Opening the Dragon Gate Quotes

“The forces not only differ in direction; they are also unequally distributed in time, and are of countless different characteristics. Some people's senses can perceive them, while others' cannot; some are beneficial to the human body, some are harmful. Modern science has made minute analyses of those forces that can be perceived, but it does not recognize the existence of countless imperceptible forces. Yet the effects of these forces on the human body and human life are even greater than are those of perceptible forces.”
― Chen Kaiguo, Opening the Dragon Gate: The Making of a Modern Taoist Wizard

“The Way is not remote from people, but people distance themselves from the Way by trying to nurture life without knowing how. The reason they don't know how is that they don't know the right timing to make effort. The reason they don 't know the right timing is that they have not understood the mechanism of heaven and earth." The "mechanism of heaven and earth" refers to the laws by which the universe operates. Humanity is born between heaven and earth. A human being is a microcosm that is influenced and regulated by the macrocosm. Unless you know natural laws, proper timing, and appropriate method, there is no succeeding in learning the Way. Polish away the temperamental nature of acquired habit, and fundamental essential nature appears of itself. Casting aside the ordinary mind, keep the true mind. Where does the true mind resort? To Nature. The work of collecting the mind to nurture its essential nature was completed in one year. Wang Liping emerged from the dark room, the earth pit, the giant urn, and the graveyard, heading toward Nature itself.”
― Chen Kaiguo, Opening the Dragon Gate: The Making of a Modern Taoist Wizard

“The source of stillness is in emptiness. All things and the changes they go through are but temporary conditions, which finally return to nothingness, then revert to emptiness. As long as the human mind is not still and quiet, there will be thoughts of desire remaining, which create tremendous obstacles to the cultivation of refinement.”
― Chen Kaiguo, Opening the Dragon Gate: The Making of a Modern Taoist Wizard