Translation by Sifu John A. Fey
1 when the energy of heaven meets the energy of earth birth and death appear
2 between birth and death life appears
3 my bodymind opens to life nine ways
my bodymind moves through life with four limbs
4 these thirteen parts together can move to create life or can move to create death
5 those who create death try to harden their life against it
by forcing their life into still suits of armor
6 those who create life are impervious to claws and teeth to horns and blades to dangers above and below
7 the ancient child asks how can they do this
8 because they know how to step deliberately and move toward the creation of life
1-2 HEART: Speaks of the energy of birth and death as natural occurrences. Within the intermingling of the energy of birth and death, man appears. This is delivered by the Master in the direct transmission as if to say, "When the energies of birth and death intermingle, you the Cultivator appears."
3 BODY and MIND: "Nine ways" has multiple meanings, including:
a. The nine orifices of the body
b. Nine orbits of qi in the bodymind's energetic physiology
c. Nine qigong exercises that support cultivation
d. Nine stepping exercises that alter and focus the consciousness
e. Nine points of qi entry and exit on the body.
4 BODY and MIND: Physical movement that is designed to transform the Cultivator can cause harm if not approached properly. Also, how you arrange your everyday life can negatively affect your transformative movement.
5 HEART: Men who create death are men who are too rational. They indulge in thinking for its own sake and are beset by illusion.
6 HEART: Cultivators of the Tao Way of Life.
7-8 BODY, HEART, and HAND: In addition to being a Taoist core belief, it is also a metaphor for approaching life, as well as a specific Qigong activity.
The Cultivator, engaged in transformative movement, halts all physical motion in midstream, but continues to project movement via the intention. In other words, he physically stops moving but continues to see his bodymind moving.