Besides a History of Globalization one of the other issues we covered before starting this website is a History of ideas that also included the Globalization of (mostly new) Religious movements. In this context, an introduction to traditional Taoism.

The Origins of Daoism

Alchemy has become quaint part of public culture around the world, but differently in China than in the West. Last week we presented never before published information about the early period of Alchemy in Europe. Today we follow this up with a never before published report about Chinese waiden, and neidan (internal). To date scolars were far from understanding the transition from waidan to neidan. But to do just that one has to start with the largely neglected early period exemplified by The Scripture of Great Clarity (Taiqing jing), the Scripture of the Nine Elixirs (jiudan jing), and the Scripture of the Golden Liquor (jinye jing) that form the nucleus of the Taiqing doctrinal and textual legacy. Enter Waidan:

From Waidan to Neidan: Religious-Meditative Alchemy

Introduction: Tantra Anyone?

During the eight- century Cakras are identified with four geographical sites (pithas), which appear to correspond to points of contact between the Indian subcontinent and inner Asia: these are Kamakhya (Gauhati, Assam), Uddiyâna (Swat Valley?), Pûrnagiri (Punjab?), and Jâlandhara (upper Punjab). This tradition is repeated in numerous sources, including those of the twelfth-century Nâth Siddhas.  Later they were also called "cremation grounds" in a number of hathayogic sources.

Tantra Unveiled P.1: Development

Tantra Unveiled P.2: Secret (Inner)Practice

Tantra Unveiled P.3: Sexual Tantra and Beyond

Tantra Unveiled P.4: Initiations

The Tantric yogin, having ejaculated into his partner, draws his semen together with her sexual emission back into his penis. For the Nath Siddha urethral suction was visualized by means of an alleged vacuum, the vajroli mudra, "seal” (of the place of the male organ). Siddha Traditions in Medieval India. The Occult Connection.

Not unlike the nine Chinese ‘immortals’ (Sanskrit-‘Naths’) in many Puranas, "Siddha practitioners of yoga who have achieved immortality" figure in the World of Brahman, including Goraka- the historical founder of the Nath Siddhas and hatha yoga­. The Occult Connection P.2.

The relationship between the jogis on the one hand, and Kabir and other nirgun (formless- meaning non-religious- god) bhaktas such as Sants on the other, is complex and inconsistently formulated and maintained. But for this reason  it is also problematic to include them under the umbrella of 'Hinduism.'The Occult Connection of Nath Siddha Alchemy P.3