In the kingdom of Lu there lived a man named Wang Tai, whose leg was cut off as punishment, but he had no fewer students than Confucius himself. Chang Ji asked Confucius:
“Wang Tai’s leg was cut off as punishment, and his students are not inferior in number to the people of your school.” Standing up to his full height, he gives no instructions. Sitting on the floor, he does not conduct conversations, but everyone who comes to him empty leaves filled. Apparently, he really brings wordless teaching to people, and although his body is flawed, his heart is perfect. What kind of person is he?
- This man is a real sage! - Confucius answered. “If it weren’t for various urgent matters, I would have gone to him long ago for science.” And if I have no shame in learning from him, then what can we say about less worthy people? I’m not like our kingdom of Lu - I’ll bring the entire Celestial World to become his disciples!
“If even with one leg this man surpasses you, teacher, he must indeed be a man of rare greatness.” And if so, then his mind must be somehow extraordinary, right?
“Both life and death are truly great, but the series of deaths and lives in this world does not touch anything in it. Even if the sky collapses and the earth collapses, he will not die. He has realized the authenticity of life and is not attracted to others. It allows all life transformations to take place and protects their common source.
- What does it mean? - Chang Ji asked.
“If you look at things based on the differences between them, the liver and spleen will be as different from each other as the kingdom of Chu is from the kingdom of Yue.” And if we look at things, guided by their similarities, we will see that everything in the world is one. Such a person does not even know how the eyes and ears differ from each other, and wanders freely with his heart in the highest harmony, which stems from the fullness of vital properties. He sees that which brings all things into unity, and therefore he sees no lack in any of them. For him, losing a leg is like shaking off a ball of dirt.
Chang Ji said:
- He lives by himself and uses his knowledge to comprehend his own heart, and with his heart he comprehends his Unchangeable heart. Why are other people drawn to him?
- We cannot look into flowing waters and see our image only in stagnant water. Only peace can calm everything that is capable of peace. Among everything that grows on earth, only pines and cypresses live in truth, for they do not shed their greenery even in winter. Among those who had a command from Heaven, only Yao and Shun lived by the truth, for the one who lives by the truth himself will make the lives of other people true. And a person’s commitment to the Primordial is proven by the absence of fear. A brave warrior will stand alone against an entire army, and if even a person dreaming of worldly glory can do this, it is all the more possible for someone who sees Heaven and Earth as his home, all the darkness of things as his storeroom, his own body as a refuge, and eyes and ears as a mirror of what is visible and audible; who elevates everything he knows to one and has an eternally living heart! Such a person will choose the day when he ascends into the clouds. And let others follow him of their own free will - he will not delve into other people's affairs.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru