The meaning of Essence of Nature in Taoism 什么是性体

The meaning of Essence of Nature in Taoism

"Xing Ti" (性体, "Substance of Nature") — later Quanzhen Dao inherited Wang Chongyang's view that "spirit is nature and Qi is life," further elaborating on dual cultivation of nature and life. The substance of nature belongs to the nature-cultivation aspect of practice.

The meaning of Essence of Nature in Taoism

Zhonghe Ji: "Nature is the primal spirit of the pre-heaven, the one spiritual consciousness." Also: "The ultimate of humans stands between Heaven and Earth to establish life, receiving emptiness and spirituality to complete nature." Using "primal spirit" and "emptiness and spirituality" to define nature. And so-called "spirit," "primal spirit," and "emptiness and spirituality" indicate that nature and spirit communicate with each other; the substance of nature is the spirit-body, and the essence of the substance of nature is supreme emptiness and wonder. The substance of nature is also called "great elixir" and "golden elixir." Quanzhen Ji Xuan Miyao: "The Holy Master said: 'The original true nature is called golden elixir; the four conditions are the furnace refining it into a ball.'" Thus it is known that the great elixir is called true nature; true nature is the great elixir, capable of reaching emptiness. Therefore, the substance of nature connects with the spirit-body and also with the emptiness-body — spiritual and wondrous without direction, a necessary stage in cultivating the Dao and verifying immortality.