Full Transcript
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZnYB2dkbsY
[00:12] A journey of a thousand miles begins.
[00:16] A journey of a thousand miles begins beneath the.
[00:17] Beneath the feet we now gather in the Dow to travel.
[00:21] Feet we now gather in the Dow to travel the journey.
[00:26] Together, welcome to Do Talks with Derek.
[00:29] Together, welcome to Do Talks with Derek Lynn.
[00:33] Will we take a deep dive into the Da?
[00:40] By, I would like to extend a warm welcome.
[00:45] By, I would like to extend a warm welcome to.
[00:46] To you, thank you for joining.
[00:49] You, thank you for joining us.
[00:52] I would like to invite you to center your thoughts and direct your attention.
[00:56] To this moment in time, to the Here and Now.
[00:59] To be fully present and mindfully.
[01:04] Now to be fully present and mindfully aware as we all ready ourselves for the.
[01:08] Aware as we all ready ourselves for the sacred process in the da with one another.
[01:26] It's one of my favorite stories.
[01:30] Another it's one of my favorite stories of all time and I'm happy to have this.
[01:34] Of all time and I'm happy to have this opportunity to share with.
[01:37] Opportunity to share with everybody it is called The.
[01:42] Rescuer once upon a time in ancient.
[01:47] Rescuer once upon a time in ancient China there was a young scholar named.
[01:54] Lou he had done well in the civil.
[01:57] Lou he had done well in the civil service exam which everybody needed to take in.
[01:58] Service exam which everybody needed to take in order to work for the Imperial.
[02:05] order to work for the Imperial government he became a junior official.
[02:09] government he became a junior official in his hometown he worked hard in that position.
[02:10] hometown he worked hard in that position he gained a modest reputation as a good administrator.
[02:14] he gained a modest reputation as a good administrator one day Lou received summons from the Imperial minister.
[02:21] administrator one day Lou received summons from the Imperial minister.
[02:24] Lou received summons from the Imperial minister.
[02:28] minister one of the highest ranking officials in ancient China.
[02:30] one of the highest ranking officials in ancient China.
[02:32] ancient China such an order could not be ignored.
[02:34] China such an order could not be ignored it was important so he packed his bags.
[02:37] it was important so he packed his bags he made arrangements to cover his absence.
[02:41] he made arrangements to cover his absence and he embarked for the capital.
[02:43] absence and he embarked for the capital it was a long trip but Lou made it in time.
[02:46] capital it was a long trip but Lou made it in time he arrived on the day specified.
[02:50] it in time he arrived on the day specified he proceeded directly to the Govern govern Palace.
[02:55] specified he proceeded directly to the Govern govern Palace.
[02:59] Govern govern Palace the Imperial Palace.
[03:01] the Imperial Palace.
[03:05] there he was face to face with
[03:09] Palace there he was face to face with The Minister's clerk he pre presented.
[03:14] The Minister's clerk he pre presented the documents he had.
[03:16] the documents he had received he said good morning sir I am.
[03:20] received he said good morning sir I am here as per his excellency's orders as.
[03:24] here as per his excellency's orders as you can.
[03:25] you can see the clerk looked at the papers and.
[03:29] see the clerk looked at the papers and said yes we are expecting you please.
[03:34] said yes we are expecting you please follow me to the waiting.
[03:37] follow me to the waiting area one quick question L said it's a.
[03:41] area one quick question L said it's a great honor for me to go before the.
[03:45] great honor for me to go before the minister but his order did not specify.
[03:48] minister but his order did not specify the.
[03:49] the reason can you perhaps shed some light.
[03:53] reason can you perhaps shed some light as to why his Excellency will wish to.
[03:56] as to why his Excellency will wish to see.
[03:57] see me certainly.
[04:00] me certainly the C said you are one of the people.
[04:03] the C said you are one of the people recommended for the position of.
[04:06] recommended for the position of assistant Minister which recently became.
[04:11] Assistant Minister which recently became available Lou was available Lou was surprised working for such a powerful.
[04:16] Surprised working for such a powerful official someone who reported directly.
[04:19] Official someone who reported directly to the.
[04:20] To the emperor it made him dizzy to work for to report to a person who reports to the emperor.
[04:28] Emperor if it seemed like an impossible.
[04:32] Dream he stammered this is truly an amazing.
[04:39] Opportunity indeed the clerk agreed you are very fortunate to be summoned however there are many.
[04:45] Summoned however there are many candidates like yourself all competing.
[04:51] Candidates like yourself all competing for the same.
[04:52] Position so your chances are probably not that.
[04:57] Great that is as it should be.
[05:01] L said in all humility he said it is already an honor to be among the.
[05:07] Candidates my colleagues back home will be very.
[05:11] be very envious he went into the waiting area.
[05:14] envious he went into the waiting area.
[05:14] he saw many other candidates already present.
[05:17] they were all like him Junior officials.
[05:22] most of them he recognized by reputation.
[05:26] so L compared his own qualification against theirs.
[05:29] and he quickly realized that he was not the best.
[05:31] some of them were academic prodigies who had done much better.
[05:34] scored much higher in the civil service exam than he did.
[05:37] so he thought well the clerk was probably right.
[05:41] after a while of waiting it was his turn to see the minister.
[05:44] so the clerk took him to a spacious office where the minister and several officials.
[06:12] where the minister and several officials were hard at work.
[06:15] the minister was presiding over the work.
[06:20] the minister was presiding over the activities and reading a scroll.
[06:23] he looked up from reading the scroll.
[06:25] he looked up from reading the scroll when the clerk announced l.
[06:30] suddenly there was an expression of disbelief on the minister.
[06:34] the minister said.
[06:37] you can it be is it really you.
[06:39] he seemed overcome with emotions.
[06:44] Lou was confused by this.
[06:48] the minister came forward to clasp his hand.
[06:52] the minister said do you know the trouble I have gone through looking for you.
[06:56] I have been searching for months.
[06:59] Lou managed to find his voice uh sir I I think you may have mistaken me for someone.
[07:15] Else, else, nonsense.
[07:17] The minister laughed and he turned to the others.
[07:20] Everyone, this is my daughter's rescuer.
[07:23] He saved her from drowning last year.
[07:29] And then he turned to Luk, surely you remember at the lake during the Spring Festival?
[07:35] I was so worried about my daughter.
[07:38] I did not even ask for your name.
[07:41] By the time it occurred to me to thank you, you had already departed.
[07:46] I owe you more than I can ever repay.
[07:50] Lou hastily said, "Sir, your Excellency, please, you owe me absolutely nothing."
[08:00] I have never met you in person until this moment.
[08:02] The minister seemed to take offense at this.
[08:07] "What are you saying?"
[08:10] "Are you saying my memory is faulty?"
[08:12] He turned to one of the officials next to him.
[08:15] "You, you were there that day."
[08:20] next to him you you were there that day and you also witnessed the rescue look
[08:23] and you also witnessed the rescue look carefully at this young man now and tell
[08:25] carefully at this young man now and tell me have I made a mistake in recognizing
[08:28] me have I made a mistake in recognizing him
[08:31] him no your Excellency the official
[08:33] no your Excellency the official answered I also recognized him as soon
[08:36] answered I also recognized him as soon as he walked
[08:37] as he walked in your mind and memory are as clear as
[08:41] in your mind and memory are as clear as ever there can be no doubt he is the
[08:45] ever there can be no doubt he is the one so again Lou responded hastily I I
[08:50] dare not question or contradict your words sir yet I must continue to to
[08:53] words sir yet I must continue to to insist that that
[08:57] insist that that the ministry interrupted him cut him off
[09:00] the ministry interrupted him cut him off please please I know you're being
[09:03] please please I know you're being modest I know you must be a follower of
[09:06] modest I know you must be a follower of The Da and that is why you refuse to
[09:09] The Da and that is why you refuse to take credit for the good you have done I
[09:12] take credit for the good you have done I understand let us simply acknowledge the
[09:16] understand let us simply acknowledge the past and we will say no more about it
[09:27] agreed so many thoughts flash through.
[09:30] agreed so many thoughts flash through.
[09:34] lose mind in that moment this was in an incredible Stroke of Luck.
[09:37] incredible Stroke of Luck.
[09:41] having this advantage of being identified as The Rescuer meant he could easily bypass the whole selection process.
[09:46] identified as The Rescuer meant he could easily bypass the whole selection process.
[09:49] easily bypass the whole selection process.
[09:52] it didn't matter that the other candidates scored much higher had better qualifications than him.
[09:55] candidates scored much higher had better qualifications than him.
[09:58] qualifications than him none of it mattered.
[10:00] mattered all Lou had to do was to agree not his head and the opportunity of being the assistant Minister will be as good as his.
[10:04] all Lou had to do was to agree not his head and the opportunity of being the assistant Minister will be as good as his.
[10:08] head and the opportunity of being the assistant Minister will be as good as his.
[10:12] assistant Minister will be as good as his.
[10:15] his it would be so easy but Lou could not bring himself to do it.
[10:19] easy but Lou could not bring himself to do it.
[10:20] do it.
[10:23] he took a deep breath and then he shook his head I am
[10:27] breath and then he shook his head I am truly sorry your Excell.
[10:30] truly sorry your Excell see this must be a coincidence of astonishing magnitude.
[10:34] see this must be a coincidence of astonishing magnitude.
[10:35] astonishing magnitude a regret I am not the one who saved your daughter.
[10:39] magnitude a regret I am not the one who saved your daughter.
[10:40] saved your daughter the only thing I can do is to wish that you'll find the real rescuer soon.
[10:44] daughter the only thing I can do is to wish that you'll find the real rescuer soon.
[10:48] wish that you'll find the real rescuer soon I am truly sorry to disappoint you the minister seem deflated.
[10:53] you the minister seem deflated.
[10:56] you the minister seem deflated well it's hard to believe believe.
[10:59] deflated well it's hard to believe believe I mean the physical resemblance is absolutely uncanny.
[11:02] believe I mean the physical resemblance is absolutely uncanny.
[11:05] is absolutely uncanny I suppose such a coincidence although unlikely is always possible.
[11:08] uncanny I suppose such a coincidence although unlikely is always possible.
[11:11] although unlikely is always possible so he paused and then collected his thoughts.
[11:15] possible so he paused and then collected his thoughts.
[11:16] his thoughts let us bring our discussion back to the matter at hand and talk about your background and qualifications.
[11:19] thoughts let us bring our discussion back to the matter at hand and talk about your background and qualifications.
[11:21] back to the matter at hand and talk about your background and qualifications much much later when the.
[11:25] qualifications much much later when the.
[11:28] qualifications much much later when the audience was over.
[11:30] audience was over the clerk walked Lou to the front.
[11:34] the clerk walked Lou to the front door his Excellency will contact you the.
[11:36] door his Excellency will contact you the clerk said but Lou knew that he would.
[11:40] clerk said but Lou knew that he would not be coming back he had thrown away.
[11:44] not be coming back he had thrown away his only chance to win the position over.
[11:48] his only chance to win the position over the.
[11:49] the others he packed up and traveled back to.
[11:52] others he packed up and traveled back to his.
[11:53] his hometown he thought that he would just.
[11:56] hometown he thought that he would just return to his old routine.
[12:00] return to his old routine but there was another.
[12:04] but there was another surprise another summons came to him.
[12:07] surprise another summons came to him from the.
[12:10] minister like the previous one it had.
[12:15] minister like the previous one it had his name on.
[12:16] his name on it unlike the previous.
[12:19] it unlike the previous one it was addressed not to his current.
[12:24] one it was addressed not to his current position but.
[12:26] position but to the assistant.
[12:31] Minister It could only mean that the
[12:35] Minister It could only mean that the position was
[12:36] position was his but how he was not well qualified
[12:42] his but how he was not well qualified and he was not The
[12:45] Rescuer so Lou looked at the documents
[12:49] Rescuer so Lou looked at the documents he could hardly believe his eyes it was
[12:52] he could hardly believe his eyes it was a transfer order he was assigned to join
[12:55] a transfer order he was assigned to join The Minister's personal
[12:57] The Minister's personal staff effect Ive
[13:03] immediately the months that followed
[13:06] immediately the months that followed passed in a
[13:08] passed in a blur Lou moved to the capital to start
[13:11] blur Lou moved to the capital to start his new
[13:13] his new job the new environment was exciting and
[13:16] job the new environment was exciting and challenging and it took him a while to
[13:19] challenging and it took him a while to get settled in to feel more comfortable
[13:22] get settled in to feel more comfortable with his expanded powers and
[13:26] with his expanded powers and duties one day he ran into the clerk the
[13:30] duties one day he ran into the clerk the one he first met upon his first
[13:34] One he first met upon his first visit they exchanged pleasantries and.
[13:37] Visit they exchanged pleasantries and then a question occurred to Lou he asked.
[13:42] Then a question occurred to Lou he asked uh did his Excellency ever find a man.
[13:45] Uh did his Excellency ever find a man who saved his.
[13:47] Who saved his daughter ah yes the clerk said with a.
[13:52] Daughter ah yes the clerk said with a lot of.
[13:52] Lot of amusement the minister found eight.
[13:56] Amusement the minister found eight Rescuers on that day that you came in.
[13:59] Rescuers on that day that you came in for your.
[14:00] For your interview this was all the more.
[14:02] Interview this was all the more interesting because his Excellency is so.
[14:06] Interesting because his Excellency is so devoted to his work that he has never.
[14:09] Devoted to his work that he has never been married and has no children at all.
[14:13] Been married and has no children at all sons or.
[14:18] Daughters the.
[14:21] Daughters the end so that was the story of the.
[14:27] Rescuer let's talk about the.
[14:34] Dow so you can see that this was.
[14:40] Dow so you can see that this was actually a actually a test there never was a test there never was a rescuer the whole thing was a rescuer the whole thing was a fabrication designed to test the candidates and just like that we know candidates and just like that we know that in life we all go through that in life we all go through tests like the tests that Lou went through many of these tests are not through many of these tests are not labeled as labeled as tests and like the test that he went through some of the tests that we go through some of the tests that we go through are not testing for academic through are not testing for academic subjects not testing for knowledge how subjects not testing for knowledge how much you have memorized but a test of much you have memorized but a test of character character the test is for what kind of person are you so this kind of test the test of you so this kind of test the test of character has multiple levels of.
[15:43] character has multiple levels of difficulty from the easiest to the most difficult.
[15:49] at the most basic difficult at the most basic level it's a level it's a Temptation it's a situation Temptation it's a situation where there's some sort of advantage.
[16:02] where there's some sort of advantage that you can that you can gain it is a compromise of your values.
[16:08] gain it is a compromise of your values but if you agree to compromise you can gain.
[16:13] gain something it is the easiest level and it is the level at which the majority of humanity will fail quite possibly.
[16:19] including us we see some kind of Advantage it's not exactly above board.
[16:29] but maybe nobody will find out the second level is when life ramps up the pressure like I really could use that extra paycheck or
[16:45] really could use that extra paycheck or whatever that is a really good thing.
[16:47] whatever that is a really good thing that I can gain I really need it.
[16:52] that I can gain I really need it or perhaps nobody will ever know or.
[16:58] or perhaps nobody will ever know or perhaps I can present it to the world as.
[17:03] perhaps I can present it to the world as being virtuous I have to do that.
[17:07] being virtuous I have to do that because in the story we saw the.
[17:12] because in the story we saw the pressure being applied in different.
[17:16] pressure being applied in different ways.
[17:17] ways first the minister got external.
[17:22] first the minister got external verification or so he would appeared he.
[17:25] verification or so he would appeared he had another official agree with him this.
[17:29] had another official agree with him this amps up the pressure the more pressure.
[17:32] amps up the pressure the more pressure there.
[17:33] there is it is similar to life when we see.
[17:38] is it is similar to life when we see other people do it and we say to.
[17:40] other people do it and we say to ourselves Well everybody's doing it it's.
[17:42] not so bad they get to do it why can't I.
[17:44] do.
[17:46] do it so that's a second level a higher.
[17:50] it so that's a second level a higher level of difficulty where many people fail as well quite possibly including us.
[17:57] and then and finally at the toughest at the most difficult level of the test is when you are presented with an alibi or a compelling reason an excuse a cover.
[18:15] like when the minister said oh I know you're doing it because you are a student of the da you don't want to take credit that's okay let's just you and I agree that it happened and then we don't need to talk about this ever again.
[18:30] so at the same time that there's a huge Advantage winning the position there is also a plausible Noble sounding reason to go with the scheme to go with this.
[18:48] scheme to go with this fabrication that is the test at the most.
[18:51] fabrication that is the test at the most difficult level in my opinion there are.
[18:55] difficult level in my opinion there are very few people who can pass the test.
[18:59] very few people who can pass the test but that is why the story is being.
[19:02] but that is why the story is being presented it is a.
[19:05] presented it is a challenge the challenge to us and the.
[19:09] challenge the challenge to us and the same question that L is asking when he.
[19:13] same question that L is asking when he says can you hold to the one can you.
[19:17] says can you hold to the one can you hold to the principle of the Dow without.
[19:20] hold to the principle of the Dow without straying from.
[19:22] straying from it so that challenge comes in two parts.
[19:26] it so that challenge comes in two parts number one do we really only understand.
[19:30] number one do we really only understand the doubt that we claim to follow do we.
[19:34] the doubt that we claim to follow do we know the reason why we should have.
[19:38] know the reason why we should have integrity and.
[19:40] integrity and character and do we keep ourselves on.
[19:44] character and do we keep ourselves on the path without straining From the.
[19:49] the path without straining From the Path so these are questions to contemplate not necessarily easy but these are the true test of Life those who are curious to find out more this story comes from my book The Dow of success as I mentioned it is one of my personal favorites and there is more about this story from the book as well as 24 other stories that are similar so let's summarize what we have talked about today in chapter 10 it is all about turning your focus inward so the three parts that we have discussed number one hold the soul embrace the Oneness as you heard the Oneness the
[20:51] Oneness as you heard the Oneness the unity is synonymous with the doubt so to
[20:54] unity is synonymous with the doubt so to embrace Oneness is to embrace the doubt
[20:57] embrace Oneness is to embrace the doubt which also implies the principles of the
[21:00] which also implies the principles of the Dow staying on the
[21:02] Dow staying on the path and we want to be consistent in
[21:05] path and we want to be consistent in doing so and that's the part that says
[21:08] doing so and that's the part that says hey Don't Stray
[21:10] hey Don't Stray away this is what leads to Harmony the
[21:14] away this is what leads to Harmony the consistency of the
[21:17] consistency of the practice number two concentrate your
[21:20] practice number two concentrate your energy and
[21:21] energy and relax this is all about the flow of the
[21:24] relax this is all about the flow of the internal energy the breath controlling
[21:27] internal energy the breath controlling the breath
[21:29] the breath utilizing leveraging the breath to help
[21:32] utilizing leveraging the breath to help you to become as soft as Supple as
[21:36] you to become as soft as Supple as relaxed as an
[21:39] relaxed as an infant and as we will see next time this
[21:43] infant and as we will see next time this has implications not just in meditation
[21:46] has implications not just in meditation but also doubt cultivation as well as
[21:50] but also doubt cultivation as well as living one's
[21:52] living one's life but moving on for now number three
[21:57] life but moving on for now number three is cleanse the worldly
[22:00] is cleanse the worldly view this means turning away from the
[22:04] view this means turning away from the colorful distractions of the material
[22:08] colorful distractions of the material world this is what will take us back to
[22:11] world this is what will take us back to the purity of our original
[22:17] the purity of our original nature so there's uh a lot more to talk
[22:20] nature so there's uh a lot more to talk about in the six questions we have
[22:22] about in the six questions we have completed the three that are internally
[22:26] completed the three that are internally inwardly directed we still must talk
[22:29] inwardly directed we still must talk about the other three questions to form
[22:33] about the other three questions to form the whole
[22:41] set our meeting has come to an end but
[22:45] set our meeting has come to an end but the journey continues
[22:47] the journey continues on until next time May the doubt fill
[22:51] on until next time May the doubt fill you with peace and happiness
[22:58] [Music]
[23:06] first