101 Holy Teacher Tian Ran's Revelation

The following selected 101 quotations were channeled by different people through the guiding voice of Holy Teacher Tian Ran.  Holy Teacher wanted to voice his True Heart to each of his beloved disciple.  He made it clear that this book of quotations is the guide for cultivating and propagating Tao during this period of the Last Chance, and should be spread to the entire world in the future.

Verse 090

Be practical in your Tao cultivation. It requires spiritual consciousness to treasure, protect and support the purity of the Tao lineage. I did not bequeath anything to you, but I would like you to take good care of the numerous brothers and sisters who are truly cultivating Tao.  Assist them in actualizing their gifts and help them succeed in the fulfillment of their vows in order to return to Heaven.  There is an old saying quoted from an ancient sage, "In order to attain the utmost state of Buddhahood, one needs to labor selflessly for the cause of serving others first."  Allow others to stand on our shoulders if that is what is required for them to achieve Buddhahood.  I was willing to pave the way for sentient beings to steadily attain Buddhahood with my flesh and blood, in the same manner as all buddhas and bodhisattvas.
Verse 091
Strictly speaking, how can Tao cultivators believe that their painstaking effort from cultivation and propagation of Tao will produce merit?  Even if some worthiness may result, would you not use that accumulated merit to redeem your karma, dedicate to your ancestors and parents for their grace, preserve peace and prevent calamity, and save a little for yourself as a ticket to return to Heavenly Mother?  Besides, you need to compensate for debts caused by your mistakes. My disciples!  How can you arrogantly proclaim that you possess any merit?

Verse 092

Last time I asked you to learn from the anonymous, selfless virtue of the Divine Matriarch.  You might not have completely understood why.  Today, allow me to explain more clearly.  Tao cultivators should learn from her virtues: remain nameless among people, remain unseen even in the three realms, and give credits to Heaven and Earth.  Everyone is familiar with my zealous nature and outrageous look, but hardly any know of Divine Matriarch's wisdom and virtue, which is so sagacious that even I cannot compare with her.  Therefore, during this Period of the Last Chance, cultivators shall learn to be humble by being unpretentious and anonymous with your talents to nurture your inner virtue.  By being understated and not drawing attention to ourselves, others will not focus on honoring any individual.  We should let the grace of Heaven and the virtues of predecessors shine on all living beings.

Image: Golden Gate Heights Park 
Verse 093
In the future, many strange and false prophets will appear including thirty-six fake Divine Patriarchs and seventy-two false Buddha Maitreya*.  In fact, these false prophets all stem from internal cause (ego) instead of external circumstances.  The status quo of the Tao community that is disintegrating and power grabbing, comes from personal ego.  Without awareness, people's Buddha nature recedes and allows demons and evil thoughts to invade, resulting in chaos and trials.  Without awareness, people are blind to their deviations from the right path. I am hoping my disciples will diligently cultivate the precepts, Samadhi and wisdom to gain true wisdom and overcome the ignorance which has been with you for immeasurable eons.  Only by cultivating truthfully and honestly can you avoid falling into temptation.

*EDITOR’S NOTE: The numbers 36+72=108 are not arbitrary.  The number 108 is significant because in each Cycle of Heaven and Earth, there are 108,000 years.

Verse 094

Tao cultivators should be sincere and abide by the rules even if you are just cleaning bathrooms or preparing towels at the temple, because someday you might become a saint.  If you want to be the center of attention, then, obstinately stick to virtue, consider yourself to have higher moral integrity, lack leniency, kindness, benevolence, forgiveness, flexibility, compassion, and gentleness toward others. By being the center of attention you cannot align with your true nature, and your accomplishments will be limited.  Furthermore, enlightenment attained in one lifetime does not guarantee it in future lifecycles.  Thus, Tao cultivators shall nurture themselves with ultimate purity, honesty and sincerity, fulfill responsibility, and devote themselves to duty wholeheartedly without complaint.  It is important to always be kind to those sentient beings that have not received and realized Tao.

Image: Golden Gate Heights Park, San Francisco
Verse 096
It is already difficult for Tao cultivators to stay away from worldly fame and wealth.  Be cautious not to fall into another fame grabbing trap. Do not become attached to the titles within the Tao community that are formed only as a necessity in order to function.  As a senior cultivator, it is not necessary to hold on to a titled position.  We shall know the preciousness of Tao propagation, which is to quietly seek virtuous people that can gradually manifest their true nature.    Do not simply focus on acclamation and applause in the media and lose the mindset of the ancient saints and sages, who passed down the Heavenly responsibility to you during critical times.  What Divine Matriarch and I left you is the purity of the heavenly ordained Tao lineage*, not a religious organization!

*EDITOR’S NOTE: The heavenly ordained Tao lineage encompasses all of time – past and future – and the elements that are necessary to return to Tao.  This includes community, predecessors, ancestors, and future generations, all working together for the return of humanity to heaven. Divine Patriarch, known as Holy Teacher, is the one in charge of the White Stage, and all Dien Chuan Shr’s act as representatives for him to transmit the Tao in the Tao Receiving Ceremony.