Mr. Zongxuan's Theory of Profound Outlines: Chapter 31 - The Dao Has No Discarded Things

 Someone asked: All things arise from the Dao, and the Dao does not discard any things. Why do those who attain the Dao live long and spiritually, while those who lose the Dao perish? I replied: Dragons and fish are both nurtured in water; brightness and darkness both arise from the Dao. The dragon raises clouds and brings rain, emerging from existence into non-existence. The fish finds joy among the algae but withers when the spring dries up. The dragon grasps the subtlety of water and can transform within it. The fish does not grasp the subtlety of water and cannot transform within it. The superior scholar rests the spirit and refines the qi, dwelling freely above the clouds and heavens. The inferior scholar destroys their nature and shortens their lifespan, sinking into the dark earth below. The superior scholar grasps the subtlety of the Dao and can transform within it. The inferior scholar does not grasp the subtlety of the Dao and cannot transform within it. Therefore, the fish does not know that water gives it life and discards it; it is not the water that discards the fish. People do not know that the Dao gives them life and discard it; it is not the Dao that discards people. Someone said: Dragons and fish have different natures, and brightness and darkness have distinct endowments. How can you make the fish transform into water, or the ordinary person transform into the Dao? I answered: If the fish can dive into the deep abyss, hide in dark caves, and not be greedy for bait, when it grows large, it can stir its scales and fins, leap over the Lüliang Falls, and become a dragon. If people can wander in Kongtong, rest in tranquility and indifference, and cut off desires, when they reach the ultimate, they can contain the subtle and align with emptiness, tread upon the true realm, and become immortals. The only regret is that one does not hide oneself securely and does not keep the spirit firm. How could water and the Dao be at fault with the fish and people?

Explanation:

 Someone asked: All things come from the Dao, and the Dao does not discard any things. Why do those who attain the Dao live long and spiritually, while those who do not attain the Dao perish? I replied: Dragons and fish both emerge from water and are born of the Dao. However, the dragon can raise clouds and bring rain, while the fish can only play among the water plants and will wither and die once the spring runs dry. The dragon grasps the subtlety of water, so it can transform with water, while the fish does not grasp the subtlety of water, so it cannot transform with water. The superior scholar cultivates by resting the spirit and refining the qi, dwelling peacefully above the clouds and heavens. The inferior scholar destroys their nature and shortens their lifespan, so they die and return to the dark earth. The superior scholar grasps the subtlety of the Dao, so they can transform with the Dao, while the inferior scholar does not, so they cannot transform with the Dao. The fish does not know that water gives it life and discards water; it is not water that abandons water. Just as people do not know that the Dao gives them life and discard the Dao, it is not the Dao that abandons people.

 Someone asked: Dragons and fish are fundamentally different, with such great distinctions. How can you make the fish transform? How can you make the ordinary person transform into the Dao?

 I answered: If the fish can hide in the deep abyss, conceal itself, and not be greedy for bait, it can grow very large. If it strives further and leaps over the Lüliang Falls, it can transform into a dragon. If people wander in Kongtong, remain tranquil and desireless, and reach the ultimate state, they can contain the subtle and align with emptiness, entering the true realm to become immortals. The only fear is that if one does not guard oneself strictly, the spirit will not remain firm. Are not the principles of water and the Dao the same for fish and people?

 

Analysis:

  The saying "The Dao is not far from people, yet people distance themselves from it" is relatively easy to understand, so I will discuss some extended content.

 Many people feel that everyone is the same; how could some people possibly achieve it? As soon as they hear that someone can do something, they immediately generate opposition, saying this is impossible and that is impossible, until they see it with their own eyes.

 This seems rigorous on the surface, but it actually commits a major error: denying something before it has been confirmed or when there is insufficient evidence and theory. This is incorrect.

 For anything that has not been verified or confirmed, one should maintain an attitude of skepticism. One should neither affirm nor deny it, but can try to infer whether it is possible. However, inference is only inference and should not be treated as an axiom. This is the rigorous attitude.

 Just because you cannot do something does not mean others cannot. And if you do not do or try something yourself, you should not deny what others are doing.

 If you look up the Guinness World Records, there are countless people who can do things others cannot. Similarly, in the program "Super Brain" easily found on video websites today, there are many people who can do things others cannot. Furthermore, many famous artworks have value precisely because their creators achieved things others could not.

 When measuring others' abilities, do not use your own standards. Otherwise, although you may feel reassured that others certainly cannot do it either, this does not conform to facts, nor does it facilitate a correct understanding of the world. Viewing all things will become distorted, which is not conducive to studying the Dao.

 Therefore, if you hear that someone is cultivating in a certain way, you can first logically deduce whether it is possible, and then seek verification. Although there are many charlatans in this world, there are also a few true cultivators. Do not see too many charlatans and then conclude that there are no true cultivators in the world.

 I have met many religious figures who initially entered the Dao with beautiful dreams, only to find that what they learned was not what they had originally imagined. Consequently, they developed a spirit of negligence. Over time, they no longer believed in cultivation itself, and thus only busied themselves with worldly affairs, using words from books and some street-smart tactics to deceive followers everywhere.

 These belong to fallen religious figures. The root of their fall is not that the Dao is far from people, but that these people were inherently ill-disposed and could not persist in true faith, eventually reaching this stage, thus moving further away from the Dao.

 Why did the ancients say: The Dao is not lightly transmitted? Only those who resolve to cultivate the Dao, have firm hearts and natures, respect teachers and the Dao, are filial to parents, and are loyal, honest, benevolent, and righteous, will receive the transmission.

 The fundamental reason is simply that if this is not the case, the transmission is given to the wrong person. Such a person might learn the methods but not the Dao, rendering the transmission equivalent to none. Therefore, one must do this.

 For ordinary people, as long as they firmly seek the Dao, there will always be opportunities to walk the right path. Many people reverse this order, resulting in seeking in vain until the end. It is not that the Dao is far from people, but that people distance themselves from it.