Direct Teachings of the Immortals 真仙直指语录

It was originally titled Anthology of Xuanquanzi, the Daoist of the Sea-Sky Autumn Moon.

The author was a Quanzhen Daoist during the Jin and Yuan dynasties, and a disciple of Ma Danyang (Ma Yu).

The original book comprises two volumes and is included in Zhengyi Section of The Daozang.

Direct Teachings of the Immortals

There is a postscript by the author in the book, stating that the teachings of the Five Patriarchs and Seven True Immortals of The Quanzhen Dao all expound the essential principles of life and nature. However, many later practitioners sought trivial methods and heretical paths, leading to the obscurity and neglect of the authentic Quanzhen doctrines of the founding patriarchs. Determined to revitalize the Quanzhen tradition, the author compiled this book. It collects the sayings of renowned Quanzhen masters including Ma Yu, Tan Chuduan, Liu Chuxuan, Qiu Chuji, Hao Datong and Yin Zhiping, all elaborating on the tenets and Internal Alchemy cultivation methods of the Quanzhen Dao. In general, it exhorts practitioners that the cultivation of the Dao must begin with the cultivation of the mind, centering on the core tenets of purity and inaction, ridding oneself of emotions and desires, perceiving the mind and realizing one's true nature, nurturing life and preserving the body, being prudent in speech and moderate in diet, bearing disgrace and enduring humiliation, and refining the spirit and nourishing qi. This work holds certain reference value for the study of the thoughts of the six aforementioned masters.