Chapter 55: The Virtue of the Child (第55章：玄符)

含德之厚，比於赤子。
毒蟲不螫，猛獸不據，攫鳥不搏。
骨弱筋柔而握固。未知牝牡之合而峻作，精之至也。
終日號而不嗄，和之至也。
知和曰常，知常曰明。益生曰祥。心使氣曰強。
物壯則老，謂之不道，不道早已。
☸

Translation

One who is filled with Virtue (De) is like a newborn child.
Poisonous insects will not sting him; wild beasts will not seize him;
Birds of prey will not strike him.

His bones are soft and muscles weak, yet his grip is firm.
He does not know the union of male and female, yet his vitality is high.
This is because his Essence (Jing) is at its peak.

He cries all day but does not become hoarse.
This is because his Harmony (He) is perfect.

To know harmony is to know the Eternal. To know the Eternal is Enlightenment.
To force the growth of life is an ill omen. To let the mind drive the Qi is called "Hardness" (Stiffness).
Things that grow too strong soon age. This is "Not the Dao."
What is not the Dao soon perishes.

✦ ◆ ✦

📜 Liuren Perspective

This chapter describes the cultivation of the Yang Spirit or the Immortal Infant (元神) in Liuren practice. A practitioner whose Essence (精) and Harmony (和) are perfect gains a level of spiritual protection comparable to a newborn. Negative spiritual forces ("poisonous insects and beasts") cannot find a way to harm them because their vibration is pure.

"His grip is firm" refers to the strength of the Hand Seals (Finger Mudras). This strength comes from "Softness" (柔) rather than muscular tension. True magical power is rooted in this internal flexibility.

"To let the mind drive the Qi is Stiffness" (心使氣曰強) is a technical warning. In our rituals, the Qi must follow the Dao naturally, not be "forced" by the ego-mind. If we try to "force" magical results (壯), we are moving away from the Dao and our power will "soon perish."

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