How does Taoist Talisman work?

When I travel around different countries to teach Chinese Metaphysics. Most of the time, I will encounter one or two students who are very keen to learn more about spiritual Taoism as some of them know about my background.

And their questions would often lead to this particular subject “How does a Taoist Talisman work?” Because coming from the Western culture perspective, it is often difficult if not impossible to comprehend, how does a piece of yellow paper makes a difference spiritually or towards a particular situation.

When a talisman is drawn, often times is from a lineage that already have the framework of the talisman that has been passed through generations of disciples. So in essence those frameworks, order of wordings are already understood in the spiritual dimension. So when the talisman is burn or being displayed, instantly the responsible deities or spirits would recognize the order or command that is drawn on the talisman.

Furthermore after the talisman is drawn, deities must be invited to imprint their energy signature on the talisman. And who can invite those deities? Only those that are officially being initiated into a particular Taoist lineage or Sect. Sometimes you can also see that in Taoist temples, they will have t deities seal either made of wood or stone. These seal will also serve as an energy imprint.

Therefore there is three layers of filter

1. The talisman must be recognize by the lineage

2. Talisman must have energy imprint of the deities

3. Only officially initiated Taoist lineage members would be able to invite the deities for talisman imprint.

There are also exceptions to point 1. Whereby the talisman is not found on the lineage records, either the situation is unique or through special circumstances.This is when the person has a direct clear link to their lineage deities, and are able to draw out the talisman as according to the instructions of the deities. It is also when you observe, some talisman does not have any Chinese recognizable character on it, just scribbles of red cinnabar or black ink. In this situation, the deities would usually link through a particular medium, and just do an energy imprint on the talisman paper.

Some common Q & A

What about those talisman that is mass printed?

It must have an energy imprint, after it has been printed. If there is no energy imprint, the talisman would not be able to function. When a person burn a talisman that does not have any energy imprint of the deities, then it is similar to sending spam mail to your JUNKMAIL BOX in the spiritual dimension.

Does it work?

As long as it is correctly imprinted, it will work 100% of the time. Talisman purpose is usually to have the fastest effect in the shortest time possible. However, it will only rectify the problem. If the problem is deeply rooted on some karmic influence, then it is similar to taking paraceptamol for a brain tumor. Such as burning and displaying talisman would help for the energy of a house, however if the Feng Shui is not suitable for the person, then all effects are only for a short period of time.

Would it help in generating better luck for me?

I have seen cases that when a person in not in such a good luck period or a bad year, talisman are able to help them boost their luck. When it is boost up, the person needs to do charitable activities for the money that they obtained. In the spiritual dimension, everything is in forms of energy. Money is also a form of energy. When the person obtain a sudden boost of energy, they need to release it back in a good cause to the world or surrounding people. Therefore that energy is able to multiply and flow back to the person. If they hoard the boost of energy, then they have put a dead stop to the flow. Which often times, after they boost their luck, they are either back to square one or worst.

Hope this article would provide you some insights into Taoist talisman.

To coincide with Jin Ying Zu Shi Celebration 金英祖师圣诞 this coming 20 December 2009, our Kam Dong San Temple 金洞山庙under the instructions of San Jiao Lao Zu Shi 三教老祖师 have instructed me to draw 2 types of benefactor talisman 贵人符 for members and public to request from deities. For more information, please visit the temple Facebook page.

Opening of 金洞山 Kam Dong San Temple

It has been 3 months since I've last update the blog. Time flies in quantum speed when your hands are trying to manifest what is in your mind.

Finally our temple Kam Dong San 金洞山 is open (Our Facebook page). When I think back, the journey took me 6 years to finally see the physical manifestation of our goals and vision. And this is just the first step for the temple.

Consecrating Deities

6 years ago when I was officially initiated in Feng Huo Yuan 风火院 Liu Ren Branch of Taoism, I did make a promise to all the Shi Gong 师公 that I will try my best to setup a temple for them in Penang. Before the official initiation, about 20 years ago, I found out that I have good abilities to enter meditative stabilisation. And can start to differentiate colors, shapes and object easily when my brain is in Alpha state or lower. But did not think of it much, as a young teenager just trying to experiment different ways to memorize things easily in secondary school and college.

But one thing led to another, as if there is a map that leads me to various groups of people that supported the cause of setting up the temple ever since the initiation. When you are inline with a vision for a higher purpose, usually there will be people and circumstances to lead you on the correct path.

Our temple host a total of 18 main deities in statue form and 25 more in our lineage Feng Huo Yuan and Fu Ying Guan 伏英馆listing.

18 Deities include

1. 齐天大圣 Qi Tian Da Sheng

2. 金英祖师 Jin Yin Zu Shi

3. 潮源祖师 Chao Yuan Zu Shi

4. 茅山祖师 Mao Shan Zu Shi

5. 張公聖君（法主公）Fa Zhu Gong

6. 太上老君 Tai Shang Lao Jun

7. 太乙天尊 Tai Yi Tian Zun

8. 天上聖母媽祖 Tian Shang Sheng Mu Ma Zu

9. 無上虛空地母無量慈尊 Wu Shang Xu Kong Di Mu Wu Liang Ci Zun

10. 三十六天將之趙公明元帥 San Shi Liu Tian Jiang – Zhao Gong Ming Yuan Shuai

11. 李仙師 （李鉄拐）Li Xian Shi

12. 大爺 Da Ye

13. 二爺 Er Ye

14. 大愿地藏王菩萨 Da Yuan Di Zang Wang Pu Sa

15. - 18 四大金刚 Si Da Jin Gang

    

The temple is located at Unit 21, 5^th Floor Harbour Trade Centre. Lebuh Macallum. 10300 Penang.

Our principle deities are 金英祖师 Jin Yin Zu Shi, 潮源祖师 Chao Yuan Zu Shi and茅山祖师 Mao Shan Zu Shi. In our lineage, all altar or temple grounds would have principle deities, as these principle deities would be the disciples connection to the spiritual world.

Burning of Talisman to Invite Heavenly Marshall

Some people when they hear the word Mao Shan, instantly they would relate to black Taoist magic or hex. In actual fact, Shang Qing Mao Shan is one of the earlier branch of Taoist Fa 道法. It has nothing to do with black magic or hex.

It is later, that in South East Asia with the movies and also unscrupolous con-man/woman claim that they are Mao Shan Sect and started spreading that they can do black magic in accordance to the Mao Shan way. They are what we call Xia Mao下茅 sect. In which they evoke ghost and spirits to do their bidding.

The temple is also registered under the Malaysian Association Act as a non-profit charitable organisation. It is our Vision to expand and re-introduce to the general public on Religious Taoism and promote charitable community events.

Setting up is entirely on the generous donation of public and our on-going activities are also non-profit oriented. However we do welcome the generosity of the public in supporting our causes.

Some of the temple committee members

There's more to do and a long way to go....

Pictures taken by Peter Sin