Four mottos of Zeng Guofan's family
One is: Be cautious and alone, and you will have peace of mind. The way to self-cultivation is never difficult to cultivate the mind. If the mind knows that there is good and there is evil, but cannot use its power to think of good and eliminate evil, it is called self-deception. Whether you deceive oneself or not will not be known to others, but to oneself alone. Know it. Therefore, the "Sincerity" chapter of "The Great Learning" contains two words of caution. If one can love good as well as lust, hate evil as well as hate stench, and be able to eliminate human desires in order to maintain the laws of nature, then the so-called self-humility in "The Great Learning" and the so-called caution and fear in "The Doctrine of the Mean" can all be practiced practically, that is, Zengzi What Mencius calls self-reflection and shrinking, what Mencius said about looking up without shame, bowing without being embarrassed, and what nourishing the mind is better than having few desires are all nothing more than this. Therefore, one can be cautious about independence. Then you will not feel guilty if you introspect, you can confront the heaven and earth, ghosts and gods, and you will never be discouraged if you do nothing but keep it in your heart. If a person has nothing to be ashamed of, then the Lord of Heaven will be calm, and his mind will always be quick and tolerant. This is the first way to strengthen himself in life, the first way to find happiness, and the first priority to protect himself.
Secondly, respecting the Lord makes the body strong. The word "respect" was used by Confucius to teach people, and it was also often said by scholar-bureaucrats in the Spring and Autumn Period. When it came to Cheng Zhu, he could not deviate from this purpose in thousands of words. Internally, he should be dedicated, quiet and pure, and externally, he should be neat and solemn, which is the skill of respect. When going out, it is like seeing a distinguished guest, making the people feel like they are receiving a great sacrifice, and the atmosphere of respect is there. Cultivate oneself to calm the people, and be respectful and respectful, and the world will be peaceful. The effect of respect is also there. Cheng Zi said that when superiors and subordinates are respectful, then the heaven and earth will take their own place, all things will grow on their own, the Qi will be in harmony, the four spirits will be in harmony, and wisdom and wisdom will all come from this. With this matter, heaven and earth are in harmony, so it is said that Jing is perfect and unprepared. I say that the close effect of the word "Jing" is that it can especially strengthen the muscles and tendons in people's skin. Being solemn and respectful is getting stronger day by day, and peace and quiet is getting stronger day by day. These are all natural responses. Even though the body is old and sick, when it comes to sacrifices in altars and temples, or when the battle array is critical, you will not feel the gods being frightened and the Qi being uplifted. , This is enough to know that respect can make a person strong. If there are no crowds, no matter how big or small, if everyone is respectful and does not feel arrogant, then there is no doubt that the body will be strong.
The third saying is that seeking benevolence will please others. The nature of mortals is formed by the principles of heaven and earth, and is shaped by the energy of heaven and earth. I and the people are basically from the same source. If you only know how to be selfish but do not know how to be kind to the people and love things, you will have gone against the principle of one source and have lost it. As for respecting officials, being generous and remunerative, and being high above others, it is the responsibility to save the people from drowning and starvation. Reading and studying the ancients, and knowing the general idea, means that you have the responsibility to realize it later. If you only know yourself, but don't know how to educate the common people, you will be letting down the great favor of Heaven.
Confucius teaches people nothing more than seeking benevolence, and the most important thing is not to establish people and to reach people. Those who are established are self-reliant and not afraid, like a rich man who has more than enough and does not ask for anything from outside; an accomplished person is able to reach out to all directions and is not afraid, like a noble man who climbs high and calls out, and all the mountains respond to him. People don't want to establish themselves and achieve their goals. If they can promote others and achieve others, they will be like the spring of things. Those who seek benevolence in later generations should not be more proficient in Zhang Zizhi's "Xi Ming". He regards the people and things, promotes the ethics of the group, and serves the nature of heaven. If he must do this, he can be called a human being; if he does not do this, he is said to be unethical and a thief. As it is said, although all the people have established the world, all the people have reached the world, but they have not done enough good work, are there any people who are displeased and return home?
Fourth: Practicing labor will lead to spiritual enlightenment. Mortal feelings are all about idleness and indolence. No matter high or low, wise or stupid, old or young, all are greedy for ease and afraid of hard work. This is the same in ancient and modern times. If the clothes a person wears and the food he eats in a day are commensurate with the strength used in the things he does in a day, others will notice him, and ghosts and gods will do so, thinking that he is self-reliant. If a farmer and a weaver work diligently all year round to make several loads of millet and several feet of cloth, and if the rich and noble live happily all the year round and do not engage in any business, their food will be delicious, their clothes will be beautiful, and they will sleep soundly and soundly. , this most unfair thing in the world is not allowed by ghosts and gods. How long can it last?
In the ancient sages and kings, if the emperor's ignorance was revealed, King Wen would not miss it day and night, and Duke Zhou would work day and night, waiting for dawn, and he would not work hard to encourage himself at all times. In the article "Wu Yi", it is said that diligence leads to longevity, and leisure leads to premature death. If you are not happy after every experience, you must practice skills, temper your muscles and bones, learn what you know and do hard, and worry about dangers, and then you can increase your wisdom and gain wisdom. If you have long talents and knowledge, if you endanger the world's plans, you will starve yourself and drown yourself. Yu the Great lived in Zhou Dynasty for four years, but could not pass through the door. Mozi rubbed his head and put aside his heels in order to benefit the world. He was extremely frugal in devoting himself to life, and extremely diligent in saving the people. Therefore, Xunzi likes to call him Dayu, and Mo Zhai's trip is due to his diligence.
Since the rise of the military, every time we see people with talents and skills who can endure hardship, they are always used by others and become famous in time. Those who have no talent or skills and are not used to hard work will be abandoned by the time and die of hunger and cold.
Therefore, if you are diligent, you will live long, and if you are lazy, you will die young; if you are diligent, you will find use if you have talents, but if you are incompetent, you will be abandoned; if you are diligent, you will benefit the people, and the gods will admire you; if you are lazy, you will not be helpful to people, and the ghosts and gods will not be ashamed. Therefore, if a gentleman wants to be supported by humans and gods, there is nothing more important than practicing hard work.
In his remaining years, he was often ill and his eyesight became increasingly jealous. It is extremely difficult to save it, but you and your nephews are few of you who are strong. When a gentleman in ancient times cultivates himself and manages his family, he will be able to have a peaceful mind and a strong body, and then he will be revitalized. He will make people happy and have a good fortune. I write down these four rules to be on guard in old age, to make up for the mistakes of the past. I also order my two sons to teach each other, and teach them each other every night, and at the end of each month, I send them to my nephews to guard them, so that they can have good health. Cheng Yan.
The road to Shu is as difficult as climbing to the sky. I turned to the west and looked to the west, sighing.