Understanding Reality ~ On the sword of wiszdom

[shazlor]

 

Understanding Reality

 

52

 

On the sword of wisdom

 

OU-YEH PERSONALLY TRANSMITTED A METHOD FOR CASTING A SWORD ; MO-YEH, WITH METAL AND WATER, ALLOYED FLEXIBILITY AND STRENGTH. WHEN THE FORGING IS COMPLETE, IT CAN READ PEOPLE'S MINDS, A FLASH OF LIGHTNING SLAYING DEMONS FOR TEN THOUSAND MILES.

 

A sword is something to protect the body; here it means the tool of wisdom to become enlightened and immortal, the means to become a sage. This is what is called the restored elixir; there is no " sword " other than the restored elixir. The " restored elixir" means restoration of the original innate knowledge and innate capacity, the true consciousness in which strength and flexibility are combined. " Casting the sword " means casting this tool of wisdom of innate knowledge and capacity in which strength and flexibility are united. In terms of substance, it is called elixir; in terms of function it is called a sword. In reality the sword and elixir are one .

 

In ancient times there was a smith named Ou-yeh: as he was casting a sword, it repeatedly failed to turn out; his wife, Mo-yeh, jumped into the forge, and the work was accomplished in one firing. People called it the precious sword of Mo-yeh; it was incomparably sharp. In practicing the Tao, casting the sword is first: taking energy with a proper balance of strength and flexibility, using water and fire to forge it into a masterpiece, it is called the sword of wisdom. Wearing it at one 's side, using it at will, in a flash of lightning it cuts through demons for ten thousand miles.

 

The author uses Ou-yeh and Mo-yeh to symbolize the combination of strength and flexibility - indeed there is a subtle meaning in this. Practitioners of the Tao need to know strength and flexibility must both be properly balanced before it is possible to transmute the mundanity of acquired conditioning. If one yields when it is appropriate to be firm, or is adamant when it is appropriate to be flexible, or is strong but too aggressive, or flexible but too weak, this is not correct balance, and so the casting of the sword will not succeed. If the casting of the sword is unsuccessful, inwardly one has no mastery, and will get bogged down every step of the way - how can one complete the great Path then?

 

But the method of casting the sword is not easy to know; the combination of strength and flexibility is most difficult to understand . If you do not meet a genuine teacher and get personal instruction, you will just be indulging in vain guesswork.