《上清太玄集》Vol. 3

The Dao-eye—the vision that penetrates the Great Dao—gazes across the heavens and sees only a single stream of clear Qi. Then mercury in a precious cauldron is blended until smooth and even. Flecks of red frost drift down within the Golden Gate, while billowing white snow falls upon Jade Capital, the palaces of the immortal realm.

Yin and Yang alternate and transform, following the course of nature. The generation of all things arises from the clearing and dissolution of a single principle. Grasp and keep to the One, and you will be bound by nothing, truly free, wandering alone through this deep and wondrous realm.

The Perfected of Numinous Treasure, a revered Daoist deity, often ascends to the Moon Palace and soars over the Forest of Spirits. He wanders at ease through the realm of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the highest heaven revered in Daoism, as the sound of his jade pendants carries across the four seas.

The Perfected sits alone in stillness, dwelling amid silent clouds. Layer upon layer, emerald mist gathers, seeming to stretch into the distance. In the silence, he draws in his gaze, concentrating it into a moonlike radiance. Before him appear visions like jade lotuses, two or three in number.

A point of light, like a falling meteor, moves through the orbit of the whole body, illuminating the interior of the pot with its flashing brilliance. Once the embryo immortal—the immortal body formed through internal cultivation—has been refined, one returns to the original immortal realm and dwells for a long time in the Pavilion of the Three Pure Ones.

Part the veils that obscure the light like flames, and the penetrating Dharma-eye—the ability to see through principle—will open. Sweep away ignorance, and you will see through the myriad constellations.

On high, a thousand heaps of white jade surge forth; across the level ground, waves rise ten thousand feet.

In a realm of open transcendence, there are no names or forms, no self, and no body. All things are one, as we behold together the ancient imperial capital. Those with shallow understanding and dull natural faculties easily cling to fixed views. How could they know that when light appears, the field of vision also becomes clear and bright?

The true awakening of the Great Mystery frees one from worldly toil. With sudden realization, the heart becomes empty and bright, and the vision reaches far and wide. Naturally, a jade attendant will go to pay homage at the Purple Palace, where immortals dwell, riding a golden-maned strange beast above the Heaven of Yuluo.

I possess a true nature and deep-rooted affinity like the celestial wind; through my master’s guidance, I became gifted for immortality. In this world, no one has a head of bronze and arms of iron, able to cross flashing swords in dance and cleave open the precious terrace.

Immortal cassia tree.

The cinnabar osmanthus in the moon palace goes unplucked, while the flat peaches in the Purple Palace, the realm where immortals dwell, open toward the sun. Gather these two immortal fruits and refine them together in the cauldron. Their fragrance rises as one, filling the steps to the immortals’ abode.

Joining the Myriad Things

True Qi gathers and surges upward, reaching to the heavens. Its rich breath rises into the sky, veiling it in emerald clouds and mist. Green clouds billow high; the moon palace gates open, and those who have transformed into immortals emerge in a procession.

Divine Sword

I forged a three-foot precious sword, its blade white as frost and snow. In sunlight, its gleam vies with the sun, flashing like a flying bolt of lightning. At the third watch last night, following the proper method, I took my revenge: with my blue-steel sword I struck my enemy, and blood stained the blade.

Seeing Through

Do not cling to fame, profit, wealth, or beauty. Imprisoned in desire and distress, when will you ever be free? How much better to be a carefree cultivator, wandering like clouds and water, seeking true practice in a secluded, empty place.

Seeing Through

Do not cling to fame, profit, wealth, or beauty. Imprisoned in desire and distress, when will you ever be free? How much better to be a carefree cultivator, wandering like clouds and water, seeking true practice in a secluded, empty place.

Leaving the Pass

A bamboo staff and a gourd holding the Great Medicine rest across my shoulder. Wearing a cloud robe, I ride the wind across a floating bridge. In my sleeve I carry a three-foot blue-steel sword, with which I sever hundreds of black dragons. “Black dragons” here is a symbolic expression used in the context of cultivation.

Esoteric Subtlety

When Jing and Qi join, the subtle mysteries of the Dao become clear. Shen moves through Heaven and Earth, bringing clarity and peace to the myriad things. Guide the Qi of a single Yang into the Three-Flower Cauldron, a symbol of cultivation, then gather the Yin and Yang Qi into the Seven-Treasure Vessel, a symbolic container for storing vital energy.

Water and Fire

The eastern sea surges forth, as though a blazing fire reddened the sky; the waters of the western sea lie clear and still, their blue waves reflecting a red glow. Water and fire mingle, transforming into the beautiful scene between Heaven and Earth, their radiance filling every place with harmony.

Vast Wisdom

A precious sword strikes the Golden Mountain, and sparks leap from the stone. I cut away the Three Corpses, the Daoist spirits said to dwell within the body, cause illness, and tempt people to do evil; with them, every attachment comes to an end. I cast a net that covers the sky, as if drawing a sun up from the void.

Being and Nonbeing

Seeking emptiness within stillness, at last I recognize “emptiness.” In a sudden awakening, spiritual powers appear within that stillness. From now on, I will take no heed of worldly affairs; jade flowers will bloom of their own accord throughout my grotto.

Autumn Night

A current of true Qi coils and drifts beneath the high, clear night sky. Autumn rain falls with a soft, chilling patter. The world cannot see Chang’e and the osmanthus tree; only I walk alone through the Moon Palace.

Awe-Inspiring Radiance

All attachments have faded, and every karmic obstacle has been dispelled. In an instant, I grasp the wondrous principle of Xiyi, the mysterious state that cannot be seen or heard. I brush a few dark clouds beyond the sea islands, and the moon in my heart fills the whole sky.

Primordial Harmony

As primordial Qi first divides, Heaven and Earth take shape. The Three Powers—Heaven, Earth, and Humanity—come into being, and the wondrous workings of transformation unfold. Turn the mind and spirit back within, to the “Golden Chamber,” a symbol of the body’s interior in Neidan cultivation. There a bright pearl is conceived, illuminating the curtains.

Correcting the Formula

Those who attain the Dao suddenly awaken: the Great Dao is profound and mysterious, beyond words. A few dark clouds are blown by the wind beyond the island; within the heart, a radiant light like the full moon fills the sky.

Primordial Harmony

A single stream of primordial Qi (the original vital energy of the cosmos) divides, and Heaven and Earth thereby take shape as distinct realms. The Three Powers—Heaven, Earth, and humanity—appear in form, bringing forth the wondrous vitality of life. Turn the mind inward to the “Golden Chamber,” the inner place in Neidan cultivation where Jing, Qi, and Shen are nurtured and preserved. There they form a luminous pearl that lights the curtains.

Correcting the Essentials

The Dao De Jing and the Yinfu Jing both expound the foundations of the Great Dao. If students fail to understand their essential meaning yet presume to seek immortality, they may even obtain precious scriptures and talismans only to discard them carelessly. How, then, could they recognize the profound and ever more profound teachings passed down by a master?

Stillness in Practice

Who can establish a method of quiet cultivation within the mysterious Great Dao? Become clear and tranquil, and constantly abide by the Deep Pool, a metaphor in internal cultivation for the hidden store of Jing and Qi and the quiet preservation of Shen. Let the inner light, like the sun, revolve and open a path in the heart. Then one can continually observe Heaven and Earth, seeing the myriad forms with clarity and precision.

Cutting Off Thoughts

The body is still, the mind and Shen are clear, and thoughts are pure. Keep an inner watch at all times, allowing Jing and Qi to settle and Shen to rest. Open the inner treasure store, and the Mysterious Pearl—the essence gathered through Neidan cultivation—will shine forth. Its radiance illuminates Penghu, the legendary island of immortals, making all the myriad forms bright.

Subduing the Dragon

Split open the crown of Heaven and roam at will; before your eyes, a horned dragon coils through the open sky. A great shout seems to shatter mountains and seas. Pursue it with a sword, aiming straight for the head of the red dragon. Here, “subduing the dragon” is a metaphor for bringing under control the surging, unruly forces within the body.

Divine Elixir

A flying Divine Elixir guards the heights. The Original Spirit shines brilliantly, competing with the light of the sun. Flames gather and flicker, as if burning through the empty sky; they drive back the assembled Yin forces, transforming them all into Yang Qi.

Subduing the Dragon

Split open the crown of Heaven and roam at will; before your eyes, a horned dragon coils through the open sky. A great shout seems to shatter mountains and seas. Pursue it with a sword, aiming straight for the head of the red dragon.

Divine Elixir

A flying Divine Elixir guards the heights. The Original Spirit shines brilliantly, competing with the light of the sun. Flames gather and flicker, as if burning through the empty sky; they drive back the assembled Yin forces, transforming them all into Yang Qi.

Supernatural Power

Grip the treasured sword and pass through Huayin with awe-inspiring might. Grit your teeth and summon the strength within your chest. A piercing force emerges between the brows, and a shout breaks the courage of the gathered demons. Open your eyes wide, and the spirits of a hundred strange beings flee in terror.

Penetrating the Mystery

Leave desire behind, quiet the mind into emptiness, and open the eye of wisdom. Gather Shen in the void, as though leaning against a flawless jade in the clear sky. Its limpid, translucent green radiance shines in all ten directions, revealing how each thing returns to its own completion.

Intermingling

Let the heavenly Hun descend and the earthly Po rise, harmonizing above and below without flaw. The Great Dao extends throughout the four directions, without boundary; jade Qi and metal Qi move and fly back and forth, crossing and interweaving.

Great Achievement

The pure renown of Dao and De spreads to the shores and the ends of the earth. The Celestial Kitchen bestows blessings, and good deeds and merit continue to grow. At last, the body ascends, and the earthly Po rises with it; above and below are harmonized without flaw. The Great Dao extends without limit, while jade Qi and metal Qi move back and forth, crossing and interweaving.

Great Achievement

May your clear reputation for Dao and De (Virtue/Power) spread far and wide. The delicacies of the celestial realm bestow blessings, and your good deeds and merit increase with them. One day, you will spread your wings and soar to the highest heavens, rising into the boundless sea of clouds and roaming among brilliant rosy clouds.

Divine Might

By chance, I climbed to the heavenly net with a sword in hand and drove back a host of dark, baleful beings. The Jade Rabbit, startled, fled to hide in its cave; the Golden Crow—the legendary solar bird—flew up to the branches of the cassia tree.

Numinous Might

As I sat in stillness, my flying sword displayed its divine power and shattered the heavenly net, its force like Mount Taihua collapsing. I ascended to the Moon Palace and seized the Jade Rabbit, then broke into the Hall of the Sun and captured the Golden Rooster.

The Sage’s Descent at Li

Like those who understand the Way, I have come to discern truth from falsehood; I do not argue right and wrong with the deluded. One day, when my Elixir practice is complete, I will ascend through the cosmos. The vast, boundless Great Void is where I shall return.

The Immortal Chen Asks, “What Is Not Empty in the Midst of Emptiness?”

The Great Dao has no form, like empty space. Set the mind and spirit in motion and bring them into accord with all things, and you can experience the unity of all things. Though mountains and rivers have their limits, this Dao remains; though Heaven and Earth are boundless, they are both within the Dao.

When my Elixir practice is complete, I will ascend through the cosmos. The vast, boundless Great Void is where I shall return.

The Immortal Chen Asks, “What Is Not Empty in the Midst of Emptiness?”

The Great Dao has no form, like empty space. Set the mind and spirit in motion and bring them into accord with all things, and you can experience the unity of all things. Though mountains and rivers have their limits, this Dao remains; though Heaven and Earth are boundless, they are both within the Dao.

The Immortal Jia Asks, “Neither Empty Nor Substantial”

“Neither empty nor substantial” describes a state of perfect fulfillment, but clinging to “perfect fulfillment” is itself only a provisional name. Truly comprehending the Great Dao, profound beyond measure, reveals the real state. In this state, emptiness is clear and still, with no substance to grasp.

The Immortal Guo Asks, “The Profound Within the Profound”

Someone asks: The Great Dao is already mysterious; can there be an even deeper mystery within it? Once the key is unlocked, it is like ascending beyond Heaven to another tier of Heaven. Within the primordial cosmos, above and below are without the slightest barrier. The wondrous transformations of all things flow in perfect harmony, bringing one to the realm of the fully awakened immortal.

The Immortal Jue Asks About “Obscurity and Mystery”

In the distant darkness, Jing and Qi are indistinct and hard to perceive; divine power is enough to shake Heaven and Earth. Gather the spirit in emptiness, and the deep, vast darkness suddenly becomes bright and clear. Stand alone between Heaven and Earth, as though all things had vanished.

Liu, the Old Master, Asks About “Substance and Function,” Unaware of the Immortal Path

The wondrous powers and subtle arts of immortals have their root in the vast, boundless Great Dao. Gather Yang Qi and bring forth auspicious radiance. Master, you have already found the path back to your true nature; before you know it, you will rise on the wind to the abode of the Celestial Emperor.

Jiao the Young Immortal Asks About Leaving Home

Cast off worldly attachments and the entanglements of karmic fire; give up fame and wealth as well. A man sets his sights high and strives to attain the immortal Dao.

Jiao the Young Immortal Asks About Leaving Home

Cast off the entanglements of worldly desires and karmic burdens, and let go of fame, rank, wealth, and privilege. If you truly set your heart on a lofty aspiration, you must seek the Way of the immortals and strive to join their ranks.

Mr. Liu asks about “the wondrous working of true emptiness”

The highest, true Dao is empty, still, and profound, beyond tracing. Yet its wondrous working can nurture the spirit and connect with the myriad things. It is as though the bright moon were gathered inside the pot of the Great One, while in the Palace of Vast Cold one freely toys with the breeze.

Immortal Dong asks about “not retreating until death”

Hold fast to a single resolve from beginning to end, always as you were at the outset. Even when life comes to its end, do not thereby fall into wrongdoing. Keep watch over the Three Jade Tripods in the alchemical furnace, and let the Golden Elixir in the furnace remain constantly in your thoughts.

Immortal Li asks about “belonging neither to the middle nor to the inner or outer”

Outwardly, it extends everywhere, yet has no fixed form; inwardly, there is no need to construct anything deliberately. The subtle middle Way lies beyond anything that can be pursued. Sweep away all the myriad teachings, and nothing else will remain to trouble the mind.

Elder Qi asks about “the Great Dao”

In an instant of awakening, the luminous pearl in the heart appears, revealing that the worldly realm is inherently without a thing. Daoists use this to elucidate the Orthodox Teaching; Chan Buddhists call it “suchness,” the true, unchanging nature.

Immortal Chen asks about “tortoise hair and rabbit horns”

A wooden horse raises its head and whinnies to the sky, grinding rabbit horns; a clay ox bellows, revealing that the worldly realm is inherently without a thing. Daoists use this to elucidate the Orthodox Teaching; Chan Buddhists call it “suchness.”

Immortal Chen asks about “tortoise hair and rabbit horns”

A wooden horse raises its head and whinnies to the sky, grinding away rabbit horns; a clay ox bellows toward the earth, scraping off tortoise hair. Capture these two illusory things alive and bring them into the Yellow Path, the route followed in internal alchemy. From then on, they will guard Heaven and Earth, unmoving forever.

Immortal Liang asks about “entering the Dao and returning to the Real”

From childhood, one is tranquil, upright, and pure as ice, already possessing the bearing of an immortal and a keen spiritual understanding. Awakened in sleep, one opens the eyes that seek the Dao; startled into awareness in a dream, one at once attains completion.

Questions and answers

Immortal Zhang the Elder asks: “If I neither dwell in the mountains nor live in a hermitage, where should I settle, relying on this single approach?” Two verses are offered in reply.

Attached neither to green mountains nor to a hermitage, the spirit flies beyond the sky, rising above clouds and mountain mists. A celestial crane accompanies me to the Purple Mansion, where immortals dwell, to pay homage to the Immortal Sovereign; a phoenix leads me to Misty Yang, a Daoist realm, to visit the Old Master Peng, a name for Laozi often found in Daoist texts.

Step beyond the thatched hut; there is no need to hide away in the deep mountains. Let time flow on, and enjoy tranquility and ease. Dwelling long amid Heaven and Earth, borne on the wind, I embrace the moon and abide always within the cosmos.

Immortal Zhang asks about “not mistaking false appearances for the true form”

A heap of filth ultimately comes to nothing; the glimmer in two eyes is nothing to boast of. To recognize the true body of the source, one should contemplate what lies beyond outward appearances, existing like a shooting star.

Elder Qi asked: An goose grows up inside a bottle and later flies out, yet neither the goose nor the bottle is damaged. How can both things happen at once?

Even when practitioners find themselves in a confined place, their aspirations need not be constrained. They need not be afraid, but can retain a lofty spirit. To understand how both things can be achieved, grasp the essential point: the goose flies outside the bottle, while the precious bottle remains intact.

Immortal Guo asked how to remain cool amid fire.

The flames blaze fiercely, bright as the sun. When body and spirit have both been cultivated to a wondrous state, one can dwell amid blazing fire while the mind and spirit remain cool. In this way, one can unite with the Primordial Beginning—the original state before Heaven and Earth were divided—without increase or decrease. Having entered into accord with the Mysterious Origin, the source of the Dao, one can remain settled for a long time.

Immortal Li asked how to realize the Great Dao.

When meeting someone, if you can understand in that very moment, you can penetrate the Great Dao and see through the principle of empty stillness spoken of in the myriad scriptures and teachings. There is no need to make frequent visits to famous mountains to pay respects and seek answers, nor to toil like a wandering seeker traveling everywhere in search of the Dao.

Immortal Guo asked how to avoid losing one’s way, even at the moment of death.

The Great Dao is a straight and level path. People lose their way because they are deluded and do not know how to return to the source. Now I point out to you the road that reaches Heaven, so that you may ascend to the Jade Palace, a celestial abode, and discern its subtle principles.

Immortal Dong asked about Caoxi, where the Sixth Patriarch of Chan Buddhism, Huineng, taught.

Recognize the place where the two paths of Caoxi meet: Jingshan, a place name, lies screened among them, facing Shuanglin, another place name or garden. Though the stream is small, no more than a trickle, it can still flow into the numinous source of the spirit and join the vast sea of awakening.

Immortal Dang asked about the ladder to Heaven.

If you wish to know the steps that lead to the celestial realm, look upon the scene of something standing on jade, resting crosswise against gold adornments, and leaning against verdant mountain slopes. If you can go to the Moon Palace to view this scene, it can also clear the mind and spirit, allowing you to grasp the essentials of Neidan (internal alchemy) cultivation.

Immortal Lei asked how to unite the divine with the Great Dao.

The Dao’s principles run through Heaven, Earth, and Humanity—the Three Powers—and endure through the ages. When spiritual powers reach a wondrous subtlety, one can experience coolness. The primordial Qi, the vital energy from which all things are formed, returns to its origin, standing alone in the native land of the precelestial Dao and De, before Heaven and Earth came into being.

Immortal Guo asked how one can seem to have no spiritual powers and yet possess them.

Most ordinary people worship external, false spirits. Who is willing to turn inward, observe, and recognize their own true nature? If you firmly affirm the correct path within your heart, you will walk the cool road and face the human world with equanimity.

Immortal Yan asked how the inner and outer can communicate.

Close your eyes and still the mind, allowing it to reach the subtle and mysterious realm. Open your mind and follow the things around you, blending completely with the primordial Great Dao. From the balanced Qi rises an auspicious light that pierces through to the realm of Liaoyang and appears before the Emperor of Images.

Elder Zhang asked, “What are the state’s instruments of power?”

A person of supreme De in the Middle Origin—the middle of the Daoist Three Origins—brings radiance to the Golden Kingdom. The Three Treasures—often understood in Daoism as Jing, Qi, and Shen—are full and undispersed, shining like fine jade. Benefits and blessings continually nourish the hundred channels throughout the body, and the Heavenly Sovereign grants me true, pure blessings.

Immortal Wang asked, “What is the relationship between speaking little and the natural?”

Speaking little accords with the utmost Dao, and the natural manifests. It is unlike gusts of wind, which vanish in an instant. Dao and De remain together, bringing ease and happiness; one understands the mysteries and loses nothing, attaining a realm of surpassing purity and wonder. The Three Treasures are full and undispersed, shining like fine jade. Benefits and blessings continually nourish the hundred channels throughout the body, and the Heavenly Sovereign grants me true, pure blessings.

Immortal Wang asked, “What is the relationship between speaking little and the natural?”

Speaking little accords with the utmost Dao, and the natural manifests. It is unlike gusts of wind, which vanish in an instant. Dao and De remain together, bringing ease and happiness; one understands the mysteries and loses nothing, attaining a realm of surpassing purity and wonder.

Immortal Zhang asked, “How does one know the white and keep to the black?”

Open the sun of wisdom in your heart, and let its light shine on all things. Let brightness fill above and below, so that all things dissolve into the Qi of Yang harmony. In the stillness of the deep night, hold fast to the original Qi and remain silent and settled. Quiet and unmoving, you can respond to the right moment for a long time.

Great Immortal Yan asked, “What is the wondrous teaching?”

The Great Pure Wondrous Teaching reaches the realm of emptiness and mystery. Those who understand it keep their hearts open and cross the sea of suffering aboard the vessel of the Teaching. They pass beyond the surging waves and reach the other shore, as their original spirit enters the Heaven of Flaming Yang, a Daoist celestial realm.

Immortal Liu asked, “How do the Three Teachings become one?”

The Tathagata, the Buddhist title for a Buddha, teaches the wondrous Dharma and reveals true nature. The Highest One—here referring to Laozi—speaks of the mysterious principle and expounds the Great Elixir. Confucius teaches the Five Constant Virtues—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness—and explains the principles that guide everyday conduct. The Three Vehicles, the three Buddhist paths of practice, converge as one and merge into the Great Void.

Laozi, the Tathagata, and the Sage Confucius are originally one, but people do not understand this, and so they struggle against one another. “Three Teachings” is merely a set of different names. At their root, they all return to the boundless expanse of the Great Void.

Immortal Little Zhang asked, “What do it mean to give life and to nurture?”

The Dao sets life in motion and causes all things to grow; De enables all things to be nurtured. The Qi of Yin and Yang moves in due season, and all things change along with it. Turn this principle inward, and you can gaze up at the Moon Palace, where the branches of the cassia tree come into view.

Lord Dong asked, “How does the formless give rise to things with form?”

The Dao takes the formless as its root and naturally generates the earth, covering the Three Heavens, a Daoist term for levels of the celestial realm. The sun and moon shine between heaven and earth, appearing in the void, and everything moves in its appointed time. Turn this principle inward, and you can gaze up at the Moon Palace, where the branches of the cassia tree come into view.

Lord Dong asked, “How does the formless give rise to things with form?”

The Dao takes the formless as its root and naturally generates the earth, covering the Three Heavens. The sun and moon appear in the void, from which Yin and Yang unfold; this has been passed down through the ages.

Elder Zhangsu asked, “What path is the way of cultivation?”

Only in the gate of purity and stillness can one recognize the true Dao. Do not let worldly trifles pile up in your heart. If someone guides you along the forest path of Caoxi (here, a metaphor for the path of pure cultivation), you can sit quietly and contemplate, experiencing the state of the Tathagata entering Nirvana (transcending life and death and returning to stillness).

Zhang Xian asked: What is innate nature?

Innate nature is deep and hard to fathom, yet it connects with the Great Dao transmitted by the patriarchs; those who understand the Great Dao thereby earn their title. Quietly cultivate the heart and spirit, subtly harmonize the vital workings, and bring yourself into accord with the Middle Origin (one of the Daoist Three Origins of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity). This is the true secret of immortal cultivation.

Master Wang asked: How should one practice virtue in daily life?

Be compassionate and generous, treat others with loyalty and integrity, and keep your aspirations upright. Let the heart become clear, empty, and still, and the Valley Spirit (the wondrous, ceaselessly creative activity that arises from emptiness and stillness in Daoist thought) will appear. Grasp the Great Dao as a whole, and you will become settled and peaceful, blessed and prosperous. Wherever you are, you can respond with ease and roam unhurriedly in the Jade Capital (the celestial palace of Daoist legend).

Chen Xian asked: What does it mean to be unobstructed and unconfined?

The Gate of the Great Beginning opens, and the eye of wisdom (insight into the nature of things) is thereby opened; numinous light shines through the empty, still valley. When the Valley Spirit does not die, lasting peace is possible. All things and the Qi of every direction can be contained within it, without obstruction or confinement.

Great Yan Xian asked: What consequences do good and evil bring?

Evil deeds bring corresponding calamities, while good deeds receive blessings bestowed by Heaven. People create their own fortune and misfortune through their actions; when the consequences come to light, each person must bear the result of their own deeds.

Immortal Wang asked: How can the Three Essentials be blended into one?

Open the Celestial Cauldron Aperture (a key site of refinement and cultivation in internal alchemy), so that the radiance of essence and Qi shines like the blazing sun. The life-giving and life-taking forces contained in the Mysterious Origin (the source of the Dao) reveal here their initial workings. When the Three Ones unite as one, this is the true and subtle key.

Zhang Xian asked: What are the sun and moon within?

The lights of the sun and moon shine upon one another, each with its own size and order. In practicing the method of smelting the Elixir, one must warm and refine it within the cauldron and furnace. As cultivation deepens, the spirit gradually becomes manifest; then one may ride the phoenix, gather Yang energy, and pay audience to the Emperor.

Lord Zhang asked: What are ascent, descent, floating, and sinking?

The Sun’s Soul and Moon’s Essence (terms in internal alchemy for Yin-Yang energies) determine the ascent, descent, floating, and sinking of Qi. The Qi above and below flows together and becomes clear, joining in harmony. With sage-like wisdom, split open the jade of the Celestial Well (a metaphor for opening an aperture in cultivation); through wondrous skill, refine from it gold enough to fill a pit (a metaphor for the refined essence achieved through cultivation).

Great Yan Xian asked: What does it mean for the Three Ones to be without distinction?

Numinous Qi flows without end, and the brilliance of the Three Lights (often the sun, moon, and stars, or, in cultivation, Jing, Qi, and Shen) appears. Divine water (a term in internal alchemy for seminal fluid or nourishing Qi) fills and flows, returning to a single principle. Standing alone in stillness and solitude, one can sense that forms are present within it; in deep quiet and silence, one also joins with the Primordial Origin (the original state before Heaven and Earth were differentiated).

An exhortation for Daoist practitioners to study the furnace and fire

People today mostly want to learn the furnace and fire arts for smelting gold. Who is willing first to cast off greed and cultivate the original heart? Those who understand the Great Dao do not let wealth or sensual desire stain them. If you are cultivating the Real, why let fame, status, and riches disturb your body and mind?

Chen Xian asked: What is the learning that must be abandoned?

To cast aside lesser learning is to be free from worry: once one understands the wondrous and mysterious Dao, one has no cause for concern. But if one grows lazy and slack, one cannot cultivate the true Dao. If one mistakes ignorance and confusion for the path to immortality, then even the dull-witted could transcend the mundane world.

Master Dazhang asks about nature and life

Look for it, and it has no form; listen for it, and it has no sound. Even calling this “looking” and “listening” is merely to give it names by force. Nothing can be compared with what it is in itself, like wind and moonlight reflected in the heavenly palace.

Cherish primordial Qi (vital energy), preserve Jing and Qi, and nurture the foundations of life. Rekindle the spirit-fire within Kan (the Kan trigram, symbolizing Water and Yin), returning it to Li (the Li trigram, symbolizing Fire and Yang). When the first Yang is born, the aspect of Qianyuan (pure Yang Qi) appears. Once Neidan (internal alchemy) is complete, one may ascend to immortality and pay homage at Ziwei, the celestial abode of the Heavenly Emperor.

Chen Ge asks about freedom from doubt

Leave behind discriminating consciousness and cease attending to or observing external things. Accord with the wondrous principle and unite with the Great Dao; forget contrivance and discrimination. When the mind no longer harbors ignorance that obscures its nature, one can ascend amid mysterious transformations to Taiwei, the celestial realm.

Lord Chen asks about the Northern Dipper

The seven stars of the Northern Dipper, revered in Daoism as the Seven Primordials of the Dipper, stretch across the sky and govern the turning of its pivot. As the heavens move, all things change with them. The Dipper’s handle turns and opens the upper aperture, a point in the upper body spoken of in cultivation. The surrounding stars gather in homage, revealing the Dao’s most profound and subtle principle.

Chen Xiaoxian asks about cooking a small fish while governing a great state

A great state should be governed by following the natural course of things, as a ruler who holds power without acting rashly. When the people live in peace and contentment, it is like cooking a small fish: it should not be stirred too often. Spirits and gods gather at the Central Yellow position, a central point spoken of in cultivation; the sun and moon assist the true Dao, so that all accords with nature.

Admonition to disciples whose good and evil are uncertain and whose minds are divided

The net of Heaven is vast and boundless, covering Heaven and Earth and reaching through all things; within it, human good and evil are clearly observed. Let your resolve return to the right Dao, lest all your effort in cultivation come to nothing.

Xu Xian asks about standing alone and not changing

The highest Dao of Shangqing, the Daoist realm of pure subtlety, first manifests as standing alone, dependent on nothing. In undifferentiated unity, without arising or birth, it reveals the complete form of the Great Dao. Quiet and unshakable, it does not change with external things. It has endured since ancient times, standing alone in the deep and mysterious realm.

Xu Xian asks about the boundless unity of things

A single numinous light shoots straight through the vastness of space. Fused into one, it stands alone and extends without limit. Unchanged from ancient times to the present, it gathers the vast expanse of Heaven and Earth within itself and is one with all things.

Zhang Xian asks how to return to the True and understand all things.

Only by awakening to the Origin that brought all things into being can one understand what is real. Those who skillfully follow the way of the sages attain lofty virtue. Within, they hold the deep and subtle spiritual source; outwardly, they quiet the mind and spirit, leaving them undisturbed.

Jue Xian asks what forms the substance of Heaven and Earth, and what emptiness puts to use.

Heaven symbolizes the Qian Origin, the root of the Way of Heaven; Earth symbolizes the Kun Origin, the root of the Way of Earth. Yin and Yang become blocked or flow freely, alternating in their rise and decline. Firmness and yielding have their proper places, as do what floats and what sinks. Hold to the middle, empty the mind, and remain still in thought; the light of wisdom will then appear.

Zhang Xian and Guo Xian ask how to cultivate while living at home.

Live amid the world without being stained by it, and dwell at home in peace. Be among desires without harboring selfish intent, and see through worldly splendor. If you can transcend the sea of suffering as Zhang Qian did, it will be as though Heaven had given you the numinous raft of Zhang He, carrying you across to the far shore.

The elder Liu asks about Buddhist cause and effect.

The Great Awakened Golden Immortal, an honorific for the Buddha, teaches universal awareness. The Buddha, appearing in an incarnate form, awakens to Bodhi through the Buddha’s eye. Seen through the whole expanse between Heaven and Earth, cause and effect are not fixed and unchanging. This is because sentient beings have each lost sight of their own nature.

The fellow Dao practitioners ask:

Those who are crooked take illusions for calamities and will surely bring disaster upon themselves.

Cultivating through attachment to illusions only nurtures this constrained body and mind. It is like grime and grease staining the luminous pearl within the heart. Following the dust of the world and turning away from awakening takes one ever farther from the myriad truths. Abandoning the Great Dao and distancing oneself from its subtle, mysterious principles leaves one bound by the things of the world.

The elder Liu asks again about Buddhist cause and effect.

The Great Awakened Golden Immortal teaches universal awareness. The Buddha, appearing in an incarnate form, awakens to Bodhi through the Buddha’s eye. Seen through the whole expanse between Heaven and Earth, cause and effect are not fixed and unchanging. This is because sentient beings have each lost sight of their own nature.

The fellow Dao practitioners ask:

Those who are crooked take illusions for calamities and will surely bring disaster upon themselves.

Cultivating through attachment to illusions only nurtures this constrained body and mind. It is like grime and grease staining the luminous pearl within the heart. Following the dust of the world and turning away from awakening takes one ever farther from the myriad truths. Abandoning the Great Dao and distancing oneself from its subtle, mysterious principles leaves one bound by the things of the world.

They ask again: If people who follow the Orthodox Way guide their cultivation by the Dao, will they surely receive blessings?

Nurture your nature and preserve your vital essence, and the Supreme Dao will become clear. Cultivate within the profound and distant realm, as though a divine infant—a wondrous embryo formed through cultivation—were coming into being. Gather pure Yang Qi and widely proclaim the Dao’s teachings; auspicious radiance will then shine forth. Put its wondrous workings into practice, and you can ride the path of Flying Mystery and ascend directly.

You Xian asks how being can emerge from nonbeing.

When being emerges from nonbeing, the profound and hidden realm can be reached and revealed. Enter the realm of form, then return to the Origin and unite with its essential workings. These two statements may seem contradictory, yet each reveals its own true method. Do not make distinctions or cling to right and wrong.

Xu Xian asks how to enter nonbeing from being.

Penetrate from the realm of form into the deep abyss, and you will understand creation and transformation. Enter emptiness, and you will awaken anew to the primal Origin. Within the void are treasures bestowed by Heaven, delicate and luminous; when they appear, they are like a bright pearl illuminating the sea.

[Answers]

One asks how to enter nonbeing from being, and another how being emerges from nonbeing. Both methods must be used. How should one begin?

See being within nonbeing, and wondrous forms will appear. Enter the realm of form and return to nonbeing, and you will awaken to the pearl of your nature. Being and nonbeing can both be reached: reveal the hidden and the manifest, return to the ancient root, and establish the primal beginning.

Question: How should one begin with each of these two practices: entering the Unseen from the seen, and entering the seen from the Unseen?

What appears from the Unseen does not rely on wondrous images. Returning from the seen to the Unseen enables one to realize the pearl of one’s nature. Both the seen and the Unseen can serve as paths of cultivation. Through them, understanding opens, and one returns to the primordial source of the ancient beginning.

Immortal Zhao asked: How can the human mind accord with the mind of Heaven?

The human mind should accord with the mind of Heaven, becoming clear within and without and penetrating deeply into the sea of nature, the depths of one’s true nature. Recognize the true Dharma-body, which is one’s real nature and not a physical body, and the lofty, far-reaching spirit-light will reveal the pure sound of the Dao.

Immortal Qiu asked: How do Heaven and humanity set things in motion together?

When Heaven and humanity unite, they set the essentials of cultivation in motion. Amid the myriad transformations, remain settled and grasp what is most subtle. From every direction, all can be understood, like a bright mirror reflecting the myriad things, its radiance filling the sky.

Immortal Dong asked: Where is the root of all things, and from what does the root itself arise?

The myriad things grow in profusion, yet in the end all return to the root. However luxuriantly the flowers bloom, they still depend on the root. Returning to one’s original life, one can understand the ancient source. Nurture the spirit and inquire into the Great Dao, and one can enter the Mysterious Gate.

Immortal Liao did not ask the assembly a question, but instead offered this as the topic:

Why did Immortal Liao set no question for others to answer? Because he understood the principles of the mysterious with breadth and was skilled at probing what is essential. Preserve the Three and remain silent, and true awareness will become clear. Hold fast to the One and forget words, and one will transcend distinctions and views.

Presented to the venerable elders Ru and Liu: On the awakened nature of the Tathagata

Skillfully using the Heavenly Eye, the eye of wisdom that sees into the mysterious principles, one can realize the awakened nature of the Tathagata. In an instant, one sees the wondrous sound of the Dao, and wisdom appears like sunlight. Five leaves grow in Lake Anou, a symbol of the pure and sacred pool, and the Azure Lad, an immortal figure in Daoism, transplants them into the fire to grow.

Immortal Zhao asked: What does it mean that the Valley Spirit never dies?

When the Valley Spirit, the Dao in its empty stillness that can give life and nurture all things, never dies, it establishes the foundation of Heaven and Earth. The Mysterious Female, the deep portal from which all things are born and transformed, extends without end and has endured since ancient times. In the depths of the North Sea, the earthly soul rises; in the bright Southern Ocean, the heavenly soul descends.

Master Zhao asked: What is the original spirit of the empty valley?

The empty valley of the Upper Mystery, a symbol of the quiet emptiness at the source, is pure and free of dust. Ten thousand rays of sunlight enter the eyes, and everywhere is renewed. Regard benefiting and nurturing all things as sharing one source, and awakened nature will become clear. Be skilled at giving life and nurture, and the original spirit will be suddenly realized.

Immortal Wang asked: What are Yin nature and the Yang spirit?

Yin and Yang turn in alternation and return to the center, where they find balance. When inner and outer communicate, Dao and De endure. Close the eyes and meditate, observing the Geng Tiger, an image of Yin force. Open the eyes and look clearly, and the radiance of the Jia Dragon, an image of Yang force, will appear.

Lord Zhao asked: What does “the highest goodness is like water” mean?

Countless subtle, wondrous streams flow through the universe; divine waters from a thousand deep abysses pour into Heaven and Earth. Once the primordial source of undifferentiated unity is stirred, Heaven and Earth come into being. Divine water nourishes the Yellow Sprout, helping it grow and take root.

Li Xian asks how to bring back the original Qi from Heaven

The Qi of the ninth and fifth ranks, a subtle energy associated with internal cultivation, rises straight upward and carries the original Qi into the Gate of Heaven. The Dongxuan and Lingbao traditions of Daoist scriptures and methods thereby take form, becoming the most revered presences within the Great Transformation’s Void Emperor.

Master Qiu asks about the Dao Eye

The Dao Eye, the wisdom that sees the Dao, understands and recognizes fundamental reality. It responds to circumstances and reaches into the wondrous and mysterious. After Heaven and Earth are opened, all things return to the Primordial Beginning; from this emerges a dignified body of wondrous Dharma.

Li, a fellow official, asks about the Way of Shangqing

The head of Shangqing, the Daoist heaven and cultivation tradition, is a revered presence within the Great Dao. Acting under Heaven’s command, he governs the spirits and sets ten thousand transformations in motion. All things benefit and the hundred sources converge; the Gate of Kan, symbolizing Water and Yin, is broken open. A single Qi, condensed in undifferentiated unity, springs out through the Gate of Li, symbolizing Fire and Yang.

Master Jiao asks how to become free of hindrances

The numinous, luminous nature penetrates transformation and transcends the physical body. Free and independent, it is untouched by even a trace of worldly dust. If the mind condenses into a bright pearl, pure and unstained, what could obstruct its true nature?

Immortal Xiang asks how to accord with principle

When the Great Mystery joins and stirs, one can grasp the pivotal point of change. Hold fast to the root, preserve one’s true nature, and keep the will unwavering. Once the alchemical medicine is refined, the body regains its youth and the bones their strength. When the Neidan is complete, one returns to youth and never declines.

Hermit Liu asks how to make progress

Throughout the six periods of day and night, diligently recite the name of Amitabha Buddha, practice compassion widely, and help others. Two clear winds gather the paths of the earth, while a bright moon rises over the River of Heaven.

Elder Liu asks about the Boat of Prajñā

The Boat of Prajñā, a metaphor for crossing the sea of delusion and suffering through wisdom, is empty within and carries the bright moon out from the road of darkness. Beneath the Twin Sal trees, where the Buddha entered nirvana, one opens the treasure within the heart; at Deer Park, where the Buddha first taught, one awakens to the pearl of one’s own nature.

Immortal Xiang asks about the Great Mystery

The true awakening of the Great Mystery transcends worldly feelings and reveals a bright pearl, condensed like dew, illuminating the clear sea. A divine dragon leaps up and waves surge; its radiance shines through the universe. Light shoots toward the Celestial Cauldron, a symbol of the vessel of cultivation, and Heaven and Earth suddenly open into clarity.

Immortal Liu asks about the Elixir

A ladle of immortal medicine and a pot of Golden Elixir are brought to the marketplace of the mortal world to be sold. Yet after searching again and again, no worthy person truly devoted to the Dao can be found.

Immortal Liu Asks About the Elixir

A ladle of immortal medicine and a pot of elixir were taken to a mortal marketplace for sale. After several attempts, no one who truly knew their worth appeared, so the elixirs were carried back to Yaotian, the realm of immortals.

Immortal Liu the Second Asks About the Empty Expanse

The source of spiritual awareness is vast and boundless, free of all defilement. The crystalline radiance of heaven appears and illuminates the eyes. From the beginning of time, people have called it the “ancestral Dao”; even today, they still use this name for “Suchness,” the true nature that is free from delusion.

Presented to the Two Sirs Zhang and Li: The Iron Furnace

The wind fans the firelight in the furnace until it blazes fiercely. True Yang—the pure Yang Qi spoken of in inner cultivation—flickers and gathers within. Through tempering, steel is forged into a flying spirit sword. Its two blue blades shine across the vast heavens.

Mr. Liu Asks About the Method of Reversing Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang cycle and transform, giving rise to the Qian position, which symbolizes heaven and Yang. The Dragon and Tiger, metaphors in Neidan for the two forces of Yin and Yang, swallow and merge with one another, entering the Dui direction, one of the Bagua positions. Two jade attendants hold up a precious mirror. Its brilliant light illuminates the crystal palace.

Mr. Luo Asks About Nourishing the Spirit through the Great Dao

The balanced Qi between heaven and earth nourishes the utmost essence. The myriad things mingle and become one Qi, the primordial energy of their original unity, from which the Valley Spirit—the Daoist name for the empty, still, inexhaustible source of spiritual wonder—manifests its power. A bright, clear moon rises, its radiance reaching far; the womb light, the luminous awareness contained within the hun and po souls, leaps forth and illuminates ten thousand miles.

Mr. Chang Asks About Guest and Host

The utmost Dao is profound and vast, pure and without impurity. It moves like the great forms between heaven and earth and shines everywhere like the sun in the sky. Steadfast radiance long holds its place in the Central Origin, the middle region of the body in Neidan cultivation. Once the Yang spirit, the pure Yang consciousness spoken of in cultivation, has been refined, the work of cultivation is complete.

Zhang Mouke Asks About the Qi of the Six Caverns’ Flying Mystery

The Great Dao moves in accordance with the Three Essentials, the three key elements of cultivation, and the workings of nature. Intent guides the spirit, and the essence follows the Qi. Virtue transforms into a still, clear radiance that rises like the moon reflected in a toad’s shape; tending the spirit until it is fresh and pure, one’s Yang Qi then ascends like the sun’s soul.

Mr. Zhang Asks About the Settled Pivot Amid Ten Thousand Changes

The subtle pivot of change in the myriad things lets the self move in accord with external things. Majestic radiance responds to transformation, fitting its moment precisely. Heaven and humanity affect one another, each coming into being and settling in its proper place. When the two embrace as one, pure and harmonious Qi endures, and one does not lose the way.

Liu’s Young Master Asks About the Yang Spirit

Once the primal essence is stirred, it spreads throughout the heart of heaven. Its brilliance gathers auspicious signs and lies hidden within the illusory realm of Yin. It is like a shooting star passing the ancient moon, like jade speeding through space and golden light flashing.

Commandant Ma Asks: When the False Is Cast Off and One Returns to the True, Where Does One Go After Attaining the True?

Once the primal essence is stirred, it spreads throughout the heart of heaven. Its brilliance gathers auspicious signs and lies hidden within the illusory realm of Yin. It is like a shooting star passing the ancient moon, like jade speeding through space and golden light flashing.

Where will Commandant Ma go after borrowing a false body to return to the true realm and attaining the Dao?

The physical body of an ordinary person is impure; it is not the true body. A countenance like jade and pure, clear skin belong to the Dharma Body, the purified body formed through cultivation. When entering or leaving the Gate of Yi, the mysterious portal spoken of in Daoism, one is accompanied by the wind; when reclining in the lofty Cloud Hall, one has the moon for a neighbor.

Immortal Zhang asked: How can the most exquisite secrets be taught?

I would like to teach you the deepest and most exquisite secrets, but I fear you may not believe them and will instead become doubtful. When one day you have escaped the bonds of worldly troubles, I will speak with you in person and explain their subtle details.

Immortal Li asked: How does one sit alone on the lotus throne?

Sitting alone upon the lotus throne, one holds to the natural Dao and gazes at the jeweled pool beneath the clear, bright moonlight. Only after visiting the lunar palace several times in person did I dare explain these subtle mysteries to Chang’e.

Commandant Kang asked: What is the Great Mystery?

Truly grasp the Dao of the Great Mystery, and you can rise beyond the turmoil of the world. Sword at my side and staff in hand, I stride into the vast expanse of heaven and earth. Wild cranes and solitary clouds are my companions; mountains, forests, springs, and the breeze and bright moon are my home.

Master Wang asked: What does it mean to understand wondrous sound?

To see clearly and understand the principles of things is to understand wondrous sound. Expounding the truth and clarifying the mind and sight cuts off reckless desires. The numinous, lucid true nature connects with the source of heaven and earth; it responds to things at every moment and moves through change across past and present.

Master Liu asked: What does it mean for Heaven to be a formless unity, without distinctions?

The Supreme Mystery dissolves all things into a single, undifferentiated whole and gathers the light of the sun to coalesce into the Dharma Body. Forever attuned to the pivot of the Dao, one finds no separate underlying substance. In the end, one transforms into immortal bones and becomes a True Person who follows nature.

Commandant Chen asked: What are the flowers of the True Wind?

The True Wind parts emerald clouds, and precious flowers fall within the Hall of the Sun and the Palace of the Moon. The essences of heaven and earth form a single crucible; Yin-Yang essences gather in two cauldrons as Night-Illuminating Sand, a Daoist term for essence refined or condensed through cultivation.

The practitioner Yin asked: Where is the source?

The wondrous source within the sea of awakening is the hall of the ancient Buddhas. Entering and leaving through the Golden Gate, a symbol of passage into the realms of immortals or the Dao, one moves freely and without hindrance. Walking the path of Bodhi, the way of awakening, the mind-ground is pure and bright; dwelling in the pool of Prajna, wisdom, one reveals the light of one’s original nature.

Master Liu, head of the hermitage, asked: What is the Pot-Heaven?

A pot contains essence and is itself a world of its own. Within the hazy and subtle, one can reach the mystery. In an instant, cast off dreams and illusions and soar beyond the world; relinquish worldly attachments and become an immortal among the clouds.

Venerable Immortal Niu asked: What is the incense of the heart?

A stream of pure fragrance rises from a jade ladle, forms a canopy, and enters the red reaches of the sky. Precious talismans in the moon are refined without being lost; the golden essence in the sun is transformed without decaying.

Immortal Niu asked: How does one set it in motion?

Turn the Dharma Wheel in the heavens and invert the “mare,” a symbol of Yin’s yielding energy. Push open the Earth Gate and set the “Qian ox,” a symbol of Yang’s vigorous energy, in motion. In the Li Palace, the direction associated with the fire of the heart, a red child seizes the stars and moon; in the Kan Hall, associated with the water of the kidneys, a blue youth catches the sun. These images of Yin and Yang, sun and moon, and divine beings describe the movement of Qi within the body.

The elder Ox asked, “How can a few words enable one to realize and understand all the teachings?”

Once the veils, like eyebrows and eyelashes, are stripped away, the gate to all teachings opens, and every principle can be encompassed. Samadhi and wisdom are perfectly complete and clear, filling all space; their wondrous radiance shines across immeasurable kalpas, as countless as the sands of the Ganges.

The Immortal Zhao the Second asked, “What are the treasures within the body?”

Clearing the thorn-choked valley reveals the Celestial Heart and brings to light flawless jade among the Seven Treasures. Amid tortoiseshell, one admires jade; in heaps of glass, one sees pure gold.

The elder Zhang asked, “What counts as true seeing and hearing?”

Wash the ears, and you will hear the jade chime ring; cleanse the eyes, and you will continually see the golden bell being struck. If a solitary practitioner wishes to understand the Chan teachings, let them smile and point to the ancient pine before the courtyard.

The Daoist master Ox asked, “What is the wish-fulfilling jewel?”

The mechanism of wish fulfillment joins with the treasure-gathering vase, its splendor shining from a coral pedestal. Eight-colored glass lies in the channel’s water, while pearls rise against the current, one by one.

The Immortal Tian the Elder asked, “What are ‘the other’ and ‘the self’?”

When the Gate of the Great One, a symbol of the Dao’s source, opens, there is no distinction between self and other. The power of coolness sweeps away and extinguishes the fire that consumes the body. Ignorance, the delusion of confusion, becomes purple mystic frost and congeals into a divine cinnabar pill.

The Immortal Tan asked, “What is a treasure?”

The Numinous Treasure of the Cavern of Mystery, a name for Daoist deities, scriptures, and teachings, appears between raised eyebrows; the Tathagata of Wondrous Form, a Buddhist Tathagata known by that name, appears in the blink of an eye. The red phoenix’s wings return to the valley of Metal and Water, and the blue luan flies up to Jade Capital Mountain, the name of an immortal realm.

The elder Immortal Liu asked, “What is the heart-moon?”

Brush aside the clouds and mist, and the Celestial Heart comes into view. Release the clear radiance of an autumn moon, and its light stretches for a hundred thousand miles. Its pure light fills all space like ten thousand pieces of jade; within the Daoist eye, the wisdom that beholds the Dao, a shimmering radiance flows like two coins’ worth of gold.

The Immortal Wang the Second asked, “What is penetrating the source?”

The wondrous awakening that penetrates the source is perfectly complete. In an instant, one sees the numinous sound reflected in the pupil. Red mist swirls and rises around the whole body, as though the whole body were exerting itself to force forth a pure white radiance.

The Great Immortal Tian asked, “What are the two passes?”

In the Hall of the Sun, a dragon coils around a quiet golden cauldron. In the Moon Palace, a tiger…

In the Hall of the Sun, a dragon coils around the golden cauldron, its fire burning quietly. In the Palace of the Moon, a white tiger crouches beside a jade furnace, its breath cool and clear. Two jade maidens ride a cinnabar phoenix, while two young attendants drive a brightly colored luan.

A High Immortal asks the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning about the meaning of the “Suspended Pearl”

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the supreme deity revered in Daoism, suspends a pearl no larger than a millet grain. The assembled Perfected Ones gather there, peaceful and joyful. This tiny pearl is large enough to contain Heaven and Earth, with room to spare; it can encompass all beneath Heaven and still hold more than enough.

The Immortal Wei asks about inner and outer realms, and “not clinging to views of emptiness”

Inner and outer realms merge, without any fixed form. Yin and Yang blend into one, pure and harmonious, in accord with the right way. Cling neither to “being” nor to “nonbeing”—where, then, is there a fixed “self”? Starlight in the deep blue sky shines across the lands in every direction.

The Immortal Zhang of Huayin asks about lead and mercury

Gather lead and mercury together and conceal them in the fire to refine and nourish them. They become a furnace full of purple-gold, frost-like elixir. The elixir condenses into a mass, taking the form of a divine pill. Its radiance is brilliant and flowing, bright as sunlight.

[Questions and Answers]

The old immortal Meng asks, “Someone recognizes that wondrous, unfathomable thing. Count it in tens or hundreds, and it turns out to be a thousand.”

Once one begins to grasp the essence of that wondrous, unfathomable thing, one knows that the Way of the Most Holy is deep and mysterious, subtle and elusive. Only those skilled at reckoning understand: though it may transform into countless forms, it never departs from its wondrous principle or the Dao’s realm of profound stillness and emptiness.

Commandant Huo asks how one’s nature manifests within emptiness and stillness

The Great Dao is soundless and formless, and all things return to emptiness and stillness. The mysterious pearl that rises beyond them is one with the Way of primordial antiquity. The spirit-mind enters emerald clouds to seize the bright moon; one’s nature roams amid mist and waves to catch the clear wind.

The Immortal Feng asks how to live at home and transcend the worldly realm

Be honest and pure, and you can cultivate even while living at home. Set the transforming divine light in motion, and let the spirit transcend the illusory body of flesh. A flood dragon breathes in and out the sun and moon across the boundless sea; a rhinoceros-tiger passes through mountains, playing with a luminous pearl.

The Immortal Wang asks about leaving home

Wealth, rank, and fame can all be severed with a sword. Abandon worldly attachments as if casting off dirt. A whale and a great Peng leap from the sea, spread their wings, and soar straight into the heavens. The phoenix leaves its nest and flies away on the sunlight.

The Immortal Liu asks how the physical body can age while the Dharma body remains young

Only after realizing the wondrous essence of the Dao does one understand that it rests upon the illusory body of flesh, as a person lodges for a time in an empty house. Between two windows, the sun-like essence of Yang shines; within one doorway, a vast, noble energy flows through like a clear wind.

Presented to Wang Silang: urging his deceased mother to still her tears

Do not think that the depth of affection or the length of a relationship amounts to much; in the end, it is often only an empty name. Gather in the body and mind as they decline and cultivate the ritual body, and youthful vitality can return.

Only after realizing the wondrous, true body does one know that it dwells within the illusory fleshly body, like a thatched hut temporarily set up in an empty place. In its two windows, Yang Jing—the Daoist term for masculine vital essence—shines like the bright moon; within its single door, vast, noble Qi rises like a fresh breeze.

Presented to Wang Silang, to console him for his deceased mother

Do not think that the depth of affection or the length of a relationship amounts to much; in the end, it is often only an empty name. Gather in your tears, and you will find your eyes clear and bright; stop your sobbing, and you will know that your eyes can still see.

A Little Zhang Immortal Asks About Spiritual Transformation

A gentle immortal breeze blows from the grotto-heaven, the pure realm where immortals dwell. Jade-green mountain cliffs stretch across the view, as though sweeping away the mists in the sky. The harmonious, wondrous Qi accords with the myriad forms, reflecting a thousand kinds of crystalline clarity. The Great Dao is profound and vast, yet nothing within it stands alone.

At the request of Master Dan, four words—rest, gather, worry, and cultivate—were given as subjects

Rest

The mind follows clouds and flowing water, no longer pursuing fame or fortune. With a sword at his side, he walks the world and roams freely. When he meets a mountain ridge, he subdues the fierce rhinoceros-tiger; whenever he reaches the seabed, he slays the flood dragons and water serpents.

Gather

The sun and moon, round and full, are gathered within the cauldron. The wise fire advances gradually, heat condenses, and fierce flames surge. The Green Lad, an immortal child in Daoist cultivation imagery, parts the flames and rides a mare; the Red Child, an image of innate purity in cultivation, passes through the smoke and mounts the Ox of Qian.

Worry

One who is skilled at reaching lucid awareness will be free from worry forever. Sunlight spreads far and wide, illuminating the four directions. The blazing sun, like a phoenix, descends toward the mountain ridge by the sea; the moon’s dragon-shaped horns rise above the peak.

Cultivate

Gradually entering the mysterious gate of Daoist practice is the beginning of cultivation. Open the heavenly eye and realize the clear, luminous nature. The Giant Spirit tears off the Black Dragon’s tail, while the God of Vast Beneficence overturns the White Tiger. In Daoist cultivation imagery, the Black Dragon and White Tiger often represent the opposing Yin and Yang energies within the body.

Another quatrain, using all four words

Worldly burdens and earthly attachments should all be let go. The abundant, circulating Heavenly Treasure is gathered within the Grotto of Mystery. The Great Medicine in the furnace may be difficult to refine, yet the Golden Elixir in the cauldron brings joy, for there is hope that it will be completed.

Abbot Liu Asks About the Great Mystery

True realization of the Great Mystery can free one from the ignorance of worldly life. The sun of wisdom sends forth auspicious radiance, and everything before one’s eyes takes on a fresh aspect. When a Buddhist disciple realizes this, the awakened nature becomes clear; when a Daoist practitioner understands it, they suddenly recognize the Original Spirit, the human spirit’s primordial source.

The Second Liang Immortal Asks About Blending with the Ordinary and Hiding One’s Light

Although he lives amid the dust of the world, his resolve remains strong. He firmly maintains his upright and pure conduct, holding fast to the Dao of Truth and Constancy. In quiet solitude, he senses in secret the vastness of Heaven and Earth; when still, he clearly perceives the long passage of the sun and moon.

An Xian asks: What is the function of emptiness?

Emptiness has no form and is difficult to express in words. Deep and still, it makes one forget the body; its realm is boundless. A dragon’s tail coils and circles between the eyes of Heaven and Earth and the sea; the head of a giant turtle bursts forth from the heart of the winding river.

Cui Xian asks: What is one’s original face?

The wisdom-light of the awakened mind fills and spreads everywhere, yet clings to no intention of saving all beings. Seeing that the myriad things have no fixed substance, one returns at once to pure emptiness. A slanting ray of sunlight burns through the sky like a flame; paired beams pierce the chaos and reveal a bright pearl in the sea.

Attendant Duan asks: What are the Purple Palace and the Yellow Court?

When the spirit roams the Purple Palace, the dwelling of immortals, what doubt can remain? When mind and nature enter the Yellow Court, an important site in Daoist inner cultivation and a realm associated with its practice, they naturally accord with its hidden workings. A Golden Elixir shines with clear radiance, and two pills of immortal medicine gleam brightly.

Yan Xian asks: What is solitary wholeness, perfectly illumined?

Split open spiritual awareness and illuminate its complete, unobstructed unity. Break through the disturbances of the dusty world, and see that all things are empty. Awaken fully to the Mysterious Gate, and understand that within it there is no distinction between inside and outside. Merge wholly with the Great Dao, taking solitary wholeness, perfectly illumined, as the foundation.

End of Scroll Eight of the Collected Works of Supreme Clarity and Great Mystery

Scroll Nine of the Collected Works of Supreme Clarity and Great Mystery: Perfect Illumination

Split open spiritual awareness and illuminate its complete, unobstructed unity. Break through the disturbances of the dusty world, and see that all things are empty. Awaken fully to the Mysterious Gate, and understand that within it there is no distinction between inside and outside. Merge wholly with the Great Dao, taking solitary wholeness, perfectly illumined, as the foundation.

Scroll Nine of the Collected Works of Supreme Clarity and Great Mystery

Written by Marquis Shanyuan of Gushe

Lyrics

Ten Lyrics to “Feelings of Love”

The Jin court is wise and enlightened; throughout the land, all is peaceful and joyful. The cycle of Heaven’s movement has completed one sexagenary cycle of sixty years—a fitting time for cultivation. Return to the true Dao and remain still; realize true nature and remain pure, filling Jing, Qi, and Shen with numinous vitality. Proclaim the teachings of the Mysterious Gate, carry on the true spirit of the Most High, and guide all beings.

Within the jade furnace and golden cauldron, dragon and tiger coil together; red flames fill the circuit of Heaven, an image of Qi moving through the whole body in Neidan cultivation. Water and fire harmonize of themselves, while day and night bring ceaseless nurturing and refinement. Jing and Qi grow abundant, true Qi flows long and steady, and an immortal embryo takes shape. When practice and merit are complete, one is transformed and elevated, riding a jeweled carriage scented with incense and borne aloft to the Jade Heaven, the realm of immortals.

Deep in the river of fame and profit, it is just the moment to withdraw; reputation and gain bring sorrow. Turning back, one departs and rides with delight toward the river, where only a lone boat is visible beneath the drifting mist.

Deep in the river of passion—the condition of being immersed in worldly desires—is the perfect place to withdraw and step away. Fame and profit so often bring sorrow. Turn back and wander along the river; only a lone boat veiled in mist comes into view. Play a tune on the zither, drink three cups of wine, and enjoy a life of quiet refinement. Let the clear breeze and bright moon keep you company. Sleep in a forest of jade trees in the immortal realms, and in your dreams enter Yingzhou, the legendary island mountain in the sea.

The river moon has just risen, its light shining through two groves and faintly reflected in the depths of clear water. The wind is still, and the water’s surface is bright and limpid. A clear night like this is made for the company of a kindred spirit. Pour the white wine freely and sing as the mood takes you. With no worries in your heart and nothing external to disturb you, let your spirit open wide and take delight, whatever rises or falls in the world.

Free and untroubled, with no ties to hold you back, you can delight in a life of leisure. Wander as you please and let everything follow its natural course. If someone asks where you are returning, point toward the distant banks of Qujiang. Mist half veils the willows along the shore, and the sky has only just cleared. On this quiet night, the breeze murmurs softly. No one is anywhere around, and moonlight spills across an empty boat.

The eye is filled with graceful scenery; a cloud floats beside the stream, and the breeze and moon seem close at hand. Zither, sword, wine, chess, books, and painting: according to your own nature and inclination, take pleasure in what comes naturally. A bamboo fence frames the newly built thatched hall, still and free of dust. The morning mushroom, whose life lasts only a day, never sees the numinous chun tree, said to live for ages. Yet flowers like jade fill the scene before us, and the two seem separated by an immeasurable stretch of time.

From ancient times to the present, how many have pursued fame and profit, risking their lives to contend for achievement? Where have those heroes and great men gone now? In the end, all have returned to nothing. What could compare with my carefree life on Lake Dongting? Tell the servant to bring the wine cup; I pour a little, then lie drunken before the open window, letting the clear breeze lull me to sleep.

The multitude’s blessings are slight. Even when people hear fine teachings, they may still cling to worldly achievements. Purification, seated meditation, bowing, and recitation, if pursued only as rigid forms, will ultimately lead to stubborn emptiness: attachment to emptiness and the view that all things are nothing. One should realize the true nature of things, which lies beyond simple being and nonbeing. This is the authentic lineage’s way. The ancestral lineage of Xuanyuan, revered in Daoism, opened the gate of the Primordial Beginning, teaching people to view all things from their original nature and attain complete, unhindered understanding.

The honored Ying Gong, a title for an immortal or practitioner of the Dao, is pure and free, released from worldly entanglements and unmoved by fame or profit. Carefree, he dwells amid clouds and flowing waters, understands Heaven’s mandate, and rests in what is natural. He probes the finest principles and grasps the deepest mysteries, diligently cultivating the Dao and seeking immortality. When his merit and practice are complete, he returns, leading you to pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, one of Daoism’s highest deities, and to step securely onto the Golden Lotus, the lotus throne symbolizing the immortal realm and attainment of immortality.

The subtle methods of cultivating immortality have been passed down from ancient times to the present, but who has truly understood their hidden depths? The tortoise and serpent, symbols of the two Qi of Yin and Yang, naturally breathe in and out; the Qi of the Mysterious Female, the wondrous source that brings life into being, flows without cease. Mercury is found within lead, and lead within mercury: both must be present. Through methods of refinement such as drawing out and adding, increasing and decreasing, one must master the timing of advancing the fire. In the end, the immortal embryo is refined—the state that symbolizes the completion of the Elixir in internal alchemy.

“Ten Poems on the Magnolia”

In the bitter sea without compassion, living beings are swept this way and that, pulled along by craving and attachment. How could that compare with my quiet home beside mountain woods and springs, far from the bustle of the world? I nourish my true nature and cultivate a noble, expansive Qi, keeping body and mind as clear as ice and jade. When cultivation reaches the point where coming and going are unobstructed, the body becomes light and graceful, as though drifting skyward on the wind.

With a deep and firm foundation, the Heavenly Treasures—the cultivated stores of Jing, Qi, and Shen—circulate and shine like rosy clouds, filling the whole body. Turning the light inward in contemplation, one’s inner vision unfolds without end, layer upon layer, deepening into mystery. One reaches a state beyond birth and extinction, clear, self-standing, bright, and pure. The clouds disperse and the sky clears; in an instant, one sees through the realm of emptiness and purity and ascends to the ninth heaven.

The autumn wind sweeps across the land. Gazing into the distance, rosy light and the radiance of jade illuminate auspicious signs. Across the water, reeds sway; a few homes appear faintly through the mist. The rich, innate spirit of the land descends among us, filling the room with light. May I receive its protection and live a thousand years, my life prolonged like that of the red-crowned crane and the green pine.

From the moment I first resolved to follow the Dao, I carefully upheld a pure and upright practice, turning the light back upon myself. Yuanshi, the Daoist deity Yuanshi Tianzun, supports the cultivation of the Dao; wondrous, true things arise together in a state too indistinct to discern. I gather the Shen in a realm of emptiness and stillness, accompanied by the bright moon and the clear wind. At last I reach a state free of sorrow, look back upon the human world, and roam beyond it amid mist and rosy clouds.

The Five Phases and the Four Images, a term used in cultivation to describe changes in Yin and Yang, converge; Wu and Ji, symbols of Earth and of the spleen, stomach, and central palace, gather and grow full. How should they be refined? Black water and red clouds, a white horse and a green ox each symbolize different signs and changes in cultivation. Riding a golden carriage, one travels the level road, refining the essence like jade liquid. A road spreads out like silver, bearing the infant—the new-born inner Elixir—away from the world.

Fame, rank, and wealth lead people astray; in the end, they depart empty-handed. Turn back and change course. If you lose the human form, you may miss the chance to cultivate the Dao for a long time. Return to simplicity and wash away the burdens of worldly life: this is true awakening. A perfectly rounded, luminous pearl shines brilliantly as it enters a vast, boundless realm.

If you cannot awaken in this life, where do you expect to go in the next? The Six Realms—the six destinations through which beings cycle in rebirth—intertwine in confusion. One wrong step may lead to danger and long ages of suffering. If you can see this clearly, you can let go of every worldly attachment, become as free as clouds and flowing water, and drift beyond the world in an empty boat.

Life is short and full of troubles. How long can you stay busy amid the world’s affairs before they are settled? When death arrives, your blessings will pass to others, but you alone must bear the karma you have made. If you come to understand this, you should loosen the bonds between enemies and loved ones and seek the path to liberation. Set everything aside and examine closely the roots of nature and life.

Those who cultivate the Dao at home often struggle to attend both to family affairs and to their practice, and their cultivation can suffer. If you wish to cultivate the Real, you must not be tainted by worldly splendor. An empty, still mind and Qi (vital energy) abundant within the body: this is the true method of becoming an immortal. When your cultivation and merit are complete, you may pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, one of the highest deities revered in Daoism, and ascend as an immortal in the remote, luminous realm of Liaoyang within the Golden Palace of Heaven.

Sensual music and beauty are hard to renounce, even at the cost of one’s life. You must also let go of a beautiful wife and the bonds of affection with brothers and children. Cast aside desire, cherish your original Qi, and nourish your spirit as you would precious jewels. A single measure of pure Qi is like refined gold; once it dissipates, it is difficult to recover.

Ten Poems of “Longing for the Immortal”

Those who leave home to cultivate the Dao seek awakening and realization of the Real. Look across the vast sky: not a speck of dust is there. Understand that within emptiness and stillness, formlessness holds the wondrous and mysterious. Dwell beside the sun and keep company with the moon. Leave behind the tangle of desire; cherish your original Qi and nourish your spirit as you would precious jewels. Once a measure of pure Qi is lost, it is hard to find again.

Ten Poems of “Longing for the Immortal”

Those who leave home to cultivate the Dao seek awakening and realization of the Real. Look across the vast sky: not a speck of dust is there. Understand that within emptiness and stillness, formlessness holds the wondrous and mysterious. Take the sun as your neighbor and the moon as your kin; transform your body and form between Heaven and Earth. Only then will you understand what it means to be truly free of the world.

Silent and still, clear and bright. The three lights of sun, moon, and stars shine complete within your own nature by day and by night. All things become fully known. The Dao has no form, yet it nourishes the spirits; it penetrates rivers, seas, and mountains, and merges with the depths of the mysterious and remote. Cultivation to this point is the path by which a perfected person who has attained the Dao appears in the world.

Roam freely and delight in the clear beauty of autumn. Beside Caoxi, a stream flows gently, with jade flowers blooming on both banks. Tiny bubbles float on the water; drinking wine, you forget your sorrows. The sun sets and the stars grow sparse; the moon rises above the tower. Drunk, you lie in the stillness of Jade Isle, a land of immortals.

Listen to clear, resonant sounds and observe the rise and fall of all things. With the Dharma Eye, the eye of wisdom that sees truth, and star-bright eyes, penetrate past and present. The red sun shines between Heaven and Earth. The forest of fire pearls and true gold beneath the waters are images of cultivation, pointing to the transformation of Yin-Yang essence and Qi through inner refinement. They are unlike the ordinary sparse stars and rising moon elsewhere, and unlike the easy pleasure of being drunk on Jade Isle.

By carefully attending to the sounds of stillness, one can also see the ebb and flow of things. With the Dharma Eye—the mind’s eye that contemplates the Dao and its methods—and the Starry Eye, one can discern past and present. The red sun stretches across heaven and earth; fiery pearls form a forest, and true gold appears in the water. There is no need to seek these wondrous truths in distant places. Take them up and recognize your own original mind: that is all.

Bring the Tiger and Dragon into harmony, symbols of Yin-Yang and the Qi of Kan and Li, so that Kan’s water and Li’s fire meet. Divine water trickles into the jade ladle, a vessel used in cultivation to symbolize receiving Jing and Qi. Cloud-tides and snowy waves surge, irrigating the numinous sprouts in the precious pool. Jade-white plum blossoms open, their tender green branches and leaves swaying gently as their fragrance drifts beyond the world of dust.

The Dao has no bounds, and the light of one’s nature is perfectly complete. Recognize the image of the Tortoise and Snake entwined, a symbol of Yin-Yang joining, and you will know that Yin-Yang accords with heaven and earth. Mercury and lead, used in Neidan to symbolize Yin-Yang’s vital essences, are brought into harmony; Jing, Qi, and intent are made whole. Light gradually rises and shimmers like flowing rosy clouds. Only then does one know that within the mystery there is a still deeper mystery.

Do not force the practice, nor needlessly exhaust the mind and spirit. Know the original truth through stillness and Wuwei (non-action); harmonize with the light without being stained by worldly dust. Place yourself beyond the body, and you can follow things as they naturally unfold. Gaze leisurely at the sun on the horizon, roam through jade caverns among the clouds, and feel as if it were spring.

Gather dark frost, an image in internal cultivation for cool, refined Qi, and soak it in jade nectar. Blend the two and swallow them according to the timing of the fire. When the cultivation is complete, fragrance fills the cauldron. Its flavor is extraordinary, its color clear and bright. Once swallowed, pure Qi permeates the whole body, cool and refreshing, as though the Jade Emperor had appeared in a light intoxication.

Since you have been born human, do not keep putting things off. How many years are there in a century? To waste a lifetime is to be needlessly stained by worldly dust. You should cultivate the true and nourish the Original Spirit, the source of the human spirit. The radiance of sun and moon shines back and forth, as if turning a jade wheel; Yin essence condenses into a single, pure quintessence.

Guard Jing and Qi in secret until they are full and abundant. Carefully close the Golden Pass, the aperture that symbolizes guarding Jing and Qi, and reverse their usual course. How many years are there in a century? To waste a lifetime is to be needlessly stained by worldly dust. You should cultivate the true and nourish the Original Spirit. The radiance of sun and moon shines back and forth, as if turning a jade wheel; Yin essence condenses into a single, pure quintessence.

Guard Jing and Qi in secret until they are full and abundant. Carefully close the Golden Pass and send Jing and Qi rising against their usual course. Pearls of dark mystery—the condensed Jing and Qi of Neidan practice—gather in clusters, numinous clarity within and brilliance without. Inner and outer meet and condense into a single point of starlight, which ascends to the Jade Essence, a symbol of a sublime and pristine realm.

Ten Poems to the Tune of “Nan Kezi”

Refine and nourish the body so that the mind-monkey, a metaphor for unruly thoughts, retreats, and the intention-horse, a metaphor for thoughts that gallop without restraint, grows calm. A single point of numinous clarity awakens to perfect fullness and at once accords with Suchness, the true and unchanging nature. From there, one sees into profound mysteries, and the light illuminates the beginning.

The Kan Tiger, symbolizing the Qi of Kan’s water, is shaped like jade; the Li Dragon, symbolizing the Qi of Li’s fire, has the color of a pearl. Clouds surge and lightning flashes, coursing through the void. Thunder crashes and the scene rises in grandeur, as if they danced and played amid dark pearls.

Again:

The Great Dao seems close at hand, yet also far away; its mysterious workings remain hidden, yet are never distant. The Great Void, a vast and empty realm, gathers its finest beauty and reveals its natural state. A single current of numinous source flows clear and pure, continuous from the very beginning.

The luan bird (a mythical sacred bird) of the Northern Sea was dyed black, and the phoenix of the Southern Mountain was dyed red. They flew beyond the clouds, as though emerging from nothingness. The sun and moon shone in turn, winning the luminous pearl.

Again

Yin and Yang joined in harmony, in accord with principle. The traveler journeying afar… the subtle workings remain close at hand. Beauty gathers within the Great Void, tranquil and at ease. One clear, bright stream of spiritual source runs unbroken from the beginning to the present.

The luan bird of the Northern Sea was dyed black, and the phoenix of the Southern Mountain was dyed red. They flew beyond the clouds, as though emerging from nothingness. The sun and moon shone in turn, winning the luminous pearl.

Again

Bring Yin and Yang into harmony, with Infant Lord (a masculine symbol in cultivation) accompanied by the Slender Waist (a feminine symbol in cultivation). To harmonize lead and mercury (materials often used in alchemy to symbolize Yin and Yang), one must concentrate from dawn until dusk. Move the golden essence from beneath the water into the fire to be refined.

Forge a sword that can communicate with the spirits, and cultivate a blade of wisdom. Subdue the dragon and tiger; cut down evil spirits and demons. When it shines at night, who would dare speak aloud?

Again

The phoenix flies away, farther and farther; the immortal crane follows, spreading its wings and soaring high. Jade lies hidden in stone, and pearls lie hidden in clams. Agarwood grows within trees, and purple fungus sprouts among the grasses.

Beasts transform into lions, scaly creatures, and elephants; snakes become sea-dragons. Fish in streams and valleys transform into whales and giant turtles. One who can commune with the Great Dao can tread the clouds and cross the vast heights of the sky.

Again

When the rain stops, spring is nearing its end; when the wind blows, early autumn has already arrived. A hundred years pass in the blink of an eye. Wealth and honor are as fleeting as bubbles on water.

I urge you to cultivate yourself early and seek your aspirations within the mysterious gate (the gate of Daoist practice). Do not let worldly affairs disturb your heart. Keep your Jing and Qi hidden in the Three Fields (the upper, middle, and lower Dantian), and do not let external things deplete them.

Again

The Supreme Ancestor, Mysterious Origin (a Daoist honorific for Laozi), was born before the great cosmic calamities. At first, he transmitted teachings of five thousand words and illuminated the true Dao. Who can truly understand their profound mysteries?

If one merely keeps taking drugs that confuse the mind, who can take the elixir that prolongs life? Heterodox ways only lead one deeper astray, until one dies and becomes a prisoner in the underworld, sinking forever into the Yellow Springs.

Again

Break through the net woven from worldly toil, and with unwavering purpose surge straight toward the nine heavens. Hold a sword in your hand and turn your eyes. Its radiance shines like the sun, bright and flashing, illuminating the sky.

The awakened mind is like an unfathomably deep sea, its nimble waves surging for thousands of miles. Demons scatter, and even ghosts and spirits tremble with fear. Through illumination, body and mind are transformed into a pure Yang body. From then on, one escapes forever the bonds of worldly toil and establishes an unshakable resolve that reaches to the heavens. Sword in hand, one turns a sweeping gaze; its radiance shines like the sun, brilliant and dazzling, illuminating the sky.

The awakened mind is unfathomable, its nimble waves surging for thousands of miles. Demons scatter, and ghosts and spirits tremble with fear. Through illumination, one becomes a pure Yang body and can dwell for a long time at Penglai and Yingzhou, the fabled immortal realms across the sea.

Another:

You ask about the principles of cultivating the Dao to become an immortal. Do you truly understand them? Like a great whale-bird, rise from the sea and break through the net that spans the starry sky. Spend the night in the Moon Palace, then fly to the branches of the cassia tree.

Auspicious spirit birds are rare, while ominous and monstrous birds are many. Flock after flock rush about in vain, yet in the end they still make their nests among thorns, never finding the place where the phoenix dwells.

Another:

Sit in stillness and contemplate the scene of Huaxu, that legendary realm of perfection; let the spirit roam through a sacred land. Two attendants hold up dragon-light, radiant and brilliant, then gather it back into the center.

Nurture a child of the numinous immortals. When cultivation is complete, enter the imperial realm of the immortals. Your name should appear on the Jade Empyrean Register, where candidates are selected for the immortal realm. Win a place in the registers of immortality, and hold a gui tablet and a zhang tablet, jade emblems of rank and ceremony, in a treasured grotto.

Another:

If you do not understand the treasures within yourself, how can you understand the books of cultivation outside yourself? If you do not grasp the true teachings, you will fall into confusion and delusion. For such a person to hope to reach Penglai is like lying on one’s back and reaching up to touch the blue sky: it is simply impossible.

To recognize mercury within lead, you must know lead within mercury. The two are reversed, each containing the other. From this, a wondrous power of ascent is released, and the embryonic immortal dances in the air.

Another:

If you do not understand the treasures within yourself, how can you understand the books of cultivation outside yourself? If you do not grasp the true teachings, you will fall into confusion and delusion. For such a person to hope to reach Penglai is like lying on one’s back and reaching up to touch the blue sky: it is simply impossible.

To recognize mercury within lead, you must know lead within mercury. The two elixir ingredients, lead and mercury, are reversed and transform into one another. A wondrous power of ascent is released, and the embryonic immortal dances in the air.

Three Poems: “Immortal Realm”

Alas, this ugly body is filthy through and through, as though maggots filled its breast. The human body is only a temporary gathering of the four elements—earth, water, fire, and wind—and will ultimately sink into the earth and vanish. In this life, it has often brought me trouble. If you wish to escape the urgings of birth and death, do not mistake the ordinary fleshly body for the sacred embryo, the foundation in which the immortal body is nurtured. Preserve and refine the Langgao essence used in cultivation until an embryo forms where it gathers. Then nourish the infant through the bathing method, and sit in stillness upon the jeweled dais.

In the quiet elegance of the ancient courtyard, I sit alone, holding the Dao Jing (Classic of the Way) and reading in stillness. With a clear mind, I contemplate all things and cleanse my heart of worldly trifles; at once, it grows peaceful. I wash away clever schemes and calculations, and my eyes and ears seem to awaken anew. My thoughts are calm and cool. I light a stick of fine incense, and its fragrance fills the courtyard. Someone has come to the gate, though I do not know who; I hear only the tinkling of jade pendants, like their sound carried on a gentle breeze.

Reading the Huangting Jing (Yellow Court Scripture) alone, I find that my body and mind, within and without, have grown clear. My thoughts are pure, no longer troubled by worldly affairs. With a clear heart, I can steadily nourish the inner root of spirit until it is completely bright. Snowflake-white tea simmers gently, and auspicious Qi seems to rise between Heaven and Earth. The clouds part; the bright moon shines in the frosty sky, as if coming to welcome me. A single grain of numinous cinnabar, a term for the subtle elixir in internal alchemy, moves upward against the usual course.

Once worldly attachments and old karmic grievances are cast off, the pursuit of fame and profit can come to an end. With a pure heart and dignified conduct, I seem to be attending a banquet at the Jade Pool, the fabled realm of the immortals. The water lies still and clear, pure as ice, reflecting the autumn moon in the emerald pool. From the moon I understand the foundations of the elixir Way, and the light of my nature and spirit grows bright.

Without my noticing, my body has gradually aged, and throughout my life I have borne many worries and troubles. Who can stop striving and craving before life comes to an end? We should recognize the essentials of cultivation early and discover the precious nature within ourselves. This treasure is beyond price and can be preserved for a long time.

The Great Dao accords with “the obscure and elusive”—a state of the Dao’s subtle substance, difficult to perceive or put into words. Yet by discerning it, one can know that there is a real foundation. From this, all things flow naturally and connect, each containing the others. The moon shines bright, a cool breeze brushes my face, and the scene before me is clear. Precious seal-script incense, an incense commonly used in Daoist practice, gives off an exquisite, rich fragrance. Stillness and emptiness fill the subtle realm, which seems both present and absent.

Wearing a bamboo hat and a straw rain cape, I make my way home, gradually entering a deep thicket of reed flowers. I moor my fishing boat beside a lush, grassy bank and reel in the line. Drifting gently, I savor the charm of the world within the pot—the self-contained inner realm of stillness. Wild cranes and solitary clouds keep one another company. I play a bamboo flute across the water; its music is quiet and clear, and my heart is free of care.

The Great Dao has nothing in it from the beginning, yet it extends in all ten directions and fills Heaven and Earth. It has no outer boundary and does not cling to a fixed mind; it is so fine that not even a needle could fit inside. To see it clearly, open the mind’s eye and recognize the source, empty and still from the beginning. It is neither shallow nor deep, like a pot filled with golden liquid, holding within it the precious meaning of the Dao.

The Great Dao exists in solitary stillness and purity, skillfully following the fundamental course of life’s beginning. Roaming freely through the four quarters of Heaven and Earth, one enjoys the clear radiance of autumn. Moonlight seems to hold up the sky, limpid and auspicious, faintly reflecting the pale reds and soft greens of the cassia trees. The scene before the eyes is wondrous and profound, surpassing Yingzhou, the fabled immortal isle in the sea.

When the first Yang is born—a Neidan term for the initial stirring of Yang energy—it begins to move, illuminating the hidden depths of the vast void. The forms of all things disappear from sight, while brightness comes fully into view. The numinous essence gathers and transforms within the furnace, and the work of refining the Elixir is completed in an instant. Immortals ride cloud vapors up to the heights, wandering among Penglai and Yingzhou, the legendary immortal mountains.

The pearl congealed beneath the sea is bright and pure; the heavens, too, are limpid and clear, utterly pristine. The empty space between them is vast without limit, with the divine Elixir rolling and moving within it. Its radiance surpasses the autumn moon, illuminating all things, though it has never known waxing or waning. Cool, fresh, and piercingly cold, it seems to pass through langgan, a precious stone like jade.

The pearl that shines beneath the sea glitters brightly; it gives no thought to distinctions of rank or worth, as though hastening to shoot at sparrows. Alas, this precious thing has fallen into the mud. Recognize its clarity and purity; do not mistake it for something else. Luminous and immaculate, the pearl is unbound by worldly complications. It emerges upright from the clamor of the mortal world, allowing one to behold a realm of eternal spring.

Yin and Yang revolve in reverse; the first Yang has just arisen, and the transformations of the myriad things become one with Hundun, the primordial state before Heaven and Earth were divided. Brilliant light shines upon the Jade Palace, filling the entire chamber with red radiance. Great upright brightness opens from this point, reaching through above and below, profound and unfathomable. Heaven, Earth, and all things seem to return to still emptiness, abiding within the Great Mystery.

Ten Poems: “Moon Over the River at Dusk”

Clinging to wealth and chasing beauty, entangled in the snares of fame and gain—when will it ever end? Busy all day, as if living in a dream, the mind is confused and difficult to control. Deceiving Heaven and Earth and obscuring the truth, one takes oneself for highly capable, yet mistakes cunning for wisdom. False deeds of every kind accumulate into grievances and karmic debts from past and present lives. I urge you to awaken and turn back, to let go of attachment and pursuit and become a person at ease and free. Seek out the Great Dao and obtain its true transmission, and transcend birth and death without delay. If you fail to grasp the mysterious principle, sweep away your blindness as you would clear a blockage from the ear, and listen firsthand to the teaching. The scenery of the pot-heaven, the Daoist paradise within a gourd, appears before you, like the autumn moon shining down at night.

Another poem:

Subtle, refined Qi joins with the Yang radiance of Hundun, coalescing into a single point of clear, crimson light. The Qi above and below merge, opening the eye of wisdom; the pearl within the heart springs forth and takes shape. The principles of transformation are explained, bringing clarity to one’s innate nature; wondrous light is gained through direct transmission. The immortal scenery of the pot-heaven appears before your eyes, as clear and bright as the autumn moon.

Within the subtle and essential depths, gentle Yang light mingles and gathers into a single, deep-red, lucid radiance. Above and below flow into one another, opening the eye of wisdom. The jewel within the heart leaps forth and takes shape. It unfolds teachings and reveals spiritual clarity; its radiant light appears, linking the inner and outer realms. The floating clouds disperse, and the heart-moon beyond the heavens comes into view. The realm of emptiness moves of itself, complete and luminous in its solitary perfection. Through the ages, it has suffered not the slightest loss. It shares its source with the Dao, embracing the myriad forms and principles; nothing in the world lies beyond its scope. It responds everywhere, returning to the Limitless Great Beginning—the primal state before the myriad things were differentiated—and becoming one, undivided. The sages and worthies of past and present ultimately return to this realm and find rest.

The mysterious primordial body of the Dao is vast and boundless, without corners, form, or concrete things. All beings, whether born from moisture, transformation, or the womb, receive primordial Qi, the original energy that gives rise to life. Through resonance, they connect with the mysterious Dao and abide within its workings. The body of the Dao contains Heaven and Earth and encompasses the cosmos; the sun and moon, too, are gathered within it. When practitioners turn their light back and gaze inward, their awareness opens and brightens, taking in the transformations that appear before them. The heart-jewel, a symbol of inner spiritual clarity, becomes distinctly visible; the heart grows empty, still, and open, and the luminous realm of spirit unfolds in splendor. Having nurtured the immortal embryo, the practitioner’s skin becomes white as snow, and on entering or leaving, they seem to carry fragrance on the wind. At dusk they smell the numinous mushroom; at dawn they eat the immortal cassia. At night they withdraw to rest in the Toad Palace, the legendary moon palace. Their heart is peaceful and joyful, and they pray to share true blessings with the sages of old.

The waters of the Yangtze lie still beneath the rustling night; the sky is clear and pure as a jade table. Beautiful scenery fills the vast expanse between Heaven and Earth, and as far as the eye can reach, a lustrous glow like flawless jade enters the view. Sitting alone in stillness and nourishing the spirit, one sees light filter through the curtains, revealing a scene delicate and white as snow. The mind and spirit settle into clear stillness, as though a point of numinous awareness were connected to the Great Void. The spirit seems to grow wings and soar among the halls of the moon palace, spending the night atop branches of jade. Guided by the true formula, the practitioner’s cultivation suffers no setback, and they receive the lasting support of a Perfected One, a person who has attained the Dao. When merit and cultivation are complete, a golden youth delivers an imperial summons, commanding the practitioner to proceed to the Palace of Vast Yang in the realm of immortals and take an eternal place among the immortals in the Jade Empyrean Palace.

The thatched hut is serene, quiet, and free of dust. I sit alone with the curtain lowered, far from the crowds, living quietly and simply; mine is a life of ease and contentment. I hold fast to true Qi in the “firmly clasped” posture, with no distracting thoughts in my heart, forgetting both myself and worldly affairs. Within me, the Jade Infant—the image of the original spirit in Neidan cultivation—undergoes wondrous transformation, and I naturally accord with the Great Dao. Light shines in all ten directions, gathering in the air, radiant and brilliant, spreading far and wide rather than remaining confined. Embracing the boundless, it connects with the transformations of Heaven and Earth, bringing aid to all things. I grasp the pivot of Heaven and Earth; my perfected Dao body is complete, my appearance jade-like, pure, and beautiful. Freed from the ordinary world, I ascend to the upper realm and pay court to the divine emperors of the Three Luminaries.

Again:

Life is like a dream. A lifetime lasts no more than a hundred years—how many days does that really give us? Wealth and glory vanish in an instant. Why cling to them so anxiously and endlessly? Children, a beloved wife, and a son-in-law cannot bear another person’s life and death. Turn back and awaken, and you can break free at once from the deceptions of the world. Roaming freely beyond the world, unrestrained, with the clear breeze as neighbor and the bright moon as companion: this is how I will spend the rest of my life. Sitting on a stone beside the stream, I have monkeys bring me fruit. I fill my cup with wine and chant poems and songs. Drunk, I lie among mist and rosy clouds. When I wake tonight, where will my heart wish to return? In the Jade Empyrean Palace, I will pluck the immortal cassia branches in the moon.

Again:

The sky is clear and bright with a green hue; the harmonious Qi of Yin and Yang mingles finely, and all is still and empty. By attaining stillness and nourishing the spirit, I can open the upper aperture—the mysterious aperture in the head—and let my numinous nature become quiet, open, and clear. I nurture the original spirit, and the True Person—the realized self formed through cultivation—appears. From then on I am broad-minded, free, and unrestrained. The August Heaven, the Dao Father, bestows boundless blessings upon me. I uphold the orthodox methods of the Heart of Heaven and the Alliance with Might, as well as the superior Three Vehicles registers of the Purple Void lineage of the Dao of Virtue, a high-level rank in the Daoist register system. I seal away the wisdom sword under the regulations of the mysterious Golden Tablets, keeping the mind seal clear and free of desire. First I dispel my own illnesses, then gather in stray thoughts and set the spirit aright; all manner of demons and strange beings will then lie low and stay hidden. There is no need for elaborate rites to prove one’s authority. One naturally becomes like someone clad in coarse cloth yet carrying jade within: plain in appearance, with the truth held inside.

Again:

The formless, shapeless substance of the Great Dao moves true Qi like sunlight, spreading it finely through hidden depths and across vast expanses without limit. In a moment of seeming obscurity, I gather and hold fast to orthodox Qi; all manner of demons and strange beings then lie low and stay hidden. There is no need for elaborate rites to prove one’s authority. One naturally becomes like someone clad in coarse cloth yet carrying jade within: plain in appearance, with the truth held inside.

Again.

The formless body of the Dao (the Way)—unseen and encompassing all things—sets the Yang-Harmony Qi (vital energy) in motion. It spreads subtly and everywhere, reaching far and deep. In a dim, indistinct realm, the vast primal Qi seems to be simmering and refining; its pure, numinous essence fills the space, then gradually disperses. Bright and pure, it shines for a thousand spans; a clear breeze sweeps across ten thousand miles, and divine light appears, brilliant and radiant. The cultivator ascends to immortality at the Gate of Yi, leaving the mortal body behind and soaring after attaining the Dao, and enters the vast numinous realm of the Great Mystery lineage. Alone, free and transcendent, there is none to compare; dwelling in purity, untouched by even a trace of dust. Through cultivation, one forms an immortal embryo, the body of an immortal born of Neidan (internal alchemy), with a countenance white as snow, moving freely in and out, light and unimpeded. One wanders through the Purple Palace, the dwelling of immortals, and feasts in the Jade Palace, delighting in carefree freedom. A golden boy presents a cup of wine, while wondrous music guides me up to the Dragon Pavilion.

Another

At first, I sincerely honored the Dao, hoping to complete my merit and ascend to immortality, soaring into the azure heavens. But as the years stretched on, my resolve wavered, and gradually I became ensnared and entangled by desire. Like a fierce tiger bound with copper cords or a flood dragon subdued by iron chains, the cultivator’s steps toward cloudborne ascent are held fast, making escape difficult. No way out can be found; it is as though one has sunk forever into a thousand-span ravine. When danger strikes and suffering befalls you, whom can you blame? Your own resolve was weak; you regret having taken the wrong road at the start. You wish to cultivate the Real, yet fame and gain trouble you, and you cannot let go of wine, sex, wealth, or anger. You have not even put your household affairs in order, while your cultivation keeps faltering; you will reach death with nothing to show for it. I urge you to wake up soon, lest you remain pulled in both directions and make no progress on either path.

Another

The orthodox teaching of the Great Mystery instructs people to leave behind worldly splendor and turmoil and cultivate true clarity and stillness. In stillness, the Dao-eye—the wisdom that sees through to the Great Dao—opens, and silvery, rosy radiance unfurls and flows like water. Jing (essence) and Qi spill into the void, filling the Dharma Realm, the all-encompassing domain where things exist, then are gathered in abundance into the Golden Cauldron, the body and mind as a vessel for refining Jing and Qi. Refine the essences of the sun and moon until Heaven and Earth return to a unified, undivided wholeness, enduring as long as Heaven and Earth. In stillness, one stands alone and unmatched, steadfast and unchanging; every method can be grasped by the heart. Through transformation, one ascends and pays homage to the Supreme Emperor, returning to the true realm of clear Yang, a pure and radiant immortal land. There is no night there, and spring lasts through every season. Immortals gather, and a numinous attendant is summoned to welcome you. A Jade Child sings you on your way and offers a cup of longevity wine for you to drink freely.

Ten Poems to the Tune “Fragrant Garden Full of Blossoms”

In a quiet chamber, nourish the spirit and settle the mind. Silently turn the mind and spirit inward, contemplating that glimmer of true Yang—the pure Yang Qi within. The mind grows empty, clear, and vast, revealing the bright realm of inner light. From here, one sees the Dharma realm of empty space, the boundless expanse of existence: it stands alone, unique, and prior to Heaven and Earth. The Three Lights—the sun, moon, and stars—shine with fresh clarity, revealing the complete and luminous realm of truth. Even through immeasurable kalpas, it remains unchanged.

Turn back and examine yourself: who is it that asks? The scene before you appears at once, without deliberate thought. Naturally, one accords with the Dao, forgetting all things and oneself together. Only the clear wind and bright moon remain, opening onto wondrous transformations and radiating boundless light. Ascend the mysterious path, and primordial Qi, the undivided energy of Heaven and Earth, fills the four directions.

Again

The ancestral Dao requires no making or cultivation. The principle of true constancy accords naturally with the Dao, forgetting all things and oneself together. Only the clear wind and bright moon remain, opening onto wondrous transformations and radiating boundless light. Ascend the mysterious path, and primordial Qi fills the four directions.

Again

The ancestral Dao requires no making or cultivation; the principle of true constancy has subtle workings. Once it is realized, inner and outer become connected. When the numinous light appears, it illuminates what is deep and remote. The vast, empty, and clear realm flashes with radiance, unobstructed and unhidden, filling Heaven and Earth in a seamless whole. When the ineffable and unseen first appears, it reveals its original face; return to the root and settle into emptiness and stillness.

True emptiness is bright and pure, vast and open, beyond measure or limit. Our Dao pervades Heaven and Earth, serene and clear, freeing one from the bonds of the mundane. From its mysterious transformations arises the true ancestral Dao, which runs through the source and returns to the root. Transcend the Three Realms—the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm—shift the spirit and leave the bodily shell, revealing traces of pure Yang beyond the world.

Again

The subtle essence of Taiji, the Supreme Ultimate, is refined; the Qi of innate nature is fresh and abundant, and primordial Qi fills the space before you, boundless and without limit. The Mysterious Pearl rises and falls, turning in motion, its radiance gleaming and bursting forth. Gather it into the vessel and entrust it with the work of transformation; reveal traces of pure Yang beyond the world.

Again

The subtle essence of Taiji, the Supreme Ultimate, is refined; the Qi of innate nature is fresh and abundant, and primordial Qi fills the space before you, boundless and without limit. The Mysterious Pearl rises and falls, turning in motion, its radiance gleaming and bursting forth. Gather it into the vessel and entrust it with the work of transformation, returning to the pure and true Dao, untouched by worldly splendor. Turn back and examine yourself, and the empty, clear, subtle essence appears; look inward and behold the fresh, numinous sprout.

Mercury and lead, terms for the Yin and Yang forces in alchemy, gradually condense and combine, and the elixir of pure Yang is thereby refined. It remains unchanged through long kalpas. Hold a ladle of springlike immortal brew, and wield a three-foot treasured sword to cut down demons and evil spirits. Wander freely in every direction, unrestrained; with turtle and crane as guides, enter deep into the cloud-wreathed realm. In the Everlasting Spring Grotto, a place of carefree ease, often admire the immortal flowers.

People travel to the farthest corners of the world in search of friends, yet cannot find a single person who truly understands them. They struggle against one another, cling to the distinction between self and other, and are troubled by wealth, sexual desire, self-interest, and fame. I hear that some devote themselves to studying depraved acts such as sexual misconduct and lying, sinking ever deeper into them. The teachings of what is true and constant repeatedly offer direct admonition, yet people often refuse to listen and instead grow more resentful. Alas, it is better to endure, quiet the mind and still the thoughts, work silently at cultivation, and nurture one’s true heart. Let the primordial Qi of the undivided origin rise and fall within the body; regulate what floats and what sinks, and gradually gather it back into the precious cauldron, the place where essence and Qi are refined in internal alchemy. Once pure Yang Qi has been refined, it is like turning iron into gold. When the subtle mysteries are understood, the myriad demons will disperse, and a state will at last emerge that even ghosts and spirits revere.

Time flies, and before long another year has passed. Looking back, the toil has been considerable. The face gradually grows old, and once-black temples grow ever thinner. People still struggle for fame and pursue profit, giving no thought at all to the fact that death cannot ultimately be escaped. To be caught in the cycle of rebirth is like ants scurrying round and round a ring, making countless circuits. You should awaken to this: understand the patterns by which Heaven and Earth move, and investigate the changing lines of Yin and Yang. When Earth communicates with Heaven and Yin and Yang come into harmony, the Li and Kan trigrams—symbols respectively of Fire and Water, and used in internal alchemy to describe the union of Yin and Yang—naturally mingle. Yin turns back and Yang is reborn; refined Qi then transforms, and pure Qi surges straight into the clouds. The Fetal Light, one of the souls described in Daoism and here a luminous clarity revealed through cultivation, appears. Spirit and Qi become light and expansive, as though strolling through the air and wandering in a realm of jade-like beauty.

As the twelfth lunar month gives way to the New Year, cold winds rise, white plum blossoms begin to open, the water lies cold and the ice pure, and the weather turns bitterly severe. Birds perch in the tall trees, while fish hide in deep, green pools. The sea and sky are clear and boundless; the Mysterious Pearl, a symbol of the internal elixir or the essence gained through cultivation, descends, glittering with auspicious light. The Fetal Star appears, a pure and upright reputation spreads through the world, and Virtue becomes manifest of its own accord. The immortals gather joyfully and, with reverence before the altar, offer birthday blessings to Xuanyang. The golden dragon-shaped incense burner exhales smoke like fragrant liquid, while the jade beast-shaped burner turns and releases swirling clouds of incense. May life be long, enduring alongside Heaven and Earth, and never decline through the endless ages. At the place of ascension, luan birds welcome the way and phoenixes lead the way; with light steps, one walks among the clouds. The immortals once more offer reverent birthday blessings to Xuanyang; the golden dragon burner exhales smoke and the jade beast burner releases fragrant clouds, wishing him a longevity as unending as Heaven and Earth. At last, in the realm of ascension, one rides a luan and harnesses a phoenix, treading the clouds and appearing before the Venerable Emperor of Emptiness, a high deity revered in Daoism.

I stand alone upon the star altar, gazing up at the vast, lofty sky. With utmost sincerity, I respectfully arrange the ritual implements. I burn fine incense without pause and carefully submit prayers written on blue paper (prayers addressed to the celestial deities in Daoist ritual). I ask only that all beings may revere the Great Dao, understand it clearly in their hearts, remain free of attachment and delusion, and return to the right path. The mysterious gate of Daoist practice is profound and hidden; may everyone devote themselves to it without wavering.

All this arises because people’s minds are fickle: they indulge in delusions, make things up, and recklessly seek the strange, without knowing why they persist in these bizarre practices. Desire keeps growing while virtue steadily declines. In this way, they remain entangled and muddied, paying no heed at all to the fundamental principles laid down by the sages of old. The scripture says that if people can be pure and still, all things under Heaven will fall into harmony.

Again

Night passes and day arrives; time flies by, and the Four Seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) drive people to their ceaseless labors. Life is short—who is willing to stop and think carefully? People persist in foolish fantasies, coveting things that bring karmic burdens, without realizing that impermanence may arrive at any moment. The body will eventually return to dust, and the Three Hun and Seven Po (the soul components of the human body in Daoist thought) will scatter with the conditions they encounter. No one can escape birth and death. Each person has their own life and death; neither can be avoided or concealed.

Once they suddenly awaken, they no longer cling to foolish fantasies or covetous desires that bring karmic burdens, and they no longer forget impermanence. The body will eventually return to the earth, the Three Hun and Seven Po will scatter with the conditions they encounter, and no one can escape birth and death. After awakening, they behave freely, without regard for convention. Whether walking along the main street or through the back lanes, they can sing and dance with open hearts. In a place of carefree freedom, accompanied by the song “li □ luo li,” what does it matter even if they are down and out?

Again

To rejoice at birth and grieve at death is to spend one’s strength in vain amid the world’s dust. However many years a person lives, life remains full of danger. Right and wrong, success and failure, honor and disgrace—all bring their own losses in the end. Wealth and rank can become a great affliction, while poverty leaves people cold and hungry. It would be better to return to that state of neither coming nor going, before one’s parents were born.

Within emptiness, forms reveal themselves; a wondrous radiance shines brightly, and all things glitter like stars. It is one with Heaven, clear and auspicious; it accords with Earth, deep and subtle. The utmost Dao fills and embraces the entire realm of reality. Once all things return to their source, they never change again. It transcends arising and perishing, neither increasing nor diminishing, and remains forever one with the Great Void, the boundless expanse of emptiness.

Again

The ancient simplicity of the primordial age was handed down by Xuanyuan, the founding patriarch revered in Daoism. He promoted Lingbao talismanic writings and scriptures. These golden chapters and jade registers—solemn scriptures likened to gold and jade—used concise language to express clear and original principles. The truths they expound are vast and profound: they run through Heaven and Earth and reach down to the smallest speck of dust. By following these principles to cultivate oneself, govern one’s household, and assist the state, ministers remain loyal, children filial, and the people’s lives naturally become peaceful and simple.

Disciples, do you understand the mysteries within them? Investigate the subtle principles behind success and hardship, resolve the turmoil among things, and let all beings return to their original nature. Wash away the mind’s distractions and observe all things with a clear, tranquil heart; then sights beyond the self will appear. In the lofty celestial realm, cloudlike jade is your companion, and when you fly through the open sky, the Sun and Moon are your neighbors. Spread wings that soar above the clouds and ascend, transformed into an immortal, through the Golden Gate; then the Yang Spirit, the yang form achieved through cultivation, appears above the capital.

“Ten Poems on Qin Garden in Spring”

Before the undivided chaos split, things seemed to exist and not exist: they were there, yet hard to grasp. How, then, did they move? After Heaven and Earth first separated, Heaven, Earth, and humanity—the Three Powers that form the cosmos—came into being. Mountains and rivers grew beautiful, and the plains filled with orchids and fungus. The Sun and Moon shone brightly, and the spirit-energy revealed its radiance. By observing the changes of Yin-Yang, one can understand the hidden workings of the Dao with which the sages attuned themselves. Know the images and numbers of the hexagrams and their lines, and the dragon above and the tiger in the Kan position will appear, two sacred beasts holding one another in check. Mist blankets the mountain peak and seals in the cold stream; thunder crashes with tremendous force, its sound resounding through the celestial palace of Taiwei.

The Milky Way pours down like a long stream, scattering a thousand drops of water. Its cool, shimmering waves ripple and light up the splendid pool. Gather the Jing and Qi that have scattered, return them to their source, and draw them back into the cauldron; then refine them by controlling the firing times, such as the Zi and Wu hours. Once the cinnabar elixir has been refined, use it to transform body and spirit, making them enduring and firm, preserving life and preventing decline.

Cultivate the vast, noble Qi and nourish the spirit. Leave desires behind, so the mind becomes clear, open, and still; settle into contemplation beyond the world of dust. See the Jade Pass collapse, as points of frost gather; green mountain crags emerge indistinctly, and snowflakes descend in clusters. The heart suddenly opens, and visions appear in the empty expanse. Heaven and Earth meet, and the divine beasts of the four directions assemble. The Vermilion Bird leads the way ahead, the Black Tortoise follows behind, while the White Tiger circles on the left and the Azure Dragon coils on the right. The Yellow Palace, the body’s middle Dantian, offers up the divine elixir. Encountering this elixir can restore an injured body to health. Let a snake swallow a single pellet, and it will become a winged dragon; even a wondrous creature such as the Qitu, a legendary strange bird, can at once become an auspicious luan. The elixir can turn iron into gold and bring the dead back to life. Even the fierce Taowu, a legendary evil beast, will submit when it encounters it. Do you know? It is not difficult to cultivate oneself to the heights of immortality and sagehood.

Again

How lamentable that human life is short, yet people keep chasing things outside themselves and acting on their desires, becoming entangled in everything. They fret as they scheme for wealth and rank, hoping to fill their granaries and amass possessions—but what does it amount to in the end? Fame perched on a snail’s horns and profit as tiny as a fly’s head drive the mind into a frenzy and leave people sunk in ignorance. How lamentable! Like scattering chaff to blind the eyes, people chase things outside themselves and act on their desires, becoming entangled in everything. They fret as they scheme for wealth and rank, hoping to fill their granaries and amass possessions—but what does it amount to in the end? Fame perched on a snail’s horns and profit as tiny as a fly’s head drive the mind into a frenzy and leave people sunk in ignorance. How lamentable! It is like scattering chaff to blind the eyes, or envying a sparrow and throwing away a pearl. People bury the true Great Dao and leave it neglected; they adorn what they desire, clouding their minds and drawing themselves away from De. They forsake what is true and pursue what is false, giving rise to inversion and confusion. As they walk the road of life, every step is liable to lead them astray. I urge you to turn back, resolute and unwavering, and become a strong and steadfast person. Raise the divine sword and cleave apart the mountain bound by ties of affection; recognize the precious words of truth.

Again

The Dao and the Yin Talisman are both precious spiritual writings, revered by every worthy person and sage. The scriptures speak of realms that are profound and obscure, indistinct and formless; they illuminate the subtle workings of the Great Dao, and the ascent and descent of being and nonbeing, the ebb and flow of movement and stillness. The Six Caverns of Flying Mystery and the wondrous transformations of the Three Palaces—the three Dantian within the body—embody principles that extend throughout Heaven and Earth. The Great Dao is empty and still like a valley, boundless and immeasurable, neither shallow nor deep. Its numinous light shines in all directions, and its subtle, wondrous sound fills Heaven and Earth. Only by merging into the One Qi can we understand how it runs through past and present. Alas, the deluded do not understand. How much of it do they know, and how much can they truly grasp? They turn to minor, unorthodox methods and seek blindly. Turning away from awakening to curry favor with the world of dust, they hear the Dao in the morning and change their minds by night. The mind’s monkey and the will’s horse, wild and hard to rein in, are difficult to master. Do not blame me for speaking harshly; I fear that in the end, the work of cultivation…

Only when genuine efficacy is revealed and disorder is broken apart can one understand how to connect the past with the present. Alas, those who are deluded do not understand; how many can truly grasp it? They stray into heterodox paths, study minor arts, and seek recklessly. Turning away from awakening and following worldly ways, they hear something in the morning and change their minds by evening. Like a nag or a monkey, their thoughts are restless and difficult to rein in. Do not resent them for this; the only fear is that their efforts in cultivation will ultimately come to nothing and their original resolve will be spoiled.

Again

Taiyi (the Supreme Source) existed before Heaven and Earth. Dwelling in the vast realm of the Void Sovereign, a revered Daoist deity, he is supreme above all. He guards the Jade Empyrean Palace, where the immortals gather. Clouds of incense lie in layered ranks, their radiance reflecting a deep crimson. Jade beasts and golden qilin accompany him; white cranes guide the ceremonial procession, while precious canopies and blossoms like fine jade fill the sky. Immortal maidens play music to welcome the graceful True Consort, displaying the elegance of song and dance. The immortal music drifts on, and the singing never ceases. All the immortals pay homage before the throne of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing). They listen to the Cavern of Emptiness and Numinous Treasure, and the Supreme Dao of Ascending Mystery, which open and illuminate the Three Essentials, bringing their efficacy into manifestation. When weary, they sit and read the scriptures, riding phoenixes and luan birds. The Five Elders support the perfected being as he enters the Crimson Palace, the heart chamber within the body. The immortals withdraw to the gardens of Penglai, where together they experience the breeze of pure harmony.

Again

The Great Dao is profound and subtle, enduring unchanged since ancient times, always majestic as before. Because the mind is deluded, people fail to awaken and sink into birth and death. Only after turning back and changing course, and enduring countless hardships, do they emerge as if reborn. Today I finally understand my original nature: casting off the false and returning to the true, I observe all things from beyond the world. Once free from arising and passing away, my pure nature suddenly appears, moving in and out between the Nivana Palace, the cultivation center inside the head. A golden cicada dances between the brows, free to pass back and forth through the Jade Ring. I gather the solar soul and lunar spirit, symbols of the vital essences of the sun and moon, and take them into the cauldron for refinement, following the Celestial Circuit’s firing times, the arrangements of Qi and timing in Neidan cultivation, to temper them into an elixir.

Today I finally understand my original nature: casting off the false and returning to the true, I observe all things from beyond the world. Once free from arising and passing away, my pure nature suddenly appears, moving in and out between the Nivana Palace. A golden cicada dances between the brows, free to pass back and forth through the Jade Ring. I gather the solar soul and lunar spirit, take them into the cauldron for refinement, and temper them into an elixir according to the Celestial Circuit’s firing times. When Neidan cultivation is complete, the body and spirit are transformed. One no longer grows old, but gradually returns to youth, keeping one’s appearance for a long time. On the day one’s cultivation and merits are complete, one arrives amid the depths of the colored clouds and mounts a auspicious luan in peace.

The burdens of worldly affairs and the desires of this mortal life leave people dazed all day, with no idea when it will end. Tied down by fame, wealth, and beauty, they lose sight of their original innocence and gradually sink into ignorance. A beautiful wife and beloved children seem like golden shackles and jade locks, binding people so tightly that change becomes difficult. The foolish go on accumulating boundless sins. When their allotted years are spent, whom can they blame?

When they reach Fengdu, the legendary underworld, they will have nothing to say before the tribunal. Their past wrongs and the retribution for them will follow: they will face such punishments as mountains of blades and trees of swords, ice that pierces to the bone, and cauldrons of boiling liquid. Ghost wardens will beat them and ravage their bodies. Even after enduring a thousand births and deaths, they will struggle to find a way out, sinking into the underworld for a long time with no end in sight. In the cycle of rebirth, they may even lose human form and be born as animals with horns, tails, and fur.

The lineage of the Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi), a revered Daoist deity, draws its tradition from the precelestial realm, embraces all things, and accords with Taiwei, a region of the heavens that also refers to the celestial court. It sets the Nine-Yang Elixir Cauldron in motion, an image of Neidan practice: dragons roar and tigers howl, as though thunder and lightning race by and purple mists rise. Turning the Pearly Orb, a legendary jewel, in the hand, one’s form drifts, elusive and subtle, while radiance bursts forth like rosy clouds, illuminating Kan and Li, symbols of Water and Fire and also of Yin-Yang. Its mysteries are beyond words. Behold the methods of my tradition: their power is truly wondrous.

One naturally grasps the workings of Heaven and sets the Qi of Heaven and Earth in motion, as if arrayed among the stars and turning with the handle of the Dipper. With a loud cry, the treasured Dragon Spring sword sends its gleam straight into the sky; demons tremble, and all manner of strange beings are overthrown. The state grows prosperous, the people live in peace, and the realm becomes tranquil and joyful. When the Formless Perfected One, who has transcended appearances and accorded with the Dao, appears in the world, he receives an edict written in cinnabar and travels to Penglai and Langyuan, legendary abodes of immortals, becoming an immortal who has transcended the world.

In the golden towers and jade halls of the celestial realm, incense clouds drift through the treasure palace as one pays homage to Yuxu, the Daoist realm of limpid emptiness. The practitioner seems to rise in a carriage drawn by phoenixes, while rainbow robes and jade pendants ring out. The innate, pure spirit descends, and the nature long concealed within the mortal body comes into view. At once, mind and spirit grow still; numinous light shines through the whole body, joining with the Mysterious Origin, the root of Heaven, Earth, and all things, and transcending being and nonbeing. The spirit travels swiftly as a flying sword to the Dragon Palace and its sea treasury, there to seize the luminous pearl. Flowing rosy light has shone without pause from the very beginning, and ten thousand rays of golden light envelop the crucible. Once the Pure Yang Elixir is complete, it reaches upward to Heaven and downward to Earth. Heaven and Earth seem to merge in a haze as Yin and Yang rise and fall, float and sink. With cultivation and merit complete, one pays homage to the realm that unites with the Mysterious Origin and transcends being and nonbeing. The spirit travels swiftly as a flying sword to the Dragon Palace and its sea treasury, there to seize the luminous pearl. Rosy light has shimmered from the very beginning, and ten thousand rays of golden light envelop the crucible. Once the Pure Yang Elixir is complete, it reaches upward to Heaven and downward to Earth. Heaven and Earth merge indistinctly as Yin and Yang rise and fall, float and sink. When cultivation and merit are complete, one pays homage to the Origin, accompanied by golden youths and jade maidens, and leaves the Lake of Caves aboard a crane, riding on fragrant winds. One wins the foremost place among the immortals, is appointed their leader, and forever guards Yingdu, the immortal realm across the sea.

Again

Treat others with kindness, generosity, humility, and gentleness; aid those in hardship and show compassion for the weak. In dealing with affairs, adapt flexibly to circumstances. One knows how to govern a household and bring prosperity to the state, while cultivating oneself and preserving life; one probes deeply into the mysteries of nature’s transformations, attaining learning to rival Zhuangzi and Liezi. Holding fast to Hidden Yang—the inner Yang energy and mysterious nature—one secures the root of the spirit deep within, opens the paired passes of internal alchemy, and nurtures an upright, expansive vitality. One penetrates the mysterious path, takes in subtle visions, and sends radiance into the clouds and mist. The realm is deep and vast, without boundary or limit. The essences of the sun and moon are set in motion, bringing together the vital energies of all things and filling them with life. One beholds the Cavernous Void, limpid and open; spirit is gathered in emptiness, bright and radiant, condensing into a single point of light like a fetal star, from which innate Qi is brought forth. Responding in every direction, it fills the Dharma Realm, the vast domain reached by all things, unobstructed and flawless, complete in Dao and De. By the power of numinous might, one reveals the abilities gained through a lifetime of cultivation and seizes the immortals’ realm of excellence. The essences of the sun and moon are set in motion, bringing together the vital energies of all things and filling them with life. One beholds the Cavernous Void, limpid and open; spirit is gathered in emptiness, bright and radiant, condensing into a single point of light like a fetal star, from which innate Qi is brought forth. Responding in every direction, it fills the Dharma Realm, unobstructed and flawless, complete in Dao and De. By the power of numinous might, one reveals the abilities gained through a lifetime of cultivation and seizes the immortals’ realm of excellence.

Twelve Songs on Prolonging Life and the Beautiful Golden Flower, No. 9

When the foundation of the Dantian, the internal alchemy center in the lower abdomen, is firm, guide the numinous spring—the body’s fluids or inner vital essence—to nourish it again and again. The Yellow Sprout, the first vital energy to grow in internal alchemy, gradually develops. Wind stirs its solitary root, making it extend along a slanting path. The beautiful Golden Flower blossoms, vivid and fragrant, its bud just opening. Cut the Golden Flower and place it in a silver vase; then light dragon’s-breath incense and offer it to Shangqing, the pure, subtle heaven revered in Daoism.

When one directs the mind that should preserve life toward chasing worldly pleasures, one ultimately moves toward death. Only after passing through the cycles of life and death does one learn to seek the source of life within them. Let go of false attachments and seek one’s true nature, and it becomes clear that a person’s true nature is not confined to the physical body. The “body beyond the body” is a form of being that transcends physical shape in the language of cultivation. The formless gives rise to form, and form returns to the formless: this principle is difficult to express fully in words. Quietly maintain the inner work of cultivation; when the work is complete, one can pay homage in the realm of Primordial Beginning and ascend into the blue firmament.

True stillness means clarifying body and mind in quietude, bringing nature and life—the foundations of mind, body, and vitality in Daoist thought—to completion. The root of life holds Shen and Qi; when they are abundant, the Yellow Capital and Purple Palace, inner palaces symbolizing the circulation of Shen and Qi in Neidan cultivation, flourish like spring. Spring’s bright, open light fills the ancient path with clear, harmonious Yang energy. The Great Dao rises into the mysterious realm, remote and boundless, as though there were another heaven beyond the heavens.

The source of spiritual nature is vast without limit; all the scenes before one seem like illusory supports. The mind’s spiritual awareness is serene and open, without bounds. When Shen and Qi are abundant, the Yellow Capital and Purple Palace flourish like spring; spring’s bright light fills the ancient path with clear, harmonious Yang energy. The Great Dao rises into the mysterious realm, remote and boundless, as though there were another heaven beyond the heavens.

The source of spiritual nature is vast without limit; the sights before one are like illusory supports. The mind’s spiritual awareness is serene and measureless, drifting into the Jade Palace, the Daoist palace of the immortals, and radiating precious light. With insight that penetrates the profound principles, open the heart’s apertures; face the southern window and gaze up at the Northern Dipper. The precious, pure light settles into stillness. An inner Golden Elixir like a single luminous pearl seems to roll upward into the heavens.

By following Wuwei and remaining still, without reckless action or disturbance, one can nourish nature and life. A cool, clear radiance shines across Penghu, the legendary island mountain in the sea, and merges into the boundless realm. The movement of the Dao is endless and without bias; its comings and goings are changes like those of a passing traveler. The Great Dao naturally reaches spiritual efficacy as one watches the returning soul enter a deep and distant realm.

The clear and mysterious principles are limpid and perfectly rounded, as though they reach all the way through. The mind is clear like the sea and sky; within emptiness and brightness, one contemplates the sages’ methods of cultivation. The luminous pearl within the heart surges, sending forth flames that shimmer like flowing rosy clouds. The Golden Crow, the solar bird of ancient myth, blazes and flies over Silla, rising straight to the Jade Capital, the city of the immortals.

The mysterious Dao is subtle and profound, silent and spacious, as though there were no opening through which to enter. Inquiry into its hidden depths yields wondrous effects; the images of the Yi—the hexagrams of the Book of Changes—and the principles of the prenatal cosmos accord with the mysterious insight realized by the sages. Primordial Qi, fused into one, fills heaven and earth and reaches through the void, able to offer aid everywhere. As far as the eye can see, all is clear light; suddenly one feels the gentle spring breeze cool heaven and earth.

Caught in worldly life like a house on fire, one may become attached to children, spouse, and servants. Once awakened and freed from delusion, one can live with ease, singing with a full belly and finding joy in abundance. Where is the realm of carefree wandering? Look back toward one’s homeland and discover that one can return. Suddenly one enters the Pot-Heaven, the Daoist paradise within a gourd; moonlight shines on the clear river, and the osmanthus tree stands round and bright.

In inner contemplation, focus the spirit on the Northern Dipper, set the Celestial Pass in motion—the aperture through which Qi moves in Daoist internal cultivation—and open insight. Yang Qi arises within Yin; refine the Three Hun and Seven Po souls so they are no longer constrained by the entanglement of form and spirit. When the work in the Jade Furnace is complete, the Golden Elixir appears in the precious cauldron. Where, after all, is the immortal realm? Look back toward one’s homeland and discover that one can return. Suddenly one enters the Pot-Heaven: moonlight shines on the clear river, and the osmanthus tree stands round and bright.

Contemplate the Northern Dipper (the seven stars of the north) revolving within the body, opening the Celestial Passages—the inner gateways through which spirit and Qi flow—and allowing wisdom to pass through. Yang Qi arises within Yin and, through refining, the three Hun and seven Po souls—the souls described in Daoism—gradually dissolve. When the work in the Jade Furnace is complete, the Golden Elixir in the precious cauldron shines clear and bright. The numinous cinnabar gleams like the sun in a cloudless sky, or like emerald-colored clouds glowing as they descend.

Life is like an illusion, and its brevity and impermanence are before us; there is no need to fear them. Do not simply pin your hopes on a future life, for even if you plan for one, you cannot know where you will go. The road ahead is perilous, crowded with swords and blades, and hard to tread. I urge you to turn back and change your mind, and follow me beyond the world of convention, roaming freely.

Turn your gaze inward to the Three Visions—the scenes of Jing, Qi, Shen, and other things within the body—and let the numinous cinnabar fill the cauldron. Its radiance shines upon the spirit child, the inner spiritual presence spoken of in cultivation. Numinous light transforms langgan, a jade-like precious stone, and clears the cosmos. In the night, beneath the river and sky, the moon shines; its shadow, like a cassia tree, is delicate and pure. What I have nurtured with my own hands is like a jade flower blooming in fire.

With no dust or defilement clouding the heart, clasp the hands firmly—the cultivation posture of making fists and gathering the spirit—and nurture the vast, upright Qi. Mysterious frost, the cool, condensed essence described in cultivation language, moistens the valleys. Once the divine cinnabar has formed, fragrance fills the cauldron. It is clear as the blazing sun; auspicious Qi gathers in the air and fills the room. When all is blended into unity and returns to primordial Qi, one can command the patterns of the stars’ movement and penetrate the mysterious principle.

Turn back and examine yourself, realizing the true wonder of non-birth, which transcends arising and passing away. Inner numinous light appears and rises to the Moon Palace, the legendary lunar abode, tinting it with cassia frost. Heavenly Water, the body’s vital essence, blends and comes into being; subtle, shadowy rosy clouds circulate and flow through the whole body. See into both the netherworld and the human realm, and deliver beings in each. The immortals’ merit is inscribed in the Northern Emperor’s realm, the abode of the northern celestial sovereign.

The primordial, undivided Qi, the original energy before Heaven and Earth were separated, gives rise to earth and sky. It fills the emptiness and delivers all beings. The precious cauldron is clean and translucent; cassia shadows fall as the Golden Crow, the sun, sinks into the blue sea. Nurture Jing and Qi and guard their source. Once the spirit pearl gathers, it departs with the wind. Moonlight reflects in the heart of the water; the inner eye, the lucid eye of inward vision, shines clear, and gold is born in the water.

The hidden dragon rests at the first nine, the first line of the Qian trigram in the Classic of Changes, symbolizing Yang Qi in concealment. The flying dragon rises to the fifth nine, the fifth line of Qian, symbolizing Yang Qi at its height. All the dragons rise together, yet none claims to lead. The Qian origin, the creative source represented by the Qian trigram, is vast; each thing flourishes in its own way, wholly following nature. A person’s inner nature and outward expression are close to one another. The Dao appears in benevolence and is also concealed in the workings of things. Pure Qi holds its radiance within; its wondrous transformations have no fixed direction and adapt freely to each moment.

Mysterious essence and Qi gather in pure concentration, revealing a precious, immaculate radiance of spiritual beauty. Fresh and graceful, it bring auspiciousness. Inner breaths mingle and congeal; auspicious light sparkles like a sky full of stars, illuminating the entire room. Endowed with the pure Yang qualities of an immortal, one has a beautiful, elegant appearance and ascends on phoenix wings. Lightly riding the rosy clouds, one enters the distant heavens and wanders through Yujing, the Daoist realm of immortals.

Descending from a splendid celestial palace into the human world, a spark of spiritual light in the womb is white as jade. One guides others through the power of De, acting with propriety; one’s bearing and essence are exceptionally beautiful. Gentle and harmonious, kindred in feeling, one is at ease in pure emptiness, a place where body and mind may find refuge. The immortals’ retinue descends together, and in the deep night a clear, far-reaching song rings out, sounding like music made of jade.

Silent and empty, clear and profound: the Dao is vast and complete, bright as a precious mirror. The cold night sky is frosted; all things are pure, the stars sparse, and the moon round as a cassia tree above the sea. The secluded dwelling is still and soundless. Sitting alone beside a mountain stream, with the expansive breeze, the mind is clear and empty, a place where the spirit may rest. The immortals’ retinue descends together, and in the deep night a clear, far-reaching song rings out, sounding like music made of jade.

Silent and empty, clear and profound: the Dao is vast and complete, bright as a precious mirror. The cold night sky is frosted; all things are pure, the stars sparse, and the moon round as a cassia tree above the sea. The secluded dwelling is still and soundless. Sitting alone beside a mountain stream, the breeze stretches into the distance. The water is emerald green, the mist clear; the mind is peaceful and bright, beyond the world of dust, as if one were an immortal.

The wondrous source is empty, still, and in Wuwei; all things change and turn with the passing years, like the world reflected in a precious mirror. Clear light fills the vision: in silence and non-action, it nevertheless functions without cease. The root lies in keeping to one’s nature and turning the light inward to the realm of inner emptiness, again and again. When nature and life are both fully cultivated, the Yang spirit—the luminous body refined from essence, Qi, and spirit in Daoist cultivation—can be formed, following its natural course.

Gather the spirit in emptiness and stillness. The spirit wind converges, bright as a mirror, illuminating oneself. See into the distant horizon; one’s nature is empty, still, and clear, like a single full moon. With no one around, all is pure and quiet; the mind is limpid, the waters ripple coolly, and the breeze stretches into the distance. Precious incense burns softly, its smoke rising straight to the vermilion heavens, as auspicious immortals descend.

Hold fast to the investigation of the Dao’s subtle principles, and ponder them with focused attention in a quiet room until they become utterly clear. The body seems released, the spirit settled; light shines across the boundless emptiness, and all is clear and pure. The Dharma Body, the purified body formed through cultivation, is light and graceful; the radiant Qi of the numinous Yang departs with the wind. Follow the celestial conveyance upward into the Central Heaven, where essence and Qi flourish, appear in the open sky, and merge with the primordial realm.

Seek no honor and grieve over no disgrace; preserve the true source within and remain content. Respond to things outwardly without becoming attached to any place. The breath circulates between above and below, then rises with the wind. Follow the celestial conveyance upward into the Central Heaven, where essence and Qi flourish, appear in the open sky, and merge with the primordial realm.

Seek no honor and grieve over no disgrace; preserve the true source within and remain content. Respond to things outwardly without becoming attached to any place. The breath circulates above and below, extending through the emptiness in all six directions. The dark jade of Mount Kunlun is of incomparable value; with the aid of sunlight, its radiance fills heaven and earth. All things mingle and congeal into a pearl, sending forth a precious, immaculate radiance of spiritual beauty in five colors.

The subtle formula personally transmitted enables the practitioner, with the clear eye of insight, to see through the passage of countless eons. The mind is like the bright moon reflected in a stream; radiance like jade blossoms drifts down and spreads across Taiwei, the celestial palace. Qi and spirit are cool and clear, and auspicious light gleams white as ice and jade. Its brilliance shines like the patterns of the stars, as the true form appears from behind an embroidered curtain.

Suddenly awakening to the Great Dao, one no longer gives thought to children, wife, or household servants. All worldly affairs are set aside; the mind and nature grow tranquil and at ease, and the Dao reveals itself naturally. One receives blessings as beautiful as a rainbow in heaven, joins with the Dao and ascends to become an immortal, displaying the highest De. When De is full and the heart’s light shines bright, radiance like cinnabar and malachite extends one’s years.

Split open the dark caverns of ghosts and enter the distant depths of the netherworld, into a realm subtle and elusive. Brilliant radiance fills the view; Yang Qi shines bright, and a numinous pearl gleams, clear as sunlight. Having reached the utmost truth, one knows that nothing has a fixed form. The refined Qi of precious light appears and recedes in turn, luminous and transparent. To remember the Dao even at death is to endure like the stars circling the cinnabar heavens.

An ignorant old countryman, following his whims, wanders about wildly. The Great Dao is broad and level, yet people are easily misled by what lies before their eyes and follow crooked paths. From this, contemplate the gate of wisdom: distant, subtle Yang Qi emerges from the formless. By day, one dreams of Huaxu, the legendary ideal land; a crystalline numinous soul flies through the sky like a child.

Only by casting off greed and severing attachments of love can the path of the Dao be made level. If the mind is allowed to chase external things, it will lose its way on crooked paths. From this, contemplate the gate of wisdom: distant, subtle Yang Qi emerges from the formless. By day, one dreams of Huaxu, and a crystalline numinous soul flies through the sky like a child.

Cast off greed and sever attachments of love, and the mind and nature grow still and clear, entering the realm of treasure, a pure and majestic state. Yang Qi fills this realm, and the practitioner is reborn in body and transformed in substance, clear and bright as langgan jade, as if snow lay upon frost. The light of emptiness, stillness, and clarity shines forth. Beyond the pavilion windows, one settles the spirit and gazes quietly, seeing oneself by the clarity within the heart. The dark, misleading path is illuminated, revealing a perfectly integrated, all-pervading, five-colored precious pearl.

Close the Three Passes, the three inner gates spoken of in cultivation, and bathe body and mind in the essence of jade ointment; then attainment may be within reach. Nurture numinous cinnabar, the name in Neidan cultivation for Jing and Qi gathered into an elixir; the eyes shine like finely worked jewels, adding auspicious radiance. The mysterious, subtle Qi is profound; the Golden Towers of heaven are quiet and bright, revealing an elegant and auspicious presence. Two blue youths, immortal attendants in Daoist lore, bring forth the dark pearl and deliver it to the Crimson Palace, the Neidan name for the heart.

Settle the mind and sit in stillness. In cultivation, pressing ahead too hastily while stray thoughts arise can often injure oneself. Close the outer gates, carefully guard the inner treasure house, and protect body and mind like a precious vessel. Mysterious radiance soars forth, piercing the emptiness, as if the heart’s cauldron had burst open. Radiance like golden and jade-green cinnabar fills the view, and the clear image of numinous mushrooms appears.

Without speaking or making declarations, follow what is natural and let old karmic burdens dissolve in their own time. Forget the distinction between self and things; conceal your traces and gather in your radiance, and De will grow of itself. The root of illusion falls silent, and awareness becomes perfectly integrated and all-pervading; no longer cling to the pointer that indicates the moon, a reminder not to grasp at words or signs. Respond directly to the present, and the pearl of the heart becomes one with the light of the sun.

The secret of a True Immortal is this: guide and welcome those with aspiration, who keep faith and act with loyalty and integrity. When a matter of morality arises, discern it carefully; do not believe false and misguided claims or get drawn into disputes. When the Jade Pivot—the subtle workings of the Daoist teaching—comes to light, the Dharma Eye, the cultivator’s wisdom for discerning truth, becomes clear and keen. One can perceive the finest mysteries, like cassia trees reflected in a cool, quiet grove, while white birds wheel gracefully through the air.

Gather the spirit inward. Let the luminous pearl within the heart turn back and unite with the light of the sun.

The secret of a True Immortal is this: guide and welcome those with aspiration, who keep faith and act with loyalty and integrity. When a matter of morality arises, discern it carefully; do not believe false and misguided claims or get drawn into disputes. When the Jade Pivot comes to light, the Dharma Eye becomes clear and keen. One can perceive the finest mysteries, like cassia trees reflected in a cool, quiet grove, while white birds wheel gracefully through the air.

Turn inward and reflect, awakening to the realization that life’s splendor is like a dream. Let go of external things and seek the true Dao; forget distracting thoughts and the body, and transcend the Six Dusts—the sensory realms of form, sound, scent, taste, touch, and mental objects. Heaven and earth are clear and still; the empty spaces above and below open into one another, bright as the sun. The Primordial Spirit, precious and radiant, roams freely between the Yellow Capital and Purple Palace, divine abodes in Daoist thought, amid a scene like springtime.

Forget the body and do not cling to what is seen outwardly; then you can reach a state of purity without stain, empty clarity, and wondrous subtlety. Rosy light shines beyond the body; waves at the horizon lie clear and still, merging with Taiwei, the celestial star region and, by extension, the distant heavens. The Cinnabar Apertures, inner gateways in cultivation, open one after another, revealing the essential principles of the profound and mysterious Dao. The spirit’s intent shifts and transforms like the courses of the stars. Riding the currents of wind and Qi, one roams freely amid wondrous transformations.

In silence, keep the spirit within. Gather Yang Qi in primordial chaos, and let something real emerge from emptiness. Even dwelling in the realm of form, how could it compare with the formless? The unique, all-pervading essence is luminous as a pearl in the sea. Spirit and Qi are clear; the inner landscape is beautiful. Roaming freely in the Cinnabar Heaven, the imagined celestial realm of inner cultivation, one shines like broad daylight. Above and below, there are no restraints; wondrous radiance fills the Great Void.

The Auspicious Wind, the warm southern breeze, first appears, and precious blessings arrive through ninefold transformation. Only then does one truly believe in the wonder of stillness, roaming freely in the Southern Mound, a Daoist vision of the immortal realm, and revealing a pure, perfect radiance. The wondrous workings have just begun to appear, and already the breath of spring runs through them like a single thread. The spirit wanders beyond all images, taking in the five-colored lotuses of the Jade Pool, the legendary abode of the Queen Mother of the West.

Even the blind can hear with acuity: the pure, unified Qi, the fundamental energy that forms all things, sharpens hearing and opens wisdom. Even the deaf can awaken: two points of spirit enter the treasure vessel, an image symbolizing the body or the inner crucible of cultivation. Turning from the crooked to the straight is like a jade mirror suspended in the vast sky, reflecting everything with perfect clarity. Only then does one believe that the Golden Elixir, the attainment of Neidan cultivation, can be refined in a single day.

Turn back and ask within; through inward contemplation, one can fully understand Penghu, the legendary mountain of immortals. A single Mysterious Pearl, an image of the inner elixir or the luminous awareness of one’s nature, flows up and down, reaching throughout the Six Directions. Yin and Yang energies blend to form Heavenly Essence, a term for vital essence in Daoist cultivation. Image and meaning flow together, and Jing and Qi continue without interruption. Unbound within and without, one moves freely through a celestial realm, able to gather and release at will.

Yu Ni, an immortal, is graceful and otherworldly; even at midnight, she can bring spring back into the daylight. Riding in a splendid carriage, she roams through the middle of the sky. The scene is wondrous and serene, its mysteries without end. Pure radiance is faint and subtle, while spreading rosy clouds stretch across the blue vault like flowers of precious jade. Sunlight shines on langgan, a beautiful stone like jade; after the wind has stilled, one seems still to hear the cool, clear sound of jade pendants.

When I met you just now, I was so startled that my soul seemed to fly away, and my heart trembled with fear. Do not search again, and do not pursue any further. Even if we meet face to face, we may not hold good will toward one another. I urge you not to kneel and bow, lest the poor remember debts left unpaid long ago. Let us each turn back. If we stray even slightly from our true nature, we will be reduced to a life of service like oxen and horses.

“Seven Poems on Longing for the Immortals”

Mountain joins mountain, and water meets water. The mountains are bright and the waters lovely; amid the scenery, clouds and rosy mists unfold at ease.

In the dawn breeze, I urge you not to kneel and bow, lest the poor remember debts left unpaid long ago. Let us each turn back. If we stray even slightly from our true nature, we will be reduced to a life of service like oxen and horses.

“Seven Poems on Longing for the Immortals”

Mountain joins mountain, and water meets water. The mountains are bright and the waters lovely; amid the scenery, clouds and rosy mists unfold at ease. The dawn breeze fades, and night has grown deep. The moon rises above the plum branches; tree shadows cover the altar ground. Immortal music resounds, and jade pendants ring with a cool, clear sound.

The clear sky is pure and lucid, scattered with crystalline radiance. A faint haze of spiritual energy stretches across the earth. Chilly light shines down, and the pure Qi of refreshing clarity flows. Precious essence gathers, and jade-colored stars shine clear. Sun and moon reflect one another, their radiance brightening the day; langgan adorns the Year Star, Jupiter.

The Dao-centered heart is at peace, and the lamp of wisdom shines bright. A boy who attends to treasures opens a Daoist scripture; its clear, high notes ring like jade pendants striking together. The mind is tranquil and clear, its radiance rising and gathering. Swallows rest quietly, as though taking in jade-colored essence from the Elixir Pond, a Neidan term for the place within the body where fluids gather. Thus one returns to the uncarved state, and one’s original nature becomes upright and steadfast.

The heart is at peace; outwardly, one is composed and still. Within and without, there is nothing to cling to. All things spread out before one, each seen with lucid awareness. The breath of Qi is clear and gentle, and wisdom is bright. Pure light shines into the precious vessel, a symbol in Daoist cultivation for the body and mind. At ease and free, one transforms into jade-colored essence.

Cast off worldly desires and open the heart to sincerity. Withdraw among forests and streams, and move through clouds and waters. The colors of mountain mists fill the view; radiance unfolds, and the realm grows clear and bright. The body’s constraints dissolve, the mind and spirit settle, and the Dao naturally becomes manifest. Ascend into the mysterious realm, shining upon the Jade Capital, the celestial city of the immortals.

Cultivate with care and understand the Dao of Wuwei (non-action). Let the mind be clear and wise, undeluded by worldly affairs, and comprehend the mysteries of Heaven and Earth in motion. Precious rosy clouds gleam, their subtle light brilliant. The Purple Palace, the dwelling place of immortals, reflects the azure clouds, flowing like water. The colors of mountain mists fill the view; radiance unfolds, and the realm grows clear and bright. The body’s constraints dissolve, the mind and spirit settle, and the Dao naturally becomes manifest. Ascend into the mysterious realm, shining upon the Jade Capital.

With reverent cultivation, I realize the Dao of Wuwei (non-action). I seek only a clear and discerning mind, unbewildered by worldly affairs. I understand the mysteries of Heaven and Earth’s workings; precious rosy clouds shine, and subtle principles appear in radiant clarity. The Purple Palace and Azure Capital—the Daoist realms of immortals—have their appointed time of arrival, and the countenance of a sage will appear in the Jade Palace.

The Wisdom Sword appears, cutting down the Three Peng—also called the Three Corpses, spirits believed in Daoism to dwell in the human body, urge people toward wrongdoing, and record their faults. I remain upright and chaste, pure and self-possessed, severing desire. At peace, I hold fast to my unadorned nature, clear as fine jade. My gaze is bright, and Dao Qi fills me. The cinnabar blossom of the azure sea appears in Jade Clarity, one of the highest Daoist heavens, pure and clear as a star.

Six Poems in the Tune “Pounding Cloth”

I understand the intent of the ancestral masters and realize true Chan. A spark of numinous light from before Heaven appears. Azure, cinnabar, yellow, white, and black are transformed, filling mountains and rivers with an auspicious, refined Qi. In the frosty sky, winds cease and clouds grow still; all things settle of themselves. Jade-like immortal flowers fall, and the precious osmanthus is full and round.

There is no need to speak of the Dao or practice meditation; Wuwei and purity are the right conditions for cultivation. I realize the mysterious principle, and within the mysterious there is yet a deeper mystery. Through cultivating right awareness, I seize the power of the immortals. A divine, radiant gaze illuminates the Cinnabar Heaven, the Daoist realm of immortals or alchemical practice. The Five Spirits ascend, and I transform into an immortal with wings.

In cultivation, one must investigate with care. I realize the state beyond birth and death, letting body and mind accord with the Great Dao. Clear as a cloudless sky, I know my original mind; understanding movement and stillness, I bring rise and fall to rest. The Jade Infant, a symbol of pure Yang Qi or the inner elixir formed through internal cultivation, remains guarded; golden Qi fills the pot within. Colored clouds shine, and auspicious Qi streams from the precious mountain.

The true contains the false, and the false contains the true. Open and free, I stand self-sufficient, unbound by distinctions of intimacy and estrangement. Within the Primordial Oneness, the original state in which Heaven and Earth are undivided and all things are fused together, there is no distinction between self and other. The Dao connects with Shen, and Shen connects with the Dao. Understanding movement and stillness, I bring rise and fall to rest. The Jade Infant remains guarded; golden Qi fills the pot within. Colored clouds shine, and auspicious Qi streams from the precious mountain.

The true contains the false, and the false contains the true. Open and free, I stand self-sufficient, unbound by distinctions of intimacy and estrangement. Within the Primordial Oneness, there is no distinction between self and other. The Dao connects with Shen, and Shen connects with the Dao. The pure realm of empty clarity is bright as an icy moon. I pass beyond the Milky Way and transcend the Six Dusts—a Buddhist term for the six objects of the senses, form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and mental phenomena, also used to refer to the distractions of the world.

Starting from this side, I move onward from the other; breath passes freely in and out between the openings of the face. Heavenly light appears, a single star. The true form is originally formless, yet naturally bright. It appears in Liaoyang, a Daoist immortal realm, and enters the state of Great Accomplishment.

Beneath the brows are eyes, and within the eyes is Jing. Its radiance shines, and consciousness is clear. A state of perfect, unobstructed harmony appears, illuminating what lies beyond the dusty world. I pay audience to the Supreme Emperor and circle the heavenly court. Beside Moonlight Peak, I admire the cloudlike blossoms of an immortal realm. I meet the Golden Youth, and appear in Jade Clarity.

Eleven Poems in the Tune “Moon over the West River”

The interwoven branch-like lines between the brows resemble amber; the eyes are clear, their freshness like dragon’s-breath incense. Fragrant smoke rises in delicate curls from the cauldron, reaching the Chan Heaven, the lofty, tranquil celestial realm. A spark of numinous light appears.

The Most High Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun) fully understood this sacred jade image, while the Tathagata Buddha attained the rank of a Golden Immortal. Although Daoism and Buddhism follow different schools, their roots are connected. Only by grasping the principle they share can one know what supreme goodness is.

Hao-ran Qi, the vast and upright vital energy, gathers into precious talismans, while a clear breeze scatters the clouds and mist. A full moon lights the empty expanse, allowing the spirit to stretch out and revive. From this, a spark of spiritual light appears.

The Most High Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun) fully understood this sacred jade image, while the Tathagata Buddha attained the rank of a Golden Immortal. Although Daoism and Buddhism follow different schools, their roots are connected. Only by grasping the principle they share can one know what supreme goodness is.

Hao-ran Qi, the vast and upright vital energy, gathers into precious talismans, while a clear breeze scatters the clouds and mist. A full moon lights the empty expanse, allowing the spirit to stretch out and revive.

Breaking through the heavenly realm of Jade Capital, I enter the celestial gate of the Golden Palace. The original spirit sits alone in the Moon Palace, governing the immortals and receiving their shared reverence.

Knowing that my embodied form is subject to illness, I seek the true Dao: without contrivance or reckless action. Following things as they are, the handle of the Northern Dipper turns, the sun and moon move, and their fullness encompasses Heaven and Earth.

I kindle ice ashes and snow charcoal, refining them into fire dates and pear-like fruits. These are the immortals’ foods in Daoist legend, symbols of numinous substances gained through cultivation. I offer them all to the perfected immortals of Mount Emei, so that my intelligence and wisdom may grow.

Everything is entangled in household affairs because karmic obstacles stand in the way. Who can discern what is subtle and distinguish the orthodox path from the deviant one? Yet I have turned away from the wondrous teachings of the Daoist gate.

When the clouds and mist part, every household can see the moon; when the time comes, flowers will bloom everywhere. The innocent youth journeys deep into verdant clouds and mist, guided toward a realm of everlasting spring, agelessness, and nights without end.

I do not cling to romantic love or worldly pleasures, nor pursue wealth, status, or fame. I empty myself of selfishness, let go of desire, cast aside clever contrivance, and wash away the confusion born of ignorance.

Only by dispelling all the illusory appearances of the human world can one reach the perfect realm beyond it. I forget my body and its outward reflections, allowing Qi and Shen, spirit, to gather together. I devote myself to the root, accept Heaven’s mandate, and take joy in following nature.

A gourd of spring-brewed wine hangs from my staff, and a three-foot sword lies hidden in its case. A precious mirror hangs between my brows to subdue demons and ward off evil. I sit quietly in steadfast observance until the deep of night.

In the golden cauldron, I refine white snow; in the jade furnace, I refine yellow sprouts. “White snow” and “yellow sprouts” are symbolic terms in Neidan, internal alchemy, referring to subtle substances produced through refinement and cultivation. The radiance of the Elixir shines and flows like lustrous jade, while the Yin-Yang energies of Heaven and Earth mingle and respond to one another.

When one loses one’s original nature, the body seems to sink into a sea of suffering. The moment one awakens, it is as though the moon has risen from the Western River. A breeze carries the fragrance of osmanthus, and only then does one realize that one’s journey among the immortals was merely a dream.

A celestial crane leads the way, and a luan bird follows, yet one does not know where one is. A young attendant laughs and points toward Liaoyang, the immortal realm described in Daoist teachings. Golden characters are engraved on a jade tablet, marking this place as Nanchang, a name for a Daoist immortal realm. Here, all is another world, entirely unlike the human realm.

Cultivation does not lie in gazing up at the stars and paying homage to the moon, nor does it depend solely on reciting precepts and reading scriptures. Today I earnestly instruct you: to transcend life and death, you must begin with the roots of your own nature and life.

The Great Dao can open supreme wisdom and extend spiritual powers throughout the Dharma Realm, the full expanse of all existence, bringing complete clarity and fulfillment. There is no need for deliberate contrivance; the work comes to fruition naturally. Set your aim on Wuwei (non-action) and purity.

Do not covet gold, silver, and treasures. Today I earnestly instruct you: to transcend life and death, you must begin with the roots of your own nature and life.

The Great Dao can open supreme wisdom and extend spiritual powers throughout the Dharma Realm, bringing complete clarity and fulfillment. There is no need for deliberate contrivance; the work comes to fruition naturally. Set your aim on Wuwei (non-action) and purity.

Do not covet gold, silver, and treasures, or become infatuated with beauty. After a hundred years, all returns to nothing. If you turn away from the teaching of non-arising, you will fall into attachment and be unable to attain liberation.

To understand the profound principle of mysterious Wuwei, one must understand the teachings of the Supreme One, a Daoist honorific for the Dao and the Daoist patriarch. The most divine and sacred principle has no end to its realization. The freedom and ease gained through it are open for each person to experience firsthand.

Cut through the copper cords and iron nets; break open the jade locks and golden fetters. Then, amid the waves of the sea of suffering, one can find the spirit raft that carries beings across their pain and come to rest beneath a shade tree untouched by darkness.

Cultivation does not lie in clinging to the sign that “points to the moon,” nor should one be bound by symbols such as plucking osmanthus or taking up a flower. Within the cauldron of the Great Void, refine cinnabar and form the priceless Mysterious Pearl, a name in internal alchemy for the fruit of the gathered essence, Qi, and spirit.

To follow the root and nourish life is the way to reach the highest principle; to lose sight of the source leads to decline and death. Once falsehood is cast aside and the correct path held fast, what is there to doubt? One will naturally experience the Dao’s profound and far-reaching delight.

A childlike innocent plays in Langyuan, the legendary realm of immortals. A young immortal attendant laughs and points toward the Jade Pool, a mythical garden of the immortals. Beneath the moon over the Western River, one plucks a cinnabar branch, nurturing the spirit so that life may endure.

Five Lyrics in the Fisherman’s Proud Style

Sunlight shines as the Yang soul is refined and nurtured in the sky. The celestial pivot turns, and the heavenly network turns with it. Though close at hand, it remains unseen. Once a single thread is opened through, it is as though the furnace and cauldron open and the alchemical furnace bursts apart; then the light of heaven appears.

Auspicious signs transform into jade blossoms, fluttering down one by one. A fragrant breeze gently brushes the face of the numinous clouds. In the quiet lightness of emptiness, it is as though one were seated at an elegant banquet—truly a sight to envy. The Jade Sovereign’s court descends to Liaoyang Hall, revealing the aspect of an immortal realm.

The earthly po and heavenly hun are diligently refined. The sun’s essence and the moon’s marrow mingle and draw together. When the two celestial essences meet, their radiance flashes like lightning. Clear before the eyes, golden flowers bloom by the myriad in a jade furnace. Slowly gather them up and hammer them into flakes; then fuse them into rounded clusters, forming delicate, perfectly smooth shapes. They shine in the Great Void, like jade filings melting in a furnace. Their spirit-light dazzles the eyes, and the ascending radiance of the Elixir penetrates the Hall of Transparency.

A hundred years pass as swiftly as a galloping horse; worldly splendor confuses the eyes like blowing dust. Use “mystical observation” (inner contemplation) to cleanse distracting thoughts and direct the power of spirit-intention. In this way, one apprehends the inner workings and recognizes the root of the Way of No-Birth. The mist disperses, and the jade-bright pupils (clear inner vision) rise; sunlight gradually emerges as pure Yin Qi withdraws. Ten thousand grains of numinous cinnabar illuminate the walls of the void with brilliant light. The Elixir’s jade-like radiance appears in a single hue, as though joined with gold and emerald.

Primordial Chaos lies deep and pervasive between Heaven and Earth. The colored clouds disperse, and the bright moon appears. The moon sinks westward into the Pool of Salty Waters, where the sun sets, then turns back toward the sky. The heart suddenly opens in awakening; gather the hun and po, restrain the Yin Shen, and follow the Golden Crow, symbol of the sun, on its course. A cool radiance appears in the lovely gaze; three-colored Qi swirls and gathers, pure and unblemished. One encounters the immortal woman Nüwu in the jade heavens. The spirit-mind remains unstained by dust, and the cinnabar register, recording one’s place among the immortals or the completion of one’s cultivation, binds one forever to the Palace of Gems.

Primordial Chaos lies deep and pervasive between Heaven and Earth. The colored clouds disperse, and the bright moon appears. The moon sinks westward into the Pool of Salty Waters, then turns back toward the sky. The heart suddenly opens in awakening; gather the hun and po, restrain the Yin Shen, and follow the Golden Crow on its course. A cool radiance appears in the lovely gaze; three-colored Qi swirls and gathers, pure and unblemished. One encounters Nüwu in the jade heavens. The heart is free of even the slightest worldly stain, and the cinnabar register binds one forever to the Palace of Gems.

The Great Dao is utterly true and cannot be questioned in words. Draw in the light, withdraw to the depths, and hold fast to the profound mystery. Nurture and refine the original essence so that it will not dissipate. Yin substance dissolves, and auspicious clouds bear aloft the numinous sun of Yang. Its brightness pierces the darkness and reveals its majesty; in the hazy, indistinct state, emptiness contains what is real. Body and mind, lustrous, pure, and white, sustain one another. In accord with the Dao of True Unity, one’s cinnabar register is placed in a jade case for precious scriptures, and the cultivation of the immortal Way is thereby brought to completion.

Four Poems, “Master of the Immortal Abode”

The naturally formed pavilion is easy to find, its surroundings elegant and lovely, all things bright and distinct. Beautiful mountain ridges stretch into the clouds, their flying eaves soaring high. Numinous springs well up; mist over willow-lined banks reaches toward distant rivers. A cultivator of De dwells in a secluded, mysterious place, using mystical observation to clear away distracting thoughts and let external things fade of themselves. The heart rests at ease, and the empty, still altar ground holds its own true delight. Dragon’s-breath incense, often burned in Daoist rites, curls through the air; precious seal-script smoke drifts lightly, accompanied by the sound of plain silk strings.

The Great Dao is inherently Wuwei; within and without, all is at peace, abiding in the wondrous depths of its hidden pivot. Stillness and emptiness have their own true savor; with the lift of an eyebrow, a cool, quiet, numinous radiance shines everywhere. One’s bearing is lovely and gentle, and in sitting, lying, walking, or standing, it seems always to accompany one. With wings, one rides the wind and rises to the middle of the sky, taking on the jade form in which an immortal reveals itself—this is no delusion. In the end, one takes a place in the Southern Palace and manifests an immortal rank in the Purple Tenuity star palace.

The Daoist methods transmitted by the Patriarch allow one to dwell quietly within the hidden workings of the marvelous. When the mind is still and clear, one can savor their true flavor. With the slightest lift of the brows, a cool, detached spiritual radiance appears everywhere. One’s bearing becomes graceful and lovely, and whether sitting, lying down, or walking, this radiance remains close at hand. Commanding spirit and Qi (vital energy), one ascends to the middle of the sky and transforms into a jade elephant—beyond all doubt. In the end, one takes one’s place in the Southern Palace and manifests the image of Ziwei.

The Patriarch’s secretly transmitted methods need only be understood in their true meaning. There is no need to cling to outward forms; one should instead hold fast to the Dao of nature.

With a broad and open vision, one understands the principle of Taiyi, the primal state of the cosmos before differentiation, and pure Yang Qi becomes abundant. The sunlight shines brilliantly, and all things appear vivid. In a trance, the mind ranges across the three thousand worlds, able to foresee changes in hills, valleys, and streams. Waves surge beneath the sea as a dragon rises from the water; mysterious Qi ascends, unfolding spiritual radiance that reaches the nine heavens.

The Daoist methods were passed down from generation to generation by the Patriarchs. Only at this point does one come to trust that the teachings of the tradition accord with nature. Movement and stillness, being and nonbeing, guest and host all coexist in harmony. Yin-Yang joins together and circulates between above and below, bringing brightness to the sun and moon. Radiance shines across the three thousand worlds, penetrates the valleys, and remains forever unchanged in its spiritual marvel. In the empty sky it condenses into a true jade elephant, which ascends to the celestial realm. The text gives names such as Baoyi, Tongzhan, Xiongzhi, and Suxuan, but offers no further explanation.

Yulongcong

Maintain purity, with a sincere and steadfast resolve, and put an end to every kind of licentious conduct. Guard the inner realm as moonlight passes through the Twin Groves. A jade youth plays, pointing from afar toward the center of the blue-green pool; one must reach into the water to retrieve true gold. The radiant splendor of the Lingbao shines brilliantly, and the lamp of wisdom burns bright, their spiritual lights reflecting one another. The treasure is right before you, yet no one goes to seek it. You should turn inward and reflect: if you understand clearly and completely, calamity cannot assail you. When the dragon and tiger are subdued, even ghosts and spirits will show reverence.

Two Poems, “Fragrance Filling the Courtyard”

The Dipper’s handle turns; the Ziwei star first appears, and heaven and earth are clear and pure. Cloud-jade is ground away until nothing remains; the Heavenly Treasure shines forth, giving rise to a marvelous infant. Jade cassia, jeweled forests, and white-feathered robes ascend into the mysterious realm, where brilliance glitters and vital essences flow. The realm is cool and mysterious: the Elixir, gold, and green jade gleam together, while mighty beacon fires become tiny stars. The stars shine clear and elegant as one sits in meditation in a pure realm. The Dao’s gentle, harmonious influence is subtle and far-reaching, making one forget form and self. May I awaken and free my mind from worldly splendor and profit. Do not worry that the road through the clouded mountains is long; look toward the heights, and do not lose your inner clarity. Understand this principle, and the Azure Youth will fly away, revealing the secret of Great Orchid City.

Through fasting and bathing, purifying body and mind, you brave frost and heavy snow for one purpose: to seek the precious treasure of wondrous essence. With this single act, your eyes can behold the blue heavens. The sky opens clear and bright in every direction, with no clouds or mist to obscure it. The ice-bright moon appears as if its disk has split open, and the stars above shine alongside it. In the Hall of Dawn Clouds, where the immortals dwell, golden characters are carved on jade tablets. Whose noble name, then, is inscribed among them?

People often lose their way along the road. When the mind strays from the right path, it can hold back one’s progress. Heed the call within and return to the ancient Way; through long practice, your conduct will gradually grow steady. The road to the Immortal Palace of Precious Brahma is smooth, and rosy clouds drift gently across the banquet in the Jade Grove. Thus wondrous achievement is brought to completion: once pure Yang Qi has been refined, you can go to pay audience to the Purple Tenuity Star, a sign of exalted rank in heaven.

Three Lyrics to “Slow, Slow Song”

You dwell where mist veils the waters; I live in seclusion among the peaks of Mount Song. We are separated by the ends of the earth, with no easy way to reach one another. Yet awakening to the truth is not far away: it is here before us, in the pure, undifferentiated breeze. The precious moon hangs high, illuminating all, as though reflected in a thousand pools, its light reaching into every hidden depth. Beyond the distinction between you and me, all things merge with the primordial realm of the immortals and return to the true Emptiness of Oneness.

If this is so, why should a true kindred Dao companion send a horse to welcome me and trouble the post roads with a journey? Knowing how weary I am, you need not travel far to meet me. I bow to you; may my fellow practitioner forgive me. May you be generous and compassionate, and set aside your sorrow. Open your heart, let spirit light illuminate your true nature, and enter the unmoving body of the Dao.

Another

Where, exactly, does the original nature reside? It comes from the indistinctness of nothingness. People receive primordial Qi, the original energy that gives rise to life, and take shape as bodies, formed from the father’s vital essence and the mother’s blood. The fetus gradually matures; after birth, before it understands anything, it grows little by little, while the mind gradually strays from its nature. People thereby harm themselves, rushing about on the roads of the mundane world and slowly becoming stained by worldly dust.

People squander their lives in delusion and confusion, forgetting the precious treasure they possessed from birth and leaving it buried for a long time. If you can awaken to the nature you possessed before birth and understand the mysterious principle, the cauldron in your heart will split open, and the heart’s aperture will be revealed. Let the essence of pure Yang gather and blend, and bring together the rosy clouds of the five directions, symbols of the regions of Heaven and Earth, as their radiance circles around. When the jade signs of the celestial immortals appear, you can forget the body and transcend all traces, ascending directly to the immortal realm of the Jade Terrace.

Pierce open primordial chaos, break through Kunlun, and set the stars in the heavens turning. The curved moon and the sun alternate in their courses, and Jing-Qi and the hun and po souls turn along with them. Using the mercury cauldron and lead furnace as metaphors, refine and nourish the Jing-Qi referred to by Neidan terms such as Golden Essence, Wood Fluid, and Vermilion Star.

Starlight appears, spreading the primordial Qi of the Middle Origin—the original Qi spoken of in Daoism—and rosy clouds envelop all the nations. Heaven and earth are bright, clear, and unobstructed; mountains, rivers, gardens, and all things shine with brilliance. There is no difference between high and low; far and near alike reveal the same pure scene. Facing such a realm, how many can understand the principle by which the hun and po souls ascend? If one clings only to metaphors such as the mercury cauldron and lead furnace, refining and nourishing Golden Essence, Wood Fluid, and Vermilion Star, yet fails to understand the Dao, all this is futile: it turns one away from awakening and leads one astray. Do not blame others in anger for this. It is like blind people touching an elephant, unable to grasp one’s original, natural nature.

Two “Man Jiang Hong” Poems

Spring flowers and autumn moons keep changing; from ancient times to the present, all has been but a fleeting span. How many changes has the world seen among the rich and poor, the wise and the foolish? Life and death are like ants, turning and turning through the cycle of rebirth. The land of immortals may be close at hand, yet ordinary people find it hard to reach; the road beyond the dusty world seems to lie across ten thousand mountains. One should awaken, return to the true, rest in calm simplicity, and find quiet ease.

Keep worldly affairs from staining you; purify body and mind, settle yourself with a Wuwei (non-action) heart, and turn your awareness inward. Seeking brilliance outside is like chasing the gleam of jade and gold. Cultivation should instead fill the inner Jing-Qi, as though ten thousand bushels of pearls were pouring forth, and open the body’s inner gateways. In the Palace of Taiji (Supreme Ultimate), the Neidan congeals. Pure, harmonious Qi flows fragrant, as though passing through langgan, a blue-green precious stone. The myriad forms of Jing-Qi circulate and gather, returning to a single whole; the wondrous Dao practiced by the many perfected beings is, in essence, no different. Merging into the realm of the Middle Origin, the music of flutes and the forms of cranes appear faintly, while auspicious Qi coils and lingers. A jade edict appears in the azure sky; one’s name is entered in the register of immortals, and one ascends away in an immortal carriage drawn by phoenixes.

Another

Wearing a hairpin crown and leaning on a staff, one strolls along the moonlit hillside. Embrace the One Qi, remain in a state of harmony, and nurture the realm of the Middle Origin; the music of flutes and the forms of cranes appear faintly, while auspicious Qi coils and lingers. A jade edict appears in the azure sky; one’s name is entered in the register of immortals, and one ascends away in an immortal carriage drawn by phoenixes.

Wearing a tall hairpin and leaning on a staff, one strolls at ease beneath the moonlight along a hillside where windflowers bloom. Holding fast to the primordial unity and harmonizing body and mind, one nurtures subtle, true Qi as refined as a knife-point, while also refining mercury and lead—symbolic terms in Golden Elixir cultivation. The essence of Metal and the fluid of Wood nourish the Flowery Field, where vitality gathers within the body. Carefully guarding the Three Spirits, the body’s vital Shen and Qi, one guides them back to the Fire Palace, the inner seat of refinement. Clouds of five-colored Qi cover the earth, their radiance reaching straight through to the Brahma heavens. Dragon and Tiger unite, as though capturing a pearl that illuminates heaven and earth; true Qi wells up ceaselessly like a slender stream. Precious clouds reflect the sunlight, which shines brilliantly, then turns back to illuminate the deep and mysterious realm.

Inner and outer merge, their radiance full and complete, as though vying with all things in splendor. With the clear, tranquil, all-embracing Dao, one observes the myriad forms; the deep, limpid, still, and cool source is ever before one. In the midst of emptiness, the subtle abyss shimmers with rippling light. Nine-colored yellow clouds enfold the night dew; blue mist coils around three mountain peaks and stretches far away to join ten thousand rivers. The Great Dao is complete in its pure subtlety; dark Qi disperses, allowing all things to grow and endure. A precious image holds spiritual power: amid the disturbances of the Six Dusts—forms, sounds, scents, tastes, touch, and mental objects—it brings forth an auspicious immortal and reveals the secluded, clear, and cool source.

A Leaf Boat

The myriad forms suddenly open into view, while the primordial Qi of heaven and earth, blended and formless, bears all things. Moonlight rests serenely over the sea, shining like gold upon the heart of Heaven. Beyond the eyelashes, spiritual light flashes; the body is pure and light as ice and snow. One crosses steadily through the Jade Grove, a realm like carved jade, and climbs Mount Yao, the immortal peak.

Two Songs of Return

Where is the path of cultivating the truth? Is it really found in debating Chan doctrine and showing off one’s verbal skill? Speaking at length about tangled abstractions and repeatedly investigating one koan after another mostly wastes one’s effort. How could this compare with realizing Wuwei? When the Dao eye—the wisdom that perceives the Great Dao—opens, one’s original nature emerges from confusion and delusion. However dense the bamboo grove, it cannot stop the stream from passing through; however high the peaks, they cannot keep the white clouds from flying over. Then one can ascend into the Purple Empyrean, the lofty heavens.

Within the Dao of emptiness, primordial Qi naturally blends. Few are those who can use wondrous contemplation to wash away distracting thoughts; many instead follow worldly custom and turn away from awakening, letting their days pass in vain. When the Dharma eye—the wisdom that perceives truth—opens, one’s original nature becomes fully present in the saha world. The mind and nature are pure and bright, cool as the autumn moon; limpid as ice, they flow like waves of jade. Water the tree of the spirit with nourishment from the Dao, and let it grow.

“Waves Scouring the Sand”

Seeking the Great Dao, one draws near to a teacher, takes an oath, and presents a letter of formal submission. One must cultivate with care and remain steadfast throughout. Restrain oneself and help others flourish; keep patience and humility always in mind, and treat people with generosity and kindness. After understanding and unveiling the secrets of the High Immortals (xian zhen), one must still uphold the orthodox way without doubt, practicing according to the subtle methods of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and the Jade Purity lineage. The day of wisdom shines overhead—who can see it? Those eyes bright as stars and those refined, graceful brows reveal the bearing of an immortal.

Two Poems to the Tune “Mulberry Gatherer”

The power of cultivation contends with Heaven’s decree. Only through genuine realization can one discern right from wrong. I once visited the Northern Palace to meet the Ximen clan; one should know that the words of the people of Dongguo are sincere and trustworthy. Dwell in simplicity—what is there to doubt? People of the world cannot understand these things. One should awaken worthy and gifted people, so that they may follow the same principles as I do. Accept Heaven’s will and know one’s fate, living according to circumstance; when cultivation is complete in the years to come, follow the old path of the Divine Empyrean—the Daoist celestial realm—and keep the appointment to become an immortal.

How pitiable we are: we have lost the Mysterious Pearl, symbol of our true nature or the Great Dao, and wander far from home. Flying clouds and drifting willow catkins have no roots; the human heart, too, can go astray. Thoughts arise in response to outer circumstances, and our steps then stray from the right path. I have heard that those who awaken early to the immortal life among mist and rosy clouds can also reach a beautiful celestial realm. The Three Mountains are not far away: at the Everlasting Spring Jade Hall and along both banks of Ling Creek, everywhere bloom flowers like precious jade.

Two Poems to the Tune “Wandering in the Land of Huaxu”

On the ancient bank, the flat peaches have just opened; the new moon hangs at an angle, its pure white light mingling with theirs. How many in the mortal world can glimpse such a celestial realm? I alone have kept my gaze fixed upward. A long sigh, a long sigh; I turn back to gaze toward the distant Buddhist sanctuaries of the immortal realm.

By the ancient stream, I give a long cry into the wind. Moonlight shines, and the Great Void—the boundless sky—is clear and transparent. Beautiful eyes gaze upon the moon’s pure, rounded light; the moon vanishes for a moment, then appears again. Its radiance mingles and mingles without end; the jade cassia and the cold grove are pure as ice and snow.

Two Poems to the Tune “Confiding One’s Feelings”

I dwell among forests and springs, making them my way of life; far from worldly splendor, I gladly keep to solitude. Among the emerald slopes of Zhongshan, an immortal maiden has eyes filled with spirit cinnabar, a Daoist alchemical term for the cinnabar-like substances used in making elixirs. Pure liquid gathers and mingles with the breath of cinnabar clouds, while flowers like precious jade unfold. Amid cloud waves and misty torrents, beyond Fanghu, the fabled mountain-island across the sea, who lives there?

The Great Void is vast and boundless, so deep that its farthest reaches cannot be seen; primordial Qi, the original breath from which Heaven, Earth, and all things arise, blends within its center. With a backward glance, the currents of Qi circulate; golden sand rises in the jade liquid. Spirit light blazes forth, bursting into rosy hues and illuminating flowers like precious jade. The clouds disperse, the waves recede into the distance, and sea and sky clear, revealing a boundless expanse.

Night Boat

Wash the dust of worldly distractions from the heart; let no worldly concerns remain in the breast. Roam freely and at ease—who could restrain you? With no concern for empty fame, your spirit shines forth, streaming rosy light, bright as a jade blossom. Clouds disperse; broad waters stretch beneath clear sea and sky. Here is a dwelling without bounds.

Night Journey by Boat

Wash the dust of worldly distractions from the heart; let no worldly concerns remain in the breast. Roam freely and at ease—who could restrain you? Care nothing for empty fame, or for honor and disgrace. Travel lightly and freely, with a few companions at your side. Sit alone, playing the qin and singing, with fine wine filling the cup. Your hairpin rises high as you gaze at broken clouds linked one to another. Turtles swim across the pond, and cranes walk before the grotto dwelling. All around are clear breezes, bright moonlight, flowing water, green mountains, pines, and emerald bamboo.

Alas, though still in the bloom of youth, I devote myself to seeking subtle truths. Halfway along the path, I meet an obstacle, and the religious community has no leader. The Daoist temple lies quiet and deserted; old friends, too, grow distant. And now, as evening falls, a rain of sorrow begins. I sit alone, as if every guest had gone far away, while silence fills the air. I pour out my sincere heart—but who can understand its feelings? I brush back my sleeves and withdraw to the mountains. Deep in the green stream’s waters, I confide my thoughts to falling blossoms and flowing water.

Two Songs: Libation to the River Moon

The Dao, still and empty yet mysterious and subtle, blends into the deep and indistinct, runs through the hidden workings of principle, and is pure, beyond the ordinary world. It gives rise to images of primordial light: rosy radiance turns before my eyes, and specks of light drift and scatter. The heavy, turbid substance gradually dissolves. The jade casket of treasured immortal writings nourishes and enriches, while numinous cinnabar congeals in the precious tripod. The splendor of the Elixir gathers into a beautiful radiance, pure and dark, of one color, clear and bright. Essence and Qi fill the heavens, lucid as an autumn night; the laurel tree in the sea is whole and round. Its brilliance illuminates past and present, surging straight into the bright, pure Qi, white as spring snow in a jade vessel. Pure essence shines with clarity; the heart’s resolve is upright and tranquil. Through nurture and enrichment, the true immortals rejoice. A decree arrives in a cinnabar document, granting me an audience among the Three Luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars, revered celestial powers and realms in Daoism.

Another

The Mysterious Origin, the Supreme Dao.