王阳明：哲事上磨练，铸造强大内心
Wang Yangming: Cultivate a strong inner self through practical experience and refinement
事上磨炼，修心至要
Practical experience is essential for self-cultivation

　　王阳明说：“人须在事上磨练，做功夫，乃有益。若只好静，遇事便乱，终无长进。”
Wang Yangming said, “One must refine oneself through practical experience and put in effort, which is truly beneficial. If one only seeks tranquility, they will be disoriented when faced with challenges and will not make progress.”

　　人只有在磨练中才能成才，只有在逆境中才能成熟，这就是在事上磨练的含义，也就是要培养活智慧，而不做死学问。
Only through continuous refinement can one become talented, and only through adversity can one mature. This is the meaning of practical experience, which is to cultivate practical wisdom rather than merely theoretical knowledge.

　　真学问，称之为“学道”，即“坐而论道，起而行之”，也就是王阳明说的“知行合一”。
True knowledge is called “learning the Dao,” which means “discussing the Dao while sitting, and putting it into practice while standing.” This is also what Wang Yangming referred to as “the unity of knowledge and action.”

　　王阳明的“心学”常常被误以为是专在心里空想，实际上王阳明一再告诫弟子，别悬空虚想，要在事上磨练。
Wang Yangming’s “Xinxue” (the study of the mind) is often mistakenly considered as mere daydreaming. In fact, Wang Yangming repeatedly warned his disciples not to indulge in empty fantasies but to engage in practical experience.

　　事上磨练，通俗地说，就是要参与社会实践，在纷繁复杂的具体事务中锻炼自己的心理素质，做到动静皆定。
Practical experience, in simple terms, means participating in social practice and exercising one’s psychological quality in complex and specific matters, achieving a state of calmness in both motion and stillness.

　　以此沉着冷静，正确应对，最后就进入“不动心”境界。
In this way, one can remain calm and respond correctly, eventually reaching the state of “unmoved mind.”

　　哲事上磨练，铸造强大内心
Cultivate a strong inner self through philosophical and practical experience

　　民间有句俗语这样说，“不受烟火不成神，不受折磨不成人”，不经事，不经磨练成不了有担当的人。
There is a popular saying in folk culture, “Without going through smoke and fire, one cannot become a god; without enduring suffering, one cannot become a mature person.” Without experiencing challenges and refinement, one cannot become a responsible individual.

　　王阳明说：“变化气质，居常无所见，惟当利害、经变故、遭屈辱，平时愤怒者，到此能不愤怒；忧惶失措者，到此能不忧惶失措，始是能有着力处，亦便是用力处。”
Wang Yangming said, “It is hard to see a change in temperament during ordinary times. Only when faced with critical moments, significant changes, or humiliation, can those who are prone to anger remain calm; those who are timid and fearful can be fearless. It is in these critical moments that one can truly refine themselves, and these moments are also when one should put in great effort to cultivate their mind.”

　　这段话的意思是一个人改变了自己，洗心革面，在平常状态下看不到，只有当利害关头，经历了重大变故，遭到了委屈和侮辱的时候，平时容易发怒的人能不发怒，胆小怕事的人能无所畏惧，才可以说磨练到了一定境界，这些紧要关头也是修心要猛下工夫的时候。
This passage means that when a person undergoes a transformation and purifies their heart, it is not visible in normal situations. However, when facing crucial moments, significant changes, or humiliation, those who are easily angered can remain calm, and those who are timid can be brave. Only then can it be said that they have reached a certain level of refinement, and these critical moments are also when one should focus on cultivating their mind.

　　在人生遭遇骤变打击之时，能做方寸不乱，需要的是大智慧。
In the face of sudden changes and setbacks in life, maintaining composure requires great wisdom.

　　在重大的挫折和打击面前，保持住一颗平常心，并能够把命运的迎头痛击当作磨练心性、超越自我的大好机会，才能动心忍性，意志坚强，使自己的人生境界不断提高。
When confronted with significant setbacks and challenges, maintaining a normal state of mind and treating life’s painful blows as opportunities to refine one’s character and surpass oneself can lead to a strong will and an ever-improving life境界.

　　事上磨练，尤其重在实践
Practical experience, especially, emphasizes practice

　　王阳明早年推崇“静处体悟”，就是让人静坐，抛开一切思虑杂念，体认本心。
In his early years, Wang Yangming advocated “quiet contemplation,” which involved sitting in meditation, letting go of all thoughts and distractions, and recognizing one’s true nature.

　　后来认识到一味强调静坐澄心，会产生各种弊病，容易使人“喜静厌动，流入枯槁之病”，甚至使人变成“沉空守寂”的“痴呆汉”，因此，他又强调“事上磨炼”，尤其重视实践。
Later, he realized that over-emphasizing meditation and tranquility could lead to various problems, such as becoming too fond of quietness and disliking activity, or even becoming “fools” who cling to emptiness and silence. Therefore, he stressed “practical experience” and placed great importance on practice.

　　王阳明说：“未有知而不行者，知而不行，只是未知。”
Wang Yangming said, “There is no one who knows but does not act. If one knows but does not act, it is because they do not truly know.”

　　满口都是圣贤话语，却不去实践，这不是真正的“知”，同样熟读经典，不通实务，百无一用的书生，就算品德高尚，也不是真正的“知”。
Speaking of nothing but the words of sages, yet not putting them into practice, is not true “knowledge.” Similarly, being well-versed in classics but lacking practical skills, such a scholar may have noble character, but it is not true “knowledge.”

　　王阳明一介文人，不是战将出身，却能用兵如神，屡建奇功。
Wang Yangming, a scholar by profession, was not a military general by birth, yet he was able to use troops like a divine strategist and achieve numerous remarkable feats.

　　其中一个原因是王阳明从来不是一个单纯的“读书人”，早年骑马射箭游塞外，二十六岁时苦读兵法，用果核排列成阵形进行演练，被人笑为是赵括“纸上谈兵”。
　　1. One reason is that Wang Yangming was never a mere “scholar”; he rode horses and shot arrows in his early years, and at the age of 26, he studied military strategies diligently, arranging fruit pits into formations for drills, which led people to ridicule him as Zhao Kuo, who discussed “tactics on paper.”

人生如粥，熬出至味
Life is like porridge, simmering to perfection

　　人生如熬粥，有一首诗这样说：“人生好比粥一锅，煎熬滚煮耐琢磨。宜疾宜徐看火候，酸甜苦辣自张罗。”
　　Life is like cooking porridge, as a poem goes: “Life is like a pot of porridge, enduring the rolling and boiling, and contemplating the flavors. Adjust the heat according to the need, and prepare the sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy tastes by yourself.”

　　一锅好粥，需要慢慢地熬，才能熬出最浓的滋味；人生如一锅粥，同样需要在时间的文火上慢慢地熬，当中因为融入了不同的心情，融入了不同的情感，就会熬出各种不同的味道。
　　A good pot of porridge requires slow simmering to bring out the richest flavors; life, like a pot of porridge, also needs to be slowly simmered over the gentle fire of time. As different emotions and feelings are blended in, various flavors emerge.

　　这其中有甜有咸也有酸，当我们细细品味时，才能体会出那份平淡真实的悠然与优雅。
　　Among these flavors, there are sweetness, saltiness, and sourness. Only when we savor them carefully can we appreciate the true, simple elegance and grace.

　　1.熬，是笑到最后的智慧
　　1. Endurance is the wisdom to laugh last

　　评书名家单田芳，总结人生就一个字：熬。
　　The renowned storyteller Dan Tianfang summarizes life in one word: endure.

　　身处逆境，苦熬能挺住；陷入危机，苦熬撑得起；适逢险阻，苦熬能过关。
　　In adversity, enduring helps you stand firm; in crisis, enduring allows you to hold on; facing obstacles, enduring helps you get through.

　　人生不怕熬，要熬出智慧，熬出功力，熬出精粹，熬出境界。
　　Life is not afraid of enduring; it is about developing wisdom, skill, essence, and realm through endurance.

　　人生进退是常事，关键是能够“熬”住。
　　Ups and downs are common in life, but the key is to “endure” and stay strong.

　　熬，就是不轻易放弃，不随便离开自己的位置，就在那里一步步地努力，达到理想的目标。
　　Enduring means not giving up easily, not leaving your position casually, and working step by step to achieve the ideal goal.

　　熬得住，就能笑到最后。
　　If you can endure, you will be able to laugh last.

　　2.熬，是稳定平和的心境
　　2. Endurance is a stable and peaceful state of mind

　　阅遍世事的人都明白，许多事情，一眼是看不到头的。一时春风得意，或一时折戟沉沙，都不会永远算数。
　　Those who have experienced the world understand that many things cannot be seen through at a glance. Temporary success or failure will not last forever.

　　只有不急不躁，气定神闲的人，才会是有长性，“熬”得住的人。
　　Only those who are patient, calm, and composed can have the perseverance and ability to “endure.”

　　熬是出发与成功的中间点，就好比茶需要慢慢泡才有味，酒要慢慢酿才香醇，生米要慢慢煮才会变熟。
　　Endurance is the midpoint between starting and succeeding, just as tea needs to be brewed slowly to develop its flavor, wine needs to be aged to become mellow, and rice needs to be cooked slowly to become fully cooked.

　　“熬”的过程，也是一种修行的过程。修内心的宁静，修处世的淡定。有磨练，才体现出成功的弥足珍贵。
　　The process of “enduring” is also a process of self-cultivation, cultivating inner peace and composure in dealing with the world. Only through trials and tribulations can the value of success be truly appreciated.

　　熬的不是岁月，熬的是心态。
　　It is not the years that are endured, but the state of mind.

　　3.熬，是历久弥坚的意志
　　3. Endurance is a will that grows stronger over time

　　整个人生就是一段又一段的，需要“熬”的过程。
　　The entire life is a series of processes that require “endurance.”

　　熬的过程并不是坐以待毙，熬是磨练意志，熬是蓄势待发，熬是不动声色默默努力，等待着熬出头时的一鸣惊人。
1. The process of enduring is not just sitting idly by; it is tempering one’s will, it is gathering momentum, and it is working hard quietly without making a sound, waiting for the moment when the hard work pays off and one can make a remarkable breakthrough.

　　有时候我们会觉得快熬不过去了，无法坚持了，时过境迁后，再回头看，一切都熬过去了。
2. Sometimes we feel like we can’t endure any longer, that we can’t hold on, but when we look back after time has passed, we find that we have endured through it all.

　　那些能耐住性子去熬的人，在百折千磨中，愈挫愈勇，屡败屡战，成为一个内心永远不会被击垮的人。
3. Those who can patiently endure, becoming stronger and braver through countless setbacks and failures, will become a person whose inner spirit can never be defeated.