炼形化气筑基功，上品天仙事不同。
若问金丹端的处，日来映月照鸿 。
日来映月方能发光，万古能明此理，丹道不远。
生龙活虎战莲房，最怕心猿意马狂。
炼己不到纯熟候，安能过海把帆扬。
吕祖《步蟾宫词》曰∶“炼庚甲要生龙虎”须知龙虎不是身外之物，方是生的行道时，驱活
虎以就生龙，最怕心猿发狂，意马扬威，不知训伏，安能过得海去，取得经回，故必炼己纯熟，使神全气
盛，七情不动，五贼不乱，六根大定，色相两忘，乃可入莲房以求丹。
《天仙正理》曰∶“炼己者，所谓苦行其当行之事，曰炼；熟行其当行之事，曰炼；禁绝其不当为
之事，曰炼；精进励志而求必成，曰炼；割绝贪爱而不留余爱，曰炼；禁止旧习而全不染，曰炼。己者，
即我静中之真性，动中之真意，为元神之别名也。”
古云∶“未炼还丹先炼性，未修大药且修心”炼己之道也。
顺则生人逆则仙，坤干为泰是真诠。
临炉莫讶丹难结，倒挽羊车自见天。
不二元君曰∶“着眼 后，留心顺逆途。”《无根树》曰∶“顺为凡，逆为仙，只在中间颠
倒颠。”故泰之卦象坤居上，而干居下，乃能天地交而万物通。不知倒
挽羊车，则群阴阻塞，安能去浊阴以见天心。故修仙不问男合女，只要于中知顺逆耳。
炼形化气是筑基的基础功夫，上品天仙的修行境界与此不同。
若要问金丹的确切所在，它就像太阳映照月亮，光辉照耀鸿濛（宇宙混沌之气）。
只有太阳映照月亮才能发出光芒，万古以来能明白这个道理的人很少，但丹道其实并不遥远。
生龙活虎在莲房（指丹田或女性生殖系统隐喻）中交战，最怕的是心猿意马（比喻心神不定、欲望纷飞）狂乱。
如果炼己（修炼心性、克制欲望）不能达到纯熟的火候，怎么能渡过苦海扬帆起航呢？
吕祖在《步蟾宫词》中说：“修炼庚甲要生出龙虎。”必须知道龙虎并不是身外之物，而是在行功修道之时，驱策活虎去就范生龙，最怕心猿发狂，意马扬威，如果不加以驯服，怎么能渡过大海，取得真经回来？所以必须将炼己功夫练到纯熟，使神全气盛，七情（喜、怒、忧、思、悲、恐、惊）不动，五贼（眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意之欲）不乱，六根（眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意）大定，色相（物质形态与感官欲望）两忘，才可以进入莲房以求取金丹。
《天仙正理》说：“炼己，所谓刻苦地做应当做的事，叫炼；熟练地做应当做的事，叫炼；禁止绝那些不应当做的事，叫炼；精进励志而求必成，叫炼；割断贪爱而不留余爱，叫炼；禁止旧习而全然不染，叫炼。‘己’，就是我静中的真性，动中的真意，是元神的别名。”
古语说：“未炼还丹先炼性，未修大药且修心”，这就是炼己的道理。
顺行则生人，逆行则成仙，坤卦在上乾卦在下构成泰卦，这是真正的诠释。
临炉炼丹时不要惊讶丹药难以结成，倒挽羊车（比喻逆转精气运行）自然能见到天机。
不二元君说：“着眼后，留心顺逆途。”《无根树》说：“顺为凡，逆为仙，只在中间颠倒颠。”所以泰卦的卦象是坤居上，而乾居下，这样才能天地交泰而万物通。不知道倒挽羊车（逆转阴浊之气），则群阴阻塞，怎么能去除浊阴以见到天心（先天本性）？所以修仙不问男女结合，只要在中道懂得顺逆的道理罢了。
Refining form into qi is the foundational practice of building the base; the affairs of high-grade immortal immortals are different.
If you ask where the golden elixir truly lies, it is like the sun reflecting the moon, illuminating the primordial chaos (Hongmeng).
Only when the sun reflects the moon can it emit light; since ancient times, few have understood this principle, yet the Dao of alchemy is not far.
Living dragon and active tiger battle in the lotus chamber (a metaphor for the dantian or female reproductive system); one fears most the madness of the "monkey of the mind" and "horse of intention" (metaphors for restless thoughts and desires).
If refining the self (cultivating mental stability and restraining desires) does not reach a state of pure proficiency, how can one set sail across the sea of suffering?
Master Lü stated in the *Song of Stepping on the Moon Palace*: "Refining Geng and Jia requires generating dragons and tigers." One must know that dragons and tigers are not external objects, but arise during the practice of the Dao. Driving the living tiger to submit to the generating dragon, one must fear the madness of the mind-monkey and the arrogance of the intention-horse. Without training and subduing them, how can one cross the ocean and return with the scriptures? Therefore, one must refine the self until fully proficient, ensuring spirit is complete and qi is abundant, the seven emotions (joy, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear, fright) remain unmoved, the five thieves (desires of the senses) do not cause disorder, the six roots (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind) achieve great stillness, and both form and appearance are forgotten. Only then can one enter the lotus chamber to seek the elixir.
The *True Principles of Heavenly Immortals* states: "Refining the self means: diligently performing what ought to be done is refining; skillfully performing what ought to be done is refining; strictly prohibiting what ought not to be done is refining; advancing with determination and seeking success is refining; cutting off greed and love without leaving residue is refining; forbidding old habits and remaining completely unstained is refining. 'Self' refers to my true nature in stillness and true intention in movement, which is another name for Primordial Spirit (Yuanshen)."
Ancient sayings state: "Before refining the Returning Elixir, first refine nature; before cultivating the Great Medicine, first cultivate the heart." This is the way of refining the self.
Following the natural order generates humans; reversing it leads to immortality. The hexagram Tai (Peace), with Kun (Earth) above and Qian (Heaven) below, is the true interpretation.
Do not marvel at the difficulty of forming the elixir when approaching the furnace; by reversing the path of the sheep cart (symbolizing the reversal of qi flow), one will naturally perceive heavenly secrets.
Lady Bu'er said: "Focus your eyes, pay attention to the paths of following and reversing." The *Wugen Shu* (Tree Without Root) states: "Following makes one mortal, reversing makes one immortal; it lies only in the middle, turning upside down." Thus, in the image of the Tai hexagram, Kun is above and Qian is below, allowing Heaven and Earth to interact and all things to flow freely. Not knowing how to reverse the sheep cart (reverse turbid yin energy) results in blockage by groups of yin; how can one eliminate turbid yin to reveal the Heavenly Heart (innate nature)? Therefore, cultivating immortality does not depend on male-female union, but solely on understanding the principles of following and reversing within the center.