Posts by Purple Cloud Institute
Purple Cloud Podcast #21 Johan Hausen and Jen King: 49 Barriers of Cultivating the Dao
In this episode we talk to Purple Cloud Press founder Johan Hausen and artist Jen King about the process of translating, writing and illustrating their most recent publication, the 49 Barriers of Cultivating the Dao. We delve into process of capturing the essence not only of Liu Yi Ming’s original recording of the Barriers, but…
Read MoreAlchemical Classics VI: The Essentials of the Shortcut to the Great Achievement by Liu Hua Yang
Alchemical Classics VI: 大成捷要 [柳華陽] The Essentials of the Shortcut to the Great Achievement by Liu Hua Yang Liu Hua Yang [柳华阳] together with Wu Shou Yang [伍守阳] make up the so-called Wu-Liu School with its main focus on Internal Alchemy [nei dan 內丹]. The former is also the author of the Scripture of Wisdom…
Read MoreDaoism Series 34: The Method of Sleeping Gong
Daoism Series 34: 睡功法 The Method of Sleeping Gong According to the Record of the Supreme Florescence [Chen] Xiyi [taihua xiyi ji 太华希夷记], five dragons taught this method of the Sleeping Dragon to Chen Tuan (c.920–989), who was also known as Master Fuyao,the Elder of the Inaudible and Invisible, and by his style name, Tu’nan…
Read MorePurple Cloud Podcast #20 Pedro Solana: Muay Thai Sangha and the Sword of Agastya
In this episode, we talk to Pedro Solana, subject of the recent publication by Purple Cloud Press, Path of the Spiritual Warrior by Lindsey Wei. We discuss Pedro’s martial arts history, the current state of Muay Thai practice in Thailand and how it differs from the methods he trained in the past. We also delve…
Read MoreDaoism Series 33: Mount Hua’s Transmissions of the Twelve Sleeping Gong Comprehensive Instructions by Chen Xiyi (Chen Tuan)
Daoism Series 33: 華山十二睡功總訣 Mount Hua’s Transmissions of the Twelve Sleeping Gong Comprehensive Instructions by Chen Xiyi陳希夷 (Chen Tuan) The subsequent two poems originate from the late sixteenth century collection ‘The Marrow of the Crimson Phoenix’ by Ming Dynasty literatus Zhou Lujing. It consists of a compilation of texts from the Tang Song, Yuan and…
Read MoreDaoism Series 32: Chen Xiyi’s ‘Poem on Encouraging the Sleeping [Gong]’
Daoism Series 32: 二．陈希夷《励睡诗》 (2) Chen Xiyi’s ‘Poem on Encouraging the Sleeping [Gong]’ The following is one of eight poems about Sleeping Gong by different authors such as Chen Xiyi, Zhang Sanfeng, Bai Yuxhan and Li Daochun: 常人无所重， In common people, nothing is of importance. 惟睡乃为重。 Only sleep is of importance 举世皆为息， Throughout the…
Read MoreThe Valley Spirit (excerpt) by Lindsey Wei
The Valley Spirit (excerpt) By Lindsey Wei The following is from a chapter entitled ‘Li Shifu’ from Lindsey Wei’s first autobiographic book about her female cultivation story as Daoist in the Wudang mountains; “The Valley Spirit”. Her work can be purchased through her website:https://www.wudangwhitehorseonline.com/bookstore… Li Shi Fu says he has died twice; both times in…
Read MoreChinese Medicine Series 06: Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.1
Chinese Medicine Series 06: Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.1 The following post is an excerpt from《Explanations of Channels and Points Vol. 1》 [经穴解] from a chapter entitled ‘The Poem of Inner Scenery’ about the Sanjiao, translated by Michael Brown and edited by Allen Tsaur: 再詳夫，臟腑略備，三焦未言。號孤獨之腑，擅總司之權。體三才而定位，法六合而象天。 Let’s further examine in detail, the zàng-viscera and fu-bowels…
Read MoreDaoism Series 31: Prepared Emergency Formulae Behind the Elbow
Daoism Series 31: 肘後備急方 Prepared Emergency Formulae Behind the Elbow Below is an excerpt of apassage from Ge Hong (283-343), a famous Daoist alchemist and physician of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420), reproduced from his work Prepared Emergency Formulae Behind the Elbow. He also authored the renowned Daoist and alchemical text Master of Embracing Simplicity…
Read MoreDaoism Series 30: Sun Simiao on Dreams
Daoism Series 30: Sun Simiao on Dreams 孙思邈说梦 Sun Simiao records on the topic of dreams in his masterpiece Supplements to the Formulae [Worth] a Thousand [Pieces of] Gold [qian jin yi fang千金翼方], in scroll 12 ‘Nourishing Inner Nature’ [yang xing养性] states: 列子曰：一體之盈虛消息，皆通於天地，應於物類。故陰氣壯則夢涉大水而恐懼，陽氣壯則夢涉大火而燔焫，陰陽俱壯則夢生殺。甚飽則夢與，甚飢則夢取，是以浮虛為疾者則夢揚，沉實為疾者則夢溺，藉帶而寢者則夢蛇，飛鳥銜髮者則夢飛，心躁者夢火，將病者夢飲酒歌舞，將衰者夢哭。是以和之於始，治之於終，靜神滅想，此養生之道備也。 Liezi said: The waxing and waning fluctuations in one’s body, they all…
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