九川问：「自省念虑，或涉邪妄，或预料理天下事，思到极处，井井[1]有味，便缱绻[2]难屏，觉得早则易，觉迟则难，用力克治，愈觉扞格[3]，惟稍迁念他事，则随两忘。如此廓清，亦似无害。」
先生曰：「何须如此，只要在良知上著功夫。」
九川曰：「正谓那一时不知。」
先生曰：「我这里自有功夫，何缘得他来？只为尔功夫断了，便蔽其知。既断了，则继续旧功便是，何必如此？」
九川曰：「直是难鏖，虽知丢他不去。」
先生曰：「须是勇；用功久，自有勇。故曰『是集义所生者』，胜得容易，便是大贤[4]。」
九川问：「自省念虑，有的涉于邪妄，有的预想料理天下大事，想到极处，井井有味，便缠绵难屏，觉得早则容易，觉迟了就难；用力克治，越发扞格难入；只有稍稍转念想别的事，便两边都忘了。这样廓清，似乎也无害。」
先生说：「何须如此，只要在良知上着功夫。」
九川说：「正是说那一刻良知不知。」
先生说：「我这良知自有功夫，怎么会不在？只是你的功夫断了，便蔽了知。既然断了，接着旧功继续便是，何必这样？」
九川说：「实在难缠，虽然知道丢不掉它。」
先生说：「必须是勇；用功久了，自然有勇。所以说『是集义所生』。胜得容易，便是大贤。」
I asked: 'Examining my thoughts, some stray into the perverse, some scheme at ordering the world; carried to the utmost, ordered and savory, they cling and will not be screened away — waking early it is easy, late it is hard; forcing mastery only stiffens the block; merely turning the mind elsewhere, both are forgot. Such sweeping seems harmless enough.'
The Master said: 'Why all this? Work only upon innate knowledge.'
'Just at that moment innate knowledge does not know.'
'Innate knowledge has its own work — how should it be absent? Only your work broke off, and so knowledge was veiled. Broken off? Then simply take up the old work again — why all these devices?'
'It truly battles hard; knowing, I still cannot throw it off.'
'There must be courage; work long, and courage comes of itself — hence it is what accumulating rightness begets. Win easily, and you are a great worthy.'
- 井井：津津。
- 缱绻：牢固相著。
- 扞格：抵捂不相入。
- 「大贤」，张本作「大勇」。