Chapter 16 Chapter 3 Huang Xiuyi Lu - The Nature of Life

Huang Xiuyi, styled Uncle Mian.His life is unknown. Uncle Huang Mian asked: "When there are no evil thoughts in the heart, the heart is empty. I don't know whether it is necessary to have good thoughts?" The master said: "When you get rid of evil thoughts, you will have good thoughts, and you will restore the original nature of your mind. For example, the sun is covered by clouds. When the clouds go away, the light has returned. If you have to leave evil thoughts, you must keep a good thought, which is sunlight. Light a lamp in it." Uncle Huang Mian asked: "When there are no evil thoughts in the heart, the heart is empty. I wonder if there is still a good thought to be kept?"

The master said: "Since the evil thoughts have been eliminated, they are good thoughts. At this time, the heart has recovered its original body. It is like the sun being covered by dark clouds. When the dark clouds dissipate, the sun will reappear. Deliberately keeping a good thought, isn’t it lighting another lamp in the sun.” Yang Ming believes that once the "evil thoughts" go away, it means that the original body of the mind has been restored and the state of perfection has been reached.At this time, as long as you follow the instructions of your conscience and mind, everything you do is an act of "goodness".Therefore, there is no need to keep any other "good thoughts".

Question: "Recently, I have worked hard, and I feel that delusions do not arise, but my chest is dark, and I don't know how to make it bright?" The master said: "When you first start working hard, how can you get light in your cavity? It's like torrenting turbid water, only to be stored in a tank. Although it is calm at first, it is only cloudy; after a long time of clearing, the dross will naturally go away, and then it will be restored. Get it clear. You only need to work hard on your conscience, and if your conscience lasts for a long time, the black rust will be able to shine. Now you want to punish and effect, but it will not work if you encourage it."

Asked Mr.: "Recently, I have worked hard, and I feel that delusions will no longer breed. But I still feel a dark mass in my heart. I don't know how to make it brighter?" The master said: "When you just start working hard, how can you see light in your heart immediately? It's like the muddy water swirling in a tank that has just stopped, and it must still be muddy at this time. Only then will it precipitate, and it will become clear water. You only need to work hard on your conscience. After a long period of storage and cultivation of conscience, the light will emerge from the dark feeling. Now if you want it to be effective immediately, it is just to encourage the growth of seedlings. It won’t work out.”

"Long-lasting conscience" is a necessary condition for conscious conscience and "self-awareness", that is, it is inseparable from long-term hard work, and it will come naturally.Although Wang Yangming advocates the simple self-awareness of conscience, he does not expect the immediate effect of instant enlightenment.In his opinion, the latter is just counterproductive. The master said: "I teach people to 'introduce conscience' and work hard on 'getting things', but there is fundamental knowledge. As time goes on, the longer you feel, the smarter you become. The world's Confucianism teaches people to search for things, but there is no fundamental knowledge. Learning. When Fang Qi is young, although he can show up temporarily, there is no fault, but when he is old, his spirit will decline, and he must be put down eventually. It is like a tree without roots, which is transplanted to the water's edge. Although it is fresh for a while, it will eventually wither."

The master said: "I teach people to develop conscience, and they have to work hard on investigating things. It is a knowledge with a foundation. It grows day by day, and the longer it takes, the more proficient and clear it will be. Confucianism teaches people to study everything. That is knowledge without foundation. When it grows and prospers, although it can temporarily modify the surface, even if there is a mistake, it will not be seen. After a long time, the family will decline, and eventually it will not be able to support it. It is like a tree without roots that has been Transplanted to the waterside, although the tree will be full of vitality for a short time, it will eventually wither and die.”

This is Wang Yangming's criticism of Confucianism, as well as Zhu Xi's theory of gewu.Obsessively searching for knowledge on things, without knowing that this is to seek from the heart and forcefully explore, in Wang Yangming's view, it is a tree without roots. Ask the chapter "Aspiration for Tao". The gentleman said: "Just the word 'Aspiration for Tao' contains the following few sentences of kung fu, so you can't live in it yourself. For example, to build this house, 'Aspiration for Tao' is to choose a place and manage it into a district house." According to "De" means that the classics and paintings have been completed, and there are evidences. "Yiren" often lives in the district house, let alone leave. "Entertainment" means adding some paintings to make the district house beautiful. Artists , righteousness, and what is appropriate for reason. Such as reciting poems, reading books, playing the piano, learning archery, etc., all of which are to adjust the mind and make it familiar with the Tao. No shape boy, don't go to build a district house first, just go to buy a painting to hang for the facade, I don't know where to hang it?"

Ask Mr. about his views on "aspiration to Tao, virtue, benevolence, and art". Mr. said: "Only the sentence 'willing to the Tao' contains the work of several sentences below, and it cannot just stay on the Tao. For example, in the matter of building a house, its 'willing to the Tao' must be Choose a good place, choose good materials, and finally build a house; "According to De" is equivalent to design drawings, so that actions can be based on; "According to Ren" means always on the construction site, living and fighting on the front line of production; "Playing in art" is to decorate and beautify the house. Art is righteousness and the most appropriate place for reason. For example, reciting poems, reading books, playing the piano, shooting, etc., are all for the purpose of training the heart and making it closer to the Tao .If you don't 'aspire to the Tao', but go to 'play in art', you are like a foolish guy who buys paintings to decorate the facade without building a house first. I don't know where he wants to hang the paintings?"

Here, Wang Yangming first affirmed the beautification or positive effect of "art" on life ("beautiful house in this district").At the same time, the internal unity of "art", "righteousness" and "Tao" is also "tune up the mind" to get its knowledge and make it familiar with the Tao.Obviously, Wang Yangming internalized moral emotion into individual aesthetic psychology, made life aesthetic, and made "art" serve life. Question: "Reading is indispensable for mobilizing the heart. But when reading, a certain meaning of the subject is drawn. I don't know how to avoid it?"

The Master said: "As long as the conscience is true, even if you do a lot of work, you don't feel tired. There will always be tiredness, and it is easy to feel it. It is just to restrain it. And it is like when reading a book, the conscience knows that the mind of obsessive memory is not, and you can get rid of it; if you want to The heart of speed is not, that is to say, get rid of it; the heart of exaggeration and fighting is not, that is, to get rid of it. In this way, it is just a heart that is purely natural. Letting him read is just to adjust this heart. That's all, why bother?"

Said: "Although I have been enlightened, Nai's qualifications are mediocre, so it is inevitable to be tired. I heard that the poor have a life, and the wise people may disdain this. I am not worthy to be entangled by sound and profit. I am willing to do this, and I am suffering. I want to abandon it. , and it is restricted by relatives, so I can't give it up. What can I do?" The master said: "There are many people who leave this matter to their relatives. In fact, they just have no ambition. When the will is established, the conscience can do everything but one thing. Reading and writing, can it be tiring? People are tired of gains and lose their ears!" Yin sighed and said : "I don't understand this study, I don't know how many heroes have been delayed here!" Someone asked: "Reading is to cultivate my original mind, so it is indispensable. But when I read, I inevitably feel born for the imperial examination. How to avoid this situation?" The husband said: "As long as the conscience is pure, even if it is for the imperial examination, it will not become a hindrance to the heart. Even if there is a little attachment, it is easier to find and get rid of it. For example, when reading, conscience finds rote thoughts. If the conscience finds that the idea of ​​seeking speed is wrong, it should get rid of it; if the conscience finds that it is wrong to have the idea of ​​boasting and winning, it should get rid of it. In this way, always put all your own What you have learned is confirmed by the sages, which is a heart that is purely natural. So no matter how you study, it is just a matter of cultivating your original heart, how can it become a bondage to your heart?" He asked the gentleman again: "Although I was enlightened by the teacher, I can't get rid of the fetters of the imperial examinations because of my mediocre talents. I have heard that people's poverty and mastery are all arranged by fate. Talented people are not interested in imperial examinations, etc. Things will probably be dismissive. I am obsessed with fame and wealth, and I am willing to study for it, but I can only worry about it alone. I want to get rid of this idea, but I am controlled by my parents and dare not let it go. What should I do?" The master said: "There are too many people who blame their parents for such things. In the final analysis, he himself has no ambition. The ambition is correct, and everything is just one thing in the conscience. How can one become a person by reading and writing? What about the burden? It’s just that people are tired of gains and losses!” The master then sighed and said: “The knowledge of conscience is not clear, and I don’t know how many heroes have been delayed by this!” Instead of blaming our parents, relatives and friends, we should introspect and understand that the problem lies in ourselves, because we have no ambition.When the ambition is firm, with a conscience, no matter what you do, it is "one thing".This is not against the original heart, learning for oneself, self-cultivation with sincerity, and doing things along the way. Question: "'Born is called nature', it is also true to tell it, how can Mencius deny it?" The master said: "It is nature, but Gao Zi recognizes it aside, and does not know the mind. If you know the mind, it is also true. Mencius also said: 'Form and form are also nature.' This also refers to the theory of qi." He also said: "Anyone who speaks without saying anything and does whatever he wants will say that this comes out of my mind and nature. This is the so-called nature of life, but there will be mistakes. If you know the mind and speak it out according to my conscience, then you will go. It is natural to stop. However, conscience is only talking about this, how can you get qi outside of this body, don't have someone to go and talk about it. Therefore, it is said: "When talking about the nature, no matter whether the breath is unprepared, and when talking about the breath, whether the nature is unclear." Qi It is also of nature, and of nature, it is also of qi, but the mind must be properly recognized.” Ask Mr.: "'Life is called sex', I think Gao Zi is right, but why did Mencius object?" The master said: "It is true that sex is innate, but Gaozi's understanding is biased, and he doesn't understand that there is a dominant place in it. If he knows that there is a dominant place, his words are also correct. Mencius also said:' Form and color are also innate.' This also refers to Qi." The master also said: "Most people talk nonsense and do things arbitrarily, saying that this is done according to my heart nature. This is the so-called 'life is called nature'. But this will cause mistakes. If you know that there is a master If you speak and act according to your own conscience, it will naturally be correct. But conscience is only your own words and deeds, how can you get angry from the outside, and have something else to say and do? Therefore Cheng Yi said: "When talking about sex, it doesn't matter whether Qi is unprepared, and when talking about Qi, whether the sex is unclear." Wang Yangming believes that in terms of thinking, there is a clear difference between sex (conscience) and qi (nature or experience): the former has moral value, while the latter does not.However, in practice, human goodness can only be manifested through specific behaviors of experience. In this sense, "Qi is also Xing, and Xing is also Qi", and Xing and Qi are inseparable.Therefore, when discussing human nature, it is necessary to take into account both sex and qi, and not to stick to one side. He also said: "Kung fu, you should not be 'helped'. There is very little wisdom, and there is no way for a scholar to surpass the principles of a sage. Together, one fall, one advance and one retreat, it is a kung fu festival. I can't use my kung fu the day before yesterday. If you are not doing well today, you have to force yourself to make a flawless appearance. This is "encouragement". Even the previous kung fu was broken. This is not a small fault. Don't deceive others to act like you never fell. You just need to always have the heart of "retiring from the world without boredom, seeing the truth without boredom", and according to this conscience, do it patiently, regardless of people's laughter, slander, honor or disgrace , let his kung fu advance and retreat, I am just the master of this conscience, and I will naturally gain strength after a long time. All external affairs will also be able to stay still." He also said: "If a person puts effort into practice, and follows others to slander and bully him, he will benefit everywhere, and everywhere is a capital for advancing virtue; if he does not practice hard work, he is just a demon, and will eventually be exhausted." The master also said: "When you are doing kung fu, the most taboo thing is to encourage it. There are very few people with superior wisdom, and scholars have no reason to surpass saints. One step, one fall, one advance and one retreat are all the rhythm and order of doing kung fu. I can't feel that I worked hard yesterday, but today I don't feel it is enough, so I forcefully pretend to be flawless. When a person walks, he suddenly stumbles, just stand up and continue walking, don’t pretend that he didn’t fall. You just need to always have a heart of “retiring from the world without boredom, seeing the truth without boredom” and following your conscience. To do it, I don’t care about other people’s ridicule, slander, praise, insult, I just want my conscience to be the master of my heart, and I will feel powerful after a long time, and I will naturally not be shaken by anything outside .” The master also said: "As long as people are diligent, no matter how others slander and insult, they will still benefit everywhere. Everywhere is a resource for daily progress. If you don't work hard, other people's slander and insult will become a demon, and you will eventually be exhausted by it. .” Wang Yangming told his disciples that a person who is devoted to self-education should base himself on self-identity and not seek social approval.In this way, Wang Yangming provided a theoretical basis for individual rebellion.While negating the value of social recognition, social evaluation, and realistic social moral norms, Wang Yangming emphasized that people should actually cultivate themselves according to their conscience. One day when Mr. Wen was out in Yuxue, Gu Tianjianhe said: "How long can it be, and it's so long!" Fan Zhaoqi said at the side: "This is only rooted. Learning can take root on its own, and it doesn't suffer from lack of growth." The master said: "There is no root in human beings. Conscience is the spiritual root planted in the sky, which is self-sufficient. But if you have private burdens, if you block this root from thieves, it will not come out." One day, my husband went to Dayu's tomb for sightseeing. Looking at the seedlings in the field, he said, "It's only been a few days, and the seedlings have grown taller again." Fan Zhaoqi said next to him: "This is because it has roots. If you can plant your own roots in learning, you don't have to worry about it not growing." The master said: "Whoever has no roots, conscience is the spiritual root of innate talent, and it can naturally continue to grow. It's just that it is dragged down by selfish desires, which blinds this spiritual root and cannot grow normally." The spiritual root of Tianzhi is the benevolence of one body, the "nature of life", the heart, and the conscience.Since it is planted in the sky, it is innate, intrinsic, and belongs to human nature; since it is a spiritual root, it must come out, "self-generated and endless". A friend is often angry and responsible.Mr. Jing said: "Study must be against oneself. If you only blame others, you will only see that people are wrong, but you will not see your own faults. If you can turn against yourself, you will see that you have many unfinished things. How can you blame others? Shun can transform into images. Ao, the reason is that he does not see the image. If Shun only needs to correct his treachery, he will see the image is not. If the image is arrogant, he will not be compared. How can he be influenced?" Friends regret. Said: "From now on, you just don't want to talk about the right and wrong of people. Whenever you have to judge people, just do it as a big selfishness." The master said: "When a friend asks questions, even if he is superficial or careless, or if he shows his talent and promotes himself, it is all a disease. It is okay to treat the disease because of the disease. Don't be contemptuous. It is not the heart of a gentleman to be kind to others." A friend often gets angry and blames others.The teacher warned him: "You should reflect on yourself when you study. If you just blame others blindly, you will only see the faults of others, but not your own shortcomings. If you can turn back and introspect, you will find that you have many shortcomings. Do you have time to criticize others? The key to Shun’s ability to influence arrogant Xiang is that Shun does not look at Xiang. He is also an arrogant person, he will definitely not admit his mistakes, how can Shun influence him?" The friend felt ashamed and repented after hearing this. The master said: "From now on, as long as you don't talk about other people's right and wrong, whenever you want to criticize or argue with others, just take this idea as your own big selfish desire and get rid of it." The master also said: "When friends question and make things difficult, even if they are superficial and careless, if you want to show off your talents because of this, it is a fault. You can only prescribe the right medicine, and you should not have the heart to despise others. Otherwise, you are not a gentleman. A heart of kindness." Wang Yangming is here to teach his disciples not to criticize others lightly, but to be kind to others.Shallow people and arrogant people will inevitably make people despise.Even if you don't say it with your mouth, your heart is still the same.A gentleman will be kind to others, constantly strive to introspect and reflect on his own heart. Question: "In "Yi", Zhu Zi is in charge of divination, and in "Cheng Zhuan", how about it?" The master said: "Divination is reason, and reason is also divination. Is there any reason in the world that is greater than divination? It is only for future generations that the divination expert reads divination, so it seems that divination is like a small art. I don't know my teacher and friend today. Questions and answers, erudition, interrogation, prudent thinking, discernment, earnest practice, etc., are all divination. Divination seeks to solve doubts, and the gods are my heart. "Yi" asks the heavens, people have doubts, and self-confidence is not enough, so " "Yi" asked the sky. It is said that the human heart still has something to do, but the sky does not allow false ears." Ask Mr.: "As for Zhu Xi, it is mainly about divination, and Cheng Yi said that it is mainly about "reasoning". Which of the two is correct?" The master said: "Divination is reason, and reason is also divination. Is there any reason in the world that surpasses divination? It is only because people in later generations regard divination as only divination, so they think divination is a trivial skill. But I don't know what is in the quizzes of our teachers and friends now. The erudition, interrogation, prudent thinking, discernment, and earnest practice are all divination. Divination is just to resolve doubts and make my heart become gods. "Yi" is to ask for advice from heaven. When people have doubts, they will be confident When there is not enough, then use the "Yi" to ask the sky. The human heart is still partial, and only the sky can not be hypocritical." Wang Yangming's opinion on divination is to elevate the divination activity to the meaning of poor reason, so erudition, interrogation, prudent thinking, discernment, and earnest practice are not only poor theory, but also divination.In this way, the definition of divination in traditional Chinese culture has been changed. Therefore, divination does not refer specifically to asking ghosts and gods, but all activities of practical practice.