Chapter 74: Overcoming Fear of Death (第74章：制惑)

民不畏死，奈何以死懼之？
若使民常畏死，而為奇者，吾得執而殺之，孰敢？
常有司殺者殺。夫代司殺者殺，是謂代大匠斲。
夫代大匠斲者，希有不傷其手矣。
☸

Translation

If the people do not fear death, why try to frighten them with it?
If the people are kept in constant fear of death, and someone acts "strangely,"
I could seize him and kill him. But who would dare?

There is always the "Great Executioner" who handles death.
To try to take the place of the Great Executioner is like trying to use the Great Carpenter's axe.

Those who try to use the Great Carpenter's axe seldom escape without wounding their own hands.

✦ ◆ ✦

📜 Liuren Perspective

This is a critical ethical warning for Liuren Fajiao practitioners. "The Great Executioner" (司殺者) refers to the Dao and the Lord of Karma. We do not assume the right to "kill" or destroy others (physically or spiritually) out of our own judgment.

To use magic to "execute" spiritual justice according to our own ego is "Using the Great Carpenter's axe" (代大匠斲). Because we do not have the infinite wisdom of the Dao, we will almost certainly "wound our own hands" (傷其手)—meaning the magical backlash will harm the practitioner more than the target.

A true master leaves judgment to the Immortal Master. We perform rituals to Uphold the Law and Resolve Conflict, but we never seek to take over the role of the ultimate judge. Humility in the face of life and death is the only safe path.

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