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曹操的謀臣說：「徐庶最孝順母親，他母親是個寡婦。若能把他母親請來，然後叫他母親寫信叫他來，他就會來。」曹操說：「好計！好計！這是好辦法。」於是告訴庶母，謂其子在軍營裡病了，請她來看看他，徐庶的母親就被騙來了。她來了被威脅寫信給她兒子，叫他來看她，否則就要殺她。徐庶的母親大約是吃軟不吃硬，性格很剛強，很堅決的拒絕寫這封信。曹操就叫人冒充他母親的筆跡，寫信叫她兒子回來。
徐元直一看這封信，就知道是假的，但是沒有辦法，深怕如果他不去曹營，曹操會殺了他母親。他的孝念很純，所以到曹營見母。母親一看見子來了，知道他中計。母親令兒子不能發展自己的抱負，也就自殺了。徐元直本來是來救母的，想不到母親比他更堅強，比他更有骨頭，免得累贅他而先自殺了。曹操也不放他走，給他很好的待遇，吃好的，穿好的，可是徐元直在曹營亦是鬱鬱不得志，一天到晚不發一言。為什麼呢？一方面他和曹操志道不同，故不願意幫他；另一方面曹操有殺母之仇。所以他就在那兒修道了。曹操養著他，他也和死人一樣，如閉關。
徐元直、諸葛亮和龐統都是古來的隱士，古來的大學問家。他們都是想要少欲知足，淡泊名利。以後不知道徐庶怎樣離開曹營，到東北千山修道去了，據說現在還有人看見徐庶。
贊曰
滿腔熱血 一顆丹心
略使小計 曹操膽驚
偽造母書 先生奔命
一言不發 還我清淨
「滿腔熱血，一顆丹心」：這位徐元直先生抱著滿腔熱血，他只有一顆紅心。其志願以復興漢室為己任，故最初保護劉備。「略使小計，曹操膽驚」：他用小小的計策，還沒有用上他的才幹，以少破多，以寡敗眾，便打敗了曹操的龐大軍隊，所以令曹操也害怕了。
「偽造母書，先生奔命」：曹操偽造庶母之書信，他被曹操的狡猾陷阱所騙，到曹營裏來聽母親之命。「一言不發，還我清淨」：到曹營後，被環境逼迫一言不發，清淨用功修道；否則，一定要把曹殺了，因為殺母之仇不共戴天。
又說偈曰：
事母至孝為國忠
追隨劉備走西東
大志未伸堪遺憾
小鬼設計入曹營
逆來順受道之動
「事母至孝為國忠」：徐元直先生不但事奉母親很孝順，他也想復興漢室，為國家盡上一片忠心。
「追隨劉備走西東」：他毛遂自薦想幫助劉備復興漢室，效忠漢朝。
「大志未伸堪遺憾」：他的抱負志願未能施展出來，很值得後人遺憾。
「小鬼設計入曹營」：曹操就是個小鬼，也是小人，因為他做事不光明磊落，用手段來攏絡徐元直。結果令徐元直懷才莫授，對他自己本身也沒有好處。
「逆來順受道之動」：我們遇到坎坷的逆境，應該很歡喜的接受。逆境就是不順心的事情，也就是橫逆；橫逆就是不如你意的事情。如意吉祥就是如意，不如意就是你想什麼得不到什麼：想這樣不得這樣，想那樣不得那樣，甚至於各方面的災禍都來了。所以--
認命要知足，煩惱一概除；
聲色也不好，名利更不圖。
瞪我沒看見，罵我把理服；
打我忙跪倒，光笑不會哭。
人間也未有，世上找不出；
西方真衲子，懷揣摩尼珠。
你若能這樣就是道之動。逆境造英雄，你要明白逆境是給你說法，令你提高志氣，要有真正的硬骨頭，不被逆境所屈服。不能受就是屈服，要逆來順受，改變橫逆。所謂「不受魔不成佛，不受苦不享福。」要在反面找好處。你能反面明白道理，就是「反者道之動，弱者道之用。」弱，好像柔和軟弱，但這真是道的一個用。
「返本還原德業興」：你能返本還原，就萬德莊嚴，能認識本來的面目。我們在世界上都像做戲作夢似的。所謂「一切有為法」：包括世間社會有形有相，有所作為的，都叫有為法。「如夢幻泡影」都像作夢，都是虛妄的。都像水泡，都像影子那樣不實在，「如露亦如電」：又像清晨的露水，又像電光石火，都是無常的。「應作如是觀」：應該這樣去瞭解，「從赤松遊黃鶴跨」：從就是跟著；赤松就是赤松子，不是紅的松樹上的子。赤松子是黃石公的道號。張良在把橋遇到一個老頭子丟了鞋，張良就把他的鞋拿來，在他面前跪著給他，黃石公看這個青年拿鞋跪著，就說要傳他一本天書，叫他第二天再來這兒找他這叫「圮橋獻履」。
第二天，天一光張良就到此欲拿書，黃石公大發脾氣罵他說：「你這年輕人，和長者有約怎可比長者後到？ 」於是叫他明天再來。
第二天雞叫時張良就到，這位老人已經在那兒等，認為他還是不行。張良心想：「我來得早，你來得比我更早，我就乾脆不回去，晚上在此等他。」等到半夜老頭兒來了，見到張良跪著向他叩頭，老人就告訴他名叫黃石公，道號是赤松子，和他有緣，所以要把三卷天書傳給他，他能安邦治國，修身養性及排兵布陣。
後來張良將此三卷天書讀熟，故能幫劉邦奠定漢朝的天下，成為天下三傑。以後張良功成身退，不再留戀榮華富貴去修道了。
「黃鶴跨」：就是修行成了，騎了黃鶴往天上飛，不用坐飛機，也不用坐火箭；願意到天上就到天上去，願意到地下來就到地下來，很自由的。你想要這麼自由，就要
好好修行。
「比美留侯子房公」：徐庶可以和張子房(張良)比美。張良能以功成名遂而身退，徐庶功沒成，名也沒遂，但在很短的時間，他也知道身退，他們都是有正解的人。
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Now Cao Cao also had his own advisors,
who told him, "Xu Shu is a most filial son. His mother,
whose name is Fang, is a widow. If we can get his mother to
come here and convince her to write to her son, then Xu Shu
will most certainly come." Cao Cao said, "Brilliant scheme!
That is a good method."
Thereupon, they informed Xu Shu's mother
that her son was sick in Cao Cao's barracks and invited her
to come to see him. By means of this plot, he cheated Xu
Shu's mother. Then he tried to make her submit, by a system
of both intimidation and seduction, saying to her "If you do
not write a letter to summon your son, we will kill you."
However, she was someone who would not be coerced into
submission. She was a stubborn woman. If she had not been
resolute, she would not have maintained her purity and never
remarried. And so she said, " I won't write such a letter!"
Cao Cao meanwhile had obtained some notes
written by Xu Shu's mother, so he ordered someone to forge a
letter in the old woman's writing. The letter was as if
written by her, asking her son to come to the Cao camp. When
Xu Yuan-zhi saw the letter, he immediately realized it was a
forgery. However, he was afraid that Cao Cao would actually
murder his mother. Since he had very intense filial
thoughts, he decided to go to the Cao camp. Instead of
protecting Liu Bei, he went along with Cao Cao instead.
When Xu Shu got there, his mother
realized he had been taken in by the scheme. The mother felt
she was guilty of preventing her son from fulfilling his
aspirations, and so she hung herself. Originally Xu Yuan-zhi
had come with the intention of saving his mother. He had not
thought that his mother was even more resolute than he. Mrs.
Xu would rather kill herself than become a burden to her
son. Afterward, Cao Cao did not order Xu Shu to leave. He
put him under house arrest. Everyday he offered him good
food and good clothing. Xu Shu was unhappy at the Cao camp
since there was no opportunity for him to utilize his
talents. He never spoke a word. So there is this saying, "
After Xu Shu entered the Cao camp, he did not say a word."
Why didn't he saya word? Because he and Cao Cao had
divergent paths. Cao Cao was a treacherous hero, and Xu Shu
did not wish to aid him. Besides, Cao Cao had used a scheme
that indirectly caused the death of Xu Shu's mother, so
there was a spirit of vengeance underlying their
relationship. For those reasons, Xu Shu never exerted any
effort to try to help Cao Cao. Although they provided for
him at the Cao camp, Xu Shu acted as if he were dead man.
Afterward he became a recluse and
cultivated the Way. People like Xu Shu, Zhu-ge Liang and
Pang Tong were hermits of the past. They were great
scholars, but they cherished few desires and were content
with their situation. They looked lightly on worldly things
and maintained their bright resolve. It is not known how
long Xu Shu stayed in the Cao Camp. But later on he left and
went to Qian Mountain in Manchuria to cultivate. According
to some rumors, to this day there are people who have seen
him.
A verse in praise says:
His bosom was filled with patriotic fervor,
And his heart was utmost true and sincere.
With but a tiny plot, he scared the wits out of Cao Cao.
A letter forged in his mother's hand
Led Mr. Xu running to her rescue.
Thereafter he never uttered a word;
"Let me return to my purity."
Commentary:
His bosom was filled with patriotic fervor, / And
his heart was utmost true and sincere. He had a
"red" heart, that is, a very loyal attitude, and was
resolved to revive the Han dynasty. Therefore, he protected
Liu Bei in the beginning. With but a tiny plot, he
scared the wits out of Cao Cao. He had barely used
a little bit of his talent, not having completely developed
it, but that was enough to intimidate Cao Cao, With a few
troops he was able to smash Cao Cao's large army. Cao Cao
was alarmed.
A letter forged in his mother's
hand, / Led Mr. Xu running to her rescue. Cao Cao
had someone forge a letter in Xu Shu's mother's hand, and Xu
Shu ended up in the Cao camp. He fell into Cao's treacherous
trap. Thereafter he never uttered a word.
Oppressed by circumstances, he never said a word after he
moved into the Cao camp. "Let me return to my
purity. I am not going to do anything else. I wish
to cultivate the Way." If he had not done this, he would
certainly have tried to kill Cao Cao to avenge his mother's
death. The vengeance arising out of someone killing one's
mother cannot be weathered under heaven.
Another verse says:
He served his mother with utmost filiality
and was extremely loyal to his country.
He followed Liu Bei east and west.
What a pity his lofty aspirations were never fully realized.
The "Little Ghost" lured Mr. Xu into his camp with a trick.
Taking adversity in stride is the motion of the Way.
Returning to the roots, great undertakings flourish.
Zhang Zi-fang apprenticed under Red Pine and mounted the
yellow crane.
Mr. Xu can be said to be Zhang's equal.
He served his mother with utmost
filiality and was extremely loyal to his country.
His mother was a widow who did not remarry. Xu Shu was very
filial. He also wished to revive the Han dynasty and was
very loyal. He constantly followed Liu Bei east and
west. He recommended himself to Liu Bei and wished
to bring the Ban house back to power. What a pity
his lofty aspirations were never fully realized.
That is a most lamentable thing to people who came later. Of
course he himself felt that it was a shame, too. The
"Little Ghost" lured Mr. Xu into his camp with a trick.
Cao Cao was a "little person" (小人), but I am calling him a"
petty ghost "(小鬼) in this case. He was never open and
aboveboard. He resorted to scheming and wicked designs. In
the end Xu Shu lost the opportunity to utilize his talents.
And Cao Cao did not benefit from his own scheme either. We
should accept when we are faced with difficult circumstances
which are things that do not accord with our will or
situations where when one seeks but fails to have something.
Overall, things just won't come according to your wish, or
even all sorts of disasters and calamities can happen to
you. Therefore:
If one can be content and accept fate,
One shall be free from all afflictions.
Beautiful sounds and sights are unappealing.
One will seek neither fame nor profit.
"If you glare at me, I don't even notice.
If you scold me, I will accept it. If you hit me,
I will promptly kneel and bow. I won't cry but I will just
laugh."
Such an attitude is rare in the world. You cannot find such
a person.
He is a real monk from the West,
Who carries a mani jewel with him
If you can be like the person in the
above verse, then that is the Tao in action. Difficult
situations always make heroes. You must understand that
difficult circumstances in fact are speaking the Dharma so
that you remain spirited. You should be tough enough and not
be overwhelmed by unfavorable situations. If you can't take
it, that is succumbing to the situation. You must be able to
accept circumstances that go against you and be able to turn
them around. There is a saying, 'One will not become a
Buddha if one cannot undergo the demons. One will not enjoy
blessings if one does not goes through hardship.' We must
learn from trying circumstances. If you can understand this
meaning, then "There is the Tao in action in the adversary;
there is usefulness in vulnerability." Vulnerable, it is
like softness or frailty, but that is the usefulness of the
Tao.
The verse continues: Returning to
the roots, great undertakings flourish. If you can
return to the roots and plumb the source, and recognize your
original self, then all virtues will be perfected. Living in
this world can be likened to acting in a movie or having a
dream. The Diamond Sutra says, "All conditioned dharmas are
like dreams, illusions, bubbles and shadows, like dew drops
and a lightning flash. Contemplate them thus." In this world
everything with form and characteristics is called
conditioned dharmas. They are like a dream which is unreal,
and like water bubbles and shadows which are nonexistent.
They are further compared to the dewdrops in the morning and
lighting, which are impermanent. One should contemplate and
understand in such a way.
The verse says: Zhang Zi-fang
apprenticed under Red Pine and mounted the yellow crane.
"Red Pine" (Chi Song) is the title of Taoist master Huang
Shi Gong or "The Elder Yellow Rock." Zhang Liang, during the
Three Kingdoms period, met Huang Shi Gong who had lost his
shoe at the Bridge. Zhang Liang retrieved the shoe, knelt
down in respect and returned it to the old man. Huang told
him he was going to give him some books on military
strategies and told him to come back the next day. That is
known as "retrieving the shoe and presenting it on the
Bridge." The next day, Zhang came back early in the morning
but saw that Huang was already waiting there. Huang scolded
him for being late and letting an elder wait for him. He
asked Zhang to come back again the following day. Zhang
reached the bridge early in the morning to collect the
books, but Huang again was waiting for him. Zhang thought to
himself this time, "He is always earlier than me no matter
what; I will stay here tonight and wait for him." At
midnight, Huang came back and saw Zhang kneeling there
bowing to him. Huang introduced himself as Huang Shi Gong,
or "Red Pine," and told him that they have great affinities
and he wished to transmit to him the three volumes of
celestial books containing instructions on managing and
stabilizing a country, self-cultivation, and military
strategies.
Later, Zhang Liang studied and
familiarized himself with the three celestial volumes and
assisted Liu Bei in establishing the Han dynasty. He became
one of the three heroes of heaven and earth. After he had
successfully established the Han dynasty, Zhang renounced
all his wealth and fame and went off to cultivate the Way.
After perfecting his cultivation, he rode the yellow crane
to heaven. One does not need an airplane or a rocket to go
places. One is at ease either going to the heaven or staying
on earth. You should cultivating diligently if you want to
have this kind of freedom.
The verse continues: Mr. Xu can
be said to be Zhang's equal. Xu Shu can be compared
to Zhang Zi-fang (better known as Zhang Liang). Zhang Liang
knew how to retreat after his success. Although Xu Shu did
not have as much success or fame as Zhang, he was able to
withdraw and cultivate within a very short period of time.
They both had proper knowledge.
(The End)
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