Great Throughts Treasury

"Meditation on the One - The One resides at the North Pole, in the midst of the abyss. In front is the Hall of Light (mingtang), behind is the Crimson Palace (jianggong). Imposing is the Flowery Canopy (huagai), great is the Golden Pavilion (jinlou)! On its left is the gang star, on its right the kui, waves and breakers propagate in the void. Mysterious excrescences overlay the cliffs, vermilion herbs enwrap the hills; on the rocks is white jade, the Sun and the Moon spread their light. There you go beyond fire and pass over water, you cross the Mystery and go past the Yellow. Walls and gates intersect, curtains and hangings are adorned with gems; dragons and tigers are lined up on guard and divine beings are at their sides. "

"People reside within qi and qi resides within people. From heaven and earth down to the ten thousand things, each one requires qi to live."

"Respect the old and cherish the young. Even insects, grass and trees you must not hurt."

"Ingesting divine cinnabar will make your lifespan inexhaustible. You will last as long as heaven and earth, be able to travel on clouds and ride dragons, and ascend at will to the Heaven of Highest Clarity"

"Those who seek to become immortals must regard loyalty, filiality, peacefulness, obedience, benevolence and trustworthiness as fundamental."

"These characteristics are why Daoism is the ruler and leader of the hundred schools of philosophy and why it is the ancestor of [Confucian] righteous and benevolence."

"When one peels away dark clouds, one exposes the sun; as a result, the ten thousand things cannot hide their shapes."

"Where the Mystery is present, joy is infinite; where the Mystery has departed, efficacy is exhausted and the spirit disappears."