Classical Text 古典文獻 · Dao De Jing 道德經
Chapter 12 — Looking Inward
檢欲
Part I — The Dao 上篇·道經
Original Verse
原文
五色令人目盲；五音令人耳聾；五味令人口爽；
馳騁畋獵，令人心發狂；
難得之貨，令人行妨。
是以聖人為腹不為目，故去彼取此。
English Translation
英譯
Five colors blind the eye;
Five notes deafen the ear;
Five flavors dull the palate.
Racing and hunting drive the heart wild;
Rare goods hinder one's progress.
Therefore the Sage acts for the "belly" and not the "eyes";
He discards that and chooses this.
Liuren Fajiao Commentary
六壬法教注疏
In Liuren Fajiao, "Acting for the belly" (為腹) refers to the cultivation of the Lower Dantian and the accumulation of internal energy. "Not for the eyes" (不為目) means not being distracted by external phenomena, visual "special effects" of magic, or the desire for worldly recognition.
A practitioner's senses are the gateways through which energy can leak out. By "discarding" the wild distractions of the world (the five colors and sounds), the master preserves their internal focus. This is essential for maintaining the mental clarity required for complex Wicha (magical arts).
The "Rare goods" of the modern world can easily distract a practitioner from their daily cultivation. We "choose this"—the steady, internal path—over "that"—the flashy, superficial distractions of the external world.
Source: Dao De Jing (道德經), Chapter 12