Dr Li Zhongzi (c.1640)

Translated: Richard Bertschinger

Tao Booklet

2011

mytaoworld.com

A Method for Living Faultlessly

All the Hours of the Day

C

lear a single room. Have it open to the south and with a window with double opening shutters to let in the light. Do not array prized objects in it. This only leads to discord in the self.

Arrange one each of a wide bed and long worktop, pen and ink-block placed precisely, while by their side lies a small stool. Hang up a calligraphy scroll or picture hurriedly dashed off - on top of the worktop, display one or two significant passages from a book, some old papers, an incense burner, a teapot and bowl.

One’s soul should be constantly focused in this space. Do not be infected by the world.

At the hours of Chou and Yin (1-5am), the ox

and tiger

It is the time when the vital essence of life is beginning to emerge. Do not stay deep in sleep. Throw off the covers and sit up on the bed, puff out two or three times, and expel the foul night-air.

Then take both hands and rub them until warm, use them to scour down both sides of the nose and to press around the eyes five or six times. Then rub and bend about both ears, and the whole of the face five or six times. Take both hands and clasp them behind the skull, the palms cleverly enclosing both ears, and use the index finger, flicking it off the finger next to it, striking the back of the skull each side twenty-four times. Cast the body left and right, curling up the forearm as in the act of drawing a bow. Do this five or six times. Afterwards taking both legs, curl them up and stretch them out, five or six times. Knock gently together the teeth seven lots of seven times rapidly, gargle with saliva, filling the mouth, and use the mind to lead it down to the dantian (lower belly), in three or four mouthfuls. This clears the inner organs, helping reduce any heat or inflammation.

At the hour of Mao (5-7am), the hare

When you see the light begin to show, judge how warm or cold it is, and dress accordingly. Rise from sitting and move to a place under the window. Walk out a hundred paces. Boil up some clear soup. Do not drink tea.

Comb through the hair up to a hundred times. This sweeps out tangles and scatters heat, brightens the eyes and gets rid of brain-fever. When washed fully, for the first meal it is best to eat rice, something bland and simple. Then lower the hands to rub the belly, and walk out slowly fifty or so steps. Take a single mug of wine, this indulgence is most necessary. If you are going out, then first drink one or two small cupfuls. Once there were three men, all three of them out in a dense fog: one fell sick, one died and one remained untouched. Do you want to know why? The one who was not sick said: I drank some wine. The one who was sick had something to eat. The one who died went out on an empty stomach. So know that wine has the strength to fight against evil and conquer it. If you do not go out perhaps you stay curled up in bed, in order to nourish the true energy within.

At the hours of Chen and Si (7-11am), the dragon and snake

Either discourse with the children and family, or else order the family’s affairs. Thence your business is happily done. Do not let trifling things intrude upon you. Take a stick and go into the garden or wood, oversee the planting of seeds and trees, putting in plants, cutting down the grass, watering the flowers, tending to the herbs. Return to the house, close the eyes and quieten the mind, swallow ten or so mouthfuls of saliva briefly. Because around midnight arrives the true essence of life, towards midday it is very delicate. It is fitting to blend with the breath in order to nourish it.

At the hour of Wu (11am-1pm), the horse

Eat to a moderate capacity. The foodstuffs should be amenable. Amenable means not everything from the land and sea. Foreign foods are not the best. Duke Lo, when he was aged eighty-nine years, once when talking to some people, said: I will never eat without cooking it if it is raw, warming it up if it is too cool, or softening it if it is too hard. Neither too raw, nor too cold, nor too hard. This is just what is meant by amenable.

Again never force yourself to eat. You should feel hungry, and then eat. And when eating never stuff yourself. Once you have finished, get up and walk a hundred paces. Rub the belly and also circle the hands around, rubbing the lower back region, to warm it. This enables the fluids and solids to circulate. Rinse out your mouth out with water or warm tea. If you choose to drink with the meal, then never over much.

At the hour of Wei (1-3pm), the sheep

Answer letters, deal with business; then reach into your book store. Either read over some book, or take delight in simply thinking. Or else hum over an old song, to express the emotions. Or else with some well-known friends gather for some small talk, do not argue or press your point, do not put down people or denigrate anything, do not disagree over fine points of detail, right and wrong. It is fitting be sparing in your opinions. This is the method of nourishing the breath. Or else in a relaxed manner walk a hundred or so paces to visit a good friend, without gowning up. Keep your manner relaxed, not over-concerned. Do not be bitter at things, or a stickler for form.

At the hour of Shen (3-5pm), the monkey

Collect the thoughts. Take two or three pieces of finely cut biscuit or bread - or else some fruit. Play on the pipe, glance over some old papers, strum the lute. When tired, then stop.

At the hour of You (5-7pm), the cock

It is best to have your evening meal not too late. Judge how hungry you are and eat accordingly, do not over-fill. Have a little to drink, do not get over-merry, a single cupful is enough. The book AThousand Golden Remedies says, most fittingly: ‘Slightly rosy with wine, alone with myself for the night - a soft pillow under the head, the feet drawn up gently.’ These are tasteful words.

As a lesson to our children and grandchildren, such a day as this may stand as a model. If you follow this idea and stay with it, you will make no trouble for yourself.

At the hour of Xu (7-9pm), the dog

Shade the lantern and heat up some water to wash and dry the feet. It avoids them getting too hot, or staying damp. Use cold tea to rinse out the mouth, and wash away the day’s remnants of food. Sit upright, quiet and still, If something in a book caught your eye during the day, take it up and read it again. But do not read too much. Too much reading will injure the eyes. Also do not think too much. Zheng Hanfeng said: The troubles of meditation are even worse than women and wine. If you think on things too much, the heart-fire burns upwards - and as the flames flare upwards the kidney-water drains below. Then heart and kidney do not join together and the principle of mankind is at an end!

Therefore a little thought stills the mind. At night, when tired, then go to bed. The two points named ‘bubbling springs’ are where the vital essences are born from the earth. When you are in bed you should scour them round a thousand times. Before the bed, in an old holder, light several sticks of incense. This is to evade the season’s vapours and to preserve good luck.

At the hours of Hai and Zi (9pm-1am), the boar and rat

Sound asleep, you rebuild the originating essence. The whole body should be inclined upon its side, a single leg drawn up. First extinguish the mind, then close the eyes. Do not turn over the past or future, concerning you or others. Just keep one good thought in mind. This means frightening dreams do not appear. In such a manner you may tame the breath and master the spirit. Thus you make self-contentment your treasure.

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