五七、掃除外物 直覓本來

57. Only by clearing away outside enticement can one find a straight path to the essence of his nature.

人心有一部真文章①，都被殘篇斷簡封錮了；有一部真鼓吹②，都被妖歌豔舞淹沒了。學者須掃除外物，直覓本來，才有個真受用。

【注 釋】

① 真文章：此處喻人的行為準則。

② 真鼓吹：鼓吹，代指樂曲。此處隱喻人心底裏的美妙樂譜。

【今文解譯】

每個人的心裏都有一篇關於行為準則的好文章，可惜被那些烏七八糟的亂章雜句給充斥了；也都有一首美妙動聽的好樂曲，可惜都被那些妖歌豔舞的聲音給淹沒了。為學者隻有排除外界的幹擾，堅持本性，才能真正地學有所獲。

【English Translation】

In everyone’s heart there is a book on code of conduct, but it is crammed with miscellaneous fragments; and also there is a music score of innermost feelings, but it is inundated with indecent melodies. As a learner, one must do his utmost to clear away external enticement and come straightway to the perception of the essence of his nature. Only by doing like this will he be really able to benefit from his learning.