Translation by Sifu John A. Fey
1 that which is
2 balanced poised equal
3 will be peaceful and at rest amidst the flow
4 the key is your spirit and its management
5 the ancient child asks
how do you manage your spirit
6 embrace active non-action effortlessly balance yin and yang within your bodymind poise your will, thought, and imagination equalize your lifeforce and be under its influence believe in yourself but never compete wear your spirit like a radiant mantle surrender to the deep pleasure of individual
attention
7 remember
building nine palaces can begin
with a single earthen brick held in your hand
if you give it your undivided attention
8 ten is real
ten times ten is genuine ten times ten times ten is pure
9 steps taken in an authentic journey possessed of breadth and depth must rise up from the earth to meet your feet
which take each step as if it were the first and only step
you will ever take
10 never try only do
11 and then
use your spirit to communicate
12 project the pleasurable depth of your spirit outward
extending authenticity and simple pride to all
13 experience your self as intimately connected to all
awakening a unified bodymind response at just the right moment in space and time
14 it is much easier for the tao to believe in you if you believe in yourself
1-4 HAND: You can bring these three qualities to any encounter or situation. The Taoist Cultivator extends and infuses ever-increasing levels of balance, poise, and equilibrium into life events as an exercise in shengong, or spirit building.
5 MIND: Manage in this case means to strengthen and refine.
6 HAND and BODY: This stanza lists the ways to build and manage your spirit:
a. Do not force your spirit; do not work at it or try too
b. Yield to the oscillating waves of yin and yang;
maintain a constant awareness of the inner flux and flow; maintain an equal amount of expressiveness and receptiveness in your bodymind
c. Activate the will, thought, and imagination getting them ready to act spontaneously and naturally.
d. Activate and balance the qi energy throughout your bodymind.
e. Hold a simple mystic pride; accept your talents and accomplishments with a self-effacing reverence; do not force yourself on the consensual world or the people in it.
f. Smile; project great happiness and joy; present yourself to the world in a truly happy state that sparkles with peace and contentment.
g. When dealing with a person, give them your complete and undivided attention. Treat places and events in the same manner.
7 MIND: The largest accomplishment begins with a single small accomplishment.
8 MIND: This is a Taoist mystic reference that implies, among other things, an exponential growth of spirit that begins with the simplest spiritual attainment.
9 HEART and BODY: This describes how you feel when your shen is being cultivated.
a. You react spontaneously and naturally.
b. You become intensely mindful of whatever you are doing; you merge with the object of your attention.
c. It feels as though the earth's energy raises up to support your physical actions.
d. Each movement you make feels like the first movement you have ever made. They are complete and whole.
10 HAND and BODY: Expect nothing and be open to anything.
11-13 HAND and BODY: Employ your shen as you move through your daily activities. The translation is specific. Also, your spirit will grow and strengthen at its own pace. Your soul will make you aware of this growth at precisely the right time. Expect nothing and be open to anything.
14 MIND: To visualize the Tao Source in this way helps manage your contemplative experience during shengong.