Great learning by C.Muller http://www.hm.tyg.jp/-acmuller/contao/greatlearning.htm The Great Learning Translated by Charles Muller (First translated in July,1990) The Text [山大學之道在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。 The way of great learning consists in manifesting one's bright virtue,consists in loving the people,consists in stopping in perfect goodness. [2]知止而后有定： When you know where to stop,you have stability. 定而后能靜： When you have stability,you can be tranquil. 靜而后能安； When you are tranquil,you can be at ease. 安而后能慮： When you are at ease,you can deliberate. 慮而后能得。 When you can deliberate you can attain your aims
Great learning by C. Muller http://www.hm.tyg.jp/~acmuller/contao/greatlearning.htm The Great Learning Translated by Charles Muller (First translated in July, 1990) The Text [1] 大學之道在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。 The way of great learning consists in manifesting one's bright virtue, consists in loving the people, consists in stopping in perfect goodness. [2] 知止而后有定； When you know where to stop, you have stability. 定而后能靜； When you have stability, you can be tranquil. 靜而后能安； When you are tranquil, you can be at ease. 安而后能慮； When you are at ease, you can deliberate. 慮而后能得。 When you can deliberate you can attain your aims
[3]物有本末；事有終始。知所先後則近道矣。 Things have their roots and branches,affairs have their end and beginning. When you know what comes first and what comes last,then you are near the Way. [4]古之欲明明德於天下者、先治其國。 The ancients who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world first governed well their own states. 欲治其國者先齊其家。 Wanting to govern well their states,they first harmonized their own clans. 欲齊其家者先脩其身。 Wanting to harmonize their own clan,they first cultivated themselves. 欲脩其身者先正其心。 Wanting to cultivate themselves,they first corrected their minds. 欲正其心者先誠其意。 Wanting to correct their minds,they first made their wills sincere. 欲誠其意者先致其知。 Wanting to make their wills sincere,they first extended their knowledge. 致知在格物。 Extension of knowledge consists of the investigation of things. [5]物格而后知至。 When things are investigated,knowledge is extended. 知至而后意誠。 When knowledge is extended,the will becomes sincere. 意誠而后心正。 When the will is sincere,the mind is correct
[3] 物有本末；事有終始。知所先後則近道矣。 Things have their roots and branches, affairs have their end and beginning. When you know what comes first and what comes last, then you are near the Way. [4] 古之欲明明德於天下者、先治其國。 The ancients who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world first governed well their own states. 欲治其國者先齊其家。 Wanting to govern well their states, they first harmonized their own clans. 欲齊其家者先脩其身。 Wanting to harmonize their own clan, they first cultivated themselves. 欲脩其身者先正其心。 Wanting to cultivate themselves, they first corrected their minds. 欲正其心者先誠其意。 Wanting to correct their minds, they first made their wills sincere. 欲誠其意者先致其知。 Wanting to make their wills sincere, they first extended their knowledge. 致知在格物。 Extension of knowledge consists of the investigation of things. [5] 物格而后知至。 When things are investigated, knowledge is extended. 知至而后意誠。 When knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere. 意誠而后心正。 When the will is sincere, the mind is correct
心正而后身脩。 When the mind is correct,the self is cultivated. 身脩而后家齊。 When the self is cultivated,the clan is harmonized. 家齊而后國治。 When the clan is harmonized,the country is well governed. 國治而后天下平。 When the country is well governed,there will be peace throughout the land. [6]自天子以至於庶人壹是皆以脩身爲本。 From the king down to the common people,all must regard the cultivation of the self as the most essential thing. [刀其本亂而末治者，否矣。其所厚者薄而其所薄者厚，未之有也。 It is impossible to have a situation wherein the essentials are in disorder,and the externals are well-managed.You simply cannot take the essential things as superficial, and the superficial things as essential The traditional commentary,attributed to Confucius,through the transmission of Tseng Tzu 1.In the "Announcement to K'ang"it is said,"He was able to manifest his virtue." The "Tai-chia"says,"He contemplated Heaven's unveiled mandate. The "Canon of Yao"says,"he was able to manifest his lofty virtue." 2.The inscription of the bath of King Tang said,"If you renew yourself for one day, you can renew yourself daily,and continue to do so." In the "Announcement of K'ang"it says,"carry out the renewal of the people." The Book ofOdes says,"Even though Chou was an ancient state,its mandate was sustained anew."Therefore there is nothing in which the Superior Man does not fully exert himself. 3.The Book ofOdes says,"The people only stay (comfortably)in a state where there is security
心正而后身脩。 When the mind is correct, the self is cultivated. 身脩而后家齊。 When the self is cultivated, the clan is harmonized. 家齊而后國治。 When the clan is harmonized, the country is well governed. 國治而后天下平。 When the country is well governed, there will be peace throughout the land. [6] 自天子以至於庶人壹是皆以脩身爲本。 From the king down to the common people, all must regard the cultivation of the self as the most essential thing. [7] 其本亂而末治者，否矣。其所厚者薄而其所薄者厚，未之有也。 It is impossible to have a situation wherein the essentials are in disorder, and the externals are well-managed. You simply cannot take the essential things as superficial, and the superficial things as essential. The traditional commentary, attributed to Confucius, through the transmission of Tseng Tzu 1. In the "Announcement to K'ang" it is said, "He was able to manifest his virtue." The "T'ai-chia" says, "He contemplated Heaven's unveiled mandate." The "Canon of Yao" says, "he was able to manifest his lofty virtue." 2. The inscription of the bath of King T'ang said, "If you renew yourself for one day, you can renew yourself daily, and continue to do so." In the "Announcement of K'ang" it says, "carry out the renewal of the people." The Book of Odes says, "Even though Chou was an ancient state, its mandate was sustained anew." Therefore there is nothing in which the Superior Man does not fully exert himself. 3. The Book of Odes says, "The people only stay (comfortably) in a state where there is security
The Book ofOdes also says,"The chirping bird only rests in the wooded part of the hill."The Master said,"When it rests,it knows where to rest.Can a person possibly be unequal to a bird?" The Book ofOdes also says,"How sublime was King Wen!He abode in clear, shining reverence."As a ruler,he abode in jen,as a minister,he abode in reverence,as a son,he abode in filial piety,as a father,he abode in loving compassion,and in his interactions with the people of the land,he abode in trustworthiness. The Book ofOdes also says, Look at the bend in the Ch'i River, And how green and luxuriant the bamboo trees are there! Here is our refined prince, Who is like a gem cut and filed, Carved and polished! How dignified he is,and how awesome! How majestic and distinguished! Our illustrious prince will never be forgotten. 'Like a gem cut and filed'refers to the way of study.'Like a gem carved and polished' refers to self-cultivation.'How dignified and awesome,'refers to a cautious respect. 'How majestic and distinguished,'refers to his awe-inspiring way of handling himself. 'Our illustrious prince will never be forgotten,'means that the Tao flourishes in him and his virtue reaches excellence,hence,the people will be unable to forget him. The Book ofOdes also says,"Aah,the ancient kings are not forgotten!"The Superior Man treats the worthy as worthy and loves his family.The inferior man enjoys his enjoyment and grabs profit whenever he has a chance.It is in this way that they are not forgotten after their death. 4.Confucius said,"In hearing legal cases I am just like anyone else.What we really need is to not have these legal cases." Those who lack sincerity should not be allowed to speak on and on.They should also have a great awe for the will of the people.This is called knowing the basis. 5.This is called,'Knowing the root.'This is called 'The extension of knowledge.' 6.'Making the will sincere,'means 'no self-deception.'Like when we allow ourselves to be disgusted by a bad smell or become infatuated with a beautiful face.This is called 'self-satisfaction.'Therefore the Superior Man must be watchful over himself when he is alone. When the inferior man is at leisure,there is no limit to the extent of his evil.But when he sees a Superior Man he will be ashamed;he will cover his evil and show off his goodness.When people observe you,they see right to your core
The Book of Odes also says, "The chirping bird only rests in the wooded part of the hill." The Master said, "When it rests, it knows where to rest. Can a person possibly be unequal to a bird?" The Book of Odes also says, "How sublime was King Wen! He abode in clear, shining reverence." As a ruler, he abode in jen, as a minister, he abode in reverence, as a son, he abode in filial piety, as a father, he abode in loving compassion, and in his interactions with the people of the land, he abode in trustworthiness. The Book of Odes also says, Look at the bend in the Ch'i River, And how green and luxuriant the bamboo trees are there! Here is our refined prince, Who is like a gem cut and filed, Carved and polished! How dignified he is, and how awesome! How majestic and distinguished! Our illustrious prince will never be forgotten. 'Like a gem cut and filed' refers to the way of study. 'Like a gem carved and polished' refers to self-cultivation. 'How dignified and awesome,' refers to a cautious respect. 'How majestic and distinguished,' refers to his awe-inspiring way of handling himself. 'Our illustrious prince will never be forgotten,' means that the Tao flourishes in him and his virtue reaches excellence, hence, the people will be unable to forget him. The Book of Odes also says, "Aah, the ancient kings are not forgotten!" The Superior Man treats the worthy as worthy and loves his family. The inferior man enjoys his enjoyment and grabs profit whenever he has a chance. It is in this way that they are not forgotten after their death. 4. Confucius said, "In hearing legal cases I am just like anyone else. What we really need is to not have these legal cases." Those who lack sincerity should not be allowed to speak on and on. They should also have a great awe for the will of the people. This is called knowing the basis. 5. This is called, 'Knowing the root.' This is called 'The extension of knowledge.' 6. 'Making the will sincere,' means 'no self-deception.' Like when we allow ourselves to be disgusted by a bad smell or become infatuated with a beautiful face. This is called 'self-satisfaction.' Therefore the Superior Man must be watchful over himself when he is alone. When the inferior man is at leisure, there is no limit to the extent of his evil. But when he sees a Superior Man he will be ashamed; he will cover his evil and show off his goodness. When people observe you, they see right to your core
So what's the use of being deceitful?Therefore we say:"internal sincerity expresses itself outwardly without obscuration."Therefore the Superior Man must be watchful over himself when he is alone. Tseng Tzu said,"What ten eyes are seeing,what ten fingers are indicating,isn't it sublime?Riches adorn a house,virtue adorns the person;the mind is expansive and the body is at ease.Therefore the Superior Man must make his will sincere." 7."The cultivation of the person lies in the correction of the mind." When you are angry,you cannot be correct.When you are frightened,you cannot be correct;when there is something you desire,you cannot be correct;when there is something you are anxious about,you cannot be correct.When the mind is not present, we look,but do not see.We listen,but do not hear,we eat,but don't taste our food. This is the meaning of "the cultivation of the person lies in the correction of the mind." 8."The regulation of the family lies in the cultivation of the person." When there is someone you love,you are biased.When there is something you hate, you are biased.When there is something you are in awe of,you are biased.When there is someone you pity,you are biased.When you are lazy,you are biased.Those who love someone and yet know their bad points,or who hate someone and yet know their good points,are few and far between.Hence there is the proverb:"The man does not know of his own son's evil,or the richness of his own corn."This shows that if you do not cultivate yourself,you cannot regulate your family. 9."Before governing the country,you must first regulate your family." There has never been a case where a man could not educate his own family,and yet could educate others.Therefore the Superior man perfects the education for the country without leaving his own home.Filial piety is the means by which you serve your ruler.Fraternal submission is the means by which you serve your elders. Compassion is the means by which you deal with everyone The "Announcement of K'ang"says:"It is like a mother completely giving herself to the care of her baby."She may not be perfect,but she won't be far off,even though she never took a course on child-rearing before having the baby. When one family becomes jen,the whole country will be stimulated to jen When one family becomes easy to get along with,all the people in the country are stimulated to become easy to get along with.If one man greedily upsets things,the whole country can be plunged into chaos.Its function is really like this.Hence there is the saying "one word can win the whole affair,one man can settle the whole kingdom."Yao and Shun led the realm by jen and the people
So what's the use of being deceitful? Therefore we say: "internal sincerity expresses itself outwardly without obscuration." Therefore the Superior Man must be watchful over himself when he is alone. Tseng Tzu said, "What ten eyes are seeing, what ten fingers are indicating, isn't it sublime? Riches adorn a house, virtue adorns the person; the mind is expansive and the body is at ease. Therefore the Superior Man must make his will sincere." 7. "The cultivation of the person lies in the correction of the mind." When you are angry, you cannot be correct. When you are frightened, you cannot be correct; when there is something you desire, you cannot be correct; when there is something you are anxious about, you cannot be correct. When the mind is not present, we look, but do not see. We listen, but do not hear, we eat, but don't taste our food. This is the meaning of "the cultivation of the person lies in the correction of the mind." 8. "The regulation of the family lies in the cultivation of the person." When there is someone you love, you are biased. When there is something you hate, you are biased. When there is something you are in awe of, you are biased. When there is someone you pity, you are biased. When you are lazy, you are biased. Those who love someone and yet know their bad points, or who hate someone and yet know their good points, are few and far between. Hence there is the proverb: "The man does not know of his own son's evil, or the richness of his own corn." This shows that if you do not cultivate yourself, you cannot regulate your family. 9. "Before governing the country, you must first regulate your family." There has never been a case where a man could not educate his own family, and yet could educate others. Therefore the Superior man perfects the education for the country without leaving his own home. Filial piety is the means by which you serve your ruler. Fraternal submission is the means by which you serve your elders. Compassion is the means by which you deal with everyone. The "Announcement of K'ang" says: "It is like a mother completely giving herself to the care of her baby." She may not be perfect, but she won't be far off, even though she never took a course on child-rearing before having the baby. When one family becomes jen, the whole country will be stimulated to jen. When one family becomes easy to get along with, all the people in the country are stimulated to become easy to get along with. If one man greedily upsets things, the whole country can be plunged into chaos. Its function is really like this. Hence there is the saying "one word can win the whole affair, one man can settle the whole kingdom." Yao and Shun led the realm by jen and the people