Annotation ① of "Xuan Yao Chapter, Part II

The Dao gives birth to heaven and earth, nurtures all things. When it is released, it encompasses the void; when it is gathered, it retreats and hides in the secret. The two instruments, the sun and the moon, and the Five Elements are all creations in the Dao. Everything has its own Taiji, which is the Dao. Everyone has an innate nature in their heart, which is also the way. When the Five Elements are in harmony, one gives birth to life; when they are in opposition, one becomes an immortal or a Buddha. Therefore, it is said that when the five elements are in harmony, the fire pit of the Dharma realm ①; when the five elements follow the way, the seven treasures of heaven and earth ②. The essence of these five elements is hidden in the four Great Shapes of the mountains, in a place that is neither inside nor outside. It is merely "used daily by the common people without their knowledge". The people can follow it and act in accordance with it. Do not let it be known; it is going against the flow. A fish in water does not know that it is water. When one lives within the qi, one does not know that it is qi. This metaphor implies that by concentrating on research, reflecting one's light, attaining enlightenment and realizing one's true nature, one can attain immortality and Buddhahood. What's even more difficult! [Note] ① Dharma Realm Heated Brick bed: Dharma Realm, a term used in Buddhism. "Law" refers to the natural evolution; "Jie" refers to the classification of different things that are naturally transformed, such as the "Three Realms" and the "Eighteen Realms". In short, it belongs to the phenomenal world. Because the material existence form of the phenomenal world is not eternal and is constantly changing, it is called illusory. Human beings are one of the life forms in the phenomenal world and are also illusory. They have to constantly cycle through the six realms, and the experience is very painful, just like a fire pit. This metaphor suggests that entering the Dharma realm is like jumping into a fire pit. ② The Seven Treasures of Heaven and Earth: Here, "heaven and earth" symbolize the harmonious integration of the human body, the small universe, and the vast universe. "Seven Treasures", a term in Buddhism, refers to the seven precious substances in the mortal world. The Lotus Sutra regards gold, silver, glass, conch shell, agate, pearl and rose as the seven treasures, while the Infinite Life Sutra, the Great Wisdom Sutra and the Prajna Sutra are largely similar but slightly different. This is a metaphor for the most beautiful and virtuous innate state after the harmony of the human body, the inside and outside, and the universe. ③ The Four Great Mountains: Buddhism regards "earth, water, fire and wind" as the "Four Great Elements", considering them the fundamental components of the phenomenal world. This metaphor implies that the human body is a shaped mountain composed of material elements. The "Dao" we refer to means that the universe is created by it and all things are nurtured by it. When it expands, it can encompass the boundless void of the universe; when it retracts, it can retreat to the most minute and subtle place within its tiny void. The laws of Yin and Yang, the sun and the moon representing Yin and Yang, and the basic five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, etc.) that carry the information of Yin and Yang and constitute the phenomenal world, are all natural creations of the Dao in its movement. Anything: tangible, intangible; Spiritual, material; Short-lived, long-lasting; As long as they have occurred, they will give rise to something from nothing and will be stimulated from the state of infinity to the state of Taiji. That is to say, they once had the most beautiful and virtuous period when Yin and Yang were in harmony. This Taiji state of harmonious beauty and goodness of Yin and Yang is the Tao we are specifically referring to. No matter how many people there are in the world, and regardless of who they are, in terms of the soul, no matter what changes occur in people's souls after they are born, all these changes in the soul arise from the soul that remained unchanged at the beginning. The changed mind belongs to the acquired state, while the unchanged original mind belongs to the innate state. This unaltered innate mind is also what we specifically refer to as the Dao. The Five Elements - these fundamental material elements that constitute the phenomenal world. They come into being out of nothing, in accordance with the natural laws of transformation and operation. To see nothing but have something is innate and acquired, and it is the following of the laws. When the Five Elements are in direct motion, they keep evolving and can be transformed into human beings or living creatures. Human beings can evolve into other things, and other things can also evolve into human beings, and so on, endlessly. However, if the direct movement of the Five elements is reversed, that is, from being to non-being, from the acquired to the innate, then for human beings, this reverse application of the Five Elements will cause life to return to the Dao, to be created together with the Dao, and thus form living beings that are in line with the Dao's energy. This is what Buddhism refers to as "Buddha" and Taoism refers to as "Immortal". So. According to Buddhism, when the five elements follow the same pattern, life will be plunged into an endless evolution of material forms. This is a phenomenon in the Dharma realm and a tribulation of life. If the Five Elements are reversed, life will no longer fall into the realm of the Dharma, but will return to the purest, most beautiful and most precious primordial state. That realm can be roughly compared to the most precious treasures in the world. From this, it can be seen that in the cultivation of the Great Way, the first step lies above the five elements. However, these five elements are not placed openly for people to rely on, but are hidden within the special structure of the human body, a material form. It's not within the human body, nor is it outside the human body. But to say it is outside the human body is even less so. It is located in the most subtle part of the human body, neither inside nor outside, and can be perceived. People use it all the time in their daily lives, but ordinary people, although they use it every day, fail to notice it. Because, if one can perceive it, it is a return from the postnatal state to the innate state, a realm that only cultivators can enter. Ordinary people can only develop according to the laws of the Five Elements, taking the forward path from the innate to the acquired, and it is impossible for them to discern the truth of the great way and take the reverse path from the acquired to the innate. The Five Elements are the fundamental basis for the existence of life. However, it is precisely this fundamental basis for the existence of life that is often not perceived by life itself: fish live in water and do not sense the presence of water. People live in the air but do not sense its existence. What does this indicate? It shows that what is not perceived and cannot be perceived belongs to the Tao. Using the examples of fish and water as a metaphor to illustrate the relationship between human beings and the Yin and Yang and the Five elements of qi, this is very worthy of in-depth study and comprehension by those who practice Taoism. If one can understand this principle in the mundane world and grasp this mystery in the mundane world, what is meant by "the last rays of light" and "the enlightenment of the mind and the realization of one's true nature"? Once the ultimate enlightenment is achieved, what difficulty is there in attaining immortality or Buddhahood? Today, when people enter the path of enlightenment, they all show off their intelligence, boast of their quick-wittedness, and claim to be experts, but in the end, they never achieve enlightenment. There was also a first-degree blind man who, upon seeing the words of the ancient sages about external Yin and Yang, external cauldrons and external medicines, was obsessed with his children as cauldrons and utensils. Then he could also feel sorry for himself. Those who are fond of a hot fire are doomed to fail. It is extremely wrong to think that Xuanyuan must have used nine tripods to achieve enlightenment by casting the nine tripods. I have seen those who have entered the Five or Seven Tripods but have not achieved anything. And as soon as a person has a thought, the innate simplicity and purity disperse. If one is born with a loss, even if one exists later in life, how can it be beneficial to the body? However, there are only four major ones. How could one be so foolish as to understand the wondrous nature of the four seasons and the emergence of all things without saying a word? The lady's own creation is like that of heaven and earth, but she doesn't know how heaven can be clear and how earth can be peaceful, and she also doesn't know who advocates creation. If one can take tranquility as the body, composure as the foundation, the celestial heart as the main body, and the primordial spirit as the application, skillfully use the stolen machine, return to innocence, and return to the root to return to the mission, how could one not reach the position of the sage of heaven and earth! There is no such reason for the supreme use of the female tripod ①- [Note] ① Female Tripod: In the room, a young girl is used as the tripod for refining inner elixirs to nourish Yin and replenish Yang. The phrase "being obsessed with children as tripods" referred to in this article all means adopting tactics in the room. Children, that is, young girls. Most of those who study Taoism nowadays are just pretending to be smart. They may only have a superficial understanding of the true essence of the Great Way of cultivation, but they dare to talk about it fluently, acting as if they were authoritative experts. In fact, they know nothing at all. There is another kind of people with inferior roots. They will never understand what the Great Way is and their vision will always be as blind as that of a blind person, unable to distinguish truth from falsehood, black from white. For instance, when seeing the works of the predecessors of the Dan School discussing "external Yin and Yang", "external cauldrons and cauldrons", and "external medicines", one mistakenly believes that these are the sexual techniques for the transition between men and women, and regards "external" as a person of the opposite sex. This is truly another pitiful phenomenon. None of the people I have seen who engage in the practice of collecting martial arts in the rooms for health preservation have ever succeeded. Imagine the handover in the room. It is bound to first arouse the sexual desire of the person. And as soon as a person's thought is triggered, the naturally clear yet chaotic, simple and round soul is destroyed. Since the innate nature has been destroyed, the foundation of life is hard to sustain. Although the acquired nature can still exist temporarily, what benefits does it bring to the cultivation of the body and mind? It is merely a meaningless existence of a body composed of matter. Such a lowly fool, how could he know that although nature does not issue orders, the seasons and the seasons operate according to regular cycles, and all things grow, store and thrive in accordance with such periodic laws! In fact, the creation of human beings is also a microcosm of the natural world of heaven and earth. This "natural world of heaven and earth" does not take autonomy as the main focus but always returns to the simple "one", and thus this "natural world of heaven and earth" can last long. But the foolish do not understand what heaven and earth are, nor do they know how to make heaven "unified" and clear or earth "unified" and peaceful. They do not even know who is in charge of these. Therefore, their attempt to cultivate the Great way is a delusion. If one can take tranquility as the essence, composure as the foundation, the heart of heaven as the master, and the primordial spirit at work, imitate the natural laws of the transformation of the vast universe, return to the original appearance of nature, bring life back to the primordial root, and make the opportunity of life thrive again, would there still be any worry about not becoming a member of the highest intelligence among all living beings in nature? As for the matter of using a female tripod to refine elixirs, from the perspective of the Great Way cultivation, its principle doesn't make sense. Therefore, there is absolutely no such thing in the Great Way cultivation. Note: This section focuses on drawing a clear line between the righteous path and the heretic schools, especially emphasizing that the practice of engaging in battles within the room is for the cultivation of the great path. In fact, in the cultivation of the Great Way, there is also the technique of cutting and connecting for both men and women, but it is completely different from seeking form in the room. To be honest, for ordinary people who do not aspire to become immortals or Buddhas, the skills in the room between husband and wife can be regarded as beneficial methods for maintaining physical and mental health in the future. Moreover, even for those who cultivate the Great Way, in their lives, they must first strive to be perfect individuals before making efforts to ascend to immortality or Buddhahood. Therefore, I do not approve of a person who aspires to cultivate the Tao giving up all his desires without facing up to any objective circumstances. In this section, Mr. Mitutoshi also holds that Xuanyuan's attainment of enlightenment by casting the Nine Tripods was not the result of the imperial concubines' military prowess. The "Nine Tripods" do not refer to nine women, but he did not specify the original meaning of the "Nine Tripods". In my opinion, this "nine" is the greatest Yang number, Yang after Yang, pure Yang. This cannot be achieved through refinement, so "nine" is Yang, and it also implies the meaning of "nine returns" of refinement after refinement. The "Ding" represents the natural void that is neither inside nor outside. Refining a person's innate pure Yang through the natural void is called the "Nine Tripods". If a person with a karmic connection encounters a true master, they will first return the elixir to the jade, refine themselves and illuminate their light, cultivate and refine themselves, and shine their last light. This is the matter of revealing one's true nature and understanding one's mind. Having seen one's true nature, one should seek more upward things. Then, the golden liquid returns to the elixir, and emotions come to return to one's true nature. When one truly reaches the state of emptiness, great benefits will appear. The dragon Maiden presents a precious pearl ①, and the golden light is discovered. Only then can it be said to be a permanent gain. At the turn of the Hai and Zi, between the PI and Fu, when the sun was just beginning to rise, he initiated his work. At that time, he explored the moon cave with his hands and touched the root of the sky with his feet, and the return wind mixed with it. From then on, he achieved the miraculous effect of a hundred days of work. This golden liquid turns into elixir, which is the great way of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. Besides the dual cultivation of jade liquid, gold liquid and life, which is the way of tranquility and naturalness, the rest are all minor secondary methods. [Note] ① The Dragon Maiden presents a precious pearl: The dragon represents Zhen in the hexagram. Under the Yin of Kun, a Yang arises, just like the first rumble of spring thunder. This is the true Yang energy. The female figure represents the image of the Dui hexagram, where a Yin emerges from the dry Yang, much like the coolness generated in the summer heat. This is the essence of true Yin. When true Yang and true Yin are combined, the primordial great pill is obtained, which is why it is called the Dragon Maiden presenting a precious pearl. Moreover, the dragon belongs to the Eastern wood element of Jia and Yi, which is associated with nature. Wood can generate fire. Fire is located in the positions of Bing and Ding in the south. The hexagram Li is Yang on the outside and Yin on the inside. Yang represents fire and Ming represents liquid, referring to the spiritual liquid in the heart. The term "Dragon Girl" is collectively referred to as the true nature of one's mind. The true nature of one's mind is manifested, and the innate energy is generated, thus it is called "The Dragon Girl presents a precious Pearl". ② The connection between Hai and Zi: The twelve Earthly branches are: Zi, Chou, Yin, MAO, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai. It can be used to represent the periodic laws of the transformation and operation of Yin and Yang in years, months, days and hours. From Zi to Wu, it indicates that the Yang energy gradually grows, starting from the subtle and spreading. Never reaching the Year of the Pig indicates the decline of Yang and the growth of Yin, moving from light to heavy. Hai is the time of Yin, and Zi is the time when the first Yang begins to move. Hai represents the ultimate stillness, while Zi represents the second movement. ③ Between PI and Fu: PI is one of the 64 hexagrams, with Gen above and Kun below, indicating the dominance of Yin and the decline of Yang. In the art of alchemy, it is used as a metaphor for a person in their later years when their Yang energy gradually wanes, leaving only a body of Yin and turbidity, and their life is facing a crisis. In response, one of the sixty-four hexagrams, Kun is above and Zhen is below. It indicates the exhaustion of Yin and the emergence of Yang. In the art of alchemy, it is used as a metaphor for the initial stage where the postnatal state returns to the innate state. "Peifu and Haizi also have the same meaning." ④ The first movement of the sun: that is, the first movement of the true sun. It is manifested as true internal movement under the state of true concentration and true stillness. ⑤ Moon Cave: Another name for the upper Dantian, a place where divine light shines brightly. ⑥ Tian Gen: A different name for the lower dantian, the door where the mysterious female opens and closes. ⑦ Return air mixture: The state of fetal breathing. The breathing through the mouth and nose is interrupted, and the internal breathing is unobstructed and smooth. If a person is fortunate enough to meet a true teacher, they should cultivate step by step, first practicing the skill of returning the liquid to the elixir, and complete the contents of self-cultivation and enlightenment, self-discipline and self-cultivation, and the last rays of light. (Note: Self-cultivation means to restore the heart of the Dao after the death of the human heart; enlightenment has two meanings. One is to cultivate the Dao in the mundane world without revealing any hidden corners.) The second is the internal use of divine light, which is neither dark nor intense, but used in a balanced way. Those who cultivate and nurture themselves cultivate their Taoist heart and nurture their primordial spirit. The last gasp, concentrating and breathing in the heart, guards the void within the body. The goal to be achieved at this level is to realize the true nature of the mind. (Note: To understand the heart of the Dao and reveal one's nature.)" When one can perceive one's innate nature, it indicates that one has obtained the elixir of jade. After this, one can continue to strive for higher levels and practice the cultivation of golden Liquid and returning elixirs. The step at this level is to keep one's nature still. When the true mechanism of life is activated, let it merge with one's nature. The true mechanism of life is the hormone of true nature, which occurs naturally in a state of vacuum and true stillness, and is called true feeling. Its movement is the primordial natural Yang. When nature remains still, it is true Yin. When true Yang converges with true Yin, it is the origin of emotions and nature. By repeatedly exercising in this way until reaching the vacuum state, the innate great effect will emerge, that is, the true Yin and true Yang will merge into one, becoming the golden elixir of eternal life. The Dan family's secret saying is that the Dragon Maiden presented a golden pearl that shone brightly, and once she got it, she got it forever. Because this is the innate pursuit of the cultivator from the root within himself, not obtained from external causes, it is a one-time gain that is permanent. At this level of martial arts, the most crucial aspect is the control of heat, that is, at the juncture of Hai and Zi, between peeling and reconstitution, when Yin and Yang arise, one should seize the opportunity to carry out cooking and refinement. The key lies in seizing the moment when the true Yang first moves and allowing it to cooperate with the true Yin. Determine the timing for the true Yang to be refined: one is the golden light shining in the upper dantian, and the other is the surging true qi in the lower dantian. The Elixir Classic states, "The sky responds to the stars and the earth responds to the tides." At this juncture, one should maintain this state without losing it, and instead use concentration and breath regulation to refine and elevate it, that is, to purify the turbid Yin and obtain the pure Yang. This process takes about a hundred days. Conventionally, it is called the "Hundred-day Foundation Building", but in fact, it is a general expression. One must always be full of energy and spirit. This step is the return of the golden liquid to the elixir, which is the great cultivation skill of integrating Yin and Yang and gathering the five elements. The return of jade liquid to elixir is to enlighten the mind and see the true nature, to absorb the external and nourish the internal. Jin Ye Huan Dan is based on the principle of controlling life through nature, nourishing and refining both internally and externally. Both are forms of dual cultivation of life and nature, but they differ in their initial efforts and the depth of their levels. This entire jade liquid does not rely on external objects; it is cultivated from one's own Yin and Yang, making it a superior cultivation method that is serene and natural. Apart from this, any other methods of cultivation are considered minor and esoteric arts. A certain person set up a stove and a tripod both inside and out of his body, accumulated a series of mnemonic rhymes, and the heat of the medicine was fine. Having already obtained the void Dharma, he went into the room to perform the major task of putting the external medicine into his stomach. When one is angry and performs martial arts to the secret place ④, all the gods of the void pay homage, and the sounds of immortals play at the top. This matter is shrouded in mystery. Alas, because I failed to refine myself in the mundane world, I did not accumulate lead in the marketplace, my vital energy was not highly stable, and my foundation was not complete in all three aspects, although my principles were integrated, my true nature was not seen. Therefore, all things discover danger, and the mind is in a daze, unable to make decisions. Moreover, as there were no kindred spirits or companions outside to protect and guard them, touching their sounds and colors would shock and disperse their primordial spirits, causing the caulking to overturn the furnace. When the mind of the ape is compromised and the mind of the horse is lost, the spirit does not stay in its abode, and the energy does not return to its origin, it is met with its evil spirits. What is a Yin demon? I won't elaborate, for the younger generation won't know. It is all because once the true Yang energy dissipates, the Yin energy takes action. Day and night, ghosts and gods are causing harm within the body. Whether opening or closing the eyes, one can see ghosts and gods coming and going, and even in the ears, one can hear the noise of ghosts and gods. It's fine to hear and feel it during the day, but it's the hardest to do so at night. I dare not calm down for a moment. I was at the bottom of the sea, the Lord of that family, and the earth of the golden garrison was surging back. The qi and blood of my five internal organs all rose with me, and I couldn't lift myself to the ground. To lose one's life is truly the ultimate decision of the ghost family. I have temporarily abandoned my previous achievements, followed my master's instructions, and hidden myself in the imperial store, accumulating aluminum and mundane affairs, concentrating my emotions and returning to my true nature. The spirit of death has returned. The innocence that was stolen by heaven, earth and people from childhood to old age is now being seized and returned to my heavenly sacrifice in the void and the mundane world, in order to obtain the three completeness of the primordial essence, vital energy and spirit. Only when the heart is clear and the principles are integrated, and the principles are integrated to reveal one's nature, can the body and mind be greatly stabilized, and the five elements converge. Only then can one perform superior deeds and attain the great Way. [Note] ① Having a furnace and a tripod both inside and out: This "inside and out" has multiple meanings. For instance, one's body is a small world, while the outside is a large world. By using the small to complement the large and integrating the inside with the outside, this is the first point. The inner self is my spirit, the one that protects the spirit is my essence, and the one that generates essence is the energy of heaven and earth. This is also the inner and outer self. By concentrating the spirit and preserving the essence, the energy of heaven and earth will naturally enter from the outside. This is the second point. Internally, it is the master of my own body; externally, it is the master of nature. The master of my body is in harmony with the master of heaven and earth, that is, the outside is the master and the inside is the guest. This is the third point. In terms of human breathing, the external one is breathing through the mouth and nose, and the internal one is breathing during the fetal stage. Breathing through the mouth and nose is ordinary breathing, while breathing during the fetal stage is true breathing. The fourth point is to go beyond ordinary breathing to see true breathing. ② Cluster mnemonic: Apply all the key points and secrets of matching lives together. ③ External medicine entering the abdomen: External medicine refers to the primordial energy of heaven and earth. When the true essence of heaven and earth enters the dantian of my body, this is called external medicine entering the abdomen. ④ Secret Place: It refers to a void realm where there is no one and no self. I once followed the key points and methods my teacher had told me, setting up the furnace and establishing the tripod in multiple layers of meaning both inside and outside the body, cultivating the inner elixir, and the most crucial aspect of achieving harmony between life and death, the Miao Du Palm, was mentioned. In the process of cultivating, collecting, refining, and transporting medicinal materials in my martial arts, I have handled every minute detail of the heat very well. My martial arts have now reached the realm of the void. (Note: Under normal circumstances, this should be regarded as the completion of the minor cycle, having achieved the fruit of returning the elixir to the jade liquid.)" So I went into the room officially and refined the full liquid of the external medicine in the human abdomen to return the elixir. (Note: This indicates that the sitting meditation in the Jade Liquid Returning Pill technique can be interrupted, while the Golden Liquid Returning Pill is not only a specialized sitting meditation technique but also cannot be interrupted once one starts sitting. One must wait until a certain stage of practice is completed.)" When I reached the chaotic realm of no one, no self, and the emptiness of the four elements, everything suddenly turned from dark to light. The realm was like being in heaven, with many immortals greeting and congratulating me. All I could hear in my mind were the noisy words of the immortals. In such a situation, reaching this stage of martial arts cultivation is beyond the expectations of even ghosts and gods. No one can possibly understand the reason for this occurrence. However, because one's own nature had not been cultivated to be pure and thorough in real life before, and one failed to firmly establish the righteous energy of one's innate nature; In terms of the meridians, the meridians have not been fully unobstructed, and the mundane mind has not been completely dead, so the fetal breath of great concentration has not been reached either. Fundamentally speaking, neither the vital energy nor the spirit is complete and vigorous. The state at that time, when analyzed now, can be regarded as the principles and methods of cultivation being correct, and the effectiveness was also there, even very high. The key reason for the failure was the lack of insight into one's true nature, thus unable to regulate it. So when the body and mind merge with the universe, and many extraordinary changes that cannot occur under normal circumstances arise within the body and mind, the feelings these changes bring to people are sometimes pleasant, pleasant and comfortable, while others are terrifying and terrifying. But at this time, one's own mind is completely ignorant of them and does not know how to deal with them, appearing confused and uneasy. Moreover, when I was in a state of meditation at that time, there were no kindred spirits outside to help watch over me to prevent any interference from the outside. Therefore, the sudden loud noises and strong light from the outside, as well as the information brought by these sounds and colors, time and again disrupted my quiet state, and sometimes even scattered my primordial spirit. One has to be in a state of fear and terror for a certain period of time. This forced the great stillness and tranquility of the golden liquid to return the elixir to failure, and in technical terms, it was called "Ji Ding Fan Lu". In fact, it is due to impure cultivation of the mind and nature that the mind, this inferior ape, cannot be controlled, and the mind, this wild horse, runs wild and unrestrained. The spirit is not in the proper position of the mind, and the qi cannot be tied to the innate foundation. Therefore, it is bound to be tortuous by the evil spirits. (To be continued) The author, Mr. Kong De, has authorized this website for exclusive publication and recording. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use for other purposes is prohibited.