Jing of Consolidated Observation (定觀經)

[exorcist_1699]

At first look, this one , written by 580 A.D. seems to be a Buddhist sutra ; however, judging from its asking for physical achievements as proofs for how empty , how consolidated our mind can attain , it is a Taoist piece of writing without doubts . A consolidated Mind is always crucial for Taoist practice, and the key , in fact, can always be summarized in one sentence : " (whether) you are capable of consolidating your Mind and opening that gateway towards the pre-heavenly qi " ( "凝神得竅").

 

Pre-heavenly qi can be viewed as some kind of negative entropy, the only fundamental energy that can utimately eliminate those ever emerging , ever increasing chaotic factors in our bodies ,provided that we can maintain that deep ,persistant consolidated Mind in our daily life.

 

 

天尊告左玄真人曰：

 

夫欲修道，先能捨事，外事都絕，無與忤心，然後安坐，內觀心起。若覺一念起，須除滅，務令安靜。其次，雖非的有貪著，浮遊亂想，亦盡滅除。晝夜勤行，須臾不替。唯滅動心，不滅照心；但凝空心，不凝住心，不依一法而心常住。然則凡心躁競。其次，初學息心甚難，或息不得，蹔停還失。去留交戰，百體流行。久久精思，方乃調熟。勿以蹔收不得，遂廢千生之業。少得靜已，則於行立坐卧之時，涉事之處，諠鬧之所，皆作意安；有事無事，常若無心；處靜處諠，其志惟一。

 

若束心太急，又則成病，氣發狂顛，是其候也。心若不動，又須放任，寬急得所。自恒調適，制而不著，放而不動，處喧無惡，涉事無惱者，此是真定。不以涉事無惱，故求多事；不以處喧無惡，強來就諠。以無事為真宅，有事為應跡。若水鏡之為鑒，則隨物而現形。善巧方便，唯能入定。慧發遲速，則不由人。勿令定中急急求慧，急則傷性，傷則無慧。若定不求慧而慧自生，此名真慧。慧而不用，實智若愚。益資定慧，雙美無極。

 

若定中念想，多感眾邪，妖精百魅，隨心應見。所見天尊、諸仙、真人，是其祥也。唯令定心之上，豁然無覆；定心之下，曠然無基。舊業日銷，新業不造。無所罣礙，迥脫塵籠。行而久之，自然得道。

 

夫得道之人，凡有七候；一者，心得定易，覺諸塵漏；二者，宿疾普銷，身心輕爽；三者，填補夭損，還年復命；四者，延數萬歲，名曰仙人；五者，鍊形為氣，名曰真人；六者，鍊氣成神，名曰神人；七者，鍊神合道，名曰至人。

 

其於鑒力，隨候益明。得至道成，慧乃圓備。若乃久學定心，身無一候，促齡穢質，色謝方空。自云慧覺，又稱成道者，求道之理，實所未然。

 

 

 

The heavenly God said:

 

In order to cultivate Tao, you first have to turn your back to all daily matters and those earthly connections . Before you sit down to meditate, let nothing attach to your mind.

 

When observing your mind and tracing their fluctuations , you need to get rid of all of them so that a calm and condensed state can be maintained . In fact , not only attachments, but any tiny ideas or fluctuations should be eliminated . Do it in every moment of life without interruptions.

 

Remove the shifted minds, but not that Mind of consolidation ; consolidate the emptied Mind, without having any kinds of attachment , even to emptiness ;

 

Place your mind to nowhere, no time and no forms, yet without losing that state of persistent Emptiness.

 

For new practitioners , they are too eager to proceed , which conversely prevent them from success. They are either not knowing how to settle their minds, or not knowing the steps of it , a mind entangled in such predicament can only fail them; It is only after having practiced it repeatedly for a long time can they harness their mind ; don't give up at such stage ,otherwise you will lose the chance of living forever.

 

Wherever you go, whatever time you are in, let yourself have a consolidated Mind; whether you are dealing with a matter or free of any matters, keep that mind emptied. Stick to that spiritual Oneness despite what circumstance you are situated.

 

However, you shouldn't harness your mind too strictly for it will make you mentally sick , even insane ; a dull , stuffed mind always needs some relaxing . You need to tune that degree of freedom for yourself. Harness it but not let it stuck , release it but not allow it to shift away .

 

It is after you can stay calm and clear even in a very noisy circumstance , get entangled by troubles yet without being annoyed , can you claim a genuine consolidated Mind be attained. There is no need to chase after troubles even if your mind is now worry-proof; there is no need to chase after quarrels even if you are now noise-proof.

 

 

Let the worry-proof Mind as the core of your mind , and let problems-solving as its applications . A mind like a pool of water , unaffected by any reflections on it , is a mind having a quality that enables you to get Consolidated Observation easily.

 

However, whether a great Wisdom can arise from it is always beyond our control , too eager to get it might undermine our Spiritual Nature, which conversely obstructs its emergence .

 

In fact , Genuine Wisdom is something abruptly popped up when you are not deliberately chasing for it . Having enlightened but not applying that Wisdom , being exceptionally smart but showing people foolishness is the Taoist ( positive feedback) way of helping you in further enhancing your ability.

 

 

In consolidated observation , you may come across many spirits ,which likely are attracted by you or are affected by different states of your minds ; if you experience some gods, although not necessarily things negative , don't attach to them as there is no need to further add any likes or dislikes , pros or cons to it . And, it is in such a process that you shake off your old karma, yet add no new ones to your life ; you are therefore no longer entangled by those earthly troubles . Practice it persistently, in the end you will attain the real Tao.

 

There are 7 proofs to verify how well you have practiced it , say if :

 

1)You now attain a calm and consolidated mind with no effort . Or, you see through those karma , things look fortunate yet illusory , easily .

 

2) All your diseases suddenly disappear, you feel nimble and pleasant.

 

3)Wrinkles on your face receded , and your marrow refilled. You find yourself much younger.

 

4)Your can live ten thousands of years, and people call you the Immortals;

 

5) Your body changed into qi , you now become a Genuine Person .

 

6) You further refine your qi into pure Shen ,and you are now the Person of Shen ;

 

7)Finally, by merging all your Shen into Tao, you become the Upmost Person.

 

 

During this process , your power of observation should grow stronger and stronger, brighter and brighter; in fact, attaining Tao means making your Wisdom full and perfect.

 

On the other hand , if people whose practice show none of the mentioned proofs, and they still wear withered faces and have deteriorated bodies, then no matter how hard they claim themselves intelligent , no matter how great they boast of their achievement of Tao , nothing is really true.

Edited July 19, 2016 by exorcist_1699

[Golden Dragon Shining]

~

[joeblast]

it was an amazing experience the first time I felt the bubble of thoughtform energy arise just beneath the niwan and rise up, and I was able to  detect and absorb the potential before it manifested as anything - that doesnt happen without "shutting the cranial nerves off" and transforming their resonant mode

[EmeraldHead]

that doesnt happen without "shutting the cranial nerves off" and transforming their resonant mode

If you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by transforming their resonant mode?