Classical Text 古典文獻 · Dao De Jing 道德經
Chapter 73 — Heaven's Net
任契
Part II — Virtue (De) 下篇·德經
Original Verse
原文
勇於敢則殺,勇於不敢則活。
此兩者,或利或害。天之所惡,孰知其故?
天之道,不爭而善勝,不言而善應,不召而自來,繟然而善謀。
天網恢恢,疏而不失。
English Translation
英譯
Courage driven by daring leads to death.
Courage driven by not-daring leads to life.
Of these two, one is beneficial and the other is harmful.
Who knows the reason for what Heaven rejects?
The Way of Heaven wins without contending;
Answers without speaking;
Comes without being summoned;
Plans effectively while remaining relaxed.
Heaven's net is vast and wide;
Though its mesh is coarse, nothing ever slips through.
Liuren Fajiao Commentary
六壬法教注疏
In Liuren Fajiao, "Heaven's Net" (天網) refers to the Karmic Laws that govern both physical and spiritual realms. We "courageously refrain" (不敢) from aggressive magic because we know the Dao "wins without contending."
"Answers without speaking" (不言而善應) is the principle of Sincere Resonance (感應). When a practitioner's heart is pure, the spirits answer their rituals without the need for complex, loud summoning. They "come without being summoned" (不召而自來) because they are already one with the practitioner's intent.
The "Vast Net" ensures that no injustice or negative spiritual force is ever ignored. A master does not need to act as an executioner; they merely align themselves with the Law of Heaven and let the "seamless" net do the work. This is the ultimate "Relaxed Planning" (繟然善謀).
Source: Dao De Jing (道德經), Chapter 73