The Hua Hu Ching unknown teachings of Laozi translated by Brian Walker is certainly a controversial book, what with Walker claiming it to be a collection of Laozi’s oral teachings on the subject of attaining enlightenment and mastery. A doubt about its authenticity was raised in a forum recently with a link to the Hua Hu Ching provided. After going through the eighty one chapters of the text, one must say that it does contain certain wisdoms and the sections on the cultivation of virtues (De) commendable.
However the sequencing of the four cardinal virtues and ascribing Sincerity as one of them (in Chapter 51) are both incorrect. The four Confucian and Daoist cardinal virtues are benevolence (Ren), righteousness/justice (Yi), propriety/mores (Li), and perseverance/wisdom (Zhi). The ancients discussed these virtues in the Wen Yen of the Zhouyi [W/B] and in Chapters 18 and 38 of the Tao Te Ching [Legge]. (Both the original author and translator could have at the very least verified their correctness with both Classics.)
With cultivation of virtues in mind, one questions why the teachings go into depth about sexual practices between master and students (67 to 73). Indeed there was one Daoist sect who promoted sexual practices for a time only to have it banned several years later when the elders found such practices deviant. Lust has always been a major obstacle for neidan and/or ‘enlightened’ masters. Recent masters who had succumbed to lust have totally ignored Buddha’s admonishments on this desire. Both the original author and the translator are probably aware of the metaphoric “sexual intercourse” between Kan (Moon) and Li (Sun), the medicines for neidan (inner alchemy) practices. It is therefore highly inappropriate to promote sexual intercourse between a master and student; to call this practice ‘an angelic dual cultivation’ further misleads neidan students.
The allegories in the text to elaborate ideas on neidan cannot match the profound knowledge shown in the Zhuangzi and Tao Te Ching. And the neidan concepts depicted are muddled in comparison to that of the Directory for a day (refer entry on April 25).
Those familiar with Chinese history, Daoism and Yi studies will easily spot various terms and/or practices of later eras including Buddhist thoughts introduced in the text. Worshipping deities and religious institutions (17); Tai Chi, Yin and Yang (39); Tai Chi Chuan and some other practices (55) were practically unknowns during the time of Laozi (c 580 BC). Ancestors’ worship was in practice then. Zhang Daoling (c 100) started Religious Daoism, built Daoist temples to worship deities, established rituals and rules for disciples thereby founding a religious institution. The Tai Chi (Supreme Ultimate) diagram has been accredited to Chou Tun-i (c 1045). Yin and Yang were probably devised by Tsou Yen (c 300 BC) to aid his lengthy and sometimes wild discourses with kings and scholars on the Dao. And it was Zhang Sanfeng (c 1370) who founded Tai Chi Chuan.
As an overview, the Hua Hu Ching as translated by Brian Walker is a readable book. It contains certain wisdoms on the cultivation of virtues, neidan and Dao, and promotes the study of the I Ching. The terms and practices of later ages and Buddhist thoughts could have crept in because of accretions. However one doubts the teachings are Laozi’s. It is preposterous to allude that material of such importance eluded either the hundred schools of thoughts during the Warring States or (if burned or banned [by the first Chin Emperor] as alluded,) the Han historians charged with collating ancient teachings and the HuangLao officials (prevalent in the Han Court). Therefore based on the foregoing findings and an earlier discussion with a learned Daoist, one concludes with conviction that the teachings in the Hua Hu Ching are definitely not from Laozi. Fortunately, teachings by those with middling abilities can never be passed off as sagely works, notwithstanding the gimmicks used.
For those who wish to peruse the book the website is located at
http://hjem.get2net.dk/civet-cat/zen-writings/hua-hu-ching.htm
7 comments:
I, too, have thought a lot about the “Hua Hu Ching.” It has always struck me as profound wisdom. Not only that, I believe the advice on sacred sexuality is a vitally important missing piece for humanity. I can well believe this information had to be passed on orally and secretly.
Just out of curiosity, I wonder if you have asked the Taoist-inspired “Book of Changes” (the “I Ching”) about the validity of this portion of the “Hua Hu Ching.” I would be interested to know what answer you receive. Ultimately, a Taoist would look to such a source, not a scholarly parsing of content, to determine its validity.
The reason that the “Hua Hu Ching’s” sacred sexuality material impresses me so deeply, is that it is consistent with other, quite disparate, traditions (containing similar hints), which have cropped up all over the globe. See for example, the “Gospel of Philip” of the early (so-called) Gnostic Christians (www.reuniting.info/wisdom/
jesus_nag_hammadi_
male_female_union ) and the Karezza tradition of the last century in the USA (www.reuniting.info/resources/
free_online_text_karezza
_male_continence_stockham_
lloyd_noyes ).
It is also consistent with the experience of my husband and myself. In the “Hua Hu Ching,” Lao Tzu reports that the result of the practice of angelic dual cultivation “is improved health, harmonized emotions, the cessation of cravings and impulses, and, at the highest level, the transcendent integration of the entire energy body.” Certainly we have not achieved the latter, but we have experienced improved health, the end of an addiction and greater harmony as a result of this practice. This suggests that humanity has huge untapped potential resting in its intimate relationships.
Thanks to the agenda of the primitive part of the human brain, we humans have a hard time grasping that “ordinary sex” is indeed “a great backward leap.” Sex is naturally addictive, which means it has both a high and a low cycle, neurochemically-speaking. (See www.reuniting.info/science/
sex_and_addiction). The resultant changes in lovers’ feelings drive partners away from each other….they feel like they fall in love with great passion…and then out of love during the low parts of the cycle. This serves evolution’s mandate that we increase the genetic variety of our offspring, but it does not serve our individual best interests. Harmonious union has been shown to lengthen lives, speed healing and decrease depression and addiction. It makes sense that it may also furnish the deep feelings of oneness that will also serve our spiritual awakening…if we are willing to transcend the pull of materiality by using sex consistently for a higher purpose.
Certainly intimate relationships are currently one of the greatest sources of pain, confusion and chaos on the planet. The “Hua Hu Ching” suggests this is because we pursue sex based on instincts alone. Based on my experience, and the experience of many throughout the ages, it may be that the wiser course is the one suggested in the “Hua Hu Ching,” namely, a middle course: lovemaking for a higher end, but avoidance of “fertilization-driven sex,” which serves only evolution’s goal of more progeny, and not our spiritual awakening or wellbeing.
Incidentally, I don't read the text as assuming there must be sex between master and student to transmit the mystery. Why could the master not instruct (transmit knowledge to) two pupils determined to learn angelic cultivation? After all, he says that one can even receive the teachings directly from the angelic realm if intent is pure enough. Perhaps the key is knowledge, not sexual contact from the master.
Thank you for initiating this important debate.
Note:
One had to delete the previous comment because the lengthy urls distorted the blog entry. The same comment has been reposted with the urls disjointed but still accessible by copying and post to search engines.
While it is good to hear that you and your spouse have improved health and harmony by practicing something similar to the angelic dual cultivation espoused by Hua Hu Ching and other religions, one believes that the so called cultivation has nothing to do with Laozi and mainstream Daoist neidan practices. In fact to reach higher levels, a lay neidan practitioner has to abstain from sex. That is why neidan practice is easier for Daoist priests and nuns compare to laity. If a diviner already knows that something is deviant, it serves no purpose to ask the Book of Changes about the practice.
If you reread paragraphs sixty nine (69) and seventy three (73) of the book, perhaps you can find out where it had implied that the master is the one to teach the student physical sex – nicely dressed up as angelic dual cultivation.
Regards
All ancient systems of spiritual development, when they exist in their esoteric form, all contain methods of uniting the male and female energies of the body. From Yoga and tantric traditions, to gnostic marriage of the bride groom (which is found in more than just the gospel of Philip - see Gospel of Thomas), to Taoist marriage of Kan and Li of Inner alchemy, and is found in Egypt, Persia, Druidism, Odinism, certain branchs of Esoteric Buddhism, and several other systems. Anyone looking at these ideas from a scholastic standpoint, are only fooling themselves. Esoteric means, your NOT looking at things from a logical scholastic standpoint. Esoteric and Heart doctrine means you actualy practise methods of spiritual regernation, sometimes called resurection (I refer to spiritual), or birth of the immortal fetus and changes occur in your consciousness, and than that is where ones understanding comes from, via real time experiance.Not from simply reading a book. And turning to the I ching for direction, is the recource of a follower of the Tao.
Jing chi and its refinement is an essential component to Nei Dan. Some physical methods are used by many differant Taoist sects. And the the Taoism of Lao Tzu truly isnt understood in this day and age. Just as all the great masters wrote many volumes of books, like the 72 books of Hermes, Lao Tzu also passed down many books, outlining a system that was very defined. But like most spiritual treasures the remain with the initiates, and are not available to scholars to scoff at!
Your statements on Taoism are impossible, as there is no standard. There are many sects and sub sects each having differant focus. Your statements sound as if they are pulled directly from scholastic research. Dual Male Female cultivation with actualy sexual methods does have its place in several differant groups of taoism. And I share this with 20 years experiance in practise with esoteric traditions.
Esoteric means, your NOT looking at things from a logical scholastic standpoint.
This blog entry is to discern if the Hua Hu Ching was written or passed down by Laozi as claimed by its author and the translator.
To me, their claim is specious. Scholars and real neidan practitioners may or may not agree with my findings, supported by the relevant references provided, that Laozi has nothing to do with the Hua Hu Ching.
Esoteric and Heart doctrine means you actualy practise methods of spiritual regernation, sometimes called resurection (I refer to spiritual), or birth of the immortal fetus and changes occur in your consciousness, and than that is where ones understanding comes from, via real time experiance.Not from simply reading a book. And turning to the I ching for direction, is the recource of a follower of the Tao.
If you think that I do not know anything about the Yi and/or neidan practice that is fine. It just shows that you have not been reading my blog on a regular basis or in its entirety.
Your statements on Taoism are impossible, as there is no standard. There are many sects and sub sects each having differant focus. Your statements sound as if they are pulled directly from scholastic research. Dual Male Female cultivation with actualy sexual methods does have its place in several differant groups of taoism. And I share this with 20 years experiance in practise with esoteric traditions.
However, from what you have commented, if you think that you know more about Tao than me perhaps you may have to do some rethinking.
Sexual techniques are aberrations to the Way; a real neidan practitioner, whether Daoist or Buddhist, can tell you that.
If you know where the terms, ‘Kan and Li’ originate, what they really mean and how they ‘copulate’, you would understand why sexual techniques are not required.
Regards,
Allan
The "Hua Hu Ching" is clearly derivative of the Diamond Sutra. The question in my mind is whether it originated in China at the time of Lao Tse or came back to China from India hundreds of years later. My intuition is that the Diamond Sutra is more original and the Hua Hu Ching is a later elaboration. However, it is an interesting one well worth reading.
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