"As the saying goes, the Great Dao is simple. Since that is the case, why not switch to a simpler topic to discuss..."
"When we are cultivating Dao, what are we truly cultivating?"
The disciples and elders present exchanged looks.
They had expected Chen Mo to impart some profound and unfathomable truths of the Dao, but did the content turn out to be so straightforward?
"Regarding this question, everyone is welcome to share their own insights," Chen Mo spoke out.
A moment later, an inner sect disciple was the first to break the silence, loudly saying, "Cultivating Dao is cultivating the heart; one should gather their heart to eliminate delusions and return to true authenticity!"
Chen Mo nodded slightly, "Indeed."
Another disciple stood up and said, "I believe cultivation is the pursuit of longevity, emphasizing the refinement of life and solidification of the essence, the unity of heaven and man!"
Chen Mo clapped his hands in admiration, "Reasonable."
Seeing this, others began to speak fervently:
"Cultivators should revere the Dao and value virtue, aiding the world and benefiting others!"
"I believe the Great Dao need not be forced; following the natural order is the true path."
"I feel cultivation is like rowing upstream; without progressing, one regresses, so one must strive hard..."
No matter the answer, Chen Mo consistently nodded and agreed, appearing very approving.
Elder Jingyun, seeing this, couldn’t help but ask, "Then in Chen’s view, what is Dao ultimately?"
Everyone looked at him in unison, very curious about his answer.
Chen Mo spoke calmly, "This question inherently has no standard answer, or rather, the true meaning of Dao was already revealed when everyone spoke just now..."
Elder Jingyun furrowed his brows, "Please enlighten us, Chen."
"Dao is shapeless, formless; some take stillness as Dao, finding authenticity in meditative tranquility; some take action as Dao, practicing Dao heart in benefiting the world; some take realization as Dao, understanding true meaning through deep study of scriptures—"
"Everyone’s heart conceives different Dao, yet all can lead to the realm of ’unity with Dao,’ which is precisely Dao’s inclusiveness and vastness, and its true significance."
Chen Mo smiled and said, "If you ask me what is cultivated in Dao cultivation, I think it should be ’oneself.’"
"Oneself?" Everyone looked puzzled, not understanding his meaning.
Chen Mo noticed the Daoist nun holding a horsetail whisk in the crowd, pointed, and said, "Take Elder Xuan Ying for instance; she believes cultivators should forget love and sever nature, detach from the mortal world, thus seeing the Great Dao. But the issue is, after Qingxuan got together with me, her cultivation instead increased daily, and she successfully united with Dao..."
Below, Xuan Ying’s face flushed, she silently lowered her head.
She thought Chen Mo was about to publicly reprimand her, but his next words completely stunned her.
"But does this mean Elder Xuan Ying is wrong?"
"Not necessarily."
"Elder Xuan Ying has spent a lifetime practicing her principles, cultivating Forget Love Dao to the Heavenly Human First Grade, proving this path is viable... yet the issue lies in its unsuitability for everyone."
"The reason Qingxuan could successfully unite with Dao wasn’t because she fell in love, but because she found ’herself.’"
"Hearts differ, Great Dao is numerous, it is never intended to use a single standard to measure everyone."
"If you prefer tranquility, then retreat and cultivate purely; if you want to experience worldly affairs, you can also train within the mortal world... this is not about right or wrong, but ultimately about who you are."
"We must allow others to be themselves and allow ourselves to be ourselves."
"And all this was stated clearly when Daoist Venerable revised the sect’s general principle—Many methods lead to different paths, yet reflect the true heart."
Chen Mo’s voice was not loud, yet felt like a heavy hammer striking everyone’s hearts.
The disciples and elders below were stunned; they had never heard such a discourse, seemingly simple and unremarkable, yet containing deep meaning.
When the sect promoted Forget Love Path, they revered it as truth, spending days in mindful cultivation; upon learning love can also unite with Dao, they felt restless... yet have never pondered what they truly wanted.
Cultivating Dao is cultivating oneself?
Xuan Ying stood rooted like a statue, her gaze losing focus.
"Allow Xuan Ying to be Xuan Ying, allow Qingxuan to be Qingxuan..."
"If the heart is emotionless, where does obsession arise from? If obsession doesn’t extinguish, how can one talk of forgetting love?"
"Turns out, I was fixated on appearances..."
Dong—


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