Ancient Cultivation Stories: Consummation Can Only Be Achieved Through Firm Cultivation

Shen Cui, Jingpo Wang and Fang Li were extraordinarily good friends of each other. During the Tang period in the Sui Dynasty, the three friends went to the White Deer Mountain together to learn to the Tao. They believed that they would be able to obtain certain type of medicine to enable perpetual life. They also believed that techniques such as flying in the air and changing into different shapes could also be obtained through diligent cultivation. However, after a dozen years of hard Qi Gong cultivation and the gathering of scarce herbs, despite the fact that they really laboured their physical bodies, nothing was achieved. Then one of the friends, Li, died. Wang said to Cui, “We left our homes and have abandoned the comforts in ordinary life to arrive in this remote forest, but we have since not heard beautiful music, tasted none delicious foods, or seen any pretty women. We gave up our magnificent houses to live in straw sheds, and we have been suffering from lack of supplies, only to wish that one day we could obtain the Tao, and to join the deities in the heavenly palaces. Even if we could not eventually obtained the Tao, we wish to live forever without getting old. However, until this day we have seen no magnificent deities’ quarters nor found any indication that we could obtain eternal life one day. If we carry on like this one day we will only die in this remote mountain. Therefore I have decided to go back to my luxurious life, to my fur coats and handsome horses, and being surrounded by beautiful women. I wish to travel around the capital city, and then obtain great fame and interest, so as to leave my mark in the world. Even if that I could not be with the deities dining in the heavenly palaces, I wish to become the VIP in ordinary world. I may even be able to display my own pictures in the royal palace! What magnificent glory is that going to be! Why don’t we go together? Why die in this empty mountain for nothing!” Upon hearing this Cui said, “I have already given up the life in ordinary world. Fame and interest seem to me nothing more than drifting smoke and clouds. I have already awakened from my dreams, how could I go back to them?”

Indeed Wang tried very hard to persuade Cui to leave with him but failed. He left the mountain by himself. It was then the Zhen Guan period in Tang Dynasty. Wang not only resumed his previous title in the government but was promoted as Supreme Secretary of the Emperor’s army. The Great General Zhao married his daughter to Wang. In a few years time Wang managed to rise to a even more senior position, dressed in red robs. Once he was visiting the Southern Waters on a mission, and his vessel group was so powerful that even the fishermen dared not travel into the waters.

It was then raining, when suddenly a small boat appeared right in front of the official vessel groups. On the small boat stood a poorly dressed fisherman. The boat was travelling very fast, like winds, passing next to the vessels. Wang was very unhappy about it. He thought that since he was in the supreme position in the empire, how could some fisherman not pay respects to him? However after scrutiny he realised that the fisherman was his friend Cui who had chosen to remain in the mountains. He then sent for Cui to his ship. He held Cui’s hand and said, “Brother, what have you obtained by refusing to rejoin the ordinary world with me? Look at you – you are broke! It seems to me that the pursue to Tao is after all only a fairy tale and it has ruined many people’s lives. Why don’t you start enjoying your life when you still have some time left in this world? Look at me – it has only been a few years and I am already in such a senior position. This time the Emperor sent me to the South to settle a big legal case. Just look how powerful I am! Even though I have not reached the level of extreme wealth, am I not better off that the broke fellow in the mountains? Cui my friend I really do not understand you. Tell me if you need anything and I shall have them sent to you right away. Cui replied, “I am only an insignificant one in the mountains. I swim like a little fish in the water while you fly high like a bird in the sky. Indeed our outlooks defer much. Why should you show off your fame to me? I sell medicines with my friends in the mountains in the Guang Ling city, where I have a place. To the east of the Green House Garden there is a large cherry trees field. To the north of the cherry trees there is a broken gate which leads to my home. If you ever have the chance to pass by then please pay a visit to me. “ Cui then left Wang’s ship without further words.

After arriving at the Guang Ling city one day Wang remembered what his friend Cui told him. He then went on a trip to visit Cui. He first found the cherry trees field, and then the broken gate. Wang walked through the gate and realised that the deeper he went into the field, the more beautiful the scenery was. There were countless rare flowers and trees, as well as dozens of magnificent palaces. The scene was so extraordinary that Wang felt like being in the clouds. Wang’s mental state had also changed by then, and he no longer regarded fame and power as important to him. He then saw people in the filthy world with him as mice and ants. He was then approached by two women in light green dresses, said, “Mr Cui has arrived.” Wang then saw his friend Cui in magnificent clothing standing in front of him. Wang bowed to Cui politely. Cui said to him, “You have been swimming around filthy fame and greed in the ordinary world, and such are your heavy burdens which prevent you from advancing spiritually.” Cui then entertained Wang with delicious food and beautiful music played by pretty women whose figures could not be matched by any women in the world. Cui explained to the women that Wang used to pursue Tao together with him but due to lack of firm belief Wang quit halfway to pursue fame. During the dinner the friends talked a lot.

The next morning Cui explained to Wang and his wife, that the palace he lived in belonged to the deities and could not be visited by ordinary people under normal circumstances. He allowed Wang to visit him only because they used to pursue the Tao together. Cui wished to show Wang what he had missed by quitting halfway. Cui also asked Wang to return to the vessels early before his fellow officers stared to worry about his absence. Cui told Wang that he would be welcome to visit him again upon finishing his assignment.

Wang then left Cui, feeling lost and uneasy. Upon finishing his assignment later he tried to visit Cui again but found nothing in the cherry trees field but wild grass. Feeling sad Wang left the South.

The magic performed by deities is really so advanced! Is this to deceive the ordinary? Of course not, rather, it is to awaken the ordinary’s belief in firm cultivation.

Even though this is only a short story in the Taoist School, it teaches us a principle: cultivators can only achieve consummation via firm cultivation. Those who quit halfway will not achieve anything but regret.