Foundations of Immortality Study: Unit 1 - March - May 2024

Introduction to Immortality Study:

I've been waiting to do this for three years now, but wanted to make sure to first read as many classic Neidan documents as possible to be fully prepared...

Starting in March and continuing through 2024 and beyond I am now going to be offering weekly classes in Chen Yingning's Immortality Study School of Daoism.

Immortality Study is a modern, secular school of self cultivation founded by Chen Yingning which not only emphasizes the practice of Internal Alchemy but also Daoist lifestyle cultivation, Dao Yin, Chinese Medicine, and according to Chen's closest disciple Hu Haiya also includes the Internal Martial Arts.

Each month we will look at a different topic in Immortality Study with a special focus on Hu Haiya's book 仙学养生文集 Xian Xue Yang Sheng Wen Ji/Immortality Study Nurturing Life Omnibus, a late 20th century text combining Hu's experience as the disciple of Xian Xue founder Chen Yingning and his years of successful Daoist practice.

For those who aren't familiar with Xian Xue, it is a big deal since Chen Yingning was the most important figure in recent history in the research, organization, and explanation of Daoist Internal Alchemy documents as well as those related to nurturing a healthy energetic lifestyle.

Not only was Chen a major innovator who made Daoist practices accessible to common people, but he was also the co-founder of the China Daoist Research Association and one of the leading intellectual forces behind the development of modern Qigong.

He was especially seminal in the development of Jing Gong/Stillness Skill practices of which many are detailed in Hu's book.

Hu Haiya also served as the president of the Daoist Research Association for many years and lived to be 99 years old, a testimony to the practices of his teacher's art.

Each month in our course we will look at diverse areas of practice from meditation to Dao Yin, diet, and even Taijiquan theory according to Master Hu's interpretation.

This March we will be learning from two main documents:

• 仙学大义 Xian Xue Da Yi/the Main Principle of Immortality Study: This piece by Hu Haiya introduces the ideas, goals and practices of Immortality Study and will prepare you to understand how secular Daoist cultivation worked according to Chen's thinking.
• 道家仙学，静功总说 Dao Jia, Xian Xue, and Jing Gong Summary: This document by Chen Yingning introduces the central principles of Jing Gong/Stillness work which Chen advocated as a medical treatment during the early development of Qigong culture. The central method espoused in this document is called 听息法 Ting Xi Fa/Breath Listening Method and is based on three core methods: 苏东坡养生说 Su Dongpo Yang Sheng Shuo/Su Dongpo's Discussion of Nourishing Life， 朱子调息法 Zhu Xi Tiao Xi Fa/Zhu Xi's Method of Adjusting the Breath， 庄子斋心法 Zhuangzi Zhai Xin Fa/Zhuangzi's Heart Fasting Method. These three methods can help us master the core skills required both to begin learning Internal Alchemy and Daoist Qigong so they are very useful indeed.

Our classes will take place every Saturdays 10-11 AM EST from March 2 -23 and will meet in ZOOM,

Recordings will be available after class for those who either can't make the meetings or want to review.

Class fee is USD three months for $350.

I'm really excited about this course because I am a follower of Chen Yingning's Immortality Study and have been deeply influenced by his and Hu Haiya's ideas about self cultivation.

Email me at immortalitystudy@gmail.com and let me know you want to join.

Class space is limited to fifteen participants though so make sure to act fast to reserve your spot.