make a wish

Avoiding activity

homeward is reason’s course.

weakness is reasons force.

heaven and earth and the ten thousand things

come from existence, but existence comes from

non-existence

what can be done?

who by unending discipline of the senses embraces unity cannot be disintegrated.

by concentrating his vitality and inducing tenderness he can become like a little child.

by purifying, by cleansing and profound intuition he can be free from faults.

who loves the people when administering the country will practice nonassertion.

opening and closing the gates of heaven, he will be like a mother-bird; bright,

and white, and penetrating  the four quarters, he will be unsophisticated. he quickens them and feeds them.

he quickens but owns not. he acts but claims not. he excels but rules not.

this is called profound virtue.

avoiding desire

an excess of light blinds the human eye;an excess

of noise ruins the ear; an excess of condiments deadens the taste.

the effect of too much horse racing and hunting is bad. and the

lure of hidden treasures tempts one to do evil.

therefore the wise man attends to the inner

significance of things and does not concern

himself with outward appearances.

therefore he ignores matter and seeks the spirit.

Sarah