Why is the human instinct divine and not to kill, unlike animal? The instinct of animal may be to kill for food when its stomach is hungry, like the carnivorous animals. To prove the point of human instinct, let's see these two examples: A man was driving his car to the marketplace and out of a sudden, a chicken rushed out to the road. He immediately slammed on the brake upon instinct to avoid the chicken so as not to kill it by accident. What a relief, he did not kill the chicken but when he reached the marketplace, he went to a chicken stall and ordered a fat chicken because his wife asked him to buy a fat chicken. Minutes ago, his instinct was not to kill the chicken by slamming onto the brake, the next minute he was buying a fat chicken that needed killing of the chicken. The instinct of not to kill is in everyone of us, but unfortunately it is very short and easily forgotten. The practice of Tao is to make aware of this divine instinct and make it our lives, meaning unite this divine self and life into one. Another example is a young little boy who suddenly falls into the river. A man whether he is good or bad upon seeing the accident, his instinct is to jump into the river in order to save the boy. On second thought he might not jump because he might say, I can't swim myself or I am wearing a new pair of shoes and shirt or the current is too swift and I might be drown also. Realizing this real self, the instinct is the ultimate aim. In the course of it, one will realize between good and bad. From the realization, one will refrain from what is not right. Just like a strong young man who seeks your assistance. He didn't want to work but daily seeks food from you. If you give him the food, indeed it is charitable deed but on the other hand you are encouraging him not to work. Which is right and which is wrong? If you realize this, you will know which one is truly a charitable deed. Therefore, realization is important not only to seek our inner selves but also to seek the truth of things. Human existence is impermanent. The impermanent world is just an illusory flower and a false scene. We must be able to disillusion and see through the impermanence or see through this dream. The great matter of human existence is that we must realize the value and the meaning of life. What is actually the meaning of life? In short, it is to seek a permanent home to go to. It is not the body that goes home, it is the soul. Can any soul just go home (Heaven)? The soul that can go home is the soul that do not kill the chicken and save the little boy. The soul that lives his life based on that divine instinct and not human nature. My Heavenly Teacher JiGong said, "The ruddy dust (dazzling world) and the unreal life are likened to a mirage. They become emptiness in a glance. It is only the Truth-Principle of the Inner Being (Divine self) that never changes. It is oneself who can realize the Truth within the mystical." The Inner Being (instinct) never changes because it is pure and divine, we have to develop through practice of Tao or Truth to realize its true nature. The instinct of oneself can realize the Truth within the mystical. Author: T.A Chew |
