The Tao The Tao ExperiencExperienc

e in My e in My LifeLife

By By Bill KrauseBill Krause

February 2, 2013February 2, 2013

English Tao Class English Tao Class Kuang Ming Saint Tao TempleKuang Ming Saint Tao Temple

SYNOPSISSYNOPSIS

For over twenty-five years I have known about Tao and what it means to us. This lecture will portray my experiences with Tao. I have seen many unexplainable events and occurrences over this time. I would like to share these experiences and challenge the listeners to explain these happenings. We will talk and discuss, and, maybe, learn from one another about Tao and my experience with Tao.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

This lecture is about sharing my experience with Tao in these cases:1.My first knowledge of Tao

2.My first experience in a temple

3.My willingness to help my mother by receiving Tao for her.

4.My first meeting during a channeling session

5.My acceptance of what Tao is all about

6.My wanting a family temple

7.Becoming a vegetarian

8.Taking the vows to be a lecturer

9.Visiting other temples to speak on the benevolence of Tao

10.Examining signs along the way of Tao

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

About twenty to twenty-five years ago, I heard of a thing called Tao.

I was not interested in Tao because I had my own religion.

However, I went to the temple to ease any family problems, but I still did not except the concept of Tao – yet.

I listened to the lecturers, but I still was not convinced that Tao was something special.

I needed some kind of evidence to prove that Tao was unique and special.

While I was at a Tao Seminar, I listened to a lecture about Tao not being a religion. This was the chink in my armor that allowed the idea of Tao to get through.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

I was present during a Tao Seminar when this person entered the room. This young lady was speaking Chinese, yet she was able to communicate to me through methods I was not aware of.

The room fell silent and this young lady just stopped all activity and stared at me. I felt a longing to say or do something. I sensed a presence that I had never felt before.

This communication was on a plane that was beyond the normal human senses, yet, it was there! This presence was the first of many unexplainable events in my life.

I still remember that event exactly, yet it was over 16 years ago.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

The following Tao Seminar gave me another revelation that stuck in my mind.

I listened to a lecture about Tao not being a religion. My whole defense for not accepting Tao was that I had my own religion and did not need another to take its place.

I had to give in and accept what this lecturer said.

So I began to listen and to learn about the mysteries of Tao.

I became more interested in Tao. I wanted to know more about it. I read books from the temple and I asked questions about Tao.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

After a few years of attending the monthly meetings and Tao Seminars, I realized that I have become very knowledgeable about Tao, yet, I still did not know what Tao meant to me.

I thought to explain Tao through a spiritual manner, but no one can see a spirit.

So I thought to explain Tao through a physical using evidence and personal experience.

The following examples and experiences, given in greater detail than the previous slides, are directly related to me and, in most part, experienced by me. I am totally responsible for the following content . The dates are approximate and not necessarily in order.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

One of my first experiences in Tao was at an English Tao Seminar in 1996? During this time we were waiting in the downstairs meeting room quietly discussing the day’s events. We were interrupted by a young lady who seemed to have a different characteristic not becoming a young lady as herself. I was told that this young lady was possessed by a buddha from the temple. I was at first confused about the occurrence and later on was amazed about the circumstances. To be possessed by someone else's spirit or persona was bordering on demonic domination similar to the movie, “The Exorcist”. I was really questioning this ability until this young lady stopped speaking in Chinese and looked at me intently. I watched her and felt that there was some form of communication transpiring between us.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

This time frame was indeterminate. It could have been one second or one minute. I have no reference to this time. All the while, the group was still and silent. However, I did know that something took place, a message of some kind was transmitted between us. I do not know in what language, if there ever were a language, that transpired that day, but I do know that I definitely had been changed, hopefully to the good. This was my first personal exposure to channeling. It was eerie, yet at no time was I ever in fear or danger. My exposure to demonic domination was from the teachings of the Catholic Church and the nuns who taught me in my early age. They would tell us horror stories of burning, freezing, and other horrid circumstances. So this was a relief to see that this event was peaceful and pleasant.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

Another Tao Seminar was conducted six months earlier that year. I was still skeptical about the whole tradition and, frankly, I thought that my religion was good enough and I did not need another religion to take its place. I listened to the lectures with a jaundiced eye until I listened to a lecture titled, “Is Tao a Religion?”. My defense against accepting Tao was that I considered it another religion. When this lecturer said that Tao is NOT a religion, my whole argument collapsed. I could retain my own religion and still accept Tao as a way of life; as a tool to help me to better myself.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

My growth in the temple was directly related to the people in the temple: the lecturers, the Transmitting Masters, the helpers, and the people who attend these lectures. My strength in Tao matured during this time. I learned many important things about Tao. The most important thing that I did learn was something that I was not aware of. I speak of one occurrence at work with a colleague. He commented that there had seem to be a change in my attitude toward other people in the company. I was more cooperative, more pleasant to work with, and , as he put it, "Not such a jerk as before”. I can only attribute this change at work to receiving Tao and attending the Tao meeting in the temple.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

My mother passed away shortly after receiving the Three Treasures. In the Fall of 1996 in a Dharma meeting, I was told by the visiting spirit that my mother was in Heaven and was very happy about receiving Tao and thanked us all for the privilege of Tao. I was indeed happy to know this and considered the decision of receiving Tao not only for my mother, but also for myself even though it was not under the best of conditions to be one of the better decisions I have made in recent times. This just confirms that there is something beyond just these four dimensions of this universe.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

It is now 1998 and I have reached a decision in my Tao cultivation. To become closer to Tao, I have decided to have a family temple in my house. This decision came about because these was something missing, a wholeness that seem to be lacking in my life. This decision was not embraced wholeheartedly in my family, but they went along with it.

During the dedication of our temple, there was a sand writing session conducted at this time. It lasted 45 minutes – and unheard of time according to others who have also experienced this kind of event. During this session, the two people, being from Taiwan, could not read or speak any English so when the one person wrote my name, “Bill” in the sand, the other person erased it thinking that it was just some scribbling.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

It took three times before another person who could read English realized that it was my name written in the sand. This event was all transcribed in Chinese, so there was a time period between reading, understanding, and translating the Chinese to English. When I received the translation, I was amazed as to what this translation said. It, briefly, gave a name to our temple, the “Tao In Temple”, Way of Sound. Voices passing on the Truth to reach Enlightenment.

This sand writing was authored by a being beyond our observable universe. He did identify himself as Jesus. Why Jesus, I have a statue of Jesus on our altar signifying the unity of eastern traditions and western philosophy.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

At the time when our family temple was consecrated, I made a vow to become a vegetarian. This was not too hard since I was a practicing “veg head” for almost a year already. However, the enormity of this choice was not appreciated for a time. However, now I realized that compassion and conservation is the hallmark of a practicing Tao person. Knowing that this act will eventually help this world and the creatures on it.

I had made fun of other vegetarians, yet now I am one. Even though it is sometimes tough to find things to eat especially when dining with you non-vegetarian friends. This is the challenge of the vow, yet I chose it knowing that it is part of the Tao culture and cultivation.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

As I cultivated and nurtured the Tao within, I again felt a yearning to do more. I became more involved in lecturing, so I asked our Transmitting Master about the procedure to become a lecturer. Many years ago, I went to a seminary to become a Catholic priest to spread the Word of God. Now I wish to become a lecturer to fulfill that same goal of spreading the Word of Tao to all.

Understand that this desire to become a lecturer was not an ego trip or a method to achieve a status symbol. I wanted to give to others the knowledge and experience that I have obtained over the years practicing, cultivating, and nurturing Tao in my life.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

I have now been invited to other temple across this country to speak to others about the benefits and the merits of Tao. I have been to many states and given many lectures helping people understand what Tao is and how we can live our lives following Tao.

I have visited Miami FL., Oklahoma City, OK., Memphis, Tn., San Jose, CA., New York City, NY., and Newark, NJ. And now Los Angeles, CA. I will travel to where ever I am needed or requested. This is not an advertisement, but my commitment to Tao.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

Oklahoma City , OK.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

Memphis, TN.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

Memphis, TN.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

Newark, New Jersey

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

My experiences with Tao have left an everlasting impression on me. I have seen things that are astounding as I have indicated in previous slides. Let me share a few of these occurrences:

We were at a temple when the Holy Teacher visited us. He turned to my wife and quietly said to her not to spank her kids. She was the only one who knew about this. I did not even know! She admitted this and promised not to do this again.

We again were at a temple listening to a visiting lecturer from Taiwan. He was speaking about the evidence of Tao and the Three Treasures. He showed pictures of exhumed bones and skulls of his parents. (BTW, this is tradition in Taiwan)

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

And on each of his parents’ skulls was a mark, a discoloration at the exact location of the First Treasure.

His parents did receive the Three Treasures; yet, other artifacts were exhumed without any evidence of discoloration or marks thus proving that there is some kind of phenomenon that created the blemishes on those two skulls.

This story was witnessed by a friend who told us about it. In Taiwan, there was a terrible storm and consequently a fire broke out in an apartment building. The building suffered major damage to most of the structure except the third floor. In this floor was a family who had a family temple.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

The room where the temple was located was undamaged, yet the surrounding rooms were a total loss. Explain that if you can.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

Speaking of temples, after I visited a New Jersey temple, I asked one of the temple people how she faired from Sandy? She told me that she was fine and that she was helping her uncle’s house. It was in the path of Sandy when it hit New York. The place was a mess with furniture and appliances scattered all about the lower rooms. Yet in one corner of a lower room was a small altar. The altar was undisturbed from the hurricane. The drawers in the where the holy documents are stored was dry! Another unexplained phenomenon!

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

Another occasion was when Peter and Grace first bought their house in Las Vegas. A short time after that we were doing our evening rituals and found to our surprise that the incense ash had curved around into a circle. This has not been the first time this has happened; however, it is the first time in our new house. And it has happened at least two other times.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

This last occasion was perhaps the most compelling in convincing me that there is such a thing as Tao. When I was visiting the temple in New Jersey two days before Sandy struck, after finishing my lecture, I was going to the Newark Airport to return home. I was early so I went to the assigned gate only to find out that all flights were cancelled. This was not good considering that I would have had to stay in Newark to at least Wednesday or more likely Thursday of that week. I asked if there was any other flights leaving and the attendant told me that there was another flight leaving and they were in the process of boarding right now. I was told the gate number and hurried to get there. When I arrived, there were about ten people milling around the ticket gate.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

I gave the gate attendant my name and she said, “good luck, we’ll see if you can get on”. This was not an optimistic tone she had, but I just had to wait. I decided that I needed more help than I could get from the airlines so I held the Third Treasure and repeated the Second Treasure. For about five minutes we all waited. As the plane was boarding, the ticket agent started calling names for the flight. She called a couple who rejected the flight since they could not be together. A second couple was called and they turned down the flight also. Another couple was called and they, too, elected to stay behind. Then finally my name was called and I went to the agent. She asked if I wished to go and I told in a resounding voice, yes! I was given my boarding pass and told to run to the gate.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

As I went past the gate, they closed the door and when I arrived at the aircraft door, they closed that door, too! I found my seat, the last one on the plane, and I strapped in for the flight. I found out later that we were one of the last planes to leave Newark before they shut down the entire airport.

Did the Three Treasures work? You answer that on your own. Me? I Think so! The conditions were just too much to think that it was just a coincidence.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

The next experience was not witnessed by myself, yet it is common knowledge throughout the Tao community. It is the true story of Master Han. Briefly, he was diagnosed with Tuberculosis. In 1937 in China, this was a death notice. Few people survive this disease. Yet he lived well into his 90s. He dedicated his life to Tao and was rewarded with a long life, freedom from the disease, and many lifelong friendships and awards from business and charitable organizations and governments. This final example gives credibility to the power and mystery of Tao.

TAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFETAO EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE

I have given you my experiences with Tao. You may think that all these incidences could be just coincidences. That is your opinion and you are entitled to it. My thoughts go beyond coincidences. My belief that there exists a power, call it God, Tao, Jehovah, Allah, or whatever you wish to call it, but this Entity has shown me that it exists and can help and protect in time of need. All we need is to recognize this and follow the path it suggests. These suggestions are not booming shouts and drill-sargent tactics, they are subtle whispers like a gentle summer breeze or the soft caress of a rose petal.

Use these experiences to guide and stimulate you and others in their path of cultivation and compassion.

And I leave you with this last thought…