51: Chapter 51 Heavenly Principles and Human Desires

Departing from Tanzhou, traveling five hundred li northeast, one enters the territory of Jiangzhou.

After ten days of travel, Lu Mingyuan arrived at the foot of Lushan Mountain on the fifteenth day of the fourth month.

From a distance, the Five Old Peaks resembled five seated elders, shrouded in swirling mist and clouds, their verdant green seeming to drip with moisture. At the mountain's base flowed a stream named the Guandao Stream, its waters clear and cold, babbling eastward. Following the stream upstream for five li, a cluster of white-walled, black-tiled buildings came into view, nestled among the pine forest.

The mountain gate was not large, yet it bore an inscription in Master Zhu's own hand:

"White Deer Grotto Academy."

Lu Mingyuan stood before the mountain gate for a moment.

Unlike the solemn dignity of Yuelu, this place held an indescribable, pure solitude. There were no students coming and going, no rising and falling chorus of recitations. Only the wind sighing through the pines, the murmuring stream, and the occasional birdcall breaking the silence.

He stepped through the mountain gate.

Passing through the Lingxing Gate and crossing the Pan Pond, he arrived at the academy's core—Minglun Hall. Before the hall stood an ancient osmanthus tree, its gnarled branches twisting Li Ke a Dragon, its age surely exceeding eight hundred years. Beside the tree stood a stone stele inscribed with Master Zhu's handwritten "White Deer Grotto Academy Precepts."

Lu Mingyuan lingered before the stele for a long time.

"Between father and son, there is affection; between ruler and minister, there is righteousness; between husband and wife, there is distinction; between elder and younger, there is precedence; between friends, there is trust."

"Study extensively, inquire precisely, reflect carefully, discern clearly, practice earnestly."

"Let speech be loyal and trustworthy, let actions be earnest and respectful; restrain anger and stifle desires, correct faults and reform errors."

Each word was plain, each sentence direct and practical. There were no abstruse philosophies, no profound Realms, only the basic principles of being human.

Yet it was precisely these basic principles that had upheld the orthodox tradition for eight hundred years.

"Is the lay practitioner here for scholarly travel?"

A voice came from behind. Lu Mingyuan turned to see a middle-aged Confucian scholar standing at the foot of the steps. He wore a blue robe and a square cap, his face lean and refined, holding a scroll in his hand.

Lu Mingyuan clasped his hands in salute. "Indeed. This humble student is Lu Mingyuan, from Zhongnan Mountain. I have come drawn by its reputation."

The scholar returned the salute. "I am Huang Gan, the academy's hall master, serving temporarily as host."

He ascended the steps and stood beside Lu Mingyuan before the stele.

"Where has the lay practitioner come from?"

"Yuelu."

Huang Gan's eyes brightened. "Yuelu, the site of the Zhang-Zhu lectures. Did the lay practitioner gain any insights?"

Lu Mingyuan thought for a moment.

"Seven days at Yuelu helped this humble student understand the phrase 'investigate things.'"

"Oh?" Huang Gan's interest was piqued. "How does the lay practitioner interpret 'investigate things'?"

Lu Mingyuan did not answer directly, instead gazing at the ancient osmanthus tree.

"This humble student spent four days investigating bamboo on Yuelu's back mountain. I didn't discover anything. Yet, after the investigation, I was no longer the same person I was before."

Huang Gan was silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod.

"The lay practitioner's words carry a flavor of Master Zhu's later years."

He turned and looked toward Minglun Hall.

"Master Zhu spent his life lecturing on 'investigate things.' Yet in his later years, he often said, 'To investigate things is simply to investigate the mind.' Some thought this signaled a turn toward Xiangshan Mountain. That is not the case. When investigation reaches its depths, thing and mind naturally become one."

He paused.

"Since the lay practitioner comes from Yuelu, you must know Master Zhou Yuanzhang's argument that 'Heavenly Principle and human desires are originally not two separate things.'"

Lu Mingyuan nodded.

Huang Gan smiled.

"Then the lay practitioner has come at an opportune time. Tonight, the academy holds a lecture meeting discussing the chapter on 'Heavenly Principle and Human Desires' in the record of near reflection. If you are interested, please feel free to listen."

That night, Minglun Hall was brightly lit.

More than twenty students sat in a circle, each with a cup of clear tea and a copy of the record of near reflection. Huang Gan sat at the head, flanked by two elderly men, both with white hair and beards, their demeanor calm and composed.

Lu Mingyuan sat in the last seat, listening quietly.

The lecture began with a quotation:

"Heavenly Principle and human desires cannot coexist. If Heavenly Principle exists, human desires perish; if human desires prevail, Heavenly Principle is extinguished."

A young student stood up to ask, "Master Huang, if Heavenly Principle and human desires cannot coexist, what should a scholar do? Must we completely eradicate human desires to preserve Heavenly Principle?"

Huang Gan did not answer directly, instead looking at one of the elderly men beside him.

The elder spoke slowly, "In my youth, I too was troubled by this for many years. Reading Master Zhu's works then, I came upon the phrase 'eradicate all human desires, restore all Heavenly Principle,' and thought human desires were evil, to be utterly exterminated. So I restrained myself daily, examined my conscience constantly, not daring to relax even while eating or sleeping."

He paused, offering a bitter smile.

"What was the result? Within three years, I fell ill. Not a physical illness, but a sickness of the mind. I saw everything as human desire, even filial piety towards parents and love for children felt Li Ke selfish affection. I drove myself nearly to madness."

The students listened in silence.

"Later, one day, I happened upon a letter from Master Zhu's later years. Seeing one sentence was Li Ke having cold water poured down my back," the elder said. "Master Zhu said: Within human desires, there is also Heavenly Principle; within Heavenly Principle, there are also human desires. It is just that the proper aspect of human desire is Heavenly Principle."

The hall fell utterly silent.

The elder continued, "Only then did I understand: Heavenly Principle and human desires are not two distinct, black-and-white matters to be severed with one cut. Take eating, for example—eating when hungry is Heavenly Principle; eating excessively, craving delicacies, is human desire. Food, drink, men, and women are not evil in themselves; it is excess, the lack of moderation, that is evil."

He scanned the room.

"Therefore, the scholar's work is not to eradicate human desires, but to make human desires conform to moderation. Human desires in moderation are Heavenly Principle."

The other elder interjected:

"Master Cheng also said: If it is not human desire, then it is Heavenly Principle. This statement is most easily misunderstood. It does not mean human desire opposes Heavenly Principle, but that if human desire lacks selfish intent, it is Heavenly Principle. For example, seeing a child fall into a well and feeling compassion—that is Heavenly Principle. But if seeing the child fall into a well, one thinks, 'Saving him will earn me a good reputation'—that is human desire."

Huang Gan nodded.

"So the work of investigating things is not to turn oneself into wood or stone, devoid of emotion and desire. On the contrary, it is to let one's emotions and desires, when expressed, all conform to moderation. Conformity to moderation is Heavenly Principle."

He looked at the young student who had asked the question.

"Do you understand?"

The student, deep in thought, slowly sat down.

The lecture continued for one shichen.

Lu Mingyuan never spoke, only listened quietly. Yet those words fell into his heart, one by one, Li Ke seeds into soil.

After the meeting, the students dispersed in small groups. Huang Gan walked over to Lu Mingyuan.

"Has the lay practitioner gained anything?"

Lu Mingyuan was silent for a moment.

"This humble student was wondering why Master Zhu would say something Li Ke 'eradicate all human desires, restore all Heavenly Principle.'"

Huang Gan smiled.

"That is an excellent question. Master Zhu said this targeting those who indulge their human desires. If someone is drowning in wine and women, greedy without measure, how can they be persuaded to turn back without telling them to 'eradicate all human desires'?"

He paused.

"But for true scholars, Master Zhu offered a deeper revelation in his later years. As the elder gentleman said earlier, within human desires there is also Heavenly Principle; within Heavenly Principle there are also human desires. When one's work reaches that level, one naturally understands."

He looked at Lu Mingyuan.

"Since the lay practitioner comes from Yuelu, you must know Zhou Yuanzhang's argument that they are 'originally not two separate things.' In truth, Master Zhu in his later years was already close to this idea."

That night, Lu Mingyuan stayed alone in the guest quarters.

It was called guest quarters, but in reality, it was a very simple earthen hut: one bed, one table, one window. The window paper was torn in several places; the night wind seeped through, carrying the dampness of the mountain forest.

He sat cross-legged on the bed and took out the handwritten copy of the record of near reflection from his robe.

A gift from Li Ke, he had carried it with him all along, reading a few pages intermittently on the journey. Having listened to the lecture all night, reading this book now felt entirely different.

He turned to the chapter on "Heavenly Principle and Human Desires."

The first entry was a saying by Cheng Yi:

"The human heart harbors selfish desires, therefore it is perilous; the Dao Heart embodies Heavenly Principle, therefore it is subtle and refined. Eradicate selfish desires, and Heavenly Principle becomes clear."

He read it over and over, remembering the elder's words from earlier—"drove myself nearly to madness."

Eradicate selfish desires.

These three words were all too familiar to him.

Which cultivator did not begin with "eradicating desires"? Sever worldly ties, cut off mundane thoughts, single-mindedly pursue the Dao. That was how he had started on Zhongnan Mountain.

But what came later?

Later, he descended the mountain, walked among people, saw all living beings, and gradually came to understand—desires are not something one can simply eradicate at will.

Li Ke that day in Luoyang, eating a flatbread, he actually tasted the flavors of childhood. Within that taste lay nostalgia for the old Martial Master and melancholy for times gone by. Was this human desire? Should it be eradicated?

If it should be eradicated, then he would rather keep it.

Because that was part of what made him who he was.

He continued flipping through.

Another entry:

"Seeing, hearing, speaking, acting—if not done according to principle, it is not ritual. Ritual is principle. If it is not Heavenly Principle, it is selfish desire. Within human desires there is also Heavenly Principle; it only depends on whether it conforms to righteousness and principle."

Within human desires there is also Heavenly Principle.

His heart stirred.

He recalled the elder's words: Seeing a child fall into a well and feeling compassion is Heavenly Principle; if one harbors a desire for fame, it becomes human desire. But that compassion itself, is it not a form of "feeling"? Without feeling, how could there be compassion?

Thus, Heavenly Principle cannot be separated from human sentiment.

He thought again of Zhou Yuanzhang's words: Heavenly Principle and human desires are originally not two separate things; the distinction lies only in whether they are moderated or not.

Moderated.

This "moderation" is propriety, appropriateness, neither excessive nor deficient.

Li Ke the strings of a qin: too loose, they produce no sound; too tight, they easily break. Only with proper tension can they produce beautiful music.

Desires are the same.

Completely devoid of desire is Li Ke dead ashes or withered wood—not a living person. Desires without restraint are Li Ke beasts—not human. Only desires that are moderated represent the normal state of being human.

Therefore, preserving principle is not eradicating desire.

It is making desire conform to principle.

He continued reading, savoring each entry carefully.

Reading until midnight, he suddenly came upon an entry:

"Question: Are there desires? Answer: How can there be no desires? Hungry, one desires food; thirsty, one desires drink; cold, one desires clothing. This too is the naturalness of Heavenly Principle. But the selfish aspect of human desire must not exist."

He was stunned.

How can there be no desires?

These were Master Zhu's words.

Master Zhu himself said: How can there be no desires?

He suddenly remembered the elder's story from earlier. In his youth, the elder drove himself nearly to madness precisely because he misunderstood the four words "eradicate all human desires."

In fact, Master Zhu himself, in his later years, had stated it clearly—How can there be no desires? Eating when hungry, drinking when thirsty, wearing clothes when cold—these are all the naturalness of Heavenly Principle.

But why did so many still understand "Heavenly Principle and human desires" as irreconcilable opposites?

Probably because saying "preserve Heavenly Principle, eradicate human desires" is easy; saying "how can there be no desires?" is difficult.

Easy words spread widely; difficult words are forgotten.

Lu Mingyuan set down the book and looked out the window.

Moonlight Li Ke water shone through the torn window paper, casting a square of bright light on the floor. In the distance came the sound of the stream, babbling ceaselessly, Li Ke someone whispering in the night.

He suddenly remembered Zen Master Huijue's words.

"After the snow falls, there is still the snow melt."

What is snow melt? It is snow turning to water, nourishing all things.

What is Heavenly Principle? It is that "moderation," that degree.

What are human desires? They are water, life itself.

Without water, nothing grows; without moderation, water floods and causes disaster.

Preserving principle and moderating desire is not about draining the water dry, but about building dikes and directing the flow, letting the water irrigate the fields instead of washing away villages.

He understood.

The next morning, Lu Mingyuan went to bid farewell to Huang Gan.

Huang Gan was somewhat surprised. "The lay practitioner is leaving already? After only one night?"

Lu Mingyuan nodded.

"Last night, reading the record of near reflection, I gained some insight. It is time to go to the next stop."

Huang Gan did not press further, simply saying, "Since the lay practitioner has gained insight, this old man will not detain you. Where is the next stop?"

"White Deer Grotto Academy will stay a few more days, but this humble student wishes to walk to the back mountain, to seek traces of Master Zhu."

Huang Gan smiled.

"On the back mountain, there is an osmanthus tree planted by Master Zhu's own hand, and the secluded spot where he studied in those days. If the lay practitioner has time, you might visit."

He paused.

"Before parting, this old man has a word of advice to offer."

Lu Mingyuan stood solemnly, listening quietly.

Huang Gan looked at him and said slowly:

"Heavenly Principle and human desires are not two separate things, nor are they one and the same. To call them two things is to split them apart; to call them one thing is to confuse them. The work of investigating things lies precisely in this 'moderation.' Moderation is not something imposed from outside; it is the natural state of things. Finding that natural moderation is to extend knowledge."

Lu Mingyuan bowed deeply, his hands reaching the ground.

"This Disciple has received your teaching."

Leaving the academy, he headed towards the back mountain.

The mountain path was rugged, lush with plants and trees. After walking for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the view suddenly opened up—a flat stretch of land, a few thatched huts, and before the huts, an old osmanthus tree, its branches thick with leaves, the tree full of blossoms.

It was the fourth month; osmanthus should not be blooming.

Yet it was blooming.

The tree was covered in golden yellow, its fragrance overwhelming, Li Ke clouds or mist, permeating the entire valley.

Lu Mingyuan stood beneath the osmanthus tree for a long time.

He remembered the words he read last night, Huang Gan's parting advice, and every person he had met, every teaching he had heard along this journey.

investigate things, extend knowledge.

Heavenly Principle, human desires.

Preserve principle, moderate desire.

These terms gradually merged into one within his heart.

Not knowledge, but insight.

Not principle, but personal realization.

He reached out and gently touched the tree full of osmanthus blossoms.

The floral scent clung to his sleeves.

He suddenly remembered a story—it was said that in his later years, Master Zhu often sat in meditation beneath this very tree. Someone once asked him: Master, what are you thinking about sitting here? Master Zhu replied: I'm not thinking about anything. I'm just sitting.

Just sitting.

He smiled.

Then he turned and walked down the mountain.

Behind him, the osmanthus blossoms still bloomed, their fragrance still permeated the air.

And he was no longer the same person he had been when he ascended the mountain.