Yeh Ch'üeh enquired of P'i I about Tao.
- For the former see ch. ii. Of the latter there is no record.
The latter said, "Keep your body under proper control, your gaze concentrated upon One,—and the peace of God will descend upon you. Keep back your knowledge, and concentrate your thoughts upon One,—and the holy spirit shall abide within you. Virtue shall beautify you, Tao shall establish you, aimless as a new-born calf which recks not how it came into the world."
While P'i I was still speaking, Yeh Ch'üeh had gone off to sleep; at which the former rejoiced greatly, and departed singing,
"Body like dry bone,
Mind like dead ashes;
This is true knowledge.
Not to strive after knowing the whence.
In darkness, in obscurity.
The mindless cannot plan;—
What manner of man is that?"
- His mortal trammels had fallen off by his absorption into Tao.
Shun asked Ch'êng,
- His tutor.
saying, "Can one get Tao so as to have it for one's own?"
"Your very body," replied Ch'eng, "is not your own. How should Tao be?"
