Thread Content
Zhang Sanfeng’s Annotations on Master Lu’s “Hundred-Character Inscription”, 2011-02-11, Jingchen Thatched Cottage. Extracted from Tianya Community. Reads: 929; Shares: 116. Save to my library. Share on WeChat: Zhang Sanfeng’s Annotations on Master Lu’s “Hundred-Character Inscription”: Cultivate vital energy by abstaining from speech, and calm the mind by avoiding action. Any practitioner must first cultivate qi. The method of nurturing vital energy lies in forgetting words and maintaining unity. If words are forgotten, the energy does not disperse; if one remains focused, the spirit does not wander. The saying goes: Keep your tongue silent and calm, and keep your mind at peace. The human heart is ever restless. Those who practice meditation seek tranquility, and it is important to control the eyes. The eyes are the gateway to the heart; it is necessary to cover them with curtains. In all matters, use the heart as a sword. I think that worldly matters bring me no benefit; let the fierce fire be extinguished at once, and refrain from craving them. Secret saying: Look at the nose with your eyes, and look at the navel with your nose. Looking at each other, hearts connected. By focusing on the entryway, one can subdue distracting thoughts. Through motion and stillness, one knows the ancestors; with nothing else to do, who else to seek? Movement and stillness represent yin and yang. The ancestral home is the place of birth. The practitioner should know that before their parents were born, they were the primordial female. From head to toe, encompassing the Eight Trigrams and the Five Elements as well as the Four Symbols, this place is where heaven and earth were not yet separated; it came into existence from a single spark of light, and that is the Taiji. Beneath the heart, above the kidneys, within as if in a place where thoughts arise without cease – that is the ancestors. By motion and stillness, one regulates the true qi and stabilizes the vital essence. When the cover reaches the heavens, it corresponds to the Earthly Root; when it draws downward to the Earth, it represents closing the doors – this is what is meant by Kun. Opening the doors corresponds to Qian. When exhaling, it sounds like a dragon’s roar with clouds rising; when inhaling, it resembles a tiger’s howl with wind blowing. With each opening and closing, each movement and stillness, the mind remains unmoved, allowing the natural breath to flow freely. When it remains subtle and continuous, when breathing is brought to a state of no breath at all, and when everything becomes one, then the spirit can be concentrated, and the elixir can be created. If one can cultivate vital energy while abstaining from speech, subdue the body and mind, allow the spirit to return to the meridians of vital energy, focus the mind on the center, and merge all into one vital energy – just as a chicken holds its egg, or as a dragon nurtures its pearl – keeping this in mind at all times without deviation, then over time, through persistent practice, a pearl resembling millet will naturally appear, shining as bright as the sun. It will transform the original spirit, becoming infinitely wise and mysterious; and this is what is meant. True constancy must adapt to circumstances, yet in doing so, one must not lose clarity. This is the path of true permanence. Since one can easily become confused when dealing with affairs, one must not be distracted by worldly matters when interacting with things. If it should not be accepted, then there is only emptiness and void. When it is time to act, one should act; once the task is completed, one should not linger. Acting with integrity ensures that one does not get lost in confusion, allowing the true nature to remain peaceful and the original spirit to stay focused. The saying goes: Focusing on every detail leads to mistakes; doing nothing also results in failure. Without being attached to dwelling, one’s vital energy returns on its own. Human nature is as fierce as fire, filled with joy and anger, sorrow and happiness, love and hate, desire and aversion, and it is ever-changing. But once touched, delusions arise, making it difficult to maintain tranquility. When there is true slight resentment, fire declines; when there is true moderation in desires, water rises. Remaining motionless is called refining the essence; when the essence is refined, the tiger roars, and the primal spirit solidifies ； When the heart remains calm, it is called refining qi; when qi is refined, there is a sound like a dragon’s roar, and the vital energy is preserved ； If it cannot be recited, it is called refining the spirit; by refining the spirit, the two energies interact, the three elements blend together, and the primal energy returns on its own. The three elements are essence, energy, and spirit ； The two energies are yin and yang. The practitioner, by remaining unconfused by external things, allows the original spirit to return and true nature to be upheld. If one practices sexual abstinence, the innate energy within the body will return on its own, returning to its original source – so what is difficult about that? The saying goes: Let the last rays of light shine, kept in the heart. Can’t think within, can’t focus without. Qi returns to its origin; within the pot, Kan and Li are in harmony. For the practitioner, if the mind is not entangled in worldly matters, then the vital energy naturally returns to its proper state. One will see the two energies rising and falling in the central chamber, yin and yang combining within the alchemical crucible. Suddenly, a wisp of hot energy rises from the kidneys to the heart; emotions return to their natural state, just as a husband and wife are united, in a state of ecstasy and intoxication. The two energies blend together, forming the essence of the elixir. Within the Qi orifices, water and fire interact with each other in an endless cycle; thus, the spirit controls the Qi, and the Qi gives form to matter. Without the need for any other techniques, one can achieve longevity. The mantra goes: “The ears, eyes, and mouth—these three treasures—must be kept closed so that no energy can escape.” Humans dive into the depths, while the floating beings abide by the rules. Until the energy in the dantian is full, it forms a blade-like shape. Yin and yang alternate repeatedly, with a thunderclap that spreads everywhere. At this point, the mind is not distracted, and vital energy is not lost; the mind returns to the meridian of vital energy, with Kun and Li now aligned, allowing for even more intense effort and progress. Reaching the utmost state of emptiness and maintaining profound stillness, with the body at rest in the depths of darkness and the mind clear in a realm devoid of anything, then the true breath comes to a halt, all vital energies cease to flow, the sun and moon stop moving, and the celestial gears cease to turn. The Taiji remains quiet yet full of vitality; Yang is generated in the southwest direction, associated with Kun (which refers to the abdomen, also known as Qujiang). Suddenly, a glimmer of insight appeared, as big as a millet grain – that was the sign that the medicine would work. A bright light shone forth; the kidneys were as if being cooked in soup, the bladder as if roasted by fire. There was a roar like that of a fierce wind in the abdomen, along with sounds like thundering thunder – and thus the celestial root of the Fu hexagram appeared. Tiangen, now the King of the Firm Heart, with divine assistance, has an energy akin to fire that drives metal upward, passing through the coccyx, gently pushing it forward in silence. A harmonious unity, like the thunderous shock, with energy rising upward; the whole body is full of vitality – this is the Gou trigram of the Heavenly Wind. From the Moon Cave to the forehead of the Hall of Seals, primordial light seeps forth; it is the movement of the Taiji that gives rise to yin, which then transforms into divine water and nectar. Within it are pearls of millet, which fall into the Yellow Court; they activate the spiritual mercury within me, forming a body of sacred form, and complete one cycle of the celestial fire process. Cook and refine it, and the pill will form on its own. White clouds rise to the peak; nectar pours upon Mount Sumeru. At this point, the medicine is obtained. The two energies combine to form a blade-like instrument; the vital pathways are opened, fire descends while water rises, and a single energy flows throughout. Starting from the Taiji, it moves toward the Heavenly Root, passes through Xuan Gu Pass, ascends through the twenty-four vertebrae, and reaches Tian Gu Pass. In the moonlit caves, something sweet and delicious emerges; it descends from the lofty towers, ceaselessly, and is called the nectar that spreads over Sumeru. The mantra says: Let the nectar fill the mouth; send it forth with the eyes and welcome it with the mind. Guide it down to the Elixir Cauldron, where it condenses the primordial energy to nourish the body. Drinking the elixir of immortality on one’s own, who can know of one’s carefree life? At this stage of nurturing vital energy, the joints become open; the life-force fluid flows continuously upward and downward, moving back and forth without cease, and is constantly swallowed inward – this is what is called the elixir of longevity. The saying goes: Flowing pearls nourish the essence of the spiritual root; whether those who practice realize this or not. Sit and listen to the music without strings; thus one comprehends the workings of nature. At this point, one can hear the sounds of celestial music, along with the rhythms of bells and drums. The five energies converge toward the origin, and the three blossoms gather at the crown, resembling crows coming to roost in the evening. With a clear mind, wisdom arises naturally; one understands the scriptures of the three religions, comprehends the essence of past lives, and can foresee future fortunes and misfortunes. The lands and rivers are as if in one’s palm; with a single glance one can see for thousands of miles, achieving the wonder of the six kinds of perception – this is indeed real. I truly have come to this point; should I utter any false words to mislead future learners, Heaven will surely punish me. If one fails to do so, it is a sin deserving heavenly punishment. Without meeting the teacher, it is hard to know this matter. Twenty sentences each, to reach the celestial ladder. These twenty lines of self-sustaining qi and silent speech are all the true mantras of Lord Lü. Effort is free from any pretense; it is the ladder to ascending to heaven. Those who have grasped this formula and its annotations may act on it promptly. Do not reveal it carelessly, nor show it to villains, lest you incur divine punishment. Take care on your journey; may you reach the heavens.