Friday, June 29, 2018

Is the TAoist Yoga book "incomplete"?

A common accusation on the "daobums" website is that Charles Luk has an "incomplete" translation. Why then does the family lineage of the teacher not state this - but rather on the contrary:

At that meeting, Zhao Bichen emphasised the fact that the Profound Dao of Qianfeng was exactly the same as the Empty Mind Ground found within Ch’an Buddhism.  He further stated that a student of the Dao can move through each of the 16 stages of Qianfeng Daoism, or in some unusual cases (and mirroring the Ch’an principle of ‘sudden’ enlightenment), realise the Profound Dao immediately, here and now.  Zhao Bichen explained that this was not a mysterious happening, but rather the direct consequence of prior training and good Daoist practice, but even having stated this clarification, he then said that some extraordinary beings, (he used the word ‘Sage’), can gain the Profound Dao simply because they are already in the state of the Profound Dao.  Certain experiences have the power to trigger an immediate recognition of the presence of the Profound Dao with such power that the dualistic ignorance of ‘subject-object’ is suddenly dissolved.  As an individual’s ability is dictated by his or her karma and natural affinities, Zhao Bichen devised the 16 (expedient) steps of Daoist attainment in his manual known (through Charles Luk’s translation) in the West as ‘Taoist Yoga’.  Every one of these 16 steps contains in essence the foundation and principle of the other 15 stages – a design that Zhao Bichen premised upon the structure of the Yijing (or ‘Change Classic’).  These steps can be followed sequentially, but it is a mistake to become ‘attached’ to sequential Daoist training, as such an attachment prevents the attainment of the higher stages of Profound Dao realisation.
 And so the book Taoist Yoga has 16 chapters - as per the direct teaching of Zhao Bichen.

We can say though, by studying the website, that Zhao Bichen, although not mentioned in the book, taught that doing standing active exercises ALONG with the sitting meditation - doubled the results of the training.

Also we can say that for the advanced levels - it says a direct teacher is necessary to go along with the book.




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