The Short Short History of the American Dragon Gate Lineage
By Shifu Michael Rinaldini
The American Dragon Gate Lineage (ADGL) officially began at the end of 2007 with the occurrence of two events. The first event was a signing of a document declaring the public recognition of the ADGL. The signers were students in Michael Rinaldini’s qigong class in Sebastopol, Ca. on December 15, 2007. The other event was the filing for a fictitious business name with the Office of The Sonoma County Clerk, State of California on December 19, 2007: Qigong & Daoist Training Center: American Dragon Gate Lineage, owner, Michael Rinaldini.
That was the official beginnings of the ADGL. Previous to those events, Michael Rinaldini was ordained in China on August 25, 2003 as a Longmen Dragon Gate Daoist priest by Priest Ji Zhi Tong, a high priest from the White Cloud Temple in Beijing. Michael was given the priest name of Li Chang Dao. Li is the 22nd generation name based on the Longmen lineage poem. This ordination ceremony took place at Master Wan Sujian’s Bagua Xundao Gong Red Cross Medical Exchange Center in Beijing. Master Wan was Michael’s sponsor and responsible for all the arrangements of the ordination ceremony. He continues to be the spiritual counselor or root founder of the ADGL.
Another very important event involving Master Wan took place during his November, 2006 visit to the USA and Michael’s qigong center in Sebastopol. At the opening ceremony, Master Wan presented Michael with a certificate stating: “This is to certify your achievement of perennial research and hard training of Chinese Taoist health preservation and culture, we are award this certificate to you as to prove that you are Chinese Taoists Priest. This certificate is same time permit that you can ordain your students or disciples as Taoist Priest. November 17, 2006 Wan Su Jian.”
During the winter of 2006-2007, Michael worked on the creation of the curriculum for the priest training program. It took nearly a year and a half to arrive at its finished state, and it is still subject to modification and updates. And even though the full curriculum was not completed until early 2008, Michael began accepting priest candidates (adepts) into the training shortly after Master Wan’s visit in 2006. By April, 2008, there were about seven adepts in the program, and one of them was scheduled for ordination in the Fall, of the same year. April, was actually a turning point for the ADGL, because it meant that the ADGL was actually growing, and students were committed to its path. One sign of commitment was that Michael and the then present group of adepts created and officially adopted their initial Precepts of the American Dragon Gate Lineage. They are as follows:
Precepts of the American Dragon Gate Lineage
I take refuge in the Great Dao.
I take refuge in the Canon.
I take refuge in the Teacher and Hidden Immortals of the Great Way.
I vow not to create evil or harm to others.
I vow to practice good.
I vow to bring forth good to others.
I vow to Practice
Not misusing sexuality.
Not clouding the mind with drugs or alcohol.
Not being greedy, or angry.
I vow to Practice
Being compassionate to self and others.
Being mindful and paying attention to things in my daily life.
Cultivating the Three Treasures of Jing, Qi, and Shen.
Developing a spacious view of self and others.
Dedicating the merits of my cultivation to all beings, both the living and the dead.
On October 25, 2008 the efforts of the ADGL came to fruition when Michael ordained the first three adepts as Daoist priests of the ADGL. Another group of adepts are scheduled for ordination in the Fall of 2009.
What are the principles and training practices for members of the ADGL? The answer to this question is found within the opening statement of the ADGL training program. Below is a brief, edited version explaining some of the details of the training.
Qigong & Daoist Training Center
American Dragon Gate Lineage
Of Quanzhen Daoism
The American Dragon Gate Lineage (ADGL) is under the umbrella organization of the Qigong & Daoist Training Center (QDTC). Historically, the ADGL is linked to the Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) school of the Daoist religion, founded by Wang Zhe (Chongyang, 1113-1170) and his direct disciples.
About The American Dragon Gate Lineage
The American Dragon Gate Lineage is a non-monastic order of Daoist practitioners who have made a conscious commitment to self-cultivation and to the spreading of the Daoist View. Requirements for membership in the American Dragon Gate Lineage consist of completing the training programs, Priest or Initiate ordination, and maintaining membership status as a Companions in the Dao.
Categories of Companions in the Dao
Priest Companions in the Dao. Candidates who have completed the Daoist priest training of the QDTC and received ordination as a Daoist Priest. Daoist Priest Training is for those seriously committed to a Daoist way of life. Training involves completion of a 1000 Day Daoist Scripture Recitation Retreat, studies in Daoism and advanced practice in Zuowang Daoist meditation.
Initiate Companions In The Dao. Candidates who have completed the Daoist Initiate training program of the QDTC and received recognition as a follower of the Dao. Daoist Initiate Training is offered to those who wish to make a simple, but formal commitment to following a Daoist way of life. Training involves completion of a 100 Day Daoist Scripture Recitation Retreat, studies in Daoism and Zuowang Daoist meditation.
Priest and Initiate Companions in the Dao will take specific Daoist Precepts of the ADGL upon completion of their training and ordination.
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