Ji gong was an eccentric monk and often appeared crazy because he did not follow norms and convention of the day. But appearance could be deceptive. Underneath this external or outward facade, he lived up to his principle that what matters is the heart and not what one does or what goes through the gut. He does not believe in outward show but stresses on grasp and practice that comes from the heart.
He is often depicted in images holding a torn fan and gourd. He would often be depicted carrying container with two crickets.
The fan, sometimes referred to as the golden fan is magical in the eyes of devotees. It can fan away negativity or bad fate and fan in the good. There is need to balance the softness yin and the hardness yang of life and bring on positive energy into life, so that there will be more of both good yin and yang and less of the negative or bad yin and yang. This is central to the practice of Tao as summarized and pictorially represented by the Ba gua.
He is often depicted in images holding a torn fan and gourd. He would often be depicted carrying container with two crickets.
The fan, sometimes referred to as the golden fan is magical in the eyes of devotees. It can fan away negativity or bad fate and fan in the good. There is need to balance the softness yin and the hardness yang of life and bring on positive energy into life, so that there will be more of both good yin and yang and less of the negative or bad yin and yang. This is central to the practice of Tao as summarized and pictorially represented by the Ba gua.
There was a common pastime in China when people would indulge in watching two crickets interacting and fighting. This evoked the understanding in Ji Gong of the constant flux of yin and yang in life - both in one's mind and in the world one lives in The cricket calls to mind the constant struggle in life.
We need to develop our
strengths and to understand and transform our weaknesses. This constitutes our spiritual cultivation, be this consciously or otherwise. There is need to be always aware, to be mindful from moment-to-moment and to be better by the moment, so that we can have insight with understanding, awareness and practice.
The flask or gourd Ji Gong carries represents two opposite aspects of life - non-attachment of the enlightened as well as the attachment or craving of the material world. When Ji Gong was alive as a man, he carried around a flask.
From the worldly point and more so when he was known to drink wine, people would always presume it contained wine. However, when he offered the gourd or flask to others, what they drank was not wine, but vinegar, water or another drink. The point to learn is that the same gourd or flask is the container for intoxicants to the worldly but for nourishing drink for those who are insightful and practise Tao - the Way.
Ji gong
tried to teach others not to judge anything based on mere external appearances. There is need not to judge by appearance and actions. There is need to go deeper and be insightful. What is important is the heart.
It is said in Taoist texts that Ji Gong did not care what people looked like, or where they came from. If they had a
good heart, he would try to help them. Even if they don't, this did not stop him from educating them and changing them at heart for the better.
Thus he was and is ever still a firm believer of the principle of truthfulness from the heart. Others should not judge him by appearance and outward demeanor He was and is able to drive home the point that others should judge him as compassionate and divine from the good that he could and can do for them.
Thus he was and is ever still a firm believer of the principle of truthfulness from the heart. Others should not judge him by appearance and outward demeanor He was and is able to drive home the point that others should judge him as compassionate and divine from the good that he could and can do for them.
The following incident from Taoist text is worth contemplation. Of course, there were many other incidents which demonstrate his compassion from his heart which were misconceived as eccentric and at times even crazy to those who don't know him.
There was one day when Ji gong and his followers were
freezing cold weather and had no usual means to keep themselves warm. They were in the premise of a temple. To the astonishment of his followers, Ji gong tore down the wooden
altar and made a fire out of it. One follower cried out, “What are you doing? That’s our sacred altar!”
It is said that Ji gong even took down the statue of Buddha and cut it up. The follower was disgusted and cried, “You are cutting Buddha! Don’t do that!” Ji Gong replied, “This statue is not Buddha. This is just wood.”
To those who don't know him, this incident seems to show his eccentricity but to those who know him. this is his compassion from the heart, albeit somewhat unorthodox and seemingly that unbecoming and unexpected. But this is him and there is no doubt of that. It is compassion that is at perfection and so is bewildering to those who do not expect that level of compassion.
What Ji Gong wanted to drive home is that men must let go of material attachments and worldly ways. What really matters is the heart. Wood will decay over time but compassion is timeless. It touches people at the deepest level and leaves a lasting good impression. It can change life of others for the better in many ways. Ji gong stresses on the qualities of one’s heart and not appearances and outward show. He has left his indelible mark in our hearts and we regard him as saint. Omitofo. We too must be like him, at least in some way.
It is said that Ji gong even took down the statue of Buddha and cut it up. The follower was disgusted and cried, “You are cutting Buddha! Don’t do that!” Ji Gong replied, “This statue is not Buddha. This is just wood.”
To those who don't know him, this incident seems to show his eccentricity but to those who know him. this is his compassion from the heart, albeit somewhat unorthodox and seemingly that unbecoming and unexpected. But this is him and there is no doubt of that. It is compassion that is at perfection and so is bewildering to those who do not expect that level of compassion.
What Ji Gong wanted to drive home is that men must let go of material attachments and worldly ways. What really matters is the heart. Wood will decay over time but compassion is timeless. It touches people at the deepest level and leaves a lasting good impression. It can change life of others for the better in many ways. Ji gong stresses on the qualities of one’s heart and not appearances and outward show. He has left his indelible mark in our hearts and we regard him as saint. Omitofo. We too must be like him, at least in some way.
