不力行，但学文，长浮华，成何人。
但力行，不学文，任己见，昧理真。
读书法，有三到，心眼口，信皆要。
方读此，勿慕彼，此未终，彼勿起。
宽为限，紧用功，工夫到，滞塞通。
心有疑，随札记，就人问，求确义。
房室清，墙壁净，几案洁，笔砚正。
墨磨偏，心不端，字不敬，心先病。
列典籍，有定处，读看毕，还原处。
虽有急，卷束齐，有缺坏，就补之。
非圣书，屏不视，蔽聪明，坏心志。
勿自暴，勿自弃，圣与贤，可驯致。

英国有句古老的谚语﹕「滚动的石头不长苔。」这是比喻一个人若不能安定在一个岗位上，就不容易有所成就；就像一个滚动的石头一样，青苔也就没法在它表面聚集滋生了。但这不是教人墨守成规，不求进步，或者以少为足，不求渊博；只是教导我们无论求学做事，都要务实务本，不要好高鹜远，贪快贪多。

An old English proverb goes, "Rolling rocks don’t grow moss." This is analogous to someone who is discontent in the same position, who there- fore has a hard time attaining any success. Similarly, moss cannot collect and grow on the surface of a rolling rock. This aphorism is not teaching people to stagnate, be entrenched in old routines and refuse to evolve. Rather, this saying instructs us to take one honest step at a time and cover the basics, whether studying or working; we must not be overly ambitious and be greedy for efficiency or quantity .

怎样叫务实？就是慎始敬终，老实用功；若一味追新求异，这一处工夫还未娴熟，心就又跟了另一处新鲜奇异的东西转移了，手脚怎能跟得上？手脚跟不上心，就变成眼高手低，越驰越远；除了鹦鹉学舌，没个自己的落脚处。怎样叫务本？就是扫除外物，直觅本来；若一味摘枝寻叶，这一脚还未跨出，那一手又被旁门左道，繁芜琐碎的事情牵绊了，心思怎能放得开？

How does one take one honest step at a time? One begins anything cautiously and ends respectfully, working with the utmost earnestness. If you always go after the novel, your mind will already be on a different topic before you master the first subject. How could your arms and legs be able catch up? When your arms and legs lag behind your mind, your eyes are aiming too high and your hands are reaching too low. While you rush headlong without coordination, you further miss your target. You become akin to a parrot that constantly imitates others without a language of its own. How does one cover the basics? One clears away externalities and goes directly to the source. If you only collect extraneous ends, then before you take one step, minutia has already sidetracked and trapped you. How can you possibly expand your horizons?

心思放不开，就落得作茧自缚，越套越牢，终归心外求法，没个真正的受用处。《菜根谭》上说得好﹕「文章做到极处，无有他奇，只是恰好；人品做到极处，无有他异，只是本然。」恰好是个「中」，中就是止于至善；本然是个「纯」，纯就是归于至真﹕既善且真，美自在其中矣！谁曰不宜？所以说我们无论求学做事，都要务实务本，不要让花红柳绿迷惑了心目，也不要让那些断简残篇封锢了手脚！

When you can’t expand your horizons, you end up creating a cocoon that constricts. Finally, you end up seeking dharma outside of the mind and receiving no true benefits.Discourses on the Roots of Vegetables said it well, "A well-written article contains nothing; it’s just right. A well-developed character has nothing odd; it’s fundamentally natural." To be just right is to be moderate. To be good denotes staying with the mean. Since we were pure to begin with, purity denotes returning to what is natural and true. If you’re good and true, then you rediscover the beauty that is already within you! How can anything we do then be considered inappropriate? We must cover the basics and be honest, whether in our studies or at work. Don’t let the colorful flowers and foliage confuse you. Furthermore, don’t let those choppy reports and poorly-written essays lock you down!

有一位自认书法第一的书法家，他听说某地有另一位书法家，号称「天下第一」，就偷偷跑去看；到了那儿，果然见到有个人在大街上摆了个擂台，桌上摆着纸张笔墨，旁边插着「天下第一」的旗子，正迎风招展，仿佛在向来往的人挑战示威。书法家看了看那位「天下第一家」的即席挥毫，便不声不响地回去，从此闭门苦练了三年。这三年里，他都练些什么绝技呢？没有！说来你不会相信！他什么奇巧的花招都没有，单单就练画圆圈圈。整三年里，他就只用毛笔画着一个又一个的圆圈圈，一直到他随手一画，每个圈圈都是大小相同，粗细均匀的正圆为止。然后他再去拜访那位始终无敌手的「天下第一」；到了桌前，他提笔一口气就画上几个圆圈圈。

A Chinese calligrapher who deemed himself the best had heard that elsewhere there was another calligrapher with the title, "Number One in the Universe." The first Chinese calligrapher couldn’t resist stealing a look. When he got to the main thoroughfare in town, he saw someone on stage with writing material. Staked on the side of the road was a flag headlined, "Number One in the Universe" that fluttered about in the wind, challenging and intimidating all passersby. The calligrapher saw Mr. Universe swing his strokes right on the spot and the observing calligrapher returned home without a peep. From then on this man practiced in seclusion for three years. What kind of outstanding stunt was he doing during these three years? None! You wouldn’t believe it if I told you! He didn’t have any clever tricks at all; he simply practiced drawing circles. During those entire three years, he drew one circle after another until he was able to pick up his calligraphy pen and draw circles that were equal in size, width, and proportion. Then he went to visit that still undefeated Mr. Universe. When the challenger reached the table, he lifted up the pen and in one breath drew several circles.

所谓「行家伸伸手，便知有没有」，旁观的人还莫名其妙，那位「天下第一」先是瞠目结舌，继之面红耳赤，一语不发地收拾了东西，卷起「天下第一」的旗招就走了。

As it is said, "The expert simply stretches out his hand and you know whether he has it or not. "While observers were still at a loss, the reigning calligrapher glared and remained speechless out of shock at first, and then he embarrassingly packed up his stuff, rolled up the "Number One in the Universe" banner and left without a word.

从这故事我们得到的启示是：第一，专一其心，必可成就；第二，最伟大的招术，便是没有招术的招术；最奇巧的技艺，便是不算技艺的技艺。那么读书要怎样才能专一其心呢？古人提出「三到」、「三上」。三到是眼到、口到、心到。眼到，是要字字看得真切；口到，是要句句念得分明；心到，是要字字句句了然于心。三上则是指饭桌上、寝床上、毛坑上；也就是不单在书桌上是眼到、口到、心到地用功，就是寝食之间，甚至上厕所时，也都用功不辍。古代的厕所又简陋，又多异味，能在那儿还念得绵绵密密，真是断除妄想了，毋怪乎功夫可以成就。

The moral of this story is that, first of all, you can accomplish anything if you concentrate. Second, the greatest trick is a trick that uses no tricks. The cleverest technique is a technique that isn’t considered a technique. So how do you study so that you may concentrate? The ancients mentioned the "three presences" and the "three tops." The three presences are the presence of the eyes, the presence of the mouth and the presence of the mind. Having your eyes present means that you read each and every word earnestly; having your mouth present means that you enunciate each line clearly; having your mind present means that you are clear about every word and each line. The three tops refer to being on top of dining tables, on top of beds and on top of toilets. Not only do you study with your eyes, mouth and mind present while at your desk, but you do not let up on your studying during meals, bedtimes and even in the bathroom. Toilets during ancient times were bare and smelly. If you can sit there and still read, you really have severed your false thoughts--your success is inevitable.

现代的厕所又光亮，又洁净，坐着也很舒服的，所以现代人若要用功，也比较清凉自在。或许正因为得到解放而太自在了，也就有一些现代人真的用功用到厕所去了！怎么呢？在里头一坐，一两个钟头不出来。用的是什么功呢？就看报纸、杂志，或言情小说、武侠小说等等的闲书。这真不知是善于利用时间？抑或浪费时间？

Contemporary bathrooms are bright, clean and quite cozy, so it’s cooler and easier for people today to work in there. However, precisely because modern men have been liberated from many physical restraints and are so comfortable--some individuals really work in their restrooms now! How? They’ll sometimes sit in the lavatory for an hour or two. What kind of work are they doing? They’re reading newspapers, magazines, romance novels or kung fu books. I honestly don’t know whether they save or waste time.

须知人生苦短，庸庸碌碌是一生，充实圆满也是一生。我们若怕用功太辛苦，专捡现成的做，甚至放逸邪辟，无恶不作，那更苦的可还在后头，而且是所作所受互为因果，苦海轮回，难有了期的。

We must know that life is brutal and short. To live an average and mediocre existence is one life; to live a fulfilled and perfect existence is one life too. If we’re afraid to work hard and only pick what’s most convenient, perhaps to the point of complete indolence and vice, severe difficulty will likely follow. More specifically, we reap what we sow; we will end up circulating endlessly in the sea of suffering.

中国清朝时，山东堂邑有个叫武训的乞丐。他三岁丧父，七岁丧母，家贫如洗，只得靠行乞为生。武训深深感受到不识字的痛苦，于是立志兴学，嘉惠穷人。他刻苦地省吃简用，把乞来的钱存起来，数十年如一日，到老年时，真的买到地，把学校办起来了。他又沿户拜托穷人家送孩子来上学，再拜托有学问的人来教书。若有老师不想教，他就长跪不起地求他教；有学生不想学，他就恸哭不止地求他学。终于感动了一乡的人都努力助学、向学；到他死时，他已办了三间学校。

During the Qing Dynasty in China, a beggar named Wu Xun lived in Tangyi, Shandong Province. He lost his father at the age of three and lost his mother at the age of seven. He could only beg for a living because his family was so poor. Wu Xun had personally experienced the pain of illiteracy, so he aspired to establish a school to benefit the poor. He endured hardships to save his money. He saved every penny he had received from begging continuously for several decades. In his old age, he indeed purchased land and established a school. Furthermore, he went from one household to another beseeching poor families to send their kids to school, then beseeching the educated to teach. If teachers refused to teach, he would kneel at length; if students refused to learn, he would cry nonstop, pleading with them. Finally, he moved an entire village of people to dedicate themselves to teaching and learning. At his death he had established three schools.

类似的情形在美国早年也有。当时美国教育尚未普及，种族歧视又很严重。有个叫勃克‧华盛顿的黑人青年，很有志气；白天他到煤矿里做工，晚上就去补习学校念书。毕业后，学校看他很上进，功课又优异，就请他当教员。但他并不满足于一己生活和身分的提升，他还立志要改善所有黑人的生活品质。后来他借钱买了块带草房的地，就招收了三十个学生，创办起一所黑人小学。他亲自带领学生砍木头，烧砖瓦，开始盖教室；又教学生种五谷菜蔬，养鸡鸭牛羊，来充实学校的经费。慢慢地，不但生产所得足以自足，学生也在生活日用中学得知识和生产的技术。后来学生越来越多，老师也踊跃前来相助，最后这个学校竟成了世界最大最有名的黑人学校。

Similar cases also exist in early American history. Before education in the U.S. became prevalent and when racial discrimination was rampant, an ambitious young African American named Booker T. Washington worked in the mines during the day and studied at night school during the evenings. At his graduation, the school saw he was very hardworking and had excellent grades, so they asked him to be an instructor. However, he wasn’t satisfied with his own livelihood and rising status; he aspired to improve the quality of life for all African Americans. Later he borrowed money to purchase straw huts and land. Washington enrolled about thirty students and founded an elementary school for African Americans. He personally led the students in chopping wood, burning bricks, and constructing classrooms. He also taught students to plant grains and vegetables, and raise chickens, ducks, cows and sheep to subsidize the school. Not only did the production gradually pay for the school itself, but students also acquired knowledge and production skills through these daily routines. Later, more and more students enrolled, and more and more teachers enthusiastically came to help. Eventually, this school became the world’s largest and most famous school for African Americans .

有一回，他应邀到爱荷华州某地演讲。当晚他正和许多名人在旅馆的接待室谈话，忽然一个鼓手拿着个大铜鼓进来，一看到勃克，以为他是茶房，就对他说﹕「替我拿杯冰水来！然后再把我的行李搬上楼！」勃克连忙回答﹕「好！好！」等勃克从楼上下来时，所有的贵宾都很惊慌；但是勃克却笑嘻嘻地说﹕「那位先生给我一毛钱小费，我也收下了，兔得他难堪。再说，这一毛钱，对于我穷苦学生的教育，也是有点帮助的。」他就是这样以身作则，一生奔走于教育事业，不遗余力。到他去世时，世界各国的报纸，都在头版大幅地报导追悼他；有十万黑人还为他造了铜像，又立了个碑。碑上刻着﹕「他除去了民众的愚昧；他透过教育和工业的道路，去指导民众。」

Once Washington was invited to Iowa State for a speech. That night, as he was talking to many famous people in the hotel’s reception room, a drummer with a large copper drum saw Washington. Taking him for a bellman, the musician called out, "Bring me a glass of ice water! Then bring my luggage upstairs!" Washington answered, "Yes, sir!" When Washington came down the stairs, all the honored guests were in a panic, but he smiled, saying, "I accepted that man’s tip of a dime to avoid embarrassing him. Furthermore, this one dime will help educate my impoverished students." He served as a role model through his behavior, tirelessly working for the sake of education throughout his life. At his death, newspapers worldwide commemorated him with front-page coverage. Also, one hundred thousand African Americans set up a bronze statue and a stone tablet for him. On the tomb is the inscription, "He eliminated ignorance among the public; through the paths of education and industry he guided the public."

《三字经》云﹕「玉不琢，不成器；人不学，不知义。子不学，非所宜；幼不学，老何为？」想想看，我们有幸生在教育普及的现代，书籍文具又很方便，何不趁现在年纪尚轻，环境也优于古人，而好好用功，以自立立人呢？切莫让前人专美，更莫令后生耻笑啊！

The Three Character Classics states, "Unpolished jade cannot serve as a vessel; the uneducated person cannot understand integrity. Students who do not learn go against the grain. What will be- come of youngsters who do not study? " Think about it: since we’re fortunate enough to live in the modem era of public education, abundant books and school supplies and a more conducive environment than that in the past, why don’t we study hard while we’re still young so that we may help ourselves and help others? Let’s not allow previous generations take all the glory; furthermore, let’s not be ridiculed by future generations!