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THE TEXTS OF TAOISM.
extremity. When one answers where answer is impossible, he has no internal knowledge of the subject. When people without such internal knowledge wait to be questioned by others in dire extremity, they show that externally they see nothing of space and time, and internally know nothing of the Grand Commencement1. Therefore they cannot cross over the Khwǎn-lun 2, nor roam in the Grand Void.'
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BK. XXII.
8. Starlight asked Non-entity, saying, 'Master, do you exist? or do you not exist?' He got no answer to his question, however, and looked stedfastly to the appearance of the other, which was that of a deep void. All day long he looked to it, but could see nothing; he listened for it, but could hear nothing; he clutched at it, but got hold of nothing*. Starlight then said, "Perfect! Who can attain to this? I can (conceive the ideas of) existence and non-existence, but I cannot (conceive the ideas of) non-existing non-existence, and still there be a nonexisting existence. How is it possible to reach to this?'
9. The forger of swords for the Minister of War had reached the age of eighty, and had not lost a hair's-breadth of his ability. The Minister said to
1 The first beginning of all things or of anything.
2 The Khwǎn-lun may be considered the Sacred Mountain of Tâoism.
The characters Kwang Yâo denote the points of light all over the sky, 'dusted with stars.' I can think of no better translation for them, as personified here, than 'starlight.' 'Non-entity' is a personification of the Tâo; as no existing thing, but the idea of the order that pervades and regulates throughout the universe. A quotation from the Tâo Teh King, ch. 14.
• Compare the case of the butcher in Bk. III, and other similar passages.
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