弘明集 1.27

1.27

問曰。人之處世。莫不好富貴而惡貧賤。樂歡逸而憚勞倦。黃帝養性。以五肴為上。孔子云。食不厭精鱠不厭細。今沙門被赤布。日一食。閉六情。自畢於世。若茲何聊之有。牟子云。富與貴是人之所欲。不以其道得之不處也。貧與賤是人之所惡。不以其道得之不去也。老子曰。五色令人目盲。五音令人耳聾。五味令人口爽。馳騁田獵令人心發狂。難得之貨令人行妨。聖人為腹不為目。此言豈虛哉。柳下惠不以三公之位易其行。段干木不以其身易魏文之富。許由巢父栖木而居。自謂安於帝宇。夷齊餓于首陽。自謂飽於文武。蓋各得其志而已。何不聊之有乎。

The questioner said: "Among people living in the world, none do not like wealth and honour and hate poverty and lowliness; none do not take pleasure in joy and ease and fear toil and fatigue. The Yellow Emperor cultivated his nature, taking the five delicacies as paramount. Confucius said: 'He did not dislike to have his rice finely cleaned, nor his minced meat finely cut.' Now the śramaṇas wear red cloth, eat one meal a day, shut off the six emotions, and isolate themselves from the world. Living like this, what joy can there be?" Mouzi said: "'Riches and honours are what men desire; if they cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should not be held. Poverty and lowliness are what men hate; if they cannot be avoided in the proper way, they should not be avoided.' Laozi said: 'The five colours make human eyes blind; the five tones make human ears deaf; the five flavours ruin the palate; racing and hunting drive human minds mad; rare goods hinder human conduct. The Sage acts for the belly and not for the eyes.' Could these words be false? Liuxia Hui did not trade his conduct for the position of the Three Excellencies; Duan Ganmu did not trade his person for the wealth of Marquis Wen of Wei. Xu You and Chao Fu lodged in trees and dwelt there, considering themselves more secure than in imperial palaces; Boyi and Shuqi starved on Mount Shouyang, considering themselves more satiated than under King Wen and King Wu. Each simply attained his own intent; what lack of joy could there be?"