The Ways of the Master - My Story

Chapter 1

My Story

This is the story of how I came to meet the master of Tao and Zen, Li Yin, whose teachings and presence have been a source of light and inspiration and have changed my life completely. I hope that you will also find enlightenment from his teachings. I am very grateful for the time he dedicated to me.

I was travelling on business in Asia and decided to take a small vacation in China. I took the train from central Hong Kong to Guang Zho and from there I travelled by local bus to Nang-yuan. Local buses in China are a very special and colourful way to travel, especially to someone who comes from the West. My feet did not touch the floor of the bus directly because it was covered with rice sacks, goods and even a heavy motorcycle. Being a night journey, the bus had bunk beds

and I chose to sleep on an upper bunk.

In the morning I woke up to see a beautiful landscape, one that I had only ever seen in pictures. The land was completely flat and ran to the horizon, which was full of narrow and tall green mountains that reached up into the sky. They looked as though they had been thrown straight from the heavens because they appeared unconnected to the surrounding land.

On arrival at my hotel, I rested briefly and then rented a bicycle and started to ride along the outskirts of Nang-Yuan. It was splendid to meander among the rivers, mountains and trees. Local villagers greeted me with smiles while they worked among the rice fields. I came to a high mountain called Moon Hill, got off my bike and slowly walked up. When I got to the top, I was speechless. I had never seen such a vast landscape and the sun had painted the rivers golden.

That is when I saw Li Yin.

He was sitting cross-legged, absolutely still. He had a long, thin, sharp white beard, Chinese style. He sat with a soft dignity; his back was straight and his hands gently rested on his lap. His face was so serene that I felt he would melt away at any moment.

I guess I, like many others, had been looking for a wise old man to sort out my life and provide magical wisdom to eternal happiness. So, imitating his posture, I sat down quietly next to him so as not to disturb him. I felt so calmed by his presence. For a long time I had been dissatisfied with my life. Even though I had everything that money could buy, I wasn’t at peace and there was this constant inner tension eating away at me.

Sitting there next to him, I felt peaceful for the first time in years.

I was startled when he spoke:

“I have been waiting to meet you for a long time. I know you are looking for the great answer. Come to meet me here tomorrow at the same time.”

Before I had a chance to reply, he began to walk away, down the mountain. In his serene presence, I felt something so strong and special that I decided to return the next morning.

When I reached the top of the mountain the next day, all I found was a note that said, “I couldn’t be here today, come tomorrow.” When I came the next day, I found a similar note. I had heard stories about spiritual masters who tested their students to see if they were completely sincere. Keeping this in mind, I kept returning until finally, on the fifth day, I saw him sitting, as I first saw him, on the top of Moon Hill. I sat next to him.

He was silent for a while and then began to speak:

“My name is Li Yin. I will teach you about the Great Way which is also called the Tao.

Let’s say I haven’t tasted a sweet thing in my life. Can you explain to me what sweet is?”

After a few moments of confusion the only words that came to my mind were wonderful and pleasant so that is what I said to him.

“There are many things which are wonderful and pleasant,” he replied.

Feeling lost, I asked him if he would be able to explain to me what sweet is.

“Yes” he replied as he slowly opened his bag, took out a banana and handed it to me.

We both laughed and as I ate the banana he said, “Some things are beyond words. The Great Way of the Tao is one of them. The feeling of parachuting cannot be explained, it needs to be experienced, to be lived. What I will give you is like a map, but you have to 

walk the Way by yourself to experience the Great Way, the Tao.”

And so Li Yin began to teach me the Great Way, the Tao.

The food that is named is not the real food. What’s the point in eating the recipe? Even if we eat the menu, we will starve. The nameless is truly real.
Bite a banana and not the word “banana” On a page.
If you smell the word “rose,” You will see that it has no smell. If you give to your wife
The word “flower” on her birthday, The divorce is guaranteed. Excessive desires are like sunglasses,
At the end they cause everything to look dark. Throw away the glasses
And see the mystery of the real world. Illusion and truth are rooted
In the same source, the Tao.
If we pass the truth through a filter
It will get distorted;
It will become illusion.
Cut all the veils between
You and the Tao.
This is the gate to every
Insight.