Judging and acting before events unfold or principles appear is called foresight (foreknowledge). Foresight means groundless guesswork without real evidence.
Ritual is the outward expression of inner emotion, the patterned refinement of all righteous principles, the bond between ruler‑minister and father‑son, and the distinction between noble‑commoner, worthy‑unworthy.
Benevolence means sincerely delighting in loving others from the inner heart. One rejoices at others’ good fortune and grieves at their misfortune. Such feeling arises involuntarily from within, not for seeking repayment. Hence the saying: “The highest benevolence acts, yet does not act for ulterior gain.”
The reason non‑action and non‑thinking are valued for attaining emptiness is that the mind remains unconstrained by external compulsions.
When law and prohibitions are abandoned and private pleas prevail, ministers sell official posts upward and seek rewards downward. Thus benefits go to private clans and power rests with ministers. Commoners no longer serve the ruler whole‑heartedly but seek connections with the powerful. When people crave high‑level connections, wealth flows upward, and smooth‑talking schemers…