Chapter 39: Oneness with the Dao (第39章：法本)

昔之得一者：天得一以清；地得一以寧；
神得一以靈；谷得一以盈；萬物得一以生；
侯王得一以為天下貞。
其致之，天無以清將恐裂；地無以寧將恐發；
神無以靈將恐歇；谷無以盈將恐竭；
萬物無以生將恐滅；侯王無以貞而貴高將恐蹶。
故貴以賤為本，高以下為基。
是以侯王自謂孤、寡、不穀。此非以賤為本邪？非乎？
故致數輿無輿。不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。
☸

Translation

In the past, those who attained the One:
Heaven attained the One and became clear.
Earth attained the One and became stable.
Spirits attained the One and became powerful (Ling).
The Valley attained the One and became full.
The ten thousand things attained the One and lived.
Rulers attained the One and became upright.

Without the One, Heaven would crack; Earth would shake.
Spirits would lose power; the Valley would run dry.
Life would perish; rulers would fall.

Therefore, the noble has the humble as its root.
The high has the low as its foundation.

Rulers call themselves "the lonely" or "the unworthy."
Is this not taking the humble as the root?

Do not seek to glitter like jade; be simple like common stone.

✦ ◆ ✦

📜 Liuren Perspective

In Liuren Fajiao, "Attaining the One" (得一) is the source of all Ling (靈)—spiritual efficacy or power. A spirit (神) only becomes "Ling" because it is connected to the One Dao. Our rituals work only because we tap into this same "Oneness."

The teaching that "The noble has the humble as its root" (貴以賤為本) is the standard for a master. Even if a practitioner has great power, they must remain "unworthy" and "lonely" (孤寡) in their heart, seeing themselves as a "common stone" (如石) rather than "glittering jade" (如玉).

By staying low and humble (the foundation), the practitioner supports the "high" spiritual authority of the Immortal Master. If the foundation of humility is lost, the authority "falls" (蹶), and the power is disconnected from its source.

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