Great Throughts Treasury
This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Tai-shang Kan-Ying Pien (Treatise of the Exalted One on Response and Retribution) NULL
A Text on Taoist Morality published in 1906 by an unknown author. Life is lengthened or shortened according to one's conformity to the rules and advice offered.
"They trouble and annoy many people."
"They upset others' plans so as to prevent their success."
"They use charms for the sake of controlling others."
"They vilify and disparage the holy and the Wise."
"They wish others to incur loss."
"Those who are thus, are good: people honor them; Heaven's Reason gives them grace; blessings and abundance follow them; all ill luck keeps away; angel spirits guard them. Whatever they undertake will surely succeed, and even to spiritual saintliness they may aspire."
"Those who have hitherto done evil deeds should henceforth mend and repent."
"Those who seize property, are, to use an illustration, like those who relieve their hunger by eating tainted meat, or quench their thirst by drinking poisoned liquor. Though they are not without temporary gratification, death will anon overcome them."
"Those who wish to attain heavenly saintliness, should perform one thousand three hundred good deeds, and those who wish to attain to earthly saintliness should perform three hundred good deeds."
"Unfortunate is the man who speaketh what is evil, who thinketh what is evil, who practiceth what is evil. If but each single day he would persevere in these three ways of evildoing, within three years Heaven will surely shower on him curses."
"Unprovoked they join factious associations."
"When seeing the success and prosperity of others they wish them to run down and fail."
"When their requests are not granted they begin to curse and wax hateful."
"When they ever give charity they regret it afterwards."
"When witnessing an execution, they aggravate it by harshness. Though they know their mistakes they do not correct them; though they know the good they do not do it."
"Why shall we not be diligent and comply with this?"
"With a compassionate heart turn toward all creatures."
"With brutality they do harm and damage."
"With filthy food they feed the poor."
"With heresies they mislead others."
"With the members of their own family they are angry and quarrelsome."
"With unrestrained barbarism they kill and stab."
"With violence they seize, with violence they demand."
"Without festive occasions they prepare cattle for food."
"Yet there are some people whose behavior is unrighteous."