Heshang Gong Chapter 23 – 虛無 (Emptiness and Nothingness)
Paul PengAktie
Heshang Gong Chapter 23 – 虛無 (Emptiness and Nothingness)
老子河上公章句 · 第23章 · Heshang Gong's Commentary on Laozi
Section 1 — 第1节
Few words are natural — Xiyan means to love speech; to love speech is the way of nature. Therefore, a violent wind does not last through the morning, and a sudden rain does not last through the day — Piaofeng means a strong wind; Zouyu means heavy rain; what is intense cannot last long, and what is violent cannot endure. Who does this? Heaven and Earth — Shu means who; who causes this violent wind and heavy rain? It is what Heaven and Earth do. Heaven and Earth still cannot last long — they cannot last until morning or evening. How much less can human beings do so? Heaven and Earth, being the most divine, combine to create violent winds and heavy rains, yet still cannot make them last from morning until evening — how much less can people achieve sudden and violent results? Therefore, those who act in accordance with the Dao — Cong means to do; human actions should be like the quietness of the Dao and not like violent winds or sudden rains. Those who follow the Dao are united with it — Daozhe means those who love the Dao; one who is united with the Dao is said to be in harmony with the Dao. Those who possess virtue are united with virtue — Dezhe means those who love virtue; one who is united with virtue is said to be in harmony with virtue. Those who lose are united with loss — Shi means to rely on oneself and thus lose others; one who is united with loss is said to be in harmony with loss. Those who are united with the Dao, the Dao also delights in receiving them. Those who are united with virtue, virtue also delights in receiving them.
Section 2 — 第2节
Those who are united with loss, loss also delights in receiving them — one who is in harmony with loss, loss will also be pleased to take it away. When trust is insufficient — the ruler's trust is not sufficient for the people; then the people will respond to the ruler with distrust. There is a lack of faith. This means that things naturally return to their kind — like sounds respond to each other, and similar energies seek one another. Clouds follow the dragon, winds follow the tiger, water flows downward, fire moves toward dryness — these are all examples of natural kinds.
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.
Read his full story →