Tian Zifang (1)
田子方(一)
1 Tian Zifang worked for Marquis Wen of Wei. When they discussed the state affairs, Tian Zifang often mentioned a man called Xigong.
田子方在魏文侯那兒當差。往往在他們討論事情的時候，田子方經常會提及谿工這個人。
田子方侍坐於魏文侯，數稱谿工。
2 Someday, the marquis asked curiously, “Is Xigong your teacher? I often hear this name from you and you often adopt his views to confirm what you said.”
有一天，魏文侯好奇地問：「谿工是你的老師嗎？我常聽你提及這個人，並且常用此人的論點來印證你的話。」
侯曰：谿工，子之師邪？」
3 Tian Zifang said, “No! He is not my teacher but my fellow townsman. His knowledge is profound; his thinking is logistic. Therefore, I adopt what he said to confirm my views.”
田子方說：「不！谿工不是我的老師，他是我的老鄉。他書讀的很透徹，而且思路清晰。所以我常運用他的話，來印證我的論點。」
子方曰：「非也，無擇之里人也。稱道數當故無擇稱之。」
4 The marquis asked, “So, you teach yourself?”
魏文侯又問：「那麼你是沒有老師，無師自通的人了？」
文侯曰：「然則子無師邪？」
5 “No. I am not able to learn by myself. Actually, I have teacher.” Tian Zifang replied.
田子方說：「不！我沒那麼厲害。我有老師。」
子方曰：「有。」
6 “Who is your teacher?” asked the marquis.
「那麼你的老師是誰啊！」魏文侯問。
曰：「子之師誰邪？」
7 Tian Zifang said, “Dongguo Shunzi.”
田子方說：「是東郭順子。」
子方曰：「東郭順子。」
8 The marquis asked again, “Dongguo Shunzi? I never heard you mention him.”
魏文侯又問：「東郭順子? 怎麼你好像從來沒有提起過他呢?」
文侯曰：「然則夫子何故未嘗稱之？」
9 Tidying up his clothes, he stood up and said, “My teacher is a man of perfect practice. Though he still has the looks of man, he actually has reached the highest level of practice, and has no much difference as the god. He shines completely with self-nature, Buddha-nature, Qi, calmness and refinement. The five coverings which usually are the hurdles in practice, such as avarice, wrath, dullness, agitation and doubt, can’t cumber him. Fame and wealth are his slaves to serve and assist him so as to fulfill his practice.
田子方理了理衣服，站直了身子，說：「我的老師是一位修行完備的人。他雖然還有人的樣子，可是實際上他已經修得正道，與佛、神仙無異。他的自性、佛性、氣、拙火、妙用等都已經充分地彰顯; 一般凡人的貪欲、瞋恚、疑法、掉悔、睡眠等五蓋都被他突破了，再也不能成為他修行路上的障礙。而名利與財富等都是供他使用的奴隸，侍候他，並協助他達成修行的目的。
10 The world of material is the source of bitterness, which he has fully comprehended. Therefore, he is not interested in worldly affair any more. This is why I seldom mentioned him when we talk about the state affairs.”
物質世界是苦源這個道理，他已經徹底地醒悟。因此有關人世間的俗事，他都不會再有興趣，這也是當我們討論國家大事時，甚少提及我老師的緣故。」
子方曰：「其為人也真。人貌而天虛，緣而葆真，清而容物。物無道，正容以悟之，使人之意也消。無擇何足以稱之！」
11 Off duty, the marquis thought over Tian Zifang’s description of his teacher, saying nothing all day. Finally, he managed to comprehend it somewhat. He called in the ministers who serve in his palace. He told them, “We are far away from the man of perfect practice.
退朝後，魏文侯若有所思地，一直在回味著田子方有關他老師的描述，一整天也說不上一句話。直到最後好不容易理出了一點頭緒，他立刻召見在朝中當差的大臣，並對他們說：「我們距離修行完備的人實在太遙遠了。
12 Before this I always canonized benevolence, righteousness, loyalty and credit as the highest moral criteria. After I heard what Tian Zifang described about his teacher, I found that in this world of material, our deeds and intentions are so childish and ignorant. The great our ambition is, the more our confusion and sufferings are.
從前我一直以為仁、義、忠、信等就是人類最高的道德標準。可是，在我聽完了田子方有關他老師的描述後，我發覺，在這個以功利為掛帥的物質世界中，我們一切的行為與企圖，都是那麼的幼稚而無知。當我們野心愈大時，我們的困惑及苦難等就會愈深。
13 All people are unwarily led by the desires of material. Thinking this, I am discouraged in carrying out the Five-Year Plan anymore. I lost my interest in the discussion and the dispute about trivia for right and wrong.
所有的人都被物欲等牽著鼻子走而不自知。一想到此處，我就再也提不起勁，更別提搞什麼五年計劃了。我再也沒有興趣去討論，去爭辯那些誰是誰非的瑣事了。
子方出，文侯儻然，終日不言。召前立臣而語之曰：「遠矣，全德之君子！始吾以聖知之言、仁義之行為至矣。
14 Now I know that what I learned are rough and fragile in proof. Wei, my country, is the source of my worry. It cumbers the way of my practice to the higher level. Alas! What can I do?”
現在我已經知道了，我所學的都是些粗糙、淺薄而經不起考驗的學問。而魏這個國家正是我苦惱的來源，它是拖累我不能修成正道的障礙。唉！我究竟該如何是好呢？」
吾聞子方之師，吾形解而不欲動，口鉗而不欲言。吾所學者，直土埂耳！夫魏真為我累耳！」