道場聖刊      經典寶藏

3. The difference between Tao and religion

    我們常常聽到「教」這個字，就連想到佛、耶穌…等等；聽到「道」這個名詞，又以為煉氣士、道士等等。但今天我們來求的道，叫做『九蓮聖道』。

When we heard the word “Religion”, we usually relate it to Buddha, Jesus etc.  When we heard the word “Tao”, we relate it to Inner Alchemy Master, Taoist Master, etc.  But, the “Tao” we acquired today is called “The Sacred Tao of Nine Lotus”.

究竟道與教的分別在哪裡呢？

What is the difference between Tao and Religion?

首先，我們先來介紹一下大道應運的時機。識透天時對每一位修道人的成道與否，關係是相當重大的。

First, let’s introduce the prospect of the great Tao in natural cycle.  To understand natural            cycle is very important for the person who is determined to cultivate himself or herself in Tao.

古來天道就是單傳獨授的，當時聖人表面上是在行教化之事，但是實際上卻是在選拔賢才、暗傳大道.   

From ancient, the message of Tao was transmitted to those who were well cultivated and ready on a one to one basis.  On the surface, the sages were teaching and guiding people then.  Actually, they were covertly selecting virtuous people and propagating the message of Great Tao privately.

那時因為天時地利的種種因素，上天並無大開普度之門，所以有心修行的大德就必須先苦修苦煉，修到功德圓滿，才得在上天的安排下，遇天命明師印證心法、指點玄關，或是由上天慈悲差使仙佛予以開竅。

Due to various factors of the right time and proper place, the message of Tao was not delivered at the household level.  Thus, people had to take on ascetic and severe practices themselves to reach the Successful cultivation.  Then they were qualified to get Tao authentication from the Patriarch or a Buddha from Heaven.

然而自修自煉要達功果圓滿本來就不容易，況且當時交通不便，遇著明師更是難上加難，聖人歸空之後，弟子記述聖人生前事蹟言行為傳世經典，為修行者之圭臬，以謹守戒律、行善佈施、去惡向善等為修持方法，這樣的方式就稱為「漸法」，稱之為「教」；而有緣遇到祖師者，即可得受一代祖師之直指人心、見性成佛的「頓法」，當下成佛，這就稱之為「道」。

It is hard for people to practice themselves to reach the successful goal in cultivation.  In addition, lacking of traffic tools made it very hard to meet the Patriarch. Without the proper guidance of a Living Teacher with the Mandate of Heaven, people could only cultivate according to the dogmatic script teachings and rules of “Gradual School”.  We call it “Religion”.  Fortunately, we are cultivating under a Living Teacher with “Sudden School” teaching, we have a chance to become enlightened, regain our original Buddha nature.  We call it “Tao”. 

然而教化的漸修方式必須歷經無數劫難才得以修成正果，而由明師傳道打開生死竅門者，則可以一步直超，成仙作佛，這個就是道與教的最大分別之處，即：

However, religious “Gradual School” takes many Catastrophes to reach immortal.  Under the proper guidance of the Living Patriarch to open the aperture of life and death, we can reach immortal by one straight step.  This is the most important difference between Tao and religion, that is;

道→救善→祖師心法印證→暗度賢良

教→勸善→感化惡習從善→顯然教化

Tao→Save good souls→Mind authentication from the Living Patriarch→  Hidden intuitive ways to save the souls of virtuous people.

Religion→Advise good souls to do good deeds→Motivate and reform bad habits to good behavior→Obvious Religious teachings of knowledge.

另外一個道與教的差別，在於教為明度，道為暗傳。

Another difference between Tao and Religion is; Religion offers apparent teachings of knowledge, Tao guides sincere disciples with hidden teachings of intuitive wisdom.

自古以來，代代祖師傳道均是暗傳的，咱們略舉一二，可為之証明﹕

From ancient to present, the Patriarchs passed their Heavenly Mandate secretly from Patriarch to Patriarch.  Following are a few examples;

    釋家：（釋佛拈花，迦葉破顏微笑）

    釋尊當時在靈山會上，拈花示眾（以一朵婆羅花），是時摩訶迦葉悟著本性出入之門戶、宇宙真理之止處，而流露佛之本心，破顏而微笑，世尊知迦葉已經開悟，故將大道傳給了他，曰：「吾有正法眼藏，涅槃妙心，實相無相，微妙法門，不立文字，教外別傳。」由此可知，釋佛傳道是暗傳的，雖講經說法四十九年，實際上是在教化當中暗傳道。

Buddhism: (Buddha Sakyamuni picked up a flower, Mahakassapa was over joyed and smiled.)

During the gathering at Spiritual Mountain, Buddha Sakyamuni picked up a flower displayed to the crowd.  Mahakassapa intuitively realized the Mystic Portal of nature, the ultimate point of the Universal truth, revealed the original Buddha nature.  Mahakassapa was over joyed, smiled.  Buddha Sakyamuni knew that Mahakassapa was enlightened.  Then Buddha Sakyamuni transmitted the Great Tao to him and said, “I have the ‘Dhamma at the hidden eye’, the wonderful mind of serenity, the true nature free of any forms, a subtle sacred way. It is not in writing and it is beyond any forms of religious teaching.”  Therefore, Buddha Sakyamuni transmitted the sacred Tao in a hidden way.  He preached Religion openly for forty nine years, but passed on the great Tao secretly.

儒家：（孔夫子與子貢的對話）

論語中孔夫子與學生子貢，師徒的印心對答，也可印證大道乃是暗度賢良。子貢曰﹕「有美玉於斯，韞櫝而藏諸？求善賈而沽諸？」子曰：「沽之哉，沽之哉，我待善賈者也。」此段話的意思即是，子貢問：「老師啊！您有那麼美的玉，您是要將它藏在櫃櫝裡呢？或是要等到有好價錢、有識貨者才要賣呢？」孔子回答說：「是要賣的！是要賣的！但要等到能出好價錢的人我才要賣給他。」此「美玉」即是形容大道，而「韞櫝而藏諸」是形容大道是暗傳而不公開的；「求善賈而沽諸」是形容要等有大德行者；「我待善賈也」則在形容道是要傳下去的，可是，是要有德者才傳給他。由此可見儒家之傳道亦是暗傳的，當時孔夫子看起來是周遊列國，實際上則是在尋找有德者，以將道傳給他，所以子貢才讚嘆老師夫子之道：「夫子之文章可得而聞也，夫子之言性與天道不可得而聞也。」

Confucian: (The dialogue between Confucius and his student Zi Gong)

In Analects, the dialogue between Confucius and his student Zi Gong also indicated the hidden way to propagate the message of Great Tao; 

Zi Gong said, “There is a beautiful gem here.  Should I lay it up in a cabinet and keep it?  Or should I seek for a good price and sell it?”  Confucius said, “Sell it! Sell it!  But I would wait for one to offer a good price.”  The “gem” describes the great Tao.  “Lay it up in a cabinet and keep it” means the great Tao is transmitted secretly instead of openly.  “Wait for one to offer a good price.” means it can only be transmitted to a person of good virtue.  From these statements we can see that the great Tao was also passed down secretly in Confucius teaching.  On the surface, Confucius travelled through all divided countries, he was really looking for virtuous persons and transmitting the great Tao to them.  Therefore Zi Gong exclaimed to praise, “Confucius’ ordinary writings may be heard openly. Confucius’ teachings of nature and Heavenly Tao cannot be heard.”    

At present, it is the Last Salvation Period or the White Era, all things will come to an end.  Civilization reached its peak and flooded with utilitarianism.  Morality sank and destroyed. People’s mind deviated from Tao.  We were all children of Heavenly Mother with the same Holy Spirit but became selfish Beings today.  We brutally harm each other.  Heaven was reluctant to bring down disasters to destroy wicked evils.  But Heaven                  has a natural virtue of saving lives.  It would not destruct good and bad alike   .  Therefore, it let the truth flow down to Earth and the Universal Salvation has been opened.  Those people of good conduct, with a clear and peaceful life, are qualified to acquire the message of Tao.  With sincere cultivation according to the message of Tao, they will be free from disasters and bitter sufferings.

古時候得道乃歷經千辛萬苦，有緣才能遇到明師授與一點，叫做「先修後得」，今天道降火宅乃是「先得後修」。先修後得的意思，比如先付款再取貨；先得後修的意思，就像先得貨後付款。由此可知，今天我們如此輕易、不費工夫就可求得大道，和古代求道者相較之下，可以說是：「踏破鐵鞋無覓處，得來全不費工夫。」

In ancient times, people went through many hardships, they had fortune upon meeting and cultivating with a Living Teacher to get the message of Tao.  It was “cultivate first, acquire Tao afterward” in ancient times.  Today, Tao descends to the household level is called “acquired Tao first, cultivate later.”  “Cultivate first, acquire Tao afterward” is similar to pay first, deliver later.  “Acquired Tao first, cultivate later,” is similar to deliver first, pay later.  It is easier to acquire the Tao today compare to those who did in ancient times.  It can be said, “Walked a long way on iron shoes until shoes worn out searching for something with no success, only to acquire it today with no effort.”

再來，道與教的第三個差別，就在於道乃是「神人合一、天人共辦。」

各位還記得在求道時，道師有焚燒一張表文嗎？這張表文的殊勝乃在於它是由一代祖師天命所授，而焚燒這張表文的意義，就是將各位大德的姓名呈報上天三官大帝，由三官大帝拿去地府與生死簿做對照後，註銷地府姓名，再把姓名轉至天佛院註冊，往後我們的靈魂就不再受地府冥王管轄，所以「地府抽丁，天堂掛號」就是本道最殊勝的地方，所以各位求道後，大家向您道喜的涵義也在此。

The third difference between Tao and Religion is; Tao sticks to the principle “God and man in one, Heaven (spiritual world) and man (physical world) work together.” .

Do you remember during the initial ritual, the priest burned a sheet of document?  The document is precious because it was granted by the present Living Patriarch with Heavenly Mandate.  When it was burned, your names were submitted to San Guan Da Di (three righteous ancient emperors).  After comparison with the birth and death records, the names were removed from the Earth and registered to Tian Fo Yuan (A spiritual training center) in Heaven.  This process “Removed from Earth, registered in Heaven” of Nine Lotus Sacred Tao is really precious.  It is the reason why we all congratulated you after you went through the ritual.

然而上天既然降道大開普度，使得道者在世能躲避劫數，百歲之後能超生死，那麼為何不將「道」顯為「教」，令世上每個人都能得道，不是更好嗎？各位要明白道與教是不同的！

道與教的差別之處，就是道乃是「非時不降、非人不傳」的。

However, the Universal Salvation opened as the Tao descended to household level, to free people from disasters and bitter sufferings, and they have a good chance to transcend through life and death, why not turn the hidden Tao into an open Religion?  Isn’t it better to do so?  You have to keep in mind the Tao is different from Religious teaching! 

The difference is; Due to the subtlety of Tao, it is “No message of Tao if the time is not right.  No message of Tao if the person is not ready.”

各位都知道，今天大家能來此求道，都是經由引師了解您乃是善良人士，才將各位引度，這除了是因為現今天時不同之外，也是各位大德三生有幸、祖上積德、累世與佛有緣所種下來的善因。古諺云：「有緣遇著佛出世，無緣遇著佛涅槃」、「有緣千里來相會，無緣對面不相逢。」有緣即是有根基、有智慧之人，各位若非累世有修，與佛結下深厚善緣，如何能有此千載難逢的機緣呢！

As you all know by now, you can come to acquire the message of Tao because the introducer knows you are a good person.  Now is the proper time as Tao falls to the household level.  It is also due to your strong cultivation background, your solid spiritual foundation of your ancestors, and your affiliation with the Living Teacher.  As an ancient proverb says, “With affinity, we meet and cultivate with a Living Buddha. Without affinity, we cultivate according to the teachings of a Buddha who passed away.” Or, “With affinity, we travel thousand miles to meet. Without affinity, we don’t meet even we are facing opposite each other.” With affinity relates to a person who has a strong foundation of cultivation and wisdom. Without many lives of cultivation with Buddha, how can you come for this rare opportunity today!

道的主權乃在於天，沒有明師傳予大道，就不能天堂掛號；身家不清白，品性不端正，或是不符合入道資格者，也是無緣得道的。何謂不符合入道資格者呢？

The sovereignty of Tao belongs to Heaven.  Without the blessing of a Mandated Living Teacher, we cannot register spiritually in Heaven.   Those people do not live a clear and peaceful mind, do not behave themselves, and those with no humanistic qualifications, have no affiliation to acquire the message of Tao.  Who are the people with no humanistic qualifications?

例如，盲者無法守玄，即不能求道；手指掌殘缺者無法抱合同，即不能求道；和尚、尼姑等出家人必須還俗才能求道；而從事不正當行業者，如開賭場、酒色場所等，或從事殺業者，如殺牛、豬、雞、鴨之類，皆不可以求道，所以各位能求得大道是不容易的。

For example, a blind person cannot look at the Heavenly Portal and a person has incomplete fingers cannot hold the Symbolic Seal, both cases are not allowed to go through the ritual.  Since there is a big difference between Tao and Religion (Basically, Tao looks within to seek a total salvation of our soul, Religion relies on external God or authority to seek blessings for a peaceful living.”), monks and nurses have to resume their secular lives first.  Those who have business of gambling houses, places offer wine and prostitutes, slaughter houses killing of animals, such as cows, pigs, chicken, duck etc, cannot go through the ritual of Tao.  Therefore, it is not so easy to qualify for the ritual of Great Tao.

綜合以上可知，正法是要有上天所賦予的天命祖師才能傳道，而且是暗傳而不公開的，是神人合一、天人共辦。而一代祖師要是回天繳旨，天命收回就只剩下教化了，到那時要得道便難如登天，大家是因為根基深厚方可得聞大道，應該好好握機、用心參悟。

To sum up, the true authentic way of spiritual salvation can only be transmitted by a mandated Living patriarch secretly, not openly.  God and Human are one, the spirits in Heaven and human on Earth work jointly.  When the Living Teacher passed away and return to Heaven, the Heavenly mandate would be withdrawn and turned into a religion.  Due to your strong spiritual background, you acquired the message of Tao, you should treasure it and make an effort to contemplate on it.

對道與教有了基本識別之後，接下來就是要明白一代祖師究竟有什麼殊勝之處，為什麼自古以來修道人，都要不畏荊棘困難的千里訪明師呢？又為什麼要拜一代明師才能夠超生了死呢？而我們今天拜的明師又是哪一位？祂又有什麼尊貴之處呢？

Now you have a basic understanding of the difference between Tao and Religion, next thing you should understand how special and outstanding the present Living Teacher is.  Why from ancient to now, people would venture all kind of hardships to look for the Living Patriarch?   Why we have to worship the Patriarch to transcend through life and death?  Who is the present Patriarch we worship today?  How honorable and precious is the Patriarch?