-
Main Stillness: When there is nothing to do, be orderly and serious, with a calm mind; when dealing with matters, be focused and undistracted, with a single-mindedness.
-
Sitting in Stillness: It is necessary to sit in stillness every day, experiencing the tranquility that brings forth the benevolent heart, maintaining a proper position and concentration, like the stability of a tripod.
-
Early Rising: Rise at dawn without lingering in bed.
-
Reading without Deviation: Do not read other books before finishing the current one, read ten pages every day.
-
Reading History: Read at least ten pages of the Twenty-Three Histories every day, without interruption even when busy.
-
Speaking with Caution: Speak cautiously, always keeping in mind the saying "disaster comes from the mouth."
-
Cultivating Qi: Store Qi in the lower abdomen, cultivate oneself and nurture one's character.
-
Taking Care of One's Body: Moderate labor, desires, and diet, always treating oneself as if one is recuperating from an illness.
-
Daily Knowledge of One's Deficiencies: Record a casual conversation every day, divided into categories of virtue, knowledge, economy, and art.
-
Monthly Not Forgetting One's Abilities: Write several poems or essays each month, avoiding excessive delay, as it is easy to lose one's ambition.
-
Writing Characters: Practice calligraphy for half an hour after breakfast, considering all writing activities as part of one's studies, without leaving them for the next day.
-
Not Going Out at Night: Exhausting one's energy and spirit, strictly avoid it!
In fact, Wang Yangming also mentioned this in his "Record of Transmission and Practice": When it is time to act, act; when it is time to stop, stop; when it is time to live, live; when it is time to die, die. However, knowing so much about the principles, it is still difficult to put them into practice.
When Zeng Guofan encountered such situations, he constantly analyzed himself. Although he realized the problem, sometimes it was difficult to integrate knowledge and action. He recorded these experiences in his diary, not only for his own reflection but also for sharing with friends, who could provide him with advice.