神者气之子,气者神之母,形者神之室。气清则神畅,气浊则神昏,气乱则神劳,气衰则神去,
神去则形腐。人以气为道,道以气为生,生道两存,则长生久视。
怒甚偏伤气,思多太损神,神疲心易役,气弱病来侵。勿使悲欢极,常令饮食均。再三防夜醉,
第一戒晨嗔。亥寝鸣天鼓,晨兴漱玉津。妖邪难犯己,神气自全身。若要无诸病,常当节五辛。安
神宜悦乐,惜气保和纯。寿天休论命,修形在本人。若能遵此理,平地可朝真。
凡人富贵名利,勿强求之,而况此身父母之所遗;才情意气,勿竞争之,而况此身妻之所仰。身
之柔脆,非木与石,伤之七情,报以百疾。疾之既来,有术奚施,疾之未来,有术不知。我明告子,
子尚听之,色之悦目,惟男女之欲,
思所以远之,如脱桎梏;味之爽口,惟饮食之欲,思所以禁之,如畏鸠毒。多言则伤气,欲养气者,
言不费,思则损血,欲养血者,思不越。忧不可积,乐不可纵。形不可太劳,神不可太用。凡此数言
,终身宜诵。
《勿药真言》云∶独宿之妙,不但老年,少壮亦当如此。日间纷扰,心神散乱,全赖夜间休息,
以复元气。若日内心猿意马,狂妄驰驱,至夜又醉饱而恣情纵欲,不自爱惜,其精神血气,何能堪此?
老子曰∶天有三宝,日月星,人有三宝,精气神。此其旨可得而知也。余自少慕道,夙有因缘,幸
遇高贤异士,得读古圣法言,乃知性命之理,简易渊微,舍精气神,则别无了道之门,而老子一言,固
己悉之矣。人自离母腹,三元真气,日可生发,后为情欲所蔽,不知保养,斫丧者多。于是古圣传授教人
修补之法,呼吸吐纳,存神运想,闭息按摩。虽非大道,然能勤行积久,乃可却病延年。若夫虚劳内损,
痼疾经年,即扁鹊、卢公,难于措手。苟能积气开关,决有回生之效,久之则任督二脉交通,水升火降
乃成既济。从前受病之根,斩刈无遗。嗣后真元之气,蒸蒸不竭。然勿谓草木无功,遂委之命也哉。余虽
不敏,尝事于斯,以谢奇 ,谛信专行,功臻旦夕。敢以告之同志。
神是气的儿子,气是神的母亲,形体是神的居室。气清朗则神志舒畅,气浑浊则神志昏沉,气紊乱则神志劳损,气衰败则神离去,神离去则形体腐朽。人以气为根本大道,大道以气维持生命,生命与大道两者共存,就能长寿且目光明亮(指健康长寿)。
愤怒过甚会偏伤气,思虑过多太损伤神,神疲乏则心志容易被驱使,气虚弱则疾病来侵犯。不要让悲伤和欢乐达到极端,常保持饮食均衡。要再三防备夜间醉酒,首先要戒除清晨发怒。亥时睡觉前叩击天鼓(鸣天鼓),早晨起床时吞咽津液(漱玉津)。妖邪难以侵犯自身,神气自然保全全身。如果想要没有各种疾病,应当经常节制食用五种辛味食物(葱、蒜、韭、薤、兴渠)。使心神安宁适宜于喜悦快乐,珍惜气机以保持平和纯正。寿命长短不要谈论命运,修养形体在于自己。如果能遵循这个道理,在平地也能朝见真人(指得道之人或达到高深境界)。
大凡对于富贵名利,不要强行追求,何况这身体是父母所遗留的;对于才华情致意气,不要竞争争夺,何况这身体是妻子所仰仗的。身体的柔脆,不是木头和石头,受到七情的伤害,回报的是百种疾病。疾病既然已经到来,有什么法术可以施展?疾病还没有到来,有法术却不知道运用。我明确地告诉你,你还要听我说:美色悦目,只是男女的欲望,思考如何远离它,就像摆脱枷锁一样;美味爽口,只是饮食的欲望,思考如何禁止它,就像畏惧鸠毒一样。多说话就会伤气,想要养气的人,说话不耗费精力;思虑就会损耗血,想要养血的人,思虑不超过限度。忧愁不可积累,快乐不可放纵。形体不可过于劳累,神志不可过度使用。以上这几句话,终身应当诵读。
《勿药真言》说:独睡的妙处,不只是老年人,年轻力壮的人也应当这样做。白天纷扰,心神散乱,全赖夜间休息,来恢复元气。如果白天内心像猿猴马匹一样狂乱奔驰,到了晚上又吃饱喝足而放纵情欲,不自我爱惜,那精神血气,怎么能承受得住呢?
老子说:天有三宝,日、月、星;人有三宝,精、气、神。其中的旨意是可以知晓的。我从小羡慕道法,早有因缘,有幸遇到高贤异士,得以阅读古代圣人的法言,才知道性命之理,简易而深远微妙,舍弃精、气、神,就没有其他通向大道的门径,而老子的一句话,已经全部包含其中了。人自从离开母腹,三元真气,每天都可以生发,后来被情欲遮蔽,不知道保养,斫丧损害的人很多。于是古代圣人传授教导人修补的方法,呼吸吐纳,存想神灵,闭息按摩。虽然这不是最高深的道法,然而如果能勤奋修行积累长久,就可以祛除疾病延长寿命。如果是虚劳内损,顽固疾病经年累月,即使是扁鹊、卢公那样的高手,也难以下手治疗。如果能够积聚气机开通关窍,一定有起死回生的效果,久而久之则任脉和督脉二脉交通,水升火降从而形成既济(水火相济)的状态。从前致病的原因,斩断割除无遗。此后真元之气,蒸蒸日上永不枯竭。然而不要认为草木药物没有功效,就把一切委托给命运啊。我虽然不聪敏,曾经从事于此,以此谢绝奇异之事,深信并专门实行,功夫将在早晚之间达到成效。敢于以此告知志同道合的人。
Shen (Spirit) is the child of Qi (Vital Energy), Qi is the mother of Shen, and Xing (Form/Body) is the chamber of Shen. When Qi is clear, Shen is smooth and unobstructed; when Qi is turbid, Shen is confused; when Qi is chaotic, Shen is fatigued; when Qi declines, Shen departs; when Shen departs, Xing decays. Humans take Qi as the Dao (Way), and the Dao takes Qi for life. If both Life and Dao coexist, one can achieve longevity and clear vision.
Excessive anger injures Qi on one side; excessive thinking damages Shen too much. When Shen is fatigued, the Heart is easily dominated; when Qi is weak, diseases invade. Do not allow sorrow or joy to reach extremes; always keep diet balanced. Guard repeatedly against night drunkenness; first,戒 (abstain from) morning anger. Sleep at Hai hour (9 PM - 11 PM) and perform "Ming Tiangu" (Beating the Heavenly Drum, a qigong exercise); upon rising in the morning, rinse with jade saliva (swallowing saliva). Demons and evils cannot easily invade oneself; Shen and Qi naturally protect the whole body. If one wishes to be free from all diseases, one should constantly regulate the consumption of the Five Pungent Substances (Wu Xin: garlic, chives, leeks, onions, and asafoetida). To calm Shen, one should cultivate joy and happiness; to cherish Qi, one should preserve harmony and purity. Do not discuss fate regarding longevity or shortness of life; cultivating the form depends on oneself. If one can follow this principle, one can visit the Zhenren (True Person) even on flat ground.
Regarding wealth, honor, and fame, do not strive forcibly for them, especially since this body is left by one's parents. Regarding talent, emotion, and spirit, do not compete, especially since this body is relied upon by one's wife. The body is soft and fragile, unlike wood or stone; injured by the Seven Emotions (Qi Qing), it is repaid with a hundred diseases. Once disease has come, what method can be applied? Before disease comes, one does not know the methods. I clearly tell you, listen well: Colors that please the eye are merely sexual desires; think how to distance yourself from them, as if removing shackles. Flavors that please the palate are merely dietary desires; think how to forbid them, as if fearing poison. Speaking too much injures Qi; those who wish to nourish Qi should speak without exhausting themselves. Thinking damages Blood; those who wish to nourish Blood should limit their thinking. Sorrow should not accumulate; joy should not be indulged. The form should not be overworked; Shen should not be overused. These few words should be recited throughout one's life.
The *Wu Yao Zhen Yan* (True Words Without Medicine) states: The wonder of sleeping alone is not only for the elderly, but also for the young and strong. During the day, disturbances cause Shen and Heart to scatter; they rely entirely on night rest to recover Yuan Qi (Original Qi). If during the day the mind runs wild like an ape or horse, and at night one eats and drinks excessively while indulging desires without self-care, how can Spirit and Blood/Qi endure this?
Laozi said: Heaven has Three Treasures: Sun, Moon, Star; Humanity has Three Treasures: Jing (Essence), Qi, Shen. Its meaning can be understood. Since youth, I have admired the Dao and had prior affinities. Fortunately, I met high sages and strange scholars, allowing me to read the ancient sages' teachings. I then learned that the principles of Xing Ming (Nature and Life) are simple yet profound and subtle. Apart from Jing, Qi, and Shen, there is no other gate to the Dao. Laozi's single statement already covers this completely. From birth, the Three Yuan True Qi can generate daily, but later obscured by emotions and desires, people fail to conserve it, leading to many losses. Thus, ancient sages taught repair methods: breathing exercises (Tu Na), preserving Shen and visualization, breath retention, and massage. Although these are not the Great Dao, diligent practice over time can expel disease and prolong life. However, for deficiency consumptive internal damage or chronic stubborn diseases lasting years, even Bian Que or Lu Gong would find it difficult to treat. If one can accumulate Qi and open the gates, there will surely be a miraculous recovery effect. Over time, the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) and Du Mai (Governing Vessel) will connect, Water rises and Fire descends, forming Ji Ji (Perfect Completion/Water-Fire Balance). The root of previous illness will be cut off completely. Thereafter, True Yuan Qi will rise vigorously and never deplete. Yet, do not say that herbs and plants are ineffective and leave everything to fate. Although I am not smart, I have practiced this, rejecting strange phenomena, believing firmly and practicing exclusively. Success will come soon. I dare to share this with like-minded individuals.