Again, if, as they say, thousands of things could come naturally into existence without direct or indirect causes, they should come forth in all places where there are neither direct nor indirect causes.  For instance, a stone would bring forth grass, while grass would give birth to man, and man would beget beasts, etc.  In addition to this they would come out all at the same time, nothing being produced before or after the others.  They would come into existence all at the same moment, nothing being produced sooner or later than the others.  Peace and welfare might be secured without the help of the wise and the good.  Humanity and righteousness might be acquired without instruction and study.  One might even become an immortal genius[FN#303] without taking the miraculous medicine.  Why did Lao Tsz, Chwang Tsz, Cheu Kung[FN#304] and Confucius do such a useless task as to found their doctrines and lay down the precepts for men?

[FN#303] Degenerated Taoists maintained that they could prepare a certain miraculous draught, by the taking of which one could become immortal.

[FN#304] Cheu Kung (Shu-ko), a most noted statesman and scholar, the younger brother of the Emperor Wu (1122-1116 B.C.), the founder of the Chen dynasty.

Again, if all things, as they say, were made of the primordial Gas (which has no feeling nor will), how could an infant, just born of the Gas, who had never learned to think, or love, or hate, or to be naughty, or wilful (even begin to think or feel)?  If, as they may answer, the infant as soon as it was born could quite naturally love or hate, etc., as it wished, it could (as well) gain the Five Virtues[FN#305] and the Six Acquirements,[FN#306] as it wished.  Why does it wait for some direct or indirect causes (to gain its knowledge), and to acquire them through study and instruction?

[FN#305] (1) Humanity, (2) Uprightness, (3) Propriety, (4) Wisdom, (5) Sincerity.

[FN#306] (1) Reading, (2) Arithmetic, (3) Etiquette, (4) Archery, (5) Horsemanship, (6) Music.

Again, they might say life suddenly came into existence, it being formed of the Gas, and suddenly goes to naught (at death), the Gas being dispersed.  What, then, are the spirits of the dead (which they believe in)?  Besides, there are in history some instances of persons[FN#307] who could see through previous existences, or of persons[FN#308] who recollected the events in their past lives.  Therefore we know that the present is the continuation of the past life, and that it did not come into existence on a sudden by the formation of a Gas.  Again, there are some historical facts[FN#309] proving that the supernatural powers of spirits will not be lost.  Thus we know that life is not to be suddenly reduced to naught after death by the dispersion of the Gas.  Therefore (matters concerning) sacrifices, services, and supplications (to the spirits) are mentioned in the sacred books.[FN#310] Even more than that!  Are there not some instances, ancient and modern, of persons who revived after death to tell the matters concerning the unseen world, or who[FN#311] appeared to move the hearts of their wives and children a while after death, or who[FN#312] took vengeance (on the enemy), or who[FN#313] returned favours (to their friends)?