The Heaven and the Earth (9)

1 Jiang Lumian was a newcomer in the field of intellectual, people respected his talent; however, he was not confident in his knowledge. Someday he paid a visit to Ji Che.

2 He said to Ji Che, “Yesterday, the prince of the State of Lu consulted me about the governance of a country. I dared not speak and declined by saying that I was too shallow in knowledge to suggest. But the more modest I was, the harder the prince insisted on consulting. I had to tell him what I know. I don’t know if what I have said is right or not. Please remark on it.

3 I told him that firstly, a king should be reverent and austere, and be the paragon to other officials. Secondly, he should select the loyal and fair candidates as the officials to serve people. In the selection, he should be selfless and fair so that the country can enjoy peace and prosperity.”

4 Hearing what he said, Ji Che bursted into a loud laughter. He said, “As far as the culture of the prince of the State of Lu is concerned, if he acted on your suggestion, his governance of the country would be as impossible as a mantis trying to stop a moving chariot. It would bring not only misfortune to him, but also chaos to his country.

5 Open tryout of talent by government causes the excitement of the young. They try to achieve an official position by employing all social relations, just like a candy that is laid on the ground, attracting a flock of ants and flies. Then the Prince of Lu would bustle to death in handling that.”

6 Jiang Lumian was frightened to sweat overall by Ji Che’s remark. He said, “Could it lead to so severe result? Then, may I know what the right governance of a country is?”

7 Ji Che replied, “The so-called ‘concentrating on the main points’ is to seize the key points, namely, hold the key point of a thing and then it is easy to be handled.”

8 Governance of a country should not take the stopgap measures. The right way of maintenance of state order is to guide people’s heart instead of managing their behavior. It is enough for each individual once he can depend throughout on the Tao arranged early by the Nature and use it in life. In this way, the country will come into peace naturally. It is absolutely not what you said—a group of officials are selected to manage and interfere in people’s lives.

9 Whereas, it was for long time that the way of governance prevailed by Yao and Shun in the countries, it is a little tough to guide it into the right track at the beginning. First of all, the stubborn thought and customs in people and officials should be cleaned up, then waken them up and replace those thought and customs with self-nature, Buddha-nature, Qi, calmness and refinement that are inherent in their heart.

10 The naturally formed code of conduct is out of teaching and reminding. People execute it unconsciously and exactly. How can a man of practice follow the way of Yao and Shun? The right way of governance is to guide each people’s heart to follow Tao.”