When the Divine-Sky and Broad Earth are Set Apart there is Chaos
Original Chinese Language Article By: Qianfeng Daoist Master Zhao Ming Wang (赵明旺)
(Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)
The three spiritual paths of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism are in fact three traditions of philosophy that should be considered ancestral treasures of China. The essential teaching in these thought-systems must be preserved for future generations as each emphasises the propagation of ‘virtue’ (德 – De) and clearly defines ‘good’ from ‘bad’. Practitioners must always follow the respective laws of discipline to cultivate only those modes of being that are good and beneficial for society and for themselves, and abandon thoughts and behaviours which are considered low, disruptive and destructive. In general, this is how the three spiritual paths should function, but today there is much nonsensical talk and the advocation of practices that deviate from wise instruction. For instance, many make use of Buddhist mantras but do not know the meaning because they have never studied the Buddhist Sutras properly. Many others speculate about the correct meaning of specific terms found within Buddhist philosophy without ever having received good instruction, and all they manage to achieve is bad feeling and harsh talk towards others… What is the meaning of the Buddhist Pure Land School’s mantra ‘Namo Amitabha Buddha’ (阿弥陀佛 – E Mi Tuo Fo)? This is a faith-practice used by those who raise their hands and is designed to purify the negative karma produced over past lives, and to create the positive karma in this life to gain enlightenment through the blessing of divine Buddhas who come down to Earth and escort you to the Pure Land of the West at the point of physical death – but many Pure Land practitioners have no knowledge of why they are doing what they are doing – but blindly follow others without question. This is the same as the spiritual Daoists who believe in great spirits and small immortals - a common belief all over China. Many people also call on the Queen Mother Goddess (王母娘娘 – Wang Mu Niang Niang), but do not really know what they are doing. The problem is that many people engage in faith-based practices but do not understand the method, and do not know the rational teaching that lies behind these practices. This approach causes chaos in the world and leads to a greater distance between the practitioner and their spiritual objective. How can a lack of knowledge achieve a spiritual goal premised upon the teachings of logic and rationality? Even where an educated faith is involved, the three religions of China always advocate logic and reason and never advise blind-faith. When blind-faith is mistakenly used to practice the three religions, the delusion and dust of the world is not cleared away, but is made worse!
Today there is an upsurge in the practice of Daoist health improvement techniques which has become something of a craze throughout China. The newspapers, television and radio have been busy carrying articles about traditional health practices to such an extent in China that it has spread even into foreign countries and inspired non-Chinese people to come to China and study Buddhism and Daoism. As many people have embraced vegetarianism in the pursuit of Enlightenment and Immortality, soybeans have become a valuable commodity in the market place! The important point to remember here is that true self-cultivation does not only involve the body, but it should also include the mind. It is no good to just change a few outer habits whilst continuing to live with a mind full of delusion.
It must be remembered that the three spiritual paths of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism all advocate the cultivation of inner ‘virtue’ first and foremost. This means that there must be a good practice of self-cultivation that is designed to remove psychological (as well as physical) delusion from the mind and body – without this effort good health and long life cannot be attained – even if you have ‘faith’ and eat only ‘vegetables’. The Buddhists say that if you do not respect and revere your parents (who gave you physical life) the Buddha-nature will never be inwardly realised. Self-cultivation involves the disciplining and transformation of the mind and this is exactly how the teachings of philosophical Daoism clarify and strengthen spirit (shen). This is how the true reality is realised that purifies the mind, develops virtue and transforms the body – ordinary people who do not practice the correct self-cultivation cannot reach this transcendental reality. It is like martial arts practice, why is it that some people can hit with tremendous force but appear to make no effort? This is because they have trained very hard for a long time, cultivating virtue in the mind and strength in the body so that all this great effort can be condensed into a very small movement, and herein lies the secret of true self-cultivation. It is not just the changing of a few outward habits of behaviour just because fads develop in the popular imagination. Whatever method you practice, learn it properly from qualified masters and do not give-up. I wish you every happiness and success in your training and state that as you create virtue, the divine-sky and the broad earth will be united and harmonised – then the vegetarian diet will be appropriate.
Beijing Qianfeng Zhao Bichen Cultural Arts and Exchange Centre
Daojia Longmen Pai, Qianfeng Prenatal School
Qianfeng Hermitage: Zhao Ming Wang
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2015.
Original Chinese Language Source Article: http://752315496.blog.163.com/blog/static/8830018220111603512210/
天南地北乱刮风
三教 三家 都是祖先留下来的宝贵财富,其根本思想是让后人了解德 善 美 恶 以其净化其心,向善念而行。这是三家最基本的指导思想。而如今三家后学之士有的大谈佛家经典,句句真言朗朗上口。没有他 她不懂之处,而和他人探讨经典不和之时则脸红脖粗大炒而起,有的则互骂,,,,,,阿弥陀佛,如佛知道了会怎么想?然有真道者举手捏来,算出你前世今生者真乃天神下凡也,大神小仙如今遍及大江南北。王母娘娘一召以到,可不知您和王母什么关系?如此天南地北乱刮风,好好的三教 三家搞的灰尘遮面。
如今养生热潮中又大刮养生之风,各路天地之神齐显人间,电视 电台 网络 报纸 就连外国人摇身一变以成中国佛道之人,从此黄豆涨价了,很多市井之人也会辟谷了。在过几年人人都是佛个各都是神仙了。
在中国儒 释 道都有其内在深厚的文化,远远留长其以德善为先。佛家有言道不敬仰父母拜佛祖,佛是不收你的。要从自心修持。道家的养生确有他神奇之处,那是要得到真传,并能身体力行修炼,才能达到常人达不到的境界。就和武术一样,为什么都是人都一百来斤为什么人家能打到你那?那是经过艰苦锻炼炼出来的。在此我祝愿大家幸福安康,敬人德要比敬天德管用,下功夫要比吃绿豆管养。
北京千峰赵避尘文化艺术交流中心
道家龙门派,道家千峰先天派
千峰草堂: 赵明旺
Today there is an upsurge in the practice of Daoist health improvement techniques which has become something of a craze throughout China. The newspapers, television and radio have been busy carrying articles about traditional health practices to such an extent in China that it has spread even into foreign countries and inspired non-Chinese people to come to China and study Buddhism and Daoism. As many people have embraced vegetarianism in the pursuit of Enlightenment and Immortality, soybeans have become a valuable commodity in the market place! The important point to remember here is that true self-cultivation does not only involve the body, but it should also include the mind. It is no good to just change a few outer habits whilst continuing to live with a mind full of delusion.
It must be remembered that the three spiritual paths of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism all advocate the cultivation of inner ‘virtue’ first and foremost. This means that there must be a good practice of self-cultivation that is designed to remove psychological (as well as physical) delusion from the mind and body – without this effort good health and long life cannot be attained – even if you have ‘faith’ and eat only ‘vegetables’. The Buddhists say that if you do not respect and revere your parents (who gave you physical life) the Buddha-nature will never be inwardly realised. Self-cultivation involves the disciplining and transformation of the mind and this is exactly how the teachings of philosophical Daoism clarify and strengthen spirit (shen). This is how the true reality is realised that purifies the mind, develops virtue and transforms the body – ordinary people who do not practice the correct self-cultivation cannot reach this transcendental reality. It is like martial arts practice, why is it that some people can hit with tremendous force but appear to make no effort? This is because they have trained very hard for a long time, cultivating virtue in the mind and strength in the body so that all this great effort can be condensed into a very small movement, and herein lies the secret of true self-cultivation. It is not just the changing of a few outward habits of behaviour just because fads develop in the popular imagination. Whatever method you practice, learn it properly from qualified masters and do not give-up. I wish you every happiness and success in your training and state that as you create virtue, the divine-sky and the broad earth will be united and harmonised – then the vegetarian diet will be appropriate.
Beijing Qianfeng Zhao Bichen Cultural Arts and Exchange Centre
Daojia Longmen Pai, Qianfeng Prenatal School
Qianfeng Hermitage: Zhao Ming Wang
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2015.
Original Chinese Language Source Article: http://752315496.blog.163.com/blog/static/8830018220111603512210/
天南地北乱刮风
三教 三家 都是祖先留下来的宝贵财富,其根本思想是让后人了解德 善 美 恶 以其净化其心,向善念而行。这是三家最基本的指导思想。而如今三家后学之士有的大谈佛家经典,句句真言朗朗上口。没有他 她不懂之处,而和他人探讨经典不和之时则脸红脖粗大炒而起,有的则互骂,,,,,,阿弥陀佛,如佛知道了会怎么想?然有真道者举手捏来,算出你前世今生者真乃天神下凡也,大神小仙如今遍及大江南北。王母娘娘一召以到,可不知您和王母什么关系?如此天南地北乱刮风,好好的三教 三家搞的灰尘遮面。
如今养生热潮中又大刮养生之风,各路天地之神齐显人间,电视 电台 网络 报纸 就连外国人摇身一变以成中国佛道之人,从此黄豆涨价了,很多市井之人也会辟谷了。在过几年人人都是佛个各都是神仙了。
在中国儒 释 道都有其内在深厚的文化,远远留长其以德善为先。佛家有言道不敬仰父母拜佛祖,佛是不收你的。要从自心修持。道家的养生确有他神奇之处,那是要得到真传,并能身体力行修炼,才能达到常人达不到的境界。就和武术一样,为什么都是人都一百来斤为什么人家能打到你那?那是经过艰苦锻炼炼出来的。在此我祝愿大家幸福安康,敬人德要比敬天德管用,下功夫要比吃绿豆管养。
北京千峰赵避尘文化艺术交流中心
道家龙门派,道家千峰先天派
千峰草堂: 赵明旺