(32) Tables

The table is an article of the "Book of Rites", and Zheng Xuan believes that the "Table Record" is used to explain the virtue of a gentleman in his appearance.

Confucius said: Let's go back! Although the gentleman lives in seclusion in the forest, he has a strong morality and a remarkable reputation; You don't have to be reserved and naturally dignified, you don't have to be stern and naturally intimidating, you don't have to speak and people naturally believe. Confucius said: Every move of a gentleman does not make others feel misconducted; a smile and a smile, not to let others feel misconduct; Every word is not made to make others feel misconducted. Therefore, the gentleman's countenance is enough to be intimidating, the gentleman's face is enough to be intimidating, and the gentleman's speech is convincing enough.

"Fu Xing" says: Respectful on the outside, cautious on the inside, others will not speak ill of themselves. Confucius said: In the process of prostration, sometimes it is respectful to expose the clothes (xī), and sometimes to cover the clothes without revealing the clothes, and the purpose of this is to make people not desecrate. Confucius said: The ritual requires as much respect as possible, although there is a matter of drinking, but it cannot end in joy; The political affairs of the court require that we do our best, and we should not end up hastily because of hard work.

Confucius said: A gentleman should act cautiously to avoid disasters, use moral integrity to avoid embarrassment, and treat others with courtesy to avoid shame. Confucius said: A gentleman is dignified and respectful, so morality is becoming more and more prominent; If you are indulged in peace and unscrupulous, you will become more and more reluctant to steal peace. A gentleman does not let his actions be looked down upon for a day, just like the rudeness of a villain and cannot live in fear. Confucius said: After fasting, only to serve ghosts and gods, to choose a good day and then to see the king, so prudent to act, is afraid that people will lose their respect. Confucius said: Villains like to tease and tease, even if they will incur the disaster of death, they do not know how to be afraid.

Confucius said: When the court gathers people, both sides must have words to communicate with each other, and there must be gifts to meet with each other; If there are no words, there is no handover; Without the gift of meeting, there is no meeting with each other. The reason for this is to ask the people not to ignore the etiquette and disrespect each other. The Book of Changes says: The first time you occupy a basket, God tells you whether it is good or evil; If you don't believe and perform a second or third divination, it is blasphemy against God. If God is blasphemed, God will no longer tell the good and the bad.

Confucius said: Benevolence is the instrument of the world, righteousness is the criterion for judging things in the world, and courtesy is the benefit of the world. Confucius said: Repay the kindness of others for their kindness, so that the people will be exhorted and get along with each other. Repay the resentment of others for their own resentment, so that the people will lose both. The "Book of Songs" says: If you don't answer your words, you don't repay your virtue. In the Book of Shang, it is said: Without a king, the people cannot get peace; The king has no people, and he cannot rule everywhere. Confucius said: Repaying others' resentment towards oneself with kindness is a person who compromises and seeks perfection; Repaying others for their kindness with resentment is the one who should be brought to justice.

Confucius said: It is not a person who likes benevolence to satisfy his selfish desires, nor does he hate an unkind person because of fear, such a person is very rare in the world. Therefore, when a gentleman discusses principles, he is guided by himself, and when he makes laws, he is guided by what the people can do. Confucius said: There are three situations in the practice of benevolence: one is to be content with the practice of benevolence, the second is to practice benevolence for the sake of profit, and the third is to practice benevolence reluctantly. can achieve the effect of benevolence, only from the effect, it is impossible to see what kind of benevolence it belongs to. When you encounter a setback in the practice of benevolence, you can see what kind of benevolence it belongs to.

A truly benevolent person is content to do benevolence no matter what the circumstances; The self-righteous see that it is profitable to do good; Those who are afraid of being punished for their crimes are reluctant to do what they do. Benevolence is like the right hand, and the Tao is like the left hand. benevolence, embodied in the love of others; The Tao is embodied in righteousness. Doing much in benevolence and little in righteousness results in earning closeness rather than respect; Doing more in righteousness and less in benevolence results in gaining respect rather than intimacy. There is the supreme way of practicing both benevolence and righteousness, there is the righteous way of only practicing righteousness and not practicing benevolence, and there is the way of taking a part of benevolence and righteousness and practicing it. Walking to the way can be king, doing the right way can be dominant, and practicing the way can avoid mistakes.

Confucius said: There are many kinds of benevolence, length and size, and righteousness is also different in length and size. Compassion for the misfortunes of others is a natural compassion for others. To follow the law and reluctantly practice benevolence is to use benevolence as a means to achieve personal goals. The "Book of Songs" says: Just as the abundant water is rich in water (qǐ), how can King Wu not consider the long-term peace and stability of the world. left behind the good strategy of Anbang to govern the country, and sheltered his children and grandchildren to enjoy the country for a long time. King Wu is so great! This is benevolence for generations to come. "National Style" said: I can't protect myself now, where can I have the kung fu to think about future generations. This is exhausting the benevolence of one's life.

Confucius said: Benevolence, as a utensil, is very, very heavy; As a road, very, very far; As an artifact, no one can lift it; As a road, no one can finish it. We can only see who lifts heavier and walks farther, and the one who has the most is counted as benevolence. It's hard enough to do it like this! Therefore, if a gentleman uses the standards of the previous kings to measure people, then it will be difficult to meet the standards of life; If you use the standards of today's ordinary people to demand others, then you can know who is a sage. Confucius said: There are very few people in the world who are willing to do benevolence.