Ten Methods of the Heavenly Dragon

by Robert Sheaffer

When he stumbles by chance into a backstreet teashop to shelter from the unrelenting Taipei rain, the author begins a journey that will lead him to the wisdom of the Adept Shun Yuan of the Heavenly Dragon sect, an order of esoteric Buddhism laced with Taoist practices. He discovers the internal arts of chi kung and bagua and diligently practises them, and begins to see the places and people around him in a new light. However, his journey with the Adept is not without its challenges, and the author has to look to his very core to overcome the obstacles that stand in his way. Will he be able to harness the transformative energy of the dragon? Or will the wisdom of this elusive creature be beyond his grasp? An intriguing, personal account, this book explores the author's experiences along the path to spiritual enlightenment. It will be of interest to students of the internal martial traditions as well as anyone interested in Taoism and Eastern philosophy.

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Irving Karchmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly remarkable book, Ten Methods of the Heavenly Dragon is profound and deeply moving! This first person account of a lifelong seeker Robert Sheaffer’s apprenticeship with Shun Yuan, a gentle, Western-born Adept of the Tao and Taiji martial arts, enthralls the reader both as a teaching story and an introduction to as remarkable a man as any hero out of fiction. In the end, though I did not want it to end, I was left with a sublime sense of inevitability and peace. A truly amazing achievement!

The unfolding of the 10 Methods of the Heavenly Dragon are beautifully told within the intricacies of Bagua, the “eight symbols” used in Taoist cosmology and the elegant, deadly forms of Chinese martial arts, each method translated into hard learned lessons of everyday life. The Tao emphasizes getting past your preconceptions and your ego; in effect, getting out of your own way. I for one am very grateful for the lesson.

[kvon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man goes to Taiwan and learns Bagua. His teacher was the most interesting character; the narrator was rather a jerk.

[Arthur Rosenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could read books like this all day.