Starting Spiritual Practice
Why could I teach a scripture more fruitfully after earlier attempts stalled?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Personal understanding, students' desire to learn, and conditions all affect a course. Several attempts at the Tao Te Ching stopped after a few chapters. When students later requested it again, restarting brought increasing insights.
Preparation is not merely reading material and instantly explaining it. I consult other interpretations and consider my understanding. Many Taoist scriptures and traditions differ. Early preparation often felt demanding while I organized reasoning that made sense among those views.
I understood later continuation as mature conditions and genuinely experienced learning through teaching. Students' needs prompted renewed organization, and teaching brought fresh understanding. Earlier interruption does not mean permanent inability. Returning may reveal what was unclear before.