《太微帝君二十四神回元經》

The Scripture of the Twenty-Four Spirits Returning to the Origin by the Great Micro Emperor (Taiwei Dijun Ershisi Shen Huiyuan Jing) expounds on the cultivation method involving twenty-four divine spirits within the human body. The Great Micro Emperor (a revered Daoist deity) and the Great Unity Deity (Taiyi Shen) created these twenty-four perfected beings (zhenren, or inner-body deities) who govern the circulation of Jing (essence) and Qi (vital energy) in the body.

Key points of cultivation:

1. These twenty-four spirits assist in resolving bodily blockages and clearing the meridians. By memorizing their names and practicing visualization techniques, one can regulate the body and stabilize primordial Qi.

2. Specific methods:

• Begin by sitting in meditation with a tranquil mind, closing the eyes to engage in inner observation (neiguan).
• Maintain an upright posture with steady breathing.
• Burn incense to purify the body and focus the mind on visualizing these deities.
• Persist in practice for eighteen years to attain the state of "ascending to heaven in broad daylight."

3. Important considerations:

• Cultivation should be done alone in a quiet chamber.
• Maintain a clear and serene mental state.
• Avoid contact with impure substances.
• By visualizing these deities, one can calm the hun (ethereal soul) and po (corporeal soul), thereby warding off all malevolent influences.

Detailed visualization method:

First, tap the teeth twenty-four times, then sequentially visualize the eight deities of the head:

1. The spirit of the brain: Named Mingjue Yuanzi, styled Daodu, measuring 1.1 inches in height, dressed in white robes.

2. The spirit of the hair: Named Xuanwen Hua, styled Daoheng, measuring 2.2 inches in height, dressed in black robes.

3. The spirit of the skin: Named Tongzhong Zhong, styled Daolian, measuring 1.5 inches in height, dressed in yellow robes.

4. The spirit of the eyes: Named Xujian Sheng, styled Daotong, measuring 3.6 inches in height, dressed in multicolored robes.

5. The spirit of the neck and marrow: Named Lingmo Gai, styled Daozhou, measuring 5 inches in height, dressed in plain white robes.

6. The spirit of the spine (lü shen): Named Yili Fu, styled Daozhu, measuring 3.5 inches in height, dressed in jade-white robes.

7. The spirit of the nose: Named Chonglong Yu, styled Daowei, measuring 2.5 inches in height, dressed in robes of blue, white, and yellow.

8. The spirit of the tongue: Named Shiliang Zhi, styled Daoqi, measuring 7 inches in height, dressed in pure red robes.

(Note: These are the visualization methods for the eight upper-body deities. The scripture also includes methods for visualizing the remaining sixteen deities.)

This scripture expounds the Daoist practice of cultivating the "Twenty-Four Shen" (spiritual deities), with particular emphasis on the ritual procedures and symbolic significance of tooth-tapping and saliva-swallowing.

During cultivation, practitioners must first visualize the twenty-four deities residing within corresponding parts of their bodies, imagining them as infant-like beings peacefully dwelling within. This is followed by eight sequences of tooth-tapping and saliva-swallowing while silently reciting the incantation: "The Eight Superior Shen unite as one, the Mysterious Mother of Imperial Lords returns to her throne, physical forms transform to return to original truth, with countless chariots and steeds we ascend to the celestial palace..." When initially visualizing the deities, one must invoke each deity's name three times, repeating this triple invocation after completing the mantra.

The scripture elaborates on three distinct tooth-tapping methods: tapping left teeth is called "Striking the Celestial Bell" (Kou Tianzhong), tapping right teeth is termed "Beating the Celestial Chime" (Chui Tianqing), while tapping upper and lower teeth together is known as "Sounding the Celestial Drum" (Ming Tiangu). Different occasions require specific methods: strike the Celestial Bell thirty times when encountering ominous situations, beat the Celestial Chime when entering mountains to ward off evils, and sound the Celestial Drum when summoning deities for spiritual cultivation. This is because malevolent spirits fear the Bell's resonance, mountain deities dread the Chime's vibrations, and summoning divine beings requires the Drum's solemnity.

A crucial reminder emphasizes ritual precision: the number of tooth-taps shouldn't rigidly adhere to thirty, but should adapt to specific cultivation purposes. Daoist methods must not be confused or mixed haphazardly, lest failure ensue. Just as the Throat Deity (named Bailiu Fang, styled Daotong) measures exactly eight cun and eight fen tall wearing nine-colored robes, and the Lung Deity (named Su...) occupies its designated position, cultivation must follow inherent cosmological patterns without arbitrary deviation.

This passage embodies classic Daoist concepts of bodily deities and cultivation protocols, employing standardized physical gestures (tooth-tapping), visualization, and incantations to achieve communication with internal deities while exorcising evils and protecting the practitioner.

This scripture describes the visual characteristics and meditation practices for the "Twenty-Four Shen (spirit-deities)" within the human body. These deities are divided into upper, middle, and lower sections, with eight deities in each corresponding to different organs and body parts.

Upper Eight Deities (head region):

1. Lingsheng (Heart Shen): styled Daoping, appears pure white, 8.1 inches tall

2. Yangchang (Liver Shen): styled Daoming, red, 9 inches tall

3. Zidao (Gallbladder Shen): green-yellow, 6 inches tall

4. Juzi (Left Kidney Shen): green-yellow-green, 2.6 inches tall

5. Yuanzhen (Right Kidney Shen): styled Daoqing, changes color (white-red-green etc.), 3.7 inches tall

6. Xiangdiwu (Spleen Shen): styled Daosheng, white or black, 3.5 inches tall

7. Baoyuanquan (secondary Spleen Shen?): styled Daoqian, true yellow, 7.3 inches tall

8. Unnamed (Stomach Shen): styled Daozhan, yellow, 7 inches tall

Middle Eight Deities (torso region):

1. Tonglaiyu (Stomach Shen): yellow

2. Zhaotengkang (Small Intestine Shen): styled Daohuan, yellow-red, 2.4 inches tall

3. Pengsongliu (Large Intestine Shen): styled Daochu, red-yellow, 2.1 inches tall

4. Shouhoubo (Anal Shen?): styled Daoxu, wears nine-colored robes, 9.1 inches tall

5. Guangyingzhai (Diaphragm Shen): styled Daozhong, white, 5 inches tall

6. Pixiama (Flank Shen): styled Daocheng, red-white, 4.1 inches tall

7. Fuliuqi (Left Yin/Yang Shen): styled Daogui, green-yellow-white, 2.3 inches tall (varies by gender)

8. Baobiaoming (Right Yin/Yang Shen): styled Daosheng, green-yellow-white, 2.3 inches tall (varies by gender)

Practice Methods:

1. Visualize these deities as infant-like figures residing in their corresponding body parts

2. Upon completion, knock teeth eight times and swallow saliva eight times

3. Recite incantations (partial contents included in the text)

This scripture embodies the Daoist concept of "body deities," which holds that every part of the human body is inhabited by spiritual beings. By visualizing their forms, colors, and dimensions while performing rituals like tooth-knocking and saliva-swallowing, practitioners can achieve health cultivation and spiritual refinement.

This scripture describes the Daoist meditation practice of visualizing the "Twenty-Four Shen" (spirits), focusing on how to mobilize these inner deities through contemplation. Here's a simplified explanation:

During practice, one visualizes twenty-four divine beings within the body. The foremost is called "Dao Yi Neishen" (Inner Spirit of Dao's Unity) for male practitioners, while female practitioners call it "Zhenyuan Zhongling" (Central Numen of True Origin). This spirit appears as a purple miniature figure about 1.2 inches tall, residing in the upper central region of the body. Practitioners should imagine it as a peacefully seated infant.

Practice method:

1. Lie flat at midnight, relax all limbs, and regulate breathing

2. Gently tap teeth 24 times, swallow saliva 24 times

3. Silently recite incantations (regulating the Five Organs and enhancing vitality)

4. Close eyes for inner vision, visualizing each spirit in its proper position

5. If visualization remains unclear, switch to seated meditation with incense

Key points:

• Knowing the spirit's name and form is essential for successful practice
• On the first day of each lunar month, visualize white light emitting from both eyes during midnight practice
• This light transforms into two luminous mirrors (9 inches diameter) illuminating all twenty-four spirits
• Conclude by reciting the mirror incantation: "Radiant treasure mirror illuminates the primal spirit, dispelling demonic influences"

Practice essentials:

• Male and female practitioners use different names for corresponding spirits, though their essence remains identical
• Practice should be conducted privately without observation
• Improper practice may cause spirit imbalance and organ damage

(Note: "Taiwei Dijun" refers to an important Daoist deity; "Twenty-Four Shen" denotes the body's internal spirits; "Cunsi" represents a core Daoist visualization technique)

This passage describes a cultivation method called "the Way of Cleansing the Pupils" from the Scripture of the Twenty-Four Spirits Returning to the Origin by the Great Micro Emperor, which grants the ability to perceive myriad spirits. The practice is as follows:

During the noon hour on a Gengwu day (the seventh day in the ten-day Jiazi cycle of the traditional Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches calendar), take one sheng of clear water and add one zhu (an ancient unit of weight) of true cinnabar. Stir it counterclockwise three to five times while silently reciting the incantation: "Mysterious flow, vermilion essence (referring to cinnabar), generate light to illuminate within. May all the spirits in my body manifest, granting me vision across ten thousand li and insight into the Nine Darknesses. May the Great Micro Emperor illuminate this disciple, elevating me to the realm of Supreme Clarity."

After reciting, face east and wash the eyes fourteen times with this water. Persisting in this practice will confer the ability to perceive divine beings. Important notes: The incantation should be whispered softly; when using the water, it's preferable to face the monthly "monthly construction" direction (an ancient calendrical term referring to the Earthly Branch orientation corresponding to that month), rather than strictly facing east.

The scripture emphasizes that regular practice of this method can avert calamities and ultimately lead to attainment of high immortal rank. This technique of "harmonizing the five spirits" (referring to balancing the deities of the five viscera) represents an essential practice within the Shangqing (Supreme Clarity) tradition, a major Daoist school.