Ten Methods of the Old Master's Heart (Core Secrets of Cultivation)
In today's society, which is full of competition and challenges, ‘cultivating the heart’ is increasingly valued and paid attention to.
In ancient Chinese philosophy, Lao Tzu’s ‘cultivating the heart’ thought is particularly prominent, containing many ways and methods to maintain and enhance psychological health, which has important practical significance and value in resolving psychological conflicts.
Lao Tzu said: ‘Constant virtue shall not depart, returning to the state of a newborn infant.’ To prolong life and rejuvenate, return to childhood, one must not depart from constant virtue, achieve ‘before others, then oneself,’ ‘generosity towards others, then towards oneself,’ ‘do not cling to one’s own views, be others and not be oneself,’ ‘do not belittle others to inflate oneself,’ ‘do not rely on force and skills, on talent and ingenuity, on exploiting power to bully others, on arrogant behavior, on using writing to slander and criticize others, but rather self-sufficient, self-regulated.’ It is crucial to avoid stealing and corruption. If one can accept hardship with equanimity, be compassionate and generous, constantly cultivate virtue, ‘righteousness held close,’ one can naturally return to simplicity and truth, see one’s own nature.
Speak sparingly to nourish inner energy, show few colors to nourish vital energy, eat little flavor to nourish blood energy, drink vital juices to nourish organ energy, eliminate anger and resentment to nourish liver energy, regulate diet to nourish stomach energy, maintain balance of yin and yang to nourish lung energy, reduce thinking to nourish kidney energy, avoid excessive action and storage to nourish spirit energy.
All laws depend on the heart, all paths depend on the heart. The heart is the master of man, also the master of vital energy and spirit. Refining vital energy, refining spirit, refining and cultivating the spirit, all must begin with refining the heart. The heart encompasses both movement and stillness, stillness generates emptiness and depth, clarity of mind, seeing one’s own nature, forgetting the distinction between self and others, the heart has no heart, without a heart, without a fixed heart, not swayed by names and fame, when there is no heart to move, one is close to the right path.
Nurture goodness, maintain goodness, practice good deeds, be benevolent to others, encourage others to be benevolent, cultivate goodness both internally and externally, when everyone can practice goodness, evil will naturally disappear, the country will be peaceful and the people will be well-provided for.
The realm is without boundary, the dwelling is without dust, thoughts are without thought, the heart is without thought, there is no heaven or earth, no people or self.
Daoist’s highest attainment, aims to refine spirit and return to emptiness, return emptiness to nothingness. Buddhism requires no self-reference, no ‘I’ reference, no reference to sentient beings, no reference to Buddha, no reference to eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind, no reference to color, sound, smell, touch, and law. The highest attainment of the Dao, ultimately, is nothingness.
Minimize superfluous dregs, minimize waste of energy, minimize damage to vital energy, minimize extravagant enjoyment, minimize seeking pleasure, minimize seeking fame, minimize accumulating wealth, minimize accumulation of profit, every point of thought adds a point of mental strain.
Form should be quiet, the heart should be quiet, the energy should be quiet, in practice, one should seek stillness, in daily life, one should also seek this stillness. Stillness within stillness should seek stillness, in chaotic situations, one should also seek stillness. Stillness generates calmness, calmness generates wisdom.
Speak sparingly to nourish energy, show few colors to nourish intelligence, be scant in desire to nourish nature, be scant in activity to nourish spirit, have no excessive desires to nourish energy, when there is nothing excessive, everything is clear.
Name and heart should be subdued, wealth and heart should be subdued, color and heart should be subdued, love and heart should be subdued, anger and heart should be subdued, doubt and heart should be subdued, pride and heart should be subdued, when there is nothing excessive, there is no unrest.
Forgetting things nourishes the heart, forgetting feelings nourishes nature, forgetting the realm nourishes the spirit, forgetting color nourishes vital energy, forgetting self nourishes emptiness, when there is nothing excessive, everything is clear.
