The True men of old did not reject the views of the few; they did not seek to accomplish their ends like heroes before others; they did not lay plans to attain those ends.
Being such, though they might make mistakes, they had no occasion for repentance; though they might succeed, they had no self-complacency.
Being such, they could ascend the loftiest heights without fear; they could pass through water without being made wet by it; they could go into fire without being burnt; so it was that by their knowledge they ascended to and reached the Tâo.
The True men of old did not dream when they slept, had no anxiety when they awoke, and did not care that their food should be pleasant.
Their breathing came deep and silently. The breathing of the true man comes even from his heels, while men generally breathe only from their throats.
When men are defeated in argument, their words come from their gullets as if they were vomiting. Where lusts and desires are deep, the springs of the Heavenly are shallow.
The True men of old knew nothing of the love of life or of the hatred of death. Entrance into life occasioned them no joy; the exit from it awakened no resistance. Composedly they went and came.
They did not forget what their beginning bad been, and they did not inquire into what their end would be. They accepted their life and rejoiced in it; they forgot all fear of death, and returned to their state before life.
Thus there was in them what is called the want of any mind to resist the Tâo, and of all attempts by means of the Human to assist the Heavenly.
Such were they who are called the True men.
No comments:
Post a Comment