PRIORITY OF NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS
The Buddha
Question 12
Many in Shaolin Wahnam are dedicated spouses and parents, following the example of our dear Sifu.
Some people have said that the Buddha, in leaving his family to pursue Enlightenment was not responsible. Even though he made sure his young child was in good hands before he left, some may feel that he did not do his complete duty as a father to bring his child up. On the other hand, I recall Sifu stating in a Q&A that the Buddha’s son later became his disciple as well. This has always intrigued me -- what seems to the mortal world as irresponsible may turn out to be the best decision although the wisdom behind it was not obvious at that time.
What is Sifu’s view on how we should balance our duties as spouses and parents, and the quest to seek deeper spirituality?
Sifu Zhang Wuji
Answer
Previously I also had a similar feeling that the Buddha in leaving his family to pursue Enlightenment was not responsible to his wife and child. But later I realized that this personal sacrifice made his universal sacrifice even greater. It was not that the Buddha did not love his wife and child, but He loved humanity more. His love for humanity was so great that he was prepared to leave his wife and child, and his becoming the king for his country.
Indeed, what seems to the mortal world as irresponsible may turn out to be the best decision although most people may not have the wisdom to realize it at the time.
I had a similar experience in the late 1980s or early 1990s. I practiced sitting meditation every day and had become very powerful, but I remained humble, bearing in mind the lesson I sometimes mentioned that many would-be masters failed due to their vanity.
But on one occasion I felt righteous and powerful enough to face a high-ranking god. About that time there were frequent reports in the newspaper about deaths due to motor accidents. I was angry when I read news about a pious Indian man instantly killed in a motor accident the moment he stepped out of a temple after praying to his god.
“What type of god he is?” I thought to myself. “How could the god let his pious follower die in a motor accident the very moment leaving the temple after praying to him? If the man had to die, the god could have at least let him die a bit later, not immediately praying to him.”
Later I realized my mistake. I was both ignorant and arrogant. The god could be most compassionate. To mere mortals, dying in a motor accident was bloody and messy. But to the man who died, death was swift and probably he felt no pain. Instantly he was relieved from suffering in this world, and reborn in a happier place. The god was most compassionate.
Being a husband (or wife) and father (or mother) is a joy and sacred duty. We must provide for our wife (or husband) and children to the best of our ability.
Unless we are a Buddha, our duty to our wife and children takes precedence over our aspiration and quest to seek deeper spirituality.
In my teaching I have often mentioned the five levels of chi kung as follows:
- Medical chi kung.
- Chi kung for health and vitality.
- Chi kung for the philosophers.
- Chi kung for the general.
- Spiritual chi kung.
These five levels correspond to the developmental stages of a person.
If a person is sick, he should get well first. Attempting to work hard when he is sick, is being irresponsible to himself and others. He should practice medical chi kung to restore his health.
Then he should practice chi kung for health and vitality so that he can do his work well in order to provide for his wife and children to the best of his ability. If he neglects his family to see God, God will ask him to go home to look after his family. He promised God at his marriage to provide for his wife and children to the best of his ability.
After having done his job well and provide well for his wife and family, he can engage himself in hobbies, which may be classified as scholarly or martial. Neglecting his work and family to enjoy himself in hobbies is being irresponsible. To excel in his scholarly or martial hobbies, he can practice chi kung for philosophers and chi kung for generals.
Having done his work well and provided well for his family, he may dedicate himself to return to God. Spiritual chi kung will be most suitable for him at this stage.
These five levels of chi kung serve as guidelines for emphasis in a practitioner’s training. Even when he practices medical chi kung to overcome sickness, he must not neglect his spirit. All healing starts from the heart, the spiritual heart.
On the other hand, when he practices spiritual chi kung to return to God, he must not neglect his health. The great Bodhidharma, for example, taught the Shaolin monks Eighteen Lohan Hands to improve their health so that they could better cultivate to attain Enlightenment.
Lifting the Sky is an excellent way to promote good health
The above is reproduced from the thread Zen Intensive in Hawaii Q&A in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum
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