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REFUTATION OF DELUSIVE AND PREJUDICED (DOCTRINE)[FN#292]…

“REFUTATION OF DELUSIVE AND PREJUDICED (DOCTRINE)[FN#292] According to Confucianism[FN#293] and Taoism all sorts of beings, such as men and beasts, were born out of and brought up by the (so-called) Great Path of Emptiness.[FN#294] That is to say, the Path by the operation of its own law gave rise…” quote by Kaiten Nukariya
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““REFUTATION OF DELUSIVE AND PREJUDICED (DOCTRINE)[FN#292] According to Confucianism[FN#293] and Taoism all sorts of beings, such as men and beasts, were born out of and brought up by the (so-called) Great Path of Emptiness.[FN#294] That is to say, the Path by the operation of its own law gave rise naturally to the primordial Gas, and that Gas produced Heaven and Earth, which (in their turn) brought forth thousands of things. Accordingly the wise and the unwise, the high and the low, the rich and the poor, the happy and the miserable, are predestined to be so by the heavenly flat, and are at the mercy of Time and Providence. Therefore they (must) come back after death to Heaven and Earth, from which (in turn) they return to the (Path) of Emptiness. The main purpose of these[FN#295] (two) outside teachings is simply to establish morals with regard to bodily actions, but not to trace life to its First Cause. They tell of nothing beyond the phenomenal universe in their explanation of thousands of things. Though they point out the Great Path as the origin, yet they never explain in detail (what is) the direct, and (what) the indirect cause of the phenomenal universe, or how it was created, or how it will be destroyed, how life came forth, whither it will go, (what is) good, (what) evil. Therefore the followers of these doctrines adhere to them as the perfect teachings without knowing that they are merely temporary. [FN#292]””

Kaiten Nukariya

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage describes a cosmology where all beings arise from an empty Great Path, emphasizing predestination and the limits of moral teachings without addressing ultimate origins.

In simple terms: All beings come from an empty path; teachings focus on morals, not ultimate causes.

Key Takeaway

Recognize moral guidance while questioning deeper origins.

Themes

cosmology predestination morality philosophy limitations

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive critical

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

  • religious study
  • ethical debates
  • personal reflection
  • academic curricula

Key Concepts

Taoism Confucianism metaphysics causality

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance moral teachings with curiosity about ultimate causes?
  • Can predestination coexist with personal responsibility?
A Different Perspective

The view may oversimplify complex metaphysical questions and ignore agency.

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