How to learn and cultivate according to the Tao?
Regarding learning about Tao and cultivating Tao, many people have misunderstood that Tao practice is extraordinary which would isolate us from our ordinary life. In fact, learning the Tao allow us to understand the meaning and the value of our life. Cultivation according to the Tao is a process where we upright our thoughts and behaviors since our attitudes and actions are often influence from our daily lives. Furthermore, inappropriate conducts can lead to sinful mistakes which cause negative consequence in the society. Not only learning and cultivating according to the Tao let us live with a righteous conscience, also letting us live in peaceful and joyous lives. It all starts from understanding about us - our inner conscience. It is a process of continuous growth, changes, and transformation in the purpose of creating eternal lives.
In terms of how we may do so, few suggestions are offered below:
I) Attend Tao meeting – Our temple has established a series of meeting that cover many topics. The class is usually held once a week, 10:00am, on every Sunday. Participants usually become optimistic and diligent after attended the meeting, and they are filled with confidence toward life and themselves.
II) Study books of the Tao/Truth – after receiving the Tao, it is an advantageous to study books of the Tao in order to increase one’s knowledge and enhance one’s wisdom; understand how predecessors have trained themselves according to the Tao and refer to it often.
III) Attend Ritual Class – Temple is a good place for studying Tao. By returning to temple often, one receives the light of blessing from Heaven. One is able to purify mind and spirit and decrease one’s troubles. In temple, one could learn and practice proprieties rules and ritual (Buddha Rules). In addition, one could exchange learning experience with other Tao members.
V) Reflect and Repent – Buddha Jigong once compassionately revealed to us, “Knowing but not doing that Tao is not mine.” Hence, if we do not perform what we have learned – let Tao manifest in our lives. Speaking of character cultivation, if one does not self-examine, one would not know what one has done wrong. If, after self-reflect, one does not repent, then it is not easy for one to have the determination of correction. Thus, reflection and repentance are connected.
Examine and see if everything done that day was agreeable to Tao. Have you taken advantage of others? Have you used words to harm others or make slanders against others? Have greedy and misleading thoughts risen in your mind, etc.?
Abide by the rules: Mencius said, “Without the ruler or the compass, there will be squares or circles.” Hence, we must learn the fundamental Buddha Rules and proprieties and the commandments from various saints and use them as the standard for our character cultivation.
For the beginning learners of Tao, we introduce to you some simple principle: we must not do that which cannot be told nor think that which should not be done. In daily living, we must keep in constant thought a proper sense of ethics. Anything that defies our conscience, we must not do; we should not even think about it. Otherwise, though others may not recognize our sin, our mind and spirit have already been tainted; on the road of character cultivation, we have made for ourselves great hindrance.
VI) Establish merit – the ancients said “In the human realm, there is no saint who is without loyalty; up in Heaven, there is no angel who is without goodness.” People with great contributions are able to eliminate negative karma, escape misfortune, and progress in the road of cultivation. Hence, aside from the cultivation of inner virtue, one must also help the world and benefit others by accumulating outer goodness. The following is a list of suggestions.
Offer to help in the temple: temple is the important place for sentient beings to learn Tao. It needs a lot of man power to maintain. As your time allows, help the various tasks at temple without being asked. For examples, tidying up the surroundings; cleaning the holy lamps, hosting and cooking, organizing books, directing traffic in the parking lot, giving rides to people, etc.; these all directly benefit the holy work which aims toward the betterment of life – the merit established is beyond limits.
Deliver salvation to friends and relatives: There is a Chinese saying, “Saving a person’s life takes victory over building a seven story holy tower.” Leading people to seek the Tao not only saves their body; it also rescues their spirits from the bitter sea of life and death. Furthermore, even the ancestors are benefited. The greatness of leading people to seek for the Tao is unimaginable. Thus, when you feel the benefit of having sought for the Tao, do not forget to lead your friends and relatives to seek the Tao; share with them the joy or receiving the Three Treasures.
Make donations to printing moral publication: Monetary help to printing books aids to the spreading of the right teaching and the propagation of the righteousness of Tao. Books can unfold people’s wisdom and lead the society toward righteousness. Hence, this merit is indeed not small.
Help those who are in need: Aside from helping in the holy works, cultivators of the Tao ought to always have compassion, give care to society, and help those who are in need.
Life is a time-turning wheel. Time’s passage never turns backward. While you are busy in your daily life, please do not forget to spend a bit more time for your spiritual needs. Upon the time you say good-bye to the world, will you feel you can paint a much colorful life? Please treasure the fact that you have sought for the Tao.
In terms of how we may do so, few suggestions are offered below:
I) Attend Tao meeting – Our temple has established a series of meeting that cover many topics. The class is usually held once a week, 10:00am, on every Sunday. Participants usually become optimistic and diligent after attended the meeting, and they are filled with confidence toward life and themselves.
II) Study books of the Tao/Truth – after receiving the Tao, it is an advantageous to study books of the Tao in order to increase one’s knowledge and enhance one’s wisdom; understand how predecessors have trained themselves according to the Tao and refer to it often.
III) Attend Ritual Class – Temple is a good place for studying Tao. By returning to temple often, one receives the light of blessing from Heaven. One is able to purify mind and spirit and decrease one’s troubles. In temple, one could learn and practice proprieties rules and ritual (Buddha Rules). In addition, one could exchange learning experience with other Tao members.
V) Reflect and Repent – Buddha Jigong once compassionately revealed to us, “Knowing but not doing that Tao is not mine.” Hence, if we do not perform what we have learned – let Tao manifest in our lives. Speaking of character cultivation, if one does not self-examine, one would not know what one has done wrong. If, after self-reflect, one does not repent, then it is not easy for one to have the determination of correction. Thus, reflection and repentance are connected.
Examine and see if everything done that day was agreeable to Tao. Have you taken advantage of others? Have you used words to harm others or make slanders against others? Have greedy and misleading thoughts risen in your mind, etc.?
Abide by the rules: Mencius said, “Without the ruler or the compass, there will be squares or circles.” Hence, we must learn the fundamental Buddha Rules and proprieties and the commandments from various saints and use them as the standard for our character cultivation.
For the beginning learners of Tao, we introduce to you some simple principle: we must not do that which cannot be told nor think that which should not be done. In daily living, we must keep in constant thought a proper sense of ethics. Anything that defies our conscience, we must not do; we should not even think about it. Otherwise, though others may not recognize our sin, our mind and spirit have already been tainted; on the road of character cultivation, we have made for ourselves great hindrance.
VI) Establish merit – the ancients said “In the human realm, there is no saint who is without loyalty; up in Heaven, there is no angel who is without goodness.” People with great contributions are able to eliminate negative karma, escape misfortune, and progress in the road of cultivation. Hence, aside from the cultivation of inner virtue, one must also help the world and benefit others by accumulating outer goodness. The following is a list of suggestions.
Offer to help in the temple: temple is the important place for sentient beings to learn Tao. It needs a lot of man power to maintain. As your time allows, help the various tasks at temple without being asked. For examples, tidying up the surroundings; cleaning the holy lamps, hosting and cooking, organizing books, directing traffic in the parking lot, giving rides to people, etc.; these all directly benefit the holy work which aims toward the betterment of life – the merit established is beyond limits.
Deliver salvation to friends and relatives: There is a Chinese saying, “Saving a person’s life takes victory over building a seven story holy tower.” Leading people to seek the Tao not only saves their body; it also rescues their spirits from the bitter sea of life and death. Furthermore, even the ancestors are benefited. The greatness of leading people to seek for the Tao is unimaginable. Thus, when you feel the benefit of having sought for the Tao, do not forget to lead your friends and relatives to seek the Tao; share with them the joy or receiving the Three Treasures.
Make donations to printing moral publication: Monetary help to printing books aids to the spreading of the right teaching and the propagation of the righteousness of Tao. Books can unfold people’s wisdom and lead the society toward righteousness. Hence, this merit is indeed not small.
Help those who are in need: Aside from helping in the holy works, cultivators of the Tao ought to always have compassion, give care to society, and help those who are in need.
Life is a time-turning wheel. Time’s passage never turns backward. While you are busy in your daily life, please do not forget to spend a bit more time for your spiritual needs. Upon the time you say good-bye to the world, will you feel you can paint a much colorful life? Please treasure the fact that you have sought for the Tao.
by Taozeng
translated by Yinfong Zia
translated by Yinfong Zia
