Born into life, enter death. “Born,” means that desires and passions emerge from the five internal organs; when the soul is tranquil and the spirit is stable, thus life arises. “Enter death,” means that desires and passions enter into the chest and mind; when essence is exhausted and spirit is confused, thus death occurs. Those who follow the path of life number thirteen, and those who follow the path of death also number thirteen. This means that there are thirteen each in the categories of life and death, referring to nine orifices and four joints. Those who follow the path of life do not gaze carelessly with their eyes, do not listen carelessly with their ears, do not sniff carelessly with their nose, do not speak carelessly with their mouth, do not indulge in taste; they do not grasp things carelessly with their hands, do not walk carelessly with their feet, and do not expend their spirit and energy carelessly. Those who follow the path of death are the opposite. Human life, when in motion, moves toward a place of death thirteen times. People know to seek life, yet their actions contradict the thirteen paths leading to death. Why is this so? Asking why one moves toward a place of danger. Because they pursue life too intensely.

The reason why one moves toward a place of danger is because their pursuit of living things is excessive, going against the Dao and defying Heaven, acting recklessly and losing discipline. Those who are said to be good at preserving life — “She,” means “nourish” — do not encounter rhinoceroses or tigers while walking on the road. They naturally stay far away, and harm does not touch them. Entering an army without armor or weapons, because they do not enjoy war and killing people. The rhinoceros has nowhere to thrust its horn, the tiger has no place to use its claws, and weapons have no opportunity to wield their blades. Those who cultivate life cannot be harmed by rhinoceroses or tigers, and weapons cannot be used against them. Why is this so? Questioning why the rhinoceros, tiger, and weapons do not harm them. Because they are not in a place of death. Because they do not violate the thirteen places leading to death. It means that divine spirits protect and guard them, so these creatures dare not harm them.