问：「儒者到三更时分，扫荡胸中思虑，空空静静，与释氏之静只一般，两下[1]皆不用，此时何所分别？」
先生曰：「动、静只是一个。那三更时分空空静静的，只是存天理，即是如今应事接物的心；如今应事接物的心，亦是循此天理，便是那三更时分空空静静的心。故动、静只是一个，分别不得。知得动、静合一，释氏毫厘差处亦自莫揜矣。」
有人问：「儒者到三更时分，扫荡胸中思虑，空空静静，与佛家的静只是一般，两边都不用事，这时从什么分别？」
先生说：「动静只是一个。那三更时空空静静的，只是存天理，就是如今应事接物的心；如今应事接物的心，也是循此天理，便是那三更时空空静静的心。所以动静只是一个，分别不得。懂得动静合一，佛家的毫厘之差也自然掩盖不住了。」
Someone asked: 'At the third watch the Confucian sweeps the breast's thoughts away, empty and still — just the Buddhist stillness; with neither side at use, where lies the difference?'
The Master said: 'Movement and stillness are one. That midnight emptiness is simply preserving heavenly principle — the very mind now meeting affairs; and the mind meeting affairs, following the same principle, is that midnight-empty mind. Movement and stillness are one, past telling apart. Know their unity, and the Buddhists' hairspread error hides no longer.'
- 两下，指儒、释。