The 49 Barriers of Cultivating the Dao 修道四十九関 T

修道四十九関 The 49 Barriers of Cultivating the Dao _______________________________________________   著空關 Barrier 46, The Barrier of Emptiness _______________________________________________ The following is a sample chapter of Purple Cloud Press’ forthcoming third book, ’49 Barriers of Cultivating the Dao’, planned for a release at the end of January 2020. It consists of an original translation of the…

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Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.1 -Point Explanations I

Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.1 -Point Explanations I ______________________________________________ The following post is an excerpt from《Explanations of Channels and Points Vol. 1》 translated by Michael Brown, and edited by Allen Tsaur. It explicates the origin of point names from a new perspective and viewpoint. Lung First Point of the Lung Channel Zhōng Fǔ –…

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還帳 Returning Debts

還帳 Returning Debts _____________________________________________ The concept of Returning Debts is closely related to the notion of Cause & Effect. Every ordinary person will encounter the issue of debts, like those owed to a bank, during their cultivation of the Dao and their practice of Gong, sitting meditation and stillness cultivation. If you fully comprehend this…

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Xin Yi 辛夷 (Magnoliae Flos)

A budding magnolia tree next to the busy 3rd Ring Road in Beijing, bristling with Xin Yi 辛夷 (Magnoliae Flos), a herb very commonly used in cases of sinusitis and rhinitis. The bud scales, the furry coverings encasing the buds, are usually formed in summer, and protect the budding leaves and flowers in the harsh…

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Sculpture from Warring States

Amazingly detailed and expressive sculpture from the Warring States period. Amongst those pictured here are two comedians with incredibly dramatic visages, a smiling young maiden and a butcher displaying his wares. The Chengdu Museum is a real treasure trove.  

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Yi Quan Power emission意拳发力

Sun Xiang Yong 孙向勇 demonstrating Power emission 发力 from the Yi Quan 意拳 system of traditional Chinese martial arts. Although it looks like a beautiful backdrop, this was really for demonstration purposes only as this kind of humid, misty mountain environment does not really suit this kind of training. Gentler, more Qi based training is…

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Herbal market in Da Yi 大邑

Travelling through Da Yi 大邑 in Sichuan and stumbled across this local herb market full of many locally sourced, wild products some of which we hadn’t ever come across before – see how many of them you can name (without cheating and looking at the Chinese signs)    

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Dao Yin 導引 “Guiding and Leading” exercises

Beautiful illustrations of Dao Yin 導引 “guiding and leading” exercises from the Qing dynasty text “Illustrations of Nourishing Life, Qi Gong and Guiding and Leading” 養生氣功導引圖. Although this exercise tradition may superficially bear some similarities to Yoga, and indeed is likely to have absorbed some influence from India over the years, the aims and results…

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