Tao is the Truth. If one does not understand the Truth, how can he practice Tao? Thus, to practice Tao, one must know the Truth.
The only way of understanding the Truth is to ask questions when one is in doubt.
Unfortunately, most people feel ashamed to ask questions. Therefore, the more doubts one accumulates, the more lost he becomes. As one is lost and does not try to understand Tao, he is further away from Tao.
Ever since Tien-Tao is made available to everyone, quite a few have received Tien-Tao. However, only a few can understand the Truth and practice in accordance. This is so because whenever one is in doubt, he does not ask question, and those who ask questions cannot awaken to the answers. Since I realize this is the problem, I have written this book:
The Answers to the Truth
Answers to each question are aimed to be as simple and concise as possible. These questions and answers, though may not be complete or perfect, do indeed encompass all basic aspects of the Truth, and may be referenced.
In conclusion, my goal is that by reading this book, practitioners of Tao would awaken to the Truth and use this book as a guide. For those who are seeking Tao, they would understand the Truth and receive Tien-Tao through this book.
If all follow the guidance of this book in sincerity, though not everyone may achieve the ultimate, all can reduce their debts accumulated through many lives, leave the sea of suffering, and follow the road to enlightenment; this is my foremost wish.
Nan-Ping Tao-Ji*
Written in Mr. Zhang’s Altar of God
Qingdao, China
The First Day of March in the Chinese Lunar Calendar
In Spring of the Year Ding-chou
The Twenty-Sixth Year of the Republic of China
* Ji-Gong Buddha is also known as Ji-Gong Huo-Fo, Huo-Fo Shi-Zun, and Nan-Ping Tao-Ji. He lived in the South Song Dynasty. He became a monk at Ling-Yin Temple in Nan-Ping Mountain, south of Xi-Hu (the West Lake), Hang-zhou, China and was given the name Tao-Ji. He attained Buddhahood before entering Nirvana, thus is a Huo-Fo, which means a living Buddha. He was ordained by God to be the Enlightened Teacher with Tien-Ming (see Glossary 1) as Patriarch Zhang Tien-Ran (see Glossary 33). This is why he is also been referred to as Shi-Zun, which means the Reverent Teacher. He wrote this foreword through Fu-luan (see Glossary 23).
