Taoist immortality cultivation rests on the refinement of the three treasures—jing (essence), qi (vital energy), and shen (spirit)—through a constellation of mutually reinforcing disciplines. Internal alchemy (neidan) is central: practitioners employ meditation and visualization to transform jing into qi, qi into shen, and ultimately to align shen with the Dao. This often involves awareness of the dantian energy centers and the circulation of qi through inner pathways, including practices such as the microcosmic orbit. Such methods are not merely technical; they are framed as a gradual inner transformation in which the body, mind, and spirit are reordered around a more subtle, enduring mode of being.

Energy cultivation practices such as qigong and standing meditation (zhanzhuang) complement this inner work. Regulated breathing, static postures, and gentle movement are used to harmonize and strengthen qi, align the body, and stabilize attention. These exercises support the alchemical process by opening channels, consolidating vitality, and preparing the practitioner for deeper meditative absorption. In many lineages, martial forms and other physical disciplines are integrated, so that spiritual refinement is inseparable from the cultivation of a resilient, responsive body.

Meditation in stillness occupies a pivotal role across schools. Seated practices emphasize quieting discursive thought, resting in inner awareness, and allowing a more spontaneous, unforced state to emerge. Visualization of internal energy centers and contemplations of emptiness are used to clarify shen and foster a state sometimes described as effortless action (wu wei). Recitation and chanting of scriptures or mantras are likewise employed to purify the mind, invoke protective or guiding powers, and attune consciousness to subtler dimensions of experience.

These inner disciplines are supported by concrete lifestyle and ethical frameworks. Dietary regimens, including moderation and the selective use of herbs and other substances, are adopted to protect and nourish qi. Sexual cultivation aims at preserving and transforming generative essence rather than dissipating it, treating sexuality as a potent but delicate aspect of the alchemical process. At the same time, practitioners are encouraged to live in harmony with natural rhythms, simplify their lives, and cultivate virtue and moral refinement. Through this integration of body, energy, mind, and conduct, Taoist immortality cultivation seeks not only longevity but a profound spiritual transformation and a form of transcendence grounded in alignment with the Dao.