Volume Ten Ming Ben

Or ask about the sequence of Confucianism and Taoism. Baopuzi replied, "The Dao is the foundation of Confucianism." Confucianism is the end of the Dao. First, it was believed that the art of Yin and Yang was all about taboos, which made people feel intimidated and fearful. Confucian scholars, however, are broad-minded but lack essential knowledge, diligent but achieve little. The calligrapher is thrifty but hard to follow, and cannot be widely followed. The law is strict but shows little kindness, which undermines benevolence and righteousness. Only the teachings of Taoism can make people's minds single-minded, move and integrate without form, incorporate the virtues of Confucianism and Mohism, summarize the essentials of the Dharma, adapt to The Times, respond to the changes of things, be concise and clear, do few things but achieve much, and strive to maintain the simplicity of all major principles and the true source. Ban Gu, however, regarded Shi Qian as a mistake because he first studied the Yellow and Old Classics and then the Six Classics. Based on the investigation and hearing of the past, by integrating the hidden and obscure, and by analyzing the merits and demerits of things, one can verify the right and wrong of the ancients. His comments are actually based on nature, and his praise and criticism are all in line with the ultimate truth. It does not feign beauty, does not hide evil, and does not conform to the vulgar. Liu Xiang ordered Shitong Ren to refer to it as a true record. However, what Ban Gu said cannot be supported. A pure and sincere scholar, who does not delve into the essence of the Tao but plays with what he has learned, finds it hard to strike a balance. Is the so-called Dao nothing but the matter of health preservation? The I Ching says: The way to establish heaven is called Yin and Yang. The way to stand firm on the ground is to be gentle and firm. The way to establish a person is to be benevolent and righteous. It is also said that there are four ways of the sage in Yi. If one is not a person, the way will not be carried out in vain. When a country is prosperous and peaceful in times of peace, it is called having the right way; when it is in peril and its ruler is in chaos, it is called lacking the right way. He then sat down to discuss the Dao, calling it the Three Dukes. When the state is governed by the Dao, the poor and the humble are ashamed of it. All those who speak of the Tao follow the two rituals above and all things below. But Huang-Lao adhered to the essence, while Confucianism and Mohism governed the minor aspects. Those who act with the right path in this world are well-versed in both ancient and modern times, capable of observing from above and below, experiencing changes and minor details, understanding the fate of rise and fall, comprehending the essence of order and chaos, having no confusion in their minds, and always answering questions correctly. Why bother to cultivate the method of immortality or admire the martial arts of Song Qiao? However, when observing the common people and making blind assumptions, upon hearing about the practitioners of Zong Boyang who lived in the mountains and forests, they would criticize and laugh, saying, "Those small paths are not worth counting." Alas! Those who embrace fireflies and candles within the encirclement will not see the brilliance of the celestial light. Those who wander in the water do not recognize the four seas One who values the depth of rivers but does not know how to spit them out is Kunlun. The harvest of precious millet and grains does not make one aware of the abundance of fertile soil. Nowadays, if one knows how to advocate Confucianism, one will not know that what is accomplished is the Way. The Dao is the one that refines a hundred families, shapes two instruments, nurtures all kinds of beings, and brews the essence of human relations. There are many people in the world who are simple and close, but few who are profound. The saying "few cannot match many" has a long history. Therefore, although Shi Qian was long, he did not receive much praise; although Ban Gu was short, he did not receive much criticism. However, when it comes to human affairs, is it the case that the fewer things are valued and the more are valued? Therefore, Veratore fills the original land, while Zhiying is no longer alive. The thorns of the bitter orange are wild, yet I seek the beauty among the trees. There are countless grains of sand and gravel, yet pearls and jade are extremely rare. The falcon flies, while 鸾凤 rarely goes out; Vipers and lizards abound, and gnarled dragons 觌; The fact that there are many factions among the students in the class is indeed appropriate. The way is to govern oneself internally and govern the state externally. It can ensure that the seven policies are in compliance, the two energies are harmonious, the four seasons do not lose the season of coldness 燠, wind and rain do not cause disasters, jade candles symbolize the signs of peace and prosperity, clear wine shows the symbol of virtue and harmony, burning wheels and rainbows cover it 祅, 穨 the clouds and merchants' sheep hold its wings, the scenery shines brightly, the harvest is complete, epidemics and plagues do not spread, disasters and chaos do not occur, cliffs and fortresies are not set up, and wars are not used. It is done without discussion and trusted without agreement. Without knotting, it is firm; without planning, it is accomplished; without rewards, it is persuaded; without punishments, it is restrained; without seeking, it is obtained; without restraint, it is stopped; when in a high position, people do not take it seriously; when in a leading position, people do not consider it a threat; before the call is issued, the wind changes; before the order is given, the customs change; this is the governance of the Dao. Therefore, when the Dao thrives, it will arch three or five times and have a surplus. The decline of the Dao is due to the fact that Uncle Dai's hasty pursuit is not enough. There is only the remainder, thus achieving beauty through non-action. It is precisely because of the insufficiency that the punishment is severe and the crimes are numerous. The common people are resentful towards their subordinates, while the emperor's spirit is furious towards his superiors. Or the surging waves, or the scorching sun and the desolate land, or the changing of the body in the valley, or the thunder in winter and the snow in summer, or the bleeding and floating OARS, or the accumulation of corpses to build a capital, or the sinking of myriad schemes in pits and the disarray of bones to change children, the higher the city, the more ingenious the surging; the deeper the pool, the more ingenious the steps; the laws are clear but the bandits are many; the alliances are numerous but the rebellions are severe; still, the storm is terrifying and fish and turtles disturb the deep; dense and dense, birds and birds are restless in the marsh; many wolves and wolves play in the forest; 爨 fire is fierce but small and fresh, it melts in the tripod. There have been cases where the positions of ruler and minister changed, and there have been cases where fathers and sons pushed each other against each other. Then, loyalty and righteousness established a reputation in a state of peril, and filial sons gained a reputation for squanding their families. When an epidemic breaks out, witch doctors become precious; when morality is lost, Confucianism and Mohism become important. From this perspective, the sequence of Confucianism and Taoism can be determined. Some may ask: "In the past, Chi Song Zi, Wang Qiao Qin, Gao Lao Shi, Peng Zu, Wu Cheng, and Yu Hua were all true men, all serving in the world and unable to escape far away. But since the middle ages, all the Taoist scholars have vanished and disappeared in seclusion. Why is that?" " Baopuzi replied, "In the past, simplicity and ingenuity had not yet emerged. Those who believed in it diligently studied it, while those who did not believe in it were content with it." Slander and defamation should not be uttered out of the mouth, nor should the heart of slander be kept in the chest. Therefore, the true person is gentle among the common people and does not rush to reach the ears of the distant world. The lowly and vulgar people steal the thin and the false are more and more profound. The mysterious and the plain are destroyed. The heretic and vulgar people are numerous. Since they do not believe in it, they like to slander and destroy it, claiming it to be truly demonic and false. They take immortals as the source of falsehood, either to deceive the masses or to disrupt the group. Therefore, the senior scholars are ashamed to be among them. In the past, the great men were cautious of the slightest mistakes, their beauty vanished in an instant, and they did not wait until dawn at night. They would act upon seeing a few things and did not wait until the whole day. Therefore, Zhao harmed Mingdu, and Zhongni Xuanzhen did not set up the fine wine. Mu Sheng Xingxing, there were many of them but few of us, and Hua Yuan left. Even if one is wise and enlightened, their karma is fundamentally different. What is there to yearn for in such a state? When the pool dries up and the water is filtered, the dragon does not swim; when the nest collapses and the eggs are picked up, the phoenix does not gather; when people talk in the room, the seagulls do not descend; when flowers wither in spring, the moss 蓂 does not show its beauty; when the world is ugly and upright, arrogance and disgrace will come to an end. How can the righteous not soar above the surface of the clouds and clouds, but hide in the depths of the desert? There is no such thing as the Tao in the mountains and forests. But those who follow the Tao must enter the mountains and forests, sincerely hoping to get away from the fishy and pungent smell, and thus achieve this state of purity. Those who enter the nine rooms to meditate deeply, preserve the true essence to attract the gods, neither like the noise nor the filth, nor do they like the great elixir of gold, 钅 the flying essence of eight stones, especially the sharp-tongued fool, the common hearing and view, the enlightened spirit will not descend, the immortal medicine will not be able to achieve it. It is not a minor prohibition. If it is confined to the human body, there may be a shallow view to destroy it, and there may be sin and fortune, or there may be the interaction of relatives and old friends, it is better to hide everything. I'm spared such a stinking rat. How could it be possible for you to go there alone, proud of the lofty mountains? It is said that the top soldier attained enlightenment in the three armies, the middle soldier in the city, and the lower soldier in the mountains and forests. All these are because the elixirs of immortality have been completed and they have no intention of ascending to heaven. Even though they are in the three armies, they cannot be harmed by sharp blades; even though they are in the city, they cannot cause man-made disasters. However, the lower soldier has not reached this level, so they stop in the mountains and forests. Those who are not considered to be of the highest rank should start learning the Tao within the cities of the three armies. However, Huang Lao has remained there until now." Some may ask, "Dao is the origin and Confucianism is the secondary school. Since we have heard this, what is the reason for the minor differences today?" Baopuzi said, "The teachings of ascending, descending, descending and tilting, the rituals of hovering three thousand, the techniques of attacking and defending, the integrity of being light and valuing righteousness, the matters of joy and sorrow, rites and music, the strategies for governing the world and benefiting the people, are all the duties of a Confucian scholar." Abandoning external things and wisdom, purifying the fickle, forgetting wealth and honor, suppressing and discouraging, not caring about poverty, not being honored or successful, not being sad about destruction, not being displeased with reputation - this is the practice of Taoism. Confucian scholars offer sacrifices to pray for blessings, while Taoists practice uprightness to ward off evil spirits. What Confucianism loves is the pursuit of power and advantage, while what Taoism values is the lack of desire. Confucian scholars are eager for fame and fortune, while Taoists focus solely on doing good. What Confucian scholars talk about is the subject of mutual study. The teachings and precepts learned in Taoism are about expressing emotions. The way is about one's actions. One should cultivate oneself well to achieve success. When it comes to living, it is good at taking what others do not contend for. The key to governance lies in effectively preventing disasters before they occur. The act of giving means being good at helping others without virtue. Its movement is to be good at observing the people with a sincere heart. It is quiet. One is good at living with caution and without feeling bored. This is why it is the supreme ruler of all schools of thought, the ancestor of benevolence and righteousness. The principle of minor differences is like this, with the beginning and the end being tainted and the end being unaltered." Some say: "Confucianism is Zhou and Confucius. Its classics are the six classics. It is the basis for governing the world and maintaining integrity. It is the yardstick for one's conduct and actions. Its application is far-reaching and its cause is precious. Its affairs are grand and its words are beautiful. It is a system that is not easy to establish a state or a family." A person of the Tao does not follow the rites and regulations, nor does he care about the great family. He lives with foxes and badgers in the grass and marshes, and occasionally with apes 猱 in the leisure at the foot of the forest. He flows away freely, living next to wood and stones. This is also the confusion of walking eastward, forgetting the sweetness of the sunflower. Baopuzi replied, "摛 splendor and beauty, straightforwardly unmatched, overcoming confusion and resolving doubts, what was once satisfied, I truly do not wish to compare with you the goodness or badness of physics again, to check gains and losses in accordance with opportunities." But watching a child fall into a well is not the intention of a benevolent person, and seeing a blind person touch a pillar is not the meaning of universal love, is it? Here's another brief summary, just a cursory glance. Mr. Huang is the one who embodies the Dao and crafts things, and who preserves virtue and sustains life. The Yellow Emperor was able to govern the world and achieve peace, and then ascend to immortality. This cannot be said to be his successor to Yao and Shun. Laozi, having integrated the rites and teachings and having been observed for a long time, cannot be said to have reduced Zhoukong. Therefore, Zhongni lamented that he had not heard any derogatory words. But in the end times, the mediocre people, unable to find their way, practiced Confucianism and Mohism and ruined Taoism. How could it be different from their descendants cursing and abusing their ancestors? Even if one does not know where they come from, it is already a great thing. The hand of a dwarf is not enough to bring about the splendor of Song. A withered leg is not enough to measure the vast sea. Every time one sees the mundane and conservative Confucian scholars, who merely follow their teachings, fail to understand the principles thoroughly, complain about their own faults, exaggerate their words, falsely question the Taoists, and criticize the dross, it is like seeing a fine horse pass through a crevices, delving into the abyss of spirit, and thus sinking and losing oneself. It is still criticized that the flapping of the short wings of 鷃, with the waves of the marquis of lingyang, the strength and quality of a fly, and the sturdiness of a 昫 ape, are not what they can handle; they are only fast enough to be trapped. However, the humble ones are confined to the passageways, unable to pass through the vast expanse of wisdom or the clear and distinct, yet they wish to cover their heels with the three lights and puff their bellies with the spirit of thunder. Isn't this also a way to shield them? By observing the vastness of the Xuanji, one can know how humble the well and the valley are. By seeing the beautiful sky of the Ming Dynasty, one can understand how insignificant the Jin is. I did not know it from birth, nor did I believe in it when I was young. At the beginning, I was still in a state of confusion, just like Zi Er, who, having witnessed the great cultivation of mysteries, regretted not having escaped from the predicament too early. The commentary on the Five Classics is clear and straightforward. Even beginners may not understand it. How could it be that golden slips and jade letters, the scriptures of immortals, and the most important words are often not written? To ascend the altar and make a blood oath is to pass on the incantation. If it is not the right person, even if the earth is broken and the city is filled with gold and jade, it will not be displayed in vain. If your fingers are deep and you go far, even if you have received the book, you do not learn from it. Even if you look up, you cannot see your head; even if you look down, you do not know what to follow. How could my son know everything in detail? Those who have attained immortality may ascend to the Supreme Clarity, soar in the purple sky, build the Mystic Island, or perch on the plank tree, listen to the music of the celestial realm, enjoy the delicacies of the Nine Grains, go out with pine trees to admire the scenery, and enter Changyang to feast in the yao room. Why should they be companions of foxes, badges, and occasionally apes 狖? It is said that one does something without knowing it. The Dao is to roam freely in the rainbow, soar in the crimson sky, and roam the six void cliffs, all created by the will. Kui Ran's flow has passed, and he is not a sad one. "Where we gather, even if we are embroidered with algae, when we consider it as a joy, who would compare with the solitary and free-flowing birds that leave the group to go alone? How blessed is the occasional good fortune?" "