Mantak Chia
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Mantak Chia (謝明德, born 1944) is an author, teacher and self-described healer. He is known for his books and teachings on Taoism, qigong and Taoist sexuality. Mantak Chia is a controversial figure in Taoism, alternately praised for public disclosure of long-held secrets and condemned for idiosyncrasies such as giving undue weight to sexual practices and lore. His wife Maneewan Chia is the co-author of many of his books.
Born in Bangkok to Chinese parents, Chia was born into a Christian family and identifies himself as Christian as an adult. His father was a Baptist minister.[1] Initially, he taught the "Healing Tao" in New York. Later he moved back to Thailand, and when he got divorced from his wife he renamed his school the "Universal Tao", leaving to Maneewan the use of the name "Healing Tao".
Mantak Chia claims to make esoteric Taoist practices more accessible to a modern Western audience. He has closely worked with several students with a background in Western esoteric studies, especially Michael Winn, Eric Yudelove and Dennis Lewis.[2]
Mantak and Maneewan Chia live in Thailand and have one child.[3]
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[edit] Practices
What the Healing Tao claims to teach includes qigong practices like Iron Shirt, and Tao Yin. Fusion of the Five Elements is a central practice, allegedly balancing qi.[4] Fusion of the Five Elements is the first level of meditation in a practice also known as Fusion of the Five Forces in the Universe. Other internal alchemy meditations include what Chia describes as "water and fire" methods as well as claims of spiritual and physical immortality. These practices are related to the mystery of the "Immortal Tao".[5]
It is Chia also introduced a form of abdomen massage called Chi Nei Tsang, which, he teaches, helps to "clears negative emotions" (in the form of "bad winds" or "sick winds") which are purported to gather near the navel.[6]
[edit] Tao Garden
"Tao Garden" is Mantak Chia's Tao Spa north of Chiang Mai in Thailand. It serves as Chia's home and as a meditation centre.[1]
[edit] Controversy
Mantak Chia has been accused of plagiarism in his book Cosmic Healing Tao by Choa Kok Sui. Choa Kok Sui alleges that Chia and another author, "Atreya", plagiarised his book Advanced Pranic Healing. Lawsuits filed in India and The Philippines are pending.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Interview in Positive Health Magazine
- ^ Daoist Alchemy in the West by Lee Iwrin
- ^ Chia, Mantak & Maneewan. Fusion of the Five Elements I: Basic and Advanced Meditations for Transforming Negative Emotions (Taoist Inner Alchemy Series). Healing Tao Books, 1991 (Reissue edition). ISBN 0935621180
- ^ Chia, Mantak. Cosmic Healing I: Cosmic Chi Kung. Universal Tao Publications, 2001. ISBN 9748767256.
- ^ Chia, Mantak & Maneewan. Chi Nei Tsang: Internal Organ Chi Massage. : Healing Tao Books, 1991. ISBN 0935621350.
- ^ Choa Kok Sui's allegations of plagiarism at pranichealing.org
[edit] Books
- 1983 - Awaken Healing Energy of the Tao
- 1984 - Taoist Secrets of Love: Cultivating Male Sexual Energy co-authored with Michael Winn
- 1985 - Taoist Ways to Transform Stress into Vitality
- 1986 - Chi Self-Massage: the Tao of Rejuvenation
- 1986 - Iron Shirt Chi Kung I
- 1986 - Healing Love Through the Tao: Cultivating Female Sexual Energy
- 1989 - Bone Marrow Nei Kung
- 1990 - Fusion of the Five Elements I
- 1990 - Chi Nei Tsang: Internal Organ Chi Massage
- 1993 - Awaken Healing Light of the Tao
- 1996 - The Inner Structure of Tai Chi co-authored with Juan Li
- 1996 - Multi-Orgasmic Man co-authored with Douglas Abrams - published by HarperCollins
- 1999 - Tao Yin
- 2000 - Chi Nei Tsang II
- 2000 - Multi-Orgasmic Couple co-authored with Douglas Abrams - published by HarperCollins
- 2001 - Cosmic Healing I
- 2001 - Cosmic Healing II co-authored with Dirk Oellibrandt
- 2001 - Door of all Wonders co-authored with Tao Haung
- 2002 - Sexual Reflexology co-authored with W.U. Wei
- 2002 - Elixir Chi Kung
- 2002 - Tan Tien Chi Kung
- 2003 - Cosmic Fusion
- 2003 - Karsai Nei Kung
