the classics

interesting to read about people’s experiences. some people swear by the clasics, others “just do it,” and others still mix and match techeings and practices. i don’t think one way is better or worse than another since we’re al doing this in our own way.

i would like to say something about the classics though, comments based on almost 20 years of study and practice and life in the central kingdom itself. the clasical daoist texts and religious daoism are for people in a distant culture witha very different psychological make up and significantly different qualities of qi (jing and qi). studying these things can provide an excellent mental foundation and historical context for daoist alchemy. however, this type of alchemy, and even the martial arts associated with daoism and buddhism like taiji, wushu, and qigong, have undergone a lot of evolution in the West. the resulting innovations are much better than some of th ancient methods. some of the ancient teachings have become obsolete even.

one reason china remains a third world country today is because for 1000’s of years it scorned innovation. the whole culture was based on copying the ancients and avoiding things that are new. so although really magnificient and ineffable things from the past were preserved, theya re still from the past. the daoists continued to innovate and evolve secretly, but they were limited by their numbers and their secrecy. this arrogance over “their” knowledge is reflected in so many people i’ve talked toa bout qigong, alchemy and martial arts–they think foreigners couldn’t possily do any of it well let alone improve upon it. the result? massive and profound poverty and ignorance in the world’s most populace country that once had the most advanced scientific, artistic, and philosophical culture out there.

the West has valued innovation and improvement (unfortunately even when it isn’t!) for a very long time. exceptions can be made during the dark ages and medieval times. in the last 50 years much of the West has completed the transition from being traditional societies to nontraditional societies.

so value these ancient teachings as wisdom and heritage. but do not get attached to them. always let your innerself (known by many names and terms) guid you nd your progress and don’t automatically reject somethihgn because it’s not in the ancient texts. you may even invent the next great thing to advance human consciousness yourself.