CHAPTER 11
Leaving the World Open
I have heard of leaving the world open to its own way and not interfering, but I have never heard of trying to control the world.
We let the world be, fearful of spoiling its innate nature; we leave it alone, fearful of those who adversely affect the world’s Virtue. If the nature of everything under Heaven is not distorted, if the world’s Virtue is not despoiled, then what need is there to govern the world? In times gone by Yao controlled everything under Heaven, everyone was happy and the whole world was joyful, living in its true way. Nowhere was there stagnation. But when Chieh governed everything under Heaven, he made all life wearisome and distressed, and all people found their own nature turning bad and diseased. To be without peace, to be without fulfilment, is to turn against Virtue. No one can struggle against Virtue for long and still survive.
Are people too cheerful? If so, they harm the yang. Are people too vengeful? If so, they harm the yin. If both yin and yang are corrupted, then the four seasons will not follow each other, the balance of hot and cold will not be kept and this results in distress to the very bodies of the people! People will be unable to control a balance between joy and anger. It makes them restless, moving here, moving there, plotting to no purpose, travelling for no good reason or result. The consequence of this is that the world becomes concerned with mighty goals and plots, ambition and hatred, which brings in its wake the likes of Robber Chih, Tseng and Shih. As a result, the world may wish to reward the good, but there are not enough rewards available; nor can it adequately punish the bad, for there are not enough punishments.
The whole world is indeed vast, but it cannot provide enough rewards nor punishments. Given all this, how could people be expected to find enough time to rest quietly in the essential qualities of their innate nature?
Do people enjoy what they can see clearly?
In fact they are disturbed by colours.
Do they enjoy what they hear?
In fact they are spoiled by sounds.
Do they revel in benevolence?
In fact they confuse Virtue.
Do they take pride in righteousness?
In fact they reject reason.
Do they delight in ritual?
In fact they resort to pretence.
Do they take pleasure in music?
In fact they sink into dissolution.
Do they appreciate the sage?
In fact they take pride in falsehood.
Do they rejoice at knowledge?
In fact they celebrate quibblers.
While the world exists in its true nature, it is irrelevant whether these eight treasures exist or not. However, when the world exists in a way which distorts, twists, mixes up and confuses its true innate nature, these eight treasures cause immense confusion instead. It gets even worse if the world goes on to honour and value them! It is said, all this is passing! However, people go to great lengths, fasting, praying, teaching these treasures, beating drums and prancing around. I don’t know what can be done about all this!
So it is that the noble master who finds he has to follow some course to govern the world will realize that actionless action is the best course. By non-action, he can rest in the real substance of his nature and destiny. If he appreciates his own body as he appreciates the world, then the world can be placed in his care. He who loves his body as he loves the world can be trusted to govern the world. If the noble master can prevent his five main organs from being destroyed, and his vision and hearing also; if he can become as lifeless as a corpse and develop his dragon powers; if he can thus still himself, his words will sound like thunder while his actions will be seen as the actions of a spirit from Heaven, who is guided by Heaven. If he is unconcerned and engaged in actionless action, his gentle spirit will draw all life to him like a dust cloud. How then would such a person have time for governing the world?
Tsui Chu questioned Lao Tzu, saying, ‘If the world is not ruled, how can you improve people’s hearts?’
Lao Tzu said, ‘Take care how you play with people’s hearts. People’s hearts should not be shoved down nor pushed up, for this yo-yoing up and down makes the heart either a prisoner or an avenging fury. It can be gentle and giving, moulding even the hard and sharp, or it can be sharp and pointed, tough enough to cut, carve or chisel. It can be as hot as a searing fire; it can be as cold as ice. So swift that in the nodding of one’s head it has twice roared over the four seas and beyond all boundaries. At rest, it is as deep as the abyss; when it is active, it is like a star in Heaven. It races beyond anything that seeks to bind it, for this is in truth the heart of humanity!
Long, long ago, the Yellow Emperor was the first to disturb the hearts of the people with all his cant about benevolence and righteousness. Yao and Shun came after him and wore themselves out trying to feed the material bodies of the people. They distressed their five vital organs with their benevolence and righteousness; they wore out their life’s blood in drawing up codes of laws, and yet they failed. Yao had to send Huan Tou to
