一日论为学工夫。
先生曰：「教人为学，不可执一偏。初学时：心猿意马，拴缚不定，其所思虑，多是『人欲』一边；故且教之静坐、息思虑。久之，俟其心意稍定，只悬空静守，如槁木死灰，亦无用；须教他省察克治。省察克治之功，则无时而可间。如去盗贼，须有个扫除廓清之意。无事时，将好色、好货、好名等私，逐一追究搜寻出来；定要拔去病根，永不复起，方始为快。常如猫之捕鼠，一眼看著，一耳听著。才有一念萌动，即与克去，斩钉截铁，不可姑容，与他方便；不可窝藏，不可放他出路；方是真实用功，方能扫除廓清。到得无私可克，自有端拱时在。虽曰『何思何虑』，非初学时事。初学必须思，省察克治即是思诚，只思一个天理，到得天理纯全，便是『何思何虑』矣。」
一天讨论为学的功夫。
先生说：「教人为学，不可偏执一端。初学的人心猿意马，拴缚不定，所思虑的多在『人欲』一边，所以暂且教他静坐、平息思虑。久而久之，等他心意稍定，还只是悬空静守，如槁木死灰，也没有用处，必须教他省察克治。省察克治的功夫，没有一刻可以间断。如同驱除盗贼，必须有个扫除廓清的决心。没事的时候，把好色、贪财、好名等私欲，逐一追究搜寻出来，定要拔去病根，永不复起，才觉得痛快。常像猫捉老鼠，一眼看着，一耳听着，才有一念萌动，立即克除掉，斩钉截铁，不可姑息纵容，不可窝藏，不可给它留出路，这才是真用功，才能扫除廓清。等到没有私欲可克，自然有端然拱手的时候。虽说『何思何虑』，那不是初学阶段的事。初学必须思，省察克治就是思诚，只思一个天理，等到天理纯全，便是『何思何虑』了。」
One day the work of learning was under discussion.
The Master said: "In teaching, one must not cling to one side. Beginners, their minds like monkeys and horses, cannot be tethered; their thoughts mostly run toward selfish desire — so first teach them quiet sitting to rest thought. But once the mind has steadied somewhat, merely keeping empty stillness, like withered wood or cold ashes, is useless: teach them examination and self-mastery. This work knows no pause. Like routing bandits, there must be the resolve to sweep clean. When without affairs, hunt out every private lust — for beauty, gain, fame — one by one; dig out the root of disease so it never rises again, and only then be at ease. Be as a cat stalking a mouse: eye fixed, ear cocked; the instant a thought stirs, cut it away, clean and decisive — no indulgence, no sheltering, no escape route. That is real work; that alone sweeps clean. When no selfishness remains to master, there will be time enough to sit serene with folded hands. Though it is said 'what is there to think, what to worry?' — that is not the beginner's stage. The beginner must think: examination and mastery are the thinking of sincerity, thinking one thing only, heavenly principle. When heavenly principle is pure and complete, that is 'what is there to think, what to worry?'"