Huai Nan Zi-Interpretation of Words and Instructions

Original

Sages win hearts, and many people win desires. A gentleman does righteous deeds, while a villain does evil deeds. Internal convenience, external conformity to righteousness, logical action, not tied to things (1) righteousness. It is more important than taste, and lewdness is more important than sensuality. (2) It is caused by emotions, regardless of the patients, and evil spirits are also present. Evil and right hurt each other, and desire and sex hurt each other. You can't stand at the same time, and one is abandoned. Therefore, the sage loses desire and engages in sex. Eyes are lustful, ears are good, and mouth is good. As a matter of fact, I don't know what's at stake and I'm addicted to it. Eating is uncomfortable for the body, listening is not suitable for the Tao, and it is inconvenient.

note

(1) pian: comfortable. Tie: bondage. (2) heavy: rich. Lust: indulgence.

Translation

Sages do things by heart, while ordinary people do things by desire. A gentleman's every move is healthy, while a villain's actions are full of evil. Inner activities make nature comfortable, and external actions conform to justice. Acting according to things and not being disturbed by the outside world is vital qi. Enthusiastic about rich and delicious food, indulging in sensuality, stirring up emotions, regardless of future disasters, this is evil. Evil causes harm to healthy qi, while desire does harm to nature. It is impossible for them to coexist at the same time. If one is established, the other will be abandoned. So saints reduce their desires and follow their nature. Eyes like to see beauty, ears like to listen to vocal music, and mouth likes to eat delicious food. Once you touch these things, you like them, but you don't know the benefits. This is lust. Eating too much delicious food will make you restless, listening to too much vocal music will not conform to the road, and watching too much beauty will not make your nature suitable.