《雲笈七籤》Vol. 30

Receiving Life and Destiny: The Method by Which the Emperor One Blends and the Three and Five Take Form

Human beings receive life from Heaven. The soul takes shape from the primordial numinous spirit—the original spiritual nature—and undergoes the transformations of the Nine Qi, the nine primordial energies. The Great One (Taiyi), the Daoist god of the source, opens the two paths of Yin and Yang. Spirit gathers within the hidden palace, the body’s deep inner seat of spirit. Thus, the mysterious fluid circulates through seven places, and bodily fluids nourish the body. The sun and moon illuminate the Six Directions, above, below, and the four quarters, while the mouth and eyes set spirit and Qi in motion. Clouds move and rain falls; a person’s De resembles that of Heaven and Earth. Within the womb, five factors work together, and the human being takes shape. This is so because the Five Spirits and the Three Real Ones act together: the Five Spirits are the soul endowed by Heaven, while the Three Real Ones are the Dao’s primordial Qi. The Nine Heavens are the womb; the Great One is the source. The sun and moon represent the Way of Heaven, the mysterious fluid its nourishment, the Six Directions its light, the hidden palace its storehouse, and spirit and Qi its transformations.

The “Nine Heavens” spoken of here result from the Emperor Lord’s blending and transformation. Through transformation, the Nine Palaces come into being. Though distinct, the Nine Palaces ultimately blend into one. If you wish to cultivate yourself and prepare for a future life, you should trace life back to its source. The source of life is the Primordial Father and the Mysterious Mother. The Primordial Father governs the transformation of Qi and the ordering of its patterns; he is the Emperor before all others. The Mysterious Mother governs the transformations of Jing and Qi and brings the womb to completion. Jing and Qi work together like Yin and Yang giving rise to one another, like clouds moving and rain falling.

In this way, practitioners of the Dao unite with the Dao. Though beyond names and numbers, cultivation begins with the numbers three and five. The body is first received, then completed through the numbers seven and nine, until it takes shape. When three, five, seven, and nine harmonize, they form the image of the Dongzhen Emperor, the Emperor Lord of the Dongzhen realm. Before this can happen, one must first accumulate the merit of the Celestial Emperor. Only after nine transformations can one become a spirit. Once the work is complete, the human body takes shape, and body and spirit unite: when the spirit departs, the person dies; when the spirit remains within the body, the person lives.

Thus, the Three Origins are the beginning of the Dao, the Emperor Lord is its foundation, the Great One its transformation, the Nine Heavens its spirit, the Nine Palaces its dwelling, and the mysterious fluid its vital moisture. Through these, practitioners can contemplate the Three Fields, the upper, middle, and lower Dantian, and summon the immortals. At dawn, they attune themselves to the Six Directions; at night, they guard the Niwan, the seat of spirit in the head. They carefully protect the Jing and Qi within the womb and keep joy in their hearts.

Those who study the Dao must take these as the conditions for cultivation. Only after reading this scripture may one discuss with them the methods of contemplating the Great One, blending oneself with the Emperor before all others, upholding Yin and Yang, nurturing spirit, and infusing oneself with clear, harmonious Qi. One should continually gather the primordial Qi of the Nine Heavens, so that the nine components can unite as one. The scripture next explains the essential methods.

In this way, the unified Qi within the body can endure, and bodily fluids and blood Qi will naturally become abundant. The yang “male” spirit guards the Gate of Life, while the yin “female” spirit protects the Chamber of the Spirit. The spirit Taiyi never leaves the body and lives as long as Heaven. Thus, the Taishang Yinfu says: “Nurture and preserve the male spirit; guard and protect the female spirit. Even Heaven and Earth cannot bring a person to ruin.”

Once Taiyi has been nurtured and preserved, the Five Spirits guard the body, and the Five Organs produce their essences. The spirits dwell in the Crimson Palace, the chamber where the heart resides; the Lord Emperor guards the Muddy Pellet, the divine abode in the head; and the hundred spirits become steadfast and settled. Embryonic breathing fills the Gate of Life. After a long time, the Three Ones may appear at night, and the Lord Emperor Taiyi may descend at dawn. Both may appear where you sleep.

Practitioners should keep themselves clean, observe fasting, cut off worldly distractions, block the paths of delusion and wrongdoing, limit their dealings with others, and receive few visitors. They should concentrate on guarding the One, follow the Dao morning and evening, and persevere without slackening. They should bathe with five kinds of incense and burn incense in a quiet, private room to welcome the True Qi. In cultivating the Way of Taiyi, blood, foul odors, and impure influences are especially taboo.

If you weep, the Lord Emperor Taiyi is disturbed by grief; if you cry out loudly, the Qi of Taiyi congeals. Then the Nine Qi stagnate, and the Three Ones, overcome by sorrow, can no longer hold fast and guard the body. The Nine Qi cease to circulate, and the Three Ones become stuck. Over time, vital energy dissipates and old Qi enters the body. This is regarded as a sign that illness is approaching and death is near. Thus, the perfected call the sound of weeping “the sound that cuts off life,” and tears and mucus “the fluids that leak away essence and Qi.” How could practitioners fail to take care to avoid them?

If you see a corpse or mourn and weep for several days in succession, the Lord Emperor incurs guilt and is demoted by the Most High; Taiyi, too, is punished in the realm of Dark Emptiness. The text says that within three years the practitioner will die. Those who do not practice the Way of Taiyi are naturally not bound by these rules; these taboos apply to Taiyi practitioners.

Therefore, those who cultivate the Way of Taiyi must especially avoid corpses, mourning, impurity, and grief expressed through tears. Once they have received the text and transmission of the teaching, they must not see corpses. If they have seen forty-nine corpses, they cannot attain long life and will surely die before their time. If they have seen twenty-four, they must first pass through the Great Yin—the underworld or realm of shadows—before they can ascend to immortality. The text holds that once the eyes have seen a corpse, the corpse’s foul influence clings to the mind; the image retained by the Crimson Palace remains there even when one deliberately tries to avoid it. Practitioners should therefore temporarily keep their bodies and their gaze away from corpses, blocking these memories and thoughts. They must be especially cautious: seeing bloodied corpses, funeral impurity, or weeping and shedding tears is all regarded as a grave obstacle to cultivating Taiyi.

If you maintain the fast regularly, it will be easier to enter a state of visualization. When your heart and mind are sincere, perform the ritual and visualize the Supreme One, the Lord Who Stabilizes Life, the deity who governs life. Practice this method joyfully and peacefully for eighteen years, and you will ascend to heaven by day, rising at dawn. This is the Way of the perfected beings, by which the body returns to youth and recovers the state of an infant.

Visualize the Three Ones and guard the Supreme One, allowing Jing and Qi to flow into the Grotto Chamber, the dwelling place of the gods within the body, and meet with the Emperor Lord. In this way, the Nine Spirits can take form within you. They assist your inner gods, make you a true immortal, protect your longevity, and stabilize the embryo soul, the soul that sustains the roots of life. The gods Baiyuan, Wuying, Taojun, Siming, and the Supreme One, together with the Five Gods, hold the registers of names and arrange the Fulu. Each of the Five Gods has its own charge. When the gods unite, they undergo nine transformations, and the gods of the Three and Five transform and circulate through the Grotto Chamber. Then the true gods who guard the Three Palaces, the chambers within the body where the gods are cultivated, bring spiritual energy to every part of the body. The Emperor Lord’s precious register stabilizes a person’s allotted span of life so that it does not falter.

The gods travel to and fro amid the mists of emptiness, enabling the Mysterious Jing, the Jing concealed deep within the body, to flow freely. The twenty-four perfected gods suddenly take form: above, they open the Upper Origin; below, they open the Eight Dark Realms. On the left, they pay audience to the Six Jia gods; on the right, they command the Six Ding gods. Yuhua guides the essence of the sun, and the Supreme One unites with the practitioner’s body. A thousand chariots and ten thousand horsemen arrive to escort them, and the whole body ascends at dawn, rising to heaven in broad daylight. All perfected beings who cultivate the Way of the Supreme One receive the summons and elevation of the Three Heavens. Thus it is said: “The whole body ascends at dawn and rises to heaven in broad daylight.”

“Ascending at dawn” means rising into the realm of emptiness at the hour of the cock’s crow, then proceeding beyond the Three Heavens. “In broad daylight” means at high noon. Since one ascends to heaven as the cock begins to crow, the practices of visualizing the Supreme One and uniting the gods are often performed at cockcrow, when vital energy is abundant.

In each of the Nine Heavens and Nine Palaces is a god; together they are called the Nine Gods. The nine souls of the Celestial Emperor transform into the Nine Qi, which then become the Nine Gods. Each guards one palace, hence the name “Nine Palaces.” Within the Great Clarity are the Great Simplicity and Great Harmony; within the Grotto Chamber are the Hall of Light and the Crimson Palace. These places together are called the Six Storehouses. Above them is the Celestial Storehouse, and below them the Grotto Terrace. The term “Three and Five” has several interpretations, each referring to different locations. One interpretation identifies them as the Three and Five Emperor Lords within the Great Clarity. Another identifies them as the Three Ones, the gods of the Dantian, together with five gods who oversee the registers and documents. The Five Gods are Prince Taiyi, Baiyuan, Siming, Lord Taokang, and others. Together they are called the Three and Five, and each has its own palace.

When the three perfected gods are settled in their respective palaces, the Five Gods ascend to pay audience to the Emperor Lord. To his left is the Elder Father-in-Law of Origin; to his right is the Old Lord of Mysterious Unity. They belong to the Nine Lords spoken of in the Limitless. The highest of them is the True One. The Nine Lords are transformations of the heavenly soul and naturally become perfected immortals. Those who know how to preserve Jing and visualize the Nine Lords, and who focus their thoughts on the Three Perfected Ones, can cause the gods of the Three and Five to pervade the whole body.

Set the numbers seven and nine in motion repeatedly within it, so that the spirits of the Heavenly Emperor may continually govern and guard it. The practitioner’s own Five Spirits follow their registers, circulating over and over; in the end, they will surely ascend to Heaven in broad daylight. Is this merely a matter of attaining immortality?

The Jing of the High Supreme Divine Empyrean says: The hun-soul arises from nothingness, is distributed among the nine palaces, moves through the eight directions, and often wanders and dwells in the Crimson Palace. When the three palaces unite and transform, they become the Purple Chamber. The place where the Purple Chamber lies must first be reached through the Hall of Light. If practitioners understand this, they should open the Golden Gate, which is also within the Cavernous Chamber.

The scripture also says: Blend these transformations and let them move in and out through the Emperor’s region; when three and five unite as one, you will surely become an immortal king. This describes how the Three Perfected and Five Spirits move when the caverns unite. The Emperor’s region is the realm of Great Clarity.

Thus the middle section of the Great Cavern Perfected Scripture says: The Two Elders dwell on the left and right. The Emperor’s hun-soul must divide and transform into the numbers three and nine, changing above and below. The Great One stands at the center as the foundation. The Five Spirits uphold my register of life, while the Spirit in Charge of Destiny seals the gate of death. When the nine palaces unite as one and the six directions are gathered within, they form the inner realm of truth.

These words mean that one must discern the positions of the various palaces, then blend their transformations together. This method is a precious practice of the Most High and the foundation of long life. It establishes the Emperor’s origin within the human being: the beginning of the Dao, the treasury of life, and the lineage of immortals. It is also a secret chapter of the Emperor’s register, a wondrous method of the Cavern of Truth, and an important scripture concerning the nine palaces.

The Central Scripture of the Nine Perfected: Heavenly Flying Writings

The Most High says: Human beings are formed through the coagulation of essence and Qi. At conception, blood and Qi gather, and the bones take shape; fluids are breathed in and out and spread throughout the body. The human form suddenly takes shape, forming indistinctly; it gradually develops and then is born. At this time, the nine spirits enter the five organs and mysteriously come into being within the body. Parents know only that a child has been born and begun to grow, but do not know that spirits have already entered the child’s body.

Within the human body dwell exalted spirits. They have no fixed abode but move from place to place, nourishing the whole body and infusing it with primordial fluids. These spirits come from outside and congeal within, thereby forming a complete human being. They are distinct from the three hun-souls and seven po-souls, which arise by receiving numinous Qi and inheriting the Qi of one’s parents.

There are nine exalted spirits, each with its own palace and name; together they are called the Nine Perfected Lords. They divide and manifest throughout the body, above and below, in myriad transformations. If you can cultivate this method, you will be able to pass through water and enter fire, and the five organs will grow naturally. Through prolonged purification and secluded cultivation, preserve your own true nature.

This scripture is also called the Central Scripture of the Nine Perfected, Heavenly Flying Writings, Foreign Teachings on the Grades, and Numinous Chapters of the Divine Land. Though it has four names, they all refer to the same book.

The first method of true practice: In the morning, the Great Spirit—the spirit residing within the body—dwells in the heart and is called the Lord of Heavenly Essence. In the morning, bring your hands together and rest them on your knees. Hold your breath, close your eyes, and turn your attention inward, visualizing the Lord of Heavenly Essence seated upright in your heart. Picture the Great Spirit exhaling purple Qi from the mouth, encircling the heart in nine layers. When finished, click your teeth nine times and swallow your saliva nine times, then pray:

“Great Lord of Heavenly Essence, please descend into my heart. You wear red robes and a red headcloth, carry a divine text at your left side and tiger markings at your right, and exhale purple radiance that nourishes the heart spirit and gathers the hun and po souls. The heart’s red Qi arises naturally, enabling me to become a flying immortal.”

The second method of true practice: At the hour of Chen, the Great Spirit is distributed throughout the body’s bones and is called the Lord of Firm Jade. At the hour of Chen, bring your hands together and rest them on your knees. Hold your breath, close your eyes, and turn your attention inward, visualizing the Lord of Firm Jade entering all the bones of your body. Picture the Great Spirit exhaling white Qi from the mouth, encircling the bones in nine layers. When finished, click your teeth nine times and swallow your saliva nine times, then pray:

“Great Lord of Firm Jade, please descend into my bones. You wear white robes and a white headcloth, carry a dragon text at your left side and a Golden Perfected One at your right, and exhale white Qi that strengthens the bones and gathers Jing and Qi. The bones will not decay, nor will the sinews and vessels weaken. Radiance will arise in all the joints, enabling me to become a flying immortal.”

The third method of true practice: At the hour of Si, the Great Spirit disperses and flows into the blood and Jing throughout the body. It is called the Lord of Primordial Life. At the hour of Si, bring your hands together and rest them on your knees. Hold your breath, close your eyes, and turn your attention inward, visualizing the Lord of Primordial Life traveling through all the body’s blood vessels and seminal fluids. Picture the Great Spirit exhaling yellow Qi, encircling the channels and openings in nine layers. When finished, click your teeth nine times and swallow your saliva nine times, then pray:

“Great Lord of Primordial Life, please flow through and fill my blood and body. You wear yellow robes and a purple headcloth, carry a tiger talisman at your left side and a dragon text at your right, and exhale yellow fluid that makes the blood and Qi full, the Jing abundant, and the bodily fluids plentiful. May the Nine Spirits all dwell securely in their proper places, enabling me to become a flying immortal and unite with Heaven and Earth.”

The fourth method of true practice: At noon, the Great Spirit dwells in the liver and is called the Lord of Azure Clarity. At noon, place your hands on your knees. Hold your breath, close your eyes, and turn your attention inward, visualizing the Great Lord of Azure Clarity entering the liver. Picture the Great Spirit exhaling azure Qi, encircling the liver in nine layers. When finished, click your teeth nine times and swallow your saliva nine times, then pray:

“Great Lord of Azure Clarity, please descend into my liver. You wear azure robes and an emerald headcloth, carry a tiger insignia at your left side and dragon markings at your right, and exhale azure Qi that nourishes the liver and guides the spirit Qi, so that vitality within the liver may flourish…”

Through natural progression, one ascends to become a Celestial Immortal. Taiyi, a revered Daoist deity, protects Jing and Qi, embraces the hun and po souls, and gathers and regulates the spirit and soul.

The Fifth True Method: during the hour of Wei (1–3 p.m.), the Great Spirit resides in the spleen and is named Lord Yangguang. At this hour, join your hands and rest them on your knees. Hold your breath, close your eyes, and turn your attention inward, visualizing Lord Yangguang entering the spleen and sitting there. Then exhale green Qi through your mouth and let it circle the spleen nine times. When finished, tap your teeth nine times, swallow your saliva nine times, and then recite this prayer:

Great Spirit Yangguang comes and sits in the spleen. Clad in green, he wears a lotus crown, with a jade bell at his left side and divine might at his right. From his mouth issues green radiance, nourishing the spleen and infusing the souls. The Yellow Storehouse—that is, the spleen—grows naturally, enabling one to ascend as a Perfected One.

The Sixth True Method: during the hour of Shen (3–5 p.m.), the Great Spirit resides in the lungs and is named Lord Baiyuan. At this hour, join your hands and rest them on your knees. Hold your breath, close your eyes, and turn your attention inward, visualizing Lord Baiyuan entering the lungs and sitting there. Then exhale five-colored Qi through your mouth and let it circle the lungs nine times. When finished, tap your teeth nine times, swallow your saliva nine times, and then recite this prayer:

Great Lord Baiyuan comes and sits in the lungs. Clad in a dragon robe, he wears a crown of Yellow Dawn Radiance. In his left hand he holds the Imperial Register, and in his right, the numinous scroll; at his left side hangs a Dark Scripture, and at his right are tiger stripes. From his mouth issues the five Qi, regulating the lungs and harmonizing the saliva. The White Storehouse—that is, the lungs—grows naturally, enabling one to soar to immortality and enter the Purple Gate.

The Seventh True Method: during the hour of You (5–7 p.m.), the Great Spirit divides and manifests in two forms, one in each kidney. He is named Lord Xuanyang. At this hour, join your hands and rest them on your knees. Hold your breath, close your eyes, and turn your attention inward, visualizing Lord Xuanyang dividing into two forms, which sit together in the kidneys. Then exhale blue-green Qi through your mouth and let it circle the kidneys nine times. When finished, tap your teeth nine times, swallow your saliva nine times, and then recite this prayer:

Great Lord Xuanyang enters and sits in the kidneys. Clad in purple, he wears a Crown of Dawn’s Embrace, with a dragon talisman at his left side and phoenix markings at his right. From his mouth issues blue-green radiance, infusing the numinous root of the kidneys. The Black Storehouse—that is, the kidneys—grows naturally, enabling one to become a Flying Immortal, ascend north to the Dark Gate, and travel back and forth through the gates of the heavenly realm.

The Eighth True Method: during the hours of Xu and Hai (7–11 p.m.), the Great Spirit resides in the gallbladder and is named Lord Hejing. At this time, join your hands and rest them on your knees. Hold your breath, close your eyes, and turn your attention inward, visualizing Lord Hejing entering the gallbladder and sitting there. Then exhale five-colored Qi through your mouth and let it circle the gallbladder nine times. When finished, tap your teeth nine times, swallow your saliva nine times, and then recite this prayer:

Great Spirit Hejing comes and sits in the gallbladder. Clad in brocade, he wears a purple crown, with divine radiance at his left side and the Jade Perfected at his right. From his mouth issues the five Qi, nourishing the gallbladder’s Qi, strengthening the souls, and harmonizing Jing and Qi.

The precious blood harmonizes the bodily fluids and protects the body, enabling me to ascend and become a flying immortal.

Ninth True Method: At the hour of the Rat, around midnight, the great spirit resides in the Chamber of the Grotto Palace in the head. It is named Young Master Without Brilliance.

At the hour of the Rat, sit upright with both hands on your knees. Hold your breath, close your eyes, and turn your inner vision toward Lord Without Brilliance, seated within the Bright Hall, inside the Chamber of the Grotto. Then exhale purple Qi through your mouth, letting it circle your head nine times. Exhale purple Qi again, letting it circle each eye nine times, inside and out. Next, exhale purple Qi around your tongue nine times, and finally around your teeth nine times. These are four circuits of nine turns each, thirty-six turns in all. When finished, tap your teeth thirty-six times and swallow your saliva thirty-six times. Then offer this prayer:

“Great Lord Without Brilliance, supreme spirit of the Three Origins, guard the Chamber of the Grotto Palace. Dwell in the Mudball Palace—the inner palace in the head—and in the Yellow Gate and the Golden Chamber. Transform into the Nine Perfected Ones. Clad in dragon robes and wearing phoenix mantles, dressed in purple, emerald, and blue skirts, hold true essence in your hands and wear a splendid crown. Wear a jade ornament on the left and a tiger-patterned sash on the right. Sit below the sun and moon, breathe out purple smoke, and let the Qi throughout the body circle the teeth and tongue, nourishing the bright light of dawn. Elixir Qi emerges from within and returns to emptiness. Call the Po souls and summon the Hun souls; gather the vital essence and strengthen the embryo’s foundation, bringing enduring joy throughout the Six Directions. Ascend to the Great Tenuity and take up your post among the True Officials.”

Once you have completed these Nine True methods, you can secure the Mudball Palace and preserve the pupils of your eyes forever. The Five Organs will naturally generate and transform; the blood vessels will be nourished, and the bodily fluids preserved. Even if you temporarily enter Great Yin, the netherworld, and your body is examined by the Three Offices, the Nine Perfected Ones will summon back your souls. Taiyi will guard your corpse, the Three Origins will protect your original Qi, and the Most High will draw your souls back, so that your bones and flesh do not decay and your Five Organs remain intact. You can both die and live, dwell in Yin and dwell in Yang, and pass in and out of emptiness, enduring alongside Heaven and Earth.

This is the method by which Daoist adepts carefully cultivate stillness and tend the body, attuning themselves to draw forth the Nine Perfected Ones’ Qi. The Three Origins send forth flying essence, transforming emptiness and fullness into one another; Taiyi embraces my corpse and restores it to its original state. Subtle indeed, subtle! Profound indeed, profound! Hold the breath to its utmost limit and exhale with delicacy. When entering and leaving emptiness, let the breath continue without a break, so faintly that you are unaware of it.

Method of the Great Grotto for Returning Wind and Uniting with the Emperor One

Perform this method once every sixty days, on your birth-sign day—the day corresponding to the sexagenary signs of your birth. It may be done before noon or after midnight; choose one of these times. Close the door, settle in a quiet place, gather your mind, regulate your breath, and silently forget your body. Visualize and silently recite the spirit’s name once, keeping yourself firmly in stillness. Burn incense until its fragrance fills the room. Then…

When performing this healing method, if there is pain or illness anywhere in the body, point to that place and call upon the spirits to heal it.

“Returning Wind and Harmonizing” is a practice of the Dao of the Emperor One. It should be performed on one’s birth-year day—the day whose stem and branch correspond to the year of one’s birth. If you do not know your birth-year day, choose a Jiazi day. You may sit or lie down, as long as you calm your mind and spirit and silently recite the divine names:

Taiwei Little Lad, named Qian Jingjing, courtesy name Huiyuanzi; also called Sanjinjiao and Feng Dizhen. He always guards the place beneath the root of my tongue, where the blood gathers. The root of the tongue is a gate through which death energy enters and leaves. The Little Lad must guard it closely, causing vitality and blood to rise and gather in the Niwan (the upper Dantian inside the crown of the head), making the Niwan firm and clear and allowing all the spirits within the body to rest in their proper places.

The Venerable Spirit Taiyi, title Wuyoushou, courtesy name Gui Huichang; also called Jieming and Jipin. He always guards beneath my Jade Pillow (the back of the head), behind the Niwan. That place is a gate through which death energy enters and leaves. Taiyi must guard it closely, allowing the Niwan to receive true Qi. In this way, one’s parents of seven generations can receive mysterious Qi and be reborn; their names can also be entered in the Jade Emperor’s register of immortals, where they will enjoy lasting peace.

The Emperor Lord Yan Lingfan, courtesy name Lü Changling; also called Qishen and Divine Elder. He always guards between my eyebrows, outside the Purple Chamber, the inner spirit chamber between the brows. That place is a gate through which death energy enters and leaves. The Emperor Lord must guard it closely, causing the canopy (the vital essence that protects the head) to enter between the brows and rise into the Purple Chamber. In this way, the sins of one’s parents of seven generations are absolved, blessings flourish, and they may ascend to the imperial palace.

On the left is Lord Wuying, named Xuanyuanshu, courtesy name Hefuzi; also called Lord Elemental and Divine Young Lord. He always guards beneath my left armpit, at the gate behind the liver. That place is a gate through which death energy enters and leaves. The Divine Young Lord must guard it closely, causing jade light to shine from the left armpit and guiding the spirits into the eyes.

On the right is Lord Baiyuan Dongyang, named Yulingbiao, courtesy name Xuanyijue; also called Vermilion Essence and Qicheng. He always guards beneath my right armpit, at the gate behind the lungs. That place is a gate through which death energy enters and leaves. Lord Baiyuan must guard it closely, causing golden light to shine from the organs on the right and guiding the spirits into the palace of the Six Qi. In this way, one’s parents of seven generations return to the womb and are reborn, and the practitioner may ascend to the Jade Chamber.

At the center is the Lord Elder in Charge of Destiny, named Limingchu, courtesy name Xuanduqing; also called Divine Ancestor and Divine Spirit Hua. He always guards the Crimson Palace in my heart, the spirit chamber where the heart lies, located at the Gate of Four Openings…

Here is the gateway through which deathly Qi enters and leaves. The Lord of Destiny, the Venerable Elder (the deity who governs the span of life), must guard it closely, so that my heart may comprehend the truth. Then the Crimson Palace, where the spirit of the heart resides, will give rise to five-colored radiance, and the Lord of Destiny, the Venerable Elder, will exhale a breath like purple clouds, filling my Five Viscera.

The Peach Lord Child, Dao Kang, of the Gate of Destiny (the deity who guards the Gate of Destiny), styled Harmonizing Essence and Extending Life, also called the King of Destiny and Root of the Womb, constantly guards the aperture in my navel. The outer palace of the Gate of Destiny is also a gateway of deathly Qi. The Peach Lord Child, Dao Kang, must guard it closely, so that yellow clouds circulate and fill the navel, the Three Destinies take root, and the knots of the womb are loosened and released. Thus my parents and ancestors of seven generations will no longer be burdened; the karmic offenses of past lives will be erased, and in every lifetime they will be delivered and ascend to the palace of the Celestial Emperor.

The Celestial Emperor of the Mudball Palace (the deity who guards the Mudball Palace) is a red child located in the head. His name is Mysterious Congealing Heaven, styled Three Origins Foremost; he is also called Elder Without Equal and Elder Historian Hua. He constantly guards the nine apertures within my Mudball Palace. These nine apertures are also gateways of deathly Qi. The Celestial Emperor of the Mudball Palace must guard them closely, so that the Mudball Palace becomes firm as jade and gleams with golden light, my true body radiates precious brilliance, and the nine apertures receive numinous Qi. Thus my parents and ancestors of seven generations will be at peace in every lifetime, freed from past offenses, and together ascend to the realm of Highest Clarity.

The One-Origin Elixir Sovereign in the Crimson Palace, the heart’s Elixir Field Palace, is named Spirit Conveying Pearl, styled Cinnabar of the Southern Child, and also called Elder of Life Above and Cloud-Binding Center. He constantly guards the aperture at the great vertebra in my neck. This place, too, is a gateway of deathly Qi. The One-Origin Elixir Sovereign, Spirit Conveying Pearl, must guard it closely, so that the hundred bones receive true Qi and sunlight appears at the great vertebra. Thus my parents and ancestors of seven generations will attain the natural way of long life and ascend as immortals to the Palace of the Southern Pole.

The Yellow Court Primordial King below the Gate of Destiny is named Beginning Clarity Essence, styled Primordial Yang Flourishing, and also called Womb of the Infant and Elder Historian Yuan. He constantly guards the aperture between my wrists, below the axle bones. This place, too, is a gateway of deathly Qi. The Yellow Court Primordial King must guard it closely, so that the blood vessels throughout my body gather and my spirit and Qi do not scatter. He will pull me clear of the gates of the underworld and free me from the eight calamities.

The Nine Perfected of the Mudball Palace are named Emperor Flourishing, Sovereign Above, and styled Foremost Spirit, Primordial Lineage. They constantly guard the area around my mouth. The area around the mouth is also a gateway of deathly Qi. Emperor Flourishing, Sovereign Above, must guard it closely, so that old Qi is expelled and Jing enters, while divine radiance shines from my body for ten thousand feet. Thus the offenses of my parents and ancestors of seven generations will be removed and their calamities dispelled, allowing them to be reborn in the Jade Chamber of the Emperor Lords.

The eight true spirits in the gallbladder are named Lord Containing Radiance, with the courtesy name Mysterious Essence of the Northern Terrace. They constantly guard the middle of my back. Beneath the vertebrae, at the center of the back, is a gateway through which death energy enters and leaves. Lord Containing Radiance must guard this place firmly, so that vital energy supports the spine, the lower openings remain closed, and no pernicious energy can enter, allowing true radiance to illuminate the body.

The seven true spirits in the two kidneys are named Lord Mysterious Yang, with the courtesy name Master of Dark Light. They constantly guard the base of my spine. The “Earth Gate” at the base of the spine is a gateway through which death energy enters and leaves. Lord Mysterious Yang must guard this place firmly and keep the Earth Gate closed, allowing vital energy to lie hidden and the coccyx to be nourished by divine fluid. This brings the six kinds of saliva into harmony and abundance, and makes the foundation of life deep and secure.

The six true spirits in the lungs are named Lord Jade of the Upper Prime, with the courtesy name Youth of the Central Southern Ridge. They constantly guard the crossbeam at the twelve joints outside my neck. This crossbeam is a gateway through which death energy enters and leaves. Lord Jade of the Upper Prime must guard this place firmly, so that the Jade Radiance of the Supreme Lord shines on the dwelling of the spirits, the Qi of Jade Dawn enters the Palace of Cinnabar Prime, and the parents of seven generations are freed from entanglements and obstructions, enabling them to be reborn in the immortal realm of the Highest One.

The five true spirits in the spleen are named Lord Nurturing Radiance, with the courtesy name Master Great Prosperity. They constantly guard the deepest gateway within my throat. This gateway is a passage through which death energy enters and leaves. Lord Nurturing Radiance must guard this place firmly, so that jade radiance and golden perfection illuminate the root of the throat, and the divine Qi of the Great Emperor circulates among the three palaces.

The four true spirits in the liver are named Lord Azure Brightness, with the courtesy name Youth of the Luminous Wheel. They constantly guard the gateway of my stomach, beneath the fatty membrane. Beneath this membrane is a gateway through which death energy enters and leaves. Lord Azure Brightness must guard this place firmly, so that the Qi of the Three Primes gives rise to radiance, the spirits of the Five Stations protect the body and move in and out, and jade fluid and saliva moisten the stomach.

The three true spirits in the Jing and blood are named Lord Origin of Life, with the courtesy name Mysterious Master of Yellow Tranquility. They constantly guard the root below my nostrils. This root is a gateway through which death energy enters and leaves. Lord Origin of Life must guard this place firmly, so that the spirit flows freely through all the joints of the body, blood and saliva fill every opening, and the Qi of the myriad numinous beings protects the soul of the Great One and preserves the body.

The two true spirits in the joints are named Lord Firm Jade, with the courtesy name Pearl of Condensed Feathers. They constantly guard the entrance to my stomach palace and the organs and bowels. This entrance is a gateway through which death energy enters and leaves. Lord Firm Jade must guard this place firmly, keeping the Yellow Court—the palaces of the spirits within the body—pure and fragrant, destroying the Three Corpses, the pernicious spirits said in Daoism to dwell in the body and hinder cultivation, and allowing the middle prime to…

The Qi (vital energy) within the body is often abundant. Its imperial radiance is dense and powerful, surging upward into the Niwan Palace, the place of cultivation in the head, then spreading through the muscles and bones.

Within the heart there is a true spirit named Lord Heavenly Essence Fluid, with the courtesy name Flying Life, Supreme Brilliance. He constantly guards me.

In the chest are gateways that open in the four directions, called the “Mouths of the Four Extremities.” These mouths are passages through which death Qi enters and leaves. Lord Heavenly Essence Fluid must guard them closely, so that radiance arises from the Five Organs and true Qi reaches every limb and joint. Purple fluids flow through the chest; crimson Qi gathers above the gods within, then rises toward Jade Heaven. The spirits wear feathered robes and tiger-skin skirts.

The true spirit of the Nine Origins is male. His name is Restraint, and his courtesy name is Three Yangs. He constantly guards the Hidden Dawn Gate below my left ear. This gate is a passage through which death Qi enters and leaves. Restraint, Three Yangs, must guard it closely, making Heavenly Hearing—the faculties of hearing and perception—clear and keen, and bringing brightness and clarity even to the deepest places. True Qi moves back and forth like clouds through the Niwan Palace.

The soul of Sovereign One is female. Her name is Returning Above, and her courtesy name is Imperial Daughter. She constantly guards the Hidden Dawn Gate below my right ear. This gate is a passage through which death Qi enters and leaves. Returning Above, Imperial Daughter, must guard it closely, illuminating both darkness and light within the Niwan Palace. The sound of Great Mystery, subtle and profound, brings a person solitary joy within their own body. Clouds shaped like hooks of dark gold flow freely and transparently, gathering into the Qi of Great Harmony.

The Left Primordial Lady of Purple Essence, named Veiled Lushness, Bladeless, with the courtesy name Peaceful Arrival, Supreme One, constantly guards my head and face, preventing every kind of evil influence from entering and destroying countless spirits and monsters. She also sends purple clouds surging into the Niwan Palace; gathers the Qi of Great Simplicity in the nostrils; covers the mouth and teeth with auspicious, radiant clouds; and brings together the essence of jade-like forests in the hair and skin. In this way, the corpse impurities accumulated over seven lifetimes can disperse, and the sins and grievances of seven generations of ancestors can be released. They ascend to the hall of the Heavenly Emperor, return to their true nature, and are conceived again.

The Central Primordial Lady of Yellow Essence, named Round Flower, Yellow Blade, with the courtesy name Great Expansion, constantly guards my chest and abdomen, subduing demons and destroying the Three Corpses—the impure spirits said in Daoism to dwell in the human body and obstruct cultivation. She also spreads yellow clouds through the limbs, fills the Great Granary, the stomach, with golden liquid, sends dawn-like radiance upward, and sets the Qi of Great Truth in motion until it shines. Thus the sins of seven generations of parents are released, and, after conception, they are reborn in the Southern Palace.

The Right Primordial Lady of White Essence, named Bright Opening, Silver Blade, with the courtesy name Golden Gate, constantly guards my lower gate, from the lower abdomen to the soles of the feet. She prevents the three accumulated impurities of long standing from remaining lodged there, and makes the Earth Corpses and soil demons sink away and vanish. She also sends clear, jade-like fluids upward to nourish the genitals; causes wondrous white-gold Qi to flow in reverse and fill the channels between the thighs; moistens both legs with the Ninefold Spirit; and brings clouds as dark and heavy as the mysterious heavens beneath the feet. In this way, ancestors from many lifetimes are released from the torments of the netherworld, the roots of calamity affecting seven generations of ancestors are dispersed, and they are born again, entering the Southern Palace and ascending in peace to the Imperial Chariot.

At noon, the Lord of Fate (Siming Jun), who governs lifespan, is named Jieshengshou and guards my left hand. The Peach Lord in the moon is named Fangying and guards my right hand. The attendant in my left eye is named Feiyun, and the attendant in my right eye is named Chenying. The attendant in my lungs is named Suming. These spirits each guard my two eyes, filling the area above the canopy of the head with Jing and Qi (vital energy). The Five Spirits hold firm at five vital gates. Their radiance fills the sun, and demonic Qi cannot enter Baihui, the acupoint at the crown of the head, allowing a person to receive numinous Qi.

The Lord of the primordial white Qi within the embryo is named Wuxuanzi, with the courtesy name Yushangsheng. The spirit of the Taiyi essence is named Xuanguizi, with the courtesy name Shengchang. These two spirits together guard the area above my five organs, at the base of my throat. The base of the throat is a gateway through which death Qi enters and leaves. The two spirits guard it closely, allowing the Qi of the Three Florescences to enter the Palace of Di Yi and the fluids of the Nine Luminaries to arise beneath the Six Embryos. In this way, the Seven Ancestors avert calamity and are freed from bondage, enabling them to ascend to the Hall of the Realized and stand alongside Taiyi.

The Lord of the green Qi in the knot is named Anyanchang, with the courtesy name Hehe. The spirit of the Infant Origin Lord is named Baogutong, with the courtesy name Mingtian. These two spirits together guard the area below my five organs and above the great stomach. The area above the great stomach is a gateway through which death Qi enters and leaves. The two spirits guard it closely, allowing the Golden Liquids to circulate, the Jade Florescences to illuminate the hun and shen, the sweet fluids to fill the deep bowels, and the Qi of the Emperor to suffuse the Nine Passes. Thus the Seven Ancestors are freed from darkness and grief and may be reborn at the abode of the Mysterious Immortals. The good karma accumulated in the past is brought to completion, and the roots of the womb in this life are severed.

The Lord of the black Qi in the joints is named Binlaisheng, with the courtesy name Jingshangmen. The spirit of the Imperial Perfected Essence is named Youtaisheng, with the courtesy name Guanshangsheng. These two spirits together guard the entrance to my nine intestines, beneath Fuyuan. Beneath Fuyuan is a gateway through which death Qi enters and leaves. The two spirits guard it closely, allowing the breath of the Most High to spread through the abdomen and the spirit of Taiyi to move among the hundred bones. The body thereby takes on a jade-like sheen, and the face retains a golden luster. The ancestors and grandparents of the Seven Ancestors are freed from their sins in the underworld; in every generation they are released from bondage, ascend to the Imperial Chamber, and enter the Chamber of Whirling Winds, the dwelling of immortals and perfected beings.

The Lord of the yellow Qi in the womb is named Zumingche, with the courtesy name Shenwujitian Di. The spirit is named Liweizang, with the courtesy name Fazhu. These two spirits together guard the inside of my lower abdomen, at the base of the two openings. This is a gateway through which death Qi enters and leaves. The two spirits guard it closely, allowing the sources of the sun and moon to arise beneath the two openings, and the Qi of the Five Emperors…

The essence fills the chamber of utmost Yin, and the five fluids (the body’s five kinds of bodily fluids) brim over. The karmic calamities inherited from the seven generations of ancestors, left behind through successive rebirths, are thereby released and dispelled, and they ascend to the Southern Palace. The immortals receive primordial Qi.

The lord of the red Qi in the blood is named Hunlizi, with the courtesy name Shuhuojian; he governs the allotted span of life. His Jing-soul is named Faxizi, with the courtesy name Qingxuan. These two deities together guard the joints of the blood vessels throughout my body. Beneath the joints lies the gate of deathly Qi. The two deities must guard it closely, so that the fluids of the Five Constancies fill the Six Organs, numinous Qi nourishes the body, and the flesh and blood grow substantial. In this way, the joints will not become empty, and the Earth Gate (the bodily orifices in the lower body) and the nape will be sealed. The karmic bonds of the seven generations of ancestors will disperse, and they will receive life anew and ascend to the Southern Pole. I will become a Jade Immortal, unite with the Dao, and preserve my De.

The Father Lord of the Upper Mystery Origin is named Gao Tongsheng, with the courtesy name Zuo Huiming. The Mother of the Lower Mystery is named Shuhuowang, with the courtesy name You Huiguang. The Imperial Sovereign, the Great One, is named Chong Mingkong, with the courtesy name You Liaowu. The nine imperial deities are named Ri Mingzhen, with the courtesy name Zhong Disheng. The Jing-soul of the Great Constant is named Yang Tangwang, with the courtesy name Bali. The soul of the Heavenly Emperor’s Nine Gates is named Lu Huidao, with the courtesy name Jue Ming. The imperial soul of the Heavenly Order is named Zhao Wua, with the courtesy name Guangshen. These seven deities guard the root of my original life. This root lies deep within the womb; the deities ensure that the womb is always filled with the Qi of Jade Purity, clear, bright, and open. They cause the seven generations of ancestors to be reborn, while my life endures and unites with the Three Heavens, so that I may stand beside the sun above.

These are the thirty-nine gates of death within my body, all of which the Supreme Worthy deities have fully guarded. They hold sunlight in their mouths and the moon’s brightness in their hands, illuminating my gates of death so that I may live forever, free from death, and my body may always retain its vitality. I recite the Scripture of the Great Cavern of Perfected Truth, receiving the Qi of the upper realm with the golden sound of my voice. I enter the Court of Great Nonbeing, the distant, lofty heaven described in Daoist teachings, to release karmic bonds and dispel calamities, so that the seven generations of ancestors may escape hardship, their souls be reborn, and they may gather in the Southern Palace. In every generation, their names will be inscribed in jade; the Three Paths, the three realms of suffering in the cycle of rebirth, will be cut off, the suffering of transmigration ended, and they will ascend to Highest Clarity.

The Three Plain Venerable Lords are named Lao Zhangshang, with the courtesy name Shenshengdaozheng. A Left Immortal of Orthodox Unity is named Zhong Chengzi, also known as Dibin, with the courtesy name Sihua; a Right Immortal of Orthodox Unity is named Qu Wenzi, also known as Guangjian, with the courtesy name Linghe. They guard the philtrum beneath my nose.

The Central Mysterious One, Laozi, is named Lin Lingtian, with the courtesy name Lingshi Dao, and guards the tip of my penis. The Black Emperor of the North is named Bao Chenghe, with the courtesy name Beidai, and guards my bladder. The White Emperor of the West is named Zhang Anxing, with the courtesy name Xihua, and guards my scrotum. The Red Emperor of the South is named Chang Laijue, with the courtesy name Nanhe, and guards my mouth and tongue. The Azure Emperor of the East is the deity who presides over the East.

The crimson beams meet one another, and the jade characters are clear and correctly arranged. Outside my Five Viscera, the Five Emperors, the Two Elders, and the immortal officials on my left and right guard me; the spirit of my birth destiny protects my body. The offenses of my ancestors and kin are absolved, blessings descend, and the grievances of seven generations of my family are untied, dispelling karmic knots rooted in the womb. Fetal essence and the radiance of blood are transformed into golden liquid and jade spring water, which rise into the Southern Palace, where I become a guest of the Imperial Lord. I ride a chariot of the Eight Radiances, borne on wheels of precious jade. With my body raised, I ascend into the Nine Heavens and, in broad daylight, rise to become an immortal.

The Imperial Lord’s name is Zhao, his courtesy name Zhongxuan. He is born from the One; another of his names is Changfu. He resides in the Crimson Palace. Another is named Qing Zhongguang, with the courtesy name Sihualing; another is named You Chebo, also known as Dong Shihua. Below the Yellow Court are the assisting ministers: one is named Yuan Shangming, with the courtesy name Gu Xiaxuan; another is named Feng Shenbo, also known as Feng Guangsheng. These three Imperial Lords and divine generals guard me, enabling me to enter the Chamber of the Imperial One. Above the Nine Heavens, they preserve my birth destiny and register my name for safekeeping.

When the invocation is complete, close your eyes and visualize these myriad spirits transforming into white Qi, like white mist, coming from the Mystery and Emptiness into your mouth. The dense white Qi remains there for a long time. I feel it flow out through the openings of my lower body, the opening of my jade stem, the soles of both feet, and the centers of both palms, circling my whole body. My upper and lower body, hands and feet, and entire person mingle with the white Qi, as though all had become one mass of mist, spreading above and below until no part could be distinguished from another.

After a long while, the white Qi suddenly becomes a dense purple cloud. It enters through my mouth once more, passes into my head, and reaches the space between my Five Viscera, filling my abdomen. After remaining there for a time, the purple cloud flows out through the large openings in the soles of my feet and the centers of my palms, and through the opening of my jade stem. It circles my whole body and mingles with my Qi until the two are difficult to distinguish. In an instant, visualize the purple cloud Qi filling the space around you and the entire room.

Next, visualize wind Qi issuing from your mouth and stirring the purple cloud. The purple mist swirls and coils, then suddenly transforms into the male form of a Perfected One, like a newborn infant, four inches tall. He is titled “Venerable Lord of the Great Cavern, the Imperial One,” and named Fu Ning, with the courtesy name He Mu Jing. This Venerable Lord is formed from the combined essence of the spirits who guard the pass of death and the Qi of returning wind and transformation.

Then visualize this Venerable Lord entering your mouth and reaching the space beneath your tongue. From there he rises directly to the Purple Chamber’s Palace of the Six Directions and sits upright, facing outward. In his left hand, the Venerable Lord holds your five talismans; in his right, he holds your five registers.

On the left side of the Venerable Lord’s mouth—here, the honored deity residing within the body—is a ray of sunlight nine fen in diameter. On the right side of his mouth is a ray of moonlight, one cun in diameter. The Venerable Lord exhales a swirling breath from his mouth and blows it toward the radiance of the sun and moon. Their light grows bright and abundant, sometimes appearing white, sometimes yellow. Let this luminous breath descend into your five viscera and six bowels, and into every joint of your body, until you are clear and radiant within and without, like daylight. Maintain this visualization for a long time, forgetting yourself. When you suddenly feel that the practice is complete, silently recite this invocation in your heart:

“Great Cavern, Emperor One, Most Primordial Venerable Spirit: Father Ning and Mother Jing join together and bring all things to completion. The hundred perfected beings return to the unified One. From the unified One, the cycle of beginnings turns, and the body takes shape. The eight kinds of vapor condense and transform into the embryo’s primal essence and infant. The precious radiance of the sun and moon shines through my body. Taiyi is above, standing alongside the Celestial Emperor. The Mudball Palace, the site of cultivation in the head, preserves Jing and Qi; the radiance of the five viscera shines brightly, united forever with the sun and moon. Holding the Cavern Scripture in my hands, I take my place among the Immortal Lords. At dawn I ascend to Highest Clarity, the Daoist realm of subtle purity. Thirty-nine chapters; golden talismans in the Feathered Court. Here the invocation ends.”

This is the “Way of the Returning Wind and the Union with Emperor One”: the method of using swirling breath to unite the light of the sun and moon with Emperor One. The essence of the Taiyi method, with its myriad transformations and insight into the true realm, is fully contained here.

Each night, visualize the Venerable Lord of Great Cavern Emperor One at the center of the philtrum beneath your nose. Imagine a white sun always present in your mouth, outside the upper teeth, beneath the nose and within the skin of the philtrum, inside the upper lip. The forms of all the honored deities should face outward. Whether sitting, lying down, or walking, keep your attention on the visualization. Imagine the Venerable Lord holding the sun in his mouth. Its light is nine fen in diameter, shines for ten thousand zhang, and completely illuminates your body.

The “One” is the true unity of the Emperor. All things transform from the One and eventually return to it. When reading the Cavern Scripture, also visualize the Venerable Lord Emperor One before you, with his mouth facing yours. The two face each other, allowing the deity to hear you recite the Cavern Scripture and thereby dissolve karmic bonds accumulated over seven lifetimes.

The Venerable Lord Emperor One is named “Father Ning,” and his courtesy name is “Joined with Mother Jing.” Remember him morning and evening every day; do not forget him. The scripture says that this practice enables you to avoid all manner of trials, dispel many calamities and demons, and attract the Dao of the immortals. If any part of your body aches or feels unwell, immediately visualize the Venerable Lord Emperor One exhaling sunlight and white vapor from his mouth, bathing the painful area until the illness is cured. The Venerable Lord Emperor One looks like a newborn boy, naked and four cun tall. This is the “true form of the Great Cavern’s primordial embryo.”

On the day corresponding to your birth, recite the thirty-nine chapters of the Great Cavern Scripture once…

You should recite this scripture often and commit it to memory; this is a most auspicious undertaking. You must recite it ten thousand times and complete the prescribed period of practice. Only then can you command the clouds of nature and ride the dragon of the Eight Lights—a numinous dragon chariot—escorted by thousands of chariots and myriads of riders, and ascend to immortality in broad daylight. After completing ten thousand recitations, one recitation each year will suffice.

If the Lord God’s cloud dragon has not yet come to welcome you, the wait will be no longer than seven hundred days. At that point, the practitioner will suddenly die in the human world and immediately ascend to Heaven. You must firmly maintain “the Female One,” a Daoist practice of keeping to the One and preserving the spirit, so that the vital essences of the Five Spirits unite. Focus your mind on the Returning Wind, an inner alchemical practice, and gather widely in the realm of the Imperial Venerables. After reciting and studying the thirty-nine chapters of the Dong Jing (Cavern Scripture), the path to becoming a perfected immortal will be complete. Your meeting with the cloud dragon will then be certain; the roots of karmic wrongdoing will dissolve, and your ancestors will thereby receive blessings and longevity. Practice diligently.