Chen Tuan's Four Season Internal Kungfu

Chen Tuan's Four Season Internal Kungfu PDF

Author: Stuart Olson

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2016-05-01

Total Pages: 344

ISBN-13: 9781533050106

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This book provides direct translations from one of China's greatest holistic healers and teachers, Taoist immortal Chen Tuan (871-989 CE), whose Four Season Qigong and Twenty-Four Dao Yin Seated Exercises are modeled on the four seasons and twenty-four lunar periods of the year. The exercises are really quite simple and take little time to perform. Despite their simplicity, the corresponding principles and theories supporting them are quite profound. Anyone sincerely engaging in these practices will not only find a trove of health benefits, but also acquire a deep appreciation of Chen Tuan's truly brilliant work.This book also presents advice on herbs and foods recommended for each season, clear explanations of the functions of the Twelve Primary Qi Meridians, Five Viscera, and Six Bowels of the human body, and the cures and remedies associated with each of the exercises. In addition, you'll find Chen Tuan's two Sleeping Qigong exercises (and several other related ones), as well as two Medical Kung and Herbal Regimes. Stuart Alve Olson has masterfully expounded Chen Tuan's teachings, uniquely showing that External Alchemy (Waidan), the Dao Yin Exercises described herein, are like the processes of a caterpillar forming a protective cocoon around itself, while Internal Alchemy (Neidan), the Refining the Elixir practices, enable the metamorphosis culminating in the emergence of a butterfly. This book will prove a necessary and requisite read for anyone engaged in Taoist health, meditation, and spiritual cultivation.

Embryonic Breathing

Embryonic Breathing PDF

Author: Stuart Alve Olson

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2016-09-19

Total Pages: 100

ISBN-13: 9781537777061

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This book reveals the simple and effective method of Embryonic Breathing within Taoist meditation for the purpose of opening the lower Elixir Field, the very foundation of Internal Alchemy. It focuses on Stuart Alve Olson's translation of The Lofty and Foremost Jade Emperor's Canon on Embryonic Breathing, a very popular sixteenth century Taoist text comprising nine verses, as well as a translation of the brilliant commentary by Taoist Master Zhong Xuzi. In addition Olson provides a concise and informative introduction and commentary on the nine verses of the text, and shares much of what he had learned from Master T.T. Liang on this subject. Despite the brevity of this work the theory and practice of Embryonic Breathing is very profound. The text and commentaries are simple in their underlying message: congeal the Spirit and Qi in the lower Elixir Field. The nine verses succinctly cover the very foundation of this method in an uncomplicated manner by simply teaching that the proper use of Embryonic Breathing, swallowing the saliva, and deep concentration on the lower Elixir Field are the root conditions for opening the Elixir Field, thereby bringing about the causes and conditions for attaining longevity and immortality. This book teaches that the opening of the lower Elixir Field is accomplished through three functions: Embryonic Breathing, Swallowing the Saliva, and Retaining the Spirit. All three rely on directing attention to the lower Elixir Field where the three internal energies of Jing (Essence/Body), Qi (Vitality/Breath), and Shen (Spirit/Mind) converge. The experience of opening the lower Elixir Field is paramount to progressing in any meditation practice, and this work succinctly provides the instructions for doing so, no matter the tradition.

Steal My Art

Steal My Art PDF

Author: Stuart Alve Olson

Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Published: 2002-08-09

Total Pages: 214

ISBN-13: 9781556434167

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Now 101 years old, Master T. T. Liang came to the U.S. from Taiwan in the 1960s to introduce t'ai chi to America. His life story is full of the stuff that makes a great martial arts adventure: a career as a high-ranking government official, street fights and shootouts, opium dens and prostitutes, mystical martial arts masters and monks—the story of a life lived to the absolute maximum. Twenty-five photographs add to the captivating life story of this great t'ai chi master.

Refining the Elixir

Refining the Elixir PDF

Author: Stuart Olson

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2016-02-22

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781530220557

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Refining the Elixir is one of the clearest and most in-depth analyses on Internal Alchemy (Neidan) in English. Aside from the excellent translation work, Stuart Alve Olson provides extensive introductory sections and commentaries on the texts-a wonderful guide for practicing and learning the meditation art and science of Internal Alchemy. Stuart Alve Olson addresses the mystical terminology of Internal Alchemy by explaining it in understandable, detailed, and practical terms. Anyone, no matter the tradition of meditation followed, will find this book inspiring and enlightening. Four important works by Zhang Sanfeng (Three Peaks Zhang) are provided, along with commentaries: The Great Process for Refining the Elixir Treatise Verses on Seated Meditation The Sleeping Immortal Zhang Sanfeng's Commentary on Lu Zi's One Hundred Word Discourse These four works of Zhang Sanfeng outline clear perspectives on the Taoist practice of Internal Alchemy, a unique and effective system designed for the development of health, longevity, and immortality.Zhang Sanfeng, a Taoist priest of the twelfth century, is not only credited with the creation of Tai Ji Quan, but with some of the greatest Internal Alchemy texts. He reportedly lived 170 years, from the late Song dynasty through the Yuan and into the early Ming dynasty. Zhang's life exemplified the Chinese ideal of a true "cloud wandering" immortal. His internal alchemy and meditation texts reveal not only his deep wisdom, but his great influence on Taoism and the teachings leading to immortality.

Daoist Internal Mastery

Daoist Internal Mastery PDF

Author: Liping Wang

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 430

ISBN-13: 1931483396

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This book translates Master Wang's original practice instructions and discourses given during training seminars. His system of internal alchemy goes back to two ancient Daoist texts: the 13th-century Lingbao bifa, linked to the immortals Zhongli Quan and L Dongbin; and the 17th-century Taiyi jinhua zongzhi (Secret of the Golden Flower), also connected to L . Together they are known as the Lingbao tong zhineng neigong shu (Arts of Internal Mastery, Wisdom, and Potential, Based on Numinous Treasure). The texts outline the concoction of a golden elixir through the dual cultivation of inner nature and life-destiny. This book follows the classics and presents all different kinds of techniques--including walking, pacing, sleeping, circulating the five phases, absorbing tree energy, and capturing planetary essences--in a systematic format and with a great amount of instructional detail. It contains a wealth of information invaluable to anyone interested in genuine Daoist cultivation and elucidates numerous rather obscure concepts to contextualize each practice.

Taoism and Self Knowledge

Taoism and Self Knowledge PDF

Author: Catherine Despeux

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2018-11-26

Total Pages: 311

ISBN-13: 900438345X

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In Taoism and Self Knowledge, Catherine Despeux develops a history of the "Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection" a text containing an array of meditative techniques for individual salvation and thunder rites. This chart was transmitted widely among Taoists in Quanzhen tradition.

Intimate Communities

Intimate Communities PDF

Author: Nicole Elizabeth Barnes

Publisher: University of California Press

Published: 2018-10-23

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 0520300467

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A free ebook version of this title is available through Luminos, University of California Press’s Open Access publishing program. Visit www.luminosoa.org to learn more. When China’s War of Resistance against Japan began in July 1937, it sparked an immediate health crisis throughout China. In the end, China not only survived the war but emerged from the trauma with a more cohesive population. Intimate Communities argues that women who worked as military and civilian nurses, doctors, and midwives during this turbulent period built the national community, one relationship at a time. In a country with a majority illiterate, agricultural population that could not relate to urban elites’ conceptualization of nationalism, these women used their work of healing to create emotional bonds with soldiers and civilians from across the country. These bonds transcended the divides of social class, region, gender, and language.

Lieh-tzu

Lieh-tzu PDF

Author:

Publisher: Shambhala Publications

Published: 2001-12-11

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 0834824655

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The Lieh-tzu is a collection of stories and philosophical musings of a sage of the same name who lived around the fourth century BCE. Lieh-tzu's teachings range from the origin and purpose of life, the Taoist view of reality, and the nature of enlightenment to the training of the body and mind, communication, and the importance of personal freedom. This distinctive translation presents Lieh-tzu as a friendly, intimate companion speaking directly to the reader in a contemporary voice about matters relevant to our everyday lives.

Foundations of Internal Alchemy

Foundations of Internal Alchemy PDF

Author: Mu Wang

Publisher: Golden Elixir Press

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 0984308253

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Originally written for Chinese readers, this book provides a clear description of the Taoist practice of Internal Alchemy, or Neidan. The author outlines the four stages of the alchemical practice and clarifies several relevant terms and notions, including Essence, Breath, and Spirit; the Cinnabar Fields; the "Fire Times"; and the Embryo. The book is based on the system of the Wuzhen pian (Awakening to Reality), one of the main sources of Internal Alchemy, and contains about two hundred quotations from original Taoist texts. Table of Contents Foreword, vii INTRODUCTION, 1 The Basis: Essence and Spirit, 3 STAGES OF THE ALCHEMICAL PRACTICE IN AWAKENING TO REALITY, 11 The Four Stages, 13 "Laying the Foundations," 15 Main Points in the Practice of "Laying the Foundations," 20 The Functions of Essence, Breath, and Spirit, 36 Terms Related to the "Coagulation of the Three Treasures," 52 Conclusion of the Stage of "Laying the Foundations," 63 "Refining Essence to Transmute it into Breath," 65 "Refining Breath to Transmute it into Spirit," 99 "Refining Spirit to Return to Emptiness," 109 CONCLUSION, 119 The "Arts of the Way," 121 Tables, 123 Glossary of Chinese Characters, 133