Encounters of 7th Lunar Month 2010

On the first day of 7^th Month I have received a call from fellow committee member of Kam Dong San Temple. According to Michael (not his real name) his mum had been possessed the night before. And Mr. Wong Soon Lee asked him to give me a call to let me know on the situation.

His account of the event was his mum woke up at exactly on 2:30am for the past two nights and her voiced changed and started to mumble some speech which the family members do not understand. At some point, his mum would become agitated and starting doing frantic movement. They try to hold her down, but she somehow got really strong. In normal day to day however, his mum do get shortness of breath from normal movement.

He told me that his mum had become really frantic Aug 10 morning. He called Mr. Wong Soon Lee from our temple, who is in charge of weekly spiritual consultation in the temple. When Soon Lee arrived in Michael's house in the wee of morning, his mum was quite frantic. Immediately Soon Lee went into a trance and request for his Spiritual Master – Master Lee Xian Shi to descend. In meditative stabilisation, Soon Lee was told that there is 2 spirit by Michael's mum. Immediately they got hold of one of the spirit but the other one got away. Soon Lee then proceed to spiritually seal all the opening of Michael's house.

Michael's mum was then awake and can recognize Soon Lee . Therefore ascertain that all is okay, Soon Lee then left Michael's house. However as soon as Soon Lee left, his mum become frantic again until 5 am in the morning. And when she woke up, she did not remember any of the incidence that happen in the early morning.

When Michael called me, I asked few questions

Did his mum had any medical condition?

Did she had any new medical prescription?

Where had she been 2 nights prior to this incident?

Had he taken his mum to the hospital for checkup?

First I have to make sure it was not related to a medical condition. Sometimes deep depression and schizophrenia can also exhibit the symptoms of possession. After confirming it was not a medical condition, I have asked Michael to forward me his mum's date of birth and time and also MMS over the photo of her mum.

I have also talked to Soon Lee on what other things he have noticed in during his time at his place. When I went into meditative stabilisation, I saw one spirit by the her mum and it originate from the ancestral urn. Michael's house does not make any offering to Taoist Deities or Buddha Statues. They only have Tian Gong, Ancestor and Earth Deity

Somehow malevolent spirits had managed to enter his ancestral urn and started some disturbances in his family. Usually these spirits will prey on the weakest spiritual mind in the household. As this year his mum's luck is very weak and fill with clashes.

I specifically remember that I had discussion with Soon Lee during Tai Sui Celebration that Michael's mum should request from Lord Tai Sui this year to avoid all mishaps. This is because when I consecrate the Tai Sui Lamp for his family, they did submit all family members BaZi. I had a quick glance on his mum's BaZi.

After which, under instruction from Kam Dong San deities I have drawn up 3 Liu Ren Xian Shi Talisman for her to consume for 3 consecutive day, 1 talisman of suppressing ghost and demon to hang in front of his house. And also Jiu Tian Xuan Nu talisman to burn onto sandalwood smoke to purify his house (this talisman was given out during Chinese New Year for spring cleaning and spiritual cleansing).

After his mum consume the talisman, on the first night she still woke up but did not became frantic and it was for a very short time only.

On the second night and third night she did not wake up. I still followed up with Michael and advice that his mum continue with flower bath until after 17 August. As she was quite weak luckwise and hence it affects her spiritual aura.

Spiritual disturbances are conditions that can cause us to have possessions and can wreak havoc in our life. But the main seed cause is from our karmic ties with those malevolent spirit. In our Taoist practice, we do not eliminate or destroy these malevolent when encountered. Usually is to ask them to leave before any confrontation is deemed necessary. If we destroy or eliminate them, then it will strengthen the karmic ties of these spirits with the person involved and also create new ties with ourselves.

The best way to prevent such problems and incidence in our life is to practice charity in monetary forms and also charity in spiritual forms. Charity in spiritual forms are such as light offering, food offering or statues dedication (statues of Buddhas,Bodhisatvas or Deities) to our karmic debtors.

Too many deities, Buddhas and Bodhisatvas is BAD for you!

After a very hectic period since last month, finally able to make some time to update this blog. Below is the photo of my altar at my new house.

I have ordered it about 10 months before finally arrived in time for my moving in. Ever since we move into this new house, some relatives or friends that have a chance to visit us, actually was quite taken a back by the altars at house top floor.

Some look around and quickly move descended towards the second floor. Some make single word comment such as ‘Wow!’ while others quietly at my back discuss with my wife or parent about how it is bad to have too many deity statues in the house. Even too many Buddha’s or bodhisattvas images are actually bad for a common household – according to them!

Well all this while ever since I have been initiated in Taoism- Kam Dong San – Feng Huo Yuan. I have had these many deities in my old house. In the old house, it is in a room instead of on a whole separate floor. Therefore not many people have a chance to view it.

Common folks especially in the local Chinese community have this belief that one should not have too many deities in the house, as it would cause havoc and dis-harmony in house. As those deities will fight among themselves and spill over the bad effects to the people living in the household.

Let me explain this ‘phenomena’.

When you just simply ask any Taoist priest or walk into any temple without knowing their background and ask them to consecrate a Taoist deity for you. There are possibilities they don’t know what they have consecrated into the deity for you. It could be some malevolent spirit. So this particular spirit is just happy that people in the house give good offering to it. When you consecrate another malevolent spirit, then they are not happy, because more spirit sharing the offering. Therefore these spirits have no cultivation whatsoever, solely relying on you to feed them. And when they have fights among each other, you will be the first to experience the after effects.

If an official Taoist deity, one who has reached the ‘Dao’ and still fight with each other for offerings or your prayers, then obviously they have NOT yet reached the Dao. It is better for you to ask them to make offerings to you rather than you make offerings to them!

Let’s be honest, in my line of job I have been to quite a few number of homes. And most people that pray to Taoist Deities usually will have empty teacups on the altar that was left to dry since last 1^st or 15^th of the lunar month. Some offered 1 orange/apple or sometime even forgot to offer anything. Do you think that Taoist deities survive on our petty offerings; they are so hungry for the fruits? Our offering is all in the thought that we project when we look at their consecrated statues.

Don’t try to analyze the deities’ thoughts or actions with our uncultivated heart or mind. If you can think like them, then others would make offerings to you religiously instead of you having to make offerings to those deities.

Others then like to make comments such as Buddhas and Bodhisattvas cannot be place near the deities. It will cause disturbance or havoc! Those are what I would like to call the street auntie and uncle philosophy on Buddhism and religion. They superimpose their thoughts and actions on the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

If Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can be jealous of other deities, then they have not reach the state of Buddhahood. Real Buddhas and Bodhisattvas would not be bothered by so ultra mundane problems and thoughts such as who and who will be jealous just because you have a new object of devotion. They are beyond all those attachments that you try to superimpose on them, that’s why they become Buddhas and Bodhisattvas while you and me still delve in Samsara.

I have so many deities in my Taoist altar is due to my affinity with them. I place them on the altar as a form of respect and also a reminder of my own need to be diligent in my own cultivation.

When I am able to cultivate and reached the Dao, then my Taoist altar would only have the 3 Pure Ones. As I am already reached the Dao and can communicate with any deities at will. Until that day arrives, the altar will remain the way it is.

As for my Tibetan Buddhist altar, it is a reminder to cultivate the Boddhicitta mind, to do my Buddhist practice and also to share the limited knowledge of Dharma I may have so that others would be able to plant some seed of Buddhahood in them, in this lifetime.

Having all these statues of deities, Buddhas and bodhisattvas also reduce and eliminates ones ego. When you are led to believe there is no god, no spirits, no deities, no ghost and no karma, that’s when you are in deep samsaric shit! Pardon my bluntness.

At the same time, I welcome all criticism and pointers from those that able to communicate with all the deities in my altar at will and see all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas on my altar their mind stream at will. Because I will then place your image next to them.

Until then, start examining your own life and your spirituality before passing judgment on others. May you be well and happy!

Another torn shirt....

Every once in a while there will be some friends or acquaintances approach me and ask “Do you want to teach students on how to draw talisman?” or “Do you want to take in protégé in Dao Fa 道法?

It looks attractive and interesting, being able to draw talisman and request for spiritual assistance for specific purposes through the Taoist Deities. Some even look at it as something to elevate their status among peers or friends, essentially being different from others.

If one follow the path of Dao Fa, establishing higher spiritual goals and also being in the lineage of evoking spiritual assistance there are basically 1 out of 3 options that the person will need to choose or being forced upon them. These 3 options in particular will serve as an exchange or as the path of entering the person’s spiritual goal(s) in Dao Fa.

What are these 3 options?
1. To live a life of poverty 2. To live a life of solidarity 3. To always wear torn clothes

All these 3 options are to reflect the imperfection of the person. By gaining the ability to request for spiritual assistance when and where it is needed, the person life shall not be perfect.

Living a life of poverty means that person will not be able to be rich from utilizing any of spiritual responsibility entrusted upon them. That is why, most that uses Dao Fa, as a career will not be wealthy.

To live a life of solidarity means that the person will not have children. There will not be future generations and in most cases the person will not be able to get married.

To always wear torn clothes is due to in the olden days if one were to wear torn clothes it means that they are someone who is not in high or medium status position in society. It is the least heavy options out of the 3.

When I was initiated into Dao Fa, my Taoist master told me that what you learn in Dao Fa could never directly be used to earn money from others. I think that is one way of our lineage by passing option 1. Nevertheless, I was not told of the remaining 2 options.

In some lineage, they will place these 3 options beneath a bowl and when the disciple is initiated, they will choose 1 out of 3 and the chosen option will be set for life. There are some that their option will be chosen by their Master who initiate them into Dao Fa.

For my case, I started to slowly find out on my own. Not long after I was initiated, I noticed that my pants or shirt would on many occasion get torn. Even newly bought shirts or jeans will also have this effect. I also stop buying slightly more expensive khakis pants as most will last a month or so. Jeans that wore for 3-4 times will out of nowhere get torn.
Partial torn pants collection from Mar - June 2010

Later I understand that option 3 was already being enforced on me. Considering the other 2 options available, I was glad that I got number 3. I have met some other Dao Fa practitioner that teach me how to work within the option, new shirts that I bought must purposely be punctured in some hidden area to materialize this imperfection.

Which is why, when some friends or people I know asked whether can they be initiated into learning Dao Fa, usually I just smile and say “ It is not as simple as what you see, there are a lot of ‘terms and conditions’ involved.

A Case brought to City God Temple 城隍庙

image courtesy of asiaexplorers.com

Sometime back since I have update the blog, due to a very busy schedule and also lots of unexpected errands. One of these errands had been trying to get a fair warranty claim for my car. Finally it was resolved and I have to thank our Penang City God for the major part of the credit.

I have called up the Penang dealer in charge of my purchase and services. They gave lots of excuses and try to pass the problem to the manufacturer rep in Kuala Lumpur. The manufacturer rep told me only the manufacturer can approve the claim which is in Germany. After a whole lot of communication with Penang dealer and Kuala Lumpur rep, nothing was done and it seems as if I have hit a wall in getting through to the right channel and people( the claim problem started sometime after Chinese New Year – Feb 14).

Finally I was so fed up 2 weeks ago, I have decided to bring my case to the City God. Every major city with Chinese population will have a City God Temple. They are in charge of all the after-life matters for a Taoist. Another important role of the City God and his officers is to govern all that happens spiritually in the city. In front of the City God Temple, it is enacted a Chinese poem that simply translated “No matter how smart, wealthy or intelligent you are, finally you will also need to come by this place”

City God Temple is one of the temple in town that I will walk in and pay my respect if I happen to be in the area.

One of my spiritual masters always reminds me, if you are starting to cultivate, make sure you learn to cultivate an affinity with Earth Deities (which include Earth God, mid level deities etc). Which hence, you read a major part of my encounters is with Earth Deities. Many cultivators like to have a sense of grandeur in which they only pay respect to high level or high ranking deities and shun or ignore Earth God and mid level deities. My spiritual master would always say “ If you cannot even have an affinity with Earth God and mid level deities, then how are you able to develop an affinity with higher deities. It is not logical even from spiritual perspective!”

Coming back to the City God Temple, I am very familiar with the temple keepers as each time my visit to the temple with have offering of a big josstick when I conclude my respect to all the deities in the temple. Even the unfortunate beggars of the temple can recognize me.

For this particular case, after I have offered my respect to all deities in the temple, I lit up a particular number of joss sticks and kneel down in front of the City God Statue and went into meditative stabilization. It is very seldom that I go into meditative stabilization in temple especially this particular temple. When I went into it, I can feel the ground shaking, something like a level 3-4 earthquake.

Immediately I conveyed my name, address and spiritual background. I have then sincerely requested the help of the City God to my particular case, stating that in his governance there are unscrupulous business people going around trying to cheat on others (referring to the car dealer in charge of sales of service of my car). After which I have concluded my prayers and respect to all deities in the temple. I went to the temple on Saturday. On following Monday, I received a call from the car dealer informing me that they will ‘settle’ the problem of my car regardless of whether the warranty claim is recognized by the car manufacturer.

I went back to the dealer service center on Thursday, but after I drove my car there, once again the customer service manager tried to avoid the earlier promise and asked me to wait for the manufacturer representative in Kuala Lumpur on whether it is claimable. Then on the following Monday, nothing was done on my car and I was thinking to myself whether I should re-visit City God Temple. I received an email response from Germany later that morning saying they will definitely asked Kuala Lumpur(KL) rep office to handle my problem. By Tuesday morning I received a call from KL rep office to apologize and 15 minutes later I received a call from Penang dealer asking me when I can drive my car in for the replacement.

City God Office is by far the most effective and efficient compare to any physical world major corporation.

Pearls of Animal with Djins, Elemental and Spirits

This update of my blog article, I decide to share with readers some spiritual items I have acquired throughout the years. Most of it has been given to me by close friends or fellow cultivators.

These few items have been given to me by my close friends in Indonesia. They are bezoar stones or some people would like to call them pearls. Bezoar stones are usually produce by animals when they have ingested some undigestable material into their stomach and over time produces a stone like formations.

Usually these stones are only found in large animal that have live a long period of time. Not all animal would have bezoar. It is also said that animal that have spirit residing or cultivating in them would have these bezoar stones.

When my friend gave one to me long time ago, I was actually very skeptical about it. He told me that there are actually spirit residing in it. However when I hold it in my hand, I could actually feel a surge of energy flowing up the arm. Then I concentrate and go into meditative stabilisation and could see a spirit figure. These spirit figures are actually cultivating spirits residing within these pearls. The Indonesian shaman would called these spirit figures Djins. BUT they are not like those movie genies, where you can wish for anything and they will grant it. If it is so, then I would quit my day job!

Suprisingly, from what I found, most of them does not actually conform to any standard religion, but they do work from the Light. Meaning cultivating and gaining merits for their own evolution.

These pearls are acquired from the deep jungles of Indonesia and animals having these pearls are not killed, but using a specific ritual by specialized shaman, they are able to gain these pearls. Sometimes these pearls are also hidden in deep caves or special holy sites and or holy grounds. Upon which its sense of energy can only be detected by those specialized shaman.

This pearl belong to a Tiger spirit, unlike normal pearls, this pearl is left by a Tiger Djins on a holy site. It was acquired in the Sumatra region by the local shaman. The spirit that I have detected is female spirit.

The second pearl is a Cobra snake spirit pearl. Belong to a Cobra Djin. The spirit I have detected is also a female spirit.

The third pearl is a Centipede pearl. This pearl is acquired in the Kalimantan jungle. Male spirit.

Many people would usually sell centipede pearl to gamblers, in which they say would give them an extra edge while gambling by using the inherent spirit to help them in their activity. How true it is? I have no idea, because one of my precept in Taoism is to abstain from gambling of any kind.

The fourth and fifth pearl is tiger and also centipede pearl, both is much smaller in size compare to those above.

The sixth one is not a pearl but actually derive from a tree fossil that has been hit by lightning bolt. Indonesian shaman took the fossil and carved it into a shape of an axe. I have also detected a form of energy inside the fossil but much closer to elemental than Djins.

The seventh is a special kind of wood that is being consecrated by Indonesian shaman to house a specific Djins. Communication with the Djins required special bonding and consecration process.

Human beings that have cultivated highly would also leave behind pearls. These are usually found after the cultivators body is cremated. Mostly found in highly cultivated Buddhist monk. These relics are called Sarira.

These animal pearls that I have shared with you all housed Djins, Elemental or spirits. Nevertheless, I urge you not to simply go out and buy any that is available on the internet or in the market today. Because current gemology does not have any standard testing equipment to verify these pearls whether they are real or fake. Furthermore you will need someone who can detect the spirits of these pearls to verify it. For example, there are newspaper report that individuals have actually spent RM10,000 to acquire a small piece of centipede pearls. But usually these buyers are still not able to verify its authenticity.

Plus upon acquiring these pearls, if you are not spiritually keen, there is possibility of backfire from the Djins or spirits. Definitely not something you would want to mess around with, if you do not know what you are doing.

Another encounter with Earth Deities

Chinese New Year has always been a busy period personally and also spiritually. This year with the form up of the Kam Dong Shan temple, there were more activities going on during this period.

This case has to do with the Earth God or commonly known as 土地公 (Tu Di Gong) and one of our temple member and also a close acquaintence Daniel (not his real name).

Since last year he has been going through some stroke of below average luck. And at the end of last year, even his facial colours shows quite dull colours around the forehead and also cheek area.

Evidently in his BaZi, he is going through some not so smooth period. Feng Shui wise, there is nothing wrong with his house. Therefore I have tried to help him through Taoist spiritual method. Daniel is also a Taoist cultivator, in which I personally also know his character and in this case try to help him as much as I can through our temple main deities.

He has requested the benefactors talisman, burn it and no result at all. After which, I have requested for the summoning the earth god talisman for him. He burn it and only minor result. After this 2 account, his case become a real curiousity for me. Using Taoist method, under normal circumstances a person will be seeing some result in term of money, but will later spend it off due to their BaZi influence. For example, obtaining some sales (as Daniel is in sales), some surge in income but later spend it off on some other things or events. Unless they know the method of how to get the energy to circulate.

In this case however, nothing. After which, I have requested from our deities a luck changing set of talisman. When I gave him the set, I have specifically inform him that if this does not work, then you really have to wait for your luck to change.

During Chinese New Year fourth day, I have the chance of meeting up Daniel together with some other friends from KL. When the meet up ended, I drove Daniel back to his place. He generously invited me to his home and have a look at his altar. He had just move into this house for about 2 months.

When I was in his altar room, I have decided to go into meditative stabilisation and enquire about his case from his house Earth God. In my mind, a form of an elder lady appeared. Earth God will not necessarily be a man, sometimes it can be a woman spirit. This also confirms Daniel earlier hunch in which his house Earth God is an elderly lady. So without any hesitation, I politely ask the Earth God, what happen? Because Daniel had burn so many summoning talisman and also gold paper offering. The answer I have received from the Earth God, is that she is unable to help him in any financial matters. Because she does not have enough energy to give him back. She mentioned that she can only help in keeping the house safe and health matters.

Then my next question to the Earth God was “ Is there any other way to help Daniel on his financial matters?”. She told me that the outside 'Datuk' (another form of localized Earth Deity that usually would be in charge of a specific area) at his apartment compound can provide the financial help Daniel needed. She informed me that all Daniel needs to do, is to pay respect more often to the 'Datuk'. Immediately I've asked Daniel, whether is there any 'Datuk' around his apartment compound. Just to make sure I was not imagining things, sometimes the scientific part of my mind needs to make sure I am not going crazy :) . According to Daniel, there is indeed a Datuk house in his apartment compound but he only pay respect once after he moved in.

In brief, I then inform Daniel to pay respect more often to his area Earth Deity. 4 days after this, yesterday evening 8th day of Chinese New Year, I have received a call from Daniel. He told me the day before, he went to a local tourism event and had parked his car at a person's property. Upon leaving he discovered that the front of his car had 2 big scratch mark, obviously left by the owner of the parking space. Daniel decided to try his luck with local 4Digits on his car number. In a surprise to him, his car number became the first prize number. He won about RM1k plus.

I was very glad for him, because to us that is familiar with Taoist method, once there is a turning sign – it means that the momentum of change has started in regards to his luck. All we need is that leverage. It does not mean that he will win bigger prize in 4Digits, because the odds is almost impossible no matter what methods a person use in gambling long term.

Earth God or Earth Deities is different in each house. Some people will choose to pay respect and offering to the Earth God and some do not. Either circumstances, the Earth God is already there. They are there in the house way before any owner, essentially they are the spirit of that particular land. Even in other cultures, I have noticed that they also pay respect to the spirit of the house or the land. Essentially this is the same as the Taoist setting up a place for the Earth God. Earth God is also classified as a form of Wealth Deities, even though their ranking is not high in the spiritual world, but their connection is somewhat the closest to us human beings.

Spring Cleaning and Cleansing

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Before every Chinese New Year, traditional custom is to have a cleaning of the house to welcome the New Year. And usually we will name it the great Spring-cleaning.

In Taoism and Feng Shui, not only physically cleaning the house and its environment, but also clearing away stagnant and bad Qi or energy that is in the house. Therefore we are not only cleaning the house but also cleansing it before the New Year.

In Taoism the traditional method, upon finishing the physical cleaning, the next step is to cleanse the house Qi using 2 types of Chinese Herbs, 藿香 Huo Xiang and 甘草 Gan Cao and combine it with pure sandalwood powder. When these 3 ingredients is burn together, the smoke that it produces will cleanse the environment of any malignant or stagnant Qi.

And for this cleansing process, as a Taoist I would usually add the Hua Sha Fu 化杀符（talisman to neutralize Sha).The talisman is burn on top of the mixture before the starting of the fire. Therefore spiritually cleansing every corner of the house.

As this year, the Coming of Spring 立春 （Feb 4^th) happens to be earlier than Lunar New Year (February 14^th) , the cleansing should be done before Feb 4th.

If you happen to be one of the last minute cleaners, doing it after February 4^th is also as possible.

For readers that resides in Penang, you can obtain the Hua Sha Fu 化杀符（talisman to neutralize Sha) and the herbal mixtures at our temple (Kam Dong Shan 金洞山 ， 2－5－21 Harbour Trade Centre ,Lebuh Macallum, 10300 Georgetown. Penang)

Have a great cleaning and cleansing before the New Year !