Wu Liu School – Building the Foundation
Translated By Adrian Chan-Wyles (PhD)
Translator’s Note: The Wu Liu School, as an integration of Longmen Daoism and Ch’an Buddhism, demands nothing less than full Buddhist enlightenment before the practice of Daoist self-cultivation is permitted. To prevent a practitioner by-passing the Ch’an Buddhist stage – the Wu Liu founding masters deliberately obscured (and hid) the pure Daoist teachings. My personal experience of contemporary Qianfeng practice progressed entirely through this pathway that emphasised a serious Ch’an self-cultivation before changing emphasis and deliberately concentrating upon qi energy circulation and its transformation into vital force. At this level ‘jing’ (essential nature) and ‘shen’ (empty sprit) are easily discernible and transmutation is readily achievable.
ACW 27.3.2016
The Wu Liu School emphasises the establishment of a firm foundation (基 – Ji) as a pre-requisite for effective and advanced self-cultivation (炼 – Lian). Correct fundamental training is the basis through which inherent nature (本性 – Ben Xing) is effectively cultivated and reality (真 – Zhen) realised through manifestation. The vision of the eye must be non-attached to visual stimulus, just as the hearing of the ears must be non-attached to audial stimulus. On a daily basis self-cultivation (炼 – Lian) should be pursued with diligence by focusing the mind on penetrating the underlying reality (真 – Zhen) which is the pure (纯 – Chun) and ‘still’ (静 – Jing) essence (性 – Xing). This is how the ‘True Nature’ (真性 – Zhen Xing) is penetrated and realised. This means that Buddhahood (佛 – Fu) and Immortality (仙 – Xian) are identical because they share the same essence. Wu Chongxu (伍冲虚) stated:
‘Self-cultivation that secures Immortality begins by establishing a firm foundation.’
What is establishing a firm foundation? Building the foundation requires the gradual acquisition of understanding about correct practice. This is the development of appropriately directed ‘intention’ (意 – Yi) and correct ‘understanding’ (思 – Si). It is the method for building Yang (阳) and empty spirit (神 – Shen) which is the fundamental root (根本 – Gen Ben). When this state is penetrated and fully realised, there is peace of mind (安神 – An Shen) and peace of body (安息 – An Xi) so that all tension is released throughout the system (and qi [气] flows freely through the energy channels). To build a good foundation, both Yang and empty spirit (Shen) must be cultivated. Shen, as the realisation of all-embracing emptiness that contains all things, only manifests when essential nature (精 – Jing) and vital force (炁 – Qi) are fully developed. How are Jing and Qi developed? They are developed by focusing the breath so that the mind becomes ‘still’ (定 – Ding) – this is how a firm foundation is cultivated. Only after ‘stilling’ the mind has been successfully achieved and firmly established, is it permitted to progress to the next stage of Daoist energy centre self-cultivation (丹道 – Dan Dao) that specialises in the ‘life’ or ‘fate’ (命 – Ming) practice. The Wu Liu School advocates the intense concentration upon the lower energy centre (丹田 – Dan Tian) where breath (and qi energy) is focused and transformed during self-cultivation. The lower energy centre (which is a point of ‘oneness’ [一窍 – Yi Qiao] realisation) is around two inches below the naval at the front of the body, and is positioned just below and between the two kidneys.
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2016.
Original Chinese Language Source Texts: http://baike.baidu.com/view/679953.htm
筑基方法编辑
伍柳派在筑基之前强调先炼己。所谓炼己,是炼人的本性而成真。所炼之者,眼逐于色而炼之不睹;耳逐于声而炼之不闻。平常日用,必当如是先炼,则己念伏降,而性真纯静。得真 性者,即是佛与仙,筑基而基成。 伍冲虚认为“修仙而始筑基”。所谓筑基,筑为渐渐的意思,基为修炼阳神之根本,安神、安息之所。基要先筑好,也就是说阳 神之所成就,神才会显灵,这就要依靠精炁而为用。简单地说就是“息定还精炁,谓之筑基。
炼己功夫做完以后,便要开始丹道命功的修炼。伍柳认为,脐后腰前,前七后三,两肾中间一窍,是丹田气穴,要凝神于此修炼。
ACW 27.3.2016
The Wu Liu School emphasises the establishment of a firm foundation (基 – Ji) as a pre-requisite for effective and advanced self-cultivation (炼 – Lian). Correct fundamental training is the basis through which inherent nature (本性 – Ben Xing) is effectively cultivated and reality (真 – Zhen) realised through manifestation. The vision of the eye must be non-attached to visual stimulus, just as the hearing of the ears must be non-attached to audial stimulus. On a daily basis self-cultivation (炼 – Lian) should be pursued with diligence by focusing the mind on penetrating the underlying reality (真 – Zhen) which is the pure (纯 – Chun) and ‘still’ (静 – Jing) essence (性 – Xing). This is how the ‘True Nature’ (真性 – Zhen Xing) is penetrated and realised. This means that Buddhahood (佛 – Fu) and Immortality (仙 – Xian) are identical because they share the same essence. Wu Chongxu (伍冲虚) stated:
‘Self-cultivation that secures Immortality begins by establishing a firm foundation.’
What is establishing a firm foundation? Building the foundation requires the gradual acquisition of understanding about correct practice. This is the development of appropriately directed ‘intention’ (意 – Yi) and correct ‘understanding’ (思 – Si). It is the method for building Yang (阳) and empty spirit (神 – Shen) which is the fundamental root (根本 – Gen Ben). When this state is penetrated and fully realised, there is peace of mind (安神 – An Shen) and peace of body (安息 – An Xi) so that all tension is released throughout the system (and qi [气] flows freely through the energy channels). To build a good foundation, both Yang and empty spirit (Shen) must be cultivated. Shen, as the realisation of all-embracing emptiness that contains all things, only manifests when essential nature (精 – Jing) and vital force (炁 – Qi) are fully developed. How are Jing and Qi developed? They are developed by focusing the breath so that the mind becomes ‘still’ (定 – Ding) – this is how a firm foundation is cultivated. Only after ‘stilling’ the mind has been successfully achieved and firmly established, is it permitted to progress to the next stage of Daoist energy centre self-cultivation (丹道 – Dan Dao) that specialises in the ‘life’ or ‘fate’ (命 – Ming) practice. The Wu Liu School advocates the intense concentration upon the lower energy centre (丹田 – Dan Tian) where breath (and qi energy) is focused and transformed during self-cultivation. The lower energy centre (which is a point of ‘oneness’ [一窍 – Yi Qiao] realisation) is around two inches below the naval at the front of the body, and is positioned just below and between the two kidneys.
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2016.
Original Chinese Language Source Texts: http://baike.baidu.com/view/679953.htm
筑基方法编辑
伍柳派在筑基之前强调先炼己。所谓炼己,是炼人的本性而成真。所炼之者,眼逐于色而炼之不睹;耳逐于声而炼之不闻。平常日用,必当如是先炼,则己念伏降,而性真纯静。得真 性者,即是佛与仙,筑基而基成。 伍冲虚认为“修仙而始筑基”。所谓筑基,筑为渐渐的意思,基为修炼阳神之根本,安神、安息之所。基要先筑好,也就是说阳 神之所成就,神才会显灵,这就要依靠精炁而为用。简单地说就是“息定还精炁,谓之筑基。
炼己功夫做完以后,便要开始丹道命功的修炼。伍柳认为,脐后腰前,前七后三,两肾中间一窍,是丹田气穴,要凝神于此修炼。