"How vast and grand is the Word, which covers and carries all things! A gentleman must not be open-minded and exclude all promising distractions. Doing it with an attitude of non-action is called nature, saying with an attitude of non-action is called complicity, giving love to people or giving benefits to things is called benevolence, returning different things to the same nature is called greatness, acting differently is called tolerance, and tolerating all kinds of differences in the heart is called wealth. Therefore, adhering to the nature given by nature is called discipline, the formation of virtue is called meritorious service, following the Tao is called perfection, and not being frustrated by external objects is called perfection. When a gentleman understands these ten aspects, he also has the great will to make meritorious contributions, and it becomes the return of all things like surging flowing water gathering in one place. In this way, you can hide gold in the mountains and pearls in the abyss, and do not covet riches or riches. Do not regard longevity as happiness, untimely death as sorrow, attainment as glory, poverty as shame; He does not regard the pursuit of the world's interests as his duty, and does not regard ruling the world as his own pre-eminent position. Illustrious will be revealed, but in the end all things are the same, and there is no difference between death and life. ”

He also said, "The Tao is as silent as the deep and quiet abyssal sea, and its movement is as pure as a clear and clear stream. Utensils made of bells and chimes cannot obtain external force and have no way to ring, so even if there is an instinct to ring bells and chimes, they do not fail to ring. Who can accurately understand the situation that all things can only be responded to by feeling! A person who is virtuous and in a position of dominance should act in a simple and sincere way and be ashamed to be familiar with trivial matters, based on his inherent truthfulness and wisdom in a mysterious and unpredictable realm. Thus his virtues are holy and vain, and even if his mind is revealed, it is a natural response to the search for external objects. Therefore, if the form does not rely on the Tao, it cannot be generated, and if the life is generated, it will not be enlightened if it is not born in Shunde. Preserve the body to maintain life, and build the road of prosperity and prosperity, isn't this a person who has virtue and occupies a dominant position? Vast and great! They feel unintentionally, they unintentionally move, and yet all things follow them closely! This is the person who has great virtue and is in a dominant position. Dao, it looks so dark and deep, and it sounds so silent. However, in the darkness and depth, you can see the true traces of light, and in the silence, you can hear the resonance of the singing and harmony of all the knots. The deep and deep can produce all things from it, and the subtle and mysterious can produce the spirit from it. Therefore, the Tao is connected with all things, but the silence can meet the needs of all things, and the galloping and indulgent can sum up all things to become their destination, whether it is big or small, long or short, high or far. ”

The Yellow Emperor played on the north bank of Chishui, climbed to the top of Kunlun Mountain and looked south, and soon returned and lost the Xuanzhu. The wise man who sent the superior intelligence to look for it failed to find it, the one who was good at discerning Zhu went to look for it but failed to find it, and the one who was good at hearing the argument was also unable to find it. So he asked the ignorant, ignorant, and ignorant elephant to look for it, and the elephant found Xuanzhu. The Yellow Emperor said, "Strange! Can you find it? ”

Yao's teacher is called Xu You, Xu You's teacher is called Yu Que, Yu Que's teacher is called Wang Ni, and Wang Ni's teacher is called Quilt Clothes.

Yao asked Xu You, "Can Yu Que be the Son of Heaven?" I want to use his teacher to ask him to be the Son of Heaven. Xu You said: "I'm afraid the world will be dangerous!" He is a man of human nature, deaf and intelligent, quick and quick-witted, gifted, and even uses a man-made mind to correspond to and reconcile natural endowments. He knew how to prohibit negligence, but he didn't know why it arose. Let him be the Son of Heaven? He will abandon nature with the help of man, he will see himself as the center to which all things are directed and will deliberately change the inherent appearance of all things, he will revere his intellect and rush to seek knowledge and control things, he will be enslaved by trivial matters, he will be constrained by external things, he will look around and meet with foreign things with dizzying eyes, he will respond to all things and he will be extravagant in every way, he will participate in the changes of all things and never have any certainty. How can such a person be the Son of Heaven? Nevertheless, with the gathering of the kindred, there will be a whole clan of ancestors; You can be the ruler of the people, but you can't be the ruler of the people. Governing the world will be the forerunner of the great chaos in the world, which is the disaster of the courtiers and the bane of the king. ”

Yao patrolled in China. The guardian of the feudal territory said, "Ah, sage! Please let me pray for the saints. "May the saint live a long life." Yao said, "No need. "May the saint be rich." Yao said, "No need. "I wish the saints many boys." Yao said, "No need. The people who guarded the feudal territory said: "Longevity, wealth, and many men, this is what people want." Why don't you want it? Yao said: "The more boys have more worries, the more money they have, the more troubles, and the longer they live, the more humiliation they will suffer." None of these three aspects will help to cultivate the concept and virtue of non-action, so I decline your wishes for me. ”

The man who guarded the frontier said, "At first I regarded you as a saint, but now you are a gentleman. When the heavens let all the nations come to earth, they will definitely give him certain errands. There must be a lot of errands given to them because there are many boys, and there is nothing to be afraid of! If you are rich, you will divide your wealth among the people, and what trouble will there be! The saint is always as calm as a quail, in an impermanent place, like a chick waiting to be fed, like a bird that flies in the air without leaving a trace; When the world is peaceful, it prosperss with all things; The world is chaotic, so self-cultivation tends to be leisure; If he lives for a thousand years and hates to live in the world, he leaves the world and ascends to heaven to become an immortal; Harness the white clouds to the place where heaven and earth meet; The humiliation, trouble, and fear caused by longevity, wealth, and boys will not befall me, nor will my body suffer; So what humiliation will there be! The guards of the frontier left Yao, but Yao followed him, saying, "I hope to get your advice." The man who guarded the frontier said, "You better go back!" ”

Tang Yao ruled the world, and Bo Chengzi Gao Li became a prince. Yao gave up the throne to Shun, and Shun gave the throne to Yu, and Bo Chengzi Gao resigned from the position of prince and went to farming. Xia Yu went to visit him, and Bo Chengzigao was plowing in the field. Xia Yu quickly stepped forward and lived below, stood respectfully and asked Bo Chengzi Gao Dao: "Back then, Yao ruled the world, and Mr. was established as a prince. Yao gave up the throne to Shun, and Shun gave up the throne to me, but Mr. resigned from his position as a prince to engage in farming. I take the liberty of asking, why is that? Bo Chengzi Gao said: "When Emperor Yao ruled the world, the people were naturally diligent without reward, and the people were naturally in awe without punishment. Now you have applied the method of reward and punishment, and the people are still unkind, virtue has decayed, punishment has been established, and the rebellion of the Hereafter has begun. Why don't you go away, sir? Don't delay my business! So he lowered his head and plowed the plough and ignored it.

Everything in the primordial origin of the universe only exists in "nothing", and without existence, there is no title; The state of unity is the beginning of the universe, but at the time of unity, it is far from forming separate forms. All things arise from a state of mixed unity, which is called self-satisfaction; There is already a difference between the yin and yang qi that is received when the body is not formed, but the combination of yin and yang is so consistent and seamless, which is called the mandate of heaven; The mechanism by which yin energy retains yang energy and then generates all things, and all things generate life, which is called form; The body guards the spirit, each with its own trajectory and law, which is called nature. If you are good at self-cultivation, you will return to self-satisfaction, and the degree of self-satisfaction will reach the same state of perfection as at the beginning of the world. In the same way, in the beginning, the heart will be incomparably open-minded, and the incomparably open-mindedness will be inclusive. When you are mixed and united, you are as unintentional as a birdsong, and you are not in love or hate, and when you speak like a bird, you are in harmony with heaven and earth. Mixing and unity is so untraceable, as if it is ignorant and as if it is dim, this is called the profound and mysterious avenue, and it is like returning to the true and everything is returned to nature.

Confucius asked Lao Dan for advice: "Some people study and experience the Great Dao, but it seems to be contrary to the Great Dao, and they regard what cannot be recognized as acceptable, and what is incorrect as correct. The debating man says: 'The solidity and whiteness of the segregated stone are as clear and conspicuous as if they were hanging high in the heavens.' Can a man like this be called a saint?' The old man said: "This is just a situation in which the clever little officials are constrained by their skills and are frightened by their hard work when they are serving. Dogs that are good at hunting are worried because they are restrained, and apes are caught from the mountains and forests because of their ease of movement. I tell you, Confucius, and tell you the truth that you can't hear and can't say. There are many mortals who have specific forms such as heads and feet and are ignorant, but there are many people who have a body and a way that has no body and no shape at all. Movement or stillness, death or survival, decay or prosperity, all six of these conditions are natural and impossible to know. If there really is any kind of governance, it is also the respective activity of people to follow their nature and true feelings, to forget external things, to forget nature, and its name is to forget themselves. People who forget themselves can be said to be one with nature.

The general Lu Bao greeted Ji Che and said, "The king of Lu said to me: 'Please let me accept your advice. I repeatedly refused, but Lu Jun didn't agree, I have already told him, I don't know if it's right or wrong, please let me try to tell you. I said to the king of Lu, 'You must bow down and practice respectfulness and frugality, and choose just and loyal courtiers to manage government affairs without favoritism or selfishness, so that the people dare not be at peace!' After hearing this, Ji Che leaned over and laughed and said, "Like what you said, for the emperor's standards, I'm afraid it will be like a praying mantis raising its arms to block the wheels, and it will definitely not be up to the task." Moreover, like this, it will certainly put itself in a dangerous situation, like the high towers and pavilions, and many things will surely return, and many people will surely throw themselves there. ”

Jiang Lu said in surprise: "I am really at a loss for my husband's conversation. Still, I would like Mr. to talk about it. Gitcher said: "The great sages ruled the world, let the hearts of the people be free and unfettered, made them successful in their indoctrination, changed their bad habits, and completely eliminated the intention of harming others and promoted their self-edification, just as nature drove them to move, and people did not know why this is so." In this way, is it still necessary to respect Yao Shun's education of the people, and despise the state of chaos? I hope to be in a stable state of mind with natural self-satisfaction! ”

Zigong traveled to the Chu State in the south, returned to the Jin State, passed through the southern edge of the Han River, saw an old man in the vegetable garden to prepare the furrow, made a tunnel straight to the well, held the water urn to water the ground, and worked hard to come and go with a lot of force and little effect. Zigong saw it and said: "Nowadays, there is a kind of machinery that can water hundreds of vegetable furrows every day, with little force and a lot of effect, don't you want to try it, old man?" The old man who planted vegetables looked up at Zigong and said, "What should I do?" Zigong said: "The wood is processed into machinery, the back is heavy and the front is light, and the water is lifted as if it were pumping water from a well, and it is as fast as boiling water overflowing outward, and its name is orange." The old man who planted vegetables changed his face and sneered, "I heard from my teacher that with something like machinery, there must be things like Karakura, and with things like that, there must be things like things. If the mind of change remains in the chest, then the pure and empty state of mind that has not been tainted by the world is not complete; If the pure and empty state of mind is not complete, then the spirit will not be single-minded and stable; If the spirit cannot be single-minded and stable, the avenue will not enrich his heart. It's not that I don't know what you're talking about, but I feel humiliated and don't want to do it. Zigong's face was full of shame, and he lowered his head and couldn't answer.

After a while, the old man who planted vegetables said, "What are you doing?" Zigong said, "I am a student of Confucius. The old man who planted vegetables said, "Are you not the one who has great knowledge and imitates the saints everywhere, who overshadows the people with his grandeur and reserve, and who sings songs of self-lament and lamentation for the world, and who travels around the world to make a name for himself?" If you abandon your spirit and ambition, and dispose of your body and body, I am afraid that you will gradually be able to get closer to the Tao! You yourself are not good at cultivation and conditioning, where do you have the leisure to govern the world! You go, don't delay my affairs here! ”

Zigong was ashamed, his expression changed suddenly, he was so stunned that he couldn't hold himself, and he walked thirty miles away before gradually returning to normal. Zigong's disciple asked, "What is the person you met earlier?" Why did the gentleman suddenly lose color when he saw his face change so much, and he couldn't return to normal all day? Zigong said: "At first, I always thought that there was only one saint in the world, my teacher Kong Qiu, and I didn't know that there would be such a person as I just met. I've heard from my teachers that we need to do things that are feasible and things that are fulfilled. Use less effort and obtain more effect, this is the way of the saints. This is not the case today. Only those who adhere to the unrighteous way can have complete morality, and only those who have complete virtue can have a complete human body, and only those who have a complete body can have a sound spirit. Mental integrity is the way of a saint. Such people, they entrust their bodies in the world to live with all the people, but they don't know where they should go, their inner world is unfathomable, their virtues are pure and complete! Utilitarian ingenuity certainly doesn't take place in the hearts of people like them. People like that, who are different from their own minds, will not pursue them, and will not do what they do if they do not conform to their own thoughts. Even if all the people of the world praise him, and the words of praise are in accordance with his virtue, he will not care about it; Even if everyone in the world criticized him and his reputation was lost, he was indifferent and ignored it. The criticism and praise of the people of the world have neither gain nor harm to them, and this is called a person with perfect virtue! I can only call a person whose mind is uncertain and tainted by the dirt of the world. ”

Zigong returned to Lu and told Confucius about the situation he encountered on the way. Confucius said: "Those are the people who study and practice the ideas of the Chaos, they understand the truth that there is no other and the same since ancient times, they do not understand the need to adapt to the changes of society, they are good at self-cultivation and conditioning, but they are not good at governing the external world." How can you not be amazed at those who are so clear and white that they are so pure, who return to their primitive simplicity, who realize their true nature, who hold on to their spirits, and who live in the world with pleasure? Besides, how can you and I understand the Chaos Clan's ideas and cultivation methods? ”

He went east to the sea, and happened to meet the garden wind on the shore of the East China Sea. Yuan Feng asked, "Where are you going?" He said, "I'm going to go to the sea." Yuan Feng asked again, "What are you going to do?" He said: "The sea is an object, and the river will not overflow when it is poured in, and it will not dry up if it is constantly scooped up; So I will go to the sea to have fun. ”

Yuan Feng said: "So, does the gentleman have no intention of caring about the common people? I hope to hear about the rule of the saints. He said, "The rule of the saints?" Officials are appointed to issue decrees, but they are appropriate and appropriate everywhere; Exemplify talents without forgetting a capable person, so that everyone can see the true situation of things and do what they should do, and everyone can consciously and naturally Hue in behavior and conversation, waving their hands to show that no one from all over the world does not gather, which is called the rule of the saints. Yuan Feng said, "I hope to hear about people who are content with conforming to external objects." Zhen Mang said: "A person who conforms to external objects and is content has no thought when he lives, no plan when he acts, and no beauty or ugliness in his heart." In the four seas, everyone has the benefit of sharing their benefits, and everyone sharing the goods is stability; The sad look was like a baby losing its mother, and the sad look was like being lost while walking. There is a surplus of goods but you don't know where you come from, and you don't know where you come from when you have enough food and drink. This is the manners of a person who conforms to external objects and is content with his mind. Yuan Feng said, "I hope to hear what a man of God is again." He said, "The god-man whose spirit is beyond the object controls the light and disappears with the traces of all things, and this is called illuminating all things." Exhausting the true feelings of the destiny and changes, rejoicing with heaven and earth, so that everything will naturally perish, and all things will naturally return to their true feelings, which is called confusion and harmony, and there is no difference. ”

There are no ghosts in the door and Chizhang Manji watching the troops of King Wu. Chizhang Manji said: "King Wu of Zhou is still not as good as the Yu clan!" That's why the world suffers this calamity. Door Wugui said: "The world is peaceful and then the Yu clan will govern, or will the world be in turmoil before it will be governed?" ”

Chizhang Manji said: "It is people's wish that the world is peaceful, so why should you consider the virtue of the Yu clan and elect him as the king!" Yu Shi treats head sores for people, and only when the hair falls out and becomes bald does he lay a wig, just as he will seek medical treatment when he has a disease. The filial son used medicine to cure his father's illness, and how haggard his face was, and the saint was ashamed of this situation. In the era of Shengde, we do not advocate talents and do not appoint capable people; The king is like a tree with a high branch, and he naturally occupies a high position, but the people are like an ignorant deer without restraint; Conduct well but do not know how to see it as morality, mutual friendship but do not know to see it as benevolence, honesty but do not know to see it as loyalty, and do things properly but do not know to see it as faithfulness; Acting unintentionally and supporting each other without seeing it as a gift. Therefore, there will be no traces after the action, and there will be no future generations after the action is completed. ”

A filial son does not flatter his parents, and loyal ministers do not flatter his king, which is the extreme point of loyal ministers and filial sons. Whatever the parents say, they affirm, and what they do, they praise it, that is what the worldly people call an unworthy son; Whatever the king says, he does, and what the king does, he welcomes, that is, what the worldly man calls a bad servant. But people don't understand that the world's view must be correct. And the worldly people regard what is right as right, and the worldly people regard what is good as good, but they do not call them sycophants. Wouldn't the world's ideas and opinions be more revered than those of parents, and more revered than kings? If you say that you are a slanderer, you will be furious and your face will change; If you say that you are a sycophant, you will definitely be angry and fill your chest and your complexion will change drastically. But a person who has been a slanderer all his life, a sycophancy all his life, is only regarded as winning the favor of the people by clever metaphors and flowery rhetoric, so that the end and the beginning, the root and the end, do not coincide with the beginning. It is extremely foolish to put on beautiful clothes, embroider colorful patterns, dress up gorgeous faces, and please and flatter the world, but do not think that they are slander and sycophants, and are in the company of worldly people, and have the same concept of right and wrong, but do not regard themselves as ordinary people. He who knows his own foolishness is not the greatest foolishness; He who knows that he is deluded is not the greatest delusion. The most bewildered person will never wake up in his life; The most ignorant person will never understand in his life. When three people walk together, one of them is confused, and the place where he wants to go can still be reached, because after all, there are fewer people who are confused; Two of the three bewildered are in vain and cannot reach, for the bewildered one has the upper hand. If all people are confused today, even if I pray for guidance, it is unlikely that it will help. Isn't that sad?

It is impossible for secular people to appreciate elegant music, and folk songs such as Zheyang and Huanghua will be happy and laughing when secular people listen to them. Therefore noble speech cannot remain in the hearts of the world, and wise sayings cannot come out of the mouths of the world, because the words of the world prevail. Let two of them be confused and misoriented, so that the place they are going will not be able to reach. For example, people today are puzzled, even if I seek guidance, how can I reach it! Knowing that it is impossible to reach but reluctantly doing it is another big confusion, so it is better to abandon it and not investigate. If you don't get to the bottom of it, who will you worry about! The ugly man gives birth to a child in the middle of the night, and immediately takes the fire to take care of it, anxiously lest the child he gives birth to be as ugly as himself.

The hundred-year-old trees are cut down and carved into exquisite wine vessels, and then painted with beautiful patterns in blue and yellow, while the remaining broken trees are discarded in the ravine. A piece of wood carved into a fine wine vessel is the difference between a good fate and a tragic encounter compared to the rest of the wood that has been discarded in the ravine, but it is the same for the loss of its original nature. There are differences in behavior and morality between thieves and Zeng Shen and Shi Shen, but they lose the inherent truth of human beings. There are five situations in which the loss of authenticity occurs: first, the five colors disturb the vision, making it difficult for the eyes to see clearly; The second is that the five kinds of music disturb the hearing, making it difficult for the ears to hear really; Third, the five smells disturb the sense of smell, disturb the nasal cavity and reach the frontal crown; Fourth, the five kinds of taste are turbid and tasteful, which causes serious damage to the mouth and tongue; Fifth, the desire to make trade-offs confuses the mind, making the mind racing, frivolous and restless. These five situations are all the scourges of life. However, Yang Zhu and Mo Zhai kept striving to pursue and thought they had gained, but this is not what I call Youyou. What is gained but trapped by it, can it also be said that there is something to gain? Then, the turtle dove bird can also be regarded as self-satisfied in the cage. Moreover, the desire to choose from sound and lust is piled up like firewood and grass, the fur hat and feather crown, the courtboard, the wide band, and the long skirt are tied outside, and the heart is full of firewood and grass fences, and the appearance is tied by ropes layer after layer, but the eyes are wide and they think they have gained something in the rope bondage, then the criminals are tortured by tying their hands behind their backs or squeezing their five fingers, and the tigers and leopards are locked in the fence and cage, which can also be regarded as self-satisfaction.

Like the "Heaven and Earth" chapter, the center still advocates "non-action"; The so-called "way of heaven", that is, the laws of nature, is irresistible and unchangeable.

The text is broadly divided into eight parts. The first part, "Heavenly Happiness", points out that the laws of nature are constantly running, and everything is in motion by itself, so that the path of sanctity can only be quiet and inactive. The second part, "The World with Animals", follows the discussion of "heavenly music" in the previous paragraph, pointing out that it is necessary to move in accordance with nature and change with all things. The third part, "The reason why the emperor is not the best animal in the world", puts forward the proposition that the emperor does nothing and his subordinates do something, clarifies that all political activities should follow the inherent laws, and emphasizes that everything has an order, and respect and inferiority, men and women are also natural orders, which not only violates Zhuangzi's idea of "Qi Wu", but also puts on a philosophical cloak for the ruler to rule his subjects. The fourth part, "Heaven and Earth are Only", uses the dialogue between Yao and Shun to explain that the governance of the world should imitate the nature of heaven and earth. In the fifth part, "The Nature of Confucius and Lao Dan", he writes about the dialogue between Confucius and Lao Dan, pointing out that everything should follow the laws of nature, and pointing out that "benevolence and righteousness" is exactly "the nature of disordered people". The sixth part, "Its name is plagiarism", writes Lao Tzu's attitude of conforming to foreign objects, and at the same time criticizes the clever and arrogant people. The seventh part goes to "the heart of the people is determined", pointing out that it is necessary to "retreat from benevolence and righteousness" and "be happy with courtesy", so as to "keep its roots" and "leave all things", that is, to advocate the attitude of inaction. The remaining part is the eighth part, which shows that the true feelings of things cannot be spoken, and the so-called words of the saints are the dross left by the ancients.

The content of this article has been criticized by many people, especially the third part, which deviates too far from Zhuangzi's thought, so it is considered that the post-Zhuang scholars were influenced by Confucianism.

The operation of the law has never stopped or accumulated, so that all things can be generated; The laws of the emperor's rule have never stayed and stagnated, so the people of the world have been obedient; The views and propositions of those who have attained the perfection of the Holy Mind on all things in the universe have never been interrupted or stopped, so everyone in the four seas is convinced. For those who understand the virtues of the emperor, the communication between the upper and lower four directions and the smooth flow of the four seasons are all their own movements, and the obscure Taoguang does not show its form and never damages the quiet state of mind. The people of Shengming are quiet in their hearts, not that they are beautiful in peace, so they pursue peace; All kinds of things could not shake or disturb his heart, so his mind was empty and silent. When the water is still, it can clearly illuminate the eyebrows of the person, and the level of the water meets the standard of leveling, and the skilled craftsman will also take it as the level. The level is still clear and clear, not to mention the human spirit! How empty and tranquil is the state of mind of the Holy Ming! It can be used as a mirror of heaven and earth, and can be used as a mirror of all things. Quietness, tranquility, loneliness, and inaction are the benchmark of heaven and earth, and the highest state of moral cultivation, so the ancient emperors and holy people all stayed in this realm. If you stay in this realm, your mind will be empty and empty, and the ethereal and empty will appear full, and the mood will be full and in line with the principles of nature. Only when the state of mind is empty can there be peace and tranquility, and only when there is calm and tranquility can we move ourselves, and if we move ourselves without interference, we will be able to gain everything. Humility can do nothing, and inaction makes everyone do their duty. If you do nothing, you will be at ease, and those who are at ease will not hide sorrows and disasters, and they will live a long life. Quietness, tranquility, loneliness, and inaction are the foundation of all things. understands this truth and occupies the position of emperor, just like Tang Yao as a monarch; Understanding this truth and living in the position of a subordinate is like Yu Shun as a subordinate. Relying on this principle to be in a respectable position, even if it is the virtue of the emperor to rule the world; Relying on this truth to be in the position of the common people, even if he is familiar with the views and propositions of King Xuansheng Su. With this reason, the hermit retreated to the rivers and seas, and the hermits of the mountains and forests were convinced; By relying on this truth, if you enter Shilin and appease the people of the world, you will be able to make great achievements and fame all over the world and make the world unified. Quiet and become a sage, action and become an emperor, nothing can achieve a noble status, and there is nothing comparable to him in the world if he maintains a pure and simple nature. Understanding the law that heaven and earth are based on nothingness is called grasping the root and origin, and becoming a person who is in harmony with nature; If you use this to equalize all things and conform to the people's feelings, you are a person who is in harmony with everyone. He who is in harmony with others is called human pleasure; Those who are in harmony with nature are called heavenly music.

Zhuangzi said, "O my grandmaster! O my grandmaster! Destroying all things is not considered violence, giving grace to eternity is not considered benevolence, growing in ancient times is not considered longevity, covering the heavens and the earth and carving the shape of all things is not considered wisdom, which is called heavenly happiness. Therefore, it is said: 'He who is well versed in heavenly bliss, he lives in the world and moves according to nature, and he leaves the world to mix with all things and change.' When it is calm, it is quiet with yin, and when it is exercising, it fluctuates with yang. Therefore, those who perceive the joy of heaven will not be complained by heaven, will not be criticized by men, will not be encumbered by external objects, and will not be rebuked by demons and gods. Therefore, it is said: 'When it moves, it runs naturally, when it is still, it is as quiet as the earth, and when it is calm, it is single-minded and dominates the world; Demons will not be troubled, spirits will not be tired, and the heart will be single-minded and stable, and all things will be subdued and attached. These words mean that the tranquility of the void extends to heaven and earth, to all things, and this is called heavenly bliss. The so-called heavenly happiness is the love of the saints, which is used to nurture the people of the world. "The virtue of the emperor is based on heaven and earth, centered on morality, and ruled by inaction. The emperor does nothing, serves the people of the world and has more leisure; The courtiers are promising, and they do their best for the affairs of the world and are afraid of being insufficient. Therefore, people in ancient times valued the attitude of the emperor to do nothing. The emperor in the upper position does nothing, and the courtier in the lower position also does nothing, so the courtier has the same attitude as the emperor, and the courtier is the same as the emperor, then it is not like the courtier; The courtiers in the lower position are promising, and the emperors in the upper position are also promising, so the emperor and the courtiers do the same, and the emperor and the courtiers are the same, then it is not like the emperor. The emperor must do nothing to serve the world, and the courtiers must do something and be used by the world, which is a law that cannot be changed at will. Therefore, the people who ruled the world in ancient times, even if their wisdom could encompass the heavens and the earth, never thought about it personally; Even if eloquence can pervade everything, it never speaks in person; Even if he can dominate the sea, he never does it himself. The heavens do not care about what to produce but all things change naturally, the earth does not care about what to grow and all things naturally multiply and grow, and the emperor can do nothing, and the world will be naturally governed. Therefore there is nothing more wonderful than the heavens, nothing is richer than the earth, nothing is greater than the emperor. Therefore, it is said that the virtue of the emperor can be in harmony with heaven and earth. This is the way to control the heavens and the earth, drive all things and appoint the people of the world.

Morality existed in ancient times, and benevolence and righteousness are practiced today; The outline of governing the world was in the hands of the emperor, and the complicated affairs were left to the work of the courtiers. the use of armies and various weapons, which is a manifestation of the decay of morality; Rewards, punishments, and the imposition of various criminal laws are manifestations of the decay of the teachings; The ritual statute measures the count, the comparison and examination of the entities and titles of things, which is a manifestation of the decay of governance; The sound of bells and drums, the appearance decorated with bird feathers and animal feathers, this is a manifestation of the decay of vocal music; Crying and weeping, wearing linen and wearing filial piety, solemn or simple mourning clothes of different specifications, this is a manifestation of sad emotions that cannot be naturally expressed. These five subtle actions wait for the natural operation of the spirit and the normal activity of the mind before they can be born without pretension and rashness.

The pursuit of the last thing already existed among the ancients, but it was not used as a foundation. The king is subordinate to the lord and his subordinates, the father is subordinate to the children, the elder is subordinate to the younger brother, the older is subordinate to the younger one, the man is subordinate to the woman, and the husband is subordinate to the wife. Respect and inferiority, succession, this is the law of the operation of heaven and earth, so the ancient sages followed it. Heaven is honorable, and earth is humble, this is the rank of the gods; Spring and summer come first, autumn and winter come later, this is the sequence of the four seasons. All things change and come into being, and there are differences at the beginning of their birth, each with its own shape; The order of prosperity and decline, this is the flow of things changing. Heaven and earth are the most sacred and mysterious, and there is still a sequence of dignity and inferiority, not to mention the governance of society! Zongmiao advocates blood, the court advocates nobility, the township advocates the elderly, and the work advocates meritocracy, which is the order arranged by the eternal avenue. Talking about the Great Dao but criticizing the order under the arrangement of the Great Dao is not really respecting the Great Dao; How can people who talk about the Great Dao but criticize the Great Dao for understanding the Great Dao really attaining the Great Dao!

Therefore, in ancient times, people who knew the great way first clarified the laws of nature and then morality, morality had been clarified and then benevolence and righteousness had been clarified, benevolence and righteousness had been clarified and then duty, duty had been clarified and then the appearance and title of things were made, and the appearance and title had been clarified and then they were appointed according to their talents, and then they were exempted or abolished after they had been clarified in their positions, and then they were exempted or abolished, and then they were right and wrong, and right and wrong were clear and then they were rewarded and punished. The reward and punishment are clear, so that the dull and the wise can get along well, and the noble and the lowly can be in their place; Both the benevolent and the virtuous and the bad can use the truth. It is necessary to distinguish between different talents, and it is necessary to follow different names. Use this method to serve the emperor, use this method to raise the people, use this method to manage all things, and use this method to cultivate oneself; If wisdom is not suitable, it must return to nature, which is called the peace of the world, that is, the highest state of governing the world.

Therefore, the ancient books say, "There is a form, and there is a name." "Understanding and distinguishing the form and title of things has been done in ancient times, but it is not the concept of form and name that is in the first place. In ancient times, those who talked about the Great Dao could only describe the form and name of things after five stages from explaining the natural laws of things, and only after nine stages could they talk about rewards and punishments. It is impossible to understand the root of the interpretation of the problem of "form and name" by talking about the form and title of things abruptly; It is impossible to know the beginning of the question of reward and punishment when discussing the question of reward and punishment abruptly. Those who discuss the above deductive order in reverse or argue against the above deductive order can only be ruled by others, how can they rule others! Leaving the above order and talking abruptly about names and rewards and punishments, such a person will not understand the laws of governing the world, even if he knows the tools of governing the world; It can be used for the world, but not enough to govern the world; Such a person is called a debater, that is, a shallow person who can only know a corner of things. Ritual laws and regulations are counted and measured, and the forms and names of things are compared and judged, as some people have done in ancient times, and this is the practice of serving the emperor by his subordinates, not the attitude of the emperor to raise his subjects.

In the past, Shun once asked Yao, "How are you doing as the Son of Heaven?" Yao said: "I have never insulted the common people, nor have I abandoned the poor people who have no way out of their lives, I have been anxious for the dead, and I have treated the young sons who have been left behind and have compassion for the women." That's how I put my heart to it. Shun said: "Of course, it is very good to do this well, but it is not great." Yao said, "What will we do then?" Shun said: "Naturally formed and peaceful, like the sun and the moon shining, the four seasons run, like the alternation of day and night, forming a routine, like clouds fluttering with the wind, raindrops giving to all things." Yao said, "It's been a lot of disturbances all day! You are in harmony with nature; I'm in tune with people. "Heaven and earth are the greatest since ancient times, and the Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun all praise it together. So, what did the people who ruled the world in ancient times do? Just imitate heaven and earth.

Confucius wanted to preserve the book to the Zhou royal family in the west. Zilu came up with an idea and said: "I heard that Lao Dan, the historian of the Zhou royal family, has been led back to his hometown to live in seclusion. Confucius said, "Good." ”

Confucius went to meet Lao Dan, who did not promise Confucius's request, so Confucius went through many scriptures and explained them repeatedly. Lao Dan interrupted Confucius's explanation halfway through, saying, "You have spoken too much, and I hope to hear a great deal about these books." Confucius said, "The essence lies in benevolence and righteousness." Lao Dan said, "Excuse me, is benevolence and righteousness human nature?" Confucius said, "Yes." If a gentleman is not benevolent, he cannot become famous, and if he is not righteous, he cannot stand in society. Righteousness is indeed human nature, what can we do without it? Lao Dan said, "Let me ask again, what is benevolence and righteousness?" Confucius said: "Being upright and being kind to external things, loving and not partial, this is the truth of benevolence and righteousness." The old man said, "Wow! Much of what you say is almost nothing but flashy and hypocritical! Isn't it too pedantic to love the world at the same time? Being selfless to others is actually hoping to get more people's love for themselves. Sir, do you want people in the world not to lose the conditions for raising themselves? Then, heaven and earth originally had their own laws of motion, the sun and moon originally had light, the stars originally had their own sequences, the birds and beasts originally had their own groups, and the trees originally stood upright on the ground. Sir, you still act according to the state of nature and follow the law to forge ahead, which is excellent. And why be so eager to proclaim righteousness, isn't it like beating a drum to find a fugitive, and the louder the drum beats, the farther it runs? Belch! Sir has disturbed human nature! ”

Shi Chengqi saw Lao Tzu and asked: "I heard that Mr. is a saint, so I came from a long distance, hoping to see you, and after walking for hundreds of days, the thick old man on the soles of his feet did not dare to stop to rest and rest." Now when I look at him, he doesn't look like a saint. There is a lot of leftover food in the dirt taken out of the rat hole, and it is not benevolent to look down on these items and throw them away at will; There is no limit to the food and drink of corn, but there is no limit to the accumulation of wealth. Lao Tzu did not reply as if he had not heard.

The next day, Shi Chengqi saw Lao Tzu again and said, "Yesterday I stabbed you with words, and today I have realized something and changed my previous suspicions, what is the reason for this?" Lao Tzu said: "Clever and holy people, I think I have long been out of the ranks of such people." In the past, if you called me a cow, I called me a cow, and when you called me a horse, I called me a horse. If there is such an appearance, and people give him the right name but do not accept it, he will suffer a second disaster. It's always natural for me to conform to external things, and I don't conform because I want to conform to something. Shi Chengqi walked sideways like a goose, not daring to face his ashamed figure, tiptoed forward and asked, "What is the way of self-cultivation?" Lao Tzu said: "Your face is majestic and arrogant, your eyes are sudden, your forehead is proud, your mouth is sharp, your body is majestic, as if a galloping horse is tied to your body, although you are still, your heart is still galloping." Your actions are temporarily forced, and when you act like an arrow, you are discerning and discerning, and you are clever and arrogant, all of which cannot be regarded as the true nature of man. There were such people in remote and isolated places, and their names were thieves. ”

He said, "The Tao is not exhaustive in the big aspect, and it is not missing in the small aspect, so it is in all things." Great, there is nothing intolerant about the Tao, and it is profound, and the Tao cannot be detected. The promotion of punishment morality and benevolence is a manifestation of spiritual decay, not a "supreme person" with noble moral cultivation, who can judge it! Isn't it great that once the "supreme man" with noble moral cultivation occupies the position of ruling the world? But it wasn't enough to be a drag on him. People in the world are vying to seize authority, but he will not follow it, prudently do not rely on external things and are not moved by selfish interests, delve into the origin of things, and hold on to the fundamentals of things, so he forgets the heavens and the earth, abandons all things, and the spiritual world has never been troubled. Proficient in the Tao, in line with the convention, but the resignation of benevolence and righteousness, the abandonment of etiquette and music, to the heart of the person will be tranquil and not obedient.

The praise and harmony that people in the world value are books. Books do not transcend words, but words are valuable. What is important about words is their meaning, and meaning has its origin. The source of meaning cannot be conveyed in words, but the world values words and conveys them in books. Although the world values it, I still don't think it's worth it, because what it values is not really valuable. Therefore, what can be seen with the eyes is form and color; What can be heard with the ears is fame and sound. Sadly, people in the world think that form, color, fame, and reputation are enough to obtain the truth of things! Shape, color, fame, and reputation are really not enough to obtain the truth of things, and those who know do not say or say, can the people of the world understand this truth?

Qi Huan Gong was reading in the hall, Lun Bian was cutting the wheel under the hall, he put down the vertebrae and chisel and walked up to the court, and asked Qi Huan Gong: "I take the liberty of asking, what is the book you are reading?" Qi Huan said: "It is the words of a saint." Lun Bian said, "Is the saint still alive?" Qi Huan said, "It's dead." Lun Bian said: "In this way, the books that the monarch reads are all the dross of the ancients!" Qi Huan Gong said: "The widow reads, how dare the person who makes the wheel make a judgment!" If there is any reason to say it, it can be forgiven, and if there is no reason to say it, it must be executed. Lun Bian said: "I have observed this truth with the work I have been engaged in. Chopping the wheel, the action is slow, loose but not strong, and the action is fast and sluggish but not into the wood. Not slow or fast, smooth in hand and should be in tune with the heart, although the mouth cannot speak, but there is skill in the middle. I could not use it to make my son understand the mystery, and my son could not accept this trick from me, so I lived to be seventy years old and am still cutting the wheels. The people of ancient times died along with their unspeakable truths, so the books that the kings read are the dross of the ancients! ”

The content of "Heavenly Fortune" is similar to that of "Heaven and Earth" and "Heavenly Dao", and it is still mainly about the rule of inaction. The so-called "heavenly luck" means that various natural phenomena run unintentionally and automatically.

The whole text can be roughly divided into seven parts, the first part to "This is called the emperor", questions about natural phenomena such as the sun, the moon, clouds, rain, etc., all of which are the result of their own movements, so that "if you go with it, you will be cured", and "if you go against it, you will be fierce". In the second part, "It is the way to be unswerving", it is written that Dazai asked Zhuangzi for advice, explaining the truth of "the most benevolent and unrelated". The third part to "the Tao can be carried and with it", writing about the Yellow Emperor's talk about music, "to music" and "to listen to it", but it can "fill the heaven and earth, and the buds are wrapped in the six poles", so it gives people a sense of confusion, but it is this kind of ignorant and ignorant mentality that is close to the avenue and maintains the authenticity. In the fourth part, "And the Master is poor", Shi Jin commented on Confucius's travels around the world to implement the ritual system, pointing out that the ancient and modern variations cannot be imitated, and must "change with the times". The fifth part, "The Door of Heaven is Opened", uses Lao Dan's conversation with Confucius to talk about the Tao, pointing out that fame and benevolence are external utensils and buildings, which can be stopped but not for a long time, and what is really needed is "inaction". In the sixth part, "Zigong is restless", he writes Lao Dan's criticism of benevolence and righteousness and the rule of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, pointing out that benevolence and righteousness are so deeply poisonous to the disturbance of people's nature and true feelings that they make people confused, and the rule of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors is actually "chaotic", and its poison is better than the tail of a snake and scorpion. The remaining part is the seventh part, which writes about Confucius's enlightenment, further criticizing the rule of the previous kings, and pointing out that only by adapting to natural changes can we educate others.

The sky is running in nature, right? The earth is in a mindless place, right? The alternation of the sun and the moon is a battle for a place to live, right? Who is in charge of these phenomena? Who brings these phenomena to the dimensional system? Who is it that drives these phenomena out of their own devices? What is the last resort to speculate about what they do? Or do you speculate that they are running and can't stop on their own? Are the clouds made by the transpiration of rain? Or is the rain caused by dark clouds? Who's making the rain? Who is it that causes this phenomenon to be idle and greedy for pleasure? The wind rises in the north, sometimes west and sometimes east, swimming back and forth in the sky, who exhales or inhales to cause the clouds to flutter? Or is it who instigated such a phenomenon by being idle? Why did I have the audacity to ask for advice? Wu Xianqi said, "Come! I'm telling you. Nature itself has six elements and five elements, and if the emperor obeys it, he will be able to govern the country well, and if he violates it, he will invite disaster. Complying with the various affairs of the people living in Kyushu, so that the world is governed and morally complete, the light shines on the world, and the people of the world are embraced, which is called 'the emperor'. ”

Dazai Dang of the Song Kingdom asked Zhuangzi about benevolence. Zhuangzi said, "Tigers and wolves also have benevolence. Dazai said, "What is this talking about?" Zhuangzi said: "The tiger and wolf can also love each other as father and son, so why can't it be called benevolence?" Dazai asked again, "Ask for advice on the highest level of benevolence." Zhuangzi said, "The highest level of benevolence is the absence of relatives." Dazai said, "I've heard that there can be no love without kinship, and there can be no filial piety without love. ”

Zhuangzi said: "This is not the case. The highest level of benevolence is really worthy of admiration, and filial piety is not enough to explain it. This is not to reproach the remarks of filial piety, but rather to remarks that do not involve the practice of filial piety. People who go south to Chengying, the capital of Chu State, face the north and can't see the Stygian Mountain, why is this? It's getting farther and farther away from the Stygian Mountain. Therefore, it is easy to practice filial piety with a respectful attitude, but it is difficult to practice filial piety with the heart of love; It is easy to practice filial piety with the heart of love, and treat the difficulties of parents with a quiet and indifferent attitude; It is easy to treat parents quietly and indifferently, so that parents can also treat their own difficulties quietly and indifferently; It is easy for parents to treat themselves quietly and indifferently, and they can treat the difficulties of the world with humility and indifference; It is easy to treat the people of the world quietly and indifferently, so that the people of the world can forget their own difficulties together. Shengde forgot Yao Shun, so Yao Shun can be self-satisfied, benefits and grace to the world, but no one in the world knows, do you need to sigh deeply and talk about benevolence and filial piety! Filial piety, piety, benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, faithfulness, chastity, and honesty are all used to exhort oneself and adhere to one's true nature, which is not worthy of admiration. Therefore, the most precious thing is that the title of a country can be discarded with the forgetfulness of the self; The richest of nations can be discarded with contentment, and the greatest aspirations, fame, and honor can be extinguished with their natural instincts. Therefore, the avenue is eternal. ”

Beimen Cheng asked the Yellow Emperor: "You played the music of the salty pond in the vast desert field, I sounded frightened at first, and then I gradually relaxed when I listened to it, but at the end I felt confused and puzzled, and my expression was in a trance, ignorant and ignorant, and I didn't know what to do. ”

The Yellow Emperor said, "I'm afraid you'll feel like that!" I play music according to human feelings, take the laws of nature, promote it with etiquette and righteousness, and establish it with the way of heaven. The most beautiful and noble music is always adapted to human feelings, followed by heavenly principles, deduced by the five virtues, and adapted by nature, and then adjusted in the sequence of the four seasons, in harmony with all things in heaven and earth. Music is like the four seasons that rise, and all things inhabit and grow according to this change; Suddenly flourishing and decaying, the vitality of spring and the slaughter of autumn are changing in an orderly manner; Suddenly fresh and sometimes turbid, yin and yang are blended with each other, spreading brilliance and corresponding sounds; It was like a hibernation worm that had begun to move, and I startled them with thunder. The end of music cannot find the end, and the beginning of music cannot find the beginning; One moment disappears, one rises, one moment rests, one moment is excessive; The ways in which things can change are endless, and there is nothing to expect. So you get scared and uneasy.

"I played with the harmony of yin and yang, and illuminated the whole music with the brilliance of the sun and the moon. As a result, the sound of music can be short and long, soft and rigid, and although the changes follow a certain order, they are not confined to the old state and convention; Flowing in the valley valley full of valleys, flowing in the pits and pits and pits are full; Plugging the pores of the soul so that the spirit is quiet and persistent, everything is measured by external objects. The music is melodious and far-reaching, and can be called as high as the sky and bright as the sun and the moon. Therefore, even the ghosts and gods can hold on to the darkness, and the sun, moon and stars can move in their respective orbits. I sometimes keep the sound of music in a certain realm, but the meaning of music flows in the endless world. I want to think about it but I can't know it, I look at it but I can't see it, I chase it but I can't catch up; I had to stand unintentionally on the endless Qu Road that leads to all directions, chanting according to a few cases. Sight and wisdom are embarrassed by what they want to see, and their strength is exhausted by what they want to pursue. I can't catch up for a long time! The form is full but it seems to cease to exist, so that it can change according to the situation. You respond to the changes, so the panic and anxiety slowly subside.

Confucius lived to be fifty-one years old and had not yet comprehended the Great Dao, so he went south to Peidi to meet Lao Dan. The old man said, "Are you here?" I heard that you are a sage of the north, I am afraid that you have already comprehended the Great Dao, right? Confucius said, "I haven't gotten it yet." Lao Tzu said, "How did you seek the Great Way?" Confucius said, "I have been seeking the way of regulation and law for five years, but I have not yet obtained it. Lao Tzu said, "How do you seek the great way?" Confucius said, "I have sought the changes of yin and yang, but I have not been able to get it for twelve years." ”

Lao Tzu said, "It will be like this. If the Tao could be used for offerings, then there would be no one who would not offer the way to the king; If the Tao could be used to give, there was no one who would not give the Tao to his parents; If the Word could be preached, there would be no one who would not tell it to his brother; If the Word could be given to man, there was no one who would not use it to give to his offspring. However, the reason why this cannot be done is that there is nothing else, the inner self-control cannot be self-controlled, so the Great Dao cannot stay, and there is no external correspondence, so the Great Dao cannot be carried out. If what comes from the heart is not accepted by outsiders, the saints will not preach. If there is nothing in the heart that comes into the heart from the outside and cannot hold it on its own, the saint will not have any pity. Fame is a tool that everyone can use, and it should not be hunted too much. Benevolence and righteousness are the halls of the previous emperors, who can live for a night but not for a long time, and many interactions will inevitably give rise to many criticisms.

"In ancient times, the supreme people with high moral cultivation were only borrowing the way for benevolence, and only temporary residence for righteousness, but they were happy in the realm of freedom and unrestraint, living in a sloppy and simple, unluxurious and unpretentious situation, and standing in the garden that never gived. To be free and unfettered is to do nothing; Sloppy and simple, without extravagance, it is easy to survive; If you never give, you will not harm yourself or benefit others. In ancient times, this situation was called the Radiant Voyage.

"Considering the right person to be greedy for money and bribes will not make people profitable; A person who sees the pursuit of prominence as the right person will not make people famous; Those who are obsessed with power do not give authority. A man who has mastered profit, fame, and power, who trembles all day long for fear of loss, and who is miserable when he renounces them, and who has no discernment in his heart, and whose eyes are fixed only on what he is constantly chasing, is a man who has been tortured by nature. Resentment, favor, receiving, giving, admonishing, edifying, surviving, killing, these are all tools used to correct others, and only those who follow the changes of nature and remain unhindered can use them. Therefore, the so-called righteousness is to make people upright. If you think this is not the case, then the door of the heart will never be opened. ”