12月18日

《呻吟語》四則
明 呂坤 ( 1536~1618 )

心要如天平，稱物時，物忙而衡不忙；
物去時，即懸空在此只恁靜虛中正，何等自在！

一念收斂，則萬善來同；
一念放恣，則百邪乘釁。

自家好處掩藏幾分，這是含蓄以養深；
別人不好處掩藏幾分，這是渾厚以養大。

寧耐,是思事第一法。安詳，是處事第一法。
謙退,是保身第一法。涵容，是處人第一法。
置富貴、貧賤、死生、常變於度外，
是養心第一法。

──選自《明史》

December 18

Moaning Words
Lu Kun (1536 - 1618, Ming Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

                                   I
The mind should be like a scale. When weighing out
matters, remain balanced amidst the disarray. When free
of matters, let it suspend in a centered, upright and still
position. What perfect ease it would be!

                                   II
A moment of restraint
    attracts boundless virtues;
A moment of indulgence
    creates a target for unimaginable troubles.

                                   III
To conceal one's own merits
    is to nurture depth by being reserved.
To conceal the fault of others
    is to nurture magnanimity by being kind.

                                   IV
Patience is the best choice
    when it comes to thinking;
Calmness is the best choice
    when it comes to dealing with matters;
Modesty and concession is the best choice
    when it comes to protecting oneself;
Tolerance is the best choice
    when it comes to getting along with others;
To have no regard for wealth, status, death, and changes
    is the best choice when it comes to cultivating the mind.

── from Ming Shi (History of Ming)