Chapter Four - Taoist Experience

DISCIPLINE

The path toward the Tao, then, consists of “long life and eter^¬ nalvision,” ^as the Daodejing already formulates it,and ultimately leadstoimmortality

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The longlife part aims at the complete physical healing of the body, the harmonization and synchronization of all aspects of life with the rhythms of nature, and the recognition of the cosmic di^¬ mensionsof one’^{s own} ^physical ^existence

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It begins with discipline

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Discipline serves to ensure the ^proper determination toward the Tao

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It is the foundation that sets ^up the basic framework of mind and body in which alone the hard work of the path can be accom^¬ plished

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Discipline means commitment

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^It ^means ^surrender ^{to the}

Tao,to thescriptures,to the^teaching

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Discipline appears in several concrete forms

—

^moral ^upright^¬

ness, formal ^procedures, physical restrictions, and examinations

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The key to successful discipline is the development of astrong will toward the Taoand tosecure its protection.By submittingtodisci^¬ pline one proves one’s readiness to undergo whatever is necessary to walkonthe pathand findone’s ^placeamong the celestials

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The most fundamental form of discipline is found in the precepts and prescriptions, the basic rules that regulate the moral conscience and community behavior of Taoist practitioners

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They are valid equally for lay followers and serious adepts, are in fact geared primarily toward the harmonious interaction ofa large group of ^people, joined and living together in their will to realize theTao

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In addition, the commitment of Taoist adepts is expressed in their undergoing of certain formal rituals

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^There are rites of ordi¬

nation,of reporting to the gods, ritesof prayer, of repentance, rites for the dead,for the^living,and so on

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Taoists believe that sickness and all ailments of the body are caused by the interference of

malevolent demons.They canenter the body onlydue to the moral turpitude and sinful life of the individual in question

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This ^being so, precepts and rituals,especially exorcismsand ritesof repentence, are an essential prerequisite to the attainment of perfect health and longlife

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Beyond that, individual practitioners need to have the right destiny; they have to be ^ready for higher attainments in terms of their cosmic standing

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The concept of destiny, understood in an^¬ cient China in terms of family inheritance, was soon linked with the Buddhist notion of karma and thus became more individual^¬ ized

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For Taoists the necessary qualification is the possession of

“^immortals^{’ bones}

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” Only one with the right genes can ever be taught

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Even then, strongdetermination and a will to pursue the Tao are essential

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Immortals’ ^bones ^only guarantee basic good fortune, an auspicious meeting with a god or immortal, an opportunity to hear theTao and receive thescriptures. ^Beyond that,the real work begins

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^{often with} ^a ^series ^of tests administered by the teacher to see how far the promisingcandidate will go. Some make it, others don’^t^; some will be partial to higher secrets, others will have to stick to^themoreelementary practices

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The four selections below highlight thesedifferent aspectsof dis^¬ ciplinevows,and a

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^Thereseries^is first a list of preceptsof 180^practical rules

— —

^thefrom the Chishu^ten ^precepts, yujue^{the twelve}⁽Red Writingsand JadeInstructions⁾andthe Sanyuan pin⁽Precepts of the Three Primes⁾

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Both texts are ^{from the} ancient corpus of Lingbao scripturesof thelate fourth and^earlyfifthcentury

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Then there are the “^Memorial ^Reading” ^and a set ^{of formal}

“IncantationsforProtection” used in the Riteof Mud and Ashes

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An intense and ratherecstaticritual ofrepentance,this was^developed in the Lingbao school and undertaken with much splendor since thefifth century

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The texts are taken from aTaoist encyclopedia of the sixthcentury

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Third, there are two short stories about how to be ^taught: the biography of the Goddess of the Great One,teacher of the Highest Venerable Lord,from a thirteenth

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^century ^collection^;^{and the} ^myth

of the Master on the River, who reveals a ^commentary on the Daode jing to a Han emperor, from a Dunhuang manuscript

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Both texts outline in exemplary clarity the conditions one must meet to be graced with immortal instruction

—

^and ^{the limits} ^{of this}

instruction.

The tests immortals

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^to

^-

^{be have} ^to ûndergo âre ^the ^topic ôf ^the

fourth selection

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Here, too^, two stories have been chosen^: the bio

-13

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^Preceptsand Prescriptions 97 graphy of Fei Changfangfrom the Shenxian zhuan ⁽Biographies of Spirit Immortals⁾ of the fourth ^century; and the account of the tests of Lii Dongbin from a similar collection of the thirteenth century.In bothcases,the unsuspecting possessor of the rightbones meets a celestial emissary. Soon convinced that his fortune lies with the master, he follows him and is tested for his Tao

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^prowess^.

Onesucceeds allthe way;the otherfails

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^Theyboth find a path just rightfor them and proceedtoserve suffering humanity

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13.Preceptsand Prescriptions

Taoist precepts were first adapted from Buddhism when Tao^¬ ism became a country

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^wide^communal religion in the fifth century.

Theyalwayscome back tothe basicfive: don’tkill,don’^{t steal},don’t lie, don’t misbehave sexually, and don

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^t get intoxicated

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^Together

with five other rules regarding the proper form and use ofspeech, they constitutetheoriginalten precepts of theTao

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To theprecepts,asetof vowsis commonlyadded. Patternedon the bodhisattva vows of Mahayana Buddhism, Taoist vows equally stress thestrong determination of the practitioner to attain salva^¬ tion for himself but only after all beings have been saved first.

They emphasize the role of the activeTaoist as a leader and savior of allsufferingforms of life, as the guideand helperfor allin need

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They also repeat in a personalized, “^I ^will^,” form of language the need to obey the teachers and honor the scriptures, to study hard and practice without laxity

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Taking the precepts and ^vowing to pursuethe path isthusthe beginningofthelongascent

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Twotexts are selected below,one that contains theten precepts and twelve vows, the other a list of three sets of sixty community rules geared to the more advanced spiritual leaders ⁽the first set actually has^{only forty}

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^seven⁾^.^Both^documents^{are of}^Lingbao^origin

^.

The first is the Chishu yujue ⁽Red Writings and Jade Instruc^¬

tions⁾, known in full as Taishang dongxuan lingbao chishu yujue miaojing (Highestand Wondrous Scripture of Numinous Treasure in theMystery Cavern Containing Red Writings andJade Instruc^¬ tions⁾

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It is contained in DZ 352, fasc

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178 and forms part of the original corpus of Lingbao ^scriptures as compiled by Ge Chaofu. The translation covers a few pages from the first scroll ⁽1.2b

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^4a⁾^.

The preceptshavealsobeen translatedanddiscussed inBokenkamp 1989

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The second givesthe 180 Lingbao precepts in the^Sanyuan pin

(Precepts of the Three Primes⁾. Here the full title is Taishang

dongxuan lingbao sanyuan pinjiegongde qingzhong jing ⁽Scripture on the Weight of Merit and Virtue As Based on the Precepts of the Three Primes Contained in the Mystery Cavern of Highest Numinous Treasure⁾

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The text ^is found in DZ 456, fasc

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202; the selection translates pages22a

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³¹^a

^.

For a preliminary study of Taoist precepts, see Schmidt 1985

.

More detailed analyses are, so far, only available in Japanese, es^¬ pecially in Kusuyama1992

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On Taoistordination ranks and proce^¬ dures,see Benn 1991

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Chishu yujue (Red WritingsandJade Instructions⁾ THETEN PRECEPTS

1. ^[2b^] Don’t harbor hatred or jealousy in your heart! Don’t give rise to dark thieving thoughts! Be reserved in speech and wary oftransgressions!Keepyour thoughtson theDivineLaw! 2. Maintain a kind heart and do not kill!Have pity for and sup^¬

port all living beings! Be compassionate and ^loving! Broadly reach out tobringuniversalredemption to all!

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Maintain purity and be withdrawing in your social interac^¬ tions!Be neitherlascivious nor thieving, but constantly harbor good thoughts!Alwaystakefrom yourselftoaid others!

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Don’t set your mind on sex or give rise to passions! Be not licentiousin yourheart but remain pureand behaveprudently! Make sureyouractionsare without blemish or stain!

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^Don’^t utter bad words! Don’t use flowery and ornate language! Bestraightforward within and without! Don’t commit excesses of speech!

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Don’t take liquor!Moderate your behavior! Regulate and har^¬ monize your energy and inner nature! Don’t let your spirit be diminished!Don’tcommitany of the myriad evils!

7. Don’t be envious if others are better than yourself! Don’^{t con}^¬ tend for achievement andfame!^[3a^]Beretiring and modest in allthings!Putyourself behind to serve thesalvation ofothers!

8. Don’t criticize or debate the scriptures and teachings! Don’t revile or slander the saintly texts! Venerate the Divine Law

13.^Precepts^and Prescriptions 99 with all your heart!Always act asif you wereface to face with thegods!

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Don’t create disturbance through verbal argumentation! Don’t

criticize any believers, be they monks, nuns^, male or female laity,oreven heavenly beings! Remember, allcensureand hate diminishesyourspirit andenergy!

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Beequanimousand of whole heart in all ofyour actions! Make sure that all exchanges between humankind and the gods are

properand respectful! THETWELVE VOWS

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^[3b^] I will study the perfected scriptures that set forth the Divine Law and ^open the liberation and salvation of all

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I will bringforth a strong determination for theTao

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I vowto rise to thestatus ofagreatsage in mylivestocome

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I will constantly practice compassion

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I vow that all will learn of the Divine Law and that salvation will extend universally,

without hindranceordistortion.

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I will delight inthescripturesand teachings

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I willstudy them widely to let my understanding deepen and to make ^my deter^¬ mination firm and enlightened

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I will liberate and transform all thosein ignoranceand darkness.

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I will respectfully receive theinstructionsof my teacher

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I will spread the wonderful teachings far and wide so that allliving beings might enter the gate of the Divine Law and forever departfrom their paths ofblindness.

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I will cause my faith to extend to the heights of mystery and wonder. I will venerate and honor the teachings and moral injunctions

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I will recite the scriptures morningand night with^¬ out ^beinglazyorremiss.

6. I will not labor for glory and fancy ornaments but break the chain of worldly causations. I will maintain a steadfast heart and resolved determination, so that all I undertake will be withinthe Divine Law

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I will diligently recite the ^great scriptures. I vow that all be^¬ ingsshall find the bridge of releaseand that all future life will enjoygood karma.

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I will always maintain a mind of friendliness, free from all perversenessor ^falsity

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I will remain withoutenvy and ill

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^will^,

without evil and jealousy

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I will represent the sages in all situations where things are

given life

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I will pass on the teachings of the Numinous Trea^¬ sure uninterrupted and withoutlapse

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^[4a^]I will purify my bodyand keep theprecepts

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I will observe the fasts and establish merit

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^Thereby I will lead the myriad beingsto salvationand completeliberation

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I will read broadly in mystudies and deeply penetrate the law contained in the scriptures

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Thus I will prepare the way for heavenly beingsto save all.

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I will be with an enlightened teacher life after life

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I will re^¬ ceive the teachings and spread them so that innumerable liv^¬ ingbeings may be saved

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Sanyuan pin ⁽Preceptsof the ThreePrimes⁾

[22a^] To those who pursue the highest Tao! You must not com^¬ mitthe following sins:

Thesin todisregard the^scripturesand precepts, harbor doubts or bein two minds about the teaching

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Thesin todespisethesagely writingsorcriticize the sacred scriptures

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Thesin tomake lightofthe teachers or break thesolemn oath.

Thesin toslander the eldersordisregard the heavenly rules. Thesinto steal the texts of thescripturesor practicewithout

the properteacher

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^[22b^]

Thesin to^studyon yourown,withouta teacher, or transmit the teachingswithout proper authorization

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Thesinto illicitlycollect thetextsof thescripturesand pass themonto^yourdisciples

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Thesin to obtainanyscriptureswithout the formalguidance of a teacher

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Thesin toreceivethescriptureswithout properscriptural procedureor transmit themonother than the ^prescribed dates.

The sintotransmitscriptures tothe wrong people

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13.^Preceptsand Prescriptions 101 Thesin toreceiveinstructionfroma teacher of theDivine

Law without havingaccumulated thenecessarymerit

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Thesin totransmittheteachingstoany disciples without having accumulated the necessary merit

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Thesin totransmit theDivine Lawin any waythat doesnot accord with the tradition of the teachers

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The sin totransmit the scriptures without properly notifying the five divineemperors

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Thesin toreceivethescriptureswhenyou don’^t ^have^{faith or} thinklightlyof theTao

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^[²³^a^]

The sintoassume meritandfameforyourselfwithout passing throughthe proper processofthesages.

Thesin to^neglecttohonor yourguidesandteachers on the first and fifteenth of each month and onthe eight seasonalfestivals. Thesin toneglectto observe the fasts.

Thesinto ^neglecttopurify yourselfforthe fasts

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Thesinto take shortcutsin recitingthescriptures

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Thesintoengage in disputesorfightswhiletravelingoverland

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The sin toangeror distress^your teachersandelders

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To all students of the Tao and all lay followers!You must not commit thefollowingsins:

Thesin to^picka^fight witha ^goodfellow

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Thesin tospeakevil or hypocrisy.

Thesintocriticizeyour teachers,elders,oranyoneelse

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^[²³^b^]

Thesin tointoxicate yourselfwith wineand spirits

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Thesin tokillliving beingsorgive riseto evilthoughts

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The sin toharborgreed and passion, prideand sloth. Thesinto defile the Divine Law and the Tao

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Thesin tocurse demonsandspirits.

Thesintokill or harmanyliving beings.

Thesinto usefancy languageorwords withoutsincerity. Thesinto belewdand lascivious;don’^{t defile} ^yourself.

Thesin to steal other people

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^s^goods

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Thesin to bejealousofothers’ wisdom or envytheir abilities

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[24a^]

Thesintoturn^yourback on thelove and mercyofyour teacher

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Thesin tocheat^yourteacher and turnawayfrom the Tao. Thesin togivecelestial writingstothe uninitiated.

Thesin to speak ill of thescripturesor theDivine Law

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Thesin to turnfrom thecommandsof thescriptures

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Thesin to be disobedient toyour seniors

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Thesin to be nastytoyour juniors. Thesin to deceive^yourfellow students.

The sin tospeak nicely while thinking something bad

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The sin togossipabout the faults of others

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^[24b^] Thesin tomake^light of the three luminaries

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Thesin to^despisethespiritsand the demons

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These sixty ^[sic^] precepts are being supervised by the Twelve Officialsof the Central Administrative Section of the First Office of the ^Department ofHeaven;by theFourteen Officials of the Central Administrative Section of the First Office of the Department of Earth; and by the Fourteen Officials of the Central Administrative Section of the FirstOffice of theDepartment ofWater

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lb all students of the Tao and all lay followers!You must not commit thefollowing sins:

Thesin tobejealousofyourfellow students. The sin tospeak flowerywordsorlies

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The sin to covet personal profitswithoutever ^beingsatisfied

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[25a^]

Thesin to accumulate moneyand valuables without ever thinkingof distributingthem.

Thesin to takepleasure in grabbingthe valuablesof others foryourself

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Thesin to wish harm and disaster, poverty and homelessness onothers

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Thesin topossessknives,staffs,oranyotherweapons. The^sintoslaughter thesixdomesticanimalsor killany

livingbeings

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Thesintoshoot down wild animalsorbirds in thesky

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Thesintoburnthe mountainsides inordertohunt.

Thesinto settrapstocatchfish

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Thesintouseeatingutensils madefromgoldorsilver

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Thesin tocovet lucrativeappointmentsorserve a tyrannical government

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^[25b^]

Thesintodestroymaterialobjectsfor yourown advancement

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Thesinto throw food ordrinkintofresh water

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Thesin to covet rich and delicious flavors,fat and meat

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The sinto coveteatingfoodsof the fivetastes.

Thesin to ^{write in}a flowery styleto hide^yourtrueintentions

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13.Precepts and Prescriptions 103 The sin toassemble ^largecrowds

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Thesin toharbor schemes toward another’swifeor daughter

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The sin to criticize affairs ofstate

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The sin to harbor schemes toward another’s wealthorgoods

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Thesin tospoilthenice thingsof others withcoarseobjects

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[26a^]

Thesin toconcern ^yourselfwith the affairs of lords and kings

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Thesinto make false statements about the calendar or the movements of the stars

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The sinto bum down fields or mountainforests

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The sinto cutdown trees or^{idly pick} leaves and plants

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Thesin towander aboutwith bad peopleor^get tootrusting with^strangers.

The sintomixwith common folk or pick fightswith them

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Thesinto eat all ^by^yourself whenamongagroup,without thinkingthat they mightbe^hungrytoo

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Thesinto break up another’s^weddingwith peopleof the world

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The sintoengagein entertainmentsof peopleofthe world

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Thesintoswear^allegiance toyourfellowsonthe outside whilesecretlyallset to ruin thesegood men

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^[26b^]

Thesintospeakofyoureldersorsuperiorsasfaulty and bad

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The sinto^exposethe secrets orvulgar behavior of others

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Thesinto attack good peopleorquarrel without end

.

Thesinto sneak alookat others’correspondenceor pry into theirsecrets

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Thesintospeakor walk about with awoman alone

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Thesinto share mixed^livingquarters

.

The sin toshare mixed dininghalls orexchange clothes witha woman

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Thesin tointeract with women withoutgoodness

.

Thesin to think yourselfgreat and developpride

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Thesin totake it upon yourself torevenge publicinjustice

.

^[27a^]

Thesin totake it upon yourself torevenge publicinjustice

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^[27a^]

In document Taoist Experience (Page 104-142)