坐忘论 Translated to English: Stage 1 敬信 "Respect and Faith" "The root of the Tao lies in the untrustworthy; the stem of virtue lies in respect. When the root is deep, the Tao can grow; when the stem is firm, virtue can flourish. Thus, if one is attached to form, one's mind becomes confused; if one's thoughts are dominated by reason, one's emotions become erratic. Moreover, the Tao transcends sensory pleasures and desires, and one's true nature is separated from worldly desires. However, one who is able to perceive the subtlest nuances and maintain faith will not be led astray by illusions. It is like a person who hears the concept of "sitting and forgetting" and believes that faith is essential for cultivating the Tao. They should respect and revere this concept, and with unwavering determination and diligent practice, they will surely attain the Tao. Zhuangzi said: "Abandon knowledge and discard wisdom, and people will benefit a hundredfold." This is called "sitting and forgetting." What is it that one does not forget? One is unaware of their own body, and is ignorant of the universe. One is united with the Tao, and all worldly thoughts are abandoned. Those who hear of this concept and doubt it will be unable to attain it. How can one hope to attain the Tao if they lack faith? Stage 2 斷緣 "Interception of karma" "Those who sever their worldly ties are severing the attachments to worldly matters. By abandoning these matters, their physical body is not fatigued, and their mind is at peace. They simplify their lives day by day, and gradually reduce their worldly concerns, becoming more and more distant from worldly affairs, while becoming closer to the Tao. Who among the sages and the divine has not followed this path? As the saying goes, "Block up the source, close the door, and you will never have to work hard for the rest of your life." Some people seek to display their virtues and talents, seeking help from others. Some engage in busy work, handling affairs back and forth, while others pretend to seek seclusion. All of these actions are motivated by a desire for personal gain and advancement, and are not in line with the Tao, seriously hindering one's progress towards the ultimate goal. Therefore, all such actions should be completely abandoned." Stage 3 收心 "Restraining the Mind" The heart is the master of the body and the commander of a hundred spirits. When it is calm, wisdom arises; when it is agitated, confusion sets in. In the joyous delusion of illusory realms, only words seem real. In the pleasure of worldly affairs, the inner self is forgotten. Only through a firm resolve can the heart come near to the Way. The sages and the gods all follow this path. The scriptures say: "Close the opening; shut the doors; toil not, and you will not grow old." Some seek to display their virtues and abilities, seeking help from others. Some are entangled in social obligations, seeking favors and repaying debts. Some hide themselves in seclusion, hoping for advancement. Others invite people with food and drink, hoping to receive future favors. All of these are clever schemes, used to seize opportunities in the moment. They are not in line with the Way and hinder the proper course of business. All such practices must be abandoned. The heart is the master of the body and the commander of a hundred spirits. When it is calm, wisdom arises; when it is agitated, confusion sets in. In the joyous delusion of illusory realms, only words seem real. In the pleasure of worldly affairs, the inner self is forgotten. Only through a firm resolve can the heart come near to the Way. Some may argue: "Those who follow the Great Way are not affected by worldly things, are not troubled by actions, and remain calm even in motion. They are never stirred by anything and always remain peaceful." However, seeking tranquility alone and striving for stability alone are two diseases. Abiding in things is not the way to accomplish the Way. One should not cling to anything, and instead enter into emptiness. In this way, the heart becomes one with the Way. Some may say that the Way can be attained by living in the world without being stained by it, by dealing with affairs without being disturbed by them, by being active without losing composure, and by being still without being empty. Seeking only stability and tranquility is a mistake. Therefore, the scriptures say: "The Way is profound and far-reaching, and it goes against the world. Only then can there be great success." Stage 4 簡事 "Detachment from Affairs" When a person is born, they must experience things. The things to be experienced are manifold, not just limited to one person. A twig in the bird's nest, a river filling the beast's belly; they are both dependent on their surroundings. One should seek outside things while also being introspective, knowing one's place in the cycle of life. Do not focus on things that do not matter. Recognize what is necessary and act accordingly, avoiding unnecessary work that hinders your intelligence. Excessive effort harms the body and spirit; how can one reach the path in such a state? Therefore, those who seek to cultivate the Tao should simplify their relationship with things. Recognize what is important, weigh their significance, and reject what is unnecessary or frivolous. Those who compare fame and status with moral character will find that fame and status are false and inferior, while moral character is genuine and precious. One who knows the difference should let go of the former and strive for the latter. Do not let fame harm your body or let status change your intentions. As the Zhuangzi says: "To follow one's reputation is to lose oneself; this is not the way of a gentleman." As the Xishengjing says: "To embrace the origin and guard the one is to exceed even the gods." If one cannot do this but instead becomes lost in power and position, then they will become overwhelmed by their own mind and incapable of cultivating the Tao. However, if one can maintain a peaceful state while dealing with things and without being burdened by them, then they are truly on the path of realization. If one claims to be unburdened but has not yet achieved this, they are deceiving themselves. Stage 5 真觀 "True Observation" Those who truly observe have a wise foresight, Able to keenly discern the good and bad of capable people, Investigating the fortune and misfortune of past events, And adapting accordingly by seizing the opportunity. Deeply pray to protect oneself and safeguard one's life, From beginning to end, to live without any regrets, To act without leaving any traces, to adhere to this principle, This is what is called true observation. However, every meal and every sleep is the source of gain or loss, Every action and every word can become the root of fortune or misfortune, Even though skillfully handling the end result of a task, It is not as good as sincerity in the beginning. To observe the root and understand the end, requires a calm and collected mind, Therefore, simplify one's tasks and reduce daily activities, Calm the body and quiet the mind, and only then can the subtle be observed. Stage 6 泰定 "Intense Concentration" "泰定" is the ultimate state of detachment from worldly affairs, and the foundation of attaining the Dao. It is the successful cultivation of stillness, and the ultimate state of tranquility. The body is like a withered tree, the mind like dead ashes, without desires or feelings, and the highest degree of detachment is reached. One who has achieved this state of "定" is not only capable of achieving it, but can also apply it to all aspects of life, and therefore it is called "秦定". As it is said, "宇泰定者,发乎天光", which means that the stillness of the mind is the foundation of the Dao, and when it is achieved, the wisdom of the Dao will emerge. The mind is the instrument of the Dao, and when it reaches a state of stillness, the Dao will be present and manifest its virtues. The wisdom arises from the original nature and is not something that can be acquired in the present. However, due to greed and delusion, people often fall into confusion. By cleansing and purifying the mind, returning to the original state of purity and stillness, one's true spiritual nature will gradually become clear, not as a result of new wisdom arising at present, but rather the original wisdom becoming manifest. Once wisdom has arisen, one should treasure and cultivate it. It is not difficult to attain wisdom, but it is difficult to put it to use. Many people forget their true nature, but few forget their reputation. Not using the wisdom one has attained is also a form of forgetting oneself. The world regards such a person highly, and therefore it is difficult for them to remain humble. Wealth cannot be gained without extravagance. They avoid the mistakes of the mundane world and can maintain wealth and status. By being still and detached, using wisdom but not being attached to it, one avoids the mistakes of the Dao and can attain true constant nature. In practicing the Dao, one gradually reduces unnecessary things every day and ultimately returns to the natural state. One practices stillness and emptiness, and sharpens their mind and body, until they sit in a state of forgetfulness and stillness, close to the realization of the Dao. Those who tread this path will understand the meaning without cease, and those who follow this path will witness the wonder of the Dao. Though their efforts may be small, the result will be profound and wondrous.
