Ahhh
Ahhh
Life eternal (Life eternal)
Youth everlasting (Youth everlasting)
The unending bounty of heaven!
Sounds nice, doesn’t it?
Haven’t we all dreamed of living forever? But alas, according to many venerable ancient traditions, immortality is a strict members-only club. The ambrosia-guzzling gods on Mt. Olympus, the Victorious VIPS of Valhalla, the plumed pantheon of Tenochtitlan – none were particularly eager to add numbers to their ranks.
In the Daoist tradition, however, not all demigods were born. Some, like the famed eight immortals, began as humbly as you or I, and through various feats of moral, metaphysical, and psychological strength, they transcended this earthly realm to earn their seemingly impossible prize.
These eight came from all walks of life – young and old, rich and poor – some were men, some women, some neither. But all found themselves following a path- guided by dreams and diets, tested by trials of self-denial and self-discovery.
And though they are now remembered by the legends of their extraordinary deeds – depicted in jade, silk, and celadon – none of them has been spotted in centuries
But if they did all truly discover a way to escape death, perhaps the paths they found are available to any of us, even to this day…