Discussion on Tao
Will cultivation according to the Tao bring a meaningful life?
To cultivate is to change. To cultivate is to have a proper direction in life. To cultivate is to understand the significance of the Truth. To cultivate is not to lose oneself in the journey of this colorful world. After receiving the Tao, one must focus on progressing in one’s spirituality. One must propagate the enlightening aspect of Human Nature. One must establish oneself and establish others. One must reach one’s own goals and help others reach their goals as well. Together, the cultivators of the Tao must establish monuments in the journey of life. This is what is called helping oneself and helping others. Presently, cultivators of the Tao are training themselves at home. Everyone has his/her legitimate jobs. In daily lives, they fulfill their duties as citizens. They progress not only in worldly affairs but also in holy affairs. They enable themselves to lead even more meaningful lives.
Is the wheel of rebirth for real?
Wheel is like the wheels of a car, and rebirth points to return. Under the interaction of heaven and earth, winter and summer follow one another and wind and rain follow the currents; this is the wheel of rebirth of heaven and earth. The sun and the moon bring brightness; they evolve incessantly; day and night take their turns; this is the rebirth of the sun and the moon. Human beings are born with the true essence of heaven and earth. At all times, human beings live amidst the revolutions of heaven and earth. At all time, human beings are under the evolution of the sun and the moon. Even heaven and earth are controlled by the wheel of rebirth. How can human beings get away from the wheel of rebirth? Hence, it is stated, “Whether one over – recites the Diamond Sutra or the Great Compassion Incantation, one begets melon when planted melon and one begets beans when planted beans.” Without the directions of the Enlightening Teachers, one will forever be evolving with the Wheel of Rebirth.
Should one progress in the Tao after having sought the Tao?
Cultivators of the Tao must have a purpose when seeking for the Tao, so the thought of seeking the Tao could arise. Of course, the purpose of entering the Tao must be 1) to go beyond life and death and 2) to avoid disasters. The source of the cycle of rebirth and disasters is individual sins. Hence, in order to go beyond life and death and avoid calamities, one must repent all past sins; and in order to eliminate all sins, one must start with doing good deeds and respect the Enlightening Teachers and the Tao. Following this way, one is able to harmonize with the law of Heaven, prevent great disasters, and reach the aim of seeking the Tao. Contrary to the above is going against Tao. Going against Tao not only eliminates the chance of decreasing one’s evils, disasters will naturally increase. Once great evil is accumulated, it would be impossible to avoid the calamities. Since one is unable to avoid the disasters, one is unable to go beyond the wheel of birth and death and unable to avoid the suffering of going to face the punishments in the underworld. Hence, we know that the cause of disasters is sin and disasters are the fruits of sins. Calamities arise from sins, and sins are made by people. Hence, for those who enter into the Tao, they must progress with all their effort. Otherwise, aside from unable to fulfill their resolutions, they have sinned even more shouldn’t they deserve the blame?
Why would people still get tested in the True Tao?
An old adage states, “Jade does not become an instrument when not polished; gold does not become money when not melted.”
Also, “The great teaching in hiding has great manifestation; the true test of the true Tao reveals the true Mind.”
To cultivate is to change. To cultivate is to have a proper direction in life. To cultivate is to understand the significance of the Truth. To cultivate is not to lose oneself in the journey of this colorful world. After receiving the Tao, one must focus on progressing in one’s spirituality. One must propagate the enlightening aspect of Human Nature. One must establish oneself and establish others. One must reach one’s own goals and help others reach their goals as well. Together, the cultivators of the Tao must establish monuments in the journey of life. This is what is called helping oneself and helping others. Presently, cultivators of the Tao are training themselves at home. Everyone has his/her legitimate jobs. In daily lives, they fulfill their duties as citizens. They progress not only in worldly affairs but also in holy affairs. They enable themselves to lead even more meaningful lives.
Is the wheel of rebirth for real?
Wheel is like the wheels of a car, and rebirth points to return. Under the interaction of heaven and earth, winter and summer follow one another and wind and rain follow the currents; this is the wheel of rebirth of heaven and earth. The sun and the moon bring brightness; they evolve incessantly; day and night take their turns; this is the rebirth of the sun and the moon. Human beings are born with the true essence of heaven and earth. At all times, human beings live amidst the revolutions of heaven and earth. At all time, human beings are under the evolution of the sun and the moon. Even heaven and earth are controlled by the wheel of rebirth. How can human beings get away from the wheel of rebirth? Hence, it is stated, “Whether one over – recites the Diamond Sutra or the Great Compassion Incantation, one begets melon when planted melon and one begets beans when planted beans.” Without the directions of the Enlightening Teachers, one will forever be evolving with the Wheel of Rebirth.
Should one progress in the Tao after having sought the Tao?
Cultivators of the Tao must have a purpose when seeking for the Tao, so the thought of seeking the Tao could arise. Of course, the purpose of entering the Tao must be 1) to go beyond life and death and 2) to avoid disasters. The source of the cycle of rebirth and disasters is individual sins. Hence, in order to go beyond life and death and avoid calamities, one must repent all past sins; and in order to eliminate all sins, one must start with doing good deeds and respect the Enlightening Teachers and the Tao. Following this way, one is able to harmonize with the law of Heaven, prevent great disasters, and reach the aim of seeking the Tao. Contrary to the above is going against Tao. Going against Tao not only eliminates the chance of decreasing one’s evils, disasters will naturally increase. Once great evil is accumulated, it would be impossible to avoid the calamities. Since one is unable to avoid the disasters, one is unable to go beyond the wheel of birth and death and unable to avoid the suffering of going to face the punishments in the underworld. Hence, we know that the cause of disasters is sin and disasters are the fruits of sins. Calamities arise from sins, and sins are made by people. Hence, for those who enter into the Tao, they must progress with all their effort. Otherwise, aside from unable to fulfill their resolutions, they have sinned even more shouldn’t they deserve the blame?
Why would people still get tested in the True Tao?
An old adage states, “Jade does not become an instrument when not polished; gold does not become money when not melted.”
Also, “The great teaching in hiding has great manifestation; the true test of the true Tao reveals the true Mind.”
by Taozeng
translated by Yinfong Zia
translated by Yinfong Zia
