Mr. Zongxuan's Xuangang Lun: Chapter 29 on Specializing in the Ultimate Dao
Someone asked: In ancient times, there were many who studied to become immortals, but very few who attained the Dao. Why is this? I replied: Of a thousand ordinary people who study the Dao, only one truly understands it. Of a thousand who understand it, only one resolves to follow it. Of a thousand who resolve to follow it, only one specializes in it. Of a thousand who specialize in it, only one persists diligently over a long period. Thus, there are many scholars but few who succeed. If those who understand the Dao can sever worldly ties, those who sever worldly ties can resolve their will, those who resolve their will can specialize in their practice, and those who specialize can persist diligently, there is no one who studies without attaining success.
Another asked: Then, are those busy managing the world hopeless regarding immortality? I replied: Not so. If one is specially endowed with true qi and greatly shelters all living beings, there is no hindrance to managing the world. If a person of average ability loves the Dao and aspires to lightness and elevation, they must rely on seclusion and tranquility. Thus, Taihao inherited the Qi Mother, Xuanyuan ascended in clouds, Zhuanxu dwelled in the Mysterious Palace, Wenming toured the Purple Mansion; all these attained the Dao while managing the world. Furthermore, Xuanyuan (Laozi) served as Archivist, Nanhua (Zhuangzi) worked as an official in Qiyuan, Wang Qiao governed Ye County, and Fang Shuo entered the Golden Gate; these also attained the Dao while assisting their times. Moreover, immortals desire secrecy, and the Dao values namelessness; some reveal their traces, others conceal them. One cannot judge them by a single path nor deduce them by a single principle. According to the *Zhen Gao* and Baopuzi's *Record of the Highest Immortals of Yuanshi*, it is stated that since ancient times, those who are extremely loyal and filial, extremely true and incorruptible, and have great merits benefiting others, all attain something, differing from the ordinary crowd. Yao, Shun, Zhou, Confucius, Yi, and Lü, these past sages and worthies, were all elevated to immortal posts. This is what is meant by 'the one who dies but does not perish is truly long-lived,' and Baihua naturally followed. The world fears death and seeks immortality; upon death, they become spiritual officials, their bones imperishable. After their merits are fulfilled, spirit and flesh attach to the skeleton, the soul returns to the form, and suddenly they rise lightly. In such cases, not even a fragment of goodness is lost, let alone those who specifically devote themselves to the way of immortals.
Explanation: Someone asked: Since ancient times, many have studied to become immortals, yet few attain the Dao. Why? I replied: If a thousand ordinary people study the Dao, only one truly understands it—a ratio of one in a thousand. Of those who understand, only one resolves to cultivate the Dao. Of those who resolve, only one specializes. Of those who specialize, only one persists diligently. Thus, there are many scholars but few who succeed. If those who understand the Dao can eliminate worldly thoughts, resolve their will, specialize in cultivation, and persist, there is no one who fails to learn.
Another asked: Then, are those busy with secular life impossible to become immortals? I replied: Not necessarily. If one is special, endowed with true qi, and shelters all beings, there is no hindrance to worldly desires. If merely an average person loves the Dao and wishes to ascend lightly, they must become idle to cultivate. Thus, Taihao inherited the Qi Mother, Xuanyuan ascended in clouds, Zhuanxu dwelled in the Mysterious Palace, Wenming toured the Purple Mansion; all attained the Dao by managing the people. Similarly, Xuanyuan (Laozi) served as Archivist, Nanhua (Zhuangzi) worked in Qiyuan, Wang Qiao governed the county, and then became immortals; this is attaining the Dao by assisting the times. Furthermore, cultivating immortality requires secrecy, and the Dao values namelessness; some hide their traces. One cannot view them unilaterally nor deduce them partially. According to the *Zhen Gao* and Baopuzi's *Record of the Highest Immortals of Yuanshi*: since ancient times, those who are extremely loyal and filial, extremely true and incorruptible, and have great merits, all ultimately attain something, differing from ordinary people. Yao, Shun, Zhou, Confucius, Yi, and Lü, these past sages and worthies, all attained immortal posts, as stated: 'The one who dies but does not perish is truly long-lived,' and Baihua naturally followed. The world fears death and seeks immortality; after death, they become spiritual officials, their bones imperishable. After merits are fulfilled, spirit and flesh attach to the skeleton, the soul returns to the form, and then they ascend. In such cases, not even a bit of goodness is lost, let alone those who specifically devote themselves to the way of immortals.
Analysis: Some might ask why those who are extremely loyal and filial, extremely true and incorruptible, and have great merits also become immortals. Note that this is stated subtly. Those who are extremely loyal and filial, extremely true and incorruptible, and have great merits do not necessarily become immortals; mostly, they become gods. However, there are special exceptions: those originally born with true qi do not need cultivation; they only need to fulfill their merits to attain immortality, which echoes the previous content.
Furthermore, the text states, 'Yao, Shun, Zhou, Confucius, Yi, and Lü, these past sages and worthies, were all elevated to immortal posts,' indicating that these sages also attained immortality. This is because they differ from ordinary people; first, they are sages, and generally, sages are born endowed with true qi, thus possessing traits of extreme loyalty, filial piety, truthfulness, and incorruptibility. Such people do not need cultivation; they can attain immortality through merits alone.
There is also another situation: those who are extremely loyal and filial, extremely true and incorruptible, though not needing cultivation, may have insufficient merits. After death, they become spiritual officials. Once their merits are fulfilled, they can still be revived and then ascend lightly to become immortals.
Because the situations are complex, one cannot discuss them simply, nor understand them through partial principles.
The immortality theory at this time is still the Tang Dynasty theory of immortals. Later generations added the concept of conferred immortals. These do not belong to true immortals; although they are part of the divine way, they differ from it, so they are also called immortals, but they must not be confused.
For example, a master priest, after being granted an immortal post, serves as a judge in life, accumulating merits. Although cultivation is insufficient to become an immortal, after death, they are guided by the Patriarchs and granted an immortal title. If not attained through one's own cultivation, they still belong to the divine way, but with this special path, they will not ultimately fall into the ghost path but will be guided there.
However, in terms of achievement, this is inferior to cultivation-based immortality. Many only enter the divine way, such as becoming a local deity. One must distinguish clearly and not confuse them.
In folk traditions, some places refer to spirits possessing humans, such as 'Chu Ma Xian' (Spirit Mediums). This was originally a respectful title, where 'Xian' referred to those dealing with yin and yang, such as Earth Immortals or Fate Immortals. Similarly, in Jiangxi burial customs, eight people are needed to dig the earth, also called the Eight Immortals. These are not immortals under the orthodox Daoist classification and must be distinguished clearly.
The ten types of immortals in Buddhism's *Shurangama Sutra* basically do not touch the concept of immortals at all. They basically describe Indian practitioners or those who have not obtained the correct method. Whether this sutra is forged or translated, the use of the word 'Xian' (Immortal) is deliberately slandering Daoism. This distinction must also be noted.
Reiterating, true immortals must undergo the cultivation of the Yang Spirit. This is the most fundamental standard and the absolute difference between Daoism and all other worldly religions.
The concept of immortals in the Han and Tang dynasties was not very complex. Later generations added many apocryphal interpretations, such as the classification of five types of immortals, leading to changes and distortions in the concept of immortals, which will be discussed separately later.