February 2023

只有心地纯洁的人，才可以读全贤书，学古人的道德文章，否则，看到善行好事就用来满足自己的私欲，听到名言佳句就拿来掩饰自己的缺点，这 就等于资助武器给贼子，接济粮食给强盗。 《菜根谭·心地干净 方可学古》 洪应明 心地干净，方可读书学古，不然，见一善行窃以济私，闻一善言假以覆短，是又籍寇兵而赍盗粮矣。 Only a person of pure moral character can appreciate the fine nature of the ancient sages through the study of ancient works. Otherwise, bad people would be able to appropriate the good deeds of the worthies of antiquity for their own nefarious ends, and quote their wise words to

每个人的际遇各有不同，机运好的可施展拖负，机运坏将可能一事无成，自己又如何能要求机运的特别待遇呢？自己的情绪有好有坏，有稳定也有浮躁的时候，自己又如何能要求别人事事都顺从你的意愿呢？假如自己能平心 静气来对照观察，也就是设身处地反躬自问，这是领悟人生的一个最好途径。 《菜根谭·相观对治 方便法门》 洪应明 人之际遇，有齐有不齐，而能使己独齐乎？己之情理，有顺有不顺，而能使人皆顺乎？以此相观对治，亦是一方便法门。 Every man has his own life experiences. With some, it is always plain sailing, while others encounter many hardships and failures. How can a person ensure that he alone will always be successful? Every man feels differently at different times. How can one expect others to be always in

施恩惠给别人的人，不可老把恩惠记在心头；不应有让别人赞美的念头；这样即使是一斗米也可收到万钟的回报；用财物帮助别人的人，如果计较自 己对人的施舍，而且要求人家的报答，这样即使是付出一百镒，也难收到一 文钱的功效。 《菜根谭·施之不求 求之无功》 洪应明 施恩者，内不见己，外不见人，则斗粟可当万钟之惠；利物者，计己之施，责人之报，虽百镒难成一文之功。 A true benefactor does not regard himself as doing good deeds, nor does he regard others as the recipients of his kindness. A Chinese peck of rice given in such a spirit is worthy a granary. But when an alms-giver expects some requital for his largesse, even though

《大学》是一篇论述儒家修身治国平天下思想的散文，原是《小戴礼记》第四十二篇，相传为曾子所作，实为秦汉时儒家作品，是一部中国古代讨论教育理论的重要著作。经北宋程颢、程颐竭力尊崇，南宋朱熹又作《大学章句》，最终和《中庸》、《论语》、《孟子》并称“四书”。宋、元以后，《大学》成为学校官定的教科书和科举考试的必读书，对中国古代教育产生了极大的影响。 《大学·八》 曾子 所谓齐其家在修其身者，人之其所亲爱而辟焉，之其所贱恶而辟焉，之其所敬畏而辟焉，之其所哀矜而辟焉，之其所敖惰而辟焉，故好而知其恶，恶而知其美者，天下鲜矣！故谚有之曰：“人莫之其子之恶，莫知其苗之硕。”此谓身不修，不可以齐其家。 What is meant by “The regulation of one’s family depends on the cultivation of his person,” is this: –Men are partial where they feel affection and love; partial where they despise and dislike; partial where they stand in awe and reverence; partial where they feel sorrow and compassion; partial where they