This collection of fascinating short reads on Daoist thought, including Chinese medicine brings together some of the most popular articles from the Scholar Sage online magazine, alongside new material from Damo Mitchell. It includes: · How the teaching of the 'three worms' (Sanchong) demonstrates the way Daoism pulls together models of the physical, energetic, spiritual and psychological · A translation of and commentary on the Classic of Breath and Qi Consolidation, an important Daoist classical poem that discusses the relationship of Jing and Qi in the body · The importance of the pineal gland in Daoist alchemical thought · The internal alchemy of Fire, Water, Dragon and Tiger · The meaning behind the pairs of Fu Dogs often seen guarding the entrances of Chinese temples, government buildings and restaurants · How Fa Jin works · How increasing your 'excitement threshold' can help you to find contentment in states of perpetual centeredness · Understanding and using food energetics · And much more. Helping you to think about your practice in new ways, the book features contributions from senior students at the Lotus Nei Gong School of Daoist Arts, including Roni Edlund, Lauren Faithfull, Tino Faithfull, Donna Pinker and Dr Seb Smith.

Nei Gong is the practice leading to attainment of real internal skill and transformation, and the philosophical art of change that runs through all Daoist practice. This book provides a unprecedented insight into the entire Nei Gong process, expanding upon the foundations laid in the author's previous widely read book, Daoist Nei Gong, to provide a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the practice. Going into unparalleled detail whilst remaining accessible, it explains the philosophy at the heart of Nei Gong , and the steps whereby transformation is achieved. Essential reading for anyone seriously interested Qi Gong, Chinese martial arts, and the Daoist tradition, the book will also be an invaluable resource for practitioners of Chinese medicine, or advanced meditation.

The harmonizing influence of ancient Daoist philosophy is of much relevance to the world in which we live today, and this is especially so in the field of global education. Among the growing numbers of contemporary teachers and scholars who nurture Daoist wisdom in their classrooms, this book takes the unique pathway of considering its applications through the contemplative lenses of teacher diaries. Its South African-born author has taught academic English for over three decades in Japan, the Middle East, and the People’s Republic of China. Since early childhood, he has infused his fascination for Daoist wisdom with his enjoyment of writing diaries – and in ways that derive insights into the compassionate, frugal, and humble foundations of Daoist-inspired pedagogies within contemporary classroom environments. This book presents Daoist wisdom in terms of it being the Supreme Ultimate of all ways. It introduces the classical Daoist texts of the Laozi, the Zhuangzi, and the Liezi, and shares a short historical overview of Daoism with its growing global influence. As such, it emphasizes that Daoist-inspired pedagogies encourage a delicate balance between intuitive insights and intellectual analysis – and in ways that are not antagonistic toward each other, but which dance together as one. In this regard, the role of meditation during the undertaking of diaries is specifically highlighted concerning its propensity to bring one into the present moment, pacify racing thoughts, and transcend the ego. It also shows how a meditative state of mind that accompanies the reading, writing, and analysis of the diary entries contributes to deeper self-discernment along with unique intuitive insights related to oneself as a teacher and the classroom environment. In addition, this book describes how the Wordsmith Tools Program and the Book of Changes can be used as additional approaches to analyzing thought patterns within the diary entries – and how these also nurture inward contemplations and the intuitive insights that accompany them. Thereafter, considerations based on the applications of core Daoist principles for classroom pedagogies are filtered through the contemplative lenses of teacher diaries. These principles are the unintentional integrity of de, the complementary duality of yin-yang, the cosmic vitality of qi, the self-so-ness of ziran, the unforceful spontaneity of wuwei, and the unblemished purity of pu. This book illustrates through its diary lenses how these six Daoist principles can be nurtured in ways that contribute to a scholarliness that is grounded in an equal appreciation for the logical applications of intelligence along with the uniqueness of intuitive creativity which cannot be explicitly taught but which spontaneously arises from within the deep reservoirs of intuitive wisdom which exist within the true selves of everyone. In addition, this book shares pearls of Daoist wisdom for teachers from within the poetic chapters of the Laozi, as well as within the amusingly enlightening stories in the Zhuangzi and the Liezi – such that their ancient teachings can be applied to Daoist-inspired pedagogies, and nurtured in ways that unite the joyfulness and scholarly efficacy of both teaching and learning. It is shown how doing so enhances a sense of awe, wonder, openness, and contemplative oneness within the classroom environment - making it a happier, more contented, and more meaningful place for both teachers and students.

This practical, down-to-earth guide offers the means for you to awaken your healing hands. Focussing on the use of hand sensitivity and energy in healing, the guide introduces methods to rapidly sharpen your latent skills and increase your confidence when feeling and working with Qi. Based on a combination of clinical examples, Daoist philosophy, and detailed 'how-to' instructions, the author shows you how to develop your ability to work energetically with your hands, providing an invaluable, powerful tool for subtle diagnosis and healing work that can supplement other methods.

Tui Na is one of the 'Four Pillars' of Chinese medicine (alongside Acupuncture, herbal medicine and Qi Gong) and is a form of bodywork that includes acupressure, massage techniques, assisted stretching, and joint mobilisations or adjustments that are all based on the key medical principles and diagnostics of the Classics of Chinese medicine. This book is an accessible clinical handbook of Tui Na principles and practice. Tui Na can be used as much more than a musculoskeletal therapy, but in order to use it to its full potential as a medical intervention, it is essential to understand its uses on the Sinew channel system as opposed to the other channel systems commonly used within acupuncture. Tui Na requires an understanding of the principles and pathways of the Sinew channels as a standalone system of the body, as well as its relationship to the other channel and organ systems, and this book provides an accessible introduction to these channels before moving onto Tui Na practice. There are Sections on Diagnosis and Assessment, Techniques and Treatments with hand and joint manipulation techniques covered in detail, along with instruction on developing a Tui Na prescription and protocols for the treatment of common conditions. This book can be used by beginners studying on a hands-on practical course in Tui Na, in addition to qualified Chinese medicine and Tui Na practitioners.

Humankind resides in the three-dimensional universe. It is a real materialistic universe where humans utilize their senses to perceive the dimension, temperature, color, or taste of all beings of the universe. However, the Universe that humankind discovered to date is not the entire Universe. The scientific results from researches performed by modern physicists and the knowledge passed down by ancient sages throughout generations have lead humankind to believe that the visible Universe is only a fraction of the whole Universe. The void invisible to humankind is where the Origin of the Universe lies.

"This book explores the Daoist encounter with modernity through the activities of Chen Yingning (1880–1969), a famous lay Daoist master, and his group in early twentieth-century Shanghai. In contrast to the usual narrative of Daoist decay, with its focus on monastic decline, clerical corruption, and popular superstitions, this study tells a story of Daoist resilience, reinvigoration, and revival. Between the 1920s and 1940s, Chen led a group of urban lay followers in pursuing Daoist self-cultivation techniques as a way of ensuring health, promoting spirituality, forging cultural self-identity, building community, and strengthening the nation. In their efforts to renew and reform Daoism, Chen and his followers became deeply engaged with nationalism, science, the religious reform movements, the new urban print culture, and other forces of modernity. Since Chen and his fellow practitioners conceived of the Daoist self-cultivation tradition as a public resource, they also transformed it from an “esoteric” pursuit into a public practice, offering a modernizing society a means of managing the body and the mind and of forging a new cultural, spiritual, and religious identity."

Japanese fine lacquer objects had been appreciated in the West for centuries but the opening of Japan and the participation of its artists in international exhibitions in the 19th century brought new attention to Japanese artistry.

This volume focuses on Chinese Chan Buddhism and its spread across East Asia, with special attention to its impacts on Korean Sŏn and Japanese Zen. Zen enthralled the scholarly world throughout much of the twentieth century, and Zen Studies became a major academic discipline in its wake. Interpreted through the lens of Japanese Zen and its reaction to events in the modern world, Zen Studies incorporated a broad range of Zen-related movements in the East Asian Buddhist world. As broad as the scope of Zen Studies was, however, it was clearly rooted in a Japanese context, and aspects of the "Zen experience" that did not fit modern Japanese Zen aspirations tended to be marginalized and ignored. Approaches to Chan, Sŏn, and Zen Studies acknowledges the move beyond Zen Studies to recognize the changing and growing parameters of the field. The volume also examines the modern dynamics in each of these traditions.

This collection of primary texts introduces readers to the mystical literature of the world's great religious traditions. Beginning with an introduction by Steven T. Katz, a leading scholar of mysticism, the anthology comprises poetry, prayer, narrative, and other writings from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Confucianist, and Native American traditions. This collection provides readers not only with the primary mystical texts from each religious tradition, but with an explanation of the context of the source and tradition. Comparative Mysticism shows how the great mystical traditions of the world are deeply rooted in the religious traditions from which they originated. The contextual methodological approach taken throughout the anthology also addresses the critical question of what these mystical traditions, at their highest level, have in common. Despite the prevailing view that mystical traditions throughout the world are essentially similar, the presentation of the sources in this volume suggests that, in fact, the various traditions have distinct teachings and different metaphysical goals. The writings collected in Comparative Mysticism address the most fundamental and important methodological, epistemological, and hermeneutical questions regarding the study and interpretation of mysticism and mystical sources across cultures. This anthology will be an invaluable resource to students and scholars of mystic tradition for years to come.