--- title: "了凡四訓 · 謙德之效" description: "了凡四訓是明代居士袁了凡所著的家訓文集，融合儒家與佛教思想，成書於十六世紀。內容以立命之學、改過之法、積善之方、謙德之效四部分，闡述命運可通過行善修德改變，強調因果與自我革新。該書雖非正統佛經，但深受佛教界推崇，被視為居士修行的重要指南，對中國民間信仰與道德教育影響深遠，體現了人間佛教的實踐精神。" url: "https://rushiwowen.co/en/r/cmcy56sj900crl404hodjpcyi" --- ### 謙德之效 > The Effect of Humility and Virtue 易曰天道虧盈而益謙。地道變盈而流謙。鬼神害盈而福謙。人道惡盈而好謙。盈驕滿也驕滿故傾覆謙虛中也虛中故受福變變遷也流潤澤也惡不愜意也好歡喜也是故謙之一卦六爻皆吉。 謙卦係兌卦中第五變卦易多戒慎警惕之辭全經三百八十四爻所綴象辭多悚懼之文惟於內卦二爻外卦五爻多褒許之辭以得中道故也惟謙卦六爻多吉語處世重虛懷若谷之道於此可見而往聖善通天下之情亦概可見矣書曰。滿招損謙受益。予屢同諸公應試。結伴投考每見寒士將達。達成名也必有一段謙光可掬。謙抑之人心氣愈收斂光彩愈煥發兩手合取曰掬形容充意辛未計偕。舉子赴會試曰計偕我嘉善縣名屬浙江嘉興府同袍。凡十人。惟丁敬宇賓。丁賓號敬宇字禮原嘉善人隆慶進士官南都三十年輕財恤民卒諡清惠年最少。極其謙虛。予告費錦坡曰。此兄今年必第。登科曰及第費曰。何以見之。予曰惟謙受福。兄看十人中。有恂恂信實款款。樸厚不敢先人。如敬宇者乎。有恭敬順承。一切順受小心謙畏。如敬宇者乎。有受侮不答。聞謗不辯。如敬宇者乎。人能如此。即天地鬼神。猶將佑之。豈有不發者。及開榜。丁果中式。 > The Book of Changes says: "The way of Heaven diminishes the proud and augments the humble. The way of Earth overturns the full and pours into the lowly. Spirits and gods bring harm to the arrogant and blessings to the modest. The way of humans dislikes the haughty and favors the humble."Arrogance means being puffed up with pride; pride leads to downfall. Humility means remaining centered and receptive; this centeredness invites blessings. "Transform" refers to change and movement. "Pour into" means to moisten and enrich. "Dislikes" means being displeased. "Favors" means taking delight in. Therefore, in the hexagram of Humility, all six lines are auspicious.
The Humility hexagram is the fifth transformation of the Dui hexagram. The Book of Changes frequently contains words of caution and vigilance. Among the 384 lines in the entire text, many appended judgments carry a tone of reverence. Only in the second line of the inner trigram and the fifth line of the outer trigram are there mostly words of praise, because they occupy the central position of the Way. Only in the Humility hexagram are all six lines auspicious. This shows how much importance the ancients placed on the virtue of an open and receptive mind in dealing with the world, and how the sages of old understood the hearts of all people. The Book of Documents says: "Pride invites loss; humility brings benefit." I have repeatedly taken examinations together with others. Joining companions to sit for the exams. I have often noticed that when a poor scholar is about to succeed, "Succeed" means attaining fame. there is always a radiant humility about him that can be felt. A humble person's mind grows more restrained, and his radiance shines all the brighter. Cupping with both hands describes fullness to the point of overflowing. In the year Xinwei, when we went to the capital for the metropolitan examination, Candidates traveling to take the metropolitan exam are said to "go together." there were ten of us fellow candidates from JiashanA county in Zhejiang Province, under Jiaxing Prefecture.. Among them was Ding Jingyu, whose given name was Bin.Ding Bin, styled Jingyu and Liyuan, a native of Jiashan, a Jinshi of the Longqing era, served in Nanjing for thirty years, was generous with wealth and kind to the people, and was posthumously honored with the title Qinghui. Though the youngest, he was extremely humble. I said to Fei Jinpo, "This brother will certainly pass this year." Passing the imperial exam is called "reaching the top." Fei asked, "How can you tell?" I replied, "Only the humble receive blessings. Look among the ten of us—is there anyone as earnest and sincere, Honest and truthful. as modest and reserved, Simple and unadorned. never daring to put himself before others, as Jingyu is? Is there anyone who accepts everything with respect and compliance, Accepting all things as they come. cautious and reverent, as Jingyu is? Is there anyone who, when insulted, does not retort, and when slandered, does not argue, as Jingyu is? If a person can be like this, even Heaven and Earth, spirits and gods, will protect him. How could he fail to rise?" When the results were posted, Ding indeed passed. 丁丑在京。與馮開之同處。馮夢禎字開之浙江秀水人萬曆會試第一官編修以文章氣節相尚有快雪堂集行世見其虛己斂容。大變其幼年之習。李霽巖。直諒信實益友。益者三友友直友諒友多聞時面攻其非。但見其平懷順受。未嘗有一言相報。予告之曰。福有福始。禍有禍先。此心果謙。天必相之。兄今年決第矣。已而踰時果然。 > In the year 丁丑 (Dingchou), while in the capital, I stayed with Feng Kaizhi. Feng Mengzhen, styled Kaizhi, from Xiushui, Zhejiang, placed first in the metropolitan examination during the Wanli era, served as a compiler, and was known for his literary talent and moral integrity. The Kuaixue Hall Collection is associated with him. I observed his humility and composed demeanor—a great change from the habits of his youth. Li Jiyan, an honest and faithful friend trustworthy and a beneficial companion Of three beneficial friends: one who is straightforward, one who is trustworthy, one who is learned, often openly criticized his faults. Yet I saw him accept these criticisms calmly and without a single word of rebuttal. I told him, "Blessings have their origins, and misfortunes have their beginnings. If this mind is truly humble, Heaven will surely support you. This year, you will definitely pass the examination." Later, after some time it came to pass exactly as I had said. 趙裕峯光遠。山東冠縣人。童年舉於鄉。久不第。其父為嘉善三尹。隨之任。慕錢明吾。而執文見之。明吾悉抹其文。趙不惟不怒。且心服而速改焉。明年。遂登第。 > Zhao Yufeng, also known as Guangyuan, was from Guan County, Shandong. He passed the county-level examination in his childhood but failed the higher exams for a long time. His father served as a third-ranking official in Jiashan, and Zhao followed him to his post. He admired Qian Mingwu and brought his writings to seek his guidance. Qian Mingwu criticized and marked up his entire essay. Far from being angry, Zhao felt convinced and quickly revised his work. The following year, he passed the imperial examination. 壬辰歲。予入覲古人見王曰覲晤夏建所。見其人氣虛意下。謙光逼人。動人歸而告友人曰。凡天將發斯人也。未發其福。先發其慧。此慧一發。則浮者自實。肆者自斂。建所溫良若此。天啟之矣。及開榜。果中式。 > In the year of Renchen, I went to the capital to have an audience with the emperor. I met Xia Jiansuo there. I observed that he appeared humble and reserved, with a gentle and respectful demeanor that was truly striking. After returning, I told a friend, "When heaven is about to elevate a person, it first bestows wisdom before granting blessings. Once this wisdom awakens, the frivolous become sincere, and the unrestrained become disciplined. Jiansuo's warmth and virtue are signs that heaven is guiding him." When the examination results were announced, he had indeed passed. 江陰張畏巖。積學工文。有聲藝林。馳譽多士間也甲午。南京鄉試。寓一寺中。揭曉出榜曉示無名。大罵試官。以為瞇目。時有一道者。在傍微笑。張遽移怒道者。道者曰。相公文必不佳。張益怒曰。汝不見我文。烏何也知不佳。道者曰。聞作文。貴心氣和平。今聽公罵詈。不平甚矣。文安得工。張不覺屈服。因就而請教焉。道者曰。中中式也全要命。命不該中。文雖工。無益也。須自己做個轉變。張曰。既是命如何轉變。道者曰。造命者天。立命者我。力行善事。廣積陰德。何福不可求哉。張曰。我貧士。何能為。道者曰。善事陰功。皆由心造。常存此心。功德無量。且如謙虛一節。並不費錢。你如何不自反。還責自己工夫不到而罵試官乎。張由此折節自持。深服道者語從此力改前非也善日加修。德日加厚。丁酉。夢至一高房。得試錄一冊。中多缺行。問旁人曰。此今科試錄。題名錄問何多缺名。曰科第陰間三年一考較。須積德無咎過失者。方有名。如前所缺。皆係舊該中式。因新有薄行而去之者也。後指一行云。汝三年來。持身頗慎。或當補此。幸自愛。是科果中一百五名。 > Zhang Weiyan from Jiangyin was a scholarly man, well-versed in literature, and had earned a reputation among the learned circles. In the year of Jiawu, he sat for the provincial examination in Nanjing, staying at a temple near the examination grounds. When the results were announced, his name was nowhere to be found. Furious, he cursed the examiners, accusing them of being blind. At that moment, a Taoist priest nearby smiled quietly. Zhang, in his rage, turned his anger toward the priest. The priest said, "Your essay must not have been good." Zhang grew angrier: "You haven't even seen my essay—how do you know it's bad?" The priest replied, "I've heard that writing well requires a calm and peaceful mind. Listening to you now, cursing and raging, your mind is anything but calm. How could your essay be any good?" Zhang, taken aback, found himself unable to argue and humbly asked for guidance. The priest said, "Passing the exam depends entirely on destiny. If your destiny doesn't include passing, even the finest essay won't help. You must create a change within yourself." Zhang asked, "If it's destiny, how can it be changed?" The priest explained, "Heaven determines destiny, but you are the one who shapes it. Persist in doing good deeds and quietly accumulate merit—what kind of blessing could you not obtain?" Zhang said, "I'm just a poor scholar. What can I possibly do?" The priest replied, "Good deeds and hidden merits are all born from the mind. Keep such a mindset at all times, and your merit will be limitless. For instance, humility costs nothing. Why don't you reflect on yourself and blame the examiners instead?" From that day on, Zhang humbled himself and held himself to a higher standard. He practiced good deeds more diligently each day, and his virtue deepened with each passing day. In the year of Dingyou, he dreamed that he entered a tall building and found a copy of the examination roster. Many lines in it were left blank. He asked a bystander, "Is this this year's roster?" The man said yes, and Zhang asked why so many names were missing. The man replied, "Success in the examinations is reviewed in the underworld once every three years. Only those who have accumulated merit without fault appear on the list. Those whose names are missing were originally destined to pass, but because of recent misdeeds, their names were struck off." Then, pointing to a line, the man said, "You have conducted yourself quite properly over the past three years. Perhaps you may fill this spot. Take care of yourself." In that year, Zhang indeed passed the examination, ranking 105th. 由此觀之。舉頭三尺決有神明。趨吉避凶。斷然由我。須使我存心制約束行。行為毫不得罪於天地鬼神。而虛心屈己。使天地鬼神。時時憐我。方有受福之基。彼氣盈者必非遠器。縱發亦無受用。稍有識見之士。必不忍自狹其量。而自拒其福也。况謙則受教有地。而取善無窮。尤修業者所必不可少者也。古語云。有志於功名者。必得功名。有志於富貴者。必得富貴。人之有志。如樹之有根。立定此志。須念念謙虛。塵塵無微不至也方便。自然感動天地。而造福由我。今之求登科第者。在昔日科舉時代則云然在現代可作求功名者解初未嘗有真志。不過一時意興耳。興到則求。興闌則止。闌衰退也志行薄弱之人決無後望學者當知所勉矣孟子曰。王之好樂甚。齊其庶幾乎。將力求快適之心擴而充之作與民同樂之舉安有國運不大昌者乎予於科名亦然。了凡先生言對於一切求功名者亦望其立志真切擴充善量悉力做去而為福自我造數不能拘之人 > From this we can see that three feet above our heads, there are surely deities watching over us. Whether we move toward good fortune or avoid disaster is ultimately up to ourselves. We must be careful in our thoughts and actions, never offending heaven, earth, ghosts, or spirits. We should remain humble and modest, so that heaven, earth, ghosts, and spirits will always take pity on us—this is the foundation for receiving blessings. Those who are full of arrogance are unlikely to achieve lasting success; even if they do, they won't truly enjoy it. Anyone with a bit of wisdom would never willingly shrink their own capacity or push away their own fortune. Moreover, humility opens the door to learning from others and allows us to draw unlimited goodness—this is especially essential for those who cultivate their character. As the old saying goes: "Those who truly aspire to achievement will attain it; those who truly aspire to wealth and honor will attain them." The human will is like the root of a tree. Once we set this intention firmly, we must in every thought remain humble, and in every detail act with consideration, naturally moving heaven and earth—and ultimately creating our own fortune is up to us. In today's world, those who seek official rank or academic success often don't have a genuine intention, but are merely caught up in a passing whim. When inspiration strikes, they pursue it; when it fades, they stop. Mencius said, "If the king truly delighted in music, wouldn't the kingdom draw near to good governance?" He meant that if one could expand his desire for personal enjoyment into sharing joy with the people, how could the nation's fortune not flourish? I feel the same way about success in examinations. For all those who seek worldly achievement, the hope is that they set their minds sincerely, expand their capacity for goodness, and put forth their full effort—so that fortune is created by themselves, and fate can no longer constrain them.