Outward Reflection
Tonight marks the sacred birthdays of both the Daoist Patriarch and the Grandmaster of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden. At this special moment, you have all gathered together to engage in discussions on the Dao, reflecting on your own confusions and shortcomings.
The Daoist Patriarch guides all beings toward Wu Wei (effortless action), yet when it comes to changing one’s own bad habits, one must take deliberate action. The wisdom of cultivation lies in discerning when to act and when to remain passive—this balance is the key to self-refinement.
Recently, newcomers have arrived at the Golden Treasury Palace, and since some of you are fluent in English, you bear the responsibility of clearly conveying the purpose of the Golden Treasury Grandmaster’s teachings to them. Every person’s connection with the Grandmaster arises from a mysterious encounter, but this sense of mystery must be grasped wisely. Too much faith in the mystical, without seeking the truth of the Dao, can easily lead one astray—this is an undeniable reality.
Over the past decade, you have witnessed countless cases of people losing their way due to an excessive fascination with the mystical. This serves as an invaluable warning. Coming to the Golden Treasury Palace is not just about receiving the presence of the divine; it is also an opportunity to discuss the Dao and deepen one’s own understanding through dialogue. Simply waiting for the deities to descend without engaging in true discussions of the Dao is akin to stagnant water—there will be no progress.
Learning to speak wisely within the Golden Treasury Path is now a form of cultivation. The essence of wise speech is not in how much you say, but in whether the listener truly understands and accepts it. A true cultivator learns to make others comprehend, rather than forcing them to accept. Each person carries their own karma, and they alone must bear its consequences.
In today’s world, people are not easily swayed. Without personal depth and knowledge, how can one inspire trust in others? This is something you should deeply reflect on in your cultivation.
I hope you will guide the newcomers well. When you sincerely dedicate yourself to spreading the Dao, the Grandmaster will naturally bestow greater wisdom upon you. As for outsiders’ criticism of the Golden Treasury Path, it is irrelevant—what truly matters is how you perceive your own faith. If one merely seeks the Grandmaster’s spiritual efficacy without delving into the wisdom behind it, then one is following the wrong path of cultivation. Only through heartfelt understanding can wisdom grow, and only through wisdom can the Dao truly be elevated.
The Golden Treasury Path follows the natural laws, maintaining balance between yin and yang, and cultivating according to fate. If you truly feel that the Grandmaster’s guidance benefits your life, then you should remain loyal and unwavering in your path of cultivation. The Grandmaster of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden also earnestly reminds us that followers of the Golden Treasury Path must uphold loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, reason, integrity, and deep respect for both Heaven and their parents.
If a person does not honor their parents yet claims to be highly cultivated and virtuous, in the eyes of the divine, all of this is but an illusion. Always remember: respecting Heaven, Earth, and one’s parents is the foundation of cultivation. If you truly believe in the guidance of the Golden Treasury Grandmaster, then you will inevitably walk a path of true peace and prosperity.
Inward Reflection
Palace Master, you have now witnessed the activation of the second and third generations of disciples, and it is evident that the way of cultivation has changed drastically from the past.
Young people have their own ways of guiding newcomers, and this is a good thing. If their wisdom can be combined with that of their predecessors, then both generations can harmonize, making the Golden Treasury Path more practical and less confined to rigid traditions. True cultivation should not be overly mystified—it should be integrated into real life.
In the past, people might have revered mysticism, but today’s society is more concerned with practical life wisdom. With rapid technological advancements, modern individuals are less inclined to embrace mystical teachings at face value; rather, they seek a deeper understanding of the true meaning behind the Golden Treasury teachings.
Thus, rather than beginning discussions with the mystical, it is wiser to first help others comprehend the core wisdom of the Golden Treasury Path and then gradually guide them toward deeper insights.
Wisdom is essential when applying the Dao—one must not become so obsessed with mystical ideas that they stray from the right path.
Those who remain in the Golden Treasury Palace today are here because they have personally experienced changes in their fate and felt the guidance of the Grandmaster, which has led them to this point. Of course, some were once passionate but have grown distant over time—this is a natural process of the fading master-disciple bond. It is common to see people seeking guidance only when they need help and disappearing when all is well. Accepting this as part of Wu Wei is also a lesson in detachment.
I urge you all to continue refining yourselves, to deeply understand the role of the Grandmaster, and to learn how to wisely apply the teachings of the Daoist Patriarch and the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden. Through continuous practice and introspection, you will eventually reach a higher dimension of thought and attain a deeper realization of the Dao.
With reverence, we bow in gratitude for the Lord’s boundless grace.