Magical Spells and Aphorisms for Attaining Primordial Truth: The Guan Yinzi

Companion blog post: benebellwen.co...
The more recognized naming convention for the sutra is the Guan Yinzi (闕尹子) or Wen Shi Zhen Jing (文始真經) attributed to the gatekeeper who Laozi encountered. According to lore, the gatekeeper at the Western Pass, named Yinxi 尹喜, later given the name Wenshi (文始), transcribed the teachings of Laozi and that text became the Tao Te Ching (道德經). Alternate tellings have Laozi writing the teachings down into two books himself, which the gatekeeper then receives.
After receiving Laozi’s teachings, the gatekeeper attains enlightenment and subsequently writes his own book, which becomes known as the Guan Yinzi 闕尹子. Guan 闕 means gatekeeper. Yinzi 尹子 means “Master Yin” (like how Laozi means “Master Lao”), an honorific that Yinxi 尹喜 is given upon mastering the Tao.
Historically among Taoist alchemists, mystics, and ceremonial magicians, the Guan Yinzi treated as a book of magical spells and powerful cultivation practices hidden in plain sight. It is a nine-chapter esoteric Taoist sutra and canonized sacred text attributed to the Three Sovereigns (三皇, San Huang) tradition of Taoist ritual magic. It also became the principal text for a mystical Taoist lineage named after the gatekeeper, the Wenshi School (文始派).
The origins of the text is attributed to the time of Laozi, around 6th century BC, though the oldest documented reference we have to it is circa 400 BC in the Liezi 列子, a classical text on Taoist philosophy. Around 400 AD, the text is canonized in the Daozang 道藏 (Taoist Canons).

[@BenebellWen]

Companion blog post: benebellwen.com/2024/02/12/guanyinzi/

[@earlkatotruitt-ee5xk]

@BenebellWen iv been into the orisha African deities or better said spirits Iv hit a road block on how continue I feel as I'm culturally appropriating their spiritual system cause my background is asiatic and hindu what should I do

[@georgemckenzie2525]

@@earlkatotruitt-ee5xk if i may, All you are does not fit within the earth vehichle you have been gifted. All earth vehichles have a genetic lineage and it is part of the lesson. The heart is the vehichles largest magnet simply do what makes it sing for maximum integration into the present. Love and above for the win win

[@earlkatotruitt-ee5xk]

I don't understand but kinda

[@devonthedivinesolarchild9413]

One Love 🗣️❤️🖤💚🙏🌞

[@artistlovepeace]

Wow, you are sharing binary. 1 or 0. Either this or that. The crossroads. Either this path or that path. There is only one choice.

[@Legendary9000]

I’m always thankful of Chinese brothers and sisters for preserving much of Buddha dharma sutras that would have otherwise been lost. Much love from India ❤

[@BenebellWen]

Much love to India! 💖

[@alchemygal3285]

All the dharmic and Dao religions(shinto being that other Dao and I’d say Native American as well) all work extremely well together in my experience. Each one of those faiths helped to preserve parts of dharma or extrapolate on parts others did not. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Daoism, Confucianism, medicine wheel teachings, and shintoism/Japanese philosophies all help to give the best picture and way to life. Particular western thoughts that helped the most were the hermetics and some Gnostic apocryphal books followed by Marcus Aurelius meditations and Epictetus on stoicism and strangely atheist thought and science perspective.

[@mitsuracer87]

Nah, the communists killed religion. Tibetans preserve it

[@Peppers_mintus]

​​@@alchemygal3285 what a foul bastardization of the Great Religion Your way of life cult is not welcomed in our traditions, Perhaps only at the outskirts and fringes of our cult where the Mad Sages would even spit roast at

[@artugert]

This is Taoist, not Buddhist.

[@georgemckenzie2525]

"Know to discern falsehoods, but no need to dispell falsehoods" Or Be wise as serpants, gentle as doves Perhaps recognition that truth endures, and is your guard, not a fragile ward needing care. With advice not to entangle with low morals. Keeping your pot clean. Truth needs only your virtuous action to thrive. Thank you for what brings you joy

[@tarotgatesoflight]

"If no talking is the key to Taoist enlightenment, I'm doomed." It was both hilarious and hit home.

[@georgemckenzie2525]

Love, contentment, and humility. Three ultimate treasures no one can steal but anyone can wield. .

[@alchemygal3285]

I’m so thankful for your videos and books. There are many things that I wouldn’t have been able know without your help.

[@amani3802]

After practicing for awhile, I realize the first sutra of the Dao de Jing..gives it all away..like kind grandmother's who gossip/talk too much...I thank them..

[@baoradcliffe9738]

This is one of your best videos- I'm still reading your I Ching book. You have a lot of knowledge to offer. Thanks.

[@dth92301]

Looking forward to your translation, and would love to read your version of Dao de Ching.

[@jiasenghe008]

YOur knowledge and gifts are profound. Many thanks.

[@mapigill]

Tao is similar to Tantra in India. Very unique, giver of freedom, demolished of ego. Thanks to this beautiful girl, I found reference to knowledge I always thought I needed❤

[@OK-otic]

谢谢你老师！ This is an extremely interesting transcript. Thank you so much for introducing it to me! I found the transcript online, and even though I am not competent enough yet to read Chinese words, I found that I could still read it thanks to Google translation.

[@kinthirteen]

This is my new favorite channel “but what do I know I’m just making shit up at this point” hahahaha whilst explaining the most esoteric radical shit ever

[@russellstephen6998]

Hi Benebell! I got the holistic tarot book as a reference guide for Christmas but just last night decided to start reading it cover to cover and found it is very easy to digest but still packed full of useful information. Thank you so much for your contributions to the community. Love your videos. Happy 2024!

[@BenebellWen]

I am so glad to hear you found the book useful! Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope 2024 is off to a wonderful auspicious start!

[@ChristopherMorse1]

Thank you for your incredible work, and also for the method in which you present the information - the primary sources, the visualizations, the use of anicent/modern characters with accompanying transliterations, etc. - your presentations are masterpieces.

[@proximity037]

I need that kind of teacher

[@ninjuhdelic]

Best breakdown I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much

[@CelestialShaman44]

thank you!! DIVINE PEACE.

[@sunfung9599]

Can’t get enough of this. Thank you Benevell. You are amazing.

[@davidirizarry6216]

I’m so greatful for this..ty.

[@alchemygal3285]

Know to discern falsehoods(this is good to protect others and oneself). no need to dispel falsehoods(rejecting what is false doesn’t work, it causes falsehoods to retaliate and thrive… there is a better way to dispel falsehoods that isn’t offensive, that doesn’t attack it… this part is hard to explain but it is kinda like… to become a Trojan Horse. Take it down from the inside out but with out being the one to do it. It will crush it indefinitely). 😊 The falsehood, with this method, will take itself out. Without me ever needing to even debate or convince… the perception is that I’m a friend of the falsehood. The reality is that I have become it’s downfall. Like a virus that gets it from the inside out. In teacher education… they tell us that if the student claims ownership, the effect is indefinite. They also teach that the most ineffective teachers too often resort to methods of punishments and yelling that loses respect and causes retaliation. The falsehood isn’t necessarily a person or thing but an action or process of phenomena. The person isn’t necessarily false. Only the falsehood is false.

[@r.v.k.6932]

You are literally a tour de force!! Thank you so much for sharing your translations and insights, thank you for your thoughrough, scholarly nature, all is incredibly helpful for someone like me who is external to the culture and language. Indeed there is tremendous cross over within shamanism, wisdom religions, and local Sutra religions. So much to learn and cross-integrate.

[@neemasphere]

So glad I found ur channel ❤

[@ep2835]

Lady, you are a good listen. Keep it up 🙌

[@erichwebb8312]

Thanks for the share sister …… you’re gorgeous and I appreciate you bringing this wisdom . Be well ….. 🐦‍⬛

[@ultraclaveshermetium5709]

Thank you Benebell Wen for another great video. Reminds me to re-read my favorite books.

[@cleciopereira8399]

do i love this channel aaaaa

[@briana9918]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and humour with us! ❤❤❤

[@macavelli8905]

Informative entertaining presentation 👁️

[@johncooper1847]

Ok, this is the second video I have come across today. I'm finding the subject matter fascinating. I truly love your personality. You are a very enchanting young lady. You could definitely sell me something I don't need. Thank you for your time and effort. I'll enjoy learning some more.

[@enkidude]

I like that it instructs the reader intuitively, or where they are. Its a natural and organic development which will enrich back unto itself. Would eagerly purchase your translation.

[@NikkiGoddess333]

I am so so grateful for all of your videos. And book!

[@alexfan7454]

Happy New Year!

[@danielberlien3680]

Benebell, I just stumbled on this vid and it is pure gold 🪙 thank you so much for your work. At 12:50, I can see now the point in not dispelling falsehoods. In other words, you don't mess around with other people negations and illusions. At 15:10, "those who know the Tao do not speak"; I think it is because as the Tao can't be contained in words, speaking or even thinking in words separates us from the real Tao

[@azizbrownkuwindacorp]

This is such an amazing video, thank you so much for putting forth the effort to research, organize, and present this material. I really learned a lot.

[@domovoi_0]

Thank you very much! Love and blessings.

[@Lightbender767]

Thank you this is very good to hear!!!!

[@pavelsmith2267]

Resistance to utilizing adverse thought patterns. The breath which falls away. The breathless span of ignorance we all beware of as practicioners. The ward. The act of warding as pertains to breath?

[@ChildOfTheNight999]

Very interesting the enlightenment is as it is❤❤❤

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❤❤❤❤❤ #POTUS

[@The3Kosmos3]

Thanks for this!

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new sub... thank you great content... great info... right when i needed it...

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Thank you. ❤❤❤

[@NomadGuardian]

Thank you for posting

[@jord1242]

You are very interesting to listen to, thank you!

[@the36thchamber89]

Excellent video, thank you.

[@acebeariously9856]

Thank you I learned a lot.

[@QuantumFengShui]

8:24 I'm not a good Classical Chinese reader. But combine your English translations I begin to understand deeper meaning of it. Thanks Benbell!

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

🙏

[@jimanHK]

brilliant

[@frankshifreen]

Great video

[@ETALAL]

Appy New Year Benebell 🎉🐲🎑

[@majorsilly8966]

I’m just make shat up, took me off guard thank you for the video 😂❤

[@External_Bastion]

`Dosis sola facit venenum.` -Paracelsus, 1538 "Alle Dinge sind Gift, und nichts ist ohne Gift; allein die Dosis macht, dass ein Ding kein Gift ist."

[@Braindazzled]

I'm really enjoying this! But I do wonder whether some of the more mysterious elements are something that was a commonplace reference to the people at the time this was written but was gradually lost

[@TheRealValus]

What can be focused on is not The Dao. wisdom goes - as wisdom must - before it comes again. the dawn is many dawns.

[@just2guystalking276]

I think I'm in love 😍😍

[@user-tr5ei1zr8d]

There is nothing that cannot be imagined, that is the way

[@midnightchannel7759]

(Related topics, have you read James DeKorne's I Ching? I'd be curious to know y8ur reaction to it. Inwas introduced to the I Ching in 1973, and as is typical, I suppose, have a very personal way of using it. When I stumbled across DeKornes work, I so wished I'd had access to it decades ago... His I Ching is a comparitive compilation of perhaps every English translation, along with the history of passages, very useful

[@errmathew]

Thanks for sharing. Just at the right time. Funny how everyone from everywhere has pretty much the same story. Reading list just gets bigger lol Ps: that ending. Classic “on the next episode”. Been thinking about flaming swords… hmm anyways thanks for sharing look forward to dropping in every now and then and seeing what i can gather. Thanks!

[@AbheySinghGrewal]

It is time to revive rich spiritual heritage of China… ❤

[@zl4101]

有“方”者形，方： 方位/宇 (上下四方 为宇) 有“时”者气，时： 时间/宙 (古往今来 为宙)

[@SocialHijinks]

❤ yes! So excited to see a new upload from you. Okay let me watch

[@QuantumFengShui]

道藏裡面有很多寶貴法和科儀，自己學奇門陰盤為主，對道藏或易經有興趣的易友可以交流心得 福生無量天尊

[@wesleyfilms]

Great content as usual. Love learning about eastern occultism :)

[@mazharali4163]

❤❤

[@Bjorn_Algiz]

The legendary Benebell Wen! Thank you for yet another insightful video. 😊❤

[@AnnaBrizicka]

"If no talking is the key to daoist entlightment - i am doomed" bro if not loving your sense of humor is the key to daoist entlightment - i am doomed too 😂😂

[@kevin51800815]

I know I gotta follow a KZbinr who has the same family name as mine. I am also a Hakka and my grandpa was from Meizhou, China. 😂 Guess our great great ancestors are the same. What a small beautiful world.

[@BenebellWen]

That's so cool! Both Hakka with the same family name-- definitely from the same ancestral line if we go back far enough! lol!

[@artistlovepeace]

In and out are the same thing. So is out and in. It's always balance of white and black. Feeling and non-feeling. Balance.

[@a5a5a9]

Magick is creation , primordial truth can only be attained with destruction of your Ilusion.

[@thelotus9954]

When the student is ready the teacher will appear. 🦋

[@amanbridgefield9208]

Lovely Beautiful

[@frankshifreen]

Will buy your books wow

[@Zerpentsa6598]

There is Daoism as a philosophy, and daoism as a religion and magical/mystical practice. The latter involves a huge mishmash of beliefs including the worshipping of immortals, gods, spirits, fortune telling, etc, and even esoteric Qigong.

[@backupnoname]

I use some of your videos to spark conversations with my advanced ESL student 🎉

[@LILHammer96]

Happy New Year! And thank you for the video! Is there any translation for The Guan Yinzi?

[@aut-1212]

Woah the audio is much improved! 😯

[@BenebellWen]

You're going to laugh at my oversight... soo.... it turns out the video camera recording thingie has two options for audio: my fancy Yeti microphone *OR* the default microphone installed inside the webcam. It's been on the default webcam mic this whole time. All I had to do was go to "Settings" and manually change it to the Yeti microphone setting. ALL THESE YEARS!!!! Argh.

[@rijulovarmenianairi6129]

Please write books on Taoist meditation and it's secreta

[@Mansahx]

Good Morning I’m on a spiritual journey and wow.. your videos popped up. Great stuff. Hope you don’t mind me asking but what part of China are you from? You seem to have African phenol or characteristics. Very beautiful of course…. 👍🏾

[@francescabini5132]

Where can I find a good translation of this Sutra in English? I’m struggling with finding that but perhaps I’m not using the right key words / English title? Thank you!

[@marianav9655]

hi @BenebellWen, are there any translations you could recommend??

[@jefferybeach8198]

can you elaborate some time on the lineage of Lü Dong Bin? Especially The Secret of the Golden Flower, I like Thomas Cleary's translation because it seems he is a practitioner.

[@Spectre2434]

The Five Elements ❤❤❤

[@mr.sessle8444]

are we reading from a point of view in how one thinks of such for what reason? it seems the most highest of intelligence can fracture its own imagine upon the attractiveness of what their ego is calling. there's few ways but many view points in order to understand.

[@kailashsingh9737]

Very beautiful sweet mam❤❤❤❤

[@mysticta0]

very interesting! curiosity, have you ever met any practitioner who has attained high achievements through these practices? Or.. have you been using it yourself and what did you attain if I may?

[@inhumaneducation4600]

I heard there are traps within the occult…… speaking to discerning falsehoods but not dispelling them. Each practitioner or searcher (re) must be able to think for themselves regardless. There are many ingredients that go into an occultist. Time and patience being only two💐

[@jeromebound9044]

Idk if you know this but you're probably going to be getting a lot of Warhammer 40k lore fans because the primordial truth is a phrase for the chaos gods and their philosophy that contrasts the imperial truth. Shout-out to my fellow 40k fans.

[@experimentationn]

Hi, I want to ask something about the sentence you mentioned: "(...) no need to dispel those falsehoods". In the original sentence, in what way "dispel" used? Does the original phrase somehow imply "active" role in elimination of falsehood so that it is rejected? I am trying to understand what it is meant by dispelling. it seems to dispel implies some kind of active involvement in getting rid of the thing it is used for. If there is such a distinction, then "no need" part may imply the "active" part of the dispelling but not the getting rid of the falsehoods.

[@andrewcampbell3100]

As an Earth Dragon I accept. But i cant find the audible in English.

[@davidallard1980]

Also, at 3:03 on the left you guys have a symbol that looks like that Algiz rune, what does that one mean?

[@LordJordanXVII]

This is fascinating and highly compelling. I subscribed!

[@davidallard1980]

At 3:03 What is that Chinese Character that Looks like a DA in English? Is that an entire word? Or a letter?

[@stefanyting3548]

Where can we find the text?

[@raginald7mars408]

I made the SPELL to Meet YOU You will be Surprised

[@VirtualAcademyMain]

Two pillars may be hinting towards law of polarity from hermeticism which is also occult stuff :>

[@alisvictoria]

That ending made me chuckle. Completely agree: No big deal at all! “The most powerful and sharp weapon in the universe” definitely sounds suuuuper boring!! 🤭

[@BenebellWen]

😂😂

[@davidallard1980]

Thank you for making these. You should make your book into audiobook videos. That would be cool. Or do that with the source materials because I tried to find the sutra you were talking about and its only in Chinese. Im still going to buy it later, but you make money off of youtube too, right?

[@BenebellWen]

I've made just shy of $40 since Jan. 1. Last 2023 quarter's payout for KZbin videos was $120. So... 🙃

[@davidallard1980]

KZbin needs to give you a raise. Im surprised more people dont know about you yet. Some of the stuff you talk about is super interesting, and no one else is talking about it really. Hey, odd question but what is the weirdest thing you have experienced personally, as far as the magical things you mention? @@BenebellWen

[@davidallard1980]

@@BenebellWen How much to they pay per view? If I put it on silent and loop it will it keep paying you?

[@QuantumFengShui]

I think she only gets pay if viewers watched the ads@@davidallard1980

[@crazypikachucrcr7529]

I need to know the day of change ( Bat), how much for a phsyic reading... I have a treasure and one can make a wish or two come true as I reform into Bat form and take full recovery.?☯️🀄🦇🐉🎆🇨🇳🎊