女子修行,原本属至静之理。静而生阳,方谓之动。一动一静,皆由内之所养,非属外面事也。虽然静
养一身,尚属至真妙道,只守静而无外行帮扶,静何能久。若女子果能潜修至道,已经产得先天,复行炼得玉
液,又兼保住胎息,初功至此,已过半矣。虽然功夫业已小成,必假外行以培养之,方才内无所亏,
外有所补,内外兼成,仙道可期。
当其外行,如何行法?女子之身常居内室,终日闺阃,未尝出外,如何行得了功行?这等看来,是外行
定不能立了。然亦有不须出外而可立功立行者。譬如翁姑在堂,朝夕孝敬,视膳问寝。善事翁姑,此便
是第一大功,第一大行。果能尽心竭力而为之,则仙女便可立地成就。
凡与人应接,当存忠浓之心,切勿瞒心昧己。若见
苦贫孤老尚存怜悯矜恤之心,必须损己待人。灶前勿厌秽,厨下勿高声,供奉神明,尊敬师长,谦恭长幼,
和恤乡邻。举动勿轻浮,言语勿暴慢,与夫一切举动行为,在在皆归理法之中。久久行之,自然气质
冲和,行动赅理。不求功而功行,不思行而行立,平心处事,常在道中。行到那极则的地位,虽非天上之
仙卿,却是人间之雅妇。苟能若此,行何及焉。
凡属女流,常存内守,切不可出外迎神拜佛,假托
行修。似此所行,终属鬼眷,如何超得过生死,了得脱性命,成圣真于高上者耶!女真修士宜自勉旃。
此则虽属外行,实为女子修行莫先于此一着。若先行得此,则功夫前进,不难至矣。
女子修行,原本遵循的是至为清静的道理。静极而生阳,这才叫做动。一动一静,都源于内心的修养,并非外在的事情。虽然清静能修养全身,尚且属于至真妙的道法,但如果只守持清静而没有外在功行来辅助,清静又怎能持久呢?如果女子果真能够潜心修习大道,已经产得先天之气,再修炼玉液还丹,又兼保住胎息,初阶功夫到此,已经成功了一半。虽然功夫业已小有成就,必须借助外在功行来培养它,方才内部没有亏损,外部有所补益,内外兼修,仙道就可以期望了。
至于进行外在功行,如何实行呢?女子的身体常居在内室,整日在闺房之中,未曾外出,如何能行得了功行?从这种情形看来,似乎是外在功行一定不能建立了。然而也有不须外出而可以立功立行的方法。比如公婆在堂,早晚孝敬,侍奉饮食,问候起居。妥善侍奉公婆,这就是第一大功,第一大行。果真能尽心竭力去做,那么仙女便可立刻成就。
凡是与人交往应对,应当存有忠厚浓烈之心,切勿欺心昧己。若见到困苦贫穷、孤寡老人,尚且存有怜悯体恤之心,必须牺牲自己利益去对待他人。在灶前不要厌恶污秽,在厨房下不要高声喧哗,供奉神明,尊敬师长,谦恭对待长幼,和睦体恤乡邻。举动不要轻浮,言语不要粗暴傲慢,以及一切举动行为,处处都要归于理法之中。长久地实行这些,自然气质冲和,行动合乎理法。不求功而功行自成,不思行而行立自现,平心处理世事,常在道中。行到那极致的地位,虽然不是天上的仙卿,却是人间的雅妇。如果能像这样,功德怎么会达不到呢?
凡是属于女性,常存内守,切不可外出迎神拜佛,假托修行。像这样的所作所为,终究属于鬼眷一类,怎么能超脱生死,了脱性命,在高上境界成圣真呢!女真修士应当自我勉励。
这一则虽然属于外行,实际上是女子修行没有比这一着更重要的了。如果先做到这一点,那么功夫前进,不难到达了。
Female cultivation originally follows the principle of utmost stillness. From stillness, Yang arises; this is what is called movement. Both movement and stillness stem from internal nourishment and are not matters of the external world. Although cultivating stillness for the whole body belongs to the most authentic and wondrous Dao, if one only guards stillness without the assistance of external merit and conduct, how can stillness be sustained? If a woman can indeed secretly cultivate the supreme Dao, having already produced the Pre-Heaven Qi (Xiantian), subsequently refined the Jade Fluid (Yuye), and additionally preserved fetal breathing (Taixi), upon reaching this initial stage, she has already completed half the work. Although her kung fu has achieved minor success, she must rely on external conduct to nurture it, so that internally there is no deficiency and externally there is supplementation. With both internal and external achievements, the path to immortality can be expected.
Regarding how to perform external conduct: Women's bodies usually reside in inner chambers, spending their days within the boudoir, never going out. How can they accomplish merit and conduct? It seems from this that establishing external conduct is impossible. However, there are ways to establish merit and conduct without leaving home. For instance, if parents-in-law are present, showing filial piety morning and evening, attending to their meals, and inquiring about their rest—properly serving the parents-in-law—is the greatest merit and the greatest conduct. If one can devote heart and strength to doing so, then one can instantly achieve the status of an immortal maiden.
In all interactions with others, one should maintain a loyal and sincere heart, never deceiving oneself or others. When seeing those who are suffering, poor, orphaned, or elderly, one should retain a compassionate and sympathetic mind, sacrificing one's own interests to treat others well. Do not detest filth near the stove, do not raise one's voice in the kitchen, offer sacrifices to deities, respect teachers and elders, be humble and respectful to seniors and juniors, and live in harmony and mutual aid with neighbors. Movements should not be frivolous, speech should not be violent or arrogant, and all actions and behaviors should fall within the bounds of reason and law. Practicing these over time will naturally result in a harmonious temperament and actions that conform to reason. Without seeking merit, merit will arise spontaneously; without contemplating conduct, conduct will stand firm. Handling affairs with a calm mind, one remains constantly within the Dao. Reaching the ultimate state, although not becoming a celestial immortal, one becomes an elegant lady of the human realm. If one can act thus, how could merit fail to be attained?
All women should constantly guard inwardly and must not go out to welcome spirits or worship Buddhas under the guise of spiritual practice. Such actions ultimately belong to the category of ghosts and spirits; how can such individuals transcend life and death, liberate their nature and life force, and become sages and true ones in the highest realms? Female practitioners of truth should encourage themselves.
Although this section pertains to external conduct, it is actually the most paramount aspect for female cultivation. If one first accomplishes this, then the advancement of kung fu will not be difficult to reach.