[HHC Study] Hua Hu Ching Chapter 16

[Mal]

Most of the world's religions serve only to strengthen attachments to false concepts such as self and other, life and death, heaven and earth, and so on. Those who become entangled in these false ideas are prevented from perceiving the Integral Oneness. The highest virtue one can exercise is to accept the responsibility of discovering and transmitting the whole truth. Some help others in order to receive blessings and admiration. This is simply meaningless. Some cultivate themselves in part to serve others, in part to serve their own pride. They will understand, at best, half of the truth. But those who improve themselves for the sake of the world--to these, the whole truth of the universe will be revealed. So seek this whole truth, practice it in your daily life, and humbly share it with others. You will enter the realm of the divine.

Walker's HHC 16

http://brianbrownewalker.com/hua-hu-ching/

 

 

"Kind prince,suppose there are good men and women who offer as much of themselves as there is sand in the River of Timelessness to help people in the morning, and as much of themselves as there is sand in the River of Timelessness to help people in the afternoon, and then as much of themselves as there is sand in the River of Timelessness to help people in the evening. Suppose, too, that they continue to do this for eon after eon for the purpose of receiving virtuous blessings.

"Now suppose there are people who hear this sacred scripture and joyfully break through all obstacles in order to follow it. The blessings of these people will be even greater yet, for this scripture has boundless power.

"The Universal One reveals the truth contained in this scripture to those who cultivate themselves not for their own sake, nor only half for their sake and half for others. The Universal One reveals this profundity to those who cultivate themselves for the sake of all, for this is the highest level of virtue. If there is someone who accepts this truth and who studies, practices and teaches it widely, then this person will certainly be acknowledged by the universal beings of the divine realm. This person will truly accomplish the great merit of shouldering the responsibility of transmitting the divine revelation.

"Kind prince, many people are pleased and satisfied by the various limited religious doctrines existing in the world today. They all hope to live in the kingdom of Heaven someday and sit sublimely at the side of their personal deity, but by entertaining such hopes and beliefs they only foster concepts of self and others, longevity and brevity, life and death, and so on without end. With such conceptual entanglements they cannot even listen to the truth, much less study, practice and embrace it or explain it to others. In this case, how can they ever uplift themselves to the subtle, central realm to be with the Universal One of One Universal Life?"

Ni's HHC 16

http://www.bookdepository.com/Complete-Works-Lao-Tzu-Hua-Ching-Ni/9780937064009

[Mal]

I do quite like this bit

"The Universal One reveals this profundity to those who cultivate themselves for the sake of all"

 

As cultivating for the sake of all helps us weaken attachment to false concepts of duality