There is virtue in practicing charity, which follows the law of karma (law of attraction);

Ordinary people claims the virtue  as theirs, which reinforces and continues the “self” and its way of life;  Bodhisattva dedicates the virtue for the well-being, fulfillment, growth, transcendence, and liberation of themselves and all beings.

* * *

不受不贪分第二十八

NO GREED AND NOTHING ACQUIRED, TWENTY EIGHT

须菩提！若菩萨以满恒河沙等世界七宝，持用布施；若复有人知一切法无我，得成于忍，此菩萨胜前菩萨所得功德。何以故？
须菩提！以诸菩萨不受福德故。
“Subhuti, if (on the one hand) a Bodhisattva gave in his practice of dana, all the seven treasures in quantities sufficient to fill worlds as many as sand-grains in the Ganges, and (on the other hand) another man comprehended that all dharmas were egoless and thereby achieved perfection of patience (ksanti), the latter’s merit would surpass that of the former. “Why?

“Because, Subhuti, all Bodhisattvas do not receive reward for their merits.”

须菩提白佛言：世尊！云何菩萨不受福德？
Subhuti asked the Buddha: “World Honored One, why do Bodhisattvas not receive reward for their merits?”

须菩提！菩萨所作福德，不应贪著，是故说不受福德。
“Subhuti, Bodhisattvas should have no longing and no attachment when they practise meritorious virtues; therefore, they do not receive a reward.

Those well established in Virtue, are like babies.

Bees and snakes won’t bite, fierce animals won’t claw, and large birds won’t hunt.

-> when the body and mind are purified into peace and non-self, negativity are melt into divine love and peace.

(Their) bones and ligaments are soft but when they hold their fists are tight.

They don’t have sexual desire but their sexual organs often harden, as their bodily essence remains full.

-> When the spirit (what underneath-beyond the mind) is at peace, mind is clear and body is healthy.

They cry all day but their voices won’t soar, as they stay harmonized at all time.

-> watch baby cry, they cry with their whole body, not over push nor suppress.  When they get tired, they rest and go to sleep.

* * *

Those who know harmony is normal, those who know normal is bright.

-> Do we value harmony? The Chinese does. Harmony in our body, in our self, with others, in the world.  When we value harmony and see it as normal, we are wise.

Those who have excess desire brings hazard, those who let their desires to use their energy is to show off.

-> note the word “excess”, Laozi does negate desire as a human condition, just not indulge in them.  When we indulge in them, we are enslaved and not free.

Things when get too strong will get old, are against the Dao, and will soon disappear.

-> cycle of life, inevitability of change.. When we try to hold on to something temporary, we are not flowing with the Dao and bringing to ourselves sufferings.

* * *

Chapter 55 Discussion:

This Chapter Laozi describes the tangible benefits of living in the Dao: One’s body is healthy, energy is abundant, in harmony in oneself and with the world, and is filled with and protected by love and peace.  Why?  Because harmony is what all originally is, is normal.  We just failed to see it when we are entangled in our self and its various desires.  When we let go of our attachments (including aversions) of and to our self, we become more free, and more able to see harmony in the world.

Bilingual version of Ch55: https://www.lisiming.net/chinese-philosophy/daoist/daoist-philosophy/dao-de-jing-core-33-chapters/ddj55-79/

Upper men hear the Dao, act on it diligently;

-> what happen upon Dao realization? One becomes a vehicle of it and serve diligently. (see last post how Dao runs in those humble)

Middle men hear the Dao, half believe in it;

-> one needs more observation, evidence, experiment, experience, or realization.

Lower men hear the Dao, laugh at it.

-> one says “you are telling me that my perception is not the reality? you must be crazy!”

If not being laughed at it doesn’t worth to be the Dao.

-> if Dao can be spoken, understood, reasoned, it is not the ultimate Dao.

* * *

Therefore there are sayings: obvious path looks obscure;

-> life goes on despite of the self is obvious, but not realized by the public;

Proceeding path looks like retreating;

-> when proceed with the Dao, the self is perceived as retreating.

Flat path looks unflat;

-> towards ultimate peace, one needs to go through bumps and pains in surrendering attachments of and to the self.

High virtue is like low valley; cleanest appears dirty; great virtue appears not sufficient;

vigorous virtue appears lazy; quality material appears hollow;

-> qualities of pure virtue

The most upright does not have corners; great vehicle appears in their late years;

-> corners imply a this cornering a that, when one is all, how can there be corners?

Great sound is difficult to hear; great phenomenon is beyond form; Dao is hidden with no name.  Dao gives, and allow for manifestation.

-> Qualities of Dao

* * *

Chapter 41 Discussion:

When the self is transcended, Dao takes care of one’s life; when self is being studied and practiced, sometime it dominates, while other times it is subdued; when the self is proclaimed authorship, teachings of non-self is laughed at as non-sense and radicule.

When one has not set the intention to the Dao or to ultimate reality, don’t share teachings of such to them, or you may be laughed at!  Keep the teachings to your self, live it, share it only when people ask for it.

Bilingual version of Ch41: https://www.lisiming.net/ddj34-52/

The highest virtue is like that of water.

Water benefits everything and does not fight, it positions itself at place everyone dislike, and therefore is close to the Dao.

-> As we already discussed, the Dao is everywhere, impartial, and limitless.  It represents the source and context of all, and therefore allows for and benefits all thing.  Look at water, it consists of 70% of our physical body and exists in different forms in every parts of the planet. There is no fighting in water (it does not struggle), it merely is what it is.

It is excellent at: positioning itself, rooting its mind, giving out benevolence, maintaining its integrity, governing things, manifesting its abilities, and moving at the appropriate time.

-> Here Laozi describes what water is like, and what happens when one align with the Dao: One finds the right place to abode, knows ones root (of the mind), gives out right benevolence,  accomplishes what one said, manages affairs properly, manifests one’s ability perfectly, and moves at the right time.

It does not fight with/for anything, and therefore draw no grudge.

-> As one flows with the natural rhythm of the universe, of the Dao, there is peace within; no matter what the external conditions are, even in mist of wars and conficts, there is peace. Such is the teaching of the Sutra of Everlasting Peace – Qingjingjing.

* * *

Chapter 8 Discussion:

Virtue is the common value advocated by all religions and spiritual disciplines. What is the purest Virtue that we can seek and become? Instead of religious and moralistic right and wrong, Laozi describes the highest Virtue is like that of water. Seek the virtue that embraces and allows for all, even to the lowest, darkness, and beyond all men-defined preferences. When we align ourselves with this natural rhythm of the universe, we flow perfectly in the world, and is at peace no matter what happens in the phenomenal world.

DDJ Chapter 8 bilingual text: https://www.lisiming.net/philosophy/chinese-philosophy/daoist/daoist-philosophy/dao-de-jing-core-33-chapters/ddj1-8/