Chapter 77: The Way of Heaven (第77章：天道)

天之道，其猶張弓歟？高者抑之，下者舉之；
有餘者損之，不足者補之。
天之道，損有餘而補不足。人之道，則不然，損不足以奉有餘。
孰能有餘以奉天下，唯有道者。
是以聖人為而不恃，功成而不處，其不欲見賢。
☸

Translation

The Way of Heaven is like bending a bow:
The high is pulled down; the low is raised up.
The excess is reduced; the deficient is supplemented.

It is the Way of Heaven to take from the excess and give to the deficient.
The Way of Man is not so: it takes from the deficient to serve the excess.

Who can take their own excess and serve the world with it?
Only the follower of the Dao.

Therefore the Sage acts but does not expect;
He achieves but does not take credit;
He does not wish to show his worth.

✦ ◆ ✦

📜 Liuren Perspective

In Liuren Fajiao, our primary role is to act as agents of Heaven's Balance. When we perform rituals for healing, prosperity, or clearing obstacles, we are "taking from the excess" (removing spiritual blockages/negativity) and "supplementing the deficient" (adding Fa-Qi and protection).

The "Way of Man" often seeks to hoard power and wealth for the already "excessive" (the ego). We follow the Way of Heaven by using our "excess" (our accumulated magical power and De) to "serve the world." A practitioner who hoards power only for themselves is out of alignment with the Dao.

The Sage "does not wish to show his worth" (不欲見賢). This means we do not use the success of our rituals to prove how powerful we are. The goal is to restore the natural flow of the Dao for the recipient, then return to the background. By remaining hidden, we ensure that the "Bow of Heaven" remains perfectly balanced.

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