What Do I Get in Receiving Tao?
As mentioned earlier, by receiving Tao, we act upon our conscience, gain more wisdom, and find the door to heaven. In addition to these basics, we also benefit from the following in our lifetime.
A. To Be away from sufferings and closer to happiness
The troubles and worries we face in our daily lives result from our disregard of the true self. Receiving Tao helps us to recognize the Tao that dwells within us. It also restores the beauty of the true self, so that our behavior and mind are free from being controlled by earthly pleasures and swayed by the losses and gains of the material world. Since our minds are cultivated spiritually, devils will not approach and get close to us. Thus, our fortune can be altered from bad to bright, and we can obtain real joy.
B. To avoid disasters and calamities
Tao has been passed on from patriarch to patriarch since the beginning of human history. The thread of its passage weaves through ancient civilizations, including China and India. However, in recent centuries, human beings have been trapped by materialism and a weaker sense of right and wrong. Wars prompted the development of powerful lethal weapons. In reviewing the thousands of years of human history, we realize, in just less than one hundred years, there have been two major world wars, which have caused enormous killing and tragedy. The abuse of science and technology has also destroyed the environment, caused damage to the atmosphere and unbalanced the world climates. The corruption of human beings’ minds has caused natural disasters. Human beings have created calamity.
God, with his mercy, makes Tao available to everyone in order to save good people. After we receive Tao, with the true meaning of Tao in mind, we will be conscientious. We can use the Three Treasures whenever something dangerous and uncontrollable is about to happen to us. We will be able to get away from bad encounters. This has been testified by many Tao relatives.
C. To transcend life and death
Life is a mixture of happiness and bitterness. Throughout the journey of life, we experience birth, growth, aging, illness, and death. Joys are momentary, and wealth is here today and gone tomorrow. Rather than seeking the pleasures of material life, the wise make full use of their lifetime searching for the true meaning of life and eternity.
In olden times, Tao could only be received after harsh self-cultivation. Only very few of the cultivators looking for an enlightened master would be able to receive Tao. Whereas in this century, Tao is allowed to be spread and transmitted through the Master/Dien Chuan Shr (person with Heavenly Decree to perform the Tao ceremony) to the truth-seekers. The Dien Chuan Shr points out the Heavenly Gate of life and death, assuring the completeness of our true self. With the true self as our guide, which keeps us away from evil and greed, it helps us think, speak, and act in accordance with our conscience and intuition. Death then becomes the return of our soul to the eternal and peaceful home where we came from. Thus, we will have everlasting joy.
D. To achieve enlightenment
The enlightenment of Tao, which reveals the true self, is like the panting of the seed of righteousness and integrity. Through self-cultivation and self-improvement, the nurturing of wisdom, kindness, and purity, it will blossom and produce the fruit of sacred mind and eternal life.
In times of overwhelming utilitarianism, Tao is the lighthouse to the truth. Receiving Tao, and then cultivating ourselves, not only improves our own lives, but also gives us the opportunity to better the world.
After we receive Tao, we act upon our conscience and care for people around us. We cherish Tao and disregard personal disadvantages. Then we make an effort to spread the message of Tao to the World, in order for everyone to benefit from it. We are devoting ourselves to the work of God, and certainly will achieve spiritual perfection in both this world and the world after life.
【To probe further】:
The supremacy of Tao is based on the Heavenly Decree of God by which the Enlighten Teacher can perform the passage of Tao. The enlightenment of Tao from the Enlighten Teacher directly opens the Main Gate of our bodies, which revives our divine nature. It reveals that heaven is not beyond oneself. Instead, one’s true self merges intro the entire universe. This is the supremacy of Tao.
1. With the Heavenly Decree, the enlightenment of Tao is extremely profound and marvelous. It cannot be completely expressed by any words or languages. It is not recorded on any scriptures or sutras. It cannot be described by preaching, nor derived through knowledge or experience, nor achieved from gifted talents. Because the scriptures are all created they also can be eliminated, which means that they cannot last forever by themselves. They all bear partiality and cannot be applied universally. Hence, they cannot surpass life cycles, nor can they reach eternity.
2. The wonder of the effects and omnipotence of Tao is beyond words. It is the wisdom that does not come from learning. It is what acquire from God and possess intrinsically. It is the same divine heart before the creation of the universe. It is conscience, the holy heart. It is the divine and immortal nature – the spirit of God.
3. Tao is too marvelous to be described. It makes us know without learning, and function without practicing. It is a prior wisdom, perception, potency, and ability. It’s not constrained by words or language. It functions without thinking, intents, or even actions. However, it can create the sky, the world, humans, all beings, and existences. All these, after being created, still cannot carry on without Tao even for one moment. Tao is therefore called the Great Lord of all beings.
4. Without Tao, the stars and planets in the sky wouldn’t be in order. The sun and the moon couldn’t’ illuminate or revolve properly. Then the yin-yang energies wouldn’t circulate, and, as a result, this world would not be suitable for all of us to live in.
5. Without Tao, the five primary elements of the earth (metal, wood, water, fire and earth) wouldn’t be balanced, which would put the entire world in chaos. Mountains would collapse, lands would crack, and the oceans would dry up. This world would not be an environment for us to live in. Without Tao, human beings wouldn’t be able walk, see, hear, speak, or move. Our physical bodies would deteriorate quickly into a pile of soil in a hundred days.
6. If one really comprehends the effects and omnipotence of Tao, and can practice accordingly and persistently, one can communicate with and be united with God.
This is the absolute truth. It is a glory and marvel beyond description. Therefore, it is not after death that one becomes a Buddha. It is when one is still alive that one achieves Buddhahood. And to be Buddha is to revive and hold on to one’s divine and original nature. This is what we can benefit from attaining and cultivating Tao.
Introduction to Tao, Revised Edition (2001)
A. To Be away from sufferings and closer to happiness
The troubles and worries we face in our daily lives result from our disregard of the true self. Receiving Tao helps us to recognize the Tao that dwells within us. It also restores the beauty of the true self, so that our behavior and mind are free from being controlled by earthly pleasures and swayed by the losses and gains of the material world. Since our minds are cultivated spiritually, devils will not approach and get close to us. Thus, our fortune can be altered from bad to bright, and we can obtain real joy.
B. To avoid disasters and calamities
Tao has been passed on from patriarch to patriarch since the beginning of human history. The thread of its passage weaves through ancient civilizations, including China and India. However, in recent centuries, human beings have been trapped by materialism and a weaker sense of right and wrong. Wars prompted the development of powerful lethal weapons. In reviewing the thousands of years of human history, we realize, in just less than one hundred years, there have been two major world wars, which have caused enormous killing and tragedy. The abuse of science and technology has also destroyed the environment, caused damage to the atmosphere and unbalanced the world climates. The corruption of human beings’ minds has caused natural disasters. Human beings have created calamity.
God, with his mercy, makes Tao available to everyone in order to save good people. After we receive Tao, with the true meaning of Tao in mind, we will be conscientious. We can use the Three Treasures whenever something dangerous and uncontrollable is about to happen to us. We will be able to get away from bad encounters. This has been testified by many Tao relatives.
C. To transcend life and death
Life is a mixture of happiness and bitterness. Throughout the journey of life, we experience birth, growth, aging, illness, and death. Joys are momentary, and wealth is here today and gone tomorrow. Rather than seeking the pleasures of material life, the wise make full use of their lifetime searching for the true meaning of life and eternity.
In olden times, Tao could only be received after harsh self-cultivation. Only very few of the cultivators looking for an enlightened master would be able to receive Tao. Whereas in this century, Tao is allowed to be spread and transmitted through the Master/Dien Chuan Shr (person with Heavenly Decree to perform the Tao ceremony) to the truth-seekers. The Dien Chuan Shr points out the Heavenly Gate of life and death, assuring the completeness of our true self. With the true self as our guide, which keeps us away from evil and greed, it helps us think, speak, and act in accordance with our conscience and intuition. Death then becomes the return of our soul to the eternal and peaceful home where we came from. Thus, we will have everlasting joy.
D. To achieve enlightenment
The enlightenment of Tao, which reveals the true self, is like the panting of the seed of righteousness and integrity. Through self-cultivation and self-improvement, the nurturing of wisdom, kindness, and purity, it will blossom and produce the fruit of sacred mind and eternal life.
In times of overwhelming utilitarianism, Tao is the lighthouse to the truth. Receiving Tao, and then cultivating ourselves, not only improves our own lives, but also gives us the opportunity to better the world.
After we receive Tao, we act upon our conscience and care for people around us. We cherish Tao and disregard personal disadvantages. Then we make an effort to spread the message of Tao to the World, in order for everyone to benefit from it. We are devoting ourselves to the work of God, and certainly will achieve spiritual perfection in both this world and the world after life.
【To probe further】:
The supremacy of Tao is based on the Heavenly Decree of God by which the Enlighten Teacher can perform the passage of Tao. The enlightenment of Tao from the Enlighten Teacher directly opens the Main Gate of our bodies, which revives our divine nature. It reveals that heaven is not beyond oneself. Instead, one’s true self merges intro the entire universe. This is the supremacy of Tao.
1. With the Heavenly Decree, the enlightenment of Tao is extremely profound and marvelous. It cannot be completely expressed by any words or languages. It is not recorded on any scriptures or sutras. It cannot be described by preaching, nor derived through knowledge or experience, nor achieved from gifted talents. Because the scriptures are all created they also can be eliminated, which means that they cannot last forever by themselves. They all bear partiality and cannot be applied universally. Hence, they cannot surpass life cycles, nor can they reach eternity.
2. The wonder of the effects and omnipotence of Tao is beyond words. It is the wisdom that does not come from learning. It is what acquire from God and possess intrinsically. It is the same divine heart before the creation of the universe. It is conscience, the holy heart. It is the divine and immortal nature – the spirit of God.
3. Tao is too marvelous to be described. It makes us know without learning, and function without practicing. It is a prior wisdom, perception, potency, and ability. It’s not constrained by words or language. It functions without thinking, intents, or even actions. However, it can create the sky, the world, humans, all beings, and existences. All these, after being created, still cannot carry on without Tao even for one moment. Tao is therefore called the Great Lord of all beings.
4. Without Tao, the stars and planets in the sky wouldn’t be in order. The sun and the moon couldn’t’ illuminate or revolve properly. Then the yin-yang energies wouldn’t circulate, and, as a result, this world would not be suitable for all of us to live in.
5. Without Tao, the five primary elements of the earth (metal, wood, water, fire and earth) wouldn’t be balanced, which would put the entire world in chaos. Mountains would collapse, lands would crack, and the oceans would dry up. This world would not be an environment for us to live in. Without Tao, human beings wouldn’t be able walk, see, hear, speak, or move. Our physical bodies would deteriorate quickly into a pile of soil in a hundred days.
6. If one really comprehends the effects and omnipotence of Tao, and can practice accordingly and persistently, one can communicate with and be united with God.
This is the absolute truth. It is a glory and marvel beyond description. Therefore, it is not after death that one becomes a Buddha. It is when one is still alive that one achieves Buddhahood. And to be Buddha is to revive and hold on to one’s divine and original nature. This is what we can benefit from attaining and cultivating Tao.
Introduction to Tao, Revised Edition (2001)
