(Minghui.org) Across civilizations, people have been looking for heavenly books since ancient times. Considering these books from the divine, our ancestors generally believed whoever owned such a book and comprehended it would obtain supernormal powers.
In China, such a search went back to the time of Taihao[1] (in reign 4354 B.C. - 4239 B.C.) It was said that Taihao was once presented with Hetu and Luoshu (ancient prophecy diagrams). When people asked him what they were, Taihao replied, “These are heavenly books,” implying they were mysterious and profound.
As time continued, books that were difficult to understand were often called heavenly books as well. For example, some people consider several ancient books on Chinese medicine as heavenly books, such as Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi Neijing), Outer Canon of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi Waijing)[2], Inner Canon of Bian Que, and Outer Canon of Bian Que[3]. These books could help people achieve health or improve mind nature through cultivation. The fact that some of these books were lost in history only made them more sacred. Another book, Book of Changes (Zhou Yi)[4], was also treated this way due to its abstruseness.
Heavenly books were also mentioned in other cultures, especially in early myths and legends.
According to a Swahili myth in Africa, god created a tablet that contains a complete and detailed description of all the events that took place in the past and what will happen in the future. That is, the tablet carries all of god's wisdom and all his commandments. It was called the Mother of Books because all the sacred books of mankind are only part of it. The tablet is written with symbols that only a god can read.
A similar book Book of Thoth, existed in ancient Egypt. It was written by Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing and knowledge. The book was said to have two spells. The first one allows one to comprehend the sky, the earth, the abyss, the mountains, and the sea. For example, you can understand the language of the birds in the sky or fish deep in the sea. The other spell allows one to come back to life after death, able to see the sun and moon in the sky.
In Sumerian (also known as Mesopotamian) mythology, the Tablet of Destinies was guarded by a bird. It was said whoever possessed the tablet would have unparalleled power. The same book later also appeared in Babylonian myths, but no one has seen it.
Because many of the above-mentioned texts have been lost in history, some people reject the existence of such texts thinking they were superstitious. Thousands of years have passed, and heavenly books continue to be elusive. However, people are still searching for them, believing that a book like that would bring blessings to whoever finds it.
Falun Dafa, a meditation system based on traditional values, has brought both physical benefits and spiritual enlightenment to tens of millions of practitioners in over 100 countries. Introduced to the public by Master Li Hongzhi in 1992, the practice's main teaching, Zhuan Falun, has been translated into more than 40 languages. This book explains the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance that guide practitioners to higher moral values.
“Falun Dafa transcends cultural and racial boundaries, resonates the universal truth to the whole world, and bridges the gap between east and west,” wrote Mayor Bill Purcell of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee.
For those who have been searching far and wide for a heavenly book, perhaps this is what you have been looking for.
References
[1] Taihao is believed to be one of the earliest rulers of the Chinese people. He was said to be a demigod who used his ability to improve the lives of his people and impart to them essential skills and knowledge.[2] Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor and Outer Canon of the Yellow Emperor are important ancient books on Chinese medicine. The latter is now lost.[3] Bian Que (401 B.C. – 310 B.C.) was one the most famous Chinese physicians in history. He wrote Inner Canon of Bian Que and Outer Canon of Bian Que, both have been lost.[4] Book of Changes is an ancient Chinese book of divinity dating from the Zhou Dynasty.
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Category: Traditional Culture
