Chapter 5 Humans and All Things (167 characters)

Humans and all other beings are endowed with the three truths (nature, life, and essence). However, only humans become bewildered during their earthly life, causing the three delusions (mind, qi, and body) to take root. These three delusions interact with the three truths, giving rise to the three paths (emotion, breathing, and sensation). 

The three truths are nature, life, and essence. Humans are fully endowed with the three truths, but all other beings are endowed with them only to varying degrees.

True nature is good without evil. Those of supreme radiance are enlightened to this nature. True life is clarity without haze. Those of moderate radiance are fully awakened to this life. True essence is abundance without paucity. Those of modest radiance preserve this essence. Humans will become one with the One God upon recovering the three truths.

The three delusions are mind, qi, and body. Though mind is contingent upon nature, it can be good or evil. If your mind is good, you will be blessed. If your mind is evil, you will incur disaster.

Though qi is contingent upon life, it can be clear or hazy. If your qi is clear, you will enjoy longevity. If your qi is hazy, you will die young.

Though the body is contingent upon essence, it can experience abundance or paucity. If your body experiences abundance, you will be noble. If your body experiences paucity, you will be base.

The three paths are emotion, breathing, and sensation. The three paths change once more to form the eighteen boundaries: emotion consists of joy and fear, sorrow and anger, covetousness and aversion; breathing consists of fragrance and putridity, cold and heat, dryness and wetness; sensation consists of sound and color, smell and taste, indulgence and restraint.

Running as they please along the boundary path intermingling the mind’s goodness and evil, qi’s clarity and haze, and the body’s abundance and paucity, common people succumb to the agony of birth, growth, aging, sickness, and death.

However, the radiant among us completely restrain their emotions, regulate their breathing, and renounce sensation. Meditating with a single aspiration, they rectify the three delusions and advance to the three truths, ultimately arousing the great spirit dwelling within. To do so is to become enlightened to your nature and accomplish meritorious deeds for the world.