preface these are the rules for being a student handed down to us by ancient sages first be filial to your own parents and respectful to all of your elders be trustworthy cautious and kind and draw near to those who are good whatever time you have left should be learning on being filial at home when your mother or father is calling do not be slow to respond when your parents tell you to do something do sulky when your parents need to instruct you you should listen with patience ient respect whenever your parents must scold you accept it with faithful compliance in the winter make sure they are warm in the summer make sure they cool in the morning cheerfully greet them in the evening tell them good night if you plan to go out tell your parents report to them when you get back settle down in one certain place do not another no matter how small the affair do not act just as you please for if you act just as you please then you have not should although a thing may be small do yourself for if you hoard things for your parents Hearts will be grieved whatever your parents like best you should provide for them soon whatever your parents dislike you remove if you carelessly injure your body your parents will worry and fret if you heedlessly damage your virtue you bring shame and disgrace to your parents when your parents are loving and kind of course it's not hard to be filial the true test of being a person comes when parents are hateful and cruel if you recognize fals in your parents exhort them to change for the better speak to them kindly and gently with a pleasant smile on your face if they cannot accept your advice wait for an opportune time you may even use tears to exhort them but don't punished when your parents are ill call the doctor be sure the prescription is right wait on them day after day at their bedside by day and by night for three years after their death remember them always in sorrow during this period of mourning don't drink wine meat take care of their funeral arrangements make offerings on their behalf reverently cherish their memory as if they were still in the Brotherhood when the older children are friendly and the younger children then brothers and sisters won't fight and it's clear they know how to be filial don't think of wealth as important or else you will feel resentful when talking to others be patient then you won't be troubled by anger when people are eating or drinking sitting down or taking a walk let those who are older go first the young ones mind if an elder is looking for someone you should run the errand instead if the person you seek can't be found hurry back and Report what you've learned in speaking to those who are older use the proper terms of respect when you are facing teachers and Elders don't show off or try to look smart if you meet an El while walking respect if the Elder does not address you respectfully stand to one side if an elder is walking and your riding stop and ask if he's traveling far respectfully wait till he's passed you before you continue on in your car when an elder person is standing the young one should not take a seat e but wait till the Elder is seated and sit told speak softly in front of your elders in a low voice that pleases the ear but you are wrong if you're speaking so softly that no one can hear greet your elders promptly and take your leave slowly answer questions respectfully and don't let your eyes you should treat everyone's parents just the same as you treat your own treat all brothers and sisters just like your careful in the morning it's best to rise early at night you should go to bed late cherish the time that is left to you don't expect that old age will wait in the morning first wash your face and next brush your teeth very well after you go to the toilet use water and hands you should put on your hat with care and fasten your buttons and snaps then pull up your socks very neatly and well your hat and other clothes should be put in their own special places do not leave them just lying around or they're sure to get wrinkled and soiled your clothing should always be neat if it's not new and stylish don't worry what you wear should make common sense don't spend too much money on clothes do not fuss and complain about tastes when you are given something to eat eat enough so that you are full but need during the time when you are young don't drink liquor or take harmful drugs to get drunk is disgraceful and ugly taking drugs brings you nothing but shame your walk should be easy and graceful when you stand keep your back tall and straight your half boughs should be deep and full and your full respect watch your step as you enter a doorway stand up straight and don't lean against the wall Do not sit sprawled all over the floor or wriggle and squirm walk when closing a door best be careful do it slowly without too much noise when crossing a room don't bump into the chairs you should carry an empty container just as carefully as one that is full and enter a room that is empty as you would if a crowd were inside there is no need to be in a hurry if you rush you will make a mistake don't be afraid of what's hard and don't easy never go to Rowdy places or places where people are fighting when some something is low and improper it's not questions when you're going to enter a room first knock to make sure it's permitted when joining a gathering of people let them all know you've arrived if someone should ask who you are you should answer by giving your name if you respond it is me you're not reply if you use someone else's belongings be sure that you ask for permission if you don't get the owner's permission then stealing is what you done if you must borrow something from another make sure you return it on time if someone asks you for something loan it to them as soon as you honest whatever it is that you say you should speak so that you can be trusted tell the truth so others can believe you nature to talk just a little is better than to chatter non-stop all day long talk only about what you're sure of words don't use words words to be mean and cruel or speak about things that are coarse let your language be pure and correct stay away from all that's unworthy if you haven't seen something quite clearly don't speak of it as if know if you're not sure what exactly happened don't spread rumors around when you know something is wrong do not simply follow follow along if you just go along with the crowd you're mistake when you speak say the words clearly distinctly and smoothly they flow if you talk too fast no one will heed you the same if you Mumble too low some like to talk about good points others like to find faults big and small if something is none of your business business simply pay no attention at all when you see the good points of others you should strive to imitate them though you don't match up to them now persevere and one day you'll catch up when you notice bad habits in others shortcomings if you have the same faults correct them if not never let them arise if your virtue learning and talents do not measure up to others then spur yourself to work harder accept nothing best if your wardrobe is seldom in fashion and your home is simple and plain while your friends have the newest and finest don't be upset and never complain if you are angry with when told of your faults and Happy When Praise Comes Your Way harmful friends will draw near you and wholesome friends will stay away if compliments make you uneasy and hearing your faults makes you glad forgiving and straightforward friends will then gradually come to your side when an error is not made on purpose it is simply called a mistake but to deliberately do something wrong evil if you can reform your offenses your faults will all disappear but trying to cover them over honest whatever it is that you say you should speak so that you can be trusted tell the truth so others can believe you nature to talk just a little is better than to chatter non-stop all day long talk only about what you're sure of words don't use words to be mean and cruel or speak about things that are coarse let your language be pure and stay away from all that's unworthy if you haven't seen something quite clearly don't speak of it as if know if you're not sure what exactly happened don't spread rumors around when you know something is wrong do not simply follow along if you just go along with the crowd you're bound to when you speak say the words clearly distinctly and smoothly they flow if you talk too fast no one will heed you the low some like to talk about good points others like to find faults big and small if something is none of your business simply pay no attention at all when you see the good points of others you should strive to imitate them though you don't match up to them now persevere and one day you'll catch up when you notice bad habits in others shortcomings if you have the same faults correct them if not never let them arise if your virtue learning and talents do not measure up to others then spur your yourself to work harder accept best if your wardrobe is seldom in fashion and your home is simple and plain while your friends have the newest and finest don't be upset and never complain if you are angry when told of your faults and Happy When Praise Comes Your Way harmful friends will draw near you and wh some friends will stay away if compliments make you uneasy and hearing your faults makes you glad forgiving and straightforward friends will then gradually come to your side when an error is not made on purpose it is simply called a mistake but to deliberately do something wrong evil if you can reform your offenses your faults will all disappear but trying to cover them over severe on cherishing all living beings for All Creatures throughout the world one should cherish a kind regard the sky covers all of us equally the Earth supports all humankind people whose conduct is fine are sure to reputations Good Conduct is what we respect fine looks cannot bring people honor people who have great ability Prestige others will follow their lead but great talkers don't earn much respect the abilities you yourself have should not be used to attain selfish goals the abilities others may have should not be belittled or scorned it's not right to flatter the rich or be arrogant towards the poor what's old need not be rejected what's good if you see a person who's busy leave him alone until he's free if you see that a person is upset don't annoy chatter although you may know someone's faults there is no need to tell everyone the personal business of others should not be the subject of talk praising the virtue of others is itself a virtuous deed when people hear they've been praised they will want to there is never anything good in talking shortcomings if they hear they will surely resent it they will see you mean trouble we should urge each other towards goodness and develop our virtue together if our faults are not corrected we will surely stray from the way the amount you give and you get distinguished make sure that your giving surpasses the amount that you receive before you begin to blame others first you should question yourself would I want to be scolded and blamed if not then don't do it to someone else kindness must be returned let enmity just fade away grudges are better forgotten make kindness increase day by day treat your employees with fairness be proper and just with each one and not only proper and just you should also be forgiving if you try to rule others by force you will never win over their hearts if you lead them with virtue and reason then they won't feel oppressed on Drawing Near to good-hearted people many different kinds of people all live on the earth together there are many who follow the crowd there are few Humane yet those who are truly Humane are often feared by other people for they don't hide behind words or try to looks to follow the truly Humane will bring immeasurable good virtue will grow day by day mistakes will slowly Fade Away not to follow the truly Humane will bring immeasurable harm unworthy people will draw near you and everything will aray on studying whenever you can cultural refinements have value but not at the expense of real work if you're just superficially polished then become but if you do nothing but work and have no understanding of culture you'll be bound by your own narrow views and your Notions of truth will be murky when you are pursuing doing your studies on the three places Focus attention your mind your eyes and your mouth it's important to train all these three when you've taken up study of something don't let yourself become sidetracked be sure that you finished one project before starting off on another let your goals be lofty and Broad let your effort s be focused and steady once you have skill and experience you'll solve every problem ease when a question comes up in your reading make note of it before you forget then ask someone else who will know and who can explain the meaning your room should be kept neat and tidy with walls and floors uncluttered and clean your desk should be kept in good order pencils paper and arranged if your desk and your papers are messy it is likely your mind's mixed up too if your writing is sloppy and careless it's likely your mind is not focused each of the books that you use should have its proper place on the Shelf after you finish your reading put them back in the place they belong although you may be in a hurry you should close your books the right way if the pages or covers are damaged be sure to take time to repair them what hasn't been written by sages is not something you should be reading such books block your intelligence and resolve don't ever look down on yourself or fail to progress towards goodness we all can gradually learn to become
