if there is no true direction outside to guide it,
it cannot be received.
If the true centre is not brought out
it cannot receive on the outside.
The sage cannot draw it forth.
If what comes in from the outside is not welcomed by the true centre,
then the sage cannot let it go.
Fame is something sought by all,
but don’t go for too much of it.
Benevolence and righteousness are as the houses of the former kings,
useful for one night’s shelter,
but don’t stay there too long.
To stay long causes considerable adverse comment.
‘The perfect man of old walked the Tao of benevolence, a path which he took on loan; he used righteousness as a place to lodge for a night. So it was that he ambled through the void and uncontrolled places; found food in the open fields and enjoyed the gardens which were not his. To be in such freedom, you must take actionless action. The open fields make living easy. He gives nothing and requires nothing. The ancient ones knew this as the wandering of the Truth Gatherer.
‘Someone who believes wealth is the most important thing cannot give up their income; someone who seeks pre-eminence cannot give up the hunt for fame; those who love power cannot hand it over to others.
‘Those who cling to things like these are usually fearful. Letting them go just once causes such agony that they will not consider even once doing so, although it would show them the folly of their ways. These are people bearing the punishment of Heaven. Hatred and kindness, taking and giving, correction and instruction, life and death, these eight things are tools of reform. However, only the one who abides by the great change and who does not stand in its way can use them. So it is said, to correct is to reform. If the heart cannot accept this, then the gate of Heaven is not opened.’
Confucius went to see Lao Tzu and talked with him about benevolence and righteousness. Lao Tzu said, ‘If you get grit in your eye from winnowing chaff, then Heaven and Earth and the four directions get mixed up. A mosquito or gadfly which stings you can keep you awake all night. And benevolence and righteousness, when forced upon us, disturb your heart and produce great distress. You, Sir, if you want to stop everything below Heaven losing its original simplicity, you must travel with the wind and stand firm in Virtue. Why do you exert yourself so much, banging a big drum and hunting for a lost child? The snow goose doesn’t need a daily bath to stay white, nor does the crow need to be stained every day to stay black. Black and white comes from natural simplicity, not from argument. Fame and fortune, though sought after, do not make people greater than they actually are. When the waters dry up and the fish are stranded on the dry land, they huddle together and try to keep each other moist by spitting and wetting each other. But wouldn’t it be even better if they could just forget each other, safe in their lakes and rivers?’
After seeing Lao Tzu, Confucius went home and for three days he said nothing. His followers asked him, ‘Master, now you have seen Lao Tzu, what do you make of him?’
‘I have now seen a dragon!’ said Confucius. ‘A dragon coils up to show its form, it stretches out to display its power. It rides upon the breath of the clouds and is nourished by yin and yang. My mouth gaped open and I could not shut it. What can I say about Lao Tzu?’
Tzu Kung said, ‘So it is really true that this man can be as still as the dead and see like a dragon, have a voice like thunder and be as still as deep waters? Can he travel through Heaven and Earth? Could I also set off to meet him?’ So, with a note from Confucius, he set off to see Lao Tzu.
Lao Tzu sat himself down and spoke softly: ‘I have seen many years roll by. What do you want, Sir?’
Tzu Kung replied, ‘The Three August Ones and the Five Emperors ruled all under Heaven, but not in the same way, yet their fame is as the same. Sir, why do you not consider them as sages?’
‘Come a little closer, my boy!’ said Lao Tzu. ‘Why do you say they were not the same?’
‘Yao gave the throne to Shun and Shun gave it to Yu. Yu drew upon his strength and Tang resorted to war. King Wen was faithful to Chou and did not rebel. King Wu revolted against Chou and would not be loyal. This is why I say they were different.’59
‘Come a little closer, my boy! I will tell you how the Three August Ones and the Five Emperors ruled the whole world. The Yellow Emperor ruled everything below Heaven in such a way as to make the hearts of all people one. If someone’s parents died, but he did not cry, none of the people blamed him. Yao ruled the whole world in such as way as to make the hearts of the people truly affectionate. So, if someone wished to mourn for a longer or shorter period for other relatives than they did for their parents, none of the people blamed them.
‘Shun ruled all under Heaven in such a way as to make the hearts of all the people divided. The wives gave birth to the children after ten months. By the time they were five months old, these children were talking; they were already calling people by their proper titles when they were still just babies. It was then that premature death first began.
‘Yu ruled all under Heaven in such a way as to make the hearts of the people change. As a result, each person was felt to have their own heart and warfare was seen as legitimate. They killed thieves but not others. Everyone in the world seemed only concerned
