Song Defang(宋德方):A renowned Taoist priest of the Yuan Dynasty

My Journey: From Seeker to Guide

Early Years: The Call of the Mountains

I first heard the Dao's whisper at seventeen, reading Zhuangzi under a persimmon tree in my grandfather's courtyard. The old sage's words about the useless tree that lived precisely because it was "useless" struck something deep within me. That autumn, I left university to seek authentic teachers in the sacred mountains.

Ordination and Training

After five years of preparation, I received formal ordination at Wudang Mountain, one of our most sacred sites. The ceremony involved:

The moment my master placed the traditional cap upon my head, I felt the weight of generations of wisdom passing through me.

The Daily Rhythm of Cultivation

People often ask how I spend my days. The truth is both simpler and more complex than they imagine.

Pre-Dawn Practice (寅时, 3-5 AM)

The day begins when most still sleep. This is when yang qi emerges from the earth's depths:

• Sitting meditation facing east
• Internal energy circulation
• Breathing exercises to gather morning qi
• Study of classical texts by candlelight

Morning Activities (卯时, 5-7 AM)

As the world awakens, I engage with daily necessities:

• Simple meal preparation following seasonal principles
• Tending the temple garden
• Physical exercises - Taijiquan or Eight Pieces of Brocade
• Reviewing the day's responsibilities

Midday Service (午时, 11 AM-1 PM)

The height of yang energy brings community obligations:

• Receiving visitors seeking guidance
• Performing healing treatments
• Teaching younger practitioners
• Administrative duties for temple operations

Evening Reflection (酉时, 5-7 PM)

As yin energy rises, I turn inward:

• Personal study and contemplation
• Correspondence with dharma friends
• Preparation for next day's activities
• Silent sitting as darkness falls

This rhythm has sustained me through decades. It's not rigid scheduling but flowing with natural cycles.

The Texts That Shape Us

Unlike many religious traditions with single scriptures, we draw from an ocean of wisdom. Here are the texts that live on my desk:

Each text reveals new depths with every reading. After thirty years with the Dao De Jing, I still discover fresh meanings in familiar passages.

Healing: Where Compassion Meets Practice

Much of my work involves traditional Chinese medicine, though I approach it differently than secular practitioners. For us, illness often reflects spiritual imbalance:

Diagnostic Methods:

• Pulse reading - Feeling the qi's quality and flow
• Tongue examination - Observing internal organ conditions
• Facial observation - Reading constitutional patterns
• Energy sensing - Detecting blockages through touch
• Spiritual assessment - Understanding emotional and mental states

Treatment Approaches:

• Acupuncture guided by Five Element theory
• Herbal formulas customized to individual constitution
• Qigong therapy teaching patients self-cultivation
• Dietary guidance using food as medicine
• Lifestyle counseling addressing root causes

I once treated a businessman whose chronic headaches vanished when he learned to align his work schedule with natural rhythms rather than fighting them.

Seasonal Festivals: Celebrating the Dao's Rhythm

Our calendar follows nature's cycles, not artificial human divisions. Key celebrations include:

Spring Festivals:

• Qingming (清明) - Honoring ancestors, connecting past and present
• Birth of Laozi - Celebrating our tradition's founder
• Dragon Boat Festival - Warding off illness, community protection

Summer Observances:

• Summer Solstice - Peak yang energy meditation retreats
• Ghost Festival - Caring for hungry spirits, practicing compassion
• Seven Stars Festival - Astronomical observations, cosmic connection

Autumn Ceremonies:

• Mid-Autumn Festival - Harvest gratitude, moon viewing meditation
• Double Ninth Festival - Mountain climbing, longevity practices
• Ancestors' Day - Family lineage honoring

Winter Practices:

• Winter Solstice - Internal cultivation intensifies
• New Year Preparations - Purification and renewal
• Lantern Festival - Community celebration, light returning

These festivals aren't mere cultural observances but opportunities for deepening practice and strengthening community bonds.

The Challenges of Modern Practice

Living as a traditional Daoist in today's world presents unique difficulties:

Urban Development: Many sacred sites face commercial pressure. I've watched ancient temples become tourist attractions, losing their contemplative atmosphere.

Authentic Transmission: Social media spreads superficial "Daoist" teachings that miss the tradition's depth. Real cultivation requires years of patient work, not weekend workshops.

Material Temptations: The modern emphasis on accumulation contradicts our teachings about simplicity and contentment.

Generational Gap: Young people often seek quick results rather than understanding that the Dao unfolds slowly, like seasons changing.

Yet these challenges also create opportunities. Urban stress makes people hunger for authentic peace. Global communication allows genuine teaching to reach sincere seekers worldwide.

What I've Learned After Three Decades

If I could share three insights from my journey:

1. The Dao is Found in Ordinary Moments

Enlightenment doesn't require mountain peaks or mystical visions. I've found profound wisdom washing dishes, feeling water's temperature change with the seasons. The sacred pervades the mundane.

2. True Strength Comes from Yielding

Western culture celebrates aggression and competition. Daoist practice teaches that water overcomes rock through persistence and flexibility. This isn't passive weakness but active wisdom.

3. Community and Solitude Balance Each Other

We need periods of retreat for deep cultivation and times of engagement to serve others. Neither hermit isolation nor constant social involvement leads to wholeness.

Guidance for Western Seekers

Many Westerners approach Daoism as exotic philosophy or self-help technique. Let me offer some honest guidance:

Start Simply:

• Practice basic sitting meditation daily
• Study the Dao De Jing slowly, one chapter per week
• Spend time in nature observing seasonal changes
• Learn elementary qigong from qualified teachers

Avoid Common Pitfalls:

• Don't treat Daoism as mere stress relief
• Resist the urge to mix traditions randomly
• Find authentic teachers, not just popular authors
• Accept that progress takes years, not months

Cultivate Patience:

The Dao cannot be rushed. Like bamboo that grows underground for years before shooting skyward, cultivation requires invisible preparation before visible results.

The Path Continues

As I write these words, autumn rain taps against temple windows. Soon winter will arrive, then spring's return - the eternal cycle that teaches us about permanence within change.

My hair has grown white, my movements slower, but my appreciation for the Dao's mystery only deepens. Each dawn brings fresh opportunities to align with the Way, each sunset invites reflection on the day's lessons.

To those who feel called to this ancient path: come with sincere hearts and empty cups. The Dao has infinite wisdom to share, but only with those humble enough to receive it.

Song Defang (宋德方)
Ordained Daoist Priest
Keeper of the Mountain Traditions
Servant of the Eternal Way

"The wise are not learned; the learned are not wise." - Dao De Jing, Chapter 81