Book Title: Text of Confucianism Part 01
Author(s): James Legge
Publisher: Oxford

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Page 2733
________________ CH. II. THE CLASSIC OF PURITY. 253 having entered thereinto, he is styled Possessor of the Tâo. Although he is styled Possessor of the Tâo, in reality he does not think that he has become possessed of anything. It is as accomplishing the transformation of all living things, that he is styled Possessor of the Tao. He who is able to understand this may transmit to others the Sacred Tâo. This is the consummation of the state of Purity. In explaining the former sentence of the fifth member, Lî Hsîyüeh uses the characters of T. T. K., ch. 4, T Ź of 7 with some variation,- TT Ź, X . 2. 1. Lâo the Master said, Scholars of the highest class do not strive (for anything); those of the lowest class are fond of striving? Those who possess in the highest degree the attributes (of the Tâo) do not show them; those who possess them in a low degree hold them fast (and display them)? Those who so hold them fast and display them are not styled (Possessors of) the Tâo and Its attributes ? 1 Compare the T. T. K., ch. 41, 1. ? Compare the T. T. K., ch. 38, 1. 2. The reason why all men do not obtain the True Tâo is because their minds are perverted. Their minds being perverted, their spirits become perturbed. Their minds being perturbed, they are attracted towards external things. Being attracted towards external things, they begin to seek for them greedily. This greedy quest leads to perplexities and annoyances; and these again result in disordered Digitized by Google

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