弘明集 1.45

1.45

The questioner asked: Practitioners of the Dao say that they can ward off disease and not fall ill, recovering without resorting to needles or medicines; is there such a thing? Why is it that in the Buddhist fold people fall ill and take needles and medicine? Mouzi said: Laozi said: 'When things reach their prime, they grow old; this is called not according with the Dao. What does not accord with the Dao comes to an early end.' Only those who have attained the Dao do not take birth. Not being born, they also do not reach their prime; not reaching their prime, they also do not grow old; not growing old, they also do not fall ill; not falling ill, they also do not decay. Therefore Laozi regarded the body as a great affliction. When King Wu lay ill, the Duke of Zhou prayed for his life; when Zhongni was ill, Zilu asked to offer prayers. I see that the sages all fell ill; I have never seen them without illness. Shennong tasted herbs and was close to death several dozen times; the Yellow Emperor bowed his head and received acupuncture from Qibo. How could these three sages not be the equal of present-day Daoists? If one examines this statement, it is also sufficient to discard [their claims].