Jade Pure Embryonic Nourishment Scripture 玉清胎元内养真经

Author unknown, presumably compiled between the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty.

Consisting of one scroll, it is included in the Original Text category of the Dongzhen Section within The Daozang.

Jade Pure Embryonic Nourishment Scripture

The original title of the scripture states: "Transmitted downward by the Perfect Lord of the Jade Pure Precious Spirit and Primal Abode". It is framed as a discourse delivered by the Primordial Celestial Thearch to the Supreme Lord Laozi. It states that people of the mortal world are harmed externally by wine and lust, and entangled internally by thoughts and worries, thus exhausting their essence and declining in qi, damaging their innate lifespan, and falling to become lowly ghosts.

The Celestial Thearch imparts to the Divine Lord the Way of the Embryo Principle. This teaching states: "Join the outer Mysterious Pass with the inner Mysterious Pass; supplement the inner True Qi with the outer True Spirit. Gather the treasures of heaven, nourish the primal essence of our embryo. Let the spirit be born within the embryo, let qi cling to the spirit; let the Heart Monarch rule in stillness, let breath and qi be harmonious and regulated. All spirits pay homage, all demons restrain their forms."

To practice this Way, one must first learn to stabilize the mind. "When the mind is stable, qi abides; when qi abides, the spirit is complete; when the spirit is complete, the form is firm." It is said that those of superior attainment who cultivate it will enjoy limitless lifespan; those of middle attainment will prolong their years and remain in the world; those of lower attainment will also be able to distance themselves from desire and passion, and become indifferent to fame and gain.

At the end, it states that the Supreme Lord Laozi, commanded by heaven, together with the Purple Radiance Heavenly Mother, spreads this Way to universally save all sentient beings. A eulogy is attached at the end of the text.