The Essential Teachings from the Daoist Gateway: Preface
A Middle School Alchemical Text By Huang Yuanji
Hello,
The Essential Teachings from the Daoist Gateway 道門語要 is a text by the nineteenth century master Huang Yuanji 黃元吉, which summarises his teachings.
Here is his preface to this work, which covers key aspects of Daoist refinement of the heart-mind. This is the fundamental aspect of alchemical practice, upon which the transformation of body and energies may unfold.
I’ve also included a translation of my teacher’s, Taidazi 台達子, excellent commentary.
Thoughts cannot stray from the gate of total retention;
The heart-mind must rest secure within the cavity.
Since ancient times, the sages of the Three Teachings
Have passed down this single instruction, nothing more.
Commentary:
This already conveys the oral teachings of the highest vehicle for attaining immortality and sagehood. It pertains to the centre, nothing more. The entry method is to ‘use emptiness to unify with emptiness’. True intention is function; original spirit is substance. When the substance of the three wheels is seen to be empty, a single thought of clarity and stillness abides in the cavity. ‘Within the cavity’ refers to the one opening of the mysterious pass, which is the centre. Without a true teacher, this cannot be spoken of; one must seek out those who have walked the path to receive the true transmission.
Cultivate the Dao in clarity, stillness and non-action;
It is present everywhere; it is present at all times
Commentary:
This is what the Perfected Huang Yuanji calls ‘birth of a single yang’. There are many aspects to the birth of yang and, likewise, many aspects to the mysterious pass. Pay attention in all times and places; you will find it wherever you look down to pick it up.
There is no need to train stillness or observe emptiness;
One naturally settles where one is meant to settle.
Commentary:
Training stillness and observing emptiness refers to the rigid emptiness of the lower vehicle. It is not the highest vehicle; the true constancy of the wondrous Dao. Moreover, the Dao follows what is natural. In the activities of daily life, nothing is not the Dao and there is never a time when one is not engaging in cultivation. The human body is like a small universe, aligned with the natural Dao. Within naturalness, there exists the celestial and true original face. One must know where it rests, and only then can one avoid being moulded and melted by heaven and earth. Where does it rest? In the place of utmost goodness, the centre.
The Dao has always been of itself, entirely natural,
Without movement or stillness, beginning or end.
Commentary:
The Dao is originally empty non-being. In its forming, it accords with heaven. It is unborn and undying, neither one nor different, neither constant nor broken off, neither coming nor going.
If one would keep the heart-mind free of entanglements,
First let the heart-mind hold no intent toward affairs.
Commentary:
This is the foundational oral instruction for the cultivation of the heart-mind through the refinement and the nourishing of self. Refinement of self is when external conditions strike the heart-mind and the heart-mind does not move. Nourishing the self is when internal dust does not arise, and clarity and stillness are constantly aware.
If one does not dwell on thoughts of good and evil,
What then remains of desire and heavenly principle?
Commentary:
Within the realm of yin and yang, fortune and misfortune depend on one another. When clarity and stillness are constant, and the middle way is continuously maintained, then one is without the flaws of partiality or one-sidedness.
Like the light of a mirror without the mirror itself,
Simply respond when something appears, nothing more.
Commentary:
A mirror that does not inherently reflect anything is without a trace of pollution or corruption. When things appear before it, it simply reflects them as they are.
Original awareness is perfect, radiant, and whole;
Why speak of self-cultivation, or conquering the self?
Commentary:
One’s original face is numinous, wondrous, and perfectly awakened. It is flawlessly unified and without hindrance, vast and luminously clear. It originally has no need for post-heaven restraint or cultivation. It is only because pre-heaven original spirit has fallen into the post-heaven realm, and the cognitive spirit has taken charge, that effort is needed to refine and set aside the human heart-mind. When the human heart-mind is extinguished, the heart-mind of the Dao arises. When the heart-mind of the Dao aligns with the celestial heart-mind, there is no longer any need to speak of self-cultivation or self-conquest.
Just as the eye is innately bright and luminous,
Innate-nature cannot accept a single grain of dust.
Commentary:
The field of vision is originally all-encompassing, without the slightest obstruction. If there are no clouds, layers of mist, or rain, then wherever light can reach, the eye can see. But if fine sand enters the eye, even opening it through tears becomes difficult. How much more so to gaze ten thousand miles in all directions? This is an analogy for the entire process of cultivation, from beginning to end. It lies in nothing but the phrase ‘refining the heart-mind’. Only when the dregs of yin are completely refined away does the light of illumination reappear.
Heaven and earth are boundless beyond measure,
What is there to hate, what is there to love?
Commentary:
Heaven and earth revere the Dao and esteem virtue. Highest virtue does not consider itself virtuous; it embraces all things, embodies limitless forbearance and nourishes the myriad beings. There is no trace of human discrimination, selfishness or desire within it.
Although one may speak of action and striving,
Beginning and end are without true ground.
Force and effort return to that which is natural,
Wondrously entering the principle of non-action.
Commentary:
Through action and effort, one gradually enters into depth. Yet even in action, there remains non-action. Through non-action, one goes deeper and enters the wondrous. Yet within non-action, there remains action. From beginning to end, all follow what is natural. Being and non-being give rise to one another; substance and function are fully integrated. This alone is the true method. Only thus can there be nothing, and yet nothing left undone. Such is the principle of the Dao.
The Essential Teachings from the Daoist Gateway is published;
Therefore, I briefly preface its teachings in this way.
Commentary:
Though these are only key principles, in truth the core methods of cultivation and refinement are already fully contained within them. When correct view and direct realisation are unified, then one can grasp their true meaning.
This completes Huang Yuanji’s preface to The Essential Teachings from the Daoist Gateway.
If, reading this, you feel affinity with the alchemical tradition and the transmission of Huang Yuanji, then we invite you to join our community and begin moving through this ancient process for yourself.
You can find more information about our teaching program and community on this page, and you are welcome to get in touch if you have further questions.
無量天尊，無量壽福
Oscar (Yuchanzi, 玉蟾子)