Sixteen questions in cultivating Dao

Holy Teaching from Buddha Ji Gong

1. If a simple comment from someone causes you to be angry for so long, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
2. If you worry only about your own hardships, afraid that no one can understand you, and do not care for others, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
3. If you are not willing to make small sacrifices for the sake of the greater good, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
4. If you are displeased with everyone, every situation, and all things, and your heart is obstructed by these attachments, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
5. If you are too lazy to even bother with offering incense or performing bows, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
6. If you are so opinionated and always feel that others are inadequate, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
7. If you cannot have empathy for others, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
8. If you are impatient in settling affairs, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
9. If you cannot even bear to sit down to listen to someone, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
10. If you do not know to reflect on your own inadequacies or repent for your own wrongdoings, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
11. If you cannot accept criticism, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
12. If you do not know to seize opportunities to enrich and improve yourself, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
13. If you are noncompliant with ordinance and purposefully try to be different and unconventional, deliberately doing the opposite of what others do, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
14. If you cannot even manage your own affairs at home, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
15. If you seek only enjoyment and know not even an ounce of suffering, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?
16. If you do not even bother to smile at someone when you see them, say hello, and ask how they are doing, how can you expect to cultivate Dao?

Original Chinese: 修道十六問