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Question: Does cultivation require waiting for a specific time before applying effort? Answer: There is the work of "Shi Zhong" (timely appropriateness), and there is the work of "Ke Zhong" (momentary appropriateness). Piling said: "To refine the elixir, one need not seek the Winter Solstice; within the mind, Yang Qi naturally arises." Ma Ziran said: "Do not select Zi and Wu hours in time; within the hexagrams, distinguish Qian and Kun (Heaven and Earth/Yang and Yin)." These are all works of Ke Zhong.

Question: What is the appearance of the Golden Elixir? Answer: Its shape is like a bullet, its color is like a vermilion tangerine. Baopuzi said: "Large as a bullet, yellow as a tangerine, within lies a fine taste, sweet as honey." A monk who obtains it enters Samadhi (meditative absorption); a Daoist priest who obtains it achieves transcendence; carefully contemplating and practicing it allows one to exhaust the principles of Heaven and Earth. The *Yuanshu Ge* says: "Have you not seen how magnificent a single grain of Golden Elixir is, large as a bullet, yellow as a tangerine. Everyone's nature is originally complete; every night spiritual light fills the room. Essentially, everyone possesses it fully, everyone is originally perfect. One must know it is not a tangible object." Master Lü said: "The Returning Elixir is its essence."

Question: Where exactly is the Mysterious Pass Single Aperture located? Answer: It is in the human head. The work is easy to perceive, but the point of application is difficult to find. Without meeting a true master to anoint the crown and transmit the secret, all efforts are futile.

Question: What is True Emptiness? Answer: Returning to the root and restoring the origin is True Emptiness. Xinglin said: "If one does not know the subtlety of the Elixir formula, one spends the whole day playing with 'True Emptiness'."

Question: What is its function? Answer: Like the silkworm moth adopting larvae (a metaphor for transformation), using mantras to protect the offspring, transmitting Jing (Essence) and nurturing Shen (Spirit).

Question: What is the emergence of Spirit? Answer: If one can guard the True One (the primordial unity), True Qi will naturally condense, and Yang Shen (Spirit) will naturally gather. Generally, by using one mind to direct various Qi, when Qi rests, Spirit rests. After accumulation of truth and long-lasting effort, when merit and conduct are complete, then the Spirit is guided out of the shell (body).

Question: What is Transcendence? Answer: "Chao" means to exit; "Tuo" means to shed the mortal body. All exit through the Heavenly Gate (the aperture at the top of the head). Ancient sages have verified examples of shedding the shell: The Sixth Patriarch emerged from a seven-story pagoda; Zhongli Quan and Lü Dongbin emerged from a seven-level red tower; Liu Haichan rode a crane to burst through the Heavenly Gate. The poem states: "Upon completion of merit, one must exit the capital (metaphor for the mundane world or physical limitation); do not let the prosperity of the inner courtyard burden the self. Comprehend the method of the Five Immortals' transcendence, refine into an immortal nature to leave the mortal dust."