Shows
Tales of the Fat MonkThe Lost Chapter: River Diagram in the Hermit's CaveSend us a textThis is one of the "lost chapters" intended to appear earlier in the series but was skipped over.Xiaoyao loses his way at evening in the deep mountains, but a chance meeting saves him from a freezing overnight sojourn.The hermit takes the opportunity to try and teach Xiaoyao the arcane secrets of the River Diagram--the 河圖--which communicates its crucial message symbolically, using a structured pattern of black and white dots. The structure itself is based upon a magic square of fifteen.This can be confusing unless you...2024-07-3127 min
Tales of the Fat MonkMaster Nan Huaijin Discusses a Daoist PoemSend us a textThis poem from 張伯端 Zhang Bo-Duan (author of the 悟真篇 Wu Zhen Pian: Understanding Reality, one of the most famous classics of Daoist alchemy) was explained by Master Nan during a seven day Zen retreat held in China.心内观心觅本心xīn neì guān xīn mì běn xīn心心俱绝见真心xīn xīn jù jué jiàn zhēn xīn真心明徹通三界Zhēn xīn míng chè tōng sān jiè外道邪魔不敢侵waì daò xié mó bù gǎn qīnSHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, h...2024-07-2107 minTales of the Fat MonkLi Daochun's Preface to his Dao De Hui YuanSend us a textLi Dao-Chun (李道純) was a 13th century Daoist Master in the line of the famous 4th generation Master of the southern Nei Dan lineage, Bai Yuchan. Li is author of the Zhōng Hé Jí (中和集) translated as The Book of Balance and Harmony by Thomas Cleary.This selection, which to my knowledge has not been previously translated, is the valuable preface and introduction to Li Dao-Chun’s Dào Dé Huì Yuán, his commentary on Lao Zi’s Dào Dé Jīng, and the rationale for his edits.SHOW NOTES:...2024-07-1308 minTales of the Fat MonkBonus Episode: Resolving Confusion, Cultivating TranscendenceSend us a textBai Yu-Chan (1194-1229?) was a key figure in Southern Song dynasty Daoism and internal alchemy. The following is written as a discussion with his teacher Chen Nan (d. 1213), the fourth patriarch of the Nanzong lineage.Resolving Confusions in Cultivating Transcendence(Xiū Xiān Biàn Huò Lùn)《修仙辨惑論》This excerpt is from section four of the Zazhu Zhixuan Pian (miscellaneous essays guiding toward the mystery) found in Bai’s Xiuzhen Shishu (Ten Books on Cultivating Trueness); other essays in this section include discussions of the valley spirit, ascent and descent of...2024-06-2918 min
Tales of the Fat MonkBonus Episode: Yum Cha as Life TrainingSend us a textXiaoyao meets his old friend Ante Babic, who reveals his discovery of a secret system of life training that the Chinese have instituted without anyone taking notice: the institution of Yum Cha (or "Dim Sum").SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, lived with a solitary monk in the mountains of Korea, dined with the family of the last emperor of China, and helped police with their enquiries in Amarillo...2024-06-1611 minTales of the Fat MonkBonus Episode: Two Letters of Liu Yi-MingSend us a textLiu Yiming was one of the greatest Daoists of the eighteenth century, with numerous writings on all the Daoist classics.He corresponded with numerous disciples and other devout lay people throughout the country, describing in many cases his owns travails on the Path and the various teachers he learned with.He may then provide spiritual advice for his correspondent (at which point it becomes obligatory to state that attempting to follow spiritual advice designed for another is tantamount to taking someone else’s medical presription).In either ca...2024-06-0414 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Twenty-Four: A Visit into the MonasterySend us a textXiaoyao ventures into the Mundus Imaginalis, and finds strangeness, unexpected encounters and … welcome. “Joyful the moment when we sat in the bower, Thou and I;In two forms and two faces—with one soul, Thou and I.The colour of the garden and the song of the birds give the elixir of immortalityThe instant we come into the orchard, Thou and I.This is stranger, that Thou and I, in this corner here …Are both in one breath in Iraq...2024-05-2223 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Twenty Three: Pacing the CosmosSend us a textXiaoyao enters a hidden chamber and witnesses a strange dance, before learning more about "medicine," the gathering of scattered medicine and use of it, and its exoteric and esoteric processes.The "Earth of Attention" (意土 yì tǔ) centering the ascending elements of hún (魂) and shén (神) against the descending elements of pò (魄) and jing (精), the evoking of presence as a method of working, and the difference between "heavy" and "light" thinking.And the importance of the saying "Once the fish is caught, you can discard the net."SHOW NOTES:...2024-05-1126 minTales of the Fat MonkBonus Episode Intermediate Worlds Part IISend us a textZhuangzi tells the story of Tian Gen who meets the Man without a Name, one who wanders amongst and between the worlds, in a subtle realm with no borders.But how do we know when we have slipped into a subtle realm? There are a few indications: TIME feels different, flexible and shifting; PLACE is no longer so fixed and determinate; PERSONS manifest a light--or a darkness--depending upon the state they are inhabiting at the moment; and our STATE carries a feeling as if we are dreaming and yet alert and...2024-05-0137 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Twenty-Two: Gathering MedicineSend us a text"Ru zi, ke jiao ye!"The Hermit tests Xiaoyao, who thinks that the Hermit will teach him about locating herbs in the mountains.The Reality, however ....SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, lived with a solitary monk in the mountains of Korea, dined with the family of the last emperor of China, and helped police with their enquiries in Amarillo, Texas.2024-04-2515 minTales of the Fat MonkBonus Episode: Intermediate WorldsSend us a textWhat ARE the "Perilous Realms," the "Unseen Lands' that Tolkien, Goethe, Coleridge, Wordsworth, C.S. Lewis and Henri Corbin have introduced to Western civilisation over the last century?What is the difference between wooly-headed daydreaming and actively employed imagination? And why do scientists and authors such as Iain McGilchrist say things such as "fantasy is one thing but imagination is the only chance we have to reach reality. It is not a matter of putting fancy dress versions of the world in front of the world. It is clearing all that away...2024-04-1723 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Twenty-One: Tea Tales in the Hermit's CaveSend us a textThe Fat Monk and Xiaoyao visit the Hermit for a quiet talk, but find the Boatman and his friend--who Xiaoyao has never met--already there.Tea is the main topic of the day, but in the course of the discussion, the Fat Monk's peculiar aversion to Zhuangzi is exposed.It turns out the Boatman's friend is well-versed in all things Zhuangzi ...SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit...2024-04-0928 minTales of the Fat MonkBonus Episode: the Art of Living and the Game of Go (Wei Qi, Baduk)Send us a text"Music, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting" are the four arts whcih every refined person should become accomplished in.But "Chess" does not mean Western chess, rather it is the sophisticated--but extremely simple--game of surrounding, known as 圍棋."Simple" because all you do is place a piece on any of 361 intersections on the board, aiming to surround your opponent."Sophisticated" because choosing the right place to put that piece involves thinking strategically on many fronts at once.Not to mention all the ways the game of Go reflects the whole cosmos ...2024-04-0217 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Twenty: Thirty SpokesSend us a textXiaoyao discovers a recently established study group now being conduceted by none other than Xiao Jing, assisted by Ling Ling and other past students from Shi Jie's restaurant.Xiaoyao becomes obsessed with discovering the identity of the mysterious "Opener" for the group, and Ling Ling shows him her new "Wu Wei" tattoo.SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, lived with a solitary monk in...2024-03-2830 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Nineteen: Wild Grass WritingSend us a textWhile setting up a Calligraphy and Arts exhibition at the Monastery, the Fat Monk and friends discuss the amazing Fu Qingzhu, heroic anti-Manchu rebel, iconoclastic calligrapher who single-handedly transformed the art of writing as an art form, and Chinese doctor famous for his work on Chinese herbal gynaecology.The Abbot shows off a piece by Fu Qingzhu in what appear to be the secret Fu characters known only to Daoist priests, and relates a strange and tragic story about Fu Qingzhu and his son.What comes as a surprise to...2024-03-2123 minTales of the Fat MonkBonus Episode: Master Nan describes Zhuge Liang's "Letter to my Son"Send us a textIf there is one name every single Chinese person knows, it is Zhuge Liang. Famous for his military strategies employed during the Warring States period, his exploits were immortalised in the Ming dynasty novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義 Sān Guó Yǎn Yì), describing his almost prescient ability to anticipate the enemy’s moves and plan in advance. But there are very few remaining records of his actual writing. One is “Letter to My Son,” which Master Nan Huaijin describes here, emphasizing its importance to his students (who, with typical Na...2024-03-1414 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Eighteen: Billie and the ShamanSend us a textThis is a true story.Not "based on a true story." Even the names have not been changed to protect the innocent. Everything happened exactly as described.** Well, except maybe the tall farmer.SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, lived with a solitary monk in the mountains of Korea, dined with the family of the last emperor of China, and...2024-03-0826 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Seventeen: Fire on the MountainSend us a textA meeting with a stranger in a Hong Kong pub sets Xiaoyao on a path that will involve him in unexplainable occurences.Cook demonstrates the stalk method of divination in using the Yi Jing, and the answer to Xiaoyao's question; an answer which he finds deeply disturbing.Professor Ma explains the difference between "natural" and "supernatural."SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, lived with a...2024-03-0132 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Sixteen: Trigrams Mountain to MarshSend us a textTrigrams Mountain to Marsh finishes the discussion on Kǎn (Abyss) and Lí (Brightness), and then goes on to investigate the last four trigrams Mountain: Gèn (☶), Thunder: Zhèn (☳); Wind: Xùn (☴) and Marsh: Duì (☱).Little does he know that this simple conversation will cast him on a journey toward the green and pacific island of Formosa. Instead of a transcript, a PDF of these two epsodes can be found here:https://thefatmonk.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/trigrams-mountain-to-marsh.pdfSHOW NOTES:Xia...2024-02-2317 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Fifteen: Trigrams Heaven and EarthSend us a textXiaoyao returns to the monastery, only to come face-to-face with the new abbot, an imposing figure feared by not-a-few of the monks.Later, he is able to clear up many misconceptions regarding the trigrams Qián (Heaven), Kūn (Earth), Kǎn (Abyss) and Lí (Brightness)Little does he know that this simple conversation will cast him on a journey toward the green and pacific island of Formosa.Qián (☰) Kūn (☷) Kǎn (☵) Lí (☲)The discussion is continued in Chapter Sixteen: Trigrams M...2024-02-1831 minTales of the Fat MonkBonus Episode: A Review of Thomas Cleary's "Vitality, Energy, Spirit"Send us a textHow I came to change my mind regarding Thomas Cleary.SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, lived with a solitary monk in the mountains of Korea, dined with the family of the last emperor of China, and helped police with their enquiries in Amarillo, Texas.FAN MAIL is. a new feature now available to leave feedback on episodes, love or hate them. Look for the button in...2024-02-0908 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Fourteen: Sword and LuteSend us a textXiaoyao confronts a crucial episode of blanked out memory, in which Shijie provides a detailed examination of chapter two of the Dao De Jing, and Xiaoyao meets the mysterious Master Gu Yan. Cook explains what he meant by "meat buns for the mind," and the fat monk uses sweet black sesame soup to restore Xiaoyao's experience.SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, lived with a...2024-02-0138 minTales of the Fat MonkBonus Episode: Liu Yiming's Preface to "The True Intent of the Journey to the West"Send us a textLiu Yiming was one of the greatest Daoists of the eighteenth century, with numerous writings on all the Daoist classics.He was afraid however that the world would ignore what he saw as a crucial text for human development, simply because it did not conform to what people might expect such a text to look like* and therefore only read it for entertainment.The text he had in mind was "Journey to the West" which we know as the adventures of Monkey, and so he wrote a detailed commentary...2024-01-2111 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Thirteen: The Nine-Toothed RakeSend us a textXiaoyao uncovers a Tang dynasty poem from Ancestor Lǚ, Lǚ Dōng-Bīn.Cook and the fat monk lay bear the Daoist meanings of an episode in the Journey to the West, in which the daughter of the headman of Gao Lao Zhuang has been imprisoned by the promiscuous Pig.To save her, Monkey takes on her form and makes Pig's life a living hell.As always, for original Chinese characters, footnotes and explanations, see the transcript which is available on the right side of this page....2024-01-1826 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Twelve: Silent AccordSend us a textXiaoyao visits Shijie's husband, Dr. Jiang, at the famous old Chinese medicine pharmacy across the road from Shijie's restaurant, and asks him an awkward question.Shijie inducts three new members into her Daoist group, and gives them specific instructions on how to make the best use of their novitiate.The fat monk describes the design of a group, why it has the structure it does, and how academics so often get it totally wrong because they have no idea of the concept of "correction."SHOW NOTES:2024-01-1527 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Eleven: The Pine Valley DaoistSend us a textXiaoyao discovers an ancient and enigmatic inscription in a hidden alcove of the monastery, and learns the difficult technique of stone rubbing.The fat monk and the boatman instruct him in the art of duàn jù: "breaking the sentences" for pieces of writing that have no punctuation and look utterly incomprehensible. (See the transcript for the original piece in Chinese).Later, the Abbot joins them as they parse through the text written by the Pine Vally Daoist, and the fat monk finally learns his lesson....2024-01-0827 minTales of the Fat MonkBonus Episode: Master Nan Tells a Zen StorySend us a textThe contemporary master Nan Huaijin (Nan Huai-Chin), during one of his lectures, brought up this old story about the very early Zen master Yaoshan Weiyan (藥山惟儼) who died in the ninth century. Yaoshan left an extensive record of "sayings" which have been used throughout the centuries as sparks for enlightenment.Here is one:One day, as Weiyan was sitting, Master Shitou asked him, “What are you doing here?”Weiyan said, “I'm not doing anything.”The master said, “Then you're just sitting idly.”Weiyan said, “If I were sitting idly, I'd be doing som...2023-12-2505 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Ten The Dao of CultivationSend us a textCook walks in, choppers held high, and advances on the fat monk.Xiaoyao is ordered to do manual labour by the Abbot, but is sneered at by Xiao Jing.The Abbot and Shijie instruct the two young students in the fine points of the Classic for Contemplating the Marvellous (Taishang Dongxuan Lingbao Guanmiao Jing, 太上洞玄靈寶觀妙經), a Tang dynasty meditation and internal alchemy text.SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, l...2023-12-2328 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Nine: Emergence from the Hidden TreasurySend us a textAfter practicing the Three Powers Sword form, they rest and the fat monk describes how gongfu practice should change with the seasons as the tissues of the body shift and alter at the different times of the year.Back at the library following the ruckus at the kitchen, they discuss the importance of the difference between the two words for qi:qì (炁) and qì (氣).SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a dec...2023-12-2230 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Eight: In A Daoist CircleSend us a textXiaoyao sits in on a session of Shijie's Daoist circle, where she guides them through the ancient Bǎi Gǔ Guān--the White Bone Contemplation, a meditation routine designed to settle random thoughts and, when taken to its final conclusion, to "study death."Then Xiaoayao, Xiaojing and Ling Ling describe their own investigations of the Xing Ming Gui Zhi (Principles for Essence and Life), an important book on internal alchemy which draws from the "Three Schools": Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.Xiaoyao puts his foot in it, again.SHO...2023-12-1533 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Seven: Alchemy, Demonology and the AbbotSend us a textXiaoyao learns the Daoist mudra "Son and Mother" but learns that "gathering qi" is not always easy.Cook goes on the warpath.Xiaoyao asks about the difference between "aligning with the Dao" and Chinese internal alchemy, the surprising reality of "demons" and how to combat them.But then he is called to meet the Abbot.Characters, pinyin and explanations for technical terms can be found in the Transcript, but for convenience the most referenced terms are here:“Components” of internal alchemy神 shén spirit精 jīng ...2023-12-1040 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Six: Pouncing Tiger, Soaring DragonSend us a textThe inner alchemical method of Dragon and Tiger as described in the seminal conversation between the Patriarchs Zhongli Quan and Lü Dongbin and explained by the fat monk in a remote cave looking out over a vast forest of pine.Xiaoyao enters a space deep within and discovers a vast world that explodes with ligSHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, lived with a solitary monk in th...2023-12-0622 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Five: The Dao of StrategySend us a textGuided by the ancient mysterious precepts of the Master of Demon Valley, Shijie and her Daoist students merge with the community to eliminate a malicious and powerful official.At the same time, they design a delicate strategy to save Shijie’s husband from harm by this tyrant, a strategy that hinges on Xiaoyao keeping his mouth shut.SHOW NOTES:Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit je...2023-12-0128 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Four: Working in the WorldSend us a textThe fat monk is on punishment detail, by order of the Abbot, working in the local market.He takes Xiaoyao to meet another student of his own teacher. She runs a vegetarian restaurant which operates as both a focus of her own development and as a hub for local Daoist teaching.Shijie, the Older Sister in the Dao, relates a tale of their teacher at work, when they happen upon a man in the forest dead-set on taking his own life (so potential trigger-warning here!).SHOW NOTES:2023-11-2428 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Three: The Hermit of Dao MountainSend us a textAs the fat Daoist brings Xiaoyao across the river one evening, the boatman warns Xiaoyao that the fat monk may not be all he seems on the surface arousing Xiaoyao's suspicions.Nonetheless, Xiaoyao and the monk discuss the use of certain stories as repositories of wisdom, immune from inquisitions and heretic hunters, but reflective of deeper patterns that operate in our mind, heart and interactions with the world. And that they have been designed and used in this fashion for thousands of years.Asked for proof of this, the Daoist points...2023-11-2336 minTales of the Fat MonkChapter Two - More Talks at a MonasterySend us a textWhile sparring with Xiaoyao, the Daoist demonstrates the real application of the fabled “paralysis points” used in martial arts. As Xiaoyao recovers, the fat monk teaches him a Qi Gong practice from Chen village used to drum up the qi before a session of Taichi practice.Later they discuss savouring the Dao De Jing character by character to learn how to slowly extract the wisdom embedded in the multiple meanings each chapter contains.Finally the fat monk shows how “wordless teaching” can be employed through manipulating items in the environm...2023-11-2029 min