Tao Part 6

The Dragon Boat Festival (also known as Duan-Wu Festival or Duan-Yang Festival) is on the Fifth day of May in the lunar calendar. As to the legend, pledging loyalty to the State, Qu-Yuan plunged his death into the Milo River during The Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). The Dragon Boat races originated from the people who tried to rescue him by canoe. Every year thereafter, on this day, the Chinese people commemorate Qu-Yuan's patriotism and loyalty with the Dragon Boat races.

Meanwhile on this day, The tradition of eating Zongzi, (stuffed sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) was evolved from throwing Zongzi into the Milo River as supplication and consolation for Qu-Yuan's soul.

Qu-Yuan (named Ping, also known as Lin-Juin), a minister of Chu Kingdom, was renowned for his prominent talents, great wisdom and honored as a man of extraordinary genius. Legend has it that during this period, the 3 major opposing kingdoms in China were Qi, Chu and Qin. During this critical time Qu-Yuan was sent as an ambassador for the Chu kingdom, to the Qi kingdom as Chu wanted to ally with Qi to defeat Qin kingdom. The king of Qin however was aware of the plans of Chu and feared the consequences of alliance between them, took steps to create conflict between them and keep them apart.

So, the Qin kingdom sent Zhang-Yi as their ambassador to the Chu kingdom during the reign of King Huai. The ambassador offered the King 600 square miles of land as a condition for his breaking of his diplomatic ties with the Qi kingdom. Deluded by the desire for the land he was offered, the King agreed and broke his ties with Qi. He went to Qin to consolidate the new alliance with the hand-over of the 600 square miles of land to Chu.

Zhang-Yi however, reneged and only gave 6 square miles of land. King Huai was furious and declared war on the Qin kingdom. His valiant troops attacked Qin and 80,000 soldiers were killed. At Dan-Yang and Lan-Tien the Chu's troop was totally defeated. The following year, Qin again negotiated with Chu and this time offered a piece of land called Han-Zhong. The King refused the land and asked instead for the head of Zhang-Yi. Zhang-Yi duly arrived the Chu Kingdom, where he proceeded to bribe Chu's minister Jin-Shang and the King's favorite concubine Zheng-Xiu. They successfully persuaded the King to set Zhang-Yi free.

During this time, Qu-Yuan was still an ambassador to Qi, he came back to advise the king to kill Zhang-Yi but it was too late. The King of Qin then tried to strengthen the diplomatic relations with the Chu Kingdom by proposing ties of marriage. He invited King Huai to Qin. Qu-Yuan opposed this proposal and said, "Qin is such a country like the tiger and the wolf, they are sneaky and untrustworthy! " King Huai not only ignored his advice, he also banished Qu-Yuan to a desolate area in North China. The King of Chu then traveled to the Kingdom of Qin, falling into the trap and died. The new king of Chu, King Xiang, later recalled Qu-Yuan back to his former position in Chu. But a minister named Lan slandered Qu-Yuan who was finally banished to the boundary of South China.

In his whole life Qu-Yuan was patriotic to his country, but he was banished by the king because of lack of tolerance and jealousy from his colleagues. He never gave up his loyalty to the Kingdom of Chu. From the desolate area he was banished, he watched hopelessly as his country came, day by day, closer to it's destruction as he could not do anything about it. In despair he composed the poem Li Sao and commit suicide to show his loyalty to his country. On the Fifth of May he plunged his death into the Milo River, thus becoming the first patriotic poet in the history of China.

When we are reminiscing the great patriotic poet Qu-Yuan, we must memorize his devotion to righteousness and loyalty. Being a Dao sister or brother we should follow him to be loyal to LAO MU, Holy Grand Teacher Maitreya and Holy Teachers, Grand Masters and Masters. By the Grace of LAO MU, Dao has been bestowed upon the world. With his boundless benevolence, Holy Grand Teacher Maitreya was commissioned to govern the 3 realms and to direct the mission of Universal Salvation. With the great virtue, Holy Teachers endured hardship and sufferings to ensure our Dao brothers and sisters to be saved on the merciful boat from the bitter sea. By doing these, they provided us a bright brilliant way in this turbulent world. Our Grand Masters and Masters edify us tirelessly, without resting or complaining Hence, when we take a sticky rice dumpling to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, do not forget the loyalty of Qu-Yuan and his dedication to his country, Furthermore we should follow his dignified spirit.

The first criterion of cultivation and consecration is not to forget our basic root, to be loyal to LAO MU, Holy Grand Teacher Maitreya, and Holy Teachers. In the journey of cultivation we will face many ordeals, obstacles and hindrances, we should feel even more thankful to the Grace of Heaven and virtue of Holy Teachers. Otherwise we would not be who we are today. We should follow Qu-Yuan's great spirit of justice and heart of loyalty which he maintained even when his King misunderstood his loyalty and dignity. Never in his mind did any hatred arise, only remained loyal to his country. When the governors purposely spread rumor about him and slandered him, he kept silent and gave no rebuke or defense.

Qu-Yuan was loyal to his country consistently from the beginning to the end. So, let us reflect and think. Today in our cultivation and consecration, if we are misunderstood and slandered, will we be upset and argue on the basis of reason?

As a true cultivator, when we are confronted with any hindrance and difficulties in cultivation and consecration, we should have more confidence to go forward. If people slander us, it is their own business. On the contrary we should never lose a drop or a second in cultivation and consecration because we have to repay the Grace of Heaven and the virtue of Holy Teachers. Thus we should hold tight and firm to our true loyalty and ultimate piety.

Secondly, we have to thank those who slanders us because they are helping us to reduce our debts incurred during past lives. Without those people we will have no chance to get rid of our own obstinacy, pride and egoism. Therefore, we have to be grateful to those who treat us agreeably. With those who act against us, picking on us and giving us a hard time, we should also be grateful to them for their helping.

At this very moment, with LAO MU's amnesty, Dao has been bestowed upon this world. Only once in a big cycle of 129,600 years. In our cultivation and consecration, if we can abide by true loyalty and filial piety to the grace of Heaven and the virtue of Holy Teachers, there is no doubt we can be loyal and pious to LAO MU, Holy Grand Teacher Maitreya and Holy Teachers. There is a phrase saying that: "Be loyal, loyal to Eternal LAO MU; be filial, filial to Maitreya's Heaven."

Although 2,000 years have passed, Qu-Yuan still lives clearly and vividly in people's minds as we recall his patriotism, loyalty and fidelity. During this time, has we give filial piety to the highest above all, LAO MU, we should pledge our full loyalty. This is a great opportunity for us to repay the grace of LAO MU and the virtue of Holy Teachers; to explore the glory of conscience; to gather tightly in this golden time of cultivation; to make a bright brilliant page in the history of the White-Yang Period.

With love and light kindness prevail...