禪林寶訓 3.9

3.9

Xuetang said: "When a student's vital energy overcomes their aspiration, they become a petty person; when their aspiration overcomes their vital energy, they become an upright person. When an upright scholar's vital energy and aspiration are equal, they are a worthy or sage who has attained the Way. If someone is unyielding and perverse, not accepting admonition or reprimand, it is caused by vital energy. As for an upright scholar, even if forced to do what is not good, they would rather die than waver; this is caused by aspiration."