Quietly preserving the mind cannot be called the equilibrium before emotion arises. Removing selfish desires and preserving heavenly principle — this applies in both stillness and activity.
"Removing selfish desires and preserving heavenly principle — in stillness and activity alike."
Lu Cheng asked: "What is the equilibrium before joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure arise?"
The Master said: "This must be recognized through one's own mind — words cannot explain it. Yanping feared people might not know where to begin, so he told them to remove selfish desires and preserve heavenly principle at every moment. This is the equilibrium before emotion arises. If one relies on being in a quiet state to have this meaning, then one has the fault of loving stillness and disliking activity."
Lu Cheng asked: "What is the equilibrium before joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure arise?"
The Master said: "This must be recognized through one's own mind — words cannot explain it. Yanping feared people might not know where to begin, so he told them to remove selfish desires and preserve heavenly principle at every moment. This is the equilibrium before emotion arises. If one relies on being in a quiet state to have this meaning, then one has the fault of loving stillness and disliking activity."
True equilibrium is not dependent on external quiet. Maintaining inner peace amid busyness is true cultivation. Don't escape into stillness — find stability in activity.
"Removing selfish desires and preserving heavenly principle at every moment — this is the equilibrium before emotion arises."
Yangming redefines the "equilibrium before emotion arises" (未发之中) from a mystical state to a practical practice. It is not about achieving a blank, emotionless state through stillness. It is about the continuous practice of removing selfish desires and preserving heavenly principle — which applies equally in quiet moments and in action.
"If one relies on being quiet, one has the fault of loving stillness."
This is a warning against spiritual escapism. Some practitioners use meditation to逃避 the challenges of daily life, calling their avoidance "equilibrium." True equilibrium is not dependent on external quiet — it is a quality of the mind that persists regardless of circumstances.