"University" directly explained: "From the emperor to Shu Ren, the first is self-cultivation. If it goes wrong in the end, it can't be cured. Thick is thin, thin is thick, and there is nothing. " It means that everyone in the world, from the son of heaven to ordinary people, should take self-cultivation as the foundation. Self-cultivation is the foundation, and governing the country with the family is the purpose. If you can't cultivate yourself, it's simply gone with the times. Just like a tree, it is impossible to flourish with a broken root. It is impossible to run a country by home without self-cultivation. People are close and far away, so there is a difference between caring and caring. It is better to treat family than strangers. It is unreasonable to care about your parents, brothers and children, but to care about the whole world.
Someone asked Wang Yangming: "Adults and everything are the same. Why do universities have this kind of thickness? "
Mr. Wang said: "Because truth has thickness. For example, the body is a whole. Is it particularly contemptuous to protect the head and eyes with hands and feet? Because it should be. Sages also care about animals and plants. How can they bear to feed animals and plants? Sages also care about people and animals. How can they have the heart to slaughter animals to support their loved ones, sacrifice and entertain guests? Saints care for their loved ones and passers-by. If they have only a little food, they can live. If they don't get it, they will die. They can't be satisfied with both. How can they have the heart to save their loved ones instead of passers-by? These are all reasons. They should be. As for treating yourself and your loved ones, you can't tell each other's thickness. Because caring about people and things extends from caring about the people you love. If you can't care about the people you love, you can't be a man. The thickness mentioned in "University" is a natural truth in conscience and cannot be violated. This is righteousness; Acting according to this truth is to keep the ceremony; Understanding this truth is wisdom; Always adhere to this truth, that is, have faith. "
Goodwill from near to far, from near to sparse. From self-cultivation, to caring for family, that is, keeping the family in order, to caring for the people and everything, that is, governing the country and leveling the world.
It is impossible to treat people and things regardless of thickness. Man's strength is limited. Caring about this is bound to lag behind that, and there must be a difference in thickness. If you don't even love your loved ones, you should care for strangers in the world, flowers and trees. This is against people's natural feelings.