dao zhen

Dear friends. I had a great day today with my Tao Brother Zi Rong. We spent the day hiking in Wudang, praying and meditating in Purple Heaven Palace, and hiked up to the Xuan Wu Cave to visit the hermit there. Here are some pictures of Zi Rong and myself from today below. On another note. We are going to try and sponsor one Tao Bum to come to China in June to take part in an intensive 17 day training in Authentic Taoist Alchemy Practice. This will include all costs in China, but not the cost of airfare to china or the visa fee; they may need a little personal money to buy water, or some gifts. We would like to have three Tao Bum members in good standing who are respected to form a "Board of 3" to choose one member - I will not be choosing. I propose the member will need to have some basic experiene in seated meditation practice, but they do not need to be any sort of expert, just willing to come and learn sincerely. A very sincere complete novice is fine also. The member should also commit to the following - 1. To follow the guidelines we set for them in regards to lifestyle 3 months before coming to China. 2. To practice and follow the course training in China. 3. To take very extensive notes on all theory and practice methods taught; with the aim to teach them to others. 4. To have a good attitude, be sincere and have fun during the trip. 5. To commit to coming back and teaching what they have learned to at least 5 people - free of cost - I hope other Tao Bums - this should include all practice methods and theory. They will need to be able to organize a mini retreat of at least 9 - 14 days with these 5 new students and pass on what they have learned, same as it was taught in China - this condition does not have to be followed through if the tao bum member thinks the methods are not good, or false. I will post an new page in the forum to get this started, but if you guys can help and start thinking who will be on the "Board of Three". I hope this is of interest to the members, and we can get this project started. I hope to have our member picked for China by March 1, and we can begin to prepare them with the lifestyle guidelines - such guidance and teachings will be done via email. Enjoy the pictures below from today. The other person in the pictues is my younger Taoist Brother - Zi Rong Dao Ren - Wayfarer of Endless Capacity With much love, dao zhen This is Zi Rong and Dao Zhen at Purple Heaven Palace This is a close up of the above picture at Purple Heaven Palace Zi Rong Dao Ren - Wayfarer of Endless Capacity Dao Zhen Dao Ren - Wayfarer of True Way

Thank you so much for this story. It touched me. Very beautiful.

Thank you all so much. I will be working on the final list of questions tomorrow, and will submit them to the Alchemy Master. Please include any further questions if you have them, and those that have already listed here, please list more. I had a great day today with my Tao Brother Zi Rong. We spent the day hiking in Wudang, praying and meditating in Purple Heaven Palace, and hiked up to the Xuan Wu Cave to visit the hermit there. Here are some pictures of Zi Rong and myself from today below. On another note. We are going to try and sponsor one Tao Bum to come to China in June to take part in an intensive 17 day training in Authentic Taoist Alchemy Practice. This will include all costs in China, but not the cost of airfare to china or the visa fee; they may need a little personal money to buy water, or some gifts. We would like to have three Tao Bum members in good standing who are respected to form a "Board of 3" to choose one member - I will not be choosing. I propose the member will need to have some basic experiene in seated meditation practice, but they do not need to be any sort of expert, just willing to come and learn sincerely. A very sincere complete novice is fine also. The member should also commit to the following - 1. To follow the guidelines we set for them in regards to lifestyle 3 months before coming to China. 2. To practice and follow the course training in China. 3. To take very extensive notes on all theory and practice methods taught; with the aim to teach them to others. 4. To have a good attitude, be sincere and have fun during the trip. 5. To commit to coming back and teaching what they have learned to at least 5 people - free of cost - I hope other Tao Bums - this should include all practice methods and theory. They will need to be able to organize a mini retreat of at least 9 - 14 days with these 5 new students and pass on what they have learned, same as it was taught in China - this condition does not have to be followed through if the tao bum member thinks the methods are not good, or false. I will post an new page in the forum to get this started, but if you guys can help and start thinking who will be on the "Board of Three". I hope this is of interest to the members, and we can get this project started. I hope to have our member picked for China by March 1, and we can begin to prepare them with the lifestyle guidelines - such guidance and teachings will be done via email. Enjoy the pictures below from today. The other person in the pictues is my younger Taoist Brother - Zi Rong Dao Ren - Wayfarer of Endless Capacity With much love, dao zhen This is Zi Rong and Dao Zhen at Purple Heaven Palace This is a close up of the above picture at Purple Heaven Palace Zi Rong Dao Ren - Wayfarer of Endless Capacity Dao Zhen Dao Ren - Wayfarer of True Way

This is a short video that is an interview of Mr. David Verdesi. It shows a demonstration and talk by one of Mr. David Verdesi teachers in Thailand - with some demonstration of their "paranormal" powers such as guessing the proper number that is written on a peice of paper held behind one's back, to change the taste or water with Qi, and to have one of the students give a Qi, "shock" to a member of the audience. It shows the said teacher giving a healing treatment where he uses the Tui-Na method of "Baguan" to draw blood from the patient - this is looked at as drawing stagnat blood and Qi, and various other. The Baguan method is also sometimes known as "cupping" in the west, and is a glass or plastic cup that is applied with a suction force to various places - usually on the back. It is a short DVD, and shows no practice and method - it is just mostly filmed about the brief visit to Thailand by Mr. David Verdesi teacher.

The Landscape of All Universal Things and 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). These terms refer to the functioning presentation of the Tao in all universal things, which functions much like the source of spring water or the root of a tree. Without this root source, the spring water will run dry and the tree will become withered. The Golden Mean is also called Congenital Nature or the True Heart. A state that exists when the desires and passions such as happiness, anger, sorrow, joy, and fear, have not yet come into being. It is a state of complete, perfect stillness. Following the natural course, Tao gives rise to the Great Unification, which begets the Three Thousand Big Worlds, which begets all universal things, including human beings. Reversing the course, we can snatch away the Te of all universal things to form the Te of the Great Unification. We can then retrace our footsteps backward to regain the state of Infinite Emptiness, which is the first primeval state of all universal things or the phenomenon of Tao. Originally, there was nothing at all but the boundless expanse of infinite emptiness and stillness; there was no emblem, structure, substance, or body to speak of. Yet, extreme stillness shall bring about motion, which results in the emergence of a boundary in which Primeval Qi comes into being. Then the Yin and the Yang become involved in the alternate state of motion and stillness, which make up the process of endless changes and transformations. As a result, universal things come into being to present their transient existence. Here, we may call something transient as false because it experiences birth and death, and something true as that which is free from birth and death. Chapter 51 of the Tao Te Ching holds the following message: Tao gives birth to all universal things, Te enables the being of them, (Qi ) is materialized to form them, Changing circumstance accomplish their development. Therefore the myriad things venerate Tao and honor Te without exception. The veneration of Tao and the honoring of Te are accomplished quite naturally, Without taking any acquired action they accomplish all universal things. Therefore Tao gives birth, Te enables the being of them, then rears, develops, raises, nourishes, matures, and overthrows them. To beget all universal things but not take possession of them, To act following Tao Natural Way, but not to take credit, To be the senior among all, but not the dominator of them, This is the most magical Te! ~ Please visit here for further free Tao Resources - Eternal Spring Tao Resources -

I have heard from one of my teachers that artists and quiet and shy people will generally be able to feel Qi very clearly and quickly, while those who have spent many years doing hard physcial work such as manual labor may take a longer time to feel Qi. It also is important to have a proper method of practice, as this helps to gain development. But everyone is different and all will have unique individual experiences. He continued to say that also out of 100 people taught, perhaps 5 or so may never feel any sensation of Qi at all - but they will gain the health benifit from the practice. I think the feeling of Qi should not be any concern or the focus of the practice. Generally be concerned with gaining a quiet and still mind, and a broad and peaceful heart. We may think of it in this way....... Heart-Mind = Innate Nature Corporeal Body = Life Force The entire course of practice and development can be simply thought of as embodying the one aim to unify our Innate Nature with our Life Force.　 Qi is the active agent through which this combination and unification occurs.

Thank you all so much for your honest interest and questions. Keep them coming! It seems a majority of them are from the point of view relating to Alchemy Practice. I also just received word from Teacher Qiu Yuanxing relating to my question regarding our interview project relating to history and temple practices - his reply --> Dear Dao Zhen. I know what you thinking about, but I can't do anything about this. I think the god's eyes are very clear. What can I do is to imitate the Nature. Wu Liang Tian Zun - the name of all gods in Daoism. Take care, Teacher Qiu Yuanxing White Cloud Temple I think his letter is beautiful, and really maybe says it all. I do not wish to push for an interview. For those interested in history and Taoism practice, I have compiled the below links to help in your search. Origion and Foundation of Taoism *Philosophy and Religion - http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois...ism/default.asp *Daoism and Immortals - http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois...ism/pg1-1-2.asp *Historical Development of Taoism - http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois...ism/default.asp Northern Complete Perfection Taoism and the Dragon Gate Sect *Complete Perfection Taoism Founder - Patriarch Wang Chongyang - http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois...ts/pg1-3-20.asp * Founder of the Dragon Gate Sect - Patriarch Qiu Chuji - student of Patriarch Wang Chongyang - http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois.../pg1-4-28-4.asp * Seven Perfect Ones of the North - 7 students of Patriarch Wang Chongyang http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois...ts/pg1-4-28.asp Various Sects and Branches in Taoism http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois...cts/default.asp Eminent Philosophers and Accomplished Taoists http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois...sts/default.asp Grotto Heavens and Blissful Realms http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois...lms/default.asp Contemporary Taoist Organizations http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/daoist-world-...ons/default.asp Taoism Beliefs and Cosmology http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/daoist-beliefs/default.asp Taoist Scripture http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/daoist-scriptures/default.asp The Alchemy teacher is interested to help, and we are also talking to include some translation work such as the Yin Fu Jing - Classic of the Seen and Unseen or Ancestor Lu's 100 Character Tablet, or the like with some commentary. So I will focus my efforts in this direction, as this is the real area where it is hard to get actual information. I will try my best my friends. Please keep more questions coming. With my best wishes. Sincerely, dao zhen

Thank you for your interest. Yes, these masters are highly qualified by their personal experience and attainment. The member from White Cloud Temple is a highly respected member who works with the China Taoism Association, China Taoism College of Tao, and is a 19th Generation Dragon Gate Taoist who has been mentioned in serveral publications and videos on Taoism in China. He lives, works and teaches at White Cloud Temple which is the seat and headquarters of Lung Men Pai for all of China. The alchemy master is also a member of Dragon Gate and received his training with a hermit in the Qian Shan range in the far north of China and also has traveled extensively to seek out elder masters for study in such remote areas as Kun Lun Shan, Qin Lin Shan, and others. He has real attainment, and deep knowledge of theory and history of alchemy. You may judge for yourself when you read the response. From my experience in Taoism, there is no real "exact" or "linear" organisation of it all. So when we approach it from our western minds and seek to clarify - "What is this exactly." Or, "What are the formal schools, or exact haistory." It just does not quite meet the elusive and flexible way in which Taoism is organized. In regards to a good teacher and method to follow and who is qualified or not: In the end, students must follow their own heart. In this regard, I am trying to provide as much factual information I can to members here, and they may make their own personal choice in their training and study. Please keep more questions coming! I would like to compile the lists as soon as possible. With all my best regards. Sincerely, dao zhen

Thank you for your interest and support Adam. The above project has been a five year undertaking, and started with my sincere wish to share the experiences I have had in China with others. Currently I am going to pass this project on to my Wudang brother - David - Da Wei - 16th Generation Disciple of Wudang San Feng Pai - Daoist Name - Zi Rong - Dao Ren - Wayfarer of Endless Capacity - Tomorrow we will take pictures together in Purple Heaven Palace and we will post these to the about us page on the website to reflect his taking over of the project. These workshops in June and September will be the last I will sponsor personally. Both the June and September sessions are almost full now. We currently have the idea to sponsor one Tao Bum member for our June session. This would include all expense in China including the cost of the workshop. We would ask that they would take notes and concentrate on the course, and report their experience and what they learn. This is just an idea, but we are very open to providing this experience. I am currently going to talk to Sean of Tao Bums and seek his approval. I would like to not discuss these things here please right now. I would like to currently keep our focus on providing questions for my effort to place an interview here for Tao Bum members with Taoists in China. Thank you very much. Sincerely, dao zhen

Dear Michale and all others who have taken the time. Thank you all for your letters and questions. I had hoped more would show interest, but it is fine and all of your questions are wonderful. For those that have alresdy posted, please post new questions as you can think of them. I can only submit such a list once, and I want to make it very complete. I also will include questions I personally have. I will focus more on the Alchemy questions, as that is my main area of interest. I will include this question on the Small Water Wheel / Microcosmic Orbit. It is maybe a misunderstood area in the West and in China, so I hope we can shed some light. Again, I have no idea the depth at which these questions will be answered, but I will try my best to sincerely, ask these teachers to open up as much as they feel they can for the public. With all my best and please keep more questions coming! Sincerely, dao zhen

Thank you for your letter. I do not know anything about your system. I am very sorry. I will be on the lookout though. Maybe a journey to Wutaishan is in order for you. It is a very sacred and beautiful place. With all my best. Sincerely, dao zhen

Please give us your questions. We would love to know your ideas. Sincerely, dao zhen

Thank you for your letter. In Wudang there are public academy here for study, and later I can post some photos of the schools. But the training is in Taoist Kung Fu, and it is very physical. Like Shaolin, but with long hair, and some focus on internal, etc. I have had some dealings here in the tourism industry, and also have worked to sponsor intensive Taoist Qigong and Alchemy workshops with teachers in China over the last period of five years. From 2009, I will no longer do this work, and my Taoist Brother will continue to offer such service to students. I will focus on practice and there are a list of book projects I am working on with my teacher. I am thinking to perhaps see if we can sponsor a Tao Bum to come in June to take part in this training, and then give a report back to the group on what they learned and how the experience was. To give a view of training in China. This will take part in a temple in the mountains, and will be a very amazing experience. I am not sure how to go about this, and have contacted Sean to see his ideas. ~ THIS IS JUST AN IDEA AT THIS POINT ~ That is a good idea to write a paper with general information, but like I said China is changing so fast. I was gone from Beijing for 3 months and went back , and a whole street was torn up and all the cheap hotels gone...... Really, the main point is money. You will need money for hotel, trains, travel. If you have money to support yourself, and a spirit of adventure - it is pretty easy. I think what may be more important would be to list teachers, temples, qigong centers and the like. This is hard to find information. When I first came to China, I had been studying acupuncture in Tokyo, Japan, as well as Medical Qigong (Japan has more Qigong healing centers and more research than anywhere on Earth, more than China), many high level Qigong masters from China move there, as they can make a very good living. I was finishing up my acupuncture program there, and had just finished an intensive one to one year long training with a Qigong Master and had made up my mind to go and seek a teacher in China. The Qigong Master there told me we were finished, and gave me permission to teach his system, and said to come and visit him in 5 years. (this qigong teacher was amazing, and could light up the whole room with light he emited from his palms and eys, and could also emit flower fragrance when we practiced, and do the electric shock from his sword finger to treat serious illness like liver disease, etc) I went the day before my plane was going to depart and prayed at a Buddhist temple. The temple interior had a lot of statues and beautiful sacred objects..... I found a small Taoist altar to Chan San Feng, the founder of Tai Chi from Wudang... I was confused, as this was Japan, and a Buddhist temple......... The abbot came over, and looked at me, and I looked at him........... He said, do you know who that is....... Yeah! That is Chan San Feng........founder of Tai Chi... He said do you do Tai chi..........? We ended up playing for many hours, and he was very high level. I told him I was leaving for China to seek a master. He said I should go and meet his master. The master turned out to be one of the most famous Qigong and Internal Martial Artists in all of China at that time - very famous senior master - he recently passed away a few years ago and many Tai Chi & Qi related magazines ran stories on him. I studied with him and then did study in a Qigong hospital and then wandered around in Lao Shan moutains for two weeks meeting interesting characters........... That was my first trip, and so far China has really opened up to me, and I seem to have some destiny here. I will post a letter with information about studying in China later after I finish the other work here such as interviews and the like. Thank you for your interest, and I am sincere when I say you are welcome to come here and I will show you around. With all of my best. Sincerely, dao zhen

This really made me laugh.......... I think I am starting to like you........ Much love, dao zhen

Thank you for the letter. I am going to be hopefully posting some interviews with a senior Taoist who is my friend here, and it may answer a lot of questions. There is currently a person from Mexico living in Purple Heaven Palace on Wudang and studying there. He was given a letter of invitation by a person who was a former student there. I know he has had trouble with his visa, and the like. China is in a major state of change right now, and change is happening very fast. So it is hard to say what things are, as they can change month to month. You may generally stay here for one year and extend the visa, and after one year, you have to exit. Most people who stay here, will go to Hong Kong, and then renew the visa, and the process begins again. I like this company Visa Rite to gain a China Visa I think the most important thing here is to have money to support your travel, your study, and then to have even a little more money just in case there is an emergency. There is a decline in Taoism generally in China. Yes, sad but true. So a lot of temples may not be what you are dreaming of, and the Taoists in the termples may not be what you are dreaming of. To find the goods, you have to dig, search and pray a lot. If you are lucky, you may find a real teacher. Truly to find an authentic teacher is a gift from Heaven. There are some groups that sponsor trips and tours to china for Qigong and Taoism study, and if you do a google search for Taoist Study in China you may find some various groups that offer such trips. Some are good, some not. If you are on your own, the problem is to gain introduction to a teacher. If you do not speak any Chinese, it is very difficult; almost no one speaks English except young college students. If you are very serious to come to China, let me know and I may be able to offer more advise. I have an Taoist Elder brother who is a Dragon Gate Taoist, who is opening a public training school in Beiing and students will be able to live there and receive training in Calligraphy, Tai Chi, Guqin, Taoist Meditation and the like. We have a nice space, and will be knocking out walls, and making it in the fashion of a Qing Dynasty house. He is a real sincere Taoist, and wishes to spread Tao - see my photo gallery for pictures of him - Teacher Shao Tianze. When it is finished, I will let people know here - now it is too cold to work. I also am friends with a man on QingCheng Shan who will allow people to live in the small temple he manages - actually they rent rooms to earn money - but it is a good environment, and if living there, you may slowly meet the local Taoists, and slowly learn. Generally the rooms will be 135 RMB per day and this includes 3 meals - maybe if you stay long term he would of course make a deal - you can ask for discounts in China, as it is the custom. It takes time, and nothing happens quickly. I think with China, you have to have some karma here. I have heard amazing stories from people, and then really terrible stories. So a lot will depend on your own personal luck and destiny. Knowing someone who can introduce you is a real help, and is actually part of the Taoist custom. I hope this helps, and does not paint a bleak picture. If I am not working, or busy, I am happy to travel and show you around, but from June - October I am usually busy. From 2009, I am leaving and will be unavailable for contact. It is my wish to share my experience, which is why these next two weeks I plan to post many things here in Tao Bums for all members to enjoy. When they can understand some reality of China, they may make good choices. With all of my best wishes for your luck. Sincerely, dao zhen

Nice to meet you. I have been coming to Wudang off and on for the last five years. I know Teacher Chen, and met him in Wudang in 2006 I think it was near Nanyan Palace (he was filming something or other), and am good friends with Master Zhong Xue Chao - Teacher Bing as I called him. It is a small world. How is Bing doing in America? I will try and post more photos of Wudang from my gallery here for you. My main interest is in Taoist Internal Alchemy practice, and Taoism theory, though I currently study a little 5 Animal Yang Sheng, Wudang Ba Duan Jin and San Feng 13 form Taiji under Teacher Yuan - he is the elder brother of Teacher Bing. I am not a member of the San Feng Pai, nor am I a disciple under Teacher Yuan, though I highly respect him. I mostly just love the feeling, environment and history of Wudang. I looked all over China for a place to make my home base, and this was the place that touched my heart. With all my best. Sincerely, dao zhen

Dear friends. We hope all are in fine spirits and in good health. If there are any questions on this practice, please feel free to ask. With all our best regards. Sincerely, dao zhen