the primal human elixir."

pp. 23-24

p. 23

pp. 23-4

p. 24

primal __ elixir

caelestial

(p. 23) terrestrial

human

is the __ elixir

sacred

numinous

great

movement

materialize

(p. 24) ebb and flow

be reversed

product

elixir grains

old and youthful sprouts

help from partners

p. 25

generative energy (jing)."

Therefore, if you have fallen into prost-celestial existence, you will need to gather the pre-celestial equivalent of the post-celestial

p. 26

procreative substance ... . This pre-celestial substance is none other than the great yang of the metal ... . Only this metal can help you to refine the yin and prolong your life. ...

The Triplex Unity also tells us : "When the energies copulate and are married to one another, the young sprouts will shoot up within a year."

is the way of __

it followeth the principle of __ movement

Human procreation

mortals

forward

Creation of elixir

immortals

reverse

p. 27

In Understanding Reality it is stated : "First put ... in the cauldron ... the medicines of the raven and rabbit and steam them.""

p. 28

When the vapor is first awakened, it is still in its pre-celestial state. However, if the pre-celestial vapor is transformed into fluid of the numeric one of water, the primal

p. 29

generative essence will be lost. As a result, the pre-celestial body will be broken. When vapor becomes fluid, the body will descend into post-celestial existence."

That which can be seen is post-celestial."

p. 31

the primordial generative energy is the true mercury."

lead

mercury

is the manifestation of the true __

vapor

generative essence

it is the __

water

fire

that originates from the numeric __

one

two

of the __

sky

earth

p. 32

"The process ... called the path of forward movement ... is the way of humankind and of mortality. ...

The process of routing the generative energy back into the body is called the path of reverse movement; it is the path that will lead us to the elixir of immortality."

"The pre-celestial vapor is the true lead. This true lead of pre-celestial existence is needed to transform the post-celestial true mercury back into its pre-celestial state."

p. 33

The primordial __

is the __

generative energy

true generative energy

vapor

true vital energy

spirit

spirit that is connected to the Limitless (wuji)

p. 34

"Spirit is equivalent to the Limitless that is above and beyond the Great Ultimate. ...

The Jade Emperor is none other than the ruler of the mind ... .

the Great Simplicity is none other than the vapor of primordial pre-celestial existence.

The true spirit is ... the primordial lord of all things known at the Great Beginning."

p. 35

"water will become a tidal force, rising up like clouds and mist to moisten the four great rivers above and below. If you can direct the spirit to aid the movement of water, then the processes of

p. 36

rising and falling, moving and stopping will be as easy as turning your hand. ... When post-celestial vapor meets water and fire, you will feel as if intoxicated."

Golden Elixir

Jade Elixir

p. 37

is to refine the __

mind

body

p. 38

while cultivating __

form

the formless

p. 39

life in the Great Ultimate (taiji)."

p. 40

Original nature is the manifestation of the Limitless".

"Feelings and thoughts are tangible manifestations of vital energy."

p. 41

"When original nature is still, vital energy will return to its vaporous state. When vapor is returned to its original state, the elixir will emerge."

"There is true original nature and there is manifested original nature.

Those who are intelligent do not have more of it, and those who are dull-witted do not have less of it.

Manifested original is post celestial and is born of vapor. ... In its manifested form, original nature is often used to serve selfish interests. ... If manifested original nature rules, we will have the situation of the servant controlling the master."

p. 44

__ valley

upper

middle

lower

__ cavity

Ni-wan (‘Mudball’)

Jian-gon (‘Crimson Palace’)

Guan-yuan (‘Primal Gate’)

pp. 44-5

(relation to spirit)

p. 44 "original home of the spirit"

p. 45 "where the spirit receives reports from its subordinates"

"hermitage where the spirit cultivates itself in secret."

p. 45

senses are __

"alert"

"drawn inward"

"secret hiding"

p. 46

"The path of the waterwheel is the circuit formed by the ren and du meridians. When the vapor ascends, it will be moistened and steamed in the area between the kidneys. Like waves rolling onto a sandy shore, it will soak and flood the five viscera before gushing through the channels to spread throughout the body."

ascent of spirit

Wei-lu (‘Tailbone’) cavity

"cavity between the shoulder blades"

Fen-fu (‘Wind-House’) cavity

Mudball cavity

descent of spirit

Pagoda

Crimson Palace cavity

Zi-tin (‘Purple Pavilion’) cavity

"where it originated"

p. 47

"When the vapor is plentiful, it will swirl around and push through the joints to spread throughout the body."

p. 48

The Triplex Unity states : "The sage cleans the mind and retreats to hide it in secret.""

Second, there is the mind that tends toward stillness : This is the true mind."

p. 49

"If you let go of the senses, both mind and self will be empty. ... When nothingness is empty, absolute stillness will never leave you. ... The roots will be pure, the six sensual phenomena will not emerge, and the mind will always be still. When the mind is still, the spirit will be clear and calm like the smooth surface of a lake."

"Nourishing the spirit means gathering the spirit’s light and drawing it inward. ... The purer it is, the clearer it will be; the clearer it is, the brighter it will be. ... When the numinous light emerges, you must hide it by drawing it within."

The Treatise on the Pivotal Method of Sitting and Forgetting (Zuowangshuyilun) states : "Attain wisdom but do not display it. Be intelligent but appear dim-witted. Use your abilities to stabilize wisdom.""

p. 51

"Once the spirit is purified, you must focus it quickly. ... The cavity of the vapor is where opening and closing occurs. ...

p. 52

Second, focusing the spirit means anchoring the life energy by letting each inhalation and exhalation return to its origin. ...

p. 53

When the spirit abides in absolute stillness, the spirit can see the path of the return."

p. 54

Master Huiweng {Huineng} described the true breath as "sealed inside emptiness like a fish in spring waters." ...

p. 55

When this occurs, the true bellows, true cauldron, true furnace, and true fire will emerge."

p. 56

"If you attend the stove vigilantly, the waterwheel, the crane’s womb, and the tortoise’s breath will swirl constantly. ... The true fire is the sacred fire; the true breath is but the bellows that stoke the fire. ... Each opening and closing is synchronous with the upward and downward movement in the ren and du meridians. ... If the correct amount of fire is applied, spirit and vapor will copulate and embrace each other. ...

p. 57

"the head of the pill must be harmonious with its partner, and both must be bathed

p. 58

and steamed together. Internally, the natural true fire must burn inside a furnace that is always red-hot."

fire is the pre-celestial spirit."

"after Master Liyang had attained the medicine and directed it into the cauldron, he practiced extracting and replenishing to nourish the natural true fire so that it will never extinguish. ...

The extraction of lead is similar to water being absorbed by the rice."

p. 63

"The names dragon, tiger, lead, and mercury were used by the immortals and sages to hide the true meanings from unethical practitioners. ...

p. 64

Throughout this text I was careful not to reveal the highest secrets."