There is danger for the eye in seeing too clearly, danger for the ear in hearing too sharply and danger to the heart from caring too greatly. Indeed, it is dangerous to use any of our faculties. If these dangers are not dealt with, then disaster after disaster will ensue. To turn back from this to the original state takes much effort and time, but people consider these faculties as their greatest treasure, isn’t that sad! As a result there is constant destruction of states and endless massacre of the people, while no one knows how to look into how this happened.
The foot only touches a small part of the earth, yet people can travel great distances into the unknown.
The knowledge of people is minor, and though minor it has to trust in that which they do not know, to know what is meant by Heaven. It is known as the great One, the great mystery, the great yin, the great eye, the great equal, the great skill, the great truth, the great judge. All this is perfection.
The great One knows,
the great mystery reveals,
the great yin observes,
the great eye sees,
the great equal is the origin,
the great skill creates it,
the great trust touches it,
the great judge holds fast to it.
Heaven is in everything: follow the light, hide in the cloudiness and begin in what is. Do this and your understanding will be like not understanding and your wisdom will be like not being wise. By not being wise you will become wise later. When you ask questions, set no limits, even though they cannot be limitless. Although things seem to be sometimes going up and sometimes descending, sometimes slipping away, nevertheless there is a reality, the same today as in the past. It does not change, for nothing can affect it. Could we not say it is one great harmony? So why shouldn’t we ask about it and why are you so confused? If we use that which does not confuse to understand that which does confuse, then we can come back to that which does not confuse. This will be the great unconfusing.
CHAPTER 25
Travelling to Chu
Peng Yang was once travelling to Chu and hoped that Yi Chieh would mention him to the King. But before the King would see him, Yi Chieh left to go home. So Peng Yang went instead to Wang Kuo and said, ‘Sir, would you be kind enough to mention me to the King?’
Wang Kuo said, ‘I’m not as useful a contact as Kung Yueh Hsiu.’
Peng Yang said, ‘What sort of a person is this Kung Yueh Hsiu?’
‘In winter he spears turtles beside the river, in summer he holidays in the mountains. Those passing ask him what he is doing and he answers, “This is where I live.”
‘As Yi Chieh could not persuade the King to see you, what use will I be? I am not equal to Yi Chieh. He is the sort of man who has no virtue but who does have understanding, who is not lax with himself but devotes all his energy to furthering those around him. He’s attracted to fame and fortune, so if he helps you, it is not because of any virtue but out of contrariness. It is like trying to pretend spring has come by putting on extra clothes, or wanting winter’s cold winds to come and cool you in the summer. The King of Chu is also like this, overbearing and stern, and if he is upset by someone, he is as merciless as a tiger. No one except a toadying minister or one of true Virtue is able to discuss anything with him!
‘The sage living humbly makes even his family forget their poverty; when he is powerful, he makes kings and dukes forget their status and properties and become humble. With life he just tags along and enjoys himself. With the people he delights in the successes of others and holds true to himself. Sometimes, without a word, he brings harmony to people. Simply by being with them, he transforms people until they feel towards him as do father and son who are on good terms with each other, in unity. All this happens without any effort, for he is guided by his heart. This is why I say wait for Kung Yueh Hsiu.’
The sage goes beyond confusion and diversity and makes everything into one body. Even though he does not know for certain how, he is true to his innate nature. He comes back to destiny and reacts appropriately, with Heaven as his guide, so that people follow him and accord him titles. If he was concerned with what he knew and what he did was inconsistent, then how could he be stopped?
If someone is born with a beautiful appearance, you can give them a mirror, but they will never know that they have a beautiful appearance if you never tell them so. Whether they know it or not, whether they are told or not, their fine appearance will never be changed. Other people admire their good fortune, for it comes from their innate nature. The sage loves the people and the people bestow titles on him, yet if they do not tell him, he won’t know that he loves the people. Whether he knows it or he doesn’t, whether he is told this or not, his love for the people is unchanged and their tranquillity in him is endless, for this is his innate nature.
Someone who sees his native kingdom or his old city is bound to be excited. Even if it has become nothing but mounds, trees and bushes, and when he enters it, he finds nine-tenths of those whom he knew gone, nevertheless he is most definitely glad to see the place. Imagine his
