The governance of Yao, Shun, and the Three Dynasties.
"Ritual (li) is simply principle (li)."
爱问：「先生以『博文』为『约礼』功夫，深思之未能得，略请开示。」
先生曰：「『礼』字即是『理』字。理之发见可见者谓之文，文之隐微不可见者谓之理，只是一物。约礼只是要此心纯是一个天理。要此心纯是天理，须就理之发见处用功。如发见于事亲时，就在事亲上学存此天理；发见于事君时，就在事君上学存此天理；发见于处富贵贫贱时，就在处富贵贫贱上学存此天理；发见于处患难夷狄时，就在处患难夷狄上学存此天理。至于作止语默，无处不然，随他发见处，即就那上面学个存天理。这便是博学之于文，便是约礼的功夫。博文即是惟精，约礼即是惟一。」
Xu Ai asked: "Master, you take 'broad learning' as the effort for 'restraining with ritual.' After deep thought I still cannot grasp this — may I ask for your guidance?"
The Master said: "The word 'ritual' (li) is simply the word 'principle' (li). The visible manifestation of principle is called pattern (wen); the hidden and invisible aspect of pattern is called principle — they are simply one thing. Restraining with ritual is simply making this mind purely heavenly principle. To make this mind purely heavenly principle, one must work where principle manifests. When it manifests in serving parents, learn to preserve heavenly principle in serving parents. When it manifests in serving the ruler, learn to preserve heavenly principle in serving the ruler. When it manifests in times of wealth or poverty, learn to preserve heavenly principle there. When it manifests in times of hardship, learn to preserve heavenly principle there. As for action and rest, speech and silence — it is the same everywhere. Wherever principle manifests, work on preserving heavenly principle right there. This is broad learning in pattern, and this is the effort of restraining with ritual. Broad learning is 'refining to the utmost'; restraining with ritual is 'maintaining unity.'"
Yangming's "broad learning in pattern" means: don't just study theories in a classroom. Learn in the real world — in your relationships, your work, your challenges. Every situation is an opportunity to practice preserving heavenly principle.
"The word 'ritual' (li) is simply the word 'principle' (li)."
Yangming equates ritual with principle — ritual is not external ceremonial form but the manifestation of heavenly principle in human relationships. This breaks open a rigid understanding of ritual and returns it to its essence: the natural expression of heavenly principle in interpersonal relations.
"Wherever principle manifests, work on preserving heavenly principle right there."
The practice is not done in meditation but in every matter of daily life. Serving parents, serving the ruler, in wealth, in hardship — every concrete situation is a dojo for preserving heavenly principle. This is "broad learning" — learning extensively in all things.