《太平經聖君祕旨》

The Secret Instructions of the Sacred Sovereign from the Scripture of Great Peace (Taiping Jing Shengjun Mizhi) transmits the essential method of "Guarding the One and Illuminating the Dharma" as taught by the High Minister Azure Lad. Its core teachings may be summarized as follows:

The human body consists of three fundamental energies: Jing (essence, the quintessence of life), Shen (spirit, conscious awareness), and Qi (vital energy). These three are fundamentally one, corresponding to the triad of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. Spirit originates from Heaven, essence from Earth, while Qi arises from the harmonizing energy between them. To attain longevity, one must cherish Qi, revere Shen, and value Jing.

The crux of cultivation lies in "Guarding the One" (Shouyi) - maintaining focused awareness on inner unity. The practice unfolds in stages:

Initially during closed-eye meditation, one perceives only darkness. With persistent practice, light gradually appears - first as red light, transforming into white radiance, until eventually illuminating the entire body. As practice deepens, various colored lights manifest:

• Azure light represents the Qi of Lesser Yang
• Crimson light like flames assists transcendence from worldly attachments
• Yellow-tinged azure light symbolizes harmonizing radiance with healing properties
• White light resembling clear water signifies Lesser Yin energy
• Black light like deep waters embodies Supreme Yin energy
• When the abdomen becomes luminous while surrounded by darkness, this marks the supreme state of Supreme Harmony's radiance

The effects of cultivation include:

Gradual lightening of the physical form

Increasing clarity of consciousness

Profound inner joy and tranquility

Ultimate attainment of "form transforming into spirit"

Eradication of illnesses and extension of lifespan

The essential principle reveals that through inner cultivation (the method of Guarding the One and Illumination), one achieves harmony of body and mind, naturally attaining both personal longevity and social peace. This is not accomplished through external striving, but by harmonizing the body's Jing, Qi, and Shen to return them to their original unified state of primordial chaos.

The Secret Instructions of the Sage Lord from the Scripture of Great Peace describes nine progressive stages and effects of the "Guarding the One" cultivation method:

First stage: Visualize the body as completely transparent and pure, merging with the primordial Qi (cosmic source energy) to attain Wuwei (non-action) state, thereby achieving omniscience and omnipotence.

Second stage: Maintain a state of empty nothingness and naturalness, contemplating the body as translucent flawless white jade - this manifests the Wuwei quality of primordial Qi.

Third stage: From crown to toes, systematically visualize each body part with perfect clarity, both internally and externally. This refined contemplation is termed "secondary emptiness."

Fourth stage: Observe the activities of the organ spirits (heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys) and communicate with them to foresee auspicious or inauspicious events.

Fifth stage: When the human primordial Shen (spirit) aligns with the Five Phases (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth) and four seasons, one can harness these natural spiritual forces to expel malevolent influences.

Sixth stage: Excessive joy makes one susceptible to influences from terrestrial spirits, potentially contaminating one's energy with partial corruption.

Seventh stage: Rituals for heaven, earth and mountain deities may attract perverse energies if performed with impure intentions - these should be avoided.

Eighth stage: Beware of elusive spirits whose authenticity is hard to discern, as they may induce erratic speech and behavior.

Ninth stage: Ancestral spirits belong to the yin realm and are not proper objects of Daoist cultivation.

The scripture further explains the method's benefits: advanced practitioners comprehend past and present; intermediate adepts become wise ministers to rulers; even ordinary practitioners attain mental serenity. Persistent cultivation radiates blessings to all directions, aligning one's De (Virtue) with heaven and earth. Specific effects include rejuvenation, darkening of white hair, regrowth of teeth, with each month's practice extending lifespan by one year.

Practice environment requirements: Initial stages require soundproof chambers with thick walls. Upon reaching advanced levels, the body emits radiant light, becoming invulnerable to harm and attaining longevity.

(Note: Guarding the One is a fundamental Daoist practice using focused visualization to achieve unity with the Dao. The mentioned "spirits" primarily represent personified expressions of internal energies or natural forces.)

The Secret Instructions of the Sage Lord from the Scripture of Great Peace elucidates the essential method of Daoist "Guarding the One" practice:

By maintaining the primal energy ("One" refers to the innate primordial Qi) within the body without dissipation, spiritual cultivation naturally reaches completion. When distracting thoughts are swiftly eliminated, there remains no need to pursue external things. Through uninterrupted adherence to Guarding the One, practitioners attain a state of carefree serenity, free from forced striving.

The crux of Guarding the One lies in persistent practice—when maintained long enough, the body naturally becomes vigilant and calamities spontaneously withdraw. Following this method, the spiritual medicine (referring to internal Jing and Qi) will spontaneously manifest. At advanced stages, even tigers, wolves, and venomous creatures dare not approach, while myriad spirits and ghosts cannot disturb; disasters vanish of their own accord.

Specific techniques include:

1. Refraining from casual discussion of cultivation fundamentals, closing the sensory gates (eyes, ears, mouth, nose), and maintaining inward-focused Shen (spirit)

2. Preserving inner clarity while outwardly maintaining humility

3. Restraining emotional extremes to sustain equanimity

4. Internally safeguarding the five viscera, externally harmonizing the six Qi (Yin-Yang, wind, rain, darkness, and light)

5. Visualizing primordial Qi condensing from the void into form

Effects of cultivation:

• Rejuvenation and extended longevity
• Spontaneous enlightenment without forced study
• Sustained vitality without grain consumption
• Freedom from pursuit of wealth and honors

Key considerations:

• Gradual progress yields visible results after one hundred days
• Avoid opportunistic shortcuts
• Connect with divine consciousness through reclined meditation and breath regulation
• Adapt methods according to age and constitution
• Embrace simple living with inward fulfillment
• Maintain light vegetarian diet (as spirits favor purity)
• Repeated contemplation of essentials leads to spiritual luminosity

At the supreme stage of attainment, practitioners penetrate the root of all phenomena with radiant Shen (spirit) so luminous that even death cannot encroach.

The vernacular interpretation of the "Guarding the One" cultivation method from the Secret Instructions of the Sacred Sovereign in the Taiping Jing:

"Guarding the One" (Shou Yi) is a meditative practice focused on mental concentration. Persisting for one hundred days brings initial stillness, two hundred days achieves moderate stillness, and three hundred days leads to profound stillness. At this stage, practitioners experience constant joy within their bodies, and the Three Corpses (the three malevolent spirits believed to reside in the human body according to Daoist tradition) are eliminated.

This method contains 366 essential points, each embodying the essence of Jing (essence), Qi (vital energy), and Shen (spirit). Successful cultivation enables one to perceive these divine spirits. When practicing "Guarding the One," one must regulate the functioning of the five internal organs (heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys). If the mind wanders outward, it disrupts internal Qi circulation, and improper practice may create conflict with the "One."

During cultivation, six Director of Fate deities (divinities governing lifespan) oversee one's conduct. This fundamental virtuous method is recognized by all spirits—it eliminates calamities and attracts blessings. Persisting in "Guarding the One" enables one to command myriad spirits and ultimately attain the Dao and achieve perfection.

If the mind becomes chaotic and the five organs dysfunctional during practice, the internal spirits become agitated, first manifesting through facial complexion. At this point, Heaven and Earth bear witness, the spirits prepare to depart, signaling impending death.

When practice yields results, virtuous deeds produce tangible responses. Initially, the divine light appears as faint as fireflies, but over time it becomes as bright as lightning. Externally, one must practice benevolence, perform charitable acts without seeking reward—the same principle applies to loyalty and filial piety.

Practitioners may encounter both blessings and misfortunes. A distracted mind burdened with worldly affairs provokes conflict among spirits. But maintaining singular focus and cherishing the primordial spirit like nurturing an infant leaves no opening for calamity.

The method of "Guarding the One" connects one with celestial spirits and comprehends all transformations of Yin-Yang. To foresee celestial will, to generate and transform all things without claiming credit—this is the true path to enduring vision and longevity.

Mastering "Guarding the One" grants comprehension of all things, while those pursuing fragmented knowledge struggle to grasp this truth. This method enables one to: deliver people from suffering, eliminate disasters, assist rulers, attain immortality, manage households, serve deities, overcome adversity, and cure illnesses. It is truly the root of primordial Qi and the key to all existence.

Should Heaven, Earth, sun, moon, or stars lose their "One": Heaven loses clarity, Earth loses peace, the sun loses radiance, the moon loses essence, and stars lose their courses. This demonstrates that "Guarding the One" is the fundamental principle sustaining cosmic operation.

This passage discusses the importance of "guarding the One" (shouyi) – the practice of focused concentration on the fundamental Dao.

Just as a mountain will collapse if it does not hold fast to its foundation, or water will become turbid and muddy if it loses its purity, so too will the spirits fail to manifest if they lack concentrated focus on their root. Likewise, humans cannot truly live without guarding their fundamental essence. The "One" is the origin of all things – understanding this principle grants comprehension of all phenomena.

(Additional note: "Guarding the One" is a crucial Daoist cultivation method, referring to the unification of heart-mind (xin) and spirit (shen) through focused concentration, ultimately achieving harmony with the Dao. The text uses the imagery of mountains and water to illustrate the consequences of losing one's root, emphasizing the vital importance of maintaining connection with the Dao's primordial source.)