佛祖統紀 40.55

40.55

In the sixth year, Li Quan went to Tiger Cliff on Mount Song and obtained the Yellow Emperor's Hidden Talisman Scripture (Yinfu jing). He read it thousands of times without understanding its meaning. Once, passing below Mount Li, he met an old woman by the roadside who saw a lingering fire burning a tree, whereupon she said to herself, 'Fire is born of wood; when disaster breaks out it is sure to conquer.' Quan asked her in astonishment. The old woman said, 'I received this scripture three cosmic cycles and six sexagenary cycles ago.' Quan recounted in full what he had obtained. The old woman said, 'Young man, your brain blood has not yet diminished, and your mind's shadows are not omnipresent; you are truly my disciple.' She then sat on a stone and explained its meaning to him, saying: 'The three hundred characters of the Yinfu Scripture: one hundred words expound the Way, one hundred words expound the method, and one hundred words expound the technique. Above, it contains the Way of immortals embracing the One; in the middle, it contains the method for enriching the country and pacifying the people; below, it contains the technique for strengthening the army and winning victories. All spring from inner mental workings and harmonize externally with human affairs. Examining its subtleties, the Yellow Court and the Eight Vistas are not enough to be considered profound; observing its essential points, the classics, commentaries, masters, and histories are not enough to be considered refined writing; giving rein to clever wisdom, Sun, Wu, Han, and Bai are not enough to be considered extraordinary. None but those possessed of the Way should be allowed to hear it. Therefore, the perfect person uses it and attains its Way; the superior man uses it and attains its technique; the petty person uses it and incurs its calamity. If you transmit it to one of like mind, you must observe a pure fast before conferring it. Chanting it seven times on one's natal day enhances mental workings and increases longevity.' Taking a gourd from her sleeve, she told him to fetch water. The gourd suddenly became heavy and sank into the water. When he returned, the woman was nowhere to be found, leaving behind only barley meal. Quan ate it, and from then on abstained from grain. During the Kaiyuan era, he served as Vice Envoy of Jiangling. Later, he entered renowned mountains in search of the Way, and his end is unknown.