Volume Nine "Dao Yi"

Baopuzi said, "The Dao encompasses the heavens and the earth; its essence is nameless." Even if it does not exist, the influence still exists. If it exists, then all things are still non-existent. First cannot be transferred to gauge how much its, zhu can't test their like, Mozart in wu jin dragon's wild, cannot find their voice on yao within a ghost, a week of dogs step glandularstalk dogs pigs scurrying, cannot trace its trillion me outside of the universe. If one's words are close at hand, they will flow like the tiniest details and have a surplus. If one talks about the distant, it will fill the vast void and be insufficient. To be the sound of sound, the sound of sound, the form of form, the shadow of shadow, only those can achieve stillness, those who can achieve movement, those who descend can achieve bowing, and those who rise can achieve bowing. If it is forcibly called the Dao, it has lost its true nature. Instead, it is divided into a thousand divisions and a hundred thousand divisions, making its name reach the boundless, and the Dao is vast and boundless, isn't it far away? The common people cannot recognize the original essence but cultivate the minor aspects of sexual indulgence. However, if one can remain calm and composed, untainted and unmoved, nourish the heart to be free from desires, purify the spirit to be pure and simple, sweep away and cleanse the temptations and desires, restrain them to be upright, eliminate the hard-to-obtain thoughts, dispel the burdens that harm the truth, thin the evil of joy and anger, and eliminate the roots of love and evil, then blessings will come without seeking them, and disasters will go without warding off. What is it that fate lies within and is not bound by the outside, that the Way exists here and does not await there? It is because ordinary people cannot hold fast to the truth, are not encompassed by all kinds of restraint, are swayed by likes and dislikes, roam freely and escape, are confused and have no response, emotions arise from external things, wisdom overflows when dealing with matters, are lured by what is desired, and thus the natural order ceases to exist; they are confused by what they see and hear, and thus become pure and unified. The heart is bound by extravagance and indulgence, and the emotions are muddled and disturbed by the waves. Thus, there is the disaster of collapse and the misfortune of decline. One merely cook and slaughter fat 腯, warp 酹 wine, bang against the gold and break down the leather, sing praises and sing joyfully, worship, pray, sit idly, and beg for blessings and wishes, hoping they will be granted, until death without realizing it. How pitiful is this? If a spirit is trapped in disturbance, its glory and guard are worn down by overwork, its form and energy are tormented, the sky is carved, and it overworks and overrests, breaking its head to beg for help, becoming a dead end, and praying for recovery, lying in the wind and dampness to apologize to the spirits, eating and drinking uncontrollably, and enshrouding the evil spirits, its tiny body brings such trouble upon itself. How can the gods of heaven and earth help? When all the cooked animals were exhausted, what could be made up for? Good fortune is not something that can be respectfully requested, nor misfortune can be dispelled by 禋 sacrifices. If one's life can be prolonged through repeated prayers and diseases can be cured through abundant sacrifices, then the rich family can surely enjoy longevity, and noble people can be free from diseases. The gods do not please the non-human race, and the ghosts do not enjoy indulgent sacrifices. The alley of the saponary cannot have a pavilion with a golden root, and the door of the commoner cannot have a carriage that can be moved by six REINS. Even though they are all human beings, there is a distinction between the superior and the inferior. How much more so for the celestial deities, who are distant and lofty, their relationships are different and their status is extremely high. It is clear that only the wine and food of non-stinking rats and the bowing of ordinary people can bring about a reduction. Even if one is disloyal and unfilial, committing a great sin, accumulating a thousand pieces of bribes and living in prison, seeking a good reputation from a wise ruler, having his faults blamed on the state and family, and using people to punish others, it still cannot be achieved. Moreover, it is difficult to gain a good reputation in terms of longevity, and it is hard to get rid of his serious illness due to his faults. There are also evil spirits and different relationships. If one is upright and hopes for their protection, there will be no such thing. A virtuous ruler and a minister who tolerates criticism can reward the good without lending money and punish the evil without favoring personal feelings. They will surely cultivate their moral character, neither siding with nor favoring factions. How could ghosts and gods go far beyond this? They cannot be swayed by persuasive words or offer bribes and demands. This is surely understandable. King Ling of Chu, who himself served as a shaman, loved this sacrifice but was unable to resist the attack of the Wu army. In Guangling of the Han Dynasty, where Li Xu was revered, the imperial Treasury was exhausted but the rebellion could not be saved. Xiao Wu especially believed in ghosts and gods, Xian Zhi had no literature, and thus could not escape the five faults. Sun Zhugui was honored in Huaxiang and was granted the title of a prince, but his life could not be prolonged. Without sacrifice, one cannot be extensive and profound; without jade and silk, one cannot be rich and abundant. Youdaoplaceholder0, without trust, one cannot be generous; without respect, one cannot be weighty. If there is a loss of mountains and hills, but no gain at all, would one not lose what is near but gain what is far? The fifth duke eradicated the demonic Dao and lived a long and noble life. In the Song Dynasty, the mountain sacrificial ceremony was abolished in Lujiang, and happiness and prosperity came to an end forever. Wen Weng broke the temple of Shuiling, but his health was good and the people lived in peace. Wei Wu forgave the custom of sexual indulgence in sacrifices, and when Hong Qing came to visit, he did not forget the past to serve as a warning for the future. Virtue is only fragrant; those who have no worries will live long; those who are frugal will not die young; those who suffer many hardships will grow old. This is the natural law; what can external things do? If the nourishment is not in harmony and the felling is not thorough, all kinds of diseases will form in the cracks. If the prosperity and health are exhausted and one does not realize it, how can the three kinds of animals in the prison be saved? The common saying goes that all are false and deceptive, changing appearances and deceiving people. Over time, they become more and more serious. They cannot practice the arts of healing diseases, nor can they return to their great confusion. They do not care about the salvation of medicine and stones, but only focus on the mistakes of praying and offering sacrifices. They pray endlessly, ask for fortune-telling without cease, and the evil spirits and villains speak of disasters and critical diseases, but they do not hear about them. When they hear about them, their cultivation and expenses are not small. Rich families exhaust their wealth, poor people falsely increase their interest, and their houses and fields are divided to the end. Youdaoplaceholder0 cabinets are turned upside down without any remaining. Sometimes there is self-destruction, which is said to be bestowed by the gods. If they die, it is said that the ghosts have not been forgiven. Fortunately, they live by mistake, their property is exhausted, and they die of hunger, cold, and starvation again. Or they commit 刦 sacrifice, or 穿窬 abuse, and lose their lives at the end of the sharp and evil, thus falling into the ugly punishment. All these are the reasons. Or when all the material things are consumed by the sacrificial expenses, and the silk and cloth are reduced to the corrupt sorcerers, on the day they are gone, there will be no more upright weapons, and the clothes and quilts will be wrapped around, causing the corpses to decay and insects to swarm. How can it be mourned? The ignorance of the people has reached this point! Indulging in the worship of demons and evil spirits is prohibited by the rites and laws. However, ordinary people can never understand. Only the king should enforce the law more strictly. No matter how serious the offense is, it should be eradicated. Those who refuse to stop purchasing and collecting sorcerers should be punished without mercy. The streets and roads should be blocked for no more than a short time and must be completely eradicated. Therefore, to prevent the people from suffering from cold and hunger and to curb the temptation of thieves is no small benefit. In the past, there were disciples of Zhang Jiao, Liu Gen, Wang Xin and Li Shen, also known as "Thousand Years Old", who, under the guise of petty tricks, sat, stood and died, distorted their appearance, deceived the common people, gathered the masses of the foolish, did not take prolonging life as their business when advancing, nor did they take eliminating disasters and curing diseases when retreat. Instead, they gathered traitors, called "colluding in rebellion and chaos", and falsely committed their own faults. Some even killed virtuous people, while others deceived the common folk, using them to manage wealth and profits, accumulating mountains of money and silk, becoming richer than the nobility, and indulging in extravagance and debauking. He indulged in sumptuous feasts, had a room filled with courtesans and concubines, played in rows, and had assassins and assassins at his service. He was so powerful that he dominated the state and the authorities. He fled his life at 逋逃 because of the cave. All this is due to the failure of officials to correct and rectify, leading to such troubles. The root cause of this problem is truly lamentable. I am an ordinary man. Though I have seen this truth, if I am not in my position, how could I be like it? The officials in charge of the people suspected that he had a spirit and were worried that prohibiting him might cause trouble. They falsely ordered that he had a strong intention but could not see it. Moreover, it was not his top priority in office or the most urgent matter in the palace, and it was also the belief of his foolish wife and stubborn children. The people around him all said it was impossible and many of them blocked him. He had no sincere intention, but those who advised and frightened him all spoke in unison. Thus, he was confused and dared not, which made people feel regretful and angry. Among those I have personally seen and known, there are several people who, after passing away, do not worship deities, do not pray for sacrifices throughout their lives, enjoy their old age, hold high positions and fame, have prosperous descendants, and are both rich and noble. There is nothing else to do here. I only offer sacrifices to my ancestors in the four seasons. I have traveled thousands of miles on land and water, with only about a hundred houses and temples along the way. I have traveled back and forth without passing through anything, and my carriages and horses have not suffered any damage. I have also crossed rivers without encountering any disturbances. I have been frequently affected by epidemics and have been able to rely on the power of medicine. I have often been attacked by arrows and stones, but fortunately, I have not suffered any injuries or stings. I have come to understand the powerlessness of ghosts and gods. Among the over a hundred kinds of demons and Taoism, all are devours of blood, but only the Li family Taoism is a minor servant. However, even if no slaughtering is carried out, every time a blessing food is offered, there is no limit to the amount of food. The food that is sold in the market must be abundant and fresh. If it is necessary to buy it, or for dozens of people to cook, the cost will be high. Moreover, it is not purely for the sake of frugality and should also be prohibited. Or ask when Li's way originated. I replied: During the reign of the Great Emperor of Wu, there was a man named Li A in Shu who lived in a cave and did not eat. When he was passed down through the ages and saw him, he was given the title of "Eight Hundred Years Old Gong". People often ask questions, but they have nothing to say, only to show their anger. If the color is cheerful, then everything will be auspicious. If one's appearance is pitiful and gloomy, then everything will be ominous. If the Agama smiles, there will be great celebration. If one sighs slightly, there is deep sorrow. Such a time has never been missed. Once they leave suddenly, no one knows where they are. Later, there was a man surnamed Li and named Kuan. When he went to Wu, he came to Shu and was able to cure diseases by praying for water. As a result, people from near and far all called Kuan "Li A", and they all called him "Li Ba 800", but in fact, this was not the case. From the nobility and below, all gathered at his door. Later, he became arrogant and wealthy, and was no longer commonly seen. Guests would only pay their respects at his outer door and leave. This was so strange. So, among the officials and commoners who sought refuge from military service, there were always nearly a thousand who took Kuan as their disciples. However, those who advanced in their careers could only receive the water blessing and the three talismans to guide the movement of the sun and moon 炁. There was no way to cure their health, take the elixir of life, prolong their lives, or avoid death. Swallowing the breath and cutting through the grain can take more than a hundred days to return, but it cannot last long. This is known from the most basic skills of this technique. Many of my relatives and friends who have seen Kuan all say that Kuan is old, weak and haggard, with symptoms such as coughing and belching, blurred vision and deafness, fallen teeth and pale hair, gradually becoming dim and exhausted, or forgetting his descendants, and is no different from ordinary people. However, the people still claim that leniency is a false act to deceive others. Is that really the case? There was a major epidemic in Wu, and more than half of the people died. The room where Kuan followed the Dharma was called "Lu". Kuan also fell ill with a warm disease and promised to fast in "Lu", and thus died in "Lu". However, those who are more lenient still refer to them as immortals who transform into forms and dissolve corpses, and they are not truly dead. It is the way of immortals that distinguishes them from ordinary people precisely because they value immortality and longevity. Now, when one grows old, one grows old; when one dies, one dies. This is not the way of the way. How could it be known? What doubt is there? If it is said that those who respond to the interpretation of the corpse in the realm of immortals, why not stop at the age of one or two hundred in the human world, live for a few years without aging, and then leave? The world is not without the path of immortality, but it is not without people's ears. The reason why I have made such a humble discussion is that the disciples of Kuan have transformed their forms and taught them all over the river, covering a thousand people. They do not realize the thinness of Kuan's teachings and that they are insufficient to follow and adhere to them. They hope to save the world, so they wish to make people aware of this and understand their confusion. There are countless things in the world that seem right but are actually wrong. I will briefly tell a story again to show the confusion of future generations. In the past, there was a man in Runan who set a rope 罥 in the field to catch deer, but his owner was unaware of it. Some passers-by saw this and went away because they had stolen the deer, still thinking that it would be fine to take it. If there were abalones on it, they would leave one end in 罥. The master came and found abalones in 罥. He regarded them as gods and dared not return. So when the village heard about it, they jointly built a house and a temple, and took the name "Bao Jun". Later, those who offered it many times, the danying algae 棁, the bells and drums never ceased. When one is ill or occasionally recovers, it is said that there is a deity. Whenever one walks on the path and passes by, they are all worshipped. In the seventh or eighth year of the lunar calendar, Bao Yu Zhu passed by the temple and asked him the reason. People gave him an explanation. The abalone owner said, "This is my abalone ear. What's so divine about it?" Then he rested. There was a man named Zhang Zhu from Nandun who was plowing a white field. There was a plum tree that should have been planted after plowing. Zhu Zhu cherished it and wanted to preserve it, so he dug it up. Before finding it, he left and sealed the root with moist soil to place it in an empty mulberry tree. Then he forgot to take it. The assistant is no longer in a distant position. Later, a person in the village saw a plum blossom suddenly grow among the mulberry trees and called it a deity. Those who are ill and have eye pain, shade this mulberry tree and wish it well. I thank you, Mr. Li, for being able to restore my eyesight. I give you a 肫. His eyes would occasionally heal, and he would kill 肫 and sacrifice him. If the preacher is too poor, he will say that this tree can enable the blind to see. People from near and far came in unison to seek blessings. Carriages and horses were always in abundance, and wine and meat poured down in torments. This went on for several years. When Zhang Zhu returned from his post, upon seeing him, he said, "This is the plum tree I once placed. How could it have any spirit?" It was cut down and then stopped. Near the main road of the Peng family's tomb in Runan, there is a stone figure at the entrance of the tomb. The old mother of the Tian family went to the market to buy several pieces of cakes to return. It was hot, so she passed under the tree at the entrance of the Peng family's tomb and temporarily placed the cakes she had bought on the stone figure's head. Suddenly, she left and forgot to take them. A traveler saw a loaf of cake on the stone man's head and asked him curiously. Some people say that this stone has a spirit and can cure diseases. Those who recover will thank it with cakes. In this way, by analogy with physiognomy, it is said that if one has a headache, they rub the head of a stone person; if one has abdominal pain, they rub the abdomen of a stone person. They also rub themselves, and none of them will be cured. So they came from a thousand miles away to treat diseases with stone figures. At first, they used chickens and dolphins, and later they used cattle and sheep. They set up curtains and played music continuously. This went on for several years. Recently, I forgot that the pastry mother heard about it and told others about it. Since then, no one has ever returned. In Luoxi, there is an ancient large tomb. It is broken and full of water. There is a lot of lime in the tomb. The lime juice is used to treat sores. In summer, people who have sores and feel hot and irritable will see that the water in this tomb is clear and good. Because they take a bath by themselves, the sores will occasionally heal. So when all the sick people heard about it, they all went to purify themselves and then drank it to treat those with abdominal diseases. People living near the tomb sell this water for the convenience of building a temple at the tomb site. And those who went to buy often offered sacrifices in the temple, with wine and meat never ceasing. Then more and more people came to buy, and the water ran out. So the sellers often stole water from others at night to supplement it. Those who are far away from home cannot go there, all because they are on the move or have left a letter to buy them. So the water seller became very rich. Some people say there is no god, but the authorities prohibit it and then fill it up, and it is completely eradicated. When Ma Shi, the governor of Xinggu, was in office, some of his relatives and friends came to him for help. Ma then ordered this man to stay outside, claiming that he was a Taoist priest and that all his illnesses would be cured immediately under his command. He also ordered the judges to march around and make false sounds, saying that they could enable the blind to ascend and see. Youdaoplaceholder0 then he went. So people from all directions flocked to the market, and money and silk had already accumulated like mountains. He also commanded all those who sought to be cured, even if it was not convenient for them to be cured, they should inform others that they would be cured. Then they would surely be cured. If someone is told that they do not recover, then they will never recover. The way of the Dharma is right; one must not disbelieve it. So later generations asked those who came, and those who came would all tell them that the clouds had healed. None dared to say that they had not healed. A few days of leisure leads to great wealth. Most ordinary people are cunning but foolish. When they hear about the methods of prolonging life, it is all in vain. Instead, they are glad to believe in evil spirits and ghosts, which is inspiring and worthy of worship. The so-called gods are all those who deceive people like Ma Shi. I'll record a few of their incidents as a warning to those who haven't realized it. Some may ask, "Why are there people in this world who have no knowledge of martial arts, formulas or techniques but still enjoy peace and longevity?" Baopuzi said, "Those who are like this may have hidden virtues and good deeds, which bring them blessings and blessings." Or they were destined to be long, thus making it difficult for them to grow old and die late. Or perhaps it is fortunate that one does not encounter disasters or injuries occasionally. Just like when hunting in the field, there are still birds and beasts left behind. When the great fire has passed, the grass and trees will not wither away. To protect oneself and avoid harm, one should cultivate the ability to guard the body and wear celestial talismans and swords. Prayer is of no avail; it should be relied upon by my inviolability, not by the inviolability of ghosts and gods. However, when the mind is profound and the spirit is unified, it can ward off evil and dispel misfortune, but it cannot prolong one's life or cure physical illness. Even if there are no natural remedies, there may still be those who can live to a ripe old age. However, it is impossible to avoid the tyranny of evil spirits and the spread of major epidemics. Those who store armor and 蓑 hats are like soldiers or rain. If there is no attack or battle and the time is not calm, then existence and non-existence are of the same ear. If the stone and the mist blend together, and the sharp edge and the smoke intermingle, then one can understand the predicament of the naked. When the floodwaters pour down and the plain snow fills the sky, one can sense the dramatic scene of the dew standing. One should not mistake the fine fragments of wheat for the grandeur of Yin and Yang, for misleading the late learners and claiming that the alchemy is of no benefit.