Questions of King Milinda Part 02

SR No.: 007682
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1894
Total Pages: 2240
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 38 MB

Page 1847

PT. II. SECT. VIII. THE WRITINGS OF KWANG-BZE.
367
sword made at Kan-yüeh ? preserves it carefully in a box, and does not dare to use it ;-it is considered the perfection of valuable swords. But the human spirit goes forth in all directions, flowing on without limit, reaching to heaven above, and wreathing round the earth beneath. It transforms and nourishes all things, and cannot be represented by any form. Its name is "the Divinity (in man) 3.” It is only the path of pure simplicity which guards and preserves the Spirit. When this path is preserved and not lost, it becomes one with the Spirit; and in this ethereal amalgamation, it acts in harmony with the orderly operation of Heaven.'
There is the vulgar saying, 'The multitude of men consider gain to be the most important thing ; pure scholars, fame; those who are wise and able value their ambition; the sage prizes essential purity. Therefore simplicity is the denomination of that in which there is no admixture ; purity of that in which the spirit is not impaired. It is he who can embody simplicity and purity whom we call the True Man
1 Both of the seaboard states of Wû and Yüeh were famous for the swords produced in them. Kan-yüeh appears to have been the name of a valley or place in Wû, famous for the weapons made in it; unless indeed we should read F , instead of F , and take as equivalent to the which is found in the 30 Khwan as the name of Yüeh.
· Might be translated “the subtle spirit.'
8 A very remarkable use of Ti ( ) for the human spirit in the sense of God. The subject of the clause, let the reader observe, is that spirit, and not the Tâo. See pp. 146, 147, where I have said something about it.
4 See the full account of the True Man'in Book VI.
Digitized by Google