Zeng Guofan's Family Letter - Chapter on Caution
A gentleman's ambition is to blame himself for the difficulties in his life, to complain frequently, to lament destiny and pity the poor, to be poisoned by lust, and to have an empty marrow and essence. Scattered, dying like the people of the country who take opium, they can only bow their heads and die, unable to move a little...
If the worldly honors, disgrace and sexual immorality can be restrained by the eyes, how can the face of self-view be withered, and strengthen the muscles and bones. Strengthening one's body will be beneficial for life.
He always wants to change his ways, but his lust is not eliminated, and he swears to be castrated.
With perseverance, nothing can be accomplished. Thinking about it day and night will bring you happiness. Although we know that rebooting is difficult, we frown, gnash our teeth, and speak softly with a trembling voice, but our body will become weaker. Blurred memory, intolerance to sitting for long periods of time, and fatigue after sitting are all caused by sexual misconduct. Urination at night, thin and muddy urine, sudden awakening in the middle of the night, loose energy, wet mattress, and pain in the waist, what can I do? No way!
If a person can abstain from sexual immorality, then what can a sage or a hero not do? I have a standard atmosphere, polite words and deeds, and awe-inspiring majesty. Who can control me?
How stupid it is to covet women! I should take this as a warning.
Dissipation of energy and a slumped complexion are really harmful to one's health. If one does not work hard and specialize, he will grow old and achieve nothing.
Human beings have no perseverance and achieve nothing in their lives. If you abstain from sexual intercourse for three days, you will make the same mistake again. Your yang energy will become weaker and weaker, and it will be too late to regret.
If sexual desire is not eliminated, you will be happy for a while before going to sleep, but then it will be dull for a while. This poison will kill your will, and it will not end well. Is the essence still intact?
If you can work hard on this matter, advance vigorously, and persevere, it will only take a year or two for you to make progress without realizing it.
If food and clothing are sufficient, and food is full to retain the desire, the more Yang Qi is abundant, the harder it will be for the kidney Qi to be released. If you are infected with this poison for a long time, your speech will be dull, your thinking will be hard, and you will achieve nothing. If you can overcome female lust and have a majestic and vigorous spirit in doing things, your career will advance.
If greed and lust remain as usual and there is no restraint, you will sleep peacefully every night, but you will have trouble sleeping all night again.
People's temperament is difficult to change due to their innate nature, but reading can change their temperament. The ancient master of physiognomy also said that reading can change the physiognomy of the body. For the rest of his life, the most lustful person is before the age of thirty. The ancient sage said that suffocating desire means subduing the dragon.
In order to control the blood and energy, store the essence and nourish the marrow, many heroes and heroes, although they are strong in self-restraint and inner restraint, there are always times when they cannot control it. As I gradually mourn my old age, I realize that the decadence of my prime years is all due to this lust.
The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic says to consolidate essence, if it can eliminate lust and calmness, it can nourish the body. If you keep your stubbornness and use inspiration, your progress will be boundless.
To achieve success, we must give up this bad habit. The desire to harm my body and life, and the troubled mind are the training of young people. When you are mature, you must grit your teeth and swear to give up this lust.
——On December 18, the fifth year of Tongzhi’s reign, I wrote to my ninth brother Guoquan——