第三辑 为人处世 Volume 3: Dealing with People
夫子说：志于道，据于德，依于仁，游于艺。
Confucius said: "I set my aspirations on the Way, base myself on virtue, rely on benevolence, and relax in the arts."
老子说：失道而后德，失德而后仁，失仁而后义，失义而后礼。
Laozi said: "Virtue comes after the loss of the Way,
benevolence comes after the loss of virtue,
righteousness comes after the loss of benevolence,
and propriety comes after the loss of righteousness."
道德是仁义的根本，明了道，才会有依道而行，知行合一的心志，这便是德。有了德，对其他的人类才会有仁爱之心，同情之心，这便是仁。有了仁，才会依仁而形成做事的原则和观念，这就是义，这个义是正义。
The Way and virtue are the foundation of benevolence and righteousness. Understanding the Way leads one to act accordingly, achieving unity of knowledge and action—this is virtue. With virtue, one develops compassion and empathy towards others—this is benevolence. With benevolence, principles and understandings for actions are formed—this is righteousness.
明哲保身有两种情况：
There are two types of being worldly wise and playing safe:
一种是指一个人缺乏仁爱之心，不明正义，没有良知，为了保护自己和家人的财产、名声和安全等利益，不管也不顾其他人的财产、名声和安全等利益，甚至会做出损害其他人的财产、名声和安全等利益的事情。
The first type refers to those who lack benevolence, righteousness, and conscience. In order to protect their own and their family's interests such as property, reputation, and safety, they disregard and may even harm others' interests.
还有一种情况是指，这种人也是缺乏仁爱之心，但因为受过教育，知道什么是正义，知道什么是良知，但是他不坚持正义，昧着良心，也是为了保护自己和家人的财产、名声和安全等利益，不管也不顾其他人的财产、名声和安全等利益，甚至也会做出损害他人的财产、名声和安全等利益的事情。
The second type of people also lack benevolence, but due to education, they understand what is righteousness and what is conscience. However, they don't practice righteousness and they ignore their conscience. In order to protect their own and their family's interests, they disregard and may even harm others' interests.
中国人，特别是官场上，明哲保身这个是他们最重要的信条。
For Chinese people, especially the officialdom, being worldly wise and playing safe is their most important creed.
一个国家的司法机构，包括法官、检察官、律师、警察，按道理来说，他们是维护社会正义的主要力量，如果这些人都昧着良心、明哲保身，那么，这个社会离动乱和灭亡就不远了。
In theory, the judicial institutions of a country, including judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and police, are supposed to be the primary forces to uphold social justice. If these people betray their conscience and play safe, the society is not far from chaos and decline.
中国人骨子里的奴性就是领导叫你干嘛，你就干嘛。那些公务员，为了保住自己的地位、身份、工资，不讲正义，昧着良心，拿着所谓的原则来说事，见风使舵，随波逐流，坑害百姓，很少有人仗义执言，见义勇为，挺身而出的。
The inherent servility of Chinese people often manifests as complete obedience to authority—whatever the boss asks them to do, they just do it. Many civil servants, in order to preserve their positions, status, and salaries, neglect justice and ignore their conscience. They claim to stick to the so-called principles, but in fact, they follow the current and harm others. Very few people would speak out or take action for what is right.
自古以来，明哲保身终害己。你们看文化大革命的时候，因为远的我们没法看了，就看最近的，大家都明哲保身，都想保护自己，最后大家都非常地悲惨，十年浩劫。这个历史离得我们很近，大家都看得很明白。
Throughout history, those who were worldly wise and played safe all eventually harmed themselves. Not to mention the ancient times, let's just look at the recent Cultural Revolution. Everyone was trying to protect themselves, and the consequence was a ten-year catastrophe for all. This history is quite close to us, so you should see it clearly.
如果大家都能够坚持正义，不昧却良心，不明哲保身，怎么会有文化大革命呢？文化大革命就不可能发生，即使有人去发动也发动不起来。
If everyone could uphold justice, not betray their conscience, and didn't play safe, how could the Cultural Revolution have occurred? It would never occur, even if someone tried to initiate it.
因果的利器之轮会回转到自己的头上，有冤没地方申，这是因为你平常就明哲保身，不维护正义，当你自己被别人害，或者自己需要有人来帮你维护正义的时候，就没有人来帮你，这就是因果报应。
The wheel of causality will turn back to yourself—even if you are wronged, you have nowhere to appeal. This is because you usually play safe and don't uphold justice. So, when you are harmed by others or need others to help you uphold justice, nobody will help you. This is your karmic consequence.
你若有冤没有人帮你申，你要反省，这是你自己的因果报应，你不要怪别人，一切都是自作自受。
If you are wronged and nobody helps you address it, you should reflect on yourself. This is your own karmic consequence, so don't blame others, because you reap what you sow.
古代的时候，那些有正义的官员，碰到政治黑暗的时候，就辞官不做，告老还乡，弄块地自己种地，像陶渊明一样，宁愿回家种地，也不去同流合污。
In ancient times, when righteous officials encountered political darkness, they would resign from their post and go home to be a farmer, like Tao Yuanming. They would rather go home to be a farmer than get involved in corruption.
否则，到时候果报来了，你就是别人的替罪羊，你就是背黑锅的，到那时，你还觉得很委屈，活该，是不是活该？你早干嘛去了？难道你活不下去了吗？你原来那个时候昧着良心，现在委屈有什么用呢？
Otherwise, when the karmic consequences arise, you might become someone else's scapegoat. At that time, you might feel wronged, but actually you deserve it, don't you? What were you doing earlier? Couldn't you have survived without compromising your conscience? What's the use of feeling wronged now?
做人要有骨气，要有志气，宁愿回家卖地瓜，也不能昧着良心同流合污，否则，到时候果报就会转到你的头上，你就会被人看不起，被人轻贱，被人欺负，被人陷害，实际上是你自己看不起你自己。
As human beings, we should have integrity and the courage that would rather sell sweet potatoes than get involved in corruption against our conscience. Otherwise, the karmic consequences will ripen on yourself—you will be despised, bullied, and framed, but in fact, it was you that looked down upon yourself.
中国古代的时候，我们都看过《水浒传》，中国古代的人都很讲侠义，认为行侠仗义、打抱不平是一种美德，现在中国都没有这样的氛围了，悲哀啊。在不久的将来，果报就会现前的。
We have all read "Water Margin", where ancient Chinese people valued chivalry and considered standing up for justice a virtue. Unfortunately, this is already gone in today's China. How pathetic! In the near future, the consequences will arise.
易明之光 Mini读书@2023