TheJournal of Daoist Philosophyand Practice Fall 2013 $5.95 U.S. $6.95 Canada The Watercourse Way TeaTime with Old Po Women’s Powers in Popular Daoism and more! TheEmptyVessel TAICHI MASTERY PROGRAM MASTERY WITHOUT MYSTERY The TaiChi MasteryProgram is acomprehensiveDVD and online programdeveloped forthe dedicatedpractitioner of tai chi chuan. Theprogram contains over 60 hours of teachings with in-depth lessons on howtouse tai chi forhealth, martial arts and meditation. The TaiChi MasteryProgram wasdeveloped to go beyond the physical movements of tai chi to teach the traditional internal neigong components.These internal components arewhatgive tai chi its incredible value and power. This programcan help anyone significantly upgrade and make their tai chi better. In the TaiChi MasteryProgram youwill receiveinstruction on: ■ TheWuStyle TaiChi ShortForm ■ Yang and Wu Style Variations ■ TaiChi forMartial Arts ■ TaiChi forBeginners ■ TaiChi Push Hands ■ TaiChi Classics FORMORE INFORMATION VISIT TAICHIMASTERY.COM TAICHI FOR BEGINNERS &TAI CHI CIRCLING HANDS The TaiChi for Beginners and TaiChi Circling Hands programs were createdfor those who want to learnauthentic tai chi as it would be taughtinChina. This set contains over 10 hours of detailed instruction and practices.Ittakes youthrough step by step guiding youtolearnthe principles necessarytodevelop aregular and productivetai chi practice. The TaiChi for Beginners and TaiChi Circling Hands programs contain: ■ Atai chi mini-formthatbuilds the foundation foryou to learnlonger tai chi forms ■ Theinternal neigong components which unlock the healing poweroftai chi ■ TaiChi Circling Hands workouts and guided practicesessions ■ Online programfor immediate access to downloadable lessonscsTaiChi Push Hands FORMORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.ENERGYARTS.COM/BEGINNERS-TAICHI ks Bruce Frantzis, Ph.D., is aTaoist Lineage Master with over 40 years of ar dM experience in Eastern healing systems. He is the first known Westerner to hold har ic yR authentic lineages in tai chi, bagua, hsing-i, qigong and Taoist meditation. He has ob taught Taoist energy arts to more than 15,000 students. Frantzis trained for over phot adecade in China and also has extensive experience in Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, yoga, Kundalini, energy healing therapies and Taoist Fire and Water traditions. Formoreinformation visit www.energyarts.com Contents Fall 2013 Volume 21 Number 1 Features 3 Learning from Nature: The Storm by Kurt Levins Sr. 4 The Watercourse Way by Solala Towler 8 The Great Profoundly BelovedNameless Tao by Bob King 10 TeaTime with Old Po The Empty Vessel Interview 17 Is Thisthe "Real"Tendon Changing Classic? by HirshDiamant Photo by Sandie Osborne 21 Women’sPowers in PopularDaoism by Brian Griffith Departments Along the Way 1 Cover by Sandie Osborne Wudang Mountains Directory 34 What is Daoism? “The Dao that can be described is not the eternalDao.” So beginsthe Daodejing of Laozi written some 2,500 years ago. How then, to describe the indescribable? How to fit into words that which is beyond words? The Dao can only be pointedto, or referred to, say the ancient sages. It cannot be held, only experienced. It cannot be touched, only felt. It cannot be seen, only glimpsed with the inner eye. Dao, then, is theWay,asindirection,asinmanner, source, destination, purpose and process. In discovering and exploring Dao the process and the destination areone The Empty Vessel and the same. Laozi describes aDaoist as the one who sees simplicityinthe complicated and achieves greatness in little The Journal of Daoist Philosophy and Practice things. He or she is dedicated to discovering the dance of the cosmos in the passing of each season as well as the passing of each precious moment in our lives. Publisher Daoism was already long established when Laozi wrote The Abode of the Eternal Tao the Daodejing.Itoriginated in the ancientshamanic roots of Chinese civilization. Many of thepractices and attitudes Editor and Design towardlife werealready established beforeLaozi’s time. Solala Towler For many centuries Daoismwas an informal way of life, a way followed by peasant, farmer,gentlemanphilosopher Proofreading and artist. It was away of deep reflection and of learning Jack Woltz from Nature, considered the highest teacher.Followers of the Waystudied the stars in the heavens and the energy that Contributing Editor lies deep within the earth. They meditated upon the energy Kurt Levins Sr. flow within their own bodies and mapped out the roads and paths it traveled upon. Copy Editor It is abelief in life, abelief in the glorious procession Shanti of each unfolding moment. It is adeeply spiritual life, Technical Consultant involving introspection, balance, emotional and spiritual Darrell(Tandava) Klette independence and responsibility and adeep awareness and connection to the earth and all other life forms. It re- The Empty Vessel: AJournal of Contemporary Daoism is quires an understanding of how energy works in the body published quarterlybyThe Abode of the EternalDao, and how to treat illness in asafe, non-invasive way while 1991 Garfield Street, Eugene, Oregon 97405. teaching practical ways of maintaining health and avoid- E-Mail address: [email protected]. ing disease and discomfort. Daoist meditation techniques Website: www.abodetao.com. help the practitioner enter deeper or moreexpansive levels Subscriptions are $24per year (U.S. funds). of wakefulness and inner strength. But most of all, it is a Online versionatwww.CommunityAwake.com simple, natural, practical way of being in our bodies and our psyches and sharing that way of being with all other ©2013 by The Abode of the Eternal Dao, all rights life forms we come into contact with. reserved. The Empty Vessel is not responsible for opin- Today in China and in the West, Daoism is often divided ions or statementsexpressed by authors or for advertis- into two forms, dao jio and dao jia. Or religious Daoism and ers' claims. philosophical Daoism. Many scholars argue that thereare not two distinct forms of Daoism and in many ways they are Advertising rates are availablebywriting to The Emp- right. Thereisreally agreat intermingling of the religious ty Vessel, 1991 Garfield Street, Eugene, Oregon97405, form of Daoism and its various sects and the philosophical calling 800-574-5118 or emailing [email protected]. Daoism of Laozi and Zhuangzi. But many people who follow Statement of Purpose the Dao do not consider themselves religious people and do The Empty Vessel is dedicated to the exploration and not go to temples and arenot ordained as priests. Rather dissemination of Daoist philosophy and practice. It is these two forms exist both sidebysideand within each other. open to sharing the various traditional and contem- As it says in the openinglines of the Daodejing:“Dao porary teachings in anondiscriminatory manner.We or Waythat can be spoken of or described in words is not at The Empty Vessel believe that it is in using these eternal Dao.” It is up to each of us to find the way to the practices and attitudes of the ancient achieved ones in Wayinour own way.What we try to do with The Empty atimely and contemporary manner that we can best Vessel is offer articles and information to help you, our dear benefit from them and in doing so, be able to effect readers, to do that. change in the world around us. EmptyVesselChina Tour 2014 Hangzhou•Mao Shan •Wudang Mountains •Beijing May 12-28,2014 Join us in May when we traveltothe sacred mountains of Daoism –Wudang Shan –home of Daoist taiji, qigong and martial arts. We will spend days hiking and visiting some of the many Daoist temples there, attend classes with a local master,drink tea in the temple teahouse and practice Wuji Qigong, a600 hundred year old qigong form, created by the famous Wudang Daoist master Zhang San Feng. We will also be visiting Maoshan, an ancient Daoist mountain. We will visit the Qianyuan Guan, aDaoist nunnery,famed for the purity of their practice and the wonderful sounds of their orchestra. The abbess, YinXinhui, is one of the few heads of temples who does not take government money for rebuilding (whichmeans fewer tourists) but works to maintain her temple through ceremonies (which, hopefully we will get to witnesswhile we arethere.) We will also be spending time in Hangzhou, one of the most beautiful cities in China. Hangzhou, circling around West Lake, has long been revered for its beauty and culture. While therewevisit atea plantation (wherethe famous Dragon Well tea is grown), as well as the museum of Chinese Medicine and take in an awe inspiring lake showbyZhang Yimou, the well known Chinensefilm director,called West Lake Impressions (check it out on youtube). The last few days will be spent in Beijing, wherewewill visit the White Cloud Temple, the Great Wall and the fabulous tea market as well as attend some amazing acrobat shows. All along the way we will eat amazing food, meet qigong masters, artists, musicans, tea masters, and one cave dwelling hermit. 17-dayChina Tour Per person: $4300 Single room supplement: $400 Credit cardpayment available (Price may be subject to change.) What’sincluded: •Roundtrip airfarefromU.S. to China •All hotels double occupancy •Study tuition •Meals •Excursions and sightseeing •Translation •All bus, train and air transportation within China For more information call or write: “Thank you so much for planning such aperfect trip for us.” The Abode of the Eternal Tao “Thanks againfor organizing such an amazing trip. Ihad afantastic www.abodetao.com time and will never forget it.” 541.345.8854/[email protected] Subscribe to Along the Way This issue begins our 21st year of publishing The Empty and receive four issues of Vessel.Tosay it has been along and amazing journey is an understatement.Ihave met so many wonderfulteachersand authorsonthis journey,both in China and in our own lovely •Insightfuland stimulating corner of the planet.And Ihave also met many wonderful interviewswith contemporaryDaoist and delightful studentsofthe Wayalong this way as well.