Internal Alchemy & Radical Longevity Methods
Whoever clings to what is in the mind sees not the truth of what is beyond the mind. Whoever strives to practice the Way finds not the truth beyond practice.To know what is beyond both mind and practice one should cut cleanly through the root of the mind and stare naked (remain neutral). One should thus break away from all distinctions (of right and wrong, gain or loss) and remain at ease. Mahamudra
When thoughts about the endless fluctuations arise remain relaxed without doing anything unnatural. Mind itself abides in its own nature whatever arises. Neither wait expectantly for what might come nor seek to follow what has gone; rather, abide in the ever-fresh state of the primordially pure present awareness. Dzogchen
Keeping to the nature of whatever arises there is relaxation free of grasping; once your mind becomes clear and steady you won’t have to maintain this with meditation practice. Remain free of encouraging or inhibiting, of stability (holding) or movement. Dzogchen
Don’t try to block anything that appears in the mind as they arise. Towards whatever arises in the mind maintain an attitude free of limitation, without judgment or prejudice. At all times and in all situations maintain the state of clear and open awareness. Dzogchen
Preserve life in the body by staying with the Tao. Lose alignment with the Tao and lose the source of life. Life depends on maintaining balance within and harmony without and on keeping circulation, flexibleness, and being in harmony with the flow of nature. Death depends on stagnation, rigidity and stiffness and losing touch with balance and the flow of nature. Therefore make both within and without to be of one accord and one harmony and the Tao of Life will not abandon you. Taoist Alchemical Text
Know the will of heaven and the body is preserved. The will of heaven is the way of balance. Internally, balance means keeping the Jing pool full and the Qi centers active. A full Jing pool means energy is stored and not wasted (in the lower tantien). Active Qi centers means energy is circulated and not stagnant.
Keeping the spirit and breath together is the great discipline of celestial beings. When kept together the spirit will shine and the body will be energized. Meditate on breath and spirit together and don’t let them separate even for a moment and your body and mind will be full of light. Taoist Alchemical Text
Bathe the bodymind in bliss and healing energy through yogic and life extension practices by breathing with full bodymind awareness. Full body breathing refreshes the cells and tissues with healing prana which nourishes the whole system. Absorb high quality life-force energies and neutralize cellular atrophy and aging related to conditioned beliefs, concepts, ideas and behaviors and live fully without toxic emotions which destroy both mind and body. Taoist Alchemical Text
The Alchemists Elixir and The Quest for Immortality: After making the cherished elixir part of his diet, the life of the alchemist is extended. When the golden elixir enters the five organs, a fog (in the mind) is dispelled like rain clouds scattered by the wind. White hair turns black and new teeth grow in. The old man becomes again like a lusty youth filled with vigor and the aged woman becomes youthful and alluring once again. Therefore it is said, "He whose form has changed through alchemy, and has escaped the perils of aging in life becomes known as the True Man." From the Chinese treaty on alchemy by Wei Po-yang, fourth century, BC.
Alchemical herbal drugs are taken in the form of an elixir and identified with the five corresponding organs as the alchemical process takes place in the body and consciousness of the adept. Through conscious rhythmic breathing and regulation of the breath one enters an inner state that thwarts the natural aging process by purifying the blood and transmuting semen and Jing.
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| Talismans are a sort of contract that is made with the spirits. They are designed to be carried on the body or worn under the clothing as a form of protection. They guarntee a command of the spirits and insure that a form of spiritual security was in order. This form of the esoteric arts was part of a complex set of guidelines that gave Taoist practittioners influence over the processes of the universe. *** Tales of Celestial Humans Feng Gang regularly gathered various kinds of medicinal flowers, soaked them in water to make a paste, then from the paste he formed them into pills. By ingesting these Feng Gang was able to live for several hundred years without aging. Gan Shi was a native of Taiwan. He excelled at circulating pneumas (light and sound). He did not eat a normal diet but ingested only wild asparagus root. In curing the sick he had no need of moxa (burning coal) or needles (acupuncture). He remained in the human realm for three hundred years and departed as a transcendent. Ge Xuan habitually ate atractylodis rhizome. He was especially adept at curing illness. He could also go for years without eating grains, go for months without suffering hunger; he healed the sick and performed vaious kinds of miracles in his village. Ji Liao was a native of Qi. No one knew that he possessed the Way. He was always easygoing and trustworthy and did not seek fame or notoriety. In over two hundred his countenance did not age. Jian Keng lived more than 700 years yet had not physically aged. From his youth he loved tranquility and stillness and often meditated by streams and in bamboo groves. He occupied himself solely with nourishing life and regulating his body. Jian Keng excelled at the arts of supplementing the Qi and converting Jing. He ingested cinnamon casia, cloud-mother (mica) and powdered deer horn. He could heal any part of his body by focusing on it and directing his breath to enter the troubled area. He taught that without the arts of merging Yin and Yang with a mate in dual cultivation that no amount of medicinal herbs will help the aspirant reach Nirvana. Peng Zhu said that among celestial transcendents there are those who imbibe primal pneumas, others who eat mushrooms and herbs and some who come and go among humans yet no one notices them. But although they have endless longevity they keep themselves away from human contact and distance themselves from honor and pleasures teaching that the way to obtain persistent longevity is to simply nourish the body's five organ spirits and avoid doing any injury to oneself. From To Live as Long as Heaven and Earth A Translation and Study of Ge Hong's Tradition of Divine Transcendents |
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