Missed out on a tenfold gain

In February 2009, I mentioned that in a time of crisis there are opportunities for those who are ready to grasp them. While investors are often happy with a thirty percent gain on their investments, I often look for a few-fold gain with the help of the Book of Changes. (Refer to Crouching tiger, hidden dragon entry on 15 February 2009)

At the height of the financial crisis and just before the global share markets meltdown last March, I had indicated that an eight to tenfold gain can be made on certain shares investments, if lucky.

After the great wealth destruction in 2008, many institutional funds made back some money in 2009. Battered but good stocks recovered quite a bit from their lows in March.

If you still do not understand how and why the global stock market indices jumped so high from April to December 2009, track back the G20s meetings for that year and the record amount of liquidity (the crispy new US 100 dollar notes also found their way to Asia) pumped into the economies of the US, Europe, and the rich Asian countries.

Black hands and market makers were furiously at work, this time for the common good.

Many were churning stocks to attract investors who held on to or have moved to cash in 2008. Perhaps now you know why the investment banks had made tons of money and are able to pay multibillion dollar bonuses, while most high street or commercial banks made losses.

This brings us to the Malaysian fortune tellers’ predictions for 2009.

Some predicted that the first half of the year was good for the country while others predicted the second half to be better.

The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange index plunged in March and recovered with huge gains year on year in tandem with global stock markets by end December. The recession of the economy started in the second quarter of 2009 had deepened in the third quarter. Swine flu or H1N1 caused the death of several citizens straddling the two halves of 2009.

It is up to you to determine which group of fortune tellers was accurate in their predictions.

Perhaps regular readers now know with hindsight why I had not sided with any of the fortune tellers for 2009. (Refer to A touch of patience entry on 30 January 2009)

Back to the big one that got away, shall we?

While the prices of the blue chip stocks in the KLSE were recovering in tandem to the global stock markets, some low liners were drifting lower or treading water (stagnant).

In searching for some cheap stocks to buy, I looked at a share warrant lingering at 5 sen for weeks. Its ‘mother’ share was also battered. Trying to be smart, I thought I could buy the warrant either at a lower price or wait until investors start to buy the ‘mother’ share. But the syndicate pushed up the warrant instead of the ‘mother’ at a rapid rate. Once the price doubled, I did not bother to chase. Last week, the price of the warrant touched 50 sen and that represents a tenfold gain from 5.

That was a tenfold gain missed out. We cannot make huge gains every time!

But there is still time since stock markets never die.

If you do not believe me, check how long it took for Richard Wilhelm’s prognostications to unfold.

Shen Gui

The duality of spirits, Shen Gui has been briefly touched upon in the Da Zhuan (the Great Treatise – Chapter 4.2). According to the ancients, Shen (gods) the light spirits are outgoing while Gui (ghosts including demons) the dark spirits are returning.

Shen Gui are also mentioned and carefully differentiated in the Leng Yen Ching (Shurangama Sutra) by the Buddha and in the Secret of the Golden Flower by Lu Dongbin.

The three great sages, Laozi, Confucius and the Buddha, while acknowledging the presence of such spirits, do not delve on them in their respective teachings. Since both the light and the dark spirits remain invisible to most human eyes, it would be a very difficult subject to teach. Except that Yi students and Daoists know the light spirits represent yang while the dark spirits represent yin.

In real life, gods and ghosts seldom manifest for people to see. We may have heard of or read about possessions by ghosts or demons – the dark spirits. Some are related to Karma of previous lives, others because the victims were weak at the time of possession. With the help and power from the divine – the light spirits, possessions can be cured.

In China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and some countries in South East Asia, disciples and devotees often have the opportunity in Daoist temples to consult gods and celestial immortals through mediums and/or the planchette. Even then these Daoist divinities do not manifest for all to see.

According to what I understand, Daoists who have cultivated Tao (and Te) to a high level may be given an opportunity during meditation to see their ancestor master(s) – celestial immortal(s). However it does not mean that any high level cultivator of Tao can see real divinities and/or hear them speak or sing. It depends.

If you are a Daoist, Confucian, or Buddhist cultivator of Tao (and Te) reading this and think that you have reach a high level it pays to study the Shurangama Sutra and/or the Secret of the Golden Flower to clarify and confirm what you hear from or see are real divinities (Shen) and not that of demons (Gui - Mo). Many a Tao cultivator of a high level has been seduced by the dark spirits without realizing it. That is the danger of bypaths which Laozi, Buddha, and Lu Dongbin had warned against.

The cultivation of Te or virtues is easier than that of Tao or essence through meditation. If you just meditate and not cultivate virtues, you may not reach the higher levels. If you just cultivate virtues and do not meditate, you would become a good person but not necessary a cultivator of Tao.

If you cultivate both Tao and Te, by and by over several years or decades, you may attain something of value and receive confirmatory experiences.

These confirmatory experiences include that of hearing gods in the valley. Prior to and after these confirmations, you may experience or see many other signposts of the Way. Except for simple signs - like good health and conduct, no trouble in sleeping, no dreams – most of the important signposts have been documented by the ancients and the Zhen Ren (realized persons) in the classics (include sutras) and Daoist texts.

Signposts of various stages are also highlighted in this blog. Cultivators of Tao may not have seen or are aware about them until they have raised their own spiritual experiences to the required level of cultivation. In the main, how far one can go is up to each cultivator.

Try not to rush your cultivation by inviting or asking spirits (Shen Gui) to teach unless they are your actual ancestor masters. (Take note Tao Bums!)

Do not make the fatal mistake of getting seduced by the dark realms. Even high level cultivators had succumbed to it by not closely following the advice given in the classics and texts.

Remember my earlier blog entry on the elderly venerable Thai Buddhist abbot who forty years ago wrote a book about his meditation experiences of European angels coming up to praise him about his well spoken dharma? If any of his students or student’s students happens to read this entry, ask yourself this question:

Did the Buddha, Laozi, Bodhidharma, Lu Dongbin or any Zhen Ren ever mention such experiences in their classics, texts or teachings?

To the knowledgeable, what is real what is false can be differentiated and determined.

Not duped

The wisdoms contained in the Book of Changes are aplenty and can be a way of life for Yi students like that of Tao. If we look around us and reflect upon the wisdoms in the Yi, we may find that they provide good guides and wise counsel. And at times, good or bad luck are created by self through our thoughts and actions.

Take for instance the entry on ‘Sincerity at stake’ written on September 27, 2009 where one questioned the sincerity of the sons of the recent deceased neighbor in their request of monthly contributions towards the employment of security guards for the neighborhood. They had already employed the guards to keep a 24-hour watch over their house after a recent robbery. Apparently about half the entire neighborhood was convinced and agreed to the scheme commencing last October.

The other half either remained unconvinced or consists of retirees who could not afford the additional cost of living nor had anything of value at home to be robbed of.

Now it has come to pass that this deceased neighbor’s sons had duped the neighborhood in contributing towards the cost of their own safety. (Instead their father had been generous to some of the elderly neighbors.)

This week, after disposing of their family home they have moved away to a row of new houses constructed on a piece of land previously bought by their late father. (It takes on average twelve to eighteen months to construct a new double storey house in Malaysia.)

I am sure they did not reveal their plans to those who had contributed and now left in a lurch. Thinking that there will be continued security, some contributors have splashed out on new luxury cars and parked them outside their homes. The contributors have less than a week to decide if they want to continue the employment of security guards. And the management of the guards has been knocking on their doors the past few days for answers.

If only they have questioned in their minds the sincerity of the late neighbor’s sons, then they may not be duped into this ‘short term’ scheme and taken advantaged of.

If only they have read the Yi.

To readers who were not duped by Madoff or their neighbor’s sons, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Impartiality (Gongzheng)

Impartiality (Gongzheng) or in simpler terms, fairness, is important to the progress of human beings down the ages. It forms part of human nature.

Public anger will be aroused if any person or a people is treated or deemed to be treated unfairly. There are many instances of such cases occurring during modern times not unlike happenings in ancient China. Take for instance that of Hurricane Katrina and the floods of the Yellow River. (The only difference is there were no executions of culprits in modern times.)

If rulers or their laws are not impartial not only will the people suffer needlessly, the unfairness will also make them angry. Therefore the ancient sages exhort rulers to cultivate cardinal virtues in order that public laws and taxes of the land can be fair to the multitude.

The holy sages through the Yi (Book of Changes) teach the Junzi how to cultivate these virtues, so did Confucius and Laozi in the Analects and the Tao Te Ching respectively.

According to Laozi in TTC 16, acceptance of the principle of returning to destiny leads to impartiality which in turn leads to completeness. Impartiality also relates to Centered Harmony. (To know more about centered harmony, refer to the Doctrine of the Mean).

Fellow students of the Tao and the Yi can also learn more about public sentiment on impartiality, and the cardinal virtues, by watching the Taiwanese series of the trials of Justice Bao Zheng better known as Baogong of the Song Dynasty. (Readers in Malaysia can currently follow the series, dubbed in Cantonese, shown on the Astro network on weekdays.) Any fair or impartial trial has to be based on the grounds of confirmed facts and verified evidence, and not based on mere assumptions or false beliefs.

Mere assumptions and false beliefs can lead to bypaths and not the Way.

If we do not know how to sit and forget, we cannot be empty like Heaven. If we do not cultivate virtues, we cannot be still like Earth. When we do not know how to become empty and still, can we venture to talk about the ancient Way? But people still do!

If someone is partial to Heaven and talks nothing about Earth, it would be perfectly alright to ignore his teachings, even if he happens to be an ancient sage.

Since the three great sages – Laozi, Confucius, and Buddha – taught about Heaven and Earth and so did the holy sages in the Yi. That is being impartial, and a bit more on TTC 16, if you catch the drift.

Returning to destiny (2)

In the first entry of the topic, a reader came up with a few good questions about what came before Tao; immortals and deities; dual cultivation; and whether by consulting the Yi, we are in fact approaching Tao.

Since my answers could be relevant to fellow travelers of the Way and students of the Yi, and/or other readers still trying to figure out what chapter 16 of the Tao Te Ching really means, I include them in this second entry. Here goes.

According to Laozi, Tao the mother of Heaven and Earth existed before all things including that of god(s). (Refer to TTC chapters 4, 21 and 25 etc) If Tao is the mother of Heaven and Earth, what existed before it?

According to ancient Chinese history, Heaven and Earth were in existence before humans became immortals and deities.

There is a subtle difference between Daoist immortals and deities, in case readers have not noticed in previous Yi entries related to divinities. Daoist immortals like Buddhas are learned and cultivated, while some deities may face difficulty in discussing the Yi.

Consulting the Yi can be a way to approach Tao, if we follow what the Junzi do. Like fellow travelers of the Way, the Junzi also cultivate.

And what do they cultivate?

The ancients said that they cultivate Tao and Te (refer TTC chapters 23 and 54). To make it simpler for the multitude, the Neo Daoists wrote down for posterity, the dual cultivation of essence and of bodily life.

If we do not even know about this dual cultivation, it would prove difficult to understand what Laozi indicated in TTC 16. Since we need to cultivate Tao and Te to achieve utmost emptiness and guard assured stillness. Only from there can fellows of the Way proceed further to returning to destiny.

At the end of this magical far journey, we may come to realize that Tao last forever, without body, no death.

‘Immortality!’ exclaimed my learned Daoist friend when I reached the final verse of the simple translation of TTC 16. And he is right, in case you had not seen it that way. My recent verse-by-verse discussion with him included references to Confucian thoughts and the Yi.

With this further explanation, perhaps fellow Tao cultivators and Yi students can come to the same conclusions?

Returning to destiny

When we want to learn a profound subject, we always want to study with the best.

Tao and the Yi are among the most profound subjects available in the world. To learn more about these two subjects, we have to read the Yi and the Tao Te Ching written by ancient holy sages and Laozi respectively for posterity.

The many truths that lay hidden within these two ancient classics are available for the right persons to find. And down the millennia of their availability, many brilliant minds cum cultivators found the hidden truths.

If we do not cultivate what the ancient sages have taught, even with brilliant minds, we may be unable to penetrate the mysteries of Tao and the Yi because the subjects are so deep and profound. Like what Laozi said and what undergraduates know to be true, obtaining a third class degree is always easier than a second class one, and the first class degree is only awarded to those with brilliant minds who are invariably diligent.

If we only know the theories and not the practices, we could be reading dead books. If we only know the practices and not the theories we will be deemed technicians.

A true professional (read right person / cultivator) understands both and knows how to apply them to the best of his or her abilities. In knowing how to apply the theories to practice, the cultivator can penetrate the many mysteries of Tao and the Yi.

Meanwhile this is my simple translation of Tao Te Ching chapter 16 for fellow students of the Tao and the Yi. (Note the subtle differences with the more popular translations.)

Understanding the principle well can facilitate our return to destiny. Those who diligently practise neidan the ancient way can spot the metaphors and the requisite actions for the return. Confucians who cultivate to reach the center can perhaps see something familiar. Serious and earnest Yi students should try to relate what Laozi said in this chapter to the Yi.

If you are able with clarity discern what Laozi taught, you are one step closer to penetrating the mysteries of Tao and the Yi.

Tao Te Ching chapter 16

Achieve utmost emptiness, guard assured stillness.

(Even if) myriad things no longer active, I continue to observe return.

Man and things flourish, each will return to its root.

To return to the root require stillness, stillness brings return to destiny.

Returning to destiny is the principle; knowledge of this principle means understanding.

Not knowing this principle, delusions and disasters arise.

Know and accept the principle, upon acceptance one can be impartial, impartiality accords with completeness. Completion accords with Heaven. Heaven accords with Dao.

Dao last forever, without body, no death.
[Allan Lian]

For a few dollars more

Greed is part of human nature. That is why Confucius warned the old not to be greedy.

If the old had not heeded it, their wealth could have been destroyed in 2008. It is sad to see many of the elderly who invested in the so called mini bonds which had paid a higher interest than their local banks and lost their entire fortune on the collapse of Lehman Brothers. If we happen to lose our wealth during old age, it could be difficult for us to make back the money.

I recall the 1985/ 86 recession in Malaysia where several credit & leasing and finance companies collapsed. Investors and depositors, attracted by the high interests that these companies were paying, paid the price of their greed. They just wanted a few dollars more for their money.

But investors have short memories. They are already investing in investments which promise to pay a higher interest than bank deposits. They are investing in the mini bonds again because of the prevailing low interest regime across the world led by the US. They are borrowing to chase equities and real property prices higher. Both China and Japan have recently warned against the created bubbles.

The astute have seen what the US is trying to do with the low interest regime – inflating assets value (think realty) and lowering the US dollar value (think exports). This policy did not work that well for Japan during the 1990s; I wonder if they will work for the United States of America.

Meanwhile risk takers are currently using the US dollars for their carry trades instead of the Yen. I call them risk takers because Japanese housewives made loads of money using the Yen for their carry trades but got burned now and then when exchange rates turned against them.

Retirees should not take on too much risk with their retirement funds. Neither should they be tempted by a few dollars more. There are still many safe and sound investments around even if they pay a low interest. Take heart that global interest rates will be raised eventually.