刑部主事王阳明淮安复查案子

Starting the Political Career&Beginning the Mission

此心光明

THE HEART OF BRIGHTNESS

44.那年秋天，王阳明被分配到工部实习。朝廷委派他去监督建造威宁伯王越的坟墓。他别出心裁地将建造坟墓的民工当作士兵，用训练士兵的方法来训练他们，大大提高了工作效率。

44.In the autumn that year，Wang Yangming was assigned to work as an intern in the Ministry of Industry.The court appointed him to oversee the construction of the tomb of the Count of Weining，Wang Yue.He was ingenious with his idea to train the migrant workers as soldiers to build the tomb，which greatly improved the working efficiency.

45.不久，威宁伯的坟墓按时、保质、保量地完工了，王越的家人为了对他表示感谢，要送金银作为酬谢，他坚决推辞。最后，王越的家人执意要把威宁伯生前的佩剑赠送给他。王阳明毫不犹豫地接受了。原来王阳明曾做过一个梦，梦中出现过威宁伯将弓箭赠送给他的情景。

45.Soon，the construction of tomb of Wang Yue was completed on time with quality and quantity guaranteed.Wang Yue's family gave Wang Yangming gold and silver as a reward and gratitude，but he firmly rejected it.In the end，Wang Yue's family insisted on giving him a sword belonging to the Count.Wang Yangming accepted it without hesitation.It turned out that Wang Yangming once had a dream，which had a scene where the Count of Weining gave him his bow and arrows.

46.在研究兵法的同时，王阳明仍然想着应该如何成为圣人。他再次全面地研读了朱熹的著作，对朱熹的“格物致知”学说再次加以研究并付诸实践。他认为，自己16岁时“格竹子”格生病了，大概是因为没有完全按照朱熹所要求的“循序渐进”的方法去做。

46.While studying the art of war，Wang Yangming was still thinking about how to become a sage.He read Zhu Xi's works roundly again，and studied Zhu Xi's theory of studying the phenomena of nature to acquire knowledge and put it into practice.He thought that the way of observing bamboo when he was 16 years old was not according to the method of step by step that was required by Zhu Xi，so he had become ill at that time.

47.于是，王阳明重新调整了读书方法，对朱熹的“读书穷理”理论有了新的体会。“格物”，物在外；“穷理”，理在我心中。怎样把草木的“至理”变成我心中的“至理”呢？王阳明百思不得其解。他的苦闷和彷徨，也再次表明他对朱熹的“格物致知”学说开始从根本上产生怀疑。由于用心过度，王阳明旧病复发。

47.Therefore，Wang Yangming readjusted his method of reading，and got new understanding of Zhu Xi's theory of“reading and exhausting knowledge”.“Gewu”means to study the phenomena，the phenomena were exterior.Comparatively，“Zhili”means that the knowledge and principles were in my heart.How to turn the exterior phenomena of vegetation into the interior knowledge in my heart？Wang Yangming was confused.His anguish and hesitation also showed that he doubted Zhu Xi's theory of studying phenomena to acquire knowledge fundamentally.After overexerting his thoughts，Wang Yangming fell ill again.

48.工部实习结束后，王阳明被授予刑部主事的职务，并被派到淮安去复查案子。工作之余，他游览了中国佛教四大名山之一的九华山。当借住化城寺时，他遇到了一位修炼有术、远近闻名的怪道人蔡蓬头。

48.After the internship at the Ministry of Industry，Wang Yangming was assigned to the Minister of Criminal Affairs and was sent to Huai'an to investigate the cases.In his spare time，he visited Jiuhua Mountain，one of the four famous Buddhist Mountains in China.When he was staying in the Huacheng Temple，he met a strange Taoist，Cai Pengtou，who was known far and wide.

49.王阳明向蔡蓬头讨教道教仙术。蔡蓬头笑而不答，转身说：“时机未到。”王阳明再次向道人跪拜行礼，并继续讨教。道人又是一个转身，说：“时机未到。”王阳明继续向道人施礼，道人并不还礼，只顾笑着说：“礼数虽然恭敬周到，但依我看来，你总是一副不忘做官的样子。”

49.Wang Yangming asked Cai Pengtou about how to be immortal within Taoism.The Taoist turned back and replied with a smile，“It was not the right time yet”.Wang Yangming saluted with bended knee to the Taoist and continued to consult.The strange Taoist turned around facing to him and said，“It was not the right time yet”.Wang Yangming saluted him again，but he did not salute back，just saying with a smile，“Although you were very polite，in my opinion，you have not forgotten the idea of being an official”.

50.从化城寺往东，有一座巨岩突兀的东崖岩头。东崖岩头的下方有一大洞，叫地藏洞。王阳明听说有一位异人坐卧于地藏洞中，身下铺垫的是松毛，不食人间烟火。王阳明前去拜访，对异人说明自己的敬仰之情，并要求异人传授有关佛教的哲理。两人互相论说了最上乘的佛教学理，谈得非常投机。

50.To the east of Huacheng Temple，there was a huge cave under the east cliff，which was called Dizang Cave.Wang Yangming heard that there was a strange otherworldly man living in the Dizang Cave，and pine leaves were under his body.Wang Yangming visited him and expressed his admiration to him，and asked him to impart the philosophy of Buddhism.They talked with each other about the best Buddhist doctrines congenially.

51.王阳明这次出来复查刑部案件，公务繁重，十分劳累，咳嗽的毛病变得更加厉害，最终转成了咯血。

51.Wang Yangming was tired in this time's investigation，and the heavy burden of the official business made his coughing more serious，which later turned into hemoptysis.(www.xing528.com)

52.弘治十五年（1502），王阳明31岁，他不得不向皇帝请假，请求回家养病，来到了家乡不远处的四明山，以静修来涵养身心。自汉代开始，四明山就成为道教活动的胜地。该地有“洞天福地”之称，其中有丹山赤水第九洞天，有梨洲福地、茭湖福地、大隐福地三个福地。

52.In the 15th Ming Hongzhi's reign year（1502），Wang Yangming，31，had to ask for permission from the emperor to go home to recuperate.He went to the Siming Mountain，not far away from his hometown，resting his body and mind.As early as the Han Dynasty，Siming Mountain had become the resorts for Taoist activities.This area was known as caverns of heaven and places of blessing，including Danshan Chishui，also known as the ninth cave of the Taoism，and three blessd lands，Lizhou Blessed Land，Jiaohu Blessed Land and Dayin Blessed Land，respectively.

53.一到四明山，王阳明即向隐居于山中的著名道士请教有关道学方面的问题，追求涵养身心之术。没过多久，王阳明转移到会稽山中的阳明洞天，构筑了几间草舍，独自进行修炼。阳明洞被道家称为“第十一洞天”，远在会稽山中的南镇深山之中。王阳明经过一段时间的苦练和推算，居然练成了“预知未来”的先知道术。

53.Once arriving at Siming Mountain，Wang Yangming consulted a famous Taoist who secluded in the mountain about Taoism，pursuing the method of immortalizing oneself.After a few days，Wang Yangming moved to the Yangming Cave in Kuaiji Mountain，and built a few grass huts.He practiced the method alone there.The Yangming Cave was also known as the eleventh cave of Taoism，in the southern town inside Kuaiji Mountain.After a period of hard work and calculation，it was said that Wang Yangming became an expert in predicting the future.

54.有一天，他的友人朱节、王思舆等四人，从绍兴城里出发，进山拜访王阳明。半路遇到了王阳明的随身小书童，书童告诉他们：“先生知道列位相公今天要到阳明洞中访问先生，特意叫我先到绍兴城里买点酒菜、果品之类，以便到时招待列位相公。”众人一听，深感奇怪。

54.One day，his friends Zhu Jie，Wang Siyu and two other individuals visited him from Shaoxing City.On the way they met the young servant of Wang Yangming.The servant told them，“Mr.Wang knew that you would visit him，so he particularly asked me to buy some fruit，food and alcohol in Shaoxing City in order to serve you.”Everyone was surprised to hear that.

55.众人来到阳明洞中，即问：“先生为什么能够预知我们的到来？”王阳明先生说：“这是我经过静心推算之后才知晓的。我还晓得你们几位中，某人在途中到溪中洗过手，某人在某处竹丛中刻字留词，某人在半途中跌了一跤。”

55.When his friends arrived at Yangming Cave，they asked，“How did you know we were coming？”Wang Yangming replied，“It is based on my calculation.I also know that one of you had washed hands in the stream on the way，one of you had carved letters on a bamboo in some bamboo groves，and one of you had fallen down on the ground on the way.”

56.众人都希望王阳明先生能够把所学的道术教给他们。但是，王阳明却对道术有了新的看法，他说：“道术这种东西，只是浪费精神罢了，并不是真正的学问，对人生并无大的好处，还是不学为好。我也已经打算不再学习道学，我劝你们也不必再学。”

56.Everyone wished that Wang Yangming could teach them Taoist magic art he had learned.However，Wang Yangming had a new understanding about it.He said，“Such thing as Taoist magic art，only to waste spirit，is not a real doctrine.It does no good to life，and you'd better not to learn it.I have already decided to stop learning Taoist magic art，and I suggest that you should stop thinking about learning it.”

57.众人问：“那么，什么才是应该努力学习的呢？”先生说：“我学过佛理，又学过道学，这两种学术都以消极的心态追求出世的学问，对社会都无用处。只有儒家学说才是积极用世之学，对国家对百姓有利。我劝你们今后只需在儒学上积极用功，立志、勤学，学做圣贤才好。”

57.Everyone asked，“So，what should be studied？”Wang Yangming said，“I have studied Buddhism and Taoism，but both of these academic theories explore the way to renounce the society with a negative attitude，which have no use for the society.Only Confucianism is the theory that will teach you how to adapt to this society actively，which is beneficial to the people and the world.I suggest you put your mind into Confucianism，to aspire，to study，and to learn how to be a sage.”

58.弘治十六年（1503），王阳明32岁，他到杭州西湖养病。在虎跑寺，王阳明先生听说有一位禅僧已经在此闭关三年了，他一天到晚坐着，闭目不语。先生刚一见到这位禅僧，就对他大喝一声：“你这位和尚！一天到晚嘴里咕噜咕噜说些什么东西！一天到晚眼睛睁着看些什么东西！”

58.In the 16th Ming Hongzhi's reign year（1503），Wang Yangming，32 years old，went to the West Lake in Hangzhou to recuperate.At the Hupao Temple，he heard that a monk had been sitting here，isolated himself from the outside for three years.He was only sitting there with eyes and mouth closed all day.As soon as Wang Yangming met him，he shouted to the monk，“What do you say all day long？What do you see every day？”

59.那位禅僧听到王阳明的呵斥，大吃一惊，随即睁开眼睛。先生得知这位僧人有老母亲在家，就问：“你想不想念你的母亲呢？”和尚说：“不能不想啊！”阳明先生趁机与他说了一番儒家的道理，说得那位闭关三年的禅僧痛哭流涕，收拾行囊回家尽孝去了。

59.The monk was surprised and opened his eyes after hearing Wang Yangming's yelling.Wang Yangming learned that the monk had an old mother staying at home，then he asked，“Don't you miss your mother？”The monk replied，“It is difficult not to miss her！”Wang Yangming took the opportunity to speak with the monk about the Confucian doctrine，which made him who had been in seclusion for three years cry bitterly then packed his bags and went home to show his filial piety to his mother.

60.到34岁时，王阳明接收学生，开始宣讲“圣学”，提倡“圣人之道”，他的门下也渐渐地聚集了一些有志向的青年。他还结识了一位朋友，名字叫作湛若水，广东增城人，也是一位喜欢讲“圣学”的朋友。两人成为志同道合的朋友。

60.At the age of 34，Wang Yangming enrolled students and started to preach the theory of sage，advocating the way how to be a sage.Gradually，it attracted some ambitious young people.Wang Yangming also made a friend called Zhan Ruoshui，who was from Zengcheng，Guangdong Province.He liked to teach the theory of sage，too.They became like-minded friends.