Annotation of Zhang Sanfeng's "The Nine Emperors' Elixir Classic: On Dragons, Tigers, Lead and Mercury

Kongde [original text] Daoist Master's discussion on the addition of lead and mercury to dragons and tigers is to ensure that future generations have a root and a connection. From now on, although immortals can still be immortals, I insist that ordinary people can also be immortals. It is only because they do not understand the principles of the golden elixir that they enter the netherworld as beast attendants. This dragon belongs to Yang. Once Yang is lost, it becomes Yin. This tiger belongs to the Yin category. It is Yin and has treasures, but it is Yang. The dragon is my entrance hall, and the tiger is that mysterious female. The dragon is lustful, but I do not let out a single "water", nor do I add a bit of "earth". It must be shaped like the character "Yao" to become a precious jade. The tiger is delicious, but I reveal my true "fire", add the character "jian", and insist on forming the character "lian", collecting it as the most precious golden liquid. Tiger, tiger, tiger, even if you open your mouth and expose your teeth, causing people to lose their hearts and souls, I have the means to subdue you and make you a beauty in the air. The color is hollow With the dragon's play, I'll turn you into a gathering of dragons and tigers. I'm not afraid that you won't get you from the tiger's den for me and let you into my three fields. Long, long, long, even if you are a lustrous creature, I have the means to subdue dragons. Even if you are ever-changing, I will use a Nezha Vajra circle to subdue you, draw your tendons, and use it as a golden belt to cultivate your nature and receive life. I will always keep it around, even if you do not go to the Taiji Immortal to clear a bit of the true and unrivaled method and blend with my great way. [Annotation] Master Sanfeng said that the ancient immortals' discussion on "the addition of lead and mercury from dragons and tigers" requires a connection and karmic connection in later generations. This "later generations" refers to the learners of the Tao in later generations. "Having roots and connections" means having the roots and conditions of the Dao. The Dao root, also known as the root vessel, has innate characteristics. This innate trait, first of all, is a particular interest in Taoist cultivation, as if he were supposed to be a Taoist from the very beginning, and they hit it off immediately. Second, he is particularly intelligent and quick-witted, grasping the principles of the great way at a glance and understanding them deeply. Unlike some stubborn heads, no matter how many times they are hit, they never come to their senses. The "Tao connection" refers to the opportunity to explore, inquire about, and study the Tao. This kind of opportunity is both objective and subjective. Both are indispensable. Without the subjective root of the Dao as the main condition, it is often impossible to distinguish the authenticity of the Dao. Even if the true Dao appears, it is easy to be missed in person, or it is often deceived by the false Dao and thus difficult to examine. Only those with the roots and connections of the Dao can withstand the systematic project of "dragon, tiger, lead, mercury, extraction and addition" and cultivate the great method. Those who can cultivate themselves into immortals must possess the qualifications of immortals. But having the qualification of a deity is not something that comes after becoming one; rather, it is all achieved through one's subjective efforts. In this sense, even immortals are made by ordinary people. Even if you have the roots and karmic connection to the Tao, you are still an ordinary person. The words of Master Sanfeng, "Even ordinary people can become immortals," have positive social significance. He encouraged people that as long as they sincerely follow the Tao and persistently cultivate it, the possibility of becoming immortals exists. Besides, even if you can't become an immortal, being able to cure diseases and prolong life is still a very good thing, isn't it? The only fear is that those who study the Tao cannot understand the truth of the Golden Elixir Great Way, nor do they understand the cultivation method of "dragon, tiger, lead, mercury, extraction and addition". They are busy and tired again and again, but still fail to grasp its true essence. In the end, they are still like ordinary people, unable to undergo a transcendent change in their body and mind, and still participate in the process of the "Six Paths of rebirth" of material re-evolution. In this life, you might be human, but in the next life, your physical body might evolve into that of a beast. In this world, heaven is not in the air and hell is not underground; it is a level of survival for life. Those who find joy in themselves live in heaven, while those who seek trouble for themselves live in hell. Let's first talk about "dragon and Tiger". The dragon refers to human nature. This nature in the primordial state is called innate nature, which is represented by a hexagram as the Qian hexagram, the three Yang lines. When it falls into the postnatal stage, it becomes the nature of consciousness. Among the three yangs of the primordial stage, one limit is lost, resulting in the Li hexagram, which is external Yang and internal Yin. When the mind is active, the spirit emerges. The tiger refers to human emotions. This feeling is called true affection in the innate sense, and it is represented by the hexagram Kun, with three clear lines. When it falls into the postnatal realm, it becomes desire and emotion. Among the three Yin elements in the prenatal realm, it gains one Yang, thus forming the Cooking hexagram, which is characterized by external Yin and internal Yang. When emotions are stirred, the essence is exhausted. A person whose innate nature falls into the postnatal stage exhibits individual role characteristics and has self-awareness, thus being called "I". Because of this personality of "I", which is invisible and intangible from birth to death, yet can play a concrete role, it can be said to be elusive. Therefore, it is compared to a dragon. This "dragon" can both maintain its innate nature and transform into the acquired one. The transition from innate to acquired is merely a matter of a single thought, much like a power switch. When a thought arises, it turns off and falls into the acquired one; when a thought ceases, it turns off and returns to the innate one. Therefore, this critical point is called the entrance hall. Mysterious and profound, it is the gateway to all the wonders. However, when innate emotions fall into the hands of an acquired person, from the perspective of a person's self-awareness, they do not possess the characteristics of an individual role. They can belong to me or not. It can be summoned by me and also excreted by me, thus it is called "that". This "that", if I train it well, can benefit my life. And if it is not trained properly, it will endanger my life. Using this analogy of interests, "he" is like a tiger. Love, that person and the tiger all refer to the primordial essence. My life depends on the nourishment of this primordial essence. However, the essence of the primordial essence is also a subtle thing that cannot be seen. It can come and go, and gains and losses occur imperceptibly. What is called the mysterious female is "xuan", meaning mysterious and unpredictable. Female, that is, maternal. If one can make a "dragon" enter the entrance hall, one can make a "tiger" take on the form of a mysterious female, creating something out of nothing and revealing its original essence. With a nature like that of a dragon, due to its Yang and fire characteristics, it is prone to movement. Therefore, what is innate is prone to transform into acquired nature and may develop to the extreme in the later stage, becoming the evil fire of evil thoughts, lust and greed, thereby damaging one's innate nature. From the perspective of hexagrams, the dragon belongs to the Li hexagram, which is Yang on the outside and Yin on the inside. In terms of the nature of the celestial consciousness in the future, what governs the movement of the postnatal state is the external Yang, within which there is a Yin, which is the true and clear primordial spirit, also known as the water of true Yin. The movement of external Yang is like the burning of flames, and what is consumed is the water of true Yin. When fire is too strong, water dries up. Therefore, those who cultivate themselves do not allow this dragon to have lewd desires, all for the purpose of preventing the depletion of the true Yin water. If a word game is used as a joke, "lewdness" indicates that one's nature is recognized after birth, and water is easily lost. And our cultivation is to preserve this "water" and prevent it from flowing away. The method of preservation is to store water with soil. Earth, in the Five Elements, belongs to the middle yellow upright position. It is a metaphor for a person's mental state. It is the true meaning, "One" or "enlightened spirit", which is a kind of balanced, rational, and enlightened thought without thoughts, mixed together to form "one". Adding "-" and "earth" forms the character for "king". If the "water" radical of the character for "Yin" is removed (indicating storage) and the "king" radical is added, it becomes the character for "Yao" (Note: In fact, the conversion of this character is only roughly similar and the structure is not accurate). Yao is a fine jade. Fine jade is a substance condensed and synthesized from the essence of the earth, warm and lustrous. In the art of inner alchemy, it is used as a metaphor for the achievements of refining and cultivating one's nature, and is called the supreme treasure of jade liquid, or the small return of jade liquid pill. This achievement is not only a result of self-discipline in mental state but also a physical verification: the mind is clear and the spirit is clear, the body fluids in the mouth are constantly flowing, and the body and mind are extremely refreshed. Love like a tiger, due to its characteristics of Yin and water, is prone to sinking and flowing. Therefore, innate emotions are prone to transform into acquired emotions and may develop to the extreme in the acquired way, becoming the lewd water of Yin essence, turbid essence and mundane essence, thereby depleting the destiny of heaven. From the perspective of hexagrams, the tiger belongs to the Kan hexagram, which is Yin on the outside and Yang on the inside. In terms of the emotions of the later heaven, the one that governs the later heaven and sinks is the external Yin, within which there is a Yang, which is the true Yang yuan 炁, also known as the fire of yuan Yang. The outer dark stream is like the leaking water of a field, and what is lost is the fire of the primordial Yang. When water runs out, fire goes out. Therefore, the cultivator does not allow this tiger to be greedy and seize, in order not to cause the 炁 of the primordial Yang to be deficient. If we use a word game as a joke, "fire" represents the primordial Yang, and the primordial Yang is easily swept away by the turbid water acquired later in life. And our cultivation is to extract this primordial Yang fire from the turbid water and prevent it from being lost. The method of refinement is to transform it into qi, thereby restoring essence and nourishing the brain, and integrating qi with the spirit. Adding "Cambodia" beside "fire" makes "refining". And this "Jian" shape resembles "Dong", so we can regard it as the "Jia Yi Wood" of the East. Wood can generate fire; it is the fire of true nature. Physiologically, the kidney is the place where essence and water are stored. When the essence of the kidney is refined by the fire of true nature, the original Yang true 炁 can be transformed. In alchemy, this is called the generation of gold from water. If this "golden" fortune is bestowed upon me and nourished upon me, it can enable our lives to last forever. So the Dan family called it the supreme treasure of golden liquid. Both gold and jade are the crystallization of natural essence, but jade can be damaged and even melted at high temperatures. Gold, on the other hand, becomes purer and more immortal the more it is refined. Therefore, gold is more durable and permanent than jade. Therefore, after the alchemists first obtain the jade liquid to return the elixir, they must also strive upwards. After seven returns and nine returns, they can complete the great return of the golden liquid elixir, which can be said to have achieved the fundamental goal of establishing the foundation. Therefore, obtaining the primordial Yang true 炁 is of the utmost importance. And in order to obtain the primordial Yang true 炁, one must prevent the primordial essence from being lost. This is the key of the key. Because human desires and emotions arise easily, it is like a tiger opening its mouth and showing its teeth, dispelling people's souls, destroying their courage, and killing lives. Therefore, the land of cultivation must master the method of subduing the tiger, transforming it into true existence within non-existence and true non-existence within existence. There is no other way but to use true love and true feelings, true spirit and true spirit in harmony. In technical terms, it is called the Dragon and Tiger Fengyun Meeting, or the Dragon and Tiger Copulation. Conversely, while obtaining the original Yang true 炁 is important, without the refinement and blending of the true nature fire, the original Yang true 炁 cannot be born nor will it converge. However, true nature is often disturbed by the lustrous dragon of consciousness. Therefore, cultivators must have the method to subdue dragons, just like Nezha used a diamond ring to subdue dragons. This Vajra Four is the True Meaning and Clear Spirit. The True Meaning of the enlightened spirit is neither the primordial spirit of the infinite state nor the consciousness spirit of the acquired state with the ultimate state. It occupies the Taiji position of the primordial spirit after the primordial spirit and the acquired spirit after the primordial spirit, neither leaning to the side, neither awakening nor being confused, neither forgetting nor assisting. Only the true meaning and clarity of the Taiji State are the God and the only way to subdue dragons and tigers. The two characters "lead and mercury" are borrowed from the names of external elixirs for refining. "Lead" refers to essence and energy, and "mercury" refers to spirit and energy. Essence and qi are like the moon, a pure Yin body that only emits light when illuminated by the sun. On the seventh and eighth days of each lunar month, the upper half of the moon is dim and the lower half is bright, which is called the first quarter moon. On the 22nd and 23rd of each month, when the lower half is dark and the upper half is bright, it is called the lower xian. Both the upper and lower strings represent an equal balance of Yin and Yang, symbolizing the harmonious integration of essence and energy with spirit and energy. Essence and energy can be replenished from the outside, while spirit and energy lie within one's own body and mind. It is the interplay and rotation of the sun and the moon in the universe that brings about light. Only then can the harmonious seasonal laws of nature be deduced in an endless cycle. This way, no abnormal situation will occur. Our human body is born from our parents and also possesses the natural conditions of the interaction and transformation of Yin and Yang in heaven and earth. We also have the functions of mercury and lead, as well as those similar to the sexual intercourse and procreation of a couple. God is exalted, being the father and the trunk. Jing is in the lower position, and Kun is the mother. We can reproduce our entire life by having sexual intercourse with our male and female partners or our parents. This is a principle already revealed by the I Ching. We can use the principle of the I Ching to return the acquired extreme to the innate Taiji. Ordinary people do not understand these principles. They merely let the gods' attempts to cater to the turmoil of the spirit be expelled by the spirit, allowing for the birth of children and the formation of life forms for external inheritance. However, they do not know how to turn the essence back to nourish the spirit and cultivate into immortals or Buddhas who can regenerate and achieve eternal life with their own lives. For many, many people, this mysterious truth of life is just like an iron steamed bun. They want to eat it but can't bite into it. If he could chew on this iron steamed bun, he would surely become the Zhang Sanfeng after Zhang Sanfeng.