The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 2: Once I met a mirror, I knew I was myself
"Once I see a mirror, I know who I am."

"Five years ago, the old Taoist broke through the ignorance and woke up. Although my body is decayed and my blood is declining, the heaven has mercy on me and gave me a glimmer of hope. I am better because of my good understanding."

"After five years of hard work, I finally achieved something."

"This Yin-Yang foundation-building method is what I have painstakingly obtained after five years of hard work and reading three hundred volumes of Taoist scriptures."

When the Taoists heard this, their reactions varied.

Except for Master Xuanyang who nodded in belief and stood up to congratulate, no one else congratulated him immediately.

The head teacher Xuanxu seemed to be thinking about something.

Xuan Su and Xuan Tong were shocked.

Xuanyin, Xuanyu and Xuankong were half-believing and half-doubting.

I originally thought that the Yin-Yang Method was left by the previous headmaster, and that Senior Brother Xuanming had practiced it in the library for five years before he was able to master it.

When Xuan Yang brought up the first possibility just now, they thought it was just a courtesy to save face for Senior Brother Xuan Ming.

I never thought this could be possible.

Is this true or false?

Xuanming took everyone’s reactions into consideration.

All that needs to be said has been said.

As for others, believe it or not.

He would not waste his breath on such a small matter, nor would he get angry about it.

If the cow doesn't drink water, will it become stronger if you press its head?

What's more, apart from Xuanxu and Xuanyang, he was not really familiar with the other Taoists, so there was no need to be angry.

Inside the Sutra Repository, on the upper left, Xuanxu stood up, pinched his finger to hold a flower, and bowed to Xuanming in the Taoist ceremony, saying with shame:

"If your heart is broad, your path will be long; if your heart is narrow, your path will be short."

"Brother, you have broken free from the cage and gained a new life. The world you see is different from before."

"In the past five years, I have been trapped in my own spiritual heart, and I have been blinded by a leaf. I still look at people with the old eyes."

When the Taoists heard this, they were slightly shocked.

It was like the sun coming out after the clouds had cleared away, and I suddenly realized something.

Xuanyin, Xuankong and others immediately stood up and confessed their crimes, their faces full of shame.

---

Qiuzhen Temple, Sutra Repository.

Xuanming waved his hand and smiled with relief.

He smiled, not because of the apologies from all the Daoists, but because Xuanxu was able to break through his mental barriers so quickly and admit his mistakes so openly. This upright mentality showed his Daozhen.

With time, careful polishing and dedicated practice, your Taoism will surely reach a higher level.

As for other Taoists.

Sincerity is the best, and your spiritual devotion will hopefully improve.

It doesn't matter if it's fake, it's not you who is troubled.

Taoist Xuanyang reacted belatedly, and when he saw that his brother, the head teacher who had always disciplined him, had also admitted his mistakes, he immediately grinned and smiled happily.

It was not until Xuanxu glared at him that he immediately sat up straight, looking at his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose.

After the Taoists sat down again, Xuanming continued:
"I was born with the concept of seeking truth, grew up with the concept of seeking truth, and now I am old with the concept of seeking truth. I also seek the Tao and enter the Tao with the concept of seeking truth."

"I have wasted my time till now and have not given back even a little bit."

"I have nothing but this Yin-Yang Foundation Building Chapter. I will present this method to my master for the disciples to practice and for the Taoists to comprehend."

"But this method requires a word of fate. It is difficult to cultivate without a predestined relationship. It cannot be forced."

"I hope that all disciples, regardless of success or failure, can avoid arrogance and impatience, remain neither discouraged nor discouraged, and concentrate on seeking the truth."

"The Yin-Yang method is only temporarily dominant. The great Dao is high and far, and the way of heaven is impermanent. There is no high or low Dao, and there is no strong or weak law. How far one can go depends on the person, not the law."

When these words were spoken, everyone was surprised.

I was surprised that Xuanming was willing to hand over his skills.

Although they asked questions, they were tactful.

Without permission, he would not pry into the mysteries of the Yin-Yang Foundation Building Chapter. This time, he asked more to satisfy his curiosity and make sure that the Taoist temple had a new superior foundation building method.

After all, Qiuzhen Temple has been passed down for more than 150 years, and from the founder to the third-generation headmaster Xuanxu, none of them used superior methods to build the foundation.

It’s not that I don’t want to, but that I don’t have it.

In the final analysis, the Truth-Seeking School is just a small sect.

I was happy because Senior Brother Xuanming was willing to hand over the Yin-Yang Foundation Building Method.

In this way, not only will the knowledge of the Truth Seeking Association be greatly enhanced, but they will also be able to comprehend and draw inferences from one instance to another, and perhaps their cultivation will be able to improve.

---

"Brother, this is not allowed."

Xuanxu subconsciously declined.

It’s not that I don’t want to, but I’m just being polite.

Xuanming rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"You really don't want it?"

"The old Taoist took it back."

As soon as these words were spoken, Xuanxu's expression changed drastically.

Under the secret stares of other Taoists, he felt even more uneasy and as if he was sitting on pins and needles.

Without caring about propriety and reserve, he said hurriedly:
"Wait a minute, brother."

"I want it, I want it!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Xuan Ming laughed out loud.

Everyone present also laughed heartily.

Even Xuanxu himself started laughing.

He pointed gently at Xuanming, how could he not understand that he had been tricked by his senior brother.

I didn't expect that Senior Brother Xuanming would be so disrespectful to his elders.

However, he was not annoyed at all.

As the head master, Xuanxu was tolerant and he also guessed that Brother Xuanming was teasing him.

He did this just to cooperate.

After all, he is his own senior brother.

Who made this senior brother willing to hand over the superior foundation-building method?

The rest are just superficial and harmless.

Besides, it’s a good thing to adjust the atmosphere.

Xuanming also understood this.

There was a hint of kindness in the look he gave Xuanxu.

No wonder he became the headmaster.

Honest, open and flexible. After the laughter, let's get back to the point.

Xuanming continued:
"Three days later, have someone come to the Sutra Library."

"I will transcribe the Yin-Yang Foundation Building Chapter."

Xuanxu stood up.

The other Taoists also stood up.

Everyone looked serious and bowed their heads in greeting.

"Thank you for your generosity, brother."

"We would like to thank you, Brother, on behalf of the Zhenguan."

On the upper right, Xuanming stood up and returned the greeting: "I am a member of the Seeking Truth Temple, so I should contribute to the temple."

"Besides, I and the Qiuzhen Temple prosper and suffer together. If the Qiuzhen Temple does well, I can also benefit. I don't need to worry about worldly affairs or resources."

"Ultimately, it's for my own path."

He speaks frankly and his mind is clear.

He makes no secret of his public and private interests.

This courage and breadth of mind made everyone admire him.

If they were in their shoes, they wouldn't have the courage and determination to come up with the Yin-Yang method so quickly.

Not to mention, be frank and speak out your own purpose.

Senior Brother Xuanming is truly upright.

Because of this, the respect shown by everyone is no longer superficial due to their status, but is more sincere.

It was more about Chong Xuanming than his senior brother.

"The way of heaven is impartial, but human hearts are selfish."

"If we judge by heart, there is no perfect person in the world. People like us judge by deeds, not by heart."

"Brother's willingness to offer a superior foundation-building method has made a great contribution to the Truth Seeking Monastery. This is an indisputable fact."

As the head sect leader, Xuanxu expressed the views on behalf of all the Taoists.

He was clear about rewards and punishments, and said, "Brother, rest assured, I will never let you suffer any loss."

Other Taoists echoed: "It should be so."

---

Inside the Sutra Pavilion.

Xuanming stroked his beard lightly.

He was very satisfied with Xuanxu's progress.

Although he lived in the Sutra Repository during the past five years, he was not isolated from the world. Occasionally, Xuanxu and Xuanyang would come to see him.

Contacted several times.

Plus the gossip of the Taoist priest guarding the pavilion.

Xuanming had a good understanding of Xuanxu's personality.

He knew that even if he didn't say anything, this master disciple would express something.

Combining kindness and severity, and being lenient and strict, is the way to control your subordinates, and only then will everyone in the temple respect you.

The matter here is over, let’s chat about it.

The conversation between him and Xuanming seemed less unfamiliar and more intimate.

There is a joyful atmosphere in the Sutra Repository.

Outside the Sutra Repository, Taoist priests of all sizes were also talking.

Many people witnessed the vision of Xuanming entering the Dao and breaking through the realm today, and they talked about it a lot.

Some say that the master uncle was a late bloomer and became stronger with age; some say that the master uncle was so sincere that he could move mountains and stones.

Some said that my great-grandmaster practiced diligently in the Sutra Repository for five years, and at the critical moment he took the elixir left by the previous headmaster, which enabled him to soar to the sky and become a sensation.

But no matter which speculation it was, Xuanming temporarily became the focus of the Qiuzhen Temple, and all the Taoists spoke of him with genuine awe.

Those who admire his perseverance respect him even more.

It turns out that those who look down on others are both respected and feared.

The news that Xuanming had handed over the superior foundation-building method did not spread within the temple, and the higher-ups kept silent about it.

This was the result of Xuanming's discussion with them.

Every husband is not guilty, and he is guilty of his crime.

Qiuzhen Temple is just a small Taoist sect. Before it becomes powerful enough, the fewer people who know about the superior foundation-building method, the better.

Good thing!

There are very few other Taoists in the temple who know the differences in the foundation-building methods. They are all the Taoist's direct disciples, and are at least thirty years old and know the importance of each method.

After being warned by the headmaster and their teachers, they kept their mouths shut even more.

As for Xuanming's entry into the Tao and breakthrough in realm, it was explained that he had practiced the middle-level foundation-building method in the temple for five years and had taken the elixir left by the previous headmaster, who also intended to publicize it.

The purpose is to reduce the impact and avoid attracting prying eyes from all parties.

This is also the result of Xuanming's discussion with other Taoists.

If you are weak, you should be low-key; if you are weak, you should be steady.

Before Xuanming enters the third realm and has enough power to protect himself, it is better to be cautious to avoid being taken advantage of by villains.

This is not shameful, but rather a philosophy of survival that follows the heart, and there is a reason for both right and wrong.

Sutra Repository and Daoist Institute.

This place is inside the Sutra Repository, and is Xuanming’s residence. It’s not a big place, but it has everything you need.

Hundred-year-old pines, bluestone paths, stone benches and chairs, gurgling water, a three-foot lotus pond, three thatched cottages, a futon, sandalwood, a bookshelf, scriptures, a tea tray...

Qiuzhen Temple is located deep in the mountains and is naturally quiet.

This place is a place where you can find peace in peace, and find peace in tranquility. This small space is a paradise.

After seeing off the Taoists, Xuanming returned to his residence and sat under a vigorous old pine tree, his thoughts surging.

Handing over the superior foundation-building method was the result of his careful consideration.

This world is too dangerous.

It is a great era for spiritual practice.

The secular sword immortal flies a sword for thousands of miles, the Taoist master Feng Xu rides the wind, the Buddhist arhat grows lotus with every step, and the old monster in the mountains kills people...

He and Qiuzhenguan each get what they need, and only by achieving mutual benefit and reciprocity can they achieve mutual success.

To be willing to be willing, to be willing to have a reward.

If you only take out but cannot give out, it may seem like you have gained something, but in fact you have cultivated yourself but not your mind, and in the end it is all in vain.

Although the mentality of the Holy Father is absolutely unacceptable, as a monk, one should have a broad vision and a broad mind.

The world within your belly is so vast that there is always a boat to ferry people across.

Only in this way can one have a clear conscience, clear thoughts and achieve success.

Not to mention, his way of practicing Taoism is special, and he needs to seek truth and grow stronger. Thinking of this, Xuanming's mind entered the mysterious gate.

(End of this chapter)