Liu Yiming (1734 - 1821)
Yin is darkness,
silence, that no one can see, no one can know; it means solitary
vision, solitary knowledge.
Convergence is meshing; it means a pair joining so that they become as
one.
A Classic is a pathway, a road, a constant; it means a perennial path
in life, something lasting and unchanging.
The Classic on Yin Convergence deals with the Way in which the light of
spirit is used subconsciously to mesh tacitly with creative evolution.
When they mesh tacitly with creative evolution, then people are united
with heaven. Their action and stillness are both celestial workings,
and the people are each a Heaven...
The two expressions "observing the way of heaven" and "practising the
action of heaven" are themselves a celestial ladder that can enable
people to become enlightened immortals, a great road for saints and
sages. Everything outside of this is a sidetrack, seductive but
misleading talk. That is why the text says, "that is all".
from 'Vitality Energy Spirit A Taoist Sourcebook' trans Thomas Cleary, Shambhala Books 1991
We owe much to the prolific translator
Thomas
Cleary
for making available so many messages from the Daoist canon. In
particular, it is now possible to appreciate the breadth and subtlety
of Liu Yiming - a humanist enlightenment figure from China.