The Pure Mountain Path

If we want true mastery of the teachings of the Tao, we must walk with the Tao to the bus stop, integrate it into our work lives, and at home. Sitting alone in silent meditation hour after hour is merely hiding away from the world. The Tao is omnipresent. It does not hide away from the world. True clarity and mastery is fluid and adaptable, present in all places and at all times. To do so is practicing true meditation.

To be a person of the Tao, a person must be one with the universe. This may call us to question what is the universe? The proper question would be what is not the universe? The universe is in the senses. The universe in in the plant, vine, and flower of the rosebush. It is also in the thorns of the bush. It is in the water that feeds the plant, the soil that supports it, and the wind or cold that may ultimately destroy it.

In order to have a perfect balance, we must cultivate awareness and action. Awareness without action is like a stagnant pond with no movement of the water. Action without awareness is like a bull in a china shop, moving clumsily and crashing about without regard to proper movement. To have both harnessed and under control is to create a chi that is all powerful and enlightening. We must learn and then put those lessons into our everyday life. One without the other fails to generate universal chi.

Meditation alone is not practice. Remember to follow the precepts. In Buddhism, most lay people observe the five precepts. The Buddhist precepts are; not killing, not stealing, not misusing sex, not lying, and not abusing intoxicants. Taoism has 27 precepts which go into a little more detail. You can find a link to the 27 precepts on the Pure Mountain Resource Center http://www.roshihoganblog.blogspot.com Sometimes students get so preoccupied with their meditation, they neglect to focus on following the precepts. The precepts are guidelines we should try to follow. If we break one from time to time, no one besides our karma will punish us. Do your best. Actually, if none of the precepts were broken by anyone, they would be worthless. Meditate and follow the precepts and you are a good student of the Tao.

Do not seek victory in contention. Instead seek not to contend. A practice of non-contention eliminates the danger of victory or defeat. The sapling survives the storm by not contending against it. It goes against the grain of our culture to practice this. Non-contention is often seen as a weakness, yet it is truly the greatest strength. Do what you have to do with a gentle heart and things will take care of themselves. There is no need to contend. Contending brings only suffering. No one wins all the time. Be flexible like the sapling and survive. By not contending, you are truly the winner. Competition is a slippery slope that can lead down to a ravine of suffering and churning rapids.