Lietse (9)

1 When Zhengkaofu was appointed as an official of Song, he lowered his head when walking; when he was promoted, his head got lower; when he was promoted the third time, he almost crawled on the ground; at that time, when Zhengkaofu walked on the street, he walked along the wall closely, being afraid of impeding others’ walk.

2 As Zhengkaofu with this attitude, how could the people be uncouth and arrogant?

3 Some officers were different. Once they took an official post, they put on air. If they were higher level official, they frivolously dreamed to dance on the carriage. Someday if they were in important position, they got arrogant, calling themselves dukes. In the self-cultivation of humble they were less than Zhengkaofu not mention of Yao, shun as well as Xu You.

4 Samadhi of Zen practice aims at improving genuineness of self-nature that is selfless and belongs to the Tao of nature. Yoga in Samadhi is arranged by self-nature. Consciousness of man of practice is a spectator who is not allowed to take part in. Hence, the pithy formula of Kuntalini yoga is “empty, no your own actions and ignorance as child’s babble”, which requires a yoga-practicer doesn’t think himself clever to affect the course of yoga. If the idea occurs to him, self-nature is requested to neglect it or to look it as child’s babble.

5 Why is yoga-practicer so prudent to remind himself of it? They are afraid that in Samadhi consciousness jumps out to lay influence self-nature based on the flesh body’s interest and private desire. They are afraid that consciousness forces self-nature to do something about private interest, or do something unnecessary that even affects yoga so as to impede normal course arranged by self-nature, which might induce practicer go astray.

6 If a man of practice doesn’t beware of it, heart in Samadhi would incur wrong ideas. Thus practice goes into mess and breaches the rules. If the situation is serious, he would go astray into evil way. It is miserable that he suffers before he is benefited.

7 Generally speaking, there are five kinds of bad characters, among which the most serious is the bad character of mind.

8 What is bad character of mind? I argue that it is complacence. Men of complacence are obstinate and consider they always right. They are wrong but they slander others.

9 We can forecast a man’s fate through his look, attitude and conduct, as clear as there are organs in our body.

10 If he has characters in the following eight aspects: being handsome, bearded, tall, broad, muscular, pleasing, courageous and resolute, we say that he is doomed to lead an unsettle and eventful life. The more characters he has, the more troubles he will meet.

11 The other kind of person is conservative, submissive and rule-followed. He is the one who is always there just to make up the number in a group. He might lead a tranquil, peaceful, sound life.

12 He who is too much intelligent and aggressive is apt to be envied.

13 He who initiates humaneness and righteousness is apt to incur censure.

14 He who comprehends true nature is broad-minded.

15 He who is good at skill and craft is narrow-minded.

16 He who understands the secret of longevity surrenders him to nature.

17 He who knows well numerology takes things naturally as they come.

18 He who is good at scheming is self-bound.