這一章所講的，諸如洗臉、刷牙、漱口、沐手，等等衛生習慣，以及穿衣、戴帽、繫鞋、著襪，種種衣著要領，都是日常生活中所要注意的細節。別輕看了那是細節，一個人若能在日用之間，持之以恆地去實行，造次必於是，顛沛必於是，這才是真正有道。
美國萬佛聖城的開山祖師宣化上人，不但自己以身作則，又不時苦口婆心地教誨眾生：「你要得道，在什麼地方修道呢？就是你一天從早晨起身到晚間，這個經過，你都做得合法，做得很正確的，不做邪僻的事，這就是修道。你若離開日用，另外去找一個道，那就是終身不見道，你始終也找不著的。」
這就是在教我們不要好高鶩遠，所謂「道不遠人」，毋須鎮日向外馳求，裝模做樣；須知日用之間就是道之所在，平實就是道。
若人有很高的名譽、地位，或者很豐富的學識、財富，看來是儀表堂堂，生活習慣卻一團糟，即使他瞞得過外人，還是瞞不了身邊的人；躲得過他人的眼睛，卻是躲不了自己的業力牽引。
人的起心動念，就是善惡業的因；日用之間的舉手投足，就是因的萌芽。維持良好的衛生習慣，不但確保我們的健康，也確保了他人的健康。實行敬謹的衣著要領，不但可以端正我們的心性，更可以鍛鍊我們的耐心和毅力。反之，若是養成了邋遢的習慣、舉止，那麼個人的不名譽事小，實際上已造了罪業的影響大；個人造罪業的影響小，遺禍大眾的罪業大。人怎麼可以等閒輕之呢？
子路原本是個大而化之、好勇尚義的大老粗，他非常看不起讀書人，總覺得這些人是不事生產、欺世盜名之輩。初見孔子時，故意地穿了一身獵裝，帽子上用獵來的山雞毛插得高高的，走起路來一搖三擺；腰上的佩劍，又用獵來的野熊皮做了個長長的劍套，自己以為很神勇。等見了孔子，不覺被孔子的雍雍氣度所折服，就偷偷把山雞毛摘下扔了；隨後子路換上一身儒服來拜師，願意做個常隨眾，跟著孔老夫子學習詩書禮儀。
孔老夫子為他正衣冠，開示他君子之道；經過多年的訓誨調教，子路這塊質而無文的璞玉終於脫穎而出，大放光澤。後來子路在衛國的內亂中被圍攻，力戰至死；因為他帽纓已斷，帽子就歪斜了，臨死，他仍緊緊記得老師的訓誨，掙扎著把帽子重新戴正，因為君子至死都要衣冠端正。
我們現在有很多小嬉皮、老嬉皮，故意地頭不梳、臉不洗，身上衣也不扣，腳下鞋也不穿，以為那是洒脫；這樣的人，只能說是邋遢、隨便，終其一生沒什麼出息，哪裏配稱洒脫？洒脫是要心無罣礙，念無愛憎，要打從內心無所執著於任何人、事、物，而不是茍且過日。須知不是經過禮教淬鍊出來的洒脫，不算真洒脫。
切莫小看了這些日常習慣的維持和實踐， 君子的品格和毅力就是從這兒培養起來的；唯有具備了君子的品格和毅力，才配談洒脫。 |
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This chapter talks about the habits of good hygiene, such as washing our face, brushing our teeth, rinsing our mouth, and washing our hands. It also discusses the principles of good grooming: how we should wear our clothes, wear hats, tie our shoelaces, and put on socks. These are details we have to pay attention in our daily lives. We shouldn’t take them lightly. If a person can always do these things every day, no matter what kind of difficult situation he might find himself in, he is really practicing the Tao.
The Ven. Master Hua, founder of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, not only did all these things himself, but also urged everyone else, saying: “You want to attain the Way? Where can you practice the Way? From the moment you get up in the morning till you retire at night, if you do everything properly without violating the rules, you are practicing the Way. But if you ignore the daily routine things and try to search for the Way elsewhere, you will never encounter it in your whole life.”
He was teaching us that we shouldn’t aim high without doing the fundamental work. It is said, “The Way is not far away from people.” We don’t have to spend the whole day seeking the Way outside somewhere, or put on an act. We should know that the Way is right in our daily activities; simplicity is the Way.
If a person who is famous, important, well-educated, or wealthy looks graceful and dignified, but has messy habits, he might be able to conceal his bad habits from outsiders, but he can’t hide them from people close to him. He might get away from others’ eyes, he can’t escape the power of his own karmic offenses.
Our every thought is a cause of good or bad karma, and our daily activities are the sprouts of these causes. Developing habits of good hygiene not only makes us healthy, but also protects others’ health. Wearing proper clothes not only helps us to have an upright character, but also trains us to have patience and perseverance. On the contrary, if we develop the habits of being sloppy and messy, our resulting bad reputation is a minor thing, but the karmic offenses we commit can be very serious. Committing personal karmic offenses is a small matter, but bringing harm to the public is a big offense. How can we take this lightly?
Zilu was a tough, brash fellow with a sense of justice. He looked down upon scholars because he thought they were unproductive bums who cheated the society for fame. The first time he went to see Confucius, he purposely wore a hunter's outfit, his hat decorated with the long feather of a pheasant he had killed. He swaggered as if he were a big shot. The long sword at his hip was covered with the skin of a bear he had trapped. He thought he was very brave. But when he met Confucius, he was naturally subdued by Confucius’ awesome demeanor and quietly removed the feather from his hat.
Later on, he changed into scholar’s clothes, bowed to Confucius as his teacher, and followed Confucius constantly in order to study the Book of Odes and the Book of Rites. Confucius adjusted Zilu's clothes and taught him the way to be a scholar. After years of practicing Confucius’ instructions, Zilu, originally a rough man without learning, finally outshone the others.
A few years later, Zilu was attacked from all sides during the civil war in the state of Wei. He fought hard till he was killed. When he was dying, his hat was crooked due to broken straps, but he still remembered his teacher’s instruction and struggled to adjust his hat properly, for a scholar should always be properly dressed.
Nowadays, there are many young and old hippies who intentionally neglect to comb their hair, wash their faces, button up their shirts, and wear shoes, because they think that's the way to be carefree. Actually they are merely being sloppy and won’t accomplish much of anything in their lives. How can they say they are carefree? Being carefree means being free from desires, love and hatred; not being attached to any person or object. It doesn't mean goofing off all day long.
We should know that without the right training in propriety, we cannot truly be carefree. We shouldn't neglect to maintain our practice of good habits in daily life; that is the only way we can develop a virtuous person's integrity and resoluteness. Only when we have a virtuous person's integrity and resoluteness is it possible to be carefree. |
