《菜根谭》是明朝还初道人洪应明收集编著的儒家经典,是一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录集。其文字简炼明隽,兼采雅俗,言辞中流露出山林意趣,渗透着万物一体的世界观。开出的处世之方偏重心态和人事,悟虚妄真实之理,指出贫富、尊卑、穷达因为心念使善恶、祸福相互转换,告诫世人及时转念,戒贪少欲,取中庸之道。著作前后内容和深度有所不同,反映出了不同的阅历和境界。
《菜根谭》(厚德载福、逸心补劳)
天薄我以福,吾厚吾德以迓之;天劳我以形,吾逸吾心以补之;天厄我以遇,吾亨吾道以通之。天且奈我何哉?
If Heaven has not granted me enough happiness I keep increasing my store of virtue to supplement this small portion. If Heaven inflicts hardship and suffering upon me I will seek ease of mind to make amends for it. If Heaven sends disasters my way I will try to pull through by pursuing the truth. So what, then, can Heaven do to me?
(保罗·怀特 译)
Should the fate make my fortune inadequate, I would increase the store of my virtue to replenish it. Should the fate make my body exhausted in labor, I would relax my mind to remedy it. Should the fate make my life unfavorable, I would enhance my moral principles to smooth it. That way, what, then, can the fate do to me?
(周文标 译)
If heaven begrudges me good fortune, I can challenge it by making bountiful my merits; if heaven toils my body, I can compensate by resting my mind; if heaven makes difficult my circumstances, I can make them easy by promoting my moral cultivation. What then can heaven do to me?
(蒋坚松 译)