The path of humanity lies in rectifying one's actions to promote peace and attain joy. Before us were the enlightened rulers Yao and Shun; after them, the sages Confucius and Mencius. They transformed the world through education, guiding the people toward a healthy and prosperous state. For millennia, this wisdom has been passed down, serving as the foundation of teaching and learning. Yet today, waves of materialism surge forward, and time waits for no one. Treasures of wisdom are discarded to the depths of the sea, while sails of error hang in the dark sky. Alas, how lamentable!
In the present day, there is little discussion of clear virtue, no sense of shame, and ignorance of cause and effect. People are immersed in lust and blinded by their perceptions. Their forms are like drunken ghosts, their lives swift as racing chariots. Whether poor, wealthy, noble, or lowly, they remain long in depression and find no joy. Family harmony is lacking, and social conduct is uneasy. Suffering from the weariness of the mind, how can they bear the great ambitions of heaven and sea?
In ancient times, among ten scholars studying the Way, one could become a gentleman. Today, though millions read the Way, millions remain in ignorance. Those with talent are confined to paper, their verses and poems mere ink marks. Those who desire the Way retreat from human society, finding their minds vast in the mountains. This brings about a great sorrow for the ages. If we do not inherit the wisdom of the ancients, govern according to the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, and uphold the foundation of education, the sorrow of the ages will only deepen.
Goodness is rare today, yet it does not cease to exist. It may be found at the edge of the flowing sea or among the faint stars of the galaxy. With a sincere heart to feel and wise eyes to observe, it can certainly be found. Those who are good and self-aware may soar high in the blue sky or sink deep into the dust. They keep the teachings of the sages, maintain the harmony of the Way in their conduct, and keep their minds pure and unstained. They walk through the red dust of the world with an open heart, enduring what others cannot and reaching what others cannot reach. They devote themselves to serving the country and benefiting the world, ferrying the destined across and towing the vast sea in all directions.