4

Building the Foundation and Refıning the Self

Building the foundation and refining the self can be considered two parts of one process. The first part involves building the lesser and greater foundations; the second part involves refining the self externally and internally.

What is involved in building the lesser foundation? Typically, building the lesser foundation is concerned with the following practices: gathering the primordial yang energy and directing it into the internal cauldron, gently engaging fetal breathing, producing the post-celestial medicine, and activating the process of refining the jade. These practices are described by Masters Tao and Sun as “obtaining the medicine after completing the foundation” and “refining the self after collecting the internal medicine.”

What is involved in building the greater foundation? Typically, building the greater foundation is concerned with the following practices: nourishing the numinous pearl to give birth to the external lead, churning the golden water, activating the subtle movement of the Microcosmic Orbit, and recovering original nature. These practices are equivalent to what I have described in the previous chapter as opening the gate to begin building the foundation, obtaining the medicine to continue building the foundation, and refining the self to finish building the foundation.

Internal refining of the self is concerned with the work of the waterwheel. According to the Triplex Unity, the production of the jade elixir is necessary for refining the body internally, which is different from refining the self externally. In refining the self externally, the goal is to see all things as empty and not allow even a speck of dust to accumulate. The sages describe it as letting go of attachments in the midst of the world. In refining the self internally, the goal is to build the greater foundation, which is integral to nourishing the body. This is why I have considered building the foundation and refining the self as one process divided into two parts. I hope students of the Tao understand this clearly.