75th Anniversary of the Passing of Zhao Bichen and Neidan Practice
Original Chinese Language Article By: Qianfeng Daoist Master Zhao Ming Wang (赵明旺)
(Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)
The path of Philosophical Daoism (道家 – Dao Jia) requires exact, precise and correct instruction. There is no other way with regards to authentic Daoist learning. Why is this the case? Since ancient times, practitioners have received incomplete, misunderstood or wrong Daoist instruction from books or manuals, and have wasted their lives pursuing phantoms, false paths and dead-ends. Today, history is repeating itself, with yet again a plethora of books and manuals becoming available (both in China and around the world), all claiming, in one-way or another, to offer ‘neidan’ (内丹) guidance. The point that must be acknowledged here, is that ‘neidan’ practice is an integral part of the broader syllabus of ‘Xìng Mìng Shuang Xiu’ (性命双修) – or ‘Essence of Life Mind-Body’ self-cultivation – and cannot be practised in isolation from it. Neidan – or ‘field of inner energy centre’ self-cultivation – only makes sense if a practitioner has received a sound self-cultivation education from a Daoist master who has transmitted the ‘mind essence’ in the form of ‘secret’ oral instruction. Therefore, although books and manuals might (or might not) possess genuine knowledge (for either an extortionate or bargain price), this knowledge is invariably ‘incomplete’ and ‘out of context’ when it comes to the continuous evolution of individual practice. A practitioner might lack crucial foundational development, or might progress through written instruction, only to find a dead-end because no further knowledge is available. Of course, if the written instruction is ‘wrong’, then all kinds of disasters can unfold, which might well include increased ‘poor’ health. To avoid this, a living master is required who has already achieved the correct training and transmission of the correct methodology (法 – Fa), who is able to adjust and alter the Daoist teachings as the state of mind and body of the disciple gradually developments in the right direction.
The ancient sages have taught that no matter how intelligent an individual might be, there is a limit to understanding beyond which no one can progress without a genuine teacher. Neidan practice is a very serious, profound and sophisticated technique that requires exact knowledge to complete properly. Even slight errors in interpretation and direction can lead to a total disaster. Within modern China today (and throughout the world), the pace of life is very fast, and generally speaking, people do not have the time to achieve a stable and enduring state of mind and body. Modern life creates impatience amongst the people, and wanting everything ‘now’ without any long-term effort, is against the law of ‘dragon and tiger’ (龙虎 – Long Hu) neidan practice. Before starting any advanced neidan practice, the Daoist practitioner must develop a peaceful and quiet (平静 – Ping Jing) state of mind. Exactly the same teaching was given by the Buddha, who said that the mind must not be impatient or greedy for the wrong kind of attainment. There are many Classic Daoist Texts which convey various aspects of the Daoist path, but without a proper (and living) teacher who can pull all this knowledge together and contextualise it, there is always the risk of deviation. How many people suffer psychological and physical damage because of this deviation?
The correct practice of ‘Xìng Mìng Shuang Xiu’ (性命双修) – or ‘Essence of Life Mind-Body’ self-cultivation, as found within the Philosophical Daoist tradition, is dependent upon a systematic and consistent approach to learning, whereby a fully qualified master carefully instructs the dedicated disciple step by step, without allowing any single deviation. This is the well-known ancient method, which was itself developed over many centuries of scientific investigation. Whereas the inexperienced mind of the disciples perceives everything as a ‘mystery’, the advanced mind of the master sees everything as it exactly is, with a crystal-clear interpretation of reality, and a precise knowledge of the action that is to be taken, for self-development to occur. The agency of ‘intention’ (意 – Yi) must be developed to perceive and take control of the qi (气) energy in the body (and mind), so that it flows smoothly and there is no blockages or leakages. However, if the pristine essence (元 – Yuan) of the mind (神 – Shen) is to be realised that allows the proper development of ‘intention’, then the surface and depth activity of the mind must be brought to a complete ‘stillness’, as a pre-requisite to Daoist training. If a mind is ill-disciplined and runs from here to there with no end, true ‘intention’ will not be developed. If ‘intention’ is not developed, then qi energy will not be harnessed or directed. This is why ‘stilling’ the mind is the most important Daoist practice. A disturbed mind has an excess of uncontrolled qi energy activity that obscures the pristine essence (which cannot be detected). Even if a disciple has a strong will, but does not receive good instruction, a lack of developed ‘intention’ often means that in the rush to develop ‘Yin Shen’ (阴神) – or an all-embracing ‘empty’ mind that contains all things – much damage can be done to the inner workings of the mind and body. This is the consequence of a ‘false’ training that omits crucial stages of endeavour.
Today, (September 3rd, 2017), marks the 75th anniversary of my great grandfather – Zhao Bichen (赵避尘) – leaving or transcending his physical body (羽化 – Yu Hua) – also known as ‘flying transformation’ – whereby a Daoist practitioner enters into an all embracing and rarefied state of being and becomes ‘immortal’. Zhao Bichen is the Patriarch of the Qianfeng School, which he founded upon the authority of the fact that he was the 11th generation (outside the temple) inheritor of the ‘Dragon Gate’ (龙门 – Long Men) School of Philosophical Daoism. The Vice Chairman of the China Daoist Association – Huang Xinyang Dade (黄信阳大德) – personally presided over the ceremony of respect, which had many Qianfeng Pre-Natal (i.e. ‘Earlier Divine Sky’) School (千峰先天派 – Qian Feng Xian Tian Pai) disciples present. During this meeting, specific stories from the extraordinary biography of Zhao Bichen were recited and discussed, together with an assessment of the Qianfeng School today, and the direction within which it is moving – all influenced by the advanced thinking of Zhao Bichen. In the 75 years since Zhao Bichen left his body, the Qianfeng School has developed within China, and has spread throughout the world. Many of the advanced students have developed their Qianfeng practice, and have contributed to the spread of Zhao Bichen’s Daoism far and wide. Today, many hundreds (and thousands) of Qianfeng disciples have come many miles from outside of China, representing all ethnic groups, cultures, religious beliefs and political systems. All Qianfeng disciples are from varying backgrounds, everyone is joined together by respect for Zhao Bichen, and by a profound ‘love’ for ‘neidan’ practice. Everybody assembles together here – at the ‘Qianfeng Hermitage’ in Beijing – and we all practice in harmony together. When this sincere training occurs, there are no barriers to genuine learning. Although there are times when we must practice in the peace and tranquillity of isolation, there are also times when we must gather together to update our knowledge, adjust our practice, and ensure that we are on the correct developmental path. What has to be acknowledged is that in just a few decades, the correct and profound basis of ‘Xìng Mìng Shuang Xiu’ (性命双修) – or ‘Essence of Life Mind-Body’ self-cultivation, has been fully established in China and across the world. This type of knowledge and wisdom is unusual in the world and seems ‘magical’ in nature, but the true masters understand developmental Daoism as an ‘advanced science’.
Daojia, Qianfeng Prenatal School
Qianfeng Hermitage: Zhao Ming Wang
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2017.
Original Chinese Language Source Article: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_64e533c90102x068.html
道家内丹功法需要口传心授要领
大凡爱好内丹功法者《性命双修》都对丹道书籍有所亲来,凡可买到不吝价格购买,去领悟书中玄妙的道家内丹法门,以及分析内在的奥秘然后自己照书修炼。其实这是很危险的做法,自古至今不知有多少爱好内丹功夫者忙修瞎练,最后慢慢偏离正道误入歧途,而自己还浑然不知。
修道者古人言道:任你聪明千百倍无师传法瞎胡闹,内丹修法玄妙而严谨,差之毫厘则远之千里。如今社会生活节奏快了,而人之心也不能平稳,什么事都要求一个立竿见影,这一点在内丹龙虎修炼中是大忌。
修内丹者首先要拥有平静的心态,不急不躁如同佛家讲到心得一样,有多少经典来介绍修心性之法。而一个欲字又不知伤害了多少人?
道家功夫性命双修历代都是师徒相传,有些玄妙之处要反复讲解练习才可掌握其内在奥妙,以意领气运行各处不得偏离,然用元神修来宝贵之物则兴奋中以变成后天之物实属可惜。还有人用意念感觉修炼,最后步入阴神修法,伤其体而不自知。
道家龙门庙外第十一代祖师千峰老人赵避尘羽化七十五周年之际,由中国道教协会副主席黄信阳大德亲自主持,同时千峰先天派庙外弟子也在千峰老人七十五周年法会中,用心和成绩向千峰老人赵避尘始祖汇报。在千峰老人羽化的七十五年里,千峰老人所创千峰先天派弟子遍及世界各地,他们来自不同种族,不同信仰,但是他们都有一颗爱好中国内丹文化之心,这颗心凝聚他们不远万里来到千峰草堂共同了解学习。而在短短的几年或者几十年中修者们真正了解到中国神奇的道家性命双修之法,不妄言此法乃千金不换。
在这次汇报交流会上,千峰弟子都汇报了炼功体会与心得。在他们中有不少中老年者,同时患有不同程度慢性疾病,治疗起来顽固难愈。经过真修实练增补真气,师父不断调理他们发现身体慢慢变强,在交流中他们统一思想就是,有真法加真修实练还你健康身体。
道家千峰先天派
千峰草堂: 赵明旺
The ancient sages have taught that no matter how intelligent an individual might be, there is a limit to understanding beyond which no one can progress without a genuine teacher. Neidan practice is a very serious, profound and sophisticated technique that requires exact knowledge to complete properly. Even slight errors in interpretation and direction can lead to a total disaster. Within modern China today (and throughout the world), the pace of life is very fast, and generally speaking, people do not have the time to achieve a stable and enduring state of mind and body. Modern life creates impatience amongst the people, and wanting everything ‘now’ without any long-term effort, is against the law of ‘dragon and tiger’ (龙虎 – Long Hu) neidan practice. Before starting any advanced neidan practice, the Daoist practitioner must develop a peaceful and quiet (平静 – Ping Jing) state of mind. Exactly the same teaching was given by the Buddha, who said that the mind must not be impatient or greedy for the wrong kind of attainment. There are many Classic Daoist Texts which convey various aspects of the Daoist path, but without a proper (and living) teacher who can pull all this knowledge together and contextualise it, there is always the risk of deviation. How many people suffer psychological and physical damage because of this deviation?
The correct practice of ‘Xìng Mìng Shuang Xiu’ (性命双修) – or ‘Essence of Life Mind-Body’ self-cultivation, as found within the Philosophical Daoist tradition, is dependent upon a systematic and consistent approach to learning, whereby a fully qualified master carefully instructs the dedicated disciple step by step, without allowing any single deviation. This is the well-known ancient method, which was itself developed over many centuries of scientific investigation. Whereas the inexperienced mind of the disciples perceives everything as a ‘mystery’, the advanced mind of the master sees everything as it exactly is, with a crystal-clear interpretation of reality, and a precise knowledge of the action that is to be taken, for self-development to occur. The agency of ‘intention’ (意 – Yi) must be developed to perceive and take control of the qi (气) energy in the body (and mind), so that it flows smoothly and there is no blockages or leakages. However, if the pristine essence (元 – Yuan) of the mind (神 – Shen) is to be realised that allows the proper development of ‘intention’, then the surface and depth activity of the mind must be brought to a complete ‘stillness’, as a pre-requisite to Daoist training. If a mind is ill-disciplined and runs from here to there with no end, true ‘intention’ will not be developed. If ‘intention’ is not developed, then qi energy will not be harnessed or directed. This is why ‘stilling’ the mind is the most important Daoist practice. A disturbed mind has an excess of uncontrolled qi energy activity that obscures the pristine essence (which cannot be detected). Even if a disciple has a strong will, but does not receive good instruction, a lack of developed ‘intention’ often means that in the rush to develop ‘Yin Shen’ (阴神) – or an all-embracing ‘empty’ mind that contains all things – much damage can be done to the inner workings of the mind and body. This is the consequence of a ‘false’ training that omits crucial stages of endeavour.
Today, (September 3rd, 2017), marks the 75th anniversary of my great grandfather – Zhao Bichen (赵避尘) – leaving or transcending his physical body (羽化 – Yu Hua) – also known as ‘flying transformation’ – whereby a Daoist practitioner enters into an all embracing and rarefied state of being and becomes ‘immortal’. Zhao Bichen is the Patriarch of the Qianfeng School, which he founded upon the authority of the fact that he was the 11th generation (outside the temple) inheritor of the ‘Dragon Gate’ (龙门 – Long Men) School of Philosophical Daoism. The Vice Chairman of the China Daoist Association – Huang Xinyang Dade (黄信阳大德) – personally presided over the ceremony of respect, which had many Qianfeng Pre-Natal (i.e. ‘Earlier Divine Sky’) School (千峰先天派 – Qian Feng Xian Tian Pai) disciples present. During this meeting, specific stories from the extraordinary biography of Zhao Bichen were recited and discussed, together with an assessment of the Qianfeng School today, and the direction within which it is moving – all influenced by the advanced thinking of Zhao Bichen. In the 75 years since Zhao Bichen left his body, the Qianfeng School has developed within China, and has spread throughout the world. Many of the advanced students have developed their Qianfeng practice, and have contributed to the spread of Zhao Bichen’s Daoism far and wide. Today, many hundreds (and thousands) of Qianfeng disciples have come many miles from outside of China, representing all ethnic groups, cultures, religious beliefs and political systems. All Qianfeng disciples are from varying backgrounds, everyone is joined together by respect for Zhao Bichen, and by a profound ‘love’ for ‘neidan’ practice. Everybody assembles together here – at the ‘Qianfeng Hermitage’ in Beijing – and we all practice in harmony together. When this sincere training occurs, there are no barriers to genuine learning. Although there are times when we must practice in the peace and tranquillity of isolation, there are also times when we must gather together to update our knowledge, adjust our practice, and ensure that we are on the correct developmental path. What has to be acknowledged is that in just a few decades, the correct and profound basis of ‘Xìng Mìng Shuang Xiu’ (性命双修) – or ‘Essence of Life Mind-Body’ self-cultivation, has been fully established in China and across the world. This type of knowledge and wisdom is unusual in the world and seems ‘magical’ in nature, but the true masters understand developmental Daoism as an ‘advanced science’.
Daojia, Qianfeng Prenatal School
Qianfeng Hermitage: Zhao Ming Wang
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2017.
Original Chinese Language Source Article: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_64e533c90102x068.html
道家内丹功法需要口传心授要领
大凡爱好内丹功法者《性命双修》都对丹道书籍有所亲来,凡可买到不吝价格购买,去领悟书中玄妙的道家内丹法门,以及分析内在的奥秘然后自己照书修炼。其实这是很危险的做法,自古至今不知有多少爱好内丹功夫者忙修瞎练,最后慢慢偏离正道误入歧途,而自己还浑然不知。
修道者古人言道:任你聪明千百倍无师传法瞎胡闹,内丹修法玄妙而严谨,差之毫厘则远之千里。如今社会生活节奏快了,而人之心也不能平稳,什么事都要求一个立竿见影,这一点在内丹龙虎修炼中是大忌。
修内丹者首先要拥有平静的心态,不急不躁如同佛家讲到心得一样,有多少经典来介绍修心性之法。而一个欲字又不知伤害了多少人?
道家功夫性命双修历代都是师徒相传,有些玄妙之处要反复讲解练习才可掌握其内在奥妙,以意领气运行各处不得偏离,然用元神修来宝贵之物则兴奋中以变成后天之物实属可惜。还有人用意念感觉修炼,最后步入阴神修法,伤其体而不自知。
道家龙门庙外第十一代祖师千峰老人赵避尘羽化七十五周年之际,由中国道教协会副主席黄信阳大德亲自主持,同时千峰先天派庙外弟子也在千峰老人七十五周年法会中,用心和成绩向千峰老人赵避尘始祖汇报。在千峰老人羽化的七十五年里,千峰老人所创千峰先天派弟子遍及世界各地,他们来自不同种族,不同信仰,但是他们都有一颗爱好中国内丹文化之心,这颗心凝聚他们不远万里来到千峰草堂共同了解学习。而在短短的几年或者几十年中修者们真正了解到中国神奇的道家性命双修之法,不妄言此法乃千金不换。
在这次汇报交流会上,千峰弟子都汇报了炼功体会与心得。在他们中有不少中老年者,同时患有不同程度慢性疾病,治疗起来顽固难愈。经过真修实练增补真气,师父不断调理他们发现身体慢慢变强,在交流中他们统一思想就是,有真法加真修实练还你健康身体。
道家千峰先天派
千峰草堂: 赵明旺