The Magus of Java: Teachings of an Authentic Taoist Immortal (Paperback)

~ (Author)

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

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 )

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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: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #69,437 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 62 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 500 REVIEWER)

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!

26 of 29 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)

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.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting if True, September 2, 2001

By	George Washington (San Mateo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Having studied nei kung and kung fu (Hsing I, Baqua, Taichi) for over a decade, and having just read this book, I can say that the author is well versed in Taoist traditions of alchemy.

I found in reading this book that I learned some things I didn't know; and other things made total sense from a Taoist alchemy point of view (about Yang and Yin balancing while training and emitting [fa jing]). I can't say for certain that I can believe the fantastic claims made in this book, but I can say it was very interesting, especially if it is true.

I know for a fact that most human beings can develop internal power with long hard work, but even the great Sun Lu Tang did not achieve the level of power as John Chang; being able to ignite newspaper by touch. If the depictions in this book are all true and the next book describes how to do them, then we all will have to take our awareness and training up a notch. Just think, we won't need knives anymore to cut vegetables for our salad, we could use our fingers. just kidding!

All and all, a great book and well written. I highly anticipate "Nei Kung" in February, 2002 on how to achieve level 1 in Chang's method. The book is a must have for all that practice Nei Gung, and the Nei Chia (internal family kung fu styles).

Five Stars!