“Spiritual Upliftment by Burning Incense”

Dear College of Tao Community
You are invited to join in a COT Community event.  This event will occur on the morning of each New Moon. The event is done individually wherever you are, but you will be joined by many others around the world on that same day who are part of the Community.  The cultivation to be practiced is found in Enlightenment, Mother of Spiritual Independence- Teachings of Hui Neng, pp. 169-170,  by Ni, Hua Ching.  It is called “Spiritual Upliftment by Burning Incense”. It is recommended to read pp. 168-175 for the context of this practice. This is a simple and timely practice that is easy to incorporate into your cultivation. 
COT will send out a reminder each Friday before the monthly New Moon. The date is based on North America.  Below is a list of the New Moon dates for 2021.  Just to be clear, all who participate will not be doing the practice at the exact same time of day, but will be doing it on the morning of the same day.  If you have any questions, please email pstege@hotmail.com. 

January 12                                              July 09
February 11                                            August 08
March 13                                                September 06
April 11                                                  October 06
May 11                                                   November 04
June 10                                                   December 03
 

How to partake in the event

“Enlightenment” Chapter 6 “the practice of self spiritual upliftment 
It is done early in the morning on the new moon

The light of the burning incense and it’s fragrance represents the direction in which you wish to move in the development you wish to obtain. This is the direction of self discipline and self training which brings about the process of turning your bad habits into Good ones . 
Lighting incense represents your spiritual self discipline. You will need five sticks of incense This  incense ceremony is particularly helpful when practiced in the early morning of the first day of a lunar cycle, at the new Moon. Performing this practice will bring you great spiritual benefit

Set  the incense in the center of the holder and upon lighting it say “I worship the supreme virtuous one let my discipline bring fragrance into my life let my mind hold no wrong or evil idea, jealousy, greed, hatred, poison or harm.“

Then put a second piece of incense in the holder and upon lighting it say “I light this incense to symbolize the fragrance of my achievement, a stable and  peaceful mind. By my peacefulness, no disorder or confusion exists in my mind. 
By my peacefulness, no disorder or confusion exists in my mind. From my peaceful undisturbed mind, I can see in my environment what is right and what is wrong, what is best to do, and what should be avoided

Then put a third piece of incense in the holder light it and say, “this incense is to center myself in the learning and pursuit of wisdom. Let my mind have no further instruction. Let the subtle light of wisdom shine in my mind and create no further evil. I intend to do all good things without holding or extending any special preference. I respect those above me; I love those beneath me. I always take care, if possible, of the lonely, poor and suffering ones.”


Then put a fourth piece of incense in the holder and light it saying “this Incense symbolizes My liberation and freedom. My mind will no longer continually be searching to obtain more for myself. I do not think about bad or good but enjoyed great freedom without obstruction.”

“Put a 5 th piece of incense in the holder and upon lighting it say,“This represents my liberation from the knowledge of my conceptual mind. First I liberate myself from the Idolization of the objects of dependency; I free myself from the false things I am dependent upon so I do not remain in an unfruitful, unproductive or empty condition. I am always willing to develop myself and to know myself better through the external truth. I will harmonize and be receptive to all people in all things. I will not play the game of ego, and I will not change my direction for any spiritual conceptual or material
Fantasy