先生问在坐之友：「比来工夫何似？」
一友举虚明意思。
先生曰：「此是说光景。」
一友叙今昔异同。
先生曰：「此是说效验。」
二友惘然，请是。
先生曰：「吾辈今日用功，只是要为善之心真切。此心真切，见善即迁、有过即改，方是真切工夫。如此，则人欲日消、天理日明。若只管求光景、说效验，却是助长外驰病痛，不是工夫。」
先生问在座的朋友：「近来功夫怎样？」
一位朋友举出内心虚明的景象。
先生说：「这是说光景。」
一位朋友叙述今昔的异同。
先生说：「这是说效验。」
两人茫然，请教正确答案。
先生说：「我们今天用功，只是要为善之心真切。这心真切，见善即迁、有过即改，才是真切的功夫。这样，人欲日渐消磨、天理日渐明白。若只管寻求光景、谈论效验，却是助长向外驰求的毛病，不是功夫。」
The Master asked the friends present: 'How goes the work of late?'
One described the mind's empty brightness.
The Master said: 'That is describing a passing glow.'
Another told of differences between past and present.
'That is describing results.'
Both looked lost and asked for the truth.
The Master said: 'Our work today needs only that the heart for good be earnest. With the heart earnest — moving to good the moment it is seen, correcting the moment fault appears — that is real work. So desire daily withers and principle daily brightens. To chase glows and talk results only feeds the disease of outward galloping; it is not the work.'