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

Tibetan Prayer Flag

Today decide to change the prayer flag on front of my house. Often times, friends will get a little bit confuse when they see Tibetian prayer flag.

One of the Tibetian prayer flag usage is to pass the mantras through the when you hang it up in the mountain areas or near the vicinity of your home.




Each time the wind blows on those flag, the mantras would have travelled through the winds.

Detailed information of Tibetian prayer flag can be found at http://www.tibetianprayerflag.com










--Post From My iPhone

After Effects of knocking and Drilling

Received a SMS from my client 3 days ago informing me that things are not going smooth for them after they move into their new house. I was quite surprised by the chronology of events that happened according to her accounts.

It includes knocking of head that requires sticthing, accident of car, fell down the bed while sleeping and even diarrhea.

If unsuitability of the person Bazi to their allocated placement, that would not happen, not accidents that involves the whole household continously.

Then I ask her "Did you do any knocking or drilling after you moved in?" She told me that actually after moving in they have done quite a number of knocking and drilling including trying to fix some water leakage problem at the back of the house.

Every year there are certain locations that must not be knock or drill for the duration of the year. This year it is the North, NorthEast and also East. Apparently by knocking and drilling all over after they have moved in, they have actually triggered all there is to trigger in relation to sha qi position of the year.

What do you do if you have triggered sha qi? Actually all you can do is wait for the strong qi to disperse. Which in their case it's going to be after some time.

There is one method which is true spiritual method - by using of talisman. Initially I was quite reserved about suggesting his to her. I do not like to mix Feng Shui with spiritual method as clients would thought this guy has gone vodoo or what?

Anyhow to contain the damage in the shortest time possible, I had no choice but to suggest this remedy.





In our Taoist lineage, we do not accept or expect any forms of monetary payments for any of the spiritual process. Now I am still waiting for the last process of consecration so that I can pass to her immediately.

Moral of the story, do not simply knock anywhere in your house, when the year is not favorable and you hit strong sha, help is not always ready to contain the damage.

-- Post From My iPhone

Encounters on the sea

Spiritual encounters or incidents can happen anywhere as long as we can find humans in those places we can also find spirits.

Yesterday I was on board of a ship to help out on bardo deliverance of a single spirit that is attached to the ship. This case was already taken up by a local famous temple and I was there just to help out.



When we left shore on a smaller boat, the whole sky had low clouds surrounding us, I am actually quite worried that it would rain before we finish what we are suppose to do.

When we arrive onboard the vessel, the sky actually got darker. Anyhow we setup all the praying articles as according to the instruction from the temple.



After setup we still had to wait an hour, as the time we told the deities were 6pm. The spirit was confirmed by the deities to be inside the engine room. Then upon entering the engine room, I can sense the spirit is at the corner room of the engine room, the only place where it is slightly more quiet compare to other areas.

Then as the clouds got more dense before the agreed time, all of us got more worried.



On the spot, I have to go into meditative stabilisation and request my deities if it is possible to extend the storm. Answer I received was the latest was by 6:30pm. After about 10 minutes, there was an 'opening' in the sky with sunlight, so I knew it was a good sign. Whenever there is a sign in the clouds usually would mean that the spiritual process would be completed successfully.



While the sky on the other place is still heavily dense grey sky.



Finally the ship owner did the process of inviting the deities to help deliver the spirit. After the whole process is done, I have return to the engine room again, and this time cannot sense the spirit anymore.

This is just the first week of the 7th lunar month, I have a feeling it is going to be a long month ahead.

Liu Ren Xian Shi Celebration － 六壬仙师

Chinese Lunar 6 Month 22nd Day is the a celebration day for Liu Ren Xian Shi. There is 3 celebration for Liu Ren Xian Shi in a year. As Liu Ren Xian Shi usually the celebration is for the whole pantheon of deities under Liu Ren lineage. Most of the time is not less than 20 Taoist Deities.

As it will be quite troublesome and hard to remember, therefore from early on the celebration is group into 3 times in a year.

This will be last time the celebration is held in my home, and most certain the next one will be held in our upcoming temple. This morning about 6 more additional members were officially initiated into our lineage. Initiation includes submitting name, date of birth and reciting the edicts before burning it.

After which members were also given talisman to be swallowed as a form of blessing transfer. We have taken great care into obtaining the edible cinnabar 朱砂 that is turned into vermillion. Edible type essentially cost 20x more than those usually available in joss stick shops. Essentially these 2 contain mercuric compound and deemed to be poisonous. Therefore very minute amount is added.

Nowadays most of the vermillion for talisman has been substitute with red food colouring.The best effect are still those that use edible vermillion.

Solar Eclipse of the Century

I almost forgot about the eclipse 3 days ago. Went about my busy schedule as usual. Several clients call up to ask for dates for their renovation. I went through the 10,000 years Chinese calendar looking for good dates for them. I did not manage to get any dates at all, the closest possible dates was on 1 August. Gone through several system of selection and the result is still the same.

Yesterday, suddenly remember about the eclipse and it all makes sense. In majority of Chinese Metaphysic system, we would use the Chinese Solar Calendar 六十甲子 to select the Heavenly Stem天干 and Earthly Branches 地支. When eclipse is about to happen or within that 7 days, the is not a good date in the selection. Even though I totally forgot about this event 3 days ago. If you are planning any major renovation or knocking around your house, it is advisable to wait until August to do it.

Reactive...Time for a change

Today sent my VW for routine service in Butterworth and while waiting for service to complete did manage to meet up with fellow Taoist disciples there. Visit 3 temples in the Butterworth area today, the new Dou Mu Gong. Did not manage to get any photos as I was just passing time while waiting. If you want to see some good photos http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/portal/what-to-see/attractions/tow-boo-kong-temple-butterworth.html

Followed by the old temple of Dou Mu Gong and then to a fellow old and retired Liu Ren Xian Shi temple.

The new temple was of course in its grand majestic form. The older temple of Dou Mu is in a serene state of peace. The Liu Ren Xian Shi temple however was in a state of abandon. Even though there is a caretaker, however they no longer provide any ‘consultation’ services for their followers. Mostly people will just come back to offer prayers on the 1^st and 15^th lunar days of the month.

Even though Dou Mu Gong was one of the few recent build up temples for Taoist, on the whole Taoist followers are on the decline. Several reasons for this.

1.     Taoist temples rarely offer any guidance to those that visit to offer respect. Mainly is just offering of joss stick and most of the time you are on your own. Leading to point

2.     Therefore most people are not sure what they are suppose to do or how to go about offering respect. Why? What? How? When? All is not answered. Most of time people are playing the guessing game and follow the crowd mentality.

3.     Some tricksters would usually set up those mom and pop Taoist temple and would trick visitors with special services such as luck changing, increase of wealth rituals, or tell visitors that they have ghost or spirit attach to them and needs to be eradicated via some elaborate rituals that needs a certain fee to setup. This eventually lead to a generalization that most Taoist temple is a hideout place for tricksters and con artist

All these in the long run have created a very bad reputation for Taoist temples everywhere. And remaining others would usually visit Taoist temples only when they suspect they have some spiritual problems that cannot be solve easily.

Unlike Buddhist temple for example, most people would visit on a regular basis to learn Dharma, offer respect etc. Churches, mosques and even Synagogue would appeal to their ‘members’ as a spiritual asylum in their day to day or in time of need.

Taoist temple on the other hand, is on a reactive mode from a marketing perspective. Mainly following the mentality of Jiang Zi Ya. The sage Jiang Zi Ya, would always go fishing with a rod that does not have any bait attach to the hook of the fishing rod. His famous line is “ Those fish which is willing will bite the hook on its own”. Meaning that those that have affinity will only come look for Taoist teachings.

In this 21^st century, we have some many distractions and our attention span is getting shorter due to information overload. Waiting on a reactive mode will surely expect more decline if the trend continues.

I think its time we go into a pro-active mode.

Warding Off Pandemics

With the recent blowout of AH1N1 flu around the world. Many initially fear for the worst, but after a while some countries around the globe is starting to treat it as a normal seasonal flu due to its low mortality rate.As the saying goes “History often repeats itself”. As a Taoist, I have decided to search for any remedy towards this situation through the use of Taoist Talisman.

Great Venerable Sage Zhang Dao Ling @ Zhang Tian Shi – Taoist Sect becomes famous during a time of pandemics when both he and his disciples use talisman alone burn into the water source to help save many villages. A time when anti-biotic , penicillin and Tamiflu is not heard of yet. These mysterious sages just burn yellow pieces of paper with ink or cinnabar inscribe on it and are able to cure or ward of pandemics.

I have searched through my Taoist lineage records and journals; apparently there is a talisman that helps ward off pandemics. The talisman of inviting Master Jiang Ji Ya (below).

Does that mean a talisman can cure all? Definitely not. I subscribe to “believe in a higher source of power, but still wash your hand regularly”.

Journey into 'Tao Fa' 道法

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.

Celebration of Yin Marshall

On May 30 is the celebration for one of the 2 Yin Marshall 大爷佰。 We had a small celebration and offering at my own altar. Every year I would also draw a fan talisman to commemorate this day. For this year it is the same as well and the theme of the talisman is to help in wealth luck.

My own personal encounter with this 2 Yin Marshall is out of curiosity. About 2 years back, after finishing my meditation, I decided to ask the deities whether would I be able to invite this 2 Yin Marshall onto our altar grounds? The impression I have received in my focus was it is possible, but whether they would appear or not is entirely up to them.

And to my surprise they did appear, therefore the start of offering them a place on our altar grounds.

When one of my students from Moscow visited me, I have asked her to have a peek on the altar and immediately she told me ‘These 2 are death angels!’ She have no idea and background about Taoist deities, however she has the ability to see spirits as well.

Death Angels, Yin Marshall, Shinigami and many more other names. However their function is the same, which is to help the dead going to different planes of existence base on different religious beliefs. And base on my interviews with those who have Yin eyes, many would say that when these officers appear, they would be in a modern looking outfit with a normal face. Not those horror looking depictions we have in each of the different cultures.

Similar to Brad Pitt’s portrayal of Joe Black. Maybe not that good looking.

A fellow traveller

In my daily work, sometime the chances of bumping into others with spiritual background are often higher than usual.

2 weeks back, I was requested to be in KL to do 2 apartment audits for one of my regular client, Henry’s – (not his real name) sister and cousin brother.

Before hand Henry already briefly told me that his sister’s daughter, who is his niece, Maurice (not her real name) ever since small have the ability to see spirits.

Without thinking much about his niece’s ‘gift’ I went about to do Feng Shui audit for his sister. As I usually educate my client that Feng Shui and spiritual ability is totally 2 different things.

Feng Shui requires study and understanding of Classical Feng Shui principles to audit and also recommend a household or person in their harnessing of favorable Qi from the environment.

After my audit in Henry’s sister apartment, in my casual conversation with them, I asked Henry “When your niece sees or bump into spirits, does it appear in full color, black and white or just plain smoke?” Henry was baffled and he told me he needed to call Maurice or ask her to come back to really give me an answer on this.

Without hesitation, he called up Maurice and within 20 minutes she arrived at Henry’s place. So I was interested to find out whether Maurice have the ability to see spirits or it was through the ability of some other spirit around her.

Maurice told me that she only sees other spirit when she is very ill or fallen sick for some time.  But she told me there is a certain spirit that is with her ever since she is young girl. She is currently in her late 20s. In my conversation with her, I can sense that her ‘teacher’ has arrived and just right beside her.

Master/teacher in our Taoist ‘Fa’ Section terminology meant that a cultivated spirit that is somehow attached to a person, usually they purpose is to help each other make merits in the physical world. Similar to having a spiritual guide.

Not only did I felt her presence, Henry and his wife and sister also felt her teacher’s presence, in which they experience tingling sensation all over their shoulders and arms.  Anyhow I tried to relay some personal experience and experiences of others who have assigned spiritual guide to Maurice, just so she would be relaxed and more adapt to her situation.

Because to her, she may feel that her experience is unusual and at times also quite confusing because she does not know whether she is making up all these internally or really experiencing it. Therefore in my relaying of similar experiences to here, I hope that she can obtain some insights and also help her in her own cultivation.

After our conversation, Henry decided to take me for lunch at a nearby restaurant before sending me to KL Sentral.

During lunch, just to be sure – I have casually asked Maurice, “ Then can you see or know what kind of spirits are around me? Or can you just somehow describe them?”

Maurice said, “ I am not too sure but when I drive here, I have a vision of 2 person, 1 is a male person dressed up in old Tang Dynasty clothing and very polite facial expression and the other one is an animal head with human body”.

When she describe these 2 entities, then I can straight away confirmed she is not suffering from delusion or schizophrenia. Because these 2 teachers usually would be beside me. Therefore she got it all correct.

After the late lunch, we left in quite a hurry because the time was quite tight. When we approach Henry’s car, we were still talking about the conversation I have had with Maurice in the restaurant because all these seems bizarre and out of this world for Henry.

When he pressed his car’s central locking key, only his driver side door lock was open. My side the passenger side did not flip up. He tried several times by pressing his key but it did not flip up. Henry ended up have to go inside his car and manually flip up the lock on my side. He said he never had any problems with his car for so many years. This is the first time.

And after we drove for about 3 minutes, Maurice called up Henry and informed him that one of her teacher did not want to see me go, therefore ask me to mentally say good bye to her teacher.  Now all of these make sense as to why his car door lock fail to open after so many attempts!.

On my train ride to KLIA, I manage to do a brief meditative stabilization and get some clues as to why she have these few cultivating spirits following her. I manage to relay to her what she needs to do and also what her teachers is trying to convey to her. And I have also promptly invited her and her teacher to attend our temple’s opening in September.

Most of the time encounter with the spiritual world is usually stranger than fiction. If this event were not being witness by Henry and his family, most of you reading this would find it very hard to believe including myself.

I have a feeling that our encounter with Maurice’s teacher and ability is just the beginning.

How it all started

Chinese New Year is always a good time to catch up with friends, family and also clients. After many years of focusing Qi Men Dun Jia and recently San Yuan Feng Shui series in different countries, I have decided to shift some attention back to my own home ground Penang, Malaysia.

What recently came as a shock to me was the person that introduces me to the horror side of Feng Shui is now using my name all over town as a reference that I am his student. In our line of work, there are only students that reference their teacher, very seldom does the teacher reference their students.

read more here