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What we now know
as the United States of America began as a tiny colony from England
who settled in Jamestown in 1607. Prior to that were multiple failed
attempts at colonization that resulted in the loss of resources and
people from both Spain and England. Finally though, the people who
would become the nation we now know as America got a foothold on the
eastern seaboard and made a life for themselves. The ideal that
drove those first immigrants from Britain was freedom. They sought
freedom of choice, speech, and religion; they also sought freedom
from oppressive taxation and monarchy.
For each
individual who chose the path of migration from the comfortable,
familiar life in England to the great wilderness of the New World,
that freedom they so desperately sought came at a great price. Many
did not survive the cross Atlantic voyage by sailing ships, many did
not survive the harsh winters, many fell victim to the native
Americans to whom this land rightfully belonged, but they
persevered, they worked hard, and scratched a living from an
unforgiving land and created a country founded on the principles and
values that they had brought with them. These principles eventually
lead to a revolution to throw off the chains that bound them to a
king and country that lay across a vast sea and gain true
independence. Within a period of roughly one hundred years, a new
nation was born, and the entire geography of that nation would fit
easily into one of our larger states today, most of the country to
the west of Virginia had never been seen by anyone other than the
Native Americans who lived there. This land to the west was a huge
unknown wilderness, full of dangers and the unknown.
Fearless men and
women once again chose to gather up their belongings, and seek
opportunity in this wilderness. Many of them had never seen a
desert, or high mountain range, or encountered a bear or wolf, or
any of the other dangerous animals and hostile peoples that
inhabited these areas, and yet they went. Through persistence,
patience, hard work, creativity, and lots of trial and error, and
many, many mistakes they learned and thrived, and made homes and
businesses and an entire economy grew up from east coast to west.
And within the span of the second hundred years, America became what
we know now, the great melting pot, the model for people all over
the world, the dream for many who seek freedom and peace.
There is no doubt
that our ancestors, in their quest for a nation committed some
terrible moral crimes against a variety of people and against the
land itself in the name of "manifest destiny", the term used to
describe what was then thought to be the God given right for them to
take whatever they wanted and use any means necessary to achieve
their goals, and the evidence of those actions is apparent to this
day. The aftermath of slavery, prejudice, discrimination, sexism,
racism, civil war, and hatred are still visible in our streets and
in our homes. But those of us who are alive now, were not there to
stop what was happening then. That does not absolve us of
responsibility. We are the present.
By now, you may be
wondering "What is the purpose of this background history lesson" or
"What does this have to do with spreading and cultivating the great
Tao".
In the year 2007
there is still a vast American wilderness that extends from the
borders of California deep into the American interior, the Midwest
and plains states. It is a wilderness of spiritual opportunity, a
wilderness where a voice is proclaiming a better way, a different
way, an enlightened way. It is the voice of the I-Kuan Tao, which
until two years ago was virtually unheard here.
In May of 2005, a
group of masters from Los Angeles dedicated the Chuan I Fo Tang in
Carmel Indiana, and ever since that day, this small shrine, which
remains open to the public, has spread the Great Tao to Indiana,
Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia,
and Michigan. By using the internet, business travel, person to
person communication, the distribution of I-Kuan Tao materials and
every other avenue available, we have made the I-Kuan Tao known, and
have brought 21 souls to the Great Tao through initiation.
Just as the first
explorers of the western plains had to learn how to survive and
thrive in a new and sometimes hostile environment, we here have had
to learn the skills and methods that produce the most beneficial
results. Just as our Chinese ancestors were sometimes persecuted and
mistreated in the early history of our country, we sometimes are
maligned and mistreated by those who do not understand the true
teachings. I myself have been subjected to a form of racial
prejudice because of my acceptance of and teaching of this ancient
Chinese way. I have been treated harshly by those who demonize
anything non-Christian as evil and wrong, I have been called an idol
worshiper, I have been called a liar, I have seen countless
conflicts and arguments over which Chinese character means what word
among people who don’t even speak Chinese. I have heard people here
in my own city, say "we are all one, except them" and the "them"
changes depending on what they perceive is evil or wrong. In short,
the wilderness is a wilderness of understanding, true knowledge,
true peace, and genuine learning. The need is still very great.
The more we come
to understand the needs of the people we seek to serve, the better
able we are to help them. I have learned from the masters that not
everyone has an affinity for the Great Tao at this point in their
life, and that it sometimes is more important to plant a seed and
then disappear, knowing the seed will grow up one day. There are
those who have the affinity, but are held back either by fear, or
other people who do not know, and who may not wish to know the true
teachings at this time, and so we plant another seed. There are
those who have the affinity, and the ability to learn, but who lack
the technology and for whom the distance to Indianapolis or Los
Angeles is too far, and so we send email, and speak via the phone,
or when I’m in town, such as Rockford Illinois, where we have a
small but growing group of people who have shown interest in the
Great Tao and from which we may receive additional souls through
initiation. We are refining the methods we use to spread the
teachings to try to make some of the more complicated teachings
easier to understand or more familiar to the American English
language. For instance, there is no English word that translates
directly to "Qi". The concept of Qi in English requires either very
few, or very many words, depending on whether one wishes to discuss
Qi as energy, or Qi as a living, dynamic force. I am continually
reminded that a carefully chosen word can make a tremendous
difference in understanding.
One might think
that so far this has been a dissertation on the things that separate
us one from another. It is true that there is a large cultural and
linguistic barrier to cross between ancient China and modern
America, it is also true that there are substantial philosophical
differences that separate people one from another, even within
single families. It is also true that as human beings spinning
through space on this tiny planet that we all have much more in
common than we have in difference, and it is these common bonds of
the human condition that make this work possible. The words I-Kuan
Tao translated mean "The Tao that unifies all with the one" and when
we contemplate the depth of that statement its power is
overwhelming. No matter a person’s country of origin, language,
culture, or circumstance, we all have common needs. We need to be
fed, nurtured, loved and accepted, clothed, housed, and to feel
useful. Those needs are universal. Every single person on the planet
turns their eyes skyward at some point and wonders what will happen
to them when they die, this question is universal. Every person came
from parents, who came from parents, who came from parents, this
continuum we call family is universal among humans. We all strive in
some way to better our condition and circumstances. No matter who we
are, or where we are, we seek a better life for our children than we
had. Every person faces challenges and problems. Every person faces
choices, some of which are difficult. Each life encounters a certain
amount of joy, and a certain amount of pain. We all at some point
are at the very top of the wheel, and sometimes at the very bottom.
This cycle has continued from the very beginning of humanity.
Into this cycle,
the I-Kuan Tao has the ability to bring order, discipline, reason,
and truth to the process of living.
One of the
challenges we face most often in spreading the Tao, is the absence
of understanding as to what exactly the true teachings of the Tao
are. There is a widespread misunderstanding which when paraphrased
sounds something like this. "The Tao encompasses all things,
therefore everything is part of the Tao, and since everything is
part of the Tao, nothing is wrong, and everything and anything is
okay". As with every misunderstanding, this one is based in the
truth, but lacks the substance of truth. Those who would say that
there is no good or evil in the Tao, no right or wrong in the Tao,
that any and every behavior is right do not understand the
teachings. While it is true that the Great Tao is neutral, it is
readily apparent that good and evil, right and wrong, order and
chaos, and many other apparent opposites do in fact exist. They do
not exist however, in diametric opposition, but rather as
complimentary pairs that help lead us to a right and proper
conclusion and path. If we never experienced pain, could we truly
appreciate joy and good health? It is in this wisdom that Lao Tzu
says "All the world recognizes beauty, therein lies ugliness."
Communicating this teaching is central to achieving understanding of
the most elementary of truths, and yet seems to be among the most
difficult to convey. Overcoming the human desire to pursue the
course of least resistance, to choose the higher road, to aspire to
unify the self with Tao is perhaps one of the most difficult choices
that some people ever make.
So what have we
learned in two years in Indiana? We have learned that just as the
pioneers of the western frontier struggled and persevered, we too
must struggle and persevere. We must improve our own practice,
giving up bad habits, and embracing proper conduct so that our
example shines before others. While we do this, we must be mindful
not to become arrogant or prideful, which leads to destruction. We
must remember to be humble, as the common dust, so that we do not
exclude anyone from the opportunity to receive the teachings. We
must remain upbeat and enthusiastic for the heavenly mission so that
others can see our true joy in our devotion. What we begin by
rigorous practice after a brief while becomes daily habit and is no
longer work, rather it is merely a part of us.
We have learned
that just as the original colonists, we must be satisfied with small
beginnings that grow into large results and blessings. An enormous
oak tree starts its life as a tiny acorn. We must not allow fear of
the unknown, fear of failure, fear of our own shortcomings or
mistakes to prevent us from making our most sincere effort to spread
the Tao, trusting that Lao Mu will take a sincere effort and produce
a shining result.
We have learned to
save our resources, and to waste nothing because everything is
useful somewhere.
We have learned to
share what we have and give joyfully to others in need, without
judgment or preconceptions, but not to give to the point where our
own welfare is damaged or to permit ourselves to be unfairly taken
advantage of.
We have learned
the wisdom of carefully chosen words, and the power of the spoken
and written word, like that of an axe, which might be either a
skillfully used tool, or an awesome weapon.
We have learned
that in the repetition of the rituals there is both order and focus.
Focus on the principles we are commanded to embrace, humility,
charity, tolerance, forgiveness, attention to our responsibilities,
and performance of our sacred duties. Order is brought to our daily
routine that keeps our hearts and minds continually looking towards
the Great Tao.
We have learned
that discipline, especially self discipline, is a beneficial and
worthwhile pursuit. That moderation in all things is the key to
material happiness and contentment, and that there is no misfortune
so sad as a one who does not know what is enough.
We have learned
that sometimes it is sufficient to plant a seed. The path of the
Great Tao is so wide and so easy to walk, that many people are
unable to see it. It is not within our power to lead another down
the path, we only can shine a light on where the path is for each of
us, then if someone decides to walk with us for a while, our paths
may merge for some time before they separate again and we each go
where we are lead. Each person we meet, every soul we touch, who
has not received the Tao through initiation, represents an
opportunity to plant that seed. Very often we may never know if the
seed took root or not, but where and when we can, once planted it is
our responsibility to water and care for that seed.
We have learned
that just as the pioneers perfected their methods and practices for
raising crops, and thriving in a new land, that we too must perfect
our methods and practices for raising our crops as well, and through
this, bring more people to the Great Tao by a good example, and the
proper approach and right teachings at the right time. "The
Etiquette and Discipline" says that "A wise person does not waste
words", this would imply that we develop the wisdom to know when to
be silent as well as when, and how to speak.
We at the Chuan I
Fo Tang give thanks to Buddha Maitreya and Lao Mu, and to the Senior
Master and Masters for the opportunity to continue the heavenly
mission of spreading the Tao. There are many others to whom we owe
many thanks, and to each of you, thank you as well. It would not be
possible for us to do this wonderful work here without the support
and guidance of all of these wonderful masters, lay people, and
cultivators whom we hold dear in our hearts. We are truly a family
under the Great Tao. |
