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The ancients regarded simplicity and indifference to fame as their foundation, and their bodies were mostly strong; people today are indulged in desires and often become emaciated. Patients suffer from lingering illnesses; tracing the source of these diseases reveals that they all stem from a nature addicted to sexual pleasure. Before reaching the age of sixteen (two times eight), the essence pathways are already damaged, and the primordial root is exhausted first. Consequently, the six climatic pathogens (Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire) and pestilential qi invade due to deficiency, and all diseases arise from an internally deficient constitution, making treatment not easy. Moreover, there are few good physicians in the world who do not understand the causes of disease, blindly administering herbal decoctions; many die not from the disease itself but at the hands of incompetent doctors. However, the source of disease is self-inflicted. If one can realize the harm of desires, observe the teachings of the Sages regarding "Seven Damages and Eight Benefits," be cautious against wind and cold, regulate diet, avoid craving rich wine, refrain from reckless overexertion, uphold ethical norms, and cultivate hidden virtue, then with a deep and solid root, the vital energy will naturally become robust, diseases will naturally decrease, and the lineage can be expected to last long. Those who reach the age of one hundred (Qiyi) or enjoy longevity are those gentlemen who guard their bodies like precious jade. Who gains and who loses? Is it not necessary to be cautious in details and prudent in subtleties? My heart is urgent in saving lives, so I specifically clarify this to warn others.

Lan notes: During the late Ming Dynasty, worldly sentiments and desires were already so frivolous and decadent. Now, separated by more than 190 years, after surviving famines and wars, people's inclination towards desires is even ten times worse than in the previous Ming era. Furthermore, the addition of opium consumes and burns vital energy and blood, scorches the Zang-Fu organs, and especially aids in lustful excess. Why do people disregard their lives and find such indulgence sweet, ultimately leading to self-destruction and hastened death? This is a major change in habits.

Physicians, being sons themselves, should know that the ancients wrote *Ru Men Shi Qin* (Confucian Family Services for Parents), which has its reasons. Medical principles are profound, and the standard of understanding medicine is difficult to apply to ordinary people; however, the way of attending to the sick is essential knowledge that both the wise and the foolish should share. If parents contract a disease, the son should carefully select a good physician and seek early treatment, not waiting for the pathogen to penetrate deeply and damage vital energy and blood. The herbs must be personally inspected, purchasing high-quality products from authentic sources. During decoction, one must personally supervise, checking each herb to prevent errors. Teach them the decoction methods: if dispersing exterior pathogens, use rush firewood and fierce heat; if tonifying, use charcoal fire for slow decoction, etc. After decoction, serve it personally to the parents, ensuring the temperature is appropriate, deliberating thoroughly, staying close by, observing whether sweating or purgation occurs, and managing rice drinks and tea without disorder. Do not delegate this to servants, which leads to the name of medication but the harm of errors. Acute diseases are relatively easy to handle; but for the elderly suffering from chronic, severe illness, lying groaning on pillows and beds, unable to rise easily, the most painful aspects are bowel and bladder functions, requiring assistance, changing, and cleaning. In summer heat, when flies and mosquitoes swarm and sting, and in winter cold, when clothes and quilts need covering and uncovering, and for all dietary matters, care is indispensable. Without a close person attending diligently, the twilight years would feel like imprisonment.

Sons should reflect on the toil of their parents' childbirth. When in swaddling clothes, parents hugged and protected day and night, shifting wet to dry, enduring countless hardships without negligence. During diseases like smallpox, they provided support and protection, consulted doctors, and prayed to deities, exhausting their life's mental and physical strength for my sake. Now, when parents are old and ill, it is precisely the time for sons to repay their roots. What excuse is there to shirk the labor of service? If there is urine, feces, or phlegm, one must not fear filth but change it personally, inspecting regularly. Although not matching the ancient acts of tasting feces or cutting flesh, one should emulate the crow's reverse-feeding piety. Delegating entirely to servants makes sincere effort unlikely. Moreover, these individuals may be duplicitous, while patients, knowing their weakness, endure much suffering silently. In such cases, even with grandchildren around the knees, it is merely a hollow name with no practical help. If honest servants are available, the son must personally supervise and reward them generously. As the saying goes: Filial piety is the first of all virtues. One day of serving parents yields one day of merit; one or two years yield one or two years of merit. Effort at this root surpasses all other good deeds by ten thousand times. Why fear long-term fatigue!

Whether poor or rich, the principle of serving parents remains the same. For the poor unable to hire help, one must exert oneself doubly. Regarding costs for herbs and food, strive to raise funds, acknowledging the burden on parents. True, pure filial piety will move Heaven, ensuring parents do not end in poverty. For the rich, consider that Heaven grants beautiful circumstances; without doubling filial efforts, how can one face Heaven? To cast parents aside, letting them groan in pain while sleeping comfortably with wife and in-laws—is one still human? Once the root is compromised, wealth is unlikely to last. In families with many brothers, each must contribute their share; avoiding buck-passing is crucial. Women ignorant of filial piety must be taught sternly; do not indulge or listen to them blindly. I have often seen elderly, sick people deceived by servants; some died from careless handling during critical illness, unnoticed by many. Remember, everyone grows old; generations watch examples. Serving parents is serving oneself.

Alas! As long as one breath remains, pain and itch are felt. Exerting full effort within limited time is far superior to post-death rituals—fasting, chanting, mourning—which are empty formalities wasting money on deceiving monks and Taoists. Those with parents should think deeply and act vigorously; how can this be ignored?

Lan notes: The Master was renowned for filial piety, using his own heart to gauge others', calling out loudly for all to practice filial piety. However, modern wealthy families often obscure their origins, only flattering the powerful for fame and office, neglecting parents. I witnessed this with a heavy heart and omit names. Though I admire the Master's piety and lack his scholarship, I wish to follow his example and fulfill my duty as a son.