Search for Truth
	CHAPTER 19
	(Back To Main Page)
	CHE FATT BODHIDARMA
	Coming forth with questions unanswered
	Hoping to seek clarification to gain
	Ending of one stage, beginning of another
	Facts we answer to your needs
	At the crucial point
	Take on with the right understanding
	Trying to attain, first achieve the insight.
	Bringing things to a better understanding
	Only the heart will be your judge
	During each answer, grasp the meaning
	Holding onto Truth, the road will be clear
	Into the same track, all will go
	Digging for the Great Way, cultivate It well
	An answer for one will be for all
	Reasons of understanding depend on how things are put forth
	Making for the right mood, the two of us take place
	Arise now and be guided to the Path.
	Ask in the right manner and ask in order to seek.
	Ask now for some directions that have been shown in
	many ways.
	Let us now begin with the questions:
	Q. 1 Since our present life depends on Karma of our
	previous life, why are we not given a chance to remember
	what we did before so that we will not repeat the same error?
	Ans: When one grows fruits in his own garden, the plant
	upon harvest will slowly die off. And the next thing
	that happens will be a new plant replacing it. The plant
	of today will never be the same as that of yesterday's.
	Keeping Cause and Effect in mind, a person should
	work for tomorrow. To remind one of yesterday's
	fault may not help. Repentance for mistake of this life:
	that a person has not done, what then is the use of
	telling more? In this life everyone knows the mistakes
	he has made. Although he feels bad and wishes to turn
	evil into goodness, worldly dust often covers his eyes.
	For the mistakes of this life, he seeks not to change.
	By telling him of the past, it may even over-burden him.
	When one does not care for the present, will he do
	anything about the past?
	Q. 2 Whenever I sit down, close my eyes and stay calm,
	I tend to see a purple light. May I know whether it is
	an illusion or a true light. If it is a true light, what
	is the significance?
	Ans: The brilliant light with its beauty can be seen by
	all. All beings see the light but it depends on whether
	one knows how to make good use of this light. In a room
	brightly lit up, upon closing the eyes, one may think that
	he sees light, but actually it is merely the light seen
	through the eyelids. Just as one closes the eyes when
	looking at the Sun, a bright red light seems to fall
	into sight. As all humans have an inborn nature, all
	will be able to see this guiding light. If one wishes to
	seek further into this, try to concentrate on the light
	that you see with every effort and try to centralize this
	light together and one day you will feel its presence.
	Q. 3 What is the difference between Taoism and Buddhism?
	Are their approach to enlightenment the same or they
	follow different paths?
	Ans: What is the difference between man and woman and
	between man and beast? Man and woman, though different
	in structure are both eligible to attainment. Human and
	beast are only different in nature and in physical form.
	The Truth is one and so is the Path. The Homeland is meant
	for all, be it different in religion or be it different in
	man. Truth remains as one and the same. All will merge
	into one like rivers meet the sea. For a person who
	cultivates why are differences seen? All things begin from
	the heart and from it things cultivate. Fruits are fruits
	and the fact one cannot change. Different in look, color
	and taste but fruits they will still remain.
	Q. 4 Why do man realize his wrongs and yet still
	repeat them?
	Ans: Everyday man eats and he will continue to do so
	until death. The human world is filled with temptations.
	Although a wrong is made, man may be so blinded by the
	dust that he may not be able to see. Attachment is the
	main weakness of man. It may be difficult for a cultivating
	person to remedy the mistake if his feelings and desires
	for attachment grow. The wrong may be merely temptations
	that pull him away from the Path. Stillness if attained,
	may help one to see things in a better form. It may help
	man to turn back and realize the Truth.
	Q.5 Many of us understand the teaching of religions but
	we do not practise as much as we understand. Why are we so
	and how can we improve?
	Ans: Whether one understand or not is what one says.
	A person may understand how rice is being grown, but
	how many are able to grow it? Everyone knows for sure
	your parents give life to you, yet how many treasure
	their presence? Understanding and realizing are two
	different things. Carry out an in-depth study into
	whatever you understand. Gather all the facts that
	you know and do not just
	look at their surface. Humans are filled with pride.
	Knowing a little, they claim to understand all but
	they only know the surface and not deeper than that.
	f men are to truly practise diligently, they must not
	only understand but realize what Truth really stands for.
	By practising without realizing, then things may not turn
	out to be as they wish.
	Q. 6 At all cultivating gates, why do people who truly
	cultivate the Way still suffer from various miseries?
	Ans: Why must animals be slaughtered and why must fruits
	be plucked? Why are some kings and why are some beggars?
	Everything has its natural cause. It depends on when it
	ripen. At all cultivating gates,
	people who truly cultivate the Way too must accept
	their Cause and Effect destiny in their own way. If
	two persons, one aged fifty-nine and the other twenty
	suffer from diarrhoea, who will grow weak first? May it
	be early or late, things that have to pass will have to
	pass. If being at the Pure Gate leads to misery, how then
	will famine victims feel? Bitterness before sweetness is
	the best taste that will remain.
	Q. 7 Why are there evils on earth?
	Ans: Where there is sky, there is land. Being short one
	realizes what tall means. All things must have opposites.
	Where Yang is seen, one will find Yin. With goodness, there
	is evil. By understanding well what is bad, one will keep
	away from it. With evil, the path is then complete. For
	if evil is not sighted, then one may not see the TAO.
	Q. 8 Why are there so many types of meditation and how
	effective are they?
	Ans: Why are there so many roads? All lead to a centralized
	place. The distance and the lighting are different, but all
	will still lead to the same destination that one wishes to
	go. But one should not try too many roads at one go or one
	will lose time. Concentrate on one and be familiar with this
	very road. Then you will know all its comers and pits.
	Q. 9 How can a person know whether he has made progress in
	his meditation and can meditation be practised anywhere and
	anytime?
	Ans: Meditation is the practise of stillness of the mind
	and one may try at any place. If one finds that the mind
	is less and less clouded like a cup of water, then one has
	made progress on stillness. Do not be over-anxious or too
	excited at seeing certain things, but let a calm mind
	progress with practice. As one moves on, one will see
	different stages. If in doubt, seek the necessary
	clarification. If illusion is too great, evil may get
	the better of you. Therefore stillness must first be
	achieved before practising in any other way.
	Q.lO Why into the Pure Gate, yet man walk away?
	Ans: The journey 'West' is full of hurdles. Demons
	are seen and lustful sights tempt. If one's determination
	is not strong, he will give way. The world is such that
	man is over-attached to many things. To walk into the
	Pure Gate in appearance none can ever remain. Do not seek
	for personal benefit within this Gate or disappointment
	will lead you out again. Man comes and goes following the
	trend. With such a thought, who can remain? Some may truly
	wish to cultivate but the Karma is such that they must
	suffer first before they can be accepted.
	Q.11 If one knew of a destination in cultivation and missed
	it, how could he turn back and how long will that take?
	Ans: A person has planted a papaya tree. The fruits it bears
	are beautiful to the eye. Although one knows very well that
	they have ripen, one forgets to pluck. As such, the fruits
	will either rot or be eaten by birds. If one wishes to have
	a taste of the fruits, one must wait for it to bear fruit
	gain. All the time wasted is due to the negligence of man.
	Having overlooked, all think that time will wait for them.
	When they see the fruits, they are over-confident that
	they will get the taste.
	Q.12 Why does a philanthropist who has built schools and
	temples and yet still suffers?
	Ans: Offering material things depends on the thought at
	that very moment. If after committing unpardonable wrong,
	they try to perform some charities to redeem themselves,
	then indeed it is wrong. However, there are also some
	kind-hearted people who truly give their best yet suffer
	more than anybody else. To this, they must look into their
	past and the Karma that will take place. All things depend
	not only on merits done now but also on merits gained
	in the past life.
	Q.l3 During meditation, sometimes I feel some movement
	of heat inside my body. May I know why it is so and
	whether it is good or bad?
	Ans: Meditation does not only aim at controlling the
	mind to a stillness stage. The breathing that takes place
	during meditation may control the vitality (Chi). As
	it moves along the meridian point one may feel certain
	jerking of the flesh, but when the concentration is not
	on the breathing, one may not easily feel the movement of
	the vitality.
	CHE FATT
	Creating new atmosphere for all to join in
	Hoping to see the Light
	Earnest must be the Search
	Fail not the hope that is given to man
	Along the right track one trains
	Taking this Book as your master
	Thinking not of yourself but others.
	Ha! Ha!  Ha! Ha!