Heshang Gong Chapter 44 – 立戒 (Establishing Precepts)
Paul PengAktie
Heshang Gong Chapter 44 – 立戒 (Establishing Precepts)
老子河上公章句 · 第44章 · Heshang Gong's Commentary on Laozi
Section 1 — 第1节
Which is more intimate, name or body? When one's name becomes renowned, then the body should withdraw. Which is more numerous, the body or wealth? When wealth becomes excessive, it harms the body. Which is more harmful, gain or loss? Loving to gain profit causes harm in conduct. Excessive love necessarily leads to great expenditure; excessive love of beauty wastes spirit and energy. Excessive love for wealth encounters misfortune and calamity. What is loved is little, what is lost is much; therefore it is said to be great expenditure. Excessive hoarding necessarily leads to heavy loss. When alive, much is stored in treasuries; when dead, much is buried in mounds and tombs. While living there are worries of attack and plundering; after death there are dangers of grave robbing and opening coffins. Knowing contentment brings no disgrace; a person who knows contentment cuts off profit and removes desire, thus not bringing disgrace upon the body. Knowing when to stop brings no danger; knowing what can be stopped means wealth and profit do not burden the body, beauty and music do not disturb the ears and eyes; thus the body is not in peril. Thus longevity may be achieved. If a person knows when to stop and is content, then fortune and rank are within oneself; those who cultivate the body find their spirits not exhausted; those who govern the state do not disturb the people, thus longevity may be achieved. This is the essence of wu wei — acting in accordance with nature rather than striving against it. True virtue lies not in accumulation, but in knowing when enough is enough.
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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