Let Be and Let Alone (1)

1 Among the plenty of knowledge, I deem only the knowledge to teach people how to stay alone and how to be tolerant are useful; as for the knowledge of governing people, it is unnecessary.

2 The knowledge of how to stay alone originates from the fear of human’s instinct misled into malice. The knowledge of how to be tolerant originates from the fear of people’s virtue being spoilt. Should all people preserve their nature and conserve their virtue, it is unnecessary to get the knowledge of how to govern people.

3 The governance of Emperor Yao made people live joyfully, therefore, the people strive to have a ball to tiredness.

4 The governance of Emperor Jie made people live miserably, therefore, the people regarded life as a burden and misery, so they were very unsatisfied.

5 Restlessness of entertainment and discontent of living will destroy the natural virtue of the people. Without virtue, one could not be expected to be sound, tranquil, and peaceful.

6 If a man experiences excessive joy, he will lean towards Yang (the positive pole). If he is in great sorrow, he will lean towards Yin (the negative pole). If the equilibrium of positive and negative is disturbed, the four seasons will be upset, the balance of heat and cold will be destroyed, and man himself will suffer physically thereby.

7 Unbalance of Yin and Yang causes the unstable temperature, disordered life steps, rising trouble and inappropriate conduct of the people. When that happens, the whole world will be unstable with revolt and discontent, and such men as Robber Zhi, Shi You and Zeng Can will emerge in the society.

8 They uphold huge rewards for the benevolence or threaten the malicious act with the dire punishments; however, it is still insufficient to solve the social problems. Up to now, people in the world have lived in chaos of promotions and punishments. Consequently, people are bereaved of the peaceful and stable life that is bestowed by the Nature.