Declination to Throne (9)
讓王(九)
1 Since Zengzi had left Confucius, not like Zigong and Zilu who went to other place for development, Zengzi alone lived in the countryside of the State of Wei to continue his hard practicing life,.
曾子離開孔子後，他不像子貢、子路等到外地去求取功名，曾子一個人居住在衛國鄉下，繼續他近乎苦行僧的生活。
2 His life was austere which, however, made his mind sound, tranquil and peaceful.
雖然他的物質生活是清苦的，可是也因為這樣，他的心境沉穩，安寧而祥和。
3 He was said to wear a thick flax robe that was very rough, without lining. He looked like being wrapped by a sack.
根據看過他的人說，曾子就以較厚的麻布當袍子，那破袍子極其粗糙，縫製上不分什麼襯裡，外表看上去就像裹著一個麻布袋。
4 Due to innutrition, his face with edema and was hungering. He himself did all the housework, such as plowing, weeding, revamping house. His hands and foot therefore, grew callus.
因為營養不良所以面有菜色，略帶浮腫，家中事務裡裡外外，耕田鋤草，修理房舍等都自己料理，不假外人，因此手腳都弄出繭來了。
5 His income was petty. Usually, he cooked every three days. In the other days, he quenched hunger with solid food.
平時收入有限，為求節約，三天才升一次火，煮些熟食。一般日子就以乾糧充飢。
6 He did not have new clothes in the past ten years, and always wore the shabby robe everywhere.
十年來他沒有做過新衣，到哪兒就是那件破袍子。
曾子居衛，縕袍無表，顏色腫噲，手足胼胝，三日不舉火，十年不製衣。
7 The belt of his cap was broken but he managed to wear, never considering changing it to a new hat. The sleeves were too short, when arm moved somewhat, elbows were exposed. The heels of his shoe were loose. When lifting the vamp, it left the heels.
他那頂帽子的帶子都斷了，還是勉強的戴著，從來沒想過換一頂新的。袍子的袖子太短，臂稍微動一下，手肘就顯出來了。那雙鞋子的跟也鬆了，一提它，鞋跟就與鞋面脫了節。
正冠而纓絕，捉衿而肘見，納屨而踵決。
8 Though Zengzi was in such rags, a look down and out, he usually chanted the poem in walking with high pitch as if the voice could pierce through a stone or a piece of gold.
雖然是這般地的衣衫襤褸，一副潦倒景象，曾子平日經行時，唱歌吟詩的調子卻是高昂而中氣十足，好像能貫穿金石一般。
曳縱而歌《商頌》，聲滿天地，若出金石。
9 Zengzi persisted in his simplicity, purity, soundness, tranquility and peace of life. He declined any invitation, even it was from the king’s or duke.
曾子堅持他簡單樸素，沉穩，安寧，祥和的生活，不論你是國君或諸候都請不動他。
天子不得臣，諸侯不得友。
Tao Yuanming’s poem goes like this:
陶淵明有詩曰:
Hearing knock in the morning,
清晨聞扣門，
I dressed half for door opening.
倒裳往自開。
Ask who knocked my door,
問子為誰與，
The farmer with kindness stood out.
田父有好懷。
He far brought me a bottle of wine,
壺漿遠見侯，
Doubted me different from the worldly.
疑我與時乖。
I was in rags and under shabby roof,
襤褸茅簷下，
It was not a place I stood.
未足為高栖。
Worldly people all advocate same ideas,
一世皆尚同，
You should do the same as they do there.
願君泊其泥。
I was touched deeply by his words,
深感父老言，
My nature different from the worldly.
稟氣寡所諧。
It was easy to return to office,
紆轡誠可學，
But my nature betrayed it.
違己詎非迷。
Let's drink together now,
且共歡此飲，
My carriage never returned to the house.
吾駕不可回。
10 Let’s compare Zengzi’s persistence with most young men’s pursuit, such as Zigong and Zilu. To make a dream becoming true, they are desperate to read and toil in work. They neglect the miserable flash body. They take pride in “sparing no effort in pursuit until death”, which is regarded glorified.
我們看看曾子的堅持，再回頭看看子貢、子路以及大部份的年輕人，他們為了完成自己的夢想，拚命地努力讀書，辛苦工作，全不把這個可憐的肉身當回事。他們以「鞠躬盡瘁，死而後已」為光榮，認為是一種讚美。
11 The other kind of people who are indolent. They refuse to undertake a little hard work, but like eating their heads off. At last, they attain nothing.
另一種人他們好逸惡勞，稍微辛苦一點的事都拒絕承擔，好吃懶做，最後一事無成。
12 Men of perfect practice bend themselves to improve the level of spirit. They don’t work but practice Zen, sit in meditation, ruminate and practice Yoga, never being idle. They break up with the outside disturbances, drive off consciousness and raise the great wisdom of nature. At last, they accomplish their practice.
修行完備的人，他們致力於精神層面的提昇，他們沒有工作，可是整天禪修、打坐、默想、瑜伽也沒閒著。他們斷絕了與外界的紛紛擾擾，讓意識靠邊站，讓本性的大智慧昇起，最後成就了他們修行的願望。
故養志者忘形，養形者忘利，致道者忘心矣。