{"id":842,"date":"2026-07-07T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/minhlydao.org.vn\/en\/?page_id=842"},"modified":"2026-07-07T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T00:00:00","slug":"preparatory-esoteric-practice","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/en\/quiet-cultivation\/preparatory-esoteric-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparatory Esoteric Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"

PREPARATORY ESOTERIC PRACTICE (DU BI HUYEN CONG)<\/strong><\/p>\n

VERSE TEACHING<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Consider carefully this preparatory course of esoteric practice,
    \nThe method of regulating the body, regulating the breath, regulating the mind<\/em>.
    \nDo not allow one mistake to compound into two,
    \nFor a scattered spirit and a clouded mind will never do.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    At the outset, lay the foundation firm and strong,
    \nFor precepts, rules, and discipline must never be neglected.
    \nAlways turn inward in self-reflection and inquiry,
    \nRectify the heart, extinguish desire, and the marvelous will appear at once.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Set worldly affairs entirely aside,
    \nAnd devote yourself earnestly to the method of religious practice.
    \nFree your body from the prison of the mundane world,
    \nCutting off far from passion, fame, profit, and resentment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Hold fast with devotion to Faith, Vow, and Practice,
    \nEliminating greed, anger, delusion, wandering thought, and worry.
    \nFollow faithfully the teachings of the Enlightened Master,
    \nSevering worldly ties, simplifying affairs, keeping the heart impartial and still.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Practice diligently the recitation of the Inscription of Faith in Mind,
    \nRemembering every line to apply while meditating.
    \nWhen the session ends, dedicate the merit to the Heavens,
    \nWalking in slow, natural circles for a few rounds of walking meditation.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    Let every practitioner keep these principles firmly in mind,
    \nStaying close always to teachers and fellow students of the practice.
    \nDiligent and devoted, morning and evening, in constant practice,
    \nUntil merit is perfected and the fruit complete, to enjoy eternal ease.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  7. \n

    Turning constantly toward the right method, pondering deeply,
    \nThe technique of preserving the mind likewise demands great effort.
    \nKnow that the mind is the very starting point of cultivation,
    \nFor the mind constantly wanders, and one must take care to gather it back.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  8. \n

    The mind is the essential, central matter,
    \nWithout which nothing at all can be accomplished.
    \nLose it, and one is no different from a beast,
    \nYet luminous and boundlessly subtle is its awakened wisdom.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  9. \n

    The Sages of old “preserved the center and held to the One,”
    \nThereby attaining the mechanism of complete knowledge, transcending the ordinary.
    \nConsider how Heaven and Earth encompass all things,
    \nAchieving without acting, accomplishing without striving.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  10. \n

    Close the six gates firmly and securely,
    \nSo that the seven passions and six thieves can scarcely intrude.
    \nFrom beginning to end, there is but one method: preserving the mind \u2014
    \nRelease it, and it is lost; hold it fast, and it remains whole.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  11. \n

    The moment the ordinary mind dies away, the mind of the Way appears at once,
    \nAnd once the mind of the Way is born, clarity and wakeful insight shine forth.
    \nWhen the True Mind has thus begun to reveal itself,
    \nSpirit and body alike, within and without, grow light and at ease.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  12. \n

    One must recognize this clearly and distinctly:
    \nThe very same mind divides itself into two.
    \nSage and ordinary being, true and false, come and go,
    \nBack and forth, stirring and settling \u2014 such is the wandering of the ordinary mind.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  13. \n

    While sitting in stillness, focus the ears and eyes intently,
    \nDrawing attention inward, and at once the mind returns.
    \nIn a state as though half-awake, half-dreaming,
    \nSelf, others, Heaven, and Earth \u2014 all four directions fall silent and still.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  14. \n

    The original substance of the mind spontaneously appears,
    \nAs though one stood before the fabled scenery of B\u1ed3ng Lai (Penglai), the Immortals’ Isle.
    \nBut should the eyes and ears grow suddenly startled and restless,
    \nThe mind stirs again toward external conditions, and all falls into confusion, within and without.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  15. \n

    Let the practitioner remain naturally calm and still,
    \nWith the breath regulated gently, to aid the practice.
    \nWhen spirit and breath at last become united and flow together,
    \nPrajna Wisdom (Bac Nha) itself is formed, manifesting as the true master before you.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  16. \n

    Continuing thus, ever meditating and settling the mind,
    \nOne may think oneself accomplished, and so neglect stillness, neglect practice.
    \nThen obstructing conditions gather like clouds and mist,
    \nAnd false thoughts arise, swarming like a host of demons.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  17. \n

    Even while sitting in stillness, the mind still wanders and thinks wrongly,
    \nClinging, climbing, stirring restlessly with idle, wandering thoughts.
    \nIf the six sense-gates are left unguarded,
    \nThen inner disturbance and outer attack strike suddenly, hard to prevent.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  18. \n

    One must remain watchful and strictly guard against wayward tendencies,
    \nFor the demons of the five aggregates conceal the True Mind.
    \nIn every practice \u2014 walking, standing, sitting, lying down \u2014
    \nOne must engage with both motion and stillness in proper accordance with the method.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  19. \n

    The instant the mind wanders outward, draw it back at once;
    \nThe moment a thought stirs, restrain it immediately.
    \nWithout constant restraint of endless wandering desire,
    \nBefore one thought has passed, another arrives, climbing and swarming in disorder.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  20. \n

    How can the original substance of the mind ever be truly seen,
    \nIf in the end one loses one’s way deep within the forest?
    \nOne must quickly become watchful and turn back,
    \nSettling the spirit, clarifying the mind, and seeking non-action.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  21. \n

    The essence of mind is beyond good and evil altogether,
    \nWhile the function of mind gives rise to intentions both wholesome and unwholesome.
    \nWhen conscience and awareness unite as one in understanding and action,
    \nRight and wrong, impure and pure, are discerned without error.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  22. \n

    Once one knows the method of preserving the mind and nurturing one’s nature,
    \nOne may then rise to the rank of Sage and Worthy.
    \nFirst, one must let go entirely of all worldly conditions and attachments,
    \nOnly then may one hope to resolve all affliction and unjust grievance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  23. \n

    Next, guard the heart so that it may attain peace and settledness,
    \nFor once peace and settledness are attained, the hundred ailments cease to arise.
    \nSuffering, joy, gain, loss, evil, and good,
    \nNone of these countless circumstances can any longer affect us.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  24. \n

    When the mind is empty, gentle, harmonious, and radiantly clear,
    \nNothing at all can attach itself to it any longer.
    \nPractice grows more subtle and profound with each passing day,
    \nThanks to faithfully following the correct method of training.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  25. \n

    Once the lamp of Prajna Wisdom already shines within,
    \nAll illusory phenomena dissolve instantly and vanish.
    \nA single step further, and one arrives at Nirvana,
    \nRoaming freely through the three-thousandfold universe, all within one’s grasp.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \n

    Already in hand is the art of “Esoteric Practice” (Huyen Cong),
    \nThe preparatory, foundational method learned by heart.
    \nLet go entirely of all worldly conditions, forgetting mundane affairs,
    \nWhile holding fast to Prajna Wisdom, remembering true emptiness.
    \nSit like a solid, unmoving statue,
    \nWatching intently, as a cat lies in wait.
    \nMouth closed, tongue curled, breath light and gentle,
    \nThe spirit, riding upon the breath, arrives at the Immortals’ Paradise.<\/p>\n

    DUC HA TIEN CO<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    PREPARATORY ESOTERIC PRACTICE (DU BI HUYEN CONG) VERSE TEACHING Consider carefully this preparatory course of esoteric practice, The method of regulating the body, regulating the breath, regulating the mind. Do not allow one mistake to compound into two, For a scattered spirit and a clouded mind will never do. At the outset, lay the foundation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":840,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-842","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/842\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/huyencong.minhlydao.org.vn\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}