Does cultivation require experimentation?
Studying Taoist magic inevitably touches upon a very sensitive issue: do ghosts and deities truly exist in the world? If this critical question is avoided, research cannot even begin; it would be akin to seeking fish in a tree. This is because the practice of magic does not shy away from ghosts and deities; this technique is about interacting and engaging with them. Those who are fated are more likely to accept it.
This is because they may not only have seen entities at the level of ghosts and deities, but perhaps they have also encountered immortal masters and received teachings from them. In the past, the transmission of Taoist practices had two main paths: one was through immortal masters imparting knowledge; the other was through enlightened teachers providing guidance. However, for most people, their attitude towards the soul is often ambiguous or dismissive. Regarding this key issue, humanity operates under the principle of “seeing is believing.”
Every practitioner of Qigong should adopt a rigorous scientific attitude, approaching unknown matters neither with blind faith nor easy dismissal. Serious research, practical exploration, and verification are essential; this embodies a scientific attitude. One should not blindly follow nor become a slave to habitual forces. Superstition contains elements of science, while science can also harbor superstitions; this reflects a dialectical methodology. Scientific research in Qigong helps us break free from the confines of superstitious propaganda—whether it leads to true knowledge or superstition can only be concluded through scientific inquiry. Conclusions should come after research rather than being hastily judged before thorough investigation. Of course, such research should currently be conducted discreetly within the Qigong community; after all, scientific inquiry remains an endeavor for those with aspirations. The mystery of the soul has troubled humanity for thousands of years.
In the West, there are numerous institutions dedicated to soul studies—some even funded by the state—and they have already achieved some preliminary results, such as Freud’s theories on the subconscious. However, Western research has remained at a superficial level concerning souls and has not made any qualitative breakthroughs.
Phenomena such as souls, gods, saints, immortals, and Buddhas are actually objectively existing phenomena that can be understood and grasped; one could say they represent a scientific transcendence and an advancement beyond their time.
Whether true Qigong cultivation is profound hinges on whether your spirit can project outside your body (the Yang spirit) and whether you can perceive another existence of yourself. Otherwise, you remain at a basic level focused on refining Qi without elevating to deeper stages. Moreover, at this stage, Qi should never be released externally; it should only serve to protect your life and strengthen your body.
Many scientific experiments conducted by great Qigong masters are actually completed by their spirits. For example, Yan Xin always refers to “issuing power” instead of “issuing Qi,” as saying “issuing Qi” would be self-deception while mentioning “spirit” could imply superstition.
During one experiment he mentioned: “Today this power is circulating outside but does not wish to enter the container.” What does it mean when power circulates outside without wanting to enter? This power is neither external Qi nor merely field radiation—it acts upon objects when emitted by a Qigong practitioner; once they stop emitting it disappears—this power represents an independent spirit that can exist separately.
Yan Xin believes that practitioners must value virtue first by correcting their guiding ideology to adapt to social development and align with societal trends. Valuing virtue relies on cultivation with tranquility and emptiness as constants.
He posits: Each person possesses a biological electromagnetic field or light radiation—often referred to as aura in Qigong terms—which indicates that there is light within each body as well as Qi on its surface; furthermore, internal Qi divides into material aspects and functional aspects.
The combination of material Qi and functional Qi is referred to as true Qi or primordial Qi which may potentially be mobilized from patients’ bodies during states of active practice by those skilled in Qigong—either stimulating it or supplementing it or dispersing it. In other words, during active states practitioners enhance their own sense of Qi while emitting some external Qi that interacts with patients’ energies before being absorbed back again. In this process,
Qigong practitioners may sense or perceive some abnormal phenomena in patients—that’s what we call sensing illness through perception methods which can also transcend time-space boundaries allowing both diagnosis and remote healing via emitted Qigong information resulting in astonishing therapeutic effects.”
The I Ching states: “Looking up at celestial phenomena while observing terrestrial geography allows one to understand both hidden truths and brightness alike; knowing origins leads one to comprehend life-and-death narratives; vital energy constitutes matter while wandering souls signify change thus revealing insights into ghostly matters.”
This passage provides profound insights into understanding phenomena related to hidden truths (yin), brightness (yang), life-and-death transitions (sheng-si), along with ghostly matters (gui-shen).
While Western studies remain fixated on researching souls (ghosts), our ancient Taoist sages had already established an entire theoretical system thousands of years ago summarizing levels from souls transitioning into yin spirits then transforming into yang spirits (collectively known as primordial spirits), followed by yang spirits evolving into sacred infants which further cultivate into immortals—a reflection capturing leaps from quantitative changes leading toward qualitative transformations throughout all processes including various methods designed specifically for achieving these transitions.
Although current technological standards cannot yet verify or explain these concepts fully—it’s merely a matter of time—as we believe that over time alongside advancements in science technology will unveil cutting-edge scientific essence embedded within Taoist culture illuminating humanity’s path forward! Have you noticed how just several great Qigong masters conducting series experiments have left experts across physics chemistry medicine astounded?
Taoist philosophical thought along with its methodologies constitute an immensely vast scientific research system constrained historically lacking advanced equipment for conducting studies yet they chose themselves completing epoch-defining explorations within human physiology yielding groundbreaking achievements transcending eras!
This explains why we still can only provide preliminary interpretations regarding external energies today—it’s also why until now we’ve only begun mapping meridian charts… The reason behind Taoist human anatomy studies achieving epoch-defining results lies precisely within embracing rather than shunning mysterious phenomena firmly grasping them starting from exploring intangible substances capturing essence moving from tangible beings (humans) towards intangible realms (souls spirits immortals) culminating in qualitative leaps beyond dimensions transcending time reaching ultimate peaks!
According to Taoism’s theory regarding “Three Talents,” heaven humans earth represent three types where humans occupy central positions embodying both yin-yang dualities—heaven symbolizes pure yang while earth represents pure yin! After turning sixteen individuals begin consuming half-yang energies gradually transitioning yang lines into yin lines eventually exhausting yang leading half-yang becoming fully yin transforming into Kun hexagram entering death becoming ghosts! Superior individuals diligently pursue truth practicing refining restoring broken yin lines back into yang lines first step restores balance returning youthfulness then continuing diligent efforts replenishing remaining yin lines completing transformation yielding pure yang bodies attaining heavenly states becoming immortals coexisting eternally alongside sun moon! Following natural order births ghosts whereas reversing cultivation yields immortals revealing intricate connections between hexagrams’ nuances!
So-called ghosts & immortals merely signify alternative modes existing uniquely among humans however their qualities & energies differ vastly incomparable—they embody tangible forms residing beyond three-dimensional spaces!
Spatial systems essentially subdivide further into numerous subsystems—for instance according traditional terminology these three subsystems consist namely heavenly gods human ghosts earthly deities! Heavenly deity system includes celestial emperors sun moon stars constellations winds clouds thunders rains etc.; earthly deity system encompasses land gods mountains rivers five peaks four seas etc.; human ghost subsystem refers ancestors belonging various surnames emphasizing core understanding derived from Taoism doesn’t evade denying ghostly matters instead affirms wholeheartedly researching thus forming world’s singular complete theoretical framework philosophical ideology! Our current endeavors studying Taoist magic shouldn’t shy away—instead must delve deeply pursuing fruitful outcomes hoping everyone initially transcends contemporary limitations surpasses modern sciences before engaging practical applications discerning truth extracting essence discarding dross promoting core scientific principles whilst rejecting superstitions!
Please remember practice serves as sole standard verifying truth!
by – Phoenix Mountain Cihuang Palace