SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION AND COSMIC WISDOM
All our training is triple cultivation. In other words, no matter what we practice we train our physical body, our energy and our spirit at the same time.
Question
When we practice arts like Cosmic Shower, we gain cosmic wisdom, whereas many of those who have renounced the world to dedicate their lives to attaining cosmic wisdom do not gain such wisdom.
Considering this situation, how should we in Shaolin Wahnam perceive those who have renounced the world yet seem to generally lack such high level experiences that we often attain even in regional courses conducted by Sifu?
After all, it seems they ought to be leaders in spirituality, yet our practice is much more cost effective.
Sifu Mark Blohm
Answer
Thanks for pointing out this important fact, though others outside our school may think we are boasting and some may become angry. Irrespective of what others may or may not believe, it is true that when we practice advanced arts like Cosmic Shower, Cosmic Breathing, and Merging with the Cosmos even at our regional courses, we gain cosmic wisdom, whereas many of those who have renounced the world to dedicate their lives to attaining cosmic wisdom do not gain such wisdom.
The truth of this statement can be readily verified by those who have direct experience of cosmic wisdom as a result of practicing our advanced arts. By extension we also know that many of those who have renounced the world in order to gain cosmic wisdom have not succeeded.
Many people outside our school may ask, often indignantly, how do we know we have gained cosmic wisdom, and how do we know these other people have not gained cosmic wisdom as we are not them.
It is like asking how do we know we have internal force or can generate an energy flow, and how do we know other people do not have internal force or do not generate an energy flow.
We know we have internal force and can generate an energy flow from direct experience. In other words, we know we have internal force because we have internal force. We know we can generate an energy flow because we can generate an energy flow.
To confirm our knowing, we can perform what those with internal force or who can generate an energy flow are believed to be able to perform. For example, we are more powerful than those who are bigger sized than us. This is due to our internal force. We can overcome injury and illness without taking medication. This is due to our ability to generate energy flow.
We know others do not have internal force or cannot generate an energy flow because their speech and action indicate so. For example, if they say that internal force is based on body mechanics, we know that they don’t have internal force because internal force is not based on body mechanics. If they have been practicing chi kung exercise for many years and are still weak and sick, we know that they cannot generate an energy flow because energy flow will make them strong and healthy.
It is the same with cosmic wisdom. If we have cosmic wisdom, we know it. Just like if we have a car, we know we have a car. We also know others do not have cosmic wisdom from the way they speak and act.
What is cosmic wisdom? For those who have cosmic wisdom, they don’t have to ask the question. Just like those who have internal force and can generate an energy flow don’t have to ask what internal force is, and how to generate an energy flow. These terms – cosmic wisdom, internal force and energy flow – are self-explanatory. Cosmic wisdom is wisdom of the Cosmos, internal force is force that is internal, and energy flow is energy that is flowing.
But for those who may not have cosmic wisdom, it is helpful to elaborate on its meaning. Cosmic wisdom is different from ordinary knowledge and worldly wisdom. Knowing that you can quench your thirst by drinking water is ordinary knowledge. Knowing that your chance of having your leave approved is better when you ask your boss while he is happy than while he is angry is worldly wisdom.
Understanding and appreciating that goodness will bring goodness, that your real being is your spirit, that your body is changing all the time, that you spirit can expand beyond your body, that mind can materialize events, that our phenomenal world is an illusion, is cosmic wisdom.
Hence, when someone says that his mind is his brain, or that the physical world is objectively real, we know he does not have cosmic wisdom. When someone acts that his body is all he is, or that events cannot be changed by thoughts, we also know he lacks cosmic wisdom.
How should we perceive those who lack cosmic wisdom, especially those who have renounced the world to obtain it but fail? We pity them, without being arrogant. At the same time we are humbly grateful that we have the golden opportunity to benefit from cosmic wisdom.
We offer to help them if they are deserving, but we recognize their right to practice the way they think is best for themselves. If they are stubborn or disrespectful, we do not want to waste our time on them.
Some of them, like teachers and elderly members, ought to be leaders in spirituality. We show them due respect. We know, but do not overtly mention it, that their spiritual development is not high despite their high status in their spiritual communities.
Why do we, despite being in a chi kung and kungfu school and not a spiritual cultivation centre, have such high spiritual attainments whereas even those who have renounced the world for spiritual cultivation do not?
We are clear about what spiritual cultivation is, and differentiate it from moral education and religious devotion. Many others are confused over these three different, though related, disciplines.
Spiritual cultivation is self-explanatory. It is cultivation of the spirit, also known as soul, mind, heart, psyche or consciousness in different cultures.
A highly spiritual person is usually but not necessarily morally upright. Black magicians are a good example of those who have cultivated their spirit to a high level but may not practice high moral values. On the other hand, a morally upright person may not believe in the spirit, he believes that his present life in this phenomenal world is all that is.
A highly spiritual person may or may not be religious. Modern psychics are a good example of those who have cultivated their spirit, or consciousness, to a high level but may not believe in any religion. On the other hand, religious people may not have attained a high level of spiritual cultivation. They are often afraid and depressed, which shows that their spirit is weak.
All our training involves triple cultivation, i.e. cultivating the physical body, cultivating energy, and cultivating the spirit. We place much emphasis on the mind or spiritual level, which explains why we have such wonderful results in a relatively short time. We start all our training with smiling from the heart, which sets our spirit free. We have presence of mind throughout our training. And we conclude our training in standing meditation, which is a training of the spirit. Our training gives us a lot of energy and clarity of mind, which are very important in spiritual cultivation that leads to cosmic wisdom.
Most other people, including those who have renounced the world for spiritual cultivation, do not have such wonderful training. They do not have the benefit of triple cultivation. Many spiritual cultivators are sick and in pain. They do not know how to generate energy flow to overcome their sickness and pain. They do not know how to develop internal force from energy training to strengthen and enhance their spirit.
Many spiritual cultivator practice sitting meditation in their training, but they do not realize that they merely sit in a lotus position without developing their spirit. Indeed, many of them become dull and depressed instead of being fresh and alert, which is the basic requirement to train their spirit.
Many spiritual cultivators are confused over knowledge and attainment. They read a lot and may have much knowledge on spirituality, or religion, but achieve little in practical attainment.
Our cosmic wisdom gives us a lot of benefits not only in spiritual cultivation but in our daily life. Our cosmic wisdom enables us to perceive things in ways ordinary people may not perceive. Our being relaxed, peaceful and happy, the basic benefits of our spiritual cultivation with cosmic wisdom, enables us to have better results no matter what we do.
Meditation is not just sitting in a lotus position. It is the cultivation of the spirit.
The above discussion is reproduced from the thread 10 Questions on Cosmic Shower in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum.
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