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THE TEXTS OF TÂOISM.
APP. 111.
who understand it will be allowed to ascend to the happy seats of the Immortals.
Students of the Tâo believe that there are (the influences of) the ether and of destiny. But the (conditions of) climate being different, the constitutions received by men are naturally different, and hence they are ascribed to the ether. And the (conditions of) wisdom and stupidity being different, their constitutions as fine and coarse are naturally different, and hence they are ascribed to the destiny. The destiny depends on fate; the ether depends on Heaven. • The restraints arising from the ether and destiny are the manacles decreed by Heaven. But if one acquire the True Tào, though stupid, he may become wise; though coarse, he may become fine ;-if there only be the decree of fate.
'Stupidity the darkest, and coarseness the densest, are consequences of climate; but the suffering of them and the changing of them may take place, when Heaven and Earth quicken the motive spring. When this is done without the knowledge of men, it is said to take place spontaneously. If it be done: with a consciousness of that want of knowledge, it is still said to take place spontaneously. The mystery of spontaneity is greater than that of knowledge; but how it comes to be what it is remains a thing unknown. But as to the Tâo, It has not begun to come under the influence of what makes stupid and coarse. Hear this all ye Heaven (-endowed) men ; and let all the multitude in all quarters rejoice.'
It may be considered as a proof of the difficulty of the Text that to this long paragraph Li Hsî-yüeh does not subjoin a single explanatory remark.
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