Cultivating Tao and cultivating our hearts

修道心篇

WhenyoucultivateTao,donotjustpayattentiontowhatisbeautiful,deliciousandcomfortable.Youalsoneedtoendurethehardshipandsuffering,onlythenyoucanbeatruecultivator.A devoted cultivator should understand that hardship is part andparceloflife.Themoreyoudo,themoreyoufulfillyourvows.HencethosewhocultivateTaoandpropagateTaoshouldhavenocomplaintsorregrets.Your sincere heart and your own realization of Tao are the mostimportant aspects in cultivation. Wisdom is gained throughexperiencingyour lifewhilst tryingto improveyourself.For instance,when encountering a problem, to solve it satisfactorily requires

wisdom. Apply what you have learned into practice and only then you can make adifferenceinyourlife.Everyone’sduty istoberesponsibletooneself. Everythingyoudohasaneffectonall thesentientbeings,yourself,andeveryonearoundyou. Today,youarehere in theTempletolearnTao,butwhereisTao?Taoisinyourdailylife.YoushouldactinaccordancewithTaoand set an example of Tao, devotedly practicing it yourself, and then you’ll see howworthwhileitistocultivateTao.Ourknowledgeshouldalwaysbeconsistentwithouractions?Knowingwithoutdoingisinvain.Doingwithoutplanningisreckless.Whenyouhaveabelief,orakindthought,howdoyoufulfillit?Itcannotbeaccomplishedintwoorthreedays.Itwilltakeconstantpracticesthroughoutyourlifetoachievesuccessincultivation.Asyoucometoknowyourselfbetter,youwillshowyourinnersincerityinyourexpressionsandbehaviors.Then,peoplewillseeyouasaBuddha.TheworldaroundyouwillbecomeaBuddhalandparadisebecauseofyou.Therealparadiseisinyourheart.When you manage holy affairs, do them naturally, you should not expect any rewards;alwaysfollowyourTrueNatureandBuddhalandwillcertainlysupport(andbless)you.Ifyouareexpectingrewardsandtroubled,thenyouarenotdoingitnaturally,eventuallyyouwillfeelpowerlesstoachieveyourgoal.Beselfless inyourTaocultivation;becontented in fulfillingyourrolesandresponsibilities.YouneedtocultivateTaowithoutcomplaints,withoutregrets,withoutastartingpointorafinishline.Startagainafterresting;besurethatyoureallymakeanefforttohelpthisworldin becomingmoreharmonious andpeaceful.Hope that in this timeof great urgency andchaos, all of you can settle down your heart, calm down your mind and be sincere. Besinceretoyourself,toeveryoneandeverythingyoudo.Faceyourownheart,besincereanddemonstrateyoursincerityinyourbehaviorsandexpressions.I, Holy Teacher, expect all my disciples to do this: whenever you encounter anyunsatisfactorilyorimperfection(deviationsfromTao),doyourbesttomakeitcompleteandperfect (i.e. conform to Tao). Start from small accomplishments and end up with major

Cultivating Tao and cultivating our hearts

修道心篇 accomplishments or perfections. Start from the smallest things, and strive for perfectionwith this principle, “Praise others’merits but behumblewith your own.Admit your ownfaults insteadof criticizingothers’.” Donot slanderor criticizewhenyouseeonlya smallpartofthewholepicture.Thatwillonlymakethingsworse.Self-Natureiswithinyourself.Itisnotvisible.Mydisciples,doyourownresearchandyou’llfind that thepast sages, saints, andprophets of theworld’s greatest religions all reachedperfectionbyfulfillingtheirbasicresponsibilities.Henceyouneedtoberesoluteandplantyour feet firmly on solid ground. Don’t just live in a vague and unrealistic “dream ofcultivation”.Whatdoesitmeantoliveinadreamofcultivation?Ifyoutalkalotanddonothingmuch,that’slivinginadream.Cultivationistofulfillone'sdutiesfaithfully,withoutcomplaint.Donot compare yourself with others. Do to the best of your abilities. Buddhaland is fair;Buddhalandwill not treat youwith less thanwhat you deserve.When your time comes,naturallyotherswillaffirmyou.Unlessyouareconscientious,firmandcommityourself,youwillnotgetanyaffirmationorrecognition.Cultivationistocorrectevilthoughts,andrecovertheinherentconscienceandtheintrinsicethicswithinyou.Beingahuman,youneedtofulfillyourbasicduties.Youshouldbepractical,andtrynottoreachforwhatisbeyondyourgrasp.YoudonotneedtogotootherplacestostudyZenormeditation.Allyouneedtodoistocultivateyourselfinthemostnaturalway,whichisfromyourmercifulheart,andeventuallyyouwillachieveBuddhahood.TheremarkablegloryofWhiteSunEraisthatwecanaccomplishthemostextraordinarythingsinthemostordinaryway.A cultivator needs notonly to cultivatewell, but also to express Tao effectively. To be acultivator, your words, your heart, and your deeds have to be consistent. The mostimportantthingincultivationistorealizethetruth.Ouremotionsare fickleandunpredictablebuthowdowemaintainour initial zeal? Ifyouwant tomaintain our faith, you have to carry it out, persevere and practice it constantly.Throughyourendeavours,youwillfacesomesetbacks,frustrations,orfailures.However,ifyougetbackonyourfeetafterfallingdown,yourfaithwillbecomestrongerandfirmerthanbefore;inthiswayyoucanmaintainconstancyandpersistencyofyourBuddhaheart.Doyouunderstandthis?Neither theearthnor theunderworld isyourhome. Youcometotheearthlyworldwithamission.Donotbelittleorunderestimateyourself. It is your responsibility to propagate Tao on behalf ofBuddhaland. Why? Because you were born by Buddhaland andnurturedbyearth;thegraceofBuddhalandandearthandthegraceofyourparentsarethegreatestblessingsyouhavereceivedinlife.

Cultivating Tao and cultivating our hearts

修道心篇 You should know filial piety towards (love, honor, respect and take good care of) yourparents, and love your brothers and sisters. Loving and honoring parents should be donenaturally,withoutanyexpectations.Thatistruefilialpiety.Everyobstacle isan ideal timeforgrowth. Donot justpayattentiontothesuperficial.Tocultivate,youneedtogodeeper. Ingettingalongwithpeople,youneedtogodeepertoo(andmaketheextraeffort).Youcannotjusttakecareofthefaçade.Otherwise,peoplewillalsotreatyousuperficially.Whateveryoudo,donotpostponetilltomorrow.Doittoday,seizethemoment,hereandnow;onlythenyou’llfindwhatistrueandeternal.Takecultivationassomethingyoushoulddo,onlythenyouwilldoitwillinglyandcheerfully;just like enjoying your meals. Take cultivation as having meals, think of it as enjoying adeliciousmealthatyouwanttoexperienceiteveryday.Thatiswhyonedifferentthoughtmakesaworldofdifference.There’snoendinTaocultivation,restyourwearymindifyoumust,butdonotslowdownyourprogress,Marchforwardsteadilyremaintranquilinheartandnotaffectedbyfameorwealth.InpropagatingTao,everyone’smustbeunitedtoformastrongholdandworkforacommongoal.Donotpursuefameorindividualglory.Cultivation does not happen in the temples, nor dowe cultivate in front of people only.Cultivationtakesplaceineverythingwefaceanddo;moreespeciallywhenwearealonebyourselves.That’srealcultivation.Buddhalandpositionsaredeterminedinthisearthlyworld.However,ifyouarestrivingforaBuddhalandposition (asa reward) then it isnotaBuddhalandpositionanymore.Becauseonceyourheartismoved,itisnotTao.Choosethepaththatissuitableforyou.Everyonehashisowninnategifts.Sinceitisalreadyinyouthereisnoneedtosearchforitexternally.IfyouarefondofTao,youshouldbehonest,humble,kindandmagnanimous.WecanlearnTaofromdoingchores.Weshouldalsostretchourselvesandworkoutsideourcomfortzone.

CultivateTaoineverymoment.Doitconsistently.Ifyoupauseorstop,it is a waste of time. Be responsible for your own life. Show yourcompassion. Actually,allofyouareHolyTeacher’s incarnations. Youareall littleJi-Gongs(helpandservethepublic),donotji-si(helpandserveself).Ji-siwillcauseyoucountlessworries.In your everyday life, who should be your teacher? You cannot seeHolyTeacher,andyoudonotknowwhereHolyTeacher is, so,whomshouldyou learn from?Letyourconsciencebeyour teacher.Conductyourself. Work and speak with conscience, then you will make lessmistakes.

Cultivating Tao and cultivating our hearts

修道心篇 Cultivation should be done here and now. You should cultivate every moment andeverywhere.Usually people grow in adversities, such experiences can only make them stronger.Buddhalandgivesassignmentstoyouaccordingtoyourability;sodon’tbelittleyourself.Donothaveaselfishheart.Takeastepbackwardandseeabroaderview.Don’tletanarrowmindlimityourself.Listen,deliberateandperformmore,don’ttalktoomuch.Don’tpushthingstotheirlimits;leavesomeroomforreconciliation.Don’tbetooforceful,savesomeenergy.Don’tshowoffallofyourabilities,savesomeforlater.Continuetorefineevenifyouarethefinest;blendtoughnesswithtenderness,strengthwithgentleness,andrigiditywithflexibility.Don’ttrytocompetewithothersRepaywithgooddeedsforanybadactionsdiduponyou. Don’t lettheBuddhalandgraceyou receivedbe in vain. Themoreblessings you receive, themore you should fulfill yourvows.Letgoofyourtroublesomeproblems;asyourheart istranquil,everythingis”calm”.Aftereverythingsettlesdownincalmness,willtherestillbeanyworry?Merits are earned without others’ recognition. Do not seek for undeserved reputations.Keep your vows well, do more and talk less. Take care of your health, do not do thingsbeyondyourcapabilities,andcherishyourownlife.Cultivationispainstakingandtoilsome.Aslongasyouhavethewillandsincerity,youwillmakethebreakthrough.Buddhalandwillgivewhatyouaskfor,butyouhavetoworkhardfor it. Your commitmentanddeterminationare thedecisive factors. Hold strong toyourfaith,anddon’tgiveupeasily.If you give your utmost efforts on minor tasks; then the major tasks will not pose anydifficultiesforyou.Cultivation is simple: First, break your bad habits. Second, give up your own interests(selfless) for the sake of others. Third, disregard the coldness of reality, persevere andpassionatelykeepsalvagingpeopleandservingthepublic.Thesearethefootstepsofsages,saintsandBuddhas.TocultivateTao,youneedtoseizetheopportunitypresented. Ifyoumiss the moment, you will not have a second chance. When theopportunity comes, grasp it quickly. This is Tao, because at thismoment,youare“single-minded”.Everypersonhasatemple;bringthetemplewithyouwhereveryougo.Whenpeoplelookatyou,itislikeseeingatemple,sogracefulandso serene. Therefore, cultivate your heart to be a grand temple,whichcanaccommodateeveryone.SharetheTrutheverywhereyougo,thenyouarealivingBuddha.

Cultivating Tao and cultivating our hearts

修道心篇 Cultivation needs a combination of sincerity, patience, wisdom and compassionate heart(akinofbodhisattva), sharing,unconditional (withoutexpecting rewards),andBuddhalandinnocence.Nowadays,thebiggestobstacleincultivationisthatpeopleonlyplacedemandsonothers,butnoton themselves. Why isHolyTeacheraskingyou toelevateyourmind toahigherlevel?Knowyourselffirstandbecompletelyclearaboutyourself.Beforeaskingothers,askyourself first whether you have done, given and devoted or not. You cannot just lookoutwards,youneedtoreflectandscrutinizeyourself.AsyourBuddhaNatureisawakened,illusionswillbeextinguishednaturally;ifnot,you’llbealwaysconfusedbyillusions.Fromnowon,everymorningafteryougetupandeverynightbeforeyougotobed,recite:"Ji-Gong, Ji-Gong, Ji-Gong (save and help the public)." I expect you all to do thisperseveringly.Asyourecite"Ji-Gong",itisnotmerelythenameandimageofHolyTeacherinyourmouthandheart.Formsandimageswillperish.Buthowdoyoupurifysentimentswith Tao? Youneed to comprehend the truth and todistinguish senses from sensibilities.TheformsandimagesarenothingbuttoolstohelpyourealizetheTruth.Andthenyouareabletotransformyouraffections,sensibilities,andfavoritismintotheloveofTao,thegreatlove.