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Recorded Sayings of the Perfected Danyang (Ma Yu)丹阳真人语录

Also known as
Danyang Zhenren Zhiyan (Perfected Danyang's Straightforward Words) (appendix), Ma Danyang Yulu (Recorded Sayings of Ma Danyang)
Author / transmission
Ma Yu
Period
Jin · Sayings of Ma Yu (1123–1183), compiled by his disciple Wang Yizhong, around the late 12th century.
Canon division
Taixuan Section
Collected in
Zhengtong Daozang, Taixuan Section.
Category
Alchemical Texts
Fascicles
One Fascicle (Juan)

Synopsis

The Danyang zhenren yulu (Recorded Sayings of the Perfected Danyang) compiles the teachings of Ma Yu (styled Danyangzi), foremost of the Quanzhen Seven Perfected, edited by his disciple Wang Yizhong. The recorded sayings emphasize the two characters 'clarity and stillness' as the root of practice, holding that 'the Dao takes no-mind as its substance, forgetting words as its function, softness and weakness as its foundation, and clarity and stillness as its basis,' and advocating a bland diet, reduced sleep, the cutting off of deluded thoughts, and few words, taking 'guarding the qi' as the work of life and 'no-mind' as the work of nature, holding that 'eating when hungry and sleeping when tired' is naturally the Dao, and opposing rigid meditative postures and attachment, as well as the pursuit of supernatural powers. The language is plain and intimate, drawing frequently on examples from daily life, and represents the early Quanzhen line of quiet cultivation. Other works of his poetry and prose include the Danyang zhenren zhiyan, the Dongxuan jinyu ji, and the Jianwu ji.

Key Ideas

  • Clarity and stillness as the basis; no-mind as the substance
  • A bland diet, reduced sleep, cutting off deluded thoughts
  • Guarding the qi to nourish life; forgetting words to embody the Dao
  • Everyday life is the Dao; no pursuit of supernatural powers

Structure

One juan, in the form of recorded-sayings entries.

Editions

  • Zhengtong Daozang edition
  • Daozang jiyao edition

Translations

  • English translation by Louis Komjathy (The Way of Complete Perfection, 2013)

Full Text & Online Resources

Related scriptures

Fifteen Discourses of Wang Chongyang on Establishing the Teaching, Collected Works of Wang Chongyang on Complete Perfection, Dharma Words of the Primordial Sovereign Sun Bu'er

Related figures

Ma Yu, Wang Chongyang, Sun Bu'er
References
  1. Louis Komjathy, The Way of Complete Perfection, 2013
  2. 任继愈主编《道藏提要》