Holding Yin, Embracing Yang Three Taoist Classics on Meditation, Breath Regulation, Sexual Yoga, and the Circulation of Internal Energy

by WONG, EVA

• ISBN13: 9781590302637
• ISBN10: 159030263X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-14
• Publisher: Shambhala

Summary

InHolding Yin, Embracing Yang,Eva Wong presents translations of three key texts containing the highest teachings of the Eastern and Western schools of Taoist internal alchemy-the discipline of cultivating health, longevity, and immortality by transforming the energetic structures of body and mind. The texts are primarily concerned with meditation, breathing practices, and sexual yoga with a partner-all as means for developing within ourselves the same life-giving energy that sustains and nourishes the universe. The texts in this collection offer a clear view of the physical, mental, and spiritual methods of Taoist practice, showing why they are important and how these methods all can work together in the cultivation of mental peace, radiant health, and longevity. This collection will provide inspiration and the essential foundation necessary to begin Taoist practice under the guidance of a teacher. The three classics translated here are:Treatise on the Mysterious Orificeby Xuanweilun (sixteenth century),Discussion on the Cavity of the Taoby Daojiaotan (nineteenth century), andSecret Teachings on the Three Wheelsby Sanjubizhi (nineteenth century). Included is an introduction in which Wong discusses the various schools of internal alchemy, as well as their main practices.

Author Biography

Eva Wong is an independent scholar and a practitioner of the Taoist arts of the Pre-Celestial Way and Complete Reality lineages. She has written and translated many books on Taoism and related topics, including A Master Course in Feng-Shui; Tales of the Taoist Immortals; The Tao of Health, Longevity, and Immortality; and The Shambhala Guide to Taoism.

Table of Contents

Translator's Introduction	p. 1
Treatise on the Mysterious Orifice (Xuanweilun)	p. 21
The Three Primal Elixirs	p. 23
Internal and External Medicines	p. 25
Yin and Yang Are Embedded in Each Other	p. 27
Pre-celestial and Post-celestial	p. 30
Lead and Mercury	p. 31
Primordial Generative Energy, Vapor, and Spirit	p. 33
The Spirit Is the Ruler	p. 35
The Golden Elixir and the Jade Elixir	p. 37
Original Nature and Life	p. 39
Manifested Original Nature	p. 42
The Chamber of the Spirit	p. 44
The Waterwheel	p. 46
Purifying the Spirit	p. 48
Nourishing the Spirit	p. 50
Focusing the Spirit	p. 51
The True Breath	p. 54
The Firing Schedule	p. 56
Medicine and Fire	p. 59
Extracting and Replenishing	p. 61
Concluding Remarks	p. 63
Discussion on the Cavity of the Tao (Daojiaotan)	p. 65
Some Advice for Friends	p. 67
Opening the Gates	p. 69
The Meaning of Post-celestial	p. 71
Building the Foundation and Refining the Self	p. 76
Nourishing the Body and Refining the Self (Part 1)	p. 78
Nourishing the Body and Refining the Self (Part 2)	p. 80
Post-celestial Methods	p. 82
Internal and External Medicines	p. 85
Types of Medicines	p. 88
Nourishing the Three Substances	p. 90
The Five Stages of Refining	p. 92
The Stages of Creating the Medicine	p. 94
The Three Stages of Applying the Medicines	p. 96
Two Kinds of Cinnabar Grains	p. 98
Spirit, Vapor, Original Nature, and Life	p. 99
The Meaning of Pre-celestial	p. 101
Spirit, Vital, and Generative Energies	p. 106
Further Discussion on Generative, Vital, and Spirit Energies	p. 111
The Forward and Reverse Paths of Cultivating Original Nature and Life	p. 113
The One Cavity of the Mysterious Gate	p. 115
Further Discussion on the Mysterious Gate	p. 116
The Cavity with Two Openings	p. 117
The Foundation of the Mysterious Female	p. 119
The Meaning of "Center"	p. 122
Discourse on the Medicines	p. 125
The Difference between Lead and Mercury	p. 129
Discussion on the Cauldron	p. 130
Qian, Kun, Kan, Li	p. 132
The Subtle Method of Gathering and Refining	p. 134
The Waterwheel	p. 136
The True Mind	p. 139
The Mind and the Spirit	p. 142
Joint Functions of Spirit and Breath	p. 144
Further Discussion on Spirit and Breath	p. 146
The Subtle Workings of Vapor and Breath	p. 147
The Subtle Working of Spirit and Intention	p. 148
Further Discussion on Spirit and Intention	p. 149
Being a Warrior and Lasting Forever	p. 151
Retreating from the World after Serving the World	p. 153
The Joint Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian Paths of Spiritual Cultivation	p. 154
Secret Teachings on the Three Wheels (Sanjubizhi)	p. 157
Introduction	p. 159
The First Waterwheel	p. 161
The Second Waterwheel	p. 164
The Third Waterwheel	p. 167
The Beginning Stages of Cultivating the Mind	p. 170
Questions and Answers on the Methods of Cultivating Body and Mind	p. 173
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