What is the Dao 盗？

Dao (盗), in Taoist doctrines, refers to the interconnections among all things in heaven and earth, as they mutually "steal" vital essence (jingqi). Taoism holds that as long as one consciously applies the "way of dao" and constantly absorbs the essence of heaven, earth, and all things, they can achieve longevity.

Liu Yiming, a Quanzhen Taoist priest in the Qing Dynasty, elaborated on the principle of "dao" in a simple and straightforward manner in Records of Realizing the Dao (Wudao Lu), using the example of the moon borrowing light from the sun. He argued: "A person, in their original state, is purely yin without yang; they must borrow yang from 'other families' to obtain yang. The so-called 'other families' refer to all that is opposite to oneself, namely heaven and earth, the sun and moon, all creatures, and all affairs. The so-called 'yang from other families' is the primordial, 虚无 (empty and non-existent), true and unified vital energy—the very energy of immortality.

Since birth, this energy is inherently possessed by humans, but after entering the postnatal state, it gradually scatters into heaven and earth, the sun and moon, all creatures, and all affairs, no longer belonging to oneself but to 'other families'.

Those who understand that this energy resides in 'other families' can steal it back to their 'own family' at all times, restoring what was lost and regaining what was missing. This is just like the moon borrowing light from the sun to shine—this is the heavenly mechanism of seizing the creative powers of nature and reversing yin and yang."