Xu Wugui (15)

1 Walking on land, we reach a destination step by step. Each part of the land where we step is our support point. But we should remember that the land where we don’t step is the real reason for walking far, without which we can’t reach the destination quickly.

2 The field of human’s knowledge, comparing to the secrets of Nature, is tiny and very narrow. When we applying the knowledge in the field of medicine and meteorology and feeling its limited and insufficient property, proves that we must depend on Nature and the more profound knowledge of Nature.

3 The profound knowledge of Nature is composed of “The Great Unity”; “The Great Mystery”; “The Great Illuminator”; “The Great Framer”; “The Great Boundlessness”; “The Great Truth”; “The Great Determiner”, and our limited knowledge.

4 “The Great Unity” integrates the universe; and makes it becomes a complete integration in which each part supports each other to build the perfect world.

5 In the integrated world, “The Great Mystery” goes in an opposite direction. It makes each part into an independent individual. For example, the atom as the basic unit of universe, it constitutes the universe, is an independent individual. We understand that the universe is an intact individual; however, an atom even it is comparatively smaller, is an independent individual also. Between them, we can’t compare which one is bigger, which one is smaller; which is heavier, which is lighter; which is essential, which is not that important. The function of “The Great Mystery” is to discriminate them in the integrated world.

6 Universe is made up of materials which is touchable. Its existence is proved by eyes, ears, nose, tongue and body.

7 However, the functions of man’s eyes, ears, nose, tongue and body are restricted. For example, eyes can’t see a thing too far away or too close; a thing too big or too small. Also ears can’t hear the sound if its frequency is too high or too low. Sense of nose, tongue, body and skin are similar. Their field of sense is limited.

8 We however, should not neglect the field that we can’t sense; because it truly exits. It is only sensible by great eyes, great nose, great tongue, great ears, great body and great consciousness.

9 In comment the kindness and evilness, strong and weakness, good or ill luck, hotness and cold, rise and fall, and day and night, we should hold the general view that the Nature is adjusting, stirring, harmonizing, preparing and accumulating something. We shouldn’t have narrow view as the winter is too cold; summer is too hot; the guy is fierce; it is bad for lion and tiger to eat small animals; it is bad that bacteria attacking causes disease; it is bad that index of stock market falls; it is bad that economy is depressive. If we look at them in the longer term, with wider horizon, in all seasons, in the view of whole universe, these are necessary in its own meaning, which is “The Great Framer”.

10 Recent years we witnessed that the idea of selfish departmentalism was stressed in Taiwan. Obviously, they don’t know that Taiwan would lose her existent space if she had no trade, no trade partner, no overseas market, and no advantages supporting by mainland China in manufacture, human resource and market.

11 The insularity idea of Taiwan results from she not knowing “The Great Boundlessness”. Human’s concept usually also lacks the understanding of “The Great Boundlessness”. We therefore, occupy land endlessly, waste resource largely without consideration of the living right of other creatures. In consequence, our environment is polluted, weird disease often breaks out and eventually, human suffer from various disasters.

12 When we know “The Great Unity”; “The Great Mystery”; “The Great Illuminator”; “The Great Framer”; “The Great Boundlessness”; “The Great Truth”; “The Great Determiner”, we are confident of the arrangement of Nature; since we know that we are integrated with universe, namely, Nature is me and I am the Nature; Nature is fair to everyone. Hence, we accept any arrangement by the Nature surely and delightedly; we don’t complain about heaven and people. Thus, the whole heart becomes peaceful and tranquil so “The Universal Stabilization” is achieved. Then we are eligible to practice.

13 As a man of practice, he certainly understands the operating rule of Nature, the requirements of Tao and virtue, and there is an unknown world that is more profound and beyond his sensible world; he knows that things vary often and greatly and five aggregates are impermanent.

14 Additionally, he should have no-self and being flexibility. In judgment, never judge anything by his personal point of view. The “personal” means individual in basic view, and means group, family and country in medium view, and also means human and earth in great view. Only if he attains no-self, can he remove the deep-rooted bad habits, such as avarice, wrath, obsession and worry and becomes a selfless man of perfect practice.

15 When he can reach the level, he has no clear-cut distinguishing love from hate and kindness from evilness; he will not take those who are not friend as enemy, and which is not black as white. He has a bird view on top of the peak; thus the fluctuation on hollow is trivia to him. He doesn’t remark on worldly bother – he comprehend it and seem not; he know it and seem not. However his attitude is in the view of Tao. You don’t ask the unimportant question to him. Of course, if you ask him the naturally basic question, he will not give you a clear answer. This is what Laotse said -- The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao, because the real Tao can’t be clearly expressed by the language.

16 Diverse and confused materials have their own way to exist. Tao is immortal and unchangeable in all ages. Though the Tao that can be told of is not eternal Tao, we still can discuss it in brief. If we give up study of Tao due to the view, how can we make clear our bewilderedness?

17 When we ask a man of perfect practice to help us out of the bewilderedness, we make it clearer that our knowledge is limited and something can’t be understood and spoken out. However, realizing the limited property of our knowledge is the real knowledge that has been mentioned by Confucius -- You know something if you know it, and you do not know something if you do not--. The real knowledge is the land where we doesn’t step on and is the necessary condition by which we can reach our goal quickly. It is the confident source and the key to man of practice.