On energy work and meditation:

I think all meditations and energy work either break down into additive or subtractive. Like your either adding (developing, building, cultivating) or you are removing (letting go, observing, freeing).

The practices where you remove, you remove thinking, remove attachments, remove blocks, pain etc. This can include energy work which it more often seems like it does… like letting go is a kind of energy work, and there are meditations where you comb your awareness through your body. This also includes zazen, where you are indifferent to everything and just observe it all.. or presence.

Additive practices are where you add on to, or develop what you have. This can include nlp and mental work, where you condition your mind, or where you condition your energy. Kundalini, nei gong’s, anything that is focused on more in the energy realm.

I think there are subsections to the additive practices though. There is energy work where you cleanse and energy work where you develop. If you develop you cleanse, but if you cleanse you don’t develop.

While in the subtractive practices, all remove. How effective is dependent on you and the practice your using.

Chinese practices in general are more focused on power, and application in the world. This is in contrast to the Yogi’s who sought to escape or become distant from the world. Where they seek to escape the cycle of moksha. This is why, from what I’ve studied the Toaist paths seem a lot longer than the yogi paths, where once you’ve reached a certain place your done. The chinese seem to pursue enlightenment beyond being free of rebirth.

Or it could just be that the chinese have it much better documented.

Another interesting aspect to it is that enlightenment according to chinese doesn’t necessarily mean that you are a paradigm of compassion and love. You can be an evil man and enlightened, or at least free of the cycle of rebirth. There are stories in the Magus of Java, of very powerful people who create massive destruction with there high level of chi.

Chinese Paths of Taoist spirituality (probably really limited):

Lei Shan Dao: the thunder and lightning path.

Yang Shen Dao: developing the immortal fetus.

Tong Ling: Religious Dao; prayer, incantation, use of symbols; devotional in nature.

Miao Tong Dao: Enlightenment Dao founded by Lao Tzu; most illusive path; no method path.

Jin Dan: Alchemical path

Shamanic Tao: the study of nature

Whats interesting is any of these they cultivate the three treasures, jing, shen, and qi internally. Most do it as an indirect result of the practices they use, while the alchemy path works to cultivate them directly as an engineer might. Some of all the practices are simple some are very complicated and dangerous. – Wikipedia

In accordance by moving forward in each of these paths there are bench marks and achievements. A quote from Sean Deanty:

While it’s true that only the Lei Shan Dao produces this trade mark “electricity.” The other Lines of the Dao have their own variety of abilities.

Siddhi’s are simply a natural outcome of correct practice and, as such, they represent a much more profound internal transformation. The siddhi’s are very specific indications of the level of internal development of “the body-mind” of a given individual.

My musings and discovery on Mao Pai: (a Lei Shan Dao)

Mao pai is a very specific practice that isn’t about the philosophy, or anything of the sort other than, just developing energy. The picture of the guy up top is it’s current most well known practitioner, John Chang. It is a closed door practice (secret), due to the potentially fatal nature of it.

“Central to the practice is the transformation of sexual energy into power, a force that the practitioner can use at will. The “cauldron” in which this formidable elixir is brewed is called the dantien (elixir field) in Chinese and is a bio energetic nexus located four fingers below our navel.” Nei Kung by Kosta Danaos Page 4

Level 1: Develop the chi in the dantien to full – tummo/clear light of bliss?

Level 2: compress the chi – reverse breathing?

level 3: Separate the dantien from the 6 chords ? – How? Minor enlightenment.

level 4: Move down to root chakra and accumulate as much yin as yang chi? – How?

Level 5: Combine them? – How? Potentially fatal.

Just meditate is the key. Sitting/cleansing meditation.

72 levels that must be opened to reach ultimate enlightenment. The 72 chakra’s. Levels 1-5 the chi is additive, so double every level. Beyond 5 the chi amount is exponential.

“As a point of interest I will say that the Mo-Pai system employs neither mantras nor visualization in its training regimen” – Nei Kung by Kosta Danaos Page 128

So in developing your yang chi, you have to be abstinent and bring the sexual energy up to your dantien. This is accomplished through meditation and held positions for extended periods of time. The meditations are like the secret of the golden flower, and Taoist yogas.

This is a very very limited side of Taoism, which could be read about for your entire life and you would still have more to learn.

John