I read a bit of The Dao de Jing: A Qigong Interpretation by Dr. Jwing-Ming Yang; most of these notes are from that version. It intrigued me because my family practices qigong. However, I found that I enjoy reading with my own interpretation, so I picked up a different translation and am still working through that.
thoughts
When the book says to be free from human emotions and desires, it’s more that you can still feel them but you won’t get swept away from them. Standing above the tide versus getting swept under.
After you have practiced for a long time and are able to reach the stage of “regulating of no regulating” (bu tiao er tiao, 不調而調), then this is the stage of “wuwei” (無為) (not doing) and means “doing of no doing.” Once you have reached this stage, even if you live in an emotional matrix, you will be able to firm your thoughts without being lured by the temptations.
highlights
There are four stages of spiritual cultivation: self-recognition (zi shi, 自識), self-awareness (zi jue, 自覺), self-awakening (zi wu/zi xing, 自悟／自醒), and freeing your spirit from spiritual bondage (jie tuo, 解脫). — location: 544
When the Dao De Jing talks about the monarch or rulers, it actually refers to the mind. The country is the body, the political policies are breathing, the people are the qi, and people’s morality or morale is the spirit. — location: 567
Mind or thinking is insubstantial and empty in the material world. However, this mind or thought can be so powerful that it creates things from nothingness. This mind can travel anywhere in the universe without restriction of time or space. Once you can keep this mind open and free, you are able to create myriad things without restrictions. If your mind is restricted in the human matrix, dogmas, or tradition, then your spirit will be in bondage and cannot be developed. — location: 783
However, from a qigong perspective, when you quiet your conscious mind, your subconscious mind will be strengthened. Consequently, the spirit residing at the center of the brain (limbic system) will be awakened and your intuition will be accurate and strong. That is the practice of embryonic breathing. — location: 791
『聖人』處「無為」之事， 行「不言」之教。 — location: 847
Once we have defined something, we are trapped into the bondage of dogmas. — location: 873
When material desires are removed and/or sated, then there is harmony in society. — location: 965
When the mind does not get trapped in human emotional bondage, the qi can flow smoothly. However, when the mind pays too much attention to emotional disturbance, the qi circulation will be stagnant. — location: 969
The way to conserve and store qi is to keep your mind calm and without distraction — location: 984
After you have practiced for a long time and are able to reach the stage of “regulating of no regulating” (bu tiao er tiao, 不調而調), then this is the stage of “wuwei” (無為) (not doing) and means “doing of no doing.” Once you have reached this stage, even if you live in an emotional matrix, you will be able to firm your thoughts without being lured by the temptations. — location: 991
“If a person is able to use the Dao to blunt the sharpness of his emotion, dissolve the chaotic condition of events encountered, managing his mind clearly without shining its brightness, situate himself in the dirty laymen’s world and not have his truthfulness contaminated, then it seems the Dao will be deeply existing within.” — location: 1065
We learn how to lie, to brainwash, and to channel ourselves into false glory and dignity, and to blind our subconscious mind and feeling. — location: 1070
Similar to bell hooks’ definition and analysis of love
In order to awaken our subconscious mind, we must calm down our conscious mind. We must learn to take all human emotional disturbances lightly. Only then will our mind be peaceful and profound. When this happens, we will be able to reconnect with Nature (the Dao). — location: 1072
Therefore, we should comprehend it with our natural instinct. As such, we will be able to feel it and understand it from our heart. — location: 1117
“Valley spirit (gu shen, 谷神) does not die; it is called ‘yuan pin’ (元牝). ‘Yuan pin’ is also named ‘qi xue’ (氣穴) (i.e., qi cavity). Close the eyes and look inward, condense and enter the spirit into it, then spirit and qi will mutually support each other; this is ‘shou zhong’ (守中) (i.e., keeping at the center).” — location: 1132
In order for your spirit to grow, you need a peaceful, calm, neutral, and open mind. Without this, you will always be trapped in emotional bondage and desires. — location: 1291
Confucius said: ‘This is because water is giving itself to all lives without doing anything (i.e., naturally); this is just like the De (i.e., manifestation of Dao). When it is flowing, it follows the natural rules, always so humble and positioning itself to the lowest place without hesitation; this is just like the yi (義) (i.e., righteousness). It is so abundant without exhaustion, just like the Dao. — location: 1333
“When water flows to the dangerous deep abyss, it cannot be filled up. Even in such a dangerous situation, it will still keep its firmness and righteousness without losing its trustworthiness.” — location: 1343