德圩四 - Te Chapter 54

善建者不拔 善抱者不脱 子孙以祭祀不绝

修之身 亓德乃真

修之家 亓德有余

修之乡 亓德乃长

修之邦 亓德乃丰

修之天下 亓德乃博

以身观身 以家观家 以乡观乡 以邦观邦 以天下观天下

吾何以知天下之然兹 以此

善于建造的人，造物不容易动摇；善于装修（雕龙抱柱）的人，造物紧贴建筑不容易脱落。（请他们建造的祖屋祠堂）子孙后代可以一直使用（祭祀祖先）下去，没有穷尽。 秉持这样的目标（一次修缮，长久坚持）来修养自身，实行过程真实无伪； 秉持这样的目标来修养家族，实行过程丰盈有余； 秉持这样的目标来修养乡里，实行过程深远流长； 秉持这样的目标来修养邦国，实行过程丰盛富足； 秉持这样的目标来修养天下，实行过程广博浩大。 用自身真实状态为参照观察别身；用自己家族累积有余的状态为参照观察别家；用自己乡里长久传承的状态为参照观察别乡；用自己邦国资源丰富的状态为参照观察别邦；用自身了解到的天下事物的状态为参照观察天下万物。 我怎么会知道天下万物的状态是这样的呢？就是因为以上的方法和道理。

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The person who is good at building, their creations are not easily shaken; the person who is good at decorating, their creations fit closely to the building and are not easily detached. (if they build ancestral halls and shrines) Their descendants can continue to use them (to worship ancestors) without running out.

• By adhering to such a goal (one-time repair, long-term persistence) to cultivate oneself, the process is true and authentic;

• By adhering to such a goal to cultivate the family, the process is abundant and sufficient;

• By adhering to such a goal to cultivate the village, the process is deep and long-lasting;

• By adhering to such a goal to cultivate the state, the process is prosperous and abundant;

• By adhering to such a goal to cultivate the world, the process is broad and vast.

One should observe others using their own true state as a reference; observe other families using the accumulated surplus state of their own family as a reference; observe other villages using the long-lasting inherited state of their own village as a reference; observe other countries using the rich resources state of their own country as a reference; observe the world using the state of the world that they have come to understand as a reference.

How do I know the state of all things in the world is like this? It is because of the above methods and principles.