Last two weeks I traveled through the
United States. One of my destinations was Los Angeles. Since
the temple of the ‘Great Tao Foundation’, where the Tao
meetings that I weekly follow online are held, is located
there I contacted Derek Lin to see the possibility for a
visit.
I received an inviting reply by email
that Sunday 14 October – the day I had planned for my visit
– there was a meeting as usual and it was open for me to
visit. Every week there’s also a vegetarian lunch and a
midday ritual after the meeting and when I asked if I could
participate in these the answer was that it’s open for
everyone. Also Derek asked me if I would like to make use of
the opportunity to go through the initiation ritual as I
follow the weekly meetings already for some time now. After
confirming what this ritual exactly means – showing that
you’re willing to follow the Taoist path (Yiguan Dao/I-Kuan
Tao) –I replied that I gladly would use the opportunity,
because its principles correspond with my own ideas.
Sunday 14 October the day was there.
Derek Lin offered me to pick me up as I stayed in West
Hollywood while the temple is in El Monte (a challenge to
reach by public transportation). Thus I met Derek and his
wife Janice. It felt like I’ve known them for longer from
the start. In that day’s meeting Derek called it karmic
affinity: one day you pass someone without knowing who
it is, the other day you meet someone from the other side of
the world that you (learn to) know. The weather was, like
always in Los Angeles, wonderful and on the way to the
temple I told them about my traveling so far (New York,
Washington and Las Vegas).
In the temple I was welcomed
by a cheerful Buddha and I met a dedicated volunteer whose
name I unfortunately forgot. We made some pictures and then
I got a tour through the temple. It’s a rather small
building, but from the outside it’s clear that it's a temple
and also on the inside it’s well decorated. In the
conference room there are paintings of Fu Xi (author of the
Yijing/I Ching) and Kong Zi (Confucius). Then there’s the
temple room with a shrine and on it the lantern with the
Chinese characters wuji (‘without
boundaries’). Additionally it’s decorated with a laughing
Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, Guan Yin and the enlightened
Buddha. It’s important, as Derek describes on his website,
to keep in mind that these are not the central focus of the
shrine, but that they serve as reminders for us to always
keep their teachings in mind, such as: tolerance, an open
mind, cheerfulness, generosity, etc.
Fltr:
Me, Derek Lin and Peter, a dedicated volunteer
Fltr:
Me, Janice Lin and Peter
Somewhat later, after everything was
prepared (including the colorful construction of building
blocks for the webcam) and I met some other people, the Tao
Meeting started. Chapter 79 of the Daodejing (Tao TeChing)
was discussed, about the honoring of agreements and not
enforcing this from others, and the term ‘dragon’ was
explained from chapter 1 of the Yijing (I Ching): “Flying
dragon in the sky”. In the West the dragon has a negative
image, but in China it stands for power and fortune. Derek
said that the flying dragon in the sky is a symbol for
something that brings prosperity to multiple people, like
rain clouds can help the farmers with their harvest, and it
should be our goal to bring fortune to others.
Usually the initiations are after the
lunch, but as master William Kuo, who would execute these,
would attend the opening of a shrine in a martial arts
school that afternoon, it was moved to before the lunch. We
went to the temple room and there I met a young lady who
attended the meetings for some time now and would like to be
initiated as well.
While Derek explained what was
happening, everything was performed in Chinese, the
voluntary members prepared the shrine with an invitation
ritual. Then Derek had to come forward as the instructor
that introduced me and the other candidate to promise that
he brought us here to seek the Tao (literally: Way/Path)
without any hidden motives. Then Janice had to come to make
the same promise but then as our guarantor for our good
name, that we were there without hidden motives. After that
we went to the shrine to confirm we would sincerely continue
our spiritual path and respect our guides/teachers. After
our confirmation we received the Three Treasures of Yiguan
Dao to help us on our way which are: the Mystic Portal, the
True Sutra and the Hand Seal. More information on this can
be found on Derek Lin’s websitewww.taoism.net and
then go to I-Kuan
Tao and below Initiation there
is Three
Treasures.
The initiation ended with an
explanation of the Three Treasures by Derek. I got two books
on Yiguan Dao and its rituals from master Joseph Chen. Then
it was time to enjoy the vegetarian lunch. The food was
already cold, but the warm company of Derek, Janice and two
others compensated this.
I was brought back to my place. After
saying goodbye to Derek and Janice I felt cheerful and
blessed by this special experience. I was always taught that
only those with the true faith are really liberated. I can
only say that in my opinion it's not aboutwhat one
believes, but how,
that is: with an open and sincere mind that seeks Love for
everything and everyone. That is something Derek and Janice
understand and live and I hope to meet these wonderful
persons again in future.
Sion Oppeneer, The Netherlands, 24 October 2012
