Centenarian Ginseng, Millennial Ganoderma lucidum, all the medicinal materials in the world could be evolved in my hands.The rare things on the earth, mountains and rivers, all could be risen in my tripod.Traveling the world with one tripod and one blade, only I can be free and unfettered to seek the Way by medicine.
This book translates Master Wang's original practice instructions and discourses given during training seminars. His system of internal alchemy goes back to two ancient Daoist texts: the 13th-century Lingbao bifa, linked to the immortals Zhongli Quan and L Dongbin; and the 17th-century Taiyi jinhua zongzhi (Secret of the Golden Flower), also connected to L . Together they are known as the Lingbao tong zhineng neigong shu (Arts of Internal Mastery, Wisdom, and Potential, Based on Numinous Treasure). The texts outline the concoction of a golden elixir through the dual cultivation of inner nature and life-destiny. This book follows the classics and presents all different kinds of techniques--including walking, pacing, sleeping, circulating the five phases, absorbing tree energy, and capturing planetary essences--in a systematic format and with a great amount of instructional detail. It contains a wealth of information invaluable to anyone interested in genuine Daoist cultivation and elucidates numerous rather obscure concepts to contextualize each practice.
Here in one slender volume are the essentials to a tradition that dates back to 3,000 B.C. Among the topics covered here are: 1. The origins of Chinese alchemy 2. The quest for gold and immortality 3. The role of minerals and plants, medicines, astrology, yoga, and magic in Chinese alchemy 4. Alchemy in the East and in the West Chinese alchemy, largely associated with Taoism, has a recorded history of more than 2000 years, but traditionally it goes back even further, to the Yellow Emperor and his Three Immortal Ladies, some 3000 years BC. While Western alchemy was concerned with the search for spiritual and material gold, classic Taoist alchemy was a mystical quest for immortality. But like Western alchemy, it was as spiritual quest, its aim being union with the Absolute. J.C. Cooper describes the history and development of Taoist alchemy, compares it with similar traditions in India and Turkistan, and gives it context by contrasting it with the rationale of the Western hermetic tradition. As she writes in her concluding chapter: "The whole work of alchemy is summed up in the phrase 'To make of the body a spirit and of the spirit a body'...The goal of the Taoist alchemist-mystic...
Originally written for Chinese readers, this book provides a clear description of the Taoist practice of Internal Alchemy, or Neidan. The author outlines the four stages of the alchemical practice and clarifies several relevant terms and notions, including Essence, Breath, and Spirit; the Cinnabar Fields; the "Fire Times"; and the Embryo. The book is based on the system of the Wuzhen pian (Awakening to Reality), one of the main sources of Internal Alchemy, and contains about two hundred quotations from original Taoist texts. Table of Contents Foreword, vii INTRODUCTION, 1 The Basis: Essence and Spirit, 3 STAGES OF THE ALCHEMICAL PRACTICE IN AWAKENING TO REALITY, 11 The Four Stages, 13 "Laying the Foundations," 15 Main Points in the Practice of "Laying the Foundations," 20 The Functions of Essence, Breath, and Spirit, 36 Terms Related to the "Coagulation of the Three Treasures," 52 Conclusion of the Stage of "Laying the Foundations," 63 "Refining Essence to Transmute it into Breath," 65 "Refining Breath to Transmute it into Spirit," 99 "Refining Spirit to Return to Emptiness," 109 CONCLUSION, 119 The "Arts of the Way," 121 Tables, 123 Glossary of Chinese Characters, 133
Opening the Dragon Gate is the authorized biography of Wang Liping (1949- ), a modern Taoist wizard. It is the true story of how a young boy becomes heir to a tradition of esoteric knowledge and practice accumulated and refined over eleven centuries. As told to his students Chen Kaiguo and Zheng Shunchao, the story tells of Liping's arduous fifteen-year apprenticeship with the masters, during which time he enters an ancient realm and learns the true source of health, healing, and long life. A compelling story of the making of a modern wizard, this book reveals never-before-available information about Taoist principles and procedures, people and places. Wang Liping imparts his knowledge on esoteric exercises, alchemical elixirs, mysteries of Man and Nature, and the secrets of inner transformation, making this a mystical and extraordinary book.
A Chinese classic of the "inner alchemy" of Taoism, this book was first translated by Richard Wilhelm (also translator, in the 1920s, of the Chinese philosophical classic the I Ching). Wilhelm, was German, and his translations from Chinese to German were later translated to English by Cary F. Baynes. According to Wilhelm, LuDongbin was the main originator of the material presented in the book suggests that the material is from Quanzhen School founder Wang Chongyang, a student of Lu Dongbin). More recently (in 2013) a new translation was commissioned by the Ancient Wisdom Publications.
A Chinese Taoist book about meditation, this book was first translated by Richard Wilhelm (also translator, in the 1920s, of the Chinese philosophical classic the I Ching). Wilhelm, was German, and his translations from Chinese to German were later translated to English by Cary F. Baynes. According to Wilhelm, LuDongbin was the main originator of the material presented in the book suggests that the material is from Quanzhen School founder Wang Chongyang, a student of Lu Dongbin). More recently (2013), the same work has been translated by Pei Yeing and published by Ancient Wisdom Publications. Since the original (now, public domain) work is a Chinese translation from German, it is strongly suggested that this work should be considered as an alternative resource for any serious practitioner. The translator of this work is a lifetime practitioner of meditation is currently living in Shanghai, China but a Malaysian Chinese by birth.
Taoist inner alchemy is a collection of theories and practices for transforming the mind and refining the self. The Inner Teachings of Taoism includes a classic of Chinese alchemy known as Four Hundred Words on the Gold Elixir. Written in the eleventh century by a founder of the Complete Reality School, this text is accompanied by the lucid commentary of the nineteenth-century adept Lui I-ming.
Awakening to Reality (Wuzhen pian) is one of the most important and best-known Taoist alchemical texts. Written in the eleventh century, it describes in a poetical form, and in a typically cryptic and allusive language, several facets of Neidan, or internal alchemy. The present book presents the first part of the text, consisting of sixteen poems, which contain a concise but comprehensive exposition of Neidan. In addition to notes that intend to clarify the meaning of the more obscure points, the book also contains selections from a commentary dating from the late eighteenth century, which is distinguished by the use of a lucid and plain language. ⿿ Fabrizio Pregadio has taught at the University of Venice (1996-97), the Technical University of Berlin (1998-2001), and Stanford University (2001-08). He is the author of Great Clarity: Daoism and Alchemy in Early Medieval China (Stanford University Press, 2006) and the editor of The Encyclopedia of Taoism (Routledge, 2008).
This is the first book to examine extensively the religious aspects of Chinese alchemy. Its main focus is the relation of alchemy to the Daoist traditions of the early medieval period (third to sixth centuries). It shows how alchemy contributed to and was tightly integrated into the elaborate body of doctrines and practices that Daoists built at that time, from which Daoism as we know it today evolved. The book also clarifies the origins of Chinese alchemy and the respective roles of alchemy and meditation in self-cultivation practices. It contains full translations of three important medieval texts, all of them accompanied by running commentaries, making available for the first time in English the gist of the early Chinese alchemical corpus.
A fascinating guide to the mental, physical, and esoteric spiritual transformative Taoist practices designed to increase longevity and unity with the world—with commentary and interpretation on the traditional text by a contemporary academic and meditation practitioner. Taoist alchemical practices are renowned for their mental, physical, and spiritually transformative benefits—including longevity and increased connection to the world around us. In this guide to Master Huang Yuanji’s Taoist classic, Ge Guolong presents the basics of inner alchemy and the tradition’s most essential meditation practices—along with explanations of the fundamental theories and methods one needs to actually start walking the path. Historically, Taoist teachers borrowed complex terminology from astrology, numerology, and metallurgical alchemy to describe the process of individual transformation that occurs as a result of long-term meditation practice. Ge Guolong demystifies that classical terminology, illuminating Taoism’s straightforward and eminently practical philosophy. These vivid explanations of Huang Yuanji’s discourses—a Taoist master from the late-Ming, early-Qing Dynasty...
Cultivating the Tao is a complete translation of one of the main works by the renowned Taoist master Liu Yiming (1734-1821). Divided into 26 short chapters, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the basic principles of Taoism and an introduction to Taoist Internal Alchemy, or Neidan, authored by one of the greatest representatives of this tradition. Liu Yiming was an 11th-generation master of the Longmen (Dragon Gate) lineage. Having recovered from severe illness in his youth, he undertook extended traveling that led him to meet his two main masters. In 1780, he settled in the Qiyun mountains, in the present-day Gansu province. Since then until his death he devoted himself to teaching and writing. His works mainly consist of writings on Neidan and of commentaries on major Neidan scriptures. Liu Yiming grafts Internal Alchemy onto the teachings of the Book of the Way and Its Virtue (Daode jing) and of the later Taoist tradition. Few other masters have illustrated the relation between Taoism and Internal Alchemy as clearly as he does in this book.
The "Ruyao jing" (Mirror for Compounding the Medicine) is one of the most famous texts of Taoist Internal Alchemy, or Neidan. Written in the 10th century and attributed to Cui Xifan, it describes the foundations of Internal Alchemy in 20 short poems of four verses. Because of its symbolic and cryptic language, it has been subjected to different and sometimes conflicting interpretations. This book contains the first complete translation of the "Ruyao jing" and of the commentary by Wang Jie, who lived in the 14th century. Wang Jie - also known as Wang Daoyuan and as Hunran zi (Master of the Inchoate) - was a second-generation disciple of the great Neidan master, Li Daochun. His commentary is characterized by a strong connection between the doctrinal and the practical aspects of Neidan. The translator's notes provide details on the main technical terms and on the relation of this work to other important texts of Internal Alchemy, in particular the "Cantong qi" (Seal of the Unity of the Three) and the "Wuzhen pian" (Awakening to Reality). The book is vol. 1 in the "Masters" series of Golden Elixir Press. Contents Introduction, p. vii Translation, p. 1 Five Poems by Wang Jie, p. 65...
This book contains four essays on Internal Alchemy (Neidan) by Isabelle Robinet, originally published in French and translated here for the first time into English. The essays are concerned with the alchemical principle of "inversion"; the devices used by the alchemists to "give form to the Formless by the word, and thus manifest the authentic and absolute Dao"; the symbolic function of numbers in Taoism and in Internal Alchemy; and the original meanings of the terms "External Elixir" (waidan) and "Internal Elixir" (neidan). Table of Contents Acknowledgements, vii 1. The World Upside Down in Taoist Internal Alchemy, 1 2. The Alchemical Language, or the Effort to Say the Contradictory, 17 3. Role and Meaning of Numbers in Taoist Cosmology and Alchemy, 45 4. On the Meaning of the Terms Waidan and Neidan, 75 Tables and Pictures, 103 Appendix: Works by Isabelle Robinet, 113 Glossary of Chinese Characters, 117 Works Quoted, 123
The "Book Of Change" is considered the oldest of the Chinese classics. A book of fundamental principles by philosophers, politicians, mystics and others. To be read as a guide to comprehensive self-realization.
This anthology presents complete or partial translations of sixteen important works belonging to the Taoist tradition of Neidan, or Internal Alchemy. While the selections are far from covering the whole field of Neidan-a virtually impossible task, given its width and variety-they are representative of several lineages and branches. d104s have been selected in this perspective and are arranged chronologically, in order to provide an overview not only of Neidan, but also of the history of its discourses and practices. Four of the sixteen texts are integrally translated. Six texts and two commentaries are translated in this book (entirely or partially) for the first time into English. The book is concluded by several tables and by an index of the main terms. CONTENTS (d104s marked with an asterisk are integrally translated) Foreword Sources 1. The Seal of the Unity of the Three (Cantong qi) 2. (*) The Hidden Agreement (Yinfu jing), with comm. by Yu Yan 3. Mirror for Compounding the Medicine (Ruyao jing), with comm. by Wang Jie 4. The Transmission of the Dao from Zhongli Quan to Lü Dongbin (Zhong-Lü chuandao ji) 5. Awakening to Reality (Wuzhen pian), by Zhang Boduan 6. (*) Four...
A comprehensive course of Taoist yoga. Instructions by ancient enlightened patriarchs and masters are translated here for the first time. A classic work.
This is a new release of the original 1928 edition.
The Daoist canon is the definitive fifteenth century compilation of texts, however many of these texts are undated and anonymous. This book brings together an extraordinary compendium of data on alchemical knowledge in China, describing the methods used for dating important alchemical texts in the Daoist canon.
"...an amazing tale, told in a fast-paced and entertaining style." --Publishers Weekly This authorized biography of contemporary Taoist master Wang Liping (1949-), an 18th generation transmitter of Dragon Gate Taoism, tells the true story of his apprenticeship in Taoist wizardry, as well as the specialized body of knowledge, mystical wisdom and ritualized practice accumulated and refined over eleven centuries. The book opens with a seemingly chance encounter with three Taoist elders that changed Wang's life forever when he was a young boy. What follows is a philosophical quest in a coming-of-age tale like no other, playing out in mountainside temples and remote reaches of China. Wang's story parallels that of the Dalai Lama, as--like Tibetan Buddhists--Dragon Gate Taoists identify, raise and train specially chosen youngsters to become the holders, guardians and transmitters of their ancient, esoteric spiritual wisdom. While few of us will become spiritual gurus like Wang, his story speaks clearly and concisely to modern readers who are on their own "chosen paths," seeking their own forms of self-cultivation, enlightenment, wisdom and a life of greater harmony and truth.
Zhao Bichen (1860-1942) fut un maître du courant taoïste des Mille Pics (Qianfeng pai) aux multiples talents. Il fut aussi considéré comme un maître du bouddhisme Chan grâce à l'enseignement qu'il reçut de son maître Liaokong. Il fut expert en arts martiaux internes et maître de l'alchimie taoïste. C'est à la fin du XIXe siècle que Zhao Bichen a rédigé le Traité d'alchimie et de physiologie taoïste ici traduit qui expose de façon claire des techniques gymniques et des méditations taoïstes exprimées d'ordinaire dans les écrits classiques en symboles alchimiques souvent difficiles à déchiffrer. Les méthodes décrites dans cet ouvrage sont destinées à transformer le corps et l'esprit par une culture de soi qui implique une bonne hygiène de vie, notamment en ce qui concerne la nourriture, la sexualité et le sommeil. Elles concourent non seulement au maintien d'une bonne santé, mais aussi à l'installation durable dans sa vie d'une douce harmonie, accompagnée de joie et de luminosité. Il s'agit, disent les taoïstes, d'harmoniser la réalité quotidienne et le divin, d'être à l'écoute du ciel afin d'assurer un cours paisible à son destin.
"Delve into the realm of profound wisdom and holistic well-being with "Taoist Alchemy and Breathing Practice." This enlightening book centers around the intriguing manual, Wuxi Zhi Zhi or Direct Instructions for the Five Breathings, attributed to Bai Yunzhai, a Taoist figure from the 16th-17th century. Authored and translated with meticulous attention by Dan Vercammen, this work presents not only a carefully annotated translation of the text but also practical instructions for embodying Taoist breathing techniques. Within these pages, you'll embark on a journey through the art of Taoist breathing and Taoist Internal Alchemy. [Author/Translator's Name] shares their personal journey with the text, shedding light on its origins and its emergence into the modern world. Originally published by the renowned Internal Alchemy circle linked to the esteemed scholar and practitioner Chen Yingning, this translated text unveils the intriguing facets of Taoist breathing that distinguish it from other manuals. Unlike traditional Taoist manuals that focus solely on embryonic breathing, "Taoist Alchemy and Breathing Practice" elucidates various types of Taoist breathing, underscoring the interplay ...
Refining the Elixir is one of the clearest and most in-depth analyses on Internal Alchemy (Neidan) in English. Aside from the excellent translation work, Stuart Alve Olson provides extensive introductory sections and commentaries on the texts-a wonderful guide for practicing and learning the meditation art and science of Internal Alchemy. Stuart Alve Olson addresses the mystical terminology of Internal Alchemy by explaining it in understandable, detailed, and practical terms. Anyone, no matter the tradition of meditation followed, will find this book inspiring and enlightening. Four important works by Zhang Sanfeng (Three Peaks Zhang) are provided, along with commentaries: The Great Process for Refining the Elixir Treatise Verses on Seated Meditation The Sleeping Immortal Zhang Sanfeng's Commentary on Lu Zi's One Hundred Word Discourse These four works of Zhang Sanfeng outline clear perspectives on the Taoist practice of Internal Alchemy, a unique and effective system designed for the development of health, longevity, and immortality.Zhang Sanfeng, a Taoist priest of the twelfth century, is not only credited with the creation of Tai Ji Quan, but with some of the greatest Internal...
In Holding Yin, Embracing Yang, Eva Wong presents translations of three key texts containing the highest teachings of the Eastern and Western schools of Taoist internal alchemy—the discipline of cultivating health, longevity, and immortality by transforming the energetic structures of body and mind. The texts are primarily concerned with meditation, breathing practices, and sexual yoga with a partner—all as means for developing within ourselves the same life-giving energy that sustains and nourishes the universe. The texts in this collection offer a clear view of the physical, mental, and spiritual methods of Taoist practice, showing why they are important and how these methods all can work together in the cultivation of mental peace, radiant health, and longevity. This collection will provide inspiration and the essential foundation necessary to begin Taoist practice under the guidance of a teacher. The three classics translated here are: Treatise on the Mysterious Orifice by Xuanweilun (sixteenth century), Discussion on the Cavity of the Tao by Daojiaotan (nineteenth century), and Secret Teachings on the Three Wheels by Sanjubizhi (nineteenth century). Included is an...
"The Cantong qi is the forefather of the scriptures on the Elixir of all times. Its words are ancient and profound, arcane and subtle. No one can fathom their meaning." Thus begins a preface found in one of the commentaries to the Cantong qi. These words express several significant features of the work translated in the present book: the charm of its verses, the depth of its discourse, its enigmatic language, and its intimate relation to Taoist alchemy (Waidan and Neidan). Under an allusive poetical language and thick layers of images and symbols, the Cantong qi hides the exposition of a doctrine that inspired a large number of commentaries and other works, and attracted the attention not only of Taoist masters and adepts, but also of philosophers, cosmologists, poets, literati, calligraphers, philologists, and bibliophiles. Neidan (Internal Alchemy) is the legacy that has shaped the dominant image and understanding of the Cantong qi in China, by placing this work at the origins of its teachings and practices. Besides this one, there has been, within the Taoist tradition, a second, less well-known way of reading the text: the Cantong qi is concerned not with one, but with three...
"The Tao that can be spoken of is not the real Way," reads a famous line from the Tao-te-ching. But although the Tao cannot be described by words, words can allow us to catch a fleeting glimpse of that mysterious energy of the universe which is the source of life. The readings in this book are a beginner's entrée into the vast treasury of writings from the sacred Chinese tradition, consisting of original translations of excerpts from the Taoist canon. Brief introductions and notes on the translation accompany the selections from the classics; books of devotional and mystical Taoism; texts of internal alchemy; stories of Taoist immortals, magicians, and sorcerers; ethical tracts; chants and rituals; and teachings on meditation and methods of longevity.
A leading scholar feng shui master presents the great depth and diversity of Taoist philosophy, practices, and history in this accessible manual to the oft-misunderstood spiritual tradition. Millions of readers have come to the philosophy of Taoism thanks to the classics Tao Te Ching and the I Ching, or through the practices of t'ai chi and feng-shui, but the Tao is less known for its unique traditions of meditation, physical training, magical practice, and internal alchemy. Eva Wong, a leading Taoist practitioner and translator, provides a solid introduction to the Way. All of Taoism’s most important texts, figures, and events are covered, as well as its extraordinarily rich history and remarkable variety of practice. Sections include: • The History of Taoism traces the development of the tradition from the shamans of prehistoric China through the classical period (including the teachings of the famous sage Lao-tzu), the beginnings of Taoism as a religion, the rise of mystical and alchemical Taoism, and the synthesis of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. • Systems of Taoism explores magical sects, divination practices, devotional ceremonies, internal alchemy, and the way...