Real Taoism - By Chris Ray Chappell

13/06/2026

Fasting the Mind: A Taoist Path to Inner Stillness

Chris Ray Chappell

There’s a particular kind of mental heaviness most of us know well. Thinking that circles back on itself, feelings that pile up unprocessed, a sense of being full — not of good things, but of noise. We carry it around and wonder why we feel so weighed down.

The ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi had a name for the remedy. He called it xin zhai — the fasting of the heart-mind.

The story of Yan Hui

In Chapter Four of the Zhuangzi, written during the Warring States period (4th–3rd century BCE), there is a quiet and profound exchange between Confucius and his most beloved student, Yan Hui. You can read the full story here.

Yan Hui is preparing to travel to the kingdom of Wei, intending to counsel its young ruler on the harm he is causing his people. Confucius stops him — not because the mission isn’t worthy, but because Yan Hui isn’t ready. His mind, Confucius suggests, is too full to be of any real use.

“You must fast,” Confucius tells him.

Yan Hui, confused, points out that he has already been fasting — no wine, no rich food for months. Confucius shakes his head.

“That is the fasting one does before a sacrifice. Not the fasting of the mind.”

What follows is one of the most elegant descriptions of meditative stillness in classical literature:

“Make your will one. Don’t listen with your ears, listen with your mind. No — don’t listen with your mind, but listen with your spirit. Listening stops with the ears, the mind stops with recognition, but spirit is empty and waits on all things. The Way gathers in emptiness alone. Emptiness is the fasting of the mind.”

When Yan Hui hears this, something shifts.

“Before I heard this, I was certain I was Hui. But now that I have heard it, there is no more Hui. Can this be called emptiness?”

“That’s all there is to it,” says Confucius.

What is the heart-mind?

The Chinese character at the centre of this teaching is xin (心) — a word that means both heart and mind simultaneously. In the West we tend to separate these: the brain thinks, the heart feels. In Taoist understanding they are one system, inseparable.

In practical terms, xin refers to the Qi felt in and around the chest — not the physical heart itself, but the living energy of that region. When we overthink, we feel pressure in the head. When we are emotionally overwhelmed, we feel it in the chest. These are not two separate problems. They are one pattern, expressing itself in two places.

Emotions, when we stop fighting or amplifying them, subside naturally — like bubbles rising through still water and quietly dissolving at the surface. What remains is not blankness, but peace. The Taoist view is that beneath all this mental activity there is a wordless, open state that has always been there. It was never given to you. It cannot be taken away. It is the you that exists before the story of you begins.

Even the troubled young ruler Wei carries this inherent stillness within him. He simply has no awareness of it yet.

Why a full mind cannot help anyone

Caring without inner stillness is just noise wearing a compassionate mask.
Yan Hui’s problem — and it’s one most of us share — is that his mind is cluttered with unfinished thinking. He has developed a strong attachment to his identity, his role, his sense of purpose. His thoughts never fully resolve. Each one loops back before it can be released, creating a kind of inner gridlock.

From this place, even the best intentions backfire. We try to change others before finding clarity within ourselves. We push, and in doing so we hand our equilibrium over to people and situations that were never ours to control. Confucius isn’t criticising Yan Hui for caring — he’s pointing out that caring without inner stillness is just noise wearing a compassionate mask.

Any remnant of unexamined ego, however well-meaning, will eventually cause trouble.

What this means in practice

Meditation — the fasting of the mind — isn’t about achieving some exotic state. It is simply the practice of creating enough inner space that the noise begins to settle.

In my Qi Gong teaching, this is where we always begin. Before any movement, before any technique — we rest the attention on the breath in the body. No agenda. Just observation. This simple act creates a gap between who we think we are and what we actually are, and in that gap, restrictive patterns become visible. Once seen, they can begin to shift.

The storms of life are real and they will keep coming. But meditation isn’t about calm weather — it’s about learning that the waves battering your boat arise from the same vast ocean that is, at its depths, completely still. When we settle, that stillness becomes available to us. And from that place, we can meet the world — and the people in it — with something genuine to offer.

If you’d like to explore this for yourself, the Body and Meditation Introductory Course is a practical starting point. We begin exactly where Confucius left off — with the simple, radical act of learning to listen with the whole of yourself.

06/05/2026

( Qi Gong is recent catch all term for working with ones energy network from the 1950's ) Modern Qi Gongers refer to older preceeding methods such as the well known Daoyintu as being 4 or even 6 thousand years old, what in earth are they referring too and how farback does exercise for treaing ailments go back. Let's briefly view the evidence.

Folks did stretch and move about as documented by the Mawangdui Silk Texts (馬王堆帛書) which are a collection of ancient Chinese manuscripts discovered in 1973 in Tomb 3 at the Mawangdui site in Changsha, Hunan, China. These artifacts, dating back to the Western Han Dynasty (roughly 168 BCE)

There are also Literary References (4th Century BCE): Texts like the Zhuangzi (circa 4th century BCE) mention daoyin exercises (expelling the old and taking in the new, moving like a bear or bird) used to promote longevity, proving the practices existed centuries before the Mawangdui silk chart.

Certainly there is evidence from China of archeological in nature and literary that exercise was proscribed for health in ancient times.

There are some suggestive, but not really hard evidence, according to some medical historians, that breathing exercises, regarded as medical gymnastics were being practiced in China as early as 2600 BCE.

It is good to note that strenous exercise was not proscribed for health issues.

food for thought

The Mawangdui Scroll,a reconstruction and the battered original

06/05/2026

Just be awake 🙏

~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

"Meditation" this term has been abused. We should change this term to "Alive". Because no matter it is three minutes or five minutes, during the time of meditation, you're alive, you are consciously alive!

At present, basically we are just like a walking corpses. When we drink tea, we are thinking of other things; when we look at the beautiful trees, we cannot aware those green beauty.

Alive is very important, but alive nakedly is even more important.

04/05/2026

Tukdam (Standard Tibetan: ཐུགས་དམ, Wylie: thugs dam) is a Vajrayana Buddhist meditative state occurring after clinical death, where advanced practitioners are believed to maintain their consciousness in a state of "Clear Light," keeping the body fresh and without decomposition for days or weeks. It is considered a profound, expert meditative achievement.
More alive in Tugdam than most folks who appear to be living.
Blessings 🙏🙏🙏

Shared by a disciple of Lama Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche:

"I share this picture because it shows the miracle of Dharma and inspires us to become true Dharma practitioners.
This is Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche after he had physically died.
Rinpoche died in meditative samadhi, abiding in the natural state.
He died fearlessly like the great yogi that he was.
When you look at this picture it appears as if he is still living, but in truth he had left the body, but he remained in the meditative state, his body not decaying, just shiny and radiant.
I do not know how long he remained in this state, because in America, when someone dies, they don't really allow a body to remain. In the west we are a nihilistic culture that does not recognize such miracles. But in Tibet and the East great masters have been known to remain in this state for weeks or longer, there is no decay or bad smell, really this is true.
Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche was one great yogi, and how he died is proof, this picture was taken after his physical death, I would not lie or deceive anyone, this is a true miracle of Dharma practice.
It is said when a great lama dies there blessings at that time are even greater, for those who who were connected.
I personally know this to be true. Two hours before Ontul Rinpoche told me Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche died I was doing guru yoga and was overcome with tears, which is not usual for me, I can't remember the last time I cried, I felt Rinpoche so strongly, I just felt it was because I knew he was sick and wanted him to live.
But in truth Rinpoche had left the body and was just ever present in the natural state, I felt closer to him than ever before.
I share this for all those who were connected with Rinpoche, now is the time to supplicate him, Rinpoche permeates space and time, his blessings flow like a waterfall.
Lho Ontul Rinpoche shared this photo with me this morning and I share it to inspire all of us to become true practitioners and not waste this previous human life.
Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche is proof of the truth of Dharma. He faced his death without fear, he left his body behind, but he gave us this parting blessing, to inspire our faith and devotion.
Let us take up his example, let us discard the nihilistic trappings of our culture that says miracles do not happen. Let us cast aside all the distractions of worldly things which contaminate our faith and fill us with doubts.
Miracles happen, death can be conquered. We just don't dissappear into nihilistic nothingness at death. Death is not the end.
At death we travel onwards based on our actions in this life.
And it does not matter if you are a Buddhist or your spiritual tradition. If you lived a life based on love and benefitting others, that is what matters, love is the ultimate refuge and protection. If you based your life on attaining great wealth and power, it is all meaningless, all the advertising, saying we need this and that to be happy, it is all lies. It is just nihilism.
Love is all that matter, and with love comes wisdom.
If you are a Christian Jesus had two commandments , to love God and to love each other, this is truth.
If you have no spiritual path, the only worldy philosophies, that have any validity, boil down to love and benefitting others, all the rest is just meaningless.
I do not want to sound like I am preaching, even though my words may sound nice, I know I am far from what I speak of, but I am trying, and the way Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche lived his life and faced and conquered death inspires me to write these words.
I am many things, but I am not a liar, and this is Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche after his physical death.
May his blessings and the blessings of all spiritual and secular traditions based on love permeate every last sentient being.
May the nihilism of the world be vanquished, and may all sentient beings come to abide in the indestructible love that is within each and every one of us."
Memo: Venerable Lord Zhongba, Drikung Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche dissolved into Dharmakaya
"In the beginning of January this year, Rinpoche pilgrimaged holy places in southern India and Nepal.
After that, while staying in Taiwan, Rinpoche had acute illness and was sent to the hospital for examination and treatment. Feeling slightly better, Rinpoche returned to the United States. During that time, his closed disciples, relatives and friends earnestly requested Rinpoche to receive medical examination and treatment. However, Rinpoche held a reserved attitude towards western medicine and said, “I am by now eighty years old; while I am making my own decision, there is no need to worry about me. After all, I am the disciple of the Drikung Kyobpa Lord of the Three Worlds Jigten Sumgön and for that reason, there is no hindrance.”
Later, Rinpoche reduced eating faulty coarse food and frequently supplicated to the Kagyu historical masters. Most of the time, Rinpoche were in meditative concentration state, though and then he would
suddenly sang Doha songs of awakening and realization. One day while eating breakfast, Rinpoche due to blockage of qi and blood felt uncomfortable; with both eyes gazing into the space, he spoke:
Abide the mind naturally in state of Great Bliss –
This is really very rare and marvelous.
When the four aggregates fail,
Qi moves confusedly and uncontrollably,
creating phantom-like phenomena.
When rides with a stallion
of strong devotion and blessings,
Mind runs towards the natural uncreated state.
This is really very rare and marvelous.
Although Venerable guru had followed various New Secret Mantra Translation and Old Secret Mantra
Translation gurus, he regarded the great bodhisattva Khunu Tenzin Gyaltsen (Dharma Banner Upholder) as his root guru. Rinpoche often while recollecting his root teacher, could not help shedding uncontrollable sorrowful tears, and then he immediately entered into meditation. When he came out of meditation, he straightaway sang Doha of awakening and realization:
Victorious guru, the one named Khunu,
The moment I bring him into my recollection,
The breath would naturally cease and
The mind would liberate into the primordial Dharmakaya nature.
Venerable guru had never accumulated any gold, silver or wealth. All the precious Buddha statues in the
shrine were given to his disciples. He said, “I would not leave any wealth behind.” Rinpoche had many
such requests. Below are the two most important ones:
1. Do not use gold or silver to construct offering stupa
Only the relics of the master who is equipped with characters and signs are suited to build offering stupa.
It is because its benefit is vase. If those without merits and characters are involved in building the offering stupa, it brings only obstacle to the wealth of faith, thus without any benefit. So disciples should only use clay and stone to shape my statues.
2. I have no reincarnation. All disciples who have ever received oral transmission and teachings from me are my dharmakaya emanations. All disciples should connect with each other with the same mind, live in harmony, speech and mind should be consistent (be honest and straightforward), put Dharma into practice and strive until real conviction in the Dharma is gained. Most Venerable Lord Jigten Sungöm had said, “I do not have any special Pureland, nor have I any special Dharmakaya emanation. My Dharmakaya emanation is the supreme bodhicitta.” Venerable guru repeatedly urged disciples that they should practice diligently until conviction in the Dharma is gained and that they should live in harmony.
After making clear all these, the next day after waking up, Rinpoche did not speak, but remain in the state of equipoise. From the lunar calendar the 26th of the Eighth Month onward, his breath gradually slowed down. At last, in the clarity state of primordial awareness, his nirmanakaya body was gathered into the “Ah”-sound and then dissolved into the primordial Dharmakaya nature."
By Gampopa Center, October 2017
https://www.ratnashri.se/Memo.pdf

03/05/2026

https://www.martsangkagyu.co.uk/

Martsang Kagyu is an unbroken 850 year old lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, now on your doorstep

02/04/2026

Heaven and Earth - Deep Movement and Energy Work - *|realtaoism.com|*

Step into a retreat that allows you to reconnect with yourself through one powerful, flowing Qi Gong movement—direct, accessible, and deeply restorative. One continuous flowing movement that balances the body, breath, vital force and the mind.

12/03/2026

Going beyond all objects and subjects is the king of views.
Absence of distraction is the king of meditation.
Absence of effort is the king of conduct.
Absence of hope and fear reveals the fruit.
Beyond the objects of concentration, the nature of mind is clear.
There is no path to walk—you have already entered the path of the Buddha.
There is nothing to get used to. When you get used to this,
you have attained the unsurpassable.

Tilopa

07/03/2026

"Thus, when we awaken,
finding ourselves in a state of presence,
we look with a bare attention
into the face of that very state of presence
to see what may be there. ...
Thereby, a nondual primal awareness
becomes present.”
"Realization is not knowledge
about the universe,
but the living experience
of the nature of the universe.
Until we have such living experience,
we remain dependent on examples,
and subject to their limits."
~ Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche

04/03/2026

Dickensian squalor of old Newcastle upon Tyne. Between ca. 1880-1900. Notice the Dog leap stairs sign... The curious name seems to be an evolution of 'Dog Loup Stairs, where a 'loup' is an alley between buildings.

Linking Newcastle Castle with the quayside at Side, at its junction with Dean Street, Dog Leap Stairs is mentioned in Dire Straits' 1978 song 'Down to the Waterline'. The 1999 debut album of Mercury Award nominee Kathryn Williams is also named after the landmark steps.

According to local legend, in 1772 John Scott (later Lord Chancellor of England and the first Earl of Eldon) eloped with Bessie Surtees by riding his horse up Dog Leap Stairs.

04/03/2026

Bucky Fuller Hurrah !!

We are living with radically old ideas that aren't producing results many of us like. Yet we still defend our systems as if they are the best we can do. The world is a completely different place now, it's time to open up to new ideas and heal so we can work to emerge a new societal design.