The secret and sublime: Taoist mysteries and magic,

by John Blofeld

Originally the objective of all Taoist forms of contemplation and yoga had probably been identical-the union of opposites within oneself in order that the mysterious light of the indwelling Tao might be made manifest. It was held that the indivisibility of the One and the many and the identity of opposites could be experienced by unaided intuition, but that quietistic contemplation, helped by breath control and other physical yogas, was of great assistance. The breathing yogas mentioned by Chuang Tzu, were certainly of very ancient origin and, though virtually identical with those of the Buddhists, they had probably been arrived at independently. The works of both religions testify to similar results-sensations of pure light shining from within, or experiences of thunder and lightening also coming from within, followed by the direct perception of the hitherto veiled core of consciousness. For highly talented adepts, contemplation alone was held to be means sufficient in itself, the various breathing and alchemical yogas being supplementary aids. -----From Blofeld, John, The Secret and Taoist Mysteries and Magic.

Genres: Taoism, Philosophy, Spirituality, Buddhism

217 pages, Hardcover

First published September 18, 1973

About the author

John Eaton Calthorpe Blofeld (M.A., Literature, University of Cambridge, 1946) wrote on Asian thought and religion, especially Taoism and Chinese Buddhism. During WWII, he working in counterintelligence for the British Embassy in Chongqing (Chungking), China, as a cultural attaché. In the 1950s, he studied with Dudjom Rinpoche and other Nyingma teachers in Darjeeling, India. He later mentored Red Pine in his translation work.

Reviews

[Olivier Goetgeluck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Self-cultivation is needed before one can benefit the world, and self-realization must come before one can claim to know or teach truth.

Activity in itself is not harmful, but it must be just an instinctive response to immediate needs.

Be as the nameless Uncarved Block, that freedom from desire may follow.

Paths are made by the shoes that walk them; they are by no means shoes in themselves. (Zhuang Zhi)

To know and not be knowing is best. To be ignorant but think one knows is a disaster. Knowing one's faults is the means to faultlessness.

Adaptable as melting ice, conduct as simple as uncarved wood, mind receptive as hollow valleys, as murky as muddied water.

Wei-wu-wei: not doing by not doing but acting in a manner that entails the least involvement and proceeds from inner stillness of the heart.

The disease of categories cured by the recognition that the bulk of our distress stems from labelling this or that desirable or loathsome.

Doing little but doing it decisively.

The Taoist way is to do one's own thing spontaneously but without a show of resentment towards those who differ.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really about Taoism but I don't have a separate shelf for that. Studied with John Blofield in the summer of 1984 which was a
great experience. Should have asked MORE questions. Was more interested in seeing China and Thailand than asking questions. Still he told us how almost all the temples in China had been distroyed and
rebuilt after Mao first and the Cultural revolution later.

[Chris Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel as if I am threading through a narrow mountain pass of rock to stand on the ridge of a great valley filled with fog. The concepts and techniques Blofeld describes felt immediately familiar, and while not easy to immediately grasp the full meaning, which is never the case of the Tao, seemed “ordinary” in the sense that it was the way things truly were in days of yore and ought to be in reconciliation with the modern world. I will continue to walk this Way as far as it might lead me

[Claudio Yáñez Valenzuela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante.