The Essential Meaning of Dao Generation 道生旨

Originally titled "Narrated by Pei Gang, the Master of the Valley Spirit".

Pei Gang is the author of Chuanqi (Legends), a novel from the late period of the The Tang Dynasty.

Comprehensive Records of Literature·Bibliographic Survey records this book as one volume; the existing version is included in Volume 88 of Yunji Qiqian (Seven Bamboo Slips of the Cloudy Satchel).

The Essential Meaning of Dao Generation

This text assumes the narrator to be Taoist Yang of Xishan, expounding "the essential meaning of Dao generation" in the context of Taoism. It first discusses the origin of human life and death, stating that the essence and Qi of kidney water is the foundation of life, and the mind-spirit is the ruler of the five zang-organs and the physical body. When the spirit and qi are exhausted, the body dies and decays. Therefore, those who cultivate life must uphold the One and practice inner visualization, perform embryonic breathing and grip firmly, so that the spirit and qi return to their origin and are stored within the five zang-organs of the body. In this way, one can achieve longevity, visual clarity, and ascend to immortality with a light body.

The book mentions "Yang Dan (Yang Elixir)" and "Yin Dan (Yin Elixir)", stating that "Yang Dan refers to the Great Reversion Elixir (external elixir), while Yin Dan refers to the principle of inner cultivation and returning to the origin (internal elixir)".

The cultivation method expounded by the author focuses mainly on Yin Dan.