Daoist Nei Gong: The Philosophical Art of Change

I appreciate this book for its clear content, it helps one understand some internal changes happening during Nei Gong practice and it includes the cautions on needs to take while practicing. Damo is an advanced teacher displaying great compassion and sincerity, he truly wants to help others advance faster and expand their awareness. I do recommend this book for anyone sincere in their spiritual path. Thank you, Damo.

Most books on the Chinese internal arts are either very simplistic works for absolute beginners or are written in an abstract and obscure style. Practical information of a higher level that is presented clearly is extraordinarily difficult to find in print. Those who don't have practical knowledge write in the most obscure fashion possible to disguise their lack of practical knowledge. Those who possess practical knowledge seem to fear revealing their secrets--though they do want you to spend money on their books. Damo Mitchell possesses real knowledge and has the gift of expressing difficult concepts clearly and in a manner that is accessible to the Western reader. Of course, no book on Nei Gong is a substitute for personal instruction. But, for those who already have a base of knowledge, this volume will be an invaluable asset to their development.

This book provides an excellent background for students of Tai Chi. It is thorough in its approach and outlines the various stages and experiences of Nei Gong practice. It is simply stated and honest in its approach. This is an excellent book which I will keep referring to in the future.

What I found most valuable in the book is Mitchell talking through advanced stages of Nei Gong training that he himself has experienced, such as transmuting qi to shen. Plus he gives clear explanations of earlier stages and is specific about what to do and signs to look for (though I wonder if people vary and some are bound to experience a different sign here or there). In no other book have I found these aspects so clearly laid out, and that's what makes this book quite valuable to me. He's a Westerner and plainly knows how to write to the linear-thinking Western reader. Though at times I felt he took that a bit too far. Unlike other reviewers here, I didn't appreciate as much the first half of the book, which goes over Daoist theory as it pertains to the body, qi, five elements, etc. Much of it is critical foundational info, but some of it was extraneous (e.g. the five elements), and I cringe a bit inside when these theories - and they are indeed theories - are presented as fact rather than interpretations of a body of experience. Yes, qi sensations are real and can be cultivated, but talking about things like negative and positive vibration waves in a manner that would probably run crosswise with physics is, I feel, trying to be too concrete with something that is ultimately unprovable, highly subjective, and interpreted differently in other cultures. To paraphrase the Tao Te Ching, "The Way that can be categorized neatly is not the true Way." So while I admire the breadth of what Mitchell has assimilated and presented (particularly at such a young age), I take some of it with a grain of salt. And that's fine, really not a big deal. I appreciated the few times in the book when Mitchell mentioned aspects of practice that he openly said he had not experienced. That sort of honesty is important in a book that is like a map charting unknown territory for followers. I can imagine people who are new to Nei Gong getting very excited after reading this book, and being eager to start practicing. I would add two caveats. First, much of Nei Gong advancement is done through meditation, something I don't think Mitchell emphasized enough. The book has a lot of great theory, but is rightly loose on practice, since there are various movement exercises that could be used in Nei Gong. However, I can't imagine one advancing far without a strong foundation in meditation, and more space could be spent in the book on his views about meditation techniques, experiences, pitfalls, etc. Secondly, people need a qualified teacher to put all this theory into effective practice. I've never heard of anyone advancing far without roadblocks requiring a teacher's help. Mitchell advises people to seek out teachers for this or that aspect, but really everyone needs a teacher, often more than one. Even the Taoist classics state that, specifying that books are not enough. Overall though, a very impressive book. Mitchell has outlined a process and levels of achievement that takes many dedicated practitioners 10 or more years, which makes this a great reference as we work our paths.

I have been involved in the internal and martial arts for the greater portion of my entire life. This book is absolutely one of the most valuable books I have ever read on the topic of Taoist practice. It is clear, concise, usable and reasonable. Damo speaks from a place of authority not derived out of static and ossified traditions but out of a clear grasp and application of Taoist technology, philosophy and metaphysics. I have begun integrating Nei Gong into my practices using the information in the book and am very pleased with the early results.

This is right along the lines of the Qi Gong that I practise and it is helping me to understnad better...also as I live in Spain all my theory is given in Spanish so it makes it a litle harder to understand sosmetimes. I have read other books but they aren't along the lines that I am learning. So I thank Damien Mitchell very much...would love to go to one of his classes.

This is an excellent book that contains information on how to start a process of transformation for individuals seeking it. Speaking through the language and tradition of Daoism, Damo Mitchell gives access and insight to the nei gong process in a clear and comprehendable way for readers to understand. I find incredible value in this book as it also includes experience from the author, not just fluffy information or mental exercises. I still continue to find more layers after each read. I highly recommend it. =)

Having studied taiji and qigong for several years, this book clarified my understanding of the processes of internal change that can result from a serious practice beyond just the dynamic forms.

this book gives generously precise, original, deep and right knowledges about daoist philosophy and internal practices. There are good and interesting explanations about anatomy and energetical body which help to progress in the postures and the sensations.The Ji Ben Qi Gong presented in the chapter 4 are very good exercices and can be seen in youtube with the author. Thank you Damo Mitchell for all these researches.

A very good description of Sung breathing and a path to follow.

Da praticante di tecniche di QiGong e NeiGong da più di 20 anni, ho trovato questo libro il più completo in circolazione. Vi sono indicazioni e piccoli o grandi "segreti" che difficilmente si trovano tutti insieme in un libro. In più viene usato un linguaggio semplice e moderno fuori delle complessità del linguaggio alchemico dei testi Daoisti originari, in modo che possa essere compreso bene anche dal profano ciò di cui si sta parlando. Chiaramente non basta un libro per chi è alle prime armi per imparare bene il QiGong, serve necessariamente un buon maestro (e sono pochi). Non parlo dei movimenti che sono semplici da eseguire ma dell'essenza di questa disciplina che spesso non viene insegnata correttamente. Ma in mancanza di un buon maestro questo libro è sicuramente un ottimo punto di partenza e anche di arrivo se se ne comprende bene l'essenza. Peccato che sia solo in lingua inglese e che quindi i lettori italiani che non comprendono l'inglese ne siano esclusi.

Lange Zeit habe ich nach dem Wissen gesucht, das in diesem Buch zusammengeschnürt ist! Von eindeutig abgedrehten selbsternannten und "einzig wahren Meistern" bis hin zu nüchternen Betrachtungen einiger Anfänger habe ich so gut wie alles gelesen. Aber dieses Buch sticht gewaltig aus der Masse hervor. Damo Mitchell ist ein (weit) fortgeschrittener Lehrer der Internen Künste, seit dem vierten Lebensjahr in der daoistischen Meditationstechnik und Nei Gong unterwiesen, der seine Antworten bei vielen Meister gesucht hat. Sein Wissen scheint umfassend zu sein, in diesem Buch allerdings vorgefiltert - man bekommt nur das zu lesen, was einen weiter bringt. So entsteht eine Dichte der Information, die ich gerne auch bei anderen Autoren gesehen hätte. Der Schreibstil ist direkt, intelligent, präzise und trotzdem nicht trocken. Es wird weder auf religiöse Ansichten eingegangen noch wird einem etwas Utopisches versprochen, alle Informationen sind auf der soliden Basis des Wissens, nicht des Glaubens, aufgebaut. Die Struktur des Buches baut auf die zeitliche Abfolge der Übungen auf, die ein Nei Gong Schüler durchläuft. Es wird wirklich alles beschrieben, von den ersten Atemübungen zu den letzten Schritte vor dem Erreichen des Dao. Zu jeder Phase gibt es Erklärungen, Hintergrundwissen, es werden die Anzeichen des Erfolgs beschrieben und falls nötig Warnungen ausgesprochen. Was ich in allen anderen Bücher nicht lesen konnte (exakte Beschreibung der Auswirkungen der Übungen und zeitliche Einschätzungen, wie schnell das Qi fließt etc.), habe ich hier gefunden. Die fünf Sterne vergebe ich weil: - Schreibstil, Sprache, Präsentation des Buches: 4 Sterne (ein interaktives Inhaltsverzeichnis fehlt leider) - Inhaltswert, Ausführlichkeit, Informationsgehalt: 5 Sterne (gerne hätte ich auch 7 vergeben) - Moralischer Standpunkt, Verantwortung des Autors: 5 Sterne (er schreibt nur das, was er selbst erfahren konnte auf sehr bescheidener Weise)

I liked the many details the book provide. I could feel the results of the practices. This book is a must for all interested in energy work at internal level.