Spiritual Masters of the World's Religions

8. Daoist Spiritual Masters

225 8 Daoist Spiritual Masters Eva Wong The sage abides in non-action and practices the teachings without fanfare. Although ten thousand myriad things arise, he is not the originator; He acts in their interest but does not own them; He accomplishes his tasks but does not brag about them. —Daodejing 1 The sages and wise ones Carried the mystery and embraced the ultimate reality. They covered their traces and hid from the world. They conserved their energy and nourished the spirit. Their tendons and bones were soft and strong. They expelled all toxins from the body And constantly preserved their internal energy. Image: Chapter 8 Daoist Spiritual Masters - Eva Wong  ACTUAL IMAGE IS 12 BOXES WIDE ON GRID 226 Eva Wong In time, their bodies were transformed and they became immortals. —Triplex Unity Does it really matter if someone is recognized as a sage or not? If you are truly honest, sincere, and upright in everything you do, do you need others to acknowledge your virtues to make you virtuous? —Lieze Introduction What is a spiritual master? How does one become a spiritual master of Daoism? Within Daoist tradition these are not easy questions to answer. In Chinese culture the concept “spiritual master” does not exist. There are master carpenters, master tailors, and master shipwrights —but strictly speaking, no masters in spirituality. Mastery implies acquiring a skill and becoming proficient in it. In Daoism, attaining enlightenment is not a matter of gaining expertise in a skill, but of cultivating a clear mind and nourishing a healthy body. It is said that Daoist spiritual practices are associated with “losing” rather than “gaining.” We lose ego, aggression, desire, anxiety, pride, anger, and self-centeredness. And what do we gain? Nothing. If mind and body were cultivated with the intention to “gain” something, spirituality would have been defeated. In the Daoist tradition, the closest equivalent that would help to define spiritual master is the sage—or the enlightened being. And if there is anything to be mastered, it is the egocentric mind and the lethargic body. Strictly speaking, however, the sage does not master body and mind, but transforms and tames them. In the process of spiritual cultivation, the sage transforms a weak, unhealthy body into a strong and energetic body, and tames a confused, egocentric mind into a clear and quiet mind that is free from desire and attachment. Daoism does not teach renunciation; thus, freedom from grasping does not mandate freedom from material things. Having material things in life is not an obstacle to enlightenment. The problem arises only when we become excessive. Likewise, thoughts are not negative , per se. The problem arises only when we use them to affirm a perspective of a world centered on ourselves. This view is echoed in Laozi’s Daodejing: 227 Daoist Spiritual Masters If you desire a lot, youʼre going to be extravagant. If you horde and hold on to your belongings, youʼre bound to lose them. Therefore, if you know contentment, youʼll never run into trouble. If you know when to stop, you will not come to harm. As a result, you will live for a long time.2 The Path to Sagehood How does one become a Daoist sage? The path to sagehood lies in cultivating mind and body. A quiet and empty mind is necessary for strengthening and nourishing the body, and a strong and healthy body facilitates clearing and stilling the mind. Clearing and Stilling the Mind The mind is intrinsically clear and still. However, for the typical person , clarity and stillness are clouded by desire, entrenched beliefs, and habitual illusions. In Daoism, the clear mind is the enlightened mind, and one who has an enlightened mind is a sage. The enlightened mind is likened to a full moon. Just as the moon can sometimes be hidden by clouds, the true nature of mind can often be obscured by desire and attachment. The enlightened mind is intrinsically clear and bright; it is not bright because we perceive it to be not bright. How does the spiritual practitioner cultivate a clear mind? The key to cultivating a clear mind lies in entering and maintaining stillness , cultivating stillness, and merging with stillness. The initial goal of Daoist meditation is to quiet the mind; thus, the first step is entering stillness. The ordinary mind is filled with thoughts, and to enter stillness is to stop internal chattering...