TLDR:
The 4 Ascendant Sphere Purity Adept School is a 1,500-year-old Taoist tradition that focuses on spiritual enlightenment and balance. It is a pure Taoist school, free from external religious influences, and emphasizes the 4 Spheres of Power—Social, Martial, Qi, and Tao. Additionally, the Art of Living offers practical guidance for balancing life’s daily demands.
What is the 4 Ascendant Sphere Purity Adept School?
The insights you’re reading here come from my 32 years of experience in practicing Taoism and from a Taoist tradition called the 4 Ascendant Sphere Purity Adept School of the Tao. This school, rooted in Taoist mystery traditions, emphasizes spiritual enlightenment (a.k.a personal liberation), balance, and practical harmony in daily life.
Understanding Taoist Schools
In Taoism, practice traditions are often referred to as schools, mansions, or sects. These terms describe groups with unique teachings and goals. To make this relatable, think of how Christianity has denominations like Baptists or Lutherans. Taoist schools, similarly, have their own specific methods and philosophies.
Most modern Taoist schools are hybrids, combining Taoist principles with elements from other religions like Buddhism, Confucianism, or Christianity. These combinations often result in practices tailored to broader cultural or regional needs.
The 4 Ascendant Sphere Purity Adept School, however, stands apart as a pure Taoist tradition. Its teachings remain true to Taoism’s original principles, untouched by the doctrines or practices of other religions. This purity ensures that practitioners experience Taoism in its unaltered form, providing a direct connection to its foundational practices and philosophy. This clarity and focus allow for an authentic engagement with the Tao, free from external interpretations.
The 4 Spheres of Power
Central to the 4 Ascendant Tradition are the 4 Spheres of Power, which describe distinct realities that guide spiritual practice and understanding:
- Social Sphere: The realm created by language, including communication, societal norms, and structured beliefs.
- Martial Sphere: The domain of physical action and interaction, encompassing activities like martial arts, physical labor, and bodily engagement with the world.
- Qi Sphere: The sphere of vital energy that drives health, vitality, and balance, influencing both physical and non-physical realms.
- Tao Sphere: The direct experience of true reality and spiritual connection with the Tao, transcending language and structured thought.
These spheres offer a framework for understanding reality and addressing dissatisfaction. In modern times, people often live confined to the Social sphere, relying on language and societal norms to structure their lives. This overreliance can lead to feelings of unhappiness or disconnection. By engaging with all four spheres, practitioners can reconnect with deeper dimensions of life and find fulfillment beyond words or concepts.
The Art of Living
Separate from the 4 Spheres of Power, the art of living offers practical tools for navigating life’s daily demands. It focuses on harmonizing four essential areas:
- Resources: Managing material and financial stability.
- Relationships: Building and maintaining harmonious connections.
- Self-Development: Prioritizing personal growth and skill-building.
- Self-Maintenance: Caring for one’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
By addressing these areas, practitioners aim for a life that is both happy and moderately successful, blending spiritual principles with practical wisdom.
Relevance in the Modern World
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven society, the 4 Ascendant Tradition offers a powerful antidote to common challenges. For example:
- Social Sphere: It helps practitioners recognize the limits of language and societal structures, encouraging deeper connections beyond surface-level communication.
- Martial Sphere: It emphasizes the importance of physical activity and presence, promoting grounding practices like martial arts or mindful movement.
- Qi Sphere: It provides tools to manage stress and maintain energy balance, addressing issues like burnout and emotional exhaustion.
- Tao Sphere: It offers a path to spiritual clarity, helping individuals transcend daily distractions and reconnect with the essence of existence.
By integrating these spheres into daily life, practitioners can navigate modern challenges while staying grounded in timeless Taoist principles.
A 1,500-Year-Old Legacy
The 4 Ascendant Tradition dates back approximately 1,500 years, originating in the region of China near the Korean peninsula. As part of the mystery school tradition, it emphasizes deeper, esoteric teachings accessible through commitment and practice.
Through its emphasis on the 4 Spheres of Power and the art of living, the 4 Ascendant Sphere Purity Adept School offers a comprehensive system for spiritual enlightenment and practical balance. Its teachings remain as relevant today as they were centuries ago, offering timeless wisdom for navigating life’s challenges and cultivating true harmony.
2 Responses
Hello,
Thanks for your question. Essentially, a practitioner is able to directly perceive the portion of the Social Mind that is immediately in view, which can be an unpleasant experience. Second, one’s own personal history also loses its varnish. The lack of varnish reveals a gradually clearer view of the self. Without practices like positive power, the perception can be overwhelming.
It’s important to do as much internal work as possible before reaching this juncture to reduce the burden.
Master Mike,
You have mentioned the difficulty (or misery) of Enlightenment after “Mind of Clarity”. Would you please further explain, with examples, what it is like.
Or is that not possible?
I want to know because my goal is Enlightenment, and I’d like an idea of what it’s going to be like.
This won’t deter me from my goal. It’s just that I am both curious, and thinking it will help me to go in with open eyes.