The Tao is fundamentally utterly open;
Open nonreification produces energy, One energy divides into two modes:
The one above, clear, is called heaven;
The one below, opaque, is called earth.
Heaven is round and moving;
The north star, never shifting, governs motion.
Earth is square and still;
The eastward flow, never exhausted, governs stillness.
The "north star" is the heart of heaven and earth, The "eastward flow" is the energy of heaven and earth.
When the heart is nurtured by openness;
It thereby becomes still;
When energy is nurtured by openness, It thereby circulates.
When the human mind is calm and quiet, Like the north star not shifting,
The spirit is most open and aware.
For one who sees this
The celestial Tao is within oneself
Then one is physically and mentally sublimated, And cannot be compelled to change by yin and yang, Thus transcending the process of creation.
So we know openness
Is the substance of the great Tao, The beginning of heaven and earth:
Movement and stillness come from this, 91
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Yin and yang operate through this, Myriad beings are born from this.
So openness is the great root of the world.
This may be symbolized by bamboo:
Dealing with events directly, Dealing with the world adaptably, Managing the mind with flexibility, Managing the body with calmness-This is like the resilient strength of bamboo.
Forgetting emotions in action, Forgetting thoughts in stillness, Forgetting self in dealing with events, Forgetting things in adapting to change
This is like the inner emptiness of bamboo.
Establishing certain resolve, Keeping the mind free from doubt, Completely pervading inside and out, Unchanging beginning to end-This is like the endurance of bamboo.
Widely calling on adepts,
Visiting enlightened teachers everywhere, Extending hospitality to religious mendicants,
Synthesizing Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism
This is like the clustering of bamboo.
Add to this seeing the basic, embracing the fundamental, Minimizing selfishness and desire,
Tuning the breath, exercising sincerity, Observing transformation, knowing return-Who can do this unless utterly open?
Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism
All simply transmit one openness.
Throughout all time, those who have transcended 92
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Have done the work from within openness.
Openness and sincerity are the essence of alchemy, Learning Buddhism is meditation plunging into openness;
And as for learning the affairs of Confucian sages, Selflessness in openness clarifies the celestial design.
The substance of Tao, open emptiness, Is infinitely subtle;
With HEAVEN and EARTH operating in openness, Energy is whole and fluid.
The creation and transformation of yin and yang Alternate in openness.
If people plunge into openness,
They will comprehend successful adaptation.
The miracle of the restorative elixir Is in setting to work
In the valley of open nonreification, To effect utter emptiness
And keep utter stillness.
When emptiness is complete and open, The basic energy stabilizes;
With serenity in the midst of stillness, The celestial comes back.
Emptying the mind, filling the middle, Is the formulation of the path;
When you don't obscure open awareness, That is the time for gathering the medicine.
Emptying oneself and responding to situations Is true ordinary activity;
Union with cosmic space is greatness.
Gathering real knowledge in open serenity Is done without contrivance;
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Promoting the fire of consciousness Is done with openness as the bellows.
Extracting and adding, Increasing and decreasing, All depend on openness;
Upon shattering space, One attains great awakening.
Ultimately the Tao is applied with gentility:
Shedding superficialities
And breaking down excess intensity Must be practiced together;
Harmonizing enlightenment to mix with the world, One forgets others and self.
That which is prior to the reign of images Can only be known
intuitively-How can there be symbols without signs?
HEAVEN is not above, EARTH is not below;
In the middle is a point of pure awareness.
Crystal clear on all sides, there is no gap;
Thoroughly solid in all respects, It is completely whole:
This is the door of the mysterious female, Open in the center.
If you act in nonempty openness,
Opening and closing will spontaneously accord With HEAVEN and EARTH.
When the door of the mysterious female opens, The work is consummated;
The spirit goes out through here, And also comes in through here.
Going out again and again, 94
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Coming in again and again, Returning to openness,
From equanimous
calm
, energy bursts forth.When energy goes into action, Heaven and earth open,
And from openness springs forth A sphere of brilliant light, Shining without lack or excess.
Responding to the time and people, One rests the spirit in openness, Acts in openness,
Reveals the state of openness in speech.
When openness reaches the point Where there is not even any " openness,"
Then all logic ends.
When you plunge into openness, Heaven and earth come to you.
With open heart and upright bearing, Be like the green bamboo;
This is the foremost device For cultivating openness.