For the cultivation of nature alone ensures only the descent of positive fire without the
ascent of (vital) breath from below; ...negative [yin qi] is corrupt and should be purified to be transmuted into the positive [yang qi].
real positive vitality [yang qi] and essential nature [yuan shen] unite to emit the light of vitality which is the light of true nature in the precious cauldron in the brain and that
of true life [yuan qi] in the stove in the lower abdomen.... Spirit is (essential) nature...A student should begin his practice with real nature in order to develop the heavenly (macrocosmic) body so that his true spirit can emerge from his heart.
In front of the cavity of spirit (between and behind the eyes) true vitality looks like a (radiant) circle which is called the Supreme Ultimate (t’ai chi), the Golden Elixir (chin tan) and the Original Awareness (yuan chueh).
Since the light of (essential) nature [white light, yin shen] in the original cavity of spirit
(tsu ch’iao, between and behind the eyes) is now concentrated
below the navel [yang qi], the positive light of vitality [yang shen, golden light]in the latter centre will soar up to manifest before the eyes, thereby causing both lights to
unite and remain constant, while the space between the eyes and
the navel will emit sparks of red golden light. ...This one true vitality [yuan qi] is the positive vitality [yang qi] of (essential) nature [white yin shen]
which will unite with the negative vitality [yin qi] of (eternal) life [golden yang shen] to become that one basic vitality [yuan qi] which reveals the complete formation of the
immortal foetus...reaching the core of the brain where it transmutes the (microcosmic) outer
alchemical agent (yin qi already gathered there) into life-preserving true
vitality [yuan qi];...True nature is prenatal vitality [yuan qi] in its cell (ch’i pao) on the top of the medulla oblongata.
first gathering prenatal true vitality [yuan qi] in the original cavity of spirit (tsu ch’iao in the centre of the brain) and then driving it into the lower tan t’ien (under the navel)....he will see the light of true vitality [golden light of yuan qi] appearing
in front of his original cavity of spirit [third eye] which will
then hold it to prevent it from running away; and the longer it is held
the brighter it will be. When it becomes stable, it reveals the
successful union of the dragon [yin qi] and tiger [yang qi] (i.e. the female and male
vital breaths). When postnatal heart [yin qi] and postnatal lower abdomen [yang qi] are linked, prenatal heaven and earth are in perfect harmony; and when the dragon and tiger
‘copulate’, the positive and negative elements of earth unite, thus
gathering the four symbols (szu hsiang, i.e. prenatal heaven and earth and postnatal heart and abdomen) in the central cavity (chung kung or the solar plexus) to produce the macrocosmic alchemical
agent.
cooling the inner fire in the lower tan t’ien and preventing the light of the elixir from
manifesting. The Fa Chueh says: ‘To remedy this negative state requires
concentration of true inner fire which is done by fixing spirit in the
lower tan t’ien, the source of foetal breath [yuan qi], by drawing the pupils of
the eyes close to each other in order to bring the cavity of vitality into
focus and by using the bellows to bring quick fire into action; as a
result of pointed concentration a mass of true inner fire will soar up
causing spiritual light in the cauldron to illuminate the whole body the
four elements of which (see here) are thereby sublimated.
This true gem is the life-vitality [yang qi] of the immortal seed which
goes up through the three gates to the brain (ni wan) where it meets
and unites with nature-vitality [yin qi] to become one whole which is the
prenatal true seed [yuan qi] of immortality.
The technique of positive ascent and negative descent is
practised to sublimate nature-vitality which is negative and lift-vitality
which is positive, unite both into one true seed and transform the
latter into golden nectar which then goes down, but is not the saliva
in the mouth.
then pass through the intestines and finally enter the lower tan t’ien
(under the navel) where it will produce the true seed
The lower tan t’ien under the navel is where the generative force
is sublimated into vitality; the middle tan t’ien (solar plexus) is where
vitality is sublimated into spirit; and the upper tan t’ien in the brain (ni
wan) is where spirit is sublimated for its flight into space.
In other words this is the union of his positive and negative spirits which creates his true spirit which can transform his bodily self into vapour [yuan qi] which then gathers to take
shape.
This above statement expresses the alchemical "True Vitality" after the yin qi is transferred from the postnatal heart (fire) back into prenatal Earth and the yang qi is transferred from the postnatal lower abdomen (water) back into prenatal Heaven. The Heaven is then inverted to the Lower Tan T'ien (see 2nd image below) as the Golden Elixir since it is also transferred via the Positive Fire (Yang Shen) going down. for images source
When fire is immersed in water it [fire as yin qi/yin shen] stops soaring up thereby causing the heart to be empty, and when water [yang qi] is scorched by fire it becomes steam and stops flowing down. This is water and fire in stable equilibrium which will in
time produce true vitality [yuan qi].
When the lights of (white essential) nature and (golden eternal) life unite the
foetus will take the form of the (practiser’s) self which is created by
the spiritual father and mother, that is by the positive [Earth, yang qi] and negative
vitalities [Heaven, yin qi] in his own body.
the golden light of the true negative principle [Earth, spiritual father, yang qi] meets the moonlight of the true positive principle [Heaven, spiritual mother, yin qi] in order to beget the immortal foetus in the centre (where both lights meet)
the golden light of the true negative principle [yang qi] meets the moonlight of the true positive [yin qi]
The prenatal heaven [yang shen] and earth [yin shen] and postnatal heart [yin qi] and abdomen [yang qi] are called the four yin-yang (Szu ko yin yang), i.e. the four positive and negative principles.
The light of nature-vitality [yin qi] is like moonlight and the light of life-vitality [yang qi] is golden. Positive vitality [yang qi] is male vitality that soars up and negative vitality is female vitality [yin qi] that goes down. Nature-vitality is negative and life-vitality is positive;
The true Tao is prenatal [Yuan] spirit-vitality. Spirit is (essential) nature and vitality is (eternal) life which is the essential generative force. So vitality [qi] is inherent in the generative force [jing].
All students should know that, in order to fix (and drive) spirit into the cavity of vitality, a serious practiser should sit in meditation in a quiet room, turn back his eyes to look into this cavity, with only awareness of but no clinging to it, that is he first feels its presence and then forgets about it....true vitality [Yuan Qi] fills the abode of spirit [lower tan t'ien] which will hold it...When the generative and vital forces are in their cavity (under the navel) they are fire but when they leave it (to drain away) they take a liquid form. To gather the alchemical agent is to hold vitality in its cavity which is called the cavity of true vitality (chen ch’i hsueh) or lower tan t’ien which is where true vitality manifests and
which is linked with the genital organ.
So the below image shows the postnatal Fire and Water as yin qi (hidden in the yang shen) and yang qi (hidden in the yin shen).
When the five (vital) breaths converge in the head, the golden
light [yang shen, yang qi] appears and unites with the light of vitality [yin shen, yin qi].
When the heavenly gate (miao men at the top of the head) opens, the two lights which have gathered in the original cavity of spirit will emerge to develop into a mass of golden light [yang shen] the size of a large wheel within which positive spirit (i.e. the immortal man) sits upright while the red light of his negative breath [yin qi] changes into a
demon who will use all tricks to tempt him.
transform this demon into positive breath [yang qi] which will sustain the
positive spirit [yang shen] and wipe out all demonic states.
you will feel as if coming out of a dream and will see another body beside your own.’
Shortly after dwelling in this serenity a golden light will emerge
from the body like a large wheel, manifesting in front of the practiser
who should drive the light of his spiritual [yuan shen] nature in front of it, and
imagine that the golden light shrinks into a small circle about one
inch in diameter, like a gold coin. He should then roll his eyes to
collect and suck (the golden light) into his spiritual nature [yuan shen] which will
enter the original cavity of spirit (tsu ch’iao, between and behind the
eyes).
‘Prenatal’ denotes the positive or spiritual nature...original spirit, although seated in the brain, also manifests through the organs of seeing....the manifestation of original spirit. By original spirit is meant that spirit of no spirit (which is inexpressible).....This original spirit is the spirit of no spirit which can use spiritual fire to destroy its (physical) form to
return to nothingness in order to achieve immortality. This spiritual
fire is the spirit’s golden light that then appears.
The heart is the seat of the element of fire and contains the original spirit.
generative force [yin qi]...purification and transmutation into positive vitality [yang qi] to restore original spirit [spiritual essential nature that uses golden yang shen]
Spirit leads to the realisation of essential nature and vitality to
eternal life. When the generative force [yin qi] is full and rises to unite with
essential nature [yuan shen], the white light of vitality [yin shen, yang qi, tiger] manifests; it is like moonlight and its fullness is equivalent to one half of a whole. When
vitality [yang qi] is full and descends to unite with eternal life [yuan jing], the golden light
manifests [yang shen of yuan shen]; it is reddish yellow and its fullness is equivalent to the
other half. The union of these two lights produces that whole which is
the immortal seed.
After the immortal seed has returned to its source in the lower
abdomen, a pointed concentration on it will, in time, cause a golden
light to appear in the white light between the eyebrows. This is the
embryo of the immortal seed produced by the union of the
generative force, vitality and spirit into one whole. These two lights
are like the male and female organs of a flower, the union of which
will bear fruit.
When this state is reached the practiser should unite the two vitalities of nature [yin qi] and life [yang qi] to help spirit form the immortal foetus.
Wherever the practiser walks, stays, sits or reclines, he will see a white light in front of him, and, as time passes, this white light changes into a golden one.
For this golden light manifests in front of you while your essential body (fa shen or yuan shen) in the great emptiness gradually comes closer to it.
This achievement is revealed by the moonlight [yuan shen white light of life-vitality]
appearing in the forehead which will remain constantly there if he is
firmly determined to hold on to the original cavity of spirit (between
and behind the eyes) while [golden] sparks appear between the eyebrows;
both manifestations announce the full growth of the [golden] immortal seed.
It [the inner fire or inner light] is called the light of vitality (hui kuang) and when it
develops fully it is called the golden light (shan kuang). The
generative force [yuan jing] which is still immature cannot produce the white
light of vitality and the immortal seed which is immature cannot
produce the golden light. The light of vitality is like the moon and the
golden light (of the seed) shines like pure gold.
The method consists of using postnatal fire [inner fire yin shen] to draw out prenatal
fire2 [yang shen] so that both unite in order to extract from food and drink the
sweet dew (kan lu or pure saliva) which descending in the channel of
function (jen mo in the front of the body) changes into negative
generative force [yin qi] and helps to produce the latter.... When the blood reaches the stove it changes into negative generative force [yin qi] which originates from this centre...negative generative force [yin qi] to fortify the body and enliven spirit thereby lengthening the span of life... the jen mo channel (of function) it goes down into the lower tan t’ien centre (under the navel) to change into negative generative force [yin qi]...negative generative force which then descends to the testicles where it creates spermatozoa....the genital duct (ch’un hsien)10 by which the negative generative force reaches them to change into semen.
The fullness of the [negative] generative force [yin qi] manifests as the white light of vitality [yin shen] and the fullness of the immortal seed as a golden light which reveals
negative vitality [yin qi] within the [positive] generative force [yang qi]. ...This real
generative force is the true seed in the human body...The light of the eyes directed downward is positive [yang shen golden]and when the positive and negative
lights meet, a precious light (pao kuang) will emerge.... The crystallisation of positive generative force the fullness of which manifests as the white light of vitality
The golden light in the eyes reveals the light of (essential)
nature [white light] which illumines the lower tan t’ien (under the navel), and will
in time become golden to show the fullness of the luminous
generative force, vitality and spirit.
Since the light of (essential) nature in the original cavity of spirit
(tsu ch’iao, between and behind the eyes) is now concentrated
below the navel, the positive light [golden yang shen] of [life]-vitality in the latter centre will soar up to manifest before the eyes, thereby causing both lights to
unite and remain constant, while the space between the eyes and
the navel will emit sparks of red golden light.
The method consists of constantly nurturing and preserving the
two lights of nature [yin qi] and life [yang qi] by keeping them warm in the body. When
they are fully developed, they will unite automatically and will never
scatter to form shapeless external light
If it is not concentrated it will scatter, and he will miss a
rare chance for the light will not reappear.
The immortal seed in the testicles is nurtured by positive vitality [yang qi],
and only when the latter has returned to its source (the lower tan
t’ien centre under the navel) does the golden light appear for a
second time.
After the second manifestation of the golden light, the positive
vitality [yang qi], now full, will replace the weakening (vital) breath to develop
further.
nature-vitality which is negative [yin qi] and life-vitality
which is positive [yang qi],
It is not easy to produce the true seed from the golden
nectar. This seed will grow in the cavity of vitality (under the navel)
into a yellow stem [white light] which will blossom and bear fruit. Its [golden] flower is the
light of [life-]vitality which manifests in front of the practiser.
Its pistil is the light of vitality [yin shen] that comes from nature-vitality [yin qi] and its stamen is the golden light [yang shen] that arises from life-vitality [yang qi].
This sign is the golden light appearing in
the bright moonlight that manifests before the practiser’s eyes; this is
when the foetus should be pushed up.
The positive spirit is still weak and is like a baby; this is why a method called ‘giving suck’ [feeding off the body] should be used to nurture it.
This immortal foetus is formed by the union of two prenatal
vitalities: prenatal true nature-vitality [yin qi] in (essential) nature whose light is like moonlight and prenatal true life-vitality [yang qi] in (eternal) life whose light is golden.
the negative breath [yin qi] in that light will turn into a demon [red light]...After a long while the golden light will emerge again to transform the negative demon into positive spirit which will manifest in front of him. Only when the positive spirit appears with
features identical to his can it be prevented from fleeing away
the practiser should drive his spiritual body [yuan shen] in front of the golden light to absorb it, and draw the former into his physical body which will imbibe the light which will transform it into vapour [yuan qi]. If he fails to get hold of the golden light his body will not evaporate.’
If the five vitalities are full a golden light will soar up to unite with
the [white] light of (essential) nature to become a single light which is the
union of the radiant vitality of the positive principle (yang) in the head
and the bright [GOLDEN] light of the negative principle (yin) in the abdomen [yang qi] into one single light which will result in the egress from the immortal
foetus
the negative principle [yang qi] will change into true spirit [golden shen] which will manifest in front of the practiser, with its features identical with his; this is the undying self.
the golden light of the true negative principle [Life-vitality or yang qi]
the moonlight [white-yellow] of the true positive principle [Nature-vitality or yin qi]
‘Shape is formed by Tao (immortality)
and life is made eternal through alchemy which consists of borrowing
boundless prenatal vitality to continue (the existence of) limited
bodily form; in other words this boundless prenatal vitality which is
the true essence of the positive and negative principles between
heaven and earth, is used to create the immortal foetus which now
has shape’.
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