Chapter 2: The Balance of Opposites (第2章：養身)

天下皆知美之為美，斯惡已。
皆知善之為善，斯不善已。
故有無相生，難易相成，
長短相形，高下相盈，
音聲相和，前後相隨。恒也。
是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教；
萬物作而弗始，生而弗有，
為而弗恃，功成而弗居。
夫唯弗居，是以不去。
☸

Translation

When the world knows beauty as beauty, ugliness arises.
When the world knows good as good, evil arises.

Being and non-being produce each other;
Difficult and easy complement each other;
Long and short define each other;
High and low depend on each other;
Tone and voice harmonize with each other;
Front and back follow each other. This is eternal.

Therefore the Sage dwells in non-action,
And practices the teaching without words.

The ten thousand things arise and he does not turn away from them;
He produces but does not possess;
He acts but does not expect;
He completes his work but takes no credit.
And because he takes no credit, his merit never leaves him.

✦ ◆ ✦

📜 Liuren Perspective

In Liuren Fajiao, we work with dualities—Yin and Yang, Protection and Banishing, Civil and Martial. This chapter reminds us that these are relative. A "powerful" talisman is only powerful in relation to the "weakness" it addresses. The High Practitioner (Sage) avoids being trapped by these labels.

Wu Wei (無為) or Non-action in our context refers to "Spiritual Non-interference." It means that when a master performs a ritual, they do not "force" the energy with their ego. They act as a clear vessel for the Immortal Master's power. The magic flows naturally (Naturalness - Ziran).

The concept of "Taking no credit" (功成而弗居) is vital. In Fajiao, we say "All power comes from the Lineage and the Teachers." By not claiming the power as our own, we remain connected to the source. If we become arrogant, the connection is severed—the merit "leaves" us.

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