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Lesson 4     Building Virtue

What good architects build will not easily be demolished. A good wrestler will not easily release his hold after he grasps his adversary.

Why do descendants continue sacrifices to their ancestors? Why? Because their ancestors had attained the Dao.

If the self is cultivated, the virtues are real and dependable. When only one man cultivates himself in a family, the virtues must be real and dependable. Or he will stop doing so when met with opposition or accusation from his family. Only when the virtues are real and dependable can he overcome the obstacles and persist in his cultivation. For example, a cultivator in Wuhan met with opposition from his father. He put up a tent outside in which he continued his cultivation. However, his father still found him there and asked him to find a wife, play cards or to dance provided he could stop cultivating himself. But he still persisted in his cultivation. Hence he could not persist in his cultivation if his virtues were not real and dependable.

If a family is cultivated, there will be a surplus of virtues for the family. Because there will be no interference but unanimity in the family if a family is cultivated. So they can accumulate surplus virtues.

If a village is cultivated, its virtues can long be preserved. Because all villagers can accumulate virtues when they cultivate themselves. And so the Dao will arise from the accumulation of virtue. Thus, the relations among the villagers are good: they do not strive against each other but help each other. Hence its virtues can long be preserved.

If a country is cultivated, its virtues will know great abundance. That is to say, the country is well administered: the relations between higher and lower levels are good. Heaven and earth live in harmony so that they provide good weather for the crops and there is an abundant harvest of all food crops across the land. So common people will naturally live a well-off life.

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