Xuefeng Preaching Tao (6)

Xuefeng

June 3, 2008

Tao is the consciousness of the Greatest Creator, the driving force behind the movement and transformation of all things in the universe. It is the lifeblood of the universe, it is nature, and the synthesis of all laws.

Tao possesses eight characteristics: holographic order, eternal reliability, instantaneous sensitivity and adaptability, transcendence over time and space with no interior or exterior, spirituality, justice, non-obstruction, and illusory yet actual existence.

The Sixth Characteristic of the Tao: Justice

“If we look at things from a moment-to-moment perspective, it’s almost impossible to discern the justice of Tao. Where does the justice of Tao manifest when a kind person encounters a car accident? Where does the justice of Tao manifest when a place experiences an earthquake, causing mass casualties and injuries? Where does the justice of Tao manifest when some opportunists exploit and oppress good people, living in wealth and comfort, while hardworking, kind, and sincere individuals struggle with hardship and despair?

To see the justice of Tao, one must look at it from a macro perspective, from a holistic viewpoint, from the perspective of causality, from the long river of history, from the interplay of debts, from the future consequences, and from the principles of “Misfortune, that upon which happiness depends; happiness, that underneath which misfortune lurks.” and "If you want to contract something, you must first expand it; if you want to weaken something, you must first strengthen it; if you want to abolish something, you must first promote it; if you want to seize something, you must first give to it.”

When someone suffers from a headache, there is always a reason behind it. There is absolutely no headache without a cause. The occurrence of any phenomenon or event always has its reasons; there are no occurrences without reasons. All illnesses, pains, and disasters have their origins. When we trace back to their roots, we may find that some originate not long ago, while others have origins from a very long time ago. We tend to forget events from a long time ago because we cannot find their roots. Due to this, we often misunderstand the justice of Tao and mistakenly conclude that life is unpredictable and that the occurrence of all phenomena and events is merely coincidental.

In fact, the justice of Tao manifests not only on a macro and global scale but also on a micro and local level From quarrels between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law to palace intrigues, from slipping and falling outside to facing difficulties in tasks, from joys and sorrows, separations and reunions, to changes in weather and the waxing and waning of the moon, from personal fights to world wars, the justice of Tao is evident everywhere. The reason we often fail to perceive the justice of Tao is because we have not identified the root causes that lead to or trigger events.

In hell, there isn’t a single unjustly condemned spirit; between the realms of yin and yang, there isn’t a single unjustly condemned ghost; in the human world, there isn’t a single person who is unjustly accused. “As one sows, so shall one reap”; “Divine punishments, though slow, are always sure; with big meshes, yet letting nothing slip through”. The two levels are in symmetry, and yin and yang are in balance. Everything is a result of our own actions; there’s no point in blaming heaven, earth, society, or others.

Let’s explore the justice of Tao through a few examples.

The inevitability of death for everyone is a significant aspect of the justice of Tao. The poor die; the wealthy die; the great die; the insignificant die; the powerful die; the powerless die; the beautiful die; the ugly die... How fair it is! If some people didn't die, would there be any way out for us?

Has the sun not shone upon everyone? Regardless of who you are, the sun shines upon you. Is this not fair? The air circulates throughout the world, allowing every living being to breathe freely without charge. Is this not fair? Regardless of height, weight, wealth, or poverty, regardless of race, every person is given a pair of bright eyes. Is this not fair? Love attracts love, bringing joy to the heart. Everyone experiences this. How fair Tao is!

Establishing heaven to reward those who revere the Greatest Creator, life, and nature, and follow the path of the Greatest Creator; and setting up hell to punish those who disregard the Greatest Creator, are arrogant and reckless, harm living beings, pollute rivers, lakes, seas, skies, and the earth, and speak nonsense about mysterious and spooky things – how just Tao is!

The more you have, the more troubled you are; the less you have, the less troubled you are. How fair the program designed by Tao! Allowing each person to sleep in only one bed at night, limiting each person to eating only a few bowls of rice at most, limiting each person’s physical and mental capabilities, subjecting each person to the same risks when traveling by car or plane, granting each person free will, and allowing each person to freely choose their future lifestyle and path – how fair Tao is!

If someone wears a diamond necklace, you say you also want to wear a diamond necklace, otherwise it’s unfair; if someone is six feet tall, you say you also want to be six feet tall, otherwise it’s unfair; if someone lives in a mansion, you say you also want to live in a mansion, otherwise it’s unfair; if Hu Jintao becomes the President, you say you also want to be the President, otherwise it’s unfair… Alright! If that’s the case, when someone suffers, you should also suffer; when someone breaks their leg, you should also break your leg; when someone is burned to death, you should also burn yourself to death; when someone contracts AIDS, you should also inject yourself with the AIDS virus… Is this justice?

Tao is just, there is no doubt about it. The sum of positive and negative energy in the universe is zero, meaning the universe's accounts are balanced. Ultimately, the accounts of every individual will also inevitably balance. Understanding this, we will be calm in our hearts, peaceful in our minds, clear-sighted, and more willing to give and less eager to take. The more we give, the less we seek, and the greater the ultimate reward will be.

Don’t limit your perspective to the gains and losses of yesterday and today; look towards tomorrow and the day after. Don’t confine your perspective to past lives and the present life; look towards future lives and lives to come. In this way, no matter how tumultuous the waves of life may be, we can steer our life's ship steadily and safely towards the ideal harbor we dream of.