Taoist Classics: Tai Shang Lao Jun Sutra of Constant Tranquillity道教经典：太上老君说常清静经

The core of Taoist culture is for people to meditate on heaven and earth, to be self-improving and virtuous, and to cultivate themselves as sages and immortals.

                  ------ Zhuge Changqing

　 The Sutra of Tranquillity, in its entirety known as The Sutra of Changing Tranquillity According to Tai Shang Lao Jun. One volume.

   Taoism claims that when Tai Shang Lao Jun travelled west to Guetai, he said the Sutra of Constant Tranquillity for Xi Wang Mu.

   It was later passed on by immortals and was obtained by Ge Xuan, who wrote it down and passed it on to the world.

   In other words, Ge Xuan said, "I received it from the Emperor Donghua, who received it from the Emperor Jinqui, who received it from the Queen Mother of the West. The Xi Wangmu were all transmitted orally without writing down the text, and I am now recording it in the world book."

    The Sutra of Tranquillity is thus thought to be a work transmitted by Ge Xuan during the Three Kingdoms.

　　The Sutra of Tranquillity is only four hundred and one words long.

    Although short in length, it is rich in content and is one of the most important sources on Taoist alchemy. It begins by explaining that the invisible, emotionless and nameless Tao has the function of fertilising heaven and earth, running the sun and moon, and nourishing all things; and that the Tao has clarity, turbidity, movement and stillness, and that "clarity is the source of turbidity, and movement is the foundation of stillness." Therefore, "If one can always be clear and still, all heaven and earth will return." It goes on to explain that in order for the human spirit to be always pure, it is necessary to remove all cravings, delusions and worries, so as to realise the state of constant stillness and true tranquillity, where "when one looks at one's mind, there is no mind; when one looks at one's form, there is no form; when one looks at one's objects from afar, there is no object; when all three are realized, one sees only emptiness".

   In the end, it is stated that "when one is so pure and still, one gradually enters the true path, and when one has entered the true path, one is called having attained the path".

   The Sutra of Tranquillity, therefore, is an important part of the daily recitation of the Taoist discipline, as it teaches people to dispel their desires and enter into tranquillity. Taoists believe that: "often clear and quiet set up teaching, guide the common and complement the right, to support the clan to serve the transformation, the people to return to the root, so that contains the true and hold a, body contact with the Xuan Yuan, refining the gods to merge with the Tao, feathered fly immortal, not for misconduct ...... and even a thousand true and ten thousand saints salty not out of this carry on." (②The Sutra of Tranquillity has various commentaries by Du Guangting, Wang Daoyuan, Hou Shanyuan, Wang Yuanhui, Bai Yuchan, Wu Ming, Li Daochun, and Mo Ranzi, all of which are included in the Zhengtong Daozang.

   Zhuge Changqing: The core of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism are all the same, they are all about doing good and accumulating virtue. The Taoist culture is also the same, allowing people to meditate and feel the heaven and earth, to be self-improving and virtuous, and to cultivate into sages and gods. If one can do so, by carefully and repeatedly comprehending the Sutra of Tranquillity and the Tao Te Ching together, one will gain a deep appreciation of Taoist thought.

                      〖太上老君說常清静經〗 

    Laojun said: The Great Tao is invisible and gives birth to heaven and earth; the Great Tao is emotionless and runs the sun and the moon; the Great Tao has no name and grows all things; I do not know its name, but it is forcibly called the Tao. The Tao: there is clear and turbid, there is movement and stillness; heaven is clear and earth is turbid, heaven is moving and earth is still. Men are clear and women are muddy; men move and women are still. The descending of the original and the flowing of the end, and the birth of all things. Clearness is the source of turbidity; movement is the foundation of stillness. If man can always be clear and quiet, all heaven and earth will return. The lady's mind is disturbed by the desire to be clear, and the heart is disturbed by the desire to be still. If one can always dispel one's desires, one's mind will be quiet; if one can clarify one's mind, one's spirit will be clear. Naturally, the six desires will not arise and the three poisons will be eliminated. The reason why one cannot do so is that the mind is not yet clarified and the desire is not yet dispelled. If you can dispel them, you can see your mind internally, but there is no mind; if you see your form, there is no form; if you see your objects from afar, there are no objects.

   When the three are realized, only emptiness is seen; when emptiness is seen, there is no emptiness; when there is no emptiness, there is no emptiness; when there is no emptiness, there is no emptiness; when there is no emptiness, there is always silence; when there is no silence, how can desire be born? If desire does not arise, it is true stillness. The true and constant response to things, the true and constant nature; the constant response to the constant stillness, the constant stillness. If you are so pure, you will gradually enter the true path; if you have entered the true path, you will be called to have attained the path; although you are called to have attained the path, you have not gained anything; to transform all beings, you will be called to have attained the path; those who are able to understand it can preach the holy path. 

   He who is able to enlighten himself is called to have attained the Way. He who clings to it is not called moral. The reason why sentient beings are denied the true path is that they have a deluded mind. If they have a deluded mind, they are frightened of their gods; if they are frightened of their gods, they become attached to all things; if they become attached to all things, they become greedy; if they become greedy, they are troubled. When the mind is troubled and deluded, the body and mind suffer. But they suffer humiliation and disgrace. They wander in life and death, always sinking into the sea of suffering, and forever losing their true path. He who has attained enlightenment is always at peace. 

   The immortal Ge Weng said, "I have recited this sutra ten thousand times since I attained the true path. This sutra is practised by the celestial beings and is not passed on to the inferior. I used to receive it from the Emperor Dong Hua, who received it from the Emperor Jin Que, who received it from the Queen Mother of the West. The Western Queen Mother was passed on orally, without writing down the words. I have now written and recorded it in the world. If a superior person understands it, he or she will be elevated to the rank of a heavenly official; if a secondary person cultivates it, he or she will be listed as an immortal in the Southern Palace; if a secondary person obtains it, he or she will live on earth for a long time. If the lower man achieves this, he will live in the world for a long time. He will travel through the three worlds and ascend to the Golden Gate. 

   Zuo Xuan Zhen Zhen said: "If a student of the Tao holds this sutra, he will receive the ten heavenly gods to protect him. Then the jade talisman protects the gods and the golden liquid refines the form. The form and the spirit are both wonderful, and the Tao is true. 

  The True One says: "If a person has this sutra and understands it, he will be protected by all the saints. The gods ascend to the upper realms and worship the high priests. When they have achieved their virtue, they will feel the emperor. If you recite and hold this sutra, your body will be on purple clouds.

   Zhuge Changqing: Recite it regularly and you will be blessed. The virtues are great and the gods will protect you.

Zhuge Changqing wishes prosperity to all those who have the good fortune to honour their parents and do good deeds!

   Blessings to all those who are fortunate enough to have their requests answered, to be blessed by the heavenly officials, to have their careers soar and to have their fortunes flourish!

What are the acts of abstaining from killing and releasing

 戒杀与放生的行为包括哪些

 1. Do not kill a living being with your own hands.

　　2. Do not abet others to kill.

　　3. Do not help others to kill.

　　4. Abstain from eating meat.

　　5. Do not engage in trades related to killing.

　　6、Whenever there is worship, regardless of what is being worshipped, use vegetarian dishes, flowers and fruit, not animal gifts.

　　7. If you see someone killing a human being, you should discourage them or buy the animal to be slaughtered with money and release it. If this does not work, or if the person does not sell the animal, then you should have compassion for the slaughtered animal, and even better if you can recite the Buddha's name or mantra for it.

　　8. Do not abuse the animal.

　　9、Other actions that are contrary to killing.

　　10. Abstain from killing and releasing animals yourself, and advise others to do the same. 

   1、不亲手杀生。

　　2、不教唆别人杀生。

　　3、不帮助别人杀生。

　　4、戒除肉食。

　　5、不从事与杀生有关的行业。

　　6、凡有祭拜，不管拜的是什么，一律用素菜、鲜花、水果，不用牲礼。

　　7、见人杀生，应加劝阻，或用钱将临宰之动物买而放之。若劝阻无效，或他不卖，则应对被杀之动物起同情心，若能为它念佛号或往生咒更好。

　　8、不虐待动物。

　　9、其他与杀生行为相反之行为。

　　10、自己戒杀放生，也劝别人戒杀放生。 

(This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

Selected Articles in Previous Periods

Click the article title to view

往期精选文章

点击文章标题查看

1The wisdom of traditional Chinese culture changes the destiny: filial piety to parents+five in one+self-improvement

1 国学智慧改命运：孝敬父母+五合一+自强不息

2Zhuge Changqing's Three Golden Keys to Changing Destiny

2诸葛长青改命运三把金钥匙诸葛长青施食仪轨 （十五步简洁版）

3Zhuge Changqing's Greeting Ritual (15 Steps Concise Version)

3 诸葛长青施食仪轨 （十五步简洁版）

4How to repent: the ritual of repentance and the method of repentance (full version)

4   如何忏悔：忏悔仪轨忏悔方法（完整版）

5How to read the Dizang Sutra: Methods for reciting Dizang Sutra (complete version)

5 如何念地藏经：念地藏经仪轨方法（完整版）

6How to release? The ritual of releasing life

6怎样放生？放生仪轨

7Zhuge Changqing's Repentance Culture: A Case Study of Repentance Methods for Changing Destiny

7诸葛长青忏悔文化：改变命运忏悔方法案例

8Free Life Culture: Free Life Culture in Ancient China

8放生文化：中国古代的放生文化

9Shocking photo of feeding: Buddha, Bodhisattva and Dharma Protector come to the scene

9施食震撼照片：佛菩萨护法神亲临现场

10Feeding Rite Return: the return is changed to simple return

10施食仪轨回向：回向修改为简洁回向