黄勉叔问：「心无恶念时，此心空空荡荡的。不知亦须个善念否？」
先生曰：「既去恶念，便是善念；便复心之本体矣。譬如：日光被云来遮蔽；云去，光已复矣。若恶念既去，又要存个善念，即是日光之中添燃一灯。」
黄勉叔问：「心中没有恶念时，这心空空荡荡的，不知还须要存个善念吗？」
先生说：「既然去掉了恶念，便是善念，便已恢复了心的本体。譬如日光被云遮蔽，云散了，光就已复原。若恶念既去，又要另存一个善念，就像在日光之中再点一盏灯。」
Huang Mianshu asked: 'When the heart holds no evil thought, it is empty and wide — must one then keep a good thought?'
The Master said: 'Evil thought removed, that is already good thought: the mind's substance restored. As sun veiled by cloud — cloud gone, light regained. To remove the evil thought and then store up a separate good thought is lighting a lamp in broad daylight.'