White Moon on the Mountain Peak: The Alchemical Firing Process of Nei Dan (Daoist Nei Gong)

This book starts out very heavy on Daoist/Chinese esoteric spiritual philosophy. I was quite worried that I'd just spent a lot of money on a very long book about philosophy. I'm a very practical guy, and I like philosophy only insomuch as it genuinely assists with the practical application of techniques to further my inner development. Since I bought the kindle version, I couldn't just flip through the whole book at random to find out. After a few chapters the scholarly smoke clears and the main course is served. I'd researched the writer a bit before buying this book, so I knew that he likely had some experience. There aren't a lot of advanced meditators writing books about meditation, who also write about their own personal experiences of the progressive states and stages. Shaila Catherine (an advanced Buddhist meditator and author), Ajahn Brahmavamso, and a few others are the only ones I know of. This type of writing-from-experience in the field of meditation is so extraordinarily valuable that it cannot be underlined enough. This individual experience absolutely essential when attempting to move onto the next stage after the preceding stages have been achieved and surpassed. At each stage, there are new experiences, and new hurdles. Almost like a puzzle, you have to intuit and discern what is necessary to move onto the next, and have faith that you're on the right course. With someone else's experiences at hand, you can simply follow the directions and know that it's only a matter of time; you just put in the effort, follow the road, and watch for the signs. The author is honest about what stage he's attained, and gives a description of what's supposed to happen next with some general guidance on attaining it from rote knowledge, but this is by far the least detailed section of the book. He finishes the book with chapters about the Yi Jing and divination, which seems odd and out of place. At a certain stage of meditation (savikalpa samadhi in yoga, and the 5th jhana in buddhism; I'm not sure what it would be called in daoism), the individual's intuition suddenly flourishes as a natural consequence. And while not easily controllable in the early stages, is nonetheless impressive both in scope and power, such that it doesn't hold a candle flame to divination. And so I'm not entirely certain as to why these chapters need to be included, as it seems a detraction from the subject of the book, although the theory and philosophy behind Yi Jing is interesting. All in all, however, an excellent book on a subject for which there's very little good information freely floating around to find. I look forward with anticipation to his works years hence.

The Chinese internal arts are shrouded in symbolic language and mystery. Damo Mitchell has an amazing ability to explain these processes in a way the Western mind can understand. This book is filled with so much information it, along with his previous books, provide a lifetime of learning and practice. It's especially gratifying to see information pertaining to the differences necessary for female practitioners. This is something that is lacking in most other books on this subject. The Dalai Lama has said before choosing a teacher you should spy on him or her for several years to see if they live what they teach. Following that advice I have been spying on Damo Mitchell (not in a creepy way) for some time. While I haven't met him personally, he does have a large online presence with two websites and a YouTube channel. He indeed lives what he teaches. I have asked questions in the comment section of both his YouTube videos and his website articles and videos. Each time he has answered clearly, quickly and kindly. From my admittedly limited interactions with him he appears to embody the qualities of humility and compassion he points out as being important in this new book. This is important to me as I have little tolerance for abuse or even rudeness from a teacher. These arts are so complex and diverse it can be confusing, for the beginner at least, to study the work of several different teachers. Of all the authors I have read (quite a few) Mitchell's work is the clearest and most in depth. I highly recommend not only this book but his previous books as well.

I feel like this book should be hidden in a temple and only shown to those who are ready for what is presented in these pages......as it probably was for centuries or millennia. Enormous cheers to Damo for translating and sharing this process with the English speaking world! This is a great reference guide for those that are deep in their practice and ready for it. For the rest of us, this is an incredible glimpse of what could be ahead if we spend the time and energy to prepare ourselves for Daoist internal alchemy. Amazingly insightful and endlessly intriguing! I will definitely read this one once again when the time is right!

Prior to encountering Damo Mitchell, the books I had come across on the internal arts came in two varieties: they were either easily comprehensible but lacked the depth and substance a practitioner needed, or they were poorly translated versions of highly technical esoteric texts. Combined with a good teacher, Damo's previous books on Nei Gong and Chinese Medicine offer the practitioner an unparalleled education to the theory and practice of the Daoist arts. White Moon on the Mountain Peak is no exception. In his latest book, Damo provides the practitioner with a manual on Daoist internal alchemical meditation, taking the reader from a background on Daoist alchemy through advanced stages of training. The depth and breath of material covered is superb, and students of the internal arts will be richly rewarded.

This book is designed for someone who has built a solid foundation practicing Daoist Nei Gong. There is a trilogy of earlier books including "Daoist Nei Gong: the Philosophical Art of Change"; "The Four Dragons"; and "Heavenly Streams" which each outline the foundational practices. Additionally, there is the most recent book "A Comprehensive Guide to Daoist Nei Gong" which nicely ties all the practices together with theory. It's also useful for adapting exercises from other schools into the Nei Gong process, but it's recommended to find a teacher, and the LNG teachers are the best!

This is by far the most informative and easy to understand writing on Daoist Nei Dan available to western readers. The author goes to great lengths to present the material in the most digestible manner possible. If you have ever wanted to understand and or practice Daoist internal alchemy, then you have come to the right place. You can not go wrong by reading this book.

It is very well written, clear, with obvious intent for the author to make it easier on practitioners to understand the basics of Nei Dan. I admire Damo for his generosity, and compassion, he is one of the few dedicated to help others to expand their awareness. I do not like the idea of books on internal practices because they can be misleading and can be even harmful. Damo's explanations however, are so clear and adds the precautions that need to be taken, it makes me feel much better about the practice. Thank you, Damo, hope to meet you in person some time.

This amazing book brilliantly conveys with clarity, deep insight and refreshing authenticity, ancient Daoist principles and the esoteric teachings of Nei Dan. This book allows one to cultivate to the deepest levels of inner consciousness. Damo Mitchell has made available to Western readers, that which has been shrouded in mystery and secrecy for millennia. Our species and our planet need this. Thank you.

Absolute must read book on Taoist Alchemy. A practical modern guide to an ancient system of internal energetics. Bonus chapters on I Ching and a very good glossary with Chinese character/pin yin explanations. Written by an experienced practitioner of Nei Dan.

Too costly for India .

The most openly shared classical teachings you will find in a book. If you wish to understand the process of Neidangong in greater detail and are considering following the alchemical path, this book is a great starting point.

Damo übertrifft sich selbst mit diesem Werk, waren doch schon seine früheren Schriften echte Meilensteine. Er führt in Tiefen, die westlichen Studenten (und auch den östlichen, sofern Sie keinen persönlichen verwirklichten Lehrer hatten), bisher verschlossen waren. Dabei geht er präzise in Details, ohne je auch nur ansatzweise langatmig zu werden. Wie gewohnt beschreibt er, was er selbst erfahren durfte. Der Kultivierende sei aber gewarnt, wer dieses selbst erleben will, der muß hart an sich arbeiten und sich an das halten, was der Autor als Maß gesetzt hat. Hat er die Stufen mit Demut und tiefer Hingabe aber durchlaufen, so wird er danach nicht mehr der sein, der er vorher war (Vorsicht: die Auflösung des Ego in seiner niederen Form ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil).... Allein aber schon für den ernsthaften Theoretiker des "esoterischen Daoismus" erschließen sich Schätze des Wissens, deren Tiefe allerdings nur der kultivierende Praktiker letztgültig zu erkennen vermag (z.B. Wuji- Zustand, Dao -Licht und De- Energie). Derjenige, welcher das Dao wirklich Er-leben will, der wird hier fündig. Fortgeschrittene Englisch -Kenntnisse sind allerdings für dieses Buch notwendig.

Un libro eccellente! Chiaro, ben scritto, si legge bene anche con una conoscenza discreta della lingua e soprattutto è denso di informazioni chiare e molto ben spiegate. L'autore, a dispetto della giovane età, dimostra una grande esperienza e maturità. Chiarisce molti meccanismi in maniera pratica e lineare.