Taoist practitioner and translator Mattias Daly shares his journey training in Taoist Inner Alchemy under Abbess Liu, discussing magical powers, unusual meditation experiences, the history of inner alchemy, and sexual interpretations. Topics include meeting Abbess Liu, training with her, Siddhi in Taoism, the influence of Kung Fu novels, and the evolution of inner alchemy.
Taoist meditation explores magical powers and psychic abilities intertwined with unique experiences.
Historical evolution of Taoist Inner Alchemy includes golden elixir concepts, diverse alchemical goals, and practice methodologies.
Interpretations of historical texts on inner alchemy highlight the shift from physical to internal alchemical practices.
Deep dives
Matthias Daley's Intensive Meditation Training with Abhis Liu
Matthias Daley recounts his journey to a remote monastery to train intensively in meditation under Abhis Liu. Impressively drawn to Abhis Liu's teaching enthusiasm, Matthias delves into Taoist meditation, exploring magical powers and psychic abilities intertwined with unique meditation experiences. He unveils the historical evolution of Taoist Inner Alchemy, citing classical texts to elucidate the golden elixir concept, diverse alchemical goals, and practice methodologies.
Matthias Daley's Encounter with Abhis Liu and Unique Mentorship
Matthias reveals his unplanned meeting with Abhis Liu, a Chan Buddhist turned Taoist nun, whose authentic teaching style captivated him. From concealing his presence in China to aiding a troubled youth, Matthias shares the transformative mentorship he received. Abhis Liu's teaching initially emphasized meditation, leading to gradual evolution into formal disciplehood and transmission of meditation instructions.
Interpreting Taoist Inner Alchemy and Evolving Perspectives
Exploring interpretations of Taoist Inner Alchemy, Matthias discusses varying views on its goals and practices, ranging from spiritual immortality to psycho-emotional transformations. He highlights historical foundational texts' distinctive interpretations and nuances, questioning the shift from external physical alchemy to internal personal growth. Through his scholarly inquiry and deep meditation practice, Matthias navigates the figurative and introspective dimensions of Inner Alchemy.
Interpreting Ancient Texts in Internal Alchemy
Ancient texts related to internal alchemy often go through editing and additions, suggesting a tendency to interpret internal alchemy as a physical process. Over time, these texts evolve from abstract philosophical discussions to concrete practices. Exploring a specific 100-character poem attributed to a nameless master highlights the emphasis on nourishing chi while letting go of conceptual limitations for a deeper internal alchemical resonance.
The Golden Elixir in Daoist Alchemical Cultivation
The notion of the golden elixir symbolizes the union of prior heaven chi and chun, representing essential aspects of the mind and life energy. In the practice of inner alchemy, the metaphor of the golden elixir shifts from physical substance to an internal alchemical technique unfolding within oneself. This union leads to a transcendental state, where the essences of mind and life merge, transforming into a deeper understanding and bridging the manifest and formless aspects of existence.
In this episode I am once again joined by Mattias Daly, Taoist practitioner and translator of ‘Taoist Inner Alchemy’, published by Shambala.
Mattias recounts the unusual circumstances that saw him travel to a remote monastery to meet Abbess Liu Yuanhui, under whom he would begin intensive training in meditation.
Mattias discusses Taoist meditation and its relationship to magical powers, psychic abilities, and other unusual meditation experiences.
Mattias then pulls back the veil to reveal the history and evolution of Taoist inner alchemy, referencing classical texts to contextualise and explain the Golden Elixir, differing ideas of the goal of alchemy, and the various ways in which the practice was undertaken.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep251-taoist-inner-alchemy-mattias-daly-2
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
00:54 - Meeting Abbess Liu Yuanhui
03:23 - Recruited to rescue a wealthy son
08:10 - Miraculous cure through Buddhist ritual
11:38 - First visit to Abbess Liu’s monastery
13:05 - Initial intensive training with Abbess Liu
16:19 - Attachment to unusual meditation experiences
19:05 - Siddhi and magical power in Taoism
24:00 - Influence of Kung Fu novels
26:06 - Ge Guolong’s commentary Huang Yuanji’s The Oral Record of the Hall of Joyous Teaching
30:30 - History and evolution of Taoist inner alchemy
34:58 - Sexual interpretations of Taoist inner alchemy
36:30 - Disagreement about the goal of inner alchemy
39:29 - What about physical immortality?
42:08 - Mechanism of alchemy
45:43 - The Nameless Master and physical secretions
48:26 - Text alteration and philological considerations
52:02 - Achieving the Goku moment
52:53 - Why close reading of classical texts is a necessity for practitioners
56:34 - How to read early texts
58:24 - Is facility in Classical Chinese necessary?
01:00:50 - What is the Golden Elixir?
01:03:48 - Mattias shares some of his translations about Golden Elixir
01:06:07 - Decoding alchemical symbols and metaphors
01:10:08 - Confusion about sex
01:12:09 - How to go about practicing?
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Watch the previous episode with Mattias Daly:
- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep244-taoist-adventures-mattias-daly
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To find our more about Mattias Daly, visit:
- https://www.shambhala.com/authors/a-f/mattias-daly.html
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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com
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Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
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