《云光集》

The Collected Cloud Radiance is included in the Quanzhen writings section of the Chinese Daoist Canon. The work is divided into four volumes: the first three contain poetry, and the fourth contains ci lyrics.

Volume One contains eighty-nine seven-character regulated poems and forty-four seven-character ancient-style poems and quatrains. Volume Two contains 249 seven-character quatrains. Volume Three contains thirty-four five-character regulated poems, fifty-eight five-character quatrains, and works including eulogies, four-character and three-character poems, the Golden Elixir Instructions, songs, and chants. Volume Four contains lyrics written to the tunes Qinyuanchun, Mantingfang, Qingyu’an, Sumuzhe, Wang Penglai, and others.

Volume One of the Collected Cloud Radiance was written by Wang Chuyi, the Jade Yang Master of the Sacred Waters. This section of the volume consists of poetry; what follows are seven-character regulated poems.

In the Ding Si year of the Jin reign era Cheng’an (1197), I was summoned by imperial decree for the third time. On the twenty-fifth day of the sixth month, I arrived at the Tianchang Monastery in the capital. On the third day of the seventh month, the emperor received me, offered me a seat, and asked about the Qingjing Jing (the shortened title of the Daoist classic Taishang Laojun Shuo Chang Qingjing Jing). After I explained it to him, he asked about the northern campaign. I replied, “It will come to an end in the Wu Wu year (1198).” Events later proved this true. The emperor then asked about the affairs of the Quanzhen school, and I answered each question in turn. He was greatly pleased and kept me talking until evening, when I took my leave.

The next day, the emperor bestowed on me a purple robe and the title “Great Master Who Embodies the Mystery.” He also sent an attendant with an imperial edict granting me Chongfu Monastery and Xiuzhen Monastery, allowing me to choose where to live. Each month, he allocated two hundred strings of cash for the monastery kitchen. At the time I was staying at Xiuzhen Monastery. I wrote this poem there and sent it to the attendant who had delivered the decree, as well as to my aged mother and the Daoist community at Shengshui Monastery.

Below Xiuzhen Monastery, the faithful come and go freely; auspicious light shines across the blue sky. In the past, I was fortunate to meet a wise teacher who opened the right path. Now, once again, an enlightened emperor supports the teaching of the Dao.

From now on, Yuyang will carry out the Daoist teaching here for a time, and the Daoists under my care will grow still more diligent in their practice. I bow to my kind mother: please do not worry. The emperor’s favor has not yet allowed me to return home.

On the Lady Censor’s Illness and Her Prayer for Recovery

People should cultivate themselves in accord with the Way of Heaven, and need not limit themselves because they were born into an ordinary life. The physical body is a temporary combination of the four great elements; how could it, by itself, ascend to pay homage to the Heavenly Emperor? And how could the Three Corpses within the body—spirits said in Daoism to hinder cultivation—carry anyone to Yingzhou, the fabled island paradise in the sea?

Understand the true Dao and turn your gaze inward, and recent impressions will no longer stir you. Grasp the root, and let the heart become still as ashes; then old sorrows can be dispelled. Attain the realm of formless emptiness, and you can rise above the sea of worldly suffering, riding in peace upon the great vessel of freedom.

Presented to Lü Zhiguan of Zu’an

After awakening fully, one’s radiant power shines through the vast emptiness; the auspicious signs of the primordial state truly arrive swiftly. Emptiness and purity run through past and present, while the orthodox lineage of the highest Dao is passed down from generation to generation.

The Three Realms and Ten Directions—the worlds and directions of the Daoist cosmos—are one and interconnected. The teachings set out in a thousand scriptures and treatises are profound and boundless. Let go of attachment, and one’s innate nature will reveal itself naturally; from there, one can transcend the constraints of Yin-Yang transformation and the workings of Heaven and Earth.

Presented to the Dowager Lady, Abbess of the Monastery at Weizhou

Whoever encounters a living immortal can nourish the numinous clarity of their nature, allowing it to reach high and far, like the blue heavens. By alternately refining with true water and true fire, like liquid jade, auspicious clouds gather and congeal in the Jade Palace.

When body and spirit have both reached a subtle and wondrous state, ordinary people can scarcely comprehend it. When emptiness and form have both dissolved, how can the principle behind this be passed on? People throughout the four seas turn the light of their minds inward and follow the teaching together, naturally accumulating three thousand merits.

Two Poems for the Daoist Community Who Offered Support and Affinity

I am deeply grateful to the Daoist community of our tradition for forming ties of affinity, offering their help, and persevering in diligent practice. Quietly preserve and nurture the spirit, untouched by worldly dust; continuously cultivate the original Qi, and the Dao will naturally appear.

Clarify and open the pure sovereign within the original source, bringing forth wondrous visions as the embryo-immortal dances. Set in motion the celestial pivot and circulate the true Three Treasures. The radiance of compassion rests unmoving, shining throughout the great thousandfold world.

Keep to a life of simplicity and hold fast to the Great Dao, which was nameless from the beginning. The key lies entirely in the human heart: apply the mind with sincere intent. Let a single Qi circulate through all things until Heaven and Earth are clear; bring together the three lights of sun, moon, and stars, and gather the spirits.

Auspicious visions on the Jade Altar veil the traces of immortals; within the radiance of the precious cauldron, signs of transformation appear and vanish. If one can reveal the true formula for Neidan cultivation, its wondrous work will turn to completion, and fulfillment will come naturally.

In Praise of the Jade Clarity Abbey

My master once lived in seclusion at Jade Clarity Abbey in Zhubei, Xunyan. Within the abbey was a place called “Little Sacred Spring,” truly a beautiful site. I therefore composed this poem in its praise.

This scenic mountain rock is rare in both ancient and modern times. As one strolls among mist and rosy clouds, even the daylight seems to grow long. Sages of the Three Realms lower their eyes to look upon it; local Daoists faithfully uphold the Dao and De.

Pairs of young attendants hold branches of flowers, while matched phoenixes dance above the jade steps. Once the Great Elixir is refined, it will soon be time to return; those with affinity may accompany one another to the Jade Pool.

An Instruction for the Illness of Wang, Clerk of Fushan

Steadily and subtly cultivate the Qi of balanced harmony. Quiet the mind in practice and rise beyond the bonds of desire. Strengthen the Valley Spirit—the inner numinous spirit spoken of in Daoism—so that it remains present and undiminished. Let Qi and blood flow through the channels, and pray for long life free of illness.

Give your whole heart to the true Dao and forget life and death. Realize your original nature, reach numinous clarity, and dispel obstacles and demonic disturbances. Through ages and kalpas, all merit comes from upright conduct. May the assembled gods protect you and help you transcend the saha world, the Buddhist sea of worldly suffering.

Those who delight in seeking quiet and peace with me may come here to meet. When numinous cinnabar—the precious elixir used in cultivation, or the essence refined within—is gathered, it gives off an extraordinary fragrance. The Four Great Elements, the basic constituents of the human body and all things, circulate and harmonize pure Qi. The vital essences, like two springs, nourish body and mind, bringing radiance to the face.

By regulating the spirit and keeping it from restless activity, one can turn calamity into good fortune. When dealing with others without partiality, Yin-Yang can harmonize with each other. There is also a way of life spent in leisure, reading treasured scriptures and classics, a few lines each day.

Leaving the Bonds of the World (Two Poems)

By following the Way of Heaven and accumulating De, life comes into being. The luminous Dharma Body of the practitioner shines across the four quarters of the Nine Provinces. The wisdom eye is clear and pure, without a trace of attachment; the divine pearl shines brightly, untouched by the slightest dust.

Numinous light from the Five Directions rises into the sky, and a flower of the heart opens toward the sun. After passing through calamities that span eons, one’s true original nature appears again. Only then does one understand that Penglai, the immortals’ isle, is everywhere.

Freed from the nets of the mundane world, one is no longer entangled or burdened. When cultivation of the Elixir Way has reached fruition, the Dao appears of its own accord. Jade snow drifts through the Purple Mansion, the abode of perfected immortals, while golden lotuses gradually emerge on the Jade Terrace.

Shrines throughout the spirit palace coalesce into realms of perfect, radiant wholeness. The nature of the Dharma, the true nature inherent in all things, is empty, numinous, and clear, illuminating all without exception. Inner and outer cultivation have formed a body like gold and jade—all because one once encountered a Great Luo Immortal, a perfected being who dwells in the highest celestial realm.

Reflections on My Practice (Two Poems)

For many years I have drunk rough wine and sung aloud, my body and mind unrestrained, as though wandering in the immortals’ realm in a dream. With a heart set on saving all beings, I resonate with the Three Realms—the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm. Light fills my whole body and pierces the Nine Heavens.

Only I understand this life beyond the world. Who else knows to cherish the treasure within the pot, a symbol of the Neidan or the fruits of cultivation? I am Yuyangzi of the eastern sea of clouds; I do not transmit the teachings lightly, but only to deliver those lost in delusion.

I will open and transform the blended Three Yangs, a cultivation state in which Yang Qi gathers and moves, spreading layered clouds and rosy mists until they fill the Ten Directions. I refine a precious pearl that contains the Dharma Realm, the total domain in which all things exist; I transform it into numinous light that reaches up to the vault of heaven.

Tiger and dragon coil together, gathering within the golden tripod. Sun and moon fly upward, illuminating the Jade Hall. When it is time to ride a phoenix back to the Purple Mansion, I will for now follow ordinary ways in a peaceful human world, keeping my radiance veiled.

My Disciple Zhang Zhiming Asks About Daily Practice (Two Poems)

Ah, discerning the false and seeking the true is like working a piece of jade: it takes repeated polishing. Observe the Way of Heaven and model yourself on the Great Dao, nurturing a calm and balanced Qi. Gather the mind-seal—the essential teaching of the Dao realized within—in the radiance of sun, moon, and stars; through the many approaches of the myriad teachings, awaken to “mita,” the wisdom of prajna that penetrates truth.

Two currents of clear wind pass through the Purple Mansion. The six heavens, realms of fulfillment in Daoist cosmology, appear from the Saha World, the mundane world here below. From being one enters nonbeing, and from nonbeing being comes forth; in the end, one realizes the form of perfect completion. Before long, one will ascend to the Great Luo Heaven.

The jade’s radiance shines brightly, reflecting the clear sky. This is the blessing and wisdom that naturally arise from following the Dao of Wuwei (non-action). When profound principles flow together in perfect harmony, one can truly be at ease; when wondrous light is clear and transparent, one can roam freely wherever one wishes.

Immortal music rises, facing the Golden Palace, the halls of the immortal realm; two sacred springs water auspicious shoots. Recognize your original true nature: when profound principles flow together in perfect harmony, you can be truly at ease; when wondrous light is clear and transparent, you can roam freely wherever you wish.

Immortal music rises, facing the Golden Palace; two sacred springs water auspicious shoots. Having recognized your original true nature, follow your master’s teachings and become a bridge that ferries people across.

The Principles of Karmic Affinity

To meet a master, resolve one’s doubts, and understand the principles is a fortunate karmic affinity. To treat all things without selfishness is to accord with the Dao of Heaven. Five lights converge, enriching the wisdom-nature; myriad rosy clouds encircle the Dantian, the place within the body cultivated in Daoist practice.

A clear, resonant voice comes from the sky, conveying the true meaning. Amid the waves of the sea of suffering—the world of distress over life and death—one raises a Dharma boat to carry all beings across. When one reaches a state beyond attachment to “realization” or “cultivation,” one understands that the practices one already possesses are naturally brought to completion.

Unstained Amid the Dust

In emptiness, spiritual refinement gathers and forms the spirit embryo, a term in Neidan (internal alchemy) for the inner foundation of life. Though living in the mundane world, one can still open the eye that sees the Great Dao. Wine, sex, anger, and wealth are merely the means by which others make their living; spirit and blood, meanwhile, each have their own source.

Let everything return to the Primordial Sea, where primordial energy gathers, and allow it to move freely through Kunlun, an important site within the body in Daoist internal alchemy. Such an affinity is truly rare. By maintaining Wuwei and purity, one can reach Penglai, the fabled abode of immortals.

Two Poems of Self-Reflection

A gentle breeze stirs above the eastern sea of clouds. All day I follow the Dao of Wuwei, speaking of suffering and emptiness. A point of perfect, radiant awareness is clear and distinct; after two encounters, temperament and original nature have grown more harmonious.

In the Three Fields—the upper, middle, and lower Dantian—the Elixir that prolongs life is refined. After nine years of practice, one achieves a work that transcends the mundane world. Often I gaze toward the immortal road that leads to an audience with the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. The light of Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) shines through the Great Luo Palace, one of the highest realms in Daoist legend.

Lead and mercury unite to form the Great Elixir; once taken, they restore the face of youth. The body becomes fully attuned to the transformations of Yin-Yang, while true nature transcends the threshold of life and death.

The eight vessels flow freely and converge in the sea of primordial energy; the myriad spirits gather at the Great Luo Palace on Jade Capital Mountain, the immortal mountain of Daoist legend.

Lead and mercury unite to form the Great Elixir; once taken, they restore the face of youth. The body becomes fully attuned to the transformations of Yin-Yang, while true nature transcends the threshold of life and death.

The eight vessels flow freely and converge in the sea of primordial energy; the myriad spirits gather at Jade Capital Mountain. They turn in cycles, revolving layer upon layer; the innate energy of the limitless Heaven naturally moves to and fro.

Two Poems for Disciples

I have deliberately pointed out this exceptional karmic affinity to those who share my aspirations. From beginning to end, remain steadfast and unwavering. In quiet purity and ease, practice in secret the true method of deliverance. Once food and clothing are secure, gradually reduce your affairs and desires.

Continue cultivating the Way amid the human world, remaining pure and unstained like a lotus that thrives in fire. Rosy clouds guide the steps toward the primordial Dao; when one’s cultivation and merits are complete, blessings extend across the three thousand worlds and the vast cosmos.

All people of wisdom form a bond with the Dao, planting golden lotuses in the depths of the bitter sea. The Golden Elixir lotus rises beyond the dusty world, fragrant and beautiful, far from every impurity. Its light shines through the self and reaches straight to the nine heavens.

From the very beginning, open the vision that penetrates the true Dao, and cultivate the attainment of the supreme Great Luo Immortal, a lofty immortal perfected being in Daoist teaching. What transcends past and present is the true spirit. At the moment of complete awakening, one understands that the Dao has no fixed method that can be taught.

Immortal Realms

The immortal realms are lofty and majestic, beyond the imagining of ordinary people. Their skies are suffused with strange fragrances, mingled with the glimmer of jade-like dust.

From the very beginning, open the vision that penetrates the true Dao, and cultivate the attainment of the supreme Great Luo Immortal. What transcends past and present is the true spirit. At the moment of complete awakening, one understands that the Dao has no fixed method that can be taught.

Immortal Realms

The immortal realms are lofty and majestic, beyond the imagining of ordinary people. Strange fragrances drift through the open sky, mingled with dust that gleams like jade. Rainbow-hued ceremonial banners and red tallies lead the company toward the Golden Palace, the palace of the immortals. Feathered canopies and cloud-patterned banners shine against splendid towers and terraces.

The holy perfected beings of the Three Realms—the realms of desire, form, and formlessness in Daoist teaching—gather here, and the youths of the Five Directions have been wandering here for a long time. This realm has remained unchanged through past and present, but who has ever seen it with their own eyes? Only those whose spiritual vision has opened can do so.

Quanzhen

My master spread the Great Dao and founded Quanzhen (Complete Perfection), the Daoist school. In the beginning, he met the Perfected Pure Yang, Lü Dongbin, and received secret scriptures. His mind and nature filled the void, gathering a pure, bright radiance; when the inner Golden Elixir was complete, auspicious clouds formed both within and without.

In an instant, he transcended the Dharma realm and left behind a profound teaching, transforming the human world and praising the sage ruler. He saved living beings from every kind of suffering, and the teaching naturally spread throughout the world.

Meeting a Master and Receiving Instruction

I once met a living immortal who cultivated spiritual clarity and opened the mind and spirit to the blue heavens. The spirit entered the Crimson Palace, the inner alchemical term for the heart and the place where the spirit is cultivated; from there, a deep radiance appeared. Breath was drawn in and released through the cinnabar cauldron, a symbol of alchemical refinement and a name for the body’s inner place of cultivation, while Qi naturally circulated.

Body and spirit both reached a wondrous state, as if enveloped by mist and rosy clouds. Distinctions between movement and stillness fell away, and nature and life were preserved. May all people in the dusty world understand this principle, and together board the vessel that carries beings across.

Two Poems for Daoist Friends

Poor and gentle, with a cheerful expression always on the face; free and untrammeled by nature, one admires the orthodox Daoist teaching. Better still, devote the whole spirit to inner cultivation, cast off the false, and awaken to the truth of emptiness.

Guard the numinous source firmly, so that body and mind no longer suffer loss or leakage. Wield the divine sword and cut away the nine worms, the harmful parasites of Daoist health cultivation. Refine the cinnabar to purity and understand how to regulate the firing times. Sit in stillness and watch the sun and moon rise and fall, letting them travel east and west.

When Heaven and Earth are in harmony, affairs and principles are clear, and people are at peace; free and untrammeled, one admires the orthodox Daoist teaching. Better still, devote the whole spirit to inner cultivation, cast off the false, and awaken to the truth of emptiness.

When the spiritual source within is firmly established, nothing is lost or depleted. Wield the spirit sword to cut away the nine worms—bodily afflictions described in Daoist teaching, also a metaphor for the bodily and mental disturbances that must be removed in cultivation. Once cinnabar has been refined to perfection, the proper timing of the fire becomes clear. Sit quietly and watch the sun and moon rise and set, letting them travel through Heaven and Earth.

The seasons, the lay of the land, and human peace accord with one another. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, along with the Three Powers of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, share the same underlying principles. The candle of the heart and nature shines without going out, and the spirit child—an inner image of unspoiled spiritual nature—rejoices, lively and content.

The clouds drift away, and the meditative realm grows clear and still. One can embrace all the affairs of the world, and the sea of awakening opens wide without limit. In carefree freedom, contemplate the myriad things, and you will often behold your original face.

In Reply to Someone Asking About the Way to Peace and Joy

The complete and true teaching of the Great Dao of Emptiness—the fundamental reality described in Daoist teaching—can bring prosperity to the state and peace to its people; nothing is more important. Once the spirit palace, the spiritual abode within body and mind, is liberated, myriad transformations arise from it. When the Qi sea, the place where inner Qi gathers in cultivation, is harmonized, all manner of illness can be dispelled.

Settled in stillness, one is like a great vessel that carries one beyond depletion, or like someone gazing at the autumn moon from the vast open sky. When heart and nature are fully radiant, the Dao comes to fulfillment of itself. The cycle turns on and on, and all things continually unfold.

Presented to a Newly Ordained Daoist

Turn back and seek the road to Chang’an, the realm of returning to the Dao. Let go of every distinction between inner and outer, and sweep away the mind’s distracting thoughts. Cut off schemes and contrivances, and penetrate the depths of the mysterious and far-reaching. Apply the method of water and fire joining and of reversal and harmonization, and understand the transformations at work.

Refine and nourish the Four Symbols, the interacting forces such as Yin-Yang, and the Three Powers of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity; also cast off the Seven Emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, love, aversion, and desire—and the Six Drains, the six factors that deplete body and mind. When heart and nature shine bright, they illuminate the Great Void; the Jade Capital, the celestial palace of Daoist tradition, will naturally bestow a golden book.

Showing Disciples How to Collate the Record of Merits and Deeds, Two Poems

Encourage people to do good and form many wholesome connections, and hold firmly to your resolve. Those who devote themselves to their work share my aspirations. Open the Golden Gate, the barrier at the entrance to the path of cultivation, and the mysterious breeze of the Dao will flow through. When an iron tree blossoms, it signals the propagation of the Great Dao.

Showing Disciples How to Collate the Record of Merits and Deeds, Two Poems

Encourage people to do good and form many wholesome connections, and hold firmly to your resolve. Those who devote themselves to their work share my aspirations. Open the Golden Gate, and the mysterious breeze of the Dao will flow through. When an iron tree blossoms, it signals the propagation of the Great Dao.

The myriad spirits celebrate together, and the ceremony unfolds in splendor. The renown of one’s merits and deeds reaches across the Three Ages, leaving no calamity or transgression. One should seek fellow cultivators throughout the ten directions. Once one realizes True Emptiness—the insight into the nature of all things that transcends attachment—one can attain the immortal Dao.

The realm formed by nature is vast without bounds, and accords spontaneously with the principle of Xiyi, the Dao’s subtle state, unseen, unheard, and beyond grasp. This nameless, pure reality can bring forth all things. Deep and mysterious, it is the enduring basis through which transformations unfold.

Banners and ceremonial standards gleam in ranks among the clouds and sky; the sound of jade pendants descends from the vast heavens. Guiding beings toward a state of perfect, penetrating clarity, the Dharma Wheel—the ceaseless circulation of the Dao’s teachings—turns without pause, and the mysterious breeze of the Dao flows with it.

Two Poems on Creation and Transformation

After ten years of cultivating this wondrous practice, one can follow the Dao universally and refine oneself into a true being. The lead cauldron, the alchemical vessel used in refinement, grows warm and moist, and spirit light appears. The spiritual cinnabar blazes with radiance, and the fire’s timing for alchemy is complete.

Twice you receive the wondrous Qi of the Dao and channel it straight to the mountain summit; a stream of clear, cool spring water, pure as jade, descends to the fields where the lingzhi grows. Part chaos apart, and you can behold the Limitless; open the way for the numinous root, and cultivate a noble, expansive spirit.

Two Poems on Creation and Transformation

Practice the wondrous method, and after ten years of perfect work have accumulated, follow the Dao in your cultivation and seek to become a true immortal. Warm Qi suffuses the lead cauldron, and spirit light blossoms; the numinous cinnabar shines brilliantly, and the alchemical fire has reached maturity.

Twice you receive the wondrous Qi of the Dao and channel it straight to the mountain summit; a stream of clear, cool spring water, pure as jade, descends to the fields where the lingzhi grows. Part chaos apart, and you can behold the Limitless; open the way for the numinous root, and cultivate a noble, expansive spirit.

Cultivate yourself with refined simplicity, and the tiger and dragon—the symbols of Yin and Yang Qi in Neidan practice—answer one another with their cries. In stillness, hold fast to true compassion, and let the Dao be transmitted through the ages. Taiji, the Supreme Ultimate, is the source of the creation of all things. From it the clear, mysterious order of the cosmos unfolds, moving amid the transformations of rising and sinking.

Gather the mind and spirit, and harmful influences cannot enter the five organs. Remove the disturbances of the Three Corpses, the spirits said in Daoism to dwell in the human body and obstruct cultivation, and the Dao will naturally be within reach. Once the great Elixir has formed, its precious radiance is complete, and it rises from the Jade Mountain.

Dharma Kin

The immortal kin of Jade Capital, the celestial city of Daoist legend, are joined to me in spirit. Blessings and prosperity increase, and calamity stays away. Hell becomes a Dharma assembly where the teaching is transmitted; a pit of fire becomes an immortal bridge that leads beings to liberation.

Sitting at ease, I hear the Dharma drum resounding on Spirit Mountain. Then I prepare my cloud chariot and ride the clouds toward the Purple Empyrean. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sends down radiance and widely saves living beings; throughout the Three Realms of Primordial Unity, I roam in freedom.

Rising Theme

Ahead, a purple phoenix dances in the glow of the clouds; behind, a blue-green luan leads the way into an imperial realm of immortals. The grotto-heavens, abodes of the immortals, shine without night in their adornment of seven treasures; the ritual methods of the Nine Purities, the higher celestial realms of Daoism, are taught everywhere.

The Five Phases and the Four Images—the four forms of Yin-Yang transformation—are clearly intermingled and brought into harmony. Calamities accumulated through ten thousand kalpas and a thousand lifetimes are dispelled. Two primal substances blend to form a body free from loss or dissipation; the true nature of the single spirit ascends to the heavens.

Leaving the Dust Behind

Leap free of the cycle of rebirth and enter the path of cultivation; the mysterious truth silently fills the heart. In an instant, transcend all worldly constraints, within and without, and fall no more into the abyss of suffering that surrounds you.

A single point of numinous light remains whole and undiminished, while the four temporary elements that compose the body—usually understood as earth, water, fire, and wind—are left to sink into the earth. In time, ride a crane to pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, then return to the heavenly palace and ascend the jade steps.

Presented to the Commander of Yidu

You were originally a point of true spirit within the Void. Descending to the Central Plain, you became a worthy minister. Your fame resounds across the frontier, and everything you undertake is brought to a proper conclusion. You serve the enlightened court with loyalty, and in all your actions you prize benevolence above all.

The immortals of Yuyang gather for celebrations not in the ordinary world of dust, but often form bonds of goodness in blessed realms. If people can maintain their practice for a hundred years, they will at last join the ranks of the immortals. From this day onward, let their goodness and De grow day by day.

Written in the xinyou year of the Taihe era (1141), on the occasion of the Great Offering to All Heaven in Bozhou, and presented to the assembly

The Sage Emperor issues a talismanic decree from the grotto-heavens, the blessed abodes of immortals. He expounds the teachings at the Golden Gate, and the celebration’s blessings know no bounds. A splendid offering is made to the deities, spreading bonds of goodness among all. May the dynasty’s foundations endure, firm as mountains and vast as the sea.

The assembly rejoices and celebrates peace together; all arrangements for honoring De have been made with care. Everyone takes part in this ritual beneath the Taiqing Palace, a Daoist temple. This is perhaps the fourth decree of grace issued by imperial favor.

Urging the assembly to contribute to bonds of goodness (two poems)

I hear that you have been encouraging donations and raising funds on a great scale. Do not refuse because the work is hard, and do not let honor, disgrace, gain, or loss sway you; attend to the task with all your heart. Nurture the spirit, bringing body and mind to ease and harmony. Cultivate together, steady the will, and follow nature.

Spread the Way of purity and emptiness, contemplating your nature as clearly as the bright moon. Set the workings of transformation in motion, and let the embryo-immortal—the inner life force cultivated through Neidan—dance. Having grasped the truth, cultivate silently, leaving no gaps or flaws in your practice. Hold fast to a compassionate heart that does not waver, so that its radiance fills the vast universe.

Strengthen your resolve and settle your spirit; encourage bonds of goodness far and wide. Let each fulfill their great vows, and burn incense as you pray. Seek the principles of the Way and awaken anew, casting off worldly attachments and feelings.

The Five Viscera shine with light, bringing forth jade-like blossoms. Qi surges through the Three Fields—the upper, middle, and lower Dantian—and breathes out golden lotuses. The numinous treasures of the ten directions rise into the sky; nature is fully understood, and one reaches the heaven where night does not fall.

Urging people to leave the false and return to the true

The human body is borrowed for a temporary stay, and rebirth and transformation depend on the causes and conditions of previous lives. Past sins follow us, bringing pressure and torment. The precious bright mirror and divine pearl lie buried and obscured; like a lamp in the wind or sparks from a stone, they are fleeting and fragile.

You should awaken and seek a way out of the cycle of rebirth. Devote yourselves to guarding body, mind, and life, keeping them whole. Gather the light of the spirit and use it to nourish yourselves. When you realize the truth and reach its source, you can recover your original completeness.

Sent to my mother

Mother and child cultivate the Dao together, leaving behind the life of the household. They take the Way of Heaven as their standard and make following the Great Dao their life’s work. Wherever they go, the spirits protect and aid them. As they urge people to do good, their blessings and years of life increase in turn.

They no longer dwell on the ties of affection and obligation among worldly kin; the moral teachings of the mysterious gate remain unchanged. As their inner spirit rises, they return to the true realm of the immortals. When their cultivation is complete in the years to come, they will meet again on the immortal isle of Penglai.

There is no need to cling to the bonds of kinship in the secular world; the Daoist path of moral cultivation remains the same throughout. When inner spirituality is elevated, one may enter the realm of truth. When cultivation bears fruit in time, one may make a name for oneself on Peng Island, the legendary mountain of immortals.

Urging All to Cultivate Both Inwardly and Outwardly

Inward cultivation is meant to transcend the cycle of rebirth; outward acts of goodness are meant to relieve hardship. Keeping precepts and doing good in the world do not conflict with inner observation and cultivation. Supporting Daoist teaching and creating the conditions for cultivation brings one’s merit to light. Aiding the distressed and rescuing those in danger also accumulate blessings and virtue, and may prolong life.

A golden lotus rises free of the mire; two jade-like forms emerge from a realm as beautiful as fine jade from Kunlun. One should celebrate the ruler who brings peace at every opportunity, spreading clouds of compassion throughout the ten directions.

Presented to the Daoist Believer, the Thousand-Household Officer of Weizhou

In past lives, you formed wondrous ties time and again. Your devout heart rises heavenward like curling incense smoke. In the dusty world, cultivate suchness—the true, unchanging nature—and even amid circumstances as fierce as fire, you will bloom unfailingly like a lotus.

May all seek the true Dao and reach the farther shore. Each should also make a great vow and dispel past transgressions. When cultivation is complete and its fruits have ripened, divine radiance will gather; in the end, all may attain the realm of Wuwei (non-action) and accord with the Dao of nature.

Two Poems Presented to the Assistant Director of the Palace Attendants’ Bureau

Cherish the virtue of preserving life and aid all beings; let the Daoist heart be deep and steadfast. Do not pursue worldly splendor, lest you misdirect your efforts. Refine body and mind through careful practice, washing away the grime within your heart; in time, you will preserve the youthful radiance within.

Practice loyalty and filial devotion, harboring no partiality or crooked intent, and the spirits will guide you along the right path. Before you know it, you will have left the sea of suffering that is birth and death, and the bearing of the Daoist tradition will shine throughout the ten directions and the three realms.

Vast grace has rarely ceased from antiquity to the present. Once worldly passions have been fully understood, they can no longer lead you astray. Accumulate virtue and take refuge in the supreme Great Dao; accumulate merit and you will dispel the deceptions of your own mind.

The myriad spirits transcend arising and passing away; the One Nature, the innate and unchanging nature, remains constant and unmoved. One day, ride a phoenix through the Purple Palace, the heavenly realm where immortals dwell, clad in a Six-Ounce Robe, the legendary featherlight garment of immortals, and receive Heaven’s blessings.

Two Poems Presented to Daoist Practitioners Who Have Come from Afar

Those who share the Dao understand one another; they come and go freely. Traveling in search of the Dao, they cross a thousand mountains and ford sacred waters. They cleanse the heart with subtle teachings and grasp the mysteries’ deeper meaning; setting aside distracting thoughts, they turn their light inward and investigate the stillness within.

Before the hall of gold and jade, they refine phoenix marrow; in a cave among mist and rosy clouds, they cultivate the Yang Barrier, a term from Daoist inner practice. The clear breeze and bright moon embody the realm of true emptiness. Insight into the teaching and understanding of its purpose often come in a single instant.

Sweep away entirely the roots of worldly attachments, leaving nothing in the heart, and practice in stillness and quietude. The pure, numinous light stretches into the distance, illuminating the moon within the heart; crimson radiance shines brilliantly, enveloping the pearl of one’s nature.

Having attained the true essence of the primordial Great Dao, one may let the body dissolve into the four great elements of earth, water, fire, and wind—the four basic constituents of the human body—and remain unbound. When cultivation is complete and its merit perfected, one receives a heavenly decree and rides securely upon auspicious clouds to the Jade Capital, the immortal city in heaven.

A Word of Encouragement to Those Who Cultivate the Dao

Those who cultivate the Dao should keep this counsel firmly in mind: do not continue chasing the cycle of rebirth, revolving endlessly through life and death. Let go of attachment to all things; there is no need to struggle over the many disputes of the mundane world.

When body and mind are balanced and at ease, a thousand ailments will fade away. When Shen and Qi flow freely in harmony, the four seasons will be calm and peaceful. Once cultivation brings clear understanding, nothing more remains to be realized; by entering deeply into the mysterious, one attains perfection.

Holding a Zhaijiao Ritual on the Tian Du Festival

On the Tian Du Festival, carefully establish the Yellow Register Zhaijiao, a Daoist purification ritual for praying for blessings and delivering the departed. Proclaim the true Dao and pray that officials and common people throughout the realm enjoy health and peace for ten thousand years. May all join in offering blessings with sincere hearts, and may those who take part pray with true filial devotion, so that their wishes reach Heaven.

Incense smoke rises in curling wisps, ascending beyond the Three Realms—the realms of desire, form, and formlessness. The merit is vast and reaches throughout the entire great chiliocosm. May all sentient beings reach the shore of the Dao, find peace and joy, and encounter auspicious opportunities.

Relying on Li Shouqing to Transform Wood into Plants

Though Li Shouqing comes from a noble family, he should not shrink from difficult tasks. Acting with benevolence and righteousness opens the passage between life and death. The Buddhist Tripitaka speaks of causes and conditions that are vast and far-reaching; the teachings of the Daoist tradition, too, are worth pursuing.

The growth of good fortune and prosperity depends on actual cultivation. Nurture body and mind, and keep the heart at peace. With undivided focus and no selfish intent, one can accord with Heaven and Earth. When the radiance of one’s good roots gathers and shines, one’s youthful appearance, too, can endure.

County Lady Chen of Anqiu Leaves Home to Seek Instruction

By coming to cultivate within the quiet Daoist tradition, one will not have spent one’s time in vain when later traveling among the immortal islands of Penglai. When hungry, one feeds on the body’s true primordial essence; when thirsty, one drinks the jade-like red radiance of cinnabar clouds. These are images of inner cultivation, describing how practitioners nourish true Qi and cultivate their innate nature.

A single Qi circulates through the purified body and mind, while the myriad spirits gather in the Palace of Crimson Firmament, a heavenly palace in Daoist tradition. Through cultivation, one renews one’s appearance and transforms one’s body, escaping the effects of age. One teaches beings in the human and heavenly realms and becomes a master of the orthodox Daoist teachings.

Requesting Master Hui to Repair the Hall

Immortal Hui excels at discerning the writings of past and present. Like Shi Kuang, the celebrated listener of the Spring and Autumn period, he is perceptive and clear-sighted, with a lucid, undimmed nature. I invite you to learn my Way of freedom: contemplate the precious moon within your heart, a metaphor for your clear innate nature, and resolve firmly to cut through attachment to the mundane world.

For two reigns, the sacred emperors opened a road to the land of immortals and, in a single stroke, spread the wondrous rites, allowing all people to enjoy the blessings of the Great Dao. People from the four quarters travel through the human world as circumstances allow, proclaiming the fine family tradition of purity, stillness, and Wuwei (non-action).

Presented to the assembly at Shuichegou, Rizhao County

Water from the wheel irrigates the tender shoots of cultivation, helping them grow until their numinous light gradually shines forth and illuminates the Purple Palace, the dwelling of the Celestial Emperor. The two Qi of Yin and Yang are the foundation from which all things arise and change. When cultivation bears fruit, it is as though branches and leaves flourish and spread among the stars across the heavens.

Exquisite rosy light passes through the Three Realms—the heavens, the earth, and the human world. A perfect, clear, and pure state emerges from the Six Dusts, the external sensory impressions that disturb the mind. The cultivator realizes their original, true nature and, awakened by their master, comprehends the Dao of Quanzhen (Complete Perfection).

Presented to the magistrate of Anqiu County

Anqiu’s mountains and waters are lovely and clear, and the city is especially fortunate to be governed by a loyal and worthy person. The people live in harmony, and even Heaven and Earth seem pleased; the crops are abundant and the granaries full.

As an official, be fair and upright, showing no favoritism; wherever you go, the people will praise the peace you bring. Devote yourself to assisting the state and caring for its people. When your service is complete, then seek deeply into the Dao and De, and bring your own path of cultivation to fulfillment.

The parents-in-law ask about cultivation

The parents-in-law both say that their hearts are deeply devoted to the Dao. But if they care only for appearances and do not cultivate in earnest, their efforts will ultimately come to nothing. They should understand genuine cultivation, forget distinctions between self and other, and stop seeking outwardly or rushing from place to place.

To gather Qi and Shen (spirit) in the Primordial Sea, the root place where Jing, Qi, and Shen converge in Neidan (internal alchemy), one must rein in the “monkey and horse”—a metaphor for restless thoughts—within the Crimson Palace, the inner alchemical center associated with the heart. Bring all scattered and deluded thoughts under control, and you will meet no obstruction. You will roam freely and at ease, fulfilling the work of the immortal Dao.

Presented to Liu Yanchong and Wang Renmei of Wenshan, who founded the Danxia Temple

Liu Yanchong and Wang Renmei are both discerning and learned. By founding the Danxia Temple, they have given fresh life to the aspiration to cultivate the Dao. Wenshan by the Eastern Sea is an ancient place of renown, while the teachings of the ancestral master of Western Qin are a blessing cultivated in ages past.

They handle worldly affairs with care and generosity, and their hearts are broad and inclusive. They also bring together the wondrous arts of cultivation and rise above the mundane world. Then, by setting aside worldly splendor and turning their hearts back toward the Dao, they can become cultivators.

Presented to Qingyuan Chong of the Guanxi region, ritual master of Ninghai

In Ninghai, purity and stillness are his home; he holds the rank of ceremonial robes and cap, the vestments and observances of Daoism. Penghu, the legendary mountain of immortals, rises to the highest peak and is the homeland of his heart. He devotes himself to studying the Elixir scriptures and seeking the mysteries of Heaven and Earth’s creative power, while carefully tending the numinous beings so that they are spared sorrow.

He burns incense and prays for long life, his merit undiminished. He repays virtue and returns kindness; the Dao follows its own nature…

Dwell in peace and purity at Ninghai, where officials and dignitaries gather. The immortal realm of Penghu, atop its lofty peaks, is our true home. Study the alchemical scriptures with care and investigate the transformations of Heaven and Earth. Settle and preserve what is numinous and wondrous, so that you may be spared sorrow and suffering.

Burn incense and pray for long life; your merit and virtue will not be wanting. Repay virtue and return kindness, and the Daoist path will naturally flourish. Let every movement and stillness accord with the patterns of Heaven and Earth. In time, you will walk among the clouds and pay homage to the Emperor of Emptiness, the Heavenly Sovereign revered in Daoism.

Sent to the Two Gentlemen surnamed Song of Laiyang

A letter to the two immortal friends surnamed Song of Laiyang. The ancients always carried out their affairs with care and single-mindedness. Several places will soon hold Zhaijiao (purification rituals with an altar and prayers). You should come together as soon as you can and form this blessed connection.

Do not regard the diligence of cultivating the Dao as an ordinary worldly affair. Know that pure cultivation can plant the Golden Lotus, a symbol of achievement in the Dao. When the inner and outer practices of Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) are brought to full fruition, the mind’s radiance can shine back from ten thousand li away, reaching straight through the blue sky.

Shangqing Temple on Maicha Mountain

Seek out fellow Daoists amid the eastern sea of clouds. All aspire to complete the alchemical Dao and join the lineage of the patriarchs. The Three Realms and Ten Directions—the various realms of Heaven and Earth and the four quarters above and below—merge into one, as sages throughout the world expound the wondrous truth of true emptiness.

August Heaven and Sovereign Earth, the deities of Heaven and Earth, bestow abundant blessings. Auspicious events and longevity make the merit of cultivating goodness manifest. Save the people and spread the Great Dao; guide living beings from generation to generation, establishing a fine tradition within the Daoist community.

Instructions to the Assembly

At an assembly for cultivating the true, faith is deep and expansive. The offerings and prayers of the community open a path to the primordial Great Dao. Bringing forth life from nonbeing is a practice of freedom; transforming and refining what is within being can establish a fine tradition within the Daoist community.

The clear, resonant sounds of the Dao ring out, rising straight to the clouds. A nature as pure as jade is lucid and alive, expounding the authentic lineage of the Daoist tradition. Make these teachings clear to the world; amid the eastern sea of clouds, attain a state of perfect and unhindered integration.

Two Poems Presented to Li Jieming, Judicial Commissioner of Mingwei

Since you have come knocking in search of the Dao, do not waste your years in ignorance. Gather and refine the Sun’s soul and the Moon’s spirit in accordance with the seasons—terms for Yin-Yang essences in Neidan (internal alchemy)—and work to collect the mercury marrow and lead essence, terms for the vital energies refined in alchemical practice.

Gather the Qi of the spirits and pay homage to the Jade Emperor. Reopen the eye of wisdom and behold the jade towers of the immortal realm. Once the Neidan is refined, the inner and outer movements of ascent and descent are harmonized and complete. The state of Wuwei (non-action) brings a knowing smile.

Purify the mind and spirit, refining within a radiant orb of light. Expound the Daoist teachings and open the truth, letting them fill the Ten Directions. Accumulate De (Virtue), and spirits and ghosts will naturally honor you. Nurture your true nature; do not let worldly affairs wound it.

The subtle workings of Yin-Yang reversed and transformed are hidden from ordinary people. The perfected state of dual cultivation of nature and life is beyond the measure of the world. The Dharma Realm—the totality of all existence in Buddhist and Daoist contexts—is lucid and numinous, vast and boundless, as if soaring beyond the heavens.

Cultivation should follow Heaven’s Way and take the Great Dao as its model, bringing harmony to the world and to human relationships. If you resolve firmly to pursue it and persevere over the long term without turning back, you can understand profound principles and realize “nonbirth,” the state of transcendence beyond the cycle of birth and death.

The ten thousand books Ge Hong read ultimately led to comprehensive understanding. With a broad mind, one can rise beyond the mundane world and soar freely.

Presented to the Daoist community at Wenshan Temple

Cultivation should follow Heaven’s Way and take the Great Dao as its model, bringing harmony to the world and to human relationships. If you resolve firmly to pursue it and persevere over the long term without turning back, you can understand profound principles and realize “nonbirth,” the state of transcendence beyond the cycle of birth and death.

The ten thousand books Ge Hong read ultimately led to the Great Dao. The thousand chests of books Huizi amassed, by contrast, served only to tally the quantity of his learning. Better to transcend all at once and arrive at what is real; the virtue already inherent in you will then naturally become complete.

In reply to Suige’s question about cultivation

Purify body and mind, and regulate the breath and spirit. Through cultivation, refine yourself as though smelting gold and jade, and emerge from the trap of delusion. Secretly nurture the medicine of longevity in the upper, middle, and lower Dantian (the three centers of cultivation described in Daoism). When the right conditions mature, you will joyfully encounter the Way of immortality.

The Five Heavenly Lights shine, while the Qi of the Six Yang gradually circulates within the Earth Qi. The breath warms the joints throughout the body and reaches the skin and bones. This is a sign that cultivation has borne fruit and that you are approaching the Purple Palace in Heaven.

Presented to Erlang of Changlan, who abandoned the Way

When you first entered my school, everyone held you in high regard. Who could have guessed that in the end, you and I were not destined to become kindred spirits? The road to the azure firmament, the realm of immortals, is still long, while the years of human life will soon be spent. Your evil name stands out in the Black Register, which records offenses for judgment in the underworld, and the abyss of hell is already close at hand.

The achievements of men like Fan Li and Zhang Liang are not easy to emulate, but the cauldrons of boiling water and forests of swords—the traditional punishments of hell—are easy to incur. When you someday endure the merciless consequences, it will be too late to regret your former indulgence and arrogance.

In reply to Lu Xuanwu’s question about the Way

The One Qi rises, descends, and circulates, coalescing into the Great Elixir, the essence sought through Neidan cultivation. Only then do you understand that the numinous substance turns of its own accord. Gather the precious True Qi back to the center, then set the celestial mechanism in motion so that it flows into your inner countenance and spirit.

Its radiance illuminates the Nine Palaces, the inner palaces described in Daoism and also a realm in Heaven, from which you may contemplate the world. Once your work on the Way is complete, you can remain for ages among the ranks of immortals. Ride the Azure Luan, the legendary bird of the immortals, steadily into the sky; from then on, your noble reputation will guard the mountains and seas.

Presented to a diviner

By probing the principles of Heaven, you can see them with perfect clarity. You make a point of judging for people the course of their misfortunes and prospects. You can discern good and ill fortune in the movement of Yin and Yang, and understand the patterns of the waxing and waning moon.

If you follow the course of the Nine Luminaries, calamity will come. Turn instead to accord with the Three Yang, a sign that Yang Qi is returning and fortune is improving, and misfortune will not trouble you. Do not wait until impermanence—death—and the end of your allotted years arrive before you awaken. If neither the wise nor the common people cultivate the Way, all will ultimately fall into the pit.

A gathering of disciples from Shanghe seeks instruction

The destined people of Shanghe have already grasped the principle of turning their attention inward to illuminate the mind. Step by step, they walk the mysterious path, spreading the Dao’s influence throughout their homeland. Roads leading to the cloud heavens extend and intersect, opening onto a vast and profound realm. When the Yin demons have dispersed, one’s original nature shines forth clearly.

The clear, high notes of immortal music ring out, stirring even the spirits of the mountains. Radiant light shines in clustered beams, filling the Jade Hall. One day, freed from the ordinary world, one may enjoy lasting peace and purity in Penglai.

Zhang Zhenguo, from the capital, asks about cultivating the Dao

Gather the numinous, luminous nature within the heart. In practice, work with care, hold fast to the root, and seek out the source. Do not let external things steal the treasures stored within you. Keep a mind free of attachment as you live among the dust and bustle of the world.

Conceal what is subtle and profound, and true suchness—the real, unchanging nature—will appear. Cherish and nourish your essence, and the Dharma Sea will grow clear and empty. Auspicious traces of the immortals have never ceased; through them, the practitioner can understand how to reach directly the Palace of Daluo, the highest heavenly realm in Daoism.

A question from Zhang the Elder, a boatman from northern Qingzhou

Pilot an empty boat across the world; let your shadow drift lightly into the ranks of the immortals. Set the numinous and refined Qi in motion and gather it within the Golden Cauldron, an image of internal cultivation. Grasp the changes of Yin-Yang and turn the Jade Ring, symbolizing the circulating course of cultivation.

Leave forever the surging waves of the dusty world, and the bitter sea of love as well. Wield a sharp sword to cut through the towering bonds of affection and obligation. Penghu and Langyuan, legendary realms of the immortals, are places to roam in freedom. Let go of worldly thoughts with a single intention, and you can reach them both.

Presented to the disciple Nan Lü Ge

Search carefully for the source reaching back through distant kalpas, and understand the precious karmic conditions that brought you to this path of cultivation. Every kind of auspiciousness flows into the Valley of the Elixir, where true radiance is gathered in; ten thousand streams of silvery light converge and turn upward.

Use the Qi of Metal and Wood to drive the River Chariot, the Neidan term for circulating Qi throughout the body, and transport the Phoenix Marrow. In the furnace of Gui and Ding, refine a ball of frost. These are all images for Neidan practice. When the work of circulating through the celestial cycle is complete, the divine Elixir is formed. Five-colored radiance gathers and shines upon the immortal lands of the Ten Continents.

Ren Ge of Sizhou asks about the great matter of nature and life

Bringing nature and life into complete unity is not difficult. When karmic burdens are exhausted and numinous light appears, one can travel freely along the path of cultivation. With the breath settled and extended, one can understand the true principles; quiet the spirit and remain still, and one can guard the Mysterious Pass, the point where the mind is gathered and intent maintained in cultivation.

Gather and nourish the essence of true Qi, and the Elixir can form. Break through attachment to emptiness, and the original nature will rest at ease of its own accord. A single point of numinous light transcends the workings of creation; borne by a cloud chariot, it arrives at Jade Capital Mountain, an immortal mountain in the Daoist heavens.

Presented to Xu, senior clerk of Putai County

The human body is a temporary gathering of the four elements—earth, water, fire, and wind—and is therefore illusory and insubstantial. Yet there is good reason to use this temporary body to cultivate the true Dao. The highest Dao is subtle and hard to see, but it never vanishes or ceases. The Primordial Spirit, the original spirit within a person, transcends freely and is bound by no place.

The body is a temporary union of the four great elements—earth, water, fire, and wind—and is not enduring. There is good reason to use this borrowed body to cultivate the true Dao (the Way). The highest Dao is subtle and difficult to perceive, yet it is never severed or lost. Once freed from constraint, the original spirit—the person’s true spiritual nature—moves with ease and freedom, with nothing to hold it back.

Nurture the lead cauldron, an image in internal alchemy for refining and nourishing essence and Qi (vital energy), and golden light bursts forth. The numinous palace, the dwelling place of the heart and spirit, is still and peaceful; the jade flame draws inward. A true master appears before you. The two meet, clap their hands, and laugh with unceasing joy.

In emptiness and stillness, establish the golden altar, a place for setting up a ritual altar in the practice of the Dao, and open the passageway through the cycles of rebirth and death. Harmonize your nature and temperament until the mind is calm as still water. Gather Qi and spirit, bringing them together to circulate as an endless ring.

The numinous pearl, an image of pure spiritual nature in internal alchemy, rises brilliantly beyond the clouds, while the crane-borne carriage drifts out of the world of dust. Even in the highest celestial realm of Daluo, you can retain a dignified and beautiful appearance.

I send this letter to my worthy friend, Sun Siweng, hoping you will seek out and pass on the Daoist methods of my tradition. Refine your practice with subtle care, clearing and brightening both body and mind until external things return to emptiness and stillness. Let filial devotion be careful and enduring, and keep the mind and spirit clear and alert; in the end, return to the cloud palace, the dwelling place of perfected immortals.

May you and I work together in unity to spread the true teaching, so that all may be instructed and come to understand the orthodox tradition.

Those bound by shared purpose and practice may come and go freely, traveling among the sacred waters and crossing the mountains together. For a time, leave behind the many entanglements of the world and often seek out the profound mysteries of the Dao.

When true wisdom arises from within your nature, you will recognize your original face within the gourd, a symbol of the practitioner’s inner world. Let go with your whole being and cease worrying over all things; then you will be free and untroubled, at ease and unencumbered.

Please consider this carefully now. Since you have met with a favorable opportunity, you can take on this undertaking. A household prospers through accumulated virtue and good deeds; when the star of good fortune shines upon it, calamities will surely be dispelled.

May those who are destined to do so support the mysterious teaching and learn my Way of Wuwei (non-action), thereby reaching understanding of Heaven above. Throughout the four seas, in life and death alike, all return to the same Great Dao. Once the teaching is established, even hell can be transformed into paradise.

Another title is given here: “Reply to the Ninghai Prefect, who invited me by letter again and again.”

As long as the incense of faith continues, responses will come one after another. If you are willing to nurture them with care, the shoots of good fortune will grow. Govern through virtue and forbid wrongdoing; show compassion and affection to the old and the young, and people will praise you.

The Emperor of Heaven’s palace—his royal residence, here referring to the celestial court—often sends down its beneficent light, a clear sign that your loyalty and blessings are renowned. I hope that when your achievements are complete and your name is celebrated, you will come to the mountain forests to speak of the Way of freedom and ease.

Presented to Lord Mingshui on the Palace Examination

When the mind and spirit are clear, one gladly awakens to the constant truth. Practice selflessness and desirelessness each day, and sincerity will reach the heavens. Do not become absorbed in the Confucian pursuit of worldly fame; seek the principles of the Way more deeply and cherish primal Yang, the vital energy at the root of life in cultivation.

Sever the countless ties that bind you to the dusty world, and you can transcend the Three Realms: the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Realm of Formlessness. Once cultivation is complete, the principles of the Way will run through the Ten Directions—the four cardinal directions, the four intermediate directions, above, and below. Compare the paths ahead: how can holding office compare with setting out for the land of immortals?

Reply to Master Zhao, Ritual Specialist of Yizhou, on a Question About Cultivation

The Daoist cultivator’s path is like clouds, stretching on without end; auspicious Qi gradually appears. Once you awaken fully, worldly concerns naturally fall away. You feel only a pure current of Qi within, and gradually see the Three Powers—Heaven, Earth, and Humanity—gathering in the cauldron, a symbol of Neidan cultivation.

The Azure Dragon and White Tiger, symbols in Neidan of Yin and Yang forces, roar aloud; the Red Phoenix and Black Tortoise, likewise symbols of cultivation, clash as they come and go. The circuits of Qi throughout the body converge and connect. When the work of the Way is complete, a purple document from the celestial registers will come to summon you.

Presented to the Director of Fundraising for the Teaching in Yangdu

The supplies that support the teaching will arrive in due time, and the capital’s radiance will continue to flourish. Do not fear hardship; accomplish good works. When auspicious occasions arise, you will be spared calamity.

After the old retreat was demolished, it was rebuilt, renewing the current of good ties that was about to wane. I am deeply grateful for the grace of the holy ones and the power of their merit. May we pray for a vast blessing, enduring as Mount Tiantai.

Farewell to the Daoist Assembly from Afar

At dawn I must part from those I know and go to various places to guide people in the human and celestial realms. If you can grasp the principle of the sun and moon meeting within the gourd—a Daoist image of cultivation—you can rise beyond the dusty world and walk among clouds and rosy mists.

I have not yet returned to Penglai, the immortal island, to pay homage to the True Sages. For now, I remain in the human world to save those lost in delusion. I keep likes and dislikes, right and wrong, out of my heart, letting the sun and moon—the Raven and Hare, traditional symbols of the sun and moon—run their course from east to west.

Presented to Zhang, Kitchen Steward of the Temple of Cultivating the Truth

Your aspiration to keep the kitchen’s river water clean is sincere and proper. Do not spill or waste it carelessly; handle every task with care. Work with discipline and cleanliness, and you will often bring joy to the immortals. A frugal life also allows you to accumulate all kinds of good deeds.

Since you regularly tend the field of blessings—a metaphor for cultivating merit—your heart will naturally hold its concerns… Let the sun and moon run their course from east to west.

Presented to Zhang, Kitchen Steward of the Temple of Cultivating the Truth

When working in the kitchen, remember to keep the river water clean, attend carefully to every step, and do not scatter or waste things carelessly. Careful, clean work often delights the immortals; a frugal life can also accumulate many kinds of good deeds.

Now that you have entered the field of blessings—a place for cultivating merit and virtue—you should continually nurture and increase the good seeds within it. In this way, your state of mind will naturally remain open and peaceful for a long time. When your spiritual practice is complete and you leave the worldly realm, the divine pearl—a symbol of the precious fruit of cultivation—will at last appear.

Two Poems for Disciples, Concealing the Head and Dissecting Characters

When the eye of the heart opens, the mind is free of worry. If you are willing to focus and hold fast, every kind of good deed can be brought to completion. When an auspicious opportunity arises, you may receive the Golden Formula, a precious instruction for cultivation. The master’s repeated admonitions point to the principle: it lies in spiritual practice.

The upper and lower realms communicate, and the breath circulates freely without obstruction. In the future, you will be enrolled among the immortals, roam beyond the clouds, partake of immortal medicines, and travel wherever you please.

Cultivate the rising and falling of the fire phases through inner observation. Set aside disputes over right and wrong, along with all manner of external things. When the spirit-nature reaches the golden ground—the realm signified by cultivation—it will flourish; yet the hun and po souls remain bound to the Moon Palace, an image used here for cultivation.

To transmit the Elixir instructions, one must meet a true master. When numinous light appears, the jade liquid—a term in internal alchemy for the essence produced through cultivation—will brim over. The joy is boundless, and what is attained is real and not illusory. Keep the mind clear and undeluded, and you will be free to roam.

The passage beginning “Zhang Wulang, non-things, things, rest” appears again below, repeating the same content as above.

Zhang Wulang Asks About Cultivation: Concealing the Head and Dissecting Characters

Fortunate to hear the true principle of Dao and De, one is in the field of blessings and feels, without realizing it, a refreshing coolness. The uncarved jade leaves the worldly realm; its nature is fragrant, and its scent seems to drift beyond the heavens.

The golden rooster often brings auspicious signs, and the vermilion phoenix frequently heralds good fortune. After many years of cultivation, one finally understands the principle of Wuwei (non-action). With golden books and jade registers—images of immortal scriptures or talismans—one guides Wulang to the Way.

Presented to Yang, the Senior Licentiate: Gathering Three Characters

Yang, the Senior Licentiate, comes to ask about the ancient, authentic teaching, the Daoist tradition’s fundamental principle. We know one another and remain true to that bond from beginning to end. You dwell in the worldly realm, while I have transcended the distinctions between being and nonbeing.

You trust and accept the truth, understanding the Three Lights—the clear illumination of the principle—and suffering and emptiness, concepts in Buddhist and Daoist scriptures that describe the world’s suffering and emptiness. Through cultivation one can transcend the workings of creation; at last, the true realm appears, and one journeys to the Palace of Peng, where immortals dwell.

Seven-Character Ancient-Style Poem

At the Xu Fu Inn there was a young Daoist nun who disfigured herself and cut off her nose out of devout longing for the Dao. The author composed a poem for her.

She disfigured herself and cut off her nose, intent on cultivating the Dao. [The remaining lines are interpreted according to the extant text: they concern the Three Lights, suffering and emptiness, transcending the workings of creation, revealing the true realm, and journeying to the Palace of Peng.]

A young Taoist nun at Xufu Temple disfigured herself and cut off her nose, yet remained devout and steadfast in her resolve to cultivate the Dao. For this reason, this poem was presented to her.

Though she disfigured herself and cut off her nose, her resolve to seek the Dao grew firmer still. To free herself from worldly entanglements, she formed a bond in harmony with the Dao. Once she recognized the foundation of cultivation, she rose beyond ordinary people. Twice she swore an oath, vowing that it would reach the blue heavens.

The three lights—the sun, moon, and stars—shone upon her unseen, awakening her spiritual insight and wisdom. As body and mind came into harmony, the path of cultivation gradually unfolded. Radiance appeared in five wondrous colors, shining without end. Having perfected the Six Perfections, the six practices that carry one to the far shore of liberation, she seemed to breathe forth golden lotuses.

The seven emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, aversion, and desire—fell away, and perfect radiance gathered within her. The immortals of the Eight Grottoes all acknowledged her. A nine-curved pearl passed through the crown of her head, enabling her to move freely throughout the ten directions.

Poem on the Sea Market, with Preface

For a time I left Dongmu and traveled west, climbed to the city of the prefecture, and gradually sought out ancient Huangxi Hill. I encountered the sea market, a vision that appears over the sea, where light poured forth and wonders came into view. Through this, I entered into harmony with the Dao and returned to the realm of truth. Thus I say: August Heaven reveals its celestial secrets, and the Great Dao unfolds in splendor. Cloaked in the radiance of the sun, moon, and stars, it descends; receiving the One Qi, it rises. All things in the world change without end, yet people do not understand the principles behind them. This is the power that nourishes the heavens, and the harmonious Qi between Heaven and Earth. Cold and heat alternate through the four seasons; the myriad forms appear in the vast sky and give rise to mysterious wonders. Here the sources of the myriad teachings merge into one, in accord with the truth of the Great Luo Heaven, the highest heaven in Daoist cosmology. I have borrowed the rhymes of Su Dongpo’s poetry to express my feelings.

Crystal palaces seem to lock away the clear sky, while all things in the sea are bright and pure. Chang’e, the moon’s immortal lady, tends her precious mirror; the sun’s celestial maiden plays in a palace of pearls.

The turning of Heaven and Earth makes the true principle plain. Chaos seems to open anew, and its wonders surpass the craft of any artisan. Ten thousand rays of light gather into the Kan trigram’s tiger, an internal alchemy image of Water and Yang within Yin; a thousand streams of red Qi envelop the Li trigram’s dragon, an image of Fire and Yin within Yang.

The gathered saints throughout the heavens together raise a rounded canopy, while jade maidens and golden youths escort the Dao’s sovereign. Purple mist and crimson clouds have just appeared, and the exquisite Seven Treasures reveal their awe-inspiring splendor.

The divine wind is silent, yet stirs the mountain spirits. The transformations of things are countless, and the world’s people cannot fathom their mysteries. Its radiance overwhelms all powers between water and sky; my true body moves freely and blends throughout the Three Realms—the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm.

Gazing across the world, I find no obstruction or opposition. I drink a few cups in the Four Great Continents, the four lands in the cardinal directions of Daoist cosmology. Though Su Dongpo was a true superior adept, he too could surely understand this: the state attained through stillness and meditative cultivation surpasses the achievements of the Yuanfeng era.

All outstanding figures throughout the ages are like skilled anglers who know how to catch giant sea turtles, whether using mud and sand, scraps of iron, or bronze. As long as they cultivate the self through the Dao and bring their deeds and practice to completion, they can share a common lineage and bearing with the immortals in the Great Luo Heaven.

Now, using the rhymes from earlier, compose a poem:

Looking down from the primordial realm, before chaos divided, upon the Three Realms—the heavens, the human world, and the netherworld—one sees only the stillness of all things. Immortal mountains appear faintly amid the sea. Harmonious Qi (vital energy) flows everywhere, bringing forth auspicious scenes; a clear breeze and bright moon shine into the numinous palace—the spirit chamber within the practitioner, or a palace of the immortals.

Heavenly men and women appear from the void. The vermilion gates and jade towers are beyond the skill of human builders. A jade tiger emerges from surging waves, while a red dragon races through blazing fire: these are images of water and fire refining one another, and of Yin-Yang transformation in Neidan (internal alchemy).

The Lord of the Muddy Pellet, an image of a spirit in the Muddy Pellet Palace, beats the heavenly drum—a sound heard in the head during cultivation, or a method such as clicking the teeth. The Perfected One of the Purple Palace, an image of an immortal in the Purple Palace, dances as if drunk. The myriad spirits gather for a great celebration; ascending in all eight directions, they reveal a vigorous and luminous bearing.

Open a wondrous gateway that links past and present; cleave the void and reveal boundless principles. Everlasting life transcends the transformations of nature. Bright and clear yet formless and without appearance, it naturally reaches complete harmony.

Heaven commands practitioners of every age to ascend into the high heavens, granting them abundant blessings and lives exceeding ten thousand years. They help spread the teachings of the mysterious tradition and support the inner teachings of Daoism. Now, in an age of peace and order, they can cultivate the Dao in comfort and abundance.

With the immortal’s embryo and the bones of the Dao—the foundations for attaining immortality—one lives in the dusty world like pure gold mixed with tin and copper. Only when one personally receives the summons of a purple writ from the heavens does the bearing of our Daoist tradition become manifest.

〔Seven-character quatrains〕

Guarding the Dao

Golden essence and jade marrow congeal into a spirit embryo; two shafts of light open at the spine. Nectar-like vital essence pours into the crown of the head, giving rise to the myriad forms; radiance like the sun and moon streams from two revolving wheels toward the Jade Terrace.

Continuous and Seemingly Present

Grasp the art of movement and stillness within the void. Essence and Qi flow like precious jade, bringing inexhaustible benefit. They circle and return, unfolding layer upon layer; clear immortal music resounds through the vast sky.

Returning to Simplicity and Guarding the Uncarved

Guard the source and keep essence and Qi from leaking away, and you may attain long life. A thousand-petaled golden lotus shines like the sun. With mind and nature made clear, recognize that all things and oneself are one. The Great Dao of Xiyi—subtle, unseen, and beyond words—naturally reaches completion.

The Warm Lead Cauldron

A single Qi, clear, still, and empty-bright, gathers the myriad spirits; as they converge, perfect radiance appears. Inside and out, all is bright, as though the light of heaven had congealed. Determine…

The One Qi (primordial Qi) is pure, still, and empty, gathering in all the numinous beings. As they assemble, they reveal a complete and radiant light. The light within and the light without blend together, forming celestial radiance. Through this, the practitioner confirms the realm of the Immortals of Penglai and transcends life and death.

Light Shines Through the Eaves and Curtains

Pure Yang Qi—the upright and abundant energy of Yang—opens the workings of creation, surges straight to the heavens, and releases divine light that nourishes auspicious lotuses. Daoist Qi circulates throughout the body, flowing through the hours of Zi and Wu. Cassia blossoms release flames of light, illuminating the boundless expanse.

The Forces of Creation Vie in Motion

Between the kidneys, it is as if wind and rain roar. The Dragon and Tiger—often used as symbols for the interacting Yin and Yang energies within the body—race and contend, while the Crow and Rabbit—the Sun and Moon, also used to represent Yin and Yang—move along their courses. Take the tiny measure of the Elixir, a trace of refined elixir or vital essence, into the belly, and even ghosts and spirits are astonished. The spirits of plants and trees across the earth bow in reverence.

The Tiger and Dragon Unite

The five-colored radiance of heaven gathers in the Original Face, moving within a deep and unfathomable emptiness. Wherever Jade Yang, an immortal or an image of Yang energy in Daoism, arrives, celestial music rings out. Golden lotuses spring up at every step, swaying in the vastness of space.

The Clear and Turbid Divide

Follow the movement of the breath, and the mind becomes at ease. Sing into the wind, delighting in a state of harmony and accord. In a cool and serene realm, divine light shines brilliantly; it gradually enters emptiness and reaches through to the Great Dao.

Duke Wang asked: How should one study the Dao in order to settle the matter of life and death?

The primordial Qi of emptiness condenses into the Divine Elixir, opening the gate beyond the cycle of birth and death. It saves those who suffer throughout the Ten Directions and Three Realms, and returns the luminous, numinous nature to its source.

He asked again: How should one study the Dao in order to settle the matter of life and death?

The primordial Qi of emptiness condenses into the Divine Elixir, opening the gate beyond the cycle of birth and death. It saves those who suffer throughout the Ten Directions and Three Realms, and returns the luminous, numinous nature to its source.

He asked again: How does one understand the Way of Heaven and follow the Great Dao?

The Great Dao cannot be separated from the patterns by which it nurtures and transforms the myriad things. Thunderbolts strike swiftly, yet do not violate the workings of nature. Investigate the principle within them, and you will see that all things are one. Follow their transformations, and neither in the human world nor in the celestial realm will your efforts come to nothing.

Presented to Disciple Wang

Cultivation requires breaking through the barriers formed by attachment to self and distinctions between self and others. Leave the mundane behind, transcend the ordinary, and no longer be entangled in coming and going. Treat others equally at all times and keep a steadfast, upright heart; then one day you can ascend into the azure sky.

Duke Zhang asked: What is sudden awakening?

When you penetrate the Great Dao, you know that all things are empty, still, and without form. Respond to circumstances, be attuned to living beings, and offer them deliverance. When, after the great calamity, you meet again with the Lord of the Celestial Origin, you can bring the long cycle of rebirth to a complete end.

Traveling

Leisurely admire mountains and waters, and journey to the immortal islands of Penglai. White clouds blanket the ground, as if swept away naturally by a clear breeze. Reflecting on how hard it is to live in this world, one wonders: who can cultivate life without end or decline?

Obtaining the Elixir

The Crow and Rabbit—the Sun and Moon, also symbols of Yin and Yang—move along their courses and finally return to the center. In a state of indistinct mystery, one comprehends the wondrous method of the source of spiritual nature. A single grain of the Elixir passes through the Nine Revolutions, the repeated stages of internal alchemical refinement; it rises and transforms, filling the entire firmament.

Awakening to the Truth

After awakening to the Great Dao, the heart fills with joy, as though sweet essence were poured in through the crown of the head, and the breath expands and flows freely. The Dao’s harmonizing Qi courses through the zi and wu (directions and times associated with the movement of Qi within the body). Inner spiritual light surges forth, appearing from the Niwan (an internal alchemy site in the head).

Practicing the Dao

Clear and turbid Qi, rising and floating, sinking and descending, move back and forth in an unceasing cycle. They transform amid a dim, silent stillness, their rising and changing filling the entire sky.

Awakening to Truth

After awakening to the Great Dao, the heart fills with joy, as though sweet essence were poured in through the crown of the head, and the breath expands and flows freely. The Dao’s harmonizing Qi courses through the zi and wu, while inner spiritual light surges forth, appearing from the Niwan.

Practicing the Dao

Clear and turbid Qi, rising and floating, sinking and descending, move back and forth in an unceasing cycle. They turn silently amid a dim, still quiet, beyond the reach of words. The eyes no longer gaze at the celestial signs; the ears and nose instead open to spiritual Qi and take in its subtle essence.

Following Transformation

The movements of body and mind circle in reverse, like those of someone drunk. The heart knows neither worry nor joy, remaining in its original purity. Where the spirit stirs, subtle and wondrous currents surge; the Three Realms (the different levels of heaven and earth in Daoist thought) are clear, empty, and free of dust.

Returning to the True

Fully understanding the fundamental source, one nourishes the Lingtai (the seat of the heart and spirit), as though cultivating purple mushrooms and the Golden Elixir. Golden light wells up, freeing one from birth and death; the jade-like nature shines brightly, reaching through past and present.

Saving Life

One learns to protect this illusory body and spare it a great calamity; the cycle of birth and death can no longer bind it. Divine water from the numinous source passes through the Xuangu (a deep, hidden passage within the body), and immortal flowers of the four seasons seem to bloom amid flames.

Nurturing the Dao

In years past, on the Eastern Sea, I met those newly embarked on the path of cultivation and received much care and aid from the worthy lord. Now I wish to return to the immortal capital, awaiting the purple edict from heaven. I will turn the jade door open and enter the golden gate.

Passing on Goodness

When merit is complete and cultivation perfected, one may naturally appear before the Venerable Primordial Beginning. Do not let the time of clarity and peace pass by; instead, form good ties far and wide. May all those lost in confusion throughout the world turn toward the Supreme Dao, and may those who cultivate the truth be helped to accumulate boundless blessings and virtue.

Attaining Light

All join together to erect a stele at Danyang, recording wondrous spiritual signs. Its inscription recounts the traces of immortals and reveals their marvelous majesty. The stele holds profound, hidden principles that transcend past and present, preserving and completing the essential secrets of primordial creation.

Reaching the Root

Empty the heart and fill the inner realm; seek the Dao with steady, undivided purpose. Tame the unruly mind as one catches a galloping horse or subdues a monkey, and through this seek to become immortal. Practice the Great Dao in stillness and Wuwei (non-action); there is no need to ask the blue heavens with desperate insistence.

Knowing the Prohibitions

Throughout the twelve double-hours, the boys who record good and evil observe people’s words and deeds, then submit their names and deeds to the heavenly court. The court weighs each person’s practice and merit. If nothing is lacking, it grants the appropriate rank among the immortals; the reward will not be withheld.

Liu Zhimiao, a Daoist nun from Huang County, asked about the essentials of daily cultivation.

Examine your daily practice carefully and attend to it with care. Whenever something happens, turn your attention inward; then every aspect of cultivation can be carried out thoroughly. Restrain selfish desires, refine your true nature, and spread the Great Dao. In this way, the road ahead will naturally be cleared of various faults.

Enlightenment at the Four Assemblies

The auspicious Qi of the Seven Treasures Golden Lotus, a symbol of the pure state attained through cultivation, is abundant; Jade Radiance is impartial. This has always been the character of our tradition. The Three Pure Ones and the Heavenly Sovereigns understand true De, and the luminous lineage they transmit is the same everywhere.

Reply to the Invitation from the Seven Treasures Assembly at Wendeng

I am grateful for your generous invitation, which gives me the chance to build a bridge between us and discuss together the Way beyond birth and death. May we all form bonds through the Seven Treasures Golden Lotus, while the fragrance of the heavenly celebration fills the sky.

Master Liu Seeks the True Formula of the Three Treasures

To condense the radiance of the whole body into a purple-gold Elixir, one must rely on a lucid and awakened mind and recognize the inner place of tranquility and ease. Grasp the formula of the Jade Field—the Dantian in internal alchemy—and gather Shen and Qi together, passing through the Three Passes, the gateways through which Qi moves in internal alchemy, all at once.

The Assembly of the Golden Lotus Seeks Instruction

The conditions that give rise to a ritual assembly come naturally from the Great Dao; even in the deep sea of suffering, a Golden Lotus can be planted. Warm and nourish the lead cauldron, a metaphor in internal alchemy for refining and nourishing essence and Qi, and the light of Shen will bloom. Cinnabar turns and emerges, its radiance shooting straight into the blue sky.

In Reply

Return to the source and go back to the beginning, and you will reach what is natural. Abide in emptiness and stillness, and the Golden Lotus can come forth. Harmonize the four elements of body and mind and form the Elixir of the heart; then myriad rays of rosy light will rise from the Grotto-Heaven, a celestial realm or inner state of cultivation.

Understanding the Truth

Emerging from within a casing of gold, one turns and rises; in the Jade Pool, a single sprout of jade begins to bloom. Wind and moon drift ethereally, as if in a realm beyond the heavens. Whether standing, walking, sitting, or lying down, one is as if dwelling in the immortal realm of Penglai.

Presented to Liu Ku, the Benevolent and Long-Lived Guardian of Fushan

From ancient times to the present, true compassion has always accomplished great merit. After passing through the Three Heavens, one suddenly encounters the faithful. A thriving realm gradually opens onto the mysterious; only by finding its root does one understand that all things accord with the Great Dao.

Sent to Master Danyang

In the fifteenth year of the Dading era, a disciple named Chuzhi often wished to travel west to pay a visit to Master Danyang. His teacher said, “Why travel so far? In time, you will meet here.” Yet your aspiration should not be treated lightly, so I have written this quatrain and sent it to Master Danyang. When Chuzhi arrived there, he unfolded the poem and read it. The poem had revealed a heavenly secret, and later he indeed returned east.

In the eastern route of Shandong, there is someone devoted to cultivating the Dao. Wood Virtue, a symbol of the East and the Wood phase among the Five Phases, lives next door to him, and even the rabbits fret over it. “One-two, two-three, joined to one-two” is a coded phrase. When you get there, look carefully: if you reveal Heaven’s secret, you will eventually return east.

In the eastern route of Shandong, there is someone devoted to cultivating the Dao. Wood Virtue lives next door to him, and even the rabbits fret over it. “One-two, two-three, joined to one-two” is a coded phrase. The Nine Suns—the yang energy and sunlight spoken of in Daoism—fill the way, flowing eastward.

Watching Daoist Travelers

The work of cultivating the Dao and becoming an immortal must be sought within. Do not drift and sway with the tides of worldly custom. Break free from the bitter sea of desire, and, with a single glimmer of spiritual light, take a boat to the farther shore.

A Hymn to Filial Devotion, Requested by the Assembly Leader Li Aboard the Boat

Amid the void of Heaven and Earth, the virtue that gives life to and nurtures all things is vast. Those who leave home to cultivate the Dao must recognize the root of the Great Dao. The dragon’s roar and tiger’s cry reveal the grace of true cultivation. The Maiden and Infant (terms in internal alchemy, symbolic forms produced by Yin-Yang essence and Qi) should be cherished as the most precious treasures.

For the Disciple Yu Leyi

Without spiritual roots, one who rashly dreams of becoming an immortal will labor in vain. Only by understanding the root can one know that the Great Dao is just as it is. Keep the mouth closed and forget all schemes; cut off the disturbances of outside sights and sounds, and you can preserve the original state of Heaven and Earth.

A Poem Requested by Mr. Yang on Guarding the Dao

Begin by guarding the Sun’s essence within the body, secretly nurturing a spiritual sprout like a lingzhi mushroom. Gradually open the Mysterious Pass, the crucial aperture in cultivation, so that the movement of Qi surges to the crown of the head. Its radiance fills the void and congeals into purple-gold sand, a symbol in internal alchemy.

Honoring the Three Teachings

The flourishing of the Three Teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—depends on the karmic ties of many people. True emptiness, a clear state beyond attachment, is wordless, yet all respond to it with joy. Open the eye of the heart and grasp the profound principles; layers of lotus leaves become boats that ferry people across the river.

Leaving the Worldly Behind and Entering the Mysterious

Cut off all worldly attachments, leave the heart free of burdens, and naturally practice without forms, free of attachment to particular appearances. Perceive and gather the Qi of the four seasons and the images of the precelestial state, so that the three lights of Jing, Qi, and Shen, still undivided in primordial chaos, congeal into six zhu, a symbolic expression in Daoist cultivation.

Singing of the Lingzhi Stone of Chashan

The essence of the sun and moon congeals into an auspicious spiritual sprout, which holds within it wondrous light and true Qi. It nourishes the five viscera and gives rise to liquid gold, an essence of internal alchemy. Secretly replenishing the whole body, it strengthens sinews and bones.

Praising the Solemn Purity of the Yellow Register Rite

On the star altar and in the moonlit hall, incense-scented breezes abound; phoenixes and luan birds dance, while jade dragons weave among them. As the praises ring out, the sacred perfected ones of the Three Heavens descend. All the souls of the dead who receive deliverance can embark upon the immortal path.

For Elder Wang of the Le’an Apothecary

The medicinal substances in the Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica are not the most precious; the heavenly orchids and lingzhi have a flavor without end. Carefully refine the divine elixir, this medicine beyond the world, and treat the master’s illness in the mountains.

I point to the wondrous source within one’s original nature: like a bright full moon, it shines forever upon body and mind. Auspicious signs fill the whole body with vital energy; the original nature thrives with life, and thus the myriad transformations settle into stillness.

Presented to the Daoist community of Northern Qingzhou

Those who leave the household life to cultivate the Dao should observe carefully: all can regard Penghu, the legendary mountain of immortals, as their homeland. Gather the spirit and leave the sea of suffering; open the moon within your heart, and let its calm, clear radiance nourish your original nature.

End of Volume One of the Collected Works of Cloud Radiance

Collected Works of Cloud Radiance, Volume Two

Written by Wang Chuyi, Jade Yang of the Sacred Waters

Poems

On the thirteenth day of the eleventh month in the Dingwei year of the Dading era, I first received the imperial summons:

Rising, harmonious Qi passes through the Three Platforms, the celestial region of the star officials; below, auspicious clouds spread across the Nine Regions, every part of the realm.

It is as though cool, sweet rain takes shape from the void; the Dao’s power resounds across the four seas like a peal of thunder.

Setting out in obedience to the imperial command

Journeying to Xinfeng Village, Wudi County, Cangzhou. On the thirteenth day of the eleventh month in the Dingwei year of the Dading era, I first received the imperial summons:

Rising, harmonious Qi passes through the Three Platforms; below, auspicious clouds spread across the realm.

It is as though cool, sweet rain takes shape from the void; the Dao’s power resounds across the four seas like a peal of thunder.

Setting out in obedience to the imperial command

After reaching Xinfeng Village in Wudi County, Cangzhou, I stayed at the Daoist retreat of the imperial relative, the Fourth Official. Then another imperial decree appointed me to go to the Temple of Heavenly Longevity and take charge of its Daoist affairs as a senior adept. The decree was read on the seventeenth day. I was then ordered to proceed to the Seventh Prince Consort in Dizhou and received two hundred strings of cash for the journey. As I set out, I presented this poem to the assembly:

Immortal kin from the heavens appear throughout the sky, accompanying me as I travel northwest. They marshal the myriad spirits and clear the vast heavens and earth; emerald numinous light ripples above the purple clouds.

Entering the Temple of Heavenly Longevity

I entered the temple’s main hall, whose halls rose in successive tiers, joined in radiant splendor. Before the golden altar and jade walls stood the sacred image of the Primordial Heavenly Worthy, to whom offerings were made. Jewel-like, finely wrought furnishings displayed a solemn and sacred presence.

Paying homage to the True Ones

Incense smoke drifts into the rosy clouds, reaching the distant heavens; prayers and blessings resound through the Crimson Empyrean Palace, the celestial abode of immortals. The assembled immortals seem to gather amid the deep incense haze, while the senior adept teaches the orthodox Daoist teachings at dawn.

Entering the stillness chamber. Paying homage to the True Ones

Incense smoke drifts into the rosy clouds, reaching the distant heavens; prayers and blessings resound through the Crimson Empyrean Palace. The assembled immortals seem to gather amid the deep incense haze, while the senior adept teaches the orthodox Daoist teachings at dawn.

Taking one’s place in stillness.

The mysterious teachings of Daoism seem to lock the clouds in the sky. The body’s Four Elements—earth, water, fire, and wind—join with light and settle in their proper places. Within the gate, the heavens take shape, revealing the Dao in its subtle truth. The spirits are gathered in, like the moon beneath a gentle breeze.

When Proclaiming an Edict

With reverence, I hold my breath and compose my spirit, still my mind, and close my eyes, praying to hear the sovereign’s words clearly. May the Celestial Emperor enjoy boundless longevity. May the sovereign’s heart turn toward the Three Treasures—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, or, in Daoism, the Dao, the scriptures, and the masters—and form a blessed bond.

Granting a Young Attendant

The sovereign’s grace flows without end: he sends an envoy to deliver an edict, specially granting a spirit child to serve his will. I bow in gratitude for the emperor’s virtue and, by imperial command, carefully conduct a purification rite at the Daoist temple to pray for blessings.

Granting Purple Robes and Permission to Conduct a Jiao Rite at the Altar

Flying dragons and prowling tigers descend from heaven. Golden light fills the altar, and a purple banquet is spread in its wake. It is as though they have descended through the air from the Jade Pool in a grotto-heaven, while the movements of ascent and descent between heaven and earth turn back together.

A Gift for a Royal Relative

In the eighth month of the Wushen year, I took leave to return to the mountains. On the way, I passed through Cangzhou once more. The royal relative, Fourth Gentleman, invited me to conduct a Yellow Register rite of deliverance, a major Daoist purification liturgy for praying for blessings and rescuing the souls of the dead.

It was like the last snow meeting the spring sunshine: the sins of all the spirits were dispelled. All things flourished through the transformation of the Dao, while auspicious clouds filled the sky.

A Line Received in a Dream

While at the original temple of Shengshui, I received this quatrain in a dream. Seven days later, it was proclaimed again.

A Perfected One in the Purple Palace urged the Jade Road to open. Immortals gathered on clouds, their passage seeming to stir faint thunder. The whole sky revealed a scene beautiful as jade, while edicts recorded in golden script passed back and forth of their own accord.

Commanded to Hasten

When Emperor Shizong was gravely ill, he thought of me. He specially sent attendants and members of the imperial clan to the Jade Void Temple at Shengshui with an edict, commanding me to travel to the capital as quickly as possible in a four-horse carriage.

In the eighth month, at Mid-Autumn, I was granted leave to return. I wandered at will through the grotto-heavens. In the twelfth month of the Wushen year, another edict arrived, and a light four-horse carriage hurried me to the capital day and night.

I reached the capital on the third day of the first month of the Jiyou year, but Emperor Shizong had died the day before, on the second. The young ruler had ascended the throne. The messengers bearing the edict did not dare to ask that I be granted an audience, so I returned to my native place.

The late emperor has passed away, and all the people of the realm weep. How could we forget his vast kindness and deep virtue? The ministers dared not make a request before the present emperor, so I had no choice but to return to my native place and once more take the road back to the cloud-covered mountains of retreat.

Only those who are honest and upright meet the fundamental requirements for becoming an immortal. Their blessings will therefore grow, their households will prosper, and their lives will naturally be prolonged. The turmoil of thoughts in the heart gradually subsides, like clouds and mist drawing back, revealing inner clarity. Precious radiance gathers, as though the legendary immortal herb purple zhi were releasing its fragrance.

A poem presented to the presiding donors at the conclusion of the Yellow Register ritual

The innate spirit rises beyond the dusty world. In the realm of emptiness, incense is offered in the Daoist purification ritual, and prayers are sent upward for imperial grace to reach every quarter. All rejoice in an age of peace and gather to perform the purification ritual. The sacred splendor is complete, and the heart naturally becomes tranquil and still.

The deceased ascend to Heaven and are no longer seen. Precious radiance gathers, as though the legendary purple zhi were releasing its fragrance.

A poem presented to the presiding donors at the conclusion of the Yellow Register ritual

The innate spirit rises beyond the dusty world. In the realm of emptiness, incense is offered, and prayers are sent upward for imperial grace to reach every quarter. All rejoice in an age of peace and gather to perform the purification ritual. The sacred splendor is complete, and the heart naturally becomes tranquil and still.

There can be no further doubt that the deceased ascend to Heaven, and their living relatives, too, receive abundant blessings. Knowing that the true sages will descend to offer protection, do not deceive or act carelessly, wasting the years.

Presented to the officials attending court

In this age of peace and clarity, the primal Qi between Heaven and Earth is settled. May the Supreme Emperor enjoy boundless longevity. Throughout the Four Seas, all cultivate the supreme Dao, and the people of the world together repay the grace of the enlightened ruler.

Presented to Master Liu

All manner of arts and techniques are ultimately unreliable; a thousand ingenious schemes come to nothing. Only the inner, luminous nature does not perish. A hundred years of life pass in an instant, and in the end vanish like a gust of wind.

Presented to the Daoists of the Two Hermitages of Donghua and Qiyu on Mount Kunlun

Having understood the Dao of Donghua, cultivate it with care. Only when the right opportunity arises can you plant the foundations of an immortal path, like purple zhi. Your cultivation here and now must not stray from purity and stillness; in time, you will be able to journey to the Jade Pool, the fabled realm of immortals.

Turning the Light Inward

The small spark of inner illumination can be perceived for oneself; do not chase after what is false outside. Whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, as long as the heart is free of hindrances, a realized person—the true nature attained through cultivation—will remain close beside you.

Three like-minded companions dwell in a hermitage to study the Dao

Three like-minded companions together inquire into the Mysterious Pass, the crucial gateway of cultivation, and fully comprehend the Dao of Wuwei (non-action), practicing the Great Return, a method of Daoist internal alchemy. When their cultivation and merit are complete, they will leave the sea of suffering bound by life and death, each riding a cloud to the immortal mountains.

Half a month after attaining the Dao, an extraordinary sign suddenly appeared in the sky

The immortal’s words rang clearly down to the human world. If you wish to know who has come, it is Ma Danyang, a Daoist figure. He sends his spirit flying here to rescue the provinces from calamity, bringing prosperity to the whole nation as he sits serenely in the ritual hall.

After the dragon rode the surging waves away, it returned to stillness; when the tiger raced down the mountain rocks, it set out on its journey. When ordinary people cultivate and attain the fruit of immortality, once their practice is complete, they have no further attachments.

Copied for the Deliverance of the Departed at a Yellow Register Offering

Copy the sacred writings far and wide, passing them on from one generation to the next. Act with integrity and selflessness, harboring neither affection nor aversion. Let filial children and obedient grandchildren join in seeking blessings for the departed, helping their souls escape suffering and ascend to a higher realm.

Presented to Brother Sun of Jiaoshui

Alas, distinguishing falsehood from truth depends on one’s own reflection. Devote yourself to guarding the pure, unleaking Way, and nurture a calm and harmonious Qi. When every fault has been swept away, the numinous pearl will appear. From then on, tread steadily upon auspicious clouds and ascend to the Great Luo Heaven, the highest celestial realm in Daoism.

A Parting Poem for the Inspector of Rushan, Who Was Returning Home in Mourning

I received the sorrowful letter from home and was overcome with grief. After a thousand miles of hurried travel, I hastened back to my native place. I am now setting out for Changyang to deliver others from suffering. I cannot see you off in person, and my heart is heavy with regret.

Asked Lord Yu of Ninghai for Money to Buy Wine; Received Forty-Six Coins

I asked for money to buy wine and received forty-six coins. The wine’s influence circulates through the five organs and moistens the Mysterious Valley, a Daoist term for the body’s hidden depths.

Three times over, unable to accompany you by the hand, I turned back in unease. [This line is repeated earlier in the original; read literally, it may mean: After three times, unable to take your hand and see you off, I turned back, feeling apprehensive.]

Asked Lord Yu of Ninghai for Money to Buy Wine; Received Forty-Six Coins

I asked for money to buy wine and received forty-six coins. The wine’s influence circulates through the five organs and moistens the Mysterious Valley. The Three Fields—the upper, middle, and lower Dantian, the body’s cultivation centers in Daoist Neidan practice—are nourished, and their essence becomes abundant. Qi flows through the whole body, as though setting ten thousand precious jades in motion.

Zhang, Head of the Fushan Association, Announces His Renunciation of the World

Leave the dusty world behind and seek the path to immortality. Turn away from worldly concerns, contemplate the inner self, and silence the sounds of the outside world. When karmic burdens are exhausted and the Dao-heart awakens, the subtle mysteries become clear. Qi flows through the whole body, and one calmly gathers and refines purple lingzhi and the Golden Elixir, symbolic images of cultivation.

Instruction for a Wandering Daoist

All schemes and calculations come to nothing; the auspicious truth of one’s original nature is unlike them. If people abandon their innate, original awareness, they will spend a lifetime in the dream of samsara for nothing.

Fan Yongzhi Asks for a Poem

When will the bitter sea of reincarnation ever end? Turn back at once and cultivate with firm resolve and courage. Cherish your wife and children, cling to the household, and let the years slip away; after a hundred years, nothing will remain but futile grief and desolation.

Wang the Sixth Elder Asks About Learning the Dao

Carefully preserve the primordial Yang bestowed by your parents—the innate vital essence of life. Do not let it go like water poured out, never to be gathered back. Seek the root and hold fast to the foundation, and you can reach a state beyond birth and death. You can also release, from within your heart, the age-old grief associated with the Yellow Springs, the underworld and realm of the dead.

Zhang Shanyou of the Buddhist Tradition Requests Two Poems

A trace of pure, true Yang Qi mingles with the original source of Heaven and Earth. Do immortals possess this true Yang, and do ordinary people possess it too? In the wondrous radiance, all things appear; the sun and moon move without pause, as though revolving within this great alchemical furnace.

Morning and evening, bow in reverence and recite the scriptures of cultivation, and a white lotus will arise in the field of the heart. I hope even more that everyone will grasp the true Dao, nourish inner cultivation through it, and continue to practice all manner of good deeds, until at last they attain perfection.

Occasional Inscription

For a time, leave the world of dust behind and cultivate the true Dao. The formless incense of the heart rises and drifts to the highest heavens. The inner numinous light shines forth, clearing away the stains and obstructions of body and mind. When subtle cultivation and accumulated deeds reach completion, one can fulfill the “three thousand” acts of merit.

Burning Fishing Boats and Nets

Protecting life and abstaining from killing are practices in accord with the true Dao. They can dispel all manner of calamity and preserve blessings. If one grasps the profound principle within the heart, the Jing, Qi, and Shen within the body will naturally flow freely.

Presented to Official Deng of the Storehouse

In managing income and expenditure and handling all kinds of goods, one must be meticulous and clear. Be upright and impartial, and do not take even a single coin for yourself. Cultivating a noble and expansive moral force can also open the way to profound truths. Only then does one understand that whether cultivating inwardly or conducting oneself in the world, one can rise above the ordinary.

Two Poems on the True Daily Practice, Asked for by Lord Li of Wendeng

Gather the numinous Qi and store it in the jade vessel; then use the spirit furnace to refine lead, tin, and other materials named in alchemical language for the work of inner refinement. Open the crucial points in mysterious cultivation and master the firing times, so that the elixir passes through the Tailgate, the aperture at the base of the spine.

After grasping the true Dao, secretly cultivate Neidan, allowing its fire to kindle gradually. In stillness, nurture the subtle breath and let the sprouts of auspicious life grow. The Numinous Terrace, the seat of the spirit-mind, gradually opens, as though passing out through the crown of the head. At last one understands that even while standing on level ground, one can reach straight to the blue heavens.

Singing of the Peach Garden

The peach blossoms glow red, especially lovely in the sunlight—a rare and beautiful sight in the human world. I urge everyone to transcend the dusty world and turn toward realms beyond it; the scenery deep within the grotto-heavens, where immortals dwell, is even more worthy of praise.

The Great Yellow Register Rite, with No Self-Serving Use of Funds

The Great Yellow Register Rite, a large Zhaijiao ritual held by Daoists to avert calamity, pray for blessings, and deliver the souls of the dead, involves many tasks in purchasing and spending on supplies. In every matter, one should uphold fairness and impartiality and remain true to the proper path. Whether in inner cultivation or outward affairs, one must never slacken. Only then may both the living and the dead hope to escape sinking into the depths.

For Han, the Dyer of Dengzhou, Who Made a Request

Old Han is skilled at dyeing blue, red, black, and yellow; even his other mixed colors surpass those of his fellow craftsmen. Yet better than all this is inner cultivation, which brings true colors of light. The dazzling radiance of Heaven can shine through all ten directions.

Mourning Danyang

In the twelfth month, on the twenty-second day, at the end of winter in the Guimao year of the Dading era (1183 CE), Perfected Danyang shed his mortal body and ascended to the realm of immortals. This piece was written in his memory.

Thunder and lightning clash, striking down from on high; the great vessel of the primordial realm, the source before all things came into being, reveals its full might. Demons and monsters vanish on the wind, while only perfected virtue and achievement remain manifest.

On the twenty-second day of the winter month, Danyang cast off his mortal body and ascended amid the clouds and rosy mists. These lines were written in his honor.

Presented to the Three Elders of Jing in Dengzhou on Their Leaving Home

To leave home without understanding the mysterious principles is to depart with a mind still troubled by thoughts, as numerous as grains of dust and sand. If you let the sea of original awareness lie barren in vain, how can you stir the Qi of harmony and bring forth the first shoots of the Dao?

Poem Requested by Cui, Palace Graduate, of Dizhou

The profound primordial Dao is not difficult to attain. With firm resolve and a clear mind, you can see through the emptiness of all the myriad teachings. A single Qi, the primal energy that runs through all things, contains the essence of Heaven and Earth. Realize the truth, and you will reach the Great Luo Palace, the celestial halls of Daoist immortals.

Niu, Palace Graduate, Offers a Bamboo Tablet and Seeks Guidance

Things great and small alike accord with the true Dao, for in the small square inch of the heart, good affinities can take root. Even amid the glittering world of dust, you can move unnoticed among its people. When cultivation brings inner and outer clarity, golden light appears, untouched by worldly grime.

Poem Requested by Tian, Palace Graduate

In a realm of emptiness, stillness, and ease, cultivate a field of spiritual nature like the lingzhi mushroom. Gather its essence and condense it into an auspicious lotus. Let every transformation return to the pure sovereign within the heart; then insight will be unobstructed, and you will awaken to the Dao of becoming an immortal.

Presented to Gao, an Official of Yanzhou

To escape the cycle of rebirth and the passage through life and death, begin at the very first point, at the root, and put an end to repeated comings and goings. Forget desire, and cultivate the Three Treasures—Jing, Qi, and Shen—within. Then you will attain carefree ease, transcending the world.

Poem Requested by the Second Elder Wang of the Le’an Pharmacy

The immortal elixir of Penghu, the fabled island mountain in the sea, is not far away. At all times, cultivate within the body the “metal in water,” an alchemical term for the essence refined in practice. Its precious radiance streams outward and rises through the Three Realms—the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm. This is the numinous, lucid nature that spans past and present.

Presented to the Seventh Gentleman of Binzhou After His Recovery

May you attain the Three Treasures and win carefree ease, transcending the world.

Poem Requested by the Second Elder Wang of the Le’an Pharmacy

The immortal elixir of Penghu is not far away. At all times, cultivate within the body the “metal in water.” Its precious radiance streams outward and rises through the Three Realms. This is the numinous, lucid nature that spans past and present.

Two Poems Presented to the Seventh Gentleman of Binzhou After His Recovery

The primal Qi of emptiness condenses into an embryo; pure, luminous brightness circulates within the body. Let the Qi of the upper, middle, and lower Dantian converge without leaking away. When a true master transmits the crucial point, the body, though worn and failing, can regain its vitality.

The essence of rice and wheat urges the first shoots of the Dao to grow. In the Jade Hall, the inner place of cultivation, refine purple gold cinnabar, the essence condensed through internal alchemy. The Three Powers—Heaven, Earth, and humanity—and the Four Images, symbols of Yin-Yang and other transformations, seem to turn in an empty cycle. After nine years of practice, you can ride the clouds to the immortal isle of Penglai, inspiring envy.

Presented to Li, Clerk of the Court, of Laizhou

All affairs of the world, great or small, should be understood clearly. Even when caught up in the tangled complexity of official business, one should find a way to manage it. If the time comes when you face danger, you may regret not having followed Zhang Lingzi’s example and left home to cultivate the Dao with Lü Dongbin.

Zhang Lingzi was an official of the Tang dynasty. He later met Lü Dongbin and left home to cultivate the Dao.

Lamenting the World

If thoughts of greed, deceit, and flattery never cease, there can be no genuine inner cultivation, and disaster will follow. A person’s original spirit and vital essence and energy will eventually dissipate. Without cultivating the Dao, one merely struggles through the cycles of reincarnation, from ancient times to the present.

Zou Lang Weeps for His Wife and Seeks Instruction

By keeping inner virtue and wisdom deeply hidden, one can move toward the realm of the immortals. If one’s spiritual roots are ruined and scattered, one will fall into the mortal world. This passage teaches you to recognize the gains and losses of two paths: to resolve the fundamental problem of this life, you should carefully seek a way to cultivate yourself and attain the Dao.

A Gift to Yu Zhai: Resentment Formed, No One Urges Reconciliation

Deep hatred and resentment pile up like a mountain, while disaster approaches and those involved remain unaware. Such grudges burden descendants and harm future generations; they also weigh upon the ancestors, leaving people to struggle without end in the bitter sea of reincarnation.

A Gift to Official You of Fushan

In the blink of an eye, more than twenty years have passed. Outward appearances may still change, but within, vital essence and energy have run dry. The uncertainty of death draws near, and the hair gradually turns white as snow. Only then does one regret not having cultivated the “Great Medicine Furnace”—a metaphor for Daoist Neidan practice, referring to methods for refining and nourishing body and mind and gathering vital essence and energy.

At the Request of Official Liu, the Senior of Laizhou

Quiet the mind, and all things can be set aside. In stillness and formlessness, gather the spirit and hold fast to the root. With clear awareness, one can perceive the state of “being within nonbeing.” Settled and alone, one can embark upon the boat of prajna—that is, cross delusion and suffering by means of wisdom.

Two Poems at the Request of Mr. Dong of Guanzhong

Set the strength of vital energy and marrow in motion, sending it through the body’s gates and openings. At the point between the shoulder blades, light appears, as if ten thousand rays were unfolding. An essence like the sweet dew of anointing descends, revealing auspicious signs; the paired lights of sun and moon shine upon the Jade Terrace. The gates and openings, radiance, and sun and moon here describe the movement of Qi and the changes of body and mind in Neidan practice.

The luminous nature need not be sought outside. The Jade Hall contains the wondrous path of cultivation, and there the myriad spirits find their rest. The Crow and Hare—common Daoist symbols for the sun and moon—stand quietly in order, while the red phoenix and blue-green luan smile and nod, signifying the peaceful state of cultivation.

A Dream Journey to the Immortals

Drunk, I lie beneath the vast heavens, roaming freely through the Great Luo Heaven (the highest celestial realm in Daoist cosmology). Who can understand the work of nurturing my balanced, harmonious Qi? I have personally visited the Jade Palace and Purple Office, where the immortals dwell. I often carry the Jade Seal, subduing and sweeping away the myriad demons.

Presented to the Two Generals of Laiyang

The generals were fortunate to encounter a living immortal. Calamity was thereby turned into blessing, and both good fortune and wisdom grew. May you gather your spirit, cultivate inwardly, make up for what is lacking, and restore your nature to purity, thereby extending your lives.

Danyang Devotes Himself to Cultivating the Supreme Dao

Danyang devotes himself to cultivating the Supreme Dao. People from the Eastern Sea and Western Qin come to receive his teachings. After cultivation, he returns to the Cloud Palace, nurturing his nature within and purifying his source, so that his life may be extended.

Danyang Devotes Himself to Cultivating the Supreme Dao

Danyang devotes himself to cultivating the Supreme Dao. People from the Eastern Sea and Western Qin come to receive his teachings. Thereafter, he returns to the Cloud Palace and passes his days there. This time, he finally understands fully and attains the achievement of cultivating the Dao in the Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) tradition.

Transforming the Worldly

Resolutely withdrawing from the dusty sea of worldly life, he aspires to the immortal Dao. Sweeping away worldly concerns, he understands that all things are empty. In cultivation, he encounters the sovereign of innate purity. His mind is calm and unmoving, and he naturally appears dignified and strong.

Transforming One’s Six Relations

Set aside all things and all concerns. No longer dwell on favor or disgrace, and let the mind make no distinctions. When emotions fade and attachment is cut off, jade blossoms—the symbol of the pure state revealed through cultivation—will bloom. The radiance of the Numinous Treasure, the wondrous Qi of Daoist internal alchemy, shines forth, and a spark of spiritual light appears.

Transforming Mr. Tian of Yutian County, Jizhou

Within Mr. Yutian, a Numinous Treasure spirit embryo—the inner spiritual foundation formed through cultivation—takes shape. Its radiance reaches through Heaven and Earth, moving between body and mind. The Four Great Elements that make up the human body—earth, water, fire, and wind—were never born. Once this is truly understood, one knows that everywhere is like the immortal realm of Penglai.

Presented to the Assembly at the Cultivating the Real Dao Temple in the Capital

Be content with poverty, hold fast to the Great Dao, and be diligent at all times. In everything you see, harbor no selfishness and give rise to neither love nor aversion. Regard all men and women as your parents, and your heart will naturally become clear and tranquil.

Transcending Birth

Move freely and without obstruction through the Three Realms—the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm—and become your own independent master. Transcend the constraints of Heaven and Earth, standing apart from the ordinary. Constantly accord with the transformations of all things, inspiring reverence for the wondrous De. Ferry all beings across, as though fishing for whales and giant sea turtles, and lead them out of the sea of suffering.

Aunt Jiang of Fushan Asks About Cultivation

Cultivation of the Dao is like refining gold with fire: only after the true gold has been tempered does its deep purple radiance appear. Use the three treasures of body, mind, and intention within the Mysterious Palace—the inner realm of cultivation—to condense a perfectly luminous spiritual pearl that reaches through past and present.

Presented to Li, Zhao, and Bai as Companions in the Dao

Each Understands for Himself and Cultivates According to Circumstance

Cultivation of the Dao is like refining gold with fire: only after the true gold has been tempered does its deep purple radiance appear. Use the three treasures of body, mind, and intention within the Mysterious Palace to condense a perfectly luminous spiritual pearl that reaches through past and present.

Everyone should awaken to the truth that worldly splendor and honor are empty in the end. Three kindred spirits cultivate genuine merit together. With sincere hearts, they explore the subtle wonder of “Xiyi” (the Dao’s silent, formless, ineffable realm) within themselves and transmit the Dao to one another. This is the purpose of the orthodox patriarchs.

A Lament for Those Who Have Not Awakened

No one has grasped the root of the Dao. Day after day, people bustle about, as though their labors would never end. They dissipate their innate, perfectly clear nature; their minds and spirits lose their support, and death and calamity follow close behind.

Presented to Yu, Who Cultivates at Home

Let the world’s many scenes unfold before your eyes; there is no need to concern yourself with its vanity and display. Set yourself aright, hold fast to your original mind, and follow the Dao. Then how could the Three Lights (the sun, moon, and stars, or the inner light) be absent from your nature and spirit?

Presented at the Foot of Shengshui Mountain

Those who serve the Dao and cultivate in the Shengshui Mountain region would do well to seek the principles attentively during the ritual assembly. Refine the inner treasure and you may attain the Dao and long life; cleanse body and mind, and board the Prajna Boat, the vessel of wisdom and liberation.

Presented with a Hand Warmer to Instructor Li

May the true sages bestow their blessings, and may the Three Lights flourish. Auspicious, harmonious smoke spreads out and fills the ten directions (everywhere). The source of transformation has no fixed form: vast and empty, it naturally gives off fragrance.

Meeting the Perfected

A blue celestial image appears within. The Three Spirits (deities or, in internal cultivation, Jing, Qi, and Shen) gather and disperse, condensing into a single Elixir. It was originally received from the Great Luo Heaven, the Daoist supreme heaven. At times they meet, each filled with joy.

On Smelting

Yin and Yang Qi move deeply through chaos, while the radiance of the five colors surges without end. Fierce winds stir the furnace flames, heating the red crucible until it blazes; at last, the forms of all things in the world are forged.

For the Yellow Register Rite of Deliverance in This Prefecture, Presented to Instructor Li

Carefully conduct the nine-day liturgy, make offerings to the heavens, and pay reverence in the ten directions. Scholars, commoners, and officials join in praying for blessings. Establish oneself and follow the Dao, offering incense with a sincere heart.

At the Request of Zhang of Jinan Prefecture

Around Yaoshan, northwest of Jinan, Yang Qi rises, making it an ideal place to bring the Great Elixir to completion. Why not gather and consume the jade essence in your own homeland, but come here to seek mushrooms and orchids—symbols of elixirs and purity?

In Reply to Deputy Inspector Zhang of Zhongdu on Escaping Death and Rebirth

In truth, there is no such thing as aging or rebirth; these ideas arise because worldly attachments stain the human heart. Such attachments bind the spirit and keep one stranded in the sea of suffering, leaving the nature and spirit without a path to perfection.

Presented to the High Daoist of This Abbey

True Jade Marrow is stored in the Jade Cavern, while the Purple-Gold Elixir is refined in the Golden Furnace. The three Dantians—the upper, middle, and lower energy centers within the body—are harmonized and brought into accord. Who can grasp the principle behind this? When the Five Organs are clear and unobstructed, one can witness their transformations firsthand. People cannot do so because worldly attachments stain the heart and bind the spirit, leaving them stranded in the sea of suffering, with no way for their innate nature and spirit to reach fulfillment.

Presented to the Daoist Gao of This Temple

True Jade Marrow is stored in the Jade Cavern, while the Purple-Gold Elixir is refined in the Golden Furnace. The three Dantians are harmonized and brought into accord. Who can grasp the principle behind this? When the Five Organs are clear and unobstructed, one can experience it firsthand.

Thanks to Someone for Sending Gifts

I have personally received the letter and fragrant fruits you sent. The gifts in return are all prepared; please accept my respectful thanks. The bonds formed through material things should be fully released. It is the wealth that has no outward form that deserves our earnest pursuit.

Playfully Inscribed on the Fact That Few in My Hometown Believe in Such Things

I sealed away and planted the Golden Lotus and the Seven Treasures, so that their radiance might shine throughout the clear and luminous realm of the morning court, blossoming everywhere. This is not because Yuyang lacks cultivation in Dao and De. Even on Vulture Peak, the Tathagata was not regarded as more important than this.

Completed After a Couple of Lines by Danyang

With a still and quiet heart, open the world within the pot; with the Way of Wuwei, tread beyond the heavenly realm within the cavern. The numinous nature merges with all things under Heaven. The Great Dao is empty, still, and formless; no fixed method can be handed down.

Thanks to Lord Yu for His Gift of Charcoal

The changing cold and heat of Yin-Yang’s two Qi allow the myriad things to flourish. Through a refining like that of autumn, outward impurities are removed. Five-colored radiance, clear and delicate, rises into the sky; worldly entanglements all disperse, and the bones of one’s innate nature grow strong.

Upon Parting from Le’an, a Strange Spiritual Sound Suddenly Rang Out in the Sky

The cloud chariots of the Three Realms—the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm—resound within the grotto-heavens, their sound reaching the ears and eyes in an extraordinary way. The wise grasp the mysterious fishing line and draw themselves out of the cycle of rebirth. In the end, they settle the matter of life and death and attain the Way of the immortals.

Following My Aunt’s Question About the Mind King

The mind is the Dharma King who governs all the dusty realms. Do not let it become confused and overturned, drifting with external things. Inner and outer naturally return to true emptiness and converge as one. Then, looking back toward Penglai, you will recognize it as your own homeland.

Presented to the Great Miaojian of Binzhou

The work of cultivating the Dao in stillness is not difficult: gather in your selfish thoughts and do not let yourself be disturbed by external things and trivial affairs. Set the spirit palace—the inner image of bodily and mental cultivation—in harmonious motion, and integrate the true Three Treasures of Jing, Qi, and Shen. Through seven cycles of refinement, bring the Golden Elixir to completion and attain the state of shedding the old body and transforming into a new one.

Abandon clever arguments and debate, and let your radiance subside; the Dao (the Way) will appear on its own. When the heart is still, one’s true nature can emerge, and the spirit becomes clear. Jing (essence), Qi (vital energy), and Shen (spirit) mingle and coalesce, returning to the sea of primordial Qi. Amid stillness and formlessness, embodied life appears.

Presented to Xu Shangya of Putai

Preserve your pure and graceful nature, like gold-bearing sand within the bone. Harmonize the tiger and dragon—common Neidan (internal alchemy) symbols for the interaction of Yin-Yang and Jing and Qi—and nurture the beginnings of good fortune. In the formless treasure vessel, a crystalline flame gathers. When Yin-Yang blend in harmony and body and mind come into balance, it is like walking among clouds and rosy mists.

Sent to Xiao Xie of Dengzhou During His Illness

Drink medicinal broth often. Be content with poverty and find joy in stillness; do not grieve any longer. Once you have endured the causes and conditions of hardship, a change for the better will come of its own accord. If you have an affinity with the immortals, you will gradually catch the fragrance of the path to immortality.

Urging the Daoist Community

Keep a broad heart and spread the Great Dao. Open your mind so that the moon of the heart—an image of the clear and luminous original mind—may shine into the void. Let that spark of true nature rise and fall freely in the void: then you will no longer fall into the cycle of rebirth or sink into nothingness.

Presented to Liu Congzhen

To cultivate the true Dao, you must pass through tribulation after tribulation, returning to your practice again and again. Accumulate mysterious merit as though crossing to the far shore by boat. Set your sights on soaring into the clouds, and fear neither hardship nor obstruction. Advance step by step toward the path to immortality, and let it unfold at its own easy pace.

Presented to a Daoist Friend from Shahe

The wondrous Dao appears and rises from a single spark of true nature: you will no longer fall into the cycle of rebirth or sink into nothingness.

Presented to Liu Congzhen

To cultivate the true Dao, you must pass through tribulation after tribulation, returning to your practice again and again. Accumulate mysterious merit as though crossing to the far shore by boat. Set your sights on soaring into the clouds, and fear neither hardship nor obstruction. Advance step by step toward the path to immortality, and let it unfold at its own easy pace.

Presented to a Daoist Friend from Shahe

The wondrous Dao and true emptiness fill the world, yet ordinary people do not recognize them as the Return Elixir—a Neidan symbol for the result of Jing, Qi, and Shen gathering together. Our embodied life and established nature arise from primordial Qi. Nurture an ample, upright spirit, and you can leave behind the roots of every kind of suffering.

Presented to Liu, the Fourth Gentleman of Putai

My blessings, virtue, and official prospects are already pure and lofty; still, I must extend the root of the clouds—an image in Daoist cultivation of the foundation—and make it firm. Fire rises from the depths of the sea, while water descends from the heavens. When tiger and dragon unite, one joins the ranks of the immortals.

For the People of Lu Liangfu

People of Lu Liangfu, do not sink into obscurity. Turn your gaze inward and let the Three Lights—the sun, moon, and stars, or the light within—illuminate your nature. True transformation will arise on its own, and hardship and misfortune will fall away. When the precious lotus blooms in full, you can ascend to the heavenly realm.

Careful

From my youth I admired stillness and emptiness, and learned gentleness and humility. I had no interest in the worldly path, nor did I pursue the traces of fame and profit. I worried only that there was no escape from life and death, so I went alone to the desolate mountains and forests, seeking complete understanding of the way of life and death.

True transformation will arise on its own, and hardship and misfortune will fall away. When the precious lotus blooms in full, you can ascend to the heavenly realm.

Careful

From my youth I admired stillness and emptiness, and learned gentleness and humility. I had no interest in the worldly path, nor did I pursue the traces of fame and profit. I worried only that there was no escape from life and death, so I went alone to the desolate mountains and forests, seeking complete understanding of the way of life and death.

Meeting the Master

I suddenly heard that a high-ranking Daoist had arrived in Shanzhou and could understand all three traditions—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—so I searched everywhere for him and sought his instruction. I had put aside every worldly desire, wore clothes of woven grass, lived on tree fruits, and devoted myself to attuning to true cultivation.

Taking a Master

A bond formed in a former life brought kindred hearts together: at first sight, we recognized each other. Brother Disciple Liaozhen, do not try to hold me back. We will meet in the Jade Hall and together realize “the forbearance of the unborn”—the state of awakening to the principle that nothing is born or dies. We will reveal none of the mysteries to others, but only look at one another, smile, and nod in understanding.

Two Poems on My Feelings

The Great Dao has no fixed method that can be handed down. After awakening to the Dao, I clap my hands and laugh, pointing to the blue sky. Human nature and spirit secretly accord with the open void; only then does one understand that light already fills the entire vast universe.

By following the transformation of Heaven, one can roam freely. Auspicious signs appear in a deep mountain valley, as though dancing to the rhythm of Liumo, an ancient musical composition. Daily cultivation circles around again and again, bringing clarity to Heaven and Earth. Only after understanding the Great Dao does one know that from level ground, too, one can rise straight to the blue sky.

Remembering Danyang While Observing the Purification Rite on the Twenty-Second Day of the Twelfth Month

Mysterious radiance surges forth, as though the entire universe has fallen into stillness and emptiness. A single Great Elixir—the essence formed through Neidan cultivation—intoxicates one atop the cloud peaks. Today my immortal elder brother goes to pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. Changyang leaves behind a painting that reveals a wondrous trace.

Two Poems on Going to Cangzhou at the Request of Lord Chaoyuan

The Yellow River has overflowed, its waters reaching far and wide; everywhere they go, the people suffer. So, at Lord Chaoyuan’s request, I set out and met with everyone to discuss the matter. We hastened to establish the Yellow Register Purification Rite, a Daoist ritual for averting calamity and praying for blessings, and offered our prayers to Heaven.

A heart of utter sincerity brings kindred spirits together, and one’s reputation beyond the worldly realm grows ever higher. Once Neidan cultivation reaches completion, radiance fills the body and mind. When one’s deeds are accomplished, one appears from the celestial realm as a founding ancestor.

When the Work Is Accomplished

When the Great Elixir is fully cultivated, its radiance naturally reaches the celestial realm. I guard this temporary body and await the sacred proclamation—here, “proclamation by the Jade Emperor” explains the phrase “sacred proclamation.” Outwardly, I relieve the suffering of living beings throughout the ten directions and three realms; inwardly, I pay homage to the supreme realm of the Great Luo immortals.

Sending the Record in the Clouds and This Short Poem to Lady Jinzi

An elegant voice and fine virtue know no selfish partiality. Even a drop of kindness must not be forgotten. I secretly make my way to the immortal palace and enter the Purple Mansion, the realm of the immortals; my name has already been entered in the Record in the Clouds, a Daoist register of the names of immortals and perfected beings.

At Wang Miaozhen’s Request

The Daoist path is long and finely woven; cultivation must continue without interruption. In quiet sitting, one often encounters the numinous, luminous nature. Cultivating many kinds of good deeds, one remains steadfast and never retreats. Alone, I dance with the Embryonic Immortal—the inner immortal body formed through Daoist Neidan practice—and hold a banquet in the Jade Court, the realm of the immortals.

Zhang Ge of Taiyuan Asks How to Gather the Mind

Thoughts arise and pass away. The key is to quiet the mind and carefully gather in its inner light. Once the nature of the mind is fully understood, one knows it is one with the Dao (the Way); returning to emptiness, the Dao becomes complete of itself. Immortals feast in the Jade Court.

Zhang Ge of Taiyuan Asks About Gathering the Mind

Thoughts arise and pass away. The key is to quiet the mind and carefully gather in its inner light. Once the nature of the mind is fully understood, one knows it is one with the Dao; returning to emptiness, the Dao becomes complete of itself.

Presented to the Daoist Community

True cultivation means understanding one’s own mind and allowing one’s innate true nature to appear. One should brush away worldly distractions, seek the source, and return to the pure, sovereign nature within. Then one can board together the great ship on the sea of the Dharma—a metaphor in Buddhist and Daoist scriptures for the vast ocean of paths to cultivation.

Xu Gong Requests a Healing Incantation

Yesterday, tomorrow, and today all press people toward the cycle of rebirth, bringing blessings and misfortunes in their wake. Better to purify the mind and spirit, remain still often, and tend the Jade Fungus within the heart at regular intervals—the essence gained through cultivation.

Two Poems Presented to Hu Siweng of Putai

Carefully seek the precelestial Dao—the fundamental principle underlying all things before their generation—until light fills the whole body, from head to toe. When cultivation reaches completion, one receives deliverance and rides a cinnabar phoenix to Yingzhou, the fabled isle of immortals.

Filial devotion always accords with heavenly principle. Burn incense sincerely, letting reverence reach deep into body and mind. Rescue the souls of the dead trapped in the netherworld and free them from suffering; with a sincere heart, one will naturally receive the Dao’s support.

Two Poems for Wang Ge of Ju Prefecture

The One Qi, the primordial energy that courses through heaven, earth, and all things, flows unseen, bringing prosperity to all beings. Purple clouds seem to drift apart at a gentle breath, spreading across the sky. Discover the true medicine of heaven and earth, break through the barriers of emptiness, and the Dao will come to fruition of itself.

Music like that of immortals comes from Dongting; the fragrance of osmanthus spreads through the sky. There is no other secret to restoring youth and transforming one’s form: take a knife-tip measure of elixir, and its wondrous efficacy will naturally appear.

Encouraging Liu San to Establish Himself

It is not easy to conduct oneself in accord with both human and heavenly ways. Do not associate with wicked people. Every kind of good deed rests on genuine filial devotion; fail to understand this, and it is as though ten thousand mountain passes lay between you.

Two Poems Presented to the Assembly Leader Lu of Laizhou

Penglai Isle and the Lotus Palace, abodes of immortals, did not arise from nothing. Since time immemorial, how can that One—the source Dao—be brought to its numinous realization? The Three Fields within the body, where Jing, Qi, and Shen are refined, and the Nine Cauldrons, a term symbolizing the foundations of cultivation, may shine brilliantly, yet are difficult to bring together. How, then, could the jeweled golden form, an image of the sacred adorned with treasures, appear in visible shape?

A light that penetrates body and mind is fragrant as moonlight. The heart’s incense, the reverence within, flows without cease and condenses into true auspiciousness. The Three Calamities and Five Sufferings scatter on the wind; the balanced Qi, tempered through countless refinements, remains cool and clear day and night.

Ma Daweng Requests

Support the teachings within, nourishing one’s nature and spirit, and the petals of the five-colored golden lotus will flourish one by one. Gradually free yourself from the many sufferings of daily life, and the sprouts of the Dao and the blessings of immortals will grow naturally.

At the request of Lord Chaoyuan

Black waters and red clouds give rise to the wondrous mechanism for transforming and saving living beings. It fills the blood vessels and benefits the spirit. Dragons and serpents coil together, gathering into radiance; a white horse neighs, revealing the body beyond the body—the form said to transcend the physical body in cultivation.

Two poems presented to the Daoist community of Sanbao Hermitage in Zhaoyuan

The light of the Three Treasures—the Dao, the scriptures, and the masters revered in Daoism—rises as if surging up from beneath the earth, secretly transforming the old form. The Daoist cultivator’s bearing is poised and refined; the chance has come to pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and ascend the jade steps.

Do not violate the precepts or deceive your own conscience; the light of the Three Treasures naturally illuminates all. Recognize your original true nature, which has neither form nor appearance, like a full moon rising over Mount Yao and shining everywhere.

At Lord Xu’s request for an oral teaching

The sun sinks toward the western mountains, and a person’s life and vitality gradually wane. One must hasten to cultivate and refine oneself, applying diligent effort. Gradually let go of fixations, and you can cease to age. When Yin Qi has vanished and Yang Qi is pure and harmonious, a furnace of immortal medicine will be refined—a metaphor for Neidan cultivation.

Xia Wuzhen

The original true face appears from within the heart; black and white, the essences of Metal, are harmonized and unified there. Grasp the timing of the reversal and cycle of Yin-Yang. In emptiness, you will sense the birth of an infant—a state symbolizing renewal in Neidan cultivation.

A poem presented to Pang Ge, who explained the principles

A rough stone, not yet carved, has not yet been tempered. The bright blade and icy edge expound the wisdom of prajna—“mido” means pāramitā, the wisdom that reaches the other shore. Regard the defiled body as nondual; transform the foul-smelling organs into a harmonious Qi that accords with the Way of Heaven.

Zhang Hai of Jinan

A poem presented to Pang Ge, who explained the principles

A rough stone, not yet carved, has not yet been tempered. The bright blade and icy edge expound the wisdom of prajna—“mido” means pāramitā, the wisdom that reaches the other shore. Regard the defiled body as nondual; transform the foul-smelling organs into a harmonious Qi that accords with the Way of Heaven.

A poem requested by Zhang Wudao of Jinan

There is no need to keep questioning Perfected Yang; everyone should carefully investigate their own nature and life. The immortal medicine stored in the Mysterious Palace—the wondrous place within the body in Neidan cultivation—and the secret of returning to the Origin are held in the heart-pearl within the Dharma Sea: the clear, pure original mind. This is the way to realize the Great Dao.

In response to an outsider’s ridicule

Do not merely praise it in vain throughout Dengzhou, Laizhou, Weizhou, and Mizhou. True realization and wisdom lie within the heart. The Great Dao lies in constant daily practice; spread the teachings widely, so they reach all directions.

Presented to Elder Liu of Hucun, Mouping

Always observe with care and attention. In choosing friends who share your aspirations, choose those who are kind. Grasp the subtle key and true principles of the Dao; establish yourself and follow the Way, and you can avoid calamity.

A Lament for Zhao Shou: Heavy Karmic Burdens

The sins and enmities accumulated in this life, past lives, and future lives run deep. You should hasten to cultivate the Dao, giving your practice even a little careful attention. Calamities will fade; the Nine Yin (dark and obstructive forces) and external illusions will be dispelled. Good fortune will arise, and wholesome affinities from the Ten Grounds (stages of perfected cultivation) will come to you.

Zhou Bao: Asked About the Time of Birth

Nurture life and refine the metal within water (a metaphor in Neidan cultivation for the essence refined within the body). Strive to cultivate the Dao and apply yourself wholeheartedly. Calamities will fade; the Nine Yin and external illusions will be dispelled. Good fortune will arise, and wholesome affinities from the Ten Grounds will come to you.

Zhou Bao: Asked About the Time of Birth

Nurture life and refine the metal within water; let divine light burst forth and deepen your practice. Hold fast to the One Qi without letting it disperse. Keep the mind clear and awaken to the true Way. The Nine Yang (forces of brightness and vitality) will gather, and all dark Qi will be dispelled.

Two Poems on Self-Reflection

Transcending the worldly realm, I find ease and contentment; only I know what it feels like. Once the mind is clear, it is as though one has climbed a stairway leading to the heavens. The Void’s numinous treasure (a Daoist name for the Great Dao and its wondrous nature) shines with perfect radiance, illuminating the darkened path so that one never loses the way.

One joyful event after another unfolds within the religious community, and the purpose of the ritual assemblies gradually becomes clear. Believers come and go without end, teaching one another and spreading the Dao of True Emptiness.

Gong Gesuo

In the jade tripod and golden furnace, the beginnings of cultivation are refined; Daoist adepts, young and old, have practiced within them through the ages. The myriad spirits gather and set out on the path beyond birth. Once cultivation is complete, one may become renowned on the immortal isle of Penglai.

Sun the Elder, Keeper of the Temple of the Stone Spirit at Laiyang

The townspeople continually bring fine incense, praying for blessings and favor, and hoping that good fortune will arrive. In former times, a perfected immortal left traces here, guiding people up to this place to gaze toward the land of the immortals.

Presented to a Daoist Friend

Each year, on the third day of the third month of late spring, an assembly is held at Holy Water. On this day, a Daoist friend asked me to explain the teachings, so I composed a poem.

On the third day of the third month, distinguished guests and heroes gather at Holy Water. All sincerely pray for blessings and spare no effort. Troubled by birth and death, we investigate and discuss them together; through speaking of the Dao’s causes and conditions, we teach the people.

The Elder Li Speaks of How He Went Wrong in His Cultivation Years Ago

To reconnect a withered root and bring it back to life, all the affairs of the world seem to leave one disheartened. The evil influences that once clung to the body have departed, and boundless divine light has entered the abdomen.

Two Poems Thanking Elder Wang the Sixth for His Gift of Fragrant Tea

I thank you deeply for the gift of fine fragrant tea. May we turn our light inward together and nurture the auspicious roots and sprouts. At the thunder’s first clap, the transformations of all things are set in motion; sweet dew, like jade liquid, waters the cinnabar—an alchemical substance symbolizing vital essence or the inner elixir.

Thirty-six years after returning home to visit old friends, I found that eight or nine out of every ten had passed away. It was heartbreaking. Now the water shines brightly, and the landscape has regained its beauty. The Dao’s transformations remain as before, renewing themselves each day.

Sent to Lord Qiu of Changchun

Within and without, body and mind are suffused with true, auspicious Qi. The profound and mysterious ritual practices bring coolness to the whole body. Mortals and sages share the same source—something truly worthy of joy and celebration. Blessings spread widely through the human and heavenly realms, bringing down a precious means of attaining immortality and the Dao.

Presented to the County Assistant from the Inner Clan

This meritorious official comes from our clan. His character is upright and pure, and by Heaven’s grace he has met with rare good fortune. Few people fulfill both filial duty and loyalty so completely. Perhaps one day he will seek out immortals in the mountain forests.

Presented to Chen, the Palace Attendant

In every age, laws and standards must be established with fairness and without error. Only by keeping one’s thoughts free of selfishness can one uphold the right path. See clearly and restore the original true nature; follow Heaven’s principle, and you will accord with the Great Dao.

Two Poems for the Chief Priest Invited to Fushan

The formal invitation sent by Changchun has arrived. You may set out at once; there is no need for further urging. Officials and common people have gathered to discuss the matter, yet who among them truly understands how to awaken the seal of the heart—the truth realized within?

The faithful in our hometown pass the word from one to another, inviting distinguished people to form a shared bond of goodness. May dutiful sons and obedient grandsons join in offering blessings, praying for the dead and guiding their souls onward, so that both the newly departed and those who passed long ago may be reborn in the heavenly realms.

Presented to Song, the Provincial Graduate

Once I cast my hook and drew up a giant whale and a great Ao turtle. I also ranged across the vast sea, raising surging waves. I hope only that those joined by affinity will help one another and cultivate together. Following the Great Dao, they can all enter the ranks of the immortals.

Admonition to a Young Boy Entering the Monastic Life

First draw near to people of virtue, and pursue the Dao and its cultivation with steadfast resolve; do not fear hardship. Whether striving for merit or claiming the name of a cultivator, persevere to the very end. In this way you can commune with the divine and realize your true nature.

Fushan’s Chief of Ten Thousand Households, Gao, Is Drafted to Lead the Northern Expedition and Is Seized

With loyalty and righteousness in your heart, and by exerting all your strength, you can display courage and might, break through formidable barriers, and achieve great deeds. The recovered realm returns to the wise and enlightened ruler, and praise for his name spreads throughout the world.

Presented to those who have recently left home in Wenmu

The clear and far-reaching renown of the Dao’s teachings resounds through the homeland, and the assemblies at Wenmu for studying and spreading the Dao have grown ever more flourishing. May everyone continue to proclaim the principle of true emptiness, so that the seven-jeweled golden lotuses, symbols of purity and solemn beauty, bloom with fragrance everywhere.

Presented to Wang Yuzhen of Guanzhou: the precepts bestowed by Master Danyang

The precepts are passed on to Wang Yuzhen of Guanzhou, in the hope that he will nourish the root of his spirit through their subtle principles. When one is fortunate enough to meet a true teacher and model, the blessings of De can be passed down from generation to generation.

Little Cui of Wendeng wishes to leave home. His parents have agreed, but will not let him go

Leaving home to cultivate the Dao is a matter of shared good fortune. Sadly, he is foolishly attached and has never been able to commit himself wholeheartedly. He cannot sever even the slightest worldly attachment, and so defies the Way of Heaven; the roots of his offenses will grow deep.

Fundraising to build a warm canopy for the Three Pure Ones at this temple

Building a Daoist temple depends on the affinities of many people, so we should form connections among the people and widely create fields of merit through good deeds. We also hope everyone will turn the light inward and seek out subtle, profound principles; only then will they understand how the inner and outer can be fully joined.

Presented to Yang, the district inspector

Yang, the district inspector, diligently maintains his devotion to the Dao and has grasped its essentials. Through his connection with the religious community, he has found a kindred spirit. Spirit is strengthened, life span replenished, and light naturally gathers; if one lets one’s resolve falter, misfortune will follow.

Two poems on seeking instruction from the Chan school

True Chan and the true Dao both bring genuine results. True goodness, compassion, suffering, and emptiness must all be experienced firsthand. True joy, ease, and freedom come from genuine practice and cultivation, and ultimately reveal the true character of the Dao.

Examine things with a sincere heart, and you will find genuine joy. Practice directly and keep up your daily work without wavering. Truly awaken to the subtle principle, and you will understand it completely. Reach the state of true emptiness and true transformation, and you will find lasting peace.

A letter from this temple urging a return home

My affinities elsewhere are deep, so my return has been late; ties of circumstance have drawn me in many directions, delaying my departure. In the end, what I do is all in the service of spreading the teachings. As for when this body moves or rests, that is left to the course of circumstances.

In the middle of the eighth month, around the Mid-Autumn Festival, the days and nights gradually grow cool. The myriad things move in cycles of renewal, while the constant Dao (the Way) of original nature remains unchanged. Heaven and Earth reveal a flawless treasure in clear splendor; the serene, tranquil One Qi (the primordial Qi from which all things in Heaven and Earth arise) manifests the image of Jade Yang.

The autumn clouds disperse, and the blue sky clears. A single round of cool moonlight shines across the land. It illuminates a mind as clear as a jade vessel, gathering a wondrous radiance. Jing and Qi flow among the Three Fields (the upper, middle, and lower Dantian, sites within the body where Daoist practice refines Jing and Qi), and cultivation thereby comes naturally to completion.

Having received the true formula, one can cultivate oneself into a Great Luo Immortal (a high-ranking immortal in Daoism), yet still asks others about the opportunity to transform all beings. He seeks out wondrous giant creatures such as the Kun and Ao, pays homage to the Supreme Emperor, cleanses the world of dust and brings down teachings, then once more proclaims the Great Dao.

Presented to Master Zhang with a gift of fermented bean paste

The essences of Yin-Yang gather and shine with wondrous radiance; grasp the method of harmonizing them, and this Qi will endure. I urge people everywhere to cultivate according to this method. If you put it into practice, you can remain serene and tranquil for a long time.

Presented to Master Zheng

There is no need to pursue every matter in the world. However you strive and plan, in the end it all returns to emptiness. Seek the source and return to the pure master within; then, free and untroubled, you can still reveal your original nature.

Shown to the three mischievous youths Qiu, Wang, and Jiao

A reckless desire suddenly arose in you: you wanted to leave home and become a Daoist. Foolish and unruly, you wasted many years. Why are you so unrestrained and difficult to discipline? It is all because your foundation of good fortune is inadequate.

Three poems presented to Lord Chen of the ancient county

All forms of the myriad phenomena ultimately return to emptiness; do not make wild guesses. Return to the original point of your nature, and you can cut off the impurities of the world. It is like a blue lotus rising from the water, now and then sending out a faint fragrance that travels far.

The Great Dao brings forth and nurtures Heaven, Earth, and humanity, the Three Powers. Who can understand the root and return to complete true nature? Do not remain trapped in a humble dwelling, growing old in vain. Begin cultivating, and bring forth the “body beyond the body” (a body formed through cultivation that transcends the physical form).

Transcending the world and ascending to the realm of the immortals is not difficult in itself. As long as you are not obstructed by the myriad affairs and entanglements, your heart will naturally grow broad. The Three Palaces (sites within the body where Jing and Qi are cultivated) turn in sequence, preserving the elixir that prolongs life. When the Seven Treasures (precious substances within the body, including Jing and Qi, valued in cultivation) are fully gathered and condensed, you can achieve the elixir of bone transformation.

Presented to Master Zheng of Laoshan

With firm resolve and a steady heart, he dwells on Rong Mountain. In ancient times, a perfected immortal refined the Great Elixir on Huagai Mountain. Mountain peaks stretch one after another, their depths overlapping and concealing one another; naturally, the affairs of the world cannot intrude.

The wife of a provincial judicial commissioner came to seek guidance because of an illness.

Heaven and Earth have brought forth and nurtured the myriad things this way since antiquity. Yet people go against this principle, failing to cherish the originally pure nature of the mind. How, then, can they keep the body healthy?

Twelve Poems of Reflection

The Great Dao has no form, yet it gave birth to and nurtures me. It sets wondrous principles in motion, revealed from Kunlun, the legendary mountain that produces jade. The three lights—the sun, moon, and stars—shine and flow, revealing their true radiance. A single current of original Qi (vital energy) surges and moves, transforming into Yang energy as pure as jade.

The Dao transcends both being and nonbeing, yet runs through them; it is constant and unchanging. Even with the smallest step, the fragrant meaning of the Dao can reach in all ten directions. After true awakening, the numinous and lucid nature fills Heaven and Earth. Standing, walking, sitting, or lying down, one can see the three lights of sun, moon, and stars.

A single point of numinous light appears in the void, coming and going within it, no longer bound by the cycle of rebirth. It encompasses the sun and moon and connects past and present. Like the undivided chaos before things had names, it moves freely in every direction.

After countless kalpas of tribulation, the light within remains unmoved. Taking Heaven as one’s substance and the Dao as one’s model, one sees that the Dao’s movement is Wuwei (non-action) from the beginning. Following nature, one refines and cultivates the true Three Treasures—the Jing (essence), Qi, and Shen (spirit) of Daoist practice. In this way, one brings forth and nurtures Heaven and Earth, revealing the myriad things.

Suddenly, one senses a peaceful Qi arising, and the sprout of the Dao appears with it. True Qi gradually gathers and congeals into cinnabar, a metaphor in Neidan (internal alchemy) for the condensation of essence and Qi. Heaven, Earth, and humanity—the Three Powers—and the Four Symbols of Yin-Yang interconnect and transform through inversion. Only then does one believe that Penglai, the legendary realm of immortals, lies within one’s own heart.

Bearing what is numinous, body and mind are at ease. Holding to a nature that is whole and clear, one recognizes one’s original face. The original spirit leaps forth, transcending the world’s transformations; in a single effortless bound, it passes beyond the Three Passes, the bodily gateways often described in Neidan practice.

Formless radiance turns inward to illuminate true nature, becoming the fundamental support that precedes Heaven and Earth. In a pure and clear mind, divine awareness naturally meets. A Golden Elixir appears, freeing one from the Six Dusts—the forms, sounds, scents, tastes, touches, and mental objects that disturb the heart.

One leaps beyond the limits of rebirth and worldly transformation. True sages fill the sky, arrayed among the clouds. The worlds and levels of the Ten Directions and Three Realms lie open for free exploration. With every step, one enters the light of Heaven and strides freely across the Jade Altar.

Recognize that first point of numinous awareness at the beginning, and you will understand that there is no need for deliberate cultivation to bring birth and death to an end. Becoming one with the Dao’s true, empty essence, one moves carefree with every step toward the Jade Capital, the celestial city of the immortals.

The source is like an ocean of awakening, where divine beings gather and all things return to the single Dao of transformation. To return to the source and enter the ocean of awakening, one need only bring the practice of Wuwei to completion; fulfillment will then come naturally.

Radiance gathers and condenses into a single numinous nature; a golden lotus with a thousand petals rises beneath one’s feet. Thus one leaves behind the troubles of the Ten Directions and Three Realms. Without deliberate practice, fulfillment comes naturally.

Those who fully understand the truth and reach its source find their wisdom flowing freely. With a sincere heart, they teach according to circumstances, explaining the truths of suffering and emptiness. Through Prajñā Pāramitā (the wisdom that leads to awakening), they become free of all entanglements; the subtle and mysterious Great Dao is perfectly unobstructed.

The radiance of the Great Dao gathers into a divine being, with a thousand-petaled golden lotus beneath his feet. He has left behind the suffering of the ten directions and the Three Realms (the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm). Without deliberate cultivation, he naturally attains perfection.

Those who fully understand the truth and reach its source find their wisdom flowing freely. With a sincere heart, they teach according to circumstances, explaining the truths of suffering and emptiness. Through Prajñā Pāramitā, they become free of all entanglements; the subtle and mysterious Great Dao is perfectly integrated.

The precious light is complete, and desires have dried up. All the world’s splendor is like an empty shadow passing before the eyes. The Golden Elixir, formed through internal alchemical cultivation, requires no deliberate planning. Wherever an immortal may be, they can dwell in ease and peace.

Inscribed on the Stone Bridge at Weizhou

The seven apertures—the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and other sense openings—are clear and finely formed; Jade Spring, the inner fluids or vital essence of Daoist internal alchemy, gathers within. The Dharma Bridge is vast and can ferry all people to salvation; I, too, am in accord with this Way. Who, across the ages, has truly understood it? I would guide those in the human world who are ready to receive its teachings.

Facing the Moon

Within true emptiness, the blue sky appears; how has the moon, like a precious mirror, ever wavered? If you understand this as both substance and function, you will know that the human spirit is inherently bright and clear.

Two Poems on Cloudlight Cave

Long ago, Yun Guang refined the Great Elixir here. Once it was complete, his aged appearance returned in an instant to youthful vigor. Above, he prayed to the Lord of the Celestial Origin, the ruler of heaven, to bring deliverance amid the great calamity; below, he rescued living beings from the threshold of death and rebirth in the cycle of reincarnation.

The sun and moon alternate in their courses, their radiance reflected in purple clouds. In stillness and emptiness, clear light shines to the ends of the earth. The Dao Eye, the wisdom that sees into the Great Dao, opens, though ordinary people cannot recognize it. Only upon sudden realization does one see that the immortal realm of Penglai lies within one’s own heart.

When My Disciple Han Daowen Went to His Native Place to Seek Instruction on an Official Document

Golden flowers and jade buds gather into a spirit embryo, the cultivated state in which the inner elixir takes shape. With a firm and unwavering resolve, one advances through distinct stages of practice. Refine and open the golden bones, revealing a true nature as pure as jade; born from within the formless, it will never sink into obscurity.

Presented to Gong Ju, of Mucheng in Fushan, When He Sought Instruction

Golden flowers and jade buds gather into a spirit embryo, the cultivated state in which the inner elixir takes shape. With a firm and unwavering resolve, one advances through distinct stages of practice. Refine and open the golden bones, revealing a true nature as pure as jade; born from within the formless, it will never sink into obscurity.

Presented to the Two Elders of the Liu Family in Mucheng, Fushan

The wondrous principle of a single point of true emptiness need not be sought outside oneself. Everyone can plant a lingzhi, the magical herb that symbolizes Daoist cultivation, within their own heart. Sow golden lotus seeds around the heart-field, and, when the time is right, the Dao Eye will open.

Presented to My Disciple Wang Shouzheng

Make the body light and strong, restore youth to the face, and return to life’s beginning. Clear and wondrous sound and virtue reach everywhere without obstruction. When the single point of true nature that returns to the source opens, the spirit leaps forth, shining across the Great Void.

Presented to Li Zhiquan, Who Resides at White Dragon Cave

A white dragon enters the belly, and from this comes the act of transformation and birth. Ten thousand shafts of heavenly light surge and shake, setting a vast cycle of tribulation in motion. The sun and moon rise and set as though before one’s eyes; sitting quietly and watching, one can faintly glimpse the immortal realm of Penglai.

〔Farewell to the Officials and People of Yutian County〕

In the gengwu year, the master was in Yutian County, Jizhou. After the Zhaijiao (purification ritual) had ended, he said to those gathered, “The Dao Qi of the north is about to turn back. Spirits are passing through the sky, and there are visions of swords clashing. Could the people be about to suffer?” He wrote a poem to bid farewell to the local officials and people. Before long, war did indeed break out in the north.

The light of the Great Dao turns back as one; among cloud formations in the ten directions, stars race and thunder resounds. The August Heaven and Sovereign Earth—the spirits of heaven and earth—reveal true signs, while the world’s glittering affairs are no more than a speck of dust.

〔Compassion for the People〕

Most people in the world do not understand the root of the Dao. The generation and transformation of all things between heaven and earth follow the principles inherent in things. If one can grasp their subtle mystery, Shen and Qi will naturally reach into the deep and wondrous.

〔Two Poems Presented to the Thousand-Household Commander of Juzhou〕

A single stick of incense, offered with a sincere heart, rises to Shangqing, the Daoist realm of purity. The wondrous Dao of Wuwei is gradually cultivated to completion. The precious mirror hangs high, untouched by dust; it can illuminate what lies ahead and remain clear even after ten thousand kalpas.

One Qi arises from the void and gives birth to all things; the Yin-Yang of heaven and earth coalesces into a beautiful embryo. The true form that endures through calamities surpasses the natural processes of creation, appearing in the blue vault of heaven without a trace of dust.

〔Bathing Below the Ravine South of Shengshui Cave and Urging Everyone to Wash Away Their Impurities〕

Everyone should go to the bath and wash, shedding dust and clearing away confusion and doubt. Each person should keep the spirit lucid and cultivate in this way, remaining steadfast through the ages, unmoved by external things.

Wash away the dust and restore clarity; when they emerge from the bath, each person reveals an immaculate true nature. Purify both inside and out, cleansing body and mind, and let a trace of true emptiness—the pure, unstained nature—remain with you at all times.

〔Going to the Mountain Front to Hold a Zhaijiao〕

Toiling in the sea of suffering, it is not easy to escape. Once the true Dao is understood, one should set up an altar and burn incense wherever one may be. One does not refuse to climb mountains or ford rivers; the wish to deliver the living and the dead is boundless.

〔Attending the Zhaijiao at the Mountain Front〕

Toiling in the sea of suffering, it is not easy to escape. Once the true Dao is understood, one should set up an altar and burn incense wherever one may be. One does not refuse to climb mountains or ford rivers; the wish to deliver the living and the dead is boundless.

Chancellor Xie presented me with peppermint pills produced in Guozhou. Each pill is like a drop of sweet dew, a precious essence that moistens the face and makes one glow. Its rich fragrance refreshes the mind and opens the spirit to clarity. The poem also uses this gift to express the aspiration to cultivate the Dao: may we break through the bounds of reincarnation, birth, and death.

Freedom from Contention

From ancient times to the present, worldly affairs have changed again and again, and in the end no one can escape the changes of life and death. It is not easy to understand freedom from contention—letting go of rivalry and following nature. But if one truly grasps its principle, the Dao can be attained.

Three Poems on the Numinous Child

To leave home and cultivate the Dao, one must first have unwavering resolve. Let the whole body fill with light, illuminating past and present. Gradually bring the numinous platform—the mind and spirit—to clarity, let it reach the crown of the head, then return to the mysterious Great Dao. Few people can truly understand this experience.

A lustrous jade flame condenses into an immortal elixir; the gateways to its myriad transformations all arise from the heart. Complete the deeds and practice required for immortality, and penetrate the Great Dao; in the end, sit peacefully on Mount Chicheng, one of the Daoist immortals’ sacred mountains.

When the breath is even and harmonious, one can penetrate the transformations of all things. Enter the realm of true emptiness and transcend being and nonbeing. Inwardly accord with the Dao, with Virtue, and with eternal truth; their source lies entirely in the lofty depths of one’s nature.

Farewell to Dengzhou

The clouds and mist disperse, making this the perfect time for a leisurely outing. My cultivation has reached completion, and I have returned to a new state of wholeness. Now that the highest heaven of the Great Luo has made its instruction clear, I accept its teaching and take my leave of Dengzhou.

Two Poems Presented to Li Jiepang of Laizhou, Who Intends to Leave Home

Leave worldly life behind and seek the mysterious, and insight will follow. The spark of true nature from the beginning accords with the mysteries of the Way of Heaven. Our lineage has its own formula for cultivating immortality. Master Xianwu, would you be willing to follow it?

Take the Three Treasures—Jing, Qi, and Shen—as the foundation of cultivation. Nurture the harmonious Qi between Heaven and Earth, and gather the essence of life. Set worldly fame and fortune entirely aside, and refine Dark Frost and Purple Gold Sand, the essences produced through inner cultivation. Master Xianwu, would you be willing to follow it?

Take the Three Treasures as the foundation of cultivation. Nurture the harmonious Qi between Heaven and Earth, and gather the essence of life. Set worldly fame and fortune entirely aside, and refine Dark Frost and Purple Gold Sand.

The Assistant Prefect of This District Sought Atractylodes, Which I Presented to Him

The essence of the sun and moon gathers to form the beautiful atractylodes. Taken as medicine, it strengthens the sinews and bones and gradually makes the body light and clear. If one can gather the numinous light of the four seasons, one can attain the transformative power of an immortal elixir.

Poem in Reply to Zhang, Who Sat the Palace Examination

Gradually cut through the myriad distractions of worldly life and strengthen your resolve to cultivate. Practice sincerely and apply yourself diligently, and you will receive the aid of Heaven and Earth’s creative power. Refine the precious pearl, escape the snares of the world, and roam freely in the Great Luo Heaven.

Presented to the Women of the Hall of Cultivating the Real

Whether young or old, all can devote themselves to cultivating the Dao. Each may expound the Way of Purity and Stillness, crossing by boat to the far shore of liberation. Let light shine in all ten directions, far from suffering; dwell forever in the immortal realm beyond Heaven, at ease and in bliss.

Urging Disciples to Examine and Assess the Ground of the Heart

Only with a clear and settled mind can one examine and weigh matters within oneself. The people and affairs of the world are tangled and diverse; amid them, one must discern what is truly auspicious and accords with the proper Way. Gathering the spirit and nurturing one’s original Qi is part of the work of cultivation. Everyday affairs differ in length and kind, and each may be allowed to follow its natural course.

Presented to Guo Jieyuan of Wenshan, who came seeking medicine

If you seek the elixir of longevity and transformation, first cast off the burdens of the world and let your heart become calm and at ease. By apprehending the true principle in stillness, you can escape the entanglements of rebirth and death.

Song Shaoweng of Chashan distributes scriptures and holds a Zhaijiao ritual

Fasting and cultivation, establishing an altar and performing rites, and copying efficacious scriptures all help dispel sins and wrongs. Through the power of Daoist methods, one can aid the souls of the dead, free them from injustice and suffering, and guide them to salvation.

Emptiness and Being

Clouds and rosy mists drift faintly: they seem empty, yet also appear real. The Dao transmitted through the inner lineage has its source in the Way of Heaven. Cling to emptiness, and the idea of “emptiness” will cloud your vision; cling to being, and the idea of “being” will obscure it.

A Lament for Delusion

Searching east and west for the truth, one’s own numinous nature still never fully comes to light. The myriad methods and countless conditions are like the myriad forms of the world. Know that they all issue from the one root: the Way of Heaven.

Presented to Master Yang Dace

A single point of the principle of non-arising blends into a deep and boundless realm beyond words. Following change, it finds its lodging in the womb, where it nurtures the gentle, bright Qi of life. When conditions are ripe, one can awaken to the whole truth. Establishing teachings and founding a lineage in accordance with the Dao allows its methods to spread everywhere.

On a disciple’s silence

The essentials of every action are inseparable from the Five Constant Virtues: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. Teachings put into practice without words can also spread silently in every direction. Settle your mind and observe the mysterious truth; only in quiet stillness can its deepest principles be apprehended.

Remembering the Second Master Song of Laiyang

You rode a crane and clouds away, and now no word can reach you. Who knows when you will return to the Jade Void Palace, the Daoist realm of immortals? Beyond the pine-framed window, the rain has passed and the sky has cleared; inside, the zither and books are still. With no one to speak with all day, I can only remember, alone, the root of the Dao.

Encouraging the Practice of Filial Piety

Devote yourself wholeheartedly to filial piety and follow the courses of the sun, moon, and stars. Practice diligently with steadfast resolve, dispelling the burdens of past wrongdoing. Put an end to the dark and corrupt thoughts of this life; cultivate your true nature and cast off what is false, until you attain purity and peace.

Presented to Fellow Daoists after the Purification Ritual in This Prefecture

I am grateful for your sincere invitation to come to this prefecture. The ritual feast has been fully prepared. Through sincere practice, may we accumulate true merit and one day travel together to Penghu, the legendary mountain abode of immortals in the sea, and explore the Ten Continents, the realms of the immortals in Daoist legend.

Presented after the Ritual to the Militia Commander of Mizhou, Who Invited Me to Serve as a Master for the Yellow Register Rite of Deliverance

A person who is honest and filial earns the respect even of spirits. Praying above to the heavens, he gathers in and delivers the myriad beings. With holy ritual water and sweet offerings, he gives aid to all, freeing sunken souls from the netherworld. The Yellow Register Rite of Deliverance helps the dead escape the realm of darkness.

On the Officials and Residents of Mizhou Inviting People to Complete the Restoration of Youde Temple

It is not difficult for Youde Temple to flourish; signs of harmony are already appearing. If we remain steadfast from beginning to end, our merit will at last be complete, and we may hope to take our place among the immortals.

Encouraging the Community to Contribute to Construction

Let us join our efforts and not complain of hardship. Let us build and restore this blessed place as a gathering ground for immortals and perfected beings, and as an altar for ritual services. By competing to accumulate merit and good deeds, we may rise to higher posts in the immortal realms. To act without selfishness and judge all things fairly is also a way to cultivate Neidan (internal alchemy) in secret.

Presented to Li, the District Official of Mizhou

The district official, Mr. Li, grew weary of worldly life and, with a sincere heart, came to the aid of Youde Temple, thereby forming a good karmic bond. Everything needed to support the temple has been provided for. Blessings and joy have always come to those who are good.

Lamenting Those Who Have Not Awakened

All kinds of beings drift and sink in a sea of suffering. It is a sorrowful thought: who is willing to resolve to cultivate the Dao and accumulate merit through good deeds? Fortunately, the principles of Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) can guide those who have lost their way. Wherever one may be, one can put these teachings into practice and bring oneself into accord with the Dao.

A Message to the Assembly after the Princes’ Ritual

Formless, featureless, and naturally arising through Wuwei (non-action): this is the one true nature. Together we make offerings to the Celestial Worthy of the Great Luo Heaven, a high-ranking Daoist deity. The myriad beings rejoice, receive the grace of deliverance, and escape imprisonment in the underworld and the gates of the Five Sufferings.

A Message to the Disciples

Radiance shines through the whole body, illuminating the room. The perfect halo is without flaw, neither increasing nor diminishing. Only then does one understand that what appears is the original nature of the true source. From then on, one is forever freed from sinking into the depths and may manifest in response to circumstances.

Presented to Cui Daochang of Mizhou upon His Resolute Departure from Home to Become a Daoist

This is the title of a piece presented to Cui Daochang of Mizhou on the occasion of his resolute departure from home to become a Daoist.

Renounce worldly life and enter the mysterious gate of Daoist practice to grasp the eternal Dao. Turn the mind inward and guard its inner light. Refine and awaken the true spirit nature that endures through the ages; even without relying on immortal flowers, it can give off fragrance everywhere.

Reply to Someone’s Question about the Three Treasures

The Three Treasures spoken of by the ancients are Qi, Jing (essence), and Shen (spirit). They gather in the original field, the inner place where Jing, Qi, and Shen accumulate in cultivation, and there is a reason for this. Light fills the ten directions. Once the Golden Elixir has been refined, one may join the ranks of the perfected immortals in the Great Luo Heaven, the highest celestial realm in Daoism.

Four Poems for Those Seeking Guidance

The Dao originally has no name. To seek it, one must not look outside; instead, examine closely the spiritual terrace, where the mind and spirit reside, and the Elixir Valley, the inner place where Jing and Qi are nurtured. When the five emotions and six desires have all dissipated, the light of the myriad paths will flow forth from within.

After great awakening, the wise can let go of every burden, escape the net of the mundane world, and reach their original nature. The luminous Qi of the Numinous Treasure gathers in fullness in the upper, middle, and lower Dantian, the body’s three centers for cultivating Jing, Qi, and Shen. Clear, resonant songs ring out across the vast emptiness.

Worldly feelings and thoughts pile up layer upon layer, readily causing people to sink and be buried. The pearl of right awareness, a metaphor for the innate mind of awakening, gradually opens. By seeing the pure essence of one’s source and awakening to truth and its foundations, one may hope to attain the immortal Dao.

The light throughout the body joins with the Great Elixir, the state in Neidan cultivation in which Jing, Qi, and Shen have been gathered and condensed. Harmonious Qi restores youth and a youthful appearance. Free and at ease, one knows true joy, as though already soaring amid the azure heavens.

At the Request of Zhao Dejing

Dejing has a pure heart and takes joy in leaving home to cultivate the Dao. Suddenly shedding his worldly self, he turns instead to cultivating cinnabar, a metaphor for the Golden Elixir. The Jade Hall, a metaphor for the serene place of cultivation within the body, gathers the true Three Treasures and nurtures a numinous child, a metaphor for the inner luminous Qi cultivated through Neidan. Its wonder amazes even the heavens beyond.

Two Poems Presented to Yang, Successful Candidate in the Palace Examination

Clouds and mists of a thousand ages disperse, and the sky clears; an auspicious sign from before the beginning suddenly appears. Inner light shines forth, and Elixir Qi fills the body without escaping. With a single pointing gesture, one can reach the great Dao of emptiness and clarity.

In life after life, one plants roots of goodness, understands the principles, awakens to one’s true nature, and passes through life. When one’s merit in cultivation is complete, one can reach the Dao and De. At the time of return, one may walk upon the clouds and rosy mists.

Admonition to Wei Zhiming

Zhang Erlang of Haiyang County in Songzhou paid for a Daoist ordination certificate, the credential permitting someone to become a Daoist or hold a religious office, and asked to serve as the monastery’s director. He therefore appointed his disciple Wei Zhiming to the post.

He admonishes and charges Wei Zhiming of Luanzhou: observe the Way of Heaven, put De into practice through good governance, and act in accordance with circumstances. Keep the mind pure and establish Daoist monasteries in many places. Help living beings and show compassion to others; then the Dao will come to completion naturally.

Two Poems on Wang Xian of Guoxia, Dengzhou, Who Was Ill and Sought Guidance

Sincere reverence in the heart is like fragrant incense, rising straight to the blue heavens; the Dharma gate is like a luminous sea, nourishing the roots of good fortune. If one can grasp the principle of true emptiness, the heart will grow still and silent, and a thousand calamities and misfortunes will all vanish at once.

In the jade cauldron and golden furnace, the essences of the sun and moon are refined and nurtured. True Qi rises and circulates, turning like a river chariot. The gods gather in the Muddy Pellet Palace, the part of the head used in internal cultivation, and break through the Gate of Heaven, the opening at the crown. Yet this is still nothing to boast of. If one can grasp the principle of true emptiness, the heart will grow still and silent, and a thousand calamities and misfortunes will all vanish at once.

Presented to Li Daoyi of Zheng Village, Xihai, Laizhou:

The lamp of wisdom shines brightly, revealing the original, unadorned nature. By understanding the principle and reaching the true Dao, one can ascend to the heavenly realm. Today I urge you again and again: do not hear of the fragrant purple mushrooms beyond the heavens and let greed take hold.

Guidance for those who have lost their way:

The heart-ground is radiant, its transformations profound. A person’s rises and falls all follow from conditions and karmic force. No one has yet grasped the principle of unbornness, freedom from the bondage of birth and death; people merely struggle in vain through the cycles of ages past and present.

A poem for the sick:

If people in this world wish to learn the arts of becoming an immortal, they must not indulge worldly thoughts or seek outwardly. Cut off love, longing, and sorrow altogether, and you will enjoy lasting health and peace.

A message to Beijing’s officials and people:

In the seventh month of the Jisi year of the Da’an era, the master was at Huayang Temple in Beijing. A long drought had struck, and the city’s officials and people earnestly entreated him: “The seedlings are close to withering. How can we make them grow again?” The master closed his eyes for a long while, then told everyone, “I have prayed to the void for a foot of rain. It will fall tomorrow.” At first, the people were not fully convinced, but the next day his prediction came true. The officials and people thanked him, and the master presented them with this poem:

Auspicious Qi rises, reaching straight to the heavens; the Great Dao flourishes, nurturing all things in the world. Its light shines throughout the ten directions, as constant as daylight; in a single moment it saves all beings far and wide, while fragrance fills the void.

In the guihai year of the Taihe era, by imperial command, I went to Bozhou to conduct the Great Rite for All Under Heaven, a large Daoist purification ritual and liturgy held for the realm.

Wuwei and non-doing arise from the cavern-heavens. I composed this poem to proclaim to all under heaven:

Auspicious Qi rises, reaching straight to the heavens; the Great Dao flourishes, nurturing all things in the world. Its light shines throughout the ten directions, as constant as daylight; in a single moment it saves all beings far and wide, while fragrance fills the void.

In the guihai year of the Taihe era, by imperial command, I went to Bozhou to conduct the Great Rite for All Under Heaven.

Wuwei and non-doing arise from the cavern-heavens. I performed rites for all under heaven and guided the departed toward a favorable rebirth. Ziyangzi of the eastern sea of clouds, specially honored by imperial favor, received the command to proclaim the edict for the fifth time.

Foreign envoys came to pay their respects and take their leave, but did not get to see me.

Simply weary of the mind and spirit being constrained and the body feeling unsettled, as though the whole body had curled into itself. From then on, speak no more of worldly affairs. Instead, let body and mind grow bright as one, and turn the gaze inward.

Presented to the Reclusive Daoist Tongzhen

(Tongzhen is a title for a Daoist practitioner.)

May everything go smoothly for Tongzhen, and joy shine across your face. Cultivating the breath and preserving the spirit will never be effort wasted. Let your heart be as vast as the sea that receives a hundred rivers, and every kind of karmic offense will be dissolved. Such cultivation can naturally transform hell into a celestial palace.

Presented to Mr. Deng

Treasure and guard the one true fire in the clouds—the inner primordial Qi and vitality symbolized in cultivation—so that De is complete throughout the body and the limbs are steady. Warm transformation proceeds within the lead cauldron, a metaphor for Neidan cultivation, and the light of Shen blossoms. The timeless, numinous nature gathers within you.

Presented to Mr. Yu of Laiyang Puguo

Quietly still deluded thoughts, and blessings will gather. Draw in your roots within the deep and formless. Clearly awaken to the principle that “within nothingness there is something,” and peacefully board the boat of prajna alone, crossing delusion and suffering through wisdom.

Presented to Zuan of Laiyang

Presented to Mr. Yu of Laiyang Puguo

Quietly still deluded thoughts, and blessings will gather. Draw in your roots within the deep and formless. Clearly awaken to the principle that “within nothingness there is something,” and peacefully board the boat of prajna alone, crossing delusion and suffering through wisdom.

Presented to the Daoist aunt Gao of Laiyang

The mind itself is the great Dharma King of bodhi, the wisdom of awakening. Do not lose your way in delusion and hurry after the waves of worldly life. When a point of numinous, empty nature naturally gathers, you can return to Penglai, the Daoist immortals’ realm, and come home to yourself.

Presented to Supervisory Officer Li

Weary of indulging in worldly life and boasting, you set your resolve on upright strength and established standards unlike those of others. Numinous light fills your heart, bringing joy. When your cultivation comes to fruition, you will transcend the dusty world and roam in freedom forever.

In Thanks to Someone for a Gift of Pears

Do not damage the Dao’s original harmony and vitality; then the numinous beauty of all things will vie to bloom. Once naturally nourished, the spirit too will be renewed. Every flavor will be clear and delicate, its fragrance penetrating to the marrow.

Presented to Xu, Wine Inspector at Fudian, Ganyu County

Do not abandon your ties to the world: depart, then return. Deliver the dead and aid those in hardship, warding off danger and calamity. Use alms seeking to help beings cross over, and let the moonlight in your heart shine clear. Through all four seasons, cultivate Golden Lotuses in the fire, symbolizing the gathering of true Yang and the fruition of Neidan practice.

Presented to Chen Shouyuan

Blue-green luan birds and red phoenixes, symbols of Yin and Yang Qi, fly through the fiery clouds and gather in the Mysterious Palace, the inner place of cultivation in Neidan. They drink sweet dew from the Jade Pool. Only by seizing the true mechanism of Yin-Yang transformation can one understand how to escape the peril of life and death.

Zhang, a Daoist aunt from Dizhou, asks for instruction on planting in the fire cauldron.

Presented to Chen Shouyuan

Blue-green luan birds and red phoenixes, symbols of Yin and Yang Qi, fly through the fiery clouds and gather in the Mysterious Palace, the inner place of cultivation in Neidan. They drink sweet dew from the Jade Pool. Only by seizing the true mechanism of Yin-Yang transformation can one understand how to escape the peril of life and death.

A Daoist aunt Zhang from Dizhou asks for instruction in hidden-head character analysis.

The great Dao (the Way) is inborn; from the beginning, it is pure and natural. In cultivation, one must carefully make corrections and deliberate again and again. The path of practice can connect one with news of the immortal Way; only after tempering can one’s heart and nature unfold and endure.

Two Poems Calling to the Abbot of Gaoyan

When transmitting the essentials of cultivation, one must hold the Dao-heart within. Only by observing one’s own heart-field can one truly gain insight. As practice continues over time and merit gradually matures, one no longer needs to conceal one’s tracks; walking among the clouds, one’s state grows ever more lofty and pure.

Gather in the body and mind, as vast as empty space, and seek the true Dao; also gather numinous vapors and jade dew—metaphors in cultivation for subtle breaths and bodily fluids. How joyful: the divine elixir has condensed within. The Dao-Qi flows without end, revolving in an endless cycle.

Presented to the Elder Ma of Guansi

You earnestly urged me to understand the way of human relationships; a mother’s kindness is profound and will never be forgotten through all the ages. If entangled and held fast, one is like a tethered horse, unable to escape the sea of suffering. Keep stillness and calm, quiet the waves, and set the refined spirit in motion.

Jiang Quan of Dengzhou Asks About the Heart-Ground: Head-Tail Verse with Repeated Characters

The heart-ground is bright, its transformations mysterious and profound. Delving deeply into internal refinement, one can refine “gold within water,” a symbolic expression in Neidan (internal alchemy). Golden lead and jade mercury—Neidan terms for the Yin-Yang vital essences used in elixir-making—are the true Three Treasures. When the Three Treasures are abundant, returning Qi to its source can be achieved; the key lies in understanding the original mind.

The Fourth Elder Ju Asks for the Transmitted Formula

The wondrous principle of nature cannot be transmitted directly; transformation through transmission…

The Heart-Ground Is Bright