Just as the Milky Way galaxy gracefully adorns a dark night's sky with endlessly sparkling lights and forms, so too does the Divine Mother bespangle all the places of this universe with spiritual Light. To our utter good fortune, spiritual masters and advanced spiritual seekers still honor this world with their presence. Most spiritual traditions place the chance to associate with such devotees of higher knowledge at, or near, the top of the heap of helpful tools for true spiritual development.

For instance, in Buddhism, the term kalyāṇa-mitta (good, virtuous or admirable friend) catches the gist and designates a spiritual teacher or fellow spiritual seeker who provides you the opportunity to develop similar noble qualities. In short, the greatest luck you, or anyone, can have is to meet and learn from, or spend time with, such spiritual friends. These folks have paid the price and invested time and effort into their own spiritual development. You can too. But it really helps to have such truly good company along the way. While not everyone you meet will be enlightened, every sincere seeker that showers past or zips by or visits for awhile can have a useful part to play in your progress. Here are some suggestions to help you continue your unfoldment successfully.

The term, "spiritual qigong" simply means the use of qi (energy) to cultivate higher awareness. Thus, spiritual qigong is one of the major tools a Daoist yogi employs along the way to Light. The first step on this path centers on finding one's deeper heart and values (who you are beyond all social and environmental conditioning). To achieve this requires both shamanic work (counseling, psychotherapy) and energy work (qigong, yoga) to shift out old patterns and bring in an authentic and more vibrant sense of who you really are.

The type of qigong done by a yogi gradually gets more subtle and powerful as she or he progresses. The first type is called weigong (outer qigong) because the practices use physical movements, especially of the limbs, to sense qi on, and around, the body. Hence, the term "outer." Weigong actually consists of two words: wei (outer) and gong (skill). With some talent in weigong, a spiritual seeker can fruitfully cobble together an appropriate fix for the first spiritual step of finding one's authentic nature and heart.

In the west, the term "qigong" usually refers to weigong since it is the first stage in learning about qi. However, in a spiritual context, the spotlight hones on crafting immensely deeper levels of ability than this beginning stage of qigong. Thus, specific terms are used to designate the steps of qigong development. They start with weigong and progress to neigong (inner qigong) and shengong (more subtle inner qigong) to arrive eventually at neidan (inner elixir), the most subtle level of qigong skill. References for these advanced stages of qigong mastery are provided in a later reference section about Daoist Yoga. So, back at the beginning, for weigong practice:

ANY simple introductory Qigong course will do to start.

1. The course should be easy and not involve complicated movements or intricate theory—that's for later.

2. Just get a sense of what qi feels like. 

3. It needs to be a qigong class and NOT just a hatha yoga class that includes pranayama (breathing).

4. Usually it takes from 3 - 6 months to get a solidly felt sense of qi (feels like warmth, fluid, tingling, pressure, etc.)

Jesse Tsao

1. Any of his qigong videos are fine as a simple introduction.

2. His video, Qigong Fundamentals for Beginners, is an ideal example of what you should aim for at first. 

1. The next step aims to develop qi flows, especially in the limbs. Sound arcane? Guess what. Here's a quote from the Daoist scholar, Zhuang Zi, written at least twenty-two hundred years ago, "The breathing of the ancient truthful persons (Daoists) was deep and profound. They used the soles to breathe, while seculars (ordinary folks) used the throat." That is, a true Daoist (practitioner of Chinese yoga), can course qi through her or his feet to and from the earth itself.

   This technique, called yongquan (sole) breathing, firmly undergirds and shoulders ALL more advanced qigong. Simply, if you cannot fully ground into mother earth's natural qi field you cannot fully progress to higher levels of awareness (part of your being's shadow side will still be tethered to the earth). So, in the symphony of techniques, this is the big leagues. 

2. Some forms of qigong start to work with meridians and chakras at this stage. For instance, Neidan Yoga (NY) introduces key meridians, chakras and acupoints into the mix as soon as it has presented and developed the basic skills for grounding qi deep into the earth. Why? A practitioner only stands to gain by starting to practice with the essential building blocks of energy work and higher meditation as soon as possible.

   The road goes on and on and it takes a lot of time to acquire such skills. So, in NY, one trains key advanced patterns alongside the more basic forms. The general ratio varies over time but on average 70% basics and 30% advanced clears out a clean line forward for a person to progress safely, successfully and swiftly.

3. Many esoteric traditions still teach in the old-fashioned way of a waterfall: first complete the basics and then start the intermediate and then start the advanced. This lame approach simply wastes way too much time and disrespects the needs of the times. For a clear explanation of what’s at stake, you can read a short and concise discussion about waterfall models (a serious deterrent to progress) and spiral models (the modern approach that does much better). Just click here: Waterfall and Spiral Models.

   If you prefer solely to read on, then at least recognize that these two styles herald a fundamental challenge with the art of living itself. The waterfall way ties you down to the past and the endless artifacts of thinking and feeling. Try walking around while carrying an extra fifty pounds (23 kilograms or so) in your backpack. Get the idea? Right. In contrast, the spiral way gets you where want to go with minimal extra labor. Once you fully grasp the distinction between these two approaches, you will be able to appreciate the following punchline.

   Having motored through the splendid waterfall and spiral vistas, how about a road check? Where are we? Exactly what needs of the times are we considering? Why, but of course, these needs: the earth and its misguided humans careen to imminent and utter ruin. Time’s a wasting! Now’s not the time to withhold precious secrets and take many, many years to impart practical advise.

   At this juncture in the story, we either all swim together or we all sink and drown in the mire. Thus, all conscious beings need to pull together: this means every spiritual tradition and every human—of whatever persuasion—who still possesses half a wit and can read the writing on the walls. It’s there for all to see. Given all this, who can help you with this more advanced level of weigong? Here are a couple chaps that you really should check out. It’s a practical guarantee that you will be glad you did!

Bruce Frantzis

A contemporary teacher with wide experience in the internal martial arts and qigong. He's got loads of courses. The following two qigong sets are samples of what you should learn at this stage. They complement each other well. Energy Gates is better taken first but a portion of the material is very advanced and won’t really come into play until you get to intermediate and advanced levels. However, the majority of this qigong set stands tall above most other programs since it does what they don’t by clearly explaining the essential postural and movement patterns needed to progress.

1. Energy Gates qigong (qigong is the practice of body, breath and mind; this program introduces the next steps for each of these aspects)

2. Dragon & Tiger qigong (do the online course by his senior student, Bill Ryan; it's the best explanation)

3. Longevity Breathing (DVD; whole-body breathing; it's the foundation for all later qigong)

4. Opening and Closings qigong; also, Heaven and Earth qigong (both programs may be available so, if possible, study both of them; however, either one will be enough to get you going).

   1. You can email his team at https://www.energyarts.com to ask about availability of these two courses. They may be able to provide you access even if the course is not showing on the list of current offerings. Both qigong sets teach opening and closings.

The third item on the above list, longevity breathing is especially important for you to understand since, if there's not much oxygen coming in, there's not much qi flowing. Highly recommended! The fourth and last item, “opening and closing” of body joints and regions really rules the pack as first in importance. It is an intermediate to advanced skill so you will need to work at it for a while. But the skill undergirds all more advanced meditation and energy transformation so best you get started with this now.

Yang Jwing-Ming

Note that traditionally, the Chinese write their last name first. So, Yang is his last name. You can search for "Dr. Yang qigong". Though not the whole story, Dr. Yang provides a comprehensible introduction to the essential first skills of spiritual qigong. He, too, has lots of courses but only a few are especially relevant here.

Slices and dices of the following titles are entirely insightful and instructive on learning how to flow qi through the limbs (palm breathing, sole breathing, four gates breathing, five gates breathing). They also explain normal and reversed abdominal breathing which you need to pick up at this stage (preferably after you have some skill with, at least, palm breathing).

1. Tai Chi Qigong (basic warm-up exercises and the different types of breathing)

2. Tai Chi Ball Qigong (a more advanced book/DVD; tackle it after Tai Chi Qigong; includes martial grand circulation breathing and taiji ball breathing which are next steps in mastering this stage)

3. Qigong for Health and Martial Arts (great chapter on neidan qigong; small circulation; qi enhancement and transport)

4. Understanding Qigong

   1. a series of 6 DVDs which are all valuable

   2. here though, DVDs 1 and 2 lay the bedrock

   3. once you understand them well, the next step would be DVD 4

   4. the others are more suited for the following levels of work (see Daoist Yoga) but if you're a camper there's no harm in watching them now. Just watch them again later when they will bring added richness.

So far, so good. Now what? Well, to realize the full potential of qi in and about the body, you must step the vibe up and link physical movement with your qigong skills. Here’s the very best way to do so.

Nei (internal) jia (family) quan (fist) refers to a collection of Chinese internal martial arts that incorporate weigong (outer qigong) and neigong (inner qigong) into their practices. Baguazhang (eight trigram palm), Xingyiquan (form intention fist), Taijiquan (grand ultimate fist) and Liuhebafaquan (six harmonies, eight methods boxing) represent the main styles. Popular thinking and legend link the first three of these styles with Daoist monasteries of the Wudang Mountains in Hubei province. Liuhebafaquan is linked to a Daoist monastery at Mt. Hua, which is about 260 miles north of the Wudang mountains. So, they all have roots in the same Chinese soil and soul.

Another style, Bajiquan (eight extremities fist) sometimes gets included in this list since it also originated from Hubei province and towers as the most powerful of all Chinese martial arts. Baji (for short) makes the most effective use of basic weigong and neigong techniques to add high octane energy to already powerful martial techniques.

And this is the reason someone intent on spiritual practice should take the time to learn the basics of nei jia quan. Quite simply, by leveraging whole-body movements with time-honored qigong practices and knowledge, these internal martial arts have developed the BEST ways to cultivate qi. Once you learn from these masters, truly effective and rapid ways to access qi, you are free to go as you please. There’s no requirement to become a fighter. You just need to learn how to become a qigong pro—relative to your current level of ability.

Baji incorporates the most profound use of qigong right at the beginning stages of it’s curriculum but all these styles gradually introduce sophisticated integration of qigong with whole-body movement. Here are some of the very best resources for westerners. Of course, you have many more options if you speak Chinese but even so, the following references are world-class and can stand up to anyone touting internal martial arts knowledge in any language anywhere.

Adam hsu

Sifu (master teacher) Hsu ranks high up the ladder in the world of Chinese internal martial arts. Educated, literate and thoughtful he has promoted the original vision of wushu (Chinese martial arts) as a skill the embodies both physical prowess and command of qi (subtle energy). This is the textbook definition of an internal (capacity to direct qi) martial art (superlative physical skills for fighting). At the moment, his main DVD series on Bajiquan remains the best presentation of the form and its basics. The subtitles are in passable English so you can really learn a lot. This info on Baji is priceless since all other substantial resources are in some dialect of Chinese.

1. Baji Thunder (3 volumes) - a series of 14 DVDs that introduces the basic forms and principles

2. Baji Quan (2 volumes) - an earlier series of 2 DVDs that includes some helpful materials not in the later series. In this case, a translator narrates the teachings in English. Worthwhile getting after you first digest Baji Thunder.

Prolific in scope and often profound in thinking, Sifu Hsu’s legacy includes many books (a couple classic reads are in English) and DVDs (many to check out such as Baguazhang and Chen-style Tai Chi). You can search for his name and will find a number of websites with info. The Plum Publications website often has a good deal on most of his available works.

TOM BISIO

A westerner with experience as an Acupuncture Physician and knowledge of many Chinese internal martial arts, Tom brings a much needed practical thread to the study and mastery of qi. He has, far and away, the best presentation of foundational skills indispensable to competence in the ultra-sophisticated forms and style of Baguazhang (BGZ). By learning these skill sets you will have a great advantage over those who labor mostly with the mind to achieve true awakening. Why?

All traditions teach, or at least acknowledge, that the mind can best be roped in via its supporting energies (prana, qi, lung). BGZ dispenses with this task in the most elegant and efficient way possible. Although its primary aim centers on manipulating the body and qi to defeat opponents, BGZ holds the golden key to mastery of the mind. Learn the two following sets and incorporate them with your other meditative practices. If you do so, you will never look back or wonder how you’re ever going to get to the higher levels of consciousness. These skills are that powerful!

1. Ba Gua Nei Gong, volume 4 — Foundational Body Training (Ji Ben Gong)

   1. You can purchase this separately as a book or sign up for his online course on the Foundational Level of Ba Gua Zhang. This course includes a PDF of the book.

2. Ba Gua Nei Gong, volume 5 — Heavenly Stem (Tian Gan) Nei Gong

   1. Like before, you can purchase this separately as a book or sign up for his online course on the Intermediate Level of Ba Gua Zhang. This course includes a PDF of the book.

   2. Tom later produced an online course solely on TIan Gan Nei Gong which you definitely should consider. The later online course has excellent videos of the forms and includes material not presented in the book or earlier online course. Getting both the book and the Tian Gan Nei Gong online course is a useful combination.

   3. You can purchase the online courses via his website, Internal Arts International.

   4. If you want a fuller picture of how all these whole-body movements tie together then consider getting both his Bagua Zhang online courses as they demonstrate many applications and supplementary principles. Just focus on the qi side of the equation and you will be fine. Some fighting applications are shown but you can abstract out the basic principles and use the skill being taught as a lesson on how to deal with the universe at large: Carry love in your heart always but do what’s necessary for the moment too.

Summary of what to study for qi mastery

Now, no one teacher presents a complete picture of the whole-body movement needed for actualizing spiritual practice at a truly consummate level. However, by stitching together the crucial ideas from three teachers you can claim the full picture. Which three and why? Bruce Frantzis: he gives the most detailed instructions on body mechanics and how to integrate movements into cohesive flows. But the details aren’t complete. Enter, Tom Bisio. He delivers more of a martial arts perspective that picks up many of the missing pieces.

And the third preeminent guide? Actually, it’s a tie. Together, Adam Hsu and Yang Jwing-Ming ferret out the part of the puzzle that still needs some light: linking the whole-body movement (physical) with qigong (energy) and then linking both of them to the earth’s gridwork of energy flows. SIfu Hsu introduces a few vitally important techniques from Bajiquan (sinking energy, expanding energy) and Dr. Yang does something similar but from more of a qigong vantage point. If you study them both you will possess the requisite insights and knowledge to make your spiritual efforts come alive and rapidly bear fruit.

Jyotish (Vedic astrology) delineates the relation between tattvas (elements) and other archetypes such as planets and constellations. The scope of this understanding truly sweeps far and wide—from daily living (earth plane) up through high spiritual realms. To master this art and science requires a lifetime of dedication, study and practice. Jyotish can be a path of spiritual growth for a dedicated practitioner. If you're simply interested in learning some basic ideas, you have a wealth of books and online materials to choose from. And most of these resources will be sufficient for this purpose. However, if you want to delve deeper into this ancient science then it is essential you work with a master practitioner. There are many. The following teachers and courses all have a spiritual bent to them beyond the mere details of astrology.

Komilla sutton

One of the founders of the British Association for Vedic Astrology (BAVA), Komilla adds emotional sensitivity and awareness to her teachings so that one learns not only the basics but how they relate to inner transformation of heart and mind. She offers a series of one-year online courses that progressively cover all essential Jyotish skills. The first course in the series serves as an overview of the entire range of Jyotish techniques so it is one of the best bets for getting a solid foundation without having to train for years and years.

Sanjay Rath

An engineer turned astrologer, he learned basic and advanced Jyotish as a child at the feet of his grandfather (a renowned astrologer to royalty) and his uncle (also a well-respected Jyotishi). The family tradition traces back many hundreds of years to Achyutananda Dasa, a sixteenth century poet, scholar and close follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the greatest Krishna (कृष्ण, Kṛṣṇa) devotee of his day and a tremendous proponent of loving devotion (bhakti) as a means to worship the Divine. The purity of this lineage shines through in Sanjay's teachings and provides one with a clear sense of the spiritual purpose and place for the astrology being taught. On the surface, of course, his classes are competent and even technically brilliant at times.

As such, Pandit Rath's courses are pretty much unique since they are accessible online, taught in comprehensible English and all have a strong spiritual orientation to them. The challenge here is that they are involved and require serious focus and effort to master. However, if you are after the best of the best without wanting to uproot and spend a decade or so in India or elsewhere, then this is the real deal.

1. Parashara Jyotisha Course (PJC) — at present, this is a four-year training in the foundational text for all of Vedic astrology known as the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS); these four years cover a lot of material but not all of BPHS; however, the missing bits and pieces can be picked up in other DVDs and materials by Pt. Rath and his senior students. The knowledge covered here is priceless and should be studied first—before any more esoteric topics.

2. Jaimini Scholar Program (JSP) — an advanced five-year training based on the Jaimini Sutras that is esoteric and heavily oriented towards a spiritual understanding and application of Jyotish principles. The ideas here are beyond priceless but not really comprehensible without a solid footing in the BPHS. 

Putting it together

An ideal road into and through the world of Vedic astrology would start with Komilla Sutton's one-year introductory course on Jyotish and then progress to Pt. Rath's four-year PJC course and finally arrive at the rarefied way station of the Jaimini Sutras as taught in the five-year JSP course.

Without all the time and resources in the world to learn Jyotish, you can still make serious—and worthwhile—progress. How? Toss a rock into the air and wherever it lands, just begin there. That is, budget some regular time to study either an online course or introductory text and get started. As you study and begin to apply these ideas you probably will find that the very act of such study begins to change things in your life palpably. If you send a message to Life that you're really interested in learning this useful spiritual knowledge then somehow, someway, Life will open doors for you. Trust the process. It does happen this way for everyone.

A very, very important part of any yogic regime centers upon working with the breath. And, fortunately for all of us, the ages-old practice of cultivating slower rates of breathing has captured the fancy and imagination of westerners across the globe.

Breathwork, as it’s now called, has even become a respectable topic for serious scientific enquiry. In turn, bucketfuls of solid research have unveiled—and in a way, reframed—what controlled breathing is all about. We now know what these practices can and cannot do, what they can achieve with effort and where they can lead and mislead one ignorant of the facts.

You should understand that the traditional teachings about pranayama (control of the breath) in Hindu yoga, Daoism and Tibetan Buddhism will get you in the ballpark but they are practices based upon thousands of years of trial-and-error and do not guarantee you an optimal way to achieve mastery. You are much better off by learning BOTH traditional practices and modern breathwork. This will really empower your journey and grease the skids so your ride forward flows along with a lot more ease and success.

Likewise, you really need to realize that many modern techniques flooding the marketplace simply lapse way behind the gold standard of what is now possible based upon real science. Just as in any area in life, you will find a lot of unscrupulous behavior along with a lot of mediocre offerings along with the occasional true gem. Often, it does not matter that much since you just lose out on money.

But here we’re talking about your health. Breathing is one of the core regulators of health and nothing to fool around with if you can at all help it. And, you can. Just check out some of the valuable resources listed below. Note that they are all popular offerings for the mass marketplace and so all of them have cut corners in one way or another. This is just how modern society works. Pathetic, huh? To gain true justice for your practice, you should either read some of the scientific studies yourself or if that’s too much of an ask, then find a truly competent teacher who has read a lot of the studies.

In sum, aim to corral three facets of this beastie: the traditional teachings; popular presentations of modern breathwork; and, some scrutiny of the research literature. Putting all three sides together will garner you what you’re after: a slick and steady and cutting-edge approach to breathwork. The potential for success with advanced yogic practice has not been this accessible to the common seeker for many thousands of years. Now’s the time to jump on the cart. Go for it. You have the means to. You really should. The world needs all the help it can get at the moment, wouldn’t you say?

1. Oxygen Advantage (OA) Advanced Instructor Training — OA represents the gold standard of breathwork at the moment (for the last decade and with no end in sight). Just as lots of folks take a yoga teacher training course simply for their own benefit and with not much of a desire to teach anyone or anything else, the same idea applies here: you will be wildly ahead of the pack in every way if you just take the plunge and make the investment of time and resource to participate in this seven day online course. It’s recorded so you can watch all the sessions one way or another. Here’s the main website: Oxygen Advantage website.

2. A couple of the books by the founder of OA, Patrick McKeown, lay a firm foundation for more advanced techniques. You could read them first but if you’re serious about advanced yogic practice, then the advanced instructor course (or something on a par with it) provides the best groundwork for you to succeed with the breathwork part of yoga.

   1. The Breathing Cure — his most recent book for the general public; this contains a wealth of practical exercises to try out; find what you like and leave the rest.

   2. The Oxygen Advantage — his first major presentation of the OA approach; it’s a little dated but still has a lot of valuable basic information; it introduces many of the key techniques used in the OA approach; this is a good read after delving into some other book first (The Breathing Cure is one candidate but there are dozens to consider as a general introduction to the concepts underlying breathwork). However, after reading a couple books on the subject, you are highly encouraged to take the advanced course or some other advanced course that has a solid basis in both research and practical application.

3. Breath: the New Science of a Lost Art — a lively and often entertaining introduction to the whole field of modern breathwork; written by journalist James Nestor, this serves more to whet your appetite than to appease it; however, the appendix does have a succinct list of over a dozen practices—a handful of which are essential daily fare for ardent health and spiritual seekers. Hence, you can start practicing meaningfully straight away while you enjoy the careening ramble across the breathwork landscape. Truly an eye-opener as there’s more out there than you might have imagined.

The word, yoga, comes from a root that means to yoke; in a spiritual sense then, yoga means to yoke oneself (atman; the individual soul) with the Divine (Brahman; the Great Soul). In India, illimitable variations of this eternal theme have endlessly wafted across the pages of time and human experience. For thousands and thousands of years! And, for good reason: without doubt the Indian subcontinent, along with its adjacent regions, has been the holiest place on the planet for the longest time (at least since the Younger Dryas climate changes about ten thousand years ago).

For example, up until recent generations, the unanimous motif of life in Hindu tradition was agreed upon by all to be moksha (liberation or spiritual growth toward the Divine). Even if many of the people didn’t try all that hard to achieve this exalted state, they did all agree that it was the best and greatest aim. What does this suggest? The wisest and canniest culture on the planet says spiritual growth tops the hit list of favorite tunes. Maybe they’re on to something? They are.

Hence, ostensibly you will find that the practice of yoga—in some form—calls and whispers to you. It beckons to all mortals for all of us are part of the Divine. These web pages concentrate on rāja yoga, the most direct yogic route to Light which entails energy work (qigong, pranayama) and meditation along with the usual fare of moral precepts and personal qualities such as right thought and action.

However, if some other spiritual path (bhakti [love], karma [action], jñāna [wisdom]) calls to you, by all means follow it. In this world, the single most important expression a human can make is to grow personally and spiritually as best as she or he can. The details of how you practice spiritually are second to the fact that you are trying at all—and trying in a sensible way that is suitable to your current abilities and station. The further you go along your path, the more doors will open and the deeper and more genuine your experience will become. This is the promise of all great spiritual masters and adepts. 

Hatha Yoga

Quite the fad these days, hatha yoga has swept the west and now finds itself the darling of a mammoth money-making machine that pushes everything from casual wear to eco-friendly water bottles and yoga mats. One upside to this cozened appropriation has birthed hatha yoga styles with much more anatomical precision and physiological sensibility. So, just about any form or school of yoga these days will do just fine to get you started. Ashtanga Yoga, as originally taught by K. Pattabhi Jois, still holds ground near the top as an effective hatha practice that maintains some sincere connections with traditional spiritual values and customs.

However, if you'd like to take it further then make sure your classes include some pranayama and meditation. Here are a couple classic schools that aim for true spiritual transformation through all the tools of yoga (and not just hatha yoga with some trendy meditation, breathing and chanting thrown in for show and good effect). It all depends on what you are after.

Sivananda yoga

Named after Swami Sivananda, who did much to popularize authentic yoga in India during the first part of the twentieth century, this style follows Swamiji's intentions and seeks to cultivate all aspects of yoga but with an especial emphasis on hatha yoga, pranayama and meditation. You can find schools and retreat centers worldwide.

In later years, the style was promoted especially by Swami Vishnu-devananda, a direct disciple. Swami Satchitananda, another early follower, also did much to help establish Sivananda-style yoga in the west. You can search for any of these three Swamis to find books and organizations. The Sivananda approach to yoga doesn’t flash with the glitz and glamour of many modern hatha yoga schools but you will find the real deal, a true path to higher awareness, within its teachings.

Swami satyananda

Another disciple in the Sivananda lineage, Swami Satyananda founded the Bihar School of Yoga in India. The school was, and remains, obscure in the west. But fortunately, he wrote a couple of brilliant books which still offer the best sense of what real Hindu yoga (energy work and meditation) is all about.

Every intent yoga practitioner, from whatever tradition (whether Tibetan Buddhist, Daoist, Kundalini Yoga or whatever) should read both these books as they provide a valuable framework for spiritual practice in general.

1. A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya — monumental in scope, the text provides solid guidance, tips and insights into the very roots of genuine yogic work; techniques span all the basics such as asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, health practices, kriya and meditation. You will find a lot of thoughtful advice sprinkled throughout the pages. Further, this master of yoga skillfully weaves practical explanations of important topics into the mix. By the end, you will have learned an effective method for cultivating advanced levels of consciousness and also understand chakras, bhakti yoga, karma yoga, health and balance.

   Swamiji spent several years traveling after his time at the Sivananda ashram and learned to appreciate other approaches for spiritual growth. Thanks to this you will find a broad-minded vision and methodology given in the text. Even so, what you have here is the pith and essence of a Hindu approach to serious yogic sadhana.

2. Kundalini Tantra — this consolidates the third part of the previous book which focused on kriya yoga; although most of the actual kriya techniques are simply copied over, this later book still should sit on your bookshelf for it adds much valuable writing about the process of kundalini tantra itself; Swamiji presents a clear picture of what you are doing and why you should be doing what you are doing during the entire process of kundalini yoga (tantra). A real keeper!

Other Resources

There are heaps of Hindu yoga schools and approaches so take your pick. Just make sure you get a good feeling from the teacher and the folks who frequent the classes. The two classic yoga texts that it helps to know about and have read are:

1. Hatha Yoga Pradipika (get the version by Swami Muktibodhananda; it's the best by far)

2. Gheranda Samhita (by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati; the only version worth reading)

As extensively mentioned in the Sadhana section of these web pages, Tibetan Buddhism and Bon (or Bön) proffer the very same spiritual techniques and path to enlightenment. Idea by idea, step by step, they are the same. A remarkable feat considering their saga. Consider the evidence: way back (a thousand years give or take a few fistfuls), Bon represented an indigenous shamanic belief system. It centered mostly in the western regions of Tibet and probably originally hailed from even further west. Around the eighth century a strongly yogic version of Buddhism arrived in Tibet and rapidly became the reigning paradigm of how to get it right on the trudge to heaven and higher awareness. In the process, mortals being what they are, the rulers basically wiped out the Bon religion (and quite a few of its adherents for good measure).

Escaping total decimation, the Bonpos (followers of Bon), gradually reorganized and followed the time-worn gem: “if you can’t beat them, join them.” So join they did, and the Bon religion gyrated this way and that until it formed itself into a thoroughly tame copycat of Tibetan Buddhism. These days, unless you have acquaintance with the nuances of these two religions, you couldn’t tell one from the other. They are fundamentally the same string of techniques and ideologies with a sprinkling of diversity maintained through the worship of different deities (albeit with the same functions) and cultural idiosyncrasies. So, take your pick.

TIBETAN BUDDHISM

A tantric path, Tibetan Buddhism, incorporates both traditional yogic techniques (as found in Hindu yoga, for instance) and more earth-oriented shamanic techniques (which first came from the native Bon religion). As this website explains, three different vantages can be held for any experience. Examples abound. Here though, consider the brain. Three styles of behavior described in business and psychological literature correspond to left-brain, right-brain and whole-brain thinking. In Tibetan Buddhism, Mahāmudrā represents the whole-brain approach as it emphasizes developing both left-brain (concentration; śamatha) and right-brain (mindfulness; vipassanā [or vipaśyanā]) skills and then working towards their simultaneous activation and subsequent integration (whole-brain activity). There are other similar styles, the most famous in the west being Dzogchen (a predominantly right-brain philosophy but under the covers it eventually aims for whole-brain integrity). 

Mahāmudrā

This balanced approach helps characterize the entire yogic quest. The following text provides an excellent, understandable description of this entire path from start to finish. It's a seminal work and worth reading by all serious aspirants—again, regardless of putative affiliation. The second reference, by the same author, is a chapter in another book and compares the Mahāmudrā approach to other comparable yogic traditions (Hindu yoga, Theravadin Buddhism).

1. Pointing Out the Great Way (Daniel P. Brown)

2. The Stages of Meditation in Cross-Cultural Perspective (chapter 8 in Transformations of Consciousness by Ken Wilber, Jack Engler & Daniel P. Brown)

Other Resources

Just search for your favorite style of Tibetan Buddhism and you will find lots of great resources. Some centers offer ongoing courses and programs (even up to 10 year programs) so if you're after genuine yogic practice there are some real opportunities available. The main challenge, as usual, is having the time and resources to invest in such training. But some of these programs are crafted with this in mind so even folks leading regular lives now have the precious opportunity to study and practice true dharma.

 If you are a beginner and not yet affiliated with a center or teacher, the following introductory and intermediate texts are classics and worth studying:

1. Introduction to Tantra (Lama Thubten Yeshe) (great, understandable introduction to Tantra)

2. The Words of My Perfect Teacher (Patrul Rinpoche) (Vajrayana preliminary practices; phowa)

3. Tsongkhapa's Six Yogas of Naropa (Glenn H. Mullin) (tummo; advanced yogic practices)

4. The Bliss of Inner Fire (Lama Thubten Yeshe) (most accessible instructions on tummo)

Lama Alan Wallace and the wisdom website

Most of the knowledge readily available about Tibetan Buddhism stills passes through the filter of traditional teachers. This means that you get true yogic techniques but also a minefield of cultural lore and baggage from the past—much of which, in truth, simply leads one astray if not worse.

This phenomenon spans all yogic traditions but especially reeks foul in yogic styles firmly enmeshed and embedded within a heavily religious context. And Tibetan Buddhism (along with Daoism) stands at the top of this morass. For Tibetan Buddhism essentially traipses about as a yogic version of the Christian Catholic church. So what? This means, loads of meaningless, and even toxic, dogma. Not good for the heart or head … or anything, for that matter.

The difference being that the Tibetan Buddhists do offer a workable yogic regime for cultivating higher awareness whereas the Catholic purists prefer to develop deep and real levels of faith (bhakti in Hindu). Except for very rare exceptions, only the yogic path provides one a chance at fully moving past the folly of ordinary life in this world. Faith gives glimpses of the Divine but yoga eventually stabilizes the mind and heart so that you live in the Divine and not just hobnob with the angels on occasion.

So, what’s the fix for this quandary? Right, you are! Invite in a healthy dose of modern thought and future orientation to counter-balance the stagnant streams of past—essentially outmoded and outdated—habits and traditions. There are some great modern interpreters of the dharma for you to peruse and profit from. Especially those accomplished westerners who have taken the time to train extensively in the verities of Buddhist thought and technique such as Alan Wallace, Pema Chodron and Tsultrim Allione.

Now, you can choose any branch of Buddhism that suits your fancy but just so you know: the bulk and brunt of modern scientific progress steadily bears down upon an esoteric view of reality very much akin to what Dzogchen, Mahāmudrā and other Vajrayana (tantric Buddhist) systems propound. Given this, here are some super helpful resources that align with this vision:

1. Wisdom Experience website — the preeminent collation of all Buddhist traditions; you can find valuable free and subscription-based courses and resources here; especially useful are the Vajrayana topics on Dzogchen, Mahāmudrā and other tantric practices (such as the Cakrasaṃvara tantra and Guhyasamāja tantra). Click here to surf on over: Wisdom website.

2. Lama Alan Wallace — starting off as an academic, many decades ago he found his way to Tibetan Buddhism and has never looked back since; he shares a refreshingly modern slant on the vision of esoteric Buddhism but toes the line and precisely follows the technical details taught to him by his teachers. The Wisdom website provides quite a number of his excellent and comprehensible programs related to Dzogchen. They start from the very beginning and reach far towards the pinnacle of achievement. Most people in the know consider Dzogchen (sometimes likened to Mahāmudrā) to be the zenith of all approaches to Light. He’s written many helpful books on related topics and you can check out more about him and his teachings at the foundation he set up to support global awakening and Buddhist studies. Here’s the link: Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies.

BON

Considering the earlier discussion about the great similarities between Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, you might wonder if there’s anything more to add about Tibetan yoga. As a matter of fact—and actual curiosity—Bon does add more to the mix. Somehow, the spirit of Bon as a native, shamanic understanding deeply rooted in the earth and earth energies, never completely lapsed under the great duress it suffered while sinking under the onslaught of Tibetan Buddhist norms and methods.

Be sure, Bon and Tibetan Buddhism are about the same. But of the two, Bon totes an easier-going attitude and walks way more flexibly as it seeks to fit into western culture. The Bonpos don’t make quite as much stink about having to share their precious secrets with foreigners and those who haven’t really embraced their cultural norms. Ergo, in these modern days of decaying decency and the dissolution of perennially supportive social structures, Bon has taken the lead in bringing the higher levels of Dzogchen and related esoteric practices forth out into the light of day where all those who have interest and thirst for such knowledge might find sustenance and rest.

You still need a very competent teacher to make progress. But if you don’t really have a clue on what you’re trying to achieve in the first place then you are not going to get very far ahead anyway. No amount of hand-holding or sugar coating will do. Certainly, all real masters agree: the gist of the path hinges upon a hand up and not a handout.

Real progress requires two things: first, some reasonably accurate map for the road to travel so you know when to adjust, refine and recalibrate—or even when to scrap the whole affair and start again; and second, the hard slog of practice—just powering ahead with the endless calisthenics but being ever mindful of the needed occasional swerve or detour or new path to follow.

For getting to maha loka (the first real pure realm beyond the ordinary dimensions), the traditional approach of just following the guru’s instructions does not cut it. It is NOT energy medicine and will never do in the end. At the culmination of your spiritual journey, Light must find Itself, Light. No handout required at this stage.

Okay. Enough of the celestial street smarts and insights, for now. How about some real pay dirt? Let’s start with the competent teacher part and then consider truly illuminating material regarding the more advanced stages of Bon practice which ultimately equate to trekchö (cutting through) and tögal (direct crossing; leaping over), the final stages of Dzogchen.

tenzin Wangyal rinpoche

One of the most respected and widely followed Bön teachers, Tenzin Rinpoche got his start in 1972 at the age of 11 when he entered a monastery headed by the greatest Bön meditation master of the age. Completing his studies and earning a geshe degree (like a doctorate in religious studies) by the mid 1980’s, he gradually found his way to the west—first in Europe and then America. He has lived in the US ever since and now teaches globally both in person and online to students in more than 25 countries.

Good-natured and open-minded to new ideas and discoveries in the sciences, Tenzin Rinpoche encourages his mostly lay students to use daily life as the vehicle for personal and spiritual growth. Here are some fine resources for you to explore that span from common sense to deeply esoteric:

1. Ligmincha International — the place to start: Rinpoche’s organization provides helpful introductory material about all facets of his current activities, events, groups, practices and related resources. You can subscribe to the newsletter to keep up to date. There’s always something going on somewhere in the world.

2. Key books by Tenzin Rinpoche — these are the best books for getting started with a genuine tantric practice which eventually leads to the higher realizations of Dzogchen.

   1. Awakening the Sacred Body — an introduction to tsa (channel) lung (energy, prana)

   2. A-tri Dzogchen — notes and instructions from a 3-year course that Rinpoche teaches about A-tri Dzogchen (a condensed version of the entire Dzogchen path); read this and then when the A-tri Dzogchen course starts at year 1 again, you can join in (either live in Crestone, Colorado, or online)

3. Other important Bön texts and resources

   1. Tibetan Yoga for Health and Well-Being — by Alejandro Chaoul, a senior student of Rinpoche. This introduces trul khor (literally, magical movements), which is a type of Tibetan yoga that incorporates movements, holding the breath and meditation. Ale (as he is often called) also has an excellent Wisdom Academy online course about the same topic that nicely complements his book. There should be yet another online course (same website) on a different (more advanced) but related set of trul khor practices sometime in 2024. Both sets of exercises are super helpful to get you going with intermediate level energy work. They will prepare you for taking on the more advanced tummo practices taught by Rinpoche.

   2. Books by Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen — these will help place you in the big leagues: Shardza Rinpoche achieved the rainbow body in 1934 (transformed his physical form into a field of light at death; so, the physical body essentially disappeared). The following text provides an abundance of help for serious meditators. Best to start here. You will still need supportive instructions by a living master to make sense of it all but this along with his other books will certainly help you get into the right numinous ballpark.

      1. Self-Arising Three-fold Embodiment of Enlightenment — addresses very advanced practices from various sources including A-tri Dzogchen.

Key courses by Tenzin Rinpoche

Once you have digested some of the preceding materials, your next stop on the journey would be to take some of Tenzin Rinpoche’s more advanced trainings, in person if possible, or at least online. He teaches plenty of other courses, such as Dream Yoga, so if any of those catch your fancy then go for it. However, make sure to find your way eventually to the following few real jewels. They represent the crown and heights of serious Bön yoga:

1. A-tri Dzogchen — a three-year course based on the text, Pith Instructions for A Khrid rDzogs Chen (A-tri Dzogchen; besides Rinpoche’s book, see also the 2019 translation by Dan Brown and Geshe Sonam Gurung)

2. Tummo — based upon Shardza Rinpoche’s book listed above, Tenzin Rinpoche teaches a progressive series of courses on tummo over consecutive years. The current series is up to stage 4 but a refresher course is usually offered at some point in the year so you can catch up to the current stage of work. Tummo entails energy work along the midline of the body (central channel) and can lead to profound levels of realization. Some Tibetan schools (Bon included) consider this a necessary preliminary stage before undertaking the final and most advanced stages of Dzogchen practice (which seem simple: “just let go” but are extremely difficult if the body’s energy matrix is not balanced and in good order).

3. Chak-tri Dzogchen — the most complete presentation of the Bon path to Dzogchen realization. This comprises five years of increasingly more subtle energy work and heart transformation. It is the hallmark of Tenzin Rinpoche’s teachings. You will find it listed on the Ligmincha International website as Winter Retreat: Experiential Transmission of Zhan Zhung. There is no way to jump in once the series starts. Thus, your next opportunity will be in the winter (usually end of December) of 2025. Definitely worth the wait. Besides, there’s plenty to study and learn and master before then anyway.

Like Tibetan Buddhism, Daoism incorporates both traditional yogic and shamanic techniques but its emphasis on shamanic practice is even greater. Thus, Daoist yoga gives the clearest and cleanest glimpse of how to proceed from beginning stages of yogic practice to the intermediate levels of accomplishment. Tibetan Buddhism provides the best map for progress from intermediate to advanced levels (generation stage to completion stage). And, because Hindu yoga chiefly concerns itself with advanced levels of meditation, it offers the keenest guidance for this level of the work (completion stage).

Of course, all three yogic traditions have excellent techniques and advice for all stages of spiritual practice. Still, because each has a particular flavor of going about the business of achieving enlightenment, it stands to reason that one should respect these especial nuances and cull out what can usefully be incorporated into a consolidated practice.

daoism

Daoism, properly understood covers a whole lot more turf than simply yogic technique. First and foremost, Daoism—like all other world religions—putters about as a means of social control and regulation, all nicely effected under the innocent pretense of helping the masses keep in tune with the Dao (heaven). And, like all other world religions, Daoism touts a spiritual side too.

If you have interest in learning more about Daoism as a religion, these days you have access to some great academic references. For instance, anything by Livia Kohn will provide you a balanced perspective. Here’s the link to her website: Three Pines Press. For the academic slant on neidan (advanced Daoist yoga) you can check out Fabrizio Pregadio. And here’s the link to his website: Golden Elixir Press.

However, the esoteric part of Daoism, as a living practice and not an intellectual exegesis, unfortunately remains wrapped in mystery and firmly lost within the bowels of the religion. Remarkably, some small cracks in this great stonewall of silence have sprouted over the last decade or two.

You now have the possibility of learning authentic Daoism (religion and all) mostly online through the auspices of the Parting Clouds organization. In fact, you can continue your studies and even become ordained as a Daoist priest (and officially recognized by the main Daoist body in China).

Note that the path to priesthood entails wading through copious amounts of religion (scriptures, precepts, rituals, talismans, incantations, prayers) mostly before you ever get to the real substance of spiritual development (meditation, inner qigong, cosmic qigong). However, if tradition is what you seek, here you can quench your thirst in a most satisfying way. Just click the link below to get more info:

1. Parting Clouds Daoist Education — run by two affable and thoughtful westerners who have spent many years in China learning the ropes and getting ordained in various Daoist sects.

neigong (inner qigong)

This is the level of yoga practice where Daoism shines. Once you can sense qi (prana, energy) you then learn to direct it along energy flows inside the body and gradually learn to focus the qi at chakras and other acupoints. The following two teachers both studied internal martial arts and Daoism for many years while living in China. They both became Daoist priests and offer westerners some of the most grounded and useful advice for this stage.

Jerry alan johnson

A licensed physician in China, Dr. Johnson has produced a series of exceptional texts, DVDs and an online course on medical qigong that are unparalleled in the west. While you might wonder what this has to do with yoga practice, the actuality is ... a lot. Medical qigong generally seeks to clear out blocked patterns of qi. Learning even a few of the techniques will arm you with enough prowess to clear out blocked chakras and inner channels (suṣumṇā, iḍā, piṅgala).

1. The Secret Teachings of Chinese Energetic Medicine (volumes 1 - 5)

2. Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy (DVDs 1 - 10)

3. Houston Cancer Seminar (there are six different sets [1 - 6] each of which has multiple DVDs)

4. Doctor of Chinese Energetic Medicine online course (16 modules) a brilliant presentation of many of the topics from his books listed above as item 1; a bit pricey but worth the investment

Bruce Frantzis

Following a similar path of personal and spiritual development in China, his great gift to westerners is a marvelous and detailed presentation on Baguazhang (Bagua Zhang), a Chinese style of kung fu. The word literally means eight trigram palm. The "eight trigram" part relates to Daoist theory and the "palm" part indicates a martial art. This style employs continuously weaving and shifting movements. The fundamental practice, called circle walking, seems deceptively innocent but can lead to incredible gains in fluidity and speed.

Although Baguazhang enjoys fame mostly as a premiere form of martial art, its circle walking practices can be—and are—used to develop exceptional states of mental focus and presence. This application of circle walking is quite similar to the Zen Buddhist walking meditation known as kinhin. However, the Daoist application of circle walking goes beyond mere mindfulness (as in kinhin) to include a concomitant cultivation of qi. So, gradually the focused attention of a person walking the circle becomes more and more subtle as it tracks an increasing ability to sense and manipulate qi (energy). 

1. Bagua Mastery Program (an extensive online program consisting of written, audio and video materials)

2. Summer 2020 Training: Qigong for the spine and nervous system (you can email his staff at support@energyarts.com and ask if they can make this available for you: it has a priceless section on Bending the Bow qigong that pulls together a lot of loose ends)

3. Otherwise, anything you can get by Bruce will help you develop qigong and neigong skills in a grounded and useful way.

Neidan (inner elixir)

Neidan (inner elixir) represents the most advanced stage of Daoist yoga practice. It corresponds to completion stage practices in both Hindu yoga and Tibetan Buddhism. For instance, the Tibetan Buddhist completion stage practice of developing a light body (energy body independent of a person's physical form) is entirely the same as the Daoist practice of spawning a spiritual embryo (the spark of this energy body) and then cultivating its full manifestation into an independent light body for the practitioner.  

Now, Daoism has few active masters teaching in the west so it has remained a relatively obscure tradition even to this day. In general, any information about the most advanced Daoist practices is either obscure (simple translation of ancient texts without helpful commentary) or plain missing.

The only real way to learn a complete Daoist yogic practice from start to finish would be to live and study directly with Daoist priests and advanced meditators for many years. However, given the unfortunate downturn in religious freedom since the Communist takeover in China many decades ago, this option constitutes little more than a pipedream.

Patches of esoteric knowledge remain here and there but the Communist regime has forbidden some advanced Daoist practices as part of its efforts to marginalize all religions. Further, the state closely controls what is acceptable and how Daoism can be practiced. In fact, many of the more famous Daoist centers are now not much better than theme parks used to entertain the masses (the outer walls of some temples even get adorned with strings of colorful lights to jazz up the nightlife). Still, note that the diaspora of some Daoist priests to foreign lands might provide another venue for at least partial study.

Fortunately for all of us who don’t speak fluent Chinese, during the last handful of years, some genuine and understandable teachings on neidan have arrived. Here they are:

1. Taoist Alchemy of Wang Liping (volumes 1, 2 and 3) by Nathan Brine — hands down, these are the best books to date; seriously, they scintillate compared to anything else. Why? How about readable, understandable English to start? Nathan has studied many years with Master Liping and completed graduate work in Chinese studies so the books flow, are logical and have enough detail to convey what needs to be done. Future volumes are intended. Fingers crossed!

2. Taoist Alchemy Online — Nathan’s online courses help round out the teachings in his books. If you seriously want to get a solid start on the essential first steps of neidan, you need look no further: this is the real deal. At present there are five courses which correspond to the full content of his two books.

Beyond this, the best bet is to learn as much about advanced Hindu yogic and Tibetan Buddhist practice as you can. This way, you have a base from which to judge the Daoist information you gather and the teachings you receive. After all, any advanced yoga practice will be aiming for similar goals and using similar tools. However, the full practice details for the most advanced stages of neidan as described in the Daoist literature still need to be gleaned. They have not been made generally available to the public by Master Liping or anyone else. 

Also note that Master Liping does have a text of his teachings published by another student. Just search for Wang Liping. However, this text is cryptic unless you already know what the teachings are. Here are some secondary resources with marginal information about neidan or related neigong practices. They are worth a browse.

Jwing-Ming Yang

Although not a Daoist, nor trained specifically in Daoist yoga, Dr. Yang does provide some important details relevant to the advanced qigong practice at this level. He especially clarifies the sequence of qi skill development up through consolidating qi at the mud palace (ajna chakra; third eye) and linking it with qi at the lower Dantian (internal abdomen). The following four books are essential reading and cover qigong practice that spans from later stages of neigong to beginning stages of neidan. You can check out his website at: Dr Yang, Jwing-Ming.

1. QIgong Meditation — Small Circulation (theory and practice of microcosmic orbit)

2. Qigong Meditation — Embryonic Breathing (essential practice information for reversed breathing and cultivating qi along the Chong meridian [central channel of yoga])

3. Qigong Meditation — Grand Circulation: for spiritual enlightenment (despite the grandiose title this mostly discusses neigong practices to complement the first two books)

4. Qigong — The Secret of Youth (essential information about marrow/brain washing)

5. Understanding Qigong

   1. DVDs 3, 5 and 6 complement the books (but do get the books as they have some key practice information not on the DVDs)

Mantak chia

The most famous Daoist teacher accessible to westerners, he has books, DVDs and courses about many topics and also offers live training. His presentations of the following advanced topics are particularly helpful:

1. Fusion of the Five Elements (cultivation of energy flows and focused energy at set points)

2. Kan and Li (this corresponds to tummo in Tibetan Buddhism; there are three stages here)

3. Sealing of the Five Senses (integration of preceding energies with the senses and mind)

4. Dual cultivation (this relates to tantric practice with a partner [human, or other forms, such as nature, plants, trees, sky, planets, stars, other beings]—on earth or elsewhere in the universe or on another plane of existence altogether)

Damo Mitchell

An acupuncturist and widely-trained martial artist, he has studied on and off at Daoist monasteries in China for many years. He's still in the process of learning and mastering neidan but his book on the subject does add some clarity to a few of the beginning and intermediate techniques. Although it is not enough to go on by itself, the book is worth using as a reference to compare with other sources of information.

1. White Moon on the Mountain Peak (covers Kan and Li; reversing the five elements; alchemical agents)

Jerry alan johnson

Building on the materials presented in his set of medical qigong texts and videos (refer to the Neigong section just above),  Dr. Johnson has provided an excellent synopsis and some valuable instruction on Daoist practice relevant to neidan.

The following text is, after Nathan Brine’s brilliant books on neidan, the second best resource you will find to help you get started with inner alchemy—it respectfully explains the magical side of the work while grounding in practical and useful techniques. However, the book is NOT self-standing. Only the books by Nathan Brine on Daoist practice are.

For completeness and due diligence, one would be wise to harvest from several sources. It's a certainty that if you study this book along with all the other quoted resources in this section on neidan you WILL have a solid framework for what the practice is all about—even without having set foot in a Daoist temple or traveling to China.

The next step, for those really serious about neidan would be to learn Chinese and possibly study with Parting Clouds to become a Daoist priest (see the previous section titled Daoism). That way the deities will help your practice and you can read some of the primary literature about cultivating the inner elixir. For now, the books and other resources listed in this section will be plenty to get you going the right way.

1. Daoist Internal Alchemy: Neigong & Weigong Training (a good overview along with some essential details of beginning practice)