dao zhen

Tales From the Jungle Documentary of the life of Carlos Castenada by BBC Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 Volume 4 Volume 5 Volume 6

The Three Calamities are also spoken of in: Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en Translated by WJF Jenner Foreign Languages Press Beijing Book 1 - Page 35 In this work, they are spoken of as the "Three Disasters". The Taoist Partiarch of Sun Wukong spoke: "Once the Elixir is made, devils and spirits can not tolerate it. Although it will preserve the youthfulness of your face and prolong your life, in five hundred years' time Heaven will strike you with a thunderbolt. You must be clear-sighted in nature and mind, so that you can hide before it comes. If you succed in avoiding it you wil live as long as Heaven; and if you don't, it will kill you. Another five hundred yeqars later Heaven will burn you with fire. This fire will not be heavenly fire or ordinary fire but 'hidden fire'. It will burn you from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head; your five viscera will be reduced to ashes, your four limbs will be destroyed, and a thousand years of asceticism will have been so much wasted time. Yet another five hundred years later, a wind will blow at you. It will not be the north, south, east or west wind, nor will it be a warm, fragrant wind from the northeast; nor will it be the kind of wind that blows among flowers, willows, pine, and bamboo. It will be what is called a 'monster wind'. It will blow through the crown of your head down into your six entrails. It will go through the Cinnabar Field below your navel and penetrate your nine orifices. Your flesh and your bones will be destroyed and your body will disintegrate. So you must avoid all three of these disasters." I spoke to my master about it, he said generally it is speaking of one stage during the cultivation process of Internal Alchemy. He said that at a certain stage during the process, if you do not leave the corporeal body behind, some disaster or calamity can take form. I was very interested, and wanted to know more, but he said he would teach me about in in depth when we meet each other for a training retreat in June. So I will take notes, and try to remember to report back to this thread with the information. He states that Journey to the West teaches all of the steps of practice and also outlines the whole evolution course in Gaining Tao through the practice of Internal Alchemy. We will be learning the Inner Meaning of Journey to the West together and I will try and post some of my notes here if I can make the time. By all means read this work if you are a student of Internal Alchemy. You can find it on Amazon - here - It is wonderful, as it contains so many teachings, and is also a fun and exciting story. I quote from the first chapter: "The Divine Root Conceives and the Spring Breaks Forth. As the Heart's Nature is Cultivated, The Great Way Arises. Before Chaos was divided, Heaven and Earth were one; All was a shapeless blur, and no men had appeared. Once Pan Gu destroyed the Enormous Vagueness, the separation of clear and impure began. Living things have always tended toward humanity. From their creation all beings improve. If you want to know about creation and time, read Difficulties Resolved on the Journey to the West."

10_Big_holes___36_small_hole_and_72_lucky_places_of_Taoism.doc

Dear Brother Lin. I hope you are fine and in good spirits. I am happy to introduce you to my elder brother, Teacher Shao Tianze. He is a wonderful teacher of Guqin; and is connected to the Tao society. He has been teaching his few Chinese students out of his home, but will be building a small training hall next to his house. Subjects of study will be Guqin, Calligraphy, Taiji, and there will be a hall for meditation and self cultivation, and a sleeping area for students who want to stay longer or who are visiting - but we still need to remodel and fix things up a bit..... We are going to visit him in a few days on our way to Huashan. With all my best. Sincerely, dao zhen PS. He also handmakes all of his Guqin, and carves talisman and calligraphy into the bottoms; quite wonderful works of art. Tianze Dao Ren

Hello my friends. I am very sorry this is not the translated version. It is being translated now, but it takes time, and I may not be able to post it, as I have other obligations and plans taking shape in my life. I will be offline in around 5 days from now, then back online in mid April. I felt it was best to give this information, and at least if you have the document, you may find a way to translate it, or use it. It is not common knowledge, or perhaps diffiuclt to find in English, so I felt it could be of value. China is a place of great change and the industrial sector is growing very fast, as is local Chinese tourism to the well known Taoism areas. So if you know how to practice, and have some foundation, it may be a great help to travel and cultivate in these sacred areas. Perhaps download the Chinese charcter language pack to read it on the computer, and then print it off - and take the printed copy to someone in the Chinese community where you live and pay them to translate it. Then you may have the English and Chinese language version. Good luck in your practice and journey. It is my sincere hope that the sacred places of Taoism can become places of self cultivation again with sincere Taoists from all over the world........

Dragon Immortal Cave ~ Huashan Mountain

I saw that you are all looking for books for the book club. I personally like this work, and think maybe you may also. Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic by Hu Xuezhi I do not know if this is the type of book that would fit into the interests for the club, but maybe it is worth a look. I hope you find a good one. With all of my best. Happy reading. Sincerely, dao zhen

Dear friends. I hope all are in fine spirits. I have posted the reply from the Taoist Internal Alchemy Teacher here in the forum under the title Discourse on Taoist Internal Alchemy I hope this can perhaps give some a new idea or perspective on the practice and cultivation of Taoist Internal Alchemy. I am just a student in these arts, not any sort of an expert; truly I have limitations based on my own personal experience or lack there of. As I had gone to this Teacher with the list of questions given by the Tao Bums, and he agreed to offer his help and support, in the end he just talked and gave a long and animated lecture - which is the result of what is posted in the link above. I came to understand that people who have achieved some height in the art of Taoist Alchemy do not seek to communicate in the linear manner we currently take part in, and it was very low level of me to think to ask such a person linear questions as we had originally posed. I just wanted to share some of his views, as they have helped me, and I thought it may give some Tao Bums ideas, inspiration and perhaps direction in self cultivation. By my personal experience and observation here in China, much of what is taught as "Taoist Internal Alchemy" in the West is mostly "Qigong" and not Alchemy. Much of what is taught in the West may even be put under the title of Qigong that is derived from the Martial Arts tradition. True Alchemy is something that is so mysterious, subtle, and abstract that in the end perhaps most can not begin to really fathom and comprehend what this art truly entails, how to practice it, and what it is composed of. It has also been stated to me through our small circle of Teacher and fellow disciples that not every human has the proper attributes to gain progress in higher level Alchemy practice. It has further been stated that to truly receive the art of Taoist Alchemy, one must be given direction by the Will of Heaven. So we must just live our life, and follow what is given to us with a sincere and pure heart; seeking an external source or master is maybe not the proper direction to take. Sometimes it may be best to just lead a very good, pure, wholesome and honest life rather than seek out an esoteric practice that promises exceptional power or mystical experience. When the student is ready, the master appears. Qigong is a wonderful art, and is a wonderful aid to gaining health, harmony, and hopefully some longevity of the corporeal body. I personally also think it is fun to do moving Qigong, as it can give one a beautiful expression of the human form in motion. Qigong forms the first stages of Alchemy, opening the channels, activation of the Dantian, storing of Acquired Qi, and more....... Qi is like the bridge or the tunnel that is used to unite the Life Force and Innate Nature - a very important aim in the art of Alchemy. Most sects of Alchemy actually may use very different methods of "Qigong" in the first stage to gain the above results - thus giving an outside observer the idea that these schools are training in different methods. Yet further down the road, all Alchemy schools will converge on the same path - the same internal road signs will present themselves - the light of the Primeval Qi shining its brilliance, The converging and Unification of the Qi and Shen, the Appearance of the Mysterious Pass within the Internal Realm, and more........ Qigong is the first step in Alchemy practice, and is used in the first stages of Laying a Foundation, yet if you continue on the course of development, you move beyond this........ You move into the realm of the "intangible" and the "unseen", the "Pre Heaven" elements and even at a higher stage the "Pre-Pre Heaven" elements. Acquired Qi in many regards has some tangible qualities and manifestations; Qigong masters who have some real attainment can usually manipulate their Acquired Qi in such a way as to give the student some "feelings" such as the "electric" stimulation when they project their Acquired Qi outside the corporeal body. Such Qigong masters also if they have some attainment should also be able to manipulate the students Qi and or remove some unhealthy elements. Yet keep in mind this is all still in the realm of the seen, the felt, the observed and is based in the corporeal and physical world - Alchemy is an art to transcend the corporeal and return to the root source - Reversal of the Course. I had an interesting experience with such a Qigong master on Hainan Island, as he performed a method to "draw" what he was terming "Sick Qi" from the area around my knee - recently recovering from surgery - the area became very itchy, hot, some electric current feeling...... Hmmmm........ We went on to have lunch together, and were having fun, drinking tea and eating great foods........ The area where he had done the "drawing" became really itchy. I pulled back my pants, and was surprised to find the area was bright red, in an almost circular fashion and was full of these raised pimples that had become full of yellow puss...... Yuck...... I was amazed, and he laughed and said, "Good, Good.... poison coming out..." This is real Qigong ability, and there are many other stories we could tell that are much more amazing than this from our Western perspective on what is "physical" reality and what lies in the realm of "possibility" of this physical reality. This is a valid path, and a real attainment, and can give much help and aid in the realm of healing from disease, pain, and suffering; especially for those that do not have the proper will power to practice on their own. Yet this is not Internal Alchemy. True Alchemy transcends physical reality........... Yet as a natural result of the practice of Taoist Alchemy, the physical or corporeal body will naturally be effected and as a result there will be no disease in the physical form and also the physical form will experience a quality change that will result in it lasting quite a long time as long as Heaven and Earth by some accounts - if the practitioner keeps it. Most achieved adepts of Taoist Alchemy will shed the Corporeal Self just as easily as we shed our clothes as we slip into bed....... By my study and very limited experience the very basis and starting point for Alchemy is the stilling of the Heart-Mind, allowing the Mind-Will to rest in an unmoving state within the Elixir Field, and ridding oneself of the affliction of Deluded Thoughts and Desires. The various acts of imagination, visualization, directing the Qi, leading the Qi, sexual yoga, forceful Yogic breathing, complicated movement postures and the like by my limited experience have nothing to do with learning True Alchemy practice. The starting point for the Way of Alchemy is simple........ To still the mind, transcending desire, craving, and attachment to form. To travel in a complete and opposite direction from the common human. Very difficult to put into practice......... It is a very interesting time in history. Traditions that have been held in the utmost secrecy are being revealed in small part and shown to the public. Yet by my observation, there are still many aspects that are being kept in place and in secret. I think that in the West, there may be much exploration and growth that may take place, as we have no cultural confines to bind us, and we may freely study, explore, experiment and combine. I think it is a very interesting time, and I have only to most positive view of what is currently taking place. I think perhaps America may play an important role in this exploration. I will be saying goodbye here........ I am trying to finish all my computer work and obligations to be offline in a month or so and focus more on personal practice and our workshop offering this year..... I hope to be up in Huashan by the end of March or April and in QingCheng Shan by the middle of May through to October We shall see if this can actually happen, but I am trying........ I love the technology of the internet, but it also can take one away from other important activity. I sometimes remember the days as a young boy when we had to send letters, or take the time to make a phone call to communicate; it seems maybe it was a simpler time. I have much work to do, and also need to try and maintain some balance in my personal practice, so I am going to try and structure my life to not need to use the internet; yes I am also lazy in practice just like everyone else. I have no claim to any sort of expertise or mastery; I am just a student. I have really enjoyed meeting all of you in this medium, and hope to meet some of you in the flesh one day. My email is listed on my profile, and you may send me an email some time if you want to become friends, or say hello. I send all my best, and again thank you all you for your friendship and lessons here. I have posted the reply from the Taoist Internal Alchemy Teacher here in the forum under the title Discourse on Internal Alchemy You are all such beautiful people and seekers of Tao; it has been a pleasure to know you all for this brief time. With my best regards, deep respect and much love. Sincerely, dao zhen

Huashan Dragon Immortal Cave Huashan North Peak Temple Complex Huashan Chess Board Pavilion Huashan South Peak Temple

Good luck on your personal practice. Go slowly, one day at a time. Seek balance and harmony. Rid the Heart Mind of all deluded and stray thoughts. Peace, dao zhen

I agree with Lin. I once asked an accomplished human about immortals, buddhas, how long it takes to gain enlightenment, the various realms....... His reply............ "Do not think about or desire to meet an Immortal or a Buddha. Do not seek for an enlightened master. If you have the thought or a desire to seek for an enlightened master, you have already become lost....... You are seeking outside of yourself. The only thought you should have is you, yourself becoming an Immortal. You yourself becoming a Buddha. You gaining Union with Tao through your own self efforts in cultivation. Now go and practice........." Now lets go and practice.......... Much love and peace, dao zhen

Dear Friends. I hope all are in fine spirits and in good health. I have spent time with the Taoist Alchemy Adept - Wayfarer Will To Learn Emptiness - and transcribed his discourse. I felt very thankful to receive this information and guidance. The discourse covered many aspects of Alchemy, practice, theory, and his personal experience of different stages of development along this course. I filled up a notebook with all the discourse he gave. It is exciting for me to gain this information, and it has given me insight into this direction we travel in as we practice the art of Internal Alchemy. So, I am currently working to edit this, and post most of it here. I hope it may give some of you insights into personal practice and cultivation. As with achieved humans, he did not communicate in a manner such as we communicate here. Talk on various subjects and levels of attainment went back and forth, up and down, sprinkled with images of nature, reference to alchemy terms, hexagrams, poetry, and in the middle of it all would come quotes from Taoist scripture, Chan San Feng, Lu Dong Bin, and others.......... I just wrote, and tried to get it all on paper....... So it may seem none of the questions you asked were answered, but I think if you look deeply, you may find they were answered, just not in a direct logical and linear manner. I offer it as a humble gift to the Tao Bums, with the hope it may give some of you insight into your self cultivation and practice. Coming soon........... With all my love and respect. Peace, dao zhen

Dear Pietro and White Tiger. I hope you are both fine. I think it is best for you two to talk to each other, and see what can take shape. There are no real qualifications for the attending member. We just would want for them to follow our guidelines of practice, and also follow the guidelines related to lifestyle 2-3 months before coming to China. The main attribute the coming member will need is self discipline to govern your lifestyle. Also an important attribute for the attending member is mental and emotional stability. This is very important to honestly consider. The attending member should be one who has some base of internal calm and stability, and is not unbalanced mentally or unbalanced emotionally. I am happy to follow and support whomever steps forward. I hope we can all be honest in our communications, and the best person may come. So far, Pietro is very interested, and very serious, and we did work out a half-sponsorship for September if he is the one to come and represent the Tao Bum community. Pietro is currently working with the basic practice method to prepare for the journey. I am happy to follow what unfolds naturally. Please let me know. With all my best. Sincerely, dao zhen

Dear friends. I also think Pietro seems to be a very good person with a sincere heart and seems to have much interest. I will support the choice of whomever the community picks. I also want to make a comment on the request I put forth that the attending member share the methods with a few members of Tao Bums - this can be a personal choice by the attending member - though another good idea to support sharing would be for them to keep a training journal during their time, and then they may transcribe and post such a journal on Tao Bums when they return which can offer some view of what they experienced and what they learned such as technique, personal experience and theory - this may give good growth to those who can read it. I am also open to them staying a few extra days to have some one to one time, and let them wander and explore the mountain and Taoist community on the mountain. All is very flexible. Pehaps they can also take some photos and post them in a gallery here to share with other members. I am happy to follow any ideas and suggestions; I hope it can all be done in a natural way. With my best regards. Sincerely, dao zhen

Dear friends. I hope all are in fine spirits and in good health. Thank you all for your support and interest in this. I have copied all of the questions listed here to a word document. I will have to edit them, and compile it in some sort of order, and some questions that I feel will not be appropriate will be omited. I will also most likely edit the remaining questions in a form that is polite, as we must be very honorific when asking for wisdom and guidence. An accomplised being, often when answering questions may pose a question themselves, or may answer in the form of a discourse, citing examples from Taoist texts, their personal experience, or something that seems completely off the topic, but in reality it was what you needed to hear. So I will transcribe the information that comes back, and post it here, yet please do not be dissapointed if you do not find: Q - What is the Dantian?" A -"Well, very good question......you see, the Dantian is located in such and such place, and you need to practice such and such to activate it,..etc" This would be an answer in relation to western logic, which does not apply for an achieved person, generally speaking. So, we may enjoy what we get back, and I am sure it will be very interesting and enlightening for most. I will take a look back here shortly, so if there are any last minute questions, I am happy to hear them. With all my best. Sincerely, dao zhen

Faith........ If we look in the English language dictionary we may find......... ~ Confidence or trust in a person or thing. ~ Belief that is not based on proof. ~ Belief in God, the Supreme Creative Force, or in the doctrines or teachings of religion. ~ Belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit. ~ A system of religious belief. ~ The obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement. ~ The observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath or allegiance. In the view from Taoist Internal Alchemy Doctrine, we may see that faith depends upon faithlessness for its existence and relative being. Faith here is the element of Earth, which is a fundamental or foundational essence of the Golden Mean. Tao gives birth to all universal things and also is contained within all universal things. The Tao that is contained within is called the Golden Mean or Te (in Chinese) and actually serves a function much like the source of spring water or the root of a tree. It is much like the nucleus that gives forth the other Four Virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and enlightened wisdom. Yang Earth represents the True Heart. Yin Earth represents the False Heart. The False Heart is characterized by discrimination, attachment, and deluded thoughts. Under such circumstances, the original True Heart - faith- becomes obscured, and the False Heart - faithlessness - gradually prevails. Tao occupies neither of the two sides, nor the middle position between them, nor any other possible location.

Dear Pietro. Thank you for your letter. I think so far, you have shown the most interest, and you seem to be a very sincere person. I am happy if you come as a sponsored Tao Bum, or as a regular student who pays tuition. Please let us know if anyone else is interested. With my very best reagards. Sincerly, dao zhen PS. I would just like for the member who comes to share something with the Tao Bum community when they return. Be it through sharing the methods learned with a few, or by posting an essay on the experience and some of the things learned such as theory, and the general experience.

There is no I............... There is no other................ Sail upon the wind & jump into the gourd......... Jump out of the existence region and come into the nonexistence region.......... Returning to the time before my birth and death............ My heart is extending so far into infinitude that it can accomodate all..............

Here is a great link to a site with information and a wonderful collection of photos of Founder Qiu Chuji - one of the 7 Perfect Ones who founded the Dragon Gate Sect. http://www.qiuchuji.org/picture-eng.php

Dear friends. I hope you are all in fine spirits. I will wish to stop posting here shortly, but also will follow through and finish the work we started. I am not sure now if I wish to offer the interview questions to the entire board, so if there are those that are sincerely interested to receive such information, please mail me and give me your personal emails, and I will send the information to the compiled list via my personal email; in this way the information is received by those who sincerely wish to read it. I think it is better if the answers go to members who are sincere in reading this, so if you wish to be on the email list, please email or PM me with your personal email, and I will send it to all on the list. With my very best wishes and intentions. Sending much love. Sincerely, dao zhen

Dear Pietro. I hope you are in fine spirits. It seems I will need to post a little so we may finish what we started. I am busy with my projects, and just have a pure intention to share my experience, and had never planned to be a full time member here; I actually originally had wished to just drop in for a week or so. I will post a few more articles in the articles section, and also will attach those articles in my photo gallery so they do not become buried over time. I am working on your request for China information now. I am not sure now if I wish to offer the interview questions to the entire board, so if there are those that are sincerely interested to receive such information, please mail me and give me your personal emails, and I will send the information to the compiled list via my personal email; in this way the information is received by those who sincerely wish to read it. REGARDING THE OFFER FOR ONE MEMBER TO COME AND TRAIN IN CHINA: The offer is open, and it is very flexible. There does not need to be any tension regarding it. Most important is someone who in their heart feels attracted to come. We would ask of them what we ask of all people who come, and that is to prepare 2-3 months before coming by following some basic home training combined with lifestyle guidelines. Regarding the "teaching" or "sharing" with others - this is perhaps something people feel nervous about. As such, if the attending member does not feel confident after the training to teach a few friends or others, then that is fine also. It can be a personal choice made by them. We just felt it was a good idea for all to be able to share. We understand our method and our practice, and if there was danger, or such like, of course we would not allow or make such a request. Please contact me if there is someone who wishes to take part in this offer. You may post here, PM me, or email me. REGARDING TRAVEL IN CHINA China is undergoing change very rapidly. I think with a spirit of adventure, one may buy such books as lonely planet, or the rough guide and take off. China is generally very safe, and there is no real worry. One common problem is that some Chinese will try and ovrchage "Lao Wai" or foreigners in shops and the like; so you often may wish to ask to pay half of whatever price they ask for, and then observe what happens. I am not really able to offer a list of teachers, or the like here, as it is just too public, and some people have very pure intentions, and others do not. There are some programs offered by various people on the internet, but many maybe are just really tourism and travel and are not offering any in depth training experience. In this case, if you come to China, you may just need to go and search, and start asking the staff at your hotel, people training in parks, members of temples and the like - and search. This is how I got started. I just came, and searched. I had great and amazing luck. Looking back, those were really the good days. The adventure of the search, the excitement of the unknown......... Now is a different season, one of practice and refinement - more hard work really. Sometimes I miss the adventure of the search! I would always go through some ritual when I would journey in China, and I think it may help you also. 1. I would begin in my home to eat very clean foods, do daily meditation, training, and prayer. 2. I would have a mental vision or intent for my journey; that I would meet a teacher or guide. 3. I would cultivate sincerity and purity of heart. 4. When I arrived in China, I always would go to the White Cloud temple, and buy fruit and insense and pray to every shrine and diety housed there - this can take upwards of 3 hours. I would pray in the traditional way - Offer 3 sticks of insense with 3 bows to the shrine. Then bow 3 times, and kneel and place the forehead on the ground 3 times. This is repeated 3 times - In the shrine of Founder Qiu Chuji (丘處機) - Who is the founder of the Dragon Gate Sect - I would give fruit and offerings and pray very sincerely for help and guidance in my search for a teacher. 5. Then I would just follow my intuiton and journey, and follow things as they would unfold. Generally most times I would have amazing experiences and meet exceptional people. I think the most important thing in coming to China is to prepare yourself at home first. Train hard and make a very solid foundation. If you are coming to learn Tai Chi learn all you can in your home town first. If you want to learn meditation, train hard at home and gain good skill in sitting silently without moving. If you want to learn Chinese Medicine, learn all the basics you can from books or classes where you live first. If the above is followed, then when you meet an advanced teacher in China, they can actually give you something of value. If you have no basics and no foundation of skill and knowledge, then they can only show you the basics - which you could have learned in books or in local classes in your home town. I am now working on a list of the following for you - 十大洞天 - 10 Big holes 36小洞天 - 36 Small holes 76 福地 - 76 Lucky places of Taoism This is a traditional list of the sacred and magical places for cultivation in Taoism. They hold that at one level, the area you practice in can be a big help and support for your cultivation. These are the traditonal caves, and sacred grotto that are thought to be a great help and aid in the cultivation. I will compile this list, and share it here after the Chinese is translated, as I have never seen it listed anywhere. These may be good places to visit on your journey to China, and perform your self cultivation there. These places may be a great aid to the adept following Tao. I also have attached a paper with English and Chinese that can help one travel to Wudang. Wudang is a very sacred and holy mountain. It is also undergoing much influence from the government in relation to tourism promotion, and there are many people teaching wushu here that have no real strength or foundation in the internal cultivation. There are also some real teachers here. So it is really up to your own personal experience. Some have a magical journey, others are very frustrated, and not satisfied. Perhaps in the end, you attract what is the quality within your heart. Which is why I advised the above steps to prepare the heart before coming to China to seek out a teacher. With all my best. Sincerely, dao zhen List of Questions to Help in your Journey to Wudang - http://www.thetaobums.com/uploads/12030107...8_56_115446.jpg