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These two (referring to the pre-heaven and post-heaven, or Yin and Yang) originate from the same source, hence having different names; they also return to the same root, sharing a common foundation.

Wang Dongting said: The person of Superior Virtue (Shang De) follows non-action (Wu Wei) and does not seek through deliberate investigation. "Superior Virtue" refers to the state of virginity (intact body), requiring no master's transmission. The study of action (You Wei) merely implements the efficacy of non-action. The person of Inferior Virtue (Xia De) acts deliberately, with their functions never ceasing. "Inferior Virtue" refers to the broken body (post-virgin state), which must require a master's transmission. In the study of action, one must early on practice the merit of grafting and connecting (Zai Jie Gong Neng - methods to repair deficiencies). Generally, those with damaged bodies inevitably have deficiencies. Without the foundation of grafting and connecting, how can the base be built? Thus it is said: "When Qi declines and Blood weakens, one should adopt the Way of supplementation and connection." Classics state: "According to age, perform life-connection to become a guest of longevity." Buddhist scriptures say: "The old monk knows how to connect the rootless tree, able to续续 the bottom-of-sea lamp without oil." Patriarch Lü said: "Be sparing of Essence and early connect life, do not let it be late." *Guizhi* states: "If indeed connected, then longevity; if not connected, then premature death." People today do not understand this metaphor. Upon hearing "grafting," they believe false masters, procure female cauldrons, separate forms and exchange Qi, thinking it is the Dao. The *Qie* says: "Mixed natures are not of the same kind, how could they dwell together?" My meaning is that grafting comes from within oneself, returning from post-heaven to pre-heaven True Yin and True Yang, these two medicinal substances. This is what alchemical books call the "Nine Returns and Seven Revolutions Golden Fluid Great Elixir." Therefore, Patriarch Sanfeng said: "All kinds of dross are not of the same kind; True Yin and True Yang are for true grafting." He also said: "Yin and Yang intersect, Lead and Mercury connect; know that this uses one's own Lead and Mercury for grafting, do not guess at women." Lead and Mercury refer to Water and Fire. One must understand the roots of Water and Fire to know the meaning of grafting. The *Daodejing* says: "These two emerge from the same source but have different names." Thus, the scriptures of the Three Teachings emerge from the same source with different names, hence the distinction between Lead and Mercury, and Water and Fire. Clever metaphors and images, myriad names, yet none exceed Yin and Yang, all residing within oneself. Thus it is said: "Ignorant petty people obtain and practice it, immediately transcending to the sacred realm." Ziqing Weng said: "The root of Nature (Xing), the stem of Life (Ming), emerge from the same source with different names. Divided into two categories, they merge in one place to form the Elixir, returning to the Primordial Pre-heaven Qi." The Primordial Pre-heaven refers to the root of Water and Fire within the body, the supreme treasure known as the "First Scripture of the White Tiger." Laozi said: "There is something混沌 (undifferentiated) that existed before Heaven and Earth, silent and empty, standing alone and unchanging." Master Zhou said: "The truth of the Ultimate Non-being, the essence of the Two Fives, subtly combine and condense." What are the Two Fives? The number Two refers to Six-Two, residing inside, representing Female Yin in the hexagram. The number Five refers to Nine-Five, residing outside, representing Male Yang in the hexagram. Internal and external, male and female, Yin and Yang harmonize and combine to transform into True One Yang. As stated: "I am good at nurturing my Haoran Qi." Swallowing it into the abdomen, as stated: "One mouthful of Dao Gui, white feathers grow by day." Generally, without rain in the world, transformation does not come. The *I Ching* says: "Numbers of opposition... Qian and Kun intersect, and all things are prosperous; Kan and Li intersect, and the whole body is prosperous." The secrets of dual cultivation are fully revealed here. Is this not Confucianism? Further discussing, the Water and Fire that invert the holy work refer to the meaning in the *I Ching*: "By placing the man below the woman, there is prosperity." Fire is not ordinary fire; its fire arises from Kan Water, sufficient to open meridians, thus called True Yang. Water is not ordinary water; its water arises from Li Fire, sufficient to subdue steaming, thus called True Yin. Cui Gong said: "Water is True, Fire is True Fire." He also said: "Lead Dragon ascends, Mercury Tiger descends." Patriarch Lü said: "Dry Lead and Kun Mercury are the ancestors of the Golden Elixir; Lead Dragon and Mercury Tiger are most spiritual." Patriarch Sanfeng said: "True Water and True Fire match Yin and Yang; worldly people must not think wildly. Even if you sit in vain doing non-action, you will inevitably die and be buried in Beimang." If one cannot even know True Water and True Fire, from where does one graft? What is meant by True Water and True Fire? Fire within Water, which water cannot extinguish, is named True Fire. Water within Fire, which fire cannot eliminate, is named True Water. These are True Yin and True Yang. If still unclear, look at the earlier *Journey to the West*: Red Boy's fire could not be extinguished by the waters of the Four Seas Dragon Kings. In the later *Journey*, the fire of Huoyun Tower could not be saved by the waters of the Four Seas Dragon Kings either. Only the water of Guanyin of the South Sea could resolve it. South represents Li, which is Fire. Sea represents Water. Water within Fire is the True Water within the body. Red Boy's fire and Huoyun Tower's fire are the True Fire within the body. Guanyin refers to observing internal messages/signals. When the signal arrives, Water and Fire naturally achieve balance (Ji Ji). Patriarch Lü said: "There is true faith herein; when faith arrives, the Lord will surely be startled." Niwan Weng said: "Essence generates at a certain time; when the time arrives, Spirit knows." Zhu Yuanyu said: "When the season arrives, the medicinal substance produces itself." I see the Ginseng Fruit Tree in *Journey to the West* as this medicinal substance. Grafting via female cauldrons is useless, leaving no doubt. But knowing the medicinal substance without knowing the timing and fire control is futile. The most secret parts of alchemical books are these three, but it is not truly secret. There are divisions and unions, internal and external, which are hard to explain. Let me elaborate: Division means gathering externally and taking internally. Fire refers to Divine Fire; Hou (timing/phase) refers to True Breath. Union means gathering-taking is fire-control, and fire-control is gathering-taking. Thus it is said: Fire-control is not outside gathering-taking; gathering-taking is within fire-control. Once approaching the furnace, one cannot take charge oneself; one must rely on Huang Po (Yellow Matron) to ascend the altar. Internal and external divisions follow Huang Po's commands. Scriptures say: "Huang Po is the commander of the Central Palace." It also says: "Infant and Maiden emerge together, but are led into the room by Huang Po." Alas! The Infant can ride the White Tiger, the Maiden can cross the Green Dragon. Huang Po only needs to lead them; how vast is this power? The Four Symbols and Five Elements all rely on Earth; this is not false. We know more that Huang Po can subdue Dragons and tigers, and Huang Po can match and unite. Not only that, at every moment Huang Po can distinguish Zi and Wu; within hexagrams, Huang Po can determine Heaven and Earth. The entire Daoist path relies on Huang Po. Huang represents the color of the center; Po represents the meaning of harmony. Master Lai said in the *I Ching*: "The ruler is principle, so it cannot be separated for an instant." Regarding shedding the embryo, Ziqing Weng said: "Inside the Niwan Palace resides Huang Po." Also, in *Journey to the West*, when Sun Wukong rises during battle, he calls out in the air: "Do you recognize Grandpa Sun?" Only Huang Po recognizes clearly, knowing what is tender and what is old. Huang Po in humans is True Intention (Zhen Yi). Master Yin said: "True Intention is Qian Yuan." Knowing the secret formula from Master Wu, one knows Huang Po is the face before parents gave birth. Patriarch Sanfeng said: "The original face often appears, teaching people to recognize Huang Po." Someone asked: Can the appearance be seen? I replied: The *I Ching* says, "Without thought, without action, silent and unmoving, responding and penetrating." At this time, one can finally see Huang Po. Regarding the method of adjusting medicine at the start: Division means gathering True Yang and True Fire (Wu Earth), and taking True Yin and True Water (Ji Earth). Union means Yin and Yang harmonize, Water and Fire intersect, Wu and Ji overlap to form Dao Gui. Speaking of medicinal production, division requires understanding Ren Water and Gui Water. Ren Water is Yang, Gui Water is Yin. Ren Water is clear, Gui Water is turbid. Ren Water is True Lead, external medicine, coming from outside, hence "Lead returns seeking outward." Gui Water is True Mercury, internal medicine, belonging to oneself, hence "Mercury is taken at home." Union means returning to the furnace to cook and refine. Speaking of fire: Wen Fire (Civil Fire) refers to sealing, bathing, stopping fire, and nourishing. Wu Fire (Martial Fire) refers to gathering Pre-heaven Qi, taking True One Lead, gathering the line in Kan, taking the Tiger in Water, gathering White in Black, taking Yang in Yin. Speaking of the Microcosmic Orbit: The *Yinfu Jing* says: "The way of Heaven and Earth infiltrates like clouds, circulating Qi." When Qi arrives, it is the time of Zi. Gradually using Civil Fire transforms into Martial Fire, resembling the Fu Hexagram at Winter Solstice where one Yang slowly rises from the bottom of the earth to the top of the sky, thus called Advancing Yang Fire, also known as Qian using nine-nine (Yang). Then gradually transforming from Martial Fire back to Civil Fire, resembling the Kun Hexagram at Summer Solstice where one Yin descends from the top of the sky to the bottom of the earth, thus called Retreating Yin Symbol, also known as Kun using six-six (Yin). This is the Fu Hexagram. From here, if one can operate the Golden Elixir, who would say success is not achieved? The mantra says: "No thoughts arise, intention does not scatter, containing light and silently maintaining long True Breath, civil and martial conversion balanced, naturally conforming to heavenly degrees, only then can it be called Microcosmic Orbit Fire Control." Thus the *Cantong Qi* uses the waxing and waning of sixty hexagrams to illustrate it, seasonal changes of a year to illustrate it, and the waxing and waning of a month to illustrate it. There are more details beyond words, which the *Cantong Qi* has detailed. Hence it is said: "If immortals did not write the *Cantong Qi*, how would one know the work of fire control?" This is why it is the King of Alchemical Scriptures for eternity. In summary, although the principles discussed in the whole text seem clear, know that they are all symbolic language. Fortunately, do not be clever and mislead yourself. Thus Ziyang said: "Originally established words to clarify images; having obtained images, forget words. Still setting images to point to meaning; realizing the meaning, discard images." The words of various immortals vary, but every allegory has a real meaning. Strive to obtain the image, forget words to realize meaning, forget images; do not stick to images and hold onto texts. Alas! I wish my fellow enthusiasts to firmly resolve to drill into the cave of principles, bitterly reading for years. When meeting a master, truth and falsehood will separate themselves, right and wrong will distinguish themselves. How could one miss it face-to-face? If one does not understand alchemical books, does not understand symbolic language, worships Wang in the morning and Li in the evening, no wonder pointing at a deer calling it a horse, replacing a sheep with an ox. Either procuring female cauldrons or buying young boys, blaming oneself for confusion, instead saying the Immortal and Buddha taught me. Hmph! Is there such logic? My heart cannot bear it, specially supplementing this chapter to save them.