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322
THE LÎ xi.
BK. XXVIII.
he completes. The way of heaven and earth may be completely described in one sentence :
33. They are without any second thought, and so their production of things is inexhaustible.
34. The characteristics of heaven and earth are to be large; to be substantial; to be high; to be brilliant; to be far-reaching ; to be long-continuing.
35. There now is this heaven; it is only this bright shining spot, but when viewed in its inexhaustible extent, the sun, moon, stars, and constellations of the zodiac are suspended in it, and all things are overspread by it. There is this earth ; it is only a handful of soil, but when regarded in its breadth and thickness, it sustains mountains like the Hwa and the Yo, without feeling the weight, and contains the rivers and seas without their leaking away. There is this mountain; it looks only the size of a stone, but when contemplated in all its altitude the grass and trees are produced on it, birds and beasts dwell on it, and the precious things which men treasure up are found in it. There is this water; it appears only a ladleful, but, when we think of its unfathomable depths, the largest tortoises, iguanas, iguanadons, dragons, fishes, and turtles are produced in them, and articles of value and sources of wealth abound in them.
36. It is said in the Book of Poetry (IV, i, sect. 1, ode 2),
The ordinances of Heaven,
How profound are they and unceasing !' intimating that it is thus that Heaven is Heaven. (And again) :
Oh! how illustrious Was the singleness of the virtue of king Wăn!'
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| SR No. | 007675 |
| Book Title | Text of Confucianism Part 01 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | James Legge |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1879 |
| Total Pages | 2829 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 50 MB |