I'm not a Taoist.

I can't help you there.

I am Klang-based and am therefore unaware of any specific, legitimate places you can visit in KL.

People may tell you about a particular temple in Brickfields, but this place is run by fake mediums and you should not go there.

I would like to say a few words on 'Hell journeys' now.

Hell deities will NEVER take a living person down to Hell unless it is for an extremely good reason, because serious physical/mental injury or even death can result.

Hell is a place that most dead people cannot tolerate; what more the living?

This is not a frivolous exercise like a trip to Disneyland, not should it ever be regarded as such.

What they usually do is make the person experience what Hell is like without actually taking his or her soul there, usually by creating a temporary psychic link between the person and the other side.

Of the few legitimate cases that I am aware of, most were performed to 'cleanse' devotees who were cursed, suffering from serious runs of ill-luck or seriously unwell.

Sometimes, you have to 'die' in order to be 'reborn' - to step into the fires of the Infernal, allow yourself to be consumed by them, and emerge rejuvenated and anew from the ashes like a phoenix.

This is obviously a measure of last resort, used only in dire cases that do not respond to conventional magic, and can only be performed under very controlled conditions.

If you require a trip down to Hell to solve your problems, it would mean you are in VERY bad shape.

I would not wish you or myself to be in circumstances so dire that such measures are needed to fix us.

My answer to your second question therefore is 'no' - I have never undergone a ritual of this type.

Any medium who tells you that they 'take people down to Hell' on a regular basis, at the drop of a hat, is a liar.

The fakers conduct their bogus 'Hell journeys' by hypnotising their 'tourists'.

This book is mostly fiction, authored by a very shady character.

I wouldn't put much stock in it if I were you.

As I've said earlier, I wouldn't put much trust in Yang Sheng's glorified novel.

Neither would I do so for Guai Tan, which is by and large a load of garbage.

Please re-read what I have posted previously about 'Hell tours'.

Very heartwarming to see an enclave of Chinese religion and culture flourishing in a foreign land. The Ba Jia Jiang troupe are outstanding.

Hope y'all had a great Christmas.

Taoism and Buddhism are separate.

If you are a Taoist, tick 'lain-lain'.

If you practice Chinese folk religion, do not lump yourself under 'Taoism', either.

Chinese folk religion, no question.

Entities that correspond to stars and other heavenly bodies, mainly.

Chinese folk religion gods, on the other hand, are mostly former human beings who were deified as gods.

Hope you had a good time reading, Audrey. Feel free to pose me questions or otherwise comment on the subject.

It is rare for a Hell-themed temple to be painted red, which is a colour normally associated with Heavenly gods; Hell deities usually identify with corpse green, bruised blue, bone white or pitch black. Below is a more typical example of a Hell-themed temple.

The shrine is located somewhere in Grisek; I can't recall the exact location.

It houses the local City God, three pairs of Tua Li Ya Pek, The Filial Son, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, and the Five Ghosties.

From my YouTube channel.

A medium channels Justice Bao, the Imperial Magistrate of Hell.

Whomever allowed it to fall into disuse is going to have a very trying time.

Saw this in another thread:

I would like to reiterate that Taoism has no concept of Hell.

It is very much a Buddhist and Chinese folk religious belief.

And as per Chinese folk religion, it is not a sin to be atheist or disbelieving, as long as you don't be a dick about it.

A virtuous atheist has just as good a chance of entering the Pearly Gates as a virtuous believer.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Not really, no.

猴王拜年.

Tell me what matters you wish to seek advice about, and I will refer you to a suitable place.

Different gods specialise in different matters; you don't go looking for a carpenter when you have a toothache.

Scenes from last night - the advent of the Heavenly Emperor's birthday celebrations.















This post has been edited by nachtsider: Feb 16 2016, 03:23 PM

Depends on whom you ask.

Some say he is the Jade Emperor.

Others say he is the Jade Emperor's superior.