Gengsang Chu (11)

1 Bondage and care are the two biggest obstacles in the way to success of practice; so it worth us to carefully analysis and consider how they bind us.

2 A sparrow in sight of Houyi can hardly escaped his bow. However, if the sparrow flies far away from Houyi’s sight, he is safe. If Houyi’s sight is able to reach the whole sky, and the sky is the favorite place of sparrow, then, the poor bird has no place to escape anymore.

3 Also, Tang knew that Yiyin, a slave belonging to his wife, was able to govern a country, and was fond of gourmet food. So he tempted Yiyin to work for his government by the best chef in his country.

4 When Baili Xi was on the beach, Duke Mu of Qin helped him out by five sheep hides and won finally his loyalty. The two examples showed that in most cases, the weakest point where we are easily captured by the bondage and care is our favorite.

5 Unless we desert the creeds of righteousness, benevolence, loyalty and credit; and throughout the principles of the impulses of the will, eliminating the ridiculousness of mind, removing the encumbrance of moral and getting through the obstructs of Tao, then, it is possible to escape the net of bondage and care. Otherwise, the people like Tang and Duke Mu of Qin are everywhere who is the obstacle in our way of practice.