9月5日

善生十箴
清 江亢虎 ( 1883~1954 )

布衣：錦繡雖華，物命可惜。國奢示儉，矯風宜急。
蔬菜：人而不仁，野蠻遺俗。咬得菜根，香味具足。
露宿：春秋佳夕，月明花香。幕天席地，自在徜徉。
早起：日新又新，俛焉孳孳。響晦宴息，勿戀荒嬉。
節欲：情盛滅性，樂極生哀。精神壽命，視此制裁。
寡言：不叩不鳴，君子如鐘。天何言哉，感而遂通。
習勞：勞心勞力，乃聖乃神。多能鄙事，兼可操身。
靜養：方寸之地，一塵不驚。湛如止水，屹若長城。
內省：盍求諸己，日省吾身。自過自訟，汰偽存真。
達觀：諸天微塵，萬古一杪。因果相等，不了自了。

──選自《江亢虎思想一斑》

September 5

Ten Admonishments for a Life Well-Lived
Jiang Kanghu (1883 - 1954, Qing Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

Dress coarsely:
While brocades are splendid, it is a pity to see matters being
wasted. Stressing the importance of frugality to a nation indulged in
extravagance is a correction which needs to be made urgently.

A diet of vegetables:
To be human yet inhumane is the fashion of barbarism. A bite of
vegetables offers a mouthful of savory flavor.

Sleep in the wilderness:
Spring and autumn nights are ideal when accompanied by the bright
moon and floral scents. The sky is our canopy and the earth our mat,
in-between which we wander about freely.

Rise early:
Each day is a new day; be studious. Rest well at night, and prevent
indulgence in wasteful play.

Abstinence:
Aroused sensuality leads to the decline of one’s nature; extreme
pleasure will be followed by tragedy. For the sake of vitality and
longevity, abstain from such.

Reticence:
Silent unless struck; a man of greatness should be like the bell. Who
has ever heard Heaven speak? Understanding is gained through
experiences.

Labor:
To be laborious in mental and physical activities is an ability of the
sages and deities. To be skilled in various disciplines is excellent
training for one’s body.

Recuperate:
Within the ground of the mind, not even a speck of dust is disturbed.
Deep and clear as still water, it stands firmly like the Great Wall.

Introspect:
Why not seek the cause in oneself and self-reflect on a daily basis?
Self-reproach for one’s faults, and eliminate pretentiousness to
preserve genuineness.

Have perspective:
From all heavens to dust-motes, from eternity to mere seconds, all
are equal in front of cause and effect, leaving nothing unresolved.

── from Jiang Kanghu Sixiang Yiban (Thoughts of Jiang Kanghu)