Dizigui & a Happy Life

Confucius teaching is a disclosure of the innate virtues. To learn Confucius teaching is to recover the virtues that are intrinsically within us. It is also the foundation of Mahayana Buddhism. In other words, it is a gateway to Mahayana Buddhism. Therefore, we sincerely invite you to join us to learn Confucius wisdom and walk together on the journey of returning to self-nature by recovering our innate virtues.

Dizigui Lecture Series

(*Please watch on YouTube for full playlists!)

總敘 Outline

弟子規，聖人訓 ; 首孝悌，次謹信。
Dizigui – the guidelines for being a good person are exhorted by ancient
sages.
Being filial and fraternal is the first rule, followed by being cautious and
trustworthy.
泛愛眾，而親仁 ; 有餘力，則學文。
Love all broadly, and become close to the benevolent ones.
Practicing all of the above, I can then expand my horizons to study the
literary arts in my spare time.

一. 入則孝 Being Filial to Parents at Home

父母呼，應勿緩 ; 父母命，行勿懶。
When my parents call me, I must answer right away.
When my parents ask me to do something, I must do it promptly.
父母教，須敬聽 ; 父母責，須順承。
When my parents instruct me, I must listen respectfully.
When my parents reprimand me, I must accept obediently.
冬則溫，夏則凊 ; 晨則省，昏則定。
I should make sure that my parents are warm in the winter and cool in the
summer. I will greet my parents in the morning and make sure they rest
comfortably at night.
出必告，反必面 ; 居有常，業無變。
I must tell my parents when going out and must see them in person when
returning home. I will maintain a daily routine and persist with my
aspiration.
事雖小，勿擅為 ; 苟擅為，子道虧。
Even though a matter might be trivial, I must not do it; for I will undermine
the duty of being a good person if I do.
物雖小，勿私藏 ; 苟私藏，親心傷。
Even though something might be small, I must not hide it secretly; for my
parents’ hearts will grieve if I do.
親所好，力為具 ; 親所惡，謹為去。
I will make best efforts to satisfy what my parents like and what they expect
from me, and I will cautiously avoid what they detest.
身有傷，遺親憂 ; 德有傷，遺親羞。
When my body is injured, my parents will be worried; if my virtues are
compromised, my parents will feel ashamed.
親愛我，孝何難 ; 親憎我，孝方賢。
When my parents love me, it is not difficult to be filial; when they do not
love me, my filial piety is then sacred.
親有過，諫使更 ; 怡吾色，柔吾聲。
When my parents do wrong, I will urge them to change. I will make my
expression pleasant and soften my voice.
諫不入，悅復諫 ; 號泣隨，撻無怨。
If they do not accept my advice, I will wait until they are in a happier mood
to exhort them again. Followed by crying to help them understand I will not
hold a grudge against them, even if they end up whipping me.
親有疾，藥先嘗 ; 晝夜侍，不離床。
When my parents are ill, I will taste the medicine first before serving it to
them. I will take care of them day and night without leaving their bedside.
喪三年，常悲咽 ; 居處變，酒肉絕。
During the three years of mourning, I will often commemorate with sorrow.
My residence will be different from before, becoming free from meat and
wine.
喪盡禮，祭盡誠 ; 事死者，如事生。
I will observe proper rituals for their funerals and conduct memorial
services with utmost sincerity; and I will serve my late parents as if they
were still alive.

二. 出則弟 Practicing Fraternity Outside the Home

兄道友，弟道恭 ; 兄弟睦，孝在中。
The older children should be loving and the younger ones should be
respectful; when siblings get along harmoniously, filial piety already exists
in their actions.
財物輕，怨何生 ; 言語忍，忿自泯。
When I do not value wealth much, how can there be resentment? When I
hold back hurtful comments, anger will naturally dissipate.
或飲食，或坐走 ; 長者先，幼者後。
Whether drinking, eating, sitting, or walking, I should let the older ones go
first, then the younger ones follow behind.
長呼人，即代叫 ; 人不在，己即到。
When an elder is calling for someone, I will get that person for him. If that
person is not around, I will put myself at the service of this elder.
稱尊長，勿呼名 ; 對尊長，勿見能。
When I address an elder, I should not call him by his given name.
In front of elders, I must not show off.
路遇長，疾趨揖 ; 長無言，退恭立。
If I meet an elder I know on the street, I will promptly clasp my hands and
greet him with a bow. If he does not speak to me, I will step back and
respectfully stand aside.
騎下馬，乘下車 ; 過猶待，百步餘。
Should I be riding a horse or riding in a carriage and spot an elder I know
walking, I will get off to greet him and wait until the elder disappears from
my sight.
長者立，幼勿坐 ; 長者坐，命乃坐。
When an elder is standing, I will not sit. After an elder has sat down, I will
sit only when I am told to do so.
尊長前，聲要低 ; 低不聞，卻非宜。
Before an elder, I will speak softly. But if my voice is too low to be heard, it
is inappropriate.
進必趨，退必遲 ; 問起對，視勿移。
When meeting an elder, I must walk briskly towards him; when leaving, I
must exit slowly. When answering questions, I must look at the person
without averting my eyes.
事諸父，如事父 ; 事諸兄，如事兄。
I will serve others’ parents as if I am serving my own parents, I will treat all
peers as if they are my own siblings.

三. 謹 Being Cautious

朝起早，夜眠遲 ; 老易至，惜此時。
I will rise early in the morning and sleep late at night. Old age arrives
readily, I must cherish the present moment.
晨必盥，兼漱口 ; 便溺回，輒淨手。
When I get up in the morning, I will wash my face and brush my teeth.
After using the toilet, I will always wash my hands.
冠必正，紐必結 ; 襪與履，俱緊切。
I must wear my hat straight and make sure to button my clothes;
my socks and shoes should also be worn neatly and correctly.
置冠服，有定位 ; 勿亂頓，致污穢。
I will always place my hat and clothes away in proper places; I will not
carelessly throw them around, for that will get them dirty.
衣貴潔，不貴華 ; 上循份，下稱家。
When it comes to clothes I will value tidiness, not fanciness. I will wear
clothes according to my social status and suit my family’s condition.
對飲食，勿揀擇 ; 食適可，勿過則。
When it comes to eating and drinking, I will not be picky; I will only eat the
right amount and will not overeat.”
年方少，勿飲酒 ; 飲酒醉，最為醜。
While still young, I will not drink alcohol; being drunk is most ugly.
步從容，立端正 ; 揖深圓，拜恭敬。
I will always walk with a dignified poise and stand with an upright stance;
and I will always give a deep bow to show my reverent salute.
勿踐閾，勿跛倚 ; 勿箕踞，勿搖髀。
Do not step on door sills or lean on one leg; do not sit with legs apart and
do not rock legs while sitting down.
緩揭簾，勿有聲 ; 寬轉彎，勿觸棱。
I will lift up curtains slowly without making noise, and I will always make
wide turns so as not to bump into anything.
執虛器，如執盈 ; 入虛室，如有人。
I will hold empty containers carefully as if they were full and enter an empty
room as if someone is there.
事勿忙，忙多錯 ; 勿畏難，勿輕略。
I must avoid doing things in a hurry, as acting in haste will lead to many
mistakes; I must neither be afraid of difficulty nor be perfunctory.
鬥鬧場，絕勿近 ; 邪僻事，絕勿問。
I must stay away from rowdy places, and I must not ask about things that
are heretical or unusual.
將入門，問孰存 ; 將上堂，聲必揚。
Before passing through a door, ask who is there; before entering a hall, I
must make my voice heard.
人問誰，對以名 ; 吾與我，不分明。
When people ask who it is, I will answer with my name; “me” and “I” do not
make anything clear.
用人物，須明求 ; 倘不問，即為偷。
When using other people’s things, I must clearly ask; if I don’t ask, then it is
stealing.
借人物，及時還 ; 後有急，借不難。
When borrowing things from people, return them quickly; in the future if I
have an urgent need, there will be no trouble borrowing it again.

四. 信 Trustworthiness

凡出言，信為先 ; 詐與妄，奚可焉。
When I speak, credibility is foremost; deceitful words and lies must not be
tolerated.
話說多，不如少 ; 惟其是，勿佞巧。
It is better to speak less than talk too much; speak only the truth, do not be
fawning and glib.
奸巧語，穢污詞 ; 市井氣，切戒之。
Cunning words and foul language, such vulgar manners must be
prohibited.
見未真，勿輕言 ; 知未的，勿輕傳。
When I am unsure of what I am seeing, I will not rashly speak of it; when I
am still unsure of what I know, I will not hastily spread it.
事非宜，勿輕諾 ; 茍輕諾，進退錯。
I must not readily agree to do something inappropriate; if I do, I will put
myself into a dilemma.
凡道字，重且舒 ; 勿急疾，勿模糊。
Whenever I speak, I must say it gracefully with sincerity, neither hasten nor
blur.
彼說長，此說短 ; 不關己，莫閒管。
When hearing gossip here and there, I will not get involved if it does not
concern me.
見人善，即思齊 ; 縱去遠，以漸躋。
Upon seeing the good points of others, I should strive to be as good as
them; even if I am far behind them, I am getting closer gradually.
見人惡，即內省 ; 有則改，無加警。
Upon seeing others’ wrongs, I must introspect myself right away.
If I have the same faults, I will correct them; and I will be vigilant if not.
唯德學，唯才藝 ; 不如人，當自礪。
In virtue and learning, in ability and skill, if I am not as good as others, I will
encourage myself to be better.
若衣服，若飲食 ; 不如人，勿生慼。
As for clothing and attire, or food and drink, if I am not as good as others, I
will not feel inferior.
聞過怒，聞譽樂 ; 損友來，益友卻。
Becoming angry upon hearing my faults and happy upon hearing praise will
cause harmful friends to come and beneficial friends to leave;
聞譽恐，聞過欣 ; 直諒士，漸相親
becoming fearful upon hearing praise and happy upon hearing my faults
will make upright and forgiving people gradually come closer to me.
無心非，名為錯 ; 有心非，名為惡
Doing wrong unintentionally is called making a mistake, while doing wrong
intentionally is called committing an evil.
過能改，歸於無 ; 倘掩飾，增一辜。
If I correct my faults, the faults will no longer exist; if I try to cover them up, I
will be doubly wrong.

五. 泛愛眾 Love All Broadly

凡是人，皆須愛 ; 天同覆，地同載。
All who are human, I must love. We are all sheltered by the same sky and
we all live on the same planet Earth.
行高者，名自高 ; 人所重，非貌高。
People with high conduct naturally have high reputations; what people
value is their virtues, not their good looks.
才大者，望自大 ; 人所服，非言大。
People with great talents naturally have great fame; what convinces people
is their capability, not their big talk.
己有能，勿自私 ; 人所能，勿輕訾。
If I have talents, I must serve others without being selfish.
If others have talents, I must not lightly denigrate them.
勿諂富，勿驕貧 ; 勿厭故，勿喜新。
I must neither fawn on the rich nor despise the poor, and neither should I
detest the old nor favor the new.
人不閒，勿事攪 ; 人不安，勿話擾。
When people are busy, don’t bother them with matters; when people’s
minds are not at ease, don’t bother them with words.
人有短，切莫揭 ; 人有私，切莫說。
When people have shortcomings, I should never expose them; when
people have secrets, I should never reveal them.
道人善，即是善 ; 人知之，愈思勉。
Praising others’ good deeds is a good deed in itself; people will be
encouraged to do better when they hear about it.
揚人惡，即是惡 ; 疾之甚，禍且作。
Publicizing others’ wrongs is in itself evil; they will resent more and be
driven to act even worse.
善相勸，德皆建 ; 過不規，道兩虧。
When we exhort each other to do good, both of our virtues are established;
when we do not dissuade each other from doing bad, both of our morals
will be undermined.
凡取與，貴分曉 ; 與宜多，取宜少。
Regarding taking or giving, the most important thing is to know the
difference between the two; it is better to give more and take less.
將加人，先問己 ; 己不欲，即速已。
When I am about to do something to others, I will ask myself if I would like
others to do it to me; if not, I will stop immediately.
恩欲報，怨欲忘 ; 報怨短，報恩長。
I must repay the kindness of others and let go of resentment towards
others; I will hold grudges less and repay kindness more.
待婢僕，身貴端 ; 雖貴端，慈而寬。
Treating maids and servants, I should act nobly and decorously; even so, I
still look after them kindly and generously.
勢服人，心不然 ; 理服人，方無言。
Using force to make people submit will not make their hearts agree; using
reason to make people submit, there can be then no complaint.

六. 親仁 Become Close to the Benevolent Ones

同是人，類不齊 ; 流俗眾，仁者希。
We all are human, but our types differ; the ordinary are many, benevolent
people are rare.
果仁者，人多畏 ; 言不諱，色不媚。
A truly benevolent person is held in awe by others; he will neither be afraid
to speak the truth nor fawn on others.
能親仁，無限好 ; 德日進，過日少。
If I can be close to benevolent people, I will benefit immensely; my virtues
will grow daily and my wrongs will lessen day by day.
不親仁，無限害 ; 小人進，百事壞。
Not becoming close to benevolent ones is infinitely harmful;
petty minded people will come, and everything will turn bad.

七. 餘力學文 Studying Literature and Arts in Spare Time after Practicing All the Above

不力行，但學文 ; 長浮華，成何人。
If I do not actively practice virtues but only study, all I attain is superficial
vanity, what kind of person will I become?
但力行，不學文 ; 任己見，昧理真。
If I only practice diligently but do not study, I will only do things based on my
own opinion and deviate from the truth.
讀書法，有三到 ; 心眼口，信皆要。
The way to study requires heart, eyes, and mouth coming together; having
faith in our studying is also equally important.
方讀此，勿慕彼 ; 此未終，彼勿起。
Having started reading one book, I will not yearn for another; when the first
book has not been finished, I will not start another.
寬為限，緊用功 ; 功夫到，滯塞通。
Set a loose schedule, but apply tight efforts; when my efforts reach a
certain level, obstacles will dissolve.
心有疑，隨札記 ; 就人問，求確義。
When I have a question, jot it down right away, so I can ask someone for its
true meaning.
房室清，牆壁淨 ; 几案潔，筆硯正。
I will keep my room neat, the walls clean, the desk tidy, and the pen and
inkwell straight.
墨磨偏，心不端 ; 字不敬，心先病。
If the ink stick is unevenly ground, it indicates that my mind is not upright; if
I do not write neatly with respect, it shows that my mind has fallen ill.
列典籍，有定處 ; 讀看畢，還原處。
Books should be set in a fixed place; I will return them to their original place
after reading.
雖有急，卷束齊 ; 有缺壞，就補之。
Despite something urgent, I will still place the books properly; if a book is
damaged, I will repair it immediately.
非聖書，屏勿視 ; 蔽聰明，壞心志。
If it is not sages’ teachings, I will discard the book and not even look at it,
for it will cloud my intellect and corrupt my mind and aspirations.
勿自暴，勿自棄 ; 聖與賢，可馴致。
I should neither be harsh nor give up on myself, for the state of saints and
sages can gradually be attained.