Chapter 46 Self-esteem, like desire for created things, breaks the Original Harmony, Primal Simplicity, making divisions in nature. It treats some things as worthless, using things in nature in an unnatural way. It corrupts them by misuse. As a person who desires created things is a slave to the senses, so is a person who has conceit. For the person of desire is attracted through his eyes and ears to others, while the person of conceit tries to attract the eyes and ears of others to himself. He charms an impresses only by what is visible and audible. Those who judge virtue only with their senses. Thus said the Ancient sage: "On tiptoe, none can stand firmly, straddling, none can walk well. One who justifies oneself has no glory. One who boasts of one's abilities has no merits. One who has conceit is not the chief among men. Such, by the judgement of the Way, resemble the 'dregs and rumors' of virtue. Those who possess the Way have no occasion for them." (The Way is a collective experience, off the Spirit. A grand resurrection. Remove salt and pepper for a day, off the diet, listen to the Body and Spirit. The Way, is built on the fourth Way, experiences of yogi, monk and beggars, hence encompass all.) Chapter 54 When you have descended into the Valley with Him, and with Him have been raised upon the Tree; When the tears of joyful, liberating pain flood your eyes and you taste the sweetness and perfect freedom of dying to this life. Then you no longer feel anger or rage, and you know what it means to forgive everyone and everything. Then you see how He, when nailed to the Tree, could have forgiven everyone who has ever lived and ever will live. Still you see the people around you, and still you see their weaknesses and failings, but now you feel such compassion for them, as if they were small children, and you yourself feel like a child. In a sense, nothing has changed: The good in you remains, the evil in you remains, but now you know, you know that there is nothing more sublime, beautiful and profound than the Cross. Now you know what it, means that He spills His Blood for you in an agony of pain, which even He was afraid and sorrowful to endure, and when, at the supper before His final agony, He asks you to drink His Blood and eat His Flesh, for the forgiveness of sins, you too are ready to give up your flesh and shed your blood, you too are ready to forgive, that you may share in what He is, in his ultimate, liberating love. A love that is a pain, but a pain that is a peace, and a peace that passes all understanding. (The change of blood happens by removing animals from the human body. When the body transforms to water, that is lots of pain, while the internal organs are opening up.) Chapter 65 Pleasure of the senses is succeeded by pain of the soul, while acceptance of pain of the senses is succeeded by the pleasure of the soul. This soul pleasure we call joy: The endless joy of binding oneself to the Way. Thus the followers of the Way gladly accept suffering, patiently enduring involuntary afflictions. They turn them into smooth, untroubled paths. Through self-restraint, they do away with sensual pleasure, which is intricate, convoluted, wrapped around every sensible object. Therefore, said the Ancient Sage, "The Way unravels tangles, submerges turmoil." Redirecting the impulses of their desire, followers of the Way act according to nature. They no longer yearn for bodily pleasure, nor do they fear pain. Overcoming such yearning and such fear, together with the sensual self-love that gave them birth, they kill with a single blow, all the passions, therefore, said the Ancient Sage, "Control of the passions by will is called strength." Free from desire for created things, followers of the Way pass from the outer to the inner, going beyond the superficial aspects of these things, they come to know their inner essences, as words within the Primal Word. Thoughts of the Primal Mind, therefore, said the Ancient Sage, "The sage is always within desire, in order to contemplate the mysteries of nature." Offering themselves to Him, who is beyond all created things, sharing in His self-emptying, followers of the Way, become wholly united with Him. The true goal of love and longing, the true End and fulfillment of Desire. (The relationship between a teacher and student, is tao. The way, teacher, living tao in flesh, creates many paths for the students. Self-restraint starts by fasting. Inner refers to understanding own body, outside is the blessings of the saints. The Primal Word is sound of silence, an experience of the Spirit. From that, when the Way reappears, the Primal Mind becomes One.)