In Spring 2014, Daoist celestial immortal, Wong Tai Sin gave me a poem by way of a qin when I paid a visit to his popular temple in HK. The poem turned out to be an ominous omen:
“Clouds envelop Qinling Mountain and I do not know where my home is.
The snow covers Languan Pass and the horses will go no further.”
It was the same prophetic poem given by Han Xiangzi to Han Yu, his uncle which unfolded. Han Yu was a top poet and influential Neo Confucian of Tang at the time. Han Yu was later exiled to ChaoChui by the Tang Emperor and on the way there his horses had refused to move because of a blizzard. Soon he was covered by snow and faced impending death until his nephew, Han Xiangzi appeared to rescue him.
[Read Canadian Museum of History online – Volumes 1 and 2 - to appreciate the poem and the story behind it.] Han Xiangzi is one of the famous eight Daoist immortals. (Ba Xian)
Lately, I realized why my current dire situation is about the same as Han Yu and in need of rescue.
While Han Yu had had Han Xiangzi to rescue him during the blizzard and from impending death, which divinity will come to save me from the calamity? I have prayed.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Monday, February 09, 2015
A similar air disaster?
Regular readers especially Malaysians are advised not to fly north to Beijing or to any other countries in between Malaysia and China from the month of March onwards to the first week of May, 2015.
Ample time is given for regular readers to reschedule their holidays or business trips to these countries, if they do not wish to tempt fate.
Similar to the missing MH 370, the flight could also be in the early hours of the morning, and the airplane’s communication system would be damaged by person(s) on board the plane. The airplane will then turn back and fly for a few hours before it reaches its resting place.
If my interpretation of this omen from the Book of Changes (Yijing / I Ching / Zhouyi) is correct, the airplane would come to rest near the vicinity of the missing MH 370.
It is suggested that the current authorities in charge of the search for the missing MH 370 to double check on the military radar readings and on the satellite signals of March 8, 2014. Scientific evidence can sometimes be marred by human flaws or guestimates.
Is there a possibility that the Malaysian military radar has had tracked a different airplane? Are there any possibilities that false signals or signals from another plane had been sent to the Inmarsat satellite instead?
The suggestion is to save much money and time for the authorities before they restart their search for the airplane that has been missing for the past eleven months; with no closure in sight.
Ample time is given for regular readers to reschedule their holidays or business trips to these countries, if they do not wish to tempt fate.
Similar to the missing MH 370, the flight could also be in the early hours of the morning, and the airplane’s communication system would be damaged by person(s) on board the plane. The airplane will then turn back and fly for a few hours before it reaches its resting place.
If my interpretation of this omen from the Book of Changes (Yijing / I Ching / Zhouyi) is correct, the airplane would come to rest near the vicinity of the missing MH 370.
It is suggested that the current authorities in charge of the search for the missing MH 370 to double check on the military radar readings and on the satellite signals of March 8, 2014. Scientific evidence can sometimes be marred by human flaws or guestimates.
Is there a possibility that the Malaysian military radar has had tracked a different airplane? Are there any possibilities that false signals or signals from another plane had been sent to the Inmarsat satellite instead?
The suggestion is to save much money and time for the authorities before they restart their search for the airplane that has been missing for the past eleven months; with no closure in sight.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Guard ammunition dumps!
According to an omen from the Book of Changes, a religious fervor group is planning something bold and daring that could shock the world and its financial markets.
If my interpretation of the omen is accurate, the first part of their plan is to raid ammunition dumps for munitions – rockets, missiles, guns and ammo – before carrying out the second part which is to kill innocents in another area and/or in another country.
Groups of six youths (can include female) would make a lightning dawn raid on the ammunition dumps. If successful, they will truck the munitions away to carry out the rest of the plan.
Therefore to deter this religious fervor group from successfully carrying their evil plan, governments should strengthen and place the guard on alert at their respective ammunition dumps or depots. Replace incompetent guard commanders, if any.
The governments of countries which were mentioned in my potpourri of updates would be well advised to do so if they want to protect their citizens and other innocents.
P.S.
The religious fervor group is well known and probably on every Western and Asian government lips. These daring youths probably have war experiences, unlike some guards at the ammunition dumps.
Hope the deterrence would be good enough to stop them from carrying out the first part of their plan.
The countries which they will probably carry out their strikes at (part one and part two) will remain undisclosed – no free lunch.
If my interpretation of the omen is accurate, the first part of their plan is to raid ammunition dumps for munitions – rockets, missiles, guns and ammo – before carrying out the second part which is to kill innocents in another area and/or in another country.
Groups of six youths (can include female) would make a lightning dawn raid on the ammunition dumps. If successful, they will truck the munitions away to carry out the rest of the plan.
Therefore to deter this religious fervor group from successfully carrying their evil plan, governments should strengthen and place the guard on alert at their respective ammunition dumps or depots. Replace incompetent guard commanders, if any.
The governments of countries which were mentioned in my potpourri of updates would be well advised to do so if they want to protect their citizens and other innocents.
P.S.
The religious fervor group is well known and probably on every Western and Asian government lips. These daring youths probably have war experiences, unlike some guards at the ammunition dumps.
Hope the deterrence would be good enough to stop them from carrying out the first part of their plan.
The countries which they will probably carry out their strikes at (part one and part two) will remain undisclosed – no free lunch.
Friday, January 09, 2015
Potpourri of updates
1) Readership
While readers from the US still dominate the readership of the blog for most months of the year, the Russians came up top followed by the Ukrainians in the months of September and October 2014 showing particular interests on subjects of the duality concept, neidan (inner alchemy), and a study of the ancient Way (Tao).
For the past two weeks, the French has surprisingly topped the weekly readership while much fewer Russians, probably affected by their country’s economic crisis, came to read the blog.
Readership from China and Taiwan has also shown an increase with particular hits on the prophecies of the Ma Qian Ke, on Yijing Hexagrams, and on the Sage in Hexagram 28 Da Gou / Preponderance of the Great probably to verify what many eminent Chinese scholars in the past have had missed. If not for the twelfth prophecy of Zhuge Liang (Kongming) in the Ma Qian Ke and the rechecking on the Analects of Confucius, I would have missed the sage in the particular hexagram too. Yijing aficionados who have the ability to divine like a spirit (Shen) should be able to see the sage in the Da Gou hexagram as well.
2) No free lunch
For two years, I have not posted global omens before their unfolding. It is not that the Book of Changes did not want to tell me something - my spiritual awareness was raised on several occasions in 2014 and last week - but since the omens are of no concern to me, I did not consult the Yijing at all. And left it to fate (Ming).
If governments want to spend hundreds of millions of US dollars to protect their citizens and yet fail to do so, or to locate a missing airliner and still have not done so, what has that got to do with me? (Refer to one of the four global omens published in 2009 which indicated an impending airline crash before it occurred, if interested.) So much for wisely saving pennies and foolishly spending the pounds, the British would tend to say!
If government agencies with the expectation of more free lunches read my blog to scour for forthcoming global omens, it would hardly be surprising if terrorists will also do that before they set out on their preplanned atrocious schemes to kill as many innocents as possible. (Remember my published global omen a decade ago about Muslim terrorists pretending to be tourists will bomb a Library (Tower), bridges, train stations in the US and Europe in summer?)
Is there a possibility that the terrorists who happened to be French have had also read the blog before they set out to murder several cartoonists in cold blood in Paris? Or was it pure coincidence that the French suddenly topped the readership of the blog for the past two weeks?
3) Month long visit
Recently, my family and I have had crossed the great waters to visit relatives who have migrated to distant lands. It has been many years since I have seen some of these kinfolk. My adult children have probably not met their paternal granduncle and an uncle before. It is both refreshing and a joy to meet up with relatives to reminiscence of old times. I am happy to find them all fit and healthy.
The children enjoyed themselves playing with snow on Mount Ruapehu in NZ since they had not seen real snow before. The NZ strawberries in season were large and sweet. So were the cherries and apricots in Australia. Love the fruits, and the cherries were a few-fold cheaper than those sold in Malaysia. While the total expenditure for the month long visit down under can buy a small new car, for the reasons stated, it was rather worth it.
By coincidence, the sun came out to greet us when we arrived in Auckland. It had been raining quite heavily for days before. Expected, I told my wife with a smile. Although there were some Spring showers and spitting during our stay in NZ, each time they lasted only for a short while. The sun came out in force when we were in Melbourne. Meanwhile, I was told that it was raining cats and dogs in Kuala Lumpur for almost the entire month of my absence.
For the observant, it would be a rather strange phenomenon, but it happens. This could be a benefit for being central, correct and blessed?
If readers have to guess where the money comes from for the trips to Hong Kong and Macau, and down under in 2014, they have not been reading my blog on a regular basis!
4) Free lunches
Free lunches have been provided to Malaysian investors in the KLSE over the years and I still do if they have not noticed. Just read what I do with my shares investments in the KLSE. If I clear most of my stockholdings, the KLSE usually experiences drastic falls not long after that!
While readers from the US still dominate the readership of the blog for most months of the year, the Russians came up top followed by the Ukrainians in the months of September and October 2014 showing particular interests on subjects of the duality concept, neidan (inner alchemy), and a study of the ancient Way (Tao).
For the past two weeks, the French has surprisingly topped the weekly readership while much fewer Russians, probably affected by their country’s economic crisis, came to read the blog.
Readership from China and Taiwan has also shown an increase with particular hits on the prophecies of the Ma Qian Ke, on Yijing Hexagrams, and on the Sage in Hexagram 28 Da Gou / Preponderance of the Great probably to verify what many eminent Chinese scholars in the past have had missed. If not for the twelfth prophecy of Zhuge Liang (Kongming) in the Ma Qian Ke and the rechecking on the Analects of Confucius, I would have missed the sage in the particular hexagram too. Yijing aficionados who have the ability to divine like a spirit (Shen) should be able to see the sage in the Da Gou hexagram as well.
2) No free lunch
For two years, I have not posted global omens before their unfolding. It is not that the Book of Changes did not want to tell me something - my spiritual awareness was raised on several occasions in 2014 and last week - but since the omens are of no concern to me, I did not consult the Yijing at all. And left it to fate (Ming).
If governments want to spend hundreds of millions of US dollars to protect their citizens and yet fail to do so, or to locate a missing airliner and still have not done so, what has that got to do with me? (Refer to one of the four global omens published in 2009 which indicated an impending airline crash before it occurred, if interested.) So much for wisely saving pennies and foolishly spending the pounds, the British would tend to say!
If government agencies with the expectation of more free lunches read my blog to scour for forthcoming global omens, it would hardly be surprising if terrorists will also do that before they set out on their preplanned atrocious schemes to kill as many innocents as possible. (Remember my published global omen a decade ago about Muslim terrorists pretending to be tourists will bomb a Library (Tower), bridges, train stations in the US and Europe in summer?)
Is there a possibility that the terrorists who happened to be French have had also read the blog before they set out to murder several cartoonists in cold blood in Paris? Or was it pure coincidence that the French suddenly topped the readership of the blog for the past two weeks?
3) Month long visit
Recently, my family and I have had crossed the great waters to visit relatives who have migrated to distant lands. It has been many years since I have seen some of these kinfolk. My adult children have probably not met their paternal granduncle and an uncle before. It is both refreshing and a joy to meet up with relatives to reminiscence of old times. I am happy to find them all fit and healthy.
The children enjoyed themselves playing with snow on Mount Ruapehu in NZ since they had not seen real snow before. The NZ strawberries in season were large and sweet. So were the cherries and apricots in Australia. Love the fruits, and the cherries were a few-fold cheaper than those sold in Malaysia. While the total expenditure for the month long visit down under can buy a small new car, for the reasons stated, it was rather worth it.
By coincidence, the sun came out to greet us when we arrived in Auckland. It had been raining quite heavily for days before. Expected, I told my wife with a smile. Although there were some Spring showers and spitting during our stay in NZ, each time they lasted only for a short while. The sun came out in force when we were in Melbourne. Meanwhile, I was told that it was raining cats and dogs in Kuala Lumpur for almost the entire month of my absence.
For the observant, it would be a rather strange phenomenon, but it happens. This could be a benefit for being central, correct and blessed?
If readers have to guess where the money comes from for the trips to Hong Kong and Macau, and down under in 2014, they have not been reading my blog on a regular basis!
4) Free lunches
Free lunches have been provided to Malaysian investors in the KLSE over the years and I still do if they have not noticed. Just read what I do with my shares investments in the KLSE. If I clear most of my stockholdings, the KLSE usually experiences drastic falls not long after that!
Friday, December 26, 2014
A study of the ancient Way (Tao) – Accumulate virtue, increase merits
In Tao Te Ching Chapter 79, Laozi said:
The Way of Heaven is impartial; it is always on the side of the good.
Having Heaven on your side indicates that you are a right person for Tao and will receive its blessings. With Heaven on your side, you count amongst the central, correct, and the blessed. (Refer to the Book of Changes.)
If students of the Way ever wondered how to become good persons and to have Heaven on their side, they would need to read the T’ai-Shang Kan-Ying P’ien and thereafter practise the numerous moral injunctions prescribed therein. Apparently, this Treatise of the Exalted One on Response and Retribution has had more copies in circulation than the Bible and Shakespeare and that millions of devout Chinese down the ages have had practised its moral injunctions and/or had it published.
Amongst the moral injunctions for practice and blessings are:
To accumulate virtue, increase merits. Take pity on orphans, assist widows, respect the old, be kind to children. Assist those in need, and rescue those in danger. Stay evil and promote goodness. Extend help without seeking reward.
Blessings of the Good
Those who are thus (practised the moral injunctions), are good: people honor them; Heaven's Reason gives them grace; blessings and abundance follow them; all ill luck keeps away; angel spirits guard them. Whatever they undertake will surely succeed, and even to spiritual saintliness they may aspire.
Those who wish to attain heavenly saintliness should perform one thousand three hundred good deeds, and those who wish to attain to earthly saintliness should perform three hundred good deeds.
[T’ai-Shang Kan-Ying P’ien as translated by Teitaro Suzuki and Paul Carus – Terebess Asia Online]
When students have had practised the moral injunctions for a while, they may realized that they are becoming good and virtuous. This could also signify the return of a prodigal son.
Where possible students should also learn palmistry and physiognomy since there may come a time when these arts could prove useful to determine if someone’s life is in real danger and in need of saving.
Remember, the saving of innocent lives is of the highest merit; since life is precious to Heaven. This could probably help explain why Daoists down the ages practise Chinese herbal medicine and/or acupuncture to help heal people.
If students have had practised the moral injunctions and have happened to save some people from impending deaths, Heaven will most likely be on their side. (Read the various blogged articles on how to tell that Heaven is on your side.)
It is a requisite for those who practise the dual cultivation of human nature (Xing) and fate (Ming) to have Heaven on their side otherwise they would not be the right persons for Tao. Remember that Heaven governs fate and Laozi had had indicated that Heaven is on the side of the good. Otherwise it would be unlikely they can become Daoist immortals. Therefore they too have to study and practise what is taught in the T’ai-Shang Kan-Ying P’ien. To practise the moral injunctions would also help to change fate for the better.
By studying this treatise, disciples of Daoist celestial immortals would understand better why their ancestor master(s) often remind them to accumulate virtue and to increase merits. And according to the treatise, the number of merits obtained count towards the level of attainment of immortality.
By reading this treatise, evil doers and students of masters who malign renowned Daoist celestial immortals, paragons of virtue, and things of Heaven (respectively Lu Dongbin, Guan Gong, and the Book of Changes for example) may come to realize why they and/or their masters have so much suffering and why some have had their lives unexpectedly shortened. Hopefully after reading the treatise, they would desist in doing further evil and/or stop perpetuating falsehoods on Daoist divinities and on things of Heaven for their own good. That is if they know what is good for them. (There is a long description of evil doers and the consequential punishments in the treatise.)
By reading through the series of articles on this study of the ancient Way, serious neidan students and fellow travelers would probably acknowledge that it would take decades to study and practise what is taught in the four books and five classics together with the practice of the Circulation of the Light for the internal alchemical transformations; and to accumulate virtues and increase merits.
Therefore their masters are either pulling their legs or are misleading them when they lightly promise enlightenment just by following their lineage’s secret neidan formulae. Sad to say, there are no such complete formulae for enlightenment. (Think of the four Confucian books and five ancient Chinese classics, numerous Daoist texts and the Tao Te Ching, several Buddhist sutras and texts for students to study.)
Only real masters know how to teach students to attain the Way (Tao). But even then, whether or not the diligent student can attain Tao will by and large depend on his or her success in the dual cultivation of nature and fate.
Reverting to original nature and to change or master fate could be the key to the return to destiny – Heaven.
P.S. Advising readers how to get Heaven on their side with this article has not brought forth any warnings from Heaven! No sudden thunderstorms, unlike previous drafts on how to get Heaven on their side.
The Way of Heaven is impartial; it is always on the side of the good.
Having Heaven on your side indicates that you are a right person for Tao and will receive its blessings. With Heaven on your side, you count amongst the central, correct, and the blessed. (Refer to the Book of Changes.)
If students of the Way ever wondered how to become good persons and to have Heaven on their side, they would need to read the T’ai-Shang Kan-Ying P’ien and thereafter practise the numerous moral injunctions prescribed therein. Apparently, this Treatise of the Exalted One on Response and Retribution has had more copies in circulation than the Bible and Shakespeare and that millions of devout Chinese down the ages have had practised its moral injunctions and/or had it published.
Amongst the moral injunctions for practice and blessings are:
To accumulate virtue, increase merits. Take pity on orphans, assist widows, respect the old, be kind to children. Assist those in need, and rescue those in danger. Stay evil and promote goodness. Extend help without seeking reward.
Blessings of the Good
Those who are thus (practised the moral injunctions), are good: people honor them; Heaven's Reason gives them grace; blessings and abundance follow them; all ill luck keeps away; angel spirits guard them. Whatever they undertake will surely succeed, and even to spiritual saintliness they may aspire.
Those who wish to attain heavenly saintliness should perform one thousand three hundred good deeds, and those who wish to attain to earthly saintliness should perform three hundred good deeds.
[T’ai-Shang Kan-Ying P’ien as translated by Teitaro Suzuki and Paul Carus – Terebess Asia Online]
When students have had practised the moral injunctions for a while, they may realized that they are becoming good and virtuous. This could also signify the return of a prodigal son.
Where possible students should also learn palmistry and physiognomy since there may come a time when these arts could prove useful to determine if someone’s life is in real danger and in need of saving.
Remember, the saving of innocent lives is of the highest merit; since life is precious to Heaven. This could probably help explain why Daoists down the ages practise Chinese herbal medicine and/or acupuncture to help heal people.
If students have had practised the moral injunctions and have happened to save some people from impending deaths, Heaven will most likely be on their side. (Read the various blogged articles on how to tell that Heaven is on your side.)
It is a requisite for those who practise the dual cultivation of human nature (Xing) and fate (Ming) to have Heaven on their side otherwise they would not be the right persons for Tao. Remember that Heaven governs fate and Laozi had had indicated that Heaven is on the side of the good. Otherwise it would be unlikely they can become Daoist immortals. Therefore they too have to study and practise what is taught in the T’ai-Shang Kan-Ying P’ien. To practise the moral injunctions would also help to change fate for the better.
By studying this treatise, disciples of Daoist celestial immortals would understand better why their ancestor master(s) often remind them to accumulate virtue and to increase merits. And according to the treatise, the number of merits obtained count towards the level of attainment of immortality.
By reading this treatise, evil doers and students of masters who malign renowned Daoist celestial immortals, paragons of virtue, and things of Heaven (respectively Lu Dongbin, Guan Gong, and the Book of Changes for example) may come to realize why they and/or their masters have so much suffering and why some have had their lives unexpectedly shortened. Hopefully after reading the treatise, they would desist in doing further evil and/or stop perpetuating falsehoods on Daoist divinities and on things of Heaven for their own good. That is if they know what is good for them. (There is a long description of evil doers and the consequential punishments in the treatise.)
By reading through the series of articles on this study of the ancient Way, serious neidan students and fellow travelers would probably acknowledge that it would take decades to study and practise what is taught in the four books and five classics together with the practice of the Circulation of the Light for the internal alchemical transformations; and to accumulate virtues and increase merits.
Therefore their masters are either pulling their legs or are misleading them when they lightly promise enlightenment just by following their lineage’s secret neidan formulae. Sad to say, there are no such complete formulae for enlightenment. (Think of the four Confucian books and five ancient Chinese classics, numerous Daoist texts and the Tao Te Ching, several Buddhist sutras and texts for students to study.)
Only real masters know how to teach students to attain the Way (Tao). But even then, whether or not the diligent student can attain Tao will by and large depend on his or her success in the dual cultivation of nature and fate.
Reverting to original nature and to change or master fate could be the key to the return to destiny – Heaven.
P.S. Advising readers how to get Heaven on their side with this article has not brought forth any warnings from Heaven! No sudden thunderstorms, unlike previous drafts on how to get Heaven on their side.
Monday, October 20, 2014
A study of the ancient Way (Tao) – Circulation of the Light
Meditation is popular because it can help reduce stress and provides some health benefits. The Confucians have their own type of meditation, so do the Chan Buddhists and many others in the world. To avoid frivolous claims, instead of titling this article, meditation or ancient meditation, it is titled Circulation of the Light since Guan Yinshi – the person whom Laozi wrote the Tao Te Ching for - was the first to call it by that term.
With correct practice and using the backward flow movement, light would circulate together with breath energy (Qi) up to Heaven / Qian and down to Earth / Kun. Thus the apt term: the Circulation of the Light. The diligent and continual practise of this ancient meditation will provide a student the means to cultivate the Tao of heaven – the dark and the light – as determined by the Holy Sages who wrote the Book of Changes.
In TTC Chapter 40, Laozi taught that “Return (reversal) is the movement to Tao. Yielding is the usefulness to Tao. Myriad things under Heaven are born from being. Being(s) born from non being.”
And in TTC Chapter 16, he had indicated that top scholars of Tao can make the Return by an empty mind (Xin) and a still heart (Xin). An empty mind and a still heart signify meditation. (Also refer to Hexagram 52 Gen / Keeping Still / Mountain.)
To empty the mind during meditation is not difficult, yet many including masters and grandmasters make a hash out of it. Neo Confucians probably not truly understanding the teachings of Confucius and Mencius do away with the workings of Qi and went on to contemplate instead. Their contemporary Chan Buddhists also caught on the idea of contemplation meditation. However, contemplation only clutters the mind with ponders and not empty it of thoughts.
Probably these Chan Buddhists did not really understand the fasting of the mind (Xin Zhai) of Zhuangzi or being illiterate did not read it. The fasting of the mind means to empty it. And Zhuangzi had had also indicated that the Light can be seen. (The text of Zhuangzi and the teachings of the Buddha and Laozi are deemed important to Chan Buddhists.)
The Chan masters who prefer the bypaths of “sudden enlightenment” and “turning the light around” will get nowhere fast. Nor can they achieve longevity – the first stage of the Zah Yung Ching. How could they when their practices follow not the teachings of Laozi and/or of the Buddha? Their misled students in the West are propagating falsehoods of the Way on online Tao and Buddhist forums. So be wary of them.
Eminent Neo Confucians like Han Yu of Tang and Zhu Xi of Song would have progressed far in the cultivation of Tao if they just knew how to empty the mind since having studied the four books and five classics they can probably still the heart. If only they were yielding enough to learn Daoist meditation. Furthermore, both scholars had shown in their writings that they possessed the requisite extreme intelligence and clarity to work the secret charm of the Circulation of the Light. No wonder Han Xiangzi, one of the famous eight immortals, tried hard to convince his uncle Han Yu to cultivate the Way. Instead Han Yu went on to write his study of the Confucian Way comprising of benevolence (Ren) and righteousness (Yi) – which influenced later Neo Confucians - and stuck to it. According to the Shou Gua (Eighth Wing) in the Book of Changes, benevolence and righteousness constitute the Tao of man.
The best way to learn the Circulation of the Light without a doubt is from the Daoist celestial immortals. While names for the meditation could differ, the practice is the same. But even if a student is taught by these real masters, he or she still has to read the four books and five classics to acquire the extreme intelligence and clarity to work the secret charm of the Circulation of the Light.
An alternative, if no real masters can be found, is to learn the Circulation of the Light from the Secret of the Golden Flower which was planchette written by Lu Dongbin, a Daoist celestial immortal. The translated text by Richard Wilhelm and Cary Baynes will provide many a self-taught student who already possessed extreme intelligence and clarity an avenue to reach preliminary levels of neidan (inner alchemy). Although the Daoist text has been corrupted and/or substituted in parts with Buddhist writings – which Wilhelm has had already informed as much – diligent and serious students can still learn from it and practise the Circulation of the Light.
To practise the Circulation of the Light, the student has to learn how to breathe like a baby all over again. A baby’s breathing is ever so soft that it cannot be heard. Breathing in, the abdomen extends, breathing out, the abdomen contracts.
However breath control is required for the backward flow movement. (Refer to TTC 42 on breath control) Breath energy (Qi) has to sink into the lower elixir field (Dantien) before the Qi can be made to reach Return / Fu to begin the Circulation of the Light. (Refer to the articles on Circulation of the Light and I Ching for further information.)
Breath energy is sparse when the student first begins the Circulation of the Light. With continual practice, the breath energy slowly accumulates since the circulation passes through essence locations. When essence transforms into breath energy, there will be more Qi available for use.
Qi when fully mature has to be put to use otherwise it goes to waste.
Some early signs of progress:
After a few short years of practice, students can feel the Qi tingle their palms at seven pm in the evening when they think about it. Those who have several years of practice would also feel heat in the palms.
This thermal heat in the palms can help quicken the healing of bruises and of broken bones. Furthermore, if the thermal heat is properly applied for only a few minutes to the neck area of someone who shows signs of an oncoming flu, it can prevent a full blown influenza for years to come.
Some preliminary eternal signposts of the Way:
Diligent and serious students who use Wilhelm’s translation of the Secret of the Golden Flower would be able to practise the Circulation of the Light up to the stage of entering the Mysterious Gates and visiting Heaven - similar to what the ancient Daoist immortal, Guang Zhengzi and his student, Huangdi had done (as indicated in the text of Zhuangzi).
To do that, students must first see the Light during meditation as indicated by Zhuangzi in his Xin Zhai. They then have to learn how to investigate it as taught by the Buddha in the Shurangama Sutra. Later they have to learn how to use the Light as indicated by Laozi in his Tao Te Ching before they can enter the Mysterious Gates (Tao Te Ching Chapter 1) to visit Heaven. In between they will see the interchanging of the dark and the light, of yin yang, and of forms and emptiness. (Refer to TTC 14 for forms and formlessness)
If a student has already obtained extreme intelligence and clarity after studying and practising the teachings in the four books and five classics for a decade or two, the entire process from the beginning of the meditation practice to visiting Heaven could take several years. It is assumed that the student is already a person suitable for Tao. (Refer to the Hui Ming Ching for the definition of a person for Tao with reference to TTC 18 on the cultivation of virtues.)
For those without extreme intelligence and clarity, and for those who chose to practise bypaths, the magical event would never happen.
Major eternal signposts of the Way
Using the backward flow movement (or reversal) to circulate Qi and the Light would bring about the alchemical transformations of essence (Jing), of breath energy (Qi), and of spirit (Shen). When the germinal vesicle develops, the cooking of the medicine (Kan and Li) will begin in order to produce the golden elixir (Jin Dan). Swallowing the golden elixir will bring about a non being (a spiritual embryo) within being (the adept). After having been nurtured for some years, the non being emerges via the top of the head to open space (Xu) bearing the image of the adept. With further nurturing, the non being produces beings before returning to the Way (Tao). (Refer to TTC 40, the Secret of the Golden Flower, and the Hui Ming Ching.)
Those including masters and grandmasters who cultivate human nature (Xing) and fate (Ming) are many, yet only top scholars of Tao will witness the eternal signposts each and every step of the Way. The signposts are eternal because they still exist after so many millennia have gone by.
No wonder, Laozi lamented in TTC Chapter 70:
“My doctrine is easy to understand, and very easy to practise. Yet the world cannot understand it, nor practise it.”
All rights reserved.
P. S.
It is recommended that the Circulation of the Light be practised by laity only when they have reached the mature age of late thirties or older. By that time, they would have read and practised some of the teachings embedded in the four books and five classics for a decade or two. By that time, they would have procreated and fulfilled their filial duties.
With correct practice and using the backward flow movement, light would circulate together with breath energy (Qi) up to Heaven / Qian and down to Earth / Kun. Thus the apt term: the Circulation of the Light. The diligent and continual practise of this ancient meditation will provide a student the means to cultivate the Tao of heaven – the dark and the light – as determined by the Holy Sages who wrote the Book of Changes.
In TTC Chapter 40, Laozi taught that “Return (reversal) is the movement to Tao. Yielding is the usefulness to Tao. Myriad things under Heaven are born from being. Being(s) born from non being.”
And in TTC Chapter 16, he had indicated that top scholars of Tao can make the Return by an empty mind (Xin) and a still heart (Xin). An empty mind and a still heart signify meditation. (Also refer to Hexagram 52 Gen / Keeping Still / Mountain.)
To empty the mind during meditation is not difficult, yet many including masters and grandmasters make a hash out of it. Neo Confucians probably not truly understanding the teachings of Confucius and Mencius do away with the workings of Qi and went on to contemplate instead. Their contemporary Chan Buddhists also caught on the idea of contemplation meditation. However, contemplation only clutters the mind with ponders and not empty it of thoughts.
Probably these Chan Buddhists did not really understand the fasting of the mind (Xin Zhai) of Zhuangzi or being illiterate did not read it. The fasting of the mind means to empty it. And Zhuangzi had had also indicated that the Light can be seen. (The text of Zhuangzi and the teachings of the Buddha and Laozi are deemed important to Chan Buddhists.)
The Chan masters who prefer the bypaths of “sudden enlightenment” and “turning the light around” will get nowhere fast. Nor can they achieve longevity – the first stage of the Zah Yung Ching. How could they when their practices follow not the teachings of Laozi and/or of the Buddha? Their misled students in the West are propagating falsehoods of the Way on online Tao and Buddhist forums. So be wary of them.
Eminent Neo Confucians like Han Yu of Tang and Zhu Xi of Song would have progressed far in the cultivation of Tao if they just knew how to empty the mind since having studied the four books and five classics they can probably still the heart. If only they were yielding enough to learn Daoist meditation. Furthermore, both scholars had shown in their writings that they possessed the requisite extreme intelligence and clarity to work the secret charm of the Circulation of the Light. No wonder Han Xiangzi, one of the famous eight immortals, tried hard to convince his uncle Han Yu to cultivate the Way. Instead Han Yu went on to write his study of the Confucian Way comprising of benevolence (Ren) and righteousness (Yi) – which influenced later Neo Confucians - and stuck to it. According to the Shou Gua (Eighth Wing) in the Book of Changes, benevolence and righteousness constitute the Tao of man.
The best way to learn the Circulation of the Light without a doubt is from the Daoist celestial immortals. While names for the meditation could differ, the practice is the same. But even if a student is taught by these real masters, he or she still has to read the four books and five classics to acquire the extreme intelligence and clarity to work the secret charm of the Circulation of the Light.
An alternative, if no real masters can be found, is to learn the Circulation of the Light from the Secret of the Golden Flower which was planchette written by Lu Dongbin, a Daoist celestial immortal. The translated text by Richard Wilhelm and Cary Baynes will provide many a self-taught student who already possessed extreme intelligence and clarity an avenue to reach preliminary levels of neidan (inner alchemy). Although the Daoist text has been corrupted and/or substituted in parts with Buddhist writings – which Wilhelm has had already informed as much – diligent and serious students can still learn from it and practise the Circulation of the Light.
To practise the Circulation of the Light, the student has to learn how to breathe like a baby all over again. A baby’s breathing is ever so soft that it cannot be heard. Breathing in, the abdomen extends, breathing out, the abdomen contracts.
However breath control is required for the backward flow movement. (Refer to TTC 42 on breath control) Breath energy (Qi) has to sink into the lower elixir field (Dantien) before the Qi can be made to reach Return / Fu to begin the Circulation of the Light. (Refer to the articles on Circulation of the Light and I Ching for further information.)
Breath energy is sparse when the student first begins the Circulation of the Light. With continual practice, the breath energy slowly accumulates since the circulation passes through essence locations. When essence transforms into breath energy, there will be more Qi available for use.
Qi when fully mature has to be put to use otherwise it goes to waste.
Some early signs of progress:
After a few short years of practice, students can feel the Qi tingle their palms at seven pm in the evening when they think about it. Those who have several years of practice would also feel heat in the palms.
This thermal heat in the palms can help quicken the healing of bruises and of broken bones. Furthermore, if the thermal heat is properly applied for only a few minutes to the neck area of someone who shows signs of an oncoming flu, it can prevent a full blown influenza for years to come.
Some preliminary eternal signposts of the Way:
Diligent and serious students who use Wilhelm’s translation of the Secret of the Golden Flower would be able to practise the Circulation of the Light up to the stage of entering the Mysterious Gates and visiting Heaven - similar to what the ancient Daoist immortal, Guang Zhengzi and his student, Huangdi had done (as indicated in the text of Zhuangzi).
To do that, students must first see the Light during meditation as indicated by Zhuangzi in his Xin Zhai. They then have to learn how to investigate it as taught by the Buddha in the Shurangama Sutra. Later they have to learn how to use the Light as indicated by Laozi in his Tao Te Ching before they can enter the Mysterious Gates (Tao Te Ching Chapter 1) to visit Heaven. In between they will see the interchanging of the dark and the light, of yin yang, and of forms and emptiness. (Refer to TTC 14 for forms and formlessness)
If a student has already obtained extreme intelligence and clarity after studying and practising the teachings in the four books and five classics for a decade or two, the entire process from the beginning of the meditation practice to visiting Heaven could take several years. It is assumed that the student is already a person suitable for Tao. (Refer to the Hui Ming Ching for the definition of a person for Tao with reference to TTC 18 on the cultivation of virtues.)
For those without extreme intelligence and clarity, and for those who chose to practise bypaths, the magical event would never happen.
Major eternal signposts of the Way
Using the backward flow movement (or reversal) to circulate Qi and the Light would bring about the alchemical transformations of essence (Jing), of breath energy (Qi), and of spirit (Shen). When the germinal vesicle develops, the cooking of the medicine (Kan and Li) will begin in order to produce the golden elixir (Jin Dan). Swallowing the golden elixir will bring about a non being (a spiritual embryo) within being (the adept). After having been nurtured for some years, the non being emerges via the top of the head to open space (Xu) bearing the image of the adept. With further nurturing, the non being produces beings before returning to the Way (Tao). (Refer to TTC 40, the Secret of the Golden Flower, and the Hui Ming Ching.)
Those including masters and grandmasters who cultivate human nature (Xing) and fate (Ming) are many, yet only top scholars of Tao will witness the eternal signposts each and every step of the Way. The signposts are eternal because they still exist after so many millennia have gone by.
No wonder, Laozi lamented in TTC Chapter 70:
“My doctrine is easy to understand, and very easy to practise. Yet the world cannot understand it, nor practise it.”
All rights reserved.
P. S.
It is recommended that the Circulation of the Light be practised by laity only when they have reached the mature age of late thirties or older. By that time, they would have read and practised some of the teachings embedded in the four books and five classics for a decade or two. By that time, they would have procreated and fulfilled their filial duties.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
A study of the ancient Way (Tao) – The studies
If Yijing aficionados put on their thinking cap for a while; they would realized that the holy sages who wrote the Book of Changes and the three great ancient sages – Laozi, Confucius, and the Buddha - were incredibly wise. If intended neidan (inner alchemy) practitioners have the affinity to consult Daoist celestial immortals; they would also find these divinities extremely wise.
The question to be addressed in this article is how that these personages and divinities became so wise?
Since there is a dearth of records on how the holy sages, Laozi, and the Buddha became so knowledgeable, intelligent, and wise; it could be appropriate to look into what Confucius and Daoist celestial immortals had done before they became great.
However it would be pertinent to first look into the Ten Wings on what the holy sages had done:
In the Discussion on the Trigrams (Shou Gua) (Eight Wing), ancients of great antiquity indicated that “the holy sages by thinking through the order of the outer world to the end, and by exploring the law of their nature (Xing) to the deepest core, they arrived at an understanding of fate (Ming).
Their purpose was to follow the order of their nature and of their fate. Therefore they determine the Tao of heaven and called it the dark and the light. They determined the Tao of earth and called it the yielding and the firm. They determined the Tao of man and called it benevolence (Ren) and righteousness (Yi).” [Book of Changes - W/B]
Since the very actions of the holy sages stated in the Eight Wing could act as a guide but could be beyond many a Yijing aficionado or a neidan practitioner, it is suggested that they look at something simpler to learn more about human nature and fate.
Confucius had had compiled five ancient classics for posterity. They are the Book of Changes (Yijing), Book of History (Shujing), Book of Odes (Shijing), Spring and Autumn Annals (Chun Chiu), and the Book of Rites (Li Ki).
According to Sima Qian (the grand historian of Han), Li Er better known as Laozi was a Royal Zhou Court librarian which means that he also had access to versions of the five ancient classics.
Since both sages are known to greatly admire the ancients, they would have studied and practised their teachings embedded in these five classics. Probably by studying and practising the teachings, both became knowledgeable, intelligent, and wise.
Confucius, his students, and his grandson’s student, Mencius, had had made it even more simpler and easier for posterity to learn about human nature and fate by recording their thoughts and teachings in what is known as the four books. These books are the Analects of Confucius, the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean (Chung Yung), and the Works of Mencius.
The Chinese called these writings; the “Four books and five classics”.
From tradition, the four books and five classics were imperative readings for scholars who sat for and/or passed the imperial exams to become court officials in olden China. By diligently studying the writings over the years or decades, a student could gain extreme intelligence and clarity. This is important for the intended neidan practitioner since according to Lu Dongbin in his Secret of the Golden Flower, only those with extreme intelligence and clarity can work the secret charm in the ancient Circulation of the Light.
Therefore those who delve into the Circulation of the Light meditation without first having the extreme intelligence and clarity would find to their chagrin that they have wasted much of their time and efforts. That probably explains why the many who have had claimed online that they got it after spending decades practising what is taught in the Secret of the Golden Flower actually never did. How could they when they seemed not to possess the extreme intelligence and clarity to make it work?
Furthermore, none of them have had ever mentioned the requisite studies and/or the eternal signposts of the Way that can be witnessed. This statement is equally applicable to the many ‘masters’ who currently teach neidan or its meditation. So be careful.
The dual cultivation of nature (Xing) and fate (Ming) start not with meditation as many tend to believe but with the studies. For without the requisite studies how do students emulate the holy sages to think through the order of the outer world to the end and investigate into their own nature to understand fate? And without the studies, how could they possess extreme intelligence and clarity to work the secret charm in the Circulation of the Light?
The skeptical and those with bias of things Confucian could be in for a surprise to know that several of the renowned Neo Daoists who went on to become celestial immortals have had read the four books and the five ancient classics from a young age. From their biographies, most of these Neo Daoists have been court officials or have had sat for the imperial exams.
If anyone can penetrate the real teachings in the four Confucian books and the Book of Changes; they would deepen their knowledge of the Yijing, they would be able to change and/or master their fate (Ming), they could rectify and keep still their heart (Xin) and by cultivating the four cardinal virtues taught therein they could become good to also enjoy the protection of Heaven. By putting these teachings into practice, they could become a Junzi (superior person) of old.
In the Records of the Grand Historian, Sima Qian had indicated that the Han Court officials who followed the Huang / Lao tradition read the Tao Te Ching during their leisure. Intended neidan practitioners must also study this ancient classic in time to come. Reading the Tao Te Ching could become rather more meaningful after several years of practising the Circulation of the Light meditation; since this particular ancient classic contains many eternal signposts of the Way.
By now, readers would understand a bit more on how the holy sages, the great ancient sages and the Daoist celestial immortals had had become so incredibly wise.
Therefore whether you are young or old, if you really want to practise neidan and/or learn more about Chinese culture, it is best that you read the four books and five classics.
However since the studies, the meditation, and the cultivation could take a lifetime to master, it is for those with seriousness of purpose to consider properly before they decide to embark on the magical far journey to Tao. Probably millions have tried and only a handful of them have had succeeded in the return to Tao.
This brings to mind, an archaic truth where Confucius said: “By nature, men are nearly alike: by practice, they get to be wide apart.” This deep insight into humanity remains true till today.
The question to be addressed in this article is how that these personages and divinities became so wise?
Since there is a dearth of records on how the holy sages, Laozi, and the Buddha became so knowledgeable, intelligent, and wise; it could be appropriate to look into what Confucius and Daoist celestial immortals had done before they became great.
However it would be pertinent to first look into the Ten Wings on what the holy sages had done:
In the Discussion on the Trigrams (Shou Gua) (Eight Wing), ancients of great antiquity indicated that “the holy sages by thinking through the order of the outer world to the end, and by exploring the law of their nature (Xing) to the deepest core, they arrived at an understanding of fate (Ming).
Their purpose was to follow the order of their nature and of their fate. Therefore they determine the Tao of heaven and called it the dark and the light. They determined the Tao of earth and called it the yielding and the firm. They determined the Tao of man and called it benevolence (Ren) and righteousness (Yi).” [Book of Changes - W/B]
Since the very actions of the holy sages stated in the Eight Wing could act as a guide but could be beyond many a Yijing aficionado or a neidan practitioner, it is suggested that they look at something simpler to learn more about human nature and fate.
Confucius had had compiled five ancient classics for posterity. They are the Book of Changes (Yijing), Book of History (Shujing), Book of Odes (Shijing), Spring and Autumn Annals (Chun Chiu), and the Book of Rites (Li Ki).
According to Sima Qian (the grand historian of Han), Li Er better known as Laozi was a Royal Zhou Court librarian which means that he also had access to versions of the five ancient classics.
Since both sages are known to greatly admire the ancients, they would have studied and practised their teachings embedded in these five classics. Probably by studying and practising the teachings, both became knowledgeable, intelligent, and wise.
Confucius, his students, and his grandson’s student, Mencius, had had made it even more simpler and easier for posterity to learn about human nature and fate by recording their thoughts and teachings in what is known as the four books. These books are the Analects of Confucius, the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean (Chung Yung), and the Works of Mencius.
The Chinese called these writings; the “Four books and five classics”.
From tradition, the four books and five classics were imperative readings for scholars who sat for and/or passed the imperial exams to become court officials in olden China. By diligently studying the writings over the years or decades, a student could gain extreme intelligence and clarity. This is important for the intended neidan practitioner since according to Lu Dongbin in his Secret of the Golden Flower, only those with extreme intelligence and clarity can work the secret charm in the ancient Circulation of the Light.
Therefore those who delve into the Circulation of the Light meditation without first having the extreme intelligence and clarity would find to their chagrin that they have wasted much of their time and efforts. That probably explains why the many who have had claimed online that they got it after spending decades practising what is taught in the Secret of the Golden Flower actually never did. How could they when they seemed not to possess the extreme intelligence and clarity to make it work?
Furthermore, none of them have had ever mentioned the requisite studies and/or the eternal signposts of the Way that can be witnessed. This statement is equally applicable to the many ‘masters’ who currently teach neidan or its meditation. So be careful.
The dual cultivation of nature (Xing) and fate (Ming) start not with meditation as many tend to believe but with the studies. For without the requisite studies how do students emulate the holy sages to think through the order of the outer world to the end and investigate into their own nature to understand fate? And without the studies, how could they possess extreme intelligence and clarity to work the secret charm in the Circulation of the Light?
The skeptical and those with bias of things Confucian could be in for a surprise to know that several of the renowned Neo Daoists who went on to become celestial immortals have had read the four books and the five ancient classics from a young age. From their biographies, most of these Neo Daoists have been court officials or have had sat for the imperial exams.
If anyone can penetrate the real teachings in the four Confucian books and the Book of Changes; they would deepen their knowledge of the Yijing, they would be able to change and/or master their fate (Ming), they could rectify and keep still their heart (Xin) and by cultivating the four cardinal virtues taught therein they could become good to also enjoy the protection of Heaven. By putting these teachings into practice, they could become a Junzi (superior person) of old.
In the Records of the Grand Historian, Sima Qian had indicated that the Han Court officials who followed the Huang / Lao tradition read the Tao Te Ching during their leisure. Intended neidan practitioners must also study this ancient classic in time to come. Reading the Tao Te Ching could become rather more meaningful after several years of practising the Circulation of the Light meditation; since this particular ancient classic contains many eternal signposts of the Way.
By now, readers would understand a bit more on how the holy sages, the great ancient sages and the Daoist celestial immortals had had become so incredibly wise.
Therefore whether you are young or old, if you really want to practise neidan and/or learn more about Chinese culture, it is best that you read the four books and five classics.
However since the studies, the meditation, and the cultivation could take a lifetime to master, it is for those with seriousness of purpose to consider properly before they decide to embark on the magical far journey to Tao. Probably millions have tried and only a handful of them have had succeeded in the return to Tao.
This brings to mind, an archaic truth where Confucius said: “By nature, men are nearly alike: by practice, they get to be wide apart.” This deep insight into humanity remains true till today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)