Most Influential Grimoire in Taoist Practice: Baopuzi
Vložit
- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- Companion blog post that covers some of the content I left out of the video, in the interest of length: benebellwen.co...
The version I’ve been working from is the Wang Ming 王明 “Baopuzi Neipian Jiaoshi 抱樸子內篇校釋,” which is the version canonized in the Taoist Canons.
Scans of Baopuzi shown in this video are from this archived copy: benebellwen.co...
A digitized full-text version of Baopuzi (300 - 343 AD) can be found at: ctext.org/baop...
TIMESTAMPS:
00:12 What is the Baopuzi 抱樸子? (and its Meaning)
02:25 Two Books: Inner Chapters 內篇 & Outer Chapters 外篇
06:22 Nine-Character Secret Mantra 九字真言
--- 06:36 Mudras with the Mantra Recitation (Taiwanese-Mandarin)
--- 07:40 Mantra Recitation with Pin Yin (Chinese, Beijing Proper)
--- 07:48 English Translation of Mantra
--- 07:58 Mantra Recitation with Mudra Illustrations (Hokkien, Minnan)
--- 08:39 Word for Word Study and Meaning of Mantra
--- 10:31 Passage in Baopuzi that the Mantra is Found In
--- 12:08 Meaning of “Liu Jia 六甲,” the Mantra’s Namesake [六甲秘祝]
13:21 Sampling a Few I Ching References in Baopuzi
14:49 Significance of the Liu Jia Secret Mantra; Uses
16:19 Can you separate a book/idea from its author?
17:06 Who was Ge Hong 葛洪?
18:46 Ge Hong’s wife, Bao Gu
20:25 Bridging Folk Taoism and Aristocratic Taoism
21:34 Xuan 玄: Unbridled Mystery (and the Mystery Maiden, Xuan Nu)
--- 22:39 To Know the Way of the Mysteries (Xuan Dao 玄道)
--- 23:30 Guang (Astral Light) & Xun (Thunderous Force; Vajra)
24:54 The Golden Elixir 金丹 [Formula(s) for Immortality]
--- 26:07 Secret Text, Dao Ji Jing 道機經 (Compare: Dao De Jing 道德經); continued: 27:02
--- 26:30 Archetype of The Weaver
--- 27:56 Formulating the Elixir; Cultivating the Person
28:50 Taoist Morality
30:44 Good Samaritan Jurisprudence (according to Ge Hong)
31:18 Are you born with it? Is Craft inherited or learned?
32:44 Hanging Talismans
34:33 Closing Remarks
35:55 Blooper Outro
36:08 Secret Mantra Grid Demo (Taiwanese)
Past Videos Referenced:
Secret Book of the Three Sovereigns (referencing Ge Hong and Bao Gu in connection with another Taoist grimoire), benebellwen.co...
On the Lady of the Nine Heavens (Jiu Tian Xuan Nu), • Lady of the Nine Heave...
Wu Shamanism (referencing xian gu 仙姑), • Wu Shamanism: Just a R...
Ritual Magic & Shamanism in Pre-Qin China, • Ritual Magic and Shama...
Read about other fun spells and talismans from the Baopuzi---Like how bai mao 白茅 wards off hungry ghosts and demons. If you're crossing a formidable river, mix the blood of a chicken with sandalwood incense powder and water from the river you need to cross, and bathe in this mixture. It wards off any of the malevolent water spirits that might have otherwise tried to drag you down and drown you.
benebellwen.com/2024/08/25/baopuzi/
Check out methods for using the Secret Mantra in contemporary practice. Braiding silk threads in the five colors is still, to this day, worn as a protection talisman.
There's also more on what the Baopuzi says on Fu talismans, like casting at a certain ascendant hour, then given as an offering to the deified Big Dipper god along with wine for travel protection.
@BenebellWen , The overview of Hexagram 56, specifically from your book, has been presented to me. In addition to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
The 80s Ninja boom made the Japanese Shingon Buddhist variations of this prominent in the pop culture, origins pre date Buddhism & written Taoism are featured in ancient hindu traditions & Eurasian Shamanism who knows before that!
Thank you Benebell 🙏🌻🐝❤️
I'm your God now 💗 taste my power mindless sheep
I find it interesting how there exist certain cultures which did not possess a disdain for, or fear of, magical practice, but rather, embraced it as a tool for defending against evil.
Perhaps I am misunderstanding, but, it seems to me, that "good" and "evil" are just words and even insofar as they can be defined they are a kind of yin/yang thing. What sometimes seems good is evil, and what sometimes seems evil is good, and sometimes the good or wise make use of a little "evil" because they are protected from it and don't fear it. Which in the case of the Dao De Ching (and religious esoterica in general) is as much about the indescribable one does with themselves as it is about describing social contexts.
In more literal terms, the Dao De Ching would posit that good and evil spring from the same unknowable force and are inextricably linked. So power is in the ability to manage that tensegrity.
It is very interesting to see that further books on Daoism such as the one described in this video (in which I'm not an expert) seem to define more social rules to try and ensure that what a power seeker defines as good for themselves includes more good and less "evil" for other people, in a social context. One of the issues with many strains of anti-religious reaction (for example early 20th century "satanism") is that they think the sudden freedom from rules means a freedom from the consequences of managing good/evil. And to that end, I am no expert. That's probably very relative to the practitioner of a philosophy they consider beyond good and evil. But it's wise for people to be making general rules for laypeople, even in the more esoteric parts of religions, which encourage Confucian-esque notions of treating people with some of the same reverence with which you treat yourself, or the spirits, etc.
Personally, as an individual, I only do "good" for others when I feel like it. Which is often. But sometimes that good may be mistaken or even be other than good from another perspective. And the Dao De Ching would probably say (by chapter 38) that to try too hard to define where the line is on "helping people" would only wind up confusing matters. Which I agree with, if I've interpreted that right, because that's how I view it. But I'm no expert on Daoism. By Daoist thought perhaps I've already opined too much anyways, and should maybe consider minding my own business. Great food for thought tho. Good video, good comment, thanks for spinning my wheels. 🙏
I personally find religions more useful to me for how they help me conduct my own life and adventures, and usually in terms of activities. I would probably not attempt to study one for its own academic and institutional sake. In that context I find the Dao De Ching a fantastic book. No expert tho
Cultures /People who want to embrace walking with Spirit/Life
Then you got the other side who just want to enslave humanity using different tactics of fear/war.
But they too are aware of teachings that bring harmony and balance
@@user-bw7ux9iu9l I don't even know who that is. You do you, buddy. I'll keep doing my thing. 🤷
@@samuelgibson780 Evil is simply defined as element that seeks to drain life or control the being who is the recipient. If your life is being drained, attacked or manipulated by something, then that thing is evil.
@@samuelgibson780I’m not reading all that
Love love love your channel. It helps unravel the language gap for us Westerners with an interest in Taoism
The classical Chinese texts are so beautiful in their own merit. The logic and order are so transparent and deceptively simple. I've studied Bodhidharma's sermons in these characters and they literally rearrange your mental energy. Gracious thanks for this presentation.
As I posted elsewhere, it's kinda shocking how intuitive much of this information is, nearly 37 minutes of feeling mystically validated plus I gained a literal treasure trove of new knowledge to pursue, thank you for sharing these priceless works!
best Taoist channel on CZcams by far.
Tell me about it. We were in desperate need for someone like her.
So happy to see you again here. I had ordered your Tao ☯️ of Craft and can't wait for it to reach me. ❤
I am in awe at your wealth of knowledge, and your ability to communicate clearly! So grateful for this channel!
wendy your not WrONG.🤪
also
Baopuzi =
Ba = Body,Bread (ex: eat Christ body/bread )
o = all of you , 360, the whole pie
p = Primal Knowledge (line=body- circle=head)
u = You
z = ohms (Electric)
i = single i ( 3rd eye, pineal )
my last name = GRIMble
Knowledge is a Super Power
become a Super Hero
i am so grateful for this channel. amazing!
Benebell, you're gorgeous! And thank you for sharing with us all this knowledge !
White guy
@@elliottjames671 Huh?
@@danielbetancourt1483 😂
@@elliottjames671😂
@@elliottjames671 Change your glasses 😅
I like your Style... hugs from California
Excellent esoteric content! Love the academic depth and engaging presentation.
Just received my copies of I Ching The Oracle and The Tao of Craft. Thank you Benebell, love them, can't wait to read!
Benebell, another stellar video! I wanna say you are such a gift. The information you share is invaluable and resonates so deeply in my own understandings of reality. I was born in the west so there will always be more knowledge and access regarding the occult in a western lens and history here. You allow to me learn about the occult practices and ideologies of my people and ancestors that I otherwise would have an extremely arduous time learning. I thank you deeply ur the best ;~;
As a Daoist Abbot myself I think this is wonderful. Very insightful, informative and well done. I hope you continue to share.
WOW!
this is beautifully done.
the time frame of these events sound really like a very incredible time. Ken, from
redPine
bill Porter
This video really expanded my knowledge and understanding of Taoism and the history of Taoism. I had not even heard of the Baopuzi- Your videos are just awesome Benebell Wen. Just amazing. Thanks!
Thank you for posting videos about the Dao in fluent English, it's a rare gift for us disciples of the Dao 🙏
I have your book on the Tao of Craft and have studied many aspects of Mysticism across many cultures. These Masters were priceless treasures in their accomplishments. Excellent video. Thank you for helping to preserve knowledge of the Way.
This is the first time I have encountered your channel and found such rich content on this subject, with many new things to me that will take time to understand in detail. Thank you for your efforts in showing us this interesting information.
So grateful for your sharing of your impressive depth of knowledge and praxis! Upon first listen this bit stood out like a beacon of wisdom for me.
"If you haven't self actualized through spiritual cultivation, the Golden Elixir will not work on you. So it's not enough to formulate the elixir on its own... but the Body, Mind and Spirit that consumes that elixir must be cultivated to be able to take the elixir."
In my own experience I imagine this in the manner that my body, mind and spirit are akin to a 40Watt lightbulb. To engage with The Elixir, (or some practices/techniques) or even be in the extended presence of an Ascended Awareness/Master is akin to trying to run 1000Watts of energy through a 40W circuited bulb. It will not work efficiently, or in some cases, can be damaging.
Benebell! Thank you so much for your work and this video. I had a dream that we met last night and talked about Daoist magical practice--It was lovely! How coincidental!
Your books are wonderful! You are a wonderful writer ❤️ Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge
Thank you Mrs. Benebell , it always brings content to My heart to watch your videos.
Thank you! I really appreciate your perspective and explanations. It's fascinating to hear how someone so long ago met with the same issues and moral questions that we face today. Thank you for sharing this wisdom.
this is the best resource i've found in the english language, so grateful
Very excellent video, been waiting for a breakdown like this one. Thank you very much!
I just found your channel. Amazing! Thank you for this free information.
So wonderful to see you and witness your academic virtuosity once again. Thanks for this!
🌞🙏🏞️
Edit: Version control issue. 😭Nice way of wording that. Love that. Thanks again. Can you imagine 100 more volumes. Holy smokes.🔥
Hope all is well. And off topic (but totally on topic,) congratulations on selling out your SKT deck as well lady. It’s the most beautiful deck. It’s a treasure. 🙏🪷💅
万岁! 葛洪的抱朴子 video 来了 ! 😄 Benebell, 感谢您 ! 但是饺子的子没有主人的意思对不 🤭 I do, sincerely, love your channel as you bring information often hard to come across, to understand and/or to use, for westerners or anyone not familiar with the Chinese/Asian traditions. Again, 感谢您 ! I love the way you end your video! And I'll definitely try to get a copy of the Bao Pu Zi, for what it has to bring, G rated or not! 😉
Thank you so much ! I think this information has a fantastic quality !
Finally she's back. Ty
I am grateful to have this information find me as i prepare to go to China and learn for the rest of the year. This is right on time!
Have just started your book on I Ching awesome thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and history
I've only in recent years begun to study (much less understand) the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching, and this thoughtful introduction to Baopuzi is just what I needed. Thank you, Teacher Benebell Wen.
Wow! Thank you for sharing your amazing wealth of knowledge!🏵
Excellent- very much enjoy your teaching!!!
Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe this lady. Two sides to life. Opposites make balance.
Awesome teaching yup I’m definitely subscribing 😊🙏🏽
Love your energy and information 🤗 Thank you for sharing beloved 💚💚💚
Shi fen gan xie for this amazing presentation and for explaining these complex concepts ❤
Hello Benebell Wen, im afraid there are no traditions OR scholarly texts that show that set of Specific Nine Mudras Hands Gestures has ever existed in China before the nine Word spell came to Japan. Unless you can point me out to a source that shows that Mudra set existed before it came to japan? (I dont mean the 9 words spell) i mean the mudra set was added on to the spell by the Japanese.
Also could you point out where the BaoPutzu talks or shows the 9 stroked grid which you liken to a tapestry? The grid Did exist in China i know
Thank you for all the videos you share.
Absolutely wonderful to be learning about Taoism and Buddhism from how they are understood from the Chinese prospective.
Sadly must people presenting Taoism and Buddhism shape it so much for a Western audience that it loses so much of its richness and deep wisdom.
So much appreciate your videos.
This presentation truly was amazing! Thank you, Master Wen.
You are such specimen. Lucky to have you on CZcams.
Amazing detail. Thanks 🙏🏾
I have to read this now (ok but actually you did such a good job summarizing that I feel like I learned a lot already and it resonates with me a lot) gonna go check out your other videos now lol
Well said and very informative.
I am in love with this channel. Thank you very much
Manifesting
$lazr
Thank you Your teachings made me remember so many things
Fantastic. 🙏🌟🌈
YAAAAAY!❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🤙🏽🤙🏽🪷🪷🕊️🕊️🕊️☯️🕉️
❤❤❤ Thank you Benebell Wen for sharing.
I want to thank you for such a well done job explaining the Baopuzi. This is all new to me. For some reason I feel, at a core level, really attracted to it. The mystical text which I have a little grasp on is the kabbalistic Zohar and I can't stop thinking about how many similarities they share. Especially the ideas of charity, making the world a better place and that of working through life's challenges. If I'm understanding well this requires a special experience such as the buddhist sunyata, is this related to Pu - Blank Slate? Are there degrees of "pureness"? I think I have many questions now after listening to you. Thank you again and I hope I have the privilege to listen and actually understand this beautiful wisdom you share with us.
Love your book, channel and your episode on the astrology podcast. I'm also an Aquarius rising and mercury Libra so in my head were friends
you got the good teacher, and you need the baopuzi
I think, I just felled in love with him 😄☺️I am so greatful for your channel 🙏🏼
It is a very profound book. I tried to translate it once but struggled due to the poetic style which is very interesting to read, though difficult to understand.
Here's a section of the first chapter "Darkness is the origin of nature, and the great primogenitor of all things. The imperceptive is also dark, therefore it is a microcosm. It is also called wonderful, because it is far away. Its height covers the nine heavens, and its openness envelops the eight corners of earth. Its light is like the sun and the moon and its speed is that of lightning. It may flicker its light abruptly and pass away, or flow through the stars, perhaps even ripple and clear like a large expanse of water, or possibly fall like snow and float like fog. It exists in infinite forms and becomes absent through silence. The great darkness sinks into the deepest depths of reality and up to the highest peak of the world. Gold and stone can not be compared to its hardness and the clouds cannot related to its softness. It is edged but not perfectly edged, round but not perfectly round. No one can see where it is coming or seek it when it is going."
I imagine the first chapter is talking about space/aether.
Otherwise the alchemical recipe chapters are nice.
Nice jia yin. I remembered the kuji in were allegedly Taoist.. But, now I have more references. Thank you!
Wow 😲. A Truly Inspiring Educational Video. Bravo 👌👏👏
You are fabulous! Thanks for sharing this!
Cool I was reading about this book yesterday and reminiscing about having read it a long time ago.
This is excellent and priceless data. Thank you
Jiminy crickets.....You are just too much. Lovely, brilliant, fem, and smart AF...I had started learning Dao de jing about 9 yrs ago and recently dove into I Ching. The interpretations are both intriguing and frustrating. I made some I Ching "flashcards" to learn from but when trying to find a universal grid of the 64 hexigrams I found no systematic approach. WTF. So to be brief (or not so) I just watched this and your reference of the hexigrams were the same as what I had settled upon....thank you Bell. I mean I cant really keep up but you make me pause, and want to. And now I am buying ALL 3 of your books...."The Holistic Tarot" was intimidating🃏....really they All are, but I am ready! 👊
Absolutely amazing analysis and insight! ❤
One cannot place a heavy stone on an empty space. But nonbeing can penetrate where there is no gap.
Non being = neutrality on life
i dont choose a,b or c its all a trick question.
also
Baopuzi =
Ba = Body,Bread (ex: eat Christ body/bread )
o = all of you , 360, the whole pie
p = Primal Knowledge (line=body- circle=head)
u = You
z = ohms (Electric)
i = single i ( 3rd eye, pineal )
my last name = GRIMble
Knowledge is a Super Power
become a Super Hero
name is character
Amazing how the Nine Character Mantra shows the foundational concepts of separating and uniting and at the same time maps perfectly to the Axiom of Maria given by Carl Jung: "Out of the One comes Two, out of Two comes Three, and from the Third comes the One as the Fourth"
Nine character mantra:
1. Arrival; Confront [Hexagram 19]
2. Warfare; Army, Weapon; Soldiers
3. Fight; Encounter Opposition
4. [indicating the end of a command]
5. All; Everyone, Altogether
6. File of troops, Formation
7. Arranged in Single File; Put Forth
8. Forward; Onward, Ahead
9. Carry out, Perform, Move, Execute, To Work
Wonderful video with lots of great connections to other topics. I can't wrap my head around 23:30 but feel compelled to. There's a lot that strikes me as significant about it, I think I need to cut and draw paper pieces and feel it out by hand
Wow! Thank you so much for your work!
Incredible content, thank you so much!
You know its legit when you gotta bust out the ninjutsu handsigns
This was excellent! Thank you!
Benebell, I'd love to know how you learned how to read and interpret the Classical Chinese used in Taoist texts! - I'm happy reading modern Chinese in both traditional and simplified generally and I have a very basic grasp of some Classical Chinese (mostly because, as you know, it's so deeply entwined with the experience of growing up within any form of a Chinese linguistic and cultural context), but applying it to Taoist texts is an ... interesting experience. I figure that working through the Daodejing would be a baseline requirement for getting to grips with the language of Taoist texts more generally, but beyond (and including) that would you have any suggestions/modern commentaries? Chinese-language sources are welcome too!
I confess that I am very, very fortunate to have my father who is a genius scholar, my mother who is an actual practitioner and mystic in her own right, and my husband, a native Beijingnese. ❤
@@BenebellWen.
그랫군요.
Holly blessing.
🙏🙏🙏
Fantastic, very interesting
You gave me a happy feeling, thank you! I'd give you a smile in return but my teeth are rubbish, so i show you a mirror and double your light!
Love your stuff kick on love it ❤❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍💯
Well, Baopuzi and Ge Hong are the same person? Anyway, what do you think: How much Daoism is there in Chan/Zen? Would like to learn about your opinions on this. -Regards
be here now do no harm help others be still close eyes listen to your breathing☯️
Very cool, I was just thinking about this, and the immortal maiden of nine heavens... anything on her is gold!
this made my day. are there copies/ translations of this in existence?
There is an itinerant Buddhist priest who used those nine hand gestures and spells to ward off CGI versions of scorpion and spider and similar demons and demonic forces in a Chinese-language (with Chinese subtitles) drama adaptation of Pu Song Ling’s Liao Zhai Zhi Yi, a Buddhist priest in a drama adaptation I watched in its entirety a number of years ago, called “Liao Zhai.”
He corralled them and used those gestures and his magic and incantations to trap these spirits / demons in a gold begging bowl.
If there's no return comments from Creators, even when substantial donations are made, what makes any believe a comment here is relevant?
However, most in-depth and knowledgeable Channel/Creator.
Incredible truly.
Asyali kadınlar çok tatlı...
Thanks so happy to see you back, Teacher. Have missed your video, totally understand that others demands on time, etc. Great video going to watch this one a couple of times to absorb. Also is there a a English translation of this material. I am currently enjoying Supernatant Clarity Great Cavern Prefected Scripture.
I don't personally know of any English translations. Maybe that will change in the next few years or decade, as interest for this topic grows. 😊 One can only hope. 😅❤
@@BenebellWen One at least exists. I have a copy. Hint: it's not translated as 'Baopuzi'
29:40 I have a translation which says "A good soldier is not violent \ A good fighter is not angry \ A good winner is not vengeful \ A good employer is humble \ This is known as the Virtue of not striving \ This is known as the ability to deal with people \ This since ancient times has been known as the ultimate unity with heaven." (chapter 68)
That seems to back up the idea of a moderate temperament, or rather the ability to moderate one's extremes of emotion (which imo are more useful when mastered than when absent). That seems to back up what you said but I am no expert. I enjoy all religions and spiritual books and the Dao De Ching is a very good one. And it is poetic and upfront about the limits of the written word to begin with, while making good use of it. 🤙
Interesting bit also in the video about the "death of the author" concept (should an author and their work be considered separately). My preference is always to read critically because the written word by itself is usually not the whole story, or is best when approached with critical thought. For that reason I am happy to read the books of authors which can't necessarily be trusted, if they have proven themselves clever or wise. It's a columb A column B thing for me when it comes to enjoying, say, a novel written by an author I know did this or that (or held this or that belief I disagree with).
Anyways, cool videos! More religious esoterica should be presented so academically.
Edited for typos 🖖
“To be an immortal, you cannot run away from the illnesses of humanity. You must run toward them to purify those illnesses.”
This is how I approach quite a few things that others won’t touch in life. I believe that the world is in a karmic storm with turbulent waters and that it requires the cultivation of insight and skillful practice of the correct methods for each situation to intervene without multiplying the turbulence and confusion.
Visual image: bodhidarma crossing the Yangzi river on a single reed.
… but I’m mostly misunderstood and I’ve been alienated from society. That’s one reason that it is easier for me to justify approaching such situations.
After crossing the river, Bodhidarma, a wide-eyed barbarian, was then rejected from the temple. He meditated for 7 years . . . Apparently sleeping with spiders and snakes.
the patreon version;
hinted at the end;
how to increase audience;
by normalization of pleasure techniques;
with a channel of the maiden;
Why is the 9 word mantra good for warriors? I do Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, and we have a version of this, with its own teachings, but I wonder what the Taoist perspective is.
You got to the Mokuroku level?
Great Video! 🌟How were the animations for this video produced❓☯
I made them in PowerPoint. They're PowerPoint slides. 😊
@@BenebellWen Thank you 🙏
Thank you! 😎
This is OUTSTANDING!!
東密，一說是祖師於金胎九會曼陀羅悟得一咒，發音近九字真言，遂結合道家九字真言而改版成東密的九字真言版本，故才有九個佛印，抑或結合本尊的力量使用之。然，東密系統是「密乘」法門，首重傳承與灌頂，否則一切咒印效果大打折扣。
Benebell, is their a translated copy available?
Not one I am personally aware of. But hopefully as interest in these topics grow, we will have more translations. ❤
That Baopuzi got me acting very wise 😏
Grateful for sharing
Thank you 🙏🏼
The tao spell to call dragons is nice
Love the videos!
I do want to clarify: Emperor Constantine did not "institutionalize" Christianity. It was already a hierarchical religious system in the first century.(Arguably organized by Christ and taught to the Apostles). Emperor Constantine made Christianity 'legal 'and was a Christian himself which, of course, led to mass conversion.
Thank you for that clarification. 🙏