Keeper of the Dao: Mr. Long Yin
道的守護者：龍隱先生
Keeper of the Dao: Mr. Long Yin (龍隱先生)
In the evolving landscape of modern spirituality and cultural revival, Mr. Long Yin (龍隱先生) emerges as a contemporary guardian of the Dao (道)—the primordial wisdom of ancient China. His teachings, rooted in “Ru Geng” (儒耕, Scholar-Farmer Spirit) and “Living Chan” (生活禪), bridge classical Confucianism, Daoist naturalism, and Zen practicality into a cohesive philosophy for the modern seeker.
1. The Essence of Long Yin’s Teachings
(1) Beyond “Confucianism” – Returning to the Original “Ru” (儒)
- “Ru” as Pre-Confucian Sages: Long Yin traces the “Ru” back to its earliest meaning—wise keepers of cosmic and human order, before it was institutionalized as “Confucianism.”
- “Great Ru” (大儒) vs. “Lesser Ru” (小儒):
- “Lesser Ru” → Focus on rituals, social hierarchy (later Confucian orthodoxy).
- “Great Ru” → Seekers of universal truth (道), integrating Daoist cosmology and Zen mindfulness.
(2) Ru Geng (儒耕) – The Scholar-Farmer Path
- “Ploughing Knowledge, Harvesting Wisdom”:
- “Ploughing” (耕) = Physical labor (farming, crafting) + “Reading” (讀) = Intellectual cultivation.
- “Living Chan” (生活禪) → Every action (eating, working, walking) is introspection.
- “Invisible in Prosperity, Unyielding in Chaos” (盛世隱，亂世顯):
- In peaceful times, live humbly (farming, teaching).
- In times of crisis, stand as pillars of moral and cultural resilience.
(3) Dao Without Dogma
- Not a religion, but a way of being:
- Rejects rigid doctrines, embraces fluid wisdom (隨方設教, “Teach according to context”).
- “The Dao is in daily life” (生活即是大道) → No need for temples; your home is a “Chan Hut” (般若屋).
2. The Modern Relevance of Long Yin’s Philosophy
(1) An Antidote to Modern Fragmentation
- Against hyper-specialization: Reconnects intellect (儒), body (耕), and spirit (道).
- Against digital alienation: Teaches embodied wisdom—farming, calligraphy, tea ceremony as introspection.
(2) A Blueprint for Sustainable Living
- “Ploughing Knowledge” as Permaculture:
- Modern applications: urban gardening, slow food, eco-villages.
- “Scholar-Farmer” Communities:
- Combines classical learning + practical skills.
(3) A Resilient Mindset for Crisis
- “When the world is in chaos, the Ru Geng stands firm” (世道亂，儒耕人是中流砥柱):
- Not escapism (like some Daoist hermits), but engaged stewardship.
- Example: Post-collapse cultural revival (e.g., how Chinese literati preserved knowledge after dynastic falls).
3. How to Practice the Ru Geng Spirit Today
(1) Micro-Practices for Urban Dwellers
- “Digital Ploughing”: Spend 30 mins reading classics + 30 mins gardening (even potted plants).
- “Walking as Chan”: Turn daily commutes into introspection.
(2) Build a “Ru Geng” Lifestyle
- Morning: Read a passage from 《Long Yin’s poetry》.
- Afternoon: Engage in hands-on work (cooking, woodworking, coding).
- Evening: Reflect—“Did I follow the Dao today?”
(3) Join or Create a Ru Geng Circle
- Study groups that combine philosophy + practical skills.
- Example: “The School of the Unseen” (隱士書院), a global network of modern scholar-farmers.
4. Conclusion: Why Long Yin Matters Now
In an age of climate crisis, AI dominance, and cultural amnesia, Long Yin’s Ru Geng Spirit offers:
- A return to wholeness (reuniting mind, body, and nature).
- A resilient cultural identity (without nationalism or dogma).
- A practical spirituality (no monasteries needed—your life is the practice).
“The Dao is hidden in plain sight—in the soil you till, the words you read, the silence you keep.”
— 龍隱先生 (Mr. Long Yin)