《弟子规》英语版(6)

　　Chapter 6: Be Close to and Learn from People of Virtue and Compassion

　　We are all human, but we are not the same. Most of us are ordinary; only a very few have great virtues and high moral principles. A truly virtuous person is greatly respected by others. He will not be afraid to speak the truth and he will not fawn on others. If you are close to and learn from people of great virtue and compassion, you will benefit immensely. Your virtues will grow daily and your wrongdoings will lessen day by day. If you are not close to and learn from people of great virtue, you will suffer a great loss. People without virtue will get close to you and nothing you do will succeed.

Chapter 7: After All the Above Are Accomplished, Study Further and Learn Literature and Art to Improve Your Cultural and Spiritual Life

　　If you so not actively make use of what you have learned, but continue to study on the surface, your knowledge is increasing but it is only superficial. What kind of person will you be? If you do apply your knowledge diligently, but stop studying, you will only do things based on your own opinion, thinking it is correct. In fact, what you know is not the truth.

　　There are methods to study correctly. They involve concentration in three areas: your mind, your eyes, and your mouth. To believe in what you read is equally important. When you begin to read a book, do not think about another. If you have not completed the book, do not start another. Give yourself lots of time to study, and study hard. Given time and effort,[26] you will thoroughly understand. If you have a question, make a note of it. Ask the person who has the knowledge for the right answer.

　　Keep your room neat, your walls uncluttered and clean, your desk tidy and your brush[27] and inkstone[28] properly placed. If your ink block[29] is ground unevenly, it shows you have a poor state of mind.

　　When words are written carelessly, showing no respect, it shows your state of mind has not been well. The books[30] should be classified, placed on the book shelves, and in their proper places. After you finish reading a book, put it back in its right place. Even though you are in a hurry neatly roll up and bind the open bamboo scroll you were reading. Any missing or damaged pages are to be repaired. If it is not a book on the teachings of the saints and sages, it should be discarded and not even be looked at. These other books can block your intelligence and wisdom, and will undermine your aspiration and sense of direction.

　　Neither be harsh on yourself, nor give up on yourself.

　　To be a person of high ideals, moral standards and virtue is something we can all attain in time.

　　[1] Select from Analects of Confucius, Book⒐, Chapter 6. It was taught by Confucius, Mencius, and other Chinese saints and sages of the ancient past.

　　[2] ¨Xiao〃 and ¨Ti〃 have been the very foundation of Chinese culture for five thousand years. Xiao ¨У〃 means to be dutiful to oneˇs parents with affection, and to understand the basic relationship of grandparents, parents and self. In ideogram form, xiao has two components- the top part of xiao is the top portion of the word elder ¨ρ〃 and the bottom part is the word son ¨?.〃 Combined, it implies that the older generation and the younger generation are one: that there should be no gap between them. In Buddhism, the meaning is further extended. Outside the family, the child should treat every male and female of the parentsˇ generation as if they were the childˇs own father and mother. Ti¨?〃 means sincere fraternal love. Here it is used more as the principle and standard of conduct of the younger brother towards his older brother when the younger brother is away from home. In Buddhism, its meaning also extends further to include conduct towards all older persons of any one generation.

　　[3] 〃To believe in the teachings of the ancient saints and sages〃 means to actually practice and put the teachings of the ancient saints and sages into effect.

　　[4] For example, in Buddhism, it is considered breaking the precept of not stealing if you borrow a piece of paper or take someoneˇs pen without permission. It is considered breaking the precept of not killing if you kill an ant or mosquito. If you lie or talk about someone behind his back, you have broken the precept of not lying, etc.

　　[5] Your parents will be saddened by your actions, because if their child behaves in such a way when he is still young, then he will probably twist the law in order to obtain bribes and be a curse to his country and his people when he grows up.

　　[6] If what pleases your parents is illegitimate or unreasonable, you should tactfully dissuade your parents, and tell them the reasons why they should not have it.

　　[7] You should lead your parents to proper views and understanding of things.

　　[8] Virtues are standards and principles of one’s conduct. In China a man’s conduct is ruled by “Wu Chang” 五常and “Ba De”八德. “Wu Chang” are the five moral principles: kindheartedness 仁, personal loyalty義, proper etiquette 禮, wisdom智, and trustworthiness信. “Ba De” are the eight virtues: duty to parents 孝, respect for elders悌, loyalty忠, credibility信, proper etiquette禮, personal loyalty義, a sense of honor廉, and a sense of shame恥.

　　[9] In ancient China, when a child did not obey the parents, the parents were allowed to discipline the child. If a child refused to be disciplined, the parents had the right to ask the authorities to have the child executed.

　　[10] Chinese people take herbal medicine prescribed by Chinese doctors. Herbs are boiled with water to make a liquid medicine. Before giving such medicine to oneˇs parents, a child should taste it first to make sure it is not too hot or too bitter.

　　[11] In ancient China, etiquette for funerals was set by the emperor.

　　[12] When our parents were alive, we should have treated them with our love and respect. After they pass away, we should arrange their funerals with our deepest sorrow. For all the subsequent commemorations and anniversaries held, we should show our love and respect as if they were still alive.

　　[13] Parents are happy when their children get along with each other. This is one way children can show they are dutiful to their parents.

　　[14] In Ancient China, a male person had at least two names. The first name was the ¨given name,〃 which was given to him by his parents when he was born. A second name was given to him by his friends when he reached the age of 20, at a ¨Ceremony of the Hat〃 given in his honor to announce his coming of age. After that only his parents called him by his ¨given name.〃 Everyone else, out of respect, including the emperor, could only call him by his second name. The only exception was if he committed a crime. During sentencing, he would be called by his ¨given name.〃

　　[15] In Ancient China, most people used horses or carriages as their means of transportation.

　　[16] See footnote 14.

　　[17] See footnote 2.

　　[18] See footnote 2.

　　[19] There is an old Chinese proverb: ¨A unit of time is as precious as a unit of gold, but you cannot buy back one unit of time with one unit of gold.〃 It means that time is really very precious, as no amount of money can buy time.

　　[20] In ancient China, when a male wore a hat, it meant he had passed the age of becoming an adult.

　　[21] In ancient China, in place of buttons, people used hooks. When dressed, hooks had to be tied.

　　[22] In ancient China, people paid their respect to other people by bowing, holding one hand over the other which is closed, or prostrating on the ground.

　　[23] In ancient China, curtains were made of bamboo strips woven together. They were used to shelter a room from view.

　　[24] Even though a container may be empty, out of reverence to things, whether living or not, one should treat it with respect and handle it with care.

　　[25] In ancient China, a virtuous man always behaved properly, regardless of whether he was alone or with others.

　　[26] If you do not understand part of book you are reading, read it again and again, even for a thousand times. Its meaning will come to you naturally.

　　[27] ¨Brush〃 here means a Chinese writing brush.

　　[28] ¨Inkstone〃 is a stone stand used for the preparing and holding the ink used in Chinese brush calligraphy.

　　[29] ¨Ink block〃 is a solid ink piece. A person grinds it with water against he inkstone to make ink for writing Chinese brush calligraphy.

　　[30] Here ¨books〃 refer to books on laws, constitutions, and the structural systems of a nation.