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.