This is a preface and excerpts from the Lingbao Essential Teachings, a foundational text of the Zhong-Lü alchemical school within Daoism. Authored by Zhongli Quan and transmitted to Lü Dongbin, it details alchemical principles, cosmology, and self-cultivation practices aimed at achieving immortality. The text draws on a compilation of earlier works, emphasizing the interplay of Yin and Yang, the importance of timing, and the refinement of internal energies. Its influence extended to later Daoist...
Dec 30, 2024•12 min•Season 14Ep. 11
This Chapter details a Daoist method for spiritual transcendence, outlining a process of shedding the mortal form to become an immortal being. The text emphasizes internal observation and the cultivation of Qi to achieve this state, describing the stages of spiritual ascent and the visions experienced during this journey. It also provides cautionary advice, highlighting potential pitfalls and the importance of thorough preparation. The ultimate goal is achieving harmony with Heaven and Earth, po...
Dec 30, 2024•21 min•Season 14Ep. 10
This Chapter from a Daoist text, "Chapter 9 Internal Observation and Exchange," detailing practices for spiritual cultivation. It describes achieving union of heart and Qi through internal observation, employing metaphors to illustrate the formless Dao. The text outlines a specific meditative practice involving visualization and techniques to overcome obstacles, emphasizing the importance of detachment from visions and the pursuit of transcendence beyond physical limitations to achieve true immo...
Dec 30, 2024•13 min•Season 14Ep. 9
This Chapter from a Taoist alchemical manual, detailing a system of Qi refinement ("Morning Ascension and Qi Refinement"). It describes the correspondence between the five elements, numbers, directions, and colors, relating these to internal organs and seasonal practices. The text outlines a regimen involving internal visualization, breathwork, and meditative practices to cultivate and ascend Qi. The ultimate goal is spiritual transcendence and sainthood, indicated by physical and spiritual mani...
Dec 30, 2024•17 min•Season 14Ep. 8
This Chapter details a Taoist alchemical practice called "Golden Liquid Returning the Elixir" and "Refining the Form." It describes the process of manipulating internal energies, visualized as the interplay of sun and moon, heart and kidney Qi, and gold and jade liquids, to achieve physical and spiritual transformation. The practice involves specific breathing techniques, visualizations, and seasonal adjustments, aiming to achieve immortality through the refinement of the body's energies. The te...
Dec 30, 2024•15 min•Season 14Ep. 7
This Chapter details a Taoist alchemical practice, "Jade Liquid Returning the Elixir," aiming for physical and spiritual transformation. The process involves a 300-day regimen of internal alchemy, focusing on cultivating and refining Qi ("vital energy") through specific techniques like saliva manipulation and breathwork. Analogies to natural processes, such as the formation of gold and jade, illustrate the transformation sought. The practice culminates in the "Golden Liquid Returning the Elixir,...
Dec 30, 2024•17 min•Season 14Ep. 6
This Chapter details a Daoist internal alchemy practice called "Flying Golden Essence from the Elbows," aiming for immortality. The practice involves aligning bodily energy with cosmic cycles—the Sun and Moon's movements—over 300 days, divided into three phases. It uses visualizations and specific postures to cultivate internal energy ("Qi") and create an "internal elixir." Success is marked by improved health, vitality, and longevity, reflecting a harmony between the microcosm (human body) and ...
Dec 30, 2024•14 min•Season 14Ep. 5
This Chapter details an alchemical process for achieving immortality. It describes the interplay of Yin and Yang energies within the body, mirroring cosmic cycles, and outlines a regimen of internal energy refinement through specific practices and seasonal timing. The process involves the symbolic union of internal energies, likened to a pregnancy, culminating in the creation of a "Golden Elixir." Success depends on precise timing, inner harmony, and dedicated practice over many years. The text ...
Dec 30, 2024•18 min•Season 14Ep. 4
This Chapter details an alchemical process for achieving spiritual transcendence. It describes the cyclical interplay of Yin and Yang, both cosmically and within the human body, using analogies to explain how to cultivate internal energy. The goal is to unite opposing forces ("True Dragon" and "True Tiger") within the practitioner, resulting in the creation of a "True Embryo" and ultimately, immortality. Specific instructions and visualizations are provided to guide this internal alchemical tran...
Dec 30, 2024•15 min•Season 14Ep. 3
This Chapter explores the cyclical interplay of Yin and Yang, mirroring celestial and human physiological processes. It explains how these forces, represented by water and fire respectively, govern natural order and human health. The text uses analogies of Heaven and Earth, the heart and kidneys, and the solstices and equinoxes to illustrate the dynamic balance between these opposing forces. Practical techniques, such as specific exercises and mindful practices, are offered to harmonize Yin and ...
Dec 30, 2024•14 min•Season 14Ep. 2
This Chapter from a Taoist alchemical treatise, detailing the cyclical interplay of Yin and Yang within the cosmos and the human body. It describes a system of cosmology where these forces interact across vast distances, mirroring internal physiological processes. The text provides detailed instructions for cultivating internal energy by aligning personal breath and essence with these cosmic rhythms, aiming for longevity and spiritual advancement. The method involves manipulating breath (Qi) and...
Dec 30, 2024•17 min•Season 14Ep. 1
Lü Dongbin, a legendary figure from the Tang dynasty, is explored as both a historical official and a Daoist immortal. The text details his purportedly long life, including his early academic achievements and eventual abandonment of official life for Daoist practices. A key focus is the ten trials Lü Dongbin underwent under the tutelage of Zhongli Quan, testing his virtue and paving his path to immortality. These trials highlight his unwavering composure in the face of adversity. Finally, his si...
Dec 26, 2024•16 min•Season 13Ep. 14
This is an excerpts from Lü Dongbin's The Secret of the Golden Flower, specifically Chapter 13, "Song of Admonition to the World," detailing a Taoist internal alchemy practice called "returning the light." The practice involves cultivating inner energy through breath control and meditation, aiming to achieve enlightenment and immortality. Key concepts include aligning the body's energies ("Kan and Li"), focusing on a specific internal point ("Mysterious Pass"), and achieving a state of emptiness...
Dec 26, 2024•21 min•Season 13Ep. 13
This is a chapter from Lü Dongbin's Secret of the Golden Flower, focusing on the concept of Zhou Tian, or the Heavenly Cycle, a Taoist internal alchemy practice. It emphasizes cultivating inner stillness and naturalness rather than forceful manipulation of qi, likening the heart to the North Star and qi to orbiting stars. The practice aims to refine the cognitive spirit and generate innate true qi ("xian tian zhen qi"), achieving a harmonious balance of yin and yang. The text also discusses the ...
Dec 26, 2024•13 min•Season 13Ep. 12
Lü Dongbin's Secret of the Golden Flower chapter, "The Union of Kan and Li," explains alchemical self-cultivation using the trigrams Kan and Li. Kan represents inward focus and stillness, while Li represents outward engagement. The text equates the union of these forces with the harmonization of yin and yang, body and mind, and ultimately, spirit and vital energy (qi). Achieving this union, even through simple breath control, is described as a crucial step on the path to spiritual attainment, wi...
Dec 26, 2024•5 min•Season 13Ep. 11
Lü Dongbin's The Secret of the Golden Flower chapter, "The Light of Nature and the Light of Cognition," distinguishes between "natural light" (inherent, pure awareness) and "cognitive light" (consciousness arising from thought). The text emphasizes the importance of cultivating natural light through the practice of "returning the light," a method of achieving enlightenment by releasing attachment to thoughts and external stimuli. This process involves recognizing that clinging to perceptions lea...
Dec 26, 2024•14 min•Season 13Ep. 10
This Chapter from Lü Dongbin's The Secret of the Golden Flower discusses the "Hundred Days of Foundation Building," a crucial initial stage in Daoist cultivation. The text emphasizes the natural, spontaneous generation of inner spiritual energy ("true fire") through consistent practice, rather than forced acceleration. While the "hundred days" is symbolic, representing the time needed to establish a firm foundation, the ultimate focus is on achieving efficacy in cultivating inner energy. The tex...
Dec 26, 2024•17 min•Season 13Ep. 9
This Chapter excerpts from Lü Dongbin's The Secret of the Golden Flower detail a Daoist cultivation method, the "Method of Transcendence," focusing on internal alchemy. The practice uses visualization and the manipulation of internal energy ("qi") to achieve a state of union between opposing forces (yin and yang). It involves stages progressing from external control to internal mastery, culminating in profound stillness and the unification of body and mind. The text uses analogies of rulers and ...
Dec 26, 2024•26 min•Season 13Ep. 8
This is an excerpt from Lü Dongbin's The Secret of the Golden Flower, specifically Chapter 7, "The Living Practice of Returning the Light." It details a meditative practice called returning the light (huiguang), emphasizing consistent mindfulness in daily life. The practice involves cultivating a detached awareness without clinging to self or external things, achieved through reflective observation. The text suggests consistent practice, even for short periods, will eventually lead to spiritual ...
Dec 26, 2024•6 min•Season 13Ep. 7
This Chapter from Lü Dongbin's The Secret of the Golden Flower details the validation stages of the "returning the light" practice. The text describes initial experiences of calmness and pleasantness, progressing to visions of illumination and a strengthened, revitalized body. Further validation stages involve visualizations based on Buddhist and Taoist imagery, ultimately leading to the discovery of primordial energy and the refinement of the elixir. Three readily verifiable signs—echo-like hea...
Dec 26, 2024•20 min•Season 13Ep. 6
This Chapter from Lü Dongbin's The Secret of the Golden Flower details potential pitfalls in Daoist meditative practice. It contrasts Daoist methods with Chan Buddhism, emphasizing the importance of a balanced approach to achieving stillness. The text warns against extremes, such as excessive effort leading to rigidity or complete passivity resulting in stagnation and entrapment in the realm of sensual desire. Specific examples of erroneous practices and their consequences, such as becoming a fo...
Dec 26, 2024•13 min•Season 13Ep. 5
This Chapter from Lü Dongbin's The Secret of the Golden Flower details a meditative practice called "Returning the Light and Regulating the Breath," focusing on harmonizing the mind and breath to achieve spiritual clarity. The text explains that distractions and drowsiness are common obstacles, advocating for a subtle, inward focus on the breath to refine one's qi and cultivate inner stillness. It uses analogies like a brooding hen to illustrate the importance of focused attention, emphasizing t...
Dec 26, 2024•20 min•Season 13Ep. 4
This is an excerpt from Lü Dongbin's The Secret of the Golden Flower, specifically Chapter 3, "Returning the Light and Guarding the Center." It details a meditative practice aimed at cultivating inner energy ("light") by reversing the natural outflow of consciousness through the eyes. The practice involves focusing on the tip of the nose to achieve stillness and then observing and releasing thoughts, integrating elements from Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. The ultimate goal is enlightenment...
Dec 26, 2024•43 min•Season 13Ep. 3
Lü Dongbin's The Secret of the Golden Flower excerpt describes the interplay between the primordial spirit (yuan shen), residing in the space between the eyebrows, and the cognitive spirit (shi shen), located in the heart. It emphasizes cultivating the primordial spirit to transcend earthly limitations and achieve immortality. This involves refining the "hun" (soul) and subduing the "po" (corporeal aspect) associated with the cognitive spirit, which is likened to a domineering ruler needing wise...
Dec 26, 2024•21 min•Season 13Ep. 2
Lü Dongbin's Secret of the Golden Flower introduces a Daoist internal alchemy practice focusing on "returning the light" to the "heart of heaven," located between the eyes. This involves cultivating one's innate nature (xing) and primordial spirit (yuan shen) to achieve enlightenment, bypassing typical active methods. The text emphasizes the importance of a firm ethical foundation before undertaking this practice, which aims to solidify the light into a natural dharma body, ultimately achieving ...
Dec 26, 2024•19 min•Season 13Ep. 1
The Chapter is an excerpt from interpretations of the 64th hexagram, Wei Ji (未济), of the I Ching, also known as "Not Yet Fording." The hexagram, symbolized by fire above water, represents imbalance and incompletion. Interpretations explore its implications across various life aspects, including relationships, finances, health, and legal matters, consistently emphasizing patience as key to overcoming initial difficulties and achieving eventual success. The text includes both the hexagram's origin...
Dec 09, 2024•20 min•Season 12Ep. 64
The Podcast presents an interpretation of the 63rd hexagram, Ji Ji (既济), from the Yi Jing (I Ching). It details the hexagram's symbolism—water over fire, representing completion and harmony—and offers auspicious predictions regarding success, fortune, and finding lost things. However, it cautions against complacency, warning of potential setbacks and the need for vigilance to maintain achievements, particularly in long-term relationships and legal matters. The provided explanations encompass var...
Dec 09, 2024•15 min•Season 12Ep. 63
The Podcast provides an interpretation of the 62nd hexagram, Xiao Guo (小过), from the Yi Jing, also known as the Book of Changes. It details the hexagram's symbolism, which depicts thunder atop a mountain, representing a situation where powerful forces are restrained. Interpretations are offered for various life aspects including fortune, relationships, health, and legal matters, emphasizing caution, modesty, and focusing on small tasks to avoid larger problems. Specific line interpretations with...
Dec 09, 2024•25 min•Season 12Ep. 62
The Podcast offers an interpretation of the 61st hexagram, Zhong Fu (中孚), from the Yi Jing, also known as the Book of Changes. It explains the hexagram's symbolism, which represents inner truth and sincerity, using imagery of a crane and its young, and the wind rippling a lake. Various life aspects are considered, including fortune, relationships, health, and legal matters, with interpretations based on the hexagram's meaning. Favorable outcomes are linked to sincerity and trustworthiness, while...
Dec 09, 2024•18 min•Season 12Ep. 61
The Chapter is an excerpt from interpretations of the 60th hexagram of the Yi Jing, known as Jie (节), meaning "Limitation" or "Moderation." The hexagram's symbolism, derived from the combination of water and lake elements, emphasizes the importance of self-restraint and discipline. Interpretations cover various aspects of life, including fortune, relationships, health, and legal matters, advising moderation to avoid excess while warning against overly strict limitations. The text includes both t...
Dec 09, 2024•11 min•Season 12Ep. 60
