Plain LanguageDream Shadows

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[Excerpt:] Conceal cleverness in clumsiness, use obscurity to reveal clarity, embed purity in turbidity, and bend to extend. It is indeed a pot for navigating the world and three caves for hiding oneself.
[Explanation:] To hide one's intelligence and wisdom in seemingly foolish actions, to cover one's sharpness with a facade of ignorance, to conceal one's inner integrity in amiable and vague behavior, and to treat everything with patience and humility as a means to achieve one's goals. If these can be achieved, it is equivalent to mastering the art of dealing with the world and finding a safe retreat for preserving oneself. The decline is already present in the fullness, and the seeds of change are found in the desolation. Therefore, a noble person should remain vigilant in times of peace and steadfast in adversity.
[Explanation:] Generally, the signs of decline and decay are present in prosperity, and the beginnings of transformation and vitality are found in desolation. Thus, a person of high cultivation should maintain a clear mind in times of tranquility to prevent future troubles and possess unwavering perseverance in times of crisis to wait for the right moment for success. Those who are amazed by the extraordinary lack vision; those who rigidly adhere to self-purification without flexibility lack enduring virtue.
[Explanation:] A person who only seeks novelty and strangeness without exploring the essence of ordinary things is one without foresight and shallow knowledge. A self-righteous person who clings to moral rectitude and acts alone finds it difficult to maintain such virtue permanently.
When anger and desire are at their fiercest, one knows it is wrong yet cannot control it. Who is the one who knows it is wrong? And who is the one who cannot control it? If one can suddenly realize and restrain oneself at this critical moment, the demon becomes a benevolent deity.
[Explanation:] When anger burns like fire and desire boils like water, one knows it is wrong but often fails to control it. Who knows it is wrong? Who cannot control it? If one can awaken and restrain oneself at this pivotal moment, the fierce demon becomes a compassionate god.
Those who live in abundance should be like water about to overflow but not yet overflowing—avoid adding another drop; those in peril should be like a tree about to break but not yet broken—avoid adding another pressure.
[Explanation:] Those who have everything going well should be like water about to overflow but not yet overflowing—avoid adding another drop, or it will spill. Those in dire straits should be like a tree about to break but not yet broken—avoid adding another pressure, or it will snap.
Observe people with a cold eye, listen to words with a cold ear, feel with a cold heart, and think with a cold mind.
[Explanation:] Observe others' actions with a calm gaze, listen to others' words with a calm ear, process perceptions with a calm heart, and contemplate the truth of things with a calm mind.
A benevolent person's heart is broad and relaxed, bringing abundant blessings and long-lasting joy, and everything reflects a sense of ease. A petty person's thoughts are rushed and narrow, leading to meager rewards and fleeting happiness, and everything reveals a sense of urgency.
[Explanation:] A compassionate and kind-hearted person, with a broad and relaxed nature, enjoys deep blessings and long-lasting happiness, and everything they do reflects a sense of ease. A greedy and stingy person, with a narrow and shallow nature, suffers from meager rewards and fleeting happiness, and everything they do reveals a selfish and impatient nature.
Hear of evil without immediately hating it, for fear of being provoked by slanderers; hear of good without immediately trusting it, for fear of being deceived by those seeking advancement.
[Explanation:] When hearing of others' faults or bad deeds, do not immediately develop aversion—instead, calmly investigate to determine if it is the result of malicious slander. When hearing of others' good deeds or virtuous actions, do not immediately trust or favor them—instead, carefully observe to see if it is a ploy by those seeking personal gain.
A person with a hot temper and rough heart achieves nothing; a person with a calm heart and gentle spirit gathers abundant blessings.
[Explanation:] A person with a hot temper and careless nature acts impulsively and rashly, achieving nothing and even inviting misfortune. A person with a calm and gentle nature acts with care and deliberation, naturally accumulating happiness and accomplishing great deeds.
When hiring people, do not be harsh, for harshness drives away those who wish to serve; when making friends, do not be indiscriminate, for indiscriminateness invites flatterers.
[Explanation:] When hiring people, do not be cruel, for cruelty drives away those who wish to serve you, leaving you isolated. When making friends, do not be indiscriminate, for indiscriminateness invites sycophants who take advantage of the situation, putting your future at risk.
In fierce winds and heavy rains, stand firm; amidst blooming flowers and lush willows, keep your eyes high; on dangerous paths, turn back early.
[Explanation:] In times of turbulent change and unpredictable storms, remain steadfast in your beliefs and stand firm amidst the chaos. Amidst beauty and temptation, maintain a clear vision and resist being swayed by sensual allure. In critical situations and dire circumstances, act decisively and retreat early without hesitation.
A person of integrity should temper their nature with harmony, avoiding conflicts; a person of achievement should uphold humility, avoiding jealousy.
[Explanation:] A person of integrity, strong in principle, should balance their nature with gentleness to avoid being driven to conflict by rigid views. A person of achievement should maintain humility and kindness to avoid inviting jealousy.
A scholar in office should not be overly selective in receiving letters, keeping a dignified and serious demeanor to deter opportunists. A scholar in the countryside should not appear aloof, instead adopting a friendly and approachable attitude to foster bonds with neighbors and old friends.
[Explanation:] A scholar in office should exercise restraint in handling requests, maintaining a dignified and serious demeanor to prevent opportunists from exploiting the situation. A scholar at home should not appear haughty, instead adopting a friendly and approachable attitude to strengthen ties with neighbors and old friends.
A noble person is not to be feared, for fearing them prevents self-indulgence; a commoner is not to be feared, for fearing them prevents arrogance.
[Explanation:] A person of high moral character and cultivation should be respected, for respect prevents self-indulgence. A commoner should also be respected, for respect prevents arrogance.
When encountering setbacks, think of those less fortunate, and resentment will fade; when feeling complacent, think of those more capable, and your spirit will be rejuvenated.
[Explanation:] When facing adversity, think of those who are even less fortunate, and resentment will. When feeling pleased with oneself, think of those who are more capable, and your spirit will be reinvigorated.
Do not make light promises in joy, nor lose your temper after drinking, nor engage in unnecessary affairs in triumph, nor be lazy in fatigue.
[Explanation:] Do not make light promises in joy, nor lose your temper after drinking, nor engage in unnecessary affairs in triumph, nor be lazy in fatigue.
A skilled reader reads until they are moved to dance, avoiding merely reciting words without understanding. A skilled observer observes until they are in harmony with the object, avoiding being confined to superficial appearances.
[Explanation:] A skilled reader reads until they are deeply moved, avoiding merely reciting words without grasping the essence. A skilled observer observes until they are in harmony with the object, avoiding being limited to superficial appearances.
Heaven grants wisdom to one to enlighten the ignorant, yet the world often shows off strengths to highlight others' weaknesses; Heaven grants wealth to one to help the needy, yet the world often uses wealth to oppress the poor. Truly, such people are the scum of humanity and the sinners of Heaven, defying divine will with great.
[Explanation:] Heaven grants wisdom to one to enlighten the ignorant, yet the world often shows off strengths to highlight others' weaknesses. Heaven grants wealth to one to help the needy, yet the world often uses wealth to oppress the poor. Such people, who exploit their strengths to expose others' weaknesses and rely on their wealth to oppress the poor, are indeed the scum of humanity and the sinners of Heaven, greatly offending divine will.
The wise have no thoughts or worries, the foolish are unaware and unknowing, yet both can discuss learning and achieve great deeds. Only the mediocre, with every thought and knowledge, often doubt and hesitate, making it difficult to act decisively.
[Explanation:] The truly wise and virtuous are free from thoughts and worries, open-minded and upright, without suspicion or hatred. The foolish are unaware and unknowing, without the cunning to scheme. Both can discuss learning and achieve great deeds. Only the mediocre, with every thought and knowledge, often doubt and hesitate, making it difficult to act decisively, often achieving nothing.
The mouth is the door of the heart; guard it not well, and you will reveal all its secrets. The mind is the foot of the heart; guard it not well, and you will stray into evil paths.
[Explanation:] The mouth is the door of the heart; guard it not well, and you will reveal all its secrets. The mind is the foot of the heart; guard it not well, and you will stray into evil paths, indulging in lust and corruption.
When blaming others, seek no fault where none exists, and the situation will be calm. When blaming oneself, seek fault even where none exists, and virtue will advance.
[Explanation:] When blaming others, be generous—seek no fault where none exists, as this will calm the other person and encourage them to improve. When blaming oneself, be strict—seek fault even where none exists, as this will promote self-improvement in virtue.