《太平經》Vol. 49
About this page. The original text of 《太平經》 Vol. 49 (Taiping 太平部, 57 volumes) is shown in Classical Chinese as transmitted in the Kanripo (Kyoto University) edition. An English interpretation of the 10 passages on this page accompanies it: select a passage or press “Interpretation” to show it. All texts in English
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Source textInterpretation
“Needing to Learn the True Way Urgently,” Chapter 66, Taiping Jing (Scripture of Great Peace), Scroll 49: “Receiving the Nine” — A Plain-Language Interpretation
The Perfected One stepped forward and said: “Now the vital energy of goodness is about to arrive all at once. People in the world should simply live at ease, free from distracting concerns. How can they clarify their minds and correct their intentions, so that people gradually forget to do evil and do good day by day? How can even the emperor rule the whole world with ease, while the court is filled with people of supreme goodness, all endowed with loyalty and filial devotion? What means can achieve this?”
The Perfected One was born with a heart inclined toward goodness and was always deeply concerned about the Way of Heaven. He should prepare himself fully and explain it clearly. Above all, however, he must urgently learn the true Dao, true De, and true benevolence.
Why should one learn the true Dao? The Dao transforms and guides all things, advances without obstruction, and gives rise to life without measure. To possess the true Dao is to be called “supremely good”; to be without the Dao is to be called utterly evil, fallen, violent, and doomed to death.
“Perfected One, you have spoken only of true goodness. I have nothing to add. Why should one learn true De? Only when a person has true De can they embrace and nurture others, and make their name known without limit. Without De, a person is at their weakest and most destitute: such is the name of a petty person.”
“Excellent are your words, Perfected One. I have nothing to add. I have nothing to add to the three things you have spoken of. Should people in the world learn to do good?”
“They should strive to learn to do good.”
“Does doing good have no name or designation?”
“I, your humble student, cannot answer. I await the Master’s instruction.”
“To do good is to act in accord with Heaven’s heart and not go against people’s wishes; this is called goodness. Goodness penetrates to the highest level and shares its name with the Dao. Heaven cherishes it, and Earth nourishes it. Emperors should pursue it urgently, and officials and gentlemen should unite their hearts and efforts in its service. Evil consists of acting against Heaven’s heart and constantly harming people’s wishes. It delights in opposing the Way of Heaven and failing to follow the four seasons, and is hated by the spirits.”
Plain-Language Interpretation of the Taiping Jing
The Main Meaning of the Scripture
What people least wish to see, a noble person’s deepest distress, and the ill-omened name of the world
What people least wish to see is their parents suffering great harm. This is also a noble person’s deepest distress, and a sign of the world’s decline, danger, and ruin. When a person’s conduct loses its good fortune, it falls into danger; only by leaving danger can it return to good fortune. Good and ill fortune, goodness and evil, become mixed together in this way when a person cannot remain steadfast and pure.
The disciple replied, “Yes, indeed.” The Perfected One asked, “How should ordinary people conduct themselves?” The disciple answered, “People today who do not strive to learn the Dao are called people without the Dao. They are among the most wicked and dangerous people in the world. Those who do not strive to learn De become people without De. A person who lacks De and delights in harming others and damaging things is a sign of danger and ruin. Those who do not strive to learn benevolence are already lacking in benevolence. The unbenevolent follow the same path as animals, and their hearts are like those of animals; they are scarcely better off than the dead. Those who do not strive to practice goodness day and night will fall into evil as soon as they lose goodness. Evil is where death and danger reside. So when ordinary people do not strive for good fortune, they fall into danger. Danger is the most ill-omened condition in the world.”
The Perfected One praised him: “Excellent! You have matured and entered the true Dao; you will not fall back into evil. You have long held wisdom within you while appearing foolish. Why? Because you did not dare act recklessly on your own. Fortunately, you can now speak your mind fully.” The Perfected One was greatly pleased. “Now that you have spoken this far, did you hear only half of your teacher’s words and then abandon them without putting them into practice?” The disciple replied, “I would not dare. I spoke only after seeing my teacher’s instruction. Though I have not said everything I think, I dare not say it all.” The Perfected One said, “Excellent! You have always been deeply modest, yet now you have spoken your mind fully within the true tradition. Only what is recorded in the Celestial Master’s register remains beyond what you have addressed. Everything you have said is correct.”
How the ancient sages treated people without the Dao
For this reason, in ancient times the great sages and the Three Sovereigns (Sanhuang) strove day and night to learn the true Dao. They called those who did not care to learn it people without the Dao. The conduct of such people is beyond counting, and Heaven bears them a profound grievance. Heaven does not wish to cover them, Earth does not wish to bear them, and the spirits, numinous beings, Jing, and ghosts do not wish to protect them. They are a burden to the whole world. Sages, worthies, and noble people deeply detest those without the Dao.
Thus, in the age of the ancient Supreme Sovereigns, everyone learned purity and stillness and deeply understood the true nature of Heaven and Earth. For that reason, they all studied the true Dao, and only then attained the mind of Heaven and the intent of Earth. Those who do not strive to learn De are called people without De.
Notes
The “Perfected One” is the realized person who asks and instructs in the scripture, much like a Celestial Master or teacher.
The “Three Sovereigns” and “Supreme Sovereigns” refer to the age of the ancient sage-kings, which the Taiping Jing often presents as an ideal time when people followed the true Dao and practiced purity and stillness.
The “mind of Heaven and intent of Earth” refers to a state of mind in harmony with the Dao of Heaven and the Dao of Earth, the aim of learning the true Dao.
The “Celestial Master’s register” refers to a text or record of transmission mentioned in the scripture. The disciple says that what remains unsaid is supplied by the Celestial Master’s instruction.
This passage takes the form of a dialogue and stresses the need to strive to learn the true Dao, De, benevolence, and goodness. Those who fail to do so are called people without the Dao, without De, or without benevolence, and are rejected by Heaven, Earth, spirits and ghosts, and the sages and worthies. Their conduct is contrasted with the ancient ideal of people living in purity and studying the Dao.
A Plain-Language Interpretation of the Taiping Jing
Scripture:
Heaven does not cherish such people, Earth does not welcome them, and others do not wish to be close to them. Their conduct is often without De (Virtue); instead, it brings calamity upon rulers and disaster upon the noble-minded.
The spirits and deities carry out Heaven’s teachings and will not govern the world alongside such people for long. For this reason, the sages and great scholars of antiquity would not speak with those who lacked De, nor would they devote themselves day and night to learning benevolence. Once they neglect doing good, they are no longer practicing benevolence.
Those who do not practice benevolence speak in ways that oppose all things and wound people’s hearts. Their words go against Heaven’s intent and make them resemble beasts. That is why the sages of old would not walk alongside them.
Today, some people do not serve their teachers and elders or make an effort to learn goodness. They are foolish and unenlightened, know nothing of doing good, and instead indulge their ignorant minds and readily do evil.
Evil people, the deeply foolish, and the benighted act against the ways of Heaven and Earth. Even a noble-minded person may be put to death because of them; their parents grieve, and their clan is burdened—all because they act without any proper standards. The spirits and deities follow Heaven’s will and carry out its commands. They do not favor such people, but bring harm upon them; these people fall under the “Three Laws” that warrant punishment.
The sages of antiquity regarded this as a grave wrong. That is why people of old carefully examined their learning: it had to accord with Heaven’s intent, and their thoughts had to be grounded in Dao, moral conduct, benevolence, and goodness. Their actions had to accord with the heart of Heaven and Earth, and they were not to rely on empty, showy words. The reason is that once people lose Heaven’s law and abandon it, they fall into danger and an early death, or bring harm upon later generations. The Dao of Heaven makes no mistakes; it has its standards.
Those who do not strive to learn the most auspicious Dao, but instead take it lightly and treat their own affairs carelessly, will surely fall into danger. Danger is hated by Heaven, Earth, people, and all things. It cannot endure; it is the root of great trouble and the gateway to calamity. Once someone steps into it and becomes trapped, they die, with no chance to return, regret, or make amends.
No one in the world is unaware of this principle. Yet the foolish and base often mock it together. They do not know to uphold the Dao and turn away from harm in time. From one generation to the next, they pass down their foolishness; each generation is more benighted than the last. As a result, the true Dao is blocked and cannot circulate. People grow careless in their own ways and fail to live out their full span of years. This is how grave offenses and calamities arise.
When a Perfected One sees my book, they should reflect deeply and take care not to keep it hidden away. They should pass it on to worthy, wise, and gentle people so that those people may awaken.
Thus, the ancient Dao received the heart of Heaven and followed the intent of Earth. It had the great and true methods of antiquity, and for this reason it has always taught people to learn the Dao.
Learn De, learn longevity, learn goodness, learn caution, learn auspiciousness, learn the ways of the ancients, learn balance, and learn how to live long—these are the directions in which the Way of Great Peace calls people to cultivate themselves.
So it is Heaven’s law to explain the principles of goodness as fully as possible: Heaven keeps the gate of the Dao open. Earth’s law is to keep the gate of De open, while the law of the ancient sages is to keep the path of benevolence open. Thus the ancient sages shared Heaven’s heart and were in accord with Earth’s intent. Together, they lived long and nurtured all things—the “twelve thousand things” being an ancient general term for everything between Heaven and Earth. They constantly used Dao, De, benevolence, and righteousness to guide all things, allowing them to flourish. If instead fierce and wicked intentions are passed down, all things gradually decline. Where Dao, De, benevolence, and righteousness are present, good people abound; where they are absent, people are few and government is harsh. These are laws set forth by Heaven and Earth.
Only with the Highest Dao, luminous De, benevolence, and goodness in one’s heart can one accord with the courses of the stars and the calendar in Heaven; the spirits, too, will see one’s conduct. That is why the ancient sages always sought to carry goodness through to its fullest and dared neither to harbor evil thoughts nor to follow a ruinous path. The most foolish people are closed of heart and truly ignorant; one must not rashly pass on to them wicked paths that lead to ruin. They do not know that they have already strayed far from the Dao of Heaven. Yet they follow evil and make it a habit, bound by worldly desires and unable to turn back.
Therefore, I respectfully received the teachings and commands of the Heavenly Book, followed Heaven’s intent, and opened wide the ancient path of Great Peace, so that people might delight in doing good and no longer know how to do evil. The aspirations of people throughout the world are naturally high, but what they achieve often falls short of those aspirations and fails to match what is in their hearts.
The highest type of person is the superior adept, who passionately abhors death and cherishes life, studies the Dao of the immortals, and through diligent effort can attain longevity. Next comes the person of the middle rank, who grieves that their ancestors died young and fervently seeks the Dao and longevity; through diligent effort, they can enjoy the full span of their allotted years. A step below them is the person who suffers frequent illness and cannot enjoy ordinary health and peace. In anger, they seek methods to stop illness and, with diligence, can recover their former health. But they have already been worn down by illness; if they wait until it has taken hold deeply before seeking ways to ward it off, or until they are gravely ill before searching for Daoist arts to save themselves, it is often already too late.
Therefore, this book teaches people to practice, morning and evening and through their own effort, the methods by which Heaven grants long life. Even then, they can barely attain an ordinary measure of it.
A person who studies by means of the “level and plain” method has already set out on a dangerous path. The foolish do not understand: ordinary people in the world ought always to keep goodness in mind and strive to improve themselves, but they often fail to live up to their aspirations. So they set their goal exceedingly high, raising it all the way to becoming immortals, and only then can they just manage to preserve the years of life bestowed on them by Heaven.
The great worthy sets a complete aspiration, one that must accord with our Daoist scriptures. The middling worthy often slackens halfway through an aspiration that was initially complete, and so achieves only half of it. The petty person makes an aspiration in the morning and has forgotten by evening what he said. Thus, those who set their aspirations very high hope that people at every level—high, middle, and low—will act in accordance with the thoughts in their own hearts.
People in these latter days are exceedingly foolish and far removed from the true Dao. Only by exerting themselves to study the authentic teachings of Heaven can they avoid falling into deceit. To study “level and plain” writing is already a great deception. If they study ornate writing and pleasing but empty words, great falsity and cunning have already arisen.
Heaven regards emperors and kings as its children and detests those below deceiving those above. If people below mostly act with wickedness and falsehood, then those above—virtuous and benevolent rulers—have no one they can trust, while the people below have no one to rely on, and their lives are endangered. One should exert oneself day and night to teach the true Dao. Exert yourself to study the good Dao, and only then will you attain the level and plain Dao. Exert yourself to study the level and plain Dao, and you will already have entered into empty splendor.
Once people enter into empty splendor, ordinary people become deeply deluded and impoverished, and set out on a path of great wickedness. Emperors and kings grieve over this, and governing people becomes truly difficult. The Perfected should know that this is true. It is like a family whose loving parents teach their child to do good every day, deprive themselves of food and clothing to raise him, and yet, when old, still find him stubbornly doing evil. How much more so with ordinary people, who teach one another through empty splendor and false writing? They do not believe our scriptures.
When ordinary people see our scriptures, let each of them reflect on what they have lost. Since the middle antiquity, those who possessed the good Dao have taught one another to conceal it, refusing to pass it on to their disciples and instead teaching them through empty splendor and false writing. As this has gone on for a long time, the Dao of Heaven has become uniquely beset by great disorder. The calamities and portents of Heaven and Earth, and the unrest among all kinds of beings, are no empty talk. Worthy Confucian scholars should each reflect deeply…
Though I no longer spend my days and nights among ordinary people, this is already clear to me. The great suffering in the world has moved me to issue this text and instruct those under my charge; I do not speak idly. The Perfected must truly take care, for Heaven’s chastisement and calamity may also follow. The disciples answer, “Yes, yes,” and dare not object. Whenever we hear the Celestial Master’s words, we are often struck with awe and fear: “Your words are right.”
Since Heaven is greatly pleased, it will not harm its people. Yet even if ordinary people study teachings diligently day and night and cultivate “true De,” at most they can attain “ordinary De.” If they learn only ordinary De, they have already fallen into false and corrupt De. Those who go on to learn false and corrupt De become countless fools, without true De, acting recklessly according to their whims. This is precisely a calamity brought on by the pure and noble junzi.
If they strive upward toward benevolence, they can barely attain middling benevolence. Acting from middling benevolence is in fact merely ordinary; it cannot be called benevolence. If they then learn to be unbenevolent, fools become thieves and robbers without realizing that they have killed and injured countless people. They act as they please and disregard reason. Such people are hated by Heaven, blamed by Earth, and are the greatest bandits among the people.
If they study the “Way of Great Good Fortune” day and night, they can barely attain middling good fortune; by learning middling good fortune, they attain small good fortune; by learning small good fortune, they have already entered the way of misfortune. Once they learn the way of misfortune, they cannot be saved. They are all sunk in utter darkness, with no understanding or insight into the Dao of Heaven. Their words are untrue; they know only how to deceive. Trusting wholly in their foolish minds, they speak recklessly, offending the celestial patterns above and throwing the geography of the earth below into disorder, bringing calamity and harm upon the people.
Therefore, my Daoist book is meant to teach ordinary people on a grand scale, so that they may be listed among the perfected immortals above. If they cannot reach the level of perfected immortals, they can at least attain peace and safety, and need not cause a virtuous ruler concern. Perfected adepts should reflect deeply on my words and should not turn around and blame me again.
Now I speak on behalf of Heaven. I should fully resolve the burden of inherited consequences accumulated since the creation of Heaven and Earth. Yet I cannot widely proclaim the supreme Great Dao, the methods of great De, the arts of longevity, or the path of supreme goodness. People have long been sunk in darkness, their hearts blinded by foolish trust. They do evil beyond restraint, and still I cannot resolve the inherited burden of Heaven and Earth’s punishment for their transgressions. Do perfected adepts understand what I mean?
When worthy sages and elevated scholars see the writings and study them, they will surely accord with my book, without deviating by even a hair’s breadth. Those of middling ability will grasp half the meaning and gain half the benefit. Those of lesser ability who apply themselves diligently can still avoid departing from the teaching. Thus, when I broadly teach the people of Heaven and ordinary people, I rejoice that those of higher, middle, and lower ability who do not stray from the teaching all attain the correct Way. Each cherishes their own life and dares not act lightly in ways that could bring great trouble. Those of the highest ability who receive my Way and study it without stopping can become worthy ministers of the state; in time, they will grasp its essential meaning.
Chengfu (承负) is a Daoist concept referring to accumulated transgressions and calamities passed down through generations and borne by descendants. “Perfected immortals” (真仙) and “perfected adepts” (真人) refer to those who have attained the Dao; here, “perfected adepts” generally means those who hear and practice the teaching. “Those of the highest, middle, and lowest ability” (上士、中士、下士) refers to three grades of capacity and attainment among those who study the Dao.
Plain-Language Interpretation of the Taiping Jing (Scripture of Great Peace)
To save people from worldly suffering, avoid contention and lawsuits, and refrain from serving the powerful: If a middling-ranking scholar follows my Dao, he can become a good person; a minor official can live out his full natural lifespan; and an ordinary person who follows my Dao can live with lasting care and restraint. Fathers will be kind, mothers loving, children filial, older brothers good, younger brothers respectful, and husbands and wives of one heart. They will not harm one another, and none will die bearing a grudge. The souls and spirits of the dead remain beneath the earth and can endure for a long time, no longer appearing to do evil. No one will die young or be killed.
In ancient times: When the original Qi first transformed and brought forth the myriad things, everyone was eager to study the Dao and wished to become an immortal. Yet people still could not live long. Only then did each person come to fear death and refrain from breaking the laws.
People of the later ancient age were profoundly foolish: Instead, they recited and studied empty, showy writings, passed them on to one another, and learned together the practices that do not lead to long life. While still alive, they suddenly claimed, “We will not die for now.” They then taught others not to cherish life, joined together in violent deeds, and devoted more attention to funerals than to living. Life belongs to Heaven, while death belongs to Earth. To serve Earth more than Heaven is a grave harm. I judge their conduct by this and see that they are all foolish; as time passes, not one among them understands. Violent deeds flourish, ghosts grow greatly in number, and people join in killing one another. People cannot live out the lifespans Heaven has allotted them.
Only by diligently studying the true Dao can one attain the false Dao; only by diligently studying true De can one attain false De. How much farther from the Dao, then, are people of the later ancient age, who instead imitate one another by studying empty, showy writings? Unable to find what they seek, they bind and constrain one another, teaching one another to write memorials, make laws, and sharpen their debating skill, each arguing over who is right and wrong. Even when people are taught to be humane, there is still concern that they may not become humane; now they are being taught to follow a path of inhumanity. Heaven has set down laws for humanity. Heaven calls itself the Great Dao, and Earth calls itself De. This is because Heaven and Earth are the parents of the myriad things.
In all matters, those who serve rulers and elders should always guide them toward goodness, and dare not open the way or give encouragement to evil. How much more should this apply to people in general? Human beings are children of Heaven and ought to model their conduct on Heaven. Now they have lost the proper way, and so they are difficult to govern. They should be guided by the Dao and De, so that they become aware, respect themselves, cherish themselves, care for themselves, and govern themselves. Instead, people are introduced to penal laws, taught to take death lightly and prize brute force, and made to despise themselves. They are set against one another to impose order, and so they oppress one another, then go further and harm one another, taking turns causing sorrow and suffering. That is why people under Heaven do not love one another; the great fault lies here. Does the True Person understand this? Be careful.
The general meaning of this passage is that Heaven urges people to take benevolence as their foundation, yet people in later ages instead lead one another astray. They teach people to arrange funerals and prepare for calamity. They fail to enjoy the full span of their natural lives and nearly bring their families to ruin without recognizing their own faults; only when death is near do they cry out to Heaven and protest their wrongs.
For this reason, Heaven uses the Great Immortal Scripture and the Dao to open the gate to longevity for them. First, De (Virtue/Power) makes people benevolent; then benevolence brings them peace and harmony. Only in peace and harmony can they preserve their foundations and refrain from cheating or robbing others of their property. To study only “harmony” is already to stray from the law; to study only the law is to fall into harming one another. Mutual harm and betrayal lead into “Great Martiality,” a great calamity. The people are innocent, yet are oppressed and impoverished until they become thieves.
Heaven therefore follows the law of the Dao: it opens the gate of great good fortune, closes the road to evil, and opens the steps to peace and order. It lets each person keep to their proper conduct, so that governance can no longer fall into disorder, the cycles of Heaven can turn, and rulers can remain secure for a long time.
This book investigates the source of all things and thereby grasps what lies at its center and at its base. To study what lies beneath this, as foolish people do, is to fall into great disorder. Even emperors in later ages possessed the De of ten thousand people, and their benevolent intentions accorded with Heaven’s heart, yet calamities continued without end. This was because inherited burdens and disasters had accumulated over a long time. Strange transformations, bandits, and foreign peoples all arose from the accumulated faults of earlier kings; they were not caused by any one person. Their origins must be understood deeply.
Heaven therefore caused me to bring forth this book to help emperors resolve the faults of inherited burdens. If the Perfected Ones think my Dao does not accord with Heaven, they need only put this text into practice without the slightest deviation, and it will accord with Heaven. This text is utterly trustworthy. If people do not strive to put it into practice and resolve their grievances, how could the Dao of Heaven silently respond for nothing? And if foolish people refuse to study, how can they find peace?
Plain Language Interpretation of the Taiping Jing
Question: Can someone truly be called worthy? If you are poor and do not sow, how can you expect a harvest? To learn the Dao, you must cultivate worthiness day after day; only by sowing can you reap. In the same way, you must follow this scripture of mine, receive its teachings orally and in your heart, and put them into practice. This is how I preserve you: do not expect to become worthy if you do not study, and do not expect a harvest if you do not sow. Do you understand?
Answer: I understand. The true Dao is what sets the world right.
Question: When great De flourishes and benevolence reaches everywhere, the world is at peace, and every word and deed remains true to the One—the true Dao. Those who interpret the scriptures as realized beings, yet have not attained complete good fortune, and who wish to repay Heaven and Earth for their gifts and gain long life, must strive to believe in the Dao and never grow lax.
Answer: I understand.
Question: This foolish student still has a question, though I dare not speak at length. How does the Celestial Master know who is utterly without the Dao and De, and without benevolence? I hope you will explain.
Answer: Good. You can tell by observing a person’s actions and words. If someone sees a Dao practitioner and angrily opposes them, you know that person is entirely without the Dao. If someone sees De and disparages it, you know that person is wholly without De. If someone sees benevolence and criticizes it, you know that person is deeply wicked and unkind. If someone opposes goodness and care, you know that person lacks both. This is human nature: people with like aspirations love one another, while those with different aspirations detest one another. Good people suffer at the hands of wicked people, and wicked people likewise suffer at the hands of good people. Can you, realized being, understand this?
Answer: I understand.
Answer: In ancient times, the sages and worthies did not immediately engage people in deep conversation when they met them. Instead, they carefully observed what they liked and disliked, and thereby came to know them. They used this understanding to assess their conduct, and were never wrong. Well said. Those who follow the Dao share their bones, form, blood, and lineage with August Heaven. Heaven’s Dao abhors evil and killing, so those who violate it incur a grave enmity with Heaven. Earth shares its bones, form, blood, and lineage with De. Wicked people harm the myriad things and thereby incur a great offense against Earth. Benevolent people share their bones, form, blood, and lineage with the sages and worthies. The sages and worthies favor giving and benevolence, and detest plunder; whoever robs others of benevolence becomes their great enemy. Thus the sages and worthies of old understood this principle deeply. They acted in accordance with the Three Systems, and when establishing laws, dared not violate the true Dao, De, or benevolence. Heaven’s workings join forces with the four seasons: Heaven moves Qi, and the seasons move Qi too; they are of one mind and sustain each other. Those who go against the seasons make an enemy of Heaven. Earth shares one purpose and works in concert with the Five Phases to nurture the myriad things. To harm a being that should not yet die is a great offense against Earth. The sages and worthies work in concert with benevolence, and so wherever they travel or dwell, they always honor the Dao and esteem De.
To rely on benevolence and dwell in it: if one is like a grasping, unbenevolent person, one becomes an enemy of the sages and worthies. Therefore, one should base one’s conduct and way of life on benevolence. If, like someone greedy to seize what belongs to others, one lacks benevolence, one will make enemies of the sages and worthies.
Fire represents the heart, and the heart represents the sage; therefore, fire always depends on wood to burn. Wood symbolizes benevolence and contains the heart within it. Fire gives light and can discern right from wrong; the heart is sagely, clear, and perceptive.
Thus, the great sages and worthies of antiquity always grounded themselves in benevolence and clarity, and attached themselves to rulers who possessed the Dao, De, and benevolence.
Therefore, I earnestly admonish the Perfected: entrust my book to a ruler who possesses the Dao, De, benevolence, and clarity. He will surely delight in the Dao, deeply understand its meaning, and put it into practice according to the book; his effects will be no different from those of the spirits.
I do not praise myself before the Perfected. When one puts this into practice and receives a response, the result will fit as precisely as a compass and square. In the generations to come, if people remember my words, let them heed them and diligently cultivate the Dao, De, and benevolence. There is nothing else they need to seek. Bring this book out into the world; do not keep it hidden. Remember this well.
The passage above clarifies the hearts of the worthy to dispel confusion and ignorance. If you have doubts about the scripture, seek the guiding method here.
Source text: Kanripo 漢籍リポジトリ(KR5e0002); Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Report an error / feedback