鐔津文集 3.10

3.10

孝有可見也。有不可見也。不可見者孝之理也。可見者孝之行也。理也者孝之所以出也。行也者孝之所以形容也。修其形容而其中不修。則事父母不篤惠人不誠。修其中而形容亦修。豈惟事父母而惠人。是亦振天地而感鬼神也。天地與孝同理也。鬼神與孝同靈也。故天地之神不可以不孝求不可以詐孝欺。佛曰。孝順至道之法。儒曰。夫孝置之而塞乎天地。溥之而橫乎四海。施之後世而無朝夕。故曰。夫孝天之經也。地之義也。民之行也。至哉大矣孝之為道也夫。是故吾之聖人欲人為善也。必先誠其性而然後發諸其行也。孝行者養親之謂也。行不以誠則其養有時而匱也。夫以誠而孝之。其事親也全。其惠人䘏物也均。孝也者効也。誠也者成也。成者成其道也。効者効其孝也。為孝而無効。非孝也。為誠而無成。非誠也。是故聖人之孝。以誠為貴也。儒不曰乎。君子誠之為貴。

Filial piety has that which can be seen and that which cannot be seen. That which cannot be seen is the principle of filial piety; that which can be seen is the practice of filial piety. Principle is that from which filial piety issues forth; practice is that by which filial piety is manifested. If one cultivates the manifestation while leaving the inner mind uncultivated, then one will not serve parents with sincerity, nor show kindness to others with truthfulness. If one cultivates the inner mind while also cultivating the manifestation, not only will one serve parents and show kindness to others, but this will also move heaven and earth and touch the ghosts and spirits. Heaven and earth share the same principle with filial piety; ghosts and spirits share the same numinous quality with filial piety. Therefore, the spirits of heaven and earth cannot be sought through unfiliality, nor deceived by counterfeit filial piety. The Buddha said: 'Be filial and obedient to the Dharma of the ultimate Way.' The Confucians said: 'Set filial piety down, and it fills heaven and earth; diffuse it, and it spans the four seas; apply it to later generations, and it knows neither morning nor evening.' Thus it is said: 'Filial piety is the constant norm of Heaven, the righteousness of Earth, and the conduct of the people.' How supreme, how great is filial piety as a Way! Therefore, when our sage wished people to practice goodness, he necessarily first made their nature sincere, and only then expressed it in their conduct. Filial practice means nourishing one's parents. If practice is not guided by sincerity, then one's nourishment will at times be deficient. When one is filial with sincerity, one's service to parents is complete, and one's kindness to others and care for creatures is impartial. Filial piety (xiao) is emulation (xiao); sincerity (cheng) is accomplishment (cheng). To accomplish means to accomplish one's Way; to emulate means to emulate filial piety. To practice filial piety without emulation is not filial piety; to practice sincerity without accomplishment is not sincerity. For this reason, the filial piety of the sage values sincerity. Did not the Confucian say: 'The noble man values making himself sincere'?