Heshang Gong Chapter 72 – 愛己 (Loving Oneself)

Heshang Gong Chapter 72 – 愛己 (Loving Oneself)

Paul Peng

Heshang Gong Chapter 72 – 愛己 (Loving Oneself)

老子河上公章句 · 第72章 · Heshang Gong's Commentary on Laozi

📖 Taoist Scripture🖋 Heshang Gong (河上公)🔢 Chapter 72 of 81🌐 English & Chinese

Section 1 — 第1节

民不畏威,則大威至。威,害也。人不畏小害則大害至。大害者,謂死亡也。畏之者當愛精神,承天順地也。無狎其所居,謂心居神,當寬柔,不當急狹也。無厭其所生,人所以生者,以有精神。託空虛,喜清靜,飲食不節,忽Tao Te Ching念色,邪僻滿腹,為伐本厭神也。夫唯不厭,是以不厭。夫唯獨不厭精神之人,洗心濯垢,恬泊無欲,則精神居之不厭也。是以聖人自知,不自見,自知己之得失,不自顯見德美於外,藏之於內。自愛不自貴。自愛其身以保精氣,不自貴高榮名於世。故去彼取此。去彼自見、自貴,取此自知、自愛。

The people do not fear authority, then great authority will arrive. Wei, harm also. If people do not fear small harms, then great harm will arrive. Great harm refers to death. Those who fear it should cherish spirit and energy, honoring Heaven and following the Earth. Do not be narrow in one's dwelling, meaning that the mind dwells with spirit; it should be broad and gentle, not hasty or narrow. Do not despise one's life, people are able to live because they have spirit and energy. Relying on emptiness, delighting in quietness, not regulating diet, neglecting the Dao and desiring color, filling the belly with heretical and deviant thoughts—this is cutting off the root and despising spirit. Only by not despising life will one avoid being despised. Only those who do not despise spirit and energy, purify their hearts and wash away filth, remain tranquil and free from desire—then spirit and energy will dwell within without being despised. Therefore, the sage knows himself but does not display himself, knowing his own gains and losses, he does not outwardly show or reveal virtue and beauty; instead, he keeps them within. He loves himself but does not regard himself as precious. He loves his own body to preserve spirit and energy, without regarding himself as lofty or valuing fame and honor in the world. Therefore, he abandons that and takes this. Abandon self-display and self-regard as precious; take instead self-knowledge and self-love. ---


Heshang Gong Chapter 72 - Loving Oneself - Chinese ink painting

Paul Peng — Zhengyi Taoist Priest, Longhu Mountain

About the Author

Paul Peng

Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.

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