The Ancient Chinese Codes Of Practice Of The Chinese Mystic Masters:
法不轻传 - The 'Way' is not easily gained
In a narrow sense, the "法" (Fa) - "The Esoteric (Secret) Ways (Methods)" here refers to "法术" (Fa Shu) - Taoist Sorcery. In a broad sense, "法" (Fa) refers to other worldly skills, such as the superb craftsmanship of a Stone Carver, the carpentry skills of a carpenter, and the martial arts skills of martial arts masters.
Generally speaking, the ancients would pass on their unique skills to their children and grandchildren. Those with a larger structure would accept some apprentices and then pass them on to those with higher talents.
The reason why "The 'Way' Is Not Easily Gained" is not a manifestation of narrow-mindedness and selfishness, but rather helplessness.
Why do you say that? If the 'Skills Of Trade' is passed on to outsiders, once the other party has a character problem and does not Show Gratitude (知恩图报) , it is very likely that "After disciples mastered the Skills, the master starved to death" (教会徒弟，饿死师傅).
*This issue is very common in ancient time, whereby the non-Chinese Folks (Foreigners) would learn the Secret Knowledge of the Chinese People, and then self-proclaim the skills they gained were their own creation, without paying respect to the Chinese Patriach Of that particular Knowledge & Skills.*
In addition, everyone's talents are different. If the talents of children / grand children or apprentices are average, it is difficult to learn the essence of the "法" (Fa), and it will be lost over time.
In this way, before teaching the "法" (Fa), two aspects are often considered. On the one hand, it depends on the character of the other party. If the character is not good, no matter how high the talent is, he / she will not be considered; on the other hand, it is the talent of the other party. Every Trades needs talent. For a person with average talent, no matter how much time it takes, it will not be unique.
道不贱卖 - The 'Tao' is not sold cheaply
The "道" （Tao）here can be understood as truth, method, and experience. A person sums up useful methods and skills through study and life experience, and cannot easily tell others. Even if the other person wants to learn very much, he must pay the corresponding price.
As the saying goes, there is no shortcut to success, but there must be a method. If you master this method, you will be able to avoid many detours and achieve success more easily. Otherwise, you will get half the result with half the effort.
Tao is not cheap, similar to the modern method of paying for knowledge. Others spend their time and energy to master the method, generally will not be not free to you. After all, time is money. It is almost impossible to get successful experience and methods without paying.
There is no free lunch in the world. The Tao Te Ching writes: "That which you want to take. Must first be given." (Tao Te Chin Verse 36) If you want to learn from others, you must understand the truth that “Tao is not cheap”. At that time, be sure not to be stingy.
师不顺路 - The Master doesn't answer the Passer-By
The "Teacher / Master" (师) in '师不顺路' - "Teacher does not answer the Passer-By" originally referred to the Feng Shui Master (风水师), and later included the Teacher / Master (of a Skilled Trade).
As we all know, the ancients believed deeply in Feng Shui, and they would find people to look at Feng Shui when they built a house, and also when look at Feng Shui for a cemetery.
The overall meaning of '师不顺路' - "Teacher does not answer the Passer-By" means that when a Feng Shui Master gives Feng Shui Audit to someone else's home, you should not casually ask him to take a look at your home. This is a huge disrespect for the Feng Shui Master. The Rule is You need to show your sincerity by formally inviting him over, by Paying WITH A FEE of course. If not, he will not entertains You.
The same is true for Education Teachers. In ancient times, there was a saying that “To be a teacher for one day, and to be a father for life” (一日为师，终身为父) In ancient times, the private school teachers (私塾先生) basically did not take the initiative to accept students, but the parents sent their children to the school with a sincere attitude.
It is not that ancient Feng Shui Masters and / or Education Teachers deliberately put on airs, but they need to be respected. If they are easy to give Feng Shui Audits , or accept students at will, their value will not be reflected.
医不叩门 - The Chinese Physician doesn't Knock on Doors
Under normal circumstances, if someone in the family is sick, the family members will invite the Chinese Physician to the house, instead of the doctor who takes the initiative to come over.
There are two reasons behind the reason why the doctor is not stingy. The first reason is that if the doctor only hears from others that someone is ill, he is in the kindness of the doctor, and takes the initiative to rush to the patient's home, only to find that the other person is alive and healthy, there is no disease at all, and it is very embarrassing to cause misunderstanding.
The second reason is that each patient’s condition is different. The doctor does not know what preparations to make before he does not understand the condition. If he takes the initiative to come to his home for treatment when he is not prepared enough, it may delay time or even make it too late for treatment. If relatives go to ask a doctor, describe the patient's condition, there is probably a spectrum in the doctor's center. In addition, if the patient is still not cured after doing their best, the relatives will not complain, after all, they invited the doctor over.
Further Codes of Practice:
卦不空断 - No "Empty-Handed" (Free) Gua Reading
Takes Da Liu Ren (大六壬) as an example, the former sages have long stated that if the heart is sincere, it will be accurate, and the insincere , will not. (凡六壬课占，诚占必准，不诚则否).
Sincere person burns incense and pray with pious, solid heart. With sincere heart, therefore, the divination will be accurate. If you treat it as just a leisure game, it will not be accurate. 诚者，心一而已，焚香虔祷，心固一矣。仓猝惶急而占，心亦必一，故此占皆准，若懈怠游戏而占，百无一准。
If you take up the trouble to do the divination, you must take the Consultation Fee, and is not about Greed over Money. If you don't take the Consultation Fee for good reasons, then people will treat it for granted, and you can't avoid being slack. When You charge a Fee, people will treat it seriously, and if you have to, you will not provide the service. If they pay You, this will show their sincerity. 为人占事，必取课金，非为贪财，良因不取课金，则人随便来占，不免懈怠。限以课金，则世人惜财，非不得已则不占，不得已则心诚，诚则准矣。
Divination (on particular issue) should be done only one time, and if you redo on the reading again, you will blaspheme upon it and therefore unreliable. If the predicted outcomes have not been fulfilled after the Divination, or have changed in the course of the event, do not need to re-consult about it it again, that is, the previous lesson has already made every effort to make it clear. 一事只占，再占则渎而不靠矣。设占后未见应验，或事中又生变化者，不必再占，即以前课尽心推求，无不昭然若揭。
Consultation Reading on common issues were originally only done for one time. In the case of critical illness or disasters, even if they are Counsulted (Divine-Reading) repeatedly, they must be accepted. Here, seeing the gods’ kindness, pitying him for his sincerit. However, it must be reasonable. 常事原只一占，若遇疾病危急，灾难逼迫之际，虽迭次占之，亦必皆准，于此见神明仁慈，怜其慎恻之诚，故略其再三之渎也。然亦必所占顺理，非理之事，神岂来告？
Conclusion:
Although the times are different, the Ancient (Chinese) Codes Of Practice of Ancient (Chinese) Mystic Masters still apply today.
The cycle of heaven requires balance. If you want to get it, you have to pay. Be Respectful and willing to pay the Master You are seeking for answers or for spiritual intervention. Otherwise, Gods won't tell and won't help!
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