One
I teach the Integral Way of
uniting with the great and mysterious Tao. My teachings are simple; if you
try to make a religion or science of them, they will elude you. Profound
yet plain, they contain the entire truth of the universe. Those who wish
to know the whole truth take joy in doing the work and service that comes
to them. Having completed it, they take joy in cleansing and feeding
themselves. Having cared for others and for themselves, they then turn to
the master for instruction. This simple path leads to peace, virtue, and
abundance.
Two
Men and women who wish to be aware of the whole truth
should adopt the practices of the Integral Way. These time-honored
disciplines calm the mind and bring one into harmony with all things. The
first practice is the practice of undiscriminating virtue: take care of
those who are deserving; also, and equally, take care of those who are
not. When you extend your virtue in all directions without discriminating,
your feet are firmly planted on the path that returns to the Tao.
Three
Those who wish to embody the Tao should embrace all
things. To embrace all things means first that one holds no anger or
resistance toward any idea or thing, living or dead, formed or formless.
Acceptance is the very essence of the Tao. To embrace all things means
also that one rids oneself of any concept of separation; male and female,
self and other, life and death. Division is contrary to the nature of the
Tao. Foregoing antagonism and separation, one enters in the harmonious
oneness of all things.
Four
Every departure from the Tao contaminates one's
spirit. Anger is a departure, resistance a departure, self- absorption a
departure. Over many lifetimes the burden of contaminations can become
great. There is only one way to cleanse oneself of these contaminations,
and that is to practice virtue. What is meant by this? To practice virtue
is to selflessly offer assistance to others, giving without limitation
one's time, abilities, and possessions in service, whenever and wherever
needed, without prejudice concerning the identity of those in need. If
your willingness to give blessings is limited, so also is your ability to
receive them. This is the subtle operation of the Tao.
Five
Do you imagine the universe is agitated? Go into the
desert at night and took out at the stars. This practice should answer the
question. The superior person settles her mind as the universe settles the
stars in the sky. By connecting her mind with the subtle origin, she calms
it. Once calmed, it naturally expands, and ultimately her mind becomes as
vast and immeasurable as the night sky.
Six
The Tao gives rise to all forms, yet it has no form of
its own. If you attempt to fix a picture of it in your mind, you will lose
it. This is like pinning a butterfly: the husk is captured, but the flying
is lost. Why not be content with simply experiencing it?
Seven
The teaching of the Integral Way will go on as long
as there is a Tao and someone who wishes to embody it; What is painted in
these scrolls today will appear in different forms in many generations to
come. These things, however, will never change: Those who wish to attain
oneness must practice undiscriminating virtue. They must dissolve all
ideas of duality: good and bad, beautiful and ugly, high and low. They
will be obliged to abandon any mental bias born of cultural or religious
belief. Indeed, they should hold their minds free of any thought which
interferes with their understanding of the universe as a harmonious
oneness. The beginning of these practices is the beginning of
liberation.
Eight
I confess that there is nothing to teach: no
religion, no science, no body of information which will lead your mind
back to the Tao. Today I speak in this fashion, tomorrow in another, but
always the Integral Way is beyond words and beyond mind. Simply be aware
of the oneness of things.
.......
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