The Intricacies of Daoist Self-Cultivation East & West
Original Chinese Language Article By: Qianfeng Daoist Master Zhao Ming Wang (赵明旺)
(Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)
The Great Dao (大道 – Da Dao) is profound and difficult to penetrate, and for many it is a path of confusion. For the uninitiated, the Reality of the Dao is difficult to attain. Over thousands of years of dynastic history in China the Daoist teachings that reveal the true reality have become ever more sophisticated and difficult to understand. This situation has been compounded by the fact that many lineages of Daoist teaching have deliberately obscured the path and made the methods available to only a few chosen individuals within each generation. There is someone I have known as a friend for a long time and on the surface he appears to be a very generous and forthright person, but sometimes his inner heart is troubled and unpredictable. For instance, about two years ago I remember that this friend spoke with several of my disciples and discussed the Change Classic (周易 – Zhou Yi) and the teachings of geomancy (风水 – Feng Shui) and this friend advised my disciples not to ‘pay’ me for instruction. When I heard this I just smiled and reminded him that the ‘free’ flow vital force (qi) was a natural right for everyone (and that no one needed to pay me for my instruction).
This person had not developed any true insight, and so his interpretation of Daoist teaching was superficial and shallow. One time we had a very enjoyable meal together and afterwards I was asked to perform some self-cultivation exercises – which I did not want to do because the situation and setting was inappropriate at that time. However, I made one or two postures, and this person mistook the outer expression as a ‘treasure’ and did not understand at all that true Daoist self-cultivation occurs inwardly.
To understand the true Daoist self-cultivation (gong fa) a student must train diligently with a true master who has inherited an authentic lineage. The outer movements must be precise, correct and accurate, this is true, but this is because the outer postures have a definite and defining effect on the functioning of the inner body, and it is this inner functioning that is crucial for developing vital force (qi) flow, as without this development, there can be no authentic Daoist self-cultivation in any way.
Chinese philosophical Daoism specialises in the preservation and transmitting of health building and mind and body developmental exercises. These techniques are highly effective and if they are practiced correctly, the body (and mind) will develop extensively and in the most unexpected ways, but this takes good instruction and hard work over a long time. My friend – Dr Zheng Qingsong of the International Wisdom Society – tells me that authentic Daoist self-cultivation exercises are very popular amongst Westerners today. This a good thing but Westerners and Chinese people have different ways of viewing the world. Westerners, for instance, are generally realists who require a sound theory that is demonstrated beyond doubt to work in practice.
It is interesting to witness how acupuncture and moxibustion (as a part of traditional Chinese medicine) are very popular in the West. This important part of Chinese medical culture has found acceptance within the West and is regularly practiced not just by Western born or emigre Chinese people, but also by Westerners themselves who have committed themselves to studying Chinese medical theory (which is not always easy to understand). Other Westerners who do not necessarily understand the theory behind acupuncture, nevertheless, submit themselves for TCM treatment when ill and find themselves helped and cured by the experience. What we need to understand in China is that Western science and Chinese science can be difficult to understand for ordinary people and that this is a matter of how knowledge is acquired and used. Obviously if we are unfamiliar with specific methodologies then we will not understand the reasoning, but as soon as we are familiar with the methodology, the difficulty disappears. This is what I think is happening in the West and we (as Chinese people) must understand that our culture can be understood by foreign people in the modern world. This is a process that we must thoroughly encourage and support as there is no reason why Western people cannot learn and master Chinese Daoist instruction and methods such as the ‘sweating ox technique’ (汗牛功 – Han Niu Gong). Dr Zhang Qingsong say that in the US a number of couples in their 60’s or 70’s were discovered who took Western medicine to boost their sexual drives. However, over a three-day period their diet and drink intake was strictly monitored, and they were encouraged to practice self-cultivation together (whilst not relying on drugs). In a very short time, their natural sexual function improved dramatically and regained much of its vigour. Although these people did not necessarily understand the Daoist principles in a deep manner, their minds and bodies still benefitted from the experience, which demonstrates the objective nature of Daoist medical thinking. I believe that over the next couple of decades the Daoist self-cultivation methods will spread far and wide outside of China and become very popular, but this will only happen if virtue is generated in our own practice, as everything depends upon this. Without virtue, there is no Daoism and health cannot be restored and the mind and body cannot be trained to achieve Immortality.
Daojia, Qianfeng Prenatal School
Qianfeng Hermitage – Zhao Mong Wang
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2015.
Original Chinese Language Source Article: http://752315496.blog.163.com/blog/static/8830018220134139355158/
道家功法一二
大道玄,道道迷,不得真道圈外行。历来道家把真功加上层层密码,让其外人难以琢磨分析。我认识一个人,称呼为朋友,和我认识了很多年。在交流中就可以看出此人外表豪爽,而内心难测,记得在前年几位朋友和徒弟交流中,其中有位周易风水朋友就告知此人不可交也。我只是微笑着道,顺气自然吧。
而他在过聪慧也没有得到一点真功,有一次在吃饭之后高兴之时让我演练几下,我难以推辞只好比划几步,哈哈此人如获至宝。在外面大吹其是秘传。
其实道家真正的功法,那要认真虚心学习的,也非一日而成的。要和师父交流多次方能掌握其
内在的要领,才能真正练的准确无误。
其实中国道家性命双修是有真正功夫的,其功法对人体健康的变化是很大的,练的准确其神奇的效果是很惊奇的。我有位美国的华裔朋友是《国际中华智慧学会》张庆松会长,在交流中就提到了中国的道家功夫性命双修文化很受西方人的喜爱,但是西方人和中国人有着不同的看法,西方人讲的是现实和有理论性的东西他们才认可。
比如中国的中医针灸现在很受西方人的认可,虽然他没不了解经络等中国的东西,但是他们用实践体会到了中国的小小银针很是管用的。其实祖先用智慧研究的东西不要说西方人难以理解,就连现在的科学都难以了解,就拿道家《汗牛功》来讲,我和张庆松博士讲到可以做个体验,在美国找几个60到70岁的人,平时性功能差,甚至要靠药物来刺激的人,和我住上三天,不接受我任何食物和饮料以防有嫌,共同练功三天后必让他们在早上醒来一柱晴天立竿见影。什么是道家秘传的功夫?只有让他感觉到效果才是神奇之功。
我相信在以后的几十年里,中国道家性命双修功法会受到西方和世界人民的喜爱,因为他是智慧和华夏大地用德善总结出来的一部经典的养生功夫,是帮助人们健康长寿的功夫。
道家千峰先天派
千峰草堂 :赵明旺
This person had not developed any true insight, and so his interpretation of Daoist teaching was superficial and shallow. One time we had a very enjoyable meal together and afterwards I was asked to perform some self-cultivation exercises – which I did not want to do because the situation and setting was inappropriate at that time. However, I made one or two postures, and this person mistook the outer expression as a ‘treasure’ and did not understand at all that true Daoist self-cultivation occurs inwardly.
To understand the true Daoist self-cultivation (gong fa) a student must train diligently with a true master who has inherited an authentic lineage. The outer movements must be precise, correct and accurate, this is true, but this is because the outer postures have a definite and defining effect on the functioning of the inner body, and it is this inner functioning that is crucial for developing vital force (qi) flow, as without this development, there can be no authentic Daoist self-cultivation in any way.
Chinese philosophical Daoism specialises in the preservation and transmitting of health building and mind and body developmental exercises. These techniques are highly effective and if they are practiced correctly, the body (and mind) will develop extensively and in the most unexpected ways, but this takes good instruction and hard work over a long time. My friend – Dr Zheng Qingsong of the International Wisdom Society – tells me that authentic Daoist self-cultivation exercises are very popular amongst Westerners today. This a good thing but Westerners and Chinese people have different ways of viewing the world. Westerners, for instance, are generally realists who require a sound theory that is demonstrated beyond doubt to work in practice.
It is interesting to witness how acupuncture and moxibustion (as a part of traditional Chinese medicine) are very popular in the West. This important part of Chinese medical culture has found acceptance within the West and is regularly practiced not just by Western born or emigre Chinese people, but also by Westerners themselves who have committed themselves to studying Chinese medical theory (which is not always easy to understand). Other Westerners who do not necessarily understand the theory behind acupuncture, nevertheless, submit themselves for TCM treatment when ill and find themselves helped and cured by the experience. What we need to understand in China is that Western science and Chinese science can be difficult to understand for ordinary people and that this is a matter of how knowledge is acquired and used. Obviously if we are unfamiliar with specific methodologies then we will not understand the reasoning, but as soon as we are familiar with the methodology, the difficulty disappears. This is what I think is happening in the West and we (as Chinese people) must understand that our culture can be understood by foreign people in the modern world. This is a process that we must thoroughly encourage and support as there is no reason why Western people cannot learn and master Chinese Daoist instruction and methods such as the ‘sweating ox technique’ (汗牛功 – Han Niu Gong). Dr Zhang Qingsong say that in the US a number of couples in their 60’s or 70’s were discovered who took Western medicine to boost their sexual drives. However, over a three-day period their diet and drink intake was strictly monitored, and they were encouraged to practice self-cultivation together (whilst not relying on drugs). In a very short time, their natural sexual function improved dramatically and regained much of its vigour. Although these people did not necessarily understand the Daoist principles in a deep manner, their minds and bodies still benefitted from the experience, which demonstrates the objective nature of Daoist medical thinking. I believe that over the next couple of decades the Daoist self-cultivation methods will spread far and wide outside of China and become very popular, but this will only happen if virtue is generated in our own practice, as everything depends upon this. Without virtue, there is no Daoism and health cannot be restored and the mind and body cannot be trained to achieve Immortality.
Daojia, Qianfeng Prenatal School
Qianfeng Hermitage – Zhao Mong Wang
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2015.
Original Chinese Language Source Article: http://752315496.blog.163.com/blog/static/8830018220134139355158/
道家功法一二
大道玄,道道迷,不得真道圈外行。历来道家把真功加上层层密码,让其外人难以琢磨分析。我认识一个人,称呼为朋友,和我认识了很多年。在交流中就可以看出此人外表豪爽,而内心难测,记得在前年几位朋友和徒弟交流中,其中有位周易风水朋友就告知此人不可交也。我只是微笑着道,顺气自然吧。
而他在过聪慧也没有得到一点真功,有一次在吃饭之后高兴之时让我演练几下,我难以推辞只好比划几步,哈哈此人如获至宝。在外面大吹其是秘传。
其实道家真正的功法,那要认真虚心学习的,也非一日而成的。要和师父交流多次方能掌握其
内在的要领,才能真正练的准确无误。
其实中国道家性命双修是有真正功夫的,其功法对人体健康的变化是很大的,练的准确其神奇的效果是很惊奇的。我有位美国的华裔朋友是《国际中华智慧学会》张庆松会长,在交流中就提到了中国的道家功夫性命双修文化很受西方人的喜爱,但是西方人和中国人有着不同的看法,西方人讲的是现实和有理论性的东西他们才认可。
比如中国的中医针灸现在很受西方人的认可,虽然他没不了解经络等中国的东西,但是他们用实践体会到了中国的小小银针很是管用的。其实祖先用智慧研究的东西不要说西方人难以理解,就连现在的科学都难以了解,就拿道家《汗牛功》来讲,我和张庆松博士讲到可以做个体验,在美国找几个60到70岁的人,平时性功能差,甚至要靠药物来刺激的人,和我住上三天,不接受我任何食物和饮料以防有嫌,共同练功三天后必让他们在早上醒来一柱晴天立竿见影。什么是道家秘传的功夫?只有让他感觉到效果才是神奇之功。
我相信在以后的几十年里,中国道家性命双修功法会受到西方和世界人民的喜爱,因为他是智慧和华夏大地用德善总结出来的一部经典的养生功夫,是帮助人们健康长寿的功夫。
道家千峰先天派
千峰草堂 :赵明旺