This document describes a journey to help identify one's priorities in life. Participants choose 10 important people or objects for a journey, but must discard the least valued item every few minutes. Through repeated choices about what to keep or let go, one reflects on why certain relationships and possessions are more important. The journey aims to recognize that worldly wealth can disappear, while inner wealth like family and friends should be truly cherished. Making the most of the present by focusing on meaningful relationships, personal growth, and helping others is encouraged.

1. Cherish the Present

2. A Personal Journey,
A Life Time To Remember

3. The Journey…
About
• The journey…
Objective
• To identify one’s priorities in life.

4. Preparation
Setting
• You are going on a personal journey to somewhere
you have always longed to go…
• 10
 Yourself AND
 9 other important persons, objects
• You have 2 minutes to write down on each piece of
ticket.

5. What do you want to bring?
Family members HeavenlyTao
Money Friends
iPad
Passport

6. The 2-Minute Decision

7. Rule
30 secs 30 secs
START Station 2 Station 3
TASK:
30 secs
2. Select the “Least Valued” person/objects.
3. Tear & Discard upon CHIME sound.
4. And the process repeats… Station 4
• NOTE: You may choose to END the journey anytime!!
30 secs
END Station 5
30 secs 30 secs

8. START The Journey Begins…

9. 3
1
2

10. Station 2 Time To Move On…

11. 3
1
2

12. Station 3 Time To Move On…

13. 3
1
2

14. Station 4 Time To Move On…

15. 3
1
2

16. Station 5 Time To Move On…

17. 3
1
2

18. Station 6 Time To Move On…

19. 3
1
2

20. Station 7 Time To Move On…

21. 3
1
2

22. Station 8 Time To Move On…

23. 3
1
2

24. Station 9 Time To Move On…

25. 3
1
2

26. Station 10 The Journey Has Ended??...
The Journey Has Only Just Begun…
“BON VOYAGE!!”

27. Self Reflection
• How many item(s) do I left with?
• What is/are the item(s)?

28. What do you have now?
Family members HeavenlyTao
Money Friends
iPad
Passport

29. Self Reflection
• Why is/are they left?
• Why did I give up the other items?

30. On the deathbed
How many people wish they’d spend more time
at the office to earn more money?

31. Immortal Longevity’s Teaching
“Material wealth can disappear anytime – from
natural or human disasters, isn’t that so? A
hurricane or a fire can destroy worldly wealth
very quickly.”

32. Immortal Longevity’s Teaching
(May 2006)
“... What is the inner wealth?”
If we were to pause and think seriously about
the ‘first things’ in your life , what would they
be?

33. Heavenly Tao
First Things
Family
People
Friends

34. First Things
Are these things receiving the care, emphasis,
and time you really want to give?
Heavenly Tao
Family
Friends

35. Heavenly Tao
“ When the people with high
wisdom hear about the Tao, they
set direction for their entire life,
like receiving the most precious
treausre , which they value
forever;

36. Heavenly Tao
When the people with average
wisdom hear about the Tao, they
are not certain; and they abandon
their mission and responsibilities
whenever, they encounter
obstacles;

37. Heavenly Tao
When the people with low wisdom
hear about the Dao, being
shortsighted they only see the
surface and their True Self is
obscured.
Many people do not realize this
priceless treasure, just laugh and
look down on Tao.”
- Holy Teacher, August 2007

38. Heavenly Tao
We are not an accident.
Receiving Tao is not an accident.
We are here for a reason.
We have waited for
60 thousand years
for this.

39. Do you know your mission?
“ I am here on earth for just a little while.”
- Psalm 119:19
Earth is not our final home; we were created
for something much better.
Heavenly Tao
This life is preparation for the next.

40. How to cultivate?
Shun evil.
Do good.
Purify one’s mind.

41. 1) Shun evil
Do not commit even a minor evil.
When one does more of minor evils, one
harbors evil intentions, and will gradually be
led astray.

42. 2) Do good
Do not refrain from doing a minor good. To
constantly act with kindness shall lead one’s
heart towards the correct path.
 The five precepts
Avoid killing
Avoid stealing
Avoid sexual misconduct
Avoid lies
Avoid intoxication

43. Changes in the Elephant
Compassion us
aroused when one
hears good;
Cruelty is accelerated
when one sees
killing.
Take precepts as our
teacher.

44. 3) Purify one’s mind
a) Self-examination
Zeng Zi said,
“ Daily , I examine myself in three areas. Have I done
my best when doing things for others? Have I been
trustworthy in my dealings with my friends? Have I
revised the lessons I have been taught? “ ( On
Learning 1.4)

45. a) Self -examination
Confucius said,
“ When one meets a man of virtue and great talent,
one should look to him as an example to learn from.
When one meets a man without virtue or talent, one
should reflect on whether one also has similar
flaws.” ( On Virtue 4.17)

46. b) Self Awakening
Confucius said,
“ To make a mistake and not correct it is a mistake
indeed.” ( On Duke Ling of Wei 15.30)

47. b) Self Awakening
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost… I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

48. b) Self Awakening
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

49. b) Self Awakening
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in. It’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault. I get out immediately.

50. b) Self Awakening
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

51. b) Self Awakening
I walk down another street.
From There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk by Portia Nelson

52. People
We live in a modern society that loves shortcut
techniques. Yet quality of life cannot be
achieved by taking right shortcut.
In building relationship, there is no shortcut.

53. Family
“ In numerous worthy conduct, Filial Piety runs
supreme. In all virtues, Filial Piety is the
source.”
What do we mean by ‘filial piety’?

54. Family
Filial piety
Confucius said,
“ These days, meeting the physical needs
of parent is considered filial piety.
But even dogs and horses are likewise
cared for.
What difference is there if one does not
show his parents respect?” (on Governing 2.7)

55. People
• Building a fruitful relationship is similar to
farming.
• It is not an overnight issue.
When there’s no gardener, there’s
no garden.
Nature is balanced.

56. The Relationship Bank Account
Self Evaluation (Part I)
How Are Your Lousy Excellent
Relationships With….
Your Friends
1 2 3 4 5
Your Siblings
1 2 3 4 5
Your Parents
1 2 3 4 5
Your Spouse
1 2 3 4 5
Your Teachers /
Supervisors 1 2 3 4 5
6

57. Relationship Bank Account
RBA = Quality of Relationship with Others
Deposits
Withdrawals
A deposit is not a deposit unless the recipient thinks it is.

58. Relationship Bank Account rk
o
s sW
Cla
Instead of Making Withdrawals By You Make Deposits By
Speaking disrespectfully or acting in Showing respect and being
rude & discourteous ways courteous
Never sincerely saying “I’m sorry” Being sincere when saying “I’m sorry”
Criticizing Giving constructive feedback
Complaining Seeking to understand
Talking about others behind their backs Not gossiping
Never making or following through Keeping your promises
with your commitments to anyone
Being quick to offend Being sensitive to others
Holding grudges Being ready to forgive
Throwing people’s past mistakes at them Helping others make improvements
7

59. Confucius said,
“ Yes! It is perhaps ‘Consideration’. Do not do
unto others what you do not want others to
do unto you. “ (on Duke Ling of Wei 15.24)

60. Harmony within self enables us to cultivate
easily.
People

61. Heavenly Tao
“ Regardless of where you are, all of your spirits
are from Heavenly Mother, so you have this
mission to help others – to them to return
home, and not to get lost ... Our Heavenly
Mother is waiting for us to return, and is
concerned if we get lost.”
-Holy Teacher, Jan 2003

62. Poem from Immortal Longevity
“ A cultivator nourishes one’s roots and purifies
oneself.
Work on a solid foundation, and cultivate one’s
shortcomings.
Be not discouraged when helping the world and
carrying our great responsibilties!
This is the great timing, which only happens
once in thousands of years!

63. Sincerely dedicate oneself and offer the Three-
Givings!
Have Filial Piety, and care for one’s brothers and
sisters; this helps establish one’s character.
One needs to work on the Five Relationships
and Eight Morals to nourish one’s original
Nature.

64. Fulfill one’s vows in order to transcend the life-
death cycle.
The cultivators encourage and help each other,
especially in difficult times.Be respectful and a
good model for others.
Propagate Tao with courage. Share the Tao
message with sincerity and persistence; this is
the way of Saints.

65. One needs to have self –disclipe in cultivating
Tao; but tolerance and forgiveness toward
others.”
- Immortal Longevity , May 2006

66. Self Reflection
• How can I cherish the left item(s)?
Family
Friends
Heavenly Tao

67. Lastly...
• We’re constantly making choices about the
way we spend our time, from the major
seasons to the individual moments in our
lives.
• We also living with the consequences of those
choices.
Focusing on ourselves will never
reveal our life’s purpose.

68. In order to have a happy, beautiful and peaceful
life, you need to start right now, okay?”
- Immortal Longevity (May 2006)
Cherish the Present