Library

Yuanjing (Primordial Essence) is generated in the Kidney. The Immortals borrow the Kidney mansion as the place of generation, not using the Kidney itself, but acting within the Kidney. This Kidney is the source of producing medicinal materials (Jing-Qi-Shen). Some people do not understand this and claim that there is another acupoint between the two kidneys where True Yang is hidden inside. They believe that cultivating the Elixir only involves using True Fire to force out this bit of True Yang for use. How could they know that everything possessed by the body consists of postnatal dregs, which the Immortals do not use? If there were indeed Yuanqi (Primordial Qi) hidden within a single acupoint, it would also be considered dregs. Thus, the scriptures state: "Water is the root source of the Great Elixir." Heaven generates Water first; its position is in the North, and its trigram is Kan (☵), which is the place where medicinal materials are produced in our body. Yuanjing is generated in the Kidney. If one does not maintain a state of stillness and contraction (Xi), it cannot be generated. Therefore, when cultivating the Elixir, one must allow Heart Qi to descend and interact with the Kidney. The Kidney receives and gathers it, thereby enabling transformation to generate Yuanjing. The descent of Heart Qi is merely condensing Shen (Spirit) into the Qi Acupoint. "Condensing" does not mean physical aggregation. Shen is extremely spiritual and subtle, penetrating heaven and earth; how can it be aggregated? It simply means calming thoughts and returning Shen. When Shen returns to the Heart and does not scatter outward, Qi also returns to the body and gradually sinks into the Qi Acupoint. Does Qi truly have an acupoint? Baozhenzi said: "Human Yuanyang (Primordial Yang) and True Qi are scattered throughout the four limbs and hundred bones, serving functions of seeing, hearing, speaking, and moving. How could there be a logic of hiding them in just one acupoint?" If one points to a specific location and focuses imagination upon it, illness will inevitably result. Cultivators of the Elixir should not adhere rigidly to the saying of 'condensing Shen into the Qi Acupoint.' This Great Way of Golden Elixir merely borrows the Kidney as the place of generation because it is the meeting point of Qi, hence called Qihai (Sea of Qi); because it is deep and lower, it is called Qi Xue (Qi Acupoint); because it generates Jinhua (Golden Flower), it is called Hua. Cultivating the Elixir only requires Qi to sink to this place, not referring to using Hun (Ethereal Soul) for focused imagination. Yuantaixu said: "The method of condensing Shen into the Qi Acupoint has nothing else; it is merely observing inwardly by closing the eyes and listening inwardly, reflecting light internally." Reflecting light internally does not mean执著 (clinging) to a location and using intent to observe. It is merely returning Shen inward through a state of stillness and emptiness. In reality, there is no object of observation, no act of illumination, yet observation and illumination are never absent. How is the initial work done? The secret formula states: "Focusing on softness lies in forgetting emotional consciousness." The quickest way to forget emotional consciousness lies in Heart and Breath relying on each other. When Heart and Breath rely on each other, emotional consciousness is forgotten naturally without expectation. Regarding breath: if inhalation and exhalation produce sound, it is called Zong (indulgence); if incomplete, it is called Zhi (stagnation); if frequent and hurried, it is called Chuan (panting). Without indulgence, stagnation, or panting, breathing is continuous and seemingly existent, used without excess. Thus, the mutual reliance of Heart and Breath becomes natural. However, apart from the character "Tiao" (Regulate), what else is there? Or, for those with superior capacity, whenever a thought arises, they use breath regulation, briefly illuminating it, and stopping when no thoughts remain. One must not be too intent. If using intent to illuminate, there will be many burdensome illuminations; thus, one must add the character "Wang" (Forget). Forgetfulness and Illumination are one yet two, two yet one. When forgetting, the mind is clear, yet never failing to illuminate; when illuminating, free from dust, yet never failing to forget. This forgetfulness is true illumination. Some may become confused and scattered while illuminating because daily thoughts and worries are very chaotic, the residence lacks a master, and sudden collection leads to instability, causing confusion upon illumination. How to treat this? As soon as delusion moves, melt delusion and return to Truth. Is returning not within the work of forgetting and illuminating? This fully explains the mechanism of movement and stillness, and the principle that Spirit returns immediately upon exiting. If illumination is insufficient, do not force it. Instead, attend to affairs to dispel it. Do not flow with chaos. Wait for peace, then forget and illuminate. Having cultivated to this stage, are there other methods? It is merely adopting Preheaven Qi to serve as the material for the Golden Elixir. Zhang Ziyang said: "Cai (Gathering) is gathering True Lead in the Kidney Mansion; Qu (Taking) is taking True Mercury in the Heart Field." Patriarch Zhongli said: "True Qi from parents hidden in the Kidney is called Lead. Within Lead is True One Water, called Silver in Lead. Kidney Qi transmits to Liver Qi, Liver Qi transmits to Heart Qi, Heart Qi naturally nurtures into fluid, called Cinnabar. Within Cinnabar is Zhengyang (Correct Yang) Qi, called Mercury in Cinnabar. During transmission, control it by method so Kidney Qi does not leak, taking True One Water from Qi; Heart Fluid does not dissipate, taking Zhengyang Qi from Fluid. It is gathering without gathering, taking without taking." Chen Xubai said that stillness of body and mind is gathering medicinal materials. As for fire timing and medicinal materials, True Fire has no fixed timing, and Great Medicine counts no weight. Patriarch Bai Yuchan said: "Heart is Shen, Shen is Fire, Qi is Medicine. Refining Medicine with Fire to form the Elixir is controlling Qi with Shen to achieve the Dao." Upon achieving the Dao through cultivation, Shen and Qi merge completely, and the Infant appears. The Infant is my one spiritual true nature, pure Yang without impurity. Patriarch Bai Yuchan also said: "When the heart has no heart and thoughts have no thoughts, pure Jing and pure Qi are called Pure Yang." The Immortals only teach people to nourish Shen. Because people are lost in desires and cannot cut ties decisively, they set forth the theory of longevity to lure them. People willing to pursue longevity will practice, focusing on cultivating Qi. Actually, this uses refining Jing and Qi to tie down the mind, nurturing the Primordial Spirit's spirituality. It is not forming an Infant outside of Primordial Spirit through separate condensation of Jing and Qi. However, only reaching the extreme of stillness and emptiness, and the utmost selflessness, can one achieve shedding the body and divine transformation. Li Qing'an said: "Having a body outside the body is not remarkable; shattering the void is complete truth." Excellent! Excellent!