Ancestor L

The Hundred Characters Tablet

Translations & Commentaries

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

Introduction
The Hundred Character Tablet is a very short work attributed to Taoist Master L Yen, also known as Ancestor L, who lived durin in the T!an dynasty "#$%&'() C*+*,* Ancestor L is one othe reatest -i ures o- Taoism, and an enormous body o- literature is attributed to him* His work is .articularly noteworthy -or its inte ration o- Con-ucianism and /uddhism with classical, reli ious, and alchemical Taoism* This document .rovides 0 translations o- The Hundred Character Tablet. I have collected these translations on line* The 1 last ones are very close* 2ne o- them includes commentaries about the other one* It also .resents 3 commentaries by Cheok Hon Chuan, Chan 4an56en , and Liu I Min * Cheok Hon Chuan seems to be a modern Taoist* Chan 4an 6en , one o- the reatest Taoist masters o- all time is closely associated with Ancestor L* Liu I5min was an outstandin Taoist o- the early nineteenth century* He worked very hard at clari-yin the sometimes obscure lan ua e o- Taoist Classics* These te7ts are .articularly interestin as they .rovide clari-ications on the meanin s osome .oetic terms not easily inter.reted by 8estern minds, but even more so because they .rovide clear and detailed instructions use-ul -or the meditators*

Knowing is not enough, We must Apply Will is not enough, We must Do. Bruce Lee

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

T9A:4LATI2:4
The $(( Characters Tablet The Hundred5 Character Tablet /;i<= />i Translation by Thomas Cleary La.is La<uli te7ts on Internet 4nowlion .ost on Internet To nurture the vital ener y, the chi, kee. watch without words The Hundred 8ord Inscri.tion The 2ne Hundred Character Tablet by Lu Tin /in [which contains a unity of the teachings of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism] Cheok Hon Chuan .ost on Internet To nurture the vital ener y, the chi @the breath and energy of life], Aee. watch [focus on your Vipassana breathing] without words [meditate in silence]

:urturin ener y, To nourish the vital ener y, -or et words and uard it* kee. watch in silence?

ConBuer the mind, do non5 doin *

In order to To subdue the subdue the mind, mind, act without act with non5 actin action*

To subdue the mind, act without actin [keep your mind still, ust be totally aware and obser!e each thought as it arises and goes without reacting, grasping or clinging " do not fall asleep or ha!e a #blank mind$] 9eco ni<e the Catriarch [#%ho# is the one watching #you# watching& #%ho# is seeing #your# seeing&] in movement and stillness [in the coming and going of life, what is behind the phenomenon and phantasmagoria of life&] There is nothin to be concerned aboutE 8ho else are you seekin D [why worry about #you# or #'# or #self# " seek what is beyond the kaleidoscope of #being# and #e(istence#] 8hat is true and eternal [the True or )eal *ature or +riginal ,elf] must res.ond to bein s [ie. the being as a #noun# and the being as a #!erb#]

In activity and Buietude, know the source .ro enitor*

2- movement and 9eco ni<e the stillness, be aware .atriarch in o- their ori in? movement and stillness

There is no thin ? There is no work There is nothin whom else do you to do, much less to be concerned seekD someone to seek* aboutE who else are you seekin D 9eal constancy The true and constant 8hat!s true and eternal must res.ond to bein s

should res.ond to .eo.le? must res.ond to .henomena?

In res.ondin to .eo.le, it is essential not to et con-used*

9es.ondin to .henomena, you must be uncon-used*

To res.ond to bein s you must not be deluded

[-or it] to res.ond to bein s you must not be deluded [by the phenomenon you see, hear, etc... and the phenomenon that you imagine. see

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

beyond the beyond$] 8hen you don!t et con-used, your nature is naturally stable? 8hen I- you are not uncon-used, the deluded, real nature will nature remains by stabili<e by itsel-? itselI- you are not deluded [by the karmic state and cycle or birth and death], real nature [the state beyond the karmic state of samsara] remains by itsel- [the unborn, the uncreated, beyond e(istence or non"e(istence]

8hen your nature 8hen the nature is stable, stabili<es, ener y naturally returns* 8hen ener y returns, +li7ir s.ontaneously crystalli<es,

8hen real nature 8hen real nature remains [by itself. remains, that is, no more karmic residue], vital ener y returns by itsel-

vital ener y ener y returns by returns by itselitsel-* 8hen ener y returns, the eli7ir crystalli<es by itsel-?

8hen vital ener y 8hen vital ener y returns [by itself], returns, the eli7ir the eli7ir [Transcendental s.ontaneously /nlightenment] s.ontaneously -orms -orms [you need transcendental wisdom to transcend beyond the world of samsaric karma to world of total bliss, of non" dualities] In the vessel the -ire @oconditioned awarenessH and water @o.rimordial awarenessH are matched In the vessel [your bodily form] the -ire [of conditioned awareness] and the water [of primordial awareness] are matched

In the .ot .airin water and -ire*

8ithin the .ot, the tri rams ok;n and lF are Goined*

Yin and yan arise, alternatin over and over a ain,

YIn and yJn arise, alternatin over and over a ain?

Yin and Yan are Yin and Yan [positi!e and negati!e. born in succession phenomenon and noumenon] are born in succession Kniversal trans-ormation rolls like thunder Kniversal trans-ormation rolls like thunder [you are at one with the 0ni!erse " you ha!e entered into the 'nconcei!able] 8hite clouds [1ight of %isdom] cover the .eak [your 2ind is represented by your head] in the mornin

+verywhere +very .roducin the trans-ormation sound o- thunder* comes like a cla. o- thunder*

8hite clouds assemble on the summit,

8hite clouds 8hite clouds -orm and come to cover the .eak in assemble at the the mornin .eak?

4weet dew bathes The sweet nectar 4weet dew 4.rin dew [transcendental wisdom] the .olar s.rinkles down s.rinkles down on s.rinkles down on 4umeru [the mountain* Mount 4umeru* 4umeru mountain of your being]

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

Havin drunk the 4wallow -or Lrink -or yoursel- Lrink -or yoursel- the wine owine o- lon evity, yoursel- this wine the wine oimmortality [eternal being, a Taoist o- immortality? immortality immortal] wander -ree? who You wander so can know youD -reely, who is able to know youD sit and listen to the strin less tune, 4it and listen to the tune .layed without strin s? As you roam -ree, As you roam -ree [eternally in the no one will know cosmic chi of life], no one will know

4it and listen to the tune o- the <ither without strin s Clearly com.rehend the workin ocreation It!s all in these twenty lines A true ladder strai ht to heaven*

4it and listen to the tune o- the <ither without strin s [like 3wan 4in hearing, contemplating and culti!ating the eternal pulse of life] Clearly com.rehend the workin ocreation [the 'lluminating 2ind " 't is all in the 2ind"Consciousness$ 5m ' dreaming of a butterfly or a butterfly is dreaming of me$] It!s all in these twenty lines [6 words per line] A true ladder strai ht to heaven [the 5lpha and the +mega back to the +rigin]

clearly understand the mechanism ocreation* The whole othese twenty verses is a ladder strai ht to heaven*

Clearly understand the mechanism ocreation* It comes entirely -rom these twenty lines? A true ladder oin strai ht to Heaven*

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

C2MM+:TA9I+4
CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 To nurture the !ital energy, the chi, 3eep watch without words. To nurture the vital ener y, the chi @the breath and ener y o- li-eH, Aee. watch @-ocus on your Mi.assana breathin H without words @meditate in silenceH CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 *urturing energy, forget words and guard it, Cractitioners should -irst nurture ener y* The method o- nurturin ener y is in -or ettin words and kee.in uni-ied* 6or et words, and ener y is not dis.ersed? kee. uni-ied, and the s.irit does not o away* The secret is to Buietly hold the s.irit steady* 1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 *urturing energy, forget talk and fi(ation. The science o- essential li-e be ins and ends with nurturin the .rimordial o.en non5rei-ied true one ener y* There is nothin else* 8hen you ather medicine you are atherin this* 8hen you re-ine dru s you are re-inin this* 8hen you restore eli7ir you are restorin this* 8hen you -ree the .ill -rom the matri7, you are -reein this* 8hen you in est the .ill, you are in estin this* 8hen you -orm the embryo, you are -ormin this* 8hen you -ree the s.iritual child -rom the womb, you are -reein this* 8hen you use s.ecial arts to e7tend li-e, you are e7tendin this* 8hen yo use the Tao to .reserve your body, you are .reservin this* 8hen you start by doin , what is doin is this* 8hen you end u. not doin , what is not doin is this* 8hen you live lon , what lasts is this* 8hen there is no birth, what is absent is this* An ancient classic says, NAnow the one, and all matters are concluded*N These words can com.rehend a thousand classics, ten thousand books* /ut this ener y is neither material nor immaterial, it has no sha.e or -orm* It cannot be known co nitively, it cannot be .erceived consciously* 8hen you look at it you do not see it, when you listen to it you do not hear it, when you try to ras. it you cannot -ind it* It is .ro-oundly abstruse, beyond all descri.tion* This has, nevertheless, been re.resented by the symbol o- a circle, and called by various names* Con-ucians call it the absolute, Taoists call it the old .ill, /uddhists call it com.lete awareness* /ut basically there is nothin in it that can be .ut into words* 8hat is there to -i7 u.onD Anythin that can be .ut into words and -i7ed u.on is not the .rimal o.en non5rei-ied ener y, but must be acBuired ener y that is emanated and absorbed* Crimal ener y never decom.oses, while the e7istence o- acBuired ener y de.ends on the .hantasmic .hysical body* Ceo.le who have not otten the true meanin o- tradition do not know what the .rimal ener y is, and mistake ener y in an acBuired -orm -or .rimal ener y* 4ome say it is in the ocean obreath, some say it is in the eli7ir -ields, some say it is in the yellow court, some say it is in the active and .assive channels, some say it is between the kidneys and enitals, some re ulate their breathin to eBuali<e ener y, some sto. breathin and settle into the womb breath to store ener y, some convey ener y u. their s.ines into their heads then down into their midsections to amass ener y* 4ome hold it still, some move it* There are various di--erent .ractices .eo.le ima ine will -orm the .ill o- the eli7ir o- immortality* Let us ask, where does this -ormed ener y eventually con eal and crystalli<e, and into what -ormD 8ill it con eal into a mass o- ener yD

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

I have seen many cases o- .eo.le who kee. their attention -i7ed u.on .oints in their heads su--erin -rom brain leaka e* Those who kee. their attention -i7ed on .oints in their lower torso o-ten su--er leaka e below* Those who kee. their attention -i7ed on the solar .le7us area o-ten et bloated* Those who kee. their attention -i7ed on the -orehead lose their eyesi ht* Those who try to kee. a blank mind develo. sym.toms o- e.ile.sy* They want to seek lon li-e, but instead they hasten death* It is a .ity they do not know the .rimal o.en non5rei-ied ener y enwra.s heaven and earth, .roduces and develo.s all bein s* It is so reat that it has no outside, so -ine it has no inside* 9elease it and it -ills the universe, wra. it u. and it withdraws into stora e in secrecy* It can only be known, it cannot be said* It can only be nurtured, it cannot be -i7ed u.on* 8hen there is no talk and no -i7ation, words and -i7ations are both -or otten* :urturin without tryin to nurture, one enters into absor.tion in nurturin ener y* The Oreat 8ay is alive* It is not stuck in the realms o- bein or nothin ness* Tobe stuck in the realm o- bein means to be attached to a..earances* To be stuck in the realm o- nothin ness means to be attached to em.tiness* :either attachment to a..earances nor em.tiness is the 8ay o- the creative -low o- heaven and earth* :or are they the sa es! 8ay o- true em.tiness and subtle bein * 4ince we are talkin about nurturin ener y, there must be somethin nurtured, so we don!t -all into em.tiness* 4ince we -or et words and -i7ations, there can be no s.eci-ic location, -i7ed .osition, so we don!t clin to a..earances* 8hen not clin in to em.tiness and not clin in to a..earances, there must be a source onurture that is not em.ty and not a..arent* :urture that is neither em.ty nor -ormal is Buiet and still yet sensitive and e--ective, sensitive and e--ective yet Buiet and still* Herein lies the way to nurture ener y*

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 To subdue the mind, act without acting Aee. your mind still, Gust be totally aware and observe each thou ht as it arises and oes without reactin , ras.in or clin in 5 do not -all aslee. or have a !blank mindP CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 Con9uer the mind, do non"doing, 2rdinarily .eo.le!s minds move and shi-t ceaselessly* I- .ractitioners want to Buiet down their minds, it is im.ortant to control their eyes* The eyes are the door o- the mind, and should be nearly closed* Kse the mind on all thin s like a sword* Think o- worldly thin s as o- no bene-it to you? then both cravin and irritation will disa..ear, without any attem.t to et rid o- clin in * The secret is to look throu h the eyes at the nose, look throu h the nose at the navel, ali n above and below, kee. mind and breath I- on each other? now kee. your attention on the Mysterious Cass, and you can overcome thou ht* 1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 Con9uer the mind, do non"doing. 8hen the te7t says to nurture ener y, without talk or -i7ation, it seems like it means doin nothin whatsoever* A-ter .eo.le are born, their .rimal ener y becomes -ull? when yan .eaks, it must turn to yin* 2nly sa es can .reserve their .rimal ener y intact without losin it* As -or mediocre and lesser .eo.le, the .rimal ener y disa..ears into latency as soon as it encounters acBuired ener y* As acBuired ener y takes over a--airs, yan radually wanes and yin radually rows* The sense or ans and data o- time immemorial emer e, the individual tem.erament and constitution o into action, the s.irit becomes distorted, and e7ternal in-luences cause con-usion* At this time, the whole body is in the s.here o- yin 5 what is the yan vitalityD +ven i- you want to nurture ener y, there is no way to do it* The -oundin teacher!s 4ellow Crane +de says that those o- su.erior Bualities use the Tao to .reserve their bodies, which is be-ore .ure yan has been broken, while those o- in-erior Bualities use arts to iQi .rolon li-e, which only works a-ter water and -ire have been .aired* H Ksin the Tao to .reserve the body is somethin done by I non5doin , usin arts to .rolon li-e is somethin done by doin * II In .eo.le o- su.erior Bualities the .rimal ener y has not lost its .ure yan bodyE kee. to the center, embrace the one, and it is .ossible to .reserve that ori inal real body* In mediocre and lesser .eo.le, the .rimal ener y has already been dama ed, yan has been overthrown by yinE it is necessary to steal yin and yan , take over creation, and -irst stabili<e the -oundation o- li-e, enterin non5doin by way o- doin , be-ore it is .ossible to attain reali<ation* 6urthermore, as an ancient immortal said, to restore the eli7ir is very easy, to re-ine the sel- is very hard* The classic 4.rin Cervadin the Oarden also says, NThe restored eli7ir is in .eo.le? -irst they must re-ine themselves and await the ri ht time*N The accom.lishment o- sel-5re-inement starts with conBuerin the mind* /ut to conBuer the mind it is necessary to know the mind* There is a distinction in the mind between the human mind and the Tao mind, a di--erence between the true mind and the arti-icial mind* The Tao mind is the ori inal true mind that obeys the laws o- the universe without consciously knowin it* The human mind is the arti-icial mind o- acBuired consciousness, co nition, -eelin s, and desires* The true mind enhances .eo.le!s essence and li-e, the arti-icial mind dama es .eo.le!s essence and li-e* To conBuer the mind means to conBuer the arti-iciality o- the human mind* /ut conBuerin the human mind is not a matter o- -i7atin on the mind, em.tyin the mind, or -orcibly steadyin the mind* It is necessary to o alon with its natural state* As the classic Knderstandin 9eality says, NOo alon with desires, radually uidin them*N This is the secret oAncestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

conBuerin the mind* This is why the te7t says, NConBuer the mind, do non5doin *N 8hen it says Ndo,N it means the mind must be conBuered? when it says Nnon5doin ,N it means not to conBuer it by -orce* ConBuerin without tryin to conBuer, not tryin to conBuer yet conBuerin , within active action there is non5action, within e--ortless e--ort you e7ert e--ort* This is because the stubborn human mind has .iled u. habits until they have become a nature, and i- you try too NBuickly to control it, this is usin the mind to control the mind, which will Gust make you mind more, a--irmin the habit nature all the more* Instead o- succeedin in controllin the mind, this will create mental illness* This is what the Classic on Yin Conver ence means when it says, N8hen -ire arises in wood, disaster takes .lace with ineluctable -orce*N There-ore conBuerin the mind reBuires a..lication o- the e--ects o- radual cultivation* The work o- radual cultivation does not inGure anyone else, does bene-it to onesel- doin yet not doin *

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 )ecogni:e the ;atriarch in mo!ement and stillness !8ho! is the one watchin !you! watchin D !8ho! is seein !your! seein D in the comin and oin o- li-e, what is behind the .henomenon and .hantasma oria oli-eD

CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 'n acti!ity and 9uietude, know the source progenitor, Activity and Buietude are yin and yan ? the 4ource Cro enitor is the .lace where the body is born* Cractitioners should know that .rior to /irth is the Mysterious 6emale, This is the .lace where the u..er and lower .arts o- the body, the celestial and earthly .arts o- the bein , and all the .sycholo ical elements o- human nature are all athered to ether* This is made o- the .oint o- s.iritual li ht that is .rior to the se.aration o- Heaven and +arth, and is what is called the Absolute, or the Oreat Kltimate* This is the va ue area below the heart and above the enitals, where thou hts ceaselessly arise* This is the 4ource Cro enitor, or Cro enitor o- the Clan* In this conte7t, activity and Buietude mean tunin and harmoni<in o- the true breath, or true ener y, and securely ali nin the truly -undamental in its .ro.er .osition in your li-e* It is said that when you breathe out you contact the 9oot o- heaven and e7.erience a sense o- o.enness, and when you breathe you contact the 9oot o- +arth and e7.erience a sense osolidity* /reathin out is associated with the -luidity o- the dra on, breathin in is associated with the stren th o- the ti er* As you o on breathin in this -rame o- mind, with these associations, alternatin between movement and stillness, it is im.ortant that the -ocus o- your mind does not shi-t* Let the true breath come and o, a subtle continuum on the brink o- e7istence* Tune the breathin until you et breath without breathin ? become one with it, and then the s.irit can be solidi-ied and the eli7ir can be made* CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 There is nothing to be concerned about8 %ho else are you seeking& %hy worry about !you! or !I! or !sel-! 5 seek what is beyond the kaleidosco.e o- !bein ! and !e7istence! CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 There is no thing. whom else do you seek& I- you can nurture ener y, -or et words, and conBuer body and mind, s.irit returns to the lair o- ener y? the attention -ocuses on the Center o- the Com.ass, mer ed with uni-ied ener y, like a hen sittin on her e s, like a dra on nurturin a .earl* Aee. your mind on this all the time, without a moment!s distraction, and a-ter a lon time, when the work becomes dee., there naturally a..ears a tiny .earl that shines like the sun, silently turnin into the li ht o- awareness o- the ori inal s.irit, beyond conce.tual measurement* 1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 5cti!e or 9uiet, know the source progenitor. There is no thing<whom else do you seek& The .rimal true one ener y is the enerative ener y that ives birth to heaven, earth, and human bein s* It contains all .atterns, and is .resent at all times* This is what is called the source .ro enitor o- essence and li-e* Those who kee. aware o- this are sa es, those who i nore it are ordinary .eo.le* /ut this ener y becomes concealed when it is submer ed under acBuired conditionin * It may a..ear every now and then, but .eo.le are so .reoccu.ied with ettin somethin , i- only res.ect, and they are so a o with .ersonal whims, that they miss it even when it is ri ht in -ront
Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

o- their -aces&now it!s there, now it!s one* I- you want to look -or this ener y, -irst you need to reco ni<e the Tao mind, because the .rimal ener y is stored in the Tao mind* The Tao mind is the substance, the .rimal ener y is the -unction* They have di--erent names, but their source is the same* The Tao mind is the source .ro enitor o- cultivation o- the Tao* The Tao mind is the master, the human mind is the servant* To know the source .ro enitor is to have the master em.loy the servant* The servant listens to the directions o- the master and is docile without bein -orcibly overcome* +ach action, each rest, is all the o.eration o- the Tao mind* The human mind itsel- turns into the Tao mind* Inwardly there are no errant thou hts, outwardly no arbitrary concerns* Inside and outside are .eace-ul and Buiet* +7ternal ener ies cannot .enetrate* This is the realm o- nothin * I- you can reach the realm o- no5thin , you -ind it em.ty and clear* There is nothin but the Tao mind* 8hom else do you seekD

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 %hat is true and eternal must respond to beings , [-or it] to respond to beings you must not be deluded 8hat is true and eternal @the True or 9eal :ature or 2ri inal 4el-H must res.ond to bein s @ie* the bein as a !noun! and the bein as a !verb!H @6or itH to res.ond to bein s you must not be deluded @by the .henomenon you see, hear, etc*** and the .henomenon that you ima ine? see beyond the beyondPH CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 )eal constancy should respond to people. in responding to people, it is essential not to get confused, This Tao is the 8ay o- real constancy and true eternity* It is easy to et con-used by thin s when dealin with situations, so when you come in contact with .eo.le, it will not do to et con-used by what ha..ens* I- you do not res.ond to .eo.le, then you are em.ty and silent, an o.en absence? when they come to you, you ou ht to res.ond, then let the thin .ass when it!s .ast* /e clear, u.ri ht, and ma nanimous, and you won!t be con-used* Your true nature will then be clear and serene, while your ori inal s.irit will solidi-y and crystalli<e* The secret is to .ay attention everywhere you mistake non5doin and -all into vacuity*

1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 )eal constancy should respond to people. in responding to people, it is essential not to get confused. 2nce you know the source .ro enitor and are in a state o- no5thin , then reali<ation can be constant* 8hen reali<ation can be constant, e7ternal arti-icialities cannot dama e it* However, the .ath o- real constancy is not a matter o- avoidin society or leavin the ordinary world* It is also not a matter o- sittin Buietly and sto..in thou hts* Your -eet must walk on the real roundE .racticin the .ath stron ly with your whole body, re-inin it in the -urnace ocreation, only then is it real and constant* I- you know the real but do not know how to act on the real, even i- you can attain the state o- no5thin , you will be like a wooden scul.ture or a clay statue* +ven thou h there is no5thin outside, you cannot avoid havin somethin inside* This is what is called closin the door, tra..in the bur lar&the arti-icial cannot leave, the real will et hurt* How is it .ossible to be really constantD There-ore the te7t says that real constancy should res.ond to .eo.le, and in res.ondin to .eo.le it is essential not to et con-used* 9eal constancy res.ondin to .eo.le here means the real res.ondin to the arti-icial* In res.ondin to .eo.le it is essential not to et con-used, in that we use the arti-icial to cultivate the real* This is because the real is hidden in the arti-icial, the arti-icial is not outside the real* 8ithout the arti-icial, we* cannot attain reali<ation? without the real, we cannot trans-orm the arti-icial* It is Gust a matter o- always bein res.onsive yet always bein calm, stealin the mechanism o- li-e -rom within the mechanism o- death, steerin a boat calmly throu h the waves,, hi h and dry* I- you can be uncon-used, this is true constancy, i- you can be truly constant, you may res.ond to .eo.le all day without ever havin res.onded* As you are in the realm o- no5thin and are not moved by anythin , what can obstruct res.onseD

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 'f you are not deluded, real nature remains by itself I- you are not deluded @by the karmic state and cycle or birth and deathH, real nature @the state beyond the karmic state o- samsaraH remains by itsel- @the unborn, the uncreated, beyond e7istence or non5e7istenceH CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 %hen you don#t get confused, your nature is naturally stable. when nature is stable, energy naturally returns. 2rdinary .eo.le!s natures are -iery, emotional, e7a erated one way, or another, inconstant* Any sort o- stimulus will activate random mental ima es in them, so it is hard to Buiet their natures* It is necessary to be truly care-ul o- an er and be truly s.arin with desire* Chysical calm is called re-inin vitality? re-ine your vitality, and Nthe ti er hisses,N the ori inal s.irit solidi-ies* Mental calm is called re-inin ener y? re-ine your ener y, and Nthe dra on sin s,N the ori inal ener y remains sa-e uarded* 4teadiness o- attention is called re-inin s.irit? re-ine your s.irit, and the two ener ies combine, the three ori inals mer e, and the ori inalD ener y s.ontaneously returns* The three ori inals are ori inal vitality, ener y, and s.irit* The two ener ies are yin and yan * 8hen you deal with .eo.le without con-usion, then the ori inal s.irit naturally returns, and -undamental nature is there o- itsel-* 8hen our -undamental nature as conscious bein s is .resent, then the .rimal ener y in the body naturally returns* Then it is not hard to Nreturn to li-e, o back to the root*N The secret is to turn the attention around to illumine the source o- consciousness, the whole uni-ied mind remainin within, inward thou hts not comin out, outward thou hts not comin in* 1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 %hen not confused, nature is spontaneously stable. 8hen you res.ond to .eo.le without con-usion, the reality o- the Tao mind is constantly .resent* 8hen the reality o- the Tao mind is constantly .resent, the arti-iciality o- the human mind does not arise* 8hen the arti-iciality o- the human mind does not arise, then the tem.eramental nature does not act u.* 8hen the tem.era mental nature does not act u., the innate nature is clear and bri ht, like a crystal tower* Kna--ected, unattached, unmovin , unwaverin , it is s.ontaneously stable* The e--ect o- stabili<ation o- nature de.ends on the work o- res.ondin to .eo.le without con-usion* Oet con-used, and the human mind does thin s&the true nature is obscured and arti-icial nature acts u.* Lo not et con-used, and the Tao mind does thin s&the arti-icial nature is trans-ormed, and the true nature is revealed* The .ath o- stabili<in nature is all a matter o- not ettin con-used* In his Yellow Crane 2de, L Yen says, NCultivate transcendental truths based on worldly truths*N 6ine words indeed* %hen nature is stable, energy spontaneously returns. :ature is inner desi n* In heaven it is .rinci.le, in humans it is nature* There-ore that nature is called celestial nature* +ner y is li-e* In heaven it is ener y, in .eo.le it is li-e* There-ore that li-e is called celestial li-e* 8hen .eo.le are -irst born, .rinci.le and ener y are not se.arate, nature and li-e are not se.arate* *Crinci.le and ener y are one individual, nature and li-e are one thin * It is by mi7in with the tem.oral that .rinci.le and ener y lose continuity and nature and li-e become se.arate* I- you can stabili<e your nature and not be moved by e7ternal in-luences, true ener y will s.ontaneously return* 8here there was no li-e there will a ain be li-e* :ature and li-e will be one as be-ore, .rinci.le and ener y are basically not at odds* This is what is called -ul-illin nature and attainin li-e*
Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

The restoration o- ener y is all a matter o- stabili<ation o- nature* I- you can be stable in nature, then ener y will s.ontaneously return* It cannot be -orced* CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 %hen real nature remains, !ital energy returns by itself, 'n the !essel, the fire and the water are matched 8hen real nature remains @by itsel-? that is, no more karmic residueH, vital ener y returns by itsel- In the vessel @your bodily -ormH the -ire @o- conditioned awarenessH and the water @o.rimordial awarenessH are matched CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 %hen energy returns, eli(ir spontaneously crystalli:es in the pot pairing water and fire. 8hen .ractitioners are not con-used by obGects and events, then ener y naturally returns* Thereby they see the two ener ies risin and descendin in the center o- their bodies, yin and yan .airin in the Alchemical Crucible* 4uddenly they -eel a thread o- hot ener y in their enitals, risin u. into the heart* 4ense comes back to the essence o- consciousness, like husband and wi-e Goinin in bliss-ul ra.ture* The two ener ies interact to -orm the substance o- the eli7ir? water and -ire mi7 in the lair o- ener y* The cycle oes on and on, so that the s.irit drives the ener y and the ener y maintains the body* Then one does not need a variety o- e7ercises or arts to live lon naturally* The secret is that the three treasures&ears, eyes, and mouth be closed o-- and not allowed to e7ercise their .owers* N9eal Ceo.le dive dee. into the abyss, and travel -loatin , kee.in within the Com.ass*N Lo this until the ener y in the eli7ir -ield is -ull, and -orms the Medicinal 4.oon, the linka e between the macrocosm and microcosm*

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 %hen !ital energy returns , the eli(ir spontaneously forms 8hen vital ener y returns @by itsel-H, the eli7ir @Transcendental +nli htenmentH s.ontaneously -orms @you need transcendental wisdom to transcend beyond the world o- samsaric karma to world ototal bliss, o- non5dualitiesH 1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 %hen energy returns, the pill spontaneously crystalli:es. The .ill is somethin round and bri ht* It is -ormed throu h the combination o- two ener ies, yin and yan * 8hen one!s nature is stabili<ed, and all thou hts have sto..ed, this is called true calm and true o.enness* 8hen calm reaches the e7treme, there is movement* 8hen o.enness reaches the e7treme, it .roduces li ht* The .rimal ener y comes -rom within o.en non5rei-ication, and in a trice it con eals into a .ill* Oenerally s.eakin , the essence o- restoration o- the eli7ir .ill is in the return o- ener y, the essence o- the return o- ener y is in stabili<ation o- nature, the essence o- stabili<ation o- nature is in not ettin con-used, the essence o- not ettin con-used is in conBuerin the mind, and the essence o- conBuerin the mind is in knowin the source .ro enitor* 8hen you know the source .ro enitor, you conBuer the mind and res.ond to others without bein con-used by others* Your nature is s.ontaneously stabili<ed, ener y s.ontaneously returns, and the eli7ir .ill s.ontaneously crystalli<es* The s.ontaneity in each case comes -rom res.ondin to others without con-usion* 9es.ondin to others without con-usion is the work o- re-inin the sel-* As it is said, when re-inement o- the sel- is com.lete, the restored eli7ir s.ontaneously crystalli<es* The 4on oKnderstandin the Tao says, N/e-ore re-inin the restored eli7ir, -irst re-ine nature* /e-ore cultivatin the reat medicine, -or now cultivate the mind* 8hen your nature is settled, naturally news o- the eli7ir arrives* 8hen the mind is calm, s.routs o- the herb row*N 9estorin the eli7ir is very easy, re-inin the sel- is very hard* I- sel-5re-inement does not reach the .oint where there is no sel-, one!s nature will not be settled and one!s mind will not be calm* How can the eli7ir be restoredD /ut to re-ine onesel- it is necessary to know the source .ro enitor? otherwise don!t do the .ractice* 2ld 4an5-en said, N8hen you set u. the -oundation, you need to use the bellows* 8hen you re-ine your sel-, you must have true lead*N True lead is the source .ro enitor* I- you do not meet a real teacher who can tell you all !GGm about the reat medicine o- true lead, who would dare to set to workD

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 4in and 4ang are born in succession, 0ni!ersal transformation rolls like thunder Yin and Yan @.ositive and ne ative? .henomenon and noumenonH are born in succession Kniversal trans-ormation rolls like thunder @you are at one with the Kniverse 5 you have entered into the InconceivableH CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 4in and yang arise, alternating o!er and o!er again, e!erywhere producing the sound of thunder. 8hen the work ets to this .oint, the s.irit does not run outside, the ener y does not leak out* The s.irit returns to the lair o- ener y, water and -ire have already mi7ed? increase the intensity o- your e--ort, to Nreach the ultimate o- em.tiness, and kee. care-ul tranBuility*N Then the body is .eace-ul in the Middle o- Kn-athomable Larkness, the mind is clear in the Homeland o:othin 8hatsoever* Then the true breath s.ontaneously stills, all the body!s nerve channels s.ontaneously sto.* 4un and moon halt, the stars do not revolve in the sky* At the +7treme Limit, stillness ives rise to movement* 4uddenly there is a .oint o- s.iritual li ht the si<e o- a rain o- rice* This is the indication o- the .roduction o- the medicine* A bla<in li ht .asses throu h the kidneys like boilin water? the bladder is like -ire burnin ? in the belly there are sounds like a roarin ale and .ealin thunder* This is re.resented by the ' Ching si n N9eturn,N and is when the 9oot o- Heaven a..ears* 8hen the 9oot o- Heaven a..ears, it stabili<es mastery o- mind? hel. this with the s.irit, and the ener y is like -ire a..lied to metal, .assin u. throu h the coccy7* Li htly convey the ener y, silently raise it, a ball o- entle ener y, like the reverberation o- thunder, brin in it u. to the center o- the brain, whence it s.urts out all over the body* This is re.resented by the ' Ching si n NMeetin *N 6rom the Moon Cave, which is the cessation o- intense e--ort when the ener y has -illed the brain to the -orehead and center o- the brows, there leaks li ht -rom the ori in o- bein * Then at the +7treme Limit, movement ives rise to yin, has trans-ormed into a .sychic water, like a sweet dew* Inside one there is the .earl o- s.iritual awareness, which has settled in the Yellow Courtyard in the center o- the sel-, transmutin mercurial consciousness so that it becomes stable, characteristic o- the sa e* Oo throu h the develo.mental .rocess o- the whole cycle once, .uri-yin and re-inin consciousness, and the eli7ir will naturally crystalli<e* 1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 'n the pot, pair water and fire. 8hen ener y returns and the eli7ir .ill crystalli<es, the true seed is in your hands* /ut you have only restored the ori inal -ace you were born with* This is called restored eli7ir, and it is called minor restored eli7ir* This eli7ir has still not been -or ed by true water and -ire* It is still raw eli7ir, not yet mature* It cannot yet be in ested to save li-e* This eli7ir must be re-ined into somethin that is .urely .ositive be-ore it can e7tend your years and enhance your li-e* The I Chin tri ram -or water is yin outside and yan inside* The yan inside it is real, creative ener y in correct balance* This is the s.iritual water o- .rimal true unity* The tri ram -or -ire is yan outside and yin inside* The yin inside it is real, rece.tivity in correct balance* This is the true -ire o- .rimal o.en awareness* This water and -ire are the water and -ire o- s.aciousness and s.ontaneity, not any sort o- water or -ire with sha.e or -orm* Kse this water and -ire to boil s.iritual medicine, twenty5-our hours a day* Lon!t let there be any interru.tions* Lon!t -or et about it, but don!t try to ur e it alon either* NContinuously on the brink o- e7istence, use it without ur ency*N This is what is meant by the statement in the Ouide to Cuttin in the Medicine, N/eware lest the water dry u. or the -ire o cold*N

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

As -or the e7.ression N.air in the .ot,N natural water and -ire need not be sou ht e7ternally* The luminosity o- the s.irit works silently, not leakin any in-ormation on the .rocesses that o on in vast .ro-ound secrecy&the Buality o- the medicinal in redients, the advance and withdrawal othe -irin , the adGustments accordin to the time* 1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 The birth of yin and yang repeats, ;roducing a peal of thunder e!erywhere. The work o- cookin and re-inin with water and -ire is that work known as Ndi--iculty in the mornin , darkness at ni ht*N Li--iculty in the mornin means advancin the yan -ire, darkness at ni ht means workin the yin conver ence* 8hen it is time -or yan , then .romote yan * 8hen it is time -or yin, then o.erate yin* Yin to yan , yan to yin, yin and yan hold to ether, themselves .roducin re.etition* 8hat re.eats is -ound in ecstasy* In the dark o- the unknown there is chan e* 9e.eatin this over and over a ain, yin and yan com.letely trans-orm* The s.routs o- .rimal awareness row -irm and mature? radually .ractice leads to sudden reali<ation* All at once -rom the -urnace o- creation there s.urts out a .ill o- .ure .ositive ener y, like a .eal o- thunder in the sky, wakin u. dreamers*

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 'n the !essel , the fire and the water are matched, %hite clouds co!er the peak, 'n the morning ,pring dew sprinkles down on ,umeru In the vessel @your bodily -ormH, the -ire @o- conditioned awarenessH and the water @o.rimordial awarenessH are matched* 8hite clouds @Li ht o- 8isdomH cover the .eak @your Mind is re.resented by your headH In the mornin 4.rin dew @transcendental wisdomH s.rinkles down on 4umeru @the mountain o- your bein H CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 %hite clouds assemble on the summit, sweet dew bathes the ;olar 2ountain. 8hen you et to this sta e, the medicine has been obtained* The two ener ies interlock to -orm the medicinal s.oon, which is the uni-ication o- hi her and lower wills, and the nerve centers and syna.ses o- the body and brain o.en u.* 6ire descends, water rises and uni-ied ener y circulates all overE -rom within the +7treme Limit "tai5Gi, it stirs the 9oot o- Heaven, .asses the Lark Mail Cass, rises u. throu h the vertebrae until it reaches the Cass o- the Malley o- Heaven* In the Moon Cave, yin is born, -ra rant, sweet, delicious? it oes down the Multistoried Tower without sto..in * This is called sweet dew bathin the Colar Mountain* The secret is when the mouth is -illed with saliva a-ter a .eriod o- stillness -ollowed by risin and circulatin o- ener y* Misuali<e the saliva as sweet dew, or ambrosia, what the /uddhists call the eli7ir o- immortality, and as you swallow it, mentally send it down into the Alchemical Cauldron, where it solidi-ies the ori inal ener y and thus nurtures it* 1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 %hite clouds gather o!er the peak, ,weet dew showers the polar mountain. 8hen the .ositive ener y .ill .o.s out o- the crucible, swallow it, and it will act on your individual weak mercuriality, like a cat catchin a mouse* 8hite clouds atherin over the .eak means that a entle, clear ener y rises, and the -ive ener ies ather at the source* 4weet dew showerin the .olar mountain means s.iritual water -rom the -lower .ond descends, and health is recovered -rom all illnesses* The .olar mountain is ri ht in the middle o- heaven and earth* Thus it is a symbol -or the e7istence o- one reality in the center o- the human bein * The one reality in the center is the s.iritual embryo, which is also called yellow s.routs* This is the meanin o- a -amous line by L Yen, NThunder in the earth stirs movement? there is rain on the to. o- the mountain, needed to wash the yellow s.routs emer in -rom the earth*N

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 =rink for yourself the wine of immortality, 5s you roam free, no one will know Lrink -or yoursel- the wine o- immortality @eternal bein , a Taoist immortalH, As you roam -ree @eternally in the cosmic chi o- li-eH, no one will know CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 Ha!ing drunk the wine of longe!ity, you wander free. who can know you& 8hen develo.ment o- ener y reaches this de ree, the bone Goints are already o.en, and the s.iritual NwaterN ceaselessly circulates u. and down, -lowin all around, comin and oin without sto..in ? takin it in time and a ain, it is called the wine o- lon evity* The secret is that the -lowin .earl, the essence o- consciousness, bathes and nurtures the s.iritual nature? .eo.le who .ractice this know unknowin * 1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 =rinking the wine of long life by myself, ' roam free, unknown to anyone. 8hen the s.iritual embryo con eals, s.iritual water -lows, irri atin the eli7ir -ield* The substanceless s.ontaneously .roduces substance, the -ormless .roduces -orm* All -orced e--ort is useless* That is why he says, NLrinkin the wine o- lon li-e by mysel-, I roam -ree, unknown to anyone*N 8hen he says he drinks by himsel- unknown to anyone, this is because the matter o- eternal li-e and -reedom is a matter o- takin over the o.eration o- the universe, inviolate to nature in the .rimordial, in the service o- the time o- nature in the tem.oral* This is un-athomable even to the s.iritual awarenesses o- heaven and earth, to say nothin o- other .eo.le*

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

CH/+3 H+*7 CH05* on 8 ,it and listen to the tune of the :ither without strings, Clearly comprehend the working of creation 4it and listen to the tune o- the <ither without strin s @like Awan Yin hearin , contem.latin and cultivatin the eternal .ulse o- li-eH Clearly com.rehend the workin o- creation @the Illuminatin Mind 5 It is all in the Mind5 ConsciousnessP Am I dreamin o- a butter-ly or a butter-ly is dreamin o- mePH CH5*7 ,5*"-/*7 on 8 ,itting listening to the stringless tune, +ne clearly comprehends the mechanism of creation. 8hen your work reaches here, you hear the sound o- the music o- the immortals, and there are also the tones o- bells and drums* The -ive ener ies assemble at the source, the three -lowers ather on the .eak? that means the true sense o- real knowled e o- the true essence oconsciousness is .resent in the will, and the vitality, ener y, and s.irit have been re-ined and united* It is a state like when a raven comes to roost in the evenin * The mind -ield is o.en and clear, knowled e and wisdom s.ontaneously row, and one clearly understands the writin s o- the three teachin s, tacitly reali<es one!s roots in -ormer lives, -oreknows what bodes ood and ill -or the -uture? the whole world is as thou h in one!s .alm* You see -or myriad miles and have the subtle .sychic -aculties available to com.lete human bein s* This is real bein * 1'0 ' 2'*7 on 8 ,itting listening to the stringless tune, +ne clearly comprehends the mechanism of creation. Chuan 5t<u said, NConcentrate vitality and s.irit, and you live lon ? -or et vitality and s.irit, and you are unborn*N Lon li-e is the .ath o- .er-ectin li-e by doin * /ein unborn is the .ath o.er-ectin essence by non5doin * The .ath o- .er-ectin essence is the work o- Nnine years -acin a wall*N The work o- -acin a wall is the work o- Nten months o- incubation*N 8hen we say nine years, it does not mean there really is a .eriod o- nine years* It is Gust that nine is the number o- .ure yan * 4o it has the meanin o- the nine5restoration o- the old liBuid, when mundane is e7hausted and the celestial is .ure* This is what is meant by the sayin that as lon as the sli htest mundanity is le-t one does not become immortal* As -or the notion o- ten months, this is also a symbol* The -ormation o- the s.iritual embryo and its emer ence -rom the matri7 o- mundanity is likened to the course o- human .re nancy, which lasts ten lunar months* The work o- ten months o- incubation is to .revent dan er care-ully* All thin s are em.ty, no e7ternal ener y is allowed to enter the embryo* 2ne is like a massive wall, seein nothin at all* The ten months o- incubation and nine years o- -acin a wall have the same meanin * They are not di--erent thin s* /oth are merely symbolic re.resentations used by the ancients* /ecause o- this incubation -acin a wall, the author s.eaks o- sittin listenin to the strin less tune* 4ittin does not mean .hysically sittin , it means the mind is Buiet and the intellect is still* It is the sittin oim.erturbability* A strin tune has sound, the strin less tune has no sound* Havin no sound means em.tiness* 4ince there is no sound, what is there to listen toD Listenin means em.tiness is not em.ty, nor em.ty yet em.ty* It is not senseless em.tiness but true o.enness* 4ittin listenin means leavin the one5sidedness o- wish-ul thinkin , and not bein attached to it at all* Listenin to the strin less tune means listenin without listenin * Havin detached -rom the listener, one also is unattached to the sound* The Buddhist =iamond ,cripture says, NThose who see me in -orm, those who seek me in sound, are on a -alse .ath, and cannot see the enli htened*N This is the truly o.en ori inal -ace, which is the reat method -or -reein the s.iritual .otential, the true secret -or .er-ectin the s.iritual body*
Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet

To sum u., the work o- non55doin is e7.ressed in the word sittin * 4ittin means sto..in in the ri ht .lace and inwardly observin the mind, outwardly observin the body, and at a distance observin thin s* You see the mind as havin no such mind, the body as havin no such -orm, and thin s as havin no such thin s* 2nce you understand these three, you see only em.tiness, and em.tiness does not em.ty anythin * There is not even any absence o- nothin ness* 2nce there is not even any absence o- nothin ness, this is called seein all the way throu h s.ace, uniBuely revealin the whole body, unborn and undyin * This at last is com.lete attainment* Livin is the means o- esca.in the illusory body, and it is the .ath o- the restorative eli7ir that stabili<es li-e* It creates bein -rom nothin ness* /ein unborn is the means o- esca.in the s.iritual body and reali<in the source o- the essence o- consciousness, the .ath o- the reat eli7ir* It trans-orms -rom bein into non55bein * Livin and bein unborn are mechanisms o- creation* Those who know this science start by creatin bein -rom non55bein to live lon , then -inally return -rom bein to non55bein to be unborn, :either bein nor non55bein is -inal, essence and li-e are cultivated simultaneously* They clearly understand the mechanism o- the evolution o- heaven and earth, and are one with heaven and earth*

Ancestors L's Hundred Characters Tablet