Ancient Cultivation Stories: The Story of Wang Yuan

Wang Yuan, also named Fangping, was born in the region of Dong Hai. He was promoted to several senior positions in the imperial system. Wang was very familiar with the five classic books, and he had in depth knowledge in the fields of astrology and geography. He was able to make sound predictions as to the world’s future outlook. Later in his life he left his position and started to cultivate the Tao in remote mountains. In the end he achieved consummation [Enlightenment].

Emperor Heng in the Han Dynasty heard that Wang had achieved consummation. The Emperor then sent for him. However Wang never replied. The Emperor then asked the local governor to force Wang to come to the palace. When Wang was facing the Emperor, he was very quiet and he refused to accept the job offered to him. Later on he allegedly wrote over 400 words on the palace door, predicting the events yet to take place in the future. The Emperor was very angry and ordered to have the words removed from the door. This did not help at all since the ink had penetrated right through the wood door panels. The more the Emperor’s assistant tried to carve the words off the more obvious they seemed to appear.

Wang did not have any offspring. People in his hometown had been worshipping him generations after generations. There was a government official who especially set up a temple for Wang’s cultivation. The official also kow-towed to him every morning and evening. However he had simply been asking for fortunes, but did not seek the Tao. Wang lived in the temple offered to him for over 40 years, and the official’s family were healthy. He business was also going very well.

One day Wang suddenly said to the official, “Time has come for me to leave. I shall depart tomorrow lunch time.” The next day Wang died. Having known that Wang had become a deity and left this world, the official did not dare to lay his body on the ground. He cried sadly, “Master you have left me. What am I supposed to do?” He then used sheets to wrap up Wang’s body. The third night later the body disappeared suddenly. Wang’s clothes were unopened, left on bed like snakeskin. His body had been transformed.

Translated from http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200209/12712.html