Why would practitioners of Truth still face tests? In the past the Holy Spirit made Jesus Christ go into the desert, where he stayed forty days, being tempted by Satan; Sakyamuni Buddha was tested also by the devil during his deep meditation before enlightenment; Confucius was trapped and starved during his mission; likewise for practitioners of Tao of Heaven, they are faced with many spiritual tests. True Tao, true test and now is the time where tests are given by Asura Demons and at the same time revenge by the spiritual creditors are taking place.

The way of the Tao goes against human emotions and desires. Those who follow the way of the True Tao become Immortals while those who follow human emotions and desires become ghosts. There is a saying "To practise Tao is like climbing a tall post. It is easy to come down but very difficult to get to the top."

Master JiGong said, "The usually invisible Tao of Heaven will be revealed through many significant miracles. The true wills of practitioners of Tao will be exposed through grueling tests." An adage states "A piece of jade must be grounded in order to realize its use, and a nugget of gold must be smelt in order to realize its value." Taoist practice of Tao is critical of maturity; a Taoist uses slow and smooth breaths in tranquillity to nurture his True Self, and he exaggerates inhaling and exhaling actions to refine his True Self. Confucian practice of Tao stresses tenacity, and it is said that practising Tao is like carving a bull horn or grinding a piece of jade. (To carve a bull horn, one must cut the horn into shape, and then polish it to make it smooth. To grind a piece of jade, one must sculpt the jade into form, and then grind it to make it shine. Both of these works require a great deal of concentration, care, time and patience). Both Taoist and Confucian practices are to test the tenacity of one's will to attain Tao.

When Confucius was trapped and starved between the states of Chen and Cai, he said, "Without reaching the top of a high mountain, one cannot realize how severe the fall could be. Without standing next to a deep water, one cannot realize the danger of being drown. Without being in an open sea, one cannot understand the damages the wind and the wave can bring. An orchid that grows deep in a forest will not stop sending out fragrance just because no one can appreciate it. Similarly, a practitioner of Tao who cultivates his virtues will not act against his wills just because he is distressed and lives in poverty." After Confucius survived the siege, he said to the few who were still with him "The siege we survived between the states Chen and Cai is fortunate for me as well as for you all."

We have to understand that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Difficult situations are the stimuli for one to get stronger and better. Those who can last and survive all difficulties are the ones who can attain Tao. Mencius said, "When God is about to give a mission to a person, God will always put that person to test by exercising his mind, laboring his body, starving him, and empty his possessions." If one is being put through tests, he should be grateful because he is selected by God to take on a mission. For example, if there is an examination held for a post, not everyone can take it. Only those who meet the qualifications can become a candidate. Confucius said, "A piece of twisted and decayed wood cannot be used for carving. A wall made of loose mud cannot be painted." So only those who, through many previous lives had practised Tao and are predestined to encounter Tao of Heaven, will face real tests. If one does not qualify, why should God test him?"

My Heavenly Master JiGong said, "Thousands Demons; Millions Spiritual Tests." This is the time where practitioners of Tao will face tests by thousands of Asura Demons at the same time the revenge by the unseen Spiritual Creditors. Both together will test the will of Tao practitioners. Heaven said, "Without the tests, how can the fool, the sages, the sincere and the hypocrites be distinguished?"

Author: T.A Chew