dao zhen

Dear friends. I hope you are all in fine spirits and in good health. If anyone wishes to discuss the attached document, we are very happy to answer any questions on the theory and practice contained. With all my best regards. Sincerely, dao zhen

Thank you for your letter. Yes, Sifu Kwan was in awesome shape, and his Taoist Yoga sets are wonderful, and I have yet to really see anything like them in China. We were a group of 9 or 12 students, a private class that had lessons 2 - 3 times a week. During this time he also would teach some public workshops here and there - which he said he did to earn money. He taught our group his meditations, alchemy, qigong, and we also would have lectures on such things as the inner meaning of the heart sutra and the Three layers of the soul, diet, and other topics. It was a great time. Though I did not study indepth with him. Just learned some of his Qigong, Taoist Yoga, Hsing Yi Chuan, meditation, etc. He had students in that group who had been studying with him for over 13 years. You are very welcome to visit. It would be fun. I will be here in my home on Wudang till mid April. April is Huashan training. From May - October I will stay in Yuan Ming Temple on QingCheng Shan. Now is just time to rest. Very nice to meet you. With all my best. Sincerely, Jesse

Thank you for your letter. Yes, that is my Uncle and we just call him Da Sifu. He is a respected senior member and elder teacher in the San Feng Pai on Wudang. He lives in a cave shrine behind Purple Heaven Temple on Wudang. He has a box that is like a bee hive, and he haervests his own honey. There is a small waterfall to the side of the cave, and he gathers his drinking water from this. I am going there this Thursday to bring him some gifts for the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival here in China. I will take some pictures this Thursday and post them in my gallery for members. He is a wonderful human, and full of much love and compassion; mostly he just laughs and smiles a lot. Below his cave, is an ancient platform that is shaped in the fashion of the Pa Kua. It is said that it was the ancient training platform for Master Chan San Feng in ancient times; it has a very strong vibe, and a great place to train Taiji or meditation. Thank you. With all my best. Sincerely, dao zhen

I think this is something that often is overlooked in the West. In China, they have hospital wards in some areas with people who suffer from - "Qigong Disease" They have trained improperly, and had a lot of things go wrong with their body, and often times suffer from mental disease in the end. I think some general signs that I have been taught that point to improper practice, which can also mean the practice of an improper or false method are: ~ Dizziness ~ Sharp pain behind the eyes ~Nausea ~Vomiting ~Migraine Headache which pulses or throbs in the occipital area of the lower skull ~Sharp needle like pain in the area below the navel ~Migraine Headache which pulses and pushes into the space between the eyebrows ~Heavy feeling on top of head like there is a cap made of lead there ~Not able to think clearly or focus ~Inability to have good memory function ~Strong pressure that rises from below, and pushes up from within to the top of head and behind eyes, leading to nausea and headache ~Hot sick fire from within that is like some kind of poison that swirls around, causing pain to joints, limbs and leading to a sick nausea; at times also leading to hair loss ~Hot sick dry wind that arises from within, and also is drawn in from the top of head that is like some kind of poison that swirls around, causing pain to joints, limbs and leading to a sick nausea; at times also leading to hair loss The problem is often times with improper practice; these things can come on slowly, over time. It is not as if we feel wonderful, and then suddenly we feel extreme sickness. So it is best to from the start understand how to practice properly. Most causes of such deviation are caused by improper use of the Mind-Will. Using strong force of focus of the Mind-Will, or using strong force of Mind-Will engaging in visualization. So a general guideline to follow is use of a very soft and gentle Mind-Will focus. We may also try and look at how we are performing our practice. It is best to not overdo it, as you can actually cause a condition of kidney yin deficiency. I had one teacher say that in the first stages only perform to 60% of your ability, never push yourself to the 100% effort mark. Yet maintain this effort of 60% daily, day in and day out, and slowly your condition and constitution will improve. Diet is very important. I have had one teacher who told me if you do not change your diet, then it is best to not even practice at all! The majority of Taoists I have met and studied with in China are vegetarian, eat very moderate, do not drink alcohol, smoke, or take drugs. Lifestyle is very important to proper practice. You must regulate your sexual practice also. Your emotional outlook and mental environment are also very important. All of these factors will form a holistic combination that will determine our state of health; or lack there of. In most traditional Taoist Schools, they teach to gain stillness of the Mind-Will. The Mind-Will rests motionless in emptiness. This of course takes much practice to reach such a stage. I hope this helps. With my very best. Sincerely, dao zhen

Thank you for your letter. I am going to try and post more materials in the articles sections for members here, and also am trying to gain some interviews with a taoist in China to give members some views there. A lot of these practices are secret - or it is viewed that to learn them you must learn them face to face with a qualified teacher. Generally the way I have been taught is first we begin the seated meditation practice. In the first stages of seated practice we discipline the Heart-Mind. This is the first and most important step. Next stage is to begin the process of development within the Dantian, and also opening of the meridian system. Next is the stage of refining the Jing back to Qi. When I began the stage of refining Jing back to Qi my teacher started to teach practices to perform in sleep, and also certain postures to hold during sleep. Also during this time, there is a certain skill or practice to "seal" or "secure" the Jing, wherby we develop an ability to seal the Hui Yin cavity, as this is usually the first cavity to "open", and it is also the place where we can encounter "trouble" such as allowing the Jing to change to a Turbid State and leak out. As this level the condition is unstable, and it is quite common for the Jing to change to it's Turbid State, and be discharged in sleep in a noturnal emission - thus you go back and start from a lower level, letting the Jing build up to the level where there is actually something you may refine back into Qi. It is natural for students to experience this a bit, until they can learn to "feel" what is going on, and secure the Jing, and create a stable environment. Lifestyle plays a very important role in this stage. Later at another stage we also engage in practice that is lying on the back, to alow the Qi to run through the entire meridian system...... It gets confusing, as many differnet sects and schools outline the stages and process with different terms, or with a different stress on key happenings. Let this statement be burned into your memory: The process of growth and development in Internal Alchemy is a natural one. It is a natural process. Know what is your work in preparation. Know what is the work of Nature. Gain the state of Stillness of the Heart-Mind, thus Tempering the False Heart. Then the rest of the course is very easy to follow............ In Huashan, they have a type of practice that seems to be a Dream Yoga - whereby it seems the barrier that exists between the waking world and the dream world become quite thin....... I briefly experienced some aspects of this in my recent trip, and it is interesting, but perhaps also a side track and a distraction to real Alchemy Practice. Temper the False Nature and gain Stillness of the Heart-Mind....... Sincerely, dao zhen

I am just a student also, and have limited experience. I think first and foremost, it is good to have a teacher you may speak to for guidance on a regular basis. One who is 3/4 of the way finished with the actual steps of Internal Alchemy who can give you guidance based on personal experience. Personally it sounds like you are having negative experiences. In my experience of Taoist Internal Alchemy study of the Dragon Gate branch, I experienced many positive results from the practice. Great health, recovery from injury, increased immune response, great complexion, increased flexibility, less emotional reaction to stress, increased mental focus, lighter outlook on life in general, increased stamina, and so on. I think if you are just trying to follow guess work, or not practicing a standard system, it may be a good idea to look for a more traditional practice. It is also important when doing meditation that can seem to have a focus on "qi", to not forget basic things such as taking care of the body. Eat very healthy foods mostly consisting of a vegetable nature. Do not eat candy, cokes, drink beers, take drugs or the like. Get enough sleep. Do not engage in strong emotional reactions. Do Taoist Yoga, Tai Chi or another Internal Martial Art such as Hsing Yi or Pa Kua for taking care of the health of the body, and keeping it in good working order - daily stretching and exercise are something you should not neglect if you are doing a lot of seated meditation. It is stated that these arts will give us health and peace of mind. If we do not get these results, and experience the opposite, then we sholuld face reality and understand perhaps the teaching is false. With my best regards and good luck in your practice. Sincerely, dao zhen

Thank you for your letter. I do not practice any of the martial arts of Huashan. I have done extensive MA training in the past, but now focus on meditation practice. I was just in Wutaishan in January. It was an amazing place, and so, so many different Buddhist traditions and different temples there. It is considered the place where Buddhism first took root in China. I am sorry, but I have no information on your system. It sounds very interesting, good luck. Sincerley, dao zhen

WhiteTiger' said: Thanks very much Dao Zhen for coming to the forum and contributing. I personally really appreciate the help and thank you for sharing information. I would also enjoy hearing more . I was hoping you could share what you learned under Kwan Saihung. I've heard some great praise about his meditation. Thank you for your kindness. Yes, Sifu Kwan was my first real Taoist teacher. I guess he is famous from his books. He was a serious teacher, and trained us very hard. I was 18 at the time. We did a lot of Taoist Yoga sets and Martial Arts to strengthen the body and build up the Kidney, also lessons in diet, lectures on Taoism theory, and he would sometimes advise students to take herbs if they had weakness, or the like. He was very strong, and had a great stamina for his age of over 70 at that time. Many say he is a fake, or the like - but from my experience he is a real teacher and pratitioner. His system followed the idea to first train and purify the body to a high degree through Taoist Yoga, Qigong and Martial Arts, combined with sound diet. Then train the mind through philosophy, study and life experience. Then the final stage is meditation training. I did not stay long term with him, but still train in his Taist Yoga daily to maintain the health of my body. By my observation he seriously lives what he preaches, and was in vital health when I studied under him. 'WhiteTiger' said: As my understanding the Dragon Gate Sect is a sect of complete Perfection and not Reality. Quan Zhen Dao Jiao - Complete Perfection / Complete Reality Taoism The Northern School of Quan Zhen was founded by Patriarch Wang Chongyang. Wang Chongyang changed his given name to Zhiming when he became a Daoist. He was born into a rich family in Liujiang Village of Xianyang, Shanxi Province. Before he practiced Daoism, he was at first a Confucian scholar and then took the imperial provincial examination for military candidates in the early Jin Dynasty. He served as a petty government official for some time, but then felt officialdom was not the proper arena to display his talent. He therefore resigned from his post and returned home, his manners becoming all the more unconstrained and even unruly. In the fourth year of Emperor Zhenglong of the Jin Dynasty (AD 1138) when he came into a pub in Ganhe Township (now Guangxian County of Shanxi Province), he met Zhongli Quan and Lu Dongbin, the two immortals and learned from them the mnemonic rhyme of refining Golden Elixirs. He abandoned his wife and children and went to Nanshi Village near Mt Zhongnan. There he made a tomb as his dwelling place which was named "Tomb for a Living Dead Body". Later he set out from Tongguan and begged his meals all the way to the east. When he came to Ninghai (now Mouping), Shandong Province, he met the Mas (Ma Jue and his wife Sun Bu'er) who built him a Daoist temple with the name of Quanzhen (Complete Perfection). Wang Chongyang began to teach Daoism to many people who were all called Complete Perfection Daoists. You may read more about him here - http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois.../pg1-4-26-5.asp 'WhiteTiger' said: My question would be why is Qui Yuanxing calling it the Dragon Gate Sect of Complete Reality of Taoism instead Dragon Gate Sect of Complete Perfection? Dragon Gate Sect The Dragon Gate Sect is a branch or sub-sect of the Complete Perfection or Quan Zhen Pai. It was founded by the Patriarch Qiu Chuji As a branch of the Complete Perfection sect, the Dragon Gate sect worshiped Qiu Chuji, one of the Seven Perfect Ones, as its founder. Because Qiu used to cultivate Dao as a hermit on Mt. Dragon Gate in Longzhou, the sect was called the Dragon Gate. After Wang Changyue spread the sect's religious ideology and accepted disciples at the White Cloud Temple and at places such as Nanjing, Hangzhou and Mt. Wudang, the Dragon Gate sect saw its revival and spread nationwide. For more information visit here - http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois...s/pg1-3-22a.asp Various Taoist Sects The Pure Brightness Tradition The Highest Clarity Sect The Pristine Water Tradition The Elixir Cauldron Sect The Supreme Oneness Doctrine The Numinous Treasure Sect The Talismans and Registers Sect The Master Yu Tradition The Twofold Mystery School For good information for details on these sects please visit here - http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/general-daois...cts/default.asp Sincerely, dao zhen

Thank you for your letter. Yes, Teacher Yu is a dear friend, and will aid me in my retreat. He is a wonderful Taoist, and yes, he has a very pure heart. I will be in Huasha in mid april, and try to maybe meet up with your group at the celebration for the new Lao Tzu center being founded......if time permits. Peace, dao zhen

That is wonderful that you have a daily practice. It is great you are finding yourself become still and quiet. During the course of proper practice, at a later stage we loose all sense of corporeality, time and space. We will also loose all sense of our "ego" consciousness. If you have the sense that there is an "I" that is still during practice, or that the "I" can observe the "heart and blood" then there is still much further for you to go. Keep practice with a pure heart, and strive to yeild and let go of all sense of your corporeality. It sounds like you are making very good progress. Naturally fall into the empty state, free of any sense of time, space and the like......... Sincerely, dao zhen Hey my brother! I went on an amazing journey for almost 3 months after you left Wudang. I went all over China to many sacred sites - Wutaishan, Huashan, Louguantai, Baopu Shan, Lunghu Shan, Huangshan.......... I did a retreat and training on Huashan that was really wonderful; and plan to go back there in April to train in the caves there. I met a taoist wizard on Wutaishan, and he taught about sleep and dream practice. Please email me, and I would like to ask you to consider working on an essay about your training here with teacher. We just want to share experiences with others so we may all learn and grow in the direction of Dao, so no need to use any names, not for any type of promotion or the like. Sending all my love, dao zhen ps. I have an extra bedroom in the house here in Wudang, hope you can visit. I am here untill mid april, then i leave for huashan to do another retreat - then we have the trainings in qingcheng shan, etc. Most students have left the Academy, so it is just a few people there now. Too cold for most!

How does the sea become the queen of all rivers and streams? By lying lower than they do. Hense, it is the queen of all rivers and streams. One who humbles himself, therefore, can serve all people. By putting himself last, he comes to be their leader. Thus, when one of absolute virtue is set above people, they do not feel that he is their burden. And, when he stands in front of people, they do not feel that he is an obstruction to them. Therefore, the world follows one of absolute virtue joyfully, and never tires of doing so. He does not compete with anyone, thus he is above all competition. ~The Complete Works of Lao Tzu, Ni, Hua-Ching

Dear Sean. Thank you for your letter. I think it is important to share teachings for free that are general, and can give good moral support and guidance - this was my aim in my post. I also again, ask you to share your growth and experience - nothing in relation to technique or the like - but things we can discuss. Of course for other trainings, some fee must be paid as it is a material world. I look forward to a friendship. Thank you again. Sincerely, Jesse

Thank you for your letter Sean. I feel that the truth of a teaching, teacher and lineage is best shown in the behavior, virtue and or attainment of the students. I think it would be wonderful if you feel Teacher Liping of Teacher David has teachings to share that would help our growth, then please share - with the aim to enlighten our wisdom mind, and to dispell ignorance and improper ideas on practice. Share them freely, with the intention to aid in our growth and development. Personally, so far it has been fighting that I have observed, excitement of observable powers,, expensive course programs, and a lot of secrecy. I personally have many fantastical stories to tell that are above and beyond powers and sensations that one may observe in the corporeal realm - yet it is not really helpful for our growth to speak of such things. I feel I do not need any further training or to seek another guide. I understand very clearly how to practice properly. This was put to the test almost 2 years ago, as I was struck by a speeding car, breaking my spine, crushing my knee, spliting my leg into two peices, and many other injuries. It was said by the doctors that I would be bound to the hospital bed for 3 months, while the spine fused back together in a body cast. Would I walk and run again? It seemed the ability would come back in the right leg, but the left leg....maybe paralized.....maybe both....they just said they would know after the spine fused in a few months. I wrote my teacher seeking advise and help in healing. He wrote me a letter with one word of advise: "Recover" I realized, and awoke, and I recovered in 4 weeks - the ability to sit and move..... Then came the difficult task of learning to walk again........ I was a walking miracle the doctor told me. The teacher I have now is very profound, and has shown me a deep and high level of attainment. Yet, I have also come to understand that means nothing. The only thing that is important is what I personally become through my own efforts in self cultivation. Only I can transform the environment within my heart. Only through personal self efforts can I gain stillness of mind and transformation of heart. So let us share our personal experiences in self cultivation, wisdom and guidance. Let us also remember we should be family, as we share a common goal and aim. We all are seeking to Gain Union With Dao. I look forward to hearing your experience in practice. Please share your insights. With much love, dao zhen

Yes - it was fun ....... But they still have the speakers all over the mountain....... There are bad people and good people in temples......... Just like society......... A lot of the taoists living in temples want to kick back, and not be a part of society..... Then there are those who are serious and really practice. When I was at Louguantai this January - where Sifu Ren Farong lives - his main student and I spent a lot of time together, and we were talking about meditation practice...... And he asked me how long I could sit quietly in silent meditation. I have recently reached the point to sit for 2 hours, maybe 2.5 on a really good day. He said..., "I sit in meditation 4 hours or more every night." I was impressed........ Then he asked, "Are you in full lotus or half lotus." I sit in half lotus. He laughed....... "Too easy!" We went on to have a profound talk on practice and trancendence. So there are people of high level in temples also. Peace, dao zhen

Want to come to Wudang? Get a plane ticket and come. I have a guest bedroom, and would love to show you around. I began study when I was......14 or 15 with Taichi, Hsing-Yi, Pa-Kua and Martial Qigong - and after a year or so that teacher gave me some great books to read, and introduced me to basic Taoist Meditation; he was a great influence. That was maybe 20 + some years ago. I studied with the Wandering Taoist Kwan Saihung when I was 18 in San Francisco....... and on and on........ I think I never really understood proper Taoist Cultivation till about 5 years ago when I met my current teacher here in China. His teachings really opened my eyes, and presented practice and transformation I had not conceived of.... I am trying to gear up now to go and do a month long meditation training retreat in April in a remote cave on Huashan with a Taoist Uncle of mine - Teacher Yu Qing - Dao Ren http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=422 It is very wonderful to meet everyone, and be a part of this community. Peace, dao zhen

Dear Sean. Thank you for your letter. I use my given taoist name Dao Zhen here, as it was given recently, and I like it. Yes, my given name from my mother is Jesse. My full given name is Jesse Lee Parker. I was born in Austin, Texas, left home at 16 and now live in Wudangshan. I state again, I mean no insult to you, or your teachers. I state again, I do not know Teacher Wang Liping, and can not say. Yet I do find it interesting that senior members of the Governing Body of All Taoism in China do not seem to hold Wang Liping in any high standing. I hope that you may consider me a brother of Tao, and again, I wish you the best of success in your path of self cultivation. I hope you may also share and help me to grow in any way you think proper. I would like to caution you to make large claims, especially in relation to governing of Taoism and the like in China. I think for myself, I am very interested in what you have learned or how you have grown from your experiences in your study under Mr. David Shen and Teacher Wang Liping. For in the end it does not matter who is president of what. What matters is if we grow, transform and make progress in the direction of Dao. I am trying to share my little experience with my teacher by posting his lessons and lectures here to freely share with members. Here is a doctrine on Yin & Yang Theory - http://www.thetaobums.com/Doctrine-and-The...Yang-t4828.html Here is a free download of an essay I wrote on the oral teachings from my teacher - http://www.thetaobums.com/Taoist-Theory-an...hemy-t4793.html Here is a meditation to unite heart/mind and breath - http://www.thetaobums.com/Heart-Mind-Fasti...tion-t4817.html My teacher does not cling to any external authority, rank or lineage. Neither do I. I stand by my own personal experience, my personal attainment and the strength of my personal practice. I honor my teacher and guide for pointing out the path. I walk down it on my own two feet. I think it would be wonderful if you feel Teacher Liping has teachings to share that would help our growth, then please share - with the aim to enlighten our wisdom mind, and to dispell ignorance and improper ideas on practice. I personally am not interested in one's rank or dealings with government. I would like to know what his ideas on proper practice are, did you learn any profound theory to give you a new view of life and Dao? These are the things I would like to share with each other. I do hope you will respond to all of this. I think it is a very good experience for all of us, and we may gain growth and insight. With my respect and love. Sincerely, dao zhen (((bow)))

Thank you for your letter. Yes, that is Da Sifu Ren Fa Rong. He is a great scholar of the Tao Te Ching and it is held that the temple he is abbot of was the place where the Tao Te Ching was composed by Lao Tzu. He is one of a few Taoists still very active in the governing body who was trained from a very young age - pre-cultural revolution; I think when he was 7 years old or 9 he became a Taoist. I visited there and stayed in the guest quarters in January. It is a wonderful place, and very peaceful - though currently there is a government hotel project being built around the corner. May I ask for a copy of that picture for my collection? It is a very nice one. Peace, dao zhen I live in Wudang as I love the area, and have friends here. It is a great town and a beautiful mountain. Yes, more than a few of the "Taoists" here just do Kung Fu forms, and wear nice robes...... My main teachers are in Huahsan and in Qianshan in Liaoning. Peace, dao zhen

Thank you all for your comments. I will try and post more photographs and essay, but the conection is sometimes slow here. I think on the one hand lineage is silly. If you meet a teacher who can share truth and practice, it is wonderful, and does not matter if it is a formal lineage or not. Truth is truth. I do not wish to insult or start any fight here. I respect Wang Liping, and all teachers and lineage. But I do not wish to stand by while people say things I know are not true. I just contacted White Cloud Temple in order to put some clarification on the statements being made which seemed by my observation to be painting a very impresive picture which in the end has the goal of seeking members for high monatary gain; members who have no real knowledge or experience with China Daoism, and what is going on here. On the government. I am a natural born rebel, and do not support the government in any form. Yet we can think that in the 50's monks were not allowed to live and practice in temples that had histories stretching back of continuous practice 1,000's of years. I view the Daoists as just being quiet, and slowly making a stand for places that they feel are a part of their heritage, birthright, and tradition. The government is actually putting money into temples and promotion of Daoism in China - with the sick aim of tourism! They have government staff selling entrance tickets to most temples, and I am not sure where it will all end up. The government agency on Wudang recently put music speakers all over the hills of Wudang so they can pipe in music there for the tourists - I held a public demonstration there and got them to turn the music off for a time. Imagine a small group of foreigners marching into their office shouting in Chinese' "Bu How Ting!" = "Sounds Terrible!" The government officer went white, and looked quite scared.....and quickly turned the music off.......... The real places of training are hidden Dao Guan - or Remote Taoist Training Centers. Places in remote areas and small groups of students and teacher train seriously. Yet the famous temples are really beautiful, and interesting if you like the history of this tradition. The Taoists that I have met who are serious about practice usually live in a city, or rent a small room somewhere in a remote country town. I met one Taoist here in Wudang who was homeless, and she had an amazing knowledge of Alchemy...... She slept on the street on a small cardboard box. We used to eat dinner together cooking on stacked bricks in the parking lot of an old ruined apartment building, she would break off sticks of dry bamboo, and light them to heat the food........ That night, she asked me about my Alchemy practice, and her knowledge of the states, experiences and theory really suprised me. I asked her why she did not live in the temples on the mountain........ She replied, "Those people up there. They all have bad hearts!" Hmmmmmmmm......... Reminds me of a saying......... The small Daoist hides in a temple......... The Big Daoist lives in the noisy city............ But I am a romantic and love to visit temples; yet I live in the city. Peace, dao zhen

Dear Sean. Thank you for your reply. I have contacted my friends within the Taoism Association of China at White Cloud Temple today. I have asked them to compose a letter which can shed light on the organization of Taoism within China. I myself will also learn from this, so it is a good thing. The topics I asked to be addressed in the letter are the following: ~ 1. List the way Daoism is governed in China. ~ 2. List who is the chief governor or president of Daoism in China. ~ 3. List who are the members in charge of governing Daoism Organizations in China. ~ 4. List who are the members in charge of governing Daoism Temples in China. ~ 5. List who is in charge of organizing the standard curriculum of study for Daoist Novice students in China residing in various Daoist Temples. ~ 6. List what is the role Mr. Wang Liping plays in the Lung Men Pai (Dragon Gate Sect), and his official role in governing Daoism in China. In this way, we may see what is actually happening from people who are actual ranking Daoists in China, well known members of the Lung Men Pai, and are overseeing such things through their work in the Daoism Association of China. I personally do not know the answers, and anything really I say is just guesswork from observation. Which is why we may now gain the information directly from a reliable and known source. I will post the official letter here when it is received, as they are reviewing it at this moment. I think it will be good and interesting information for all of us. With my best regards. Sincerely, dao zhen

Dear Sean. Thank you kindly for your letter and reply. I hope you are in fine spirits. I would like to state that I in no way wish to give any disrespect to any school or lineage of Tao. I follow Tao, and I honor all schools and lineage. The spirit of Tao is one of Virtue, Honor and Truth. Dao Fa Zu Ren....... The Great Dao Follows the Way of Nature......... As a Taoist, I also seek to propagate and share truth. Let the truth be a guiding light for us all......... These are very strong statements you are making, and paint a very strong picture. I personally will again state that I feel they are very untrue. I understand you are a very excited student and are very proud to be studying under Teacher David Shen and Teacher Wang Liping. I again wish to state, I am in no way wishing to give any disrespect to yourself, your Sifu Daivid Shen, and surely not to Master Wang Liping. I personally really like the English translation of the book Opening the Dragon Gate. It gives good teachings in the form of a novel. I also think that it is important to not paint a picture that just from my personal experience here in China seems to be in no way close to the truth or even possible. Here in Wudang there are two main sects: The San Feng Pai and the Xuan Wu Pai. Are they goverened by Wang Liping? How about the Tian Sifu Pai - Heavenly Masters Sect of Lung Hu Shan in Jiangshi Provience, is that one covered by him also? How about the two branches of Hushan Pai on Huashan Mountain? The list can go on forever........ I think the whole lineage game in China becomes really complicated, and even silly at times. From my own observation in China, temples have multiple lineage members residing within when I have visited, and the education for the Novice is given as such. the Novice will have a Sifu within the temple, and that Sifu will instruct and guide him in the practice of Internal Alchemy and Qigong - IF he studies such subject. In many temples members become Taoists to escape life, and they snoke, drink and do all sorts of things we would not consider, "Taoist". Very few members in a temple in China train seriously. They all know the basics, and have much knowledge on scripture and other arts that are the basics of the education, but as far as being serious pratitioners............ This is all just my observation. Tomorrow or the next day, I will make some phone calls to members in the governing body I know, and we can see how things are organized and if there is a "standard" study curriculum. I may be 100% and completely wrong here. But let us ask some experts and outside sourses in China and see what they say. With all of my very best. Sincerely, dao zhen PS. Sean said: What I'm sharing here is not common knowledge in China. Wang Liping does oversee the official goverment sanctioned curriculum for Daoist temples in China. I am shocked to see this, as the Government does not really support any sort of real training, and in fact they are trying to turn the holy mountains into theme parks - they even recently sponsored the building of speakers in the hills of Wudang to pipe in elavator music for the tourists! The Government shut down all Qigong hospitals and the like in Mainland China, and I know my teacher wants nothing to do with the Government and stays very hidden and underground..... Sean went on to say........ Obviously, most if not all of my statements are meant to be controversial and oppose the Daoist main stream in China. BUT......... if Sifu Wang Liping is working with the GOVERNMENT to oversee the GOVERNMENT sanctioned curriculum for Daoist Temples in China, then he IS part of the mainstream...... I am becoming a little confused by this...... If members wish, I shall contact my friends in the Taoism community and also my friends within the Governing Body of White Cloud Temple in Beijing, and post an official response from them here to gain a view from the source. Though they most likely would not answer anything in a direct way. This would take a few days........

Dear friends of Tao: I am sorry for posting here. But the above statement is not true. I live and study in China. From my experience in speaking with other Taoists - those in a standard sect and living in a temple area such as "Wudang Purple Heaven Temple, Huashan Jade Spring Temple, Louguantai Terrace, or Baiyunguan White Cloud Temple" or those Taoists who are part of a sect and not living in a temple, but live in the city, many do not think highly of Wang Liping, and in fact there are many Taoists who think he is a fake, false, and the book he wrote is a lie in order to promote himself and be able to charge large amounts of money to foreign students for workshops. The above is not my opinion. I can say nothing as I have not met him. But I am repeating what other Taoists who have much experience have said. Teacher Wang Liping is not responsible for overseeing all Taoist Temples in China. To my knowledge (which is very limited), the governing political body for Taoism in China is the Taoist Association in Beijing based at Bai Yun Guan - White Cloud Temple - www.bjbyg.com I am very good friends with a senior monk there who is a 19th Generation Dragon Gate Disciple, and has official position in the temple - I will ask him if he would post something to state the structure of Taoism in China, and who oversees what. His name is Teacher Qiu Yuanxing and is a very respected Taoist in China, and well known in Taoism circles. Another point is that within the Taoism Association of China, the current President and leader is Master Ren Fa Rong, who is the abbot of Louguantai Terrace; who I saw and visited with during my stay there this January. I was under the impression the President of the Taoism Association was in charge of such tasks; but I could be wrong. These are all political things, and have some relationship with the Chinese Government. There are many Taoists who train and practice seperate from this whole organization also in Dao Guan - Training Center for Dao - and these are usually small community of students and teacher in a rural and remote area, with no support from the Taoist Association or the Chinese Government. I always felt Teacher Wang Liping was in the above catagory, and not related in any way to the Governing Political Bodies in China which manage temples and the like. Temples by the way are very public, and have tourists and the like visiting them; at least the famous ones do. I have never met Teacher Wang Liping, and am sure he has some very valuable things to share. I mean no disrespect to him or what he teaches here. I just want to clarify a very strong statement that was made, which would paint a picture that one individual has a very strong power and influence in the Taoism world in Mainland China. There are many people involved in governing the Taoism world in China, and many, many different respected teachers here and also many different lineage branches. Just my observations from living in China, and being an observer of Taoism here. Best of luck in your study and practice. Sincerely, dao zhen PS. check my photo gallery. i only have two weeks to post here, but i am trying to put many photos from China up that can paint some small picture of things that i have seen; though there is so much more.......