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The Magus of Java: Teachings of an Authentic Taoist Immortal Paperback – June 1, 2000
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• The author, a mechanical engineer, provides scientific explanations of how these powers work.
• For the first time, the discipline of Mo-Pai is introduced to the West.
In 1988 the documentary Ring of Fire was released to great acclaim. The most startling sequence in the film is that of a Chinese-Javanese acupuncturist who demonstrates his full mastery of the phenomenon of chi, or bio-energy, by generating an electrical current within his body, which he uses first to heal the filmmaker of an eye infection and then to set a newspaper on fire with his hand. Ring of Fire caused thousands to seek out this individual, John Chang, in pursuit of instruction. Of the many Westerners who have approached him, John Chang has accepted five as apprentices. Kosta Danaos is the second of those five.
In his years of study with John Chang, Danaos has witnessed and experienced pyrokinesis, telekinesis, levitation, telepathy, and much more exotic phenomena. He has spoken with spirits and learned the secrets of reincarnation. Most important, he has learned John Chang's story. John Chang is the direct heir to the lineage of the sixth-century b.c. sage Mo-Tzu, who was Confucius's greatest rival. His discipline, called the Mo-Pai, is little-known in the West and has never before been the subject of a book. Now, John Chang has decided to bridge the gap between East and West by allowing a book to be published revealing the story of his life, his teachings, and his powers. It will surely expedite what may well become the greatest revolution of the twenty-first century--the verification and study of bio-energy.
- Print length224 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherInner Traditions
- Publication dateJune 1, 2000
- Dimensions5.88 x 0.8 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100892818131
- ISBN-13978-0892818136
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"It is well worth the read. For all of you with an adventurous spirit!" ― Virginia Slayton, Convergence, Fall 2000
"Danaos includes scientific, physics-based explanations of Chang's paranormal abilities which he witnessed. This publication identifies with the verification and study of bio-energy." ― Frontier Perspectives, Fall 2000
"I give this book my highest recommendation to any serious student of spirituality, metaphysics, or the martial arts. It was one of the best books I've ever read, and I devoured it in one day!" ― Cynthia Sue Larson, RealityShifters News, May 2002
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Inner Traditions; Original ed. edition (June 1, 2000)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 224 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0892818131
- ISBN-13 : 978-0892818136
- Item Weight : 12.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.88 x 0.8 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #57,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #24 in Ghosts & Hauntings
- #36 in Taoist Philosophy
- #56 in Supernaturalism (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They find it thought-provoking and inspiring, opening their minds to new concepts. The story is interesting and fascinating, with a nice writing style.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging and easy to read. They enjoy the vivid storytelling and consider it a must-read for kung fu practitioners or fans of old movies. The book is well-written and captures their attention from the first page.
"...truth, imaginative fictions or a combination of both, it's a fascinating read as it gives a close and detailed look into the life, philosophies and..." Read more
"...I truly do believe in this book. The writing was okay. This read more like a very very long personal blog post...." Read more
"...It's the same today(!) except updated. I found the book enjoyable and inspiring and would like to thank Mr. Danaos for his contribution..." Read more
"Wonderful story about the life and history of Chi master called Dynamo Jack by BBC reporter...." Read more
Customers find the book thought-provoking and inspiring. They say it opens their minds and gives them new concepts to consider. They appreciate the detailed look into life, philosophies, and workings. Readers also enjoy the spiritual stories and exciting possibilities of human potential.
"...has a tremendous knack for descriptive storytelling and provides much information via [Sifu] John Chang regarding the inner workings of metaphysics..." Read more
"...It was easy to understand, gave me many new concepts to chew over, and I’m sure I’ll be going back and forth again and again to soak up as much as I..." Read more
"...except updated. I found the book enjoyable and inspiring and would like to thank Mr. Danaos for his contribution and his refernces to..." Read more
"...Sadly, there are almost zero specifics into the actual training methods...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's intrigue. They find it well-written and interesting, with a fascinating man and his stories. The book provides insights into his life and philosophy, but some readers feel the details are sparse.
"...There is no doubt that this book gives some insight into his life and philosophy, but it is fairly sparse overall in terms of content...." Read more
"Intriguing story and gives some hints as to how to raise and combine yin and yang chi, etc...." Read more
"...I was not let down. Its a great book about a very fascinating man." Read more
"Interesting and easy to read although it didn't always keep my attention." Read more
Customers appreciate the author's writing style.
"Fascinating look into a nei kung practitioner's life...." Read more
"I thought this book was incredibly beautiful and thought provoking. Although as a student of metaphysics most of this was not news to me...." Read more
"...Thank you Kosta Danaos for sharing these teachings in this beautiful book." Read more
"...The author has a really nice style while sharing some very interesting information. Jim McMillan's book is definitely worth reading as well...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024Lighting Jack
- Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2005I notice a lot of sceptical reviews herein. In this context, sceptics are those who have not had training (or proper training) in the internal arts (nei gong). If you have, you have experienced at least some level of the "supernatural" occurrances described in this book. With more training, the human starts to flower and what people should realize is that people like John Chang (the 'Magus of Java') is a certain flowering of human potential. The point is, that unless you have done the work (or unless you have a fortunate karma in this direction), you must remain sceptical. However, the book is written by a sceptic, or former sceptic, and I found this aspect of it a bit annoying as it is a waste of time.
Training of this sort is given by a live teacher to a student: it is not imparted in how-to books. The author makes the point that it is karma that brings you to a teacher.
Do the work: taiji, qigong, meditation, internal work (which taps the yin) and you will realize that there is no supernatural: IT'S ALL NATURAL.
Scientific truth is a temporary constuct: remember when there were no genes and no relativity and no electricity and when the earth was flat with the sun revolving around it? It's the same today(!) except updated.
I found the book enjoyable and inspiring and would like to thank Mr. Danaos for his contribution and his refernces to Greek myth and folk beliefs.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2023I thought this book was incredibly beautiful and thought provoking. Although as a student of metaphysics most of this was not news to me. This text is definitely aimed at the skeptics, the sleepers, the hardened people who have never set foot in this world.
But even I was skeptical of a lot of the instances this author gave. I didn’t realize this amount of human potential could actually be reached! It gives me a lot of hope. But I trust this author and his subject, and I trust my field of study enough as well to not discredit any of it as bogus. I truly do believe in this book.
The writing was okay. This read more like a very very long personal blog post. If you’re expecting a work of literary art than look elsewhere. I like to read more artistic and thoughtful works, but i do have to appreciate the practicality of this book. It was easy to understand, gave me many new concepts to chew over, and I’m sure I’ll be going back and forth again and again to soak up as much as I can that wasn’t written in the lines. That is extremely important for the audience this book targets, so I don’t fault the writing too much.
My only unfulfilled wishes was the lack of application advice. Again, the purpose of this was to open minds and light a spark rather than guide you through a practice. So I don’t fault it, but I would’ve absolutely loved if I could understand more about how one could go to set on this journey for themselves. They reference very specific exercises from a specific book but there is no outline for anyone who would want to learn it. That makes sense, because you don’t want to give this type of information out willy nilly, it is a tradition and passed down through instruction. But still, I wish we could’ve been at least pointed in a few directions. I trust Kosta and John and would really appreciate some approved works by them that I could explore myself. I’ll have to see the foot notes and other credited references to see what I can find. Or, as any occult student is well accustomed to, I’ll just have to launch my own weeks long research to hopefully find something worthwhile.
All in all, achieved what it set out to do and gave me many things to further research and incorporate into my journey. Thank you very much Kosta Danaos!
EDIT: i wrote this when Kindle prompted me to at the end of the read. This author does have a more informative and instructional neikung book that I am making my way through now. (:
EDIT 2: Don’t waste your time with that one. Pick up Enter Mo Pai by James Van Gelder instead.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2006Fascinating look into a nei kung practitioner's life. Danaos has a tremendous knack for descriptive storytelling and provides much information via [Sifu] John Chang regarding the inner workings of metaphysics and the fabled chi energy. However I question (and this may be a slightly cynical side of me) how the author managed to recall (or even take notes on) the numerous conversations he had with Chang so accurately. Either he has a near-Elephantine memory, or he was embellishing many experiences and details- and if the latter occurred it questions his credibility. It should never be underestimated writers' ability to overdramatize (and perhaps outright BS) for the sake of a more interesting book, and although there is no proof of this here, I think it's a valid question esp. given the subject matter (psychic abilities and the like) which has long been associated with unscrupulous individuals. Danaos either took phenomenal practically word-for-word notes of conversations, or he fudged here and there which calls into question the witnessed telekinesis, levitation, etc.
All this being said- whether the book represents the unblemished truth, imaginative fictions or a combination of both, it's a fascinating read as it gives a close and detailed look into the life, philosophies and workings of a truly remarkable man. Students of metaphysics, spirituality, psychic phenomena, paranormal and the mental/spiritual aspects of martial arts should find this a must-read.
Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Australia on October 27, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing biok
Awesome price and speed of delivery
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IngoSReviewed in Germany on February 11, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
This book does not provide the actual teachings, it rather is a guide through the thoughts of a western man, who allowed himself starting to question if there might exist another realm besides our western accepted world view - and - there is, at least to the author of the book.
to me this was many times to careful, to questioning - and i need to express that at the very last pages the author errs a few times with minor views expressed. it is a great read which opens the view to that taoist (immortality) is a real thing, that uses life long training to achieve unimaginable things
- ScoobieReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely read.
Read it from start to finish in 1 sitting. Totally hooked. John Chang is an inspiration to the human race.
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Pauline TReviewed in France on June 20, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Magique
J'adore. Dommage que la traduction en français n'existe pas, il faut passer du temps à traduire pour les non anglophones.
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Rodrigo Bezerra da SilvaReviewed in Brazil on July 6, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom!
Muitos detalhes interessantes da vida desse grande Mestre. Muito bom mesmo. Recomendo para quem deseja entender um pouco mais de Mo Pai.