The Magus of Java: Teachings of an Authentic Taoist Immortal [Paperback]

Kosta Danaos (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

The story of John Chang, the first man to be documented performing pyrokinesis, telekinesis, levitation, telepathy, and other paranormal abilities.

• 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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A groundbreaking book. This is a remarkable and fascinating account of a truly phenomenal life."
(Napra 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

EASTERN PHILOSOPHY / TAOISM

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 ch’i, or bio-energy, by first generating an electrical current within his body, which he uses to heal the filmmaker of an eye infection, and then setting 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 borne witness to the afterlife. Most important, he has learned John Chang’s story. John Chang is the direct heir to the lineage of the fifth-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.

The Magus of Java is the story of Kosta Danaos’s apprenticeship with John Chang, and it is the story of the Mo-Pai, who for the past 2000 years have kept their teachings secret. Included are scientific, physics-based explanations of Chang’s paranormal abilities that we in the West consider impossible--abilities witnessed by the author and vividly described. The Magus of Java will surely expedite what may well become the greatest revolution of the twenty-first century--the verification and study of bio-energy.

KOSTA DANAOS is a former engineer for General Dynamics, a martial arts instructor in jujutsu and tai ch’i chuan, and a freelance writer with more than 150 publications to his credit. When not traveling in Indonesia or the United States he lives in Athens, Greece.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892818131
• ISBN-13: 978-0892818136
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Awesome Creative & Destructive Power of Yin & Yang, May 1, 2002

By 

Cynthia Sue Larson "www.realityshifters.com" (San Francisco bay area, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Magus of Java: Teachings of an Authentic Taoist Immortal (Paperback)

Kostas Danaos' story about THE MAGUS OF JAVA became possible when he started out on a quest to track down the man he saw in a documentary film called, "Ring of Fire", who could start fires by intently focusing yin and yang energy onto a small pile of papers. I also saw this spectacular film footage, and was quite impressed by it -- it was the most memorable and amazing part of the whole film.

Danaos was so moved by seeing the film of the mysterious man with the pyrokinetic powers that he set out from his homeland in Greece to find him, and ask if he would accept Danaos as a student. Fortunately for us, Danaos succeeded. His book tells the story of how the amazing Chinese-Javanese acupuncturist and martial artist John Chang came to be "The Magus of Java", and includes some highly personal accounts of his early training with his neikung master.

Many people will be skeptical that there are individuals who can train themselves to levitate, be telepathic, and have precise control over telekinetic abilities. If you cannot suspend your disbelief, this book might be unsettling to you. Since I have personally experienced a wide range of rather amazing incidents (including putting my hand through several layers of clothing I was wearing to touch my own bare skin underneath), overwhelming doubt is not an impediment to my keeping an open mind about the remarkable claims made by Kostas Danaos of John Chang's abilities.

What sets THE MAGUS OF JAVA apart is the way Danaos presents the concept of learning to work with yin and yang energy as being the key to mastering one's ability to extend the powers of one's mind beyond one's body. Only limited results are possible when we work with just yang energy -- while incredible things are possible with a combination of yin and yang. The yin and yang are much like polar opposites, and when energy is intentionally allowed to flow between the yin and yang designated areas, miraculous things can occur. I especially loved the many stories of the "Taoist Immortals" sprinkled liberally throughout this book, as they helped to point out that humans with god-like powers can sometimes cause as much damage as they can bring healing and good to the world.

While many martial arts and bioenergetic schools work exclusively with yang energy (and a few work with yin energy), there are precious few who appreciate and integrate a combination of the yin energy with the yang. The system of neikung that John Chang teaches contains 72 levels of mastery, and the reason that only the first four are rudimentarily covered in this book is that it is extremely dangerous to practice these meditations without a teacher's guidance. Several people died as this form of neikung was being developed by trial-and-error, since the two energies of yin and yang when compressed and placed side by side have tremendous power to destroy.

I give this book my highest recommendation to any serious student of spirituality, metaphysics, or the martial arts. Reading it with an open mind will show you a world of new possibilities, and might just change your life!

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book whose time has come..., August 23, 2000

By 

Vincent J. Lasorso (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Magus of Java: Teachings of an Authentic Taoist Immortal (Paperback)

In the tradition of Carlos Castenada, Kosta Danaos introduces us to a totally human being who has transcended the "normal" laws of reality. With objective skepticism, Mr Danaos seeks out Chinese internal master John Chang and is accepted as his disciple. The resulting book reveals the lessons and experiences that challenges Mr Danaos beliefs and eventually changes his whole reality. This is a very good book that reveals the hidden abilities and teachings of the immortals. This is a must read book for anyone interested in the metaphysics, spirituality and healing of the Chinese art of Nei Kung. This book presents a tremendous model for expanding human potential. My students will definitely be seeing this book on their reading lists.

I also found it a very interesting coincidence that this book was published the same year as The Immortal's Gift: a Parable for the Soul. I think there is something that the Immortal's want us to know as we enter this new millennium.

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No teachings to be found in this book, bad title., January 7, 2006

By 

S. Crosby (Gainesville, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Magus of Java: Teachings of an Authentic Taoist Immortal (Paperback)

I read this book twice. The second time with a highlighter. I found only about one page of actual teachings on how one can gain the abilities that he says his teacher has. His second book is even worse, it just repeats what is in this book.
Don't get me wrong I have studied the internal arts for years now and I truly believe that what he says his teacher can do can be done. But this is not the book to learn them from. He even says at one point that he does not give the instruction for fear of these powers falling into the wrong hand. Frankly the largest failing of this book is that it is very poorly written.
Honestly don't bother, read instead "The Magus of Strovolos" a much better book.