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| kanji for immortal |
Hsien: this term designates an individual who has attained physical immortality, is no longer subject to the “world of dust” and is a master of various magical skills. As alchemists they endeavor to return the body to its original pre-natal state using either external (mineral and herbal elixirs) or internal (breath practices, inner yoga and meditation) transformative practices. These are practices that are designed to return the body to its original pre-natal state of pure energy that existed from birth in order to achieve what is known as ch’ang-shen pu-sa or the state of ongoing life preservation.
Li Shaojun was several hundred years old yet looked to be in his fifties. His fascial complexion was excellent, his flesh smooth and his teeth like those of a youth. When the princes, nobles and high officials heard that he could forestall death and not age they highly esteemed him and offered him mountains of money. And so Li Shaojun secretly began making the divine elixir. The formula called for the nectar of a hundred kinds of flowers found only on the northern slopes of some distant mountains. This formula when taken in the proper doses could cause a person's body to return to a state of primal and radiant health as all illness and aging is banished forever.
A page from a Taoist book on Talismans w/magnolia petal
Jian Keng excelled in the arts of "supplementing the Qi" and "nourishing the brain". At the end of the Yin era, he was at that time, 767 years old, yet had not physically aged. From his youth he loved tranquilty, stillness and being quiet. He avoided being noticed and occupied himself soley with nourishing his life-force and regulating the energy of his body. When the emperor heard of Jian Keng, he summoned him to court. But Jian Keng pretended to be ill and would not accept any government post. He never sought fame or involved himself in human affairs. He practiced various forms of moving and breathing, stretching and holding the breath. Rubbing his body and squeezing his muscles, tightning and squeezing many dozens of times allowing him to move energy into any area of his body. This he did every morning before having tea and again later in the day. If he felt any discomfort or tightness in he would focus entirely on that area and cause it to go away using only his mind. He would fix his heart on each area of his body, all the muscles in turn from lower to upper, right to left and inner to outer, stimulating his blood stream and energy channels causing his body to feel light radiant and buoyant.
Early Woodblock Depictions of Immortals
Lou Wang Zhi, a creator of magical talismans said, "Of those who have attained the Way, some ingest primal pneumas (natural forces like sun, wind, moon, surf air, rain water, mineral substances and the sap of plants). Others prefer roots, mushrooms, the nectar of flowers and herbs. Some come and go among humans unrecognized as transcendents among them. Others conceal themselves and are seen by no one. Many prefer seclusion havnig no intercourse with ordinary people. And even though they have achieved deathless longevity, they keep to themselves, avoid human society and distance themselves from honor and excessive pleasure. And yet there are those who eat tasty food, have sexual intercourse, own material posessions and openly socialize and hold public office. Yet even though they engage with the world in this manner, they continue to practice the Way, employing the internal arts of nourishing the spirit and avoiding excesseses."
Zhu Yi was a woman of Greater Yang (circulation of inner fire). She gained spiritual benefits by practicing internal circulation and inner cultivation of Qi along with expelling toxins and absorbing pneumas. At the age of 280 her face was like peach blossoms and her mouth like cinnabar red. Her skin was vibrant and smooth with perfect eyebrows. With radiant good looks she was stunning. Looking at her one would judge her to be a fresh young girl of seventeen or eighteen. She also learned to refine the Gold Liquor, an elixir which she shared with her teacher, Judong Zhi. When it was completed they consumed and together ascended into the heavens.
The Immortal Ching Lun states, "The generative force is the most precious thing for the body that contains it lives and the body without it dies. This is because it nourishes and preseves the essential root of eternal life. No worldly men know how to protect, produce and purify it. Only devoted adepts know how to restore the generative force and direct it so that it nourishes the brain. This activates the glands that allow the adept to transcend the human condition of dying and decay. Only the transcedent saints and sages know the method of reversing the process of life and death to return to its very source. When this generative force is activated the body lives; when exhausted the body dies."
Spiritual immortals often assist humans on the path of esoteric knowledge with divine guidance
From Jerry Alan Johnson's book: Daoist Exorcism, Encounters with
Sorcerors, Ghosts, Spirits and Demons
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