Under the Heaven (5)

1 Some ancient schools held that the foundation of all things is delicate and the material world is superficial phenomenon of the real world. All ways of measure and calculation can’t express real image of the true world. Only reclusive, simple and pure practice life can make you stay with gods and know the truth.

2 The representatives of the thought were Guan Yin and Laotse. The school’s main aim was that they deem the immortal part of life is self-nature, Buddha-nature, Qi, calmness, refinement and soul. All things are from the same source. The key of their education was to be gentle, civilized, modest and aloof. They didn’t use artificial ways to distract ecological operation.

3 Guan Yin said, “When you reach the level of no-self and being flexibility, the truth will appear naturally.” People move should be as water and held still as mirror. When interacting on the objective conditions, people should act like echo, to the point, neither more nor less. When a man of practice he clearly knows that the five sensations, such as sorrow, joy, pain, pleasure and freedom, actually are of vanity, he has entered the realm of Nirvana.

4 Guan Yin encouraged people that: calm down, making their frame of mind be like a still and clear lake; people are in complete harmony with environment, doing as Rome do; people never make efforts to create or change environment, forever following fashion, never being pioneer.

5 Laotse said, “He who is aware of the Male, but keep to the Female, becomes the ravine of the world. He who is conscious of the white, but keeps to obscurity, becomes the valley of the world.” (Tao Te Ching 28) Laotse insisted that your wit should never be wasted on the worldly affairs; if you did, you would be distracted so as to affect the mind of practice which requiring-- moves as water and holds still as mirror--. People scramble for doing cause and attaining glory; a man of wisdom however, hides out to avoid being bothered. He likes much the place that others dislike; when environment need someone to do something, and no one want to take the responsibility, if he can, he will do it. Nevertheless, he undertakes the fault if any, and lets other share his credit.

6 Laotse knew that five sensations are empty and all things are impermanent. So let it be to scramble for what people need. Anyway, it is vain at last. People should seek directly for the permanent joy of Nirvana that looks illusory but is essential in nature.

7 Additionally, people must see that possession of excessive worldly things only impedes him to obtain higher wisdom. Therefore, the wise man, he accumulating no worldly treasure, instead, it conduces him to have more precious treasure. His life is free and leisurely. If possible, he never bends his mind to do cause. He derides common people who bustle all day.

8 Common people always pray for good luck. He however, feels contented for status in quo and stoops to comprise. He said, “Others see me silent, destitute, unworthy of being envied, which instead makes less occasions to contract enmity with other. Nothing is better than this.”

9 He believed firmly that a man must have comprehensive awareness of wealth, knowledge, tolerance and sight; for the deeply understanding he has, he is steady in mind. So, he can conserve a sound, tranquil and peaceful heart. His life must be simple and plain. He must avoid being enslaved by material that becomes his burden.

10 He said, “Flexibility is necessary. Stiffness and stubbornness are dangerous and incapable of fitting change.” In my opinion, these concepts and theories verily are the most precious thought.

11 Guang Yin and Laotse are one of the greatest ancient thinkers.