This article is written for most ordinary people, though practitioners may also find it helpful. Many cultivators start with mistaken goals, so it may serve as a reference for them as well.

Two Roads in Life

In life, there are two paths — the path of science and the path of cultivation. After enlightenment, I discovered that neither path alone is complete; they complement and validate each other.

Most people today are raised through scientific education, forming a materialistic worldview. The purpose of this article is to guide you from the scientific way of thinking toward the way of cultivation.

Setting the Goal

If you decide to cultivate, you must first clarify your goal. Set your intention — to attain the Dao, to become a sage, a divine being, a Buddha, or one with the Dao.

However, many people make mistakes at this very first step. Some seek deities or Buddhas, worshiping them and hoping to gain something in return. This is the wrong direction — for you yourself are already divine. There is no need to beg or worship; even if you do, nothing external will truly come.

Others cultivate for worldly purposes — material gain, supernatural powers, or special abilities. That is not the Way (Dao), but the art of technique. If one pursues only these, they will remain trapped in illusion, never awakening, never breaking through, never attaining the Dao.

Theoretical and Practical Practice

Once your goal is clear, you can begin both theory and practice.

For theory, I recommend Dao De Jing and Diamond Sutra. Read modern, plain-language versions — do not get lost in words or theories. Simply grasp the meaning and the feeling behind them.

For practice, there are two main methods:

• Meditation — sitting still, calming the mind, entering deep awareness.
• Out-of-body experience — a state between wakefulness and sleep where consciousness leaves the body.

Both practices help you feel reality beyond the material world — to see the world from a third-person view, and to experience dreams from a first-person view. (Details of these methods will be shared in other writings.)

Entering the Gate of Cultivation

In short: Set your goal → Study the theory → Practice consistently.

When you begin to perceive a new world, and your old worldview collapses, that is when you have entered the Gate of Cultivation. You will have gained a new dimension of understanding.

Relying on Yourself

Cultivation requires no teacher, no master, no external help. Everything you need lies within you. When faced with questions, look into your own inner heart, the scriptures, meditation, or out-of-body experience — all the answers are there.

Once you’ve entered the gate, you may continue by reading my other cultivation writings for deeper exploration.

Edited on August 17, 2021