Sun Be'ur lived from 1119-1182 in the Shandong Province of China (near the Yellow River). She was married and had 3 children (1). During her lifetime she achieved mastery over inner alchemy. Her teacher was Taoist master Wang Chungyang. He transmitted the lineage to her directly before he died, so she could carry on the tradition. As a Taoist priestess, she founded the Purity and Tranquility School (2). Later in life she moved to “Grotto of the Immortal Lady Feng”. In doing so, she inherited a female lineage. She achieved enlightenment through her Taoist practices. It is said that she ascended bodily to heaven when she died. Sixty years after her death she was considered the only female of the Seven Immortals (3).
Sun Beur achieved the following through her life and practice:
*Wife & Mother
*Holder of 2 lineages
*Spirit communication
*Exorcist
*Priestess
*Founder of a Spiritual School
*Poetess
*Alchemical Master
Refining the Spirit
“The relic from before birth
Enters one's heart one day.
Be as careful as if you were holding a full vessel,
Be as gentle as if you were caressing an infant.
The gate of earth should be shut tight,
The portals of heaven should be first opened.
Wash the yellow sprouts clean,
And atop the mountain is thunder shaking the earth.”
“The relic from before birth
Enters one's heart one day.
Be as careful as if you were holding a full vessel,
Be as gentle as if you were caressing an infant.
The gate of earth should be shut tight,
The portals of heaven should be first opened.
Wash the yellow sprouts clean,
And atop the mountain is thunder shaking the earth.”
By Sun Bu’er
Translation by Thomas Cleary (3)
Sources:
(1) Women in Taosim, by Catherine & Livia Kohn ( PDF Document)
(3)Immortal Sisters: Secret Teachings of Taoist Women , by Thomas Cleary/1996, page 31
