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Venerable Master Yi-Yun, also known in secular life as Yi-Xiong Gu, is an internationally renowned Zen artist and an instructor in Qimen Dunjia Divination. Currently, he serves as the abbot of the American Ci Bei Temple and the World Zen Art Center.

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Master Yi-Yun – Zen Enlightenment
Laozi said: “There is Dao, and there are methods. Methods can be sought, but without Dao, one remains confined to methods.” Zhuangzi said, “Guiding methods with the Tao, the methods will succeed; departing from the Tao in methods, the methods will decline.” Ancient wisdom holds: “The superior person employs the Tao, the average person employs methods, and the inferior person relies on strength.” Here, Dao refers to the Way of Nature, the Way of all things, the Way of the universe—essentially, the true path of the universe. The purpose of learning Buddhism is to understand the true nature of the universe and human life.

Now, with advancements in genetic science, it has been discovered that certain conscious perceptions of humans can be transmitted to the next generation through sperm, influencing the subsequent generation. This indicates that certain consciousness and perceptions of humans are also a form of energy that can genetically shape the thoughts and behaviors of the next generation. In this way, we can understand why some bird species instinctively know how to build nests for shelter without the need for learning. Therefore, human consciousness and perceptions of living in the world will be categorized as good or evil, optimistic or pessimistic, all related to instinctive inheritance. This is different from the laws and truths of the universe.

One is the inheritance of consciousness, instincts, etc., passed down to the next generation, while the other is the truth and laws of the universe and all things. Therefore, the goal of studying the Buddhist path is to penetrate the laws and truths of the natural universe. Understanding this enables liberation and letting go, reaching the state described by Buddha. Once this is understood, one can attain the wisdom of prajna, surpassing ordinary capabilities, and exhibiting supernatural powers and miracles. With the wisdom attained, one naturally transcends ordinary people, possessing the great compassionate heart emphasized in Buddhism—aiming to save and benefit all sentient beings. Only through understanding the laws and truths of the universe can one truly achieve liberation, letting go, enlightenment, and the state of Nirvana, as described in Buddhism.

Hence, the wisdom of an individual reaches the level of the prajna wisdom described by Buddha, surpassing ordinary people’s abilities, and supernatural powers and miracles manifest. Naturally, the compassion and mercy of the Buddha, along with the propagation of Buddhist teachings and the truth of the universe, follow. Then the situation of “departing from the Dao in methods, where methods are destined to decline” will not occur. Therefore, the Buddhist emphasis on liberation, letting go, enlightenment, great compassionate heart, and cultivating good roots and thoughts is almost like a magic weapon for changing one’s destiny. Only under the premise of this cultivation can one avoid deviating from the Dao, and by mastering Dao to control methods, methods will inevitably succeed. This can truly achieve seeking good fortune, avoiding misfortune, and change destiny, and ultimately reach the state of Nirvana as described by Buddha.