Heshang Gong Chapter 47 – 鑒遠 (Seeing Far)
Paul PengAktie
Heshang Gong Chapter 47 – 鑒遠 (Seeing Far)
老子河上公章句 · 第47章 · Heshang Gong's Commentary on Laozi
Section 1 — 第1节
Original Chinese
One does not need to leave one's house to know the world. The sage does not need to leave his house to know the world, because he understands others through himself and knows other families through his own; thus, he can see the whole world. One does not need to look out of the window to perceive the Dao of Heaven. The Dao of Heaven and the Dao of humanity are the same; heaven and human beings communicate with each other, their vital energies interpenetrating. If a ruler is tranquil and pure, the weather of Heaven will naturally be in order; if a ruler has many desires, the atmosphere of Heaven becomes disturbed and turbid. Good fortune, misfortune, benefit, and harm all arise from oneself. The farther one goes out, the less knowledge one gains. This means that if one leaves one's own home to observe other people's homes, or leaves one's own body to examine others' bodies, the farther one observes, the fewer things one actually sees. Therefore, the sage knows without traveling. The sage does not ascend to Heaven nor descend into the abyss; yet he can know all under Heaven because he understands through his mind. He names things without seeing them. When those above love the Dao and those below cherish virtue; those above favor martial strength and those below value physical power. The sage understands great matters from small beginnings, and knows the external by observing the internal. Achievement without action. If those above take no action, then there will be nothing for those below to do; families will have enough and people will be well-provided-for, and all things will naturally transform and flourish.
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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