The Taiji Elixir Classic Annotation "Direct Explanation of the Mysteries" talks about taking great elixirs

The salaries of the Three Pure Ones and the granaries given by the Jade Emperor could only be received by the sages and virtuous men of the past. More than eight hundred families, such as Xu Jingyang, Ge Xianweng, Yin Zhijun, etc., all practiced and consumed food after achieving enlightenment to save the masses. The immortal said, "The inner core has been completed." "Everything outside is fine." " When one receives the true teachings, they should first accumulate essence and energy, gather both internal and external Dharma wealth, and cultivate their energy to be full and their spirit complete. Then, the golden light will appear and remain bright day and night. In this way, the inner elixir within my body will be completed, and the outer elixir within me will also manifest. When reading books, one should not blindly follow the pictures. Only when the day and night are always bright and the medicinal seedlings have already grown can one collect the external herbs and match them with the male and female ones within the body to obtain the golden elixir and take it in the mouth. When the heat of the week is ripe, it will immediately become clear. Letting go without hindrance is the complete shedding of the cicada's shell. Silently paying homage to God, encountering the celestial bestowal in the middle, receiving the divine blessing, only then does the divine pay homage. It can shatter the sky and mend the earth, pluck stars and grasp the moon, drive away thunder and turn the stars, summon wind and rain, and stir up all spirits, making the palm of heaven and earth resemble one's own. This virtue surpasses that of three generations of emperors, and wisdom surpasses that of seven generations of top scorers. Only at this point can one refine and consume the golden elixir. [Note] ① The Three Pure Ones: The three Dharma bodies transformed by the Primordial Heavenly King in Taoist legend: the Jade Pure Primordial Heavenly Lord, the Upper Pure Lingbao Heavenly Lord, and the Great Pure Morality Heavenly Lord. Also known as the Three Pure Realms or the Three Days. This is actually a metaphor for the primordial essence, primordial energy and primordial spirit transformed from the first 炁 of the universe. Because they have substance but no form and are extremely pure, they are called the Three Purities. ② Jade Emperor: The celestial emperor worshipped in Taoism, also known as the King Emperor. This is actually a metaphor for the mysterious master of the universe and nature. ③ Group walking: "Walking" means aimless and random walking. In "Huainanzi: Spiritual Training", it is stated: "Go in a rush, come unexpectedly." Gao You's note: "It was a sudden contact without doing anything." Here, "hu" means vague and indistinct. "Qun Dai" refers to the majority of people in the world who have no life goals to pursue and just lead an ordinary and muddled life. ④ To look: to observe in detail. The universe naturally regards the three purest elements, namely the primordial essence, the primordial energy, and the primordial spirit, as the remuneration for the labor that endows wisdom life. It also, in its capacity as the supreme ruler, provides this inexhaustible supply for intelligent life. However, without the great wisdom and spirit of the sages, who could obtain such selfless and abundant gifts from the universe? What I have said above is in reference to Da Dan. But a great pill is not something that can be obtained simply by starting to cultivate. For instance, Xu Zuyang, Ge Xianweng, and Duan Zhenjun (Note: Xu Fangyang, also known as Xu Xun; Ge Xianweng, also known as Ge Hong;) Yin Zhenjun should refer to Yin Qi, whose given name was Wenxiang and also dao 筌. No one knows who he was. He had many strange and extraordinary events in his life, as recorded in the "Continuation of the Immortal Biography". There were more than eight hundred great cultivators in his life. They all practiced the great elixir that could be consumed after they had achieved the great Way, and only then did they become immortals and save most people in the world who did not know the cultivation of the Great way. The immortal said, "Only when the inner core is cultivated will the outer core be cultivated accordingly." (Note: This "outer elixir" refers to the great Elixir, actually referring to the universe 's natural primordial primordial unity 炁. Because it is obtained from outside the body, it is called external elixir. This is not the same as using lead to smelt various sulfur ores to produce yellowish-white external elixirs. The meaning of this sentence is: A cultivator, upon receiving the true and proper teachings, first accumulates essence and energy, and accumulates internal and external Dharma wealth from his own body, mind, essence, energy and spirit (Note: The mind does not stray outward, nourishing one's own spirit and energy is called accumulating external Dharma wealth; internally preserving essence and energy, increasing without damage is called accumulating internal Dharma wealth.) These two can be said interchangeably. In conclusion, the absence of external consumption and internal damage is the accumulation of both internal and external Dharma wealth. When the qi is full and the spirit is complete, it is like being refined into gold and shining brightly day and night, reaching a high degree of harmony between the spirit and qi. Thus, when the inner elixir within our body is cultivated, the external elixir will also show signs of discovery. When reading elixirs and Taoist books, one should not act based on the literal meaning of the words. Because the surface meaning of that word is usually a metaphor or allegory, rather than its true connotation. However, its true connotation often has to be expressed through metonymy or metaphor because it cannot be expressed directly or directly. (Note: Mr. Mitutoyo's emphasis on this meaning is also to illustrate that his writings often employ metonymy or metaphor as well.)" When a practitioner of the tao has achieved a highly harmonious state of spirit and energy, the essence of the universe and nature outside the body has begun to enter the body. This means that the medicinal seeds of the external elixir have started to sprout, and it also indicates that the time has come to collect and absorb the external elixir. It can be collected and absorbed to match it with the Yin and Yang within the body (Note: female is Yin, that is, spirit; male is Yang, that is, qi), so as to obtain the golden elixir we pursue. (Note: This golden elixir is the pill of the great returned golden liquid, which is also the great Elixir referred to in this article.) The so-called entry means taking. However, the terms "mouth" and "consumption" are also compared to tangible elixirs. It's not that there are really any golden elixirs entering the mouth and abdomen; it's merely that they enter the body from the outside. However, during practice, there are indeed times when round beads suddenly appear in the mouth, but they are not real objects and can be swallowed into the abdomen. In this sense, it can also be said to be truly taken. In understanding this matter, one should value righteousness over appearance." The human body's small world and the vast universe merged, giving rise to the chaotic Zhou Tian. During this week's formation, the natural true fire within is activated. In an instant, the body and mind will become clear and bright in the void. From then on, the Yang spirit cultivated through training can be separated from the physical body without any obstacles. It is only at this stage that one's martial arts skills can be said to have shed their shell like a cicada. The maturity of the Yang God can enable a person's original life to transcend human life forms and functions to a higher level of life. In this advanced life level, the Yang God will pay homage to the leader of this life level - that is, what humans call God. (Note: The advanced life world should be diverse and also have hierarchical differences.) The different cultivation methods adopted by humans on Earth since ancient times, which may lead to varying degrees of enlightenment and attainment, should also be classified into different levels of the diverse superhuman life world. Gods of different names, they should be the leaders of different superhuman worlds. According to his instructions, they ascend in broad daylight on the predestined day and undertake corresponding duties in that life world. His life is no longer sustained by the tangible nutrients that humans must rely on, but by directly maintaining the original energy of the universe and nature. Once entering this new life world, the advanced life forms of this world will all come to congratulate the new members. The cultivation of the Great Way is astonishing and extraordinary. Refining the essence with the spirit is like breaking the heavens and tonifying the earth; taking the innate essence is like grasping the stars and the moon; regulating the breath and transporting it is like driving away thunder and turning the stars; the interaction of the spirit and energy to stir the body and mind is like summoning the wind and rain. Every cell in the body can exert the holographic function of life, which is like being commanded by all the gods. Although the body and mind are very small, the inner scene of their cultivation reflects the entire natural creation of the universe. Even the tiniest demonstration of the universe can be manifested in the cultivation process. It can truly be said that the vast universe has been condensed into the palm of one's hand. The merit and virtue gained from the cultivation of the Great Way is something that one cannot enjoy even if they were emperors for three lifetimes. The wisdom cultivated through the Great Way is something that one cannot possess even if they were the top scorer in the imperial examination for seven lifetimes. Only when one reaches the stage of great virtue and wisdom, that is, the stage where the spirit and qi are highly integrated, can one refine and consume the Golden Pill, which is also known as the Great Pill. Note: There are two major stages in the cultivation of inner elixirs. The first stage is when the spirit and energy within one's own body and mind are in harmony. The elixir formed here is a jade liquid elixir, a small elixir, which is said to be the practice accomplished through a hundred days of foundation establishment. Mastering this skill can lead to immortality and make one an immortal. The second level is to collect the 炁 of the natural essence of the universe with the elixir of jade liquid. This 炁 is the external medicine and external elixir. After being refined together with the elixir of jade liquid to form a vessel of liquid, that is, to take the great elixir. This is referred to as the practice of carrying a baby for ten months after a hundred days of laying a foundation. The Great Pill is the embryo of the holy fetus. After ten months of geformation, when the holy fetus matures, it transforms from a divine being into a Yang deity. After three years of training through breastfeeding and nurturing infants, it can become a free and unrestrained immortal true. This pill is like a single grain of millet. When it falls to the ground, it emits a golden light that illuminates the sky, and thus it is called the divine Pill. If one doesn't understand the divine, how dare it be said to be taking external elixirs? This principle is profound and far-reaching. Gold breeds gold, silver breeds silver; there are no other spirits or gods outside. This yellow and white technique ② is not the gold and silver of the mortal world; it is the mother's restraining qi ③. If one acquires the true lineage and can produce the primordial great medicine, recognizing the yellow bud ④ and the white snow ⑤, which are yellow and white, they can be used as the mother to restrain qi and refine the spirit Pill. However, gold, silver, water and medicine are all acquired later in life, and without knowing the true Yin, true Yang and the same kind, they can never achieve anything. All scholars in the world cannot distinguish truth from falsehood. If one doesn't meet a virtuous person, they are all blindly practicing and cultivating. Those who are truly cultivating their lives, if they have not met a wise teacher, should concentrate on reading books. The ancient sacred elixir books do not merely utter a single word or make a rash statement. It is just that later generations fail to distinguish right from wrong, nor do they know that the books of sages and virtuous men are all filled with hidden sayings and parables. When encountering mediocre teachers, they stubbornly believe in heretics, the poison enters their hearts, and they have no ability to adapt. They are ambiguous and self-righteous, their voices and colors keep others at a distance. Then the sage looked at him and went away. How could he be a celestial being! When scholars have not met the right person, they should be cautious of lowering their minds, accumulate merit and deeds, not retreat when encountering demons, not be angry when slandered, and value the way over wealth. When encountering a righteous person, one is determined and diligent in seeking, unraveling the two true truths both inside and outside one's life. Suddenly, one awakens to the various books and is no longer deceived by others. If one is a man of lofty aspirations and a gentleman, one should have a solid heart, value the integrity of the mind and the determination of one's spirit, keep a low mind and a humble will, endure the hardships of demons and tribulations, live a life full of suffering, sweep away all distractions to seek a wise teacher, and spare no effort to endure the initial hardships of one's life. The first one is the primordial ancestral qi, which contains a bit of true Yang and true Yin. True Yang and true Yin originated before heaven and earth, at the beginning of the primordial chaos. This bright and clear millet pearl hung in the air, shining brightly. But those who have not been enlightened by a master are like those in a drunken dream. Any move other than this one is a sideline. This spiritual and clear pearl lies in the void, containing all phenomena hidden and occurring. Everything is like this. [Note] ① Millet: It is the fruit produced by 黍子. Youdaoplaceholder0 is a drought-resistant crop that grows in the north, similar to sorghum but short. Millet grains are small red, hard and lustrous, very much like the elixirs made by ancient physicians. The alchemists use this as a metaphor for a primordial void spirit 炁. ② The technique of yellow and White: that is, the technique of refining gold and silver. Yellow refers to gold and white refers to silver. ③ Mother Meets Qi: "Mother" refers to the elixir of jade liquid, which is called the "Elixir mother". "Yu" means to summon, restrain, stop or hold back. "Qi" refers to the 炁 of the primordial mixture, that is, the external elixir. The Jade Liquid Pill is an inner pill and serves as the mother. The 炁 of the universe 's primordial element is outwardly open, representing the child. There is a mother to call the child, thus it is said that the mother meets the qi. ④ Yellow bud: In the case of lead-mercury outer elixir, it is a spore-like substance produced by the condensation of lead and water in a clay cauldron. If further refined with it, it can become yellow complete. In terms of internal alchemy, this refers to the primordial movement that occurs under the void and static state governed by the true intention, that is, the true essence qi in the kidney emerges, just like the tender yellow buds of plants sprouting on the earth in early spring. Hence the name. ⑤ Snow White: In the process of refining lead-mercury outer elixirs, it refers to the powdery and white frost-like substance formed by the condensation of mercury inside the lid of the tripod. In the art of internal alchemy, it refers to the state where the true mind is internally guarded, the eyes are slightly closed, and in a state of emptiness and stillness, the white light that is internally concentrated by the wisdom light of the eyes and illuminates the entire body and mind is called the white light generated in the void room. ⑥ Wangwangran: A look of disdain. This great pill is like a grain of millet, which can be said to be extremely small and insipid. But its function is immense. When it is summoned by the universe and nature and emerges from the "earth" of the human body, it can be said to be a golden light that spreads throughout the sky, its vastness is boundless. It is precisely because of such great power that it is called the Divine Pill. If it could not possess such miraculous functions and effects, how could immortals dare to make such an unquestionable affirmation of the consumption of external elixirs! This principle of outwardly taking food contains profound and subtle natural mysteries. To put it bluntly, it's all about seeking one's own kind. If you grow gold, you will produce gold; if you grow silver, you will produce silver. You reap what you sow. You reap what you sow naturally; you reap what you sow later. Besides, there is nothing particularly mysterious. The technique of taking external elixirs can also be regarded as the yellow and white art of refining gold and silver. But this yellow and white art is not the tangible gold and silver of the mortal world. It is synthesized by the primordial element 炁 summoned by a place of internal gathering with maternal nature, and thus it is called "mother meets qi". If a cultivator has received the true Dharma instruction, he can produce the primordial great medicine, recognize the yellow bud and white snow, and only with this "yellow and white" can he synthesize the maternal inner gathering field, and only then can he summon and retain the primordial 炁 outside the body to refine and take the Food god pill. (Note: The yellow bud represents the true Yang energy, and the white snow represents the true Yin spirit. When the energy and spirit are combined, jade liquid and elixir are formed.) The Jade Liquid Pill is the mother of the cultivation and consumption of the great Pill, which forms a maternal internal gathering field for the external pill. However, all tangible substances such as gold, silver, water and medicine (Note: this refers to a person's vital energy and spirit after death) belong to the postnatal stage and cannot become the gathering place of the maternal nature. And some people don't know that true Yin and true Yang are of the same kind. In fact, they are two names for the same thing. It's just that they are classified as Yin and Yang based on movement and stillness. If one does not understand this principle, they will not be able to correctly grasp the right degree of cultivation. If one desires to achieve great alchemy, it is absolutely impossible. Regrettably, many people in the world who study Taoism cannot distinguish the true from the false. They do not encounter the guidance of the true Dharma and merely practice blindly, either achieving nothing or doing more harm than good. A truly determined person who is engaged in the cultivation of both life and nature, if he has not yet encountered a wise master, must devote himself to reading the elixir scriptures and Taoist books. It should be known that the alchemy books of the sages of previous generations did not scribble a single character or utter a single word rashly. It is just that later generations often lack the ability to distinguish right from wrong and are unaware that the alchemy books of the sages of previous generations are filled with hidden sayings and parables. Therefore, when they encounter foolish teachers, they will take the hidden sayings and parables in the alchemy books as true stories and persist in them, thus misleading others and harming their own minds and bodies. These people, when they fall into the trap of heretical ways, will develop a stubborn and obstinative heart. They have only a superficial understanding of the principles of the great way and speak smoothly and melodiously. But if you examine them carefully, you will find that they are completely off the point. They are even less aware that there are common principles between this thing and that thing. They always stubbornly cling to one aspect of a matter without knowing how to flexibly apply the common principles between them. It is just such a half-filled bottle of water, yet often arrogant and boastful, showing no respect for others' reasoning. If you point out to him that a certain principle or method is wrong, he will reject it without hesitation. So, when ordinary sages know of this situation, they will keep their distance from them. How much more so would immortals and sages be willing to approach them? For a person who studies the Tao, when he has not yet encountered a true master and the right Dharma, the best choice for him is not to practice any specific skills at first, but to carefully cultivate his mind, nature and virtue. No matter what setbacks or setbacks he encounters, he should not lose confidence or retreat. No matter what kind of ridicule or abuse he encounters, he should not be resentful or angry. Regard morality as life and money as dirt. Note: There are also differences in the use of the principle over wealth. To be indifferent to wealth means to be indifferent to personal desires, not to abandon wealth at the sight of it. If wealth is obtained in a proper way and used in a proper way, it is being used properly. If one is born without the ability to acquire wealth, or if one has wealth but it is insignificant, but does not use it to promote the great way and relieve poverty and suffering, but instead squanders it wantonly, it is a misuse. Therefore, those who practice Taoism should not only be indifferent to wealth but also love it. However, this "love" is the love of cherishing. Once encountering the true teachings of a wise master, one should focus wholeheartedly on practicing and comprehending, truly understanding the two true messages within and outside the body. Suddenly, one will have a clear understanding of the connotations of many alchemy scriptures and Taoist books. From then on, one will no longer be confused by various different opinions from people. If a person with lofty aspirations is truly determined to complete the great cause of spiritual cultivation starting from the restoration of life, they should eliminate all the troubles of heretics, put their wrong thoughts back on the right track, and re-establish their wrong aspirations on the correct basis. They should voluntarily and consciously undergo the tests of hardships, recognize the truth in the midst of hardships, and seek out a wise teacher. If one can trace back to the original state of the human life structure, then the aspiration to cultivate and achieve enlightenment may also be fulfilled. The initial state of the structure of life. There was nothing but the primordial ancestral energy there. This qi contains a bit of true Yin and true Yang, yet these true Yin and true Yang are inseparable from each other. From the perspective of the evolution phenomena in nature, true Yin and true Yang arise before any tangible matter, that is, the extreme point of chaos, the beginning of the primordial chaos, and the start of all things (Note: that is, the boundless and the Taiji, the unity and inseparability of true Yin and true Yang is the Taiji). It has no figurative form to compare. Its small size has no inner boundaries, and its large size has no outer boundaries. The alchemists reluctantly describe it as a precious pearl of spiritual clarity. This luminous pearl hangs in the void where the four elements are not present. All phenomena are contained within it, all things are hidden within it, and the occurrence of all things begins with it. Everything lies within it. Note: This article, "The Theory of Taking the Great Elixir", discusses it from a theoretical perspective. However, those who study the Tao must first understand the principles before they can seek the Dharma. When the principle is clear, the law is clear; when the principle is unclear, the law is hard to understand. Therefore, in a certain sense, to grasp the reason is to grasp the method. The consumption of great elixirs is the highest level of cultivation. However, the large elixir and the small boat, that is, the golden liquid elixir and the jade liquid elixir, do not have any difference in quality; they are merely a distinction between microscopic and macroscopic levels. Here's a metaphor: when a jade Liquid Pill is cultivated, it's like a bucket of water that, after being splashed and consumed, is filled up again. But merely filling it up is still not enough. Because even if you no longer sprinkle it or consume it artificially, it will eventually evaporate naturally. Now put this bucket of water into the sea and let the seawater gradually melt the wooden bucket. The water in this bucket will then merge with the sea water and will never dry up again. When the water in the bucket and the sea water merge into one, it is the cultivation of the Golden Liquid Pill. The water in a bucket is water, and the water in the sea is water. This is what people of the same kind seek. However, this metaphor is still a metaphor. It is hoped that scholars will not fall into the literal form and understand it mechanically. The author, Mr. Kong De, authorizes this website for exclusive publication and recording. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use for other purposes is prohibited.