In Chapter 79 .4 of the Tao Te Ching, Laozi said:
“In the way of heaven, there is no partiality of love; it is always on the side of the good.”
During his long travels across China, Confucius was once detained and threatened by the men of Kuang. The followers of Confucius were afraid but he said:
‘Since King Wen is no more, who but I can be the standard bearer of culture? If Heaven had wanted culture to disappear, I should not have possessed it after all this time. And if Heaven does not intend culture to disappear, what can the men of Kuang do to me?’
Since there were no written records on the life story of Laozi, one has to assume he has also experienced like Confucius, how Heaven is always on the side of the good. Otherwise he would not have stated that. Remember, a sage is cautious with his words and actions.
Good people, even in modern times, who have had experienced this truth would wholeheartedly agree to the two great sages’ respective statements. Think of the experiences of Gandhi, Mother Theresa, and Nelson Mandela; and you would be more aware that Heaven is always on the side of the good.
Now where did these two ancient sages learn about this way of Heaven?
From the Book of Changes, of course!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Inferior man (Xiao Ren) has no merit
When can we consider a man, an inferior man (Xiao Ren)?
According to the Book of Changes and the ancients, we judge the character of a person by his words and actions. The inferior man's words or rationale can be rather sweet and insinuating but they may not be good enough to cover up his mean actions to the discerning.
Perhaps a good example is that of an Asian Central Banker who gambled away his country’s entire foreign reserves in 1997 trying to beat off a pack of hedge funds attacking the country’s currency. He rationalized later that he was trying to save both his countrymen and the country.
The learned judge at the end of the trial had no qualms to throw him in jail and fined him one billion US dollars for restitution.
Of course, the banker did not have such vast sum of money, but that was not the point. This great man (Da Ren) who turned out to be an inferior man (Xiao Ren), after all, has no merit. He suffered the consequences.
Turning to Hexagram 21 Shi He / Biting Through, Confucius says in regard to the nine at the beginning:
“The inferior man is not ashamed of unkindness and does not shrink from injustice. If no advantage beckons he makes no effort. If he is not intimidated he does not improve himself, but if he is made to behave correctly in small matters he is careful in large ones. This is fortunate for the inferior man.”
Global financial regulators could do well with their charges if they take note of the great sage’s comments.
On the subject of the nine at the top Confucius says:
“If good does not accumulate, it is not enough to make a name for a man. If evil does not accumulate, it is not strong enough to destroy a man. Therefore the inferior man thinks to himself, ‘Goodness in small things has no value,’ and so neglects it. He thinks, ‘Small sins do no harm,’ and so does not give them up. Thus his sins accumulate until they can no longer be covered up, and his guilt becomes so great that it can no longer be wiped out.”
In contrast to the first line, this top line refers to a man who is incorrigible. His punishment is the wooden cangue, and his ears disappear under it – that is to say, he is deaf to warnings. This obstinacy leads to misfortune.
[Book of Changes - Wilhelm / Baynes]
In case you do not know, students who receive no approval from their masters cannot teach, and those who use intellectual material of others, without the real owner's permission or fair use with citations, engage in thievery; no matter what the rationale.
Regulars in Daoist and Yi forums may find the inferior man under the guise of students and/or ‘teachers’. I tend to avoid such persons and those associated with them.
At the very least, I would not get ‘Madoffed’!
According to the Book of Changes and the ancients, we judge the character of a person by his words and actions. The inferior man's words or rationale can be rather sweet and insinuating but they may not be good enough to cover up his mean actions to the discerning.
Perhaps a good example is that of an Asian Central Banker who gambled away his country’s entire foreign reserves in 1997 trying to beat off a pack of hedge funds attacking the country’s currency. He rationalized later that he was trying to save both his countrymen and the country.
The learned judge at the end of the trial had no qualms to throw him in jail and fined him one billion US dollars for restitution.
Of course, the banker did not have such vast sum of money, but that was not the point. This great man (Da Ren) who turned out to be an inferior man (Xiao Ren), after all, has no merit. He suffered the consequences.
Turning to Hexagram 21 Shi He / Biting Through, Confucius says in regard to the nine at the beginning:
“The inferior man is not ashamed of unkindness and does not shrink from injustice. If no advantage beckons he makes no effort. If he is not intimidated he does not improve himself, but if he is made to behave correctly in small matters he is careful in large ones. This is fortunate for the inferior man.”
Global financial regulators could do well with their charges if they take note of the great sage’s comments.
On the subject of the nine at the top Confucius says:
“If good does not accumulate, it is not enough to make a name for a man. If evil does not accumulate, it is not strong enough to destroy a man. Therefore the inferior man thinks to himself, ‘Goodness in small things has no value,’ and so neglects it. He thinks, ‘Small sins do no harm,’ and so does not give them up. Thus his sins accumulate until they can no longer be covered up, and his guilt becomes so great that it can no longer be wiped out.”
In contrast to the first line, this top line refers to a man who is incorrigible. His punishment is the wooden cangue, and his ears disappear under it – that is to say, he is deaf to warnings. This obstinacy leads to misfortune.
[Book of Changes - Wilhelm / Baynes]
In case you do not know, students who receive no approval from their masters cannot teach, and those who use intellectual material of others, without the real owner's permission or fair use with citations, engage in thievery; no matter what the rationale.
Regulars in Daoist and Yi forums may find the inferior man under the guise of students and/or ‘teachers’. I tend to avoid such persons and those associated with them.
At the very least, I would not get ‘Madoffed’!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The fever subsides
After earlier entries where one discussed the notion that ancient masters (Shi) and/or neidan masters can heal Flu (inclusive of type A H1N1) victims with heat and the Light from their hands, I discovered that the same remedy can help lower the fever of a ‘patient’.
Last week, my wife suffered from an itchy throat. She tried curing it by taking double action Vitamin C 1,000 mg tablets but to no avail. I was unaware until she told me later that night. By the time I was ready to work on her throat, she was fast asleep.
When I started to work on her throat with my hands, I felt she was running a high fever. Her neck felt hot so was her forehead. After working on her neck for a few minutes (it only takes a few minutes if your palms are hot enough), I touched her forehead with the back of my hand. Her fever had subsided.
By the next morning, the itchiness, probably later turned soreness, of the throat and the fever had both disappeared without a trace. Like Daoist magic?
Last week, my wife suffered from an itchy throat. She tried curing it by taking double action Vitamin C 1,000 mg tablets but to no avail. I was unaware until she told me later that night. By the time I was ready to work on her throat, she was fast asleep.
When I started to work on her throat with my hands, I felt she was running a high fever. Her neck felt hot so was her forehead. After working on her neck for a few minutes (it only takes a few minutes if your palms are hot enough), I touched her forehead with the back of my hand. Her fever had subsided.
By the next morning, the itchiness, probably later turned soreness, of the throat and the fever had both disappeared without a trace. Like Daoist magic?
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Having trouble sleeping?
My eldest sister called the other day with news about her planned trip home with family. While on the line she told me that she had some trouble sleeping recently. She could only fall asleep after lying in bed for a few hours.
Then she remembered the simple sitting meditation with the basic breath control I had taught her previously, and she practised it before going to bed. She sounded happy while telling me; she could now fall asleep within a few minutes after doing the meditation.
This is one of the benefits that I was not aware of until she gave me the feedback, since one has no trouble falling asleep.
If you have trouble falling asleep, perhaps you can try the same sitting meditation with the basic breath control that I have taught my father, my siblings and kin.
The two relevant entries are Simple sitting and Basic breath control listed on the section under Meditation written in early 2006.
The simple sitting should be suitable for everyone but not the basic breath control. If you have recent surgery, do not practise the basic breath control until the incision(s) have fully healed. Neither should those below the age of 26 practise it.
In some countries, the teaching of this basic breath control takes months and can cost you some money. In this blog, it is another one of those freebies for the sharing of health and wealth (knowledge).
Whether you are rich or poor, living under a roof or stretching out under the open sky, religious or not, happy or sad, well educated or illiterate, you can still practise this simple and easy meditation if you wish. And it is free.
Cheerio!
Then she remembered the simple sitting meditation with the basic breath control I had taught her previously, and she practised it before going to bed. She sounded happy while telling me; she could now fall asleep within a few minutes after doing the meditation.
This is one of the benefits that I was not aware of until she gave me the feedback, since one has no trouble falling asleep.
If you have trouble falling asleep, perhaps you can try the same sitting meditation with the basic breath control that I have taught my father, my siblings and kin.
The two relevant entries are Simple sitting and Basic breath control listed on the section under Meditation written in early 2006.
The simple sitting should be suitable for everyone but not the basic breath control. If you have recent surgery, do not practise the basic breath control until the incision(s) have fully healed. Neither should those below the age of 26 practise it.
In some countries, the teaching of this basic breath control takes months and can cost you some money. In this blog, it is another one of those freebies for the sharing of health and wealth (knowledge).
Whether you are rich or poor, living under a roof or stretching out under the open sky, religious or not, happy or sad, well educated or illiterate, you can still practise this simple and easy meditation if you wish. And it is free.
Cheerio!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Purposelessness
To and fro goes the Way
But how many people could remember?
Thousands, millions, billions have forgotten
The fall from Tao
The Ancients pointed the way home
Since they had remembered
Upon seeing the various signposts
Return to Tao, they urge
Not to forsake the multitude
They laid down means and ways
Cultivate essence and virtues
To empty the mind and rectify the heart
Sit and forget
Emotions subside
In peace and harmony
Contemplate the Light
Yin Yang interchanges
Forms and Emptiness
Earth and then Heaven
Stars and Galaxies
How could the multitude remember?
An eternity ago
A journey so far
The thousands, millions, billions ….
Immortals and Buddhas sing
Face the ancestor and the eight trigrams
The golden flower blooms
See the original self
Perhaps then
We could remember
The way we were
Purposelessness
But how many people could remember?
Thousands, millions, billions have forgotten
The fall from Tao
The Ancients pointed the way home
Since they had remembered
Upon seeing the various signposts
Return to Tao, they urge
Not to forsake the multitude
They laid down means and ways
Cultivate essence and virtues
To empty the mind and rectify the heart
Sit and forget
Emotions subside
In peace and harmony
Contemplate the Light
Yin Yang interchanges
Forms and Emptiness
Earth and then Heaven
Stars and Galaxies
How could the multitude remember?
An eternity ago
A journey so far
The thousands, millions, billions ….
Immortals and Buddhas sing
Face the ancestor and the eight trigrams
The golden flower blooms
See the original self
Perhaps then
We could remember
The way we were
Purposelessness
Friday, July 17, 2009
Completing the four seasons of 2009
Spring has come and gone. Summer is about to end. Autumn will soon begin. Winter follows. Seasonal cycles have existed longer than the Book of Changes and the ancients. So what have we learned?
The future can be foretold. Omens can be received. Heaven hold many secrets. All these can be known by consulting the Zhouyi. Over the years, one has blogged enough to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that it can be and has been done. Pigs and fishes may still remain unconvinced.
But revealing omens and/or heaven’s secrets too often, has its drawbacks. Even divinities (Daoist deities and celestial immortals) have their limits, the Yi had once told me. While lucky enough not to be struck by lightning, it can damage one’s health or pockets. The loud encroaching thunders can be rather frightening, especially when it is not raining, while one types out the secrets for blogging.
After giving out the omen on the wind borne diseases and the air disasters, the Yi had wanted to tell me something else. Upon consultation, the prognostication given seems to be another omen or heaven secret to complete the four seasons of 2009.
This time, instead of revealing the heaven’s secret or omen in the explicit manner like in previous occasions over the past few years, one would present it in the form of a Guan Yin qin (divination slip) adding on an ‘ancient’, to assist clarity. (I have tested it two nights ago, and there was no usual rumbling from Heaven.)
It could also provide an opportunity for the esoteric, Yi aficionados and Daoist devotees to ‘crack’ their heads over what is the revelation – the heaven’s secret. Readers can try to decipher the message(s) from heaven and comment, if they so wish.
Spring winds borne diseases. False hope and black hands hide heaven.
Summer air disasters. No parts or poor maintenance.
Autumn rains rockets. Watch the south east region.
Winter drum beats in the distance. Pigs cry, fish laughs, and cranes fly home.
Ancient (Gu Ren) for the latter two seasons:
Guan Lo advises Cao Cao not to move.
The future can be foretold. Omens can be received. Heaven hold many secrets. All these can be known by consulting the Zhouyi. Over the years, one has blogged enough to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that it can be and has been done. Pigs and fishes may still remain unconvinced.
But revealing omens and/or heaven’s secrets too often, has its drawbacks. Even divinities (Daoist deities and celestial immortals) have their limits, the Yi had once told me. While lucky enough not to be struck by lightning, it can damage one’s health or pockets. The loud encroaching thunders can be rather frightening, especially when it is not raining, while one types out the secrets for blogging.
After giving out the omen on the wind borne diseases and the air disasters, the Yi had wanted to tell me something else. Upon consultation, the prognostication given seems to be another omen or heaven secret to complete the four seasons of 2009.
This time, instead of revealing the heaven’s secret or omen in the explicit manner like in previous occasions over the past few years, one would present it in the form of a Guan Yin qin (divination slip) adding on an ‘ancient’, to assist clarity. (I have tested it two nights ago, and there was no usual rumbling from Heaven.)
It could also provide an opportunity for the esoteric, Yi aficionados and Daoist devotees to ‘crack’ their heads over what is the revelation – the heaven’s secret. Readers can try to decipher the message(s) from heaven and comment, if they so wish.
Spring winds borne diseases. False hope and black hands hide heaven.
Summer air disasters. No parts or poor maintenance.
Autumn rains rockets. Watch the south east region.
Winter drum beats in the distance. Pigs cry, fish laughs, and cranes fly home.
Ancient (Gu Ren) for the latter two seasons:
Guan Lo advises Cao Cao not to move.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Heed the advice of these Da Ren
It has been a long while since I last talk about investments. With the great destruction of wealth in 2008, few with no vested interest would like to touch on investments. Who wants to be blamed for causing further hardships to investors, or creating personal bankruptcies?
Wise words are usually far and few in between.
When a Da Ren (Great Man) gives advice, small investors like us have to take heed.
In October 2008, during times of great uncertainty, Warren Buffet, the Oracle of Omaha, advised American investors to invest in US shares, with their own money.
In early April 2009, Li Ka Shing, the Superman of Hong Kong, advised HK investors to buy shares as they were cheap. About two months later, after the Hang Seng Index had rebounded 50% or more from its March lows, he advised investors to dispose of the shares as the investments were getting expensive.
Understand what has been advised by the two Da Ren and take heed of their advice; since most may not know what is going to happen in the next six months up till the next Chinese New Year.
Even if you think you count amongst those who foreknow the future, try not to be too clever. Those are sagely advice for all investors.
Wise words are usually far and few in between.
When a Da Ren (Great Man) gives advice, small investors like us have to take heed.
In October 2008, during times of great uncertainty, Warren Buffet, the Oracle of Omaha, advised American investors to invest in US shares, with their own money.
In early April 2009, Li Ka Shing, the Superman of Hong Kong, advised HK investors to buy shares as they were cheap. About two months later, after the Hang Seng Index had rebounded 50% or more from its March lows, he advised investors to dispose of the shares as the investments were getting expensive.
Understand what has been advised by the two Da Ren and take heed of their advice; since most may not know what is going to happen in the next six months up till the next Chinese New Year.
Even if you think you count amongst those who foreknow the future, try not to be too clever. Those are sagely advice for all investors.
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