My Taoist journey started quite awkwardly. Many years back, I have made an acquaintance with person by the name of Eddie Wong in London. It was him who introduced me to the Taoist Temple back here in Malaysia. Imagine going half way around the world, and being led back here to learn about Taoist ‘Fa’ （道法）.
Those who know how to consecrate and produce Taoist talisman is actually a dying breed. Younger generations are no longer being taught about this method. Part of the reason is also because of the heavy responsibility that comes with the knowledge. In our ever increasing speed of modern life, many old masters refuse to teach or pass down this knowledge for the fear of misuse.
Taoist “Fa” does not recognize what is good or what is bad. Whomever that knows the method and its secret would be able to initiate the spiritual command. The measure of good or bad is in the heart of the person. The effect is of course ‘ you sow what you reap’ .
Therefore lineage often being broken when one of the practitioner did not pass to someone they trust. I have also known some master whom refuse to pass the knowledge even to their own children!
Then you might be wondering, how come there is still so many talisman around especially those distributed by temples. Well, about half of the temple today that have mediums do not acquire the skills of Taoist ‘fa’ directly from a lineage. When they are in trance, usually the higher spirits would draw and consecrate the talisman for the devotees. Meaning the medium have no idea what he/she had drawn and how to consecrate it.
Those that learn Taoist ‘fa’ formally would know how to draw and also consecrate the talisman even without seeking permission from the deities/higher spirits. This latter group of people is of course slowly becoming ‘extinct’. My first learning of Taoist ‘Fa’ is also the same as the former, when first initiated into the lineage, my master would pass me several talisman that I need to ingest. Once ingested, then I would need to meditate for certain amount of time, every night and sometime in wee hours of morning. Soon in meditative stabilization, in Pali we call it Samadhi, a communication link is then established between myself and the guardian deities of my Taoist Sect.
So in my early days of learning, even when drawing talisman, most of the time I would just draw base on the ‘signal’ I have received. Much of the consecration process is done by the deities.
Then later, I have a chance to learn under a Taoist Master that initiate me into the Liu Ren 六壬法门。This is when he taught me the formal learning of Taoist ‘Fa’ , how to draw, consecrate, initiate, pull back or retrieve a Taoist command and edict.
Knowing and preserving the knowledge would not make someone rich over night or strike lottery, as contrary to what some people would believe. Drawing some talismans, burn and money would fall down from the sky. Instead most of us have been sworn in, to not receive any monetary returns through the usage of our skills in Tao Fa.
