Under the Heaven (1)

1 Various schools of all ages are numerous, each of which think itself is the best. Some of them still have somewhat influence on all levels. Nevertheless, most of them are gone.

2 Human civilizations should have public-accepted narration on some important issues. For example:

3 Where is god from?

4 Where does consciousness arise from?

5 How does sage attain their wisdom, especially the no-learning skill?

6 Who entitle the power to ruler?

7 He, who conforms to Tao, is god, Buddha or the Holy One.

8 He, who complies with virtue, is god-man.

9 He, who acts on the truth of factor, is perfect man.

10 He, who acts on the principle of heaven and deals with everything changing under the guideline of virtue, is sage.

11 He, who holds kindness, acts on the principle of righteousness, treat others by courtesy and walks in beneficence, gentleness and clemency, is the man of noble character.

12 He, who acts on the following four principles, is regarded a good official.

(1) To take law and regulation as standard.

(2) To employ people according to their talents without discrimination.

(3) To judge everything by evidence. Namely, learn about factors before decision.

(4) To meet people’s basic requirement: employment, good living condition, saving money and aiding people who have no support of life.

13 Ancient people knew clearly about the life: they worshiped god and Buddha; they sacrificed heaven and earth for them breeding all creatures and offering peaceful and nice life. There was a defined law to be abided by, according to which all things, petty or great, are done. Ancient books legibly read the ancient rite, etiquette and system. Scholars from Zhou and Lu were well acquainted with the relative poem, history, etiquette and music, which were also the topics studied by many other schools.

14 Book of Poem is used to exchange people’s wills and wishes. Book of History is the record of factors. Book of Etiquette is the code of conduct. Book of Music is used to express soul’s harmony. Book of Changes is on mystery and the exchange of Yin and Yang. The book of Spring and Autumn is on study of social situation and duty.

15 Nowadays our society becomes more complicated. There is no clear-cut standard to tell from god, Buddha, perfect man, sage and man of noble character. Moral definition starts to be vague. Many scholars occasionally get some ideas that are seized tightly as if they got treasure, each of them is good at one technique and disregard other knowledge; there is no harmony and exchange among them, which is very pitiful.

16 Intellectuals bend to analyze the wonderfulness of heaven and earth, the secret of creator and the intact thought system of ancient people. However, their efforts can’t make them really understand the wonderfulness of heaven and earth and god’s accurateness, because Tao hides in darkness and it can’t be described completely with their limit knowledge.

17 Each person wants to establish his own thought system. It is no wonder that the intellectuals’ theories go further from Tao. Unfortunately, later scholars are misguided; they neglect the simple and lucid philosophy of ancient sages. When various schools are established, the kingdom of thought starts to break down.