From Great Master Hóngyī’s (弘一大师) ‘Discussion On Experiments For Correcting Faults’《改过实验谈》:
2、慎独：吾等凡有所作所为，起念动心，佛菩萨乃至诸鬼神等，无不尽知尽见。若时时作如是想，自不敢胡作非为。
[2] Cautiousness When Alone: We, with all those acted and those done, with the giving rise of thoughts and moving of minds, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and even all ghosts, gods and others, are without those not completely known and completely seen. If often having thus contemplated, naturally not daring to recklessly do wrong actions.
曾子曰：「十目所视，十手所指，其严乎！」又引诗云：「战战兢兢，如临深渊，如履薄冰。」此数语为余所常常忆念不忘者也。
Céngzǐ said, ‘As with ten eyes those seeing, and ten fingers those pointing, with this be strict!’ Also, quoting the Book Of Odes《诗经》, which says, ‘Apprehensively and cautiously, like approaching a deep abyss, like walking on thin ice.’ These several sayings are those that I frequently recall, not forgetting them.
Note 2: Our true inner integrity is expressed with our conduct in ‘private’, with that done and not done then, when we assume there is ‘no one’ watching. Those with high integrity are thus highly consistent with their thoughts, words and deeds, both in public and in private. They have nothing even slightly immoral to hide, that others will have reservations about.
When with others, there are many human eyes potentially looking, with their fingers ready to point out our faults to censure us, as if reminding us to be vigilant with their very presence. However, even when ‘alone’, as the greatly and fully enlightened (i.e. Bodhisattvas and Buddhas) are always aware of our every single thought, word and deed, we have no way to hide our actual character at all.
Even ghosts and gods who are around are able to see us, despite us not being able to see them, with the ability to know our thoughts, without us knowing. Even if there is absolutely no one else aware in the slightest, (which is impossible), we ourselves are always aware, and the law of karma continues to operate, naturally and universally for one and all, with the planting of present causes for the bearing of later fruits.
Reflecting accordingly, how can we dare to think, say and do that unwholesome? Those who dare to do so are surely ignorant, foolish and arrogant, bound for suffering karmically. Thus, we might as well continue to be mindful when by ourselves, by not letting down our guard, lest we slip and fall morally. As we are likelier to be more lax when alone, all the more must we be watchful then, to be our main moral censor.
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《改过实验谈》
Discussion On Experiments For Correcting Faults
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