7. Yet the revolving of Heaven never stops for a moment. If you are actually
able to join yin and yang in tranquility, the whole earth is positive and
harmonious; in the right place in your central chamber, all things
simultaneously expand to fulfillment. This is the method of "bathing"
spoken of in alchemical classics. What is it if not the great cycle?
8. The processes of the cycle do indeed have differences of scale, but
ultimately there is no way to distinguish great and small. When you reach
the point where meditation is spontaneous, you do not know what fire and
water are, what heaven and earth are, who does the interacting, who makes
it one cycle or two cycles, or where to find any distinction between great
and small.
9. It is all the operation of one body; though it appears to be most great, it is
also small. Each time it takes a turn, the universe and all things take a turn
with it. Thus it is in the heart; so it is also most great.
10. The alchemical process should ultimately become spontaneous. If it is
not spontaneous, then heaven and earth will revert on their own to heaven
and earth; myriad things will go back to myriad things: no matter how hard
you try to join them, you cannot. Then it is like a season of drought, when
yin and yang do not join Heaven and earth do not fail to go through their
cycles every day, but ultimately you see a lot that is unnatural.
11. If you can operate yin and yang, turning them suitably, then naturally all
at once clouds will form and rain will fall, the plants and trees refreshed, the
