辯正論 2.7

2.7

儒生問曰。道以自然為宗。虛無為本。其證非一。如太上玄妙經云。道曰自然者。道之真也。無為者。道之極也。虛無者。德之尊也。不視不聽而抱其玄。無心無意若未生根。精聚化為其身。又昇玄內教經云。太極真人問大道。以何為身。生在何許。名之為道。通言。夫道玄妙出於自然。生於無生先於無先。

The Confucian scholar asked, saying: “The Dao takes spontaneity as its principle and empty non-being as its foundation. The proofs for this are more than one. For instance, the *Supreme Script on the Mysterious and Wondrous* says: ‘That the Dao is called spontaneity is the true reality of the Dao. Wuwei is the culmination of the Dao. Empty non-being is the honor of virtue. Not looking and not listening, one embraces its mystery. Without mind and without intention, as if roots have not yet sprouted, refined essence gathers and transforms into its body.’ Moreover, the *Inner Teaching of Ascending to the Mysterious* says: ‘The Perfected of the Supreme Ultimate asked the Great Dao: “What do you take as your body? Where were you born? Why are you called the Dao?”’ The common reply was: ‘The Dao is mysterious and wondrous, emerging from spontaneity, born from non-birth, and prior to the non-prior.’”