Heaven and Earth Is All There Is

(2) Heaven and earth is all that is.

Because of this it is difficult to talk about “high” things

for very long, or to keep them ever before you.

You must act to produce the 10,000 things.

You must act to produce merit.

If you know “low” things, then you know what is real.

Keep your speech brief and humble and restrained.

Not grasping after “things” you will only excel.

All ideas of “goodness” are really bad.

But this is not true of emptiness.

The word of the sage arises to say, “not this, not this, not this.”

You know already that something is good

when it accomplishes, contrasts, supports, and follows.

Peoples’ possessions are dependent upon their impermanence.

Those who are beautiful already have their reward.

They are not grounded in my teaching.

Therefore they do not act.

Those who are blinded by beauty

cannot hear my words.

They can find no escape.