-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the four limbs are properly aligned, Once blood and Qi are still : Unify your intent, consolidate[R] your heart/mind; And the ears and eyes will be restrained Even though what is remote seems near. Deep contemplation creates understanding; Disdain and laxity creates worries; Cruelty and arrogance creates resentment; Worries and melancholy create sickness. Sickness then causes death. If you contemplate these and do not let go of them, Inside you will be distressed, outside you will be weak. Do not neglect[S] to make plans for this, Or life will leave its dwelling. Do not eat as if you were starving, Do not contemplate as if you were indifferent. When you restrain these appropriately and simultaneously, That [Dao][T] will naturally arrive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Always : at the birth of people - Heaven produces their essence, Earth produces their form; These combine in order to make people. When these are in harmony then there is life; No harmony, no life. Observe the Dao of harmony : Its essence is not seen, Its manifestations are not wicked. When equability and proper alignment completely fill your breast, And the principles of regulation are in your heart/mind, This gives long life. When love and anger lose their proper value, Then use this plan of action : Restrain your five desires[U], Leave behind your two misfortunes - Do not love, do not be angry. Then equability and proper alignment will completely fill your breast. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Always : at the birth of people - They certainly have equability and proper alignment. The reason that they lose it Is certainly due to love, anger, worries, suffering. Thus : there is nothing that stops anger like poetry, There is nothing that removes worries like music, There is nothing that restrains music like propriety,* There is nothing that maintains propriety* like respect*.[V] [But,] there is nothing that maintains respect* like stillness. Inwardly still and outwardly respectful*, You can return to your [original] nature, And your nature will be exceptionally settled. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Always : regarding the Dao of eating - Over-filling causes injury, and your form will not be right; Over-fasting[W] makes your bones wither and your blood congeal. When you reach the space between filling and fasting[W], This is called achieving harmony - That which is the dwelling place of essence And that which is the creation of understanding.