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Chinese Text Project
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Scope: Heaven and Earth Request type: Paragraph
Condition 1: References "注焉而不满,酌焉而不竭" Matched:1.
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天地 - Heaven and Earth

English translation: James Legge [?]
Books referencing 《天地》 Library Resources
12 天地:
谆芒将东之大壑,适遇苑风于东海之滨。苑风曰:“子将奚之?”曰:“将之大壑。”曰:“奚为焉?”曰:“夫大壑之为物也,注焉而不满,酌焉而不竭,吾将游焉。”苑风曰:“夫子无意于横目之民乎?愿闻圣治。”谆芒曰:“圣治乎,官施而不失其宜,拔举而不失其能,毕见其情事而行其所为,行言自为而天下化,手挠顾指,四方之民莫不俱至,此之谓圣治。”“愿闻德人。”曰:“德人者,居无思,行无虑,不藏是非美恶。四海之内,共利之之谓悦,共给之之谓安;怊乎若婴儿之失其母也,傥乎若行而失其道也。财用有馀而不知其所自来,饮食取足而不知其所从。此谓德人之容。”“愿闻神人。”曰:“上神乘光,与形灭亡,此谓照旷。天地乐而万事销亡,万物复情,此之谓混冥。”
Heaven and Earth:
Zhun Mang, on his way to the ocean, met with Yuan Feng on the shore of the eastern sea, and was asked by him where he was going. 'I am going,' he replied, 'to the ocean;' and the other again asked, 'What for?' Zhun Mang said, 'Such is the nature of the ocean that the waters which flow into it can never fill it, nor those which flow from it exhaust it. I will enjoy myself, rambling by it.' Yuan Feng replied, 'Have you no thoughts about mankind? I should like to hear from you about sagely government.' Zhun Mang said, 'Under the government of sages, all offices are distributed according to the fitness of their nature; all appointments are made according to the ability of the men; whatever is done is after a complete survey of all circumstances; actions and words proceed from the inner impulse, and the whole world is transformed. Wherever their hands are pointed and their looks directed, from all quarters the people are all sure to come (to do what they desire): this is what is called government by sages.'
'I should like to hear about (the government of) the kindly, virtuous men,' (continued Yuan Feng). The reply was, 'Under the government of the virtuous, when quietly occupying (their place), they have no thought, and, when they act, they have no anxiety; they do not keep stored (in their minds) what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad. They share their benefits among all within the four seas, and this produces what is called (the state of) satisfaction; they dispense their gifts to all, and this produces what is called (the state of) rest. (The people) grieve (on their death) like babies who have lost their mothers, and are perplexed like travellers who have lost their way. They have a superabundance of wealth and all necessaries, and they know not whence it comes; they have a sufficiency of food and drink, and they know not from whom they get it: such are the appearances (under the government) of the kindly and virtuous.'
'I should like to hear about (the government of) the spirit-like men,' (continued Yuan Feng once more). The reply was, 'Men of the highest spirit-like qualities mount up on the light, and (the limitations of) the body vanish. This we call being bright and ethereal. They carry out to the utmost the powers with which they are endowed, and have not a single attribute unexhausted. Their joy is that of heaven and earth, and all embarrassments of affairs melt away and disappear; all things return to their proper nature: and this is what is called (the state of) chaotic obscurity.'

Total 1 paragraphs. Page 1 of 1.