Not everyone is suitable for spiritual cultivation
paulpeng
Laziness: Some people who study Taoism become lazy and don't do many things in life. They don't know that all productive activities are not in conflict with the ultimate truth. According to Laozi's teachings, one should "blend with the light and the dust" and cultivate in life. There are many such people who are lazy about real life and have high aspirations but low abilities. They look down on hard work and use spiritual cultivation to escape reality. This is also a wrong path. Looking at ancient books, Wang Shiba became a servant and achieved the Great Way. Chen Niwan was a craftsman and also achieved the Great Way. Shi Tai was a doctor earlier and later became a tailor, and also became a great master.
Zhang Boduan said in "Awakening to Reality": "If a person with lofty ideals can cultivate, why can't one achieve it whether living in the city or in the officialdom?" In the marketplace or in the officialdom, one can do things while cultivating the Tao and achieve success. Nowadays, those who are lazy and don't do things under the pretext of cultivating the Tao need to reflect. In the past, it was said that "a scholar is useless." Now it has become "a spiritual cultivator is useless." I have seen many people who study and cultivate the Tao, but in the end, they become "good-for-nothings." They have no sense of responsibility for themselves, their families, or society. Let alone "repaying the fourfold kindnesses above and relieving the sufferings of the three paths below."
Obsession: Reaching the point of being obsessed with Buddhist and Taoist cultures and even having fanatical religious passion. Some who believe in Buddhism attack Taoism. Some who believe in Taoism curse Buddhism. They only think that what they learn is right and that what they learn is the right path, while others are heretical. In some families, people fight because of different beliefs. There was once a family where the elder sister believed in Buddhism and the younger brother believed in Christianity. Neither could persuade the other, so they fought and became estranged. This is all obsession. There is no wisdom. It is very dangerous and lacks the spirit of tolerance. Some are obsessed with what they have learned and disdain other knowledge and learning.
It should be known that true spiritual cultivation cultures contain true science and philosophy and explore higher realms. The higher the realm, the more inclusive it is. Just like looking at the earth from space, one will find that the earth is just a drop in the ocean of space. Because the observer's vision is broadened. When one reaches a high realm in cultivating the Tao, one also has a mind that embraces the universe, a vision that observes the great world, a compassion that loves all living beings, and a true knowledge that penetrates the visible and the invisible. His knowledge is not limited to the truth of the visible world but also includes the truth of the invisible world that we have not yet recognized. The most terrifying thing in obsession is becoming superstitious. Family affairs and family relationships are all in a mess.
Illusion: Producing hallucinations. This is very common. There is no need to give examples. Many people have experienced and recognized this. After hallucinations occur, taking illusions as reality delays many things in life. Hallucinations are also precursors of mental illness and need to be vigilant. Hallucinations are normal in cultivation, but taking illusions as reality is abnormal. "Know that it is an illusion and leave it. Once you leave the illusion, you will awaken." There is no need for expedient means and there is no gradual process. The result of hallucinations is often that cultivators live a life that is neither human nor ghost nor god nor immortal.
Arrogance: It is extreme arrogance. Looking down on anyone. Some people think they are those who have attained the Tao, or those who have revealed secrets, or those who have achieved the highest. Some scholars also have this problem. They think their works are the "most" something. Some cultivators think their sects are the "most" something. Some people are not so arrogant, but they are still arrogant and look down on others. Don't underestimate anyone who has not entered the door. But we can't do it. We often have arrogance in our hearts. In the Taoist method, this is "arrogance" and it is a problem that needs to be eliminated.
Confusion: It is mental confusion. People's sanity is abnormal. Some need to be hospitalized in mental hospitals. Some are cared for at home. Some people seem normal on the surface, but inside they are already confused. They are only supported by a little bit of rationality. Many people with psychological disorders are like this. In other aspects, they are very normal, but in a certain aspect, their hearts have already collapsed. They are only supported by a little bit of rationality to maintain their dignity. Such people will return to normal if they are self-aware. If they are not self-aware, dangers will arise everywhere. As for those who go crazy due to cultivation, just look at the social materials during the qigong craze more than ten years ago. I'm afraid it will make one's hair stand on end.
Now, those in their twenties who like cultivating the Tao on the Internet. Looking back ten years, they were only in their teens and were still children. Naturally, they don't remember these things. Those in their thirties and forties who are enthusiasts of cultivating the Tao mostly experienced that era and saw those who became mentally abnormal with their own eyes. I often call on everyone to pay attention to the safety of cultivation and the health of body and mind. Because in the past twenty years or so, I have seen too many people who have become mentally abnormal due to cultivation. Counting them up, there may be hundreds. In addition to sympathy, I have been thinking about these issues. Coupled with the information I know on the Internet, there is even more. This should arouse the vigilance of those who love the Tao.
Demonic possession: Falling into a state of demonic possession. One kind is having wrong views. Thinking one has attained the Tao and spreading wrong views in society. One kind is those who are crazy and mislead the world. One kind is those who act recklessly relying on supernatural powers. What they say and do is contrary to the orthodox Taoist truth. However, they still have a certain influence. If it is an individual problem, it belongs to confusion and arrogance. But demons have considerable influence and can even oppose the government or have a certain organizational form and followers. Just like those monsters occupying mountains and acting as kings in "Journey to the West," they all have a certain power and ability, but they all wrongly think that "eating a piece of Tang Monk's flesh can make one live forever." This is a wrong view. Of course, this is just a metaphor.
Look inward and reflect on oneself. We must not wander on these six wrong paths.
Zhang Boduan said in "Awakening to Reality": "If a person with lofty ideals can cultivate, why can't one achieve it whether living in the city or in the officialdom?" In the marketplace or in the officialdom, one can do things while cultivating the Tao and achieve success. Nowadays, those who are lazy and don't do things under the pretext of cultivating the Tao need to reflect. In the past, it was said that "a scholar is useless." Now it has become "a spiritual cultivator is useless." I have seen many people who study and cultivate the Tao, but in the end, they become "good-for-nothings." They have no sense of responsibility for themselves, their families, or society. Let alone "repaying the fourfold kindnesses above and relieving the sufferings of the three paths below."
Obsession: Reaching the point of being obsessed with Buddhist and Taoist cultures and even having fanatical religious passion. Some who believe in Buddhism attack Taoism. Some who believe in Taoism curse Buddhism. They only think that what they learn is right and that what they learn is the right path, while others are heretical. In some families, people fight because of different beliefs. There was once a family where the elder sister believed in Buddhism and the younger brother believed in Christianity. Neither could persuade the other, so they fought and became estranged. This is all obsession. There is no wisdom. It is very dangerous and lacks the spirit of tolerance. Some are obsessed with what they have learned and disdain other knowledge and learning.
It should be known that true spiritual cultivation cultures contain true science and philosophy and explore higher realms. The higher the realm, the more inclusive it is. Just like looking at the earth from space, one will find that the earth is just a drop in the ocean of space. Because the observer's vision is broadened. When one reaches a high realm in cultivating the Tao, one also has a mind that embraces the universe, a vision that observes the great world, a compassion that loves all living beings, and a true knowledge that penetrates the visible and the invisible. His knowledge is not limited to the truth of the visible world but also includes the truth of the invisible world that we have not yet recognized. The most terrifying thing in obsession is becoming superstitious. Family affairs and family relationships are all in a mess.
Illusion: Producing hallucinations. This is very common. There is no need to give examples. Many people have experienced and recognized this. After hallucinations occur, taking illusions as reality delays many things in life. Hallucinations are also precursors of mental illness and need to be vigilant. Hallucinations are normal in cultivation, but taking illusions as reality is abnormal. "Know that it is an illusion and leave it. Once you leave the illusion, you will awaken." There is no need for expedient means and there is no gradual process. The result of hallucinations is often that cultivators live a life that is neither human nor ghost nor god nor immortal.
Arrogance: It is extreme arrogance. Looking down on anyone. Some people think they are those who have attained the Tao, or those who have revealed secrets, or those who have achieved the highest. Some scholars also have this problem. They think their works are the "most" something. Some cultivators think their sects are the "most" something. Some people are not so arrogant, but they are still arrogant and look down on others. Don't underestimate anyone who has not entered the door. But we can't do it. We often have arrogance in our hearts. In the Taoist method, this is "arrogance" and it is a problem that needs to be eliminated.
Confusion: It is mental confusion. People's sanity is abnormal. Some need to be hospitalized in mental hospitals. Some are cared for at home. Some people seem normal on the surface, but inside they are already confused. They are only supported by a little bit of rationality. Many people with psychological disorders are like this. In other aspects, they are very normal, but in a certain aspect, their hearts have already collapsed. They are only supported by a little bit of rationality to maintain their dignity. Such people will return to normal if they are self-aware. If they are not self-aware, dangers will arise everywhere. As for those who go crazy due to cultivation, just look at the social materials during the qigong craze more than ten years ago. I'm afraid it will make one's hair stand on end.
Now, those in their twenties who like cultivating the Tao on the Internet. Looking back ten years, they were only in their teens and were still children. Naturally, they don't remember these things. Those in their thirties and forties who are enthusiasts of cultivating the Tao mostly experienced that era and saw those who became mentally abnormal with their own eyes. I often call on everyone to pay attention to the safety of cultivation and the health of body and mind. Because in the past twenty years or so, I have seen too many people who have become mentally abnormal due to cultivation. Counting them up, there may be hundreds. In addition to sympathy, I have been thinking about these issues. Coupled with the information I know on the Internet, there is even more. This should arouse the vigilance of those who love the Tao.
Demonic possession: Falling into a state of demonic possession. One kind is having wrong views. Thinking one has attained the Tao and spreading wrong views in society. One kind is those who are crazy and mislead the world. One kind is those who act recklessly relying on supernatural powers. What they say and do is contrary to the orthodox Taoist truth. However, they still have a certain influence. If it is an individual problem, it belongs to confusion and arrogance. But demons have considerable influence and can even oppose the government or have a certain organizational form and followers. Just like those monsters occupying mountains and acting as kings in "Journey to the West," they all have a certain power and ability, but they all wrongly think that "eating a piece of Tang Monk's flesh can make one live forever." This is a wrong view. Of course, this is just a metaphor.
Look inward and reflect on oneself. We must not wander on these six wrong paths.
