《上清太玄集》Vol. 2

Ascending Mount Yujing, one of the Daoist realms of immortals.

I gaze into the wondrous, numinous scene of jade, where all things seem clear and empty. Primordial Chaos, the original Qi from before Heaven and Earth were divided, rises upright, its force surpassing the winds of Heaven. A clear stream from the Kunlun range flows in from the west, pouring into a cold pool ten thousand fathoms deep.

Release a little of the essence of Primordial Chaos, and it can penetrate the shadowed depths of Yin-Yang, bringing light even to hidden places. If the Jade Infant, the inner spirit formed through cultivation, did not wander through the Purple Palace, the dwelling of immortals, how could the spirit palace encounter the Three Stars?

Split open chaos, revealing a radiant dragon form. Pass through the vermilion palace gates, welcoming the fragrance of cassia and the pure frost. In this way, one obtains the Five Spirits, comprehends Great Change, the source before Heaven and Earth were divided and transformation began, and condenses a single Golden Elixir, transcending the ordinary laws of nature.

The cinnabar phoenix strains to raise a cassia branch, drinking the clear waters of the Jade Pool, the mythical pond in the realm of immortals, all day long. Suddenly forgetting its double meaning, the Mysterious Pearl, symbol of the Dao or the inner elixir, transforms and ascends to the Great Luo Heaven, one of the highest Daoist heavens.

Wondrous sounds come from the deep and distant darkness. On waking, it is as though a fragrant wind has entered the dream and pure Qi has passed through the doorway. Thus one understands the principle of double meaning and connects with the ancient Dao, meeting in person the Shaowei star, a celestial body symbolizing an immortal or high-ranking celestial official, in the Jade Empyrean.

Cast off worldly attachments and let all things return to Wuwei (non-action); only then can one see the Pearl of Primordial Chaos within the void. Where does the body disappear, and where do its transformations return? One sees only that it slowly rises with the wind toward the Jade Capital, the celestial city of immortals.

Looking up at the celestial signs, I comprehend the hidden and mysterious principle and feast in a blue-green immortal realm. Flowing bells and hurled fire, ritual implements and actions used in Daoist Zhaijiao (purification rituals), enter the center. In the source of the Cavern of Mystery, a single refined breath, like a heavenly wind, transforms my Three Yin into Nine Yang, symbolizing the waning of Yin and the growth of Yang.

Cultivation demands arduous effort: transform one’s form and substance, preserve the true body, and return it to the Great Nonbeing, the source of utmost emptiness and formlessness. Let the lunar soul grow dim and the hun spirit increase; enter the Golden Gate, the celestial palace, penetrate the mysterious principle, and turn the light inward toward the Jade Pure Capital, a Daoist heaven.

Jade-like plum blossoms first open and scatter in the wind; immortal Qi seems to reach everywhere in the world. They are like a moon maiden leaving her jeweled palace, or a celestial being entering the Dragon Palace.

Who has ever seen the Jade Spring rinsed in the Jade Pool? Its clear, ringing sound stirs the hun and po souls; through it, the true substance is preserved, and Heaven itself is moved. When the Yang souls have all followed the fire of the flowing bells away, one goes at night to the place where the Shaowei star dwells and opens the pure and mysterious realm.

Unwilling to seek fame and wealth in the human world, I am as aloof and unrestrained as a crane, intent on heading east. Only after entering the Mystical Gate—the gateway to Daoist cultivation—did I gradually understand how few people can truly know one another. Only Lingkun Mountain still stands across the land.

By chance, I came to the Southern Palace to pay my respects to the Heavenly Emperor. On my return, a flash of sword light swept past, seeming to cleave even the treasure mountain in two. Thinking of the countless living beings, I could not help but feel sorrow for them: they do not know that a guide still points the way to the immortal realm of Penglai.

The clouds in the heavens slowly unfurl, and the pure, harmonious True Wind is clear and bright. The inner light of Shen (spirit), like the radiance of a dragon, rises toward the sea. Auspicious clouds pile in layers within the Golden Grotto; the Jade Spirit’s features are refined and graceful, in harmony with the Yin-Yang of Heaven and Earth.

A bright, pure moon shines over Qingwei Heaven, a lofty celestial realm in Daoist cosmology. The sacred mountains and forests of the watery country are reflected in Jade Creek. A refreshing energy seeps into bone and sinew, while the river of stars seems still to bathe skin as pure as ice and jade.

In the Hall of Zhi, feathered immortals—those who cultivate the Dao and attain immortality—speak of the hidden workings of cultivation. They point straight to the road leading to the Jade Heavens, so that one will not lose the way. Their gaze is clear, unclouded by mist; at the banquet in the Jade Empyrean, their bearing shines like the stars.

The sun and moon move on, and Heaven and Earth are bright and clear. Interwoven rays of divine light make the Great Void luminous. Those who have attained understanding come here and behold its mysteries. The celestial wind blows in, as if bringing stillness to the whole realm.

Transform the customs of the world and transcend the forms of all things. Keep a glimmer of clarity in the heart, pure and unstained. Conceal the light and quietly nurture it, becoming one with one’s innate nature. Only then does one believe that wondrous efficacy can awaken a person to the Great Dao.

Split open the Golden Crow’s cavern in chaos; break through the Jade Hare’s gate on Mount Kunlun. Cultivation does not depend on two eyes to illuminate the whole world; instead, the light of one eye shines through Heaven and Earth.

The Great Mystery is bright and clear, and moonlight soars. The light of the Limitless appears, and the essence of the moon gathers back. The orchids and angelica flourish beside Jade Creek. How can one gather this wondrous efficacy, and who can truly understand it?

The Complete Five-Character Poem

Split open the summit of Mount Kunlun, and let the True Origin—the primal energy gathered through cultivation—enter the deep and mysterious realm. In one furnace, refine and nurture the marrow of the Vermilion Phoenix; in two cauldrons, condense the essence of the Red Dragon.

Auspicious clouds rise over the Five Sacred Mountains, and auspicious energy emerges from the Three Peaks. Open the Heavenly Eye, a cultivation state symbolizing extraordinary insight, and behold the four directions; at once, the universe opens wide and bright.

The tiger’s roar stirs wind in the mountain valleys; the dragon’s cry fills Heaven and Earth with thick mist. Auspicious energy spreads from the clear heavens, and blazing flames illuminate the blue sky.

A horse is cast into a gold mine; a double-wheeled mill rolls over a heap of jade. I alone seek the mysterious principle, devoting my mind to Tiantai—a famed Daoist mountain that also stands for a place of quiet cultivation.

The silver moon rises among white trees, its light and shadow reflected in the heart of the winding Qujiang River. The Milky Way is clear, its stars faint and distant; the sea of awakening is deep and lucid.

A male tiger gives a long roar, and the female dragon’s cry echoes through ten thousand valleys. The numinous eye is roused to awareness and turns back to contemplate within. Two lights converge, and jade and gold ask one another questions. Here, images of tiger, dragon, jade, and gold describe Yin-Yang joining and the interaction of inner Jing and Qi.

Sitting motionless, I let thoughts come and go in every direction. The mind is still as ashes, and all things arise of themselves. After the scorching summer has passed through the bitterest winter cold, at noon one seems to hear the watchman’s drum announcing the third watch. These images of time out of joint evoke a state in cultivation that reverses ordinary order and transcends the usual sense of time.

A wooden horse emerges from fire; a clay ox walks beneath the water. Without understanding the principle of Yin-Yang’s reversal, even those with eyes are like the blind, unable to see.

The Most High, the Mysterious Origin Ancestor—a Daoist honorific for Laozi—came into being at the beginning of the great cosmic calamity. He is the luminous aid of Heaven and Earth, sustaining the courses of the sun and moon. He spreads benevolence and proclaims compassion. He is the teacher of the myriad heavens and the guide of emperors throughout the ages.

Ascending into the mysterious realm, one partakes of immortal fare in the laurel groves; jade blossoms cover the Five Yin, the five elements said in Buddhist and Daoist traditions to constitute body and mind. In the moonlight, azure youths play; among the clouds, cinnabar phoenixes sing. The mist disperses, leaving the Milky Way pale and clear; Jing and Qi gather, and auspicious radiance deepens. Flying immortals roam freely, seated in tranquil feasting in the depths of the azure sky.

Vast and boundless, the Great Luo Heaven holds mystery within mystery. It is remote and unfathomable, beyond the Three Realms; indistinct and elusive, it existed before the Five Phases. It runs through above and below, extending everywhere without limit; it moves lengthwise and crosswise, appearing before the myriad things. Seek to exhaust it, and it can never be exhausted; from time immemorial, it has continued without end.

The pivot of Qianyuan joins with sacred wonder; the highest principle lies beyond conception. A sea of sunlight gathers the essence of radiance, while the Milky Way gleams with emerald light. A dragon rises from blue-green mountains; a tiger bounds from a cold ravine. Jing and Qi gather and transform, and cinnabar is refined. Together they journey toward Ziwei, the celestial palace that symbolizes the dwelling of the Heavenly Emperor.

Treading the Song of Empty Steps, sung as one walks the ritual circuit in Daoist Zhaijiao ceremonies, one enters a splendid immortal realm and gracefully partakes of celestial flowers. The Northern Emperor appears and vanishes amid the mist; the Southern Sea releases radiant clouds. Golden youths support a precious mirror, while jade maidens scatter petals like carved jade. Listen closely: it is as though the cool moon is being struck, and the numinous sound resounds through the Heavenly Emperor’s palace.

Entering the ancient pavilion of sound, the mind is like dead ashes, and every thought settles into stillness. A fresh breeze blows, and a clear dream awakens; moonlight shines down, rousing even the soul from its intoxication. The Red Emperor, deity of the southern fire virtue, leaves the golden cauldron, and an azure youth enters the precious vessel. The two vital energies hold symbols of the Great Dao and together transform into the star Shaowei, associated with worthy men and recluses.

After the wind subsides, quiet settles between Heaven and Earth. The clouds and mist disperse, and all becomes bright. The clear autumn moon is like a dream, rousing one from intoxication; as its light shines down, the drunkenness fades away.

The Red Emperor, the fire god of the south, leaves the golden cauldron, while the Green Youth, a Daoist immortal attendant, enters the precious vessel. Together, the two vital essences govern the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Joined as one, they transform into Shaowei, a star.

The wind ceases and the clouds disperse; Heaven and Earth are clear and bright. The autumn moon shines cleanly, and the pale waters lie still and clear. The precious cassia tree of the immortal realm preserves the Three Natures, while the jade-like forest scatters the Five Stars. Between the jade stars, waves surge like snowy breakers, and the immortals feast and roam in the Crystal Palace.

The Great One, a revered Daoist deity, holds within itself the true image, while the spirit terrace—the seat of the mind and spirit—reveals a jade-like radiance. The essence toad, an image associated with the toad in the moon, gathers a green light. Yin and Yang Qi unite, giving rise to an auspicious spirit herb. The radiant sun transforms into a cinnabar pool; the moon’s Yin essence is full, shining all around. The Three Radiances, the vital essences or splendors of Daoist tradition, appear in all their beauty within the vessel, their bright light illuminating a lovely countenance.

Bathe in pure water and wash away the dust and grime, leaving the skin clean and lustrous. Gather the vital essence and open the Daoist scripture. Jade chimes ring on the sacred altar, while chants of “Pacing the Void” sound in the immortal garden. Precious talismanic script flies toward the heavens, and starlight descends upon the Great Clarity, the Daoist realm of pure emptiness. On the golden register in the Jade Empyrean, the immortals’ names are entered one by one.

Seated alone beneath the pines, one hears spring water fall like pendants of jade. A sword’s light flies toward the sun, and cold mist pours over the celestial court. A Jade Maiden travels through Huangfu, a place in the immortal realm; a Golden Youth takes his meal at Chicheng, another immortal abode. A perfected person rides a white elephant and appears at dawn beside the Purple Tenuity star, which is also the residence of the Celestial Emperor.

From the chaos, the two principles of Yin and Yang in Heaven and Earth separate, and the vast expanse of space suddenly opens into view. Cold frost congeals into a precious mirror, and dew drips onto lotus blossoms. The formless being called Wangxiang seeks a luminous pearl; exquisite jade gleams with vivid color. Tiny stars shimmer.

From the chaos, the two principles of Yin and Yang in Heaven and Earth separate, and the vast expanse of space suddenly opens into view. Cold frost congeals into a precious mirror, and dew drips onto lotus blossoms. Wangxiang seeks a luminous pearl; exquisite jade gleams with vivid color. Divine intent and numinous jade reflect one another, their radiance penetrating the jade vessel.

The Jade Pivot turns with the Dipper, while golden grains display their wondrous power. Dragon roars rise from the sea islands as mist lifts; the primal Qi of Heaven and Earth stirs a tiger’s roar, answered by the wind. Star-like jade shines pure as the bones of Heaven, and wisdom’s light blazes like the sun. The Three Su, the three vital essences of Daoist tradition, mingle in clarity, their radiance crossing within the precious palace.

A blue lotus floats upon the green pool, and a yellow crane settles in the quiet courtyard. The water valley and cloud roots—the meeting place of mountain stone and cloud—lie still, and the scene in the jade heavens is clear. Music from a zither sounds in the air; flecks of light shimmer like snow against the clear sky. Wisdom’s light disperses into the drifting clouds, and a numinous youth descends upon the Jade Capital, the celestial city.

The Cavern of Mystery opens the precious mirror, and the jade gate reflects the golden pool. The cultivator casts off the mortal form and roams the heavens; nurturing the mind and spirit, they enter Taiwei, the celestial region associated with the emperor’s palace and the emperor’s abode.

Blocked and open conditions between Heaven and Earth transform into one another, while the sun and moon follow their natural courses. The inner furnace and cauldron—the cultivation ground of body and mind in Neidan—radiates the luster of fine jade; its numinous light shines brilliantly like the sun.

Once the mysteries of the Great Mystery are understood, Kunlun Mountain, the legendary abode of immortals, reveals the Two Principles of Heaven and Earth. The Pearl of Li, a legendary jewel, lights up the island in the sea; the wondrous being Wangxiang illuminates the Celestial Lake.

Snow-white waves refine the Golden Liquor, the Neidan term for the distillation of essence and Qi; cloudlike surges transform into jade-like skin. Forgetting the body, the mind and spirit freely transcend the mortal world, traveling at will and becoming the dragon and Kui, legendary wondrous creatures.

A six-character quatrain.

Mysterious essence and Qi rise beyond all things. As illusion dissolves, auspiciousness gathers, standing out in splendid distinction.

Once the mysteries of the Great Mystery are understood, Kunlun Mountain reveals the Two Principles of Heaven and Earth. The Pearl of Li lights up the island in the sea; Wangxiang illuminates the Celestial Lake.

Snow-white waves refine the Golden Liquor; cloudlike surges transform into jade-like skin. Forgetting the body, the mind and spirit freely transcend the mortal world, traveling at will and becoming the dragon and Kui.

A six-character quatrain.

Mysterious essence and Qi rise beyond all things. As illusion dissolves, auspiciousness gathers, standing out in splendid distinction. The highest principle can transform worldly customs and set change in motion, bringing forth numinous Yang Qi and auspicious signs sent down from Heaven.

The Dao Ancestor is vast and boundless, extending in all ten directions, exalted above all within the Three Realms—the realms of desire, form, and formlessness. He offers prayers for the departed and grants them the means of deliverance; thus begins this admonition of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning.

The Great Dao is clear, empty, profound, and remote; its spiritual powers are vast and boundless. A point of numinous light appears and rises into the mysterious realm, where it roams freely through the Cinnabar Heaven, the celestial realm described by immortals.

Over the blue sea, a cinnabar osmanthus tree appears lightly afloat; from a clear, cold spring, jade flowers well forth. Flying youths, the immortal attendants of Daoist myth, reveal this wondrous teaching, while mysterious spirits stand guard and escort it upward through the clouds to Heaven.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning dwells in the primordial realm. This admonition is transmitted by command to usher people into the mysterious realm. Its precious light grows brighter, and a cinnabar phoenix glides along the path; in the Jade Palace of the Celestial Stars, immortals ascend.

Within the blue, curtain-like radiance of Heaven, the sun’s soul—the vital essence within the sun in Daoist thought—shines in profound depths. The wise mirror between the brows sees clearly and penetrates all. Huangfu Sanyuan, a Daoist divine or celestial name, assists and protects; across the pure vault of Heaven, a fresh wind blows.

Sunlight shines upon the dark realm of Yin and Yang, bringing universal aid to the shadowed regions. As the wind passes, it seems the crown of the head splits open and Heaven’s gate swings wide. Across the land, auspicious dragon light appears, while wondrous power circles protectively on either side.

Last night the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped, revealing jade peaks and a precious moon. Numinous, flying light streams into the Central Origin, one of the celestial realms or divisions of the Three Origins, while myriad rays of sunlight illuminate the four quarters.

In Kunlun Mountain lies a spring of golden water. Its waters circle and well forth in rippling waves like fine jade. When one’s nature is perfected, one can bend and extend, and dwell in a lowly place; one can also surge through the mysterious realm and ascend against the current to the River of Stars.

Wondrous indeed: in the Jade Cavern, spring endures without decline, and immortal adepts roam freely within. In the Golden Hall, feather-clad immortals transform their nature and forget their bodies, moving freely between the passing of the old and the arrival of the new.

The supreme Dao (the Way) gave rise to Heaven and Earth, then moved between them, governing the waxing and waning of the sun and moon. Its transformations formed the four seasons and the shapes of the myriad things, bringing them all back to the same clear nature.

The Dao is vast and boundless, and the spirit roams through limitless expanses. Seen from afar, the light of Heaven shines brilliantly; supreme virtue is expansive and auspicious.

The Complete Seven-Character Poem

Bring the two things back to their proper places and wash away what is stagnant and murky. At the hours of Mao and You, symbols of Yin-Yang’s alternation, open the gates of Wu and Ji, the portals of central Earth Qi, where Yin and Yang are harmonized. Beneath the Ao, the cold ashes burst into flame once more; before Kunlun, the withered tree gradually takes root.

Embryonic breathing, a practice in Neidan (internal alchemy) that guides the breath through focused intention, takes shape within the cauldron, while auspicious, peaceful vapors gather above it. The Red Child, a symbol in Neidan of newly arisen true Qi or the pure original spirit, grows within the furnace as auspicious energy rises. When all the spirits have returned to the mother and child and settled in their proper places, offer the fruits of this cultivation to the Primordial Venerable One, the supreme divine being.

I reveal the root directly to you: the subtle transformations and nimble workings are right before your eyes. Clear, white water pours forth and crosses the heavens; red flames spread their radiance across the whole sky.

Pure Qi blends into a single hue, and the rivers and mountains appear beautiful; the vast, noble Qi joins with the source, and the landscape grows especially fresh. With the Dao’s power to support you, and wisdom’s illumination to discern clearly, you can understand this method and attain extraordinary powers of the immortal Way.

The yielding, quiet force silently holds to the firm and vigorous power; that power rises high, reaching the vault of Heaven. It circles between the sun and moon and encloses Heaven and Earth; its essence flows ceaselessly, filling the vast sky.

Laozi grasped this principle and attained a form like jade; the Tathagata, the Buddhist title for a Buddha, penetrated it and realized the golden body. Ever since I encountered Xuanyuan, the source of the Dao and a name for Laozi, I have passed this method on to the world, so that it may be practiced everywhere.

The true joy of ease and freedom does not lapse into wild abandon; the heart is like a drifting cloud, cultivating the Nine Yangs, a symbol of pure Yang Qi. Heaven’s moon hides within Earth, while its essence flows through the vast sky. Laozi grasped this Way and attained a form like jade; the Tathagata penetrated it and realized the golden body. Ever since I encountered Xuanyuan, I have passed it on to the world, so that it may be practiced everywhere.

The true joy of ease and freedom does not lapse into wild abandon; the heart is like a drifting cloud, cultivating the Nine Yangs. The fiery dragon in Heaven swims down to the sea’s depths, while the dark mist on Earth rises into the vault of Heaven.

The Golden Elixir, the fruit of Neidan cultivation in which Jing, Qi, and Shen are refined and gathered together, flies forth from the primordial source; the Jade Elephant, a symbol of the Dao-body realized through cultivation, returns to the homeland of Dao and De (Virtue/Power). If you wish to understand Xuanyuan’s subtle teaching, seek it carefully in the five thousand words of the Dao De Jing.

The sun seems to rise from Fusang, the legendary tree from which the sun ascends, its flames blazing brilliantly and illuminating the void. Add Li Fire to the Qianyuan cauldron; within the Taiyi furnace, Xun Wind rises. Qian, Li, and Xun are trigrams from the Book of Changes, used here to signify different forms of Qi and stages of the fire process in cultivation.

Once the Golden Elixir is refined, it flies across the cosmos; once the Great Joy, a complete bliss beyond ordinary sensation, is realized, it rises beyond the vault of Heaven. Its wondrous power gives life to the myriad forms, transcends a thousand kalpas, and finally ascends the highest peak of Kunlun.

All things appear silent and empty within stillness and the void, as though wondrous transformations were faintly emerging from emptiness. The bright moon in the heavens is neither full nor waning; the wind of high antiquity neither stirs nor ceases.

When moonlight shines, even Li Lou, the legendary sharp-eyed observer, seems to lose the ability to distinguish things. When the wind blows, even Shi Kuang, the legendary master of music, seems unable to hear its sound. Those who devote themselves to contemplating the sacred Dao and cultivate with exceptional skill can pass beyond a thousand kalpas and ascend to the highest peak of Mount Kunlun. They can also unlock the supreme methods of cultivation rooted in Xuanyuan, the source of the Dao.

Leaving their homeland and kin behind, their hearts grow still and their bodies gaunt as they withdraw from the clamor of the world. Each day the Blue Youth, a celestial attendant, brings treasures from the scriptures; the Red Child, the cultivator’s inner energy of original purity, continually enriches the essence within the alchemical cauldron.

The scenery between Yunshui and Jingshan appears and vanishes in vain, while merchants on the post road exhaust themselves in needless travel. The cultivator’s spirit consciousness roams in all directions, traveling through the air; another person asks about the springtime light in the Purple Palace, the dwelling of immortals.

High among mist-shrouded woods stands an ancient Pavilion of Sound. Gibbons cry amid the mountain haze, as if waking one from intoxication. At midnight, seen through the curtain, the moonlight is sparse and pale; in the morning, beyond the lattice window, the breeze is free and fresh.

Its sound is cool and otherworldly, like a jade zither, and clear and delicate, like cloud-borne jade pendants striking one another. All dust and grime are washed away, and the gaze shines bright as the stars. The Flying Youth, a celestial attendant, reveals the Great Orchid City, a name for the immortal realm.

The Immortal of the Northern Sea pays homage to the Eastern Sovereign, traveling with a following wind and riding a vermilion phoenix into the Heavenly Emperor’s abode. Scattering auspicious jade blossoms, the immortal reaches the Hall of the Sun; drawing in the rosy clouds, they illuminate the Bright Hall like a golden mirror.

The body shifts and the shadow changes, transcending the Three Realms. All things change and the stars turn, leaving the four directions behind. Reaching upward to Heaven and downward to Earth, all is empty: only a point of light shines alone at the center.

One does not cling to purification rites or rely solely on reciting scriptures, but refines and nurtures the true source to enter the Great Vehicle, the highest realm of cultivation. In Heaven there is a furnace of vermilion phoenix marrow; between the brows are two cauldrons of black tortoise essence. The phoenix and tortoise imagery describes the refinement and coalescence of the body’s vital energies.

Yang energy illuminates the dark valley, and the vast, noble breath surges into the deep and hidden underworld. Cultivation reaches the point where self and things are both forgotten, and the whole becomes manifest. Once the work is complete, the adept takes a place among the celestial officers of the Nine Heavens.

A solitary peak on Mount Mei rises in graceful splendor, while clouds enshroud the spirits of the immortals. With undivided focus, one can shed the mortal form. Two streams of white light pierce the blue sky; a wisp of green mist pours down into the cool, still courtyard.

When the osmanthus blossoms, the spirit becomes clear and refreshed. The pure, lucid breath dispels what obscures, making all things distinctly visible. The two lights of the sun and moon shine together, brilliant at the crown of the sky, enabling the Five Spirit Maidens to ascend.

Worldly desires and entanglements are severed as if by a single sword. The divine wind is mighty and firm, in accord with the profound and mysterious principles. The sun’s Hun and the moon’s Po—the refined energies said in Daoism to dwell within the sun and moon—run through the symbolic patterns of the hexagrams and their lines. The Wood Fluid and Metal Essence, symbolic terms used in Neidan cultivation, raise the water of the Kan trigram.

At the heart of the Nine-Bend River, ride upon the wings of a phoenix; ascend to the summit of the Three Mountains, embracing a dragon as it soars. In silence, pay homage to the Image of the Emperor, an honored title for the Dao; return to the original nature and transform into the stars. Harness the Jade Heaven, the sky of the immortals, and follow a clear road without losing your way.

Move in and out between the Mysterious Pass, the point where bodily, mental, and Qi activity converge in Neidan cultivation, turning like the pivot of the celestial bodies. Divide Yin and Yang and establish the two forms of Heaven and Earth. Before the Great One, the Jade Rabbit races; atop Mount Kunlun, the Golden Rooster beats its wings.

Amid the waves of the Western River, red brocade-like radiance rolls and surges; amid the billows of the Eastern Sea, a white tortoise emerges. Exhale auspicious light to illuminate the Heart Crucible, a symbol in Neidan cultivation for refining and nourishing Jing and Qi. The radiance of the divine elixir rises and pierces the highest heavens.

Innate substance blends and nourishes the body of Seven Treasures, a metaphor for the pure body and mind attained through cultivation; one should never lightly lose one’s original nature. Two streams of blue mist return to the Sea of Origin, while a field of light reveals the Valley Spirit, the Dao’s still and empty power of generation described in the Daodejing.

Again and again, transmit the essential methods of this cultivation to those of superior capacity, while guiding the dull-witted with the utmost Dao. If fellow cultivators can grasp even a little of the poem’s meaning, they too can become serene and carefree, free of entanglements.

Two Inscriptions on the Three Sages

The principles established by the Three Sages place the Dao first. Only by going beyond particular affairs can one understand the principles of nature. Study the Zhouyi and reach a state of stillness and non-action; discern the images of the hexagrams and their lines, and you will respond to things and comprehend the mysterious principles. Read Buddhist scriptures and grasp the teaching of not clinging to words, like looking at the moon by following a finger; awaken to perfect clarity, and you may enter Chan meditation. Study the Daodejing and understand the principle of the undying Valley Spirit and the ceaseless comings and goings of the Mysterious Female. Wander freely beyond the dusty world and stand calmly before the arising of Taiji. The many rivers converge at last in the sea; the myriad forms of existence ultimately belong to Heaven.

The two sages of antiquity opened my wondrous and subtle chapter. With a single apt phrase, they unveiled primordial chaos and explained the Yin-Yang of Heaven and Earth, opening up Qian and Kun. How could a voice of such magnitude be expressed through gong, shang, jue, zhi, and yu, the five notes of the ancient scale? Nor can a vision so vast be explained by concrete images such as the blue Heaven and the dark Earth.

Zhuang Zhou sought the Great Dao and grasped the “image without form,” a metaphor for the Dao that seems both present and absent, beyond words. Guan Zhong contemplated the Great Dao and seemed to understand “forgetting the bamboo trap”—forgetting the words once their meaning has been grasped. Realize the Tathagata, a title of the Buddha, and you can perceive its subtlety; revere Laozi, and you can investigate “profound mystery upon profound mystery,” the Daoist teaching on the mysteries of the Dao.

Mystery upon mystery—how truly wondrous! It has neither beginning nor end; it is born neither of itself nor of anything else. It transcends the forms of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), existing before the transformations of all things. Could this be empty talk? These words arise from genuine realization. Return to the state before beginnings, and the Dao will continue unbroken through all ages.

Another hymn:

A perfect image hangs revealed in Heaven, like a radiant disk of ice, crystalline and pure, untouched by a speck of dust.

Twelve jade attendants support the purple edict, while the Empty Emperor commands me to drink the wine of eternal spring.

A hidden-loss poem in seven-character lines

(The text of the verses here appears corrupt or incomplete. Based only on the surviving words, they can be interpreted briefly: scattered terms such as yellow caps, red pearls and jade, snow clams, dragons, ice, mercury, lead, cauldrons, and gold seem to evoke images associated with cultivation or alchemical practice, but the lines are difficult to connect into a coherent meaning.)

Twelve four-character quatrains in response to Zhangxian’s questions

Upper Clarity

In the realm of Upper Clarity, all things blend into unity, without distinction. It is the source of all things from before Heaven, and the supreme realm revered by all the sages.

Great Mystery

The Dao of Great Mystery reaches upward to the Primordial Palace, a heavenly realm in Daoist tradition. Its clear, bright, and harmonious wisdom gives rise to transformations without end.

Heavenly Path

A road to Heaven divides into two parallel paths. The Jade Infant, an inner spirit or infant image in cultivation, manifests wondrous transformations; before the eyes appear the exalted perfected beings, the High Perfected.

Penglai

The immortal realm of Penglai is blessed with spiritual beauty and eternal spring. Roaming in spirit among emerald screens, one understands and penetrates the true Dao of Heaven.

Purity

In the realm of purity, the primordial spirit, one’s innate spirit, is nourished. Spiritual light shines everywhere, revealing the truth of Taiji, the Supreme Ultimate.

Hun and Po

The earthly Po soul and heavenly Hun soul mingle above and below, merging into one another. They coalesce into a precious whole that endures forever.

In a realm of stillness and purity, free from disturbance, the original spirit is conceived and nourished. The light of numinous clarity shines through, revealing the pristine state of the Supreme Ultimate (Taiji).

Souls

The earthly soul and the heavenly spirit merge above and below, each permeating the other. They condense into a treasure of the highest worth, enduring through countless kalpas without ever perishing.

The Great Dao

The Great Dao is vast and formless, able to nourish the spirits and make them firm. Many perfected immortals gather here, and the countless sages and perfected beings find peace.

Yin-Yang

The Yin soul and Yang spirit meet and mingle like the sun and moon. They break through the Earth Gate, the portal to the hidden depths, and pierce the Heaven Gate, the portal to the upper realm.

Sun and Moon

The sun and moon shine brightly, filling Heaven and Earth with light. Open the Dao Eye—the inner spiritual vision that sees into the Dao—and one can experience all things and oneself as united, whole, and complete.

Infant Child

Two infant children embrace and unite, transforming into pure, harmonious Qi (vital energy). The numinous source and the sea of awareness converge, leaping into the Dragon Palace, a mysterious realm in Daoist cultivation imagery.

Golden Water

A pool of golden water transforms into two silver rivers. Its current runs deep, reaching the bottom of the abyss, then ripples with a lively gleam.

Crescent Moon

The crescent-moon furnace, a vessel symbolizing refinement in Daoist internal alchemy, opens and gives rise to plum blossoms like fine jade. Through transformation, they become wondrous beings and form an immortal embryo.

Guarding the Infant Child

Two infant children embrace and unite, transforming into pure, harmonious Qi. The numinous source and the sea of awareness converge, leaping into the Dragon Palace.

Golden Water

A pool of golden water transforms into two silver rivers. Its current runs deep, reaching the bottom of the abyss, then ripples with a lively gleam.

Crescent Moon

The crescent-moon furnace opens and gives rise to plum blossoms like fine jade. Through transformation, they become wondrous beings and form an immortal embryo.

Sixteen Five-Character Quatrains in “Wei Xian Asks”

Heavenly Treasure

Gather a treasure from the celestial court into the Crimson Palace, the place within the heart where cultivation takes place. It condenses into a profound, moon-shaped canopy that spreads over the inner realm where one abides.

Responsive to the Moment

Seeing a thing, one understands its true nature. The mind is upright and unbiased, with no twists or turns. From there, one enters the mysterious realm and reaches the Great Void, where one becomes aware of one’s spirit shining forth.

Utmost Clarity

Pure and still—so pure and still that words cannot express it; clear and limpid as the blue sky. The rippling light of autumn water passes through the secluded valley and flows deep into the old imperial city.

Utmost Purity

In stillness, one perceives clarity; in clarity, one sees stillness again. The whole sky is the primordial Great Dao, free of disturbance, while the Great Void rests in peace and quiet.

Moon Valley

Moonlight shines upon the Floral Pool, a site in Daoist internal alchemy imagery, and the silver abyss appears remote and boundless. Nine rivers converge and fill it; the pure blue sky shines bright. The rippling light of autumn water passes through the secluded valley and flows deep into the old imperial city.

Utmost Purity

In stillness, one perceives clarity; in clarity, one sees stillness again. The whole sky is the primordial Great Dao, free of disturbance, while the Great Void rests in peace and quiet.

Moon Valley

The radiance in the Moon Valley illuminates the Pool of Blossoms, while the silver abyss appears deep and vast. The waters of the Nine Rivers flow together; as they surge, they seem to reach straight up to the heavens.

Good deeds can resonate with the merit of the Dao of Heaven, and the spirit journeys to the palace of the Northern Emperor. A good name spreads across the four seas, and the ways of the immortals reach ten thousand miles.

Lead, mercury, and other substances are used to cultivate the embryo immortal, the inner immortal body nurtured through practice. The mind and spirit become empty and open, standing in a vast and noble realm. It is as though the summit of the clouds were swept aside and the crystal sky split open.

The sun and moon seem to merge, and the River of Stars shines clear and bright. The Three Anterior Principles—the precelestial Dao cultivated in practice—are lucid and transparent, with a precious pearl suspended among them.

The Great Tone, subtle and profound, cannot be fathomed; numinous light reaches the Celestial Enclosure of Supreme Subtlety. Even the transformations of Yin-Yang cannot exhaust it, and neither gods nor ghosts can glimpse it.

Zhenwu, the Perfected Warrior, pays homage to Shuhua, while the spirit officers keep watch at their ancestral dwelling. The black tortoise travels to the Water Palace, a golden serpent coiled around its back.

The Great Dao is boundless and fills the vast expanse of space; it nourishes my great spiritual powers. Golden light mingles and condenses, blending together until it becomes one.

The Earth Star encounters Rahu, the Daoist star deity. A divine being holds up the heavens and rides a fire ox. A flash of sword light strikes without staining itself with blood; the red dragon’s head is severed.

True Fire rises without smoke, and the furnace and cauldron simmer as if boiling. Once the Elixir is formed, it shines like the sun, its red flames filling the entire sky.

When emptiness and stillness reach their utmost, the Original Spirit settles, and the numinous, lucid nature appears within the utmost reality of the Great Dao. The light of the Deep Origin enters the cauldron and furnace, faintly revealing a scene of spring that lasts through all four seasons.

Entering the Dao is not easy, yet returning to the true realm is not difficult. The only fear is that you lack firm resolve; then you place yourself thousands of miles away from the Great Dao.

A spark of numinous, lucid nature comes from ages beyond reckoning. It is bright as the sun in the sky, and its radiance unfurls like moonlight.

Commandant Ma asks about seclusion, silence, the passage, and ascending to immortality.

Living alone in a thatched hut, one silently keeps to uprightness and purity. Mercury grows ceaselessly in the bottle, while lead sand steadily increases within the cauldron.

Once you grasp its meaning, it is as though you have forgotten even speech; from this, you reach the subtle and mysterious principle. Nurture the spirit, refine the Great Image—the primordial Qi that symbolizes the source of Heaven and Earth—cultivate your nature, and refine the embryo immortal.

The passage.

The two luminous radiances illuminate and open the Way. Preserve and nurture the original spirit so that the mind and spirit remain steadfast and Jing and Qi firm. A thousand strands of purple cloud unfurl, while ten thousand silvery rays of rosy light spread in every direction.

Ascending to Immortality

When cultivation of merit and virtue is complete, one can naturally ascend to immortality and soar beyond the Nine Heavens. A luan bird accompanies you back to the Purple Palace, the residence of immortals, while a phoenix guides you to pay homage to the Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning.

The Complete Five-Character Poem: Master He Asks About Dwelling in a Hermitage

Since childhood I have loved mountain forests and flowing springs. Though I have lived in poverty, I have still nurtured an awe-inspiring integrity. I settle and nourish the spirit, preserve the original Qi, sustain life, and cultivate the Three Fields—the upper, middle, and lower Dantian of Daoist teaching. With fellow practitioners I discuss truth, speak of hidden mysteries, and explain the subtle Way. Disputes over right and wrong have faded from my heart; for a long time I have hoped that one day I might soar skyward like an immortal crane.

Great Zhang Immortal Asks About Leaving Home to Enter the Dao

Once lost in wine and sensual pleasures, I have now awakened and begun to understand the fundamental way of refining and cultivating—the “yellow root,” meaning the basis of Neidan practice. With a single purpose, I long to return to the true Dao and have no wish to return to my former home. In the Jade Empyrean, I seek the praise of sages; in the Golden Palace, I sit for examination in the hope of gaining an immortal office. I receive the Mandate of Heaven, take up the duties of a Celestial Immortal, and let my spirit roam a boundless realm.

Han Erlang Asks About Seeing Through Illusion and Returning to the True

Awakening from a delusion like the dream of Nanke, I realize the true Dao and leave behind the entanglements of desire—the “river of love,” meaning sensual desire and attachment. I empty and quiet the mind, refining body and mind with an awe-inspiring Qi; I fill the belly with original Qi and cultivate a calm, pure breath. The lead sand added to the cinnabar cauldron is still scant, while too much mercury water has been poured into the furnace. The immortal maiden in the Crimson Palace, where the mind and spirit reside, grows angry, takes up a precious sword, and rushes among the clouds.

Tian Immortal Asks About the Great One: Mysterious Origin

The Mysterious Origin, the source of the Dao, arose before the beginning of the myriad things. The Great One, the undivided Qi of the precelestial realm, is blended within the precelestial. It responds and transforms into the myriad things, and is foremost among the many perfected immortals; gathered in emptiness, it governs the myriad phenomena. Its Jing and Qi are vast, coursing through nine hidden passages; its wondrous workings appear among the “three bracelets” (the original text uses the word “bracelet,” whose meaning is unclear). It reaches upward to the realm beyond birth and death, where one joyfully comprehends the mysterious Dao.

Presented to Master Xin of Jigu: Sitting in Meditation

Gather the spirit and sit upright, turning the bright eyes like those of a toad. Raise the brows, and the Dao-eye—the mind’s eye that sees through to the Great Dao—opens wide. Understand your own mind and nature, and there will be no defilement or distress; recognize your original nature, and worldly attachments will be severed. Enter a moon-bright, pure Samadhi, a state of focused stillness, and its lofty, clear radiance shines in all eight directions. With the mind spacious and empty, beyond movement and stillness, one suddenly sees the Buddha Tathāgata.

Elder Yuan Asks About Sudden Awakening: Master Duan Sitting in Meditation

Gather the spirit and sit upright, turning the bright eyes like those of a toad. Raise the brows, and the Dao-eye opens wide. Understand your own mind and nature, and there will be no defilement or distress; recognize your original nature, and worldly attachments will be severed. Enter a moon-bright, pure Samadhi, and its lofty, clear radiance shines in all eight directions. With the mind spacious and empty, beyond movement and stillness, one suddenly sees the Buddha Tathāgata.

Sit upright, and gradually a hazy stillness comes over you. When the mind and spirit grow clear and bright, insight opens like a Buddha’s eye. Moonlight passes through the twin groves; a fresh breeze stirs the Deer Park. Auspicious Qi coils around the golden tripod, while fragrant smoke curls through the treasure hall. The Great Mystery of the Dao opens the orthodox teaching, and people come to understand the principle of true emptiness through its guidance.

The Old Immortal Niu Asks About the Golden Crow Descending to Seek Wu and Ji

The Golden Crow, the sun, seeks Wu and Ji, the Earthly Stems associated with Earth and often used in Neidan terminology; the Jade Hare, the moon, encounters Ren and Geng, associated with the Qi of Water and Metal. Yin-Yang Qi blends, and the bright pearl within the heart shines brilliantly. Gather the spirit and enter stillness, and the sun of wisdom will shine clear. Heaven and Earth are pure and beautiful; the deep pool is limpid and serene. From this, one begins to apprehend the aspect of Qianyuan, the original source of the Way of Heaven, and to nourish the most subtle primordial Qi with a peaceful breath.

Immortal Zhang Asks About Yin-Yang and Transformation

The sun and moon rise and set in their courses; Heaven and Earth shift, and the stars revolve. The dragon swallows the golden phoenix’s marrow, while the tiger drinks the Jade Toad’s essence—symbolic language of Neidan describing the mingling and blending of Yin-Yang essences. In the cauldron, the spirit elixir is refined; in the furnace, the great medicine is fired. The sick recover their health, and even the spirits are stirred.

Inscribed for the Daoist Fellowship Purification Retreat

Everyone has come together to take part in a purification retreat, observing abstinence, reciting scriptures, and practicing together, with joy in their hearts. The monks discuss Prajna, Buddhist wisdom; the visitors from the hills speak of Penglai, the fabled mountain of the immortals. The Great Dao is transmitted from heart to heart, and the Chan school’s Dharma-nature, the true nature inherent in all beings, is thereby revealed. In a state of undivided unity, the bright sun rises and its light shines upon the Jade Terrace, a pavilion in the realm of the immortals.

In Harmony with Elder Yu

The highest goodness is untouched by anger and sorrow. Why force the practice of cultivating the Real? When the mind is open and unobstructed, it accords with the lofty Dao of Heaven; understanding the Great Dao, one establishes a firm foundation in what is mysterious and upright. Divine light illuminates the inner spirit chamber; the mind is clear and empty, merging with the vast sky. The Pearl of Insight holds the precious moon within it. When daily conduct accords with the Dao of Heaven, lasting peace follows.

Immortal Li Asks About Jingshan’s Crystal Hall

The Crystal Hall gleams brightly, with jade magnolias everywhere and rows of pillars like polished stone. White clouds pass through emerald peaks; purple mist reflects golden light. The chamber where the spirit is gathered shines with radiance, and the inner retreat where one cultivates is bright and splendid. Had I not come here, I would never have realized that I was entering the realm of the immortals.

Ten Poems Advising Disciples

True words and essential instructions are solid and trustworthy; why fear worldly attachments? Show people the way to purity, and help lift them from the blazing pit of sin and karma. If you do not expect a gentleman to esteem you, why fear a child’s disdain? Whether speaking or keeping silent, follow the principle of Heaven; with a loyal heart, spread the teaching impartially and widely.

Those who practice the Dao yet cling to life at home will, over time, let their conduct stray from the Dao. They praise their own purity and innocence with their lips, while inwardly their thoughts are tangled in confusion. Their craving for drink and sexual pleasure keeps growing, and their desire to compete for wealth grows heavier by the day. I urge you to wake up before it is too late. Come with me to withdraw into the mountains and forests, and devote your days to cultivating the Dao.

If you are always boasting of yourself and calculating every distinction between yourself and others, you will turn away from the true Dao and take the crooked path instead. Your thoughts are crafty and fierce like a rhinoceros or tiger; your disposition is cruel and treacherous like an earthworm or snake. If you covet beauty, you are not cultivating the Dao. If you covet wealth, how can you bring peace to your household? Neither conduct accords with the right path, and your steps are bound to stray.

After spending many years away from the abyss of desire, today you have once again become enamored of worldly splendor. It is no surprise if your heart grows isolated and fierce, and your disposition turns treacherous and venomous. Coveting beauty is not cultivating the Dao; coveting wealth cannot bring peace to your household. Neither accords with the right path, so your actions will naturally go astray.

After spending many years away from the abyss of desire, today you have once again become enamored of worldly splendor. The result, it seems, is bound to be loneliness and suffering, along with all kinds of entanglements. The meaning of the phrase “the fruit of quasi-difference” is unclear; what follows says that failing to understand cause and effect is like secretly eating winter melon in a state of confusion. After casting off desire, you let it grow again; after leaving home, you return to the worldly life of a household.

A beautiful woman has a delicate face and radiant charm, her jade-white wrists exuding fragrance. Her brows are like willow leaves, her eyes shine like stars yet captivate like sharp swords; her face is tender, and her red lips resemble the point of a spear. Embroidered curtains become a prison, and behind the drapes a place of execution seems to be set. Though life has not yet been lost, essence and vital energy have already been depleted.

Jealousy turns to anger, and sexual misconduct makes a person unkind. Day after day, you are lost in wine and sexual pleasure, each day lingering in the world of dust. You keep company with the sly and vicious, and night and day draw close to the wicked. If your desire for sexual pleasure has not been cut off, how can you speak of realizing the Way of heavenly truth?

You speak as though you were a flying dragon, but act like a lame turtle. Your work in cultivating the Dao remains unfinished, while the evil deeds you have committed have already accumulated. The lustful are like wild birds, and those who crave beauty surpass mountain beasts. If the desires of beasts dwell constantly in your heart, do not expect the protection of Heaven and Earth.

If you study the Dao without firm and resolute purpose, you will only show off your eloquence and speak artfully. Your thoughts gallop like a horse that has broken free of its reins, and your heart is restless and untamable like a monkey. In secret, you are led by lustful desires; in public, you boast of your purity. The karmic consequences of deeds committed against your conscience are grave, and one day you will face the punishment of the Way of Heaven.

You speak glibly about wondrous methods of cultivation, yet in daily life you are always caught up in wine and sexual pleasure. Before you have grasped the teachings of the sages, you set up your own rules. Your nature is stained by the world of dust, and you live amid desires blazing like fire. At the perilous moment of death, if a single thought goes astray, you may sink for a long time into a realm of emptiness and suffering.

Has the true Dao ever changed? False arguments and evasions are merely tangled, insignificant offshoots. If you cannot even tell whether you are like a bird in a nest or a little quail—said to be unable to fly high—how could you perceive the giant whale in the sea or the Great Peng? You act with little depth yet boast of cleverness; your achievements remain unfinished, yet you claim to be capable. Unless you curb flattery and deceit, your harmful deeds will only accumulate.

Everything comes from the Primordial Ancestor, the source of the Dao, and ultimately returns to the Supreme Ancestral Lineage, the highest transmission of the Dao. All things receive their endowment from the Dao, and all things are connected. The Dao encompasses the forms of Qianyuan, the fundamental law by which Heaven operates, and contains them within Taishi, the primordial state of all things. If you wish to seek the ancient source, go to the Wuming Palace, a Daoist temple, and inquire there.

Zhang Liulang of Hezhong Prefecture asks about Shen (spirit), Qi (vital energy), and Jing (essence).

The light of Shen shines upon all things, making them clear; as things change, it also reveals their true forms. A bright moon hangs in the clear blue sky, and shining stars fill the limpid heavens. What is deep and unfathomable belongs to the Purple Palace, an abode of immortals; what is elusive and mysterious enters the Yellow Court, the realm where mind, body, Shen, and Qi reside in Daoist inner cultivation. The way of the utmost sage is unfathomable. By understanding the profound principle, one can respond to the transformations of myriad things and manifest spiritual wonders.

When the primordial Qi first divided, it flowed through the four seasons as time changed. Heaven and Earth move in a vast, encompassing cycle, profound and deep; the Great Void is still and boundless. The rising and descending of Qi distinguish the clear from the turbid, while its floating and sinking establish the foundations of things. Every being with a spirit receives its allotment from Heaven; nothing lies outside the Dao’s embrace.

The subtle Jing of the chaotic deep mingle with one another, their radiance interplaying and shining like sunlight. Within Qianyuan, forms can be seen; within the Empty Valley, the formless appears. Let pure Qi gather in the Heart Cauldron, a metaphor in cultivation for the place where the heart and Shen are refined and concentrated; let the Qi of sunlight blend within the Precious Vessel, a metaphor for the inner place in the body that holds Jing and Qi. All the beauty of Heaven and Earth is contained within; its brilliant radiance illuminates the realm of Huaqing.

Presented to Niu Dianshi, whose Daoist name is Tonghengzi and courtesy name is Guoxiang.

Guoxiang embodies auspicious grace and vitality. Skilled in following the Dao and benefiting all things, he is open and unhindered in his path. The mist disperses, and the Golden Crow, symbol of the sun, shines bright; the clouds gather away, and the Jade Rabbit, symbol of the moon, comes clear. Dwelling in the pure realm of the Three Heavens, his honored name resounds across the four seas. His Dao and De are complete, and his spirit ascends to the Imperial Capital, the abode of the Celestial Emperor.

Ten Poems on Entering Stillness and Contemplation

With profound stillness, cultivate the mind and turn inward in contemplation; understand the power that governs the workings of creation. The Sun Soul, the Yang essence symbolized by the sun, breaks through the mist; the Moon Spirit, the Yin essence symbolized by the moon, passes through the clouds. The place of contemplation grows clear and bright; once the mind is settled, it becomes calm and lucid. Nourish the spirit until body and mind merge with all things. The radiance of Dongyuan, the realm that penetrates the mysterious source, shines pure and bright. From this, awaken to the principle, and reach the subtle, remote depths.

By gazing to the farthest reaches and concentrating on auspicious visions (a contemplative practice of focusing the spirit on such images), the intention of the spirit can travel between Heaven and Earth and connect above with below. The infant leaves the Moon Palace, and the Maiden enters the Palace of Chen. Together they gather within the fragrant canopy, inviting one another into the brocade tent. Beneath a crystal curtain, their forms are reflected like jade hibiscus blossoms.

Through discerning and awakening to open the origin (a contemplative practice of analyzing insight and opening the original source), one’s clarity endures like the sun and moon. The subtle is profound and difficult to fathom; the vast has wondrous uses without limit. This practice guides the transformations of all things, brings achievements to completion, and nurtures growth everywhere. Everyone knows that creation and transformation exist, but who is willing to investigate their principles closely?

In contemplating the sun rising from Fusang in the east, one comes to know the brightness of the Dao-eye, the spiritual eye that sees through to the Dao. Contemplate Heaven: Heaven is inherently still. Observe Earth: Earth is inherently peaceful. When encountering the myriad things, are they without form? When concentrating the spirit on emptiness, does emptiness truly have form? Respond to events by following their transformations, and you will see wholeness within the unity of all things.

Through the heart and eyes reaching the Dao (a contemplative practice of perceiving the true Dao with heart and eyes), the true Dao is within reach.

In contemplating the sun rising from Fusang, one comes to know the brightness of the Dao-eye. Contemplate Heaven: Heaven is inherently still. Observe Earth: Earth is inherently peaceful. When encountering the myriad things, are they without form? When concentrating the spirit on emptiness, does emptiness truly have form? Respond to events by following their transformations, and you will see wholeness within the unity of all things.

Through the heart and eyes reaching the Dao, the true Dao is within reach. Two beams of light shine across the earth, while a single pure white ray pierces the clouds and reaches Heaven. Moonlight shines, clear and bright; the stars appear, still and radiant. Whoever cultivates this method to completion can at once transform into an immortal who flies.

Through the heart being joined by the wisdom-sun (a contemplative practice in which the light of wisdom penetrates the heart), radiance shines in all ten directions—the four quarters, above, and below. Benevolent spirits come to protect, while evil ghosts all vanish and hide. Heaven and Earth are still and vast; the cosmos is clear and tranquil. The Great Mystery reveals its true form, and the numinous, luminous awareness shines forth with pure light.

Suddenly awakening to observe with an empty heart (a contemplative practice of sudden realization and open-hearted observation) accords with the true Dao and follows nature. The myriad spirits pay homage to the Emblematic Emperor, the revered deity who symbolizes the Great Dao; the original unified nature connects with the powers of the immortal way. Facing the Ancestral Lord of the Mysterious Origin, the heart and spirit link to ages before the kalpas. The utterly true Dao is clear through to its depths; returning to one’s nature, one ascends to the Jade Heaven, the realm of immortals.

Through Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) and the practice of emptiness (a contemplative practice of maintaining what is upright and making the heart and spirit calm and open), radiance unfolds and shines for ten thousand miles. Auspicious, pure Qi spreads across the sky, and purple clouds fill the realm. The Mysterious Female, the gateway through which the Dao gives birth to all things, allows passage back and forth; mastery of the practice between the brows rests in oneself. The perfected person meets no obstruction and can travel freely across the four seas.

In the Contemplation of Clear and Harmonious Breath (a visualization practice that opens and brightens the mind and spirit while harmonizing the breath), gaze as far into the distance as possible, and the realm of Heavenly Truth will appear. In the treasure hall, the fragrance carried on the wind is extraordinary; on the jade terrace, the emerald hues are fresh and clear. The waters of the Flower Pool nourish the auspicious grain, while spirit beings irrigate the sacred stalks. Fresh flowers burst into bloom across the trees, radiating light and splendor, untouched by the slightest dust.

In the Contemplation of Leaving Desire and Paying Homage to the True Ones (a visualization practice for leaving desire behind and paying homage to the perfected immortals), the realm of Everlasting Spring opens onto another world. Red mists drift and swirl, brilliant and bright; purple light rises slowly, vivid and dazzling. The Red Child (a Daoist image of an innocent, guileless infant) appears in an unbroken succession beyond the clouds, while a Green Lad sleeps peacefully, holding the moon. From the Jade Empyrean comes the cool breath of dew, and one senses faintly the chill of crystal.

Ten Poems on the Superior Adept

The superior adept, a highly accomplished practitioner of the Dao, is respected by ghosts and spirits. Calamities dissipate and do not disturb him. All manner of evil beings keep their distance, and the assembled sages bestow blessings together. He can suddenly discern the nature and principle of what is to come, and know the thoughts of the past. What he sees before him is always clear; in his daily practice, he preserves the sound of stillness and purity.

The superior adept refines the Returning Elixir, formed in Neidan practice by refining Jing, Qi, and Shen together. The Returning Elixir passes through two apertures: clear radiance rises from the Nine Earths, and red flames surge from the Three Mountains. The Elixir’s Qi fills the space between Heaven and Earth; emptiness, stillness, and brightness extend throughout the cosmos. The sages who appear throughout the sky are all ranked among the array of immortals.

The superior adept realizes the true and mysterious Dao, bringing body and mind, within and without, into a settled unity. He contemplates stillness within his heart and perceives the gentle breeze beyond himself. The movements of the sun and moon reveal the celestial patterns; the principle of emptiness pervades the world’s open, radiant expanse. At last, all returns to a seamless unity, and the Great Dao is without end.

The superior adept enters the realm of mysterious truth, bringing within and without into a settled unity. He contemplates stillness within his heart and perceives the gentle breeze beyond himself. The movements of the sun and moon reveal the celestial patterns; the principle of emptiness pervades the world’s open, radiant expanse. At last, all returns to unity, and the Great Dao is without end.

The superior adept realizes the Primordial Origin, the fundamental original Qi of Heaven, Earth, and all things, and cooks the “small fish” within it. Waves roll within the golden cauldron, while the ingredients in the jade furnace boil and are refined. Only then does he recognize that the divine Elixir has been completed and understand that the Great Medicine is fully prepared. Having taken the Elixir, he can pay homage in the upper realms and dwell forever in the Great Luo Heaven, one of the highest heavens in Daoism.

The superior adept understands the subtle and profound principles, and numinous light fills the room. He clearly expounds the essential teachings of the Great Dao and freely reveals the mind’s methods of cultivation. Few people understand this practice, and few can grasp the wondrous scriptures. Whoever comprehends their meaning can enter a realm of mysterious transformation and follow Wuwei (non-action).

The superior adept abides in freedom from contention; its efficacy surpasses that of reciting scriptures again and again. When unfolded, it reveals visible forms; when drawn in, it falls silent and returns to formlessness. By holding to a single thought, he steadies the Five Spirits, corresponding to the five viscera; by preserving the Three Hun souls, he calms the Seven Po souls, the bodily souls described in Daoism. Having cultivated the appearance of an immortal, he can ascend and enter the Jade Void City, a realm of immortals.

Those who practice at the highest level refine and nourish the body and spirit, bringing form and spirit into accord with the true Dao. Green jade flies out of the fire; red silver leaps from beneath the water. Treasures cover the earth, and all that surges up into the sky is transformed into precious things. The Mysterious Pearl, a symbol of the Neidan or the wondrous true nature, reveals its form, clear and pure, far removed from the turmoil of the world.

Those who practice at the highest level cast off entanglements and restraints, and enter the grotto-heavens—the Daoist realms of the immortals—in freedom and ease. Clouds and rosy mists accompany them; pine and juniper trees become their home. They recite the Huangting Jing often and study the Daode Jing from time to time. Having understood these true and subtle principles, why worry that they will not become immortals?

Presented to Yang Qing, the Master Who Knows the Brightness

Those who practice at the highest level cast off glory and wealth, and enter the grottoes of rosy clouds, the realms of the immortals, in freedom and ease. Lead is cooked in a pot to produce a substance like snow; mercury is refined in a crucible to make something like sand. These alchemical terms describe the process of Neidan cultivation. Once the elixir is complete, the face too becomes radiant and beautiful. Why worry that one will not become an immortal?

Presented to Yang Qing, the Master Who Knows the Brightness

Those who practice at the highest level cast off glory and wealth, and enter the grottoes of rosy clouds, the realms of the immortals, in freedom and ease. Lead is cooked in a pot to produce a substance like snow; mercury is refined in a crucible to make something like sand. These alchemical terms describe the process of Neidan cultivation. When the elixir is complete, the face grows more beautiful, and the elixir’s color deepens as well. The primal yellow—also called dark yellow, referring to the Yin-Yang of Heaven and Earth or to subtle changes in alchemy—unfolds into five colors; its most wondrous principle is without flaw.

Presented to Xu Ji, the Master of Tranquil Clarity

Those who practice at the highest level cast off stubborn, forceful habits and enter the inner chamber—a quiet room for inner cultivation, also symbolizing an inward state of practice—in freedom and ease. Heaven reveals a subtle form, and the heart-mind merges with true Yang, the purest vital energy. The Old Woman, a feminine symbol in alchemical language, sleeps within the moon’s shadow; the Infant, a masculine symbol, cradles the sunlight. When the original spirit knows where it belongs, it can remain tranquil and still for a long time.

End of Volume Five of the Shangqing Taixuan Ji

Volume Six of the Shangqing Taixuan Ji

Composed by Hou Shanyuan of Gushe

Sixty Seven-Character Quatrains

How beautiful, when the heart-mind is at ease and broad, as though dwelling in a house of great distinction. I neither drift with the current nor chase distant fame and profit. Drunk, I fall from the carriage after drinking white wine; sober, I take up a shoe as though it were fragrant tea.

Primal Jing, the vital essence at the root of life, wells up and pierces the clouds. Lightly I travel with the wind, and even Heaven and Earth seem surpassed. Thus I shed my mortal frame and return to the realm before beginnings; the Azure Youth invites me to the Elixir Pool, a pool in the immortal realms that also symbolizes a place of alchemical practice.

Why, in my youth, did I have to shoulder the burden of supporting a family? On reflection, it truly moves me to sigh. If wondrous images had not flowed into the alchemical crucible, I might still be driving a cart to haul salt today.

Dragon’s-breath incense and phoenix candles send smoke curling like seal-script. Lightly I travel with the wind, and even Heaven and Earth seem surpassed. Thus I shed my mortal frame and return to the realm before beginnings; the Azure Youth invites me to the Elixir Pool.

Why, in my youth, did I have to shoulder the burden of supporting a family? On reflection, it truly moves me to sigh. If wondrous images had not flowed into the alchemical crucible, I might still be driving a cart to haul salt today.

Dragon’s-breath incense, made from ambergris, and phoenix candles adorned with phoenix designs send forth their fragrance as coils of incense smoke spiral through the air. The gaze falls upon a sparse grove, while the vast, upright Qi between Heaven and Earth is clear and pure. Asleep with the cold wind for a pillow, one’s crane-dream is suddenly disturbed; from the star altar, the chanting cadence of buxu—the songs Daoist priests intone while worshipping and reciting scripture—can still be heard.

When numinous light remains in the depths of the hidden pass, the body is forgotten. The two radiances of sun and moon converge and shine in one place. Self and things are both forgotten; body and mind merge into a complete whole, condensing into a single point of the vital essence of the Great Void, the boundless expanse.

The brow relaxes, revealing an open and luminous countenance. The bright sun and numinous wind shine together in the Great Clarity, the pure and empty celestial realm of Daoism. One sheds the old body and takes on a new form, keeping the agitated nature of wind and fire from causing disturbance. One knows inwardly that the body has returned to Minor Star, a star whose name also denotes the ranks of the immortals.

Golden fire stirs in the furnace, refining lead into brilliance. Its radiance illuminates Heaven and Earth as emerald clouds rise. The heart holds firm, preventing yin spirits from encroaching; then numinous cinnabar naturally congeals in the precious cauldron.

A furnace of cinnabar phoenix marrow is cultivated; in two cauldrons, the essence of red dragons is refined. The gaze opens wide, as if it could see through the whole cosmos. Chaos first parts, and the scene before one suddenly becomes clear.

Deep in the night, one sits alone in stillness, with the moon shining over the autumn sky. Auspicious Qi gently encircles the twelve directions. Longing to return to Divine Empyrean, one follows the old path home; at the fork in the ancient road, blue-green clouds slowly draw together.

The ingenious construction of a flying kite surpasses a ladder to the clouds: wood is chosen and carved into shape, then fashioned into a clever mechanism. Let the usefulness of each material follow its nature. Like setting down a slingshot abandoned in the forest, release attachment and return to untrammeled wandering.

Free of worldly entanglements, one has already taken leave. The brothers share one heart, their resolve unwavering. Water and clouds divide them, three thousand miles apart. If they cannot attain immortality, they vow not to return.

Wheeling up and down, they fly to a height of a hundred thousand xun. In drunkenness, the spirit flies deep into the blue sky. Immortal attendants come from afar to welcome them to the entrance of the Jade Pool, the legendary abode of the Queen Mother of the West.

Free of worldly entanglements, one has already taken leave. The brothers share one heart, their resolve unwavering. Water and clouds divide them, three thousand miles apart. If they cannot attain immortality, they vow not to return.

Wheeling up and down, they fly to a height of a hundred thousand xun. In drunkenness, the spirit flies deep into the blue sky. Immortal attendants come from afar to welcome them to the entrance of the Jade Pool. The moon’s pure radiance fills the gaze; all that appears is bathed in golden splendor.

The illusory body lies hidden for a long time, sunk in frailty and sickness. After the body is transformed, inner and outer radiance shine together, lighting up the precious mountain. Layer upon layer of emerald mountain shadows float amid mist and waves, the waters surging; a fire dragon leaps forth from the depths of a blue-green pool.

With a blink and a lift of the brows, the sun of wisdom shines through the haze. The landscape of the whole river valley opens before the eyes. It is as though one has split open Mount Jing, found a wondrous treasure, and revealed a heap of flawless jade.

The mind and spirit dwell beyond the dust of the world, naturally at ease and untroubled. A single lotus leaf floats lightly upon the blue sea. The lotus opens, its petals gathering a brilliant radiance, as if smiling; borne aloft by the wind, it rises to Jade Capital, the immortal city of the Daoist heavens.

Standing tall and upright, reaching straight into the sky, it reveals the essence of all things. Golden flowers bloom on both banks of the Jade Pool. With a free and expansive spirit, one wanders beyond the world of convention, at last awakening within the realm of Mysterious Capital and the home of the Image Emperor, a name in Daoist scripture for the Dao or the sovereign of Heaven and Earth.

The Primordial Mystery and Supreme One—the source of the Dao and the highest Qi—contain vast and subtle truths. In the chaos, vaporous Qi fills the space before us, from which all things arise. The refined and luminous Qi rises high into the clouds, while golden flowers bloom on both banks of the Jade Pool. The spirit and soul open into ease and expansiveness, roaming beyond the dusty world. Comprehending the Great Dao, one enters the Mysterious Capital, the Daoist realm of immortals, and arrives at the abode of the image of the Dao.

The Primordial Mystery and Supreme One contain vast and subtle truths, while vaporous Qi fills the space before us amid the chaos. Only when the two spirits of Yin and Yang meet and move like the sun and moon does Yin’s spiritual essence transform into stars across the sky.

From the depths, one gazes out upon boundless mists and waves beneath a vast blue sky. Dragons sport in the mixed sea, reflecting the radiance of the night. Their light illuminates the immense Great Void, where all spirits gather and appear in the sunlight.

A dense mass of auspicious clouds encircles the rivers and sky. Feathered ornaments and rainbow hues pass through the sunlight. No wonder fragrant breezes waft through the hall, while jade trees in the Palace of Luminous Gems, the dwelling of immortals, vie with one another in bloom.

A dragon playing with a pearl leaps from the sea gate, and purple mist rises to fill the Nine Heavens. It passes through the Pool of the Sun, the legendary place where the sun sets, and swallows the sun and moon. The immortals of the Ten Directions start in alarm and turn to look back.

Drawing aside the pearl curtain, one gazes out. Clear breezes among the pines and bright sunlight stream through the jade pavilion. The Seven Treasures gather in a dwelling like colored glass; silvery clouds shimmer, and jade light coalesces into a single mass.

Golden light moves through the Great Void, while auspicious clouds appear between Mount Mei and Moon Valley. Without understanding these truths, how could one achieve anything? If one does not understand the cultivation of the Dao, one can only waste one’s life as a man who merely claims to be lofty.

Before the forest of green jade, ten thousand trees burst into bloom, naturally enjoying a beautiful and carefree life. Immortal youths smile as they welcome guests from the West; of late, the wine in the homes around Gaoyang has been fragrant and abundant.

Returning once more to the Divine Empyrean, one follows the old path and wanders at ease through the Jade Clarity Palace. The river of stars is clear, yet no one recognizes its hidden wonder; two celestial flowers bloom in the same place.

Cultivate the land and plant jade fungi, the legendary herbs of immortality, then draw water from the Jade Pool to irrigate them. The Qi of the Dao flows everywhere, surging straight toward the blue sea; numinous breezes circle around, filling the clear and open sky.

Refine and nourish the essence of the sun and the marrow of the moon, allowing none of it to dissipate. Cultivate the earthly soul and heavenly spirit, making them pure and keeping them intact. Transform form and substance while preserving one’s true nature, and one can endure in the world, roaming freely amid nine-colored clouds.

The mists over Qujiang disperse, and the vast sky clears and brightens. Only flakes of snow can be seen fluttering beneath the red sun. Golden and jade-green radiance flows and shines upon the Great Clarity; in the cold forest, celestial flowers naturally take shape.

I have seen through the entanglements of worldly passions and left behind the turmoil of the mundane world. Having entered the mysterious gate—the path of Daoist cultivation—and understood the true secret, what is there left to doubt? If a man aspires to rise beyond the clouds, he should cultivate the Dao in time. Why wait until the future to seek immortality?

Why cling to illusions and keep probing their mysteries? Even if one grasps their subtle workings, one may still fall back into the deluded paths of transmigration. Pitiable are those who wander the rivers and lakes in search of the immortal Dao: they travel in vain to Mount Jing, the legendary mountain where seekers pursued immortals, and return empty-handed.

The centipede, Kui—the legendary one-legged beast—and the snake chase and pity one another; the changes of the wind and miraculous arts, too, prove futile in the end. One must probe directly into the primordial source, the root that existed before Heaven and Earth came into being. Only then does one enter the original, mysterious realm of this tradition.

Last night, in the third watch, the moon shone bright. A gentle breeze carried dew that fell cool and clear. Who was playing that leisurely melody? It sounded as though a jade immortal, drunk in the palace of immortals, were singing.

I traveled alone between the Wei River and Mount Zhongnan, passing through Tong Pass in search of recluses. The worthy men in the city and the old folk in the countryside paid me no heed. So, through rain and clouds, I returned to my old mountain dwelling.

I left the immortal isle for a while and came to the human world, hoping to save and transform people amid the sea of suffering. But I found that teaching living beings was exceedingly difficult. So, braving snow and wind, I returned to my former retreat. In the cool night, sword at my side, I passed through Tong Pass.

After nine years of cultivation, my efforts at last bore fruit, and I reached the state of Xiyi—the Daoist mystery that cannot be seen, heard, or grasped. Back at my dwelling, I concealed and gathered the true Qi (vital energy), revealing its jade mechanism, the subtle essentials of cultivation. I once lamented that my aspirations soared high; now I seem confined among the woods, hindered from putting them into practice.

The illusion-bound Master Wen kept probing the workings of illusion and questioning them further, only to remain lost in the sea of suffering. Braving snow and wind, I returned to my old retreat. In the cool night, sword at my side, I passed through Tong Pass.

After nine years of cultivation, my efforts at last bore fruit, and I reached the state of Xiyi. Back at my dwelling, I concealed and gathered the true Qi, revealing its jade mechanism. I once lamented that my aspirations soared high; now I seem confined among the woods, hindered from putting them into practice.

The illusion-bound Master Wen kept probing the workings of illusion and then questioned the Yang family, only to become more confused. When the deer were divided, each had its gains and losses—but how much difference was there between them in the end? It was like a drunk man riding in a cart, his limbs no longer under his control.

In sharpness of speech and expression, he could rival Hui Ang, the skilled debater. Sadly, there was no one in charge to introduce him to Liang Yang, the figure in the relevant tale. If one cannot be content with the family estate and lets desire take the reins, one is like the monkey keeper who indulged his monkeys. When briars spring up, one must wait for Ji Chang, the legendary master archer, to deal with them.

In an age of wise rule, people gather in laughter, yet remain far from their native homes. I understand for myself that the spirit’s dwelling is an empty expanse, deep and boundless. To seek the fire mirror, a Daoist instrument symbolizing insight into subtle things, I drank three cups of wine; its flavor surpassed the seven bowls of tea praised by Lu Tong, the Tang dynasty poet.

The fish stranded in a cart rut—a figure for someone in desperate straits—has long yearned to return to the Western River. I confided my innermost thoughts to my dear friend Ziyang. Everyone says that once you have obtained a pearl, why bother cultivating the Dao? Fortunately, I met Master Dongguo and had the chance to unburden my heart.

Layer upon layer of blue peaks lean against verdant mountain slopes, while a stream encircled by bamboo groves flows into the riverbank. Where is the sword bestowed in years past now? And to whom should I entrust the inner radiance I possess today?

Auspicious Qi surges, and heavenly light shines upon Taiqing, the Daoist realm of serene purity. In the crimson palace, flames hold the essence of the Dragon and Tiger. Once the precious mirror has been forged, it shines clear and bright, reaching up to Heaven; two rays of divine light join and reflect one another.

Singing in response to the wind, I write a thousand poems; raising a cup to the moon, I drink a hundred cups of wine. At ease on ancient Kunlun Mountain, I forget both the other and myself; in drunkenness, my spirit flies into the Guanghan Palace, the moon palace.

The Great Dao existed even before the Great Beginning, when Heaven and Earth were not yet divided. It blends and pervades the Three Realms, stretching on without end. The whale and the great Peng set out from the sea, their course crossing distant reaches as they fly toward the Jade Pool beneath the June sky.

I regret that I once pursued ever greater heights by means of strange arts. Seeking rank and privilege among the powerful was always difficult. Then, by chance, I met the lord displaying his strength, who built a little boat for you to see.

Small fish such as salamanders and loaches can live only in shallow water and muddy pools; they are not fit for great undertakings. With the aid of the heavenly wind, their wings can spread, and they can ride the sheep-horn whirlwind upward to the Jade Pool.

The fire wheel crushes through the blue-glass sky, and two golden rays soar and flash. From this, one grasps the mysterious image and lets it flow into the cauldron; then, free and unrestrained, one wanders through the Nine Heavens, the upper realms of Daoist cosmology.

Who would have thought that the fish stranded in a rut along the road would be mocked by a fellow traveler for its frail body? In the end, it must leave the misty waves of the Northern Sea, spread its wings, and fly south across the Five Lakes.

Who has seen the appearance of that Immortal? His body is still and empty; he breathes the wind and drinks the dew, and his skin is like snow. He briefly leaves the cloud-wreathed grottoes of Mount Gushe, where immortals are said to dwell, then rides a flying dragon steadily up to the Jade Capital, a palace in the Immortal realm.

What is most profound in the primordial chaos? The majestic and wondrous Treasure of Brahma, sacred sound or scripture, has held first place since ancient times. Then white-plumed birds fly out from the jade grove, and a red sun shines upon the heart of Heaven.

At leisure, I improvise poems with Mei and Zhang. The two gentlemen share a breadth of learning and a deep friendship. You are clear and bright as wind and moon, reflecting past and present, your light reaching into the depths of Heaven’s heart.

Striking empty space and beating objects seem able to startle ghosts and spirits. In walking, I let momentum carry me along, so that my body feels light and moves with little effort. When I ascend to the land of Yujiao, the lofty heaven of the immortals, I imagine the clear breeze and bright moon, lucid from ancient times to the present, shining into the depths of Heaven’s heart.

Striking empty space and beating objects seem able to startle ghosts and spirits. In walking, I let momentum carry me along, so that my body feels light and moves with little effort. When I ascend to the land of Yujiao, I will take you with me, and together we will transform into dragons.

Golden fire flashes in the furnace, lighting the road through the heavens and revealing a flawless pearl from the sea. The Qi of primordial chaos suddenly gathers into a jade-like form; through this, the wondrous method of refining an immortal maiden is brought to completion.

Jade spring water wells up and flows into the golden well. In an instant, the efficacy of the Southern Elixir reaches the Northern Sea. Split open the Dark Pearl and send it into the colored clouds; the Dark Pearl rises and flies to the summit of Mount Kunlun.

Perfect and radiant, the myriad tones of Brahma seem to arise from the void; a current of Cinnabar Yang Qi surges toward the mouth of Hui. I see flowers flourishing in the Jade Grove, while two geese pour out immortal wine from the pot-heaven.

The vast world formed from primordial Qi seems to split open in the wind. The jade toad between my brows swallows the moon above the sea. Heavenly light shines over the Five Tombs at a treasured feast; the cinnabar blossoms scatter and are gathered into yellow flowers.

Leaning on my bamboo staff, I wander where I please, seeking out the mist-veiled mountain woods. Yet remote forks in the road and difficult stretches of the journey are all too numerous. The two women need not distinguish beauty from ugliness. Alas, I lack the skill to sing as movingly as Han E.

Clouds of three colors coil and drift, casting their light toward the Crimson Palace, the chamber of the heart spirit in Daoist inner cultivation. The vermilion gates appear and vanish, veiling the profound, hidden true form. The ice wheel, the bright moon, grinds open a road across the Dark Ridge, setting in motion the ancient winds that fill Heaven and Earth.

To toy with things and pluck flowers is, in the end, all illusion. Where, then, should one apply oneself in relating to others? The Tathagata, the Buddha, once spoke of the power of divine might. I ask those who practice meditation: do they understand its meaning?

Climbing to a high tower, my view suddenly opens wide, and I feel almost as though I have reached the Huaqing Palace, the Tang dynasty’s hot-spring retreat. Though I stand in midair, without the aid of a cloud chariot, I can still fly into the Flame Palace and keep company with the stars at dawn.

All day I gaze up at the sun high in the sky. In the Vermilion Mound, seat of the southern fire deity, the Jade Furnace is refined. Precious Brahma sounds wash through the body, freeing one from the mundane; the Ninefold-Spirit Immortal Maiden ascends to the Upper Clarity heaven.

With numinous eyes, I guard and refine myself, entering the Vermilion Court, the red palace of the immortals. Yellow Qi surges vast and free, cleansing the body of impurities. In every movement between looking up and looking down, the realm of Cavernous Emptiness responds and connects. The lofty celestial vistas of Yuluo shine upon the realm of Huaqing.

Within the Green Chamber, a quiet room for cultivation and discussion of the mysteries, layers of emerald hues unfold. I speak of subtle principles and point directly to the essentials of the alchemical scriptures. Red agate surges up from the seabed, while the mountain peak seems to shatter green jade.

The Jade Rabbit in the Moon Palace wanders along a moss-covered path; the Golden Crow, the divine bird in the sun, roosts among the branches of the cassia tree in the Solar Hall. The lights of moon and sun unite, and Lord Wuying, a spirit named in Daoist internal alchemy, ascends to the Jade Pool, a realm of immortals.

In the past, I carelessly lost the road home. Now, looking back, I have returned among the green clouds and rosy mists. Gold and fire surge in the alchemical furnace, revealing strange five-colored lights; cinnabar fills the cauldron and gives off three rays of radiance.

On the riverbank, I wrench off the Black Dragon’s tail; beside the mountain ridge, I knock out the White Tiger’s teeth. With the power of insight, I behold the luminous realms in the five directions. Thus I reach the vast expanse, riding a cloud chariot drawn by cranes.

In the deep, hidden chamber I search by night, in the stillness. I subdue the monkey-heart and horse-will, images of unruly thoughts and intent, and make them dwell quietly beside me. The Jade Rabbit follows the Toad into the heavens, while the Golden Crow bears the sun around the sky.

The Dragon coils within the medicine cauldron, and the Three Flowers gather; the Tiger leaves the alchemical furnace, and the Five Qi come to pay court. Once the numinous cinnabar is refined, one can transcend the world of dust, and the road to the Jade Capital, the immortal palace, lies close at hand.

By chance I ventured into the abyss and took temporary refuge there, like one waiting beneath a tree for a rabbit. I never met a Bo Le to recognize the old horse hauling salt, and was like the fish trapped in a cart rut in Zhuangzi’s parable.

How could I still concern myself with seeking the shapeless image, that wondrous being said to find treasure in the unseen? I know only that today I have obtained the Dark Pearl, a symbol of the mysterious true Dao. By chance we met again in Longxi; I carefully set down my thoughts and send them to you, Ziyu.

Why did Zhan He, the skilled fisherman of old, put away his line? A carp leapt from the rippling water and snapped the hook. How fortunate that it escaped the shallow stream and left the sea of suffering; more fortunate still to reach waters that flow without end, where it can swim freely.

I gladly live in a thatched hut, waiting to welcome the old man from the mountains, and forget to call on the powerful at their red gates. Returning drunk from the village tavern, who will see me home? A herdboy supports me as I ride backward on the ox.

Alas, I understand neither the inner nor the outer realm. I strayed into the cloud-veiled mountains and seem to have been detained there. I once lost the Dark Pearl; now I must seek the hidden principle. When my heart is like clear water reflecting the bright moon, I will search no farther.

A thread of green mist descends from the heavens; twin red rainbows roll down toward the earth. When I reach the Flame Palace, the inner realm that represents the fire-based method of alchemical refinement, I distinguish the mother and child; I also gain insight into the Seven Luminaries—the sun, moon, and five planets…

Alas, I understand neither the inner nor the outer realm. I strayed into the cloud-veiled mountains and seem to have been detained there. I once lost the Dark Pearl; now I must seek the hidden principle. When my heart is like clear water reflecting the bright moon, I will search no farther.

A blue mist descends from the sky, while two red rainbows roll and turn across the ground. When they reach the Fire Palace—the place or palace of fire used in alchemical practice—they divide into the two functions of Yin and Yang. They also connect with the Seven Luminaries, the sun, moon, and five planets, whose movements extend throughout the vast cosmos.

A message to those old men whose forms resemble pines and whose beards and hair are like a crane’s: strive to seek the mysterious principle and transcend the constraints of the mundane world. At the Three Passes, the signs of Qi surge upward and appear as white light; a Golden Elixir, the image of Jing and Qi congealing in internal alchemy, glows red within the alchemical crucible.

In the Water Palace, mercury Qi gathers into the Qi of Jade Yang, while metal Qi condenses into lead and enters the Fire Palace. The Flowing Pearl, an image of circulating Jing and Qi, rises in reverse to the summit of Kunlun. From there, one may take in the boundless scenery among the Jade Pools.

In following the Dao, one should not seek profit alone and betray the kindness one has received. To conceal wrongdoing and hide the righteous Way is to obscure one’s innate nature. Some rely on supernatural powers and claim the Dao as their authority, turning it into a means of making a living; then, with children in their arms and wives at their sides, they preach their religious teachings.

The discerning people despise those self-proclaimed, enlightened adepts, while ignorant spirits slander those who understand the Way. Do not say that Heaven and Earth lack the power to see and judge: retribution may fall on one’s descendants in the distant future, or come upon oneself in the near term.

The entire poem in five-character lines

Xin Gu grieved at the loss of his horse; a man with a blemish in his eye, however, thereby brought forth an ox. Lu Fen became minister of state in the kingdom of Xun, while the butterfly dream opened the teachings of Zhuang Zhou.

The discerning people despise those self-proclaimed, enlightened adepts, while ignorant spirits slander those who understand the Way. Do not say that Heaven and Earth lack the power to see and judge: retribution may fall on one’s descendants in the distant future, or come upon oneself in the near term.

The entire poem in five-character lines

Xin Gu grieved at the loss of his horse; a man with a blemish in his eye, however, thereby brought forth an ox. Lu Fen became minister of state in the kingdom of Xun, while the butterfly dream inspired Zhuang Zhou.

The Immortal of Mount Gushe returned to wondrous transformation, while Hu Qiuzi returned to a realm of wandering beyond the external world. The Eastern Gate is my companion; the Southern Outskirts are also in accord with me.

In youth, I had the good fortune to draw near the sages; by middle age, I appeared foolish and dull. Once startled, the gulls forgot their former nature; amid the barking of dogs, I put on black clothes. Why inquire about those two wives and concubines? The three divine beings have their own appointed time to meet. Ji Xian had no true gift for reading faces, but Wen Zhi was skilled in medicine.

Between the owl and the rooster, who can take charge of what is illusory? The ring dancer merely reveals her strangeness on her own. Sharp things bring forth fires that burn mountains; in pride and self-restraint, one sets down the cup beside one’s elbow. Carrying a heavy load in a cart is an implement for the gentleman, yet now it is shown to petty men. What lies before one’s eyes is not the same as wisdom; one wastes one’s strength building a tower a thousand feet high.

If they are not of the same kind, why force them to be transformed? A true artisan weighs whether the material can be put to use. Easy is the keeping of pure precepts; difficult is maintaining a daily fast. In the cauldron, vegetables are boiled with their roots; in the stove, leafy branches are burned. I suddenly realize that I am like a fish trapped in a rut, for even a little water would be enough to save me.

The disciples are calm and detached, and the Daoist monastery is quiet and spare. Wild greens are available throughout the year, but the household’s grain has lately run out. Having heard this, my heart already agrees. What do you think of it? Lie Yukou once traveled through the state of Wei; where can he now find a peaceful place to dwell?

When confronted with events, it is precious to know how to remain calm and at ease. Only by quieting the mind and clearing away thoughts can one appreciate the nobility of the Great Dao. The ancient masters demonstrated things in person and dispelled doubts; for now, I turn to the Mystery Gate—the gate of Daoist cultivation—for help. Why should a flint boast of its sharpness? Shangqiu has not yet reached the hour of darkness. I have already made my pledge; what do you think? Lie Yukou, the Daoist of the Warring States period, once traveled through Wei. Where, then, should I go now to settle and dwell?

It is precious to remain calm and at ease when faced with events; only by purifying the mind can one perceive the nobility of the Great Dao. The ancient masters demonstrated things in person and dispelled doubts; for now, I turn to cultivation through the Mystery Gate. Why should a flint boast of its sharpness? Shangqiu has not yet reached the hour of darkness. After three years of cultivation, a single leaf takes shape; from then on, one can receive Heaven’s grace on one’s own.

The oral formula reveals the mysteries of the highest immortals’ cultivation: on Mount Kunlun, the immortals’ mountain of Daoist legend, Heaven and Earth’s Yin-Yang are arrayed. Divine fire gathers in the alchemical furnace, and the precious cauldron shines through the night. Form and substance are refined and transformed, condensing into golden liquid; the countenance is nourished until it shines with the radiance of jade rainbows. Divine power blazes forth, its light vast and brilliant; the Kunpeng spreads its wings and flies to the Celestial Pool.

Having encountered a true immortal and received the secret instructions, one withdraws into quiet cultivation and nurtures the Valley Spirit, the inner numinous energy described by Daoism. Understanding the mysteries, one forgets self and other; awakening to the wondrous Dao, one no longer distinguishes between kin and stranger. Yin Shi became a servant, while a laborer was mistaken for a guest. Clinging neither to waking nor to dreaming, one can experience the realm of eternal spring beyond the appearances of the world.

Let out a long whistle and laugh at those who are so unworthy; the one you fish for is the deluded, not the fish. Use a bristle needle to perform the zali technique, a cultivation term in the original whose precise meaning is unclear; set up a piece of wood and praise its power to reach far away. When you meet, sing of gratitude and entrust your feelings to what endures. Among kindred spirits, affection for the Dao is never distant. Yet looking down upon the disciples at my gate, I cannot find a single one who shares my aspirations.

Tap a tile to guide the childlike mind, and compose poems mocking the precious vase. Ask the sunlight, and you will know what is near and far; take pity on all things and discern how they grow and change. Remove illusions and disperse the circling dance; welcome the visitor and sit facing him across the round screen. Refine cinnabar and blend jade-green stone, using cultivation to transform form and substance and be reborn anew. Even so, among the disciples at my gate I still cannot find a single one who shares my aspirations.

Tap a tile to guide the childlike mind, and compose poems mocking the precious vase. Ask the sunlight, and you will know what is near and far; take pity on all things and discern how they grow and change. Remove illusions and disperse the circling dance; welcome the visitor and sit facing him across the round screen. Refine cinnabar and blend jade-green stone, be reborn anew, and make for Qingcheng, a famed Daoist mountain.

On the road, encountering three bundles of cloth inspires alarm and doubt; halfway along, one fears the five cups of broth. A clumsy young servant cannot judge a horse, while the neighbor’s child has already lost the sheep. Before long has passed, one is seeking an official seal. Why labor so hard at practice like Jichang, the legendary master archer? There is no need to boast of autumn floods: the heart can be at ease of its own accord, boundless and far-reaching.

The Great Dao manifests as Three Bodies, yet the Three Bodies return to a single true essence. The Li Dragon lurks beneath the water, while the Cinnabar Phoenix rises among auspicious clouds. Golden liquid pours through the two apertures; the paired passes refine and nurture the jade spirit. The light of wisdom descends upon the Purple Palace of the immortals, shining brightly upon the celestial wheel.

Split open the Seamless Tower, symbol of a closed or unseen boundary, and release the primal essence and Qi from before Heaven and Earth were divided. As this essence and Qi spread, the Three Rivers grow still; the clouds and mists disperse, and the Four Seas become clear. A golden serpent glides through the Water Palace, while a jade rabbit races through the City of Flame. Through cultivation, refine a firm and pure white nature; then withdraw into seclusion, come to rest, and enter Great Clarity, the pure and serene realm of the immortals in Daoism.

Even giving away ten thousand yi of gold would still seem insufficient. Yet even the gift of a tiny amount, if it helps someone in need, is more than enough. Pass your days at ease, enjoying three fine things, and live out a hundred years. Feel no attachment to Yan, the ancient region; set your heart on journeying to Huaxu, the legendary ideal realm. As soon as you grasp the truth of life and death, you can, in an instant, forget the distinction between them.

Hidden light illuminates the Jade Grove; precious blossoms scatter among the jeweled peaks. In the vermilion court, a golden phoenix calls; in the moon palace, a jade dragon roars. Cultivate the body so that the Three Qi gather; nourish the spirit so that the Nine Yin disperse. The mysterious image, like a treasured mirror, hangs ever in the azure sky.

Two five-character quatrains:

The light of blue-green eyes falls upon the earth; the flame of the red sun, in an instant…

Hidden light illuminates the Jade Grove; precious blossoms scatter among the jeweled peaks. In the vermilion court, a golden phoenix calls; in the moon palace, a jade dragon roars. Cultivate the body so that the Three Qi gather; nourish the spirit so that the Nine Yin disperse. The mysterious image, like a treasured mirror, hangs ever in the azure sky.

Two five-character quatrains:

The light of blue-green eyes falls upon the earth; the flame of the red sun reaches straight to the heavens. Amid clouds of five colors, a single lotus leaf floats in the Jade Pool.

Everything within and without is illusory; the middle, too, is wholly empty. Tell this to those who have not yet awakened to the Dao: where, then, should they begin their practice?

A seven-character quatrain:

The true message is stated plainly: through the power of wisdom, the Celestial Eye, the ability to perceive the mysteries, pierces the void. Above and below are joined, all flows freely without obstruction, and the myriad things return to emptiness; a vast and majestic radiance stands forth in full splendor.

How could the Mysterious Origin and Supreme Dao, the root principle of the Dao, be known through words? It is silent and vacant, as though it had no opening through which one might enter. Strike and break through what is hard with mighty force, as if bursting through the edge of the heavens; in settled emptiness, ten thousand stars surge into view.

The Primordial Void Emperor, a revered Daoist deity, was born in the distant past and is honored throughout the ages as lord of the Mysterious Origin. Among the four great powers within Heaven and Earth, he alone holds the highest place; through countless kalpas, he has endured as the progenitor of Heaven and Earth.

Nourish the heart and spirit and seek the Great Dao, and the mysterious nature of De will become clear. Leave behind the turmoil of the world and clarify the mind in deep stillness. Rise as a flying immortal, enter Great Radiance, and dwell at ease forever in the Land of Luminous Yang, a Daoist immortal realm.

When the mind penetrates the mysterious meaning, it understands the true principle. Reach the realm of pure emptiness and probe deeply into subtle mysteries. Follow the easy, natural path, and at last ascend to the Mysterious Realm, forever a guest in the Great Luo, the highest Daoist heaven.

At the center of Heaven and Earth is something like a bellows… Leave behind the turmoil of the world and clarify the mind in deep stillness. Rise as a flying immortal, enter Great Radiance, and dwell at ease forever in the Land of Luminous Yang.

When the mind and spirit penetrate Dao’s subtle principles, the true and real realm becomes manifest. One enters deeply into stillness and emptiness, plumbing the depths of what is hidden and mysterious. By following the peaceful, ultimate Dao and advancing step by step in cultivation, one ultimately ascends to the wondrous realm and becomes an immortal guest of the Great Luo Heaven for all eternity.

Between Heaven and Earth, things are like the bellows of a wind instrument: breath moves back and forth without cease. Those skilled in communication can make sounds and forms respond to one another. In the wondrous realm, no deliberate playing is needed, yet clear, ringing music arises, as if an ensemble of reed instruments were passing through the Phoenix Pavilion.

The Sacred Ancestor of Jade Clarity, a revered deity of the Jade Clarity realm, left behind the Three Seals—Daoist secret methods or talismanic formulae—to accord with the most profound and wondrous Dao. As they are set in motion, jade flowers descend from the azure sky, crimson frost drifts down in flakes, and fragrant breezes spread everywhere.

Through sincere and steadfast cultivation, one subdues the Po and elevates the Hun, until pure, luminous Qi envelops the body and mind like fine jade. The mind follows the warm, harmonizing Qi into verdant mountain peaks and climbs their jade cliffs; all it sees is an empty mountain, green and vast.

One breaks free of the world of dust and no longer remains mired in it. Becoming one with the undifferentiated Great Beginning, one comes to understand the fundamental principle. Divine majesty fills the heart of Heaven; the Dao’s transforming influence spreads Yang essence, clear and bright.

By the power of rigorous cultivation, one dispels the Three Corpses—spirits said to dwell in the human body and obstruct practice—and uses the elixir of numinous Yang to transform body and mind, making pure Yin Qi recede. Suddenly, one no longer perceives the body. The mind forgets its physical frame; sitting still, one enters the clouds, where the spirit rests in serenity.

Within, impurities are washed away and Jing and Qi return to emptiness and clarity, revealing a lustre like powdered jade. Clear and crystalline as ice, it is like the autumn moon reflected on a river. The Crimson Palace, the inner realm where the heart resides, feels a faint chill like crystal. Treasure-like radiance glimmers like starlight, scattering down in flakes like snow.

Within the Great Void, a single point of deep, concentrated heavenly light gathers and fills the whole body. Harmonizing Qi enters without obstruction. It is as if one had breached the towering peaks between Heaven and Earth, then flown out through the empty sky, swift as a shooting star.

The spring in the Jade Well does not thereby run dry. A single clear, resonant note, like the sound of langgan jade, echoes among the green mountains. Waves like fine jade pierce through peaks and clouds; their surging breaks against Kunlun, as though smashing the rocks to fragments.

The Golden Well shines with crystalline clarity, its radiance bright as sunlight. The lustre of fine jade amid the clouds flies out from the immortal islands of the Jade Pool. The translucent curtains billow in the wind, releasing their fragrance. The heavenly light is clear and free of dust, conveying the Six Treasures—the six treasures or elements of cultivation described in Daoist teaching.

As the Dharma Eye—the wisdom eye that beholds wondrous realms within and beyond—turns its gaze, light appears between the brows and eyes. The eyes are clear and bright, their gaze shining like stars. Majestic force extends in every direction, welling up from the four corners of Heaven and Earth to meet the heavens, as ten thousand rays of numinous light converge.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning existed before measureless kalpas. He opened and revealed the Three Realms, establishing layer upon layer of wondrous domains. All things in Heaven and Earth were brought forth by him. Even when kalpas bring the world to ruin, he endures unchanged.

The Dao’s power to transform and nurture is wondrous without end. In hidden depths, the Divine Sovereign of Primordial Unity transmits the Dao. Fetal Light, one of the three Hun souls, enters the body of numinous Yang, while the Six Caverns’ flying essence descends from the Nine Heavens.

A bamboo staff parts the Dharma-realm of perfect awakening; a precept sword cleaves open the immortal mountain of Jade Capital. The Dragon Palace brings forth a dazzling dark pearl, a treasure that symbolizes numinous awareness. Its subtle light flows between heaven and earth.

Its well-ordered substance gleams like fine jade as it climbs against the current to a high place; a numinous bird settles beside the sea turtle. Scenery shifts and shadows change, drifting away with the wind. All things alternate and the stars move, while waves stretch as far as the horizon.

Once polished, the divine sword strikes fear even into a wild horse; where the wisdom blade sweeps, even a restless ape starts in fright. Far from the demonic hordes, a majestic radiance fills the space between heaven and earth, as if shaking the whole world.

At night, with bold resolve, he casts Langya into the sea. The Water Palace opens wide, revealing the Dragon Palace. The assembly lifts up a luminous pearl and presents it; its flame-like brilliance surges into the clouds, illuminating the blue celestial river.

Precious beasts circle above the ordination platform, breathing out fragrance; jade pendants and jade earrings ring against one another. The true sage descends and returns to his station, then takes up the divine sword and ascends to Kuigang, the Kui and Gang stars of the Northern Dipper, and the star positions associated with them.

I urge you to keep the realm of Dao and De always in your heart. I have heard that the Immortal Court has a ritual examination ground, where Daoist registers are bestowed and candidates are examined. In the Divine Empyrean, a proclamation sends down the Golden Register, yet in the Purple Palace no one performs the jade composition, its exquisite ceremonial music.

The imperial Yi dragon travels through the land of the Red Emperor, while the immortal maiden Luoyuan sits upright at Huayang. Two streams of earth qi span the Ox and Dipper mansions; a shaft of heavenly light guards the firmament.

The Crimson Palace, the inner sanctuary where the heart and spirit dwell, has just caught the scent of burning incense. Carried on the wind, the faint sound of jade pendants can be heard. On this quiet night, who is presenting a memorial, one wonders? The Perfected One treads the primordial Dipper steps on the altar.

Cultivation must bring forth the Valley Spirit, the Daoist term for an empty, still, inexhaustible spiritual nature. A single point of perfect, radiant light shines through the Highest Clarity, a heaven in the Daoist celestial realm. The frosty sky is clear and the ancient moon rises; the sea of awakening is serene, reflecting a shooting star.

A single numinous cinnabar grain, the refined spiritual substance symbolized in internal alchemy, illuminates Great Clarity. In empty stillness, undifferentiated, the formless Dao appears. The Dharma-realm is perfectly integrated, and a thousand Perfected Ones shine with luminous clarity. Smoky radiance illuminates heaven and earth, making all phenomena clear.

The ancient Daoist path is level and broad, open for further travel; two branching roads lead to the heavenly court. The Maiden of the Crimson, an internal alchemy term often referring to Yin essence, rides a dragon through the Golden Palace, while the Infant, an internal alchemy term often referring to Yang essence, rides a tiger and roams freely through Jade Capital.

The practitioner seems to stride across the Kunlun Mountains and pierce the heavens, then finally return to the Great Dao and recover the original source. A tiger bounds among the peaks, making the verdant mountains turn; a dragon dives into the abyss and raises surging waves.

When the eye of wisdom opens, the radiance of Shen becomes visible: all the pure Yin Qi within the body is transformed into Yang Qi. This scene is like the rising sun illuminating heaven and earth, or the light of the full moon spreading in every direction.

Parting the clouds and mist, the spirit wanders through celestial realms in the blue sky. The sun and moon draw together and merge, as if rolling over the stars. The dragon flies to the Palace of the Sun to refine golden liquid, while the phoenix drinks jade nectar in the Palace of the Moon. The “Palace of the Sun,” the “Palace of the Moon,” golden liquid, and jade nectar are all images used in Daoist cultivation.

Casting off worldly concerns, the practitioner seeks the Dao beyond the ordinary world. Head held high, the practitioner is at ease, chanting with joy; the spirit’s intent moves step by step with the wind, carrying a lightened body up to an immortal mountain.

The Great Dao descends, filling the air with a hazy, luminous Qi, and the scene is beautiful. In the beginning of heaven and earth, its mysteries are boundless. The spirit rises and shoots straight into the clouds, as if standing aloft while embracing the sun, even able to move Mount Taihua.

Avoiding the force of the wind and nestled close to the sun, the practitioner can scarcely be bothered to open their eyes. Yin and Yang within the body unite and bring forth a sacred embryo—the symbolic fruit of Neidan cultivation, in which Yin and Yang join and Jing and Qi coalesce. Only then does one believe that a man, too, can “become pregnant”; the immortal embryo naturally forms and dances beyond the world of ordinary life.

Take heaven and earth as the alchemical furnace, with the sun and moon circling within it. Through cultivation within the body, the practitioner ultimately refines a treasure at the bottom of the sea and cooks it into a primordial pearl. “The bottom of the sea” often refers to the lower Dantian region of the body; the “primordial pearl” is an image of the condensed Neidan.

Cut down the heart-monkey and tame the mind-horse, transforming them into dragon steeds. Riding one, the practitioner enters the Great Void on the wind. It is as if a streak of starlight flies toward the Palace of the Moon, while two red flames rise to the place where Tianwu dwells. The heart-monkey and mind-horse are Daoist metaphors for scattered thoughts and intentions, which the practitioner must gather and bring under control.

Xiyi and Congjue drink in the pure, authentic atmosphere; the realms they experience are far removed from the human world. Asked where the master is going, he sits calmly on a crane’s back and flies toward the Palace of Ao, a celestial palace said to rest upon a giant sea turtle.

As the practitioner sits, clouds and mist shroud the cold valley. Thunder crashes and rumbles, shaking Taiwei, the region of celestial offices in the sky. Ten thousand silver waves pour into emerald mountain streams, while a sweep of jade-colored waters flows toward the immortal realm of the Jade Pool.

The sun’s soul and the moon’s spirit shine with a cool, clear light. The practitioner gathers these two forces within Kan and Li, trigrams that represent water and fire, Yin and Yang, in the Book of Changes and Neidan practice. Suddenly, roars of dragons and tigers are heard from the bottom of the sea, and the practitioner is startled to see phoenixes and luan birds rise from the mountaintop.

Amid the layered peaks of Mount Gushe, the legendary mountain of immortals, emerald hues seem to drift. Immortals appear and transform within the caves, their skin white as snow. What power could carry one wandering across the four seas? Riding a crane and borne by the wind, one sets out from the Jade Capital, the palace city of the immortal realm.

Release the Jade Rabbit, symbol of the moon, and pursue the numinous crow, symbol of the sun. Race to Yimen, the ancient city gate that can also mean a portal to the immortal realm, and enter the Primordial Beginning, the state before Heaven and Earth were divided. Ten thousand rays of golden light shine across the cosmos; a thousand threads of silver mist illuminate the void.

To refine the pure and unified True Dao, one must cultivate the Three Subtleties, the three refined vital energies or elements, then bring them together with the Two Principles, Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang. If Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, can be united as one, the Golden Elixir will naturally ascend into the heavens.

With clear eyes, one observes the celestial patterns; with keen ears, one hears the “Pacing the Void” music, sung by Daoist priests as they chant or walk. The Dao is vast and can be spoken of, revealing itself everywhere. The supremely subtle, eternal Dao, by contrast, merges with the motions of the sun and moon, gathering and never dispersing.

In the blazing alchemical furnace, red cinnabar is placed in the crucible to be refined. Three-colored vapors rise and mingle, transforming into splendid clouds. A jewel-like radiance shoots through the cosmos, and the Primordial-Union Elixir, symbol of the primordial energy of Heaven and Earth condensed into an elixir of immortality, descends to the Central Realm.

The body is still as a withered tree, the mind as quiet as ashes. In silence, one clears and nourishes body and mind, cultivating the sacred embryo, the spiritual body gestated through Neidan practice. Seated upright in a palace of jade, one watches colored clouds drift in. A jewel-like radiance shoots through the cosmos, and the Primordial-Union Elixir descends to the Central Realm.

The body is like a withered tree, the mind like ashes. Silently, one stills the mind and empties it, nourishing the sacred embryo. Seated upright in a splendid immortal palace, one comes to inquire about the Dao. Wearing a tall hairpin, one laughs freely, as though the cassia blossoms were in bloom.

Radiance shines between the brows and eyes; a numinous pearl leaps within the heart. It descends onto a golden platter, unfolding rays of five colors. Then let the jade attendant, a youth who serves the immortals, gather the essence of the sun’s ocean, and go with me to the grotto-heavens, the blessed lands where immortals dwell.

Lead and mercury, terms in Neidan for the refined energies of Yin and Yang, are joined according to the cycles of the sun and moon. The crucible and furnace are set within Qian and Kun, symbols of Heaven and Earth. The Three-Yang True Fire, the fire timing through which Yang energy moves in Neidan practice, tempers the numinous essence. A single Golden Elixir moves upward against the current.

The distance may seem no more than a few feet, yet the sea of suffering drawn out by attachment is immeasurably deep. The mind drifts with the waves and sinks beneath the surging waters. Once one loses one’s innate nature, one becomes lost for a thousand kalpas, endlessly reborn since time immemorial, even to this day.

Only upon ascending into the mysterious realm does one perceive the Dao’s profound depths. The spirit becomes open and clear; the source of one’s innate nature emerges, and the illusory mind fades away. In an instant, one travels through every region. Only by understanding the past and present can one truly comprehend the present moment.

Awakening from a daze, one discovers that one has entered the land of immortals. Only then does one believe that gathering the spirit in stillness can bring the light of wisdom. The Red Child, symbol of the pure original spirit, pours jade nectar into the furnace; the embryonic immortal, the immortal body gestated through Neidan practice, blends jade wine within the crucible.

The Dao’s realm is profound. The spirit becomes open and clear; the source of one’s innate nature emerges, and the illusory mind fades away. In an instant, one travels through every region. Only by understanding the past and present can one comprehend the present moment.

Awakening from a daze, one discovers that one has entered the land of immortals. Only then does one believe that gathering the spirit in stillness can bring the light of wisdom. The Red Child pours jade nectar into the furnace; the embryonic immortal blends jade wine within the crucible.

The supreme Dao is profound and inexhaustibly mysterious. The true teachings of Shangqing are not empty words. If you truly aspire to cultivate the Dao, I will orally transmit all its celestial secrets to you.

People have spoken of many methods for refining the elixir, yet have not explained what the elixir itself is. The Golden Elixir is in fact close at hand, yet it also lies within the Great Void—the vast, formless emptiness. A Golden Elixir shines brilliantly, illuminating heaven and earth; yet in everyday life, people feel it is as though separated from them by ten thousand mountains.

Look down, and the Way of Kun—symbolizing the earth and yieldingness—is calm and steady. Look up, and the Way of Qian—symbolizing heaven and strength—makes the sky seem lofty and clear. Once ascent and descent, floating and sinking each find their proper place, the principle within becomes apparent; Yin-Yang joins with emptiness, and the sun and moon shine in turn.

Within, cleanse the mind of confused and restless thoughts, and nurture the numinous pearl within your nature. Without, tame the unruly, darting intentions and sweep away darkness and delusion. The light of spiritual awareness penetrates the place where the Golden Crow—an ancient symbol of the sun—resides, and joins with emptiness, reaching a state of complete illumination.

Gently tap the jade lock, and the grotto’s gate swings open; two currents of spirit wind pass through its portals. With intention in your heart, ride a luan bird to the Moon Palace, wandering at ease beneath a tree without shadows.

The four methods subject to leakage—practices or states that remain incomplete and cannot endure—are ultimately false. Though one’s nature may be perfectly luminous, that alone does not count as true attainment. Only when one’s name is entered among the immortals in the Jade Empyrean is the achievement of those who have left home to cultivate the Dao made manifest.

Clouds and radiant hues like jade gems drift away, while the morning sky carries a hint of frost. The clear night is free of dust, and the moon is full. Sitting in stillness to cultivate, one seems on the verge of approaching the Palace of Jade, where one welcomes the Golden Immortal with both hands amid nine-colored rosy clouds.

When Kan and Li—symbols of water and fire, Yin and Yang—join, the key to cultivation within the dusty world is found. As the sun and moon shine upon each other, their light permeates the whole body. Water and fire refine the elixir of the immortals, free of leakage; then the jade-flower embryo, symbolizing the numinous fetus born of cultivation, is lifted from the treasure vase.

Golden essence, falling like rain, pierces the jade window; the Immortal Maiden of Huayang enters the realm of the Central Emperor. The Shaowei star seems to sink to the bottom of a clear river, while a crane rests on a treetop, like frost and snow scattered across the branches.

The water is so clear that no fish can be seen, and the waves reach to the horizon. Numinous energy flies away, entering the depths of subtlety. The Immortal Maiden of Huayang does not follow the mortal world on its way; spirit wind of its own accord joins with the Way of Supreme Mystery.

End of Volume Six of the Collected Works on Supreme Mystery of Shangqing.

Volume Seven of the Collected Works on Supreme Mystery of Shangqing, composed by Hou Shanyuan of Gushe. The complete seven-character poem:

Li and Kan meet and unite, matching the essential secrets of sacred cultivation; two opposing paths divide completely, leading to the unobstructed, level expanse of heaven. The circuit of the celestial sphere revolves ten thousand times, and the dragon’s form unfurls; the earth…

The waters of the Jade Pool, where the Queen Mother of the West is said to dwell, lie still, with golden stamens floating on their surface. The blue sea is clear, and jade blossoms drift with the waves. Fragrant, radiant flowers bloom, brightening heaven and earth; moonlit bats fly out from the tranquil sky.

Awareness returns to the hidden depths, and the true breath of cultivation releases rosy clouds.

The waters of the Jade Pool lie still, with golden stamens floating on their surface. The blue sea is clear, and jade blossoms drift with the waves. Fragrant, radiant flowers bloom, brightening heaven and earth; moonlit bats fly out from the tranquil sky.

A divine fire blazes on Gen Mountain, the northeast direction in the Eight Trigrams. A single surge at the Tail Gate, the point at the base of the spine, carries it through the Three Passes, the vital-energy gates of cultivation. A towering elephant wheels through the sky, while a sea dragon coils beyond the mortal world.

Gather the essence of heaven and earth in one furnace; refine the Sun’s vital energy in two cauldrons. Those who understand this Way awaken to the Dao and become immortals, master the principles of the Changes, ascend to the realm of truth, and fly upon a rainbow phoenix.

Turn the handle of the Northern Dipper and set its numinous pivot in motion. The gate of the great adept opens, and within there is nothing at all. Outside, it bears the Way of the Primordial Beginning; within, it holds two books for saving the world.

From nothingness, build a thousand tiers of jade; in the empty realm, adorn the scene with ten thousand pearls. When cultivation and merit are both complete, one transcends the ordinary world and rides a whale in peace to the immortal city of Yingzhou.

Open the wisdom eye wide and reveal a clear, bright gaze. Ride the two currents of divine wind, following the Sun on its course. Renwu rides a jade elephant among the clouds; Ding Gong rides a golden ox beneath the sea.

Red clouds of smoke curl around the Dragon Pavilion; layers of purple mist encircle the Phoenix Tower. If you ask what blessed land this is, the Azure Lad answers with reverence: “This is Yingzhou.”

Cast off desire and sever entanglements of feeling; hold fast to the resolve to cultivate. Even the barren fields of Quanye become ground where sacred mushrooms grow. The heart is like the moon’s reflection in a pool, reached for beneath the blue sky; one’s nature is like a lotus blooming in a red-hot furnace.

Wander and feast beyond the immortal realm of Shangqing; roam through the Primordial Great Luo Heaven. The Central Sovereign calls me the Master of Profound Mystery; the spirit of Gushe dwells in the ancient immortal realm.

Only by reversing Yin and Yang does true cultivation begin: the Yellow River’s waters surge upstream in a single stream. Ten thousand beams of pure white light pierce the edge of the heavens; a thousand tongues of red flame rise from the mountain summit.

The Sun’s soul shines bright and clear, appearing everywhere; the Moon’s spirit glows brilliantly, casting light in all directions. Unfurl great power, open the ancient immortal path, and ride a phoenix with sword in hand, roaming above the nine heavens.

Hymn on Nourishing the Spirit.

Nature and disposition accord with the true realm of emptiness; the Child and Mother—the mutually dependent Yin and Yang energies in cultivation—return to their original state. The energies of spirits and ghosts meet and flow through the Mud Ball (Niwan), the upper Dantian in the head; the energies of Shen and ghosts join one another.

At the beginning, Heaven and Earth—the “Two Forms,” meaning Heaven and Earth—must return to unity. This is the Way of the Three Essentials. The Six Directions—Heaven, Earth, and the four cardinal directions—return to one path; the key lies in contemplating their unity. The movement of the Six Directions follows the same principle.

The Nine Qi are deep and mysterious, forming a body beyond the physical one. This is the Way of the Nine Yangs. As the stars revolve, Heavenly Gui—the essence energy associated with growth and reproduction—appears in their image. This is the supreme and essential Way.

One must rely on a wise teacher who gathers the teachings’ essential points and explains their principles with care and clarity; only then can one fully grasp the highest teachings of Chongxuan, the profound realm beyond ordinary mystery.

Ode on Mysterious Images

Amidst a blur, wondrous transformations arise and the Jade Gate, a vital aperture in cultivation, opens. A single spark of embryonic light, symbolizing inner illumination, descends to the Wisdom Terrace, where the spirit-mind resides. Within oneself, the Yang essence of Li, symbolized by the Li trigram, is already pure and bright. When the light turns back to its source, its radiance shines clear and white.

The subtle guidance of Chongxuan is beyond measure; the Gate of the Myriad Wonders is beyond the guessing of the ignorant. It is deep and still, yet seems to exist. Behold the Image of the Sovereign, the manifestation or ruling image of the Dao; embrace the moon within your heart and journey to Penglai, the isle of immortals.

Ode on Nurturing Nature

Amidst a blur, leave the Toad Palace, an image in cultivation of the moon or an inner Yin realm, and conceive the embryo of nature and life. The hidden dragon is nourished in the waters below, where the Elixir embryo—the first coalescence of essence and Qi in internal alchemy—takes shape. Know that guarding the hidden and keeping it concealed is the foundation of cultivation. In time, wondrous light will shine upon the Terrace of Nature, where one’s original nature resides.

Within chaos, the Great One, the source from which all things were undivided, appears. The Mysterious Gate is beyond the guessing of the ignorant. It is deep and still, yet seems to exist. Behold the Image of the Sovereign, embrace the moon within your heart, and journey to Penglai.

Amidst a blur, leave the Toad Palace and conceive the embryo of nature and life; the hidden dragon is nourished in the waters below, where the Elixir embryo takes shape. Know that guarding the hidden is the foundation; in time, wondrous light will shine upon the Terrace of Original Nature.

Within chaos, the Great One appears: deep and unfathomable, yet able to clear the mind. Cultivate by following the place where the Yang energy of the Wisdom Soul begins to sprout, so that the Mysterious Pearl, an image of essence and Qi gathered through internal alchemy, may shine as it moves to and fro.

Ode on Heavenly Omens

Follow Wuwei (non-action), and Heaven’s treasures will appear of themselves. Cast aside clever schemes and calculations and transcend the constraints of the body; then you can precede the transformations of all things. Let go of attachment to the body and to the life of nature, and return to emptiness; light will then shine in all directions. Use the intent of Shen for subtle contemplation, and the Jade Heaven, a beautiful celestial realm, will appear in splendor.

Let both things and self become illusory, and starlike radiance will naturally appear before you. The bright moon over the sea holds its light and shines along ten thousand paths, transforming into a Jade Pot Immortal Realm, an auspicious vision sent down from Heaven.

The Primordial Power of Qian, symbolized by the Qian trigram, flows freely, enabling Shen’s illumination to emerge. To bring the Five Qi back to their source, one must use the Way of utmost truth. The opening and closing transformations of the Zhouyi reveal the movement and change of things. Once all the myriad essentials converge, one transcends the mundane world.

Respond by following the moment and contemplate the mysterious image. Work diligently without cease throughout the day, and you will draw near to the Dao. Inner and outer become transparent, the surface and the depths accord; wondrous light clears within my heart and carries me to Pengying, the immortal realms of Penglai and Yingzhou.

Acrostic Poem

The Primordial Power of Qian flows freely, enabling Shen’s illumination to emerge. To bring the Five Qi back to their source, one must use the Way of utmost truth. The opening and closing transformations of the Zhouyi reveal movement and change. Once all the myriad essentials converge, one transcends the mundane world.

One should follow the changes of things, observe their subtle signs, and remain diligent and devoted throughout the day, drawing close to the Great Dao. The inner and outer realms become transparent to one another, and the inner and outer aspects come into accord. A wondrous radiance shines from within, carrying one toward Penglai and Yingzhou, the legendary immortal isles of the sea.

Acrostic Poem

Qi (vital energy, called qi in Daoism) mingles and flows together, allowing all things to move freely and smoothly. Understand how Jing and Qi refine true Yin: when the Yin soul disperses, awakening becomes possible.

Within the palace chambers of the Yellow Court, an image used in inner cultivation, the Dao rests harmoniously at the center. Qi from the four directions enters; the image of the numinous sovereign passes through and gathers, returning to emptiness and stillness.

Opening, returning, the hour of the Dragon, awakening, souls, inebriation, precious radiance, the luminous gate, a grotto dwelling, clarity, mountains, gathering in, mist, and clear brightness.

Another poem:

Dwelling in a quiet place near woods and springs, amid emerald streams, one undertakes a thousand years of arduous practice, relying wholly on a steadfast mind.

The wondrous bodies of the Three Perfected Ones are not bound by the world’s reckoning of years. Their radiance shines everywhere, blending into the Great Dao; they attain immortality, ascend, and transform as they rise.

All things are refined until they come naturally into accord within. Heaven shines with radiance; Yin and Yang bring forth forms, which return to the Dao of Wuwei (non-action).

Lyrics

“Song of Incense”

Heaven and earth are deep and vast. All things follow their nature and move with the transformations of creation; no force can compel them to stop. The Great Void, boundless and formless, stretches high and far, with the sun and moon moving within it. Dragon Qi stirs among the stars; the Phoenix Fire blazes, sustaining the mysterious order. The sea god raises the tides, the river god brings them together, and the Valley Spirit—the Daoist image of the still, empty source that gives life to all things—reveals its vitality.

Radiant and brilliant, the light shines in all ten directions. The Three Palaces, chambers within the body used in cultivation, blend together; with a single stirring, Yang Qi begins to flow. This cultivation is inseparable from everyday life: it is recognized and embodied here and now. Gradually one returns to true emptiness, returns to the right path, and attains the everlasting, unchanging truth.

“Little Mount of Song”

Yin and Yang turn in reverse. Suddenly, a sound like thunder rings out, startling one from deep sleep and bringing one back from a dream. The mists disperse, and the light of wisdom appears. One goes with the wind, as though embracing a sun.

Through gentle nurturing and cultivation, an immortal embryo takes form—a metaphor in Neidan for the completion of the Elixir. It becomes clearly visible in the void, rising beyond the Numinous Terrace, the image of the seat of heart and spirit. Gazing out in every direction, above and below, toward Penglai, one may enter the Jade Grotto and become an immortal.

“Entwined Branches”

One gathers in one’s sharpness without shame and receives favor without delighting in it. One softens and humbles the mind, nurturing and cultivating until an immortal embryo takes form. It becomes clearly visible in the void, rising beyond the Numinous Terrace. Gazing out in every direction, above and below, toward Penglai, one may enter the Jade Grotto and become an immortal.

“Entwined Branches”

One gathers in one’s sharpness without shame and receives favor without delighting in it. The nature is gentle and humble; one is content with ordinary life, follows circumstances, and remains at ease, free of entanglements. One walks deep into the woods and springs, arriving amid encircling green clouds, and spends a lifetime in peaceful leisure.

If one wishes to transcend life and death, one must understand the everlasting, unchanging truth. Refining Qi into Shen, the spirit consciousness rises into the azure sky and merges with the Great Void. However boundless heaven and earth may be, one can remain forever free of worry and attain long life and enduring vision.

“Two Poems in the Manner of ‘A Prunus Branch’”

People in the world of dust each bustle about to make a living. Some leave the world behind; others awaken to the constant truth of the Dao. As the day passes, Jing and Qi gradually grow abundant, and gradually grow clear and cool. A glimmer of lucidity, like a gathering of Yang Qi, appears. The Yin and Yang Qi unite, and the movement of Qi begins. From this the divine elixir takes shape, allowing life to continue. The numinous spirit enters its dwelling among the clouds, as though guided by a pair of golden boys toward the realm of the immortals.

Again

A plum branch thrusts up from the mundane world, its slender young shoots a vivid green. Unlike pine and bamboo, it does not endure wind and frost alone, yet it too offers an auspicious sign in the coldest season. Its tiny buds have only just begun to emerge, yet they surpass all the other flowers. Do not let its beauty extend beyond the pink wall; even if Huan Yi, the Jin-dynasty figure famed for his flute playing, plays and admires it, that is quite all right. Its graceful form is natural to it. When it opens, its pale yellow heart is revealed: clear and exquisite, peerless in beauty, with a singular charm. Such is the fragrance of the plum blossom.

Two Lyrics, “Feelings Confided”

Let Yin and Yang cycle back and forth without allowing the process to go astray. Hold fast to the right path and let no evil thoughts arise. Keep the medicine furnace and elixir cauldron turning; set the Three Chariots in motion with the Dragon and Tiger, metaphors in alchemy for the Yin and Yang Qi. Gather the spirit water, refine the essence, and bring it together into numinous cinnabar. In the Crystal Palace, the Jade Hare and Golden Rooster respond to one another, releasing a radiance like fine jade.

Again

The autumn mountains and waters are colored as if painted, their greens sharply defined. Wild geese cry out; the lovely mountain hues and bright water reflect one another, while mist-veiled trees are mirrored beside a small bridge over the stream. Snow-white waves surge and roll, the water swelling like banks of clouds as it gently brushes the robe. Returning, one remains so absorbed that dusk has fallen and the moon has risen above the pine treetops.

“Many Calls”

Do not struggle so fiercely for what you desire. How much time does a person have in this life? Alas, a hundred years of life are like a dream in the southern bough. Even if wealth, status, and fame all come as hoped, one cannot escape the trials of life and death. Ah! Better to accept one’s lot and nurture the natural, peaceful original Qi. As Yang Qi gradually begins to grow, the Qi fills the elixir cauldron; refine Jing and Qi within the body, and gather the lively breath. Once the Golden Elixir is formed, its radiance shines through the body, as if awakening from the dream beneath the southern bough. Even if wealth, status, and fame all come as hoped, one still cannot escape the trials of life and death. Ah! One should accept one’s lot and nurture the harmony of Heaven, let Yang Qi fill the cauldron, and refine it within the body until the numinous breath gathers. When the Golden Elixir is formed, its light shines through the body, blending into a single Qi that reaches throughout the Saha world, the world we inhabit according to Buddhist teaching. Ah!

The way to long life, put into practice in daily life, lies in realizing emptiness. As the primordial Qi (the original energy before Heaven and Earth were divided) first differentiates, movement and stillness become clearly manifest. The Three Powers—Heaven, Earth, and humanity—then transform, and all things rise and fall. The Jade Rabbit, symbolizing Yin, pursues the numinous crow, symbolizing Yang. A thunderous shock shakes the cosmos, as though a single blow has shattered the dark road. Radiance illuminates the forehead of the white tiger of the Three Mountains; flames fly toward the whiskers of the two red dragons, revealing a pearl in the night.

Cultivation consists in letting go of craving and severing attachment and entanglement. Only with a purified body and a clear mind can the Dao-eye open; by guarding within the Qi without leakage, one’s spirit remains whole. Use true mercury (an alchemical term often referring to the mind and spirit) to refine true lead (an alchemical term often referring to Jing and Qi). Set up the furnace and cauldron (images for the body and mind in Neidan cultivation), and refine them by regulating the firing times. Slowly gather and hammer the substance until it forms a sheet; then condense it into a sphere, refining it into a perfect pearl. At last, the body transforms beyond itself into a flying immortal.

The Dao of the True and Constant is present everywhere in daily life, extending throughout the three thousand worlds. It is vast enough to encompass what lies beyond Heaven and Earth, yet it is equally present in a grain of sand or a mustard seed. The wondrous principle runs through all things.

The power of numinous might gathers without cease, forming a perfect pearl; at last, the body transforms beyond itself into a flying immortal.

The Dao of the True and Constant is present everywhere in daily life, extending throughout the three thousand worlds. It is vast enough to encompass what lies beyond Heaven and Earth, yet it is equally present in a grain of sand or a mustard seed. The wondrous principle runs through all things.

The power of numinous might moves and circulates of its own accord within chaos. It is as though it crashes through layer upon layer of emptiness, and a luminous pearl rolls out from beside the great sea turtle, its flames reaching up to the Heaven of Yama (a celestial realm in Buddhist cosmology).

Forget worldly distractions, and you will see that all things are empty. You fall asleep at night to the sound of song, and even your dreams gradually fade; moonlight fills half the window, while a curtain of breeze slowly rouses you from your drowsiness. You rise and sit, wrapped in your robe, and suddenly behold your original face. Pure light arises in the quiet room, filled with a vast and upright Qi; auspicious signs appear in the empty hall, as though wondrous efficacy had revealed itself. Radiance shines into the jade vessel.

River Deity

The cinnabar essence, lodged in a false body, has long been buried and has therefore brought all kinds of affliction. The turmoil of human life is as brief as a mayfly, with all people driven on by birth and death. Suddenly awakening, one understands that there is no fixed distinction between self and other; emptiness and form (the Buddhist concepts of voidness and visible phenomena) are allowed to appear before the eyes. The Golden Crow at the bottom of the sea, symbolizing Yang energy, begins to rise; the azure sky opens wide, and all dust vanishes. Heavenly light fills the scene, flowing brightly before the eyes. Auspicious, youthful faces shine upon one another, surpassing fine jade, like white snow reflected against a plum blossom.

Seven “Slow, Slow Songs”

Suddenly awakening, one understands that there is no fixed distinction between self and other; emptiness and form appear freely before the eyes. The Golden Crow at the bottom of the sea begins to rise, the azure sky opens wide, and all dust vanishes. Heavenly light fills the scene, flowing brightly before the eyes. Auspicious, youthful faces shine upon one another, surpassing fine jade, like white snow reflected against a plum blossom.

The human heart is stubborn and unwilling to turn back, remaining sunk in the sea of suffering for a long time. Wine, sensual pleasure, wealth, and temper—how long will you refuse to give them up? When you hear this counsel, seek the path back to the right way without delay, and live freely and happily, at ease like flowing clouds and water. Let your heart be free of attachments and worries, unmoved by joy and untroubled by sorrow. Gradually enter a life of quiet, peaceful cultivation. Preserve your innate, simple nature, and let the Qi of body and mind become harmonious and gentle. Combine the alchemical ingredients described by terms such as lead and frost, repeatedly drawing them together and refining them in the cauldron and furnace. In time, the Golden Elixir gradually takes shape. When your cultivation is complete, you can transcend the mortal world and join the ranks of the immortals. Then you may ride a phoenix or crane and ascend to such immortal realms as the Purple Palace and Yingzhou.

The mind’s thoughts rise and fall, easily pulled along by the outside world; familiar sights of the mortal realm are hard to forget, and the whole day passes in ceaseless activity. Once past middle age, a person is like the sun sinking toward the west, like a dying lamp dreading the dawn, or a fallen leaf blown by the wind as it gradually withers and yellows. What moves us most is the passage of time and the changing of all things: in the end, no one can escape impermanence. If you see this clearly, seek the path back to the true, enter the mysterious gate of Daoist cultivation with sincerity, and study the methods of becoming an immortal. Once a master has personally passed on the secret teachings, gather your spirit and quiet your mind in a tranquil practice chamber, reflecting with care. Polish your heart until it is as clear as an icy terrace, letting the light of Shen appear and unite with the Qi of the numinous Yang. When your nature is complete and luminous, you can attain longevity and clear awareness, and enjoy lasting health.

Beautiful moments pass swiftly, like ants moving in an endless cycle, as days follow one another without pause. One year ends, and before long another has begun. Then impermanence suddenly arrives, and life reaches its end—what could you use then to put it off? In cultivation, if you keep saying that others have the affinity for it while you do not, you will let the opportunity pass. If you can turn back and awaken, you can set aside fame and wealth and roam freely beyond the mortal world. Preserve your original Jing, the body’s essential vital energy, as though refining it in a jade furnace with a flame as faint as falling snow. After long cultivation, body and mind seem to become clear and transparent, radiant and exquisitely bright like sunlight. At last, the essences of the Sun, Moon, and stars unite as one with your numinous, true nature, and you ascend to the Jade Heaven, the realm of the immortals.

Some people are muddled and stubborn, unaware even when others carry them. They make arrogant, reckless plans and stir up trouble for no reason. Obstinate and lacking wisdom, they do nothing but indulge in idle fantasies, search aimlessly, and make wild guesses. They speak in haste, are narrow-minded, and quarrel at the slightest provocation. Driven by ignorance—the afflictions that cloud the mind—they chase after strange and absurd things. They even insist on acts that hurt and obstruct others, only to trap and bury themselves in the end.

If one grasps the workings of Heaven—the key to cultivation—and the oral instructions, then a single knock at the Mysterious Pass, the opening that leads to inner mysteries in cultivation, will open the gate of the Precious Cave. The Jade Maiden and Golden Infant, images of Yin-Yang essence and Qi in Daoist internal alchemy, come and go together, accompanying one another. Yin and Yang unite naturally, forming an immortal embryo amid the emptiness. Once the True Person appears, one can pass beyond the Dragon Palace and Sun Hall of the immortal realm and wander freely.

Strength and weakness, good and evil, are clearly distinct; the consequences meted out between Heaven and Earth differ as well. Corrupt families may prosper and gain honor, while those who are chaste, resolute, and virtuous remain poor year after year. The foolish even slander the wondrous Dao of stillness and Wuwei, calling it a heretical path. How could they understand that, when they see a superior adept who cultivates the Dao, they regard him as an enemy?

They mistake a lofty Daoist master for a thief, yet take cruel and unruly young men for worthies. They adorn themselves with horse trappings, adjust their robes, and strike a pose of propriety—yet what do they understand of proper relations and respect? Those who call themselves great masters have learned only brawling and fighting, and act recklessly; what can they say about human relationships? They might as well cut off their old attire, change into cloud robes, pin up their hair, and put on a headscarf.

The worthy and the foolish are worlds apart; right and wrong, truth and falsehood, are tangled like a thicket, and purity and filth are hard to tell apart. Many ignorant people speak offhandedly, spouting nonsense and foul words. They call the phoenix-like yuanju a sparrow, and say that the numinous chun tree, famed for its longevity, is a morning fungus that lives only from dawn to dusk. … What can such people say about human relationships? They might as well cut off their old attire, change into cloud robes, pin up their hair, and put on a headscarf.

The wise and the foolish differ from one another, yet right and wrong, crookedness and straightness, become tangled together, and matters of clarity and murkiness are hard to distinguish. Many people do not understand the truth of things; as soon as they speak, they make reckless judgments based on their own assumptions. They call the Yuan-chu, a legendary divine bird, a chi-yen, a small bird, and describe the Ling-chun, a legendary tree of immense longevity, as a chao-jun, a fungus that lives from dawn to dusk. Even Sui He and Lu Jia, famed in the Han dynasty for their eloquence, would have no way to sort out these confused claims. Niu Que vainly preached benevolence and righteousness, while Jian Wu, a figure in ancient fables, shut his eyes and refused to see; each had lost their innate, uncontrived nature. It is like blind people touching an elephant, or night and day turned upside down: how could they tell dawn from dusk? They take a jade chime for a cooking vessel and mistake a ceremonial vessel for offerings for a basin to hold food. Most tragic of all, they use a jade zither for firewood and cooking, and mistakenly kill a qilin.

Time flies: summer gives way to winter, and in the blink of an eye the new year arrives. All things change and their forms alter, while the years quietly hasten their decline. Who has ever noticed that, year after year, people bid farewell to the old year as their youth gradually fades, their hair turns white, and their faces grow old? To let time slip by in vain is like fallen blossoms and drifting catkins, like water flowing away—nothing can bring it back. If one can turn the light inward, gather the spirit and contemplate oneself, set the numinous pivot of body and mind in motion, and break through the two barriers of cultivation in a single stroke, then the mysterious pearl will shine like the sea, its radiance blazing across Mount Kunlun. One’s precious nature will thereby grow clear and pervade the whole body; casting off the mortal form, one will cultivate an immortal elixir. When the Jade Stars of the celestial realm appear, one may roam the central heavens, free and at ease beyond the world of dust.

South Branch Song

Before awakening to the Dao, the world seems to contain a thousand forms and things. Once the mind awakens, one understands that all things return to nothingness. The contention between being and nonbeing then falls silent, and the mind becomes empty and clear. Amid the blending of Yin and Yang, Yang Qi pours forth, and a spark of numinous awareness emerges, appearing like a spiritual crow. Auspicious Qi surrounds the golden cauldron, while clouds of good fortune coil around the jade flask. Through cultivation symbolized by the jade flask and golden cauldron, the spirit pearl is formed; brilliant with light, it rises slowly toward Tianwu, the legendary water deity, like flowing rosy clouds.

Expanded Song of Picking Mulberries

Withdraw early from the turmoil of fame and profit. I urge you to turn your heart toward the Dao and put an end to unrestrained desires. If a host of demons intrudes whenever a thought arises, subdue them at once and do not let them exploit an opening. Slay the nine worms, the inner impurities named in Daoist cultivation, and extinguish the Three Corpses, the spirits said to dwell in the human body and obstruct the cultivation of the Dao. Then you can unite with the Dao. Who, after all, can truly understand this as a kindred spirit? In a pure, still night without a trace of dust, the moon rises above the mountain peak. Look up at the Qian Forest, the legendary tree of the immortals.

Reduced Song of Picking Mulberries

It is lamentable that this body once committed all manner of twisted and aberrant acts. Now, having awakened, it has begun to seek the path back to the true. The mind is clear and pure as ice, and its character is lofty and distinguished; it no longer stumbles into the perils of the worldly realm. The heart is still as an ice altar, its numinous radiance crystalline and bright, untouched by even a speck of dust. From this, one suddenly awakens to another realm, real and wondrous: Yin and Yang light unite, rising into mystery and casting off the mortal body.

“Two Songs: Treading on Grass”

Before chaos had divided, the traces of all things were dim and hard to find. When Heaven and Earth first opened, the Qi of primordial chaos gradually emerged. A point of sunlight appeared in the void, while numinous breath and visions spread forth in vast splendor. Skin like ice, bones like jade, a graceful and clear bearing; a celestial crane stirs Heaven and Earth. It moves freely not only through the Great Void, but also breaks through the many barriers of Mount Jing.

Another song:

Cultivate the breath and preserve the spirit, making the most refined primordial Qi firm and stable. Even if one is enclosed within a jade casket of scriptures, how could a heavy, turbid mortal body comprehend the Great Dao? The bright pearl within the heart leaps into the Great Void; the Jade Infant, wondrously transformed, passes through the mysterious gate. Drive back the Golden Crow, pursue the Jade Hare, gather Yang Qi, and transform into an immortal before departing. Clear, soaring immortal music and fragrant incense bid farewell as the immortal leaves the Jade Terrace; the perfected one lies drunk in the immortal realm of Penglai.

“Song of the Herdsman”

Jing and Qi are depleted, the hun and po souls scattered, and the mind and spirit roam everywhere. One turns one’s innate true nature into illusion. Chasing external things, the mind grows clouded, and one can only drift in turmoil through the sea of suffering.

The road ahead is steep and perilous—where should you go? I urge you to begin cultivating the supreme Dao without delay. The supreme Dao enables one to understand all principles, with a light that shines through everything, like Li Lou, whose sight was said to be extraordinary, and Shi Kuang, whose hearing was said to be exceptionally keen.

“Beauty Yu”

Within the profound source, a point of heavenly light is faint yet clear, crystalline as a thousand suns. Silver clouds glow brilliantly, reaching through Heaven and Earth in every direction. The myriad spirits gather and encircle it; in a daze, the mind suddenly opens into brightness. A fetal immortal is born in the void, with a supple form, drifting as lightly as the wind. He breaks through the clouds and jade barriers at Heaven’s summit, arrives at the treasure towers and jade halls, and has his name entered in the registers of immortals.

“Two Songs: Pounding Cloth”

When cultivation is spoken of, a fetal immortal is born, with a supple form, drifting as lightly as the wind. He breaks through the clouds and jade barriers at Heaven’s summit, arrives at the treasure towers and jade halls, and has his name entered in the registers of immortals.

“Two Songs: Pounding Cloth”

The Golden Elder and the Yellow Matron, following the patterns of nature, join together and refine the Qi of balanced harmony. Red cinnabar is formed in the cauldron and gradually fills it. The light of Shen appears, illuminating the River of Heaven. A single spark of embryonic light—an image in alchemical practice of the achievement of the inner elixir—rises from the surging waves, revealing the realm of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) and reaching the Great Luo Heaven.

True Lead and True Mercury unite in the Kan position and rise. Through the reversal and transformation of the two medicines, each naturally accords with the other. Refined into the Golden Elixir, they shine like the sun. One penetrates the mysterious and understands what is deep and subtle. The Maiden and the Infant—terms in alchemical practice symbolizing the essences of Yin-Yang—often ride the Dragon and Tiger, symbols of the powers of Yin and Yang Qi. At last, one enters the realm of the highest immortals and accords with the subtle workings of sagehood.

Two Poems in the Tune “Four Pieces of Jade”

A single point of light shines clear and bright, pure as ice and jade; through countless kalpas, it neither arises nor perishes. It spans past and present without ceasing. Wherever the gaze reaches, it gathers in the Real Void, a realm beyond forms and attachment.

Only after cultivating to this point does one know the formula for penetrating the mystery; ordinary people cannot discern its hidden principle. Two paths divide at the crucial point, like Cao Creek, the ancestral seat of Chan Buddhism. The moon’s reflection rests in the water, while the bright moon hangs in the sky.

Seeking the real within the false, one comes to know that the real has its own substance. The light of wisdom shines through the vast, open sky, clear as the sun and crystalline as the heavens; its numinous radiance gathers in all things. It reflects the azure firmament and gathers shades of green.

When this principle is understood, the heart opens wide and grasps the subtle formula; both things and self come to rest. Even the thought of “knowing nothing” falls away, and one transcends arising and perishing. What should appear is another bright moon hanging high in the boundless sky.

Seven Poems in the Tune “Willow Branch”

Sitting quietly, drawing the body inward to contemplate, one savors the jewel-like inner landscape, with eyes clear and flawless. Wash the mind’s inward gaze until the heart is as pure as an infant’s, and compose one’s bearing. If asked where one is going tonight, it is to keep an appointment with the immortals. Returning with the boat laden with moonlight, one makes for the Jade Lake, the immortal realm where the Queen Mother of the West dwells.

Another

The jewel-like inner landscape, with eyes clear and flawless. Wash the mind’s inward gaze until the heart is as pure as an infant’s, and compose one’s bearing. If asked where one is going tonight, it is to keep an appointment with the immortals. Returning with the boat laden with moonlight, one makes for the Jade Lake.

Another

Within, one clarifies the rules and measures, returns to the source, and sees how principles accord with one another. Dwelling always in the silent, Wuwei Palace of Primordial Unity, a symbol of the undivided state before primordial Qi separates, one realizes the Real Void. Looking up and down, there is nothing—so with whom could one be the same? Sitting alone in the moonlight, one has only the breeze for company.

Another

At once, one recognizes the vision of perfect, radiant clarity and understands how readily it settles into balanced harmony, its wondrous workings without limit. Auspicious clouds of vapor fly into the Jade Clarity Palace, one of the Three Pure Ones’ celestial realms, as the moon shines down from the sky. The nature of all things naturally accords with the simple ways of antiquity—so with whom could one be the same? Placing a willow branch in a precious vase, one displays an elegant and refined bearing.

The innate nature of the Treasure-Nature is complete and unobstructed: it reaches upward to the heavens and downward to the mortal world, while probing inward into the depths. Three intermingled, radiant colors stream toward the Jade Palace, the dwelling of immortals, as flames rise into the sky. Through illumination and deliverance, all things are aided; Jade Yang is clear, auspicious signs appear, and harmony comes of itself. The Valley Spirit, the Dao-body that is still and empty yet ceaselessly brings forth life, flies within primordial chaos and peacefully receives the immortal breeze.

Again

Who has ever seen the scene in the bright realm of the West? Three radiant colors shine upon the Jade Palace as flames rise into the sky. Through illumination and deliverance, all things are aided; Jade Yang is clear, auspicious signs appear, and harmony comes of itself. The Valley Spirit flies within primordial chaos and peacefully receives the immortal breeze.

Again

Who has ever seen the brocade-like scenery of the bright realm of the West? Its views are extraordinary. Mists and waters stretch far and wide; willows along the shore reflect the slanting sun, as though one stood in an immortal land wrapped in clouds and water. Home is close at hand, yet I cannot reach it; the view before me remains beautiful. Stepping into the void, I ascend to an immortal chamber amid blue clouds. The blessed caverns where immortals dwell stretch on without end.

Again

With a crane’s lofty, untroubled nature, I gaze into the distance, climb with all my strength, and cross Tong Pass. After the autumn rains clear, I suddenly feel the thinness of my clothes; the clouds above the waterside carry a chill. How can I bear to remain entangled in the fame and gain of past years? I should return soon. Beneath the setting sun, villages fade into the distant horizon as I gaze toward the mountains and rivers of home.

Again

In the Year of the Rabbit, I wandered from place to place, living in the distant mountains and companionably at ease with clouds and waters. Know that even a thousand years in this world will eventually grow tiresome; then one longs to return. Transformed in body and renewed, I return to the original path and regain a child’s face. Stepping into the void, I ascend to an ancient star altar and roam upon a luan bird amid the clouds.

Farewell to a Hundred Teachers (Willow Branch)

Like wild cranes and lone clouds, they come and go freely; even if one wishes to keep them, they cannot be held. Affection binds two hearts and breaks them with grief; tears fall freely. The desolation deepens after autumn, and the road home is long—hurry and climb with all your strength. West of the Luo River, among willows on mist-shrouded banks, I gaze toward the mountains and rivers of home.

Mo Shan Xi

Once a man has set his resolve, he must not abandon his original intention. Even after making up his mind and setting his conduct straight, he may still feel attached to the human world. Affection breaks the heart; tears fall freely. After autumn, the road home is bleak and long, so one should hurry and climb with all one’s strength. West of the Luo River, among willows on mist-shrouded banks, I gaze toward the mountains and rivers of home.

Mo Shan Xi

Once a man has set his resolve, he must not change his first determination. Stand firm and upright, preserve integrity, and cut away at once all unruly and restless thoughts. Follow circumstances and let nature take its course; take clouds and waters as companions and heaven and earth as home. Beneath green pines and among emerald bamboo, another kind of true pleasure awaits. Quiet, empty, calm, and serene: this is the course of the rest of one’s life. When the breath is steady, the spirit naturally becomes harmonious. Refine the Mysterious Pearl, a Daoist term for the inner elixir or condensed Qi, and move it out of the Kan position, associated in the Bagua with water and the kidneys. The Mysterious Pearl glows a deep red, as though entering the Li Palace, associated with fire and the heart. It connects above and below, illuminates the four directions, and gathers outer appearances back into the heart.

Four Songs Without Dreams

Earth, water, fire, and wind—the four basic elements (the Four Great Elements)—bring you all manner of harm. Now that they have each gone their separate ways, my Dharma body, the purified body gained through cultivation, can move freely and lightly. Free at last, free! I use spiritual powers to embrace and teach, transcending the spirit realm and the Three Realms.

Again:

I have heard nothing at all from my old friends; I sit alone on ancient ground. Now that they have each gone their separate ways, my Dharma body can move freely and lightly. Free at last, free! I use spiritual powers to embrace and teach, transcending the spirit realm and the Three Realms.

Again:

Not a single old friend has sent word. I sit alone beside the ancient rocks—who will come to ask after me? I look back toward my homeland: its auspicious clouds have scattered, while I drift like a floating duckweed, as though I belong there still. Sorrow, sorrow! A light boat carries me forward on the wind.

Again:

Facing the southern bank of the blue stream, I cannot dispel my sorrow; flowing water and falling flowers stretch endlessly before me. I look back and see only veils of clear-weather mist. My fellow cultivators, companions on the Way, are nowhere to be seen. A long sigh, a long sigh! A light boat glides gently through the wind.

Again:

A bold and resolute man, with a clear and pure heart and purpose; beyond this, there is no distinction. The solitary moon remains full for ages, merging into the clear green pool. Gather, gather! Its purity surpasses ice and snow in a jade flask.

Two Songs of the Night Boat

The Qi of the tiger form reaches far toward the Celestial Net, swallowing in the phoenix tail. The fire wheel turns, and the Qi of Gen Mountain—the northeast position in the Bagua—first rises. Flames blaze within the cauldron, cooking and refining the divine water, as earthly essence and the marrow of Heaven mingle and unite. The pure Yang elixir is refined and infused throughout the body. Thus one sheds the mortal frame and parts from the mundane world. Riding swiftly in a crane-drawn carriage, accompanied by immortal companions, one appears at dawn in Jade Clarity, the realm where the Primordial Beginning resides.

Again:

You made a vow and spoke what was in your heart, renouncing worldly attachments of every kind. Yet your words and heart do not agree; you cannot tell truth from falsehood. Turn away from the Mysterious Gate, and you will never complete the work; indulge in wrongdoing, and you will be beyond admonition. Your karmic offenses are grave, and there is no escaping your transgressions. The winter night is knife-cold, and ghosts and spirits pull and entangle you. How can you not be afraid?

Again:

You made a vow and spoke what was in your heart, renouncing worldly attachments of every kind. Yet your words and heart do not agree; you cannot tell truth from falsehood. If you return to the Mysterious Gate, you can bring your cultivation to completion. If you indulge in wrongdoing, you will be beyond admonition; your karmic offenses are grave, and your transgressions will be difficult to erase. The winter night wind is cold as a knife, and ghosts and spirits pull and entangle you. How can you not be afraid?

Greeting the Immortal Guest

The Dao is not far away; only Kunlun Mountain stands between. Sit quietly and still the Shen, then probe closely the profound and mysterious principles. The key to cultivation lies right here; it cannot be reached by planning and calculation alone. A single crystal-clear spark of golden spirit shines bright and hot within the precious furnace. Gather the numinous fungus and pluck the peaches of immortality; auspicious Qi circulates, filling the purple road where immortals dwell. Jade attendants sing, golden attendants keep the beat, while white cranes and azure luan birds cluster in alternating ranks to welcome the immortal guest.

The essential teaching of the Dao and the mystery of becoming an immortal can be understood only through sudden awakening. One must let go of all things in the world. Seeing one’s innate nature, one breaks through to the heights of the vast heavens. The mind shines bright as an autumn moon and is clear as a cold spring. Deep and tranquil within, free of the slightest speck of dust, one moves in and out of the Dragon Realm and the Purple Palace Heaven, the realm of the immortals.

Returning to the place of origin, one accords with the Limitless Great Beginning, the primordial state before Heaven and Earth took shape, and abides before the great calamities arose. The primordial Qi flows on without end. It remains unchanged through the passing of summer and winter. Subtle, profound, and flawless as the Great Void, it remains unmoved even when the Three Calamities destroy the world. Thus, within the Void there is neither birth nor death. It has endured unchanged since time immemorial, beyond all reckoning of years. The Way of True Constancy was transmitted by the Sacred Ancestor of the Mysterious Origin, Laozi’s honorific title in Daoism, and has passed down through the generations.

Again

When Heaven and Earth had just separated, the hidden dragon first transformed, and the Qi of chaos gave rise to the two forms of Heaven and Earth. Even when calamity destroys Heaven and Earth, it remains unmoved. Thus, within the Void there is neither birth nor death. It has endured unchanged since time immemorial, beyond all reckoning of years. The Way of True Constancy was transmitted by the Sacred Ancestor of the Mysterious Origin and has passed down through the generations.

Again

When Heaven and Earth had just separated, the hidden dragon first transformed, and the Qi of chaos gave rise to the two forms of Heaven and Earth. The cultivator contemplates the sun’s essence and the moon’s marrow, symbols of the sun and moon’s vital forces, and refines lead and mercury, symbolic terms in internal alchemy, allowing Yin and Yang to circulate and unite as the tiger leaps and the dragon soars. Obstruction and flow intermingle, as the hexagrams of the Book of Changes shift through the stages of Difficulty, Youthful Folly, Return, and others. The images and principles of the Book of Changes also reveal the notions of Excess, Water, and Fire. The Jing and Qi become pure, shining with the freshness of a young child and the lightness of wings, clear and subtle. How vast and wondrous is the Great Dao! Yet who is willing to let the spirit return to its former dwelling? The great turtle that supports the land bears up the firmament; mountain ranges spread their beauty, and the solitary moon shines with pure light. The sea is calm and the sky is open; no dust drifts there. The air is fresh, the mind clear, and a wondrous mystery appears. Along the road to the true realm, the mortal body is transformed into a light and graceful immortal body, returning on the wind.

Three Songs of “Full Courtyard Fragrance”

Among all things, humanity is most precious; within the human heart resides a spark of subtle spirit. It is supremely numinous and sacred, yet who truly knows it in daily life? It appears and disappears, abiding or vanishing in accord with change. Whether round or square, crooked or straight, it adapts to circumstances. Let it transform as it will: in walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, it accompanies every movement and stillness.

Radiant, its light shines through the body; the perfected person appears in a manner of extraordinary dignity. A jade pin crowns the head, red shoes adorn the feet, and jade pendants hang from the body. Brocade robes and colored sashes complete the attire. A jeweled canopy, fragrant carriage, and phoenix palanquin accompany the procession, with cloudlike jade covering it above and a beautiful true consort within. Immortal music begins to play; golden youths bring cups of wine, and one drinks until utterly intoxicated.

Forsaking simplicity and craving ornament, one loses one’s natural honesty and finds it hard to return to the ancient and unadorned. What is murky at its source takes time to clear. In dealing with affairs, be humble and generous; even when one’s belongings are worn out, there is no need to rush to replace them. Knowing contentment, one is not made proud by success or troubled by failure. At ease and self-possessed, one remains unmoved by outside things, even when drunk and limp as mud.

Again

Forsaking simplicity and craving ornament, one loses one’s natural honesty and finds it hard to return to the ancient and unadorned. What is murky at its source takes time to clear. In dealing with affairs, be humble and generous; even when one’s belongings are worn out, there is no need to rush to replace them. Knowing contentment, one is not made proud by success or troubled by failure. At ease and self-possessed, one is neither impatient nor frivolous.

Do you understand the principle behind this? Life and death, gain and loss, advance and retreat—all are natural changes, like waning and fullness. To live this way is to preserve oneself and accord with the Way. Distractions in the heart are cleared away like fragments of debris; obstacles before the eyes are pulled out like nails. An ignorant mind is like eyes once veiled now seeing clearly, and the heart becomes bright and open as a spacious valley. Jing, Qi, and Shen—the Three Treasures—blend and join closely; pure Yang Qi descends, the body is renewed and the spirit released, and focused awareness returns to its original place. The wind dies down, and the bright moon shines across heaven and earth.

Again

Essences like jade dust, frost energies like precious gems, and the deep, pure numinous Qi of clouds and rosy mists keep the Three Treasures of Daoist teaching—Jing, Qi, and Shen—abundant within primordial chaos. Once full, they return to their natural state, while the radiance of sun and moon shines through Kunming. Harmonious Qi courses through heaven and earth; amid the mists descends the Heavenly Treasure Flowering Infant, a precious numinous energy or immortal being in Daoist cultivation imagery. Mystery is contained within it. Snow flies over the Five Mounds, and one seems to dwell in a crystal city.

Lingyao opens the ancient path, and the wondrous wind can be ridden—who can promise it will never fade? We think of our long years of cultivation and our wish for immortality; in the end, we must still hold fast to the mysterious Way and cultivate with sincerity. The alchemical method, secretly transmitted, must transform one’s form and substance. From then on, one can travel to feast and wander in the realm of Huaqing. The Golden Youth delivers an imperial decree; in the Jade Chen Palace, one takes one’s place among the ranks of the Minor Violet Star, a star name also associated with Daoist immortals.

Again

Essences like jade dust, frost energies like precious gems, and the deep, pure numinous Qi of clouds and rosy mists keep the Three Treasures abundant within primordial chaos. Once full, they return to their natural state, while the radiance of sun and moon shines through Kunming. Harmonious Qi courses through heaven and earth; amid the mists descends the Heavenly Treasure Flowering Infant. Mystery is contained within it. Snow flies over the Five Mounds, and one seems to dwell in a crystal city.

Lingyao opens the ancient path, and the wondrous wind can be ridden—who can promise it will never fade? We think of our long years of cultivation and our wish for immortality; in the end, we must still hold fast to the mysterious Way and cultivate with sincerity. The alchemical method, secretly transmitted, must transform one’s form and substance. From then on, one can travel to feast and wander in the realm of Huaqing. The Golden Youth delivers an imperial decree; in the Jade Chen Palace, one takes one’s place among the ranks of the Minor Violet Star.

Four Songs: “Moon over the West River”

The thatched hut is quiet, serene, and free; lofty peaks are densely wrapped in mist and rosy clouds. Outside the Morning Sun Pavilion, a flowering branch stretches at an angle. When guests come, only plain tea is served.

Sitting quietly, body and mind peaceful and pure, untouched by even a trace of worldly dust. The heart is clear as an ice terrace and pure as a white lotus, reflecting for ages beneath the moonlight over the West River.

Again

Read a thousand or a hundred classics, yet remain lost in words and still feel they are not enough. If one can understand a single character, that is enough. In the Great Void Cauldron, refine and nourish the balanced Qi, until at last countless mysterious pearls are formed—the image of Jing and Qi gathering in Neidan cultivation.

Following the principles of Heaven, one travels straight into the realms of immortals; along the mysterious path of emptiness and subtlety, one moves among the rivers of stars. The myriad spirits gather, passing through screens of mist and gauze; at last, one unites with the Dao, and no distinction remains.

Again

Minor seclusion, confined to a small and limited realm, cannot contain a grain of sand or a blade of grass. Great penetration fills all four directions. It is open and undivided, deep and mysterious, as though a river of stars flowed above the realm of the Dao. The myriad spirits gather, pass through layer upon layer of mistlike nets, and at last return to oneness, with no distinction between one and another.

Again

Minor seclusion cannot contain a grain of sand or a blade of grass; great penetration fills all four directions. It is open and undivided, immeasurably deep and far-reaching. The One Nature, the original and true nature, grasps the Dao in its entirety.

Refined in fire, it forms an essence like white snow; nurtured in water, it brings forth a radiance like the red sun. The Jade Infant, a symbol of spiritual essence in Neidan practice, reveals wondrous transformations. Riding a luan and phoenix, it flies into the moonlit waters of the Western River.

Again

Unwilling to turn inward and observe oneself, one stubbornly seeks only outside. Minor methods of heterodox paths keep people deluded for a long time, making escape difficult; such people are hard to save.

Rather than sit and wait like someone waiting for a hare to run into a tree stump, it is better to ride an ox through the snow. Roaming freely in the Land of Huaxu, the legendary realm of ideal dreams, one can turn night into day even at midnight.

Three Poems, “Longing for the Immortal”

Within the wondrous realm lies mystery: mercury and lead unite. As the fire is advanced, the cauldron seems to boil and simmer, while grains of numinous cinnabar congeal into perfect spheres. When inner work is complete, one may ascend outward to the realm of immortals. The Spirit Water, an essence formed through Neidan practice, flows deep and rises against the current to the celestial realm; lightly, one departs aboard a leaf-shaped lotus boat.

Again

The great Dao is level and easy to follow; one’s original nature appears and disappears from view. Water and fire join, Kan and Li unite, and Yin-Yang moves according to its own rhythms. Using the Flower Pond, the practitioner bathes skin as smooth and lustrous as langgan jade. The crystalline soul rises beyond the heavens like a child, its numinous radiance illuminating the Purple Tenuity, the celestial region where the Emperor of Heaven dwells.

Again

In the Moonlit Pond, the numinous turtle bathes. From its mouth it exhales auspicious clouds; Yang energy ripens in its own time. Using the Flower Pond, the practitioner bathes skin as smooth and lustrous as langgan jade. The crystalline soul rises beyond the heavens like a child, its numinous radiance illuminating the Purple Tenuity.

Again

In the Moonlit Pond, the numinous turtle bathes. From its mouth it exhales auspicious clouds, which transform into jade rainbows. Divine radiance illuminates the Purple Tenuity. Clad in vivid red robes, it veils skin as white as ice and jade; graceful and light, it flies on the wind beyond the heavens. Its return to the palace of immortals has its appointed time.

Two Poems, “The Oaring Oar”

It sharply reveals the mysterious essence of Qi, until the long night is nearly over. A radiance like the sun’s fiery glare drives away evil spirits. Precious Brahma-like tones, pure and solemn sounds of the Dao, pierce the clear sky and shine in all directions. The splendid cinnabar phoenix moves all spirits without exception. Its wondrous workings appear naturally, without deliberate effort. The knotted angles and patterned lines, signs found in cultivation, must not be mistaken. Where can one find a Dao companion like this? In the end, only the clear wind and bright moon keep me company.

Again

“Mysterious Depths” calmly examines everything from beginning to end. The formless, shapeless spirits are boundless and govern good and evil. They watch in secret, impartial and just, overlooking no fault. Truth and falsehood, gathering and dispersal, are of no concern in their eyes. A person’s survival and loss, gain and failure, are all of their own making. Once you turn toward the Mysterious Gate—the path of Daoist cultivation—do not stray from the way. Withdraw from the world and live in seclusion, with the fresh breeze and bright moon for company.

“Mysterious Depths” calmly examines everything from beginning to end. The formless, shapeless spirits are boundless and govern good and evil. They watch in secret, impartial and just, overlooking no fault. Truth and falsehood, gathering and dispersal, are of no concern in their eyes. A person’s survival and loss, gain and failure, are all of their own making. Once you turn toward the Mysterious Gate—the path of Daoist cultivation—do not stray from the way. I withdraw into the mountains, among forests and streams. Who can keep me company? I cast off worldly attachments; only green mountains and clear waters remain beside me.

Weary of the World, Longing for the Morning Audience

The clouds and mists disperse, the heavenly wind turns clear and cool, and the bright moon appears, crystalline and radiant. The body is set aside, the mind and spirit settle into stillness, clear and transparent. This radiance has been so since time immemorial, neither waxing nor waning. Moonlight appears in a thousand pools, its cool glow gathering the spirit. The wise who see clearly, understand the Way, aid the world, and awaken to Dao refine the immortal elixir, their hearts filled with genuine joy. One day, they will be able to pay court at the Golden Palace, where the Celestial Emperor resides.

Oriole

Joy! Joy! Gradually I come to a life of quiet ease and freedom. Passing through misty clouds and trailing vines, my mind grows clear and whole. Light shines upon Penglai and Yingzhou, the fabled immortal islands of the sea, reaching everywhere without obstruction. Free and at ease beyond the dusty world, unbound, I come and go as I please among waters, clouds, and rosy light. Perhaps my family still hopes I will return home—but I will not go back, will not go back.

Proud Fisherman

With a bamboo hat on my head and a rain cape on my shoulders, I have all I need. I fish along the winding bank where the rippling light shines. The wine is fragrant and strong, and my cup is often filled to the brim. I sing out loud, smiling with contentment, and let others call me “Proud Fisherman.”

Playing alone on the stringless lute, I realize how few truly understand its meaning. The river’s bright moon shines upon the mountains, reflecting itself in vain. Who has climbed high to gaze into the distance? Only I have been to the Moon Palace and seen the toad within.

End of the Seventh Scroll of the Great Collection of the Supreme Clarity and Great Mystery

The Eighth Scroll of the Great Collection of the Supreme Clarity and Great Mystery

Written by Lord of Gushe, Shan Yuan.

Ten Poems on “In Praise of the Skeleton,” in the Ancient Rhyme

O skeleton, O skeleton! Nothing but a heap of white bones, lying on a sandbank. Where are the riches and glory of former days? All that remains is for it to keep company with the poplar trees and the stone monuments of the ages.

The skull is greedy, the skull is greedy. In life, the skull knew well the taste of fame and profit, wealth, and sexual desire. Sever worldly troubles and rise above the dust of the world, and a spark of true spirit and innate nature will appear from the cloud hermitage.

The skull is not, the skull is not. The skull is no more than a heap of white bones, lying on a sandy bank. Where are glory and riches now? Only poplars and ancient tombstones remain for company.

The skull is greedy, the skull is greedy. In life, the skull knew well the taste of fame and profit, wealth, and sexual desire. Sever worldly troubles and rise above the dust of the world, and a spark of true spirit and innate nature will appear from the cloud hermitage.

The skull is angry, the skull is angry. The skull no longer grows wrathful; the fire of anger in its heart has died out, and it no longer clings to the distinction between “self” and others. Cultivate an inner divine radiance and let it rise straight into the blue heavens, clearing the sky as if washed clean and sweeping away the troubles of the world.

The skull is deluded, the skull is deluded. The skull sees through all appearances and understands that people often remain unaware of the fundamental principle. Guard a spark of true spirit’s awareness, and auspicious light will rise slowly, illuminating the red robes.

The skull is troubled, the skull is troubled. The skull has leapt free of worldly glitter and turmoil, and so has let go of all things in the world. Sit quietly and observe the primordial Dao between Heaven and Earth; gather the spirit and clear the heart, like the bright autumn moon shining through an empty sky.

The skull knows, the skull knows. The skull turns its light inward and observes within, entering a realm beyond words. Recognize your original, true face, and the spirit-light will surge forth, as though reaching up to Heaven.

The skull laughs, the skull laughs. The skull breaks through mountain upon mountain of entanglement in affection and obligation, seeking the subtle and mysterious principle. Surveying Heaven, Earth, and the whole expanse of emptiness, its complete and lucid spirit will not be depleted even through the passage of ages.

The skull speaks, the skull.

The skull laughs, the skull laughs. The skull breaks through mountain upon mountain of entanglement in affection and obligation, seeking the subtle and mysterious principle. Surveying Heaven, Earth, and the whole expanse of emptiness, its complete and lucid spirit will not be depleted even through the passage of ages.

The skull speaks, the skull speaks. The skull understands profound, subtle principles that defy words; cultivation need not deliberately seek difficulty. In emptiness, nurture a wondrous thing without name or form; in a deep and still place, meet the clear, cool spirit-light.

The skull tells, the skull tells. A current of Qi, like a jade pillar, reaches straight into the sky. Myriad rays of rosy light shine across the great void. Only when the true heart appears do we know it is utterly unlike ordinary thoughts.

The skull rests, the skull rests. The skull is at ease, free and openhearted, without care. Cast off the constraints of bodily form and roam at will through the realm of the Celestial River, riding a phoenix and driving a luan bird to Yingzhou, the legendary immortal isle in the sea.

The ancient melody continues:

Earthly Qi rises in billowing waves, gradually condensing and crossing chaotically, veiling the Celestial River and darkening the sky. I sweep away these shadows with my sleeve and look up: high in the heavens, only the bright sun appears.

Once the azure sky is swept clear, Heaven and Earth fall silent. The clouded dusk of the Three Realms disperses completely, leaving the sky bright and clear. I bring forth a full moon from my breast to illuminate all things, making everything between Heaven and Earth clear and bright, with no darkness left.

The hazy clouds are brushed away, and the Three Mountains—the Daoist legendary abodes of immortals—become clear and bright. The mist of the mundane world disperses, and the skies are clear in every direction. Though my feet stand in a remote and rugged place, my mind and spirit remain calm. I look up and all around: the vast Great Void, the emptiness of the cosmos, shines with light.

The sea of awakening is clear as autumn water; the broad sky is bright and pure as unblemished ripples. A spirit child, a Daoist immortal attendant, presents flawless jade, whose boundless radiance shines everywhere.

Long concealed on a shadowed path, I saw even Heaven and Earth grow dim. When the clouds and mist draw back, the scene before me suddenly clears. It is as though I have gathered a bright moon from the edge of the sky, carried on the wind, and it shines alone among all things.

Its radiance unfolds without limit, shining everywhere.

Long concealed on a shadowed path, I saw even Heaven and Earth grow dim. When the clouds and mist draw back, the scene before me suddenly clears. It is as though I have gathered a bright moon from the edge of the sky, carried on the wind, and it shines alone among all things.

With a raised hand, I split open the Milky Way-like vault of Heaven, and the deep, empty reaches of space at once clear. The Origin of Heaven, the source of the Dao, grants me powers vast beyond measure. Sunlight flashes, illuminating ten thousand miles.

A continuation in ancient-style verse:

A sudden flash of insight reveals the true mystery; the one who seizes the Mysterious Pearl, symbol of the Dao or inner spiritual illumination, is rarely found in the world. It is bright and flawless, untouched by dust. An attendant who tends the incense stands beside the golden censer as incense smoke rises in curling patterns.

The zither hall is silent; suddenly, I grasp the profound mystery. Moss slowly spreads outside the gate, for few come here. The Daoist courtyard is secluded and serene, free of worldly clutter. A breeze passes through the pines, and red blossoms drift down.

I understand the highest subtle truths of the true scriptures. The air seems pure and dustless, with few traces of the mundane world. A ray of sunlight pierces the Void; at ease, I ride the fragrant wind and soar upon a crane.

I leave behind a method for seizing Heaven’s secrets; its wondrous power is rarely matched in the world. A spirit child naturally pays homage at the Jade Palace, the heavenly sovereign’s abode, then rides a dragon skyward over the Miluo River.

To grasp the profound and wondrous truth is an exceedingly rare attainment. The supreme Dao I transmit is likewise seldom encountered. Within the formless, the nameless, uncarved original substance suddenly appears; a point of numinous light flies in from beyond the heavens.

I turn the Golden Pass, the inner aperture used in Daoist cultivation, to set the pivot in motion. A few points of light like meteors are rarely seen in the world. By spiritual power, I open the Qian and Kan positions, the Qian and Kan trigrams of the Bagua, shake the vast sea, and surge with all my strength toward the heavens.

Response throughout:

Dense clouds fill the ten directions, and radiance drifts down from beyond the heavens into the human world.

I turn the Golden Pass to set the pivot in motion. A few points of light like meteors are rarely seen in the world. By spiritual power, I open the Qian and Kan positions, shake the vast sea, and surge with all my strength toward the heavens.

Response throughout:

Clouds fill the ten directions; radiance drifts down into the human world, reaching everywhere. The spirit’s intent accords with the deep abyss of the Dao, clear as the blazing sun. Our nature is one with the sea of perfection, like moonlight and a pure breeze.

Primordial Beginning, the Daoist High Deity who symbolizes the source of all things.

The Celestial Worthy spreads his teachings throughout the Saha world, the realm where living beings dwell. He saves all beings and brings the Dao’s vital energy into harmony. Turn inward and illuminate within, returning to the source; cast aside distracting thoughts that surge like snowy waves. Turn back the light of the mind, as though jade dew were falling upon the river of stars.

Penetrating the Real

See through the body of flesh as an illusory form subject to change, and investigate the mysteries with care; then you can leap free of the cage of the ordinary world. The Qi of Kan, which symbolizes water and Yin, rises and falls, enters and leaves, while the spirit’s radiance flashes. Sun and moon join, and a red glow shines from within the cauldron.

Substance and Function

The Dao’s power and divine might extend throughout the vast heavens and earth. Though without form or shadow, they pass through mountains and rivers. Once the waves of Caoxi, a Buddhist mountain stream used here to suggest a pure realm, have settled, fish swim freely. The waters at the horizon grow clear, and the sea of awakening reaches into boundless depths.

Turning Away from Awakening

Living beings fail to awaken, and time slips by in an instant. They obscure their innate spiritual clarity and miss the enduring, true Dao. Their temperaments are fierce and stubborn, their minds closed; deluded by ignorance of the truth, they grow angry and give free rein to greed and resentment.

Losing Sight of the Real

The sun and moon before us seem distant as the ends of the earth. Though the realm of clear emptiness lies close at hand, veils cloud the view. Wash away the clamor of the world and let one’s luminous nature return. The Jade Infant, the pure Yang original spirit in Neidan cultivation, undergoes wondrous transformations amid the clouds and rosy mists.

Transformation in Motion

A single Qi, the primordial vital energy, arises from the original emptiness of the Great Beginning. The lofty sky reflects brilliant red clouds. It encompasses the whole cosmos without leaving anything obscured; its power of wisdom reaches everywhere, illuminating heaven and earth.

Harmonious Balance

Auspicious Qi fills the doorway, concealing the Golden Pass, a term for a crucial inner aperture in cultivation. The void turns like a bellows, allowing breath to flow freely. Essence, like flowing mercury, fills the cauldron to the brim. Cloudlike waves surge high, overflowing Jade Capital Mountain, a Daoist immortal realm.

Opening the Origin

The Mysterious Origin, the source of the Dao, first unfolds, and from it the Dao’s vital energy arises. Within the vessel, a single medicinal ingredient is refined and nourished as if snowflakes were being cooked. Essence and Qi circulate and pour into the cauldron, purifying the Jade Pool, a symbol of a pure inner realm. Once swallowed, they return to unalloyed harmony, bringing clarity throughout the body.

Union

Lead and mercury, common Neidan symbols for elements such as Yin and Yang or essence and Qi brought into union, swallow one another and enter the cauldron furnace. With the power of the sun and moon, they are refined and return to emptiness. The fire of Kunlun Mountain rises without smoke or flame. The divine elixir is formed, its radiance shooting toward the jade vessel.

Spirit’s Abyss

The source of immortals reaches far into the distance, and the sea’s eye lies deep and hidden. Two springs surge gently, and golden light seems to shimmer in the water. The dragon lies concealed at the bottom of the pool, its waves stilled; the tiger rests beside the stream, its ancient breath moving within it.

Gathering and Transformation

All things come to completion through the miraculous work by which the Great Dao gives rise to life. Gather its mysterious essentials into the cauldron. Refine them into a lustrous, brilliant Golden Elixir, then seal it away in the Five Radiance Palace, a symbol in Daoist cultivation of the place where spirit and Qi converge.

Seizing the Mysterious

By the riverbank, seize the black dragon by its tail; above your head, overturn the white tiger by its head. Take a luminous pearl, and ten thousand streams of fiery light surge one after another toward the sky.

“Double Passage”: The forms of gods and ghosts converge and congeal into a single sphere, sealed within the Palace of Five Radiances atop the head (the Shangqing palace complex in the head).

“Seizing the Mysterious”: One grasps the tail of the Black Dragon by the riverbank, then pulls down the head of the White Tiger atop one’s head. A luminous pearl is seized, sending out a thousand rays of light that surge straight into the clouds. Here, the Black Dragon, White Tiger, and luminous pearl evoke the inner alchemical process of mastering Yin-Yang and congealing Jing and Qi.

“Double Passage”: Gods and ghosts join, their feelings in harmony. The mind naturally settles, and the true spirit appears. The Maiden (a symbol of Yin essence) may frolic among the Fusang, the divine trees of the East, while the Infant (a symbol of Yang essence) can play with the bright moon. Their union evokes the harmonizing of Yin-Yang and the joining of Shen and Qi.

“Rising and Descending”: Qi in the Three Palaces—the upper, middle, and lower Dantian within the body—rises and descends, bringing forth a numinous sprout. The furnace and cauldron—the body and its Qi dynamics in internal cultivation—seem to fly with frost, breathing out emerald cinnabar. Radiance spreads across the sky, red blossoms unfold, and beautiful golden light fills the world.

“Opening to Illumination”: To open up brightness.