Geof Nanto

—18— An unimpaired heart-mind within you, Cannot be concealed or hidden. It will be known through your countenance, and will be seen in the colour of your skin. If with good qi you encounter others, They will be kinder to you than your brothers. If with harmful qi you encounter others, They will injure you with their weapons. The reverberation of the wordless Is more rapid than the drumming of thunder. The perceptible form of the heart-mind’s qi Is brighter than the sun and moon. It is more manifest than the concern of parents. Rewards are insufficient to encourage goodness; Punishments are insufficient to discourage transgression. And yet, once this exceptional qi is attained, All under the heavens will come to be contained. Once this unimpaired heart-mind is stabilized, All under the heavens will come to listen.

—17— Considering the practice of the Dao, You must coil, you must contract. You must uncoil, you must expand. You must be firm, you must be dedicated. Guard adeptness and do not become lax. Chase away the excessive, discard the trivial. When you reach the ultimate limit, You will return to the Dao and inner power.

Thanks for providing this insightful translation. It has much in common with the one I'm posting as a daily meditation in my PPD that’s adapted from Harold Roth's excellent book, Original Tao: Inward Training (Nei yeh) and the Foundation of Taoist Mysticism. Mine is a composite of Roth's work and Louis Komjathy's translation based on Roth’s work as well as his own extensive knowledge of Daoist history, theory and praxis, published in the Inward Training volume of his Handbooks for Daoist Practice. . What first struck me about the Neiye is its simplicity – here in writing is possibly the earliest Chinese attempt to explain the practice of inner cultivation that forms the ineffable mystical core of what later became known as Daoism. The terminology lacks the clear distinctions – and the theory lacks the logical refinement and sophistication of latter works – but in its raw simplicity it also says it all. Sophisticated theory and developed systems of practice are all well and good in their place – but they can also trap us in the realm of our human created theory.

—16— If people are able to be aligned and tranquil, Their skin will be ample and smooth, Their ears and eyes will be acute and bright, Their sinews will be supple, and their bones will be strong. Then they will be able to hold up the Great Circle [of the heavens], And they will tread firmly on the Great Square [of the earth]. They will mirror all [reality] with great clarity; They will perceive through great luminosity. Be reverent and careful and do not waiver. Daily replenish your inner power. Thoroughly come to know all under the heavens, And investigate everything within the four directions. To reverently manifest this effulgence. This is called “internal attainment.” If you do this but fail in its reversal， This will cause a disruption in vitality.

Solstice greetings to all my fellow Dao Bum travellers from both hemispheres and all realms. Here in Southern hemisphere summer solstice was officially at 3:28 am this Friday morning. (It’s 7:30 am as I write.) Yang has peaked, now wanes; yin grows. And, of course, the opposite for the majority of Bums who live in the northern hemisphere. And so the seasons continue to revolve. In the words of Bashō, “Days and months are travellers of eternity. So are the years that pass by.” There was a summer thunderstorm here yesterday evening. The dragons were flexing their muscles. Wild winds, torrential rain; about 100mm (4 inches) fell in just one hour. There’s plenty of fallen branches around my cabin, some trees down on the edge of the forest. I’m about to head out and start the clean-up. I’ll probably be at it, a bit at a time, for the next few weeks. I’ll wander further afield too into the surrounding forest checking out the carnage. Hopefully not too much damage within. It's the edges of the forest that take the brunt of the storm, and solitary trees cop it too. I’m most always surprised by the ones that succumb though. It’s rarely those I’ve noticed with obvious defects. (Just like with people.)

—15— With vital essence preserved and naturally generated, Calmness will come to flourish externally. Stored internally, we consider this to be the well-spring. Flood-like, it harmonizes and balances. We consider it to be the source of qi. When this source does not become exhausted, The four limbs are firm and strong. When the well-spring does not become drained, The Nine Cavities are in accord and connected. Then you may fully investigate the heavens and earth. You may then extend to the four oceans. At your centre, there will be no delusions; Externally, there will be no deviation or calamity. The heart-mind will be unimpaired at the centre; The body will be unimpaired in its appearance. Such people do not encounter celestial calamities; Such people do not meet with harm from others. We call these individuals “sages.”

I wish Rene well and can understand her desire to take a break from all social media. It seems to me people participate here for many different reasons. Some come and go quickly; indeed, all too quickly in the case of those who I’ve felt an affinity with. Some stay long term and serve to give Dao Bums stability, continuity. To my mind, neither staying or going is good in itself. The balance between connection with community and the need for solitary practice varies from person to person, and individually it oscillates over time. There’s a saying that nothing in life is certain, except change. For those of us engaged with inner cultivation, the practice itself causes change and hence dictates changing needs. At least, that’s how it is for me. I must go where my path leads. In this sense inner cultivation means a curtailment of freedom, yet fortunately enhanced alignment with Dao results in an increase in contentment as life becomes more personally meaningful; more fulfilling in and of itself. But, speaking personally, the path has also meant continually moving into and through periods of feeling aloneness as my practice deepens its roots into Dao and moves away from social entanglement.

—14— The Dao fills all under the heavens. It is everywhere where people reside, But people are unable to recognize it. When you explore the whole meaning, You extend up to the heavens above, And stretch down to the earth below. You pervade the nine inhabited regions. What does it mean to investigate this? The answer resides in the calmness of the heart-mind. When your heart-mind is well ordered, The senses then are also well ordered. When your heart-mind is calm, The senses then are also calm. The heart-mind is what makes them well ordered; The heart-mind is what calms them. You store the heart-mind by means of the heart-mind; Within the heart-mind, there is yet another heart-mind. That inner heart-mind is an awareness that precedes language. Only after there is awareness is there form. Only after there is form is there language. Only after there is language is there usefulness. Only after there is usefulness is there order. Without order, you will inevitably be chaotic. If chaotic, you die.

—13— There is a numinous [heart-mind] naturally residing in the body. One moment it leaves, the next it arrives. There is no one who is able to conceive of it. If you lose it, you will inevitably be disordered; If you attain it, you will inevitably be well ordered. Reverently clean out its dwelling place And vital essence will naturally arrive. Still your attempts to imagine and conceive of it. Relax your efforts to think about and control it. Abide in dignity and reverence And vital essence will naturally become stable. Attain it and do not release it. Then the ears and eyes will not overflow; The heart-mind will not desire anything else. With an aligned heart-mind at the centre, The ten thousand things will be seen in their proper perspective.

—12— The numinous [heart-mind], no one knows its limits; Its luminosity extends to know the ten thousand things. Guard it at the centre and do not let it waver. Do not disturb your senses with external things. Do not disturb your heart-mind with the senses. This is called “attaining the Centre.”

—11— When your body is not aligned, The inner power will not arrive. When the centre lacks stillness, The heart-mind will not be well-ordered. Align your body and assist inner power— Then it will gradually arrive on its own.

—10— With a well-ordered heart-mind within you. Well-ordered words issue from your mouth. And well-ordered tasks are presented to others. Then all under the heavens will be well-ordered. When the whole meaning is realized, Then all under the heavens will be covered. When the whole meaning is stabilized, Then all under the heavens will be heard. This is that to which we are referring.

In this competitive world of ours – and especially in politics at all levels, including interpersonal – showing weakness can be fatal. However, from on a whole of life perspective it’s essential; vital for personal growth. I gained this insight from a teacher who was emphatic about the necessity of paying particular attention to weaknesses because these are what hold us back. He explained how we’ll always have our strengths and our natural inclination is to use them to progress in life and to hide our weaknesses not only from others but from ourselves as well. It’s this latter tendency that is fatal for inner growth; indeed, for mental, emotional and physical health in general. And truly, from my experience our deeper weaknesses are so well hidden we don’t even know we have them. They lie hidden, distort our perceptions and sabotage wellbeing. It was my shiatsu teacher who told me this many, many years ago. As well as the gift of shiatsu, he also introduced me to Qigong and qi based food theory. All these have proved vital foundational practices for commencing the process. For me, it’s been a slow and emotionally fraught – but ultimately profoundly rewarding – journey of uncovering deeper layers. I could never have sustained it without the support of various teachers, my Daoist based praxis, and people I’ve been close to along the way. (I write this as someone who has spent decades working through weaknesses. I’ve been gifted / burdened with plenty!)

—9— Those who can transform even a single being— We call them “numinous.” Those who can alter even a single situation — We call them “wise.” To transform without expending qi, To alter without expending wisdom, Only extraordinary persons who adhere to the One can do this. Adhere to the One without losing it And you will be able to master the myriad types of beings. Extraordinary persons act upon beings, But are not acted upon by them. This is the principle of attaining the One.

—8— If you can be aligned and tranquil, Only then can you become stable. With a stabilized heart-mind at your core, With the ears and eyes acute and bright, And with the four limbs firm and fixed, You are able to become a lodging place for vital essence. The vital essence is the essence of qi. When qi is guided, vital essence is generated. When it is generated, then there is thinking. When there is thinking, then there is knowing. When there is knowing, then you should cease. Considering the forms of the heart-mind, Excessive knowing dissipates vitality.

—7— The ruling principle of the heavens is alignment. The ruling principle of the earth is levelness. The ruling principle of human beings is stillness. Spring, autumn, winter, and summer are the seasons Of the heavens. Mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys are the constituents Of the earth. Pleasure, anger, accepting, and rejecting are the devices Of human beings. Thus, we may speak of the sage一 Alters with the seasons but does not transform; Shifts with things but is not changed by them.

—6— Let us consider the Dao— It is what the mouth cannot express; It is what the eyes cannot perceive; It is what the ears cannot hear. It is that through which we cultivate the heart-mind and align the body. When humans lose it, they die; When they attain it, they flourish. When endeavours lose it, they fail; When endeavours attain it, they succeed. Now then, the Dao is without root or trunk; It is without leaves or flowers. The ten thousand things are generated because of it; The ten thousand things are completed because of it. This natural order, we designate as “Dao.”

Another place that may interest you is Wudang Five Immortals Temple . It is small, with students from many different countries.

—5— Now then, the Dao is without a set place; But the calmness of an adept heart-mind makes a place. When the heart-mind is still and qi is regular, The Dao may then come to rest. Such a way is not remote from us— When people cultivate it, they are thereby sustained. Such a way is not separate from us一 When people accord with it, they are thereby harmonious. Thus, become concentrated as though roped together by it. Become indiscernible as though beyond all location. Considering the disposition of this Dao, How can it be conceived of or discussed? Cultivate the heart-mind and still your thinking; The Dao may then be realized.

—4— Clear! as though right by your side; Vague! as though it will not be attained; Indiscernible! as though beyond the limitless. The investigation of this is not remote一 Daily we make use of its inner power. The Dao is what infuses the body, Yet people are unable to fix it in place. It goes forth but does not return; It comes back but does not stay. Silent! no one can hear its sound. Suddenly at rest, it resides in the heart-mind. Obscure! we do not see its form; Surging forth! it arises within us. We do not see its form; We do not hear its sound. Yet there is order to its accomplishments. We refer to it as “Dao.”

—3— All the forms of the heart-mind Are naturally replete and nourished by it [vital essence], Are naturally generated and grow to completion [because of] it. It is lost Because of sorrow, happiness, joy, anger, and desire for profit. If you can cast off sorrow, happiness, joy, anger, and desire for profit, Your heart-mind will return to equanimity. The disposition of such a heart-mind Is that it benefits from calmness to attain repose. Do not disturb it; do not disrupt it Then harmony will naturally develop.

Consciousness! It’s a great gift and also a burden. I’m learning through various teachings 一 human and the natural world; from the visible and invisible realms 一 how it can most comfortably and productively be cultivated so it grows in harmony with the flow of Dao.

—2— Thus we may describe this qi — Bright! — as if ascending to the heavens; Dark! — as if entering an abyss; Vast! — as if dwelling in an ocean; Lofty! — as if residing on a mountain peak. Therefore this qi— Cannot be controlled by force, Yet can be stabilized through inner power (de). Cannot be summoned by speech, Yet can be welcomed through awareness. Reverently guard it and do not lose it: This is called “developing inner power.” When inner power develops and wisdom emerges, The bounty of ten thousand things will be realized.

I personally have used off-grid solar & battery power for almost 20 years and it's great for my lifestyle. Without it my life here in a semi-wilderness area would be much more difficult. But I also think the global shift towards solar and wind power is misinformed and bound to fail. It's based on wishful thinking and is, in fact, counterproductive in that it misallocates resources that could best be used in other more effective ways to reduce global emissions. The above video explains why.

Training with the Seasons by Tom Bisio In ancient China, physicians and Taoist sages made acute observations of the effects of climate, and other natural phenomena on living organisms. Rather than merely recording data, these individuals saw deeply into the patterns inherent in the natural world. This allowed them to both understand and articulate certain principles That could be applied universally to the fields of medicine and physical training. In time a number of these principles became part of Chinese thought, and were adopted by martial arts practitioners (especially those of the nei jia or internal schools), because they had practical and effective applications to training and health. Deng Xiu Shen was one of the great xing-yi boxers of his generation. Born in the late 19th century, he studied with many of most-famous teachers of the time, because as a doctor of Chinese medicine, he traveled all over northern China treating patients and studying martial arts. Deng's essay on the practice of martial arts in accordance with the four seasons links the principles of Chinese medicine with martial arts training. His essay describes one of the foundational principles of Chinese medicine: that the yang qi increases in the spring and flourishes in the summer and that yin increases in the fall and flourishes in the winter. In Chinese medicine, each season is described in terms of its energetic signature. The spring brings the renewal of life and growth after the dormancy of winter. Living things are renewed and hibernating animals reappear. The world warms up and is full of life and energy. In the summer, life flourishes and plants reach their full flowering and bear fruits as the yang energy reaches its peak. In autumn, yin begins to grow and yang wanes, as the world grows colder. This is the time of the harvest when the earth and living things prepare for the winter. In winter, the yang energy is hidden and the yin is shown on the exterior. The energy of living things should be stored and nourished for the coming spring. As human beings we are part of the natural world, no matter how much central heating and modern conveniences insulate us from climate and weather. The cycles of yin and yang that we observe in the natural world also occur within us and affect our health and well being. For this reason, Deng advised kung-fu practitioners to train in accordance with these seasonal fluctuations of yin and yang to preserve health and maximize the effect of training. In the spring, getting up early and walking in nature allows the yang qi to circulate to the vertex (the DU 20 acupoint at the top of the head). This helps the liver qi to circulate smooth and unobstructed to the tendons and ligaments. Therefore, stretching and flexibility exercises will yield better results in the spring. Practice early in the morning when the sun comes up. Hard and vigorous training is appropriate and heathy for the body in the spring. The heart qi is more active in the summer. At this time, the fire of the heart circulates with the yang qi in the exterior of the body. The summer is a good rime to rid the body of excess heat through hard training that causes perspiration. This will aid the heart qi and protect the body against autumn illness. Stretching and strengthening exercises are appropriate and more effective, because the muscles are warm and adequately nourished by the blood, which circulates more easily in the summer. In autumn the balance of yin and yang is more equal. The yin and cold begin to grow as yang and warmth diminish. Practice should occur later in the day and be more balanced between "motion" (hard vigorous training) and "tranquillity" (basic skills, and lighter more inward directed exercises such as meditation, qi gong and yoga). In winter when earth is cold and the yin prevails, it is important to avoid sweating too much to prevent wind and cold from penetrating the muscles and joints. Deng advises training later in the day when the sun is out and it is relatively warmer. During the winter, one should focus on storing and nourishing yin, while conserving yang. Therefore, more dynamic exercise is reduced and stress is put on quiescent exercises: meditation, standing post exercises or slow practice of basic techniques is appropriate. These are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Athletes and martial artists who compete in the winter may have to train hard, but they can still benefit from these ideas by not expending their energy needlessly in other areas. Clinically, I have seen people improve their health and athletic performance by adhering to these principles. Tom Bisio's new book, A Tooth From The Tiger's Mouth, “How to Treat Your Injuries with Powerful Secrets of the Great Chinese Warriors," is available nationwide. For more information, visit www.tombisio.com or www.simonsays.com