Interpretation: If you do not act arbitrarily and reflect on yourself at all times, you will have peace of mind; if you are steady on the outside and calm on the inside, you will be strong; if you constantly pursue benevolence and righteousness, you will be happy physically and mentally; if you are honest in thought and sincere in treating others, you will feel refreshed.

From: "The Book of Commandments" by Zeng Guofan in the Qing Dynasty. The original text is as follows:

One saying is to be cautious and alone and to have peace of mind. The way to self-cultivation is nothing more difficult than cultivating the mind; the most difficult thing about cultivating the mind is to be cautious about being alone.

Vernacular: If a person is cautious in his thoughts, words, and actions when alone, he can feel at ease and calm when dealing with the world.

Secondly, respecting the Lord makes the body strong. Internally, it is focused, quiet and pure, externally, it is neat and serious.

Vernacular: Subjectively, a respectful attitude towards people, things and things can make the body and mind strong. Inwardly, he is focused, peaceful and integrated, and outwardly, he is neatly dressed and has a strict attitude.

The third saying is that seeking benevolence will please others. All human beings are born with the principles of heaven and earth to form their nature, and the energy of heaven and earth to take shape.

Vernacular: Paying attention to benevolence can make people convinced. All human lives in the world have obtained the mechanism of heaven and earth to achieve their own character, and they have obtained the breath of heaven and earth to achieve their own image.

Fourth: Practicing labor will lead to spiritual enlightenment. If the clothes a person wears and the food he eats in a day are commensurate with the things he does in a day, others will notice him, and ghosts and gods will approve him.

Vernacular: Hard work and hard work can make the gods admire you. If the clothes a person wears and the food he eats every day match the effort he puts into what he does during the day, he will be recognized by others and praised by ghosts and gods.

Extended information

Anecdotes of Zeng Guofan:

One day, the weather was fine, and the young Zeng Guofan returned home from school. As soon as he put down his schoolbag, his father said anxiously: "I obviously boiled five eggs, why are there only four?" So he called Zeng Guofan and said to him: "The hard-boiled eggs are for you to eat. Now One is missing. I don’t know which one ate it. Please check it out for your mother." Zeng Guofan thought for a moment and replied, "This is easy. I have a way to find out." Zeng Guofan brought out a washbasin, poured a few cups of tea, called all the family members together, and asked everyone to take a sip of tea and spit it into the basin. He stood aside and observed, and found that a servant spit out tea filled with There is egg yolk powder.

Zeng Guofan's father was very happy, thinking that his son was smart and could be an official trying cases in the future.