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notgoodatpickingname 1 point ago +1 / -0

Also, pretty much everything that is written on this topic on the internet is complete garbage and completely different from what is written in the texts, not just about alchemy but also qigong and martial arts. To see that this is true, you don't even have to know anything, just read Zhang Boduans preface to his Wuzhenpian and memorise the "Flavour" of the text, then, the same way experienced conspiracy theorists can spot a bullshit news article without even turning on their brains, you will be able to sense the difference. I recommend that you read the entire Baopuzi, some parts of it aren't particularly good arguements, but others...

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notgoodatpickingname 1 point ago +1 / -0

Try reading https://daojiao.ru/index.php/%E4%BF%AE%E7%9C%9F%E5%A4%AA%E6%A5%B5%E6%B7%B7%E5%85%83%E5%9C%96_%D0%92%D1%81%D1%82%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0_%D0%A1%D1%8F%D0%BE_%D0%94%D0%B0%D0%BE%D1%86%D1%83%D0%BD%D1%8F

It's a real link its just written in Russian so it looks like that. Also https://daojiao.ru/index.php/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%A3_%D1%87%D0%B6%D1%8D%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D1%8F%D0%BD%D1%8C

And https://daojiao.ru/index.php/%D0%93%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0_3_-%D0%9E%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%8B%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%8B_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%83%D1%80%D1%8F%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8B%D1%85_%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B9

There are in in Russian, but google translate does an adequate job, though you should take the trouble to copy paste it to the website instead of choosing the translate to English option after right clicking.

Treatises are to varying degrees written in obfuscating misleading manner, leaving out details intentionally distorting some things etc. The translators usually make it much worse.

In the Baopuzi the descriptions of the methods are extremely distorted, also no-one has ever written down the instructions to the methods, there are only descriptions which cannot be used.

In the first chapter of 修真 太極 混元 圖 (Xiu Zhen TaiJi HunYuan Tu) what is translated as "immortal demon with spiritual powers" in: "Alas, it becomes noticeable that modern students do not understand what is the source of Tao and only want to strive for emptiness and silence, considering this to be the ultimate goal! They achieve only the entrance to contemplation and make the spirit go out - nothing more. The seed and spirit come out of the Yin abode, which is difficult to strengthen. How, then, can they collect three flowers and unfold the five qi until the yin is completely depleted, transform their bones, ride the sunlight, harness the phoenix and become immortals of pure yang? Thus, the one whose feelings are clarified and the inner nature calms down, becomes an immortal demon with supernatural powers."

Is in Chinese "鬼仙" which means ghost immortal about which it is written in the ZhongLuChuanDaoJi: "Zhongli Quan said: The immortal is not a one concept. Pure yin without yang is a ghost, pure yang without yin is an immortal. The blend of yin and yang - a man. Only man can become a ghost or immortal (i.e. die or reach the immortality). If a man does not perfect since the youth, indulges passions and the desires, then sickness and death will come, and a transformation into a ghost will occur. The man who understands this and perfects, will overcome the profane, and penetrate into the sacred, reach true Liberation - this is immortal. The immortals are divided into 5 types, the methods - into 3 completions; the perfection depends on the person and the result of it depends on his fate.

Lui Dongbin asked: What is "the methods are divided into 3 completions and the immortals into 5 types? "

Zhongli Quan said: The methods are divided into 3 completions. There are small, medium and great completions. The immortals are divided into 5 types. There are:

Ghost immortal. Human immortal. Earth immortal. Spiritual Immortal. Heavenly immortal. All of they are immortals. Ghost immortal is inseparable from the ghosts. Human immortal does not leave the people. Earth immortal does not leave the Earth. Spiritual immortal does not leave the spirits. Heavenly immortal does not leave the heaven. "

Lui Dongbin asked: Who is a ghost immortal?

Zhongli Quan answered: This is the lowest of the five immortals. They become free among yin (i.e. after death) last name is not recorded into the records to the world of ghosts, the name is not recorded in the worlds of the immortals. Although he is not included in samsara, but can’t return to the realms of the immortals, he will never have place where he can come back, he just stops his rebirths.

Lui Dongbin asked: This is a ghost immortal. What is his art, what are the methods used to achieve this?

Zhongli Quan answered: At the beginning people who try to perfect themselves do not understand the Great Tao and seek quick result. Their body is like a dried tree, the heart is like cold ashes. They keep inside the spirit and the mind and do not disperse the intention. In the immobility the spirit of Yin goes out of the body, this is a ghost, It has nothing to do with pure yang of immortals. Because of his single intention and lack of dispersing of yin soul this is called a ghost immortal. Although people say "immortal", but in fact it is a ghost."