In this episode I am joined by Johan Hausen, Taoist teacher, translator, Chinese medicine practitioner, and founder of Purple Cloud Press.

Johan shares his life story from years of competitive Tae Kwon Do, through his travels and travails in China in search of a master, and to his eventual training and discipleship in the Wu Dang mountains.

Johan reflects on his years learning Classical and spoken Chinese, considers the challenges of translating ancient literature for modern readers, and reveals the unique metaphors and analogies used in textual descriptions of Internal Alchemy.

Johan also describes the Taoist quest for immortality, explains his research into the dantien and the mineralogy of cinnabar, and recounts stories of his own encounters with spiritually advanced beings.

…

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

...

Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro

00:57 - Admiration for Mattias Daly

02:56 - Learning Chinese to better learn Taoism

04:53 - How Johan learned Classical vs Spoken Chinese

08:11 - Language is about communication

08:47 - Should we consult living masters about textual translation problems?

10:24 - Metaphors and analogies used in Internal Alchemy

12:53 - Why are there different ideas about the dantian?

14:12 - Is the dantian constructed or inherent?

16:12 - Elixir fields?

17:37 - Johan’s research on the mineralogy of cinnabar using Chinese texts

18:04 - The old alchemists’ surprisingly good understanding of organic chemistry

20:56 - Johan’s childhood and training in Tae Kwon Do

22:47 - Johan’s competitive Tae Kwon Do career of over 100 fights

25:18 - Injury and travel to China for healing

26:24 - Travelling to China at 20 years old to train Shaolin kung fu

28:48 0 Training methods of Shaolin kung fu

30:35 - Demystifying the myths of Shaolin training

33:08 - Recovery routine

34:26 - Illness and leaving China

36:15 - Returning to Germany and feelings of failure

37:47 - Leaving a film course in London to train in the Wu Dang mountains

40:32 - Meeting Li Shifu at the Five Immortals Temple

41:54 - Curriculum at the Five Immortals Temple

43:08 - Studying acupuncture and dedication to learning

44:19 - Years of study under Li Shifu and joining the lineage

47:26 - Struggles with being treated as a foreigner in China

50:50 - Growing resentment and leaving China

55:26 - Johan’s Dragon Gate Lineage

56:28 - The quest for immortality

58:53 - Details about Taoist Immortals

01:00:34 - Difficulty of becoming an Immortal

01:02:10 - Consolation prize if you fail to achieve immortality

01:03:38 - Ethical rules of the Dragon Gate Lineage

01:04:59 - A typical daily practice routine

01:06:47 - Singing the scriptures to communicate to spirits

01:09:26 - Taoist patron spirit of Wudang

01:14:45 - The remarkable qualities of Li Shifu

01:15:52 - Praise is bad in traditional Chinese teaching

01:17:05 - Is Li Shifu an Immortal?

01:18:02 - Johan’s reverence for his teacher

01:19:29 - Explaining culture clashes to Lif Shifu

01:20:33 - Is charisma and spiritual power inherent or cultivated?

01:24:45 - Li Shifu does not have attained disciples

01:26:05 - Is it really possible to achieve success in Taoism, or is it mostly just natural talent?

01:33:11 - Using gifted practitioners as inspiration

01:34:18 - Purple Cloud Press

01:35:56 - Johan’s goal to create community and preserve texts

01:37:09 - Search for location and funds

To find out more about Johan Hausen, visit:

- https://purplecloudinstitute.com/about-us/who-we-are-2/

…

For more interviews, videos, and more visit.

- www.guruviking.com

…

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James