Isn't that a compromise? Stick the goat's head on a normal body? Anyway it's only slightly less ugly than that Baphomet monster, lol. The posture and lotus flower look more Buddhist than Taoist? The goat's head is not at all representative of Taoism, imo
Book
Taoist Yoga and Alchemy
IO Tao Forum
https://www.interfaith.org/community/forums/tao/
Wikipedia article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neidan
Neidan, or
internal alchemy (
simplified Chinese: 內丹术;
traditional Chinese: 內丹術;
pinyin:
nèidān shù), is an array of esoteric doctrines and physical, mental, and spiritual practices that
Taoist initiates use to prolong life and create an immortal spiritual body that would survive after death (Skar and Pregadio 2000, 464). Also known as
Jindan (金丹 "golden elixir"), inner alchemy combines theories derived from
external alchemy (
waidan 外丹), correlative cosmology (including the
Five Phases), the
emblems of the
Yijing, and
medical theory, with techniques of
Daoist meditation,
daoyin gymnastics, and
sexual hygiene (Baldrian-Hussein 2008, 762).
In Neidan the human body becomes a cauldron (or
"ding") in which the
Three Treasures of
Jing ("Essence"),
Qi ("Breath") and
Shen ("Spirit") are cultivated for the purpose of improving physical, emotional and mental health, and ultimately returning to the primordial unity of the
Tao, i.e., becoming an
Immortal. It is believed the
Xiuzhen Tu is such a cultivation map. In China, it is an important form of practice for most schools of
Taoism ...
Internal alchemy focuses upon transforming the bodily
sanbao "three treasures", which are the essential energies sustaining human life:
- Jing 精 "nutritive essence, essence; refined, perfected; extract; spirit, demon; sperm, seed"
- Qi 氣 "vitality, energy, force; air, vapor; breath; spirit, vigor; attitude"
- Shen 神 "spirit; soul, mind; god, deity; supernatural being"
According to the 13th-century
Book of Balance and Harmony:
Making one's essence complete, one can preserve the body. To do so, first keep the body at ease, and make sure there are no desires. Thereby energy can be made complete.
Making one's energy complete, one can nurture the mind. To do so, first keep the mind pure, and make sure there are no thoughts. Thereby spirit can be made complete.
Making one's spirit complete, one can recover emptiness. To do so, first keep the will sincere, and make sure body and mind are united. Thereby spirit can be returned to emptiness. ... To attain immortality, there is nothing else but the refinement of these three treasures: essence, energy, spirit." (tr. Kohn 1956, 146).
When the "three treasures" are internally maintained, along with a balance of yin and yang, it is possible to achieve a healthy body and
longevity, which are the main goals of internal alchemy (Ching 1996, 395).
Jing
Neidan practice
Jing "essence" referring to the energies of the physical body. Based upon the idea that death was caused by depleting one's
jing, Daoist internal alchemy claimed that preserving
jing allowed one to achieve longevity, if not
immortality. (Schipper 1993, 154)
Qi
Qi or
ch'i is defined as the "natural energy of the universe" and manifests in everyone and everything (Carroll 2008). By means of internal alchemy, Taoists strive to obtain a positive flow of
qi through the body in paths moving to each individual organ (Smith 1986, 201).
Healing practices such as
acupuncture,
massage,
cupping and
herbal medicines are believed to open up the
qi meridians throughout the body so that the
qi can flow freely. Keeping
qi in balance and flowing throughout the body promotes health; imbalance can lead to sickness.
Shen
Shen is the original spirit of the body. Taoists try to become conscious of
shen through meditation
Read full Wiki article
Just trying to clear it up for
@Leveller and others who might get confused ... between Satanism and Taoism, I mean ...
