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Ok, this is a question I have been pondering for a while now, at least the past 4 or 5 months. Immortals…specifically Taoist Immortals. What the heck is the deal with this? I’ve sought answers in many places, most of which just sort of restate the classic and more religious view of what they are, such as corpse freed, earth, heavenly immortal etc just as a start. I’ve read several things, but the one that started it all was “Magus of Java” and “Secret teachings of the warrior sages” by Kostas Danos, which I actually did NOT like…it seems to try and apply “science” in an area where it is the wrong “measuring stick” if you will verses “human experience” which would be more appropriate, especially the second of his 2 books. I also read Wang Li Ping’s story in “Making of a modern taoist wizard” and like that much better, despite the fact that it actually is in some ways more outrageous and far reaching in it’s implications. This is a subject of fascination and importance to me, and has caused me to ponder and fear and have a lot of pain associated with it without going into too much detail.
My point is, just what is meant by “immortal?” within the context of nei kung training. I looking for a more concrete practical and modern understanding of this concept as it applies to the nei kung process. I’m simply attempting to have a intellectual and practical understanding of taoism and it’s teachings. I feel the call of the TAO very very strongly, I can’t explain why, but I feel it deep within. Still, I want a practical real experience, not just knowledge from books. That’s part of what prompted me to ask this. I can read all I want, but it gets me no closer to an answer that is practical, which is also what drew me to the energy arts system and Bruce’s teachings, as he does have this very very practical approach.
My understanding is that our spirit may be broken, and the stuff we do is the process of refining it or putting it back together. If we become an immortal then that process is complete and we merge with the Tao. If not then the process can continue in another life. If you look for permanence in this life then the only place you’ll find it is in the Tao so if you merge with the Tao then your spirit also becomes permanent.
Maybe
.This is just how I fill in the dots anyway.
hi mike
if you dig into bruce’s writings, there’s a description of an immortal; someone who has completely merged with the tao while still living.nei gung is working on the energy and the body, so you are merging your awareness with your physical body and your energy, in a sense becoming one with it. that’s the beginning stages of the process, which is then continued by working on becoming aware and present to your emotional body, mental body, and so on. I believe when you start getting into the mental body and beyond it would be called shen gong or spiritual work, rather than energy work.
but an immortal, that is very far down the road.
it’s been said that it’s better to focus on the road under your feet rather than your destination.
and that
it’s better to get a little to eat than to know all about eating.
so for most people, unless you are lucky enough to meet an immortal and have some concrete experience of that level of awareness/existence, it’s an abstract concept that might make more sense to someone after they have done much of the preparatory work, which would include becoming basically a chi gong master and also master of shen gong.
hope this helps
Hi Mike, first of all thanks for the bravery in asking this question. It’s controversial, lots of people know this level exists, plenty of people have no actual experience of it, and so doubt it. I personally feel that to even hear, or know about such things is very good karma indeed.
I’ve read and taken much inspiration from Kosta’s books, even if the tone and the emphasis is a bit eccentric. There’s quite a bit of discussion about his work, including people who have studied with the Mo Pai, over on the taobums forum, if you want a little more information about how legit it is, concerns over the gaps in their knowledge, etc.
For myself, it’s important to have ideals and inspiration because we’re only scratching the surface of human potential right now in our world. Especially in the West. I read these sorts of books to go through the hard work it takes to really move forward in my training; I read these stories as poetry and motivation both. And then I do some journaling and write about my current level and challenges, both physically and also in my attitude and approach to life. And I find that I “level up” very quickly from keeping it real like that, but always staying inspired as well.
Hi Mike,
Intellectual intellectual answer:
A Taoist immortal is someone who has fully realised the Tao, which means that they not only have had direct experience of the underlying energetic matrix of all and everything but that they have fully integrated into that. This means that they are consciously aware of all things, all times, all places, all dimensions, all at once and simultaneously aware of the fact that they are actually just one thing. The problem with my description, apart from the fact that I am extremely ill qualified to answer your question, is that it implies that the immortal is some how separate from the experience.Practical intellectual answer:
Even if an immortal was right in front of us words are weak to elucidate, hence transmissions.The sense of “I” of an immortal would be so radically different from anything we can even remotely imagine that the only way to truly comprehend the question and answer it properly would be to be an Immortal oneself, and the answer would be largely non-verbal. The water method believes we will have spent many lives prior to the one in which immortality is “achieved”, also incomprehensible to me in any sort of practical way. That means we just practice dissolving our bodies, energy, emotions, mentality until slowly, slowly clarity arises and we recognise Tao in all its emptiness and manifestations.“Wait a bit, wait a bit, when the moment arrives; then you can do it”- Liu Hung Chieh, Taoist immortal
Good luck on the path,
Ben
Have you seen this book?
One that has stabilized and gained control of all eight energetic bodies which allow the user to meld completely with the tao in a LIVING body. That is, the equivalent of greater nirvana or True enlightenment (which is described in hindu and Buddhist traditions as only possible after an enlightened being has died and the physical body is not a hurdle anymore to melding with the universal consiousness). Taoism uses advanced alchemic practices to transmute the substance of the LIVING body to attain the ‘post death nirvana” state while still alive. Essentially, a taoist immortal is a level of achievement greater than Buddhahood. (and no, physical immortality need not be part of the package. that is a lesser achevement of the fire school that is part of neo-taoism).
Easily cleared up Mike. Connect with a Scholar Taoist, one who uses the same tools that Lao Tze, the Yellow Emperor, etc used. I can put you on the path to Immortality.
hello i’m new user.
regards
jessica patel
Hello
About the book “Opening de Dragon Gate” mentioned above,
it says Master Wang Liping taught at the White Cloud Temple in Beijing.Was anyone who travelled to China able to meet him?
White Cloud is a well known taoist landmark.
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