The practice of Neidan(內丹)

[ChiDragon]

I have been hearing that lot of newcomers that they have practicing or practiced Neidan. It just dawned on me with curiosity.  How people do their practice or what they think that is? I would to hear their comments before I introduce the original Taoist method of Neidan. I mean in the Chinese version with the help of AI.  I have been using Gemini AI which gives me a very good explanation in the Chinese language. However, one may tell it in any way just for the purpose of comparison only.  Thanks!

[Nintendao]

Set a timer for two minutes. Close your eyes and observe your internal environment with as many of your senses as you can. Just look and be attentive. Train your energy to pool inwards instead of disperse outwards. The outside can wait. The timer will let you know when to wrap up. Practice at least once every day. Increase the amount of time when you want to. Keep track of your progress on any kind of calendar or journal that suits you.

 

That's it. That's the practice.

 

But Nintendao, all you've described is a most basic form of meditation. Don't you have to kan li your yuan qi to xing ming the xuan guan?

 

Yes. Yes you do.

[Antares]

On 09.12.2025 at 3:55 AM, ChiDragon said:

I would to hear their comments before I introduce the original Taoist method of Neidan. I mean in the Chinese version with the help of AI.  I have been using Gemini AI which gives me a very good explanation in the Chinese language

With the use of AI you can reach the AI (artificial immortality). I have not heard someone has achieved it but who knows may be you will be the first one in history who will achieve it. 

[EFreethought]

5 hours ago, Nintendao said:

Set a timer for two minutes. Close your eyes and observe your internal environment with as many of your senses as you can. Just look and be attentive. Train your energy to pool inwards instead of disperse outwards. The outside can wait. The timer will let you know when to wrap up. Practice at least once every day. Increase the amount of time when you want to. Keep track of your progress on any kind of calendar or journal that suits you.

 

That's it. That's the practice.

 

But Nintendao, all you've described is a most basic form of meditation. Don't you have to kan li your yuan qi to xing ming the xuan guan?

 

Yes. Yes you do.

How does this compare to a body scan?

 

And can body scan be a form of neidan?

 

[DynamicEquilibrium]

12 hours ago, Antares said:

With the use of AI you can reach the AI (artificial immortality). I have not heard someone has achieved it but who knows may be you will be the first one in history who will achieve it. 

In a honest world: 

"Q: Who is your teacher ? 

 A: The chinese internet."

 

[-ꦥꦏ꧀ ꦱꦠꦿꦶꦪꦺꦴ-]

16 hours ago, Antares said:

With the use of AI you can reach the AI (artificial immortality). I have not heard someone has achieved it but who knows may be you will be the first one in history who will achieve it. 

SifuGPT

[Nintendao]

11 hours ago, EFreethought said:

How does this compare to a body scan?

 

And can body scan be a form of neidan?

 

 

As long as the scan is taking into account which direction attention is moving. Either pooling (☵ 坎) or dispersing (☲ 離). What the training does is to be able to discern the difference, as well as develop a propensity toward pooling. The timer and journal are also important.

 

[ChiDragon]

内丹术修炼概述
内丹术是中国道教的核心修炼方法之一，其目标是通过特殊的炼养方法，在人体内部**（内）炼成一个超越凡俗的丹体或丹药，以实现长生久视**（长寿和健康）乃至羽化登仙。
内丹修炼遵循“炼精化气、炼气化神、炼神还虚”这三个基本过程，简称“三步功法”。

AI have gathered and compiled the Chinese explanation of Neidan with crystal clear beyond any doubt. It is the best intellectual master piece I have ever encountered.  There will be more coming. I will do my best to translate them.

[ChiDragon]

 「煉精」的要義（煉精化氣）：
目的： 內丹術的核心之一，就是阻止後天之精的洩漏和消耗，並通過特殊的功法（如調息、採藥）將其逆轉、提煉，重新轉化為純淨的元氣，以補足生命之本。
地點： 主要在下丹田（臍下三寸，氣海穴附近）。
結果： 「精滿不思淫」，生命力得到鞏固，為下一步的煉氣打下堅實的「築基」基礎。

 

煉精化氣：築基固本工程
「煉精化氣」是內丹術三步功法中的第一步，其核心目的在於將人體的**「精」（生命物質基礎）提煉轉化為「氣」（生命活動動力），從而築基固本**，恢復和鞏固生命原有的活力。

 

一、 階段目標與意義
1. 補足虧損，恢復元氣
常人隨著年齡增長和慾望消耗，體內的先天之精（元精）不斷損耗。此階段的目標就是通過煉化後天之精（水穀精微、生殖之精）和其他精微物質，使其逆轉而生，補足先天的虧損。這如同給枯竭的油燈重新添油。

Edited 22 hours ago by ChiDragon

[ChiDragon]

1. 氣的分類與位置：
先天之氣（元氣）：
定義： 由先天之精轉化而來，是推動生命機能運作的根本動力。它彌漫全身，是維持生命活動的總能量。
特性： 這是內丹術在**「煉精化氣」**階段所採集和聚合的寶貴能量

[ChiDragon]

後天之氣：
定義： 呼吸之氣（清氣）和水穀之氣（谷氣）的混合，日常所說的「力氣」多屬此類。
特性： 維持日常生理活動，但相對粗糙。

[ChiDragon]

2. 「煉氣」的要義（煉氣化神）：
目的： 將煉精所得的元氣（真氣）進一步聚攏、薰蒸、溫養，並提煉成更細微、更光明的元神能量。
方法： 功法從有為（著意、調息）轉向無為（清靜、自然），主要透過**「凝神入氣穴」**，以神馭氣，使氣機停於中丹田，凝結成丹。
地點： 主要在中丹田（胸部，膻中穴附近，但在具體功法中多指心腎之間）。

 

Please bear with me, I have to do lots of work for clarification. Even to myself. 

Edited 22 hours ago by ChiDragon