"Half-Enlightened Masters" (from Hua Hu Ching - Reading 80) by Brian Browne Walker

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The world is full of 

half-enlightened masters. 

Overly clever, 

too "sensitive"  to live in the real world, 

they surround themselves with selfish pleasures 

and bestow their grandiose teachings 

upon the unwary. 

Prematurely 

publicizing themselves, 

intent upon reaching some spiritual climax, 

they constantly sacrifice the truth 

and deviate from the Tao. 

What they really offer the world 

is their own confusion. 

The true master 

understands that enlightenment is not the end, 

but the means.

Realizing 

that virtue is her goal, 

she accepts the long and 

often arduous cultivation 

that is necessary to attain it. 

She doesn't scheme 

to become a leader, 

but quietly shoulders whatever 

responsibilities fall to her. 

Unattached to her accomplishments, 

taking credit for nothing at all, 

she guides the whole world

by guiding the individuals 

who come to her. 

She shares her divine energy 

with her students, 

encouraging them,

creating trials to strengthen them, 

scolding them to awaken them, 

directing the streams of their

lives toward the infinite 

ocean of the Tao. 

If you aspire to this sort of mastery, 

then root yourself in the Tao. 

Relinquish your negative habits and attitudes. 

Strengthen your sincerity. 

Live in the real world, 

and extend your virtue to it without discrimination in the 

daily round. 

Be the truest

father or mother, 

the truest brother or sister, 

the truest friend, and the truest disciple. 

Humbly respect and serve your 

teacher, 

and dedicate your entire being unwaveringly 

to self-cultivation. 

Then you will surely achieve 

self-mastery 

and be able to help others 

in doing the same. 

SOURCE: https://brianbrownewalker.com/2020/07/31/the-world-is-full-of-half-enlightened-masters/