Incorrect and minor methods of Dao practice as told by Great Master Zhong Li Quan

钟吕传道集
Collected works on the Transmission of Dao from Zhongliquan to Lüdongbin

正阳真人钟离权云房述纯阳真人吕岩洞宾集华阳真人施肩吾希圣传  
Transmission from the Immortal Zhongliquan, who formally speaks to genuine Immortal Ludongbin on how to apply and execute sacred uncommon knowledge to become a perfected immortal.

钟曰：“修持之人，始也不悟大道，而欲于速成。形如搞木，心若死灰，神识内守，一志不散。定中以出阴神，乃清灵之鬼，非纯阳之仙。
以其一志阴灵不散，故曰鬼仙。虽曰仙，其实鬼也。古今崇释之徒，用功到此，乃曰得道，诚可笑也。”
Zhong said: By beginning cultivation and not realising the Great Dao, and desire to attain the goal quickly. The cultivation methods can be compared to a dry still sitting tree, with a heart like cold dead ashes, the Shen focused internally, not to scatter the mind and concentration. By reaching calmness and stabalising the mind therefore allows the Yin Shen(negative spirit) to release, this is the spirit of a Ghost, pure Yin, without Yang, it is “Immortal”. Because using the mind and concentration the Yin spirit wont scatter, for these reasons above it is called Gui Xian. Although its called Xian(immortal), it’s actually a Gui (ghost \ devil \ spirit of dead). From ancient times til now Buddhist disciples, as they are dedicated, hardworking and diligent in their practice, and therefore they say they have attained the Dao, truly ridiculous and laughable.

Note: Movement gives rise to Yang, stillness gives rise to Yin, these methods of sitting, calming the mind etc can only perfect Yin qualities, and end up with perfected Yinshen, while it requires great work and diligent practice, it is considered forbidden within Daoists circles as the result is ghost, spirit of the dead, stuck in the underworld.

吕曰：“所谓人仙者，何也。”  
Lu said: What is known as Ren Xian (human Immortal)?

钟曰：“人仙者，五仙之下二也。修真之士，不悟大道，道中得一法，法中得一术，信心苦志，终世不移。五行之气，误交误会，形质且固，八邪之疫不能为害，多安少病，乃曰人仙。”  Zhong said: Ren Xian, out of the 5 levels of Xian’s they are the second class. Cultivated to become a “True Scholar”, but didnt realise the Great Dao, to attain Dao only one way, way of one method, confidence and faith, hardship, determination, finally in lifetime not to change(不移). 5 elements (wuxing) energy, 8 evils, very peaceful, in good health, few disease, this is called Ren Xian.

吕曰：“是此人仙，何术、何功而致如此？”
Lu said: Right, that is Ren Xian (human immortal), so how to reach this achievement?

钟曰；“修持之人，始也或闻大道。孽重福薄，一切魔难而改初心，止于小成。云法有功，终身不能改移，四时不能变换。
Zhong said: By beginning cultivation, starting to possibly get a slight “taste” of Great Dao, and perhaps heard of real ways genuine methods of Great Dao.

吕曰：“所谓大道者，何也？”  
Lu said: What is the Great Dao?

钟曰：“大道无形、无名、无问、无应其大无外，其小无内。莫可得而知也，莫可得而行也！”
Zhong said: Great Dao is intangible, and without form, nameless, without inquiry, without answer, its great, yet without external, its small, yet without internal. Nothing may obtain and realise, nothing may obtain and move!

吕曰：“大道难知、难行之理如何？”  
Lu said : Great Dao is difficult to understand and realise, what is the reason?

钟曰：“以傍门小法，易为见功，而欲流多得。互相传授，至死不悟，遂成风俗，而败坏大道。
Zhong said: By means of depending on the ways the of minor and inconsistent method’s, seeming easy and appear to have good results, and with desire to circulate and spread to many. Mutually passing on these false methods, being and incorrigibly stubborn and benighted to the end of their days, while succeeding to become popular and common practices as well as undermining and corrupting the Great Dao.
有斋戒者、
those who abstain from meat and wine adopting vegetarian diet,
有休粮者、
those who stop eating grain and fast from food for periods of time,
有采气者、
those who collect Qi (post natal 后天气)
有漱咽者、
those who swallow saliva,
有离妻者、
those who leave their wife,
有断味者、
those who abstain from the flavors,
有禅定者、
those who meditate and stabilise the mind,
有不语者、
those who don’t talk,
有存想者、
those who preserve thoughts (mediation etc),
有采阴者、
those who collect Yin (sex with women as a method),
有服气者、
Those who practice Qigong (post-natal arts, it is not Alchemy)
有持净者、
Those who live recluse like hermit,
有息心者、
those who breath the heart [stopping the heart],
有绝累者、
those who go without rest,
有开顶者、
those who open the crown of the head [third eye],
有缩龟者、
those who withdraw and retract the tortoise (genitalia),
有绝迹者、
those who cut off relations,
有看读者、
those who recite Scriptures or chants,
有烧炼者、
those who burn refine (external alchemy)
有定息者、
those who stabilise or fix the breath,
有导引者、
those who practice secular Daoyin [breathing and stretching, Qigong related]
有吐纳者、
those who practice Tu Na, exhale [the old] and inhale [the new],
有采补者、
those who collect supplements,
有布施者、
those who donate to temples and charity’s,
有供养者、
those who make offerings and sacrifices to gods and deities,
有救济者、
those who provide aid, relief and salvation,
有入山者、
those who enter the mountain [and leave their wives and family],
有识性者、
those who realise only Xing [and don’t realise Ming 命],
有不动者、
those who are motionless [still sitting, meditation, pole standing etc],
有受持者、
those who accept and maintain blind faith,
傍门小法不可备陈。
To depend on the ways of small methods not take precautions.

至如采日月之华、天地之气，心思意想、望结丹砂，屈体劳形、欲求超脱，多入少出，攻病可也。认为真胎息，绝念忘言，养性可也 , 指作太一含真气， 金枪不倒，黄河逆流，养命之下法；

形如槁木，心若死灰，集神之小术。奈何古今奉道之士，苦苦留心，往往挂意。以咽津为药，如何得造化？聚气为丹，如何得停留？指肝为龙，而肺为虎，如何得交合, 认坎为铅，而离为汞，如何得抽添？

The methods are in compliance with collecting magnificent sun and moon, sky and earth Qi, using thought and imagination, in hope to form red sand (cinnabar ie Dantian-elixir), bending and stretching the body, desire to strive to be detached, many enter, few come out, taking defense to sickness.

Considering true embryo breath (taixi) as cutting the thoughts and neglecting the speech,
cultivating the Xing, and depending on work of supreme unity holding in their mouth true Qi, the golden spear not inverted, yellow river go against the current, Cultivating the Ming(Yuanjingqi) to go to ruins and drain; body as a withered tree, and heart like cold dead ashes, accumulating Shen-spirit a minor technique.

How in ancient and modern times can you believe in Daoist scholar, painstakingly be careful, more often then not anticipate death.

Swallowing saliva as a alchemy method? how to obtain goodluck?

Collecting post natal Qi, how to create Elixir?

Taking liver as Dragon(Xing) and lung as Tiger(Ming), how to join them?

taking Kan(water) as Lead, and Li(fire) as mercury, how to replenish them?

Copyright belongs to author and Daoist Centre “Dao De”