White Sun - The Essence of Tao

The four different Great Chinese Phrases are, "1]Theamenable means to obey with faith. To uphold means
Human Nature is precarious and unstable 2]The Trueto return and follow the Truth. The center is the Void
Nature is Obscure 3]Be refined and be One and 4]Beand the abstruse existence out of the Void. The Void
amenable and uphold the center." This is theis so enormous that nothing is outside, and so minute
explanation from Heaven:that nothing is inside. The existence is abstruse
1]The Human Nature is precarious and unstable:because the existence has no beginning or end.
Mankind is one of the 'Three Powers' in the cosmos.Center encompasses all Three Domains (Heaven of
Humans possess 'Li-xing' (True Character), thusDesires, Heaven of Images and Heaven of
mankind is the dominion on Earth. The heart is theNon-Images) and crosses all Ten Directions (North,
center of the cosmos. It governs everything. Thenortheast, east, southeast, south, southwest, west,
Human Nature is senses and emotions. It has beennorthwest, above, and below). It is the noble path of all
contaminated by fancies. It is what being called theThree Domains and the Truth of the Universe. In short,
nature of the 'Qi-xing' (Spiritual Character) and 'Zhi-xing'be amenable and uphold the center means to obey
(Material Character) in 'Hou-tien' (Space where all livesthe noble path of the center with faith and to return
live after Heaven and Earth were created). It can beand follow the Truth.
good or evil.These words are the essence passed on from
If the heart is dominated by 'Shi-shen' (Spirit of Intellect),Emperor Yao to Emperor Shun, King Wen, King Wu,
emotions and desires are generated constantly. It isDuke Zhou, and Confucius, the essence that one Saint
half 'yang' and half 'yin', so it can be good or evil. It ispassed on from one to another with the meeting of
not centered. If it biases toward 'yang', one cannottheir hearts. It is what the five great religions have in
concentrate. If it biases toward 'yin', one becomescommon following. It is the Truth that will never change.
vague. Unable to concentrate or being vague areIn conclusion, what has been passed on by the mean
dangerous. Therefore, the Human Nature is precarious.of meeting of hearts cannot be analyzed or discussed.
2]The True Nature is obscure: Tao is the origin ofIt is the true essence of Tao that has been carried
Heaven and Earth. It encompasses everything and isamong the Patriarchs which originally has no word.
also the origin of all lives. The True Nature is wisdom,"The Vajra Sutra" states, "Subhuti said to the Buddha,
the true conscience, and the manifestation of theWorld Honored One, if a good man or a good woman
quiescent, pure, mysterious, and bright True Self. It isresolves his heart on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, how
what's being called the original Truth in 'Xian-tien' (theshould he dwell? How should he subdue his heart
Void or Heavenly World). It does not make anywhen fancying thoughts come up? The Buddha said;
distinction between the good and the bad, for itsshould 'thus' dwell, should 'thus' subdue his heart.
wisdom is full and bright. The True Self is void andAnuttarasamyaksambodhi is the True Nature. Fancying
quiescent. It is not born nor does it vanish. It cannot bethoughts are the Human Nature. 'Thus' is to be
enhanced nor can it be reduced. It is tenuous,amenable and uphold the center."
mysterious, and cannot be projected. Therefore, it isMy Heavenly Master JiGong said, "The National Father
said the True Nature is obscure.Dr. Sun Yat-Sun encouraged people to do the first
3]Be refined and be One: Be refined means to begreat thing of the underheaven (world); to do great
enlightened. Be One means to be sincere. By beingthings and not to be a great officer! What is called
refined one can overcome vagueness, By being'doing great things?' What is great? Only Heaven is
sincere one can concentrate. Being refined one can beregarded as great and only Emperor Yao learnt from
enlightened. Being sincere one can reach Oneness.it."
Once a person reaches this state, he is bright andThe meaning of 'doing great thing' in Tao of Heaven is
quiet, his tranquillity and wisdom flow together and feed"The business concerning the heavy mission of saving
each other. This way, his emotions return into his Truehuman beings back to Heaven." He said that we must
Self, his knowledge turns into wisdom, his precariousdo it thoroughly, attentively, earnestly and honestly.
Human Nature becomes settled from danger, and hisThe Essence of Tao described above allows one to
obscure True Nature becomes bright and clear. It is therealize the True Self and recognize it so that one will
same as that the enlightened is always sincere, andknow how to restore it to its original nature. In the
the sincere is always enlightened. In short, being refinedtemple of Tao of Heaven, the mission is to let one
and being One is the technique of eliminating fanciesrealizes his True Nature and the initiation of Tao is to
and returning to the Truth, and enlightening to theawaken it so that he can realize the true meaning of
original bright True Self.life and the purpose.
4]Be amenable and uphold the center: To beAuthor: T.