Chapter 12: Thoroughly Recognizing True and False

Among all things in the world, where there is the true there must be the false, and where there is the false there must be the true — this is the principle of duality. Without the true, the false cannot be revealed; without the false, the true likewise cannot be revealed.

In your responses to this topic, you all said: "Dao is true, Principle is true, the Heavenly Mandate is true, the spirit-nature is true." Correct! All that is formless and without appearance — that Principle — is true! You also mentioned the thirty-six heterodox paths and the seventy-two side-gate schools. And you said that one's own physical body, and all that has form and appearance, breath and color — all of it is false. What you have said is entirely correct, and quite good!

But before long, ten thousand teachings will arise together. The thirty-six and seventy-two will all claim to carry Heaven's mandate and to be conducting universal salvation and the Great Gathering. Moreover, their magical arts will be astonishing, manifesting all manner of wonders. At that time, with the true and false intermingled, it will be genuinely difficult to tell them apart. But when we encounter this critical juncture, we must bring forth extraordinary wisdom to examine whether their transmission lineage is correct, whether their principles are true, whether their Heavenly Mandate is genuine. Wherever they emphasize deliberate action and outward display, we should see through it completely. Only when you have certainty should you proceed; otherwise it is extremely dangerous.

You all say that the spirit-nature is true and the physical body is false. In these years of the Final Catastrophe, having encountered the true Dao, you do not seek comfort for the physical body but only seek to deliver the spirit-nature from suffering — this is certainly correct. But how does your spirit-nature escape suffering? It comes down to whether a single thought is true or false. If the thought is true, then all becomes true — even what is false can become true. If the thought is false, then all becomes false — even what is true becomes false. The division between true and false lies at the very moment a single thought arises. Therefore, the truth or falsehood within one's own heart must be recognized thoroughly above all.