Chapter 1: The Dissipation of Life Energy

The subtleties of the Tao lie in original nature and life, and to cultivate original nature and life is to return to the One. The ancient sages used symbols when they spoke of returning original nature and life to the One because they did not want to present the teachings in a straightforward way. Consequently, nowadays it is difficult to find someone who truly understands the meaning of cultivating mind and body.

I have not broken the oath of secrecy by compiling the illustrations and presenting them in this book. I have only taken the teachings of Hua-yen Scripture and the Taoist classics and described them as pictures.

The key to cultivating life lies in the One cavity. The illustrations are intended to help fellow spiritual seekers to understand the meaning of the dual cultivation of mind and body so that they will not stray into erroneous paths. The pictures show how the true seed is conceived within the body, how the energy of life is lost, how the Child of the Buddha is cultivated, and how the Tao is attained.

Figure I. Hui-ming ching
Illustration I: Picture of Leakage
Each illustration in the Hui-ming ching is accompanied by phrases that are mnemonics of instruction (k'ouchüeh). The phrases are written in a Chinese literary form in which two phrases form a pair. The pairs are arranged side by side. Thus, the upper two phrases form one pair and the lower two phrases form another pair. Since Chinese is read from right to left, the phrase on the right is always the first half of the pair.

The four seven-word phrases read: "If you want to stop the leakage and attain the indestructible golden body, focus on the radiance and do not leave the happy grounds. Practice diligently to temper the root of life. Always keep the true self hidden in its home." The circle in the abdominal area of the figure is the cavity called the Gate of Life (ming-men). The path that leads from the cavity to the outside is called the path of leakage.

The One cavity is the root of the void. It has neither shape nor form. When the original vapor emerges, the cavity appears; when circulation is at rest, the cavity disappears. The One cavity is the place where the sacred is hidden. It is the altar of life, and it has many names—the Palace of the Dragon at the Bottom of the Sea, the Land of the Snowy Mountain, the Western Realm, the Original Gate, the Land of Great Happiness, and the Home of the Limitless. If the practitioner of the arts of longevity does not understand this cavity, he or she will wander through thousands of lifetimes not knowing where to look.

This cavity is great and wonderful. It emerged when we were conceived in our mother's womb. In it, original nature and life are intertwined like flames in a furnace and are united with the Laws of the Celestial Way and the Great Harmony. Therefore it is said that before birth and creation, inhalation and exhalation are limitless.

Before we were born, we were a fetus, a round shape inside our mother's womb. When the womb is filled with the primordial vapor, the shape inside stirs, the shell breaks, and like a mountain crashing down, the fetus tumbles out. In the infant's first cry, original nature and life are separated. From then on, original nature does not recognize life and life does not communicate with original nature. Thus we go from infancy to youth and from youth to old age and death.

The Tathagata Buddha in his compassion has revealed a method that will help people to return to the womb. By uniting original nature, life, spirit, and vapor and returning them to the One cavity, our true essence can be recovered. It is as if the original vapor of our parents has reentered this cavity to create a fetus.

Inside the One cavity is the Ruling Fire. At the gate guarding it is the Subordinate Fire. Throughout the body is the Common Fire. When the Ruling Fire stirs, the Subordinate Fire will burn and support it. When the Subordinate Fire moves, the Common Fire will follow accordingly. In the way of mortals, the three fires follow the forward path; in the way of the Tao, the three fires follow the reverse path.

Therefore, the One cavity that dissipates the energy of life is also the cavity where the sacred form emerges. You will receive no benefits if you take the incorrect paths. If you try tens of thousands of methods looking for the One cavity outside and do not understand that the key to life lies within, you will waste time and effort and accomplish nothing.