凡视听言动,皆我神也。欲行功,须先以意收回所散之神,次聚内外两肾中间之气,常兜二
子向上,一遇阳生,即以左手中指掩马口,右手双指紧抵阴跷穴,随怒目切牙,吸鼻,咽气一口,
驼腰憋腹,着力提搐入泓池水内,瞑目端坐,习静调息,息息归根,务令纯熟。又加导引按摩,
吹吁呼吸,如有津液,漱咽下丹田。此乃筑基炼己之法也。
凡行坐动,须从缓缓,若存若忘,不可急忙取效,所谓急则反受其敌也。迨夫调弄习惯,则放
去收来多由得我矣。每泓池中水火相见了,鼻中重吸一吸,咽气一口,则津液心火都下入丹田。
咽时即搐外肾,便津气 有声,然后徐徐稍放出气,如此谓之一次,少停再行。或略睡便起,不必
拘于时候,要在次第行之。初次行一九,次七加之二九,至三九四九,数多为妙。然亦不可执定数
目,恐劳神耳。
已上法行之一年,则下田自实,第二年方可运用河车法。若神气充溢于四肢,津
液流通于上下,谓之水火既济。使阴阳交媾于丹田之内,后行河车转运,使真气循环
于一身之间。必须宁神定息静坐,先搅左关二十四,后搅右关二十四,次搅双关二十四
。左右两膊,一前一后,更换相扇,共四十八。左右歪肩,共四十八。左右手屈伸二十
四。顾左肩一十四,右肩一十四,仰头一十四,点头一十四。正立起,以手扶物,左脚
屈伸二十四,右脚屈伸二十四。鞠躬,左右手舞足蹈二十四。将身向前凹脊,两手握固,
大搅双关二十四。行毕少坐,方可起身。盖凡漱炼津液,为生心汞。汞为神水,炼至华
池皆化为铅,一意常照泓池水中,乃两肾中间。肾生精,精化气。气者,大也。为聚火烧
丹,每于子午卯酉四正时,可常叩齿集神炼之。液在下田则化为气。
一见金精发现时,盒饭肘后飞炼,一撞三关,逆流直上,气冲泥丸,如戽水相似。凡
定中药生,急急采之,肘后飞过,先过尾闾为第一关,次夹脊为中关,玉枕为三关。要闭
塞两耳,耳乃肾之门户,勿使走泄。头顶紧缩,着力提,过尾闾,有九窍,上有四十二骨
节,直透泥丸,犹日月之飞腾黄道也。第二关,如前法提起,飞过夹脊二窍。第三关,复
如前法提起,飞过玉枕,有九窍。然此关颇难开,须闭息令紧,以大白牛车力如礼打之状,
亦不能放。头顶气从肾中生,从夹脊直透上脑,其时药物都从顶门过,须臾觉脑门如火热
且重,即缓缓抬身,徐徐放气,自明堂两眉间飞下,即吞入腹中,解化为水,经洞房,入黄
庭,渐渐变成黄芽矣。近有修真之士,不得真诀,未能聚火,未能炼铅,丹田无药,下手
便行搬运周天火候,妄致气血奔驰,虚阳冲脑,令人头晕目眩、耳聋、鼻流清涕,岂不深可
惜哉?正所谓腹
内若无真种,犹将水火煮空铛耳。诀云∶按巽骨,攀心窍,此中消息谁知道,牙关咬定是
秘传,从此元神入怀抱。此盖不用心,而以手行火候,正无为之工夫也。用左手按尾闾,
尾闾即巽骨也。右手行火候,火候即周天火也。如斗柄之指十二辰,而心不动,至静中不
知身之为我,我之有身,真液下咽。 有声,每滴有一铢,以二十四铢为进一两,水应
坤策也。此只是八口,紫阳师云∶口八八刀。盖指每灌漱津液,一口分三咽,咽之有声,
止八口也,定中胎息自动,情极而嘘,如春池龟息,动三十六为进一两,火应干策也
。一抽一添,一进一退,乃为周天火候,正所谓周天息数微微数,玉漏寒声滴滴符。如
此行持,不记年月、直待脱胎神化,方为了当。
All seeing, hearing, speaking, and moving are functions of my Shen (Spirit). To practice Gong (energy work), one must first use the Yi (Intent) to gather the scattered Shen, then accumulate Qi located between the inner and outer kidneys. Frequently lift the two testicles upward; once Yang Qi arises, cover the urethral opening (Ma Kou) with the middle finger of the left hand, press tightly against the Yin Qiao acupoint with the index and middle fingers of the right hand, glare with eyes clenched teeth, inhale through the nose, swallow a mouthful of Qi, bend the waist and hold the abdomen, exert force to lift and draw the Qi into the Hong Chi (Lower Dantian/Water Pool), close the eyes and sit upright, practice stillness and regulate breathing, ensuring every breath returns to its root, until this is mastered. Add Dao Yin (guiding and pulling) and massage, blowing and exhaling; if saliva is produced, rinse and swallow it into the Lower Dantian. This is the method of building the foundation and refining oneself.
Whenever walking, sitting, or moving, one must proceed slowly, in a state of being neither fully present nor absent, without rushing for results, as haste leads to counter-effects. Once accustomed to regulation, releasing and retrieving Qi will be largely under one's control. Whenever Water and Fire meet in the Hong Chi, take a deep inhalation through the nose and swallow a mouthful of Qi, causing saliva and Heart Fire to descend into the Dantian. While swallowing, contract the external kidneys; at this time, saliva and Qi produce sound, then slowly release a small amount of Qi. This constitutes one cycle; pause briefly before repeating. One may rise after a brief sleep, without adhering strictly to specific times, but must proceed in sequence. The first session performs 9 repetitions, the second adds 18 (total 27), up to 27 and 36 repetitions; more repetitions are better. However, do not rigidly adhere to fixed numbers, lest it exhaust the Spirit.
After practicing the above methods for one year, the Lower Field (Dantian) will naturally become solid, and only then can the He Che (River Chariot) method be employed. If Shen and Qi overflow the four limbs, and fluids circulate throughout the upper and lower body, this is called "Water and Fire Already Balanced." Let Yin and Yang interact within the Dantian, then perform He Che transport to circulate True Qi throughout the body. One must calm the Spirit, stabilize breathing, and sit quietly. First, stir the Left Guan Yuan point 24 times, then the Right Guan Yuan point 24 times, followed by both Guan Yuan points 24 times. Move the left and right arms forward and backward alternately, totaling 48 movements. Tilt shoulders left and right, totaling 48 movements. Flex and extend hands left and right 24 times. Look toward the left shoulder 14 times, right shoulder 14 times, tilt head back 14 times, nod head 14 times. Stand upright, support with hands on an object, flex and extend the left foot 24 times, right foot 24 times. Bow, dance with hands and feet 24 times. Bend forward arching the back, grip fists firmly, vigorously stir both Guan Yuan points 24 times. After completion, sit briefly before rising. Generally, rinsing and refining saliva generates Xin Gong (Heart Mercury). Mercury is Divine Water; refined in the Hua Chi (Oral Cavity), it transforms into Lead. Keep intent focused on the Hong Chi water, which is between the two kidneys. Kidneys generate Jing (Essence), Essence transforms into Qi. Qi is vast. To gather fire and refine the Elixir, frequently叩齿 (knock teeth) to gather Spirit during the four principal hours: Zi, Wu, Mao, You. Fluids in the Lower Field transform into Qi.
Once Jin Jing (Metal Essence/Vital Energy) appears, immediately employ the Zhou Tian circulation via the elbow-back method, crashing through the Three Passes, flowing逆流 (against the normal flow) upward, driving Qi to the Ni Wan Palace, similar to drawing water with a bucket. When the medicinal substance arises in stillness, collect it urgently. The elbow-back flight passes the Wei Lu (Tailbone) as the First Pass, Jia Ji (Spine) as the Middle Pass, and Yu Zhen (Jade Pillow) as the Third Pass. Close both ears, as they are the gates of the Kidneys, preventing leakage. Tighten the crown of the head, exert lifting force; passing the Wei Lu, there are nine apertures and forty-two vertebral segments above, penetrating directly to Ni Wan, like the sun and moon flying along the Yellow Path. For the Second Pass, lift as before, passing the two apertures of Jia Ji. For the Third Pass, lift as before, passing Yu Zhen, which has nine apertures. However, this pass is difficult to open; one must hold breath tightly, resembling the effort of pulling a large white ox cart, unable to relax. Qi from the head originates from the Kidneys, penetrating straight from Jia Ji to the brain. At this moment, the medicinal substances pass through the crown. Soon, the forehead feels hot and heavy; slowly raise the body and gradually release Qi, descending from Ming Tang (between eyebrows), swallowing into the abdomen, dissolving into water, passing through Dong Fang, entering Huang Ting, gradually transforming into Huang Ya (Yellow Sprout). Recently, some cultivators, lacking true instructions, fail to gather fire and refine lead, having no medicine in the Dantian, yet begin circulating Zhou Tian fire prematurely, causing reckless movement of Qi and Blood, allowing Deficient Yang to rush to the brain, resulting in dizziness, deafness, and runny nose. Is this not deeply regrettable? As the saying goes, "If there is no true seed in the abdomen, it is like boiling an empty pot with water and fire." The secret formula states: Press the Xun Bone, climb the Heart Aperture; who knows the secrets within? Biting the jaw tight is the secret transmission, from here the Yuan Shen enters the embrace. This uses the hand rather than the mind to apply fire, embodying Wu Wei (Non-action)功夫 (effort). Use the left hand to press the Wei Lu, which is the Xun Bone. Use the right hand to apply fire, which is Zhou Tian Fire. Like the Big Dipper pointing to the twelve Earthly Branches, while the heart remains unmoved, reaching a state of stillness where one forgets the body and self. True fluid swallows with sound; each drop weighs one Zhu (unit of weight); twenty-four Zhu constitute one Liang, corresponding to the Kun (Earth) count. This involves only eight mouthfuls. Master Zi Yang said: "Eight mouths, eight knives." This refers to rinsing saliva, swallowing each mouthful in three parts with sound, stopping at eight mouthfuls. In stillness, Tai Xi (Embryonic Breathing) activates automatically; extreme emotion leads to exhalation, like a turtle resting in a spring pond. Movement of thirty-six constitutes advancing one Liang, corresponding to the Qian (Heaven) count. One draw and one add, one advance and one retreat, constitutes Zhou Tian fire timing. As stated: "The number of breaths in Zhou Tian is slight, the cold sound of the jade clepsydra matches the tally." Practicing thus, without counting years or months, until shedding the physical form and achieving spiritual transformation, is considered complete.