《元始天尊說太古經註》

The Scripture of the Great Antiquity (Taigu Jing) primarily expounds on the cosmic origin and the teachings of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun). The opening passage states: The supreme Dao cannot be described in words; true emptiness cannot be perceived with physical eyes. It cannot be comprehended through thought, nor seen through observation. One cannot grasp it, nor fully attain it through practice. It shapes heaven and earth, governs nature, appearing silent yet permeating the entire cosmos, enabling all beings to flourish and return to their original essence. Such sublime truth can only be realized by sages.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), the highest deity in Daoism, witnessed sentient beings losing their innate nature, trapped in the cycle of rebirth and suffering. Thus, he descended teachings like nourishing rain, expounding profound mysteries to guide beings out of the sea of suffering—birth and death—toward a state of purity and carefree liberation. This state transcends worldly afflictions, returning to the pure, original condition, merging with the undifferentiated cosmic origin.

The commentary by Master Changquan of Mount Gui explains:

• "Primordial" (Yuan) refers to the pre-celestial Qi before the division of heaven and earth; "Beginning" (Shi) signifies the initial state of all things. Yuanshi Tianzun embodies the cosmic source that encompasses and nurtures all existence.
• "Celestial Worthy" (Tianzun) is an honorific title for the supreme deity who governs the Three Realms (heaven, earth, and humanity).
• "Great Antiquity" (Taigu) denotes the formless, unchanging state of existence—older than heaven and earth yet never aging, filling the void yet never perishing, transcending birth and death to abide in absolute stillness.

Through this scripture, Yuanshi Tianzun widely opens the gate of salvation, using refined language to elucidate the truth and liberate beings from suffering. The term "scripture" (Jing) does not refer to ordinary words but to the path toward truth, a ladder to immortality, guiding people to the realm of carefree liberation. Practitioners throughout history have followed this path, just as ordinary beings trapped in suffering inherently possess the potential for transcendence.

This scripture elucidates the essential principles of attaining Daoist cultivation. In modern terms, it can be understood as follows:

Those predestined to encounter this classic may, through its comprehension, transcend the fetters of karmic obstacles, liberate themselves from afflictions, and attain carefree spiritual freedom. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun) teaches: The wisdom of sages operates with the same reliability as the turning seasons. Their words function like pivotal mechanisms - once set in motion, they strike directly at the core truth. These teachings resemble both healing nectar and illuminating lamps, capable of curing sentient beings' suffering while dispelling ignorance's darkness. These sacred words surpass the value of gold and jade, awakening ordinary people like spring breezes, enabling sudden enlightenment of one's original mind and return to the fundamental source. They help resolve karmic entanglements and transcend the cycle of life and death.

Key cultivation insights:

1. "Movement within movement lies in non-movement": While appearing active externally, maintain inner stillness. This principle advocates returning to the root and preserving fundamental essence. Just as turbid water originates from clarity, the foundation of all activity and stillness resides in tranquil stability.

2. "Action within action rests upon non-action (Wuwei)": Though seemingly engaged in doing, one actually follows nature's flow. The spirit-mind (Shen) is inherently pure - through resonance it achieves penetration, adapting to circumstances without losing its intrinsic nature. Eliminate forced effort, follow the Dao's natural patterns, and one spontaneously embraces all wonders.

3. Essential points regarding Qi (vital energy):

• When breath stabilizes, all things flourish (like an infant's soft breathing, brimming with genuine Qi)
• When breath ceases, all things perish (with Qi's extinction comes Shen's dispersal, as the physical body returns to dust)

4. Fundamental cultivation methods:

• Use emptiness and stillness to nurture emptiness and stillness
• Forget the body to nourish Qi, forget Qi to nourish Shen, forget Shen to nourish emptiness
• An uncluttered mind spontaneously generates wisdom; tranquil spirit-energy stabilizes the spiritual root
• Silent realization requires no external seeking - maintain luminous spirituality and transcend worldly attachments

These principles demand quiet contemplation, achieved through internal refinement rather than external pursuits.

The Scripture of Primordial Beginnings Spoken by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Commencement reveals essential methods for returning to one's original nature through Daoist cultivation. Here is a modern interpretation:

All methods in the world can help people preserve their innate nature and return to the source. This state originates from the "boundless" (the ultimate state transcending time and space), which is the profound mystery of "non-being." It is the teaching beyond words, the benefit of Wuwei (non-action), perfectly harmonious and unobstructed, capable of infinitely responding to all things, pervading the ten directions of the universe, eternally operating without cease.

The so-called "neither dying nor being born" is like the Mysterious Pearl (symbolizing the embodiment of the Dao), forever radiant and luminous, unchanging through past and present. All things are unified as one, and all laws are equal without distinction. Neither static nor tainted, without beginning or end, this is why it is called neither dying nor being born.

The secret of merging with Heaven and Earth lies in this: the Way of Heaven endures through clarity and emptiness, while the Way of Earth abides through stillness and tranquility. If humans can fully comprehend the Dao, penetrate its profound mysteries, and reach a state of utmost emptiness and stillness—maintaining deep serenity, detached and free from action, unburdened by worldly things—then through purity and Wuwei (non-action), they can become one with Heaven and Earth.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Commencement points out that all people inherently possess the nature of the Celestial Worthy (their primordial Dao-nature). However, due to shallow karmic roots, beings are obscured by afflictions, entangled in desires, and find it difficult to awaken to their true nature. Even when encountering enlightened teachers, they often miss the opportunity due to disbelief or lack of understanding.

The essential methods for cultivation are:

First, forget visual attachments, and the inner spiritual light will illuminate boundlessly. The five colors blind the eyes, but the true Dharma-eye (the eye of wisdom) can penetrate all ten directions, seeing through the essence of all things. In the midst of darkness, it alone perceives radiance, filling the infinite cosmos with spiritual light.

Second, relinquish auditory discriminations, and the mind will remain as clear as an abyss. The five tones deafen the ears, but the mind is originally a pure, deep pool—words of right and wrong are all illusory. If one can transcend such distinctions, they will hear the celestial music in silence and comprehend the wondrous tones of immortality.

Third, when all sensory functions are forgotten, one reaches the state of "Supreme Mystery" (the ultimate profundity): both sound and form are forgotten, movement and stillness dissolve. One neither listens with breath nor sees with Shen (spirit). This is the most profound emptiness and luminous clarity—seemingly void yet capable of generating all things, seemingly mysterious yet containing the finest essence. Action through non-action, knowing through unknowing, the spiritual light pervades vast emptiness, and the mystery has no bounds.

Ultimately, one attains a state of primal chaos, becoming completely aligned with the Great Dao. This state resembles the original condition at the birth of all things, perfectly corresponding to the fundamental laws of the universe.

This passage describes the highest realm and core philosophy of Daoist cultivation:

When all things and the self are forgotten, when neither existence nor emptiness is clung to, one enters a state of profound chaos, boundless and limitless. This supreme Dao (the cosmic origin) is neither external nor internal—it nurtures all beings yet has no fixed form, perfectly unified without boundaries. The Dao is profoundly mysterious, encompassing all things. In its hidden state, it is the primordial essence (original Jing); when activated, it gives birth to all phenomena; when condensed, it is the Supreme Unity (Taiji); when expressed, it becomes the Great Purity (highest celestial realm). Without form or name, it is the most revered existence—ordinary people lose themselves in it, while sages awaken to its truth.

Though heaven and earth are vast, the Dao is infinite. Ancient and modern sages and realized beings (Zhenren) master the Yin-Yang forces of creation, shape all things, and benefit all living beings. The cosmos rests in their hands; the transformations of all phenomena originate from their very being.

The Celestial Worthy (Tianshi, highest Daoist deity) declares: The Dao is subtle and beyond comprehension—words cannot fully express it. Preserve the inner true fire (primordial Yang Qi), and the body will endure. When genuine Qi circulates, one becomes impervious to heat and cold. When pure Yang energy flows, one transcends life and death. With a luminous heart-mind, the Dharma body (achieved through cultivation) attains eternal existence.

Stabilize the true water (primordial Yin Jing), and the body will abide forever. When heaven and earth harmonize, they bestow sweet dew to nourish all things. If humans maintain serenity and balance, they can solidify their vital essence, receive the nourishment of true water, and return to youthful vigor.

When water and fire intermingle (Yin-Yang balance), the ethereal and corporeal souls (Hun and Po) stabilize. When lead and mercury (alchemical terms for Yin and Yang Qi) coalesce, the great medicine (Neidan) is refined, forming the Golden Elixir (Jindan)—radiant and flawless, illuminating all, returning to natural authenticity. This is the state of transcending life and death, the true mark of a realized being.

Heaven endures by maintaining the purity of Dao-nature, thus embracing all things. Though cosmic cycles pass, it remains clear and luminous, reflecting all phenomena without bias. Without words, it mysteriously resonates with the essence of all existence.

The Yuanshi Tianzun Speaks the Supreme Ancient Scripture Commentary elucidates the path to longevity through returning to one's original authenticity. The core teachings can be understood through several dimensions:

On the Nature of "Authenticity":

The enduring nature of heaven and earth lies in maintaining their authentic state—just as the earth, by preserving its authenticity, nourishes all beings and allows plants to root deeply. When humans maintain this authenticity, they transcend physical death to attain eternity. This "authenticity" represents unity with the great Dao (the Way), a state where one becomes like the sages, eternally venerated by future generations.

Why Modern People Die Prematurely:

The scripture sharply observes that people indulge in sensory pleasures (the five flavors, five odors, sights, and sounds), becoming enslaved by external things while their inner selves are agitated by desires. Like fish caught in a net, they toil ceaselessly without knowing their true destination. It particularly criticizes those chasing extravagant lifestyles (fine clothes and sumptuous food) and those whose minds are polluted by distorted views, calling them "upside-down people."

The Core Methods of Cultivation:

The inner self is originally pure and luminous but becomes tainted by various desires. The true path to longevity lies in maintaining the purity of one's heart-mind (free from external pollution) and distancing oneself from delusional thoughts. Specific methods include "not looking and not listening"—refraining from deliberately engaging the senses with the external world, avoiding clever displays, and ultimately attaining the state of "sitting in forgetfulness" (forgetting both self and things), thereby merging with the profound Dao.

The Portrait of an Ideal Practitioner:

They do not pursue ornate appearances, covet wealth, or admire status, instead maintaining simplicity in all interactions. When others chase fame and profit, the cultivator remains detached; when others scheme shrewdly, the practitioner prefers to appear dull. This lifestyle—renouncing worldly gains and avoiding calamities—is what aligns with the Dao of heaven.

This scripture particularly emphasizes that true longevity is not physical immortality but rather spiritual eternity achieved through returning to authenticity. It critiques the materialistic tendencies of contemporary society and advocates transcending the cycle of life and death through inner cultivation.

The Commentary on the Supreme Primordial Celestial Worthy's Scripture of Primordial Antiquity elucidates the realms and methods of Daoist cultivation:

A true cultivator must transcend worldly concerns, neither pursuing fame nor status, nor being entangled by domestic trivialities. One should roam freely like a wild crane or solitary cloud, with a mind unburdened by attachments—this constitutes genuine practice.

The essence of cultivation lies in accumulating Jing (essence) and preserving Shen (spirit). While virtuous individuals aspire to noble ideals, sages prioritize refining their vital essences. Internally, one must nurture harmonious Qi (vital energy) to sustain spiritual vitality; externally, one should study the wondrous methods of sages to cultivate wisdom. Only by achieving complete internal-external integration and awakening one's true nature—reaching the state where both mind and environment are forgotten—can one transcend all afflictions.

"Serene non-action (Wuwei)" does not imply passivity, but alignment with natural spontaneity. Maintaining a detached and tranquil mind accords with the Dao. In this state, neither emotions nor pathogenic influences can disturb one's spirit, allowing its wholeness to manifest. All sages and worthies followed this principle, attaining sagehood through the gateway of non-action.

The Dao is profoundly real yet formless. It precedes heaven and earth yet knows neither birth nor death; it permeates past and present yet remains without image. It cannot be grasped through intellectual understanding—only through the states of "forgetting both mind and realm" and "not a single thought arising" can it be realized. By relinquishing attachments and awakening to one's original mind, one attains the Dao.

The text concludes with a gatha summarizing these insights: The Celestial Worthy reveals profound mysteries, compassionately guiding sentient beings. See through worldly illusions like dreams; comprehend the wondrous truth. Harmonize the body's Yin-Yang (where "water and fire" symbolize these complementary energies, and "furnace" denotes the Dantian) to coalesce Jing, Qi, and Shen ("rosy clouds" signify the Golden Elixir; "Kan and Li" represent their harmonious interaction). Through emptiness and stillness, access the sagely path; through purity, bear spiritual fruit. Thus one avoids calamities, transcends the three realms, and eternally realizes the realm of non-action.

(Note: Terms like "Kan-Li" and "furnace" belong to Neidan (internal alchemy) terminology, representing Yin-Yang and the Dantian respectively; "Xiyi" (希夷), describing the Dao's mysterious state, originates from the Daode Jing.)