The Tao and Its Virtue

Xuefeng

The Tao represents the consciousness of the Greatest Creator, the spirit of the Greatest Creator, the blood of the universe, the source of life, the force maintaining the orderly operation of the universe, and the ultimate truth.

The Virtue is the inner quality possessed by sages and wise individuals in human society, built upon the understanding of the Tao. It is the driving force that propels human society along a path of rationality, harmony, health, and joy.

The Tao and its Virtue collectively serve as the force and energy that maintain the orderly operation and healthy development of both the natural universe and human society.

The Tao encompasses all the mysteries of the universe, while the Virtue embodies the highest wisdom and the most noble, perfect qualities of humanity. Together, they include the essence and external manifestations of the harmonious unity of the Greatest Creator, gods, Buddhas, celestial beings, and sages.

Pursuing the Tao and Its Virtue is the hallmark of the wise. To pursue the Tao is to pursue the Greatest Creator and eternal life; to pursue the Virtue is to pursue sainthood and a perfect life.

The Tao and Its Virtue cannot be fully possessed by anyone other than sages. In today’s society, who dares to claim, "I possess the Tao and Its Virtue"? If someone says, "I am learning to understand and pursue the Tao and Its Virtue," that person is already remarkable, transcending the mundane and entering the realm of the wise. Such an individual is already so excited they can hardly sleep, with their heart filled with passionate waves of emotion.

In Chinese history, the individual with the most profound understanding of the Tao and Its Virtue was Laozi. His work, Tao Te Ching, provides a concise explanation of the Tao and the Virtue. To understand these concepts, it is best to begin with Tao Te Ching.

While browsing the internet, I have come across articles written by officials, experts, professors, scholars, masters, and celebrities. Their discussions on the Tao and Its Virtue often evoke amusement, resembling preschool children discussing quantum mechanics or blindfolded individuals wandering in a maze. Their attempts can be endearing, comical, and entertaining.

Atheists are inherently deficient in their psychological development. "One Yin and one Yang is called the Tao," yet they recognize only Yang and reject Yin, desiring only half of the world. As Zhuangzi said, “Morning mushrooms do not know the cycle of day and night, and cicadas do not understand the cycles of spring and autumn.” Similarly, creatures born and dying in summer cannot fathom the existence of spring, autumn, or winter. Atheists are forever unaware of the nonmaterial world beyond the material world. Consequently, they can never fully grasp the Tao and Its Virtue.

Does this mean that theists can inherently understand and possess the Tao and Its Virtue? Not necessarily. Without cultivating the Virtue, theists may devolve into something worse than atheists, becoming terrifying entities that harm human society far more gravely.

Atheists may only impose terror over the physical and intellectual aspects of humanity, but theists who devolve into malevolent beings can exert terror over the spiritual and ethereal aspects. Thus, they pose a greater threat.

For humanity to enter a brighter era, it would be ideal for political parties and religions to gradually fade away. In their place, sages could lead through enlightenment, and wise individuals could manage the daily production and lives of humanity.

The mundane view sages with inherent bias, akin to "judging a noble person with the heart of a petty one." Those obsessed with wealth believe moral teachings are motivated by greed, fame-seekers assume such teachings aim for recognition, and power-hungry individuals suspect them of ambition.

A flock of sheep might distrust their shepherd: “Why does this person wield a whip to keep us together, stopping us from freely indulging in the crops or crossing to the other side of the river for a hearty feast? Surely, they aspire to be our leader or king.”

But consider: would a shepherd want to transform into a sheep and become king of the flock?

In the past, many wished to make Jesus the King of Israel. Did He accept? On the contrary, He avoided it as if fleeing from calamity.

Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) was a prince with the potential to unify the kingdoms. Did he desire this? He never harbored such ambitions.

When ordinary people speculate on the thoughts of sages, it is as absurd as a frog at the bottom of a well attempting to fathom the actions of a dragon in the ocean. Understandable, yet utterly ridiculous.

Who Can Possess the Tao and Its Virtue?

It is unlikely that members of existing religious organizations or political parties can truly possess the Tao and Its Virtue. Delve into any such group, and you’ll find them proclaiming their doctrines or ideologies as the sole truth while dismissing others as heresies. To maintain control over their followers or members, they discourage exposure to other ideas, fearing that flaws in their doctrines will be revealed. Such fragility leaves them devoid of resilience or the capacity for critique, rendering them incapable of embodying the Tao and Its Virtue.

Another group comprises the so-called "guardians of orthodoxy." These individuals resemble the Pharisees of old, their hands and tongues bound to scripture, or the senile ministers of successive Chinese emperors, doggedly upholding "ancestral decrees." They incessantly recite "scriptures" and "ancestral teachings," and whenever they detect even the faintest whiff of new ideas or innovations, they erupt with fury, launching diatribes and attacks. They present themselves as defenders of morality and truth, but their fossilized minds churn out nothing but archaic "wisdom" in a desperate bid to crush anything new. Until they obliterate fresh thoughts and innovations, they find no peace, burning with rage and unrest. Such people are incapable of possessing the Tao and Its Virtue.

Even some young individuals, barely acquainted with the surface of religious texts like the Bible, occasionally quote a line or two to pose as defenders of Christianity or experts on scripture, all while ridiculing new ideas. Such behavior distances them from the Tao and Its Virtue.

Purely natural scientists or sociologists also struggle to possess the Tao and Its Virtue. Their rigid thinking makes unconventional perspectives nearly impossible. If I were to suggest that physical illnesses or disasters stem from imperfections in one’s psychological or spiritual nonmaterial structure, would they entertain the idea? Even imagining such possibilities seems beyond them.

As for the general public, most are preoccupied with resolving basic needs for themselves and their families. They lack the time, energy, and resources to explore the vast knowledge systems of material and nonmaterial worlds, making it difficult for them to embody the Tao and Its Virtue.

Who Then Can Possess the Tao and Its Virtue?

The answer: "The Chanyuan Celestials have the potential to embody the Tao and Its Virtue."

Self-praise and arrogance? Not at all.

All religious doctrines and political ideologies appear pale and powerless in the face of Lifechanyuan. Lifechanyuan is an open and evolving system that remains constant within change and changes within constancy. It is boundless, encompassing the moral essence of all religions, political parties, and individuals, while welcoming wisdom from every source. It serves not any religion, political party, organization, individual, social class, ethnic group, or nation, but the entire cosmic life system. If even the Chanyuan Celestials cannot embody the Tao and Its Virtue, who else can? Please, share your thoughts.

In the future, ignorance of Shakespeare, Mayan culture, the Quran, Buddhist scriptures, relativity, or scientific farming may not invite ridicule. However, ignorance of Lifechanyuan will signify that one has fallen behind, become stagnant, decayed, and is on the path to becoming a mummy.

Soon, a great number of Chanyuan Celestials will "emerge from their cocoons." Once awakened from their dormant state of thought, they will soar like the legendary Kunpeng, spreading their wings across the vast seas and skies, commanding the eight corners of the world. They will demonstrate towering strength, boundless talent, and noble character, embodying the Tao and Its Virtue. With their virtues and brilliance, they will lead humanity toward a beautiful and promising future.

The Tao and Its Virtue will be embodied solely by Chanyuan Celestials.