Chapter 44: Fame or Self — 立戒 | Dao De Jing 道德經

Original Verse

原文

名與身孰親？身與貨孰多？得與亡孰病？甚愛必大費；多藏必厚亡。故知足不辱，知止不殆，可以長久。
Source: Dao De Jing (道德經), Chapter 44

English Translation

英譯

Fame or self: which is dearer?
Self or wealth: which is worth more?
Gain or loss: which is more painful?

Extreme attachment leads to great expense.
Hoarding much leads to heavy loss.

Therefore, know contentment and you will suffer no disgrace.
Know when to stop and you will face no danger.
In this way, you can endure.

Liuren Fajiao Commentary

六壬法教注疏

In Liuren Fajiao, your Life-Force (身/Internal Spirit) is your most valuable asset. A practitioner who chases after Fame (名) or Wealth (貨) is "spending" their spiritual essence for external labels. This "Extreme Attachment" (甚愛) drains the Qi and leads to spiritual exhaustion.

"Hoarding much leads to heavy loss" (多藏必厚亡) is a warning against accumulating too many magical techniques or items for the sake of possession. A true master "hoards" nothing but their own internal stillness. This prevents the "heavy loss" of one's connection to the Dao.

By "Knowing Contentment" (知足), the practitioner remains stable and free from the "disgrace" of failed magic or moral decline. "Knowing when to stop" (知止) is the shield that protects us from Spiritual Danger (殆). This is the path to "enduring" (長久) in the lineage.