This fascinating book, translated from the original Chinese by Thomas Cleary, offers a glimpse of the esoteric teachings of Taoism. Born in 1949, Wang Liping was chosen as a child by three elderly masters of Dragon Gate Taoism to be the eighteenth-generation transmitter of "The Complete Reality School." This paperback gives an account of his 15-year apprenticeship in Taoist wizardry.
Through rigorous inner and outer exercises, Liping's mind, body, and soul are brought into accord with nature and the celestial world. The three elders tutor him in medicine, divination, physiognomy, fortune-telling, and training. Liping grows into an austere free-spirited young man who works at a factory, gets married, has children, and collects stamps. Then this Complete Reality Taoist is ready to teach what he has learned to others. Opening the Dragon Gate presents an unusual overview of the Way as a path that cultivates the triple world, emptiness, intuition, refinement, and rebirth.