Nei Kung: The Secret Teachings of the Warrior Sages: Secret Teachings of a Taoist [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Some of the theory was interesting if you could sift through the esoterica and historical presentations. I do think that Mr. Danaos knows his stuff, but I feel that he is either unwilling or unable (prior secrecy agreements) to share what he has learned. I liked Mr Danaos' first book so much that I really wanted to give this one a good review, but I cannot. Still may be worth purchasing for your library. I think it is.

3 Stars...

Realistically, no one expects to master martial arts or Nei Kung from books but an author shouldn't make readers feel "Punk'd" like you're on MTV after reading his book. You can go to your local martial art school and if they teach a traditional system you'll surpass what you get from his books in terms of real application of martial arts. Just doing the traditional warmup exercises and stretches gives you more Nei Kung than both his books combined.

May I recommend these author's and their books:

Mantak Chia: He has a bunch of profusely illustrated Taoist Manuals and videos.

Dr. Yang Jwing Ming: He has many Chi Kung titles with exellent photos and videos as well.

Their books are full of information and they are not stingy or mysterious about it. They also seem interested in improving the health of their students as opposed to having power to kill and dominate people. Above all it seems more practical to find your own teachers and knowledge than to get fooled into thinking Nei Kung is unattainable and that only hidden masters know it and will take it with them to their graves.

(a) There is a HUGE discrepancy between the 2nd-hand stories told & heard (about Mr. Chang, Mr. Liao his teacher, and others) and the events and powers actually witnessed on-site by Mr. Kosta personally. It is a gigantic chasm, and Mr. Kosta does not seem to be particularly aware of it.

(b) There is discrepancy in the stated motivations - one the one hand, it is so important and vital to get this material into the public sphere, it might help save the world, realign our values, reconcile mysticism and science, and so forth. In fact however, there are NO specifics given of the actual practices, nor, after having "read everything published in English about Nei-Gong and Taosim" does Mr. Kosta actually give us a point-by-point comparison and evaluation of the actual practices he was taught. This is important information, because he also states that Mr. Chang is in effect a rare genius, a statistical fluke of pure natural ability, on par with a gold medal Olympian. So, we are left unsure - was this super-human result due to a perfect unique marriage of unbelievably rare raw talent and exceptional effective (hitherto secret) method ? Or was one element predominant ? Would somebody of Mr. Chang's raw talent have done as well practicing Yoga or TM ? Or, would just about anybody be able to get to the levels needed to "save the world" one invidual at a time, by following the special secret method of Mo-Pai ? We'd need a much better comparison of Mo-Pai training methods in view of the thousands of other systems and practices that are much more widely described and available. I don't believe that Mr. Kosta's 2nd book has filled this need very specifically either.

(c) Why, if the motivation is to spread the word on the exceptionaly effecive Mo-Pai practices, to help save the Earth, etc. is there no course of instruction mentioned, no way to find a school or a teacher, no way to begin training.

(d) I wish there had been more discussion and justification of the idea of the 72 levels. I find it hard to credit that such an individualized and mysterious realm of human endeavor (energy, awareness, and mind) can be so neatly characterized. I note that even at level 40 or 50 or so, as I believe Mr. Chang is claimed to be, he still needs money, water, food, transportation, and basically participates in life in the same mildly destructive ways that we all do. How that can be a formula or model for a values revolution that will save the Earth is not made clear. If it just an example of a simple, spiritual life we need to steer us onto the higher road, wouldn't the life of Ghandhi (much better documented) or other simple, sprititual people be more ready-to-hand and accessible for that job ? So it is not made clear exactly how, even if everybody in the world suddenly rushed to study Mo-Pai, that would entail an Earth-saving values shift, anymore than if they all started working on TM or Zen or simple prayer anything else. I suppose being able to ignite newspapers without a match is supposed to be more of an incentive to value-shift oneself than the simple presence and words of better known spiritual/inspirational figures ?

Overall, the presentation is SO MUCH like Castenada that, having plowed through about 15 other Don Juan "localized" versions (Don Juan in - China, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Middle East, Berkeley, etc.) I just can't help but feel the presentation is formulaic.

At least, however, we are certain of the bare fact that a kung fu teacher of John Chang's name and general description does exist and has been photographed. In that prosaic sense, Mr. Kosta has delivered more than the usual "Don Juan franchise" formula. Beyond those skeletal facts, however, we know nothing.