Zuowanglun

Sima Chengzhen (or Si-ma Ch'eng-chen) 司馬承禎 (647–735), also known as Daoyin 道隐 "Recluse of the Tao" and Baiyunzi 白雲子 "Master of the White Cloud", was a native of Henan.

Although Sima received a traditional education in the Confucian classics, he converted to Taoism, and was ordained by the Shangqing "Highest Clarity" School in 669.

One is in Zhang Junfang's (1019) Yunji Qiqian 雲笈七籤 " Seven Cloudy Satchel" and Xu Song's (1819) Quan Tangwen 全唐文 "Complete Tang Literature".

A shorter Zuowanglun inscription on a stele, dated to the year 829, was placed in front of a temple dedicated to Sima Chengzhen erected in Jiyuan on Mount Wangwu, his last residence.

[3] The Zuowanglun elucidates seven steps, involving various practices, "including Buddhist-inspired concentration, observation, and absorption",[4] that gradually lead one from ordinary consciousness to dedao 得道 "attaining the Dao; becoming enlightened".

[15] The Zuowanglun is associated with six contemporaneous texts by Daoist mediation masters from the Chongxuan 重玄 "Twofold Mystery" and Shangqing "Highest Clarity" Schools.

The (early 8th century) Dingguanjing 定觀經 "Scripture on Concentration and Observation", or Dongxuan lingbao dingguanjing 洞玄靈寶定觀經 "Scripture on Concentration and Observation of the Numinous Treasure from the Cavern Mystery", appears three times in the Daoist Canon: as an appendix to the Zuowanglun edition, as a separate text (DZ 400),[16] and in the Yunji Qiqian anthology.

The Cunshen lianqiming 存神鍊氣銘 "Inscription on Visualizing Spirit and Refining Qi" (DZ 834)[18] is attributed to the Daoist physician and alchemist Sun Simiao (d. 682).

The Tianyinzi 天隱子 "[Book of the] Master of Heavenly Seclusion" was allegedly transmitted by Wu Yun 吳筠 (d. 778) and edited by Sima Chengzhen, who wrote the "Oral Instructions" postface.

The (late 6th century) Neiguanjing 內觀經 "Scripture of Inner Observation" (DZ 641),[23] is written in the words of Laozi (deified as Lord Lao 老君).