典藏书目

According to the *Dongshen Zhenjing* (True Scripture of the Nether Deity): The way of health preservation lies in not causing damage as a method to prolong life, and prioritizing supplementation. One should contemplate danger while in safety and prevent issues before they arise; one should not consider minor evils as harmless and thus fail to eliminate them, nor consider minor goods as unbeneficial and thus fail to practice them. Rising and lying down should follow the early and late rhythms of the four seasons; walking and stopping should adhere to the constant system of utmost harmony. To harmonize the sinews and vessels, there are methods of reclining and bending; to nourish righteous Qi and dispel evil, there are techniques of Tu Na (exhaling stale air and inhaling fresh air); to circulate Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), there are methods of tonification and sedation; to regulate and release labor and rest, there are principles of giving and taking. Endure anger to preserve Yin Qi; restrain joy to nourish Yang Qi. Use clarity and emptiness to remove wild thoughts; use peace and leisure to cultivate one's true nature. Even if damage was incurred in youth, leading to weak Qi and withered body, understanding attained in old age can prevent harm and provide supplementation. Supplementing Qi with Qi ensures Qi is abundant; supplementing Shen (Spirit) with Shen ensures Shen is sufficient. When Qi is vigorous, the form extends its life; when Shen remains, destiny naturally becomes long-lasting.

The *Xishan Ji* (Record of Mount Xi) states: Those who understand the Supreme Dao are not killed by Heaven; those who consume Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) are not extinguished by Earth. The Supreme Dao is not far away; it resides only within oneself. With meticulous attention, life naturally extends.

The *Liuxuan Zhi* (Six Mysteries' Principles) says: To desire longevity, one must cultivate the source of one's life. The root of this source begins with Jing (Essence) and Qi. Jing and Qi condense to form the physical body; the body is the foundation of receiving destiny, and Qi is the root of the有形 (form). Therefore, refine "Qian" (Heaven/Yang) in the morning and "Kun" (Earth/Yin) in the afternoon. Qi arises from the Kidneys, starting at Zi hour (23:00-01:00) and ending at Wu hour (11:00-13:00); during this time, Qi ascends and becomes vigorous. Thus, refining Qian involves sitting quietly in a secluded room, closing the eyes and calming the mind, keeping the body upright and still, allowing Qi to fill the four limbs, steaming the body, so that Ying and Wei Qi become smooth and harmonious. After many days, Qi becomes elegant and Shen becomes clear. When Kidney Qi reaches the Heart, accumulated Qi generates fluids. Fluids arise from the Heart, starting at Wu hour and ending at Zi hour; during this time, fluids descend and become abundant. Thus, refining Kun involves closing the eyes and calming the mind, gathering the body into an upright sitting posture, holding the abdomen with both hands, descending Heart Fire into the Dantian (Elixir Field), and cooking/stewing the Qi Hai (Sea of Qi) acupoint. After many days, Qi becomes vigorous and Shen becomes clear. This is the supplementation of Qi. In winter, avoid cold; in summer, avoid heat. When avoiding cold, avoid wind; when avoiding heat, avoid hot environments. Do not exhaust the limbs through movement; do not neglect the skin through idleness. Bathe every five days; wash hair every ten days. Do not move when Qi is vigorous; do not cease activity when Blood is vigorous. This is the supplementation of Form. Permanently cutting off desires and remaining unmoved by external circumstances is the highest level. Borrowing from cultivation, seeking life through death, where forms interact but Qi does not, and bodies are turbid but forms remain pure, is secondary. If one must engage with women, do not allow the loss of Essence. Temporarily abandoning affection, withdrawing physically, and capturing Heart Qi to supplement the Lower Origin (Yuan) can secure life and destiny; this is the next best approach. At thirty years old, Yin and Yang are balanced, and the essence of the five grains is not fully utilized, making desires inevitable; sexual intercourse should occur once every five days. At forty, once every ten days. At fifty, once every twenty days. At sixty, once a month. At sixty-four, the year when hexagrams are exhausted, frequency is no longer discussed. For those pursuing the high and profound Xuan Yuan (Mysterious Origin) path to seek immortality, these rules may be disregarded. This is the supplementation of Jing. Supplementing Form is inferior to supplementing Jing; supplementing Jing is inferior to supplementing Qi; supplementing Qi is inferior to supplementing Shen. Supplementing Shen ensures the permanent safety of Form and Qi. Scholars throughout history have discussed the way of supplementing Shen extensively, yet often see no results. This is not merely due to a lack of sincerity, but because Shen is the master. In the past, the True Person Liu Gang offered sacrifices to his Form and Shen on his Jiazi Gengshen birth day, thereby gathering Shen and achieving immortality. The True Person Zhao, in a quiet empty room, guided Shen out of the shell, extending like a strong man stretching his arms, reaching thousands of miles, where yin spirits dared not interfere, thus retaining his form in the world. How much more so for supplementing scattered spiritual Qi and enhancing existing soul-spirit? Foreseeing fortune and misfortune is the spirituality of Shen; permanently eliminating death and life is the truth of Shen. The way to supplement Shen includes cleansing the body and nurturing life, cutting off thoughts and forgetting worries, ensuring movement and stillness align with timing, and cultivating according to proper methods. When the Elixir is achieved, Qi becomes true; when Qi is true, Shen is naturally supplemented.