Daoism Series 3 (part 2) – 重阳一至七字诗 Wang Chong Yang’s [Four] Poems of One [Character] to Seven Characters

The four-word combination ‘Alcohol, Lust, Wealth and Qi’ is present in all the writings of the Complete Realization School of Daoism. Yet one of the most elucidating and insightful considerations of this theme is found in the 12th century ‘Poems of One [Character] to Seven Characters’ by Wang Chong Yang, which is contained in the Collection of Complete Realization. Each word is elaborated upon by one poem, with a total of four poems for each of these four conditions or vices.
As a whole, these poems provide illuminating and profound analyses of these ‘Four Walls‘ and their various harmful effects on individuals, families, and society. Not only do they demonstrate what is harmful for longevity and health, but they also reflect a deep understanding of mundane life.

三、《財》
Three, Wealth
______________

財，財。
作孽，為媒。
唯買色，會招盃。
更令德喪，便惹殃來。
積成三界苦，難脫九幽災。
至使增家豐富，怎生得免輪迴。
不如不要常常樂，無害無災每恢恢。

Wealth, wealth;
It will commit wrongdoings [and] act as a medium [for evil];
It will allow expenditure on lust and enable an invitation to drinks;
It will even [lead to the] bereavement of virtue and soon afterwards attract misfortune.
Accumulated [fortunes] will turn into suffering in the Three Realms and it will be difficult
to shed the disaster of the Nine Dark Places.
Even if [one can] gain in abundance for the family, in which life is one free from rebirth?
It would be better not to wish for constant joy and gratification, thus without harm and
without disaster each [action] is [situated within] vastness.

四,《氣》
Four, Qi
___________

氣，氣。
傷神，損胃。
騁猩獰，甚滋味。
七竅仍煎，二明若沸。
道情勿能轉，王法寧肯畏。
鬪勝各街僂儸，爭強轉為亂費。
不如不作好休休，无害无災通貴貴。

Qi, Qi;
It injures the Spirit and damages the Stomach;
It hastens like a ferocious ape in extremes of feeling;
The Seven Orifices are continuously decocted and the Two Luminaries are as though boiled;
[For those with whom] the sentiments of the Dao are unable to revolve, how could they fear and respect the laws of the king?
Fighting to defeat bandits and underlings in various streets and vying for supremacy turns into
a chaotic expense [of effort];
It would be better not to engage in this and fondly rest in serenity, thus without harm and without disaster, communing with the noble and precious.

Post-Scriptum:
This article will appear in the Purple Cloud Press’ forthcoming publication of 《The 49 Barriers of Cultivating the Dao》 by Xing De/Li Shi Fu, a manual for refining one’s Inner Nature based on Liu Yi Ming’s 50 Barriers. Li Shi Fu is abbot of Five Immortals Temple (www.fiveimmortals.com).

Post-Post-Scriptum: Purple Cloud Institute’s webpage has now gone online, find all our articles such as part 1 and many more on purplecloudinstitute.com