Return to the Light: How to Speak Properly

Evil words? A: Suitable for use, not useless. Words and things, as well as joy and sorrow. When what is received, it is the way of words. Talking about ghosts all day long is useless, and it is not cut to oneself; and it is said that it is useful to talk all day long, and it is cut to oneself. What is the difference between a husband who talks about it all the time by cutting itself to himself, and not being worthy of what he receives, and talking about ghosts?

Confucius said, "Words are careful." "It is not necessary to be careful with what it is, but it is to be spoken and to be careful. The Tao is in man, if the ears and eyes are mouthed and nose. Those who see it do not ask, and those who see it do not speak. If the people say all the time, if my ears are what my ears are, if my eyes are what my mouth and nose are, then people think that they are crazy and fallacious, but they who have ears, eyes, mouths, and noses do not need to be said. The hungry speak and eat, and the full do not speak; the cold speak, and the warm do not speak.

In the past, when I and Zigong learned to hear the teachings of the Master, they could be similar to each other, and their words were not unsubstantiated on the Tao, and at that time they were intended to be the subject of speech. The learning of the scholar, who has the name of virtue and words, can also be shamed for those who slaughter me and pay tribute.

Zeng Zi is known as "only", Yan Zi is "like a fool", and the second son is not a word of untruth, but a pawn in the way of a saint. Confucius said, "There is no word for desire." The same is true of the words of the saints. Saints are not words-oriented either. Four hours, a hundred things are born, and the way of the saints is also.

(Zheng Shu Zhou Jun School: "Shukugawa Senseishu", Shanghai Old Registered Publishing Company 1981 edition)

Translations

What is appropriate for speech? In short, useful is appropriate, useless is inappropriate. Speech should touch specific things and match people's joys and sorrows. Conforming to the specific things that are in contact with is the law of speech. Talking about ghosts every day from morning to night is considered useless because it is not close to their own life; every day from morning to night, people think it is useful because they are close to their own lives. Talking about it from morning to night every day because it is close to your own life does not correspond to the specific things you are exposed to, so what is the difference between talking about ghosts and ghosts?

Confucius said, "Be cautious in your ordinary speech. "It's not that what can't be said should be cautious, even what can be said should be cautious. The relationship between the Tao and man is like the relationship between the ears, the mouth, the nose and the people. Those who see it do not ask, and those who have it do not say. If someone says every day from morning to night how my ears are, how my eyes are, how my mouth and nose are, then people will feel arrogant and unreasonable, because there are actually ears, eyes, noses, and mouths, and there is no need to say them. The hungry say food, but the well-fed say; the cold say clothes, while the warm ones don't say: that's exactly what it is.

In the past, Zai and Zigong used to listen to the Master's teachings, so they were able to make some similar arguments to the Master, and their arguments were not non-conformism, but at that time they were recognized as words because they simulated the Master. If a scholar's learning abandons the cultivation of virtue and has a reputation for words, and is called a person like Zai I and Zi Gong, he should also feel ashamed.

Zeng Zi humbly agreed to "only wei", and Yan Hui was called stupid by the master, and the two did not say words without practical content, but eventually reached the realm of saints. Confucius said, "I hope not to speak." "That's how the saint values words! Saints do not rely on words to increase their weight. The four seasons are reincarnated as usual, and all things grow as usual, without any flaunting, which is the virtue of the saints.