《重阳全真集》Vol. 4

Spirit and Qi (vital energy) mingle with each other. Practitioners must recognize the sincerity within their hearts. Those who are truly tranquil may seem carefree and uninhibited in their manner, yet they can travel at ease and encounter auspicious wonders on the sea. They remain serene and content, letting songs, tunes, and poems flow forth naturally.

Once Spirit and Qi have mingled, one can recognize the sincerity within the heart and attain true tranquility. The mind is clear and bright, lucid and transparent, calm and cool. The five colors—red, blue, black, white, and yellow—surround a jewel-like radiance. This vision should appear above the azure firmament, its vast brightness shining everywhere.

“Joyful Equaling Heaven”

To cultivate, one must understand the shortcut: how should the furnace be set up? Take the Dantian (energy center in the lower abdomen) as the center of cultivation, gather all the myriad things within the body there, and focus the mind in prayer. Let everything return to this place, opening and manifesting freely before the Palace of the Pistil Pearl, the Daoist abode of immortals. Then numinous, luminous Qi wells forth and takes the form of a divine pearl, revolving within the body.

Suddenly, the divine pearl rises into the clear sky. The Jade Emperor, sovereign of the Daoist heavens, issues an edict, while the Azure Youth, an attendant in the immortal realm, respectfully holds up a golden decree. This is the result of cultivation joined with virtue, and auspicious signs descend in its wake. Through ceaseless cultivation, one can hold and gather sacred mushrooms in the Great Luo Heaven, the highest celestial realm in Daoism. Clearly grasp the true, mysterious principle, and one will at once experience the state of Wuwei (non-action), transcending the Three Isles, the legendary mountains of immortals in the sea.

“Ascending the Immortal Gate”

Return, return—go back to the source, the root of life. The people of both commanderies could not see me with their own eyes, nor gaze upon me. The clear wind and white clouds have called to me all day. Wang Haifeng—my own name for myself—is about to depart this time. I urge you all to seek the mysterious Dao and stop hesitating and deliberating. Look at this illusory body; better to let it go. Only now have I truly crossed beyond the sea of suffering of life and death. Only I know what it feels like. If you wish to meet again, I fear this time it will be difficult.

“Drunken Immortal’s Welcome”

I have now reached the age of sixty-three. I urge you all to seek the mysterious Dao and stop hesitating and deliberating. Look at this illusory body; better to let it go. Only now have I truly crossed beyond the sea of suffering of life and death. Only I know what it feels like. If you wish to meet again, I fear this time it will be difficult.

At the age of sixty-three, on an auspicious day in the third month, a banquet was held on the eleventh to celebrate. Auspicious clouds gathered, and coils of incense smoke drifted in layer upon layer. At that moment, the lofty heavens sent an immortal official from among the stars to descend, while celestial flowers fluttered down. Who could know that he had the countenance of ice and jade and the bearing of an immortal?

I respectfully address my worthy elder brother: in this human world, fame, profit, and splendor are no more than sparks struck from stone, gone in an instant. Strive to break out of the prison of the mundane and wholly cast off attachment to distinctions between self and others. Ease and freedom are the true joy of Quanzhen (Complete Perfection, a Daoist path that seeks to preserve one’s innate nature and return to simplicity). Cast aside the “nothing…” [The original text is missing a character here, so the phrase cannot be determined with certainty.] Pluck the Peaches of Immortality, the legendary fruit that grants longevity, and follow the old road to Penglai, the fabled island mountain in the sea. May I journey there with my worthy brother.

Slow Tune: Rain in the Flowers

Golden chrysanthemums have just begun to bloom, and the silver moon gradually emerges. The new elixir is pure white, matching the moonlight. In the still, empty air, chrysanthemums release their fragrance as the bright moon shines over late autumn. Now, with elegant composure, one keeps to the center, just as the moon reaches its full roundness. Invite fellow cultivators to admire the scene; gather chrysanthemum branches and ascend the Jade Tower beneath the moonlight.

The chrysanthemums’ lovely hues invite admiration, their fine petals spreading like brocade. The moon casts its clear radiance, and its light mingles with the shadows of the flowers. From this, one suddenly understands the wondrous essence and learns the origin of the Jade Rabbit, the legendary hare who lives in the moon palace. Fragrance fills the air, while the moonlight is pure and far-reaching. Around the Double Ninth Festival, the scent travels across the Three Islands, legendary islands in the sea, and radiance fills the Ten Continents, the fabled lands beyond the sea.

Transposed Tune: The Fighting Quail

A spark of numinous awareness, the innate mind of human spirituality, holds the potential for becoming an immortal. Its fame resounds through the Jade Palace, where golden stamens bloom of their own accord. Exquisite and lovely, it comes from Penglai and descends into the human world. Born into a mortal family, one must beware: once immersed in wine, sex, anger, and wealth, a bout of pleasure and indulgence may cause one’s resolve to falter. Recovering an understanding of one’s former true nature makes it possible to escape the cycle of rebirth, free from calamity. Before long, one can once again ascend the Jade Terrace in the realm of immortals.

Flowers Along the Road

At first he came from the Great Dao. When he encountered the true principles of the Dao, he made them his life’s work. He chose to dwell where the clear breeze and bright moon kept him company, giving up wealth and splendor. White Qi filled his body and gradually condensed into a glow like rosy clouds. The radiance of the five kinds of true Qi shone brightly, pierced through the body, and returned to wholeness; within it, yellow sprouts seemed to emerge, a sign of life beginning to stir in internal alchemy. His three thousand meritorious deeds and eight hundred good works were complete, with not a single deed unaccounted for. Along the path of cultivation, elegant scenes unfolded and golden flowers blossomed: every branch was graceful, every bloom marvelously abundant. In a deep, silent place where all was dim and indistinct, a sudden rumble rang out, and the clear sky opened wide. Surrounded by a gathering of wondrous fragrance, cinnabar—the red mineral used in alchemy, here also referring to the inner elixir—rose upward.

Song: “Moshanshi”

Your looks are handsome and refined; your temperament generous and bold. Would you make a tranquil, carefree life your home? Now you know only how to chase fame and profit, and see your future in terms of wealth and splendor. You discuss literature and auspicious signs, hoping to wear purple robes and a golden seal with its cord, and to enjoy high rank.

Song: “Moshanshi”

Your looks are handsome and refined; your temperament generous and bold. Would you make a tranquil, carefree life your home? Now you know only how to chase fame and profit, and see your future in terms of wealth and splendor. You discuss literature and auspicious signs, hoping to wear purple robes and a golden seal with its cord. If you are willing to follow me, you should plant good causes early and avoid evil consequences. I truly worry that you will drift with the current. If only you are willing to turn back and let go of your attachments and drinking habits, then with a little understanding of the mysterious principles and a glimpse of the realm of freedom, you can wander at ease beneath the bright moon and in the clear breeze. One day, you and I will climb together to Peng Island, the legendary abode of immortals.

No one understands that the days keep passing and time is running short. The perilous road is the cycle of rebirth; what lies ahead is as hard to see as the night. Look at your bearing: strikingly handsome, in the prime of youth. I hope you will seek greater purity and desire less, and not miss your chance to do good. False affection and coquettish ways are like a bee busily gathering flowers. It gathers from morning until night, but once it has made honey, who will get to drink it? If you can understand this, turn back now, and you may yet ascend the path to Penglai, walking with me above the colored clouds.

Human nature is originally pure and radiant, like a luminous essence concealed within the body. The heart, three inches across, is the body’s master, yet its spirit and intention wander in every direction, drawn by all kinds of things. The five emotions, six desires, and seven apertures are interconnected. Within the body, passageways lie layer upon layer, like towering mountains and deep-set halls. As for how one can attain the “Ten Grounds” (a Buddhist term for the ten stages of a bodhisattva’s practice), the scripture says that one must practice with all one’s strength and undergo nine cycles of refinement before reaching the realm of the worthy and the sage.

The Qi of the eight pathways surges, yet remains centered around the spirit of the three-inch heart. The spirit wanders in every direction, invited by all kinds of things. The five emotions, six desires, and seven apertures are interconnected; the inner passageways are deep and hidden. How, then, can one attain the Ten Grounds? Only through focused practice and nine cycles of refinement can one reach the worthy and the sage. When the Qi of the eight pathways has transformed into jade-like nectar and the gates of the seven apertures have opened, the inner realm becomes clear and pure. Five-colored radiance shines through the six viscera; the four images (a term in internal alchemy for elements such as Yin and Yang) each return to their proper place. The three lights (usually the sun, moon, and stars, but also the radiance of Jing, Qi, and Shen within the body) shine, day and night come into harmony, and at last a pure, gleaming pearl appears.

Why do those who cultivate immortality and seek the Dao so often falter and make no progress? Their deluded pursuit of lofty, abstruse realms comes from chasing pleasures in the outer world. Treasures already lie within them, yet they do not recognize the Dao of Wuwei (non-action). They merely boast of their strength and abilities, and in boasting, their Jing and Qi are gradually depleted. If they do not understand where to begin, how can they regain their footing in practice? Instead of wasting their time in hunger and cold, endlessly competing and chasing after things, they should cultivate in accordance with the changes of Yin and Yang. When the inner white Qi becomes pure and the red radiance burns bright, shining with exceptional brilliance, Yin and Yang unite and take on a rounded, harmonious form. Only then may a true elixir be refined.

Practitioners must understand the union of Yin and Yang, like the crow and the Jade Rabbit (which respectively symbolize the sun and moon, and are often used to signify Yin and Yang) working together. The upper and lower parts must be brought into harmony, and the Qi of the Dragon and Tiger must meet on the left and right. When circulating and conveying the Great Medicine (an internal alchemy term for refined Jing and Qi developed through practice), one must send it into the alchemical furnace (a metaphor in internal alchemy for the place of refinement within the body) and temper it through the proper fire phases until it transforms, white as silver frost and gathered into a golden flower. Its fragrant scent travels far through Kunlun (often referring in internal alchemy to the head or another vital place within the body), rising in delicate wisps toward the blue heavens, where it forms a radiant cloud clearly visible to the eye. Upon reaching the Jade Hall, one can meet the Great Luo Immortal (a perfected immortal who dwells in the Great Luo Heaven), feel joy and ease in one’s heart, attain everlasting spring, and embark on the true path of freedom.

Brush, paper, ink, and inkstone must also all be prepared and brought into accord. Jia and Yi (the names of two Heavenly Stems, here referring to things that accompany and complement one another) must be closely joined; if any one is lacking, the work is difficult to complete. Meeting the Great Luo Immortal brings quiet joy to the heart, grants the realm of everlasting spring, and sets one on the path of freedom.

Brush, paper, ink, and inkstone are all needed for writing; without any one of them, the task is difficult to complete. When you have a quiet moment to sit, you might count on your fingers and reflect: to write, you must always have clear spring water ready. Cultivation, too, resembles the changing seasons. Only through the alternation of warmth and cold can the cycle of the year take shape, and its principles cannot be fully explained at once. Beyond this principle lies an even subtler and more profound mystery: only by following the true mysteries and aligning with the workings of the Dao (the Way) can an intercalary month, added to bring the calendar into harmony, complete the year.

Concentrated contemplation is meant to stabilize the “snow within lead,” a Neidan (internal alchemy) metaphor for the essence that coalesces during cultivation. As this essence gradually grows, it is like the “yellow sprout,” an image of life just beginning to emerge. Then the Golden Crow, symbolizing Yang, is brought together with the bright moon, symbolizing Yin. The Yellow Matron, a Neidan term for the medium that harmonizes Yin and Yang, brings them into accord, and a realm of its own comes into being. Who could easily discern the transformations within the dragon’s roar and tiger’s cry, images of Yin and Yang energies interacting in cultivation?

One should cast off desire and moderate foods such as sour and spicy dishes. Food should be agreeable to the palate, while also allowing body and mind to become still, so that the Five Spirits, the mental activities associated with the five organs, may be at ease and content. Hold fast to the primal root within and nourish the spirit. When one’s cultivation is complete, one may pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and dwell in the world for a long time without decline.

The human body is formed from the temporary union of four elements, a familiar idea in Buddhist and Daoist texts referring to earth, water, fire, and wind. It is well suited to investigation. Human life is limited and bound by causes and conditions, so why not begin cultivating sooner? Untouched by the weariness of the mundane world, one can reveal an uncommon bearing; free of cares and restraints, one can dispel one’s own troubles. Once one has gained even a little understanding, wealth and sexual desire can scarcely disturb the mind. Only by nurturing the innate, primordial spirit can one rely on what is true and numinous. Upon reaching Mount Kunlun, an image of the Daoist immortal realm, one can roam freely, facing the rosy clouds in purity and without stain, with a celestial crane leading the way and sprigs of lingzhi in hand.

Alas, the people of this fleeting world are driven by wealth and splendor, chasing fame and profit. Everyone strives to outdo everyone else, devising all sorts of schemes and laying countless plans. Jealousy grows ever deeper, as thoughts of gaining an advantage through luck and cunning continue to multiply, each person imitating the others. People cling to these desires without pause, year after year. They boast of the blessings of having children and grandchildren to serve them, and lose themselves in drink, sensual pleasures, song, and music, hoping their enjoyment will last. Yet they do not realize that reaching the age of seventy is already no small feat. Even a life of a hundred years cannot ultimately escape death. We should awaken early: the life ahead may not go as we wish. Turn back quickly and take up cultivation; only then is there hope of escaping the cycle of birth and death.

Enter the mysterious gate and seek the profound; investigate subtle principles and examine hidden mysteries. Then Shen (spirit) and Qi (vital energy) will naturally become abundant, and the original true nature—the pure and perfect nature—will become clear. Once cultivation is complete, one’s appearance becomes wondrous and beautiful as jade; precious light shines from the body, and auspicious signs emerge. When the Golden Elixir, the refined essence formed through Daoist internal alchemy, is complete, one can transcend the mundane world and dwell in a realm of purity and stillness, taking a place among the immortals in the Great Luo Heaven, the highest celestial realm in Daoist belief.

Cold clouds gather and remain still; the accumulated snow is white as fine jade. Such auspicious scenery seems something one can appreciate only by witnessing it firsthand. Snowflakes drift lightly, as though cut by blades of wind, turning as they spread across the land. In moments, the fields, mountains, rivers, streams, and islets are all covered in snow. Ditches, sunny slopes, long bridges, and lonely ferries all come into view.

Before this scene, the river at dusk looks like a painting. Two or three fishermen look at one another and smile, wearing straw capes and bamboo hats as they break into song. They point toward an inn with its wine flag fluttering and go there to drink and revel together. Roads and gardens are layered in snow, and distant specks of gulls and egrets are nearly lost in its whiteness. Their bright plumage is whiter than that of cranes, as if it could rival the feathers of the silver pheasant.

By evening the snow has stopped and the mist has cleared. The slanting sun appears faintly, casting a silvery glow across the clouds. The gate facing the sun seems like a jade portal in an immortal realm. Zhurong, the god of fire, seems to have arrived, sending out rays of light that illuminate the distance; the fine jade of Kunlun, the legendary mountain of immortals, seems arranged before the eyes. Deep into the night, the sky is clear and bright. A full moon rises, its light mingling with the radiance of the snow.

Weifany (a ci tune pattern)

Most people in the world are foolish and deluded. They covet wealth and beauty, and are invariably led astray and into error by them. Though a person has only one sincere heart, they busily pursue a life of comfort and plenty. The sun, moon, and stars—the “Three Luminaries”—shine over the world, yet who has ever become more careful and restrained because of them? The seasons turn without pause, while people think only of pleasure and delight. The more relentlessly they chase after these things, the more they resemble moths flying into a flame, hurling themselves toward it again and again. When they finally come to their senses in the firelight, their bodies are already burned. How can they undo the damage? Regret comes too late; they have already been scorched and burned. Had they turned away from harm sooner, how could they have met with disaster today? Had they protected themselves, why would they have suffered such burning? Look within: they have simply been bound by fame, wealth, status, and luxury.

Relieving Sorrow

How lamentable! People in the world are confused and disordered, and the disorder grows ever worse. How can they escape these troubles? They follow one another into corruption, praising and echoing one another. They often gather and then disperse, engaging in all manner of chaotic behavior. The ghostly officials of the underworld—said to be servants charged with seizing the souls of the dead—have secretly recorded these offenses in full. When the moment arrives, everything becomes clear.

Foolish people! The more clever and capable they imagine themselves to be, the more they indulge their arrogance and act without restraint. They even deceive sages and cloud the understanding of the spirits, treating them as playthings. For such people, karmic retribution and the end of their allotted lifespan are already at hand. How could they evade them? In the end, escape is impossible. When the summons arrives ordering their souls seized—a document sent by the underworld to dispatch someone to capture them—everyone is overcome with anxiety, and all is left for the underworld court to judge.

Green-Headed Duck

How lamentable that a lifetime passes by so quickly. People are led by fame and profit; why exhaust yourself in vain, rushing about and suffering again and again? Glory and success last only a moment, like a candle guttering in the wind, and cannot endure. Gold, jade, and other wealth continually spur people to pursue more, while worries and troubles cling to them in turn. Look at this fleeting world: it is only a temporary place to dwell, with the seasons changing and the years passing. Better to let go of these attachments altogether, cultivate roots of goodness, and form wholesome ties.

With the blade of wisdom—a keen instrument that symbolizes insight—strike open delusion; with the edge of discernment, pierce ignorance, and become a clear-minded, understanding person. Harmonize the voice of your heart so that it accords with refined taste; recover its original, wondrous rhythm and bring it into accord with the Dao (the Way). Recognize your original true nature and seek what has always been complete within you. The profound and subtle principles all flow, in the end, into the mysterious Great Dao. Returning to oneness, you can abide forever in a realm of eternal spring. Follow things as they are, with no coming or going, and become an immortal on the islands of Penglai.

Chrysanthemums That Cherish the Yellow

The Great Immortal Master often comes to rescue those in suffering. For a time, he takes the form of an ordinary person and expounds the teachings of the ancestral masters. Suddenly, thunder crashes beneath the earth, shaking the mountains, and heavy rain pours down. Who can understand the hidden mystery in this? Kan and Li, Zi and Wu—the terms of Daoist internal alchemy (Neidan) for Yin-Yang, Water and Fire, and the cycles of time—as well as “taming the dragon and seizing the tiger,” a metaphor for regulating Yin-Yang and subduing body and mind in cultivation, all belong to the work of practice. Without a clear and steady person who makes the heart-mind their guide, the more one relies on clever tricks and schemes, the harder it is to maintain one’s grasp. When the appointed end arrives, all will depend on which path you have taken.

People should awaken to understanding without delay. If you refuse to wake up, you will only keep playing at clever tricks. One day, the King of Hell will learn that your allotted lifespan is over and send a spirit messenger to take you away. The road is perilous, as though your journey were about to begin at once. Halfway along, you weep without stopping and beg the messenger to let you pause. The little demon scolds you: “Stop complaining.” When you arrive before the Judge, you may argue and plead as much as you like.

The master dwells within the house, abiding in the Crimson Palace, the heart’s dwelling in Daoist internal alchemy. You should practice every day and follow the proper path of cultivation. The scripture then depicts the scene of being taken by a spirit messenger to the Judge at the moment of death: even if you weep without stopping and plead to be allowed to pause, the little demon still scolds you and forbids you to complain. Once before the Judge, all you can do is plead your case.

The master dwells peacefully within this house of body and mind, allowing the spirit in the Crimson Palace to remain settled for a long time. In daily practice, he continually gathers in the spirit and shuts out the disturbances of the outside world, as though closing and securing the doors. Within himself he nurtures “gold and money”—precious gains that symbolize the fruits of cultivation—which may be passed on to suitable people. When he meets someone with a karmic affinity, he should awaken that person without delay. When cultivation reaches a state of stillness and peace, scattered thoughts cease. The subtlety within subtlety, the profound and hidden secret, can be understood only through the heart; only then can one grasp its mysterious principle. When it comes, let it come again; after it goes, let it go once more. There is no need to look back: go straight on the road to Penglai, the fabled land of immortals.

Once again, the Double Ninth Festival arrives on the ninth day of the ninth month.

The flowers gradually fade, yet the autumn landscape grows especially clear and crisp. One kind of flower, however, shines with striking beauty amid the season. This is the time to cherish chrysanthemums, and the Double Ninth Festival seems to accord with Heaven’s will. The chrysanthemums bloom through heavy frost, their golden centers opening wide. Tao Yuanming, the Jin dynasty poet who loved chrysanthemums, rejoices beside the fence, as though a man in white has come bearing wine. Suddenly, a “young man of the Double Ninth” steps forth. He casually plucks a fragrant chrysanthemum and recognizes it as the auspicious flower worn upon his head. With three sprigs tucked in place, he drinks to his heart’s content in the immortal realm of Penglai.

This Master of the Double Ninth has now been born into the world. Right and wrong recede, worries fall away, and he himself governs his carefree freedom. Having escaped the burdens of the mundane world, why burn another stick of incense or perform rites such as three rounds of teeth-clicking? There is no need to be bound by the prescribed exercises of Daoist cultivation, either. He chuckles to himself, laughing at the clever and quick-witted, and at those who think themselves wise; he laughs at generals and ministers, merchants, artisans, farmers, and scholars. Only I am clear in stillness and free at ease. Wherever I wish to go, I can ride the clouds there.

Flowers Stir the Heart

The east gradually brightens. Yang energy begins to rise, and a clear, harmonious Qi grows luminous, meeting a scene of graceful, living beauty. The seasons continue their passage. In the south, Yang energy reaches its fullness; summer heat blazes and the sunlight shines bright. Then the Metal Qi gathers in the west, moves toward the north, and condenses into solidity. Through this, understanding gradually dawns, and the turning of the four seasons gradually comes into view. How is their inner mechanism to be grasped? In an instant, another year is nearly gone. The scene gradually changes, and the realm of the immortals seems to appear, inviting insight. One then gradually refines Qi and spirit, transforming them into the True Elixir—the condensed essence, Qi, and spirit spoken of in Neidan cultivation—and continues to nourish it. The path of cultivation ahead gradually becomes clear; the spirit grows bright, as though one were walking on clouds beneath one’s feet. Gradually, one acts without contrivance: the higher one’s Dao, the more one’s De grows.

Greeting Spring’s Joy · Spring Day

At dawn, auspicious Qi rises, and the gentle warmth of spring arrives early. Gradually, I come to know that I have already set foot on the path ahead. My vision grows clearer, as though I could part the clouds and stride across them. Gradually, I cease striving, my cultivation deepens day by day, and my work in De reaches fruition.

“Welcoming Spring’s Joy: A Spring Day”

At dawn, auspicious Qi rises, and spring’s gentle warmth arrives early. The clay ox—a figure of earth used in the spring-welcoming ritual to symbolize plowing—comes into view, and the farmers of old seem to appear before us. People wave painted sticks and lightly strike the clay ox, performing the rite to welcome spring. Who can be like me, making cultivation of the Great Dao their life’s work?

As we feast and enjoy the spring, I cherish a treasure within my breast. Its flavor is rich and fine, as though I had tasted a great variety of the fabled herbs of immortality. In this way, the Golden Elixir may be formed, and I may return to the immortal isle of Penglai.

“Once More, Plum Blossoms in Spring”

In the dusty world, everyone vies to adorn themselves with radiant beauty, showing off pearls, gold, jade, silks, and brocades, and setting their thoughts on these things outside themselves. Men and women, husbands and wives gather together, pursuing music, song, and dance, and making merry while time is theirs. Day and night pass without pause, from last night into this morning, with unending days still to come.

People are always so busy. How can they turn back and awaken to deep reflection? Only when the Yin official, who governs the underworld, comes to take them away do fear and grief arise. Then every sorrow shows on the face, and the heart feels pierced by a sharp sword; worries crowd in, and the brow knots tight. When the summons announcing death arrives, regret comes at last—but there is nowhere left to hide.

“Phoenix Perches on the Parasol Tree”

Those whose nature is tranquil and untroubled can turn back, awaken, and examine themselves deeply. If they wait until the Yin official comes to take them away, fear and grief will arise. Then every sorrow shows on the face, and the heart feels pierced by a sharp sword; worries crowd in, and the brow knots tight. When the summons announcing death arrives, regret comes at last—but there is nowhere left to hide.

“Phoenix Perches on the Parasol Tree”

With a nature that is tranquil and untroubled, one can return to stillness and peace. Seize the favorable moment for cultivation, and roam for a long time among clouds and waters. Seek out the pearl within the heart and wash it again and again; then let its rosy radiance reappear and shine anew. Whether sitting or walking, one can keep it in view. Drawing close to it and sensing it in stillness, one discovers a true nature seeking to meet. Again and again, one encounters the golden sweet dew, a sign of the nourishment gained through cultivation, and so walks steadily along the true road to Penglai.

“Tea Bottle”

To be filial, one must first understand the Golden Mother, an honorific for the Daoist deity Queen Mother of the West. One must not abandon one’s father and claim another as father. Offer sacrifices morning and evening, and you will recognize your ancestors. Call your children, then mount the Tiger and Dragon, images often used in Daoist cultivation to represent Yin-Yang and body and mind, and let the divine powers preside. Serve with clear awareness and reverence; return to the Purple Palace, the dwelling place of immortals, and your name may be entered in the registers of the immortals.

Who can grasp the mystery of naturally formed rice essence and wheat marrow? I already know their profound meaning. One must nourish the inner Qi of harmony and balance—the original vital energy that is calm and unbiased—and increase numinous clarity and wisdom, while also combining it with spirit water, the inner-refinement fluid formed from the gathered essence of the sun, moon, and stars. The refined energies of the sun, moon, and stars flow into one another; they should help restore upright Qi and true Yang to their original state. When these refined energies are condensed into the Golden Elixir, the essence and Qi formed through internal alchemy, one can clearly return to the true homeland that has existed since time immemorial.

Jiepei Ling

The Golden Lad is bright, the Jade Maiden lively. The two can share a long life, for each is at the youthful, flourishing age of sixteen—a metaphor for Yin and Yang energies in their young and abundant state. Where do they dwell? One resides in water, the other returns to the mountain; in the end, they return to the true homeland that has existed since time immemorial.

Jiepei Ling

The Golden Lad is bright, the Jade Maiden lively. The two can share a long life, for each is at the youthful, flourishing age of sixteen. Where do they dwell? One returns to water, the other to the northern slope of the mountain. Entering the Li Gate and Kan Portal—Li and Kan are names of the Eight Trigrams, often used in internal alchemy to represent Yin and Yang—they settle together in harmony. They draw one another along constantly, searching again and again. The nine streets and lanes are passable in every direction. Find the numinous pearl, a name for the substance formed by the condensation of essence and Qi in internal alchemy, and fetch jade nectar and spirit water to moisten it. Then it shines brightly, with ten thousand streams of radiant Qi circling and flowing.

Jiepei Ling

Wang San, the Mad Wind King—a name the author gives himself, meaning the unruly Wang San—once pawned his tax allotment for wine. Because he loved drinking, he was often lost in drunkenness. Coming and going, he forgot everything before his eyes; he even once dozed in the street alongside a kindhearted man. He also left behind his shoulder bag and headcloth. The bag held scriptures, within which the secrets were concealed. I am deeply grateful to the honorable gentleman for his generous kindness in picking these things up for me. I write “Jiepei Ling” to repay the worthy man’s goodwill.

Shanting Liu

One can acquire fields and buy Fusang, the legendary divine tree often associated with the realm of immortals. The road to Penglai, the legendary mountain abode of immortals in the sea, grows cool and peaceful. As cultivation gradually advances, auspicious sights appear elsewhere on Mount Kunlun. Each immortal isle has three gates, and within them are places known as the Ninefold Chambers. Gradually, one sees primordial stillness give rise to ancestral Qi; then the movement of Qi flows through, grows, and gathers, revealing original Yang. The movement of Qi passes through the Bright Hall, a part of the body traversed by breath in internal alchemy cultivation. All that appears is bright and blazing, with a halo of light nearby. Dwelling here, one’s home is firmly established; the Yingzhou where one lives, another legendary mountain abode of immortals in the sea, is the homeland of the immortals.

Spring is bright and lovely, with fresh flowers and grasses; summer is hot, and red lotuses bloom in profusion. In the blink of an eye, autumn arrives, and cicadas sing in the willows beside a mountain pavilion. Suddenly the north wind rises, and snow drifts across the mountains and rivers. A hundred years pass in an instant. One should earnestly seek the subtle principles of one’s spiritual nature and true essence. Once the Dao is attained, cultivation can reach its full completion. Nurture Shen and Qi, and refine them into a radiant, rounded Neidan (internal alchemy). Five rays of light gather, surrounding the cultivator as they ascend to the Great Luo Heaven, the highest celestial realm in Daoism.

Human nature is compassionate, and one should seek the Dao’s subtle principles. But when one tries to reflect on these mysteries, one finds it hard to escape worldly life, hurrying about under the demands of family affairs. Even if one abruptly renounces desire and attachment, concern for one’s wife and children may remain. To refine this Neidan, cultivation must accompany one’s ordinary conduct and daily life; yet this may not be entirely within one’s own control. If one can attend fully to both, anyone can learn the Dao of Wuwei (non-action). When cultivation reaches stillness and completion, each person can attain something of their own. Pang Jushi, a Tang dynasty lay practitioner renowned for cultivating the Dao at home, alone understood this principle deeply.

Shua’er

Those who know nothing of cultivation know only how to nourish the body and eat, tending to the five organs: kidneys, lungs, heart, liver, and spleen. If they take this flesh-and-blood body, made up of the five organs, as their master, how can they cultivate the Dao? First, they must remove Huangpo—the inner alchemical image of what harmonizes Yin-Yang, here referring to distracting thoughts that obstruct cultivation. Cultivation should bring the Azure Dragon (the Wood Qi of the East) and the White Tiger (the Metal Qi of the West) into balance and harmony; there is no need to cling to the infant and the maiden, images in internal alchemy that represent Yin-Yang essence and Qi. If you wish to seek the path to longevity, there is another way to cultivate.

If you understand cultivation, seek a convenient path and open up and promote the Dao of Quanzhen (Complete Perfection). Take recognizing Mercury and seeing Lead as the foundation of cultivation, and your nature and temperament will settle while your life is nourished. Today I will explain clearly to you the principle of reversing Yin-Yang: follow these four words, and you can quickly set out on the path to becoming an immortal.

Qi Qizi

True Chongyangzi (Wang Zhe’s self-chosen name) received a rare and precious opportunity. He had to put it into practice himself, cultivating with effort, in order to become an immortal. An immortal is clear-minded, sincere, and open; in the end, he refines a perfect Golden Elixir. Auspicious clouds gather in their fullness and carry him up to the celestial realm. There, a luminous master bestows on him a white lotus. The lotus is crystalline and pure, exceptionally lovely, bright with radiance, elegant and free, and steeped in a rich fragrance that holds a profound mystery.

One must seize the opportunity and cultivate with effort in order to become an immortal. An immortal is clear-minded, sincere, and open; in the end, he refines a perfect Golden Elixir. Auspicious clouds gather in their fullness and carry him up to the celestial realm. There, a luminous master bestows on him a white lotus. The lotus is crystalline and pure, exceptionally lovely, bright with radiance, elegant and free, and steeped in a rich fragrance beyond words. At last, he attains long life in a mysterious realm and stands in attendance before the Jade Emperor.

I strolled at ease to the western outskirts of Ruan, where I saw a skeleton lying on a sandbank. I asked it, “How did you come to such a state? Was it because you clung to your children and grandchildren, your wife, and so came to endure such suffering?”

Blotches had appeared in its eyes, and its mouth was still packed with dirt. Its breath was faint, as if it could never again exhale; yet the breath it gave out was like a rainbow. Rain beat down and wind blew, but it felt nothing. Perhaps even children had been trampling it at will. It should surely regret not having done more good while alive.

End of Chongyang Quanzhen Collection, Volume Eleven

Chongyang Quanzhen Collection, Volume Twelve

Written by Wang Zhe, Chongyangzi of Mount Zhongnan

Lyrics

Welcoming the Immortal Guest

Cultivate and uphold the practice; you must seek within to attain true clarity, true stillness, and the true heart. Here is blue, there is white; one place is black, above, a bright scarlet. All the colors gather together to form a dwelling like colored glass, where precious lotus buds, elixirs, and flowers in bloom can be found. Jade youths sing, and golden youths clap their hands. Heaven has chosen you: you are the honored guest who welcomes the immortals.

At this point, the song enters the turning passage of the melody. When you reach the place where the immortals are welcomed, there is no need to say more: there are precious lotus buds, elixirs, and flowers in bloom; jade youths sing, and golden youths clap their hands. Heaven has chosen you: you are the honored guest who welcomes the immortals.

For this song, one must first enter “the break”—the turning point or crucial juncture in the melody or practice. But when it reaches the place where the immortal guest is welcomed, there should be no more talk of “the break.” One must penetrate its meaning and recognize it, as though watching my belly about to burst. Can you do it? Is that how it is? Yet are you still so fond of sleep that you miss the practice at the Zi and Wu hours? What more is there to say or explain? Are you supposed to practice alone in secret?

This “Wind-Struck Fool”—the author’s humorous self-description—has had the aperture of the heart opened. Ah, this kind of scheduled practice is extraordinary. There is neither calamity nor misfortune; one neither seeks nor searches, and is unwilling to engage in “Mo-da” (an unclear term, perhaps referring to some worldly activity). The Great Immortal begins to sing, and the Perfected One joins in. In the hall of Complete Perfection, there is no incense smoke. The Carefree One and two others—three together—suddenly feel cool and at ease, sitting in freedom.

Gathering at Fragrant Mountain

White light arises, blue radiance appears, and the red glow is beautiful too. Mysterious light soars upward, while yellow grows deep and hidden. The many colors are like the radiance covering a precious pearl. Beyond the clear sky, immortals travel along the immortal Way. They are bestowed with everlasting titles and at once receive the Jade Emperor’s decree. In the clouds and rosy mists, only the Highest Perfected Ones arrive. At the gathering on Fragrant Mountain, they assemble to speak wondrous words and expound the Great Dao. All return together to dwell forever on the Three Islands, the legendary immortal isles of the sea.

Red Peony

Only those who know how to practice with clear awareness may take pride in their attainment. Discern the signs of purity and stillness, understand their principle, and then rest alone in peace. Practice at the Zi and Wu hours can set the spirit in motion. When one reaches the Palace of the Precious Vessel—a term in Daoist internal alchemy for an aperture associated with a bodily region or the movement of Qi—how could one let it pass lightly? Guard it with care: when the Jade Gate, a bodily portal that here refers to an alchemical aperture, opens, lock the Golden Gate, another such aperture, fast. Lock the Golden Gate fast, and one will never again be invaded by the wind of sexual desire or suffer the torments of karmic fire. In this way, one can escape the six paths of rebirth and roam freely. White Qi fills the body from head to foot, condensing into a Golden Elixir. Celestial music already comes to welcome one from the sky, while heavenly flowers drift down and cover the earth.

“Separation from the Solitary”

[Untitled passage]

The song I sing is beyond measure. A figure appears, green-haired and fair of face, like Stone E dancing to the beat. Her graceful form is slender at the waist, soft and light, her dance swaying and flowing. She wears gold, jade, and jewels, splendid beyond compare. One should bring all these merits to their full completion, repaying through them the practice one has cultivated.

I have just caught the fragrance of jade stamens; it turns out the flowers of jade have opened. The two petals are the same color, so I send a spirit child to gather them. The blossoms joined together are truly lovely, revealing a scene of peerless subtlety, hidden and profound. They rise beyond the blue sky, clear to behold, sounding new music and remaining for ages as guests in the immortal realm.

[Shuang Yan’er]

I urge you to leave the dusty world and go to the Western Land. Open your heart and body, and wander freely among the clouds. Then you will be free of sorrow forever, and your troubles will gradually fade away. Slowly lead back the six oxen; find the water and grass, and you will be at ease. Only when your whole body is pure can your cultivation truly be called complete. Ascend to the realm of carefree freedom, and take a boat across to the other shore.

[Shuang Yan’er]

I urge you to leave the dusty world and go to the Western Land. Open your heart and body, and wander freely among the clouds. Then you will be free of sorrow forever, and your troubles will gradually fade away. Slowly lead back the six oxen; find the water and grass, and you will be at ease. Only when your whole body is pure can your cultivation truly be called complete. Ascend to the realm of carefree freedom, and take a boat across to the other shore.

[Further Self-Description]

Do not let the mind’s wild horse and monkey run loose any longer. “Mad Wind” is my sobriquet; my surname is Wang, and my given name is Zhe. Once my mind broke free of attachments, I appeared mad and eccentric. Perhaps this has worn away the karmic burdens accumulated in former days. What is there to say of true nature and true spirit? They are like the wind at dawn and the waning moon. The scene at Willow Cliff is clear and limpid, so I freely pluck its willows.

[Min Guolang]

Stillness and serenity are the true Dao; a heart free of concerns is a little immortal. Practice with care, and you can increase your blessings and escape the suffering of the Yellow Springs. The foolish and deluded understand none of this; they only love to save up a few coins. Once their allotted years come to an end, all they can do is cry out to Heaven.

Whenever I have some free time, I travel about and take in the sights, with nothing weighing on my mind or standing in my way. Alone, I gaze at the brocade-bright waves and the lush green mountains. Then, turning back, I suddenly see a heap of skulls beyond a desolate wood, lying among the sedges.

They are lonely and wretched, with no one left to claim them. Who will tend to them or lay them to rest? Their empty eye sockets lie exposed, packed with dust. Rain washes over them, wind and sun beat down upon them, and starlight falls on them too. They circle through repeated cycles, their karmic burdens growing as the retribution they bear piles up layer upon layer.

These skulls came from distant lands. Which place did their travelers come from, and in what age did they live? A shepherd boy comes by and often strikes them with a stick, as if trying to smash them to pieces. Perhaps in a former life they were greedy for money and sexual pleasure, lost in affairs of the heart. Now they suffer the karmic consequences that cloud the mind and spirit. What can they do about it?

Red Window Bright

Liu Yuedao has real strength. In the Equality Society, a group that promotes equality and the shared practice of goodness, one befriends those one knows and welcomes those one does not. This is the very root of virtue, and it also brings the benefit of inner stillness. I hope you will soon cultivate good causes, seek the true Dao, and apply yourself inwardly. Praise is praise, but the balance must still be kept level; there must not be the slightest deviation.

Grind the ink and write on a wooden or earthenware inkstone. The bamboo by the window looks so graceful to me. Tell me, among those who prepare tea, who can truly cultivate step by step and become a person who walks the Way? A compassionate heart must never be cast aside. Strike the tea bowl to form good ties; why keep silent? Tell me, how can one attain freedom and ease? It begins with accumulating De and doing good.

A pleasing appearance is worth looking at too, but if one concerns oneself only with carrying things back and forth, one’s thoughts stray from the right path. One must know how to store away mild vinegar, vegetables, salt, and dried greens and bean paste. I urge you, Master Zhang, to put them away carefully. Do not let them slip from your hands and fall to the ground. Once they are smashed, they will break into pieces, and then everything will be scattered and out of order.

When you reach critical junctures such as seventy-three or thirty-seven, you should think carefully. Wang Ji, Wang Ji. The cliff edge is steep and perilous; you must guard against losing your footing. I urge you to turn back and mend your ways. Do not persist in folly. Wear your headscarf only on New Year’s Day next year; the meaning is to make a fresh start with the new year. If you continue as before, with a restless mind and unrestrained ways, then even if you live to ninety, you may never truly settle your mind and attain the Way.

One must rely on the blessings one has accumulated. Do not slight Heaven or deceive Earth; if you have enough food and clothing, you should be content. Tonight there is a man named Wang San, living alone with his parents in one room. He keeps no company with others and has no bedding. He lies down quietly in his clothes, allowing neither body nor mind to be disturbed. When he wakes, he feels even more refreshed and speaks only of poetry, lyrics, and songs.

By next year, there will be many more expenses. Without understanding the dangers ahead, people keep rushing about, enduring calamities and chasing fame and profit, as though they would still be unsatisfied even if the earth turned to gold. Why not plant blessings and virtue now, and so accumulate blessings for a future life? Yet people do not understand: they often gather in groups of three or four, then later join up in groups of five or six, hurrying after one thing and another without seeing the principle behind it.

You should care for your elder brother and sister-in-law as you would your parents before you. Who would dare do otherwise? Wang San keeps this in mind morning and night. His brother and sister-in-law need not worry or feel troubled; they should cleanse their thoughts well. Burn fragrant incense and study the Three Teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—so that the roots of good thoughts may gradually take hold.

This Wang San has a fine bearing. He has already let go of exertion, possessions, and sexual desire, and entered samadhi, a state of focused and settled cultivation of body and mind. Why, then, does he not give up incense and wine? He thinks even the immortals enjoy them. To walk alone is to be truly at ease; wherever you go, you can remain tranquil and sweep away all manner of evil spirits and monsters. He knows the Heart Sutra clearly and thoroughly; in his heart there are no firm barriers or obstructions.

Wang Zhe said: “I have always had some arrangements for cultivation. Day after day I diligently uphold them and seek the secret. I do not wish to see the underworld; in Heaven, I am naturally joyful. Penglai, the Immortals’ Isles, is like home. I will cultivate until I reach fulfillment.”

Wang Zhe let the world call him mad and paid it no mind. He delighted in quiet ease, living as he pleased and taking things lazily. He wore a paper-padded jacket and hemp clothes. Let others mock him for his shabby appearance: he knew for himself whether he was warm or cold, and kept his own counsel. Each day he burned a stick of fine incense and recited ten scrolls of scripture. After three thousand days of practice, his cultivation would be complete. Then he would ride calmly upon auspicious clouds, alone reaching the lofty heavens. There would be no need to heed what people said; let them chase as they might, they could never catch him as he traveled by night through the clouds.

Equality, and equality again. When passing through Laizhou once more, one should offer aid and save the people. Wang Zhe, this “Wind-Harmed One” (his name for himself as a madman), spread the teaching so that it reached everyone evenly, guiding people toward goodness. Heaven, Earth, the sun, the moon, and the stars each keep to the proper Way. In observing people’s hearts, be as fair and exact as a balance, showing no favoritism. If you neither raise anyone up nor put anyone down, even the immortals will respond.

Pity this little ox, and pity that ox. If you can understand my words, then you are one who shares the Way with me. Human nature is like a lamp’s flame, and life is like its oil; when the two nourish and kindle one another, the light rises like sunlight in the mountains, illuminating all things. Practicing in this way can sweep away the obstacles that hinder fasting and cultivation. The dangers and deep ravines along the road ahead can also be crossed. This time I tell you the fundamental principle: when your cultivation is complete, you can dwell forever on the immortal isle of Penglai, free from worry for all time.

Everyone in the world is busy making things happen, striving for wealth and honor, and showing off their abilities. What is the use of exhausting yourself to pursue fine clothes and rich food? Even if you attained the highest rank among officials, what would it matter? Wang Zhe does not rely on such accomplishments. Hemp clothes and a paper-padded jacket are enough for him to make his home in the world; he eats simple fare as it comes, and makes this his daily practice. Only by persevering over time can one, beyond sincere cultivation, realize Wuwei (non-action: the Daoist state of not forcing things or clinging to them).

A hemp bag, a gourd ladle. The three of us live this way, quietly and at ease. When hungry, we often gather jade fungus shoots to eat; when our bellies are empty, we nourish ourselves by bringing Water and Fire into harmony. Our sleeves flutter in the wind, and a blue phoenix, the fabled divine bird, leads the way as we travel across the clouds. We will also visit our old friend Wang Qiao, the legendary immortal, on Penglai, renew our old pact, and ascend to the heavens together.

Lost again in a dream.

In a dream I saw a cow in front of the street. It walked steadily and had a gentle nature. When led by a rope, it turned its head and followed. On reaching a high peak, it left its most graceful traces beneath the moon. It followed me freely on my wanderings, bringing body and mind into harmony and granting true peace and joy, free from worry. Its whole body shone with pure white light, and was truly worthy of being cherished. Crossing over to the far shore of transcendence, we went together to Yingzhou, the legendary immortal isle in the sea.

Alas, some people lose their way in dark places and never awaken. Foolish and stubborn, their hearts seem locked shut, impossible to open. Even if they enjoy wealth and rank throughout their lives and suffer no misfortune, their years must still run out; in the end, they cannot escape death. The ghost messenger, who seizes souls for the underworld, will soon come to summon them. Their children and grandchildren cannot die in their place, so what excuse can they offer? Only then do they repent bitterly, weeping in grief, and understand that learning the Dao and cultivating oneself are the foundations of attaining immortality.

Another fellow cultivator came to ask for guidance.

Cultivate your nature, and do not let anger or resentment arise within you. Recognize that the body is not your true self, and understand the Dao-nature that is real within you. Each day, do what is helpful and assist others, sowing the good seeds of compassion. Begin cultivating a tranquil and peaceful state by regulating the breath and gathering the spirit. Do not covet wealth or beauty.

Another fellow cultivator came to ask for guidance.

Cultivate your nature, and do not let anger or resentment arise within you. Recognize that the body is not your true self, and understand the Dao-nature that is real within you. Each day, do what is helpful and assist others, sowing the good seeds of compassion. Begin cultivating a tranquil and peaceful state by regulating the breath and gathering the spirit. Do not covet wealth or beauty. In this way, you will naturally come to understand the Great Dao, and your heart will grow open and at ease. Once the Golden Elixir—the inner state formed by the refinement and union of body, mind, essence, and Qi in Daoist internal alchemy—is achieved, you can leave the path of delusion behind, ascend the immortal road through the clouds, and behold in the Jade Cavern a state of eternal youth.

Chrysanthemum Sky

Meat, fresh flowers, pastries, fine wine, and rich foods are often used to nourish the body and satisfy the appetite. Children play and amuse themselves together, while gold and silver treasures pile up like mountains. Yet why not consider this: when life comes to an end, which of these things can you take with you? When your allotted years are done, the ghost messenger will come to seize you. Only then will you understand that everything you pursued throughout your life was mistaken. You can only nod and sigh; regret will come too late.

I urge you earnestly to examine yourself. Do not let desire torment your heart and spirit. Understand that people are often caught up in the marketplace and occupied with worldly affairs. If you can be content and keep to yourself, you can live in peace. The season for selling flowers has its own subtle meaning. This pleasure is good in itself, and can naturally dispel agitation and the fires of desire in the heart. The way beyond life and death begins in your own heart: there lies the key taught by the immortal Zhao.

Spring has come again. Time seems to have passed in vain, yet it has not been wholly without gain. Today I gather the gentle spring breeze, and feel as though I have become a drifting stalk of grass. My past travels among clouds and waters lead toward a broad road. Even if the heart is idle, the body must not grow slack. There is a fine medicine called chuanxiong. Take it, and the body becomes light and strong. Continue to accumulate merit, and in time you will ascend to the highest heavens.

Linjiang Immortal

I traveled freely across the land, through the capital and the prefectures, and on to the counties, towns, villages, and hamlets. Wherever I went, I taught through Daoist methods and discussed the Dao with others. This is truly good work, as though even the clamor of the six worldly livelihoods had fallen silent.

Do not be surprised: pure, elegant sounds ring out at all times, and people keep inviting me into their homes. I polish the mirror of my heart until it is no longer clouded. My heart is bright and clear as the full moon, its light shining through Kunlun—the sacred mountain of Daoist thought, also often used to refer to an important place within the human body.

I set myself upright and cultivate diligently without pause, so that my inner heart accords with the Way of Heaven. When my words and conduct are disciplined, I shine with radiance. The numinous truth—the state of the spirits and perfected beings spoken of in Daoism—must be sought and cultivated. Only upon reaching this state can one look up toward the Great Dao.

I carefully uphold the teachings and devote myself to guarding the One, taking refuge in stillness and purity. In practicing the methods, I follow their prescribed rules and never violate them. Then the Nine Mysteries, the ancestors of nine generations, and the Seven Ancestors, the ancestors of seven generations, can ascend together with me.

In administering Daoist methods, one must always take care to observe the rules. Treating people generously and building up De (Virtue/Power) are especially important. If I encourage myself to act with filial devotion, I can accord with the spirits. To yield to others over the long term and keep family ties always in mind: this is the true path of cultivation—upright and selfless, without partiality or faction.

I open the bright moon within my heart and let it shine upon the Golden Lotus, a symbol of the pure realm of cultivation. Its fragrance rises straight into the blue sky, fit to be offered to the Immortals of Great Luo, the perfected beings who dwell in the Great Luo Heaven.

On the Four Images

To speak of human nature and life, and of Yin-Yang, we may begin with the heart, spleen, kidneys, lungs, and the “knife and measure,” a term in Daoist cultivation for harmonizing and measuring medicinal ingredients. We must also consider the directions—south, north, east, and west. The Heavenly Stems such as Jia, Geng, Ding, and Gui, along with the emblems of the Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, and Azure Dragon, all belong to this account.

Zi and Wu oppose one another and are brought into harmony; Mao and You likewise complement one another. Spring, winter, autumn, and summer are linked together. The four colors—blue-green, white, red, and black—seem to send forth rainbows. The trigrams Kan, Li, Zhen, and Dui correspond respectively to water, fire, wood, and metal.

Another Poem on the Gourd

A gourd is a wonderful thing; morning and evening, it accompanies me wherever I go. Inside, it is bright, clear, and empty. It gives off rainbow-like radiance and displays the transformations in which Kan, Li, Zhen, and Dui correspond to water, fire, wood, and metal.

Another Poem on the Gourd

A gourd is a wonderful thing; morning and evening, it accompanies me wherever I go. Inside, it is bright, clear, and empty, yet holds jade nectar whose flavor surpasses the finest cream—an ancient Indian delicacy, also used as a metaphor for something sweet and pure.

I drink from it every day, yet the wine inside seems inexhaustible, so there is naturally no need to spend money buying wine. I hang the gourd from the end of my staff and carry it as I enter the great road among the clouds. Passing before the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), I pay my respects to and follow the Pearl of Millet-Sized Radiance, a Neidan term often used as a metaphor for the subtle, refined inner elixir or the Dao-body.

Today I have once again entered this crimson tent, where the pomegranate blossoms before me are in full bloom. Who among those gathered here has sensed that “Harmful Wind” has arrived? Four Wu understands my heart, and Three Radiances drive calamity away for me. “Harmful Wind,” “Four Wu,” and “Three Radiances” are titles in the original; their precise referents are unclear.

Since we are fated to meet, do not lose yourself in wine. There is another wine vessel within the grotto dwelling. Pour just one cup, and you may escape the cycle of rebirth. Clouds and mist will naturally fill your sight; a single step will take you to the immortal realm of Penglai.

A fellow Daoist then asked about the path of cultivation:

Purify yourself, set your thoughts aright, and turn toward the highest good. Do good often and cherish compassion. Regularly contemplate the principles of compassion and stillness. The Daoist teaching of the mysterious subtlety of the ineffable and the indistinct can be joined with the teachings of Confucianism and Buddhism, and together they can bring things to completion.

Only by leaving behind children and wife can one be called a superior adept. Give up wealth and sexual desire entirely, devote yourself to cultivating the Dao and nourishing your nature, and preserve the Five Viscera; then you can attain health and longevity. When your cultivation and merit are complete, and your conduct meets the required standards, your upright nature will lead you through the gates of the immortals.

To cultivate the true method and register of Taiyi Hundun, a Daoist ritual register associated with Taiyi and Hundun, one must clear the heart, focus the mind, and practice diligently. First subdue the “corpse worms” within yourself—that is, evil thoughts that obstruct cultivation, or the so-called corpse worms within the body. The smoke of two incense sticks reaches the upper realm, while the power of the register works unseen.

Save departed souls and dissolve the karmic burdens of the past; let those still living receive abundant blessings as well. Ghosts and spirits will be so afraid that they dare not come to seize or pursue you. Once the merit of your practice has become manifest, colored clouds will soon accompany you.

Draw in the “golden-wave water of the Western River,” and make it the daily sustenance of your practice. It circulates through the body and then returns to the clear spring. The skin becomes especially clean and lustrous, and life is prolonged. “Golden-wave water of the Western River” is a term from cultivation practice; here it refers to water used in internal refinement.

The Northern Dipper, revered in Daoism as a stellar deity, naturally governs the registers of people’s names, while the Southern Dipper is responsible for adding years to their lives. Reducing greed for wealth and restraining sexual desire are conditions for attaining the Dao through cultivation. Follow the way of the Lord on High and leave worldly life behind, and you can cultivate yourself into an immortal.

It is also titled “Gift”:

Why do unruly people in particular love to drink wine? It is not because I am foolish or rash. This Dao-eye, the eye that perceives the Great Dao, is clearest of all. Three pathways appear above the head, allowing one to accompany and walk alongside Daoists.

The profound and subtle principles of the Three Teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—are far-reaching and beautiful. One should still apprehend them in the heart and investigate their hidden meaning. Follow the way of the Lord on High and leave worldly life behind, and you can cultivate yourself into an immortal.

It is also titled “Gift”:

Why do unruly people in particular love to drink wine? It is not because I am foolish or rash. This Dao-eye is clearest of all. Three pathways appear above the head, allowing one to accompany and walk alongside Daoists.

The Three Teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—are profound, mysterious, and truly beautiful. One should devote oneself to experiencing them and exploring their subtle principles. The qilin had long since understood Confucius’s teachings; at Qingyang Palace, Laozi transmitted the Dao to Yin Xi; and the Buddha’s relics answered the call of the mandarin ducks.

Another poem presented to a fellow Daoist

If Du Gong seeks the subtle methods, he should first investigate the root of the Great Dao. Once he recognizes the Dao, he must promptly hold fast to it and cultivate. By letting go of affection and attachment, he can turn back and take up the path of cultivation.

When the dark, smoke-like afflictions have all dispersed, he can transcend the world and be free of worry. In the company of Daoist companions among the clouds and immortal partners amid the rosy clouds, he sets out for the immortal isle of Penglai and wanders there with those who follow the same path.

An old man and an old woman joined as a pair, symbolizing the union of Yin and Yang. Riding the tiger and subduing the dragon represents mastering body and mind and harmonizing Yin and Yang. The three layered curtains depict the inner landscape, condensing layer upon layer through cultivation. Husband and wife live in harmony, accompanying one another.

The hour before noon and the hour after midnight refer to the times and the movement of Yin and Yang observed in cultivation. Through refining and nourishing, one can form the crimson Neidan (internal alchemy), and settle it in the Crimson Chamber, the place of cultivation within the Dantian (energy center). Following the road beyond the clouds, one finally reaches the immortal palace of Penglai.

Even in times of prosperity, one should remain quiet and clear, with a tranquil mind. Let go of every attachment and stop showing off one’s abilities in vain. Then one may ascend in accordance with the Dao to the beautiful scene within the pavilion.

Zhaozhou tea tastes fine; after awakening to the Dao, the mind is clear as water. Accompanied by Daoist companions among the clouds and rosy mists, one leaves the dusty world behind and ascends along the true path.

Calming the Waves

Each day I stroll at ease, wandering eastward and westward, following the circumstances and dwelling for a time in the dusty world. From ancient times to the present, the profound and tranquil realm has been a place worth ascending to.

Zhaozhou tea tastes fine; after awakening to the Dao, the mind is clear as water. Accompanied by Daoist companions among the clouds and rosy mists, one sees the distinction between the Dao and the worldly way, then ascends higher.

Calming the Waves

Each day I stroll at ease, wandering eastward and westward, following the circumstances and dwelling for a time in the dusty world. Heaven and Earth lie in dim obscurity, encompassing past and present. Deceived and harmed, one drifts without direction like tumbleweed caught in a fierce wind.

You see only the foam in your wine cup, like ants stirring on the surface; I, by contrast, delight in a hall filled with red. Once light breaks through the gloom of former days, the heart becomes empty and unobstructed, and a spark of numinous light in the spirit platform—the seat of the mind and spirit—pierces the firmament.

Long ago, the first leg of the journey began at Mount Jia; now it has reached the Sea of Ministers, where the waters are clear and still. To sail once more across the Jade Pool is truly a delight: the mind is full and bright, and one need only look up to recognize one’s own original voice.

Jade-colored waves and silver ripples make a scene unlike any other; waves like fine jade and vermilion streams all bear auspicious names. A white lotus rises from the water, bright and pure, its fragrance reaching all the way to the Daluo City of the Daoist immortal realm.

Now add the work of clear awareness once more. What one must preserve is simply the nature that human beings have possessed since time immemorial.

Hurry to cultivate. When your practice is complete, a lotus will seem to bloom in your heart, its pure, elegant fragrance reaching the Palace of the Great Luo Heaven.

“Silver Lamp Trimmed”

Now add the work of clear awareness once more. What one must preserve is simply the nature that human beings have possessed since time immemorial.

Hurry to cultivate until your practice is complete; also carefully dust, arrange, and set things right. Through the transmission of commands by the way that penetrates the mysteries, refine and cultivate yourself, ultimately attaining stillness naturally.

This luminous pearl—a metaphor for the innate spiritual nature—is precious and should be cherished. Keep polishing it until it is pure and bright. Then the Original Master and the three Perfected Immortals will all arrive, and the sages and worthies of the open sky will come together to celebrate. This female immortal was long destined to attain fulfillment here.

“Wind and Horse Command”

Tame the willful horse—a metaphor for scattered, restless thoughts—and do not let it run wild. First build a dike to keep it from galloping everywhere. That monkey-like mind plays tricks on you at the manger; quickly rein in your hands and feet, and ride into the wind.

Tie the reins firmly to the post. This time, keep it under tight control. Once it is docile, lead it back to the White Cloud Cave, a place where immortals cultivate. There you can roam freely, no longer at its mercy.

“Diviner” (set to the tune “Bucking Horse”)

At first I saw the green steel sword, and once touched it to a corpse. After it was placed upon the wood, the first signs appeared. The Qian horse—an image associated with the Qian trigram and the heavens—emerged; once the calamity had passed, it went away with the wind.

After receiving this method of cultivation, my practice gradually advanced, and I examined myself again and again each day. When joy came quietly, I alone knew it. The heavenly horse appeared—a celestial steed that may also signify the mind and spirit in cultivation—and became a sign that I would attain longevity.

Another version: Visiting a Friend, but Not Finding Him

I once met Master Zhang and asked him to write down the letter in the song. Wang Zhe came especially today, but no one was there to meet him.

On my way back, I knew in my heart: the heavenly horse had appeared, a sign that my cultivation toward longevity was bearing fruit.

Another version: Visiting a Friend, but Not Finding Him

I once met Master Zhang and asked him to write down the letter in the song. Wang Zhe came especially today, but no one was there to meet him.

Turning back, I rode on the clear wind, with clouds and rosy mists following beneath my feet. Then I returned to the Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) tradition, reentered the old hall, and recognized that spark of spiritual clarity—the inner nature that remains clear and undimmed.

“Especially New”

Heaven and earth, and human life, all unfold through encounters. What can make cultivation visible and bring it into practice?

The Daoist tradition opens its gates, the Buddhist tradition spreads its teachings, and the Confucian path is also open. Recognize your original nature, learn the fundamental Dao, contemplate the Yuanchen—a Daoist concept related to one’s birth destiny and original Qi—and allow the primordial Yang, the innate Yang energy, to become naturally stable.

The sun, moon, and stars move together along their respective courses, illuminating the boundless void. The Jing gate is firmly closed, the Qi gate open and unobstructed, and the Shen gate stands revealed in transcendent clarity.

Receiving the Qi of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity—the Three Powers—one establishes the Three Teachings and obtains the three lights of the sun, moon, and stars. The three treasures of Neidan gather together.

Further Admonition to the World

Showing off one’s cleverness and many talents, one flaunts one’s bearing and appearance at every turn. One garment follows another, changed again and again.

One goes into a teahouse, then into a tavern, always boasting of being a hero.

But when the road grows long beneath a vast sky and life turns difficult, that vigor has already ebbed by half.

I urge those who are carefree and charming: wake up while there is still time, and put an end to the desire for indulgence. Preserve your original Yang—the innate vital energy—and do not let it be squandered.

Turn your heart around, even a little, and the Dao Eye—the wisdom that perceives the Great Dao—can open. From then on, you will often behold the Golden Lotus, a sign of success in cultivation.

Jade flowers bloom; a wondrous fragrance drifts forth. Light pours out, illuminating the entire void.

Shanglin Spring Order

Wandering abroad, Wang San passed through Ganhe Town and met the Patriarch. His innately luminous nature awakened and revealed itself, and he truly composed poems and lyrics.

When cultivating the Elixir, one should often turn inward and observe. In a state of carefree ease, behold the three lights of the sun, moon, and stars.

Light pours out, illuminating the entire void.

Shanglin Spring Order

Wandering abroad, Wang San passed through Ganhe Town and met the Patriarch. His innately luminous nature awakened and revealed itself, and he truly composed poems and lyrics.

When cultivating the Elixir, one should often turn inward and observe. In a state of carefree ease, behold the three lights of the sun, moon, and stars.

He fully underwent the ordeals that “Mad Wind”—Wang Chongyang’s title—had once endured, and in the end truly became an immortal and departed.

Green Jade Table

The beautiful sights of the Shangyuan Festival are well worth beholding. Flecks of drifting cloud part, revealing a sky clear as blue jade.

Open the heart and mind: the heart-moon shines bright, the lamp of wisdom illuminates, and sun and moon reflect one another in radiant splendor.

A round orb adorned with the Seven Treasures gleams with exquisite clarity. At its center, set the candle of Xing—the light of wisdom that reveals one’s nature. A pair of golden boys display their spiritual powers.

A jade pestle sets it turning. It rides the wind and rolls into the immortal sanctuary on Penglai.

Also: Leading the Horse Along

Since time immemorial, only this person has been able to ride this fine steed. Led and guided by its rider, the horse runs straight ahead, then wheels around, bringing a double joy.

Its bones are sturdy and its sinews exceptionally strong; it helps one cross a red cliff ten thousand feet high.

Thanks to it, one can gallop free from calamities like a deep pit. Jade reins and golden tassels sway and glitter. It calls out in the mist and neighs into the wind, passing between water and fire.

Moonlight falls ahead, while the horse’s four hooves are lightly tethered. The horse bears a load, as though it and I were bound together by cause and effect.

From the moment I first found it and we first met, it stood upright and proper, its form clearly revealed.

Later it became the warm, bright rosy glow of a Double Ninth morning, moving across a clear sky as though it could dwell in the deep blue heavens. The jade horse of the immortals draws the path to long life forth from its belly.

When the numinous light settles into stillness, the light of the spirit gathers. Radiance then converges, and its silvery brilliance appears clear.

Later it became once more the warm, bright rosy glow of a Double Ninth morning, moving across a clear sky as though it could dwell in the deep blue heavens. The jade horse draws the path to long life forth from its belly.

When the numinous light settles into stillness, the light of the spirit gathers. Radiance then converges, and silvery clouds offer their protection. Golden flowers are planted all over the body; again and again, it looks back.

A blue-robed luan bird arrives together with a crane. The jade horse of the immortals comes to rest, carrying its rider along the cool, refreshing path.

[Again] 5

If you are to cultivate, yet do not understand how to direct your mind, you must first break free of this “fiery enclosure”—a metaphor for the entanglements of family life and desire in the mundane world.

Resolutely set aside all family ties. Recognize that first point of original truth, understand where it comes from, and become someone clear-eyed and awake.

If you wish your wife and children to be safe and well, the key lies in living amid the mundane world. Restrain sexual desire and covet money less; then you will naturally handle things well.

Practice compassion widely and treat people fairly; in the end, you will understand these principles.

Again 6: Disciples Drawn by Affinity

□□ lock the door, and it can truly be done; □□ a hundred mornings, utterly fresh and clear.

□□ ice for food—this is no casual pretense; □□ mystery, transcending the ordinary. □□ horse, □□ eyes clinging and drawn.

□□ set aside all love and affection; □□□, wandering freely in cool solitude. □□ teach me to share in this quiet grace.

□□ immortal maidens, cultivating together; □□ horse, beneath □□ bright stars.

“Partridge in Flight”

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow: drinking water and adding nothing else, simply content in oneself. Drunk, one laments armor like golden moss; sober, one gathers young shoots of jade fungus, the fabled herb of the immortals.

A young lord in brocade speaks of the Three Isles, the legendary sea-born mountains of the immortals; a lovely woman in a black cape dances the “Six Modes,” a Tang-dynasty melody. When the tune is complete, one enters the mysterious realm; white clouds drift wherever they please.

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow: drinking water and adding nothing else, simply content in oneself. Drunk, one laments armor like golden moss; sober, one gathers young shoots of jade fungus.

A young lord in brocade speaks of the Three Isles; a lovely woman in a black cape dances the “Six Modes.” When the tune is complete, one enters the mysterious realm; white clouds drift freely.

I was always beyond the world, poor but unburdened. I cling to nothing among the myriad things, and so find my way everywhere. My body and mind are pure and clear, gradually returning to stillness; at ease in Wuwei (non-action), I abide in the realm of emptiness.

When I can welcome the bright light, it is like drawing near the sun. When I can grasp the gentle breeze, I am no longer troubled by raging winds. By then, where have the dark clouds gone? All that appears is a vivid mass of red light.

Heaven, Earth, and humanity—the Three Powers—come into being, and radiance emerges from them. The Three Teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—each shine clearly, as though putting forth new shoots. Through refining and cultivating the Three Treasures—Jing (essence), Qi (vital energy), and Shen (spirit)—they are transformed into a precious light like red flames. The Three Carts turn, transporting Jing and Qi in the practice of internal alchemy; the Purple River Cart, the mechanism that circulates them within the body, is set in motion.

In the shadow of the Three Peaks, one can contemplate the true abode; in the light of the sun, moon, and stars—the Three Luminaries—lies one’s original home. The Three Islands and Ten Continents, legendary realms of immortals, are places suited to gathering herbs and refining elixirs. The Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) and the Ten Extremities, exalted Daoist heavens, are filled with blue clouds.

Today, let us ask Zhu the Lad directly: why do you keep sleeping in the Black Ghost’s house? If you can keep company with the Azure Dragon and let the White Tiger help harmonize and cool things, you can refine lead and mercury into treasures, then further purify the knife and spoon—the measure used for alchemical ingredients, also a name for the elixir. Sever the tortoise’s four legs, and you can freely invite the wind and admire the moon as you climb Kunlun Ridge.

The Maiden of the Crimson is meant to wed Ding the Lad, figures often used in internal alchemy for mercury or Yin essence and for fire or Yang essence. Recognize the Infant, the original spirit or true Qi of internal alchemy, and let it rest in the Gui chamber, an image associated with Water and Yin energy. Fortunately, the Jia field, an image associated with Wood and Yang energy, can govern coming and going; the Dui region, associated with Metal and Yin, can also regulate cold and heat.

When the lead blade is set in motion, it opens a way to the wondrous. When the mercury sword is drawn, it relies on the sharp edge of wisdom. Remove the Three Corpses, the hidden, baleful forces said to dwell in the body and hinder cultivation, and sweep away all Yin ghosts; then a mass of red flame will envelop Jade Ridge.

A white numinous root takes hold in the clear sky, while emerald branches sway in the soft breeze. The leaves receive the moon’s radiance and deepen to an elegant green; the flowers borrow the sunlight and take on a vivid red. Though the four colors differ, together they give off an exceptionally rich fragrance. Beyond the Vermilion Firmament, where does one go? To dwell within the Palace of the Pistil Pearl, a Daoist celestial palace.

How can the fire hidden in stone be brought forth? And how can the gold hidden in water be extracted? The fire in stone must be kindled by the fire of the heart, while the gold in water must be refined through the Metal of the lungs. Fire tempers true lead and true mercury; Metal sharpens the blades and swords. When the two unite, they become one and take their place among the immortals of the Great Luo Heaven, one of the highest Daoist heavens.

This time, grasp the vitality of the four seasons and draw in its gentle Qi to nourish your nature. In this way, you rise beyond the mundane world, water and Metal unite, and the Metal of the lungs is ultimately refined.

Use Fire to temper True Lead and True Mercury—the two symbolic substances in Neidan practice—and use Metal to sharpen the sword’s edge. When these two work together and become one, you may be counted among the immortal officials of the Great Luo Heaven, the highest celestial realm in Daoism.

This time, grasp the vitality of the four seasons and take in its gentle Qi to nourish your nature. Rise beyond worldly life and dwell in a realm apart from the dust of the world; let others say you are no ordinary person. Why labor over the regulation of Jing and Qi, or cling to the practice of swallowing saliva, by which traditional inner cultivation nourishes the body with fluids from beneath the tongue? Let the mind grow clear, with the sun and moon shining forth like they do in a cloudless sky. Then your brilliance will suddenly emerge, glowing with nine renewed rays.

Treading on Grass

The Eastern Sea stretches without end; I search carefully among the Western Mountains. With a golden hook, I catch a fish, and my heart fills with joy. I haul in a lively giant whale, its myriad scales gleaming like a length of white brocade spread out before me.

Come with me and roam at ease, letting yourself drift among water and clouds. Wander freely among green mountains and clear waters: “Zhang drinks the wine; Li arrives. Then Li snatches the wine and drinks.” This line depicts two people taking turns drinking, carefree and at ease, with no distinction between them.

Again, Asking Friends for an Axe

If a broad-bladed axe for felling wood is needed, there is no need to be choosy. A skilled craftsperson may want to forge a fine axe, yet lack the money to buy materials. Today I respectfully ask my fellow cultivators for support. May you put compassion first and consider helping.

Let yourself drift among water and clouds, wandering freely among green mountains and clear waters. “Zhang drinks the wine; Li arrives. Then Li snatches the wine and drinks.”

Again, Asking Friends for an Axe

If a broad-bladed axe is needed, there is no need to choose and reject. A skilled craftsperson may want to forge a fine axe, yet lack the money to buy materials. Today I respectfully ask my fellow cultivators for support. May everyone put compassion first and consider helping.

With a hard steel axe, one can split open the vision of the cultivation path, bringing light to the Numinous Terrace, where the spirit resides, and holding fast to the Golden Slips, which symbolize precious teachings or registers of immortals. The wooden staff at the waist seems to have endured the passage of many years, making one forget to return. Along the road winding through white clouds, body and mind can find their rest.

Again, Singing of the Hoe

The iron hoe has wondrous powers, and I have my own guiding principles. Carry it with me and swing it as needed, and it will open a way. When the “Great Medicine” of Neidan cultivation has been formed, its merit deserves praise; the good fruit we cultivate also depends on your strength.

Topple the mountains built from accumulated affection; break the prisons made by desire. Carve away again and again the troubles of right and wrong. Strike the stubborn rock with a sudden blow, and the beautiful Kunlun jade hidden inside will appear.

Again, a General Song

The axe and the chisel can both be put to use, each carving or cutting as circumstances require. Steel tools each have their own purpose: one scrapes up Metal from the water; the other cuts down jade from the mountains. Here, Metal in the water and jade in the mountains are metaphors for the essence to be gathered and refined, or uncovered, in cultivation.

The openings are narrow and elongated, and the wooden handles are short and rounded. The handles often pull on one another and move together, as if each had its own charge and duty: one governs the metal in the water, another the jade on the mountain.

The openings are narrow and elongated, and the wooden handles are short and rounded; the handles often move together. Split open the Metal Mother, the source of metal nature, and purple light gathers. Pass judgment upon and open the way to the Jade Ancestor, the source of jade nature, and crimson radiance clusters around it.

Another Poem on the Uncertainty of Official Life

The road to fame and rank is ever changing, and advancement or retreat in official life has no fixed pattern. Whether one advances or withdraws at any given moment depends on one’s own nature. Understand a little how to keep to one’s place, and one can live at ease. Grasp the principle of knowing when enough is enough and finding joy in contentment, and one can comprehend the realm of the worthy and the sage.

Do not stray into what is crooked or improper; remain upright. Flowers bloom in their proper season. Where the sun shines, it spreads its radiance; once the moonlight grows clear, its brilliance becomes purer still.

Song of the Fisherman (Yu Jia Ao)

The great whale in the North Sea is unknown to ordinary people; the autumn wind often brings tidings of it. I would rather exert myself and go in person, steering my fishing cart in search of it. I long for it deeply, so I cast a hook baited with fragrant food beside the shallow bank.

It spits out a divine pearl, its flames dazzling; then it transforms into a great Peng, spreading wings that cover the sky. The sun rises above the whirling heights, stretching into boundless distance. It can strike against the earth and surge straight into the sky; when it takes flight in a single bound, it naturally presses forward with resolve.

Another Poem on the False Dandy

Those with deceitful hearts are often arrogant and discourteous. They appear kind on the outside, but within they know only smooth talk. They wear bright clothes, and their heavy scent can be smelled from afar. They keep adjusting their garments and piling on layer after layer, growing as bulky as a granary.

Their eyes dart and their brows beckon; they are always showing off their charms. They tug and pull at others, boasting of their status. I step forward and ask them directly: Stop flaunting your allure. What use is it to cover up the stench and filth inside?

Another Casual Poem

How swiftly life and death turn in their cycle; once one’s appearance changes, one is hard to recognize. Yet there is a free-spirited person who always finds contentment. He is often at ease, roaming far and wide and lodging alone.

People weep with sorrow, then laugh, like those three rooms beneath the hall. Those inside the rooms—you and I—are sunk in deep distress; yet I still light lamps and candles in the hall.

Another Poem for a Friend

□□ holds the post of salt commissioner among the eminent officials, while □□ works alongside him indoors. □□ each has a measure of leisure in the heart.

“…Praise! … The allotted portions are as dark as ink. For now, I’ll light candles in the hall.”

“Presented Again to a Friend”

“… Became a salt inspector. … Sat with others indoors to discuss affairs. … Half of each person’s mind is at ease and unoccupied.”

“… Praise! … How can the allotted portions be determined? … It would be best to travel together through the water country. … Husband and wife gaze at each other from a mountain ridge.

“… The clear wind and bright moon call to one another. … We roam and admire the sights, … forging a bond without end.”

“River Ballad”

A bamboo cap on my head, a bamboo water bottle at my side—still, to this day, I often wash with water from it.

A bamboo staff and basket, a bamboo hat and cart, a bamboo hairpin; deep in the bamboo grove, the flute sounds again and again, as if calling me.

Wooden clogs keep my feet truly warm; a wooden plate, polished, shines bright and round like a mirror.

Wooden chopsticks and spoon, a wooden ladle, helmet, and bowl; beneath the trees, a wooden ox plows three fields.

The means of making a living amount to little more than keeping hunger and cold at bay; when I go into the street, I still have to call out. I raise a clear and lucid heart, staying alert and watchful, firm as iron. I search for leftover food, calling out again and again, and in this way gather in my scattered thoughts.

I am grateful for the kindness and care of everyone in the household. I only hope you will keep me in your thoughts.

Whether it is cold rice or something else, swallow it and let it digest slowly in the belly. Only after cultivating to the state of “Chongyang” can one be called a “madman of the wind”—a term then used for the deranged and destitute, and also for those who flouted convention and wandered in pursuit of the Dao.

Mad and destitute, I drift like tumbleweed in the wind, going wherever it takes me, with no fixed fence or dwelling anywhere.

I roam the water country, unconcerned that my body may grow frail. I search for leftover food and rest for a while in the idle courtyard of someone else’s home.

Everyone laughs at my poverty and destitution, saying these bones of mine have no good fortune and that I must wander homeless for a long time.

How could you know where I will go in the future? Don’t worry about me: I will still find scraps in other people’s idle courtyards; when the time comes, I will ascend to the blue heavens—to the celestial realm.

Do not rely on the mortal body. Keep the heart clear and lucid, and body and mind will naturally establish a foundation of light.

Whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, remain calm, clear, and at ease. When Qi and Shen (spirit) are harmonized and condense into an elixir pearl, it can then be used to teach and transform others.

Draw the bow, set the arrow, and take aim yourself. When the shot strikes the bull’s-eye, the trigrams of the celestial cycle can be driven away. As the arrow hits the center of the target, priceless rosy radiance appears in the coming and going. The Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), which constitute all things, are no longer restrictive; one breaks free of Yin-Yang’s constraints and transcends the transformations of creation.

“Cherishing the Fragrant Season”

Only when one’s karmic affinity is deep does one resolve to cultivate and stand firm. With sudden awakening, one knows that what has been realized is true and certain. Set up the Golden Furnace, take jade blossoms as its symbol, and through firing and refining, produce this Elixir.

The Three Dantian (energy centers)—upper, middle, and lower—undergo nine turns of refinement and nourishment, shining with radiant light. The four gateways along the Eight Extraordinary Meridians also open. A single point of light blazes in the void. This state cannot be explained in words; one can only accord with it naturally.

Those who study the Dao should apply themselves with wholehearted attention, carefully experiencing the subtle principles of cultivation and proceeding step by step. Recognize in the head the tranquil state indicated by the “Cool Pillow”; through firing and refining, produce this Elixir.

The Three Dantian undergo nine turns and shine with radiant light; the four gateways along the Eight Extraordinary Meridians open; a single point of light blazes in the void. This state cannot be put into words; one can only accord with it naturally.

Those who study the Dao should apply themselves with wholehearted attention, carefully experiencing the subtle principles and proceeding step by step. Recognize in the head the tranquil state indicated by the “Cool Pillow.” Amid clear moonlight and a gentle breeze, the mind becomes lucid and peaceful.

The Elixir’s flavor must be savored again and again. Cultivation gradually unfolds like a profusion of flowers. If you wish to explore its fragrant mysteries in detail, you should observe them carefully. The song “Cherishing the Fragrant Season” is precisely a reflection on these states.

Another Poem on the Purple Swallow

I watch the purple swallow build its nest with mud, then lay eggs and brood over its chicks day after day. When the young swallows have grown, they leave the nest and fly away, parting from their parents and going their separate ways.

People raise children just as the purple swallow does. Knowing that family attachments will only grow deeper, why not turn instead to cultivating the Way of longevity? Better to enjoy quiet ease and wander freely among the clouds and waters.

Another Friend Asks About Yin-Yang

Before Heaven and Earth had separated, when all was undivided chaos, how could there have been any directions? Only once Heaven and Earth took their distinct places, with Qian and Kun (Heaven and Earth) clearly formed, did the sun, moon, and stars appear. The harmonizing Qi of Yin-Yang also circulates within the human body.

Fire arises in water, and the two contend with each other again and again; the White Tiger and Azure Dragon—the symbols of Yin-Yang Qi in internal alchemy—join together. The Infant and the Maiden (internal alchemy terms symbolizing Yin-Yang Qi) need not cling to one another. Wang Haifeng (Wang Chongyang’s sobriquet) has another friend.

“The Swallow Returns”

The Fusang tree, the mythical tree where the sun rises, produces auspicious lingzhi fungus, which is then transplanted to Penglai Island, the legendary isle of immortals. There, golden branches and jade leaves are beautiful by nature; upon reaching Mount Kunlun, another legendary mountain of immortals, they transform into treasures.

Rosy light from all four directions adds to the mysterious Qi, and friends are there as well.

Beside the Fusang tree, the legendary sacred tree of the East, a numinous fungus of auspicious omen grew. It was transplanted to the immortal isle of Penglai. This celestial plant, with its golden branches and jade leaves, was already beautiful; on Mount Kunlun it was transformed into a precious treasure.

Rosy clouds on all four sides added an air of mystery. Bright flames enveloped it, reversing and transforming its ordinary state. A youth from the celestial realm brought an imperial edict and bestowed upon it an auspicious name. In the realm of Wuwei (non-action), it had at last arrived.

“Spring-Seeking Order”

True nature rests alone, deep and silent, beyond distinctions of the minute and the vast. It is like a crystal-clear treasure, surrounded by radiance, with five-colored splendor appearing around it.

Free and at ease, one can pass through life in peace; a jade youth also comes to offer congratulations. Fragrance fills the sky, rich and abundant, surrounding one and keeping the immortals company as they sit in repose.

“South Village Song”

A human life of a hundred years is like a face reflected in a mirror. An upturned hand may bring good fortune; a turned-down hand may invite calamity. Life and death, honor and prosperity, now lie before you. Do not miss the moment: quickly turn your heart around and recognize your own roots.

A wondrous Dao will naturally accompany you. Eliminate the Three Corpses, spirits said to dwell in the body and hinder cultivation, and the Nine Worms, the internal parasites described in Daoist cultivation texts. Use a single Qi to nourish body and mind, so that vital energy is full, flowing, and harmonious. A rabbit strikes a fine Buddhist temple and leaps beyond the tolling of worldly bells.

“Gazing Toward Penglai,” also known as “Gazing South of the River”

Listen to my advice, all of you: stop indulging in pleasure. The mind, like a monkey or a horse, races about without restraint, wasting time in the wilderness and letting year after year pass in vain. In the end, how can you escape the grave in the barren hills?

If you have already awakened, quickly gather in your thoughts.

Confronted with the sights before you, immediately let go of deluded thoughts, and seek less from your own body. Someone like this has no need to wear a headcloth over a Daoist’s hair. The sweet spring is delightful, and the scenery around it is graceful and tranquil.

Examine yourself, leave behind harmful ties, and hasten to practice good deeds. Even amid the clamor, do not plunge into it and drift with the current. After I gained some insight, I began to gather and refine the Neidan (internal alchemy).

I give voice to my feelings before the scenery and write as the mood takes me. At times I ride an ox home, and call myself “Worry-Free.”

I also wrote on a paper banner:

May the borderlands be peaceful, and may begging for alms go smoothly. May the war drums once again become drums for playing the Shao music, and the battle flags become alms-seeking banners. Then we shall see an age of peace.

If you can give a little less money in alms, the most important thing is not to hesitate. Wang Zhe, one of the founders of the Quanzhen tradition, called himself “Madman Worry-Free.” Even if three coins must be counted as only two, I respectfully pray that everyone give earnestly and with a generous heart.

I also wrote a poem about botuo, a kind of noodle dish:

The botuo at the food shop is the finest, especially exquisite and delicious. Knead flour as fine as jade dust into a ball, then roll it into a sheet as evenly thin as polished jade. A good knife is needed to cut it into strips. The cook’s skill is subtle, and every step is carefully arranged. In the bowl, the fresh noodles are white as pear blossoms; the chopsticks lift them steadily, like threads of silver. After eating, it feels as though I might ride the immortal breeze to Penglai.

I also urged my fellow Daoists:

Mr. Zhao is a good man, dignified in appearance and in the prime of youth. Do not waste your years. May you draw close to others in earnest practice and the accumulation of merit, and become my neighbor.

Be content with quietude, and recognize the path out of delusion. A little insight into life’s brevity and unreality can remove attachment; understanding that all things are illusory can also end greed and anger. Such a person is a practitioner dwelling in a cave.

Before entering the Dao, do not lose your way by clinging to the so-called “Middle Way.” First, keep a firm hold on the unruly side of your nature, as you would seize a wild horse. You must also tether the restless mind that frolics everywhere, as you would a monkey, and cultivate yourself step by step.

Once you gain insight, see through the affairs of marriage between men and women. Freely train this borrowed body, allowing your true nature to unfold and transform in ease and freedom. In this way, you can ascend to the Jade Pool, the realm of immortals.

With this lyric, I urge everyone: while there is still time, hold fast to your practice.

When will the pursuit of empty fame and private gain ever end? When will the draining of mind and strength cease? Do not remain mired in the dusty world for too long.

You should awaken early and understand the profound mysteries of the Three Teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism).

Only by freeing yourself from debts of gratitude as weighty as mountains and attachments of love as vast as the sea can you return to Penglai and travel to Yingzhou, legendary realms of immortals. The way back lies within your own heart.

To grasp the meaning of these words, you must practice diligently.

Keep in check thoughts that gallop like horses and fancies that leap about like monkeys. Let desire for external things and clinging love come to rest together, and do not delay in doing good.

The principles of the Three Teachings are wondrous, their meanings profound and subtle. Cast off the fleeting life and worldly affairs, and this time you can set out on the road to Pengzhou. This is where the return begins.

Also titled “Apricot Blossoms”

The spring weather is lovely, and the radiant apricot blossoms reveal their rosy petals.

They bloom in the sunlight with the beauty of immortals. Standing in the breeze, their delicate faces are strikingly lovely; they do not envy the plum blossoms that flower around the twelfth lunar month.

Who could understand what they feel? They are willing to bloom only for me.

I pluck a branch and hold it in my hand, letting its fragrance fill my sleeves, then carry it back with me to the immortal realm of Penglai.

“Spring in Wuling”

I urge Lord Yan to return to his hometown and carry these words to the people of Liquan.

Do not give yourself over to greed, and do not harbor resentment or anger. This is how you can nourish your spirit.

That is enough to set you on the Great Way. Why struggle to seek truth outside yourself?

If you gradually come to understand the principles within yourselves, you will leave behind the noisy, bustling world.

“South Village: In Praise of Parting from Daoist Friends”

Wang Zhe has already set out eastward. Passing through Ganhe, he met with his many worthy friends.

The hunger and cold within him had not yet been relieved, and he lacked travel funds, so he asked everyone for money.

They passed it along and helped one another, enabling me to join them in transcending the Nine Lotuses, a symbol of the worldly realm or cycle of rebirth.

Each person’s inner understanding is known to all the others. I pity you, friends: after we part this time, I will transmit the innate True Qi of the Tathāgata.

I have now entered Nanjing, and everyone in Ganzhen has heard the news.

One should respect the sun, moon, and stars—the Three Luminaries—and understand their principles, never treating them lightly. Even the five grains, though ordinary food, contain a subtle vitality.

From this, one can discern the path ahead. A person’s words, deeds, and innermost thoughts throughout life are all inscribed in their actions. If one turns back and examines them, the luminous nature will appear. What is ultimately seen as the true form—the authentic nature—is pure and clear Qi.

Whether rich or poor, one should meet wealth and honor with benevolence and righteousness. The ties formed in past lives appear and take effect in this life. If the heart remains upright, hidden merit will naturally accumulate, and good fortune will come in its own time.

Do not keep adding hardship to your suffering, and do not cling to harmful deeds; instead, plant seeds of goodness. Urge those who are confused to awaken in time, without resentment or anger. Everything in the world has its allotted destiny; it is not determined by personal will alone.

“Su Muzhe”

Keep worries to a minimum and attend fewer gatherings. I have no kindness to offer others, so I should not blame them. If one lives with integrity, frugality, gentleness, and kindness, body and mind can be at ease. Do not force yourself to join in social obligations, lest you repeatedly fall into debt.

When you have money, people draw near and cherish you; when it is gone, even relatives may grow distant. Since worldly relationships are often like this, learn to see people’s hearts clearly and reflect quietly: apart from truths that transcend the world, where is there anything truly dependable?

Nature is real; the physical body is only temporary. Recognize the complete nature, and do not repeatedly invite worldly troubles. So long as body and mind are well and the spirit is clear and alert, settle into stillness and seek purity and ease. Quickly cultivate the union of the infant and the Maiden (metaphors in internal alchemy for Yin and Yang essence and vital energy).

Speak of the causes and conditions of goodness and discuss the principles of cultivating the Dao, thereby opening the luminous nature and rescuing and bringing forth the source of life. A single spirit pearl—a metaphor for inner spirituality or the refined essence achieved through alchemical cultivation—is beyond price. It rises to the Jade Terrace, a high platform in the immortals’ realm, and from then on wanders forever through that tranquil, pure realm.

One may attend ritual assemblies, pass the cup and drink wine, and often drink until falling asleep. One may also eat what others have left behind, then sleep soundly for a long time once full. The eye beholds scenes of leisure and good fortune; observe them often, and sights in black, white, yellow, red, emerald, and other hues will appear.

They emerge from empty space without falling away or vanishing. Exquisite jade blossoms reveal a truly wondrous scene. Powerful spirit deities come to behold it and move it into a golden dish, praising it as a heavenly treasure.

Women, do not give way to suspicion; children, there is no need to dwell on things. Longing for sensual pleasure secretly drains Jing and Qi, damages the marrow, and leaves one powerless. I urge you to turn back and seek rest. Recognize the three upright and true foundations within the body.

Bring the Scarlet Maiden—an inner alchemical term for Yin-type true Qi—and the Infant—Yang-type true Qi—into harmony. Then entrust them wholeheartedly to the Yellow Matron, the mediator who harmonizes Yin and Yang. Nurture them with care until they settle into profound stillness. Drink freely of the knife-measure, a small dose of elixir or elixir fluid, and you may reach the most distant realms in all ten directions. The four phrases come together in one place; with each step of cultivation, follow the perilous immortal path wreathed in clouds and rosy mists.

Also titled “Buying the Fee Cage”

The willow branch is supple, the hemp thread fine. Through subtle, mysterious practice, secretly grasp the essential method and bind them fast together. Knead and refine the body that meets the requirements until it is fine and thoroughly perfected, fit to become the estate of the “Wang Wind”—a term of uncertain meaning, perhaps referring to a person of the Daoist tradition. Wander like water and clouds; with each step of cultivation, follow the perilous immortal path wreathed in clouds and rosy mists.

Also titled “Buying the Fee Cage”

The willow branch is supple, the hemp thread fine. Through subtle, mysterious practice, secretly grasp the essential method and bind them fast together. Knead and refine the body that meets the requirements until it is fine and thoroughly perfected, fit to become the estate of the Wang Wind. Wander like water and clouds, relying on spiritual insight and wisdom. Amid daily food, drink, and clothing, deeply wrap and protect the foundation. Shed the mortal body and penetrate the riddle within; then you will clearly transcend the world and ascend to immortality. All of this depends on its aid.

Another exhortation to fellow Daoist practitioners

Everyone is like a shopkeeper, constantly confined within the shop. It is as though an urn and a jar have been fitted together and bound tightly with iron chains. Who knows that a place of radiant light is there from the beginning? You were immortals from the start—why not open your heart and awaken to your nature?

To seek coolness, you must set your steps firmly. If you wish to drift like a tumbleweed, you must let the wild wind carry you; you must also be willing to rely on clouds and water and take to the wandering path. Only then can you claim a life of ease and enter the Way of freedom.

Everyone has already reached the age of twenty-eight, yet still refuses to turn back. Then nature and life will be plundered and damaged, and you will plunge into ruin, enduring constant oppression. When the mirror is held up before you, what will you have to say? Since you were immortals from the beginning, why do you not perceive it? Split open the mortal heart and recognize the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, the awakened ones. Keep polishing the luminous pearl; within the palace of seven treasures, raise a true Golden Tower.

Another gift to a fellow practitioner

This fellow of the illustrious lineage can heed my counsel: purify the mind, still body and heart, and recognize the realm of carefree repose. Keep clear of worldly affairs each day, and you will naturally be happy and at peace, free from setbacks.

Friend:

This fellow of the illustrious lineage can heed my counsel: purify the mind, still body and heart, and recognize the realm of carefree repose. Keep clear of worldly affairs each day, and you will naturally be happy and at peace, free from setbacks.

Turn back and awaken while there is still time; do not waste your days. Extinguish ignorance—the afflictions that cloud the heart’s true nature—and leave worldly passions behind.

A spark of numinous light, the human being’s original spiritual nature, is confined on the mountain. Rest easy, riding the white clouds, and sit quietly amid the five-colored clouds.

Another poem lamenting a friend’s circumstances

Reflect on yourself and keep your mouth in check; then you can attain quiet freedom and wander at ease.

Live contentedly, and your life will endure. As for ill-gotten wealth, put aside the impulse to reach out and seize it.

Keep needless socializing to a minimum, and drink less. Restrain your desires, examine yourself, and recognize anew your original, clear nature.

Honor the sun, moon, and stars—the Three Luminaries—and practice filial devotion and goodwill toward others. You need not pray to the gods to attain lasting youth and long life.

Another admonition to a friend

You are in the bloom of youth, with a healthy glow. If you resolve firmly to turn back and cultivate the Dao, you can see the way forward even now.

May you change your heart and awaken soon. Keep company with the Dao and dwell in a realm of freedom.

Good karmic ties arrive, and harmful ones depart. Discover your true nature and understand that it rests in the numinous terrace, the seat of the mind and spirit.

When the seven portals open, you can gain access to the Dao transmitted by the ancestral masters. The moment you leap free of worldly bonds, you set foot on the path to long life.

Another gift for a fellow Daoist

To cultivate the Dao, you must set your resolve and summon your strength. Lay down your sorrows and dispel the emotional entanglements and distress in your heart.

With the sword of wisdom, cut through the Five Aggregates, the five elements that make up body and mind and give rise to attachment. Split open the two barriers of body and mind, and steadily bring the three parts to completion—a phrase that may refer to stages of cultivation.

There is no need to hesitate or debate, nor to keep asking the same questions. Simply put the cultivation essentials described above into practice day after day.

Search within your own heart for “manure”—the stray thoughts that bury your nature. Clear it away to reveal your pearl-like nature, then carry it into a realm of cool serenity.

Another poem offered to a fellow Daoist

One skilled in cultivation can also sit for the civil service examinations and enter office. If you already possess the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, a symbol of achievement in Daoist internal cultivation, why not seek it?

If you are willing to turn back and quietly observe yourself for a while, your feet will grow light and carry you into the realm of clouds and rosy mists.

Follow the way of the Three Luminaries, and cultivate under your master’s guidance. There is also a sure path to long life.

Wander freely, and open the Jade Gate. Before long, you will be able to return together with Wang Feng.

Fellow practitioners, make an effort to begin your cultivation soon. Since you have chosen a path that runs counter to worldly ways, be careful each day to restrain your speech: speak less and do more.

Do not keep talking about Neidan (internal alchemy) terms such as “Mercury and Lead” or “Mao and You.” Open the Crimson Palace, the place in Daoist internal alchemy where the heart-mind and spirit reside, and cultivate freely, without constraint.

Admonitions to the Disciples

Fellow practitioners, make an effort to begin your cultivation soon. Since you have chosen a path that runs counter to worldly ways, be careful each day to restrain your speech: speak less and do more.

Do not keep talking about Neidan (internal alchemy) terms such as “Mercury and Lead” or “Mao and You.” Open the Crimson Palace, the place in Daoist internal alchemy where the heart-mind and spirit reside, and cultivate freely, without constraint.

The Yin and Yang Qi of Heaven and Earth are pure, and the sun, moon, and stars shine brightly. I would like to teach you the essentials of cultivation in person, but you are not yet able to confirm and understand them together.

I must wait until fellow cultivators have seen through the principles involved. Then I will calmly reveal the secrets of Heaven.

What is true cultivation? Let me make it clear: do not cling to the mortal body, and do not keep scheming over external things.

Break through all kinds of attachments and turn your gaze inward often. Whether sitting, lying down, walking, or standing still, regard the body as something destined to become white bones. Let this remind you to take the physical form lightly.

Cultivation should advance gradually, with constant care to follow its methods. The “Eight Mu of Jade Fields” within the body—a metaphor in internal alchemy for the inner realm on which cultivation depends—has its own new sequence of practice.

Only when the mind and nature are clear can they be examined closely. With accurate measure and no deviation, one can reach a cool and serene state.

The Dao cannot be fully expressed in words, and Zen, too, lies beyond speech. Only when the two streams of white light appear may rosy clouds be revealed.

On peaks of true jade, radiance continually flows. Rippling water reflects the white snow on numinous peaks.

The radiance grows ever more delicate, ever clearer and whiter. It pierces the cloudless sky and reveals a gleaming light of Shen (spirit).

Here, the profound principle is fully revealed. Within a single golden flower, the Golden Elixir takes shape.

Another

□ Xing Gong, □ divide and distinguish. □ raise up affection, sever it, and let numinous light shine.

□ Within, the lotus is born; this is truly precious. Delicate and luminous, ever more bright and pure, it pierces the clear sky, revealing a distinct, gleaming light of Shen.

Here the profound, profound mystery is completely revealed. Within a single golden flower, the Golden Elixir takes shape.

Another

□ Xing Gong, □ divide and distinguish. □ raise up affection, sever it, and let numinous light shine.

□ Within, the lotus is born; it is truly worthy of cherishing. □ The Maiden and the Infant—symbols of Yin and Yang Qi in internal alchemy—meet in radiant union and reach the mysterious realm.

□ Cast off sorrow; □ take joy in the Dao. □ Gather and contain the breath, and form it into a precious treasure.

□ Hide the jade securely, and let its five-colored radiance shine forth. □ Connect through Kunlun, often a name in Daoist internal alchemy for the head or another vital place within the body, and cultivate true work like the sun and moon.

Huanxisha

The Great Dao is originally nameless, yet seems to have a name. Bodhidharma faced a wall for nine years in stillness and single-minded focus; Shakyamuni sat in meditation in the snow for six years, diligently pursuing his practice.

Only by attaining true emptiness can one bring forth its wondrous workings. Once one has penetrated the Mystery Gate, perfect radiance appears within. In the end, one gathers and comes to completion in the Great Luo Heaven, Daoism’s highest celestial realm.

To see the Garden of Seven Treasures within the void is to open the Six-Flower Pavilion amid stillness. Here lie the profound and subtle principles between Heaven and Earth.

Fully grasp the three hundred characters of the Yinfu Jing and deeply understand the five thousand words of the Daode Jing. As for the title “Harmful Wind,” whatever people choose to call me, I accept it calmly.

By the green waters, climb the snowy mountain; decisively leap beyond the Jade Gate Pass, here an image of a barrier in cultivation. Within the void, beyond the dust of the world, all suddenly opens into clarity.

In a distant, hidden place, return to the right path and dwell there in upright composure. Even white clouds cannot match this tranquil realm.

Again, on the Double Ninth Festival

The Golden Tiger roars, the Golden Horse bears a message; on the Double Ninth Festival, the Golden Lord scatters gold coins. The autumn wind blows, and golden ornaments flutter in its wake.

The earth blooms with golden flowers. A Golden Boy gathers them and walks upon golden lotuses.

The Golden Tiger roars, the Golden Horse bears a message; on the Double Ninth Festival, the Golden Lord scatters gold coins. The autumn wind blows, and golden ornaments flutter in its wake.

The earth blooms with golden flowers. A Golden Boy gathers them and walks upon golden lotuses. Then offerings on a golden platter are presented to the Golden Immortal, one who has attained the Dao.

There are twelve instances of the character “gold” in this verse. Practitioners should carefully seek its essential meaning by the appointed days and hours, and quickly tame the mind’s restless monkey and horse—the unruly thoughts and desires.

The five gates open naturally, one by one. Amid clusters of jade flowers, the cavern gate lies deep within. Since ancient times, who has truly understood its mystery?

Again, praising the brush

Since ancient times, Mao Ying—the brush—has carried deep meaning. There is no need to dwell on the tale of Jiang Yan receiving a five-colored brush in a dream; instead, seek the resolve of Ban Chao, who laid down his brush to take up arms and pursue meritorious deeds.

Set aside restless pursuits and return to leisure, revealing an elegant nature. Even without writing poems, one can still give voice to lofty thoughts. This time, draw true gold from the water: a precious truth or fruit of cultivation.

Recalling the King’s Grandson

At the fourth watch, I hurry along again and again, yet feel no chill. I am deeply grateful for Lord Sun’s favor and care. With a sweep of my rosy robe’s sleeve, I brush away the clouds.

Entering Chang’an, here perhaps a realm attained through cultivation, I turn back to urge the worthy to complete the Great Elixir, the fruit sought through internal alchemy.

Why return just after reaching Chang’an? Because this makes my lotus blossom with five petals. There is also a clear radiance, like fine wine aged for years.

Drinking alone from my cup, I can escape the calamities of transmigration and the Nine Hells, the Daoist underworld.

Also, presented to Ma Yu

People say the mouth is the gate that invites misfortune; I say the tongue is the root of trouble. If one can refrain from speaking and arguing,

and do so from morning till night, that is the way to live at ease and preserve one’s life.

Parting Is Hard

As we travel through the two prefectures of Water and Clouds, let no one among us feel lonely. See that radiance clearly, and discern the direction of the wind.

Radiance flows like beautiful jade, and auspicious Qi fills the sky; jade blossoms release their fragrance. Practicing in this way morning and evening brings ease and freedom, and preserves life.

The Pain of Parting

As you travel through the two regions of Water and Cloud, do not give rise to loneliness. See clearly how worldly affairs change and flow, and recognize the shifts in wind and cloud.

Radiance flows like beautiful jade, and auspicious Qi fills the sky; jade blossoms release their rich fragrance, while golden lotuses give off their scent. Who could fully receive such sights?

Follow the flow of circumstance as rosy clouds coil in layer upon layer and emerald mist continually rises. Time passes moment by moment, and sunlight shines forth day after day. Penglai, the fabled realm of immortals, seems already before your eyes, calling again and again.

You see only a rainbow-colored phoenix passing through the sky, while a golden attendant boy comes forward carrying purple lingzhi, the fabled herb of immortality. If you wish to see my face again, the broken strings must first be joined, and the snapped zither strings tuned once more.

I urge each of you to practice earnestly. Only then may you hope to reach the distant grotto-heavens, blessed realms where immortals dwell.

Lady Zhaojun’s Grievance

I tell you: leave the fiery household—the worldly family that entangles you and is hard to escape—as early as you can. Do not remain bound by the attachments of family life. Turn your gaze toward the waters and clouds, and you will find ease and joy.

If you form a bond with the Dao and cultivate the methods of longevity, you can become a spiritual companion and kinsman of the high immortals. Seek out the mysterious realm, deep as a blue-green pool, and in the end become as full as the moon.

Song of Beating Cloth

The proper way to cultivate the Dao is to make calm arrangements in ordinary times and practice with care in moments of leisure. The lyrics “luo li [missing], li luo [missing]” are vocables in the melody.

If you encounter the right opportunity and achieve perfection, then explain the path ahead carefully from the beginning. The lyrics “luo li [missing], li luo [missing]” are vocables in the melody.

At birth, a person acquires an ordinary human form. The body is a temporary combination of four elements, so how can it be treated as something real and unchanging? The lyrics “luo li [missing], li luo [missing]” are vocables in the melody.

Seek the mysterious path and leave behind the crossing of delusion; in stillness and concentration, regulate the breath and nurture the spirit. The lyrics “luo li [missing], li luo [missing]” are vocables in the melody.

The mind-monkey and willful horse—restless, unruly thoughts—run wild, difficult to control or catch. How can they be let go? The lyrics “luo li [missing], li luo [missing]” are vocables in the melody.

With the blade of wisdom, cut through deluded thoughts and help yourself recognize the root and source. The lyrics “luo li [missing], li luo [missing]” are vocables in the melody.

This state is perfectly integrated and unobstructed, resting in emptiness, deep and still, beyond words.

Once the Wisdom Sword, a symbol of cutting through delusion and awakening insight, is drawn, it cuts away every wandering thought so that you can recognize the roots of cultivating the Dao. The words “luo li □, li luo □” that follow are vocal refrains in the song.

This is the state of perfect penetration: resting within emptiness, deep and mysterious, beyond all measure.

Though things seem divided into north and south, east and west, true awakening comes in a moment of conversation and laughter.

I am Chongyangzi, speaking of the principles of Quanzhen (Complete Perfection). How should we apply the principle by which Yin and Yang reverse and transform?

As one side moves, the other comes to rest. The Qi of Yin and Yang rises and falls, mingling together—plainly, this is how it works.

How should we use the dāoguī, a small ancient measure here standing for a subtle method of cultivation, to split open ignorance and delusion and bring scattered things together?

It is as though a head falls and a crimson glow appears; a white lotus blooms from the green mud, symbolizing purity emerging from defilement.

Human nature and life are there from the beginning. Formless and without substance, how can they be clearly perceived?

There is brightness within Mercury and purity within Lead. Enveloped by rosy clouds, one can reach the realm of the worthy and the sages. “Mercury” and “Lead” are Neidan (internal alchemy) terms that refer to changes brought about by the interaction of Yin and Yang, Jing (essence), Qi, and other forces within the body.

Gold in water is deep and unfathomable. The mystery within mystery—how can it be found?

From the first moment of understanding until now, the west wind has sometimes carried in a clear, resonant sound.

The Three Elixir Treasures, associated with inner cultivation in the upper, middle, and lower Dantian (energy centers), are difficult to distinguish and analyze. In a state of dim, quiet stillness, how should they be guarded?

Dwelling in the realm of emptiness, keep this Dao ever present in your heart. Beneath the red robe is wrapped a new black cap.

Water and Fire unite; Kan and Li merge. How can we discern the changing signs of these two forces?

There is no need to deliberately heat and refine, nor to cling rigidly to cultivation. The principle lies in these essential points.

When the heart’s aperture opens, its light is whole, pure, and clear. But how can I explain it to others?

Clear as water, delicate as snow: the two lights shine upon each other, bringing understanding and insight. That state is hard to put into words; one only feels the heart suddenly grow bright, open, and whole. How can I explain it to another? (“Loli…” and similar phrases are refrain sounds in the song.)

Clear as water, delicate as snow: the two lights shine upon each other, bringing understanding and insight. That state is hard to put into words.

Singing “Song of Pounding Cloth,” the heart is lucid and clear. I stroll at ease, sit at ease, and sing or cry out as I please.

I know the truth of it myself, though others find it hard to understand. There is a brightness in the melody, like the sun, moon, and stars shining together.

The moon’s reflection at the bottom of a pool; frost in the snow. Whoever grasps the meaning will seem wild and unconstrained.

What gathers at the bottom of the spring? Gold lies hidden in the water. Search carefully at the tip of a pointed pole. (These images express the search for inner truth.)

Seeking verdant, fragrant things, I smile at the swaying flower branches; suddenly I hear the flower seller’s cry. It is a time of bright spring sunshine and clear skies. In the morning the clouds are white; at dusk the breeze is crisp. Clouds and wind drift and veil the “Jing of the Rui Pearl” (the subtle, numinous energy spoken of in Daoism), releasing its fragrance until the whole tree is in bloom.

Dian Jiang Li

What a pity that this child is clever and quick-witted, with a nimble mind. His spirit is open, harmonious, and bright. I once promised to take him to Penglai, the fabled mountain of the immortals.

Cutting the hemp rope would have been just the thing for cultivating the elixir; now, though, he has bought a copper chain and shackled the feet that were about to tread the clouds. (Here the chain stands for entanglement: someone had the chance to cultivate, but has become constrained again.)

Another Gift to a Friend

Looking at you, I see someone in the prime of youth, clever and quick-witted, with refined bearing. Your spirit is open, harmonious, and bright. I once promised to take you to Penglai.

Cutting the hemp rope would have been just the thing for cultivating the elixir; now, though, you have bought a copper chain and shackled the feet that were about to tread the clouds.

Another Gift to a Friend

Looking at you, I see someone in the prime of youth, clever and quick-witted, with refined temperament. You were born with a numinous nature, like the “Infant and Maiden” (a cultivation term symbolizing Yin-Yang in internal practice); do not let the mind’s monkey and horse run wild.

Recognize the truth of serenity and ease, and one day it will become a fine story to tell. There is no need to write more essays or fine words; cultivate the heart and bring the precious, peerless Neidan (internal alchemy) to completion.

Spring in the Jade Tower: In Praise of the Vegetable Gatherer

People once called him the Vegetable-Gathering Lad. His basket was always full of vegetable roots and shoots. In spring, summer, autumn, and winter, he never had a moment’s rest; whether the weather was warm or cold, he stayed busy all year round.

Today I urge this tailor: you make your living through planning and managing a business, but I ask you to quiet your mind, set aside your busy work for a while, and look carefully at the changing seasons.

In spring, the tailor is fourteen years old, handsome and headstrong in his youth. Each night he keeps company with a beautiful woman in his room, yet often goes hungry during the day. So he shoulders his box and takes to the streets, investing most of what he earns in the trade of brightly colored silk. But when he takes up his knife and ruler to cut cloth, his thoughts wander. Even the love he shares with his wife and children cannot ease the troubles of daily life.

In summer, he still looks fourteen, but life grows as hot and busy as a flame. In his craft, he is always trying to outdo others; even among the crowd, he forces himself to keep going. The shop is stocked with silk and fine fabrics, and its shelves display gold, silver, and precious jewels. He alone labors and struggles while his family enjoys the fruits of his work. Who, in the end, bears the burden of this livelihood?

In autumn, he is troubled and anxious, his heart full of sorrow. The rosy color fades from his face; his body grows thin, and his hair gradually turns white. His back bends, his head droops, his strength wanes. His hearing grows dull, his vision blurs, and his eyes often fill with tears. As the days and months pass, his illnesses multiply. His wife grows tired of him and his daughter resents him; he can only endure this hardship.

In winter, he is beset by every illness, takes to his bed early, and grows frail. The five organs grow cold, stagnation builds within, the Triple Burner—the upper, middle, and lower regions that govern the body’s vital activity—runs hot, and sores break out on his body. His breath stops, and his body, a temporary union of the four elements—earth, water, fire, and wind—stiffens and falls. His children and grandchildren carry him out and bury him in a desolate grave. His seven po—the souls bound to the body—return to the underworld, while his three hun have no chance to ascend to heaven.

Rather than meet such an end, it is better to set aside worldly affairs early and seek peace in a realm of emptiness and quiet. If you can understand the moon reflected at the bottom of a pool, you will recognize the frost amid the snow and see the difference between appearance and reality. Become my neighbor and dwell with me in a quiet meditation chamber, keeping company with the scriptures and cultivating the heart through incense. Before long, you can attain the Dao, ride a luan and a phoenix into the realm of the immortals, and roam there freely.

Take up all the myriad things and examine them one by one; break through each thing and see into it. Use clear and lucid awareness, like a jade key opening a golden lock.

Let the source grow clear, little by little, like a blazing fire. When it reaches fullness, above and below exchange places.

The wondrous workings and the mysterious fruits of nature cultivation must be brought to completion in stillness and purity. Emptiness comes into view, and spiritual nature is real and true. Its radiance appears in perfect fullness, like a crystal-clear, luminous pearl.

A Thousand Autumns

The troubles of the dusty world never cease; its suffering is deep and dark. Entanglements bind us everywhere, leaving us unable to tell which way to turn. The days are like this, and at night we are still troubled by fear in our dreams. Hear me explain: all of it arises from calamities and upheavals that continue from one life to the next.

Quickly open your mind and, while there is still time, remove all these entanglements at once. When you look back, you will see clearly.

Only then is there true beauty, with countless strands of silver radiance all around. This time, the calamities and upheavals carried on from life to life can be brought to an end.

Quickly open your mind and, while there is still time, remove all these entanglements at once. When you look back, you will see clearly.

Only then is there true beauty, with countless strands of silver radiance all around. This time, it can all be brought to an end, like the autumn moon reflected in a pool, its rippling light clear and crystalline.

A Cloud over Mount Wu

Facing the moon, I compose verses; in the fresh breeze, I write hymns. A silver brush brings good fortune; with a casual stroke, it adds a touch of coolness.

The jade cavern’s gate opens, now deep, now shallow; flowers from the jeweled tree scatter everywhere like incense traced in seal script. The immortal isle of Penglai is my home. After the banquet in the halls of jade and fine stone has ended…

Attendant of the Fragrant Youth

In cultivating the Great Dao, set aside every attachment to the myriad things and repent wholeheartedly. Do not let dark smoke rise within the heart and obscure its clarity.

Let the mind be as pure as clouds and water, and rouse yourself with renewed vigor. Cultivate with ease and freedom, and you will attain wondrous realms.

Accumulate these deeds of cultivation until they are as deep as mountains and seas. To find true ease in quietude is indeed freedom.

A rosy cloud envelops the treasures arranged before me, transforming them into jade-like forms that then shine with renewed brilliance.

New Chrysanthemums

Seated beneath the moon, I feel my refinement deepen. Among the green leaves, the yellow blossoms stand out.

The Double Ninth Festival has arrived; the frost and dew are crisp and cold, just right for auspicious signs to appear.

Their fragrance surrounds me, as if answering my heart. Even if “Harmful Wind” blows—Wang Chongyang’s sobriquet—for now, do not reach out to pluck them and admire them.

They should travel together to Penglai, the legendary land of immortals, and receive the immortals’ blessings at a banquet of jade-like splendor.

Magnolia Flower Song

The cranes often gather together, pecking for food and looking about among patches of green moss.

They call beyond the distant blue sky, and beneath the bright moon they are repeatedly alert to the night dew.

At ease, they preen their feathers, keeping them clean; even as they stroll unhurriedly, they watch where they tread.

They call out joyfully, as if summoning companions to dance in the wind. Six cranes follow me as we journey together to Penglai, the isle of immortals.

The Beautiful Lady Yu

Fourth Brother should tend the furnace and stove properly, and not let body and mind grow restless.

Clear and luminous, the true nature is what each person originally possesses. Nurture and preserve Jing and Qi, and Shen will naturally become abundant.

Only by understanding how “mercury and lead”—terms in Daoist Neidan referring to Yin-Yang vital energies in the process of refinement and cultivation—are to be reversed and applied can one comprehend the nameless Great Dao.

Who is drinking tonight? Recognize this person, and let the clear breeze and bright moon accompany you day after day.

Again, Taking My Sister-in-Law as My Present Parents

A poem by King Haifeng: Follow the Great Dao, and you can roam freely and at ease.

Except when asleep, I have scarcely a distracting thought in my heart. The flowers laugh at me for not knowing how to seize the moment and enjoy worldly pleasures.

When the merit of cultivation is complete, one must still attain fulfillment without delay: ride the clear breeze and tread the clouds, with the bright moon as a companion day after day.

Again, Taking My Sister-in-Law as My Present Parents

A poem by King Haifeng: Follow the Great Dao, and you can roam freely and at ease.

Except when asleep, I have scarcely a distracting thought in my heart. The flowers laugh at me for not knowing how to seize the moment and enjoy worldly pleasures.

When the merit of cultivation is complete, one must still attain fulfillment without delay, riding the clouds back to Penglai, the isle of immortals.

They should travel together to the Jade Pool, the legendary abode of the Queen Mother of the West, and gather the Peaches of Immortality—the fruit-bearing boughs on which they once grew.

Immortal in the Moon (Osmanthus in the Moon)

It is the Mid-Autumn Festival, near the start of the first watch. The air is crisp, the wind has died, and the clouds have dispersed.

Dew falls from the sky, revealing ten thousand miles of clear heavens, as if a table of blue-green jade had been laid out.

Gazing toward the distant shore, one sees a golden-disk moon rising, radiant with brilliant light.

Not only are households everywhere illuminated; everyone is delighted, and rich and poor alike vie to watch.

Who can fathom the mystery within this clear radiance? Deep within the Silver Toad, the legendary toad in the moon, lies the secret of immortality.

The stars are few, and fewer people remain awake through the night. Magpies and crows fly off, leaving the moon for company.

The moon is full at the hour of the Rat, right at midnight.

Its light grows ever brighter and more radiant. Someone in front of the hermitage calls to me, as if urging me to soar into the clouds and fly to the heavens.

Golden Banana Leaf

Fame and profit bind and entangle us. How can we break free from them completely? And who is willing to gather good karmic ties with care?

To remain constantly within the “burning house”—a metaphor for worldly life that ensnares and causes suffering—is to endure ceaseless torment while continuing to create and become entangled in harmful karma. Rather than exhaust oneself scheming to outdo others, it is better to keep to one’s unassuming ways and accept one’s place. One should leave behind the restless, calculating mind as early as possible.

With even a little understanding of the secrets of the three teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—one can see that the principles of arising and passing away no longer bind one’s true nature.

“Willow Branch”

Once one has fully awakened to one’s original nature, who would wish to sever each and every wholesome connection?

To remain constantly within the “burning house” is to endure ceaseless torment while continuing to create and become entangled in harmful karma. Rather than exhaust oneself scheming to outdo others, it is better to keep to one’s unassuming ways and accept one’s place. One should leave behind the restless, calculating mind as early as possible.

With even a little understanding of the secrets of the three teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—one can see that the principles of arising and passing away no longer bind one’s true nature.

“Willow Branch”

To examine nature and life, one must observe oneself closely and look within with care. A blade falling on the neck causes intense pain; nothing is harder to endure.

If you do not believe it, try a gentle prick with a needle. Pain comes in many forms. If one truly resolves to endure it, even the thought of that pain will make the heart turn cold, and one will have no appetite even for fine food.

“Guagu She”

The song “Guagu She” speaks of eating amid the sound of drums. Once harvested, peas taste better than barley and wheat. Then the five colors—green, red, yellow, black, and white—are brought into correspondence, as are the arrangements of the five directions.

Peas can be steamed, fried, boiled, roasted, or eaten raw. Each has its own way of preparation, whether steamed, boiled, roasted, or raw.

The song “Guagu She” speaks of eating one’s fill of peas. Once the peas have been harvested, gather them together and store them in a cellar. The harvest need be neither too large nor too small.

Above, the sun, moon, and stars shine down of their own accord, like pieces on a chessboard. Why labor to “fire the cannon” as well? How many people understand what this means?

“Moon over the Western River”

To search within for good and evil, first let scattered thoughts grow still. Lessen the desire for wealth, restrain sexual desire, and nurture the Dantian (the Daoist cultivation center where essence and Qi are stored). When facing circumstances in the world, one must also know how to adapt and respond as needed.

Whether young or old, each has a natural share of good fortune; there is no need to strain the mind with worry. Open the heart, and like a white lotus in bloom, one will naturally behold the scene of the “Moon over the Western River.”

Wang Zhe (Wang Chongyang, patriarch of the Quanzhen Daoist school) devoted himself wholly to the Dao, resolved to leave home. He would cast off every attachment and entanglement, making his mind like loose sand, no longer clinging. Even if his wife and children cursed him, he would not be afraid.

He wished to keep company with the clear wind and bright moon. He would rather travel to the ends of the earth than change his resolve.

To move in and out, coming and going as if crossing the clouds and rosy mists—such freedom and ease is beyond price.

What can care for the body compare with nurturing one’s nature? What can training the physique compare with cultivating the heart?

From long ago until now, I have been busy without pause, laboring mind and body every day. What, in the end, have I been pursuing?

Better to seek out the deep and subtle principles, then carefully savor their mysterious meaning.

If you are to gain even a little insight into “metal within water”—a metaphor in Neidan cultivation for the refined substance formed within the body—you cannot go on rushing about in the wilds in vain as you did before.

“River Oar”

The secrets of cultivation have already been set out in their proper order.

Today the workings of quiet cultivation are clearly revealed, so that everyone may gather the “Jade Flower”—the image in Neidan cultivation of Jing, Qi, and Shen coalescing.

Begin at the beginning, laying things out steadily, step by step.

The secrets of cultivation have already been set out in their proper order.

Today the workings of quiet cultivation are clearly revealed, so that everyone may gather the Jade Flower.

Begin at the beginning, laying things out steadily, step by step. At the fifth watch, observe the transformations and their course.

This immortal image, shed of its mortal body, is rendered with such delicate clarity and distinct sound that even “Wind-Crazed Ones”—Quanzhen’s name for unruly, unconventional practitioners—can hardly explain it.

At the first watch, look closely: stars are scattered like pieces on a board, and all things are arrayed.

Seek out the star seated at the very center. Its inner position and form are unlike the ordinary. In the east, it too forms the Jade Flower.

The silvery-white Qi gradually grows warm, binding the turtle fast.

Then break all four of its legs at once. Even the Wind-Crazed Ones can hardly explain it.

At the second watch, look closely: the River of Heaven flows without cease.

Suddenly, vast waves appear, bright and clear, their radiance shimmering. In the west, it too forms the Jade Flower.

The Yellow Sprout pours forth, its color not black; white snow gathers at the tip of the fingernail.

A numinous child appears and waves a hand to pluck it himself. Even the Wind-Crazed Ones can hardly explain it.

At the third watch, look closely: the silver moon is full and whole.

It gives forth a circle of light, illuminating the whole sky with crystalline brilliance, especially bright. In the south, it too forms the Jade Flower.

A white deer comes quietly and carries off the newly born, bright substance.

It takes it to the summit of Mount Guifeng and, alone, holds it in its mouth, chewing it slowly. Even the Wind-Crazed Ones can hardly explain it.

At the fourth watch, look closely: the Northern Dipper shines, its radiance gathering.

A white deer comes quietly and carries off the newly born, bright substance.

It takes it to the summit of Mount Guifeng and, alone, holds it in its mouth, chewing it slowly. Even the Wind-Crazed Ones can hardly explain it.

At the fourth watch, a sudden glance: the stars of the Northern Dipper shine as brightly as flames.

Their light fills the clear, empty heavens. The numinous radiance appears in full, cold and brilliant. In the east, jade flowers coalesce.

Candlelight gathers above the Three Mountains, darting past like lightning. Its brilliance flashes like scattered fragments of precious jade.

As soon as this lucid, awakened state appears, it quietly reveals itself all at once in the middle of the night. Harm-Wind—Wang Chongyang’s joking name for himself—how can this be described?

At the fifth watch, a sudden glance: the Dipper’s leading stars appear whole and complete.

They follow the pattern of the heart of Heaven in its movement, and can serve as Heaven’s voice and tongue. In the center, jade flowers coalesce.

At last, this time, I have seized the realm of empty clarity, and can forever escape the transformations of life and death.

Only I know how to grasp this freedom and ease. Harm-Wind, how can this be described?

When the song is finished, I can speak of my life.

I live in a county of Jingzhao Prefecture, toward Mount Zhongnan, where solitary clouds and white snow may be found. Through my own contemplation, I have seen jade flowers coalesce.

I became a “living dead man”—a cultivator who has cut off worldly entanglements—and let myself appear a little eccentric. Though I have nowhere to lay my body, my heart is truly joyful.

My Daoist name is Master Chongyang; my courtesy name is Zhiming; my surname is Wang, and my personal name is Gu. Harm-Wind, how can this be described?

Nature and life ask each other: whom is life destined to marry? This young man with his hair bound up gallops back and forth, his skin bright and smooth.

Lead and mercury—symbolic terms in Daoist internal alchemy for the Yin and Yang vital energies that work together in the refining process—lie hidden within the body, bringing genuine joy.

My Daoist name is Master Chongyang; my courtesy name is Zhiming; my surname is Wang, and my personal name is Gu. Harm-Wind, how can this be described?

Nature and life ask each other: whom is life destined to marry? This young man with his hair bound up gallops back and forth, his skin bright and smooth.

Once lead and mercury are harmonized, the movement of Qi follows. The mind and spirit settle, as though urgent blows ring out in the heavens. Amid the sound of golden bells and jade chimes, Immortal Li awakens to understanding.

The Rustic Guo

The ox is black all over, as if doused in ink. Pull as you might, it will not turn back. By the river, in the open fields, it greedily eats grass and water plants, roaming wherever it pleases.

To tame this restless ox, you must swing the whip with force and pull it along. Whip it from head to tail, until at last it becomes white as frost and snow.

Drunk Beneath the River Moon (also called “Nian Nu Jiao”)

With an open heart, peacefully enjoying quiet leisure, one should dispel the harmful influences and dissolve the corpse.

Maintain stillness for a long time, relying on upright practice; seal the mouth of the precious vessel and guard it.

Explain and open up the meaning that works on two levels. Even if it cannot be set in motion, preserve the vital essence and keep it firm.

The Three Yangs meet, and the five spirits each shine clearly, gathering together.

Even if one undertakes cultivation in this way, often lying awake in a state between sleep and wakefulness, one can nourish one’s appearance and cultivate the noble Qi, gradually purifying and enriching both body and mind. Only when the mind becomes clear and transparent has one truly penetrated the Way. Then one will feel the True Spirit appear ever more strongly, and awakening will gradually unfold.

When nature and life coalesce into an Elixir, its perfect light shines brilliantly. At that time, one is sure to meet an enlightened master and receive deliverance. When red clouds swirl around, someone will come to greet and guide one home.

“Plum Blossom Tune”

In youth, my share of good fortune was meager. I was left alone and bereft early in life, worn down and with no one to confide in.

I often pondered, again and again: this matter is plain to see; Heaven knows it naturally.

When you see someone far away falling into hardship, hurry to help. Serving your elders and cherishing your family can also add blessings and good fortune to your own life.

Put filial devotion into practice, put filial devotion into practice. Such conduct moves the spirits, and abundant blessings will follow.

In life, one should know one’s blessings: to be born in China, with food, clothing, and good fortune, is also determined unseen.

What is not in your destiny need not be lamented. If Heaven makes someone poor, it is difficult for them to become wealthy and live at ease.

Consider how people are like dew on blades of grass: at best, they may last through the morning, but not necessarily through the evening.

Do not insist on grasping for more; do not insist on grasping for more. Even what is obtained by force may be lost in the blink of an eye.

Live according to circumstance, content and at ease. Coveting what one should not have only makes a person fearful and greedy; it is all misguided.

The eminent are not necessarily one’s intimates, and the wealthy are not necessarily one’s neighbors. Take pity on orphans and care for the elderly; let every choice and action accord with the principle of Heaven.

When you hold power, do not use your position to oppress the weak. Be mindful, too, that fortune can turn, and people’s circumstances can change with it.

Lessen bullying and neglect; lessen arrogance. Whatever their status, treat people equally.

“Su Mozhe: Lotus-Leaf Cup”

When you recognize the true meaning within, do not lightly send it away or abandon it. In that deep, emerald grotto, the agate-like radiance is rare and bright.

Dragons coil and tigers circle; jade blossoms hang down. Across the waters of the Western River, crows can be seen flying back and forth.

Simply watch in stillness.

“Su Mozhe: Lotus-Leaf Cup”

When you recognize the true meaning within, do not lightly send it away or abandon it. In that deep, emerald grotto, the agate-like radiance is rare and bright.

Dragons coil and tigers circle; jade blossoms hang down. Across the waters of the Western River, crows can be seen flying back and forth.

When the Celestial Youths (attendant boys in the realm of the immortals) come to take over their posts, then you may depart, wearing the emerald-plumed crown.

Those who wear splendid brocade garments possess only outward beauty in vain. Only now do they realize that something true has always accompanied them.

“Chou Nu’er”: A Daoist Companion Asks About Transformation

It is striking that all things exist amid the changes of Yin-Yang, and that the power of Creation—the force through which Heaven and Earth bring forth all things—also depends on the work of cultivation to come to fruition. Do not speak of whether it lies in the east or the west; the key lies only in the vital essence of the Three Lights: the sun, moon, and stars.

If you can understand this, you can quickly settle body and mind, drift freely like tumbleweed, escape the bonds of the mundane, and let your true spirit enter the blue heavens.

Another: Kunqi Mountain

The sun rises brilliantly over Fusang, the legendary tree from which the sun ascends, and Peng Island, the fabled island of immortals, lies nearby. To draw near to it, one must be quiet and unhurried, bringing body and mind into unity.

Only by being free and unencumbered, with a mind untroubled by attachments, can you reach that place and look down upon the lost crossing. Once cultivation is complete, a treasure like a solitary peak appears atop the head.

“Lang Tao Sha”

Let there be less disturbance in all you do, and meet all things with a mind free of attachment. Guard Jing and Qi, and nourish primordial Qi, so that your foundations may grow deep.

At all times, show consideration for others, and firmly rein in the monkey mind and galloping thoughts.

A jade tree seems to appear first; blossoms open with a golden radiance. A delicate fragrance rises in curling wisps, reaching high above.

Countless rays of silvery glow gather and encircle you; afterward, good tidings will come.

Another: A Lotus Blossoms Within Fire

Yang Qi, the inner warmth cultivated within, reaches up to the vast heavens, bright and unceasing. So too does the fierce flame within the Earth Gate, the lower portal of the body in the language of cultivation.

From within water, the numinous, luminous nature emerges, like a red lotus.

Recognize the clear spring early, and form the bond of cultivation. A turtle exhales numinous smoke that rises straight to the heavens, bright and unceasing; so too does the fierce flame within the Earth Gate.

From within water, the numinous, luminous nature emerges, like a red lotus.

Recognize the clear spring early, and form the bond of cultivation. A turtle exhales numinous smoke.

It nourishes the Dantian, the cultivation center below the navel, filling it with rich fragrance and renewing its vitality.

Another: Earning a Living by Drafting Petitions and Giving Oral Statements

If you earn your living by drafting petitions and giving statements on others’ behalf, do not make your writing tangled and confusing.

Speak from the facts; do not lie or exaggerate. In this way, you can increase your own good fortune and prosperity, support yourself, and bring honor to your family.

Matters may seem as confused as waves of sand, but if you encourage people to think carefully, their grief and regret may lessen. If you keep the dispute from reaching the courtroom, both sides can reconcile and be content, and you too can go freely, as if riding on clouds.

“Jin Tang Chun”

Consider the question of cultivation: if you have only just crossed the threshold, where should you begin?

First, let yourself feel at ease and settle into a calm, open state. Then gradually seek the proper and upright way to practice, until scattered thoughts fade and desires quiet down.

Cultivation calls for a calm, joyful state of mind and an open heart. By further understanding this joy and freedom, one can move through the clouds with effortless ease.

“Spring in the Brocade Hall”

If you ask about cultivation, having only just reached the threshold, where should you begin?

First, let your mind become relaxed, joyful, and settled. Then, gradually seek a suitable and upright method of practice, so that distracting thoughts fade and desires grow mild.

Keep a joyful and open heart, and learn to be at ease and free. In stillness, bring body and mind to rest.

Look carefully back over your past experiences. Strive to investigate the mysterious principles, and often write down your discoveries by hand.

Suddenly, you may come to an insight and feel joy in your heart, as though you have emerged from a sea of suffering and a path of delusion.

Only then do you truly see the clear and lucid self: your original mind, present from the beginning.

Thus you return to your original state, reflecting on yourself and observing your inner heart, until you alone realize a state of perfect clarity and wholeness.

“Song of the Earthenware Basin”

You strike the earthenware basin, and its sound rings out sharply and loudly. It foretells neither good fortune nor disaster.

Who can explain its principle? The basin has a rim and an opening through which it makes a sound; inside, its emptiness allows it to hold things. Consider it carefully: people differ in rank and worth, wisdom and foolishness, yet each can let go of an attachment.

One who understands this principle no longer competes with others over who is stronger or who is right, nor clings to the distinction between “self” and “others.” They cast off afflictions, quiet the anger within, and live each day in accord with circumstances.

Whether walking, sitting, or lying down, they remain free and at ease. When cultivation is complete, they can depart borne upon the clouds. Only at the moment of rising with the body does one understand that cultivation is not achieved by smashing external things.

“Celebrating the Sacred Court”

In midwinter, the numinous child arrives, symbolizing the subtle life force appearing through cultivation, and announces that Yang Qi is beginning to stir.

The Yellow Sprouts, a term in Neidan for the first emergence of primordial Qi, sprout together. They are nourished and watered with jade nectar, a symbol of the essence gained through cultivation, and grow lush in layer upon layer.

The Jia position in the east shines with the radiance of jade, while the Geng position in the west glitters with golden light. The two intermingle, their star-like numinous Qi reflecting one another.

A radiant auspicious light, bright as a pearl, appears and rises in billowing waves beyond the clouds.

“Enjoying the Night,” Acrostic

Jade nectar nourishes and waters; flourishing abundance spreads layer upon layer.

The Jia position shines with the radiance of jade, while the Geng position glitters with golden light. The two intermingle, their star-like numinous Qi reflecting one another.

A radiant auspicious light, bright as a pearl, appears and rises in billowing waves beyond the clouds.

Distinguish the “□ golden appearance” clearly; do not confuse it. What, exactly, should one do during the years marked □?

Before □, what is meant by saying the mind is clear and alert? When the □ hour arrives, settle body and mind anew and begin cultivation.

As the moonlight, likened to a toad’s glow, and the sunlight move through their cycles, investigate the roots carefully in daily life.

Cultivation has subtle and wondrous effects: it can make the breath clear and strong, and the spirit invigorated.

Seek support below; above the □ text, there is no elixir.

Heaven knows destiny, and this lies only at the highest point; in conversation, there are other insights as well.

If you are determined to seek a cool, refreshing realm, go to the south of □ Zhaofu city and climb the tower.

May each find a circumstance suited to them, rejoicing by day and at ease by night.

End of volume thirteen of The Complete Collection of Quanzhen by Chongyang. The original note points out that the related tune titles are misattributed or missing; one poem is tentatively identified as “Guagu She,” and the note explains that it uses an acrostic form.