The highest level of attainment within the Taoist path is "Immortality." To become an Immortal is something like becoming a Buddha, for a Buddhist; or becoming a Mahasiddha or an Avadhuta - a liberated soul - within the traditions of Hinduism or Advaita Vedanta. It's a big deal! So what exactly is an Immortal? And would you recognize him/her as such, if you met them on the street?
An exploration of Taoist Immortality, and its relation to the Christian Gospel Story and Esoteric Stages of Initiation.
An introduction to Taoism's "Eight Immortals."
A comparison of the Christian doctrine of Transubstantiation with a Taoist alchemical view of some of the same processes.
Tonic Gold is a potent alchemical formula, produced in India by the Hermetic alchemist Petri Murien. It's benefits are many, and a practitioner's discount is available.
Who knows what Immortality really is ... but here's someone who I've found to be quite wise (as wise as a puppet can be) about these things. Highly recommended!!
A fascinating interview with Michael Winn - initially appearing in "Empty Vessel" magazine. The focus of the interview is the Taoist idea of Immortality, and how this is related to Internal Alchemy practice. Also includes thoughts on reincarnation, and the relationship between Hindu & Taoist forms of yoga.
In this beautiful discourse, Paramahamsa Nithyananda offers clear instructions on using Love (for another human, or a pet, or a spiritual Master) as a path to Enlightenment.
What would it be like to hang out with an Immortal? With an Enlightened Being? This short video clip by the Zen/Advaita teacher Adyashanti offers a clue ...
An introduction to Mahamudra - the "Great Seal" whose realization is Enlightenment.
After a period of debilitating depression, Byron Katie "woke up" with the insight that she didn't have to believe her stressful thoughts ...
Here, Sri Bhagavan approaches this question by examining how our relationship to sensory and mental experience shifts as we access the Enlightened state. Very interesting!
Tibetan Master Mingyur Rinpoche describes Enlightened Mind (the Mind of Tao) as being like a crystal ... and offers a simple meditation practice to help us access this.
Eckhart Tolle - author of the best-selling book "The Power of Now" - talks about the ordinariness of the Enlightened Mind.
Taoist Master Mantak Chia talks about the Inner Alchemy practice of building the Immortal Body.
Sai Maa speaks of Enlightenment in terms of a shift from a fear-based to a love-based consciousness, and invites us to stop "wanting" and start "choosing."
Can something as simple as being aware of our in-breath and our out-breath be a path to Enlightenment? I guess there's only one way to find out ...
The 17th Karmapa - considered to be a living Buddha - advocates meditation practice as the most effective way to encounter spiritual power, and says that "the transmission of spiritual power is possible only through positive human relationships." Very interesting & inspiring interview - check it out!
Here, Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki Roshi ~ author of the classic "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" ~ explores the difference between sound and noise ... delightful!
Milarepa is Tibet's most beloved yogi, and a wonderful example of how a very ordinary person - who has struggled in many ways, and even killed 30 people! - could in a single lifetime attain Enlightenment - become an Immortal.
Here Gangaji, a teacher in the lineage of Ramana Maharshi, invites us to distinguish between the activity of the mind - with its tendency to grasp and reject - and the Truth of who we are: eternal happiness, peace and love.
This animated music video is reminiscent of a children's book, with its playful reflections on the yearning for Immortality.
The Christian/Hindu teacher Swami Vishwananda speaks about the process of God-Realization/Self-Realization: the equivalent, in these traditions, of Taoist Immortality.
The Himalayan Guru Babaji - a Hindu Mahavatar - is believed to have attained absolute mastery over the prana (qi) of his body, allowing him to maintain the same physical appearance for hundreds of years.
Short essay describing some of the siddhis - or powers - of a God-Realized Being, an Immortal ... including the ability to control the elements of the natural world.
Swami Vivekananda - disciple of the great Ramakrishna - invites us to assume our rightful place as "heirs of Immortal Bliss" ... sounds good to me!
Straight from the heart of New Zealand, Advaita Guide Elysha on the freedom and simplicity of realizing who we are.
