Heaven is eternal and Earth is immortal
the reason they’re eternal and immortal
is because they don’t live for themselves
sages therefore pull themselves back
and end up in front
put themselves outside
and end up safe
is it not because of their selflessness
whatever they seek they find
Lao-tzu’s Tao Teching
Interpreted by Red Pine
Heaven is ancient
Earth is long-lasting
Why is this so?—
Because they have no claims to life
By having no claims to life
they cannot be claimed by death
The Sage puts his own views behind
so ends up ahead
He stays a witness to life
so he endures
What could he grab for
that he does not already have?
What could he do for himself
that the universe itself has not already done?
Lao-tzu’s Tao Teching
Interpreted by Jonathan Star
CHU CH’IEN-CHIN says, “The line `Heaven is eternal and Earth is immortal’ was apparently an old saying, which Lao-tzu quotes in order to explain its significance’
CHIANG SSU-CH’I says, —Heaven’ refers to the point between the eyebrows. `Earth’ refers to the point just below the navel”
LU HUI-CH’ING says, “Heaven stands for the movement of time. Earth represents the transformation of form. Heaven and Earth have their origin in the dark womb. And the essence of the dark womb is the valley spirit that does not die. Because it does not die, it isn’t born. Only what isn’t born can give birth to the living. And because it doesn’t give birth to itself, it can live forever.”
TS’AO TAO -CH’UNG says, “What is not alive is the basis for life. By equating life and death, we are no longer burdened by life and death. By abandoning bodily form, we are no longer hindered by bodily form.”
WU CH’ENG says, “To pull oneself back means to be humble and not to try to be in front of others. To put oneself outside means to be content and not to try to add to one’s life. To find what one seeks means to be in front and safe”
SUNG CH’ANG-HSING Says, “Heaven and Earth help creatures fulfill their needs by not having any needs of their own. Can sages do otherwise? By following the Way of Heaven and Earth, sages are revered by all and harmed by none. Hence, they, too, live long.’
JEN FA-JUNG says, “Sages do not purposely seek long life but achieve it through selflessness.”
CH’ENG CHU Says, “Heaven, Earth, and Humankind share the same origin. Why doesn’t Humankind share their immortality? Because Heaven and Earth are not aware they are Heaven and Earth. Only Humankind is self-aware. And being self-aware, there is nothing humans won’t do to stay alive. But the more they care for their life, the more pained their life becomes. The more they nourish their body, the sicker their body becomes. People who have not thought this out say the followers of Lao-tzu are afraid of death and only interested in immortality. But this is getting it backward’
HO-SHANG KUNG Says, “The reason Heaven and Earth alone are eternal and immortal is because they are content and give without expecting a reward, unlike Humankind who never stops chasing profit and fighting over possessions.”
WANG PI says, “Those who live for themselves fight with others. Those who don’t live for themselves are the refuge of others’
SU CH’E says, “If Heaven and Earth fought with others over life, they would be the same as others. And if sages fought with others over profit, they would be the same as them. Would that not be a great shame?”
WANG P’ANG says, `Although sages are sages, they look the same as others. But because they embody the Way of Heaven and don’t fight, they alone differ from everyone else. Sages are selfless because they no longer have a self.”
LU TUNG-PIN says, “The only thing sages seek is Virtue.’
[1 ] Wal chl shen: “Rejects himself’ means that the sage rejects the limited identification with his body and the small sense of self, and identifies himself with the universe. This is the state of unity, whereby the sage sees his own Self in everyone and everyone as his own Self.