East Asian religions

Folk and popular religion is a very significant part of Chinese religious life, especially in rural areas.

Folk and popular religion is a very significant part of Chinese religious life, especially in rural areas.

This book explores how beliefs and practices have shaped the interactions between different ethnic groups in Western Hunan, as well as considering how religious life has adapted to the challenges of modern Chinese history.

This book explores how beliefs and practices have shaped the interactions between different ethnic groups in Western Hunan, as well as considering how religious life has adapted to the challenges of modern Chinese history.

Harmony lies not in extremes, but in the balance between them.

Simply written, and with a view to taking the wisdom of Confucius out of the hands of the academics and the philosophers and making it accessible to the general reader, Confucius From the Heart gives us a contemporary Confucius, one who can teach us how to attain spiritual happiness, adjust our daily routines and find our place in modern life.

At once controversial and intriguing, Spiritualism has spread from the United States to become a global movement.

Shinto is finally receiving the attention it deserves as a fundamental component of Japanese culture.

Navigate the world's belief systems with this faith-filled resource!

*; Restores the feminine essence of the Tao Te Ching as well as the simplicity and poetic undertones of the chapters *; Offers commentary for each of the 81 chapters and key Chinese characters to reveal their profound wisdom *; Translated from ancient silk and bamboo slip manuscripts, the oldest known copies of the Tao Te Ching *; Paper with French flaps In this book, Rosemarie Anderson shares her discoveries of the Divine Feminine Tao alongside her original translation of the Tao Te Ching.

Reveals a structured mind-body system for cultivating effortless action and intelligent spontaneity for peak performance *; Details 4 fundamental habits and routines that are essential for developing peak performance and explains how to incorporate them into daily life *; Explains the cognitive science behind the development of expert skills and how the teachings of ancient Eastern sages align with these scientific findings *; Offers practices for cultivating physical and mental intelligence, fasting the mind, and harnessing creativity to achieve your desires Integrating the wisdom of the ancient sages with modern science, Jason Gregory explains how world-class artists and athletes reach peak performance--and how you, too, can harness this ';lifestyle technology' to make your actions effortless, enjoy intelligent spontaneity, and reach optimal performance at a peak level.

Explains how to use your Taoist astrology birth chart as a personal nutritional guide for health, longevity, and organ energy balance *; Explores how to help balance your birth chi through your eating habits as well as explaining how foods address your five-element energetic profile *; Provides detailed food lists based on ancient Taoist wisdom that reveal their effect on the Yin, Yang, and five-element energies *; Shows how your five-element energies outline your life and influence success in relationships and at work We are each born with a unique combination of heavenly and earthly energies defined by the five elements and dictated by the universe at the moment you take your first breath.

A guide for achieving an enlightened mind through the art of non-doing *; Details meditation practices, focused on stillness of the mind, along with Patanjali's yoga methods to maintain a consciousness referred to as ';being in the zone' *; Builds on Taoist, Confucian, and Hindu principles along with scientific findings to support wu-wei--the art of non-doing, non-forcing--as a way of life *; Explains how wu-wei practitioners cultivate intelligent spontaneity and effortless action to allow the natural harmony of the cosmos to prevail The practice of non-doing, non-forcing is an essential aspect of Taoism known as wu-wei.

A comprehensive guide to the core practices of the Universal Healing Tao System and the advanced esoteric practices of Inner Alchemy *; Explains each of the nine levels of Inner Alchemy and their more than 240 formulas *; Explores the Four Healing Arts for transformation of the emotional body, physical body, energy body, and spiritual body *; Provides simplified versions of core Universal Healing Tao practices to more easily integrate the system into your daily life *; Shows how these exercises were designed to increase longevity and ensure the survival of consciousness beyond death Explaining the evolution and core of the Universal Healing Tao system, Master Mantak Chia and William U.

A detailed guide to restoring the eight foundational areas of health*; Explains how each of legendary Taoist masters known as the Eight Immortals has a specific area of health as the focus of his or her teachings*; Offers practices, techniques and guidelines for each of the Eight Immortal Healer teachings, including the important roles of oxygen and water in the body, nutrition, detoxification, exercise, energy work, emotional pollution, and spiritual hygieneThe Eight Immortals are a group of legendary ancient Taoist masters, each associated with a specific area of health or a powerful healing technique.

Exercises to deactivate emotional triggers, transform negative emotions into positive ones, and heal from PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction *; Provides illustrated step-by-step instructions on how to combine the eye movements of EMDR therapy with the energetic practices of the Universal Healing Tao *; Reveals how negative emotions are stored in the organs, where they also have effects on physical, mental, and spiritual health *; Explains how to release stored negative emotions, transform them into positive energy, and harmonize the energies of your organs Through the energy psychology practices from the 5000-year-old Taoist Chi Kung system, you can recycle negative emotional states into positive energy for your spiritual, emotional, and physical benefit.

A guide to the mental disciplines and visualizations that Masters have used for ages in their quest for illumination.

Translation and commentary of one of the most important texts of the Kashmirian Shivaism tradition of Tantra*; Author was a student of the late Kalu Rinpoche*; Explores the transmission of Mahamudra, the Great Cosmic Gesture*; Includes the Vijnanabharava Tantra, which contains the totality of the oldest source text on Yoga The Spandakarika, the "e;Tantric Song of the Divine Pulsation,"e; is said to have been transmitted directly to the sage Vasugupta from the hands of Shiva on Mount Kailas.

The traditional understanding of Shiva told through stories and teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana *; Explains Shiva's contradictory forms, such as destroyer or benefactor, and how his form depends on the needs of the devotee *; Reveals how Shiva's teachings allow one to see through the illusions at the root of all grief and alienation in human life *; Explores Shiva's relationships with Durga, Shakti, Sati, and Parvati and with his sons Ganesha and Kartikeya Shiva, the most ancient and complex deity of the Hindu pantheon, has been portrayed in many contrasting lights: destroyer and benefactor, ascetic and householder, wild demon slayer and calm yogi atop Mount Kailash.

The Six Healing Sounds that keep the vital organs in optimal condition *; Presents vocalizations and accompanying postures that dissolve the tensions at the root of unhealthy chi flow and organ malfunction *; Shows how to release excess heat trapped around the organs and redistribute it to cooler regions of the body to bring balance, health, and calmness to the entire system Thousands of years ago Taoist masters discovered that a healthy organ vibrates at a particular frequency.

An illustrated guide to releasing emotional and physical blockages in the pelvic area through massage *; Presents step-by-step instructions for sexual organ massages for women and men *; Explains techniques to release knots, unravel nerve and lymphatic tangles, dissolve toxins and sediments, and increase blood flow *; Effective for impotency, frequent and difficult urination, painful menstruation, ovarian cysts, menopause symptoms, painful intercourse, and low libido as well as back pain, sciatica, and hormone imbalance Our sexual organs play a major role in our physical and emotional health.

The shamanic roots of Taoist practice *; Explains the principles of the Taoist Medicine Wheel, including the Five Elements, the animals of the Chinese zodiac, and the trigrams of the I Ching *; Includes exercises from the ';Wheel of Love' to access the Tao of Ecstasy *; Contains illustrated teaching stories about the Eight Immortals Thousands of years ago the immortals known as the Shining Ones shipwrecked on the Chinese coast.

A guide to nourishing the body through bone marrow rejuvenation exercises *; Presents exercises to ';regrow' bone marrow, revive the internal organs, and prevent osteoporosis *; Explains the use of bone breathing and bone compression, ';hitting' to detoxify the body, and sexual energy massage and chi weight lifting to enhance the life force within Most Westerners believe that a daily physical exercise program helps slow the aging process.

A guide to the advanced practice of Inner Alchemy, which brings the physical body into balance with the energy body *; Presents the second level of Inner Alchemy practices that use the eight forces of the pakua (bagwa) to collect, gather, and condense chi in the body *; Explains how to balance negative emotional energy with positive energy to detoxify, nourish, and integrate the physical and the energy body with the forces of nature *; Shows how to collect and channel the greater energies of the stars and planets to create unity between what is above and below Cosmic Fusion is an advanced level of Inner Alchemy that teaches how to bring the physical body into balance with the energy body--a necessary prerequisite for the formation of the universal body, the pearl of compassion that is one with Original Creation and the Universal Tao.

An introduction to the ancient Taoist exercise system of Tao Yin*; Includes 45 fully illustrated exercises that promote flexibility, strength, and balance in one's physical, mental, and spiritual energy*; Addresses the health needs of the musculoskeletal system and the unique physical stresses of a modern urban lifestyleIn the Western world, exercise focuses mainly on physical fitness and developing muscular strength.

Advanced Inner Alchemy exercises that promote the free flow of energy throughout the body in preparation for the Practice of the Immortal Tao*; Explains how to open the Great Bridge Channel and the Great Regulator Channel*; Includes exercises to strengthen and wrap the spinal cord with energy*; Reveals how to create a thicker aura to protect the body and receive the higher frequencies of the Universal ForceThe Fusion of the Eight Psychic Channels practice builds upon the Fusion of the Five Elements and Cosmic Fusion practices and is the final step in preparation for the Practice of the Immortal Tao.

A guide to the practice of Inner Alchemy, which allows you to control the energies of your inner universe to better connect with energies of the outer universe *; Teaches the essential first-level meditations in Taoist practice, also known as Fusion of the Five Forces, for self-healing and emotional and spiritual development *; Shows step-by-step how to remove negative emotions from the organs in which they are lodged by neutralizing and transforming the negativity back into positive energy *; Includes basic and advanced-level meditations Fusion of the Five Elements is the necessary first step in the Taoist practice of Inner Alchemy, in which one learns to control the generation and flow of emotional, mental, and physical energies within the body.

A guide to the foundational practice of ';smiling to the organs' to promote deep relaxation and internal health *; Presents exercises that dissolve the physical and mental tensions that can cause energy blockages and unhealthy chi flow *; Shows how to recognize illness at its inception on the organ level and how to balance the emotions to heal it The Inner Smile is a practice that focuses gratitude and joy on the internal organs to resolve the physical and mental tensions that can lead to illness.

Explores the deep, internal work necessary for the effective practice of tai chi*; Reveals the Taoist principles that gave birth to the Yang-style tai chi forms*; Shows how tai chi can circulate powerful healing energies through the bodyTaoist adepts developed tai chi as both a martial art and a way to cultivate their physical body, energy body, and spirit body.

A fundamental Taoist practice for enhancing and utilizing chi*; Includes breathing and movement exercises to promote vitality and healing through the cultivation of chi in the tan tien and perineum areas*; Presents the foundational exercises that are essential for more advanced practices such as Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Cosmic HealingTan Tien Chi Kung is the art of cultivating and condensing chi in the lower abdomen--the tan tien--the fundamental power storehouse of the body.

A guide to the practice of the Lesser Kan and Li that gives birth to the soul body and the immortal spirit body *; Shows how to awaken higher consciousness through practices in total darkness that stimulate the release of DMT by the pineal gland *; Shows how to transform sexual energy into life-force energy to feed the soul body The Lesser Enlightenment of Kan and Li practice combines the compassion of the heart energies (yang/fire) with sexual energies originating in the kidneys (yin/water) to form and feed the soul or energy body.

Taoist meditation practices for increasing and maintaining mental awareness, memory, and clarity *; Details techniques to increase the level of chi energy in the brain *; Explains how to synchronize the left and right brain by activating the body's energetic potentials *; Shows that by emptying the mind there is more energy to heal the body Wisdom Chi Kung teaches practitioners how to revitalize the brain: to repair function, increase memory, and expand capacity.

A guide to the seemingly effortless yet explosively powerful martial art techniques of Fa Jin *; Explains how to collect energy within and discharge it for self-defense as well as healing *; Explores how to counter the natural instinct to resist force with force and develop yielding softness through the 13 Original Movements of Tai Chi *; Illustrates routines for the partner practice of ';Push Hands' (Tui Shou) Fa Jin, an advanced yang style of Tai Chi, complements the physical, mental, and spiritual conditioning available through solo Tai Chi practice and the internal martial arts of Taoism.

Techniques for preparing and using the Golden Elixir to achieve optimum health and spiritual vitality *;Includes practical exercises and postures to produce regenerative effects in one's own saliva *;Reveals how combining saliva with the hormonal fluids released during sexual practices creates the Elixir of Immortality Golden Elixir is the fountain or water of life.

Advanced techniques for utilizing the universal healing connections revealed by Taoist astrology and astronomy*; Provides meditations and healing techniques based on Taoist astrology*; Allows readers to develop a personal practice based on an understanding of their planetary strengths and weaknesses*; Includes Taoist star practices for expanding personal awareness into a cosmic field of chi that will support others in their efforts to heal and grow spirituallyTaoist Astral Healing provides a step-by-step program for refining our ability to cultivate, circulate, and retain chi from the stars and planets.

*; Includes practices for cleansing the blood of toxins, relieving pain, using sexual energy for healing, and other tools for the treatment and prevention of disease*; Explains the unique healing potential of chi kung color therapy and how to harness universal and earthly elemental energies in healing*; By Mantak Chia, coauthor of The Multi-Orgasmic ManTaoists believe in an underlying unity that permeates the universe and intimately binds all things.

Reveals techniques for achieving spiritual immortality through an in-depth exploration of Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching *; Includes practices and meditations for living in harmony with the Tao (universal essence) and Te (kind action) *; Reveals the integration of heavenly and human power in the mystic field within us *; Presents Tao Huang's English translation of the Tao Te Ching from the original Chinese Mawangdui text unearthed in 1973 For over 2,500 years the words of the Tao Te Ching, the primary scripture of Laoism and Taoism, have been regarded as among the greatest treasures of the world.

A holistic guide to improving one's vision both physically and spiritually *; Explains how blurred vision is a reflection of other imbalances in the body, mind, and spirit *; Offers natural methods for improvement of poor eyesight and stress-related difficulties, including dyslexia and ADHD *; Combines the core values of the Bates method of natural vision improvement and Taoism Fewer than three percent of children in North America are born with visual defects, yet as they become adults nearly two thirds will become reliant on prescription lenses to see clearly.

Achieve vibrant health by combining ancient Taoist principles, modern alternative health practices, and acid-alkaline balance *; Offers complete guidelines on what to eat for different yin-yang constitutions, specific health problems and organ systems, and energetic conditions *; Provides detailed information on fasting, detoxification, and food combining for acid-alkaline and yin-yang balance *; Includes illustrated guides to several self-diagnostic methods from the East, allowing you to interpret your body's signs before disease manifests The human body, like all phenomena in nature, possesses the inherent power of self-regeneration when the conditions of true health are adopted.

A guide to strengthening and repairing the tendons to reverse the effects of aging *; Shows how strengthening the tendons can lead to more energy, healthier organs, and prevention of arthritis *; Explains how to practice the postures alone or with a partner *; Includes the Mung Beans hitting practice, which repairs damaged tendons and joints; relieves constipation, stomach cramps, and headaches; and aids in detoxification Healthy tendons are the foundation of true strength in the body.

Sexual techniques and traditional Chinese medicine for increased pleasure *; Reveals how to enhance relationships by harmonizing male and female energies *; Includes easy-to-follow, illustrated acupressure massage routines *; Shows how to maintain sexual health with prostate massage and jade egg exercises Taught to Chinese emperors, their wives, and their concubines for thousands of years, Taoist sexual techniques help lovers harmonize their cycles of pleasure and utilize the abundance of reproductive power that is otherwise wasted in non-procreative sex.

Taoist techniques for replenishing our internal energy with universal cosmic energy *; Shows how to transform excess sexual energy (Ching Chi) into self-healing energy *; Presents advanced Cosmic Healing Chi Kung practices, which gather the limitless resources of Cosmic Chi for healing *; Explains how opening of the three tan tiens to the six directions allows personal consciousness to connect directly to higher sources of energy Taoists consider our sexual energy to be the creative force that we can use to regenerate the body's internal energy, but we must learn how to harness excess sexual energy and transform it into chi, or life-force energy.

Taoist techniques that can quiet your mind so you can discover your true self in the wisdom of the heart *; Teaches that the Tao is the flow of nature, the effortless middle path of self-discovery *; Shows how to quiet the monkey mind (the ego) and listen within for your inner voice *; Fosters a connection to the Tao through diet, exercise, livelihood, and sexuality Taoists say that we must learn to observe with the mind and think with the heart.

The guide to engaging and directing the three primordial forces of Earth, Heaven, and Higher Self to achieve enlightenment and immortality *; Explains how to circulate the life force, or chi, by balancing yang (male) and yin (female) currents of bioenergy *; Includes an overview of the complete Taoist body/mind/spirit system along with newly refined methods of activating the life force *; The sequel to the classic Awaken Healing Energy Through the Tao In 1983, Mantak Chia introduced the ';Microcosmic Orbit' to the West.

An ancient Taoist system for detoxifying and rejuvenating the internal organs *; Presents techniques to clear blockages in the body's energy flow *; Includes illustrated exercises to relieve common ailments, revitalize the organs, and enable readers to take charge of their own health and well-being *; Focuses on the navel center, where negative emotions, stress, and illness accumulate The techniques of Chi Nei Tsang evolved in Asia during an era when few physicians were available and people had to know how to heal themselves.

Advanced Taoist techniques for detoxifying and rejuvenating the internal organs through the release of negative chi *; Works with the navel center, where negative emotions, stress, and illness accumulate *; Presents advanced techniques to release negative energy from the body and reestablish a healthy flow of vital energy to internal tissues and organs From the Taoist point of view, good health depends upon the free flow of chi--healthy life-force energy--throughout the body.

Explains how the initiatory practices of the Ninja can be used to achieve self-mastery*; Uses the five human archetypes of lover, seeker, magus, soul warrior, and mystic*; Shows how to access kuji-kiri, the positive energy of the Ninja Godai, to dispel fear, disempowerment, and soul fatigue The Ninja are a mysterious warrior elite said to be so spiritually advanced they knew the mind and will of God.

Explains the science behind the practice of nei kung, the elemental nature of yin and yang energy--the two components of ch'i, and how learning to control the yang energy in our ch'i can result in the release of dynamic energy.

Teaches the three paths that Taoist masters have used for centuries to create tranquillity in one's life.

The first English translation with commentary of three classic Taoist texts on immortality*; Translates The Jade Emperor's Mind Seal Classic, The Immortals, and The Three Treasures of Immortality*; Defines the Taoist concept of immortality and examines the lives and practices of Taoists who achieved this state*; Reveals the steps needed to achieve immortality in our modern societyTaoist mystics claim that it is possible to achieve immortality: ';Within each of us dwells the medicine to cure the affliction of mortality.