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"... standing on my own."
There was a time I thought I could prance off by myself to the mountains and get enlightened. "Who needs a teacher?!" I thought. But somewhere inside I knew I needed a wise advisor. The ego's tricks and all the states of mind that arise with cultivation are hard to recognize on your own. The biggest demon is one's own self and it's the hardest to break through. It's like a knife trying to cut its own handle. But having a good knowing advisor doesn't guarantee success. You have got to follow instructions.
This month the Master paid us a visit. Before leaving he cautioned us on accepting offerings. "Just be really careful." We weren't careful and got food poisoning. At the peak of our illness the Master returned. "Anything special happen?" he asked.
"Yes, Shih Fu, we've been sick for three days. Bad food," I said.
During the roadside visit we talked about food, sex, and cultivation. I said, "Shih Fu, two years ago in Los Angeles, you told us that [...]