Declination to Throne (1)
讓王(一)
1 In the beginning, the human society was a small or medium group with fewer members. Several tribes clustered in a field where a man was elected to be the chairman for solving the common problems existing among tribes and the issues regarding foreign relation. His right and obligation were far from those leaders of the contemporary countries.
人類社會發展初期，它是一個成員單純，規模不大的團體。幾個部落圍聚在一個範圍內，大家為了解決一些共同面臨的問題，推舉一人出來做盟主，負責處理部落與部落之間以及對外等問題。其權利與義務是不能與當今國家領導相比擬的。
2 Several friends organize a tennis team. Usually, they play tennis together and hold a match every month. All activities of the tennis team need to be promoted by a warm-hearted member, so a captain comes out. Besides services, the captain of the tennis team has no other right. Therefore, every time great effort is made in electing someone who is willing to take up the post of captain.
幾個朋友組織一個網球隊，平時大家一起打網球，每個月固定辦一次比賽。所有這些活動都需要一位熱心的隊友來負責推動，於是隊長產生了。這位隊長除了服務外，其實是沒有什麼權利可言的。 因此，每次遴選隊長都得大費週章的勸說，才會有人願意出任。
3 The election of Chairman of alliance perhaps is similar to the election of captain of the tennis team. If the Chairman had been like the President of the United States with special airplane, resides in the White House and be protected by a guardian team and employs the budget of dozens of billion dollars, people would have scrambled fiercely for it.
堯舜時代推舉盟主的背景，大概與選網球隊長有些類似。如果是像美國總統這種有專用飛機、有衛隊、有公錧、有幾兆預算供其揮灑的位置，不爭的你死我活哪裡會有結果呢？
4 Yao attained some achievements in his post but he was painstaking in work and his wife often complained a lot. Hence, he wanted to unload the burden to enjoy the life after retirement as soon as possible. In the first place, he wanted to remise his post to Xu You who was the appropriate candidate due to his sainted virtue. But he was preoccupied solely with his practice so that he was reluctant to take on the post even Yao invited him several times. Yao had to give him up to invite Zizhou Zhifu.
堯在位幾年政績不錯，可是非常辛苦，妻子抱怨連連。因此很想早日卸下這個重擔，安享餘年。最初，他想將位子讓給許由。許由德高望重，本是很合適的人選，可是他只顧自己的修行生活，不願意出任。請了幾次他就是不肯，堯沒法只得再找子州支父。
堯以天下讓許由，許由不受。
5 Zizhou Zhifu knew that it was drudgery; however, he dared not refuse it directly or Yao would lose face. He said, “Remising the post to me is my honor. I must accept it. But unfortunately, I happen to suffer from hypochondria. Now I am in treatment. I am really sorry. Thank you for your kind invitation.”
子州支父知道這是件苦差事，吃力不討好。可也不想公然拒絕，不給堯面子。他說：「請我來做天子是我的光榮，我沒有理由不接受，可是我剛巧得了憂鬱症，目前正在養病，實在抱歉，謝謝你的好意。」
又讓於子州支父，子州支父曰：「以我為天子，猶之可也。雖然，我適有幽憂之病，方且治之，未暇治天下也。」
6 Emperor is a post that all respect, but Zizhou Zhifu refused it because he wanted to keep fit, avoiding over tiredness. It is reasonable that a man should not hurt himself for worldly affairs.
天子是大家都敬重的職位，可是為了保養身子，使身體不要過份勞累，所以子州支父拒而不受；一個人應該不會為了俗事來傷害自己的身體吧!
7 From other aspect, the reason why Yao selected Xu You and Zizhou Zhifu as the emperor was that they had no ambition and selfishness and would not lead the masses to crisis and danger. A man who flatters himself wise or farsighted never is the man should we remise the leader post to.
從另一個角度看，堯之所以選擇許由及子州支父為天子的原因是因為他們沒有野心、沒有私心，不會帶著大眾跳下火坑，走向危機。自以為聰明，有遠見的人，千萬別讓他坐上大位。
夫天下至重也，而不以害其生，又況他物乎！唯無以天下為者，可以托天下也。
8 Shun, as the same as Yao, worked for dozens of years. He was so tired and became crookback. His family asked him to resign. Having checked many people for a long time, Shun decided to invite Zizhou Zhibo as the next emperor. Zizhou Zhibo declined it. The reason was as the same as that of Zizhou Zhifu – he was ill and in treatment so he couldn’t accept it.
舜跟堯一樣，他幹了幾十年，累的彎腰駝背的不成人形，家人一直要求他放下天子之責。舜幾經篩選決定請子州支伯出任下屆天子。子州支伯推托不肯接受，他的理由同樣是稱自己有病在身，目前正在休養不便受此大任。
舜讓天下於子州支伯，子州支伯曰：「予適有幽憂之病，方且治之，未暇治天下也。」
9 Zizhou Zhibo didn’t accept the great important post that all respected because his life of practice stopped him. The supreme principle of practice is to maintain soundness, tranquility and peace.
子州支伯不肯受此天下人器重的大位，想必與其修行的生活有關。因為堅持維護沉穩，安寧，祥和的心境是修行人的最高原則。
10 An emperor who solves problems and being in dilemma between his people. In the works of increasing benefit and eliminating harm make him busy all the day. There is no soundness, tranquility and peace at all. So, man of practice was different in professional consideration from the worldly people.
坐上天子之位，一天到晚排解紛爭，左右為難; 興利除弊的事又一大堆，哪裡會有沉穩，安寧，祥和可言。所以修行的人與一般世俗之人在職業的考量上是不相同的。
故天下大器也，而不以易生。此有道者之所以異乎俗者也。
11 Due to Zizhou Zhibo’s refusal, Shun had to look for others. After appraisal, he decided to invite Shan Juan as the next emperor. But Shan Juan refused too. What’s more, he remarked in brilliant view, “Living in the natural environment, I wear a hide clothes to resist cold in the winter and wear a gauze clothes in the summer. I myself plough in the spring and harvest in the autumn so my family is free from hunger and cold. How easy it is to work in the day and repose in the evening. Why do I look for trouble for myself to accept the post of emperor? Do you think that I like to seek the fame and interest? You really don’t understand me yet as my friend of many years.”
子州支伯不受大位，舜只得再找。他經過評估後，決定請善卷出任下屆天子。可是善卷也不肯，還大發高論的說：「我生活在這個自然環境裡，冬天穿皮毛的襖子禦寒，夏天穿細紗做的衣服。春耕、秋收盡我一己之力，全家溫飽沒有問題。我這樣日出而做，日入而息的日子多麼輕鬆自在，我為什麼要自找麻煩，去接這個天子的位子呢？你以為我會貪求那些名利嗎？你實在太不瞭解我了，虧你還是我多年的朋友呢！」
舜以天下讓善卷，善卷曰：「余立於宇宙之中，冬日衣皮毛，夏日衣葛絺；春耕種，形足以勞動；秋收斂，身足以休食；日出而作，日入而息，逍遙於天地之間而心意自得。吾何以天下為哉！悲夫，子之不知余也。」遂不受。
12 In order to avoid being bothered frequently, Shan Juan simply moved to deep mountains to hide. Feeling his days numbered, Shun must find a successor as soon as possible. So he asked Shihu Zhinong, his good friend, to be the emperor. Shun briefed him about emperor’s duty and daily work, wishing that he could take over it without difficulty. After listening, Shihu Zhinong said, “Not all guys can be competent in this post. The duty is so heavy; things are so troublesome. You have to be trapped in conflicts of various interests and feel guilty if making an interest loses. Goodness! It kills me. Only you, diligent and endurable, can stand it. Forget me.”
為了避免舜三顧茅蘆的困擾，善卷乾脆舉家搬到深山中躲起來了。舜覺得自己來日無多，必須盡快找一位接班人，於是他又要求他的好友石戶之農出任。舜將天子的職掌，每日工作日程表等簡單地介紹給石戶之農，希望他順利接手。石戶之農聽後，他說：「天子這個位子不是人人都可坐的，責任那麼重，事情那麼煩。夾在各種利益衝突之間，動輒得疚。天啊！那會累死人的。只有像你這種吃苦耐勞的人才能承受，我還是算了吧！」
於是去而入深山，莫知其處。舜以天下讓其友石戶之農。石戶之農曰：「捲捲乎，后之為人，葆力之士也。」
13 At home Shihu Zhinong thought that a leader of state should govern in non-action for people’s utmost wills, by which the leader is good one and the country be prosperous and stable. However, Shun made out a lot of plans and made himself as busy as bees. He could not be a good leader. If staying in this country for long time, people would confront many problems. So, he took his family to overseas, and never returned to the mainland in his life.
回家後石戶之農想，做為一個國家領導者應該以無為而治為宗旨，依百姓的最大意願為依歸才是好的領袖，國家才會安定繁榮。像舜那樣計劃一大堆，忙得像無頭蒼蠅，應該不是一位好的領導者。像這樣的國家待久了會出問題，於是他攜家帶眷的出走海外，終其身不再返回中原。
以舜之德為未至也。於是夫負妻戴，攜子以入於海，終身不反也。