韜光七章
Seven Chapters of Sheathed Light
天長地久。天地所以能長且久者，以其不自生，故能長生。是以聖人後其身而身先，外其身而身存。非以其無私邪？故能成其私。
Heaven and Earth are everlasting.
The reason Heaven and Earth can be everlasting is because they do not live for themselves. Thus, they are able to endure.
Therefore, the sage places himself last, yet finds himself first. He sets himself aside, yet he is preserved.
Is it not because he is selfless that he is able to fulfill his own self?
(四以字細看，首以為也，次以因也，是以事因也，未以用也。先，尊也。存，猶壽也。上私字單貼人，下私字兼天地說。此一章示韜光宜法天地的意思。天地人一也，天無私覆，地無私載，人無私存。天既長覆，地既久載，人胡為而不久存也？天之所以能長、地之所以能久者，因其不自認其生，故所以能長生。能久生也是這個事。因聖人法之，後其身而不干祿，高尚其志，身似不尊也，而人反尊之。外其身而不加愛，芻粟自飽，身似不壽也，而反不死。此豈不是用人無私存之道也耶？故所以能成其三無私焉耳。人心同天地，何用晦跡為？)
Observing the characters closely, the first signifies "being," the second "cause," thus it is the cause of events, and the last signifies "function." "First" means honored; "preserve" means longevity. The upper "private" character refers solely to humans, while the lower "private" character encompasses both heaven and earth. This chapter illustrates the principle of concealing one's light and emulating heaven and earth. Heaven, earth, and humanity are one. Heaven covers all without partiality, earth supports all without partiality, and humans preserve themselves without partiality. Since heaven eternally covers and earth eternally supports, why should humans not endure long? The reason heaven can endure and earth can last is because they do not claim life for themselves, thus they achieve eternal life. The ability to endure long is rooted in this principle. Because the sage emulates this, they place themselves last and do not seek personal gain, elevating their aspirations. Though their status may seem humble, others honor them. They disregard their bodies without excessive attachment, content with simple sustenance. Though their bodies may seem short-lived, they do not perish. Is this not the way of preserving oneself without partiality? Thus, they achieve the threefold impartiality. The human heart is one with heaven and earth—why then conceal one's traces?