‘Rains of Wisdom’ is taught by JiGong, the Celestial Master of the Tao of Heaven appointed by Lao Mu. JiGong is a very popular deity worshiped by millions of Taoists. He was the reincarnation of one of the 18 Arhats and was a monk dressed as a beggar during the Song Dynasty. A man of limitless virtue, he walked thousands of miles with not a penny in his pocket and a roof over his head, preaching the truth until the day he died.

In the teachings of the Tao of Heaven, Master Chang Tienzen from Jining, Shantung Province was the rebirth of JiGong. He was born on the 19th day of the seventh lunar month in the 13th year of the reign of Guangshu (1889) during the Ching dynasty. Master Chang Tienzen became the celestial master in 1947, on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon was the largest, roundest, and brightest. When he was born, it was said that the Yellow River cleared up, signifying the birth of a sage. His left palm had a red sun mark and his right palm had a moon mark.

Part 1 of 3 is just a small portion of his teachings and this is what he says about the bitterness of life to make us understand the pain and suffering we have to face in life.

[1] The greatest sadness in a man’s life is having a spiteful wife and an unfaithful son.

[2] The most perverse thing is that someone pays for kindness with damage.

[3] The greatest misery is to be in an extremely distressed state.

[4] The most discouraging thing is to have one’s friend and family abandon one.

[5] The biggest frustration is having success taken out of your hands.

[6] The greatest regret is letting one’s words or actions lead to evil.

[7] The most exhausting thing is being under tremendous mental pressure.

All these are the most painful and bitter encounters in a person’s life.

The most unavoidable circumstances of life.

[1] The pain of not having what one wants to have.

[2] The pain of being separated from the person you love the most

[3] The pain of feeling bitter towards someone

[4] Sickness, hunger, the struggle for food, hard work for fame and gain, anxiety over the burden of family…

All the accumulated virtues of life can be destroyed by a single vice, just as a bird in its fiery search for food is suddenly seized by a predator. All these tragic cases are caused by greed. Being bullied or killed by unnatural means, getting caught up in natural and human-caused disasters, war and ruthless destruction… these are the most tragic fates in a person’s life.

Author: T.A. Chew

Website: http://www.white-sun.com