Robinet, The World Upside Down: Essays on ... - The Golden Elixir

<strong>The</strong> Terms Waidan and NeidanSome of them are quoted by Chen Zhixu, who shares their views. Itshould be noted that they include authors whom Li Yuanguo claims tobe supporters of sexual practices, as well as authors whom he deemsto support the “pure practice.” <strong>The</strong> third and last part is devoted tofurther explanations given by some of these authors on the distinctionsand interactions between the “external” and the “internal.”I. DIVERSITY OF MEANINGSTo illustrate the variety of meanings given to the terms neidan andwaidan, we shall begin by comparing two texts that in this regard areopposite to one another.1. <strong>The</strong> Taishang jiuyao xinyin miaojing (Most High Wondrous Scriptureof the Mind Seal and Its Nine Essentials) briefly states that theneidan concerns the true Breath, in contrast to the waidan that concernsthe breath of food, i.e., the ordinary and coarse human breath. 13This view is similar to the one of Qiu Chuji (1146–1227), for whomthe true breath of original Yang is hidden inside, while the externalconcerns the (spermatic?) essence (jing) and blood, i.e., physiology. 142. <strong>The</strong> Xuanzong zhizhi wanfa tonggui (Reintegrating the Ten ThousandDharmas: A Straightforward Explanation of the Taoist Tradition)explains, instead, that the neidan concerns the personal vitalbreath, and the waidan concerns the primordial cosmic Breath. <strong>The</strong>setwo breaths are inseparable from one another; the terms nei(“internal”) and wai (“external”) have been used to teach that oneshould “know this (ci) and understand that (bi).” It is an error, addsthis text, to have thought that “external” designates minerals andplants. 15 Here, unlike the previous text, waidan refers to what pertainsto the primordial Breath. Moreover, we find again the terms bi(“that,” “the other”) to designate the “external,” and ci or wo (“this”or “me”) to designate the “internal,” on which Li Yuanguo bases hisinterpretation discussed above. As we can see, here bi very clearlydesignates the cosmic Breath.13Taishang jiuyao xinyin miaojing, 6a.14Dadan zhizhi, 1.1b.15Xuanzong zhizhi wanfa tonggui, 3.13b.79