Classical Text 古典文獻 · Dao De Jing 道德經
Chapter 67 — Three Treasures
三寶
Part II — Virtue (De) 下篇·德經
Original Verse
原文
天下皆謂我道大，似不肖。夫唯大，故似不肖。
若肖，久矣其細也夫！
我有三寶，持而保之：
一曰慈，二曰儉，三曰不敢為天下先。
慈故能勇；儉故能廣；不敢為天下先，故能成器長。
今舍慈且勇；舍儉且廣；舍後且先；死矣！
夫慈，以戰則勝，以守則固。天將救之，以慈衛之。
English Translation
英譯
The whole world says my Dao is great, but seems unlike anything else.
It is only because it is Great that it seems unlike anything else.
If it were like anything else, it would have become small long ago!
I have three treasures that I hold and cherish:
The first is Compassion (Ci);
The second is Frugality (Jian);
The third is not daring to be first in the world (Humility).
Through Compassion, one can be brave.
Through Frugality, one can be generous.
Through Humility, one can become a leader.
To be brave without compassion, generous without frugality, or to lead without humility—this is death!
Compassion wins in attack and stands firm in defense.
Heaven will save those whom it protects with Compassion.
Liuren Fajiao Commentary
六壬法教注疏
In Liuren Fajiao, these three treasures are our Spiritual Safeguards. Compassion (慈) is the source of Fa-power. Without compassion, a ritual is just empty technique. It is compassion that allows a master to be "brave" enough to face powerful spiritual threats to save others.
Frugality (儉) refers to Qi-conservation. By not wasting energy on vanity or unnecessary magic, the practitioner's power becomes "generous" (廣)—available in abundance when truly needed.
"Not daring to be first" is the standard of Lineage Humility. We always put the Immortal Master and the Ancestors first. This humility allows the practitioner to "become a leader" (器長) because they are supported by the entire lineage. Without these three, the practitioner faces spiritual "death" (the loss of connection and De). Heaven's protection is specifically triggered by Compassion.
Source: Dao De Jing (道德經), Chapter 67