《上清太玄集》Vol. 4

The profound and primal Dao (the Way) is vast and boundless, still and empty, existing in its own right. It extends in all directions and connects above and below. Gazing outward, one sees the deep and subtle radiance of the heavens. It appears and disappears at times, passing freely between the formless and the formed; in its working, it leaves no trace.

It flows and transforms with limpid clarity, like a wondrous essence within the Great Void. Ascend among the trees, and true Yang (the pure Yang vital energy spoken of in cultivation) comes into view. Its perfect light shines everywhere, leaving not a speck of dust concealed. Though the principle should be plain, people have yet to understand it, so I will clearly explain its essentials to my disciples. The Sun Hall releases auspicious light; the Moon Palace reflects a propitious glow; ten thousand streams ripple like waves of jade. The spirit grows still, the body seems to dissolve, while the jade cliffs remain, stretching out in deep green.

Three Poems: “Nan Ke Zi”

A moment’s loss of awareness seems to span a thousand kalpas; a lift of the brow feels as though ten thousand mountains lie between. The Qi of the One True Source reveals its auspicious sign through two passes, then merges into primordial Qi. At this stage, what could still be difficult? The body falls away, as though transformed into golden wings; a doubtful Yang energy pierces the jade ring. Once awakened and clear, the dreamlike confusion of the wandering soul is washed away. With nothing to bind the heart, one transcends the world and enjoys stillness and freedom alone.

The will is steadfast and clear, one’s conduct upright, one’s aspiration pure. One rises above the world without falling into either of the extremes of annihilation and permanence. The vision opens wide and expansive; its brilliant light illuminates the realm of purity.

The world, splendid as brocade, is crystalline and clear; the delicate, translucent realm shines with limpid brightness. The mind is like a clear jade in empty space, attaining perfection in an instant. Casting off the bodily shell, Jing (essence) and Qi appear, like a star in the blue expanse of the sky.

Once weary of stillness, I lived in the bustle of the city; now, weary of the noise, I have settled in the mountains. Having penetrated the true Dao, where is there not stillness and freedom? Within and without, body and mind roam unimpeded, no longer clinging to fame and gain.

Casting off the body, one appears in the air; forgetting one’s form, one looks upon all things from beyond the world. Two spirit energies gather in purity and clarity, emerging through the Yang Pass. The nature is light and lofty as a crane; departing, it leaves the world far behind, as though flying toward Chang’an of old.

Two Poems: “Hong Chuang Jiong”

Seek the mysterious gate of cultivation; do not grope about blindly. I will clearly tell you the essentials of practice: constantly maintain stillness and clarity; do not let the mind drift or waver. Preserve your original Jing (the vital essence at the root of life), and do not let it dissipate.

Refine the Yang Soul (the yang aspect of the spirit and soul), removing its yin substance. The spirit light between the eyebrows shoots forth, passing through the handle of the Northern Dipper. It turns the Celestial Pass, the pivot of the heavenly bodies’ movements, while embracing a red sun.

Also:

Set aside worldly feelings and return to what is true. Strike the Two Passes, the two key apertures described in cultivation, and the Mysterious Gate swings wide. Release the spirit light; it pierces the curtain and reveals the wondrous body of the Yang Spirit.

The essence of the Golden Crow, symbol of the sun, and the essence of the Jade Rabbit, symbol of the moon, shine across heaven and earth, making the bright eyes clear and radiant. Beyond the red window, the light is full and brilliant, illuminating Penghu, the fabled mountain of immortals.

Two Poems: “Rouged Lips”

With a sword on my back and a bamboo staff in hand, I follow a narrow path through the clouds. I brush aside the moss and sweep the dust from a stone amid the mountain mist beside the pines, then sit by the stream. I drink a cup of wine and accompany it with a clear, gentle melody. Nothing could be more carefree. What need have I of companions? The bright moon and the fresh breeze are company enough.

Clouds of vapor rise through the beautiful landscape and spread thickly across the sky. Flashes of light dart by. At peace in a dream, I swallow a precious pearl, and a single fetal star, a point of light symbolizing the lucid innate nature, descends. Cast down into the human world, I regret having once taken the wrong path. As my feelings gradually fade, I guide my disciples, and together we set out to keep our appointment at Qingdu, the immortal realm.

“The River Moon Shines on Layered Mountains”

The Dipper’s handle turns back, and human nature returns with it; the Celestial Pivot revolves through the Two Passes. Flood waves surge to the heavens, their white crests like snow. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon over the river lights up range after range of mountains. Alone, I climb the star altar. My sword’s light sweeps across the horizon, its chill piercing. The Five-Spirit Immortal Maidens cradle the blue luan and fly into the Langyuan gardens of Huaxu, the legendary realm of immortals.

“Order of Great Peace”

In the Hall of the Sacred Fungus, all is quiet as I open the alchemical scripture. Incense smoke curls upward; the wisdom lamp shines bright. The sound flows gently like water, while the jade tones ring clear. Clouds disperse and mist vanishes; looking out, I see the Jade Pool limpid and pure. The wondrous light of the Grotto-Heaven gathers into an auspicious radiance. At the sight, I understand clearly and awaken at once. Turning back to reflect inward, I ultimately bring the Dao to completion. Then I forget my bodily form, as if transformed into a feathered immortal; the Empty Sovereign grants me the Heavenly Talisman Command.

Two Poems: “Spring in Wuling”

The Supreme One’s primordial Qi, the single vital energy of the Primordial Unity, is pure and crystalline as fine jade. More refined than white clouds, it neither gathers nor unfurls, and it clearly perceives being and nonbeing. Its cool, detached spirit light fills the vast emptiness; transformations appear, yet in the end return to nothing.

The Supreme Primordial True One Qi, pure and crystalline, is like fine jade. Its clarity surpasses that of white clouds spread wide and uncurled; its brightness can illuminate both the formed and the formless. Its wondrous, numinous radiance is cool and serene, rippling and changing in the open sky, free of restraint. It flows above and below, reaching through the six directions of empty space, like a luminous pearl.

A plane tree leaf falls outside the window; golden chrysanthemums bloom beside the sparse fence. Leaning on my staff and setting my hairpin in place, I stroll at ease, yet lose my way beside the Qujiang Pool. A crane swiftly bears me back to the old path. Looking behind me, I am about to hurry to meet the Immortal’s appointment. In the clouds appears a blue lad, a boy in the service of the Immortals. Smiling, he asks me, “Is your home by the Wuling Stream?”

Oriole

Foolish, so foolish! Illusory dreams have misled you, turning your whole life upside down. Why furrow your brow day after day, tormenting both body and mind? I urge you to turn back and return to the Great Dao, to seek out its subtle, profound principles. Refine the radiance of the Elixir until you unite with the Middle Origin, the intermediate stage or realm attained through cultivation, and reveal the form of Jade Radiance, the clear Immortal realm or the appearance of an Immortal.

Tenderness for the Infant

Suddenly awaken and turn back toward the Dao, forgetting all worldly affairs. Quickly gather your spirit and hasten toward the Great Dao. Seek the True Dao in empty space; receive clear instruction from within the formless. This is best: reveal the Elixir’s radiance, and turn the light inward to reflect upon yourself. Explore the subtlest principles and bring to light the profound mysteries of Heaven’s Dao. Discern the inner and outer, and understand the transformations of rising and sinking, inversion and reversal. One Qi links the two levels of the gateways, commands the hundred spirits, and distinguishes the Three Essentials, the three important gateways or principles of cultivation. It is wondrous beyond compare. Auspicious clouds bear you aloft, revealing the form of Jade Radiance.

Transposed Tune: Plucking Cassia Branches

Clearly understand how to return from outward forms to the root, and your vision of the Dao will be complete. Breath flows in and out without pause; let rising and descending, sinking and floating, proceed as they will—this is the most profound mystery. Place the Sun’s essence and the Moon’s marrow, figures for the vital energies of Yin and Yang, within the furnace and cauldron, and refine them with One Qi. Once the Elixir is complete, it settles into stillness, bright and pure. It rises straight into the clouds and transforms into a flying Immortal.

Transposed Tune: Plucking Cassia Branches

Clearly understand how to return from outward forms to the root, and your vision of the Dao will be complete. Breath flows in and out without pause; let rising and descending, sinking and floating, proceed as they will—this is the most profound mystery. Place the Sun’s essence and the Moon’s marrow within the furnace and cauldron, and refine them with One Qi. Once the Elixir is complete, it settles into stillness, bright and pure. It rises straight into the clouds and transforms into a flying Immortal.

Once the Profound and Wondrous Instructions have been fully understood, there is no need to explain that inner insight in words. The mind opens into sudden clarity; within, all is lucid and transparent, cool and calm. Beyond the mountain of the Five Aggregates—the five elements that make up human bodily and mental experience—a scene of pure brightness appears before you, like a full moon in a frosty sky. Its light illuminates the ages, perfectly clear and unchanged by waxing or waning. The Innocent Child, symbolizing one’s pure original nature, rests in the Palace of Jade, a celestial abode, and swiftly plucks a branch of cinnabar. They gaze upon a realm where spring never fades and see through the changes of life and death. Beneath a shadowless tree, they sit alone in stillness, free and at ease; listening to a melody without strings, they grasp its subtle meaning.

Shangpingxi

Open the wondrous essence and Qi, and understand the True Qi—the original vital energy cultivated in practice. In the deep, hidden realm of the Primordial Beginning, the sun’s hun and the moon’s po, Yin-Yang energies symbolizing the essences of sun and moon, merge. Within, they divide into three colors and then blend into one, like a lotus. A round, clear mirror, bright as jade and stars, hangs in perfection; auspicious clouds drift, and its radiance illuminates the Palace of Jade.

Disperse the dark Qi and gather pure Qi. Return to wondrous transformation and move through the numinous, empty realm. The scene shines high above, radiant and crystalline. Immortals roam the middle of the sky; the celestial realm of Yuluo is lush and splendid, and immortal music rings clear. Crimson ceremonial standards and rainbow banners surround a jade carriage, accompanied by solemn, exquisite music and a gentle breeze.

Two Poems in the Qin Garden Spring Style

In human life, no kindness runs deeper than that of one’s parents. A mother carries a child for ten months, then nurses and raises them for three years. She spares no effort in caring for her child, and the hardships are too many to recount. Yet when the child grows up, it is as though five eyes have sprouted in their heart for viewing the world; they are also swayed by outsiders, until each goes off to establish a separate household. Who will awaken to the truth? Those who, like the owl—said to be a bird that repays kindness with ingratitude—forget their debts will in the end meet the consequences of their actions.

Do not exhaust yourself to no purpose, and never forget the kindness your parents showed in carrying and nurturing you. Remember the stories of the spiritual crow, said to feed its parents in return, and the cold-weather ape, said to risk injury rather than draw an arrow toward its parents. If you sincerely honor your parents, what else need you pray for? In all things, do not go against their wishes; follow what they desire. Attend to their food and drink, and see that they are warm or cool enough at the proper times. If you remain constant in your filial devotion, your virtue will shine across the four seas, and your reputation for uprightness and sincerity will spread far and wide.

In the prime of life, I resolved to turn back and awaken, living in accord with my true nature. I left behind my parents, elder brothers and sisters-in-law, wife and children, nieces and nephews, wandering alone like a solitary cloud or wild crane. More than twenty years have passed. Life is like duckweed adrift in the wind; I make my home wherever I find myself and live within my means, letting others laugh at me for being idle. Do not blame me: I grew weary of a life of vanity and pretense, and have examined and awakened to my original nature.

I understand that beyond the physical form there is an original spirit (the true spirit within a person). It is clear and bright, untouched by even the finest dust. I guide the changes of the four seasons, taking Heaven as my canopy and Earth as my support, with the sun and moon as my measure. I travel through the river of stars, breaking through the Ox and Dipper constellations (stars in the heavens); amid coming together and dispersing, I become five-colored clouds in the sky. I pass freely through the Three Realms, appearing as the Holy Ancestor of the Void Sovereign and the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning.

“Full Courtyard Fragrance”

Shouldering provisions and carrying my pack, I cross cloud-covered mountains and waterways, braving wind and frost on my long journey, all to seek the Heavenly Treasure and confide my innermost feelings to you. First, one must understand the highest principle and one’s nature. Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang (the “Two Modes”), come into view, and the three palaces unfold from them. Beyond the Mysterious Pass (the opening that leads, in cultivation, to the inner realm), the scene shines brilliantly, like the sun casting a red glow.

The many spirits all receive their mandate from Heaven, but who can guard the original Yang (the vital source of Yang energy) in the Jade Palace? The myriad spirits shine in one another’s radiance, while the nine Qi (nine kinds of primordial energy) gather at the center. At last, they form a single Mysterious Pearl (a symbol of the inner essence attained through cultivation), whose radiance illuminates Nanchang. In the Hall of Luminous Yang (a palace in the realm of immortals), immortals come and go through splendid halls, singing “Full Courtyard Fragrance” in unison.

The final lines of this lyric are sung once more: the spirits receive their mandate, but who guards the original Yang in the Jade Palace? The myriad spirits shine in one another’s radiance, the nine Qi gather at the center, and a Mysterious Pearl forms, illuminating Nanchang. In the splendid chambers of the Hall of Luminous Yang, immortals come and go, singing “Full Courtyard Fragrance” together.

End of Collected Works of the Supreme Clarity, Great Mystery, Volume Nine

Collected Works of the Supreme Clarity, Great Mystery, Volume Ten

Composed by Hou Shanyuan of Gushe

Five-Character Quatrains: Nourishing Vitality in Forests and Streams

My quiet home in the mountain forest is peaceful and still; among the green peaks, it seems there is no household but mine. You ask what the Dao is? I smile and point to the clouds and rosy mists in the cave.

My quiet home in the mountain forest is peaceful and still; the deep stream reflects the sky. You ask what the Dao is? I smile and point to the Jade Peak and the mountains and rivers.

My quiet home in the mountain forest is peaceful and still; I sit facing the breeze and admire the moonlight. You ask what the Dao is? I smile and point to the green mist and rosy clouds.

My quiet home in the mountain forest is peaceful and still; clouds and mist stretch without end around the green cave. You ask what the Dao is? I smile and point to frost and snow.

Life in the mountains is quiet and secluded, a joy amid mist-shrouded, verdant peaks. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, points to the white clouds, and lets you realize it for yourself.

Life in the mountains is quiet and delightful; a forest spring seems to stretch across a jade flask. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to a lone moon.

Life in the mountains is quiet and delightful; the fragrance of yellow plum blossoms fills the garden. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to the brightness filling the sky.

Life in the mountains is quiet and delightful; a lone cloud drifts around a green mountain peak. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to a white crane soaring skyward.

Life in the mountains is quiet and delightful; green pines lean out over empty space. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to the Palace of the Higher Spirits, the celestial abode of immortals.

Life in the mountains is quiet and delightful; the brushwood gate hangs partly closed. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to yeming sha, “night-bright sand”—the traditional medicinal name for bat droppings.

Seek the true Dao and cut off deluded thoughts.

Hold no attachment or clinging to one’s parents; resolve to cultivate and devote oneself to inquiry. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to immersion in the light of wisdom.

Hold no attachment or clinging to one’s siblings; resolve to cultivate and work diligently. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to the light of wisdom shining through unobstructed.

Hold no attachment or clinging to one’s spouse; resolve to cultivate and press forward without pause. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to the light of wisdom illuminating all.

Hold no attachment or clinging to one’s children; resolve to cultivate and seek the true Dao. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to the light of wisdom flowing onward.

Cling neither to bonds of affection nor to feelings of love; resolve to cultivate and apply oneself deeply. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to careful discernment by the light of wisdom.

Hold no attachment to fame or profit; resolve to cultivate and devote oneself to inquiry. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to the opening of the light of wisdom.

Hold no attachment to wine or sensual pleasures; resolve to cultivate and seek the Dao with undivided attention. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to the light of wisdom reflected in the eyes.

Hold no attachment to possessions or sensual desires; resolve to cultivate and seek deeply. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles and points to the light of wisdom appearing in the eyes.

The wealth, rank, glory, and splendor prized by the world are not worth clinging to. Those who cultivate the Dao should hold firm to their aspirations and devote themselves to seeking the Way. When someone asks, “What is the Dao?”, the poem smiles and points to the wisdom-light within the heart, and to bright, clear eyes. It means that the Dao is to be understood through one’s own awakening and clear insight.

Breaking with Error and Returning to the Orthodox

There is no need to seek the secrets of alchemy in lead and mercury, or to investigate the five organs again and again. There is no need to fixate on methods such as circulating Qi through the body or regulating the firing process. When someone asks, “What is the Dao?”, the poem answers with images such as “jade-flower lotus,” “ancient Chang’an,” “crystal palace,” “gold in water,” and “clouds clearing at dusk.” These are symbolic expressions in the poem, meant to guide the reader toward understanding the Dao, not to refer to specific external things.

There is no need to deliberately cultivate so-called “yin nature,” or to nurture deluded thoughts. Nor should one seek the objects of cultivation named in Neidan (internal alchemy), such as the dragon, tiger, charming maiden, and infant. Cultivation often uses these terms as metaphors for changes in Yin-Yang, body and mind, or Jing (essence) and Qi (vital energy). Here, the reminder is not to become attached to terminology or methods.

Taking elixirs or eating restorative foods may instead bring illness; abstaining from food may also weaken the body. Repeatedly rinsing and swallowing saliva, or consuming so-called rosy clouds of Qi, can become an added burden if pursued obsessively. When someone asks, “What is the Dao?”, the poem answers with images such as “the jewel that illumines heaven” and “the city of quicksilver,” again using imagery to suggest its meaning.

Those who understand the Dao do not seek it by refining elixirs over a fire, while the confused speak of gathering yin to replenish yang. Nor must one bow and chant frequently, or keep a daily fast as the sole path to the Dao. The poem answers with scenes such as “the heart of Qujiang,” “osmanthus blossoms opening,” and “jade hibiscus,” reminding readers to grasp the principle rather than confine cultivation to outward forms or terminology.

Letting Go of Calculation and Quieting the Mind

A dull disposition and confused thoughts make understanding difficult; when emotions and desires are unsettled, the Dao is hard to realize. When someone asks, “What is the Dao?”, the poem smiles and points to the Purple Tenuity Palace, the celestial palace of the stars, often used to signify a sacred dwelling.

Free yourself from the burdens of reputation and the constraints of self-interest. The affairs of the world often keep people preoccupied, but the principles of cultivating the truth are not complicated. When someone asks, “What is the Dao?”, the poem answers with scenes such as “the bank of an ancient stream” and “the fire-dragon turning,” guiding the reader to let go of entanglements and understand the principles of cultivating the truth.

A sincere and honest nature invites few undeserved troubles; an upright heart can also avoid needless disasters. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the place where the stream flows.

The affairs of the world often bind people in worry and entanglement, yet the principles of cultivating the Dao are not complicated. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the surging fire dragon. “Fire dragon” is a term in Daoist cultivation, often referring to the Yang Qi that circulates and transforms during inner cultivation.

A sincere and honest nature invites few undeserved troubles; an upright heart can also avoid needless disasters. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the falling red plum blossoms.

Forget the entanglements of desire, and the heart can return to simplicity; let distracting thoughts fade, and one’s nature can return to sincerity. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the towering sacred chun tree, a legendary tree of longevity.

Understand the truth without clinging to outward appearances; grasp the principles without exhausting the body. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the courtyard of revolving lamps.

When distracting thoughts cloud the mind, it is hard to awaken; when emotions grow confused, one’s nature readily gives rise to doubt. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the Taiyuan Pool.

Pursue fame and gain less, and devote more attention to daily cultivation; in time, your practice will deepen. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the vines among emerald mists.

A broad heart can embrace all things under Heaven; a narrow measure cannot contain even the smallest thing. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the waterside heights where white cranes fly.

Indulging in desire clouds the heart and nature; keeping precepts and curbing desire allows Jing, Qi, and Shen to become clear and vibrant. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the clear moonlight.

Enlightenment and Transformation

Those who understand the Dao turn toward the true Way, while worldly people often stray onto mistaken paths. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the stream beneath the moonlight.

To place oneself behind others is true cultivation. Respecting others and putting them first is how one realizes the sages’ practice and merit. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points among the white clouds.

To attain the rank of an immortal, one must have unwavering resolve. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the bright moon before the window.

Some come seeking the key to cultivation, yet few truly grasp the Dao’s subtle and profound principles. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the Five Thousand Words, that is, the Dao De Jing.

Pursuing Wuwei (non-action) single-mindedly can still lead to illusion; deliberately striving to act can also lead one astray. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the purple sacred fungus.

The foundations of the three teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—can be united as one, and the many paths of practice are interconnected. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the vast, boundless Great Void.

All people are obstructed by ignorance, the delusion that veils wisdom, and burdened by karmic fire, the troubles and compulsions brought about by karma. If asked where the Dao is, one smiles and points to the bright sunlight.

When you lose your way, it is like being led along by a guiding thread. When understanding dawns, it is as clear as passing a needle through the eye of a thread. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to gold in a jade flask.

What you see is not necessarily real; what is called empty is not necessarily truly empty. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to Kan and Li (terms that often refer to water and fire and also symbolize Yin-Yang).

If you seek a way to attain purity and stillness, do not associate with those who chase fame and profit. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to white clouds drifting far away.

The True Essentials for Penetrating the Subtle

The Jade Maiden wears a light, soft white robe; the Golden Infant is wrapped in red gauze. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to the crystalline radiance of sunlight.

Treasures from the sea congeal into a lustrous, pearl-like glow, accompanied by mercury in the Dragon Palace. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to the springtime scene at the Jade Capital (a legendary Daoist paradise).

The Demon Child passes through the Golden Gate; the Spirit Lord peers through the Jade Window. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to the Miluo River.

The Yellow Matron rides a white horse; the Crimson Child mounts a blue ox. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to the autumn moon hanging in the sky.

Between Heaven and Earth are Pi and Tai (hexagrams in the Yijing, symbolizing obstruction and free passage); the sun and moon naturally shine upon one another. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to mercury.

In cultivation, draw out and replenish the energies of water and fire, regulating the waxing and waning of Yin-Yang. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to the White Cloud Chamber.

A golden dragon coils around the precious cauldron; a jade tiger encircles the elixir furnace. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to an ice vessel.

Wind sweeps across Heaven and Earth, and all things grow still; after two passes, the evening clouds clear. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to the lucid Great Void (the vast emptiness described in Daoist teachings).

In the depths of the subtle and mysterious, even spirits cannot see; in the realm of the profound, even ghosts cannot discern. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to the cool jade furnace.

Auspicious Qi surges up to the heavens, and numinous cinnabar sands spread across the earth. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to beautiful golden flowers.

Eliminating Evil and Discerning the Correct Way

Refine the Three Corpses (spirits said in Daoism to dwell in the human body and hinder cultivation) in the cauldron until they are destroyed; burn the Five Ghosts in the furnace until they perish. Ask what the Dao is, and one smiles, pointing to the vast blue sky.

Cut off the cold Qi of the Azure Dragon.

Sever the Azure Dragon’s tail and cleave open the White Tiger’s head. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward a tower bathed in moonlight.

Open the banks of Metal and Water wide, and shatter Jade Capital Mountain. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward a pass beneath the setting sun.

With the Wisdom Sword, slay ghosts and demons; with the Divine Sword, destroy monsters and fiends. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the Celestial River.

The dragon’s roar sounds, and blue mist rises; the tiger’s growl rings out, and black winds surge. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the solar star.

Seal and subdue with the sword, and the Three Realms—the different levels of heaven, earth, and humanity—fall quiet. Guard with Fulu (talismans and registers), and the Five Directions are at peace. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the Jade Void Altar, a ritual and cultivation site in Daoism.

Use a mighty army to eliminate the six calamities; defeat and destroy the Three Corpses, the three spirits said in Daoism to dwell in the human body and prompt wrongdoing and shorten one’s life. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the Radiant-Turning Banner used in Daoist rites.

Knock open the seamless lock and shatter the Ghost Gate. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the Jade Linked Rings.

To restrain desire, rely on the Divine Sword; to cast off emotional attachment, trust in the Wisdom Blade. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the moon hanging high.

With a single sweep of the sword, cast away wine, sex, wealth, and anger. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward white clouds drifting into the distance.

Nurturing the True and Distinguishing the False

Clinging to spells and teachings makes it hard to understand the root passed down by the patriarchs. Even exhausting the scriptures may not reveal their essential meaning. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward Jade Flower Peak.

One sees the myriad things and understands that none has a fixed, unchanging form; one awakens to emptiness and knows that forms still appear within it. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the Ancient Wind Court.

Alas, human life and worldly affairs are impermanent, and the human body cannot last. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the Radiance of the Armor Dragon.

One wishes to save all things, yet finds it hard to understand one’s nature. Turning back to contemplate oneself, one recognizes the original mind. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the depths of the secluded cavern.

Above, one can reach across the distant Three Realms; below, one can penetrate the dark Ninefold Netherworld, the underworld’s shadowy realm. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the depths of blue waters.

People always say that something exists within nothing, and they also say that nothing is contained within existence. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the Greatly Mysterious Pearl.

The earth splits open, revealing a golden well; the Gate of Heaven opens, and jade spring water gushes forth. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward the immortal in the moon.

Lost on a crooked path, one seems a thousand miles away; awakened to the right way, one finds it is not far at all. Ask what the Dao is, and he smiles, pointing toward a tender shoot of Jade Fungus.

To cling to “existence” is not to possess what is truly real; to know that all things are empty is still not to have truly understood “emptiness.” Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward a deep, emerald pool.

To pursue thoughtlessness deliberately is only to let one’s own thoughts obscure the mind; to cling to attaining some particular form also becomes an obstacle. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward a place where the wind is still and the waters calm.

Living amid the secular world with a mind free of distracting thoughts, one moves among others without being stained by worldly dust. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward one who follows what comes naturally.

Clear moonlight lends the world a quiet beauty; with the wind stilled and the clouds at rest, the vast sky seems wider still. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the “Purple-Gold Pill,” a Neidan term for the elixir produced through cultivation.

Beneath cloud-wreathed mountains grow auspicious herbs; in valleys beside the water sprout wondrous shoots. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the “Jade Sovereign’s Abode,” a name for a Daoist immortal realm or dwelling.

Strike an object, and its sound carries across the Three Rivers. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the Purple-Gold Pill.

Beneath cloud-wreathed mountains grow auspicious herbs; in valleys beside the water sprout wondrous shoots. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the Jade Sovereign’s Abode.

Strike an object, and its sound carries across the Three Rivers; strike empty space, and the echo seems to resound across the Four Seas. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward “Luochang City,” as it appears in the original, perhaps a place name or the name of an immortal realm.

The vessel seems to contain the sun and moon; the cauldron seems to gather heaven and earth. These images use the instruments of Neidan cultivation as metaphors for experiencing the transformations of heaven and earth within body and mind. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the “Gate of Great Mystery,” the portal to the wondrous Dao.

A red serpent coils beneath the water, while a tortoise in the fire faces upward. In Neidan, such images of dragons and tigers, tortoises and serpents symbolize the union of Yin-Yang and the changes wrought by cultivation. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the realm that reaches into the cinnabar heavens.

A light mist rises among the mountains; from afar, only a faint veil of haze stretches across the view. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the scene just after the rain has cleared.

A blue leech in the water, a white toad in the snow. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the “Great Ox Cart,” a phrase in the original that may be a symbolic metaphor.

The golden rooster seems to turn into flowing jade, while the jade rabbit seems to turn into flying gold. These images draw on gold and jade, and on the sun and moon, to describe the transformation of Yin-Yang. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the depths of the five-colored auspicious clouds.

The mind is pure as jade; one’s conduct is cautious and still as ice. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the “Jade Capital,” the celestial city of the Daoist heavens.

The Three in One, Primordial Unity

The sun shines brightly over the Eastern Sea; moonlight gleams over the Western River. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the space between heaven and earth.

Burn the medicines in two cauldrons and refine them into a Golden Elixir in one furnace. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward Jade Capital Mountain.

Nourish the spirit until it is clear and bright as the full moon; understand the Great Dao and be as free as a fresh breeze. The poet smiles and points toward the space between heaven and earth.

Burn the medicines in two cauldrons and refine them into a Golden Elixir in one furnace. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward Jade Capital Mountain.

Nourish the spirit until it is clear and bright as the full moon; understand the Great Dao and be as free as a fresh breeze. Someone asks what the Dao is. The poet smiles and points toward the “Palace of Jade Dawn,” the name of a Daoist celestial palace.

Two jade pillar like walking staffs, a pair of tools that can pry open Heaven’s Gate. Someone asked, “What is the Dao?” He smiled and pointed to “Snow Between the Three.”

A wooden man has three eyes; a stone woman has two pairs of eyebrows. Someone asked, “What is the Dao?” He smiled and pointed to “Little Water Buffalo.”

Before the rocky cliffs, the two lights of sun and moon appear; above the head, three stars emerge. Someone asked, “What is the Dao?” He smiled and pointed to “Cave, Roundness, Fulfillment.”

Split open the eye apertures in the heavenly cauldron, revealing the profound and mysterious Jing and Qi. Someone asked, “What is the Dao?” He smiled and pointed to “Purple Mushroom Sprouts.”

Open the eye aperture between the brows, revealing the clear brightness within the eyes. Someone asked, “What is the Dao?” He smiled and pointed to “Jade Light, Ying.”

The Dao-heart is always clear and undimmed; the Dharma eye, the wisdom eye that perceives truth, is naturally bright. Someone asked, “What is the Dao?” He smiled and pointed to “Pure, Clear Light.”

Relax the brow and open the wisdom eye; the aperture at the back reveals Shen-light. Someone asked, “What is the Dao?” He smiled and pointed to “Dew on the Bright Hall.”

One- to Seven-Character Poems

Title

Title, title. Correct the oral instructions and dispel confusion. Open the mysterious teachings and expound their true essentials. Clearly transmit the genuine guidance, so people may be free and without doubt. If you speak falsely and deceive Heaven and Earth, karmic retribution will swiftly follow. Your eyes will weep clotted blood, and your whole body will fall into peril. Forever in Fengdu, the legendary underworld, you will suffer the torments of the knife mountain, pierced by countless blades until you are reduced to pulp.

Instructions

Instructions, instructions. Guide and lead others through skillful means. Preserve the genuine guidance, so people may be free and without doubt. If you speak falsely and deceive Heaven and Earth, karmic retribution will swiftly follow. Your eyes will weep clotted blood, and your whole body will fall into peril. Forever in Fengdu you will suffer the torments of the knife mountain, pierced by countless blades until you are reduced to pulp.

Instructions

Instructions, instructions. Guide and lead others through skillful means. Save all beings without distinction. Clearly transmit the Great Dao and reveal Heaven’s secrets. Cultivate the heart and nature until they are as pure as silver frost and as translucent as exquisite white snow. Release two streams of clear light and hold fast to a radiance like the full moon. Your life span will endure as long as Heaven and Earth, without end; right before your eyes, you will pay homage at the Golden Palace, the palace of the immortals.

Cultivation

Good, good. Take compassion as your heart and act through skillful means. Handle affairs thoroughly and widely extend your merit. Aid all beings without distinction of rank. Respond to things while revealing your constant true nature and displaying your numinous countenance. A single blaze of Qi illuminates the sky, and two points of Shen-light appear. Secretly receive the celestial talisman and the Jade Emperor’s command; a golden lad leads you into the Hall of Longevity.

Evil

Those who do evil should take warning: those who despise the poor, bully the weak, damage moral integrity, and make promises lightly; those who refuse to do good or give aid, yet delight in cruelty and arrogance; those whose hearts are cunning and obsequious, as vicious as tigers and wolves, who secretly spy on others. When they reach Fengdu, the Daoist realm of the dead where offenders are punished, they will have nothing to say. Their sins will bring punishments that blaze and flash like sharp blades; layer upon layer of ice and swords will fall upon them, and they will be left to regret having taken the wrong path.

Precepts

Precepts, precepts! Be careful to restrain yourself, and act with composure and resolve. Remove the Three Poisons—greed, anger, and delusion—and cast off the Six Harms, the many bad habits that obstruct the cultivation of body and mind. Abandon false views; do not pursue the strange and deviant. If you do not cultivate the truth in this life, in the next you will still have to repay debts carried over from former lives. Be honest and cautious, free of favoritism; devote yourself single-mindedly to the Dao, without partiality. As things gather and disperse, breath and Qi (vital energy) mingle, and fragrance fills the courtyard. Auspicious light gathers and forms a celestial canopy of flowers.

Stillness

Stillness, stillness! Regulate the spirit and nurture life. Hold fast to your original true nature and return to the right path. Quietly clear the mind and abide in the stillness of emptiness. Preserve your root with the subtle, harmonious Qi, and align yourself with the Great Dao; then the mind and spirit will reach the sacred realm. Naturally, all manner of strange beings will lie hidden and vanish. Only then will you perceive the myriad spirits celebrating together. Spiritual radiance merges and enters the Primordial Beginning, the state before Heaven and Earth were differentiated; within the void, a clear mirror of the mind appears.

Purity

Purity, purity! Cut off distracting thoughts and let go of emotional attachments. Cultivate right awareness and arrive at sudden completion. Let the mind be as calm as the sea and as clear as the open sky, pure as a cold spring in the forest. Autumn water lies cool in a jade vessel; green water in a golden well is chill. The clouds part, revealing the vast heights of the sky; the spiritual terrace, where the mind and spirit dwell, becomes bright and clear. Above the three thousand realms, clear the spirit and open the heart. Sit alone in the moonlit tower and gaze toward Pengying, the legendary realm of the immortals.

Quietude

Quietude, quietude! Empty the heart and still the mind; enter meditative stillness. Establish true merit and cultivate the genuine practice of the Dao. Let body and mind be cool and at ease, and awareness clear and pure. Let the mind be deep and still, like unadorned rippling water, and like the reflection cast across a distant autumn river. Sit alone in the Bright Hall of the Three Heavens and gaze toward Pengying.

Quietude

Quietude, quietude! Empty the heart and still the mind; enter meditative stillness. Establish true merit and cultivate the genuine practice of the Dao. Let body and mind be cool and at ease, and awareness clear and pure. Let the mind be deep and still, like unadorned rippling water, and like the reflection cast across a distant autumn river. Above the Three Heavens, the bright moon is free of dust; across ten thousand miles, the immortal breeze is clear and blue. Regard all things with the decisiveness of a sword cutting through them. Sit alone, cultivating body, mind, and life.

Bowing

Through repeated inquiry and realization, one returns to the Origin and the Beginning. Being arises from Nonbeing, and Nonbeing, in turn, manifests through Being. The spirit roams in a profound, secluded realm, reaching through inner and outer, above and below. Within and without, all is perceived as empty and still, while the Qi of the Three Yangs flows into the body. The cultivator merges with all things in the world; both people and things return to the Origin. The myriad transformations arise from a state free of distinction and opposition. It is as if a cool, clear light wells up from a deep green pool, illuminating Penghu, the legendary realm of immortals, with lucid clarity.

The mind and spirit are open and unobstructed, like doors and windows that stand open to the inside and outside. One gazes up at the Southern Dipper and looks far toward the Northern Dipper. It is the sovereign of a thousand transformations and the root of all change in the myriad things. Turning the Dipper’s celestial handle, one sets the Qi within the body in motion; opening the Jade Rabbit and Golden Essence—symbols in Daoist cultivation associated with moonlight and vital essence—one joins the numinous realm of emptiness with the mouth of wisdom. The immortal realm of Penghu suddenly brightens, its radiance spreading across the world before one’s eyes. One rises into the wondrous Dao and enters a realm of Great Nonbeing that also contains all things.

The realm cherished in the heart makes no distinction between old and new. It knows neither high nor low status, and has severed distinctions of closeness and distance. All things rise and descend naturally, subtly drawing in ghosts and spirits. Its radiance is intense, surging straight toward the sun; it is pure and bright, untouched by dust. The Great Dao brings all things into one body. Once this is understood, one no longer clings to self and others. In the Forest of Seven Treasures, a symbol of the immortal realm, the infant and the Maiden of Scarlet—the inner alchemical images of Yin-Yang essence—play together. Dwelling high in the heavens, one keeps company with the clear wind and bright moon.

This realm is vast without limit and stretches on without end, shining with the sun and moon and enduring with Heaven and Earth. It universally saves all beings in the empty expanse. Though shaken, it remains firm and unmoving; its radiance is broad and open, without the slightest flaw. Luminous yet empty, it is seamless and whole. Drawing on one’s immense spiritual powers and strength, one can shatter even the tiniest object close at hand. The sun and moon—the Crow and Rabbit, symbols of the sun and moon—may come and go as they will; only then does the numinous light reveal its constant activity.

Cultivation calls for vigor and resolve: one turns back and illuminates oneself, opening the Dao Eye, the inner awareness that perceives the Great Dao, and revealing a realm of unobstructed radiance. Drawing on one’s immense spiritual powers and strength, one shatters even the tiniest object close at hand. The sun and moon may come and go as they will; the numinous light then reveals its constant activity.

Cultivation calls for vigor and resolve: one turns back and illuminates oneself, opening the Dao Eye so that vision becomes clear. The Qi of the Flower Pool, an inner alchemical image associated with the mouth, tongue, and saliva, fills and gathers; the Spirit Water, a cultivation symbol for saliva, flows abundantly. Sunlight illuminates the pure realm, while moonlight, like jade, shines over the clear autumn. In seated meditation, one surveys the celestial patterns and jade characters, images of heavenly talismanic script. While walking, one seems to ride the Earth Horse and Golden Ox, images of cultivation. Crossing the vast heavens, one leaves no trace; stepping through emptiness, one roams freely beyond the secular world.

Yes, yes. Practitioners should be cautious and sincere. Those of the highest attainment dwell in a state free from contention. They nourish their spirit and vital energy, preserving life and seeking longevity. By treading the “Steps of the Void,” the ritual steps that imitate walking through the air, they reach the Great Dao. They turn and circle as though walking through a clear, empty realm. The way ahead is level and secure; they will not lose their way among wilds and treacherous paths. The dust of the mundane world cannot touch this path. Follow it for a while, and one may wander through a splendid realm of immortals.

Sword

Sword, sword. A treasured sword three feet long, so sharp it seems able to cut a fine hair with a breath. Its blade is clean and unblemished, untouched by worldly dust. It can cut down evil spirits, keeping people from losing their way among wilds and treacherous paths. It can also shut out the turmoil of the world, allowing one to wander onward through a splendid realm of immortals.

Sword

Sword, sword. A treasured sword three feet long, sharp enough to seem able to cut a fine hair with a breath, clean and free of dust. It can cut down ghosts and demons and cleave through the troubles of the world. It captures the rhinoceros-tiger, a mythical beast of ancient legend, on the mountain, and slays dragons and serpents beneath the sea. At night it rests among the Southern Stars and the Northern Dipper; at dawn it seals and guards the seas and mountains. Its form merges with the Void, escaping the notice of others; only a thread of pure Qi rises straight into the highest heavens.

Spear

Spear, spear. This spear’s power is vast and unfathomable; its brilliant radiance illuminates the sky. It subdues ghosts and demons and drives back demon kings. It opens up the sea of perfect awakening and pierces the blue heavens. Held upright, it reaches into the sky and props up the earth; held crosswise, it guards the frontier. Practitioners who understand the Golden Spear method will no longer crave filthy and repulsive things.

Dragon

Dragon, dragon. It is extraordinary, surpassing all others; it moves with fierce strength, and even seated it has the bearing of a hero. Flames pour from its mouth, while cold winds swirl around its ears. The sun and moon are hidden in its heels; its belly contains Heaven and Earth. It unfurls its sharp claws as though it could overturn the Dharma realm, and grinds its horns as if to pierce Mount Kunlun. A thunderous roar shakes Heaven and Earth, heard across the Three Rivers and the Four Seas.

Tiger

Tiger, tiger. It is the central beast and the primal feminine mother, the king of all beasts and the ancestor of the mountains. Fierce and mighty, it seems to rule Heaven and Earth. A single hair can contain the four directions; its eyes seem able to see all of past and present. It can wrench mountains aside and shake the earth, or leap into the air and enter the Purple Palace, the celestial abode of Daoism. It gives an indignant roar that resounds along the Heavenly Street; a ground-shaking bellow awakens the Black Tortoise, the divine beast of the north.

Spirit

Spirit, spirit. Formless and without shape, yet it is the Dharma Body, the true body that embodies the Dao. It is the precious treasure within the heart, able to shake the earth and rock the heavens, and to leap through the air into the Purple Palace. It gives an indignant roar that resounds along the Heavenly Street; a ground-shaking bellow awakens the Black Tortoise.

Spirit.

Spirit, spirit! It has no fixed form, yet is the Dharma Body—the true body that embodies the Dao. It is a treasure within the heart and a jewel within the Dao. It is vast enough to contain Heaven and Earth, yet small enough to enter a mote of dust. It sets the stars in motion and turns the sun. Hidden within it are profound, impartial mysteries; openly it reveals the wondrous truths of primordial antiquity. It breaks through layer upon layer of gates and opens ten thousand paths of practice, illuminating the boundless firmament until it blazes as a realm of pure Yang.

Qi, Qi! It is neither veiled nor blocked. It is the foundation of Heaven and Earth, and the support of emptiness. The Great Dao runs through all things; its wondrous workings resonate with one another. Primordial Qi fills Heaven and Earth, while balanced, harmonious Qi circulates everywhere, bringing all things into accord. It flows without cease, keeping the breath clear and harmonious; in silence, it nourishes true nature and brings body and mind into balance. From the natural state of emptiness and stillness, the original spirit—the innately true spirit cultivated in practice—comes forth. Where the jade blossoms, the image of refined essence and Qi in internal cultivation, unfold, they face the Celestial Sovereign.

Bright, bright! Earth is still and Heaven is clear; the Great Void stretches wide, its realm vast and immense. Between Heaven and Earth, all is empty, still, and pure; beyond the sea, the clouds part over the immortal isles and the sky clears. The fierce sun hangs high, radiant and brilliant; divine light shines, bright and steady. It illuminates all things, making them distinct, like a deep silver pool reflecting in every direction, smooth and level. In the wondrous emptiness, my spirit roams freely; a jade youth, the figure of a child in the immortal realm, leaps into the crystal palace.

Essence, essence! It reflects the sunlight, then sinks into the deep sea; its beauty gathers in a mist, from which auspicious Qi arises. The wind falls still, and starlike colors ripple across the water. Radiance mingles and shines, like jade and snow refined in the crucible; the moon gleams brightly, its pure light sparkling. Heaven and Earth become a Golden Crucible, a symbol of refining and nourishing essence and Qi. After washing and refining, the essence, like mercury, fills it to the brim. In the morning sky, the sound of jade rings out; emerald clouds and fine jade gleam together. Amid the clear, open vastness, the Great Clarity appears—the serene, lofty celestial realm, and also the realm of the Dao.

True, true! It is clear and pure, its radiance renewed; so subtle it cannot be measured, so vast it has no bounds. It fills the net of Heaven and reaches the Primordial Beginning and the Brahma Heaven. A cool breeze passes through the Kan Gate, symbolizing the north and water; the bright moon shines into the Li Palace, symbolizing the south and fire. Though dwelling amid desire, consciousness remains profoundly still and free of desire; though living amid worldly dust, the vastness of the Dao remains unstained. The Dao is not the Dao in the ordinary sense; only by understanding this can one know the constant Dao. Its wondrous transformations do not arise from any intention to display the miraculous; for this reason, they are truly wondrous.

Empty, empty! It runs through the Taiji, the whole that exists before Heaven and Earth divide and Yin-Yang is distinguished. It holds within itself vast vistas and embraces all things. The Five Phases cannot reach it, and the Bagua cannot fathom it. It is distant and open, extending through above and below; boundless and unobstructed, it moves freely east and west. It has no trace, form, or shadow, and is neither blue-green, green, nor red. It runs through past and present, yet cannot be discerned. We can only provisionally call it the Great Dao, to indicate the foundation of Heaven and Earth.

See, see. Look back to the source, the root of things, and illuminate the head and face. Open the eye of wisdom, and the spirit’s radiance appears. With a bright and lucid mind, perceive the formless realm, and the great void comes into view. Two flashes of lightning streak through the air, brilliant as silver ribbons. As circumstances arise, all things and the self abide in one realm; in responding to change, one understands what endures. The light of the eye of wisdom shoots straight toward the celestial steps, and the Jade Infant, a symbol of the inner spirit cultivated in practice, leaps into the Hall of Clear Illumination, a symbol of an inward state of clarity and understanding.

Hear, hear. Observe the mind’s intentions closely, letting them grow still and deep. Return to one’s nature and awaken to the true mind. Wash away the sounds of Zheng and Wei—the music of those regions, here referring broadly to pleasing sights and sounds that can beguile the heart—and remain undisturbed by them. Thoughts of right and wrong cannot enter the ear; one constantly hears the cries of tiger and dragon, often used in Daoist practice to symbolize the movement of Yin-Yang Qi. No instrument is struck, yet the music of nature sounds of its own accord: what one hears is the music of high antiquity. Clear and resonant as an echo in an empty valley, a single note reaches through the forests of the highest heavens.

Know, know. Inner and outer are connected, and the workings of Heaven are understood. One comprehends what is true and subtle, penetrating to the depths of the mysterious and minute. There is no need to cultivate deliberately in pursuit of proof; one neither contrives nor acts recklessly. Radiant and translucent as jade, the Dragon Child wears vermilion robes, luminous and clear, with inner and outer joined. When the heart’s aperture opens, one knows that none of the myriad teachings can be grasped as truly existent. Across the seas, the moon of the heart appears, its essence shining and casting forth light.

Awaken, awaken. From head to foot, all is encircled. Though possessing spiritual powers, one has no name or form, remaining simple and natural. The whole body seems like empty space; even the Dharma is not grasped as Dharma. Those who understand are inherently Wuwei (non-action); without awakening, one is as though blind in both eyes. The mysterious principle is explained plainly, yet the spirit of the mind before one’s eyes remains deep and unfathomable. The heavenly path is unstained by a speck of dust; the Golden Crow, a symbol of the sun, bursts apart, and silver light scatters down.

Exhaust, exhaust. The earth trembles, and the Way of Heaven moves. Penetrate the Valley Spirit, a symbol of the still, inexhaustible source, and understand the Mysterious Female, the hidden source from which all things arise in Daoist thought. The longer one practices, the closer its use comes to what is before one’s eyes. In the distance, one can see the celestial thoroughfare leading to Heaven; nearby, one reaches the square inch of the heart. Search to the ends of the earth and find no trace; face the vast Saha world of humankind, and the mind remains serenely unmoving. The clear, empty body appears like the great void; the Yang abyss is vast, and everyone can grasp something of it.

De (Virtue/Power)

De, De. The realm of the Dao (the Way) is deep, mysterious, and remote, seeming both present and absent. Let the mind empty itself outwardly, while inwardly filling the body and mind. The moon completes its circuit, illuminating the Li Palace, an inner alchemical image associated with the Li trigram and the south. A gentle breeze enters the realm. A radiant pearl shines across the heavens, piercing the darkness of ignorance. Living in the world, one does not lose one’s inner light; one is harmonious and unobstructed. One moves freely through worldly affairs, keeping the heart pure and unattached to external things. Yin energy fades away, and Yang energy is reborn; the realm of clarity and emptiness pervades all, like flawless jade.

Ke, Ke. There is neither cause nor effect. Cut off greed and anger, leave behind the turmoil of the world, and keep the heart pure and unattached to external things. Yin energy fades away, and Yang energy is reborn; the realm of clarity and emptiness pervades all, like flawless jade.

Ke, Ke. There is neither cause nor effect. Cut off greed and anger, and let go of distinctions between self and others. The mind settles, and scattered thoughts dissolve; the inner self grows clear, and agitation subsides. Break through the gates established by the ancestral masters, and unlock the Dragon-and-Phoenix Lock, a symbol of the barriers or restraints that are difficult to overcome in cultivation. Treasures like fine jade are boundless, and within them lies a Dark Pearl, a symbol of inner spirit or the fruits of cultivation. Where the Dark Pearl appears, the Jade Infant—a childlike image in inner alchemy, symbolizing the spirit formed from concentrated Jing (essence) and Qi—comes to pay homage. Held securely in the arms is a golden lotus, symbolizing a state of purity and perfection.

Yi, Yi. Illuminate the Kan position, associated with Water and the north, and make the Li position, associated with Fire and the south, shine clear. The spirit and intention unite, and the heart of the Dao follows. Looking up into the void, one grasps what is there and is free of confusion. Heaven’s clarity allows wondrous methods to flow through; Earth’s stillness reveals the subtle principles. The heart of Heaven and Earth becomes one with oneself, clearly revealing a state that has endured through ages and remains rare and hard to describe. It has continued unbroken since ancient times, yet needs no deliberate pursuit. The spirit wanders through the azure heavens and the vast abyss, moving in harmony between above and below.

Wei, Wei. Understand the right path, and be free of confusion. Awaken the realization within one’s nature and understand the inner heart. Wash away deliberate striving, and do not cling to Chan riddles. Having passed through every state, one lets the radiance of all things settle. Body and mind unite with the sky, and the state of mind is calm as the surface of the sea. After awakening, one clings to none of the myriad teachings. In the mysterious realm, a fragrant breeze rises of its own accord; amid wondrous transformations, the moon fills the western sky.

Chang, Chang. Sit in stillness and observe closely. Gradually enter a quiet state and feel the coolness. The Open and Bright Youth, a guide from the Daoist immortal realms, leads me into the land of immortals. Incense smoke curls over the graceful ground, while bright candlelight illuminates the heavens. They offer me peaches of immortality and osmanthus wine; pleasantly drunk, I recline in the realm of Gaoyang. Suddenly, clear and pure music begins to sound, and the Jade Maidens eagerly help me into the cave chamber, a dwelling in the immortal realm.

Yang, Yang. It spreads in every direction. Virtue shines forth, and the Earth grows beautiful; bright candlelight illuminates the heavens. They offer me peaches of immortality and osmanthus wine; pleasantly drunk, I recline in the realm of Gaoyang. Suddenly, clear and pure music begins to sound, and the Jade Maidens eagerly help me into the cave chamber.

Yang is pure Yang Qi, filling the four quarters of Heaven and Earth. The Dao’s De manifests, and from it the myriad things come into being and the Dao unfolds. Golden essence—the subtle Qi spoken of in Daoism—flows everywhere, while precious talismans, used in Daoism to carry the intent of the spirits and perform rites, shine with light. Their radiance illuminates the mountain bones around the Han River and turns the vast, boundless sky red. Turn the light inward and contemplate within: there is no need to seek what is lofty and distant; insight comes through the workings of daily life. Return to the origin, and only then begin to awaken to the enduring true nature. Strip away pure Yin, and you can penetrate the ancient Dao; refine the divine elixir, and you will gain long life without obstruction.

Leisure is a state of supreme holiness, beyond the ordinary world. At dawn, enter a realm of stillness, far removed from worldly turmoil. True nature harmonizes with true nature, and nothing among the myriad things is grasped. Keep the clouds and water as constant companions, and take the wind and moon for home. When thirsty, drink osmanthus wine from a flask; when drunk, lie alone on Kunlun Mountain, the sacred mountain of the immortals. Seek a dream from which one wakes still feeling like an immortal wanderer, and roam freely between Heaven and Earth.

The Maiden is a young woman in the bloom of youth, around sixteen years old. She joins with the practitioner like a fledgling pecking from within its shell, each answering the other. Her face is like jade, her skin clear and smooth, her bearing graceful and refined. The two become a pair, sleeping together beneath embroidered curtains and waking from the same dream. Suddenly they leap out from beneath the silk curtains, scattering golden blossoms—the radiance or auspicious signs attained through cultivation. They remain together before the eyes, inseparable and of one mind, in accord with the Morning Palace, a palace within the body or a celestial palace in Daoist thought.

Breath is solitary and self-contained: external things cannot disturb it, and the mind is not drawn along by them. It arises from the true heart and has no form from the beginning. It rests in silence in the hall of utmost emptiness and dwells in spacious stillness in the chamber of purity. Two painted candles illuminate the void, their light like a blazing sun. What could there be to doubt in the truth of this? With purity and Wuwei (non-action), all affairs are brought to completion.

The Mysterious is luminous without dazzling. Look up to the sky and soar into the distance. The Taiji (Supreme Ultimate), subtle and profound, is vast without limit. The moon reflected in water illuminates the firmament; return to the root and restore the beginning, letting inner light shine back upon oneself. The myriad methods ultimately return to one method, and that method is put into practice through the Three Essentials, the three key principles of cultivation. Nurture the Three Essentials and hold fast to unity, and Qi and spirit will become clear; then refine Yang essence and send it down to the nine apertures of the human body.

The method is both a principle and a way of practice. It is not transmitted through question and answer; it enables people to grasp the mysterious principle and surpass ordinary learning. The truth does not lie in words or names. Once one understands emptiness and stillness, awakening can come all at once. After awakening, one knows that the Dao is originally without mind. When a practitioner’s mind accords with the Dao, it is like a fledgling pecking from within its shell as its mother pecks from without: the two efforts meet in perfect accord. The person and the Dao merge, shining like the sun and moon, their resonance reaching across mountains, rivers, and seas. Human nature is connected with the Way of Heaven, and an unnamed, unadorned original reality emerges of its own accord.

The Dao is subtle and profound. It is the foundation of reality, yet has no shape; within the mysterious lies a realm more mysterious still. All things receive the Dao’s nourishment and grow. Its workings appear naturally, without deliberate action. The sun and moon move by it, traveling through the sky; the Dao’s radiance shines in all directions. After awakening to the Dao, one no longer clings to distinctions such as Heaven and Earth. “Sage” is only a provisional name.

The Dao is subtle and profound. It is the foundation of reality, yet has no shape; within the mysterious lies a realm more mysterious still. All things receive the Dao’s nourishment and grow. Its workings appear naturally, without deliberate action. The sun and moon move by it, traveling through the sky; the Dao’s radiance shines in all directions. After awakening to the Dao, one no longer clings to distinctions such as Heaven and Earth. The so-called “sage” is also just an empty name established for a time.

De is the power that nourishes all things, extending in every direction. It shines brightly yet has no form, silently filling the vastness of space. The scripture uses “dragon and phoenix marrow” and “heavenly sinews and bones” to describe the subtle forces experienced in cultivation: as if opening them up and breaking them apart, scattering golden essence like flowing rosy clouds and sending it into the hidden depths of Heaven and Earth. The spirit light gathers in a brilliant red orb, which is then drawn in and sent to the “Cave of the Golden Crow”—a term in Daoist Neidan for an internal cultivation site associated with the sun and Yang energy.

Water flows in a slender, unceasing stream. Its surface is without waves, while its depths cannot be fathomed. It seems to well forth from emptiness, precious like dragon grease and phoenix marrow. The scripture compares it to an essence that nourishes the field of the heart and sustains the body and mind of one who cultivates the Dao. When cultivation reaches fruition, the skin is pure as ice and frost, and abundant pure Yang Qi leaves no opening for Yin forces to intrude. The practitioner’s gaze grows clear and the brow smooth, as if they could pass beyond the Great Void and travel through the air without taking a step.

Pool, pool. Willows grow along its banks, and the embankments slope down. The scripture goes on to explain the pool’s function through the essence in its water, which nourishes the field of the heart and sustains the body of one who cultivates the Dao: when cultivation reaches fruition, the skin is pure as ice and frost, and abundant pure Yang Qi leaves no opening for Yin forces to intrude. The practitioner’s gaze grows clear and the brow smooth, as if they could pass beyond the Great Void and travel through the air without taking a step.

Pool.

Pool—the place within the body where Jing and bodily fluids gather, as described in alchemical practice. A pool. Willows droop low along the bank, their branches seeming to reach into the water. The waters divide and flow into the valley, reflecting a clear, cold stream. Golden ripples shimmer gently, while the Jade Liquids—the body’s Jing and fluids in the language of cultivation—flow in abundance. The Silver Toad, the moon, seems to cast down snow-white waves; before the eyes stretches a vast, deep expanse of water. It nourishes the valley stream, keeps the currents flowing, and harmonizes all things, bringing them peace. The spirit-water of the Flowery Pool, where bodily fluids gather and Shen is nourished, is present in everyone. Those who understand follow its natural course and do not act rashly.

Fluid. Fluid. It arises naturally and changes with the time and circumstance. It nourishes and refreshes the skin, and cultivates the body’s subtle, numinous substance. Outwardly it responds to the cycles of the heavens; inwardly it accords with the spirit chamber, the inner place where Shen is kept and Qi is nurtured. The Palace of Li, corresponding to the heart’s Fire, fills with Jing and Qi, as though clear white light were dripping before the eyes. Mysterious Frost, a metaphor for refined essence, blends and congeals into a balm, its radiance brilliant and red as the sun. A single spark of the Embryonic Star, the numinous light that symbolizes the completion of the Elixir in Neidan practice, rises beyond the palace of the immortals. The Three Pure Ones appear before the face, and the work of cultivation is complete.

Elixir. Elixir. Between Heaven and Earth, the flying phoenix departs into the distance, while the Fire Dragon coils and surges. Grasp the essential secret of the pivot and set the Golden Pass, a name for a bodily aperture in cultivation, in motion. Gather the essence of the Three Lights—the sun, moon, and stars—and circulate it back through the seven apertures. Store a pill of Elixir within. A single spark of the Embryonic Star rises beyond the palace of the immortals; the Three Pure Ones appear before the face, and the work of cultivation is complete.

Elixir. Elixir. Between Heaven and Earth, the flying phoenix departs into the distance, while the Fire Dragon coils and surges. Grasp the essential secret of the pivot and set the Golden Pass in motion. Gather the essence of the Three Lights—the sun, moon, and stars—and circulate it back through the seven apertures. Store a pill of Elixir within, and you can transform Heaven and Earth, draw in Mount Mei and swallow the gathered peaks. After taking it, you feel as light as if in flight, ascend to Heaven to pay court at the Purple Palace, have your name entered in the Jade Register, and take your place among the immortals.

Nature. Nature. The luminous source of awareness can reach the realm of the sages. Hold fast to nothing; let neither sight nor hearing lead you astray. Be pure as a cold spring and clear as a precious mirror. Though the mirror shines brightly, it has no fixed form; when things arrive, it reflects each in turn. Understand the original mind and leave desires behind, contemplating emptiness and clarity. Whatever the circumstances, you can discern what is right from what is wrong. Spend the night in the Moon Palace and pluck osmanthus blossoms; at dawn, leap onto the path of the Golden Crow, the three-legged crow in the sun.

Life. Life. Do not let the mind and spirit become caught in contention. Follow the seasons and respond to each moment as it comes. Keep the heart tranquil and at ease, the body whole, and the breath abundant. By preserving Jing and guarding Shen, you can gradually realize the stability of the true mind. The blood within the body becomes a rich, refined essence; bones and flesh blend together, and the whole body grows pure and luminous. When the Elixir work is complete, pure Yang Qi rises beyond the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). The Jade Void, a name for the Daoist celestial realm, issues an edict and proclaims its command.

Lead, which in internal alchemy often symbolizes the inner foundation of original essence and true Yang, is vast and boundless. Essence and Qi flourish and endure: when set in motion, they give rise to the myriad things; when still, they are profound and subtle. Within their deep mystery lie the essence of Heaven and Earth. Movement and stillness alike are roots of the great Dao. To look at it, one can say neither that it is nonexistent nor that it exists; to hear it is to sense only silent stillness. It is as pure as ice in a jade vessel, clearing the heart and spirit; it is also like clouds, snow, and the bright moon in the lofty sky, clear and luminous.

Mercury, a symbolic term in internal alchemy often set against “Lead” and referring to inner spirit and its numinous activity, is silent and still, yet it can join with the Dao and bring forth wondrous effects, as if piercing metal and stone or making a sword cleave what has no seam. The Jade Infant, a pure and innocent numinous being in Daoist internal alchemy, is enclosed in a realm as clear and icy as a jade vessel. Its heart and bones are pure, as if it dwelled amid the clarity of clouds, snow, and moonlight.

Mercury is silent and still, yet it can join with the Dao and bring forth wondrous effects, as if piercing metal and stone or making a sword cleave what has no seam. The Jade Infant is bathed in the precious moonlight, playing with a crystal. Silvery mist and radiance mingle and shimmer; in their flickering, they seem at once far away and near. This offers a glimpse of the bearing of the ancient Daoist sages, while the archaic cadence carries a pure and elegant charm.

Principle, the inner order and fundamental truth of things, is like the sun’s essence and the moon’s marrow, reaching upward to Heaven and extending downward to Earth. Inner and outer mingle with one another, revealing wondrous effects that are not the work of ghosts or spirits. Its radiance illuminates the heavenly road and also shines forth within the body and heart. It can change with form, appearing as square, round, curved, or straight; the state of utmost goodness is as deep and broad as water. Gathering the spirit in emptiness and stillness, one becomes clear as a blue-green pool, perfectly luminous and pure, transparent to the depths.

The One, the source from which the myriad things arise and the unified origin of the Dao, is difficult to grasp in words and not easy to follow in practice. It conceals the right within the wrong and reveals the straight within the crooked. Truly vast and boundless, it is still and independent. It is plainly before us, yet people often fail to recognize it. Whether one seeks it by taking or rejecting, adding or subtracting, it remains inexhaustible. Since ancient times, the numinous, luminous true nature has always been manifest. Turn the light back upon yourself, and you can return to a reality as vast as the Great Void.

The unfathomable is so vast that it reaches across fields and roads, so remote that it stretches beyond sight. It cannot be found by searching, nor can any flaw be identified in it. It is neither existent nor nonexistent, neither confined to emptiness nor to form. Vast and boundless, it has no measurable breadth; minute beyond measure, it has no measurable narrowness. When contemplating it, the spirit seems to fly into a place without sound or limit; when thinking of it, the soul seems to scatter with the clouds. It is endless and impossible to know completely, coming and going like a passing guest.

The elusive fills the space between Heaven and Earth, confined neither to emptiness nor to form. Vast and boundless, it has no measurable breadth; minute beyond measure, it has no measurable narrowness. When contemplating it, the spirit seems to fly into a place without sound or limit; when thinking of it, the soul seems to scatter with the clouds. It is endless and impossible to know completely, coming and going like a passing guest.

In a state of seeming and indistinctness, Heaven and Earth are filled with a blended Qi. Within primordial unity—the original state before Heaven and Earth were separated and before the myriad things came into being—a realm like a tranquil, empty valley gathers into form. Emptiness does not mean that nothing exists, and the myriad things have no fixed, unchanging substance. Something exists, blended within the mysterious source, while the Qi of that source reaches the highest De (Virtue/Power). The radiance of Shen (spirit) is deep and unfathomable; the transformations of the Dao unfold in silence. To fully grasp a single method is to seize the pivot of creation and transformation. This is the true principle contained within the pot of Great Unity.

Mystery

Mystery has no bounds, and Taiji (Supreme Ultimate), the source from which Heaven, Earth, and the myriad things form, is vast beyond limit. It transforms downward to bring forth the earth and extends upward to reach the sky. The essences of the sun, moon, and stars—the three lights—appear from it, while a single Qi, the primordial energy of the precelestial state, flows forth in clear view. The doors of the alchemical furnace open along two paths, as the Dragon and Tiger, symbols of Yin and Yang in alchemy, race in motion. It is like playing with a luminous pearl, making it rise from the sea, then hurling it between Heaven and Earth, where it rolls with a mighty din. Once the Elixir is complete, the practitioner sheds the mortal body and roams the Three Isles, the fabled immortal mountains of the sea, at ease in Langyuan, an immortal realm, no longer remembering the passing years and months.

Numinous Spirit

The numinous Qi is pure and refined; the spirit is clear and bright. Its gathered force is like the rising moon, its radiance like flashing stars in flight. The high heavens seem blessed by its light, and the earth grows bright and clear beneath it. Its brilliance is white as ice and snow, translucent as crystal. Heaven and Earth seem cleansed and clarified; its radiance fills the world and brings peace to the human realm. The rosy clouds of the Five Directions—east, south, west, north, and center—gather into the cauldron. Two lights meet and enter the precious vessel.

Heaven

The Way of Heaven is profound and mysterious. It governs a thousand subtle shifts and holds the power by which the myriad things transform. The more one looks up at it, the farther away it seems; the more one probes it, the more solid it appears. It reaches upward to the realm of the Origin, a Daoist deity and the primordial state that deity represents, and extends downward to cover Heaven and Earth in their boundless expanse. Beyond the Five Phases—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—it is clear and deep; before the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), it is mysterious and unfathomable. At the beginning, a single Qi divided into the Three Powers of Heaven, Earth, and humanity. It alone existed in the vast emptiness, preceding even the image of the Heavenly Emperor.

Pivot

When you grasp the Dao’s hidden pivot, understanding dawns within. Open the eye of wisdom and realize Xiyi, the Dao’s formlessness, soundlessness, and imperceptibility. The mind’s workings move with myriad changes, yet their subtle function returns to Wuwei (non-action, following nature without forcing). Within Wuwei arises a single Qi, and this Qi sets the Three Wonders in motion—the three subtle forces spoken of in cultivation and the arts of divination. When you bring refinement together with simplicity and the spirit of ancient times, you can advance and retreat in practice with calm assurance. Encounter things and understand your original mind, yet do not let them entangle it. In a state of deep stillness, an extraordinary bearing emerges.

Stream

The ancient bank of the stream is like a golden embankment. Its waters fill the eye of the Dao—the mind’s eye for contemplating the Great Way—and the light of wisdom shines brightly. A steady trickle flows into the Celestial Pool, a pool in Heaven in Daoist texts and, in cultivation, an inner realm.

Encounter things and understand your original mind, yet do not let them entangle it. In a state of deep stillness, an extraordinary bearing emerges.

A stream murmurs as it flows, and the ancient embankment seems built of gold. The Dao Eye—the inner wisdom that sees into the Great Dao—is filled with clear water, and the light of wisdom shines forth. The stream flows on without end, joining the Celestial Pool. Its emerald waters illuminate a quiet mountain valley; the deep pool stretches into the distance, its scene hazy and remote. Fish play along both banks, while a numinous tortoise leaps from the middle of the water. Red mist issues from its mouth and condenses into golden grains. Nurtured over time, they are refined into a divine elixir that accords with the sacred Dao.

Pill

Round upon round, it gathers into form, drawing slightly inward between the brows. It opens the Dao Eye, allowing body and mind to experience profound mystery. In responding to the myriad things, it reveals its subtle workings; adapting to every circumstance, it remains perfectly harmonious. It illuminates the numinous, bright, Yang-and-harmonious awareness, revealing a Dharma realm as vast as the reach of Shen (spirit). Heaven and Earth revolve in their cycles, and the sun and moon travel their courses, like a tiger coiling through the sky and a dragon crouching there. The Elixir Terrace—a symbolic place for refining and nourishing Neidan—supports the Three Luminaries. Their radiance gleams, revealing a flawless, translucent mass of jade.

Sprout

The numinous sprout first emerges, its effects wondrous; its roots must be deep, without the slightest deviation. In cultivation, one must continually replenish “mercury water” and add “lead grains” each day—symbolic terms for the refinement and nourishment of Neidan. As soon as the tender shoot breaks through the earth, it blooms with a beautiful golden flower. Its delicacy surpasses Chang’e’s cinnabar osmanthus, and its green hue rivals the immortal flowers of the Queen Mother of the West. Once gathered, it is fit to attend the gathering of eternal spring and to be displayed in the immortal realms of the Jade Pool and the Garden of Langyuan.

Snow

This snow is neither cold nor bitterly frigid. It arises from “being” and appears within “emptiness.” Its form is ethereal and seamless, crystalline and clear. It illumines the Great Void with pure, bright radiance. The open sky is white as a silver river in heaven, and the earth is pristine as fragments of jade. Even the blazing sun cannot melt it; throughout all four seasons, it accompanies the bright moon high above.

Suchness

The realm described here is exceedingly subtle and profound: one must understand one’s true nature and nourish the numinous source. Though the Dao has been transmitted through a lineage, true understanding cannot come through words alone. Once its meaning is grasped, words may be forgotten. The Jing (essence) and Qi (vital energy) of the upper, middle, and lower Dantian (energy centers) are abundant; with each breath, the true Qi flows on without end. Inhalation and exhalation alike must remain within the Mysterious Female, the Daoist source of generation and wondrous gateway. Do not take breathing through the mouth and nose as the foundation of cultivation. In the Wuwei (non-action) cauldron, the three flowers—symbols in Neidan of Jing, Qi, and Shen—bloom, and a seven-leaf lotus grows within the red furnace.

Mystery

This Dao is hidden, without form or trace: draw in the clear breeze and welcome the gentle sun. The realm is lucid and self-contained, still and set apart; points of pure light appear, and the essence of the numinous source in the myriad channels is revealed. Within it, a bright pearl takes shape. Once transformed, the embryo immortal—the numinous body formed through cultivation—is brought to completion. The Three Realms of desire, form, and formlessness surge like vast waves. Through this, the cultivator discerns the true direction and discovers where the road to Penglai lies.

The Supreme Clarity Great Mystery Collection, the Sun of Wisdom is luminous and clear, appearing alone, still and self-contained. Countless points of pure white radiance shine with clarity and brightness; many subtle and wondrous currents converge here. Within it, a luminous pearl takes shape, bringing the embryo immortal (an immortal spirit formed through cultivation) to completion. Across the vast Three Realms (the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm), great waves surge. Only on the path to Penglai (the legendary mountain of the immortals) can one discern the true direction.

End of Volume Ten of the Supreme Clarity Great Mystery Collection.