What is the Baoyi 抱一？

Baoyi (抱一), also known as "Shouyi" (守一，guarding the One). Tao Te Ching states: "Can you embrace your vital soul and the One, without letting them separate?" It also says: "Heaven attains the One and becomes clear; earth attains the One and becomes stable; spirit attains the One and becomes divine; the valley attains the One and becomes full; all things attain the One and come to life; rulers and kings attain the One and become the standard of the world."

Baoyi is a basic cultivation practice in Taoism. Simply put, it means achieving a state of "the spirit and vital energy being perfectly merged" during meditation. Thus, "One" here refers to "the perfectly merged vital energy". Laozi Shuo Wuchu Jing Zhu (《老子说五厨经注》) says: "When the vital energy is in perfect harmony, attaining the One brings universal peace; true harmony is a state beyond mere harmony."

In the annotation to "When the vital energy is in perfect harmony", it explains: "The vital energy is the wonderful origin and the functioning of the primordial; it is what is called the primordial vital energy. Its functioning manifests as yang harmony in heaven, as yin on earth, and their union forms perfect harmony. Thus, all human life depends on the harmony of this vital energy to achieve such perfection."

In the annotation to "Attaining the One brings universal peace", it notes: "Attaining the One means internally preserving the vital energy to nurture the spirit, and externally maintaining the physical form to live in peace. Then, the primordial vital energy functions freely, harmonizing with the perfect balance within the body."

Taiping Jing (《太平经》) states: "The One is the root of the Dao, the origin of vital energy, that to which life is bound, and the master of all hearts." It holds that, like the Dao, "One" is the fundamental of heaven, earth, and humanity. Laozi Xiang'er Zhu (《老子想尔注》) says: "The One is the Dao... When the One disperses, it takes form as vital energy; when it converges, it takes form as Supreme Lord Lao."

Taiping Jing also claims: "The essential way from ancient to modern times is all about guarding the One, which enables longevity without aging. Those who know to guard the One practice the boundless Dao." It further states: "The method of guarding the One is the root of all spirits."

Ge Hong in Baopuzi Neipian (《抱朴子内篇》) writes: "The One can generate yin and yang, regulate cold and heat. Spring attains the One and sprouts; summer attains the One and grows; autumn attains the One and ripens; winter attains the One and stores."

Taoism advocates that those who cultivate the Dao must practice the method of guarding the One if they wish to attain longevity. Taoism further divides the method of guarding the One into "guarding the true One" and "guarding the mysterious One". It particularly emphasizes the importance of guarding the One in cultivation, believing that only by doing so can one eliminate disasters, avoid misfortunes, prolong life, and achieve immortality and spiritual communion.