False Daoism Equals Disharmony Within Society
Original Chinese Language Article By: Qianfeng Daoist Master Zhao Ming Wang (赵明旺)
(Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)
China as a country has had a history of civilised culture for at least 5000 years. This is a point of pride buried deep in the heart of all Chinese people. The teachings of Confucianism and Daoism form an integral and important aspect of Chinese cultural identity that was positively amplified with the arrival of Buddhism in China. The central core of these teachings is the principle that through the development of ‘virtue’ the mind (and body) can be transformed. In the case of traditional qigong (i.e. ‘vital force self-cultivation exercises’) the same idea was originally pursued and applied directly to primarily securing good health in the body (and mind). However, during the 1980’s there was a qigong boom that led to all kinds of distortions and misrepresentations. Through careful research I have found some very interesting information about this time period, including video footage, newspaper and magazine articles, etc. This features supposedly ‘great’ and ‘enlightened’ masters performing apparent curative miracles through various martial art-like stunts designed to attract the attention of the ill-informed, the poorly educated, and the vulnerable. Those with paralysis can be seen receiving the ‘great’ master’s vital force (qi) energy and regaining their movement, whilst others are miraculously ‘cured’ of a number of various ailments. These ‘masters’ bedazzled the crowds and attracted students by making promises that their suspect qigong could grant Immortality.
The problem with popularity is that it often leads to distorted teaching and fraudulent teachers becoming famous for a while and taking advantage of those who are desperate for good health and a better life, but who do not possess any knowledge about genuine Daoist self-cultivation. This false Daoist teaching is not premised upon scientific medical knowledge but instead uses superstition and ignorance that damages the health of those drawn to it. In particularly severe cases the vital force (qi) flow and essential nature (jing) have become so corrupted and weak through bad training advice that practitioners have lost their lives, whilst others have developed such a bad state of health that it is now very difficult to repair. I have treated a number of people who fell victim to the 1980’s Qigong craze and they have told me that they put their faith entirely in their so-called master because they did not know any better at the time. These false teachers deceive the people by pretending to be genuine masters of Buddhist and Daoist health building self-cultivation, when instead they know nothing. Their fakery causes civil and political disharmony within society that actually harms the health of the nation. People should educate themselves as to the true nature of authentic Daoist self-cultivation as this knowledge will directly benefit them as individuals and Chinese society in general.
Since that time in the 1980’s the level of education amongst the people has improved. Now people generally understand that authentic Daoist self-cultivation is premised first and foremost upon the generation of virtue (attained through correct psychological and physical discipline). Genuine masters have trained in legitimate lineages under qualified teachers and already possess correct knowledge and have themselves achieved virtuous transformation. The people should look toward these ‘genuine’ masters for their inspiration and instruction, as these individuals have thoroughly studied, understood and put into practice the wisdom contained within the Daoist Classical texts. If there is correct self-cultivation, then the mind, body and society become united and harmonious (as vital force [qi] flows freely without hindrance throughout the world) and all conflict between individuals, communities, and governments ceases. This is why the Chinese people and the Chinese government are ‘one’ and ‘unified’ in essence. If the people support the government then the (qi) energy flows in the same direction and there is no (internal or external) disharmony (throughout the ten directions). This sense of unified (qi) energy is a fundamental Daoist teaching that directly supports society as well as individual practice. Authentic Chinese Daoist self-cultivation wisdom and knowledge is an ancient culture that has survived into modern China. Although developed in the distant past, it must be clearly understood that Daoist health building and life prolonging techniques are directly relevant to the well-being and support of contemporary Chinese culture and society.
Since the reform of Chinese society and the opening-up of the availability of information, the general level of education amongst the people has developed immeasurably and they have become more aware of the value of traditional Chinese culture and its implications for Chinese modernity. In fact so successful has traditional Chinese culture become that it now has a certain currency even in the West. The problem this has caused is that any Chinese person can travel to the West and mislead the people there by claiming abilities they do not possess. A friend of mine recently joked that anyone who can hold the (non-existent) ‘water-melon’ stance can become a ‘master’ in such a situation. However, I have to make the following facts clear. Yes it is true that Chinese culture was developed and ‘lived’ by our Chinese ancestors, but we must not be prejudiced in our judgements. As Chinese people we must accept the fact that traditional Chinese culture is now a world-wide phenomenon that we should encourage and support. Furthermore, although many Westerners do not understand Chinese culture, it has been my experience that there are some Westerners who not only understand it properly, but who are very respectful and grateful to be involved within it. Again, as Chinese people it is our responsibility to facilitate this access without any hint of discrimination, because sometimes Westerners understand Chinese culture ‘better’ than many Chinese people do. This is why we must keep our culture in its correct form. Crazies such as that which occurred in the 1980’s are usually short-lived because they are corrupt. A lack of knowledge of genuine Daoism will not lead to good health or Immortality. Things are better in China today because things have improved for the better and our traditional culture is as strong as ever!
Daojia, Dragon Gate Temple, External Qianfeng Prenatal School
Qianfeng Hermitage
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2015.
Original Chinese Language Source Article: http://752315496.blog.163.com/blog/static/8830018220132193447108/
痛批伪道猖狂到几何?
在中国这片拥有5000年文化文明的土地上,在人们心中有着根深地固的自豪感,中国的儒 道文化已经深深的容进我们的思想中,加之在中国兴起的佛教文化。其根本思想是以德善的思想教化人们,其中有传统气功养生文化,而在80年代兴起的气功热潮,我细致的找到了当时的一些相关的资料,视频 图片 文字资料,那些身怀决技所谓的大师门相互登场,大显功夫,有能让半身不遂者在大师的发气中眼看行走正常的,有能发功治各种病的。甚至有能引领成仙的,让不了解的人眼花缭乱,乱投师门炼起了道仙气功之术。
而大家有所不知的是,这些伪道不知害了多少善心的求道大众,严重者体内精气逆流 淤积不通严重的有死亡的,还有一大批爱好者到现在体内愈酌之气无法排除。我近年收了几位在80年代练功受到不同影响弟子,当讲到那时练功体会就感到太信任那些所谓的大师了,搞的到如今身体不佳。还有以道家 佛家功夫为为幌子,反对党反社会的歪门邪教组织,其危害社会危害人们健康的程度很大。
如今经过了80年代的气功洗礼已经有很多人了解了中国什么才是真正的道家养生文化经典,道 首先要德善在心,不与世人争,拥护执政党是道家修炼之人最基本思想。中国道家养生性命双修是中国历代传承代表中国文化的经典功夫,做为中华文化的继承者我们都要了解他的真正意义。
改革开放以来信息的发展能让国人了解自己的文化,就连西方国家也在关注中国文化,前几年有朋友调侃,只要学会抱西瓜的姿势就可一去美国当大师。外国人很喜欢中国的功夫,从这一点就可以看出,我们国人把老祖宗的东西活学活用了,其实人家西方国家尊重我国的文化,虚心学习有的甚至比中国人还了解中国文化。伪道只能疯狂一时,真正的功夫如同东方的太阳永远在东方升起。希望爱好丹道的朋友们多了解中国文化经典,变明真伪不在有忙修瞎炼。
道家龙门庙外千峰先天派
千峰草堂
The problem with popularity is that it often leads to distorted teaching and fraudulent teachers becoming famous for a while and taking advantage of those who are desperate for good health and a better life, but who do not possess any knowledge about genuine Daoist self-cultivation. This false Daoist teaching is not premised upon scientific medical knowledge but instead uses superstition and ignorance that damages the health of those drawn to it. In particularly severe cases the vital force (qi) flow and essential nature (jing) have become so corrupted and weak through bad training advice that practitioners have lost their lives, whilst others have developed such a bad state of health that it is now very difficult to repair. I have treated a number of people who fell victim to the 1980’s Qigong craze and they have told me that they put their faith entirely in their so-called master because they did not know any better at the time. These false teachers deceive the people by pretending to be genuine masters of Buddhist and Daoist health building self-cultivation, when instead they know nothing. Their fakery causes civil and political disharmony within society that actually harms the health of the nation. People should educate themselves as to the true nature of authentic Daoist self-cultivation as this knowledge will directly benefit them as individuals and Chinese society in general.
Since that time in the 1980’s the level of education amongst the people has improved. Now people generally understand that authentic Daoist self-cultivation is premised first and foremost upon the generation of virtue (attained through correct psychological and physical discipline). Genuine masters have trained in legitimate lineages under qualified teachers and already possess correct knowledge and have themselves achieved virtuous transformation. The people should look toward these ‘genuine’ masters for their inspiration and instruction, as these individuals have thoroughly studied, understood and put into practice the wisdom contained within the Daoist Classical texts. If there is correct self-cultivation, then the mind, body and society become united and harmonious (as vital force [qi] flows freely without hindrance throughout the world) and all conflict between individuals, communities, and governments ceases. This is why the Chinese people and the Chinese government are ‘one’ and ‘unified’ in essence. If the people support the government then the (qi) energy flows in the same direction and there is no (internal or external) disharmony (throughout the ten directions). This sense of unified (qi) energy is a fundamental Daoist teaching that directly supports society as well as individual practice. Authentic Chinese Daoist self-cultivation wisdom and knowledge is an ancient culture that has survived into modern China. Although developed in the distant past, it must be clearly understood that Daoist health building and life prolonging techniques are directly relevant to the well-being and support of contemporary Chinese culture and society.
Since the reform of Chinese society and the opening-up of the availability of information, the general level of education amongst the people has developed immeasurably and they have become more aware of the value of traditional Chinese culture and its implications for Chinese modernity. In fact so successful has traditional Chinese culture become that it now has a certain currency even in the West. The problem this has caused is that any Chinese person can travel to the West and mislead the people there by claiming abilities they do not possess. A friend of mine recently joked that anyone who can hold the (non-existent) ‘water-melon’ stance can become a ‘master’ in such a situation. However, I have to make the following facts clear. Yes it is true that Chinese culture was developed and ‘lived’ by our Chinese ancestors, but we must not be prejudiced in our judgements. As Chinese people we must accept the fact that traditional Chinese culture is now a world-wide phenomenon that we should encourage and support. Furthermore, although many Westerners do not understand Chinese culture, it has been my experience that there are some Westerners who not only understand it properly, but who are very respectful and grateful to be involved within it. Again, as Chinese people it is our responsibility to facilitate this access without any hint of discrimination, because sometimes Westerners understand Chinese culture ‘better’ than many Chinese people do. This is why we must keep our culture in its correct form. Crazies such as that which occurred in the 1980’s are usually short-lived because they are corrupt. A lack of knowledge of genuine Daoism will not lead to good health or Immortality. Things are better in China today because things have improved for the better and our traditional culture is as strong as ever!
Daojia, Dragon Gate Temple, External Qianfeng Prenatal School
Qianfeng Hermitage
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2015.
Original Chinese Language Source Article: http://752315496.blog.163.com/blog/static/8830018220132193447108/
痛批伪道猖狂到几何?
在中国这片拥有5000年文化文明的土地上,在人们心中有着根深地固的自豪感,中国的儒 道文化已经深深的容进我们的思想中,加之在中国兴起的佛教文化。其根本思想是以德善的思想教化人们,其中有传统气功养生文化,而在80年代兴起的气功热潮,我细致的找到了当时的一些相关的资料,视频 图片 文字资料,那些身怀决技所谓的大师门相互登场,大显功夫,有能让半身不遂者在大师的发气中眼看行走正常的,有能发功治各种病的。甚至有能引领成仙的,让不了解的人眼花缭乱,乱投师门炼起了道仙气功之术。
而大家有所不知的是,这些伪道不知害了多少善心的求道大众,严重者体内精气逆流 淤积不通严重的有死亡的,还有一大批爱好者到现在体内愈酌之气无法排除。我近年收了几位在80年代练功受到不同影响弟子,当讲到那时练功体会就感到太信任那些所谓的大师了,搞的到如今身体不佳。还有以道家 佛家功夫为为幌子,反对党反社会的歪门邪教组织,其危害社会危害人们健康的程度很大。
如今经过了80年代的气功洗礼已经有很多人了解了中国什么才是真正的道家养生文化经典,道 首先要德善在心,不与世人争,拥护执政党是道家修炼之人最基本思想。中国道家养生性命双修是中国历代传承代表中国文化的经典功夫,做为中华文化的继承者我们都要了解他的真正意义。
改革开放以来信息的发展能让国人了解自己的文化,就连西方国家也在关注中国文化,前几年有朋友调侃,只要学会抱西瓜的姿势就可一去美国当大师。外国人很喜欢中国的功夫,从这一点就可以看出,我们国人把老祖宗的东西活学活用了,其实人家西方国家尊重我国的文化,虚心学习有的甚至比中国人还了解中国文化。伪道只能疯狂一时,真正的功夫如同东方的太阳永远在东方升起。希望爱好丹道的朋友们多了解中国文化经典,变明真伪不在有忙修瞎炼。
道家龙门庙外千峰先天派
千峰草堂