12.07.2015 Views

The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

seem to follow the dictates <strong>of</strong> his own heart."“<strong>The</strong>n," said Yen Hui, “I am without resource, andventure to ask for a method."Confucius said: “Fast! . . . Let me explain. You have herea method, but it is difficult to practise. Those which areeasy are not from God."“Well," replied Yen Hui, “my family is poor, and formany months we have tasted neither wine nor flesh. Isnot that fasting?"“<strong>The</strong> fasting <strong>of</strong> religious observance it is," answeredConfucius, “but not the fasting <strong>of</strong> the heart."“And may I ask," said Yen Hui, “in what consists thefasting <strong>of</strong> the heart?"“Cultivate unity," replied Confucius. “You hear not withthe ears, but with the mind; not with the mind, but withyour soul. But let hearing stop with the ears. Let theworking <strong>of</strong> the mind stop with itself. <strong>The</strong>n the soul willbe a negative existence, passively responsive to externals.In such a negative existence, only Tao can abide. Andthat negative state is the fasting <strong>of</strong> the heart."“<strong>The</strong>n," said Yen Hui, “the reason I could not get theuse <strong>of</strong> this method is my own individuality. If I could getthe use <strong>of</strong> it, my individuality would have gone. Is thiswhat you mean <strong>by</strong> the negative state?"

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!