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Tract upon Nourishing the Spirit.
AUG.
The results of nourishing our spirits are, that we regain our ori- ginal perfect nature, and that which was decreed by Heaven to be- stow, we make our own; it is no longer necessary to talk of a renew- ed cultivation of such virtuous nature, for such virtuous nature is already firmly established. This is the way in which Liu-tsz' adopted the method of nourishing the spirit, to cause men to revert to their originally virtuous nature, and connect themselves with that which Heaven had decreed to bestow, without men's being themselves aware of it. Some people ask how it is, that when the affairs of human life are so multifarious and ever-changing, we can ever succeed in nourish- ing our mental energies? not knowing that these affairs do not come of their own accord, but are constantly brought on by men themselves. Should there be any matters that come upon us without our interven- tion, we should just treat them in a natural and unconstrained manner, without attempting to force them. When in trouble we should go through our troubles, and when in poverty we should bear our poverty, leaving the matter of life and death to the disposal of Providence, and not allowing our minds to be moved by anything that respects life or death. When such things are incapable of annoying and moving our hearts, how can they annoy the spirit of our minds. Mencius said,
“A man of resolution does not disturb himself about being buried in a ditch, and a brave man cares not if he lose his head." When we can com- pose our minds in the most distressed and trying circumstances and affairs, we shall be able to go through the dangerous passes of life as if they were an even path. It is only because men in the present life are desirous of contending with their circumstances; when poor, they are not content to remain poor, but adopt schemes for seek- ing after riches; when low they are not content to continue low, but speculate in search of honors. Moreover, when they are rich, they aim to become more rich; and when noble, they aspire to be more noble ; and thus meet with all sorts of annoyances and disappointments, the whole of which they bring upon themselves.
If now, we could but leave all these matters alone, and when pover- ty comes, let it come; when degradation assails, let it assail; being content under every circumstance, what would then prevent us from nourishing the spirit of our minds. But we have not been able thus to nourish our spirits; could we really succeed in so doing, then we should find no difficulty in discerning every matter in the world, in whatever direction the light of our minds might be brought to shine. Water may dash down a steep place, without having any in- tention of so doing, and the white clouds may gather a round the suin-