Tian Zifang (2)

1 Wenbo Xuezi traveled to the State of Qi. When he passed the State of Lu, some local scholars wanted to see him. He told his underling, “I don’t want to see them. I heard that scholars in this place only focus on the practice of appearance, not on the inner practice. Such scholars have much etiquette. I may as well do not meet them.”

2 After accomplishing his work in the State of Qi, Wenbo Xuezi returned and passed the State of Lu again. This time the scholars asked to meet him again. He told his underling, “These scholars want to meet me for times. I guess that they maybe want to tell me something. Now that I am free, let me hear what they are going to say. Perhaps it is helpful to me.”

3 After meeting them in the living room, he sighed and shook head when returned to the inner room. Next day, when returning from the living room, he shook head and signed again. Feeling curious about the reaction, his underling asked, “During these two days, you shake head and sign after meeting those customers. What has happened on earth?”

4 Wenbo Xuezi replied, “Last time I mentioned that these guys just focus on the practice of appearance, not on the inner practice. This time I persuade myself to meet them. I suppose that perhaps it is not as bad as I think. However, things have happened in these two days have proved that my original thinking is right. They have much etiquette, which have made me very uneasy. They wear serious faces to keep impressive manner. In my eyes, all their attitudes are trying to conceal their ignorance only. They exhort me to follow by a lot of things about benevolence, righteousness, loyalty and credit as if they were my father. Sometime they instruct me what to do in the state of ceremonies as if I were their son.

5 Talking with them are tedious so I can’t help shaking head and sighing. On one hand, I regret that I have wasted my time to talk with them. On the other hand, I feel it is a pity that they are ignorant.”

6 The third days, Confucius visited him too. After all, Confucius was learned and well in practice. He seldom talked about those benevolence, righteousness, loyalty and credit during the meeting. He just did some small talks and then left. Zilu, who accompanied him, asked curiously, “The purpose you want to meet Wenbo Xuezi is to confirm some academic issues. Why do you discuss nothing and leave?”

7 Confucius replied, “To a man of good practice, like him, a glance and a pose are enough to express his practice. It doesn’t need to talk to the details.”