Dao, The Power of Belief

The so-called "Dao follows nature" is a principle of passive, instinctive operation. People often compare the Dao to the laws governing the operation of all things in the universe.

However, this principle is not static; it changes with time, space, and various other factors. For example, in ancient times, people generally believed the sky was round and the earth was square. This was the Dao of that era. But with the development of science and technology, we gradually realized that the Earth is round and the sky is infinitely vast. This is the evolution of the Dao.

Yet, the changes in the Dao are not without order. It's like an invisible thread running through the entire universe, guiding the direction of development for all things. If we can adapt to the changes of the Dao, we can better adjust to our surroundings and even predict future trends.

Conversely, if we go against the Dao, we may encounter setbacks and failures. Therefore, understanding and mastering the principles of the Dao's changes is of extreme importance to our lives.

What does it mean to follow the principles of the Dao? The principles of the Dao are often both simple and elusive.

It has many forms of expression. For instance, human thought patterns and behavioral habits are all a part of the Dao.

There are also patterns that ordinary people find difficult to discover.

Another example is the saying, "The movement of Dao is reversal."

You can observe this trait in many streamers on various short video platforms today.

Some dress provocatively, shaking their hips and waists; others sell their misery, acting arrogant and boastful, and so on. These are things ordinary people would disdain to do, fearing gossip or embarrassment. You can see all of this in these streamers. They do many things that people want to do but dare not, attracting a massive audience.

Some people scorn them, while others praise them. But undeniably, regardless of the evaluation, good or bad, they have successfully captured attention.

While gaining attention, they also receive monetary rewards.

This is one manifestation of "the movement of Dao is reversal."

However, while some gain this Dao unknowingly, others repeatedly face backlash due to insufficient virtue.

Most of this stems from their unrestrained speech, which is what is meant by "virtue not matching position."

I know many friends wish to be like them, accumulating a certain amount of wealth in this chaotic world within a short period. Thus, some imitate them, while others are still observing.

It is important to note here that time, space, and the prevailing environment and state of mind will determine the final outcome.

One could say that having timing, location, and people, or at least two of these, is necessary to gain wealth.

Creating self-media content has capitalized on the era's timing, the platform's location, and the fans' collective will.

Gaining a certain "Dao" through "the movement of Dao is reversal" often involves actions that are contrary to common practice.

And normal Daoist cultivators are also part of this. Don't you notice how monks and Daoist priests who "come out" differ greatly from ordinary people?

Buddhist cultivators abandon worldly perceptions and view the world through Buddhist philosophy. Daoist cultivators view the world through Daoist philosophy. Those who "come out" claim to practice both Buddhist and Daoist dual cultivation, meaning they use the understanding from both traditions, combined with their own inherited knowledge, to perceive the world.

But if you observe carefully, you'll find that Buddhist and Daoist philosophies share common ground on certain ideas, and they also have commonalities with Confucianism.

I won't elaborate much on this here. Friends who are curious can research it themselves.

I've discovered that things in this world have different names within different frameworks of understanding, yet they refer to the same concept.

For example, "the power of belief," "psychological suggestion," and "invoking deities" are all essentially the same thing.

Simply put, this world operates on the principle that the more you believe in something, the more likely it is to manifest.

Let me tell you a story.

A renowned scientist in a foreign country, before executing a death row inmate, gave him two choices: to be hanged or to die from blood loss. The inmate chose the latter. The scientist then blindfolded him, used the back of a knife to lightly scratch his wrist (without actually cutting it), and let warm water flow over his skin, creating the illusion that he was bleeding. Throughout this process, the scientist repeatedly used psychological suggestion, telling the inmate that he would bleed to death within a specific timeframe.

Indeed, after some time, the inmate passed away without having sustained any actual physical injury.

Why did he die without being injured? Some say he was scared to death, which is partly true, but not entirely.

It was because he believed he would bleed to death within a specific time. This belief essentially "scared" the energy out of him.

Or you could say his spirit died, and thus his body followed. Goodbye.

I don't know what you will understand from this story, but let me share what I have realized.

As mentioned above, "The more you believe in something, the more likely it is to happen."

This has been mentioned in some books, and some people refer to it as the "Law of Universal Attraction."

Let's try another explanation. In ancient times, there was a brilliant scholar named Zhang San. Zhang San's academic performance was always top-notch. Coincidentally, on the morning of his imperial examination, he encountered a funeral procession. A large group of people, dressed in mourning clothes, were carrying a large black coffin past him. Zhang San's heart sank. He thought, "It's over. On such an important day, I've encountered a funeral. My chances of passing this exam are ruined." Unease lingered, and he couldn't concentrate on the exam questions. Normally, this exam would have been a breeze for Zhang San, but for some reason today, even after the exam ended, he couldn't shake off the pessimistic mood. Disheartened, as expected, he failed.

There was another person named Li Si, Zhang San's classmate. Li Si's usual grades were mediocre, and he didn't have high hopes for the exam. He also encountered the funeral procession on the morning of the exam, seeing the group carrying the large black coffin. However, unlike Zhang San, Li Si was overjoyed upon seeing the coffin. He muttered to himself, "A coffin, a coffin, signifies promotion and wealth! It seems I, Li Si, will surely pass today. I'm going to be amazing." Things unfolded just as Li Si had imagined. Because he truly believed he would succeed, he felt incredibly energized throughout the exam, performing far beyond his usual capabilities. Ultimately, he passed.

The same event was witnessed by Zhang San and Li Si, leading to different thoughts and ultimately different outcomes. This is also an example of "the power of belief."

In life, if we are like Zhang San, becoming distressed and agitated by events, both mentally and physically, we will be affected by these negative emotions and continue to suffer.

But if we are like Li Si, able to look at any situation from a positive perspective, then regardless of the outcome, the process, or the final result, we will be surrounded by joyful and uplifting energy.

This energy is what is called "positive energy," good energy. Cultivators are those who transform all energy into good energy for their own use.