《太平經》Vol. 89

Taiping Jing, Scroll 89

Text for Contemplating the Eight Trigrams and Returning Essence (No. 130)

The dark and luminous inner light, filled with the Qi of the Great Abyss, stands alongside the worthy and virtuous. Gui occupies the Hai position, and together with the Qi of Zi circles the whole body, flowing around it in an embrace. When Yin reaches its limit, Yang is born. This is called “the first nine, joined as one,” from which all things transform and come into being. Yin comes to rest and Yang rises: at Hai it receives the influence, at Ren it conceives, and at Zi it flourishes. Generation follows generation; Yang enters Yin, and life begets life without end. Contemplate this and let inner vision shine through. Lifespan may be doubled, but do not seek results in haste; instead, hold to it over a long period.

The Qi of Lesser Yang shares its position with the liver, occupying Jia and Yi, Yin and Mao. Its corresponding color is green, and the essences of all things emerge in a mingled flow. Benevolence and kindness fill the heart, and the warrior is about to rise. Contemplate this and behold its written character: its light is like the sun at dawn. It can dispel all illnesses and increase one’s years threefold.

The abundant Qi of Great Yang corresponds to the heart and belongs to Bing and Ding, occupying Si and Wu. Beholding it can drive away the hundred evils and bring the body and mind into daily alignment. The intention should be gentle and clear; do not force the result. When the character appears, the light of life is as bright as the sun at its zenith.

The Qi of Central Harmony is linked to the spleen. It spreads in all directions through the quarters of the seasons, then returns to Wu and Ji, with its roots in Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei. Raise the thought and follow its meaning in contemplation, then use it to treat illness. If the essence appears as a yellow dragon and this character comes into view, illness can vanish and one’s years may increase fivefold. It also makes people dutiful and filial: a minister loves his ruler, and a child loves their father.

The cycle of Lesser Yin is joined with the essence of the lungs. Its numinous fan releases Qi; its positions are Geng and Xin, Shen and You. Its principle is to punish and destroy treachery and evil, so that thieves and bandits do not arise and harmful forces cannot injure people. Those whose kidney Qi is strong may increase their years a hundredfold by contemplating it.

When Yin reaches its limit, Yang is born, and its realm flourishes greatly. Contemplate this constantly, and you will know no death. Yin rises and Yang begins, so the Dark Warrior is the beginning; the virtue of the Dragon arises in the north and is positioned in the east, so it follows afterward. The Vermilion Bird governs the healing of illness, while yellow Qi stands at the center. Let the ruler put this into practice, and life will be without end.

Ascending, it upholds balance, and the hundred evils perish. The Eight Trigrams are within; the spirits form ranks and move in order. The White Tiger stands behind, punishing calamity and destroying misfortune. As the righteous way arrives day by day, evil Qi vanishes. Contemplate the essence without ceasing, and the span of life will be extended. If you embody and take this in, what cause for worry could there be? The lower supports the upper; this is called following the Way. There will be no transgression or fault, and the myriad illnesses will heal of themselves. Contemplate the character and behold its form; cherish it as a parent cherishes a child. It brings constant joy and unceasing inner illumination. Examine it carefully and put it into practice: its effects will soon be seen.

Long remain in the company of the scriptures, day after day roaming with the spirits in the Dao, taking nature as the realm of empty openness and nothingness. Once the Dao comes of its own accord, its way is benevolent and good: a child becomes filial through it, a minister loyal through it, and one comes to know trustworthiness. It teaches people to cherish their lives and not speak recklessly. By guarding it without cease, one’s life has no end.

The scriptures do not appear from nowhere; they are linked to the Dao. Ponder their meaning deeply, and the spirits will come of their own accord. At the beginning, reverse the form, thought, and written characters; obtain the original essence of the Dao and attain spiritual clarity, thereby returning to what is natural. The patterns of Heaven’s Dao are present in myriad forms among people. One can bring matters to completion through the Dao and ensure that every word spoken is free of wrongdoing. The trouble is that people do not apply themselves. How else can they obtain upright Qi? Act without seeking to climb higher, and each day will be auspicious.

For a great person, this brings peace to the state; for an ordinary person, it removes calamity and brings good fortune. In the hidden depths of form and thought, all paths and means are present. Become a worthy person and guard the Dao; how could disorder arise? Let the mind’s thoughts continue without allowing the heart to become unsettled or turn toward what is crooked. Guard steadfastly and persist in cultivation. The Dao is not carelessly disclosed; it is entrusted to those of De, returning to its rightful person. Set the Eight Trigrams in harmonious order and coordinate them with the Six Jia; pursue the Dao, restore the essence, and contemplate the texts.