As long as it is “true cultivation,” one can attain enlightenment regardless of the religion they believe in.

As long as it is “true cultivation,” one can attain enlightenment regardless of the religion they believe in.

Currently, there are said to be 84,000 religious paths and 3,600 doors in the world, but those numbers are merely adjectives. In reality, all teachings of these paths are generated to counteract all kinds of minds. If people do not possess ignorance or delusional thoughts, there is no need for any such path to exist!

Therefore, every group of practitioners believes they are cultivating. However, in fact, there is no direct or necessary relationship between a religion, sect, or path and whether its followers are genuinely cultivating. In other words, believing in a religion does not equate to practicing (the purpose of believing in a religion is to provide one’s spirit with an object and goal for reliance). Joining any particular path cannot prove that they are truly cultivating; cultivation is a process of changing erroneous concepts and behaviors and has no direct or necessary relationship with any religion, temple, or doctrine.

Although there are people practicing after the establishment of various religious organizations worldwide, there were still individuals practicing before any religion was founded. Religion is merely a group for educating sentient beings through practice. The scriptures and doctrines of religions represent the insights gained by ancient masters during their cultivation—along with their methods and techniques for attaining enlightenment. Therefore, do not mistakenly think that joining any religious group or practice constitutes true cultivation.

PS: Below are some self-assessment questions to determine if you are genuinely cultivating: Is your temper, personality, mindset, patience, and tolerance gradually adjusting and changing? Do you find yourself unable to tolerate others’ words and actions? Do you harbor suspicions? Do you feel jealousy? Do you have a comparative mindset? Do you criticize others? Some people mistakenly believe they are cultivating while engaging in many actions that completely contradict true cultivation without realizing it!

We have encountered several brothers and sisters who share a common issue—they enjoy being teachers to others; they like to rely on their experience as authority; they prefer applying their personal mode of practice onto every practitioner without realizing that each practitioner has different roots of wisdom and qualities. How could one teach or guide others using a one-size-fits-all approach? This is also a common flaw among many temples!

Believing in God or Buddha or joining various religious paths does not mean one is already cultivating because faith in God or reverence for Buddha involves others as objects while the focus of cultivation should be on one’s own body and mind! Followers who join different religious groups only acknowledge the doctrines or ideals of those religions; worshiping a specific deity simply expresses respect for them or hopes that they can lead us toward enlightenment—but this has no direct relationship with genuine cultivation.

There are many believers in God or Buddha around the world; however, among them are also numerous offenders! Can we say that they are all truly cultivating? The essence of true cultivation lies in understanding the universal principles that pervade everything and using this understanding to change past erroneous concepts and behaviors so that these gradually align with the great principles—ultimately achieving liberation from physical karma and spiritual entanglement. If this isn’t happening, then it isn’t true cultivation!

If someone has not attained enlightenment themselves, how can they realize truthfully walk the path or escape from the cycle of birth and death? Therefore, true cultivation should not be judged by whether an individual displays outward signs but rather by whether they understand the reality of the universe while gradually transforming their past erroneous concepts and behaviors into daily life.

Every follower believes that their religious doctrine is supreme or that their deities hold the highest positions; however, this reflects complete misunderstanding about the principle that “there’s no place without a path” as well as “all teachings share common roots.” The original cosmic phenomenon was “primordial unity!”

The myriad spirits, phenomena, and entities arise from different forms within this primordial unity; apart from this source—are there other materials from another universe? Isn’t it clear to all practitioners that all teachings actually share common roots? Currently all religious doctrines cannot stray far from five major traditions: Confucianism (儒), Buddhism (釋), Taoism (道), Christianity (耶), Islam (回). The doctrine of Confucianism refers to basic virtues required for human conduct; Christianity emphasizes love beyond oneself while helping others according to one’s abilities; Buddhism teaches complete liberation from worldly attachments; Islam refers back to one’s original pure nature; Taoism advocates non-action following natural laws without forcing outcomes. Thus these five terms do not refer specifically to religions but rather signify five distinct manifestations of yin-yang transformations—or metaphorically represent five different philosophical directions within universal principles. Only when these philosophies combine can we achieve completeness on our path. The goal behind each philosophical direction aims at guiding various sentient beings toward awakening—those ordinary philosophies within each religion merely serve as pointers towards truth!

However these pointers aren’t meant as actual truths—they’re just rafts helping people escape suffering but not reaching enlightenment’s shore! Each religious path serves as an entrance into supreme truths hence referred collectively as “paths” since countless routes exist for practice yet only one exists towards realization which leads us back home—hence there’s saying: “many paths lead conveniently yet returning home has no second route,” thus calling this singular pathway towards realization “the non-dual method!”

Therefore all religious doctrines lack distinction between “right” versus “wrong,” only differing perspectives based on favorable versus unfavorable circumstances exist—similar how teachers/parents educate students/children must adapt according individual natures employing either “loving education” versus “strict discipline.” It cannot be said using loving education signifies “right” while strict discipline denotes “wrong.” Can loving education effectively teach children while strict discipline fails?

Cultivation works similarly where beings at varying levels require tailored doctrines inspiring their spirituality—can elementary students grasp university-level calculus concepts? Hence once practitioners enter certain paths if they realize truth applying it practically achieving physical karma resolution alongside ultimate spiritual liberation—that constitutes genuine practice.

This resolution aligns with what Buddhism calls “becoming Buddha” while Taoism refers becoming immortal—it represents true purpose behind practice! Only upon reaching purity devoid impurities can spirits entirely break free from cycles across three realms six paths—the terms “Buddha” & “immortal” serve metaphorical meanings thus practitioners across various traditions must avoid being misled by textual interpretations otherwise diverging away from authentic practices.

Why do we adhere certain religions today embracing teachings proclaimed therein? It’s precisely because previous lives lacked comprehension regarding such philosophies! Those studying Buddhism continue due unresolved insights into Buddhist principles hence reincarnating again pursuing Dharma whereas those practicing Confucianism similarly return seeking further understanding due prior incompletion—the cosmos grants us opportunities reincarnate anew accepting tests thus we must seize rare chances thoroughly uncovering truths! Why does Buddhism proclaim “Dharma hard-to-hear,” whereas Taoism states “true Dao difficult-to-find”? Simply put believers mistake textual contents within scriptures genuinely representing Dharma whereas Taoist practitioners misinterpret certain texts claiming them embodying true Dao leading many adherents believing theirs superior—isn’t this ignorance?

Cultivation requires developing genuine wisdom enabling discernment between truth versus falsehoods throughout universe’s myriad matters/entities if one mistakes tangible scriptures regarded solely materialistic texts misinterpreting them actual invisible truths isn’t ignorance itself?! Truth & falsehood inherently coexist two sides same coin embodying principle colorless form duality relation between essence function wise individuals perceive clearly avoiding delusion!

This allows discernment distinguishing false Buddhas versus true Buddhas along with fake practices compared genuine ones ensuring never deceived tangible written scriptures (merely memorizing reading texts won’t lead awakening moreover requires insight realization embedding Buddhist/Taoist teachings daily lives!). We’ve encountered numerous brothers/sisters diligently studying classic texts yet became ensnared linguistic traps failing escape termed ‘textual obstacles’! Practitioners lacking insight easily fall prey deceptive appearances arising worldly phenomena whilst insightful ones utilize ‘false’ cultivate ‘true.’ Many missionaries insist adherence specific faith guarantees liberation yet some claim guidance through enlightened masters ensures heavenly registration hell exclusion—but if so why haven’t Jesus Confucius Siddhartha Laozi Muhammad etc., remained trapped reincarnation wandering midst life/death cycles?

Why’s this so? Because none fulfilled aforementioned criteria! Faith doesn’t equate practicing neither does adherence guarantee realization nor implies opposing beliefs prevent attainment otherwise enlighten me what faith Laozi embraced attaining his realization?! Genuine cultivators face authentic tests passing trials alone achieve liberation therefore provided practitioners engage sincerely regardless belief system enlightenment remains attainable!

If someone practices insincerely irrespective belief system realization remains elusive—isn’t it so?
Nature embodies Dao itself where ‘Dao’ signifies philosophy merging yin-yang—for instance couples differ educational backgrounds experiences beliefs preferences family histories personalities habits etc., if neither attains enlightenment disputes inevitably arise leading breakdown relationships familial unrest child distress parental anxiety prompting societal need establish ‘couples harmony’ reflecting yin-yang synthesis philosophy manifesting everywhere throughout mundane world encompassing culture ethnicity gender politics military religion etc., hence families societies nations international communities experience chaos yet enlightened individuals remain unaffected.

The presence opposition fosters integration wherein contradictions embody Dao since nothing exists devoid Dao nor absence sacred spaces thus sincere cultivators amidst worldly phenomena surely recognize where lies Dao rightfully! Therefore realization doesn’t hinge upon which faith adhered nor solely studying particular scriptures more importantly engaging practical applications daily life recognizing profound truths therein understood by sincere practitioners alike!

by- Phoenix Mountain Cihuang Palace

 

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