fire to those in the past who worshiped fire. Then once they were at a certain level, he dropped the expedient, and taught direct methods. On this planet, in this realm, the term "Buddhist", "Daoist", "Hindu", etc are just expedient phrases to get people to cultivate the way...in any "WAY" that fits according to the main principles, and to the cultures of the various living beings here. Its all a facade until the capacity to see past the facade becomes mature. Then, its as though one says "HOLY CRAP! That's what is was..." hahaha I meditate and contemplate The Shurangama Sutra and Mantra, Dharani Sutra and Great Compassion Mantra and what it entails. I have learned that regardless of what I may come to realize, its still equivalent to a grain of dust, even smaller. Truthfully, I may remember a lot of things I read and write down in my journals, (my memory sucks too :-P) but I have realized that there is a hell of a lot that one can only realize with proper practice and proper practice...lol You said it mr., I really have a lot more to learn... I'm no Arhat of the fourth stage, no Bodhisaattva, no Buddha. lol I'm an ant...easily squashed, miniscule in the big picture of ....things.

Tibetan Buddhism is all over China, and many Chinese do practice it. I have met government officials that practice it as well. I have met and seen many monks, and also "living Buddhas" walk the streets in their Tibetan Traditional Buddhist Monk Garb, and even nuns do the same. Also have seen Daoist wear their robes, and such in public. But understand, any publicizing of any religion has been influenced by communism, so really, behind closed doors is where more of the in depth stuff gets talked about. Several Buddhist temples remain strict in cultivation, and will not change regardless of the political influence. These are hard core, and if any foreigner or any visitor for that sake, goes to cultivate, they must follow the rules or get out. Regardless, if one has a long term residence visa, stay in a temple as long as you want, and the monks will let you stay as long as yo follow the rules of that temple. If you get a 3 month visa, or a 1 month, or 6 month, 1 year, so be it. In Buddhism, the depth of practice is based on the sincerity of the cultivator to their practice. It don't matter if you stayed 1 month or 3 days in a temple. You will get what you are able to get. Daoism, find a quaint temple, be nice and get to know them. Eventually they warm up. :-)

Good observation, yet, the Buddha only spoke on their god states, and what constitutes one attaining the merit and virtue to be reborn in the heavenly realms, and even be reborn as a god. Whether they exist because we think them, or not, is irrelevant. What is, is out there regardless of our awareness or belief, and truthfully, gods don't need our blessings and worship to survive. What the whole worship gods thing in other traditions was simply the passing of merit to the gods so they can maintain their state. If the gods didn't do the work of maintaining their state themselves, then they relied on people to pass it to them. If the people didn't, and the gods wouldn't maintain on their own, as with all states, their state would undergo decay, and they would die from the god realms and simply be reborn again somewhere else. There is a timespan for every rebirth. as for Daoist cultivation, there are immortals, and there are gods in the heavenly realms, demons in the demon realms, even heavenly demons. They are not openly spoken about because to do so would be to have to go deeper into it, and teachers would be necessary. Same in Buddhist cultivation. Worrying about other realms outside of humans, requires more guidance and a teacher who "knows". Its usually safer that way :-) Also, old western translators of Daoist texts most likely didn't even believe in any thing outside of humans, animals and fish, and either left the other worldly things out, and or just disregarded them. Some did keep to it, but its not as in depth in explanation as Buddhist education as brought it. And the reason is because Buddhism, this time around, showed up in India first, thus a culture understanding, somewhat more so, in "other worldly things".

If you want to come and check out life here for a while first, let me know. I have outlets in Shanghai for you to get a job. HAHAHA NO GFs ! They will ruin you.

This is the best advice I have ever read about this coming to China for studies. hahahaha I have had such similar accounts with a Daoist monk back in 2006. Funny guy. I met a high level cultivator and we became friends. We cultivated together, and practiced privately while his police guards kept watch out his house, where he temporarily lived. Then a few months gone by, I contacted him telling him I want to take a week's private solitary practice in a temple he found to be ok for that kind of stuff. He directed me to a friend of his, the funny guy I mentioned above. When I went, I had my sword on my back, and a small pack ready to go. I'm picked up by captains of police, and road off to the big city to meet the funny guy Daoist monk. We get to a restaurant, and wait. The room filled with at least 20 guys, all police and politicians. Then he comes in. sits down and stares at me . He asks me to drink and I refused. Then the captain replies, he is a master, you should call him Shifu. I said, sure, but he's not my Shifu, so far, he is only a Daoist monk who is going to indulge in drinking and smoking. Nothing special, I have seen this before. hahaha The monk looks at me and then says, come I show you some skill. Then, he grabs the porcelain chop sticks, and stabs himslef in the neck, thus pushing really hard, and breaks the chopstick. He smiles and says, eh? I smiled and said, you have a hard neck, nothing spectacular. Then, at this time, I had my sword in my hand, handle in the palm of my hand, and the sword pointing to the floor. He suddenly turns to my sword and tries to grab it, then looks and says, "oh, I shouldn't do that." I smiled and he exclaimed that he would kick me in the arm if I even began to swing the sword and then make me drop it. I smiled, and said to him, okay, that's nice, but this sword isn't for killing people. He then asked me to hold it up, with arms extended , then he will kick my underarm and make me drop the sword. I agreed, and he kicked several times, but to no avail. After, he exclaimed that he drank too much possibly and now will try "Dim Mak" on my underarm to make me release the sword. I smiled and agreed, but he kept pressing, and nothing. THen he asked for my recitation beads, and called over a drunkard friend of his to hold them up. He wanted to show me how the "dim mak" really works because something wasn't right with my pressure point and he couldn't make it work on me. So the drunkard holds up my beads, and the funny guy goes to press the underarm of drunky. As soon as he did, I reached behind the monk, and grabbed my beads in mid air, rolled them up on my wrist and smiled. Everyone was quiet and just sat there staring. I said, the man is drunk off his rocer, if I blow on him he will drop anything in his hands. Its no use, nothing worked. Besides, I am here because such and such big brother of mine refered me to you in the knowing that I will take a week's solitary practice at your temple. He replied, oh? you don't want to learn martial arts? I teach alot of foreigners, and wrote a book. I said, actually, if you didn't try to convince me, I might have considered it over time, but your efforts don't dazzle me and your mannerisms show its not worth me going to your temple for anything. Sorry, but I am leaving. They were all upset saying how he came down from the mountain to see me. I replied, thank yo uall, but the truth is I am not here to be sold by some hyped up commercialization of cultivation. I came here to practice, not to dance and be shown off as the token foreigner who comes for Daoism. As far as I see it, the true ones are few and far between, and none of them are in this room. After a few days I contacted my friend who refered me to the funny guy. Told him, and he laughed and said, yeah, well he got a little too over his head. He should have just let you go and practice. Sorry about that. No harm done, it was amusing, I said, and we ended off nicely. He then gave me a referral to go to Lao Shan and do my practice, but by that time, I was returning to NY for the summer. Afterwards, my friend disappeared..as usual. hahaha They are out there, but few and far between and in the most unlikely of places. I met my friend in a touristy temple, really quiet and nice place called Dai Miao in Taian, Shandong. He was wearing black dress pants and frog buttoned black shirt and his hair tied in poney tail, with 4 police friends as his protectors. He came to me one day while I was writing and asked to see my sword. I said, the sword doesn't allow such a thing. Then his protectors exclaimed, he is a Daoist high priest, how can you be so disrespectful? I said, well, if he admits to it, the sword will agree, other than that, no lies here. And he admitted, and examined the sword. We talked about the sword and what it was for. Anywho, thus began the friendship and fun times.