What is Evil Thoughts in Taoism 什么是邪念

What is Evil Thoughts in Taoism什么是邪念

"Xie Nian" (邪念, "Evil Thoughts") refers broadly to the seven emotions and six desires of human beings — the psychological phenomena that a Taoist Priest seeking the true and constant Dao must subdue. Taoism holds that the seven emotions and six desires arise after birth and are not original to human nature; they corrode and weaken the mind in a negative way and must be subdued by right thought (zheng nian). The Panshan Lu states: "When thoughts arise, examine whether they are evil or right. Evil thoughts should be immediately extinguished; right thoughts should be put to use." By using right thoughts to subdue evil thoughts — that is, by observing and refining one's thoughts — one restores the True Mind and Original Mind.

Taoism regards the mastery of evil thoughts as inseparable from the cultivation of Yin and Yang balance within oneself — aligning the inner world with the natural order of the Dao.

What is Evil Thoughts in Taoism