Heshang Gong Chapter 9 – 運夷 (Leveling)
Paul PengShare
Heshang Gong Chapter 9 – 運夷 (Leveling)
老子河上公章句 · 第9章 · Heshang Gong's Commentary on Laozi
Section 1 — 第1节
Clasping and filling it to excess is not as good as stopping in time — Ying means full or filled to the brim; Yi means stop. Holding onto fullness will inevitably lead to collapse; it is better to stop instead. Grasping and sharpening it too much cannot be maintained for long — Chuai means to polish or refine; after first refining it, one will inevitably abandon and discard it later. When gold and jade fill the hall, no one can truly guard them — excessive desires harm the spirit; wealth in abundance burdens the body. Wealth and nobility with arrogance bring upon oneself misfortune — when one is rich, one should assist the poor; when noble, one should pity the lowly; to instead be arrogant and indulgent will inevitably bring calamity. Achieving success, attaining fame, and then retreating from public life — this is the way of Heaven. When people accomplish their deeds and see their names recognized, if they do not step back from power, they will encounter harm. This is the natural order of Heaven: when the sun reaches its zenith it must move on; when the moon is full it will wane; when things reach their peak they decline; when joy reaches its height, sorrow follows.
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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