陆澄问：「主一之功，如读书则一心在读书上，接客则一心在接客上，可以为主一乎？」
先生曰：「好色则一心在好色上，好货则一心在好货上，可以为主一乎？是所谓遂物，非主一也。主一是专主一个天理。」[1]
陆澄问：「主一的功夫，比如读书时一心在读书上，接待客人时一心在接待客人上，这可以算主一吗？」
先生说：「好色便一心在好色上，贪财便一心在贪财上，这可以算主一吗？这是所谓的追逐外物，不是主一。主一是专主一个天理。」
Lu Cheng asked: "As for the work of 'abiding in unity' — reading, one's whole mind on reading; receiving guests, wholly on receiving guests — does that count as abiding in unity?"
The Master said: "Lusting after beauty with the whole mind, greed for wealth with the whole mind — does that count? That is chasing things, not abiding in unity. Abiding in unity means being devoted to one thing alone: heavenly principle."
- 南本、闾东本，此条前尚有一条：「先生曰：『持志如心痛。一心在痛上，岂有功夫说闲话，管闲事。』」《全书》本载此条于第24条与第25条之间。