"Cai Gen Tan" by Ming Hong Yingming

(Classics of Sinology Full Annotation Full Translation)

Part IX: Persuasion and Reasoning

When the original intention is poor, the achievement is at the end of the road

When a man is poor, it is advisable to forgive his original intention; when a scholar is full of achievements, he should look at his end.

【Notes】

(1) Cu: Urgent, poor.

(2) Fulfillment of merit: Completion of merit.

【Translation】

In dealing with a person in trouble, do not blame the sin, but think about his original ambition; for a person who has completed merit, think about whether he can persevere for a long time.

Wealth should be generous, and wisdom should be hidden

Rich and noble families should be generous and anti-taboo❶, is rich and poor their deeds, how can they enjoy? Wise people should hide and show off, but they are smart and stupid, how not to be defeated.

(1) Taboo: Be mean and jealous.

(2) Collection: acquisition and storage, which here refers to deep hiding.

(3) Meng :Ignorance.

A person with a wealthy family should have been tolerant and benevolent to others, but many people are mean and jealous, and although such a person has a wealthy family, his behavior has gone to the road of poverty, how can he enjoy the glory and wealth for a long time? People with a personality full of wisdom should be modest and cautious, but they show off themselves everywhere, such people look smart but are actually very ignorant, how can they not fail?

Shou Hun remains righteous and indifferent to the name

It is better to be confused and clever, and to leave some righteousness to return to heaven and earth; rather than to be chaotic and sweet, and leave a clean name in Qiankun❸.

(1) Muddy nightmare: Describe ignorance, ignorance, confusion.

(2) Colorful: prosperous, rich.

(3) Qiankun: The two masters in Bagua represent heaven and earth.

To be a human being, we should prefer to maintain a simple and innocent nature and eliminate those little clevernesses, and retain some righteousness to nature; we should rather give up the glory and wealth of the world and be willing to be poor and elegant, leaving a clean reputation in heaven and earth.

The thought of wood and stone, the fun of yunshui

To preach virtue and monasticism, we must have the idea of wood and stone. If there is envy, there is desire; if there is a state of interest, the Ji Shi Jingbang wants the fun of Duan Yunshui, and if there is greed, it will fall into crisis.

(1) Monasticism: Moral cultivation.

(2) Wood and stone: Trees and mountain stones, in this case refers to firm willpower.

(3) Envy: Joy and envy.

To improve moral cultivation, we must have a will as firm as wood, and if there is a trace of envy for external material desires, we will fall into the pursuit of fame and fortune; relief management of the world, we must have a broad mind like clouds and flowing water, if there is a trace of greed, we will fall into a dangerous situation.

Wealth and nobility are born out of morality and reproduce spontaneously

Rich and noble, those who come from morality, such as the flowers in the mountains and forests, are shuxu ❶ to reproduce; those who are self-meritorious, such as the pots and trees, there are disciples who are displaced and abolished; if those who gain power, such as the flowers in the bottle bowl, their roots are not planted, and their wilts can be immediately left to the ground.

(1) Shu Xu: Calm and unhurried.

(2) Pot sill (man): Pot fence.

(3) Migration: change, change, migration.

(4) Flowers in the bottle bowl: Flowers in the bottle bowl.

(5) Wilting: Wilting.

If wealth and status are obtained through moral cultivation, then it will be like a wildflower in the mountains, which will continue to multiply; if it is obtained through great deeds, it will decay like a delicate flower in the yard, and if it is obtained through power, then it will be like a flower arrangement in a pot, because the roots are not developed, its withering will be just around the corner.

Down-to-earth, long-term

It is better to preserve the work that has been accomplished if the figure has not been fulfilled; to repent of the losses of the past, and not to prevent future non-achievements.

(1) Figure: Strive, plot.

(2) Not yet: the expected effect was not achieved.

(3) Past: refers to the past.

(4) Non: No, error.

Instead of planning things that won't work out, it's better to try to preserve what has already been achieved; instead of regretting past mistakes, it's better to focus on preventing possible future mistakes.

Pull back from the cliff and turn misfortune into blessing

When the thought began to rise, I felt that I was going up to the road of desire, and I was pulled up from the road of desire. Feel it together, turn it around when you feel it, this is the moment of turning misfortune into happiness, and the moment of resurrection from the dead should not be easily let go.

(1) Origin: The place where it began.

(2) The Path of Desire: The Path of Greed.

(3) Rational road: the order and reason of the thought or article, the meaning of the right way here.

When the idea of greed first sprouts, it is found that it will lure you to the abyss of desire. He immediately pulled himself from the precipice and made himself on the right path. As soon as you have a thought, you will find it, and when you find it, you will repent, which is the critical moment of turning a bad thing into a good thing, and you must not easily let go of this opportunity.

Happiness and devotion, there are degrees of choice

The taste of refreshing ❶ is the medicine of rotten intestines and bones, and there is no harm in only five points❷; the matter of happiness ❸, the medium of defeat and loss of morality, only five points will have no regret❹.

(1) Refreshing: The taste is refreshing and delicious.

(2) Disaster: hazard, disaster.

(3) Happiness: Feeling happy or satisfied;

(4) Repentance: Repentance, regret.

Refreshing and delicious mountain treasures and seafood, eating too much will become a poison that hurts the stomach and intestines, only eating five points full will not harm themselves; the mostly pleasing things are the medium that tempts people to be discredited, and they will not regret it if they keep five points happy.

Suddenly change your mind and become a Buddha

When the water of anger is boiling, it is clear that it is committed. Who knows, and who is the offender? Here, if you can suddenly change your mind, the evil demon ❷ will be the true king.

(1) Offense: resistance, violation.

(2) Demons: demons and ghosts, disturbing the psychology of the heart.

(3) True King: A noble man.

When the anger in my heart was strong, I knew it was wrong, but I did it anyway. What is understood, what is violated, if one can awaken at this time, evil thoughts will be transformed into the truth of self-cultivation.

The big line is also informal, and the gentleman is forbidden to be subtle

Whoever violates the prohibition of ghosts and gods with one thought, hurts the sum of heaven and earth with one word, and causes misfortune to his descendants with one thing, it is most appropriate to abstain from it.

(1) Recitation: Intentions, thoughts, and opinions in the mind.

(2) Brewing: brewing, brewing.

(3) Cut the precepts: avoid and solemnly admonish.

Because of a small thought, it violates the taboo of ghosts and gods, because of a word, it hurts the harmony between people, and because of a small thing that causes disaster to future generations, we must avoid these small things.

Officials live in public integrity and stay at home for frugality

Juguan ❶ has two languages, that is, "Only the gong is born of ming", and the only incorruptible is born of prestige. There are two languages for home ❸, that is: only forgiveness is peaceful, but frugality is used for foot ❺.

(1) Juguan: Holding an official position and becoming an official.

(2) Ming: Understand, shrewd.

(3) Home: Living at home refers to handling small things at home

(4) Peace of mind: peace of mind, emotional calm.

(5) Foot: contentment, contentment.

Those who are officials should know these two sentences, probably: Only their own inner fairness can uphold justice, and only their own incorruptibility can make people daunted. There are also two truths for those who deal with daily chores, probably: only tolerance for people can be calm, and only thrift and thrift can be worry-free.

Stand up to the wind and rain, see through the dangerous path

Where the wind and rain are sharp, you must stand firmly; where the flowers are thick and willowy, you must be high in the eyes; and where the road is dangerous, you must turn back early.

(1) Wind and rain: wild storm.

(2) Flowers are thick and willowy: the flowers are red and willowy green.

(3) Road hazard risk: road hazard.

In the midst of wild storms, we must grasp our own steps and stand on our feet; in places where the wind and snow are in the moon, we must look at the long term and not be confused by what is in front of us; in places where the road is dangerous, we must turn back in time so as not to fall into the abyss.

Those who have been for a long time will fly high, and those who are the first will be early

The one who has been for a long time ❶ flies high, and the pioneer Xie ❷ will be early. Knowing this, you can avoid the worries of rubbing and pedaling, and you can dispel the impatience.

(1) Fuku: A bird that rests for a long time, the meaning of resting.

(2) Xie: withering, withering.

(3) Pedaling: dangerous and difficult to travel. Sleepy, frustrated.

Birds that have stopped flying for a long time will fly very high when they fly, and flowers that bloom early will wither fast. As long as you understand this truth, you can avoid the worries of frustration and frustration, and you can eliminate the restless emotions in your heart.