Wang Feng Yi Chapter 9: The Four Great Realms 四⼤界
The following is an excerpt from Wang Fengyi’s ‘Discourse on Transforming Inner Nature’ translated by Johan Hausen and Jonas Akers. Wang Fengyi became known as Confucian sage, who developed a healing system with the belief that ailments originate from the heart-mind only, or in other words from an emotional component. He not only resorts to Confucian sources, but to Daoist and Buddhist ones alike.
迷信的⼈说,
People in blind faith say that
奈河桥上三条路,
on the bridge of the River to Hell are three roads.
⼀条是⾦,
one is Gold,
⼀条是银,
one is Silver,
⼀条就是黄泉路。
one is the road to the Yellow Springs.
我说用志做⼈就是『⾦』,
I say that resorting to Will to act
as Human is exactly “Gold.”
用意做⼈就是『银』,
sorting to Intent to act as Human is “Silver.”
以身⼼用事,
Using one’s Body and Heart to undertake affairs
就是⾛上了『黄泉路』。
is exactly walking on the road of the “Yellow Springs.”
我常说,
I constantly say
⼀个⼈必须把四⼤界分别清楚。
a person must differentiate
the Four Great Realms very clearly.
究竟咋样算是分清呢？
Actually, what is considered a clear distinction?
若能本性如如不动
If one is able to get one’s Natural Instincts
to Ultimate Reality and be non-stirring
（ 骂也不动性、
(if there is cursing, one is also not stirring
one’s Inner Nature;
打也不动性、
if there is fighting, one is also not stirring
one’s Inner Nature;
杀了也不动性）,
and if there is killing, one is also not stirring
one’s Inner Nature),
把世间的愚⼈都托起来,
then prop up all fools of this world
使他们成为⼤智慧⼈,
and turn them into great Wisemen.
便是志界,
Then one is in the Realm of Will.
就是佛国的境界。
This is exactly the Realm of the Buddha Land.
若能⼼⽆⼀物,
If one is able to be without
a single matter in the Heart,
常乐⽆忧
if one is constantly in joy and without worries,
便是意界,
then one is in the Realm of Intent.
就是天堂的境界。
This is the Realm of the Heavenly Hall.
若是贪得⽆厌,
If one’s greed is insatiable
多忧多虑,
and there are many worries and many preoccupations,
便是⼼界,
then one is in the Realm of the Heart.
就是苦海的境界。
This is the Realm of the Sea of Bitterness.
若是为名为利,
If one is after fame and gain,
争贪搅扰,
then arguments and greed will cause disturbances.
花天酒地,
If chasing the Flowers of Heaven
and the Wines of Earth,
流连忘返,
enjoying oneself so much as to forget to return,
好勇⽃狠,
and if one is fond of bravery and combat,
便是身界,
this is the Realm of the Body
就是地狱的境界,
and exactly the Realm of Hell.
所以说,
Therefore it is said,
志界是佛国,
the Realm of Will is the Buddha Land.
意界是天堂,
The Realm of Intent is the Heavenly Hall.
⼼界是苦海,
The Realm of Heart is the Sea of Bitterness.
身界是地狱。
The Realm of Body is Hell.
“After reading Discourse on Transforming Inner Nature I feel like I have washed off layers of dust from the world. Just imagine what walking this path could do!”
— Lorraine Wilcox L.Ac
Translator of Categorized Essentials of Repairing the Body
